PART SIXTY-SEVEN:
Any news might be good news:
Zunid thought he would jump out of his skin, when he finally saw his friend coming through the palace doors. The prince was flanked as always, by his personal aide. There was also another man with them that looked, like he was a security guard. The young man watched, in youthful awe. His friend was just as young as he was, yet he was already so purpose-filled and driven. Maybe it was something that came with privilege, surmised Zunid. Or the sheer responsibility of a title and an awaiting crown.
The prince and his assistant, headed towards the prepped and ready animals. Meanwhile, the guard that had emerged with them stood behind and waited. Then at about the same time, another security guard stationed inside the stables and riding area. Allowed Zunid inside, to join prince Amil. “How are you doing today Zunid?” The prince asked his friend kindly and with a broad smile. “Very well thank you,” replied the other young man. He was feeling, like he would burst open with excitement.
"You won’t believe, what I have to tell you.” His eyes widened expressively. “I just can’t wait to tell you,” he continued. “Well we still have to ride, as scheduled.” Said the prince, finding that he was getting increasingly curious. Wondering what it was that his friend and riding companion, had for him. “I must tell you right away though. That you paid well over what it is that you are going to get.” Zunid continued, seemingly unable to contain himself much longer. “Anything you get me, will be all worth it.” The prince stated calmly, as they both headed to the waiting horses. “Now let’s ride,” instructed the royal as he mounted.
Obsolete and Obstructed Observation:
Heinus swiped his hand, across the wide but segmented mirror. Then he began to feed it with his request. Projecting as it were, directly from his mind. However, when he saw the picture scene in front of him. It looked familiar and repetitive. He had seen this before and knowing the human capacity for restlessness, they could not have remained in that state for too long. The girl was still talking to the three other children, the monitor observed annoyed. What could she possibly have been talking about for so long?
It appeared that keeping up with her lately, had become a challenge. It was not like she was moving too fast, for them to catch up with her. But rather, the presence of an interference in their data system that was programmed after her. Interference or not, they had been given a window of opportunity to operate against her. And he would see to it, that they made the most of their time, before it ran out. The first monitor tapped on the image of the girl again, this time twice. In a bid to refresh the surveillance of whatever activity she was involved in and her current location.
However, nothing happened to the screen or the image. Then Heinus attempted to shift that bracket of a frozen scene, to another section of the large mirror but to no avail. Every effort to activate the girl’s image for information on her current status, proved futile. After a few more failed efforts, he smacked the mirror’s surface in agitation and stepped away from it. Looking around the bustling crypt, he searched for his colleague Xitus. The second monitor, was in charge of human relations. Somehow and someway, he always knew what to use and how to get the mortals involved in their devious schemes.
He was very versed on the method of playing on their emotions, weaknesses and desires. Along with the ability to manipulate and condition their thoughts, which would eventually lead to the control and command of their actions. He was also in charge of the minor monitors and familiar fiends, that plotted, arranged and distributed schemes and strategies. These relentless monitors, were able to carry out their plans, based on the information and data collected from human stalking and study.
“Xitus, what in the fiery flames, is going on with the ‘child threat’?” The monitor called out, as soon as he sighted his cohort speaking to a minor monitor. “I can’t seem to find her or pick up her trail either. It appears that the mirror maybe jammed.” He finished, waiting for the other monitor to move closer. Meanwhile, he was pointing at the mirror and glancing periodically from his expected partner to the screen. “So it has happened again I see,” started Xitus who was now positioned in front of the large mirror. Then he began to swipe, from one end of the large glass surface to the other.
“I had meant to tell you earlier, that her image and information. Has been freezing and/or fading out a lot these days,” the second monitor confirmed. “Initially, I thought it was just a minor and temporal glitch. Possible caused by the crossing and clashing of principality and territory. Just like a flight turbulence, you experience a jostle and jerk every now and then. A force, that may or may not interrupt the present wave by shutting it down temporary. But then it comes back, unaltered and hardly tampered with.” The second monitor explained further.
"However, that has not been the case. For every time we do get her image and business back again, it sadly shows that we have lost a lot of needful time. In other words, we missed a whole lot that must have happened in between the time we lost connection and the time we reconnected. And I cannot begin to tell you exactly, how detrimental and disturbing a situation like this could be and already is.” Xitus concluded and went back to tapping on the frozen image.
“This definitely describes an enemy interference to me.” Heinus supplied conclusively, yet pensive as to what other possibilities there could be. “But why should He disrupt our purposes, by interfering with the time and permission that he has given and allowed.” The second monitor queried, afraid that he may already know the answer. “He did not give it to us,” began Heinus still brooding over the existing glitch. “We stole it, but he did not prevent, counter or stop us. We are permitted and allowed to proceed, to the extent that it would simultaneously work out His plan.”
“You mean He is using us?” The second monitor was livid and frustrated. “In so much words, yes He does use us.” Agreed Heinus, before delving further to explain himself. “But don’t you give up, because here is the real kicker. The humans more often than not, make it work for us. By default of a fallen world, that is our oyster and the innate and willful disobedience of the mortals. Our efforts and relentless aim, pay off eventually.” Seeing that he had the other monitor’s rapt attention, he continued with his tutorial.
“You see, the only way that our stratagem against them, could become a reverse situation and become a stratagem for them. Is by a willful, conscious and genuine decision to deflate to him. He has an unimaginable and indescribable way of flipping it around for their good. However, like I told you. Few actually desire and deflate and we march on.” “But I still feel his early interruption on her behalf, interferes even with the little time he allowed us. How could He? If he continues like this, He could abort our mission?” Xitus felt insulted and slighted.
At that, his fellow monitor roared in laughter. “He can do anything he wants to do, let us never forget that. And as to why he seemed to shorten the time or invade the existing time, or interrupt the lapsing time, I do not know. But this much I know, from history and experience. That if you dared to get to His presence to inquire of such a question, as to why he might choose to cut our influence and time, without question. He might just begin to tell you, about that thing He calls love….” Both fiends began to wail, at the torture of their realization.