Mystery's Choice (Vengeance Of The Fallen Book 1) (40 page)

Serafina caught sight of the rhododendrons and looked up at Raevanne, who was making small talk with Samael. She turned and Mystery looked at the rhododendrons and back at Serafina. She smiled the same mildly amused smile and mouthed, “I love my Mother.”

Serafina tried to stare back at Mystery and finally she had to look away. Satisfied the message had been received Mystery sat back to enjoy the evening.

Everyone enjoyed dinner. When it was over a maid showed Samael and Serafina to their chamber. Cain went to take care of some business for his father. Raevanne and Mystery walked down the hall together.

“You put rhododendrons, in the centerpiece, do you know what they symbolize?”  Raevanne looked at her daughter.

“Yes, they are a warning to others you should not be messed with or underestimated.”

“Why did you put them there? Samael means you no harm.”

“Because I wanted it perfectly clear to Serafina her minuscule power is of no consequence here. If she even upsets you, let alone tries to harm you, I will destroy her slowly, painfully, and I will make sure everyone, including Samael, forgets she ever existed.”  She took her mother’s hand and stopped walking. “I love you. When I was a little girl growing up, I used to wish I had a real mother, one who loved me. When I found out about you more than anything, almost more than I wanted to be with Jeremiah, I wanted to be with you. You came to me one time and I knew you loved me, like a mother is supposed to. So now I stand for you. I will protect and avenge you. And I wanted Serafina to know she is less than the vermin skulking around the dungeons to me. It would cost me nothing and I wouldn’t even have to break a sweat to erase her.”

“I do love you, my angel. The years you were gone were agony for me. I wondered all the time if you were okay, if you were loved. I wondered if you remembered me. When I looked into your eyes, and saw the woman you had become looking out at me, I was so proud. And I was so scared, that woman wouldn’t back down from Cain, I was afraid I would lose you again.”  She smiled. “You surprised me when you came home. And every day you make me prouder.”  She touched Mystery’s cheek. “However, I will not be annoyed by Serafina’s presence and she could never hurt me. I realize how trivial she is when the Ascension is at hand. What all the Roodmasi have worked for will come to pass, so a stupid whore means nothing.”  They started walking again and when they were upstairs Raevanne kissed Mystery on the cheek. “Thank you for your protection and your loyalty. Goodnight, my daughter.”

“Goodnight, Mother.”  She kissed her back and went down the corridor to her chamber.

Once inside, she took her hair down and handed Juliet her robe.

“Your bath is ready, Princess, I mean Mystery.”  The older woman smiled at Mystery, as she hung her robe in the closet.

“Thank you, Juliet. You may go for the night. Rest well.”

“Thank you, Mystery. You rest well, too. Goodnight Mystery.”

“Goodnight, Juliet.”

When the maid closed the door, Mystery went and climbed in the warm, peony-scented water. She cleansed away the negativity of her encounter with Serafina; she climbed out and rubbed her skin with a soothing lavender crème. She padded back into her bedroom, waved the candles out and settled into bed. Within minutes she was sound asleep.

Mystery moaned in her sleep and her legs fell open. She smiled and opened her eyes. Samael was sitting on the bed working her tender skin into a frenzy.

“This time you will see the body you know so well. You will see the passion in my eyes as I pleasure you.”  He leaned over and kissed her, nibbling down her neck when she threw her head back as she came.

“Take me now, while I look into your eyes.”  Mystery managed in a whisper, as she shifted so he was lying between her legs.

“As you wish.”  He slowly pressed into her, looking in her eyes, smiling, when they glazed with pleasure. Mystery moaned into the darkness as he began to move within her.

The next morning, Mystery awoke alone in bed. She sat up and smiled when her body protested. She looked down at the bite marks and bruises, when she thought of how they got there she blushed. Mystery gingerly climbed out of bed and went to shower, humming “
At Last
” to herself.

Serafina paced furiously across the empty space of what had been her chamber. How dare the brat threaten her and then spend the night with Samael!  Serafina fought a shiver when she remembered the power, which had leaked from Mystery’s slightly amused eyes. Okay, so, the brat had power, immeasurable power, if the rumors were to be believed. And after last night, Serafina was inclined to believe them. But she was Serafina, Royal Consort of Prince Samael. She dined nightly with the Infernal Court; she ate her damn breakfast with Satan for crying out loud. The insolent brat! With a bad tempered sneer, she sat crossed legged on the cold rock floor of her former chamber and sat the bowl of water she had carried in on the floor in front of her.

“By the powers of three times three, make me see, make me see!”  She moved her hand widdershins over the water. Slowly, the water stirred and began to show shadows. Serafina smiled as the images of Raevanne and Cain filled the surface of the water...

Cain kissed the back of Raevanne’s neck and chuckled when she shivered. She turned to tease him back and saw the lost look on his troubled handsome face.

“Please tell me what troubles you so, my love?”  Raevanne cupped his face in her hands. “I can not bear to see you suffer.”  She kissed him softly.

Cain studied her beautiful face, his heart swelled when he saw the love there. He took her hands in his. “Father has ordered Jeremiah die during the Ascension ceremony.”

“No!”  Raevanne stood to pace the chamber. “We can not!” Mystery won’t allow it. We will lose everything. I could lose everything!  I would lose my grandson and either my husband or my daughter or both!”

“Jeremiah will grow up to be a threat to Father.”  He held his face in his hands. “Father will not take the risk.”

“We could bind his powers.”  Raevanne was desperate. “Please Cain, suggest it to the Master!”

“I have already suggested it. And everything else I could think of. I told him, we could teach him our ways, make him Roodmasi.”  Cain hung his head in sorrow. “Father says he could never be turned, we do not have the ability to bind his powers, Mystery may not even be able to bind his powers and she is his mother. Father said he could not see any way to save him. He will settle for nothing but his death.”

“I won’t allow it!”  Raevanne crossed her arms and stood her ground.

“Yes, we will. It is Father’s command.”  Cain said gently.

“I have followed him my whole life. I have asked for nothing for myself, only for my people and their future. I would fall on my own dagger if he asked it of me. But I will not allow Jeremiah to be killed.”  Raevanne said with doomed finality.

“For you my love, I will do what I have never done. I will ask again.”  Cain kissed her and disappeared.

Serafina smiled, she would get to see Raevanne and the brat suffer or die for their insolent disobedience of the Master, for Mystery would never allow any harm to come to her half breed son. With them both out of the way, Serafina would finally be Shivana.

Serafina stood trying to decide how best to use her newfound information. She would tell Samael, it might be a political opportunity for both of them. She thought of her lover and smiled when she found him in bed with three servant girls. He smiled his wonderfully wicked smile as he pleasured them to death. Serafina let her lust for him take her to him.

When she appeared in the room, he looked up from the dead, half-eaten body of one of the servant girls. Blood dripped from his luscious mouth. Serafina stepped forward and kissed him, she lowered her head and rolled her eyes up to him as she joined him in the feast. He threw his head back and growled as the servant girl who was servicing him completed her task. He pulled himself from her mouth and snapping her spine, he buried his razor sharp teeth in her chest.

Serafina slid her robe from her shoulders and climbed onto the bed, pushing the remains of the dead servant girls out of her way. Samael took her nipple in his mouth and bit down. The remaining servant girl began to use her mouth on Serafina, and Serafina’s mind scattered.

“Angel, I believe you had something to tell me, when you first appeared?”  He smiled at her glazed over eyes.

Serafina made herself think past the pleasure and her eyes cleared. Samael glowed with pride as he bit down on her other breast.

“The Master.”  She inhaled sharply as the servant girl nibbled on her. She pushed Samael’s head from her breast, as she came. Serafina switched positions so; Samael could reach between the servant girl’s legs. He smiled at her as he lapped and the girl moaned. “Wants the half breed to die.”  She kissed the girl and nibbled her way down the girl’s neck. “At the Ascension ceremony.”  She whispered over the girl’s breast. “Raevanne out and out refuses to let it happen.”  She bit down on the girl’s breast and the girl cried out in pleasure. She used her teeth to distend the girl’s nipple. “Cain for the first time in recorded history is having a hard time following his Father’s mandate.”  The girl moaned and writhed when Samael bit into the soft cleft of skin between her legs. Serafina nuzzled between the girl’s breasts and bit into her chest. They both fed. Samael pushed the body out of the bed and slid two fingers deep inside Serafina. She bit her tongue to clear her mind. “The princess will not allow anyone to kill her son; she will fight.”  Serafina moaned in pleasure as Samael switched his fingers for his mouth. “She and Raevanne will be destroyed and Cain will fall out of favor with his Father.”  She writhed and screamed as she came. Samael glided up her body rubbing his body across her electrified skin. She gasped as he filled her. Serafina shook her head to clear it. “It could leave our path unobstructed. You can take over Cain’s duties, and I will finally be Shivana.”  He kissed her and thrust in and out of her with ever building force. The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the chamber.

“This is interesting news. We will patiently wait on the sidelines, helping things along whenever safe. I will suggest you stay on to organize the devastated Roodmasi.”  He reared his head back and roared as he came, drowning out her scream. “I will offer to fill in for Cain, to ease the burden and I will offer comfort as he deals with the betrayal of his favored son.”  He licked her throat and nibbled her ear. He kissed her and pulled himself out and moved to lie besides her, smiling as he thought of his dreams coming true.

“Why haven’t you tired of me, Samael?”  Serafina asked cautiously.

“You are the first woman I have encountered who is my equal, other than Raevanne and Mystery who are both taken. Pleasure is important to you, but it doesn’t rule you. You are physically strong and your body is perfect. I never have to worry about breaking you. And your mind is focused, determined, conniving, and manipulative. For the first time, I have found a female whose intellect and quest for power match mine.”  He smiled his wickedly perfect smile. “You are never boring.”  Samael leaned in and kissed her. “I ate the others because they feared me and they could not think beyond their pleasure, they were slaves to their passion, just like every other human female I’ve feasted on over the years. How eternally boring they were.”  He sat up. “Does Mystery know?”  He stood and stretched.

“No.”  Serafina walked around the bed and stood in front of him. “Why?”  She thought for a minute. “If she knew she might start a war before the Master arrives. She very well might attack her parents to protect her child, especially if she believes their hesitance to kill him to be a lie.”

“The Master arrives and we inform him of the tragic death of his son and daughter-in-law. We add with sorrow in our voices, how we had to kill the Princess, to carry out his wishes to kill the child. We will have already cleaned up the mess. You will have stepped in, as Shivana and I will have taken over the Ascension duties. We will be the Master’s golden children.”  Samael smiled and kissed her. “See, never boring. Why don’t you bathe and go and have a heart to heart with the princess, to smooth the waters between you.”

“Yes.”  She went to bathe.

26

Lily, Sam, and the others watched the news in shocked disbelief. All over the world Equalized Troops were systematically burning or bombing all religious meeting places. The tired looking news anchor, ran his fingers through his perfect hair and promised a look at local news after the commercial break.

The commercial was an ad for bongs and other custom-made drug paraphernalia. They all looked around at each other, thinking about all the lives that had been lost and all the work, which had gone into the ads, programs, and lectures to end drug abuse. When the news came back it showed an Equalized general ordering the burning of a Denver church. Lily gasped.

“That’s Nergal in his human form. The Equalized troops are his armies. He governs 60 legions of his own personal secret police. He also can petition Satan for command of all the armies of Hell. He will be unstoppable. Any nations that have held out will fall once he turns his beady yellow eyes on them!”  Lily shivered. Remembering her penalty for sparing his life, Sam put his arm around her.

“How many soldiers in a legion?”  Mary Kate asked as the last church’s steeple caved in and was engulfed in flames.

“Six hundred sixty six per legion. There are about seven or eight thousand legions. Next, you have the possessor demons, the lowest order ones called Minion and the other Legion; they each consist of six hundred sixty six demons. They can be used to possess heads of state who aren’t cooperating, or enrage husbands at grocery stores making them go on a killing spree, or take over unstable children who have access to machine guns.”   Lily stopped to make sure everybody knew what this all meant.

“So we’re talking about at least 5,329,000 soldiers with demonic power, burning down churches, killing clergy, bringing down governments, possessing unstable people and urging them to kill. It won’t be long before there is nothing but chaos.” Felicity’s eyes filled with fear. “And when things are worse than we can ever imagine them being, He’ll come.”

“He’ll come. We’re out of time. A few days at most and we will have to attack or we will lose our chance.”  Lily reached for Ryan. “She’ll come before then, I promise.”

He took her hand. “I pray so.”

Cain walked into the throne room and waited as his father finished his monthly business, with Melchom, the Grand Treasurer. The demon turned around to leave, and seeing Cain he bowed deeply.

“You may raise, Melchom.”  Cain mumbled.

“Thank you, my Prince.”  He rose from the bow and scurried from the room carrying bundles of scrolls and papers.

“The price of flesh has gone way down since the Roodmasi took over, it’s too easy to come by. However, soul currency has skyrocketed, because of self-serving, satanic cults like the Church of Satan and The Church of Belial. They practice hedonism and debauchery supposedly in my name which brings us dozens of new souls without lifting a finger.”  Satan studied his son’s angelically handsome face. “But this is not why you have come to me. What is it son?”

Cain knelt before the throne. “Please, Master. Raevanne and I beseech you, spare Jeremiah, and bind his powers. It will make him unable to threaten your plans.”

Satan grabbed his son by the shoulders and gently stood him up. He smoothed his hair.

“I know how much this hurts the both of you. Especially you, my son, for you have never challenged my decisions before, so I know this causes you great pain. You have asked countless questions out of curiosity, but never have you come so close to actually challenging my mandate. I can see no other way to neutralize the threat.”  He returned to the throne. “If you would rather, I can send Nergal or Baal to do it. However, they will make him suffer, it is their way.”

“No!  I will do it Father, please do not send them.”

“Very well.”

“Thank you.”  Cain hung his head in defeat. “I will do as you ask no matter what the price.”

“That’s my boy!”

“Goodnight, Father.”

“Goodnight, my son.”

Cain could feel his father’s stare as he left the throne room. He knew disaster was coming. Mystery would not allow it. He would have to fight her and one of them would die.” 

Cain appeared in the corridor outside his grandson’s nursery. He walked to the doorway and stood there watching Jeremiah play. Jeremiah saw him and scampered to him.

“Grampa!”  The little boy reached up.

Cain picked him up and smelled his hair. He listened to the excited jabbering about his new “poopy”. The “poopy” had eaten Juliet’s shoe and was in timeout in his “kenvil”. Cain smiled and put him down. He scampered away laughing as the nurse let the “poopy” out.

Cain turned and walked away. He went down the hall and slowly opened the door. Raevanne came from the bathroom as he closed the door.

Serafina rushed excitedly into Mystery’s office. “Oh thank, Satan! I have been looking everywhere for you princess!”  She collapsed in the desk chair.

“What could you possibly need to see me for?”  Mystery sat back and studied Serafina.

“We got off to a rocky start, so, I had been trying to find a way to make amends, when I heard the most distressing news.”  Serafina’s eyes filled with tears.

“What news?”  Mystery shoved a tissue at her.

“Cain plans to sacrifice Jeremiah at the Ascension ceremony, per his father’s orders.”  Serafina sniffed.

“You are lying. My father adores his grandson!”

“His father has ordered it.”

“Leave my presence, before I let my temper make me do something which would be unfortunate for both of us.”  Mystery said through clenched teeth.

“Yes, Princess.”  Serafina stood and smiled all the way out of the office.

Mystery thought about what the bitch had said. Cain would do as he was ordered. She imagined the hallway outside her father’s office and disappeared. She slipped down the stone steps and the corner, careful to keep out of sight. She stopped just outside the door. Dante, her father’s hell hound growled and Mystery sent up a protective shield, so, they wouldn’t hear he thoughts. Inside, she could hear her mother’s siren’s voice raised in anger.

“We can’t offer him.”  Raevanne prowled the chamber like an anxious tigress. “He’s our grandson!”  She stopped and crossed her arms across her ample bosom. “I won’t do it!”

“Raevanne, my sweet, you will.”  He crossed to her and took her in his arms. “You must. It is what Father commands.”  He buried his face in her hair. “Besides, we will still have another grandchild.”

“I can’t, and Mystery won’t stand by while we kill her son. She will fight. And I am not so sure you can overpower her in a fight anymore. She is quite powerful and she is well practiced in using her powers. Even Samael feared her abilities when he arrived. If we try to do this, my love I will at the very least lose my husband, at the most I will lose all three of you. We cannot do this!  We mustn’t do this!”  Raevanne begged her husband.

“It is true Mystery will fight and she may outdo me in a battle. If I refuse, Father will send Nergal or Baal to do it. Jeremiah would suffer horribly before he died. And I would no longer have Father’s favor, he would most certainly destroy you and the Roodmasi would end up in the hands of Serafina. There is just too much at stake, to defy Father now. “  He raised her face and kissed her gently. “Father will not bend on this. Somehow, we must convince our child to do as we have been commanded. Or we face disaster, my love.”  He turned towards the door. “Someone’s listening.”

Mystery gasped, concentrated on her chamber and disappeared.

Raevanne checked the hall. “No one is out here, my husband.”

“Someone was.”  Dante growled his agreement. “We have to keep this from Mystery for as long as we can. The less time she knows, the less time she has to bring about disaster.”

Raevanne sat down and started to sob. Cain went to her and folded her in his arms, murmuring soothing words.

Mystery couldn’t stop trembling. She wouldn’t allow them to harm her son. Jeremiah was all she had from her life with Seth. He was her only link to the world where Ryan lived. He was a bright, energetic, loving child with boundless cheer. He was always smiling. He was so good. He lived in the midst of so much evil and he remained untainted. He was the best of both of his parents. Mystery thought about how Jeremiah’s little face always lit up when she went to the nursery, his grey eyes full of happiness. He had his father’s eyes and Mystery’s straight, black hair.

She fought down nausea and forced herself to think. Mystery felt chagrined she wasn’t worried about Kasdeya and what they would make her into, what her true purpose was. She had soulless eyes; the blackness complete there was no white. She exuded a cold. Malignant evil. She would sit for hours at a time staring at something Mystery could not see, glowing with unholy light. She never cried or needed Mystery, she wouldn’t even breastfeed. Mystery shivered as she admitted Kasdeya gave her the creeps.

“Oh God!  I know I have no right to ask, but please save my son. I am sorry for the evil I have committed but please don’t punish Jeremiah for my mistakes.”  Mystery whispered her prayer, afraid to appear too demanding. “Ryan. Ryan will help. He would save Jeremiah, and he would raise him to be just and kind.”  She sank down on her bed. “God, I offer my life in exchange for safe passage for Ryan and Jeremiah.”  She lowered her head and disappeared.

Serafina watched it all in the water and smiling, she went to tell Samael it had begun. The Roodmasi and Cain’s position of power would soon be theirs.

Ryan tossed in his sleep. He sat up as the air began to change. He shook his head in denial as he looked up and into Mystery’s glowing green eyes. She straddled him and ran her fingers through his hair; there was tenderness in her expression and sorrow. He wasn’t going to believe her lies this time. She was the reason his brother was dead and rotting in Hell, the reason he was no longer a priest. She had picked her side, she had chosen evil and it emanated from her like a heady perfume, to mix with the smell of roses and vanilla. He closed his eyes, she was evil incarnate. She was… his reason for living, for breathing, for existing. He pushed her off and went to sit in a chair beside the bed. She followed, kneeling in front of him.

“Ryan, please help me.”  She raised her beautiful face to him, eyes pleading. “They are going to murder Jeremiah in some ceremony. He’s all there is of Seth.”  She took his face in her pale, cold hands. “I can’t fight them alone.”  She settled herself in his lap. “With your powers and mine combined, we could defeat Cain and save Jeremiah.”  She nibbled on his ear and smiled when he moaned.

“Felicity told me you would come, but I hadn’t let myself believe it. The last time you sounded so final and you have been at Cain’s side through all this chaos. I thought I had lost you.”  He fought to clear his brain.

“If she and Lily are willing to help you, we could stop the Roodmasi all together. We can end the evil. But it will have to be before Saturday, the day of the Ascension. The battle between the fallen angels and the armies of Hell and the angels of Heaven will begin at sunrise the next day. With the current mindset of humanity and the sheer unevenness of number, Satan will win. Cain, will perform the ceremony, which only he can do, and Satan will ascend to the throne, plunging mankind into eternal darkness. If we stop Cain from performing the ceremony and bring down the Roodmasi before Saturday, Satan will remain imprisoned in Acheron.” She ran her tongue along his jaw and softly bit his bottom lip.

“And do you believe Grandpa would just let you go?”  He was still trying to resist her.

“No. You guys just save Jeremiah and stop the Roodmasi. I will deal with my father and Grandpa.”  She dropped her cloak and wrapped her legs around him.

“You’ll die.”  He rubbed a nipple between his fingers.

“Yes, I will. But not before I stop them. And what does it matter if I die now or later. Either way, I burn in Hell for all of eternity.”  She moaned and let her head fall back.