By Tony R. Smith & Beth Townsend
A clock tower in the square chimed four times. The smooth glass and metal skyscrapers of a bay side metropolis reflected afternoon sunlight onto the people below with blinding precision. A graceful woman with broad shoulders and high cheekbones, her chin thrust out assertively, strode across the courtyard, waist-length brunette hair and crimson dress dancing in the breeze. She signaled to a sinewy man wearing a green jacket.
“The illusion is cast. We should remain undetected.”
On the opposite end of the plaza, Machination adjusted the cufflinks on his pristine black suit. Beside his usual complement of guards, a sycophantic throng mingled around him. All looked crazed, but human.
The woman stopped to wag a polished finger at Mac. “Explain yourself!”
“My, my. You seem upset, but you’ll have to be more specific. After all, YOU created an illusion to obscure us from the feeble-minded mortals, so which one of us really has something to hide?”
As rumblings of discontent percolated through the group of onlookers, her companion held up his arms to foster restraint on both sides.
“Pride and I are here for an unofficial mediation between the three of us in the name of peace, not to participate in some spectacle.”
“Don’t be naïve, Dharma. He’s had plenty of opportunities to comply. Let’s gather the rest of the Council and be done with it!”
Mac smirked, placing a hand over his heart. “Elder Pride, that hurts. I thought you, of all demons, would understand. Sadly, like your fellow council members, you repeat the same, trite dogma time and again. Besides, how did you plan to enforce such a request, even if you were granted it?” A few in the crowd chuckled knowingly.
“None of this makes sense,” Dharma said, “You served Satan dutifully for centuries. Why flaunt his powers so recklessly now? Where is he, to account for this misuse of his authority? These removals are highly unorthodox. Surely, you understand we can’t sit idly by.”
“Exactly!” Pride glared, gritting her teeth. “Return Vigil at once!”
“Ah, so you did finally notice he was absent at roll call this morning. Don’t worry, I’m taking good care of him.” Mac swaggered forward, addressing his horde as much as the Elders. “As for your hollow plea for peace, we have been tediously deadlocked for millennia under the pretense of ‘balance.’ There must be change. Hell, it’s already started and you dusty relics just can’t recognize it.”
A growl rose in the back of Pride’s throat. “I recognize a conceited mongrel when I see one!”
“ME, conceited? Satan has abandoned us all because of your petty quarreling and bureaucratic drivel! But, where he saw failure, I see potential. So, I have taken up the mantle. I am the solution! And you will either turn with the tide or be cleansed by the flood. These fine imps, that you were so quick to dismiss, are witness and confederates to the new order!”
Pride and Dharma looked over Mac’s shoulders apprehensively, watching his infernal followers collectively drop their humanoid facades and spread out, surrounding them at a distance. Fiends of every size, shape and color loomed like gargoyles. They hung on Mac’s words with rapt attention, as though waiting for a signal to strike.
Dharma shook his head. “I weep for the tragedy this portends, but it seems you are committed to your path. Don’t expect us to submit meekly. Every struggle has a cost and you are not victorious yet.”
“Aren’t I?”
Mac laughed and motioned toward his posse, whipping the demons into a frenzy. They shrieked and cheered as the cycloptic guards erupted into a black tornado that filled their circle. Mac stepped backward into the twister, disappearing inside the eddying darkness. One by one, the rest of the group dispersed in bursts of flame or plasmic energy, still crowing. The cyclone spun out slowly, until only traces of smoke drifting on a gentle wind remained.
Pride huffed, hands on her hips. “I told you this was a mistake! Blast the protocol. We should have stopped this nonsense back when we had the chance.”
Looking away, Dharma stroked his beard pensively. “None of us expected this. Machination, driven by his own ambitions, has learned to use those weapons far too well. Clearly, he only took this opportunity to grandstand. He must be feeling either very confident or very uncertain about his chances to put on such a show for us.”
“He’s insane with power! And I refuse to let that egomaniac bully us!”
As Pride continued to fume, Dharma pressed his palms together and slid aside to make room for another figure, advancing swiftly.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” a gentle voice said, greeting them solemnly.
“We are honored, Elysian.” Dharma inclined his head, though Pride did not seem to appreciate the intrusion. “It’s been a while. Your endeavors fare well?”
“Not as much as I’d like lately, but thank you. I just wish I brought better news.” Elysian surveyed the plaza. “I take it your meeting didn’t go quite as planned?”
Pride curtsied brusquely. “That’s an understatement!”
“Forgive me, but I hope that means you’ll support my efforts to convene an emergency summit, the sooner the better. Vigil was definitely on to something…”
Noticing the other two cringe at the mention of his name, Elysian trailed off. A moment later, bright blue eyes clouded over with comprehension.
“Ah, I see.” With renewed vigor, Elysian pressed on. “Machination’s actions have already had unexpected repercussions in more ways than one, then, and I fear what else he can do.”
Dharma’s eyebrows curved upwards. “I’m reluctant to ask what other charges could be added to the list.”
“Indeed. We have much to discuss.”
THE END (FOR NOW)
So, You're Possessed! 