* * *
After leaving NYC, the two demonesses took an ocean liner to Europe and toured the continent for several months. The summer of 1908 found them in a hotel in a small town in Eastern Europe, still undecided about where to move. Kali was trying to convince Agra to settle in London or Denmark when the air around them was suddenly disturbed by an unusual energy. Within seconds, a tiny dark red minion popped into their room and scurried nervously toward them on all fours. Head bowed, it whimpered pitifully fearing retribution for the uninvited intrusion.
"Bezsuth! What are you doing here?" Kali asked quietly, not wanting to scare the little minion any more than it already was. Stroking the smooth, bald head, she tenderly scratched behind the small horns on its wrinkled forehead.
"So sorry, so sorry!" wailed Bezsuth. "Please forgive, Mistresses... please forgive. Bezsuth not want intrude... not want intrude."
"It's okay. What's up?" soothed Kali, glancing at Agra with raised eyebrows. The other demoness shook her head and shrugged.
"She dead... she dead... soul gone... soul gone."
Kali frowned and reached down to lift the minion's chin to look into his dark brown eyes.
"Who's dead? What are you talking about?" she demanded.
When Bezsuth cringed, Kali softened her grip and patted his head affectionately.
"It's okay. I'm not mad at you. Tell us who you mean."
"The whore... the whore... she dead... she dead."
"What whore?"
"Your whore... your whore, Mistress... Marlou... Marlou."
Both Agra and Kali stiffened.
"How?" growled Agra and then softened her voice. "What happened?"
Slewing a glance at her, the minion quickly looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with the powerful demoness.
"She die in accident... in accident... train crash... train crash... many many whores die... many, many."
"Why didn't the amulet let us know? It's connected to her essence."
"He take it... he take it."
"He? He who? What are you talking about, Bezsuth? Just tell us what you know."
"Sanarixs... Sanarixs... he want souls... want many many souls... know whores easy... easy... know no one care."
"Sanarixs? Since when did that creep care for souls. He only enjoys decaying flesh."
"He want power, Mistress, power. Ever since Sabnock leave he grow braver... braver. He take their essence... all of them. He take whores' essence... and amulet... and amulet. Say you no do nothing... say you weak... weak from years with the humans."
Agra slowly stood up, her body rigid with anger.
"Where are my whores' souls?" she hissed, coldly. At that moment Kali knew her friend was barely in control of her temper but considering the circumstances was not inclined to interfere.
"He eat them... eat them... say you no do nothing... no do nothing."
"Does Dis know this?"
"No... no... I tell you first... you first... you always kind to me... kind to me... me pay back... pay back, Mistress."
"Good. Thank you, Bezsuth. You can go now. I'll deal with Sanarixs."
Before either Kali or the minion could respond, Agra was gone.
"Oh shit!" exclaimed Kali, looking at the terrified demon crouched next to her. "Don't worry. She's not mad at you, but I'd better check this..."
Before she could finish, the earth trembled and then shook violently. Running to the window, Kali noticed a large plume of smoke billowing up in the distance. The cloud soared skyward as if a huge bomb had been dropped. People in the streets had screamed and dropped to the ground, covering their heads with their arms.
"Fuck! Gotta go, Bezsuth. Return to the Underworld and get Dis. I think we may need him," she ordered and then vanished.
Kali reappeared on a hillside over looking the Tunguska Valley in Russia. Around her was such complete devastation she would have sworn the apocalypse had occurred had she not known Agra was involved. On the valley floor stood her friend, legs spread apart with hands on her hips as if posing for a statue. At her feet lay the crumpled figure of a large male demon, one arm held high in the air in an attempt to ward off his assailant.
"Where are their souls?" Agra growled. Bolts of energy bounced all around them, setting the small patches of earth on fire.
"I... I don't know!" stammered Sanarixs. "I only deal with decay. You know that!" His voice held that whiny weedling tone that the demoness detested.
"One last time, Sanarixs! If you don't tell me where their souls are, I promise you, you will know pain as no demon has ever experienced it. I will give you to Bhuta and let her feed from your essence every day. She will suck your life force slowly and painfully, leaving only just enough for you to survive and then, when you have recovered, she will do it over and over from now to eternity... and that will only be the beginning of your misery."
"Please, Agra..."
A rumbling, followed by the appearance of Dis and Beszuth interrupted his pleading.
"Dis!" cried the fallen demon. "She's gone mad! You must do something!"
The Underlord ignored Sanarixs and turned to Agra demanding an explanation.
"He has stolen several of my whores' souls. I want them back!"
"All of this over whores? There are plenty of them out there for the taking."
"They aren't his to take!" declared the furious demoness.
"So what? What difference does a few lost souls mean? It's not like they are an endangered species. Look at all of this destruction, Agra. Have you lost your mind?"
"No! I have a right..."
"You have no rights to their souls!" stormed Dis, his voice rising with his anger. "They were given to you only as humans to do with as you wish. Their souls still belong to me. You've overstepped yourself!"
Sanarixs smirked slyly. Now that Dis was here, he had no doubt he would escape the demoness's wrath. Seeing the look, Agra stiffened and glared at the insolent demon.
"Enough of this!" ordered Dis, not wanting a repeat of her previous temper tantrum.
"I will not leave without their souls!"
"You will do as I say!"
"I think not, Underlord!" she hissed, her eyes blazing a brilliant red. "You forget. I am no longer yours to command. You granted me freedom."
"Obviously, poor judgment on my part."
"Or a wise move," she countered.
Dis sighed. He knew she was right. At the time it was the only way he could get her to divorce him. As ruler of the Underworld, his word was law but not necessarily enforceable without the help of others. Unfortunately, the female demons were the more powerful of the demons giving them immense influence amongst the population.
Females! he thought.
"I would suggest you give Agra what she wants," advised Lilith, appearing next to her.
"As would I," added Kali, joining the two women.
Dis snorted in disgust. It didn't bode well for him whenever his exes and their friends banded together in a common cause. Turning to look at Sanarixs, his eyes blazed angrily.
"Now look what you've done, you idiot! Give her the damn souls before they do something extreme! I don't have time for this crap!" he said and disappeared.
It was Agra's turn to smirk. Swallowing nervously, Sanarixs nodded his head. If the Underlord was afraid of these females, he knew he was in trouble. Bending his head and clutching his stomach he gagged. At first nothing happened but then, six small golden spheres, slightly smaller than golf balls, popped out of his mouth and floated delicately through the air, pushed by the force of the regurgitation. Reaching out his hand, he pushed them toward Kali. After examining each globe, she nodded to her friend and placed them in her outstretched hand.
"You may go," said Agra. "But not unpunished!"
Snapping her fingers, she smiled wickedly as Sanarixs vanished.
"What did you do?" Lilith asked, not sure she really wanted to know.
"Since he loves the taste and smell of decaying flesh so much, I removed his taste buds
and his sense of smell. What he enjoys most, he will no longer enjoy at all."
The three women laughed.
"What are you going to do with the souls?" asked Kali.
Turning to Besmuth, who was crouched behind Lilith, she motioned him forward.
"Besmuth, you have done me a great service this day. I am in your debt." Agra knelt to make eye contact with the small minion.
"No debt, mistress... no debt," he replied smiling for the first time.
"Yes there is. Now I must ask you to do me a great favor."
"Anything... anything..."
Taking his small hand, she placed five of the spheres on his palm.
"These you must keep safe. They are precious to me. I would consider it an honor if you accept them and the trust I place in you."
Besmuth beamed with joy and straightened up until he was standing on two feet. It was an awkward position for him as he had spent most of his existence scrambling around on all fours.
"Thank you, mistress... thank you. It is great honor... great honor. I protect with my life... my life."
"I know you will, my friend," she said, stroking his knobby head.
"And the last soul?" asked Kali, pointing to the remaining globe on her palm.
"This is Marylou."
Opening her mouth, Agra placed the last small globe on her tongue and then swallowed.
"I will keep her safe until I can talk with the Twin. She deserves better than what we have to offer. I'm hoping he will give her a second chance at life."
"Good luck!" replied Lilith.
"Oh, I think I have something better than luck," Agra replied, looking smugly at Kali. "I have her... and we both know how he feels about her."
"Good point!"
Kali smirked.
The three stared at the devastation around them. For a moment Agra felt guilty at the lives lost from the explosion when she hurled Sanarixs's body to the earth. She had tried to pick an uninhabited area but hadn't realized the power behind her anger.
"This is going to be hard to explain," Kali said, shaking her head unconsciously.
Agra shrugged. It was worth it to have retrieved the soul of the one human she had truly loved.
"The humans will come up with something. They always do."
And they did. Years later, scientists determined a meteorite had struck the Tunguska Valley on June 30, 1908. The destruction to the area and for several kilometers around it was the equivalent of an atom bomb exploding, leaving nothing alive. Fortunately, very few people died.
CHAPTER 8
YEMAYA FROWNED WHEN she saw Kali and Agra leaving the club. Cammie had followed them outside. Bertha, the bouncer, joined Lilith behind the bar and started taking orders while the club owner mixed the drinks. It was obvious the large woman wasn't comfortable playing barmaid.
"Something is wrong," she told Dakota, nodding toward them. "I think I will see if Lilith needs some help."
Before Dakota could reply, Cammie returned looking slightly perturbed.
"Maybe you should see if you can learn something from Cammie."
"Will do," replied Dakota.
How is she going to manage this when just before she had to run to the bathroom to collect herself, if that’s what she did in there.
Lilith handed Bertha the mixed drinks and started on the next order when she felt the Illusionist’s presence.
"Can I help you with something?" asked Yemaya.
"Unless you know how to mix drinks, I doubt it," she replied, good-naturedly.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I do. It comes in handy when I entertain. Move over and tell me what you need."
Raising both eyebrows in surprise, the demoness stepped aside to let her pass. Smiling, Yemaya listened to the order, picked up a bottle of rum, spun it around and quickly poured two drinks. Adding coke to one and tonic to the other, she passed them to Lilith and then proceeded to prepare the next drink. Seeing the customers were now in good hands, Bertha sighed and headed back to her stool by the door, grateful to be away from the noisy crowd.
"You really are a magician," teased Lilith once the backlog of orders was cleared.
"Illusionist," corrected Yemaya, enjoying the moment.
* * *
Dakota watched in amazement as her lover quickly poured liquor into glasses, added the various mixes and spun the bottles like a baton before setting them on the shelves.
Damn! she thought before switching her attention to Cammie.
"Anything I can do?" she asked quietly.
"No. One of Agra’s whores is in trouble. Kali went with her in case she needs help."
"And you don’t like it."
"Not really."
"Do you think something could happen to them?"
"Now-a-days, anything can happen. This is a different world and time from the good old days. Demons aren’t the immortals they once thought they were. We have more vulnerabilities now."
"Surely they know that."
"Oh, they know... but Agra loves her whores. She gets out of control sometimes. Even Kali has a hard time calming her down."
"Well, I get the impression they make a formidable team... but I know how you feel. I’m constantly stressing out over Yemaya when she gets into one of her situations. I bet I’ve grown hundreds of gray hairs by now."
"Nothing noticeable," teased Cammie.
"Do you think we should go and help Lilith?"
Watching the two dark women making and passing out drinks was watching grace in motion. They were so in sync with each other that the line at the bar shrank to just a few women standing around gossiping.
"I’d say they don’t need our help. Besides, it’s a good opportunity for them to get to know each other... and for you and me to talk."
Dakota wasn’t sure she liked the sound of the last part.
"Don’t worry. I just wanted to make sure you’re ok with what Yemaya told you about me. I know you were embarrassed about what happened."
"To say the least... but it’s ok. I was just happy to find out it wasn’t me."
"Good. By the way, do you feel anything now?"
The journalist was surprised that she didn’t.
"No. Actually I don't! What happened?"
"I’m not sure. Kali and I have been spending a lot of time together. It's the first time I've ever been in a real relationship. It seems to have taken the edge off my gift. At least that’s what I think. I still attract a few women but rarely do they get so intense now. It feels strange. I'm not sure if I miss the attention or not!"
"I can imagine." Dakota remembered the first time she and Yemaya had visited the club. Being a Cambion, the child of a succubus and incubus, Cammie had the unique but uncontrollable ability to cause people to fall in love with her. Having fallen under her spell, the journalist had propositioned the woman and had gone so far as to hint at an interest in participating in a 'threesome' and trying some BDSM. Needless to say, Yemaya had been momentarily stunned by her behavior and realizing something was wrong, had calmly suggested they leave. When an argument ensued, Dakota stormed out of the bar. The next day she learned of Cammie's unique nature and was so embarrassed she wasn't sure she wanted to go back to the club. Yemaya had quickly assured her she hadn't done anything wrong but the guilt over her treatment of her lover left Dakota a little depressed. Seeing Cammie again and feeling nothing unusual helped to alleviate the guilt.
CHAPTER 9
MARGO HUDDLED IN the alleyway waiting for her boss. Whenever the woman lying beside her moaned, she would lean down, stroke her hair and whisper soothingly to her trying to calm her down. Nervously she pressed her back against the wall and watched the silhouettes of people moving up and down the streets hoping no one would notice her. When a blue Toyota Sequoia pulled in front of the alley, blocking the entrance, she knew her time had run out. Freddie’s enforcers had arrived.
"What have we here?" asked the thin white man walking up to Margo and nudging her with his foot. His two companions sni
ckered. "Hey, Stumpy, looks like we have another whore here. When’s the last time you had one from the Sisterhood?" he sneered.
"Never, boss. Everyone knows deys handsoff," replied the large goofy looking man next to him. He was quickly slapped across the face. "Hey! Why you do that, Lenny?"
"There’s no such thing as hands off for whores, you idiot. Take this whore back there and teach her to mind her own business. It’ll be a good message to those bitches that run the stable she's in. Jimmy, put Candy in the car and make sure she stays alive. He has special plans for this one. He wants to make an example of her."
Lilith - TI3 Page 24
