PART FORTY-EIGHT:
Parrots and poisonous people:
“Oh, I just stopped by with my aunt. I wanted to finally see what this place was like.” The young woman explained, responding to no verbal question in particular. The man she had just addressed, shifted rather uncomfortable in his seat. While glancing periodically, at the closed lone door in the waiting room. He was waiting for his fiancée, and it appeared she was running a little later than usual this day. Meeting her younger sister here, was a bit of a surprise for him. Especially one he wished he had been better prepared for. Considering the non-stop chatter, he was enduring. She had not stopped talking, since he walked in. And he was having a hard time keeping up mentally, with all that she was saying.
“I have been in this town five days already,” she continued. “Five very boring days. Can you imagine that? Tomorrow should be my last day and how I look forward to….”
“Juja still has not returned.” The interruption was more a factual statement, than it was a question. One of the leaders in the organization, had walked into the guest waiting room. Where Juja's younger sister and her fiancé were waiting and not together. He also was waiting for the worker, who had stepped out earlier. She had done a usual call, to an orphanage. An institution sponsored by the queen, through the organization. It usually did not take her that long, when she made those visits.
At the questioning and worried expression on the fiancé’s face, the leader rushed to dispel any rising concern. “It is probably a delayed carriage situation.” He offered kindly with a smile. “I do believe she is on her way back. Should be joining us, any time soon.” He concluded, looking from the sister to the man.
At that, Juja’s sister started to speak again.
“Delayed carriage? My, but that shouldn’t take this long. We both have been here for about an hour now. Haven’t we?” She turned towards her sister’s fiancé inquiring. That one simply nodded, as he glanced towards the door again.
“I will head back to the other room,” the leader announced. “And then check back in a few minutes.” He finished, just as the other man hurriedly stood up. Moving to head out also, as it were with the leader.
“Maybe she forgot where she was again, or just lost her bearing as other times before.” The young woman's voice stalled the current exodus abruptly. Seeing that both men had now stopped their movement and were watching her with rapt attention. She plowed in further with her narration. “You both look surprised,” she chuckled. “Of course, that has been the case. More so, since the other fiancé died. We are not really sure what caused his death. Only Juja can tell you that. But we suspect his heart might have been broken, over what she did with their two children.”
The men now standing transfixed, turned to look at each other in shock. Seeing the exchange, the young woman sat up with more offerings. “Some say she sold the kids. You know, for sacrificial purposes. The details have not been clear yet….” She stopped momentarily, as her sister’s fiancé gasped. A look of immense disbelief, registered on his face. “I know how you feel. I felt the same way too. I am her sister; the whole thing was so devastating to me. And I am quite sure it traumatized her, their death I mean.” She watched both men sympathetically for a moment, before adding. “Here is what I fear the most. She often says, that she is afraid that she might do it again.”
“Do what again?” Echoed both men in alarm. Though one appeared more nervous that the other. “Oh my, haven’t you been listening?” The young woman chided sullenly. “Kill a man and his children again, that’s what.” She finished churlishly, though managing a wry smile. At that, the young man staggered back nervously. Knocking over the chair he had been sitting on earlier, as he headed towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Asked Juja’s sister pointedly. “My sister has not returned yet. According to this other man here,” she carelessly waved her hands, towards the place the leader was still standing. “The carriage should be rolling in any moment," she finished. The young man looked from her to the leader and then dashed out the room without a word.
Operation demolish and destroy damsel:
The lone candle swayed and sputtered dark flames into the atmosphere. Dancing to the slow but threatening movements, below the door way on which it stood. Every hooded form, that walked into the crypt. Cast and then dragged its own shadows, deep into the tomb-like cave. When the six heads of legions were inside, they formed a half circle. Curving systematically, around the chiseled slab of concrete stone. A huge and wide structure, that served as a table among other things.
Their heads lowered, the six baleful forms began to undulate clockwise. Chanting as they did, in varying and individual languages.
Eerie and piercing utterances, rose in parallel timbre. Merging only at their utmost heights. And then blending into a haunting crescendo of a cruel screech. A daunting and savage repetition, that sliced into the still but disturbing air. Eventually, the different tongues began to sound alike in their fusion. Producing a twisted rhapsody, of tangled and tormenting tones. A savage sound, united in a call for a defiant mission. A shout that would usher in their lord and master. The ‘fly-lord's presence could be felt, before his form became visible. It was an arrival that bore heavily and gloomily on the atmosphere. The lowered hoods, jerked up in response. Revealing as they did, dark and seemingly empty spaces.
The chant stopped, as soon as the head of the fiendish forces was in full form. They were ready and focused for the intent of the gathering. The monitors were in session and their agenda was full.
“Who has been tracking the girl?” Barked the ‘fly-lord’, almost immediately. As Heinus the head monitor, hurriedly projected himself towards the large mirror. And then began to swipe vigorously on its surface. “I had been, but somehow we lost the system that was set-up to report her whereabouts.” The monitor replied, still intent on scanning images on the reflective surface. He only stopped, when he pulled up a scene that had Reinah marching across the woods, in quick and determined strides.
“Now where does she think she is going?” Snarled the ‘fly-lord’ impatiently. “I am not quite sure yet,” stated Heinus hesitantly. Still scrolling quickly, through a collage of blinking images.
“You are not quite sure?” Bellowed his master furiously. “Did you not prepare for this session? Are you not aware, that we are running out of time?” The deadly glint in his eyes, stared down his counterpart. Causing that one to shudder slightly before responding.
“She just ventured into the woods, not too long ago. She is probably just meeting with the other kids, who have been camping out there for a while.”
“And who are these kids that she is meeting with?” His master asked the glint still flashing in his eyes.
“No one important or of consequences.” Started the head monitor. "And she can’t be doing much there, at least not now.”
“It is never not much with her, you fool!” Snapped the irate master. His rage causing the candle to almost flicker out, as the other monitors lowered their hooded heads again. “Have you not learnt anything from our losses?” He continued, while twisting his neck back in an unnatural angle. “And where is Xitus?”
“Right here my lord,” the second monitor answered quickly. Jumping forward as he did, from the initial half-circle. “What is that girl doing in the forest with those other kids?”
“I will find out my lord.” Was Xitus uncomplicated but tentative reply. “Don’t just find out, stop it!” Commanded the ‘fly-lord’, as the monitor nodded. Moving his hooded form back into the half-circle.
“Heinus!” His master was still enraged. That one bowed forward, momentarily turning away from the mirror. The glass structure, that was now spurting out images sporadically.
“Launch an attack on her. Encapsulate the whole area, if you have to. But strike before we have to regret any more moves HE might make with her."
“Very well my lord,” agreed Heinus somewhat triumphantly.
In trouble and in toast:
'Shiny-shoes' appraised the embalmed body of her friend, who had been burned to a crispy death. The high priestess had preserved the ‘frozen item’, for a later time. And she believed, the time had now come to make good use of it. She had been warned by her ‘keepers’, that there was perceived and impending danger. The details of which she still, had not yet been privy to. Anyhow, details or not. There was trouble approaching and she was ever ready for war. She heard movements outside the door and stepped away from the body. No one really knew, what she had stowed away and hidden in the room. And she was not planning to let them in on that secret. Pushing the body back into its sliding encasement, she walked out the door.
.