“But we haven’t reached your destination.”
“Look. I’ve got to attend to an emergency.” She dug into her purse, pulled out fifty dollars, and said, “Here: this should make it worth your while. Now I must get out.”
At the corner, she pulled out her phone again, and sent Sherry a message:
Help!
I’ll be there in a few seconds. Try not to panic.
Perri.
Adrenaline pumping, Poisonous’ senses were now on high alert. The drowsiness left her as Poisonous changed to her natural self and followed Sherry’s scent, which, by now, she was familiar with. The District lay below her, and the scent became stronger as she approached a very high-scale hotel owned by a wealthy business tycoon on Pennsylvania Avenue. She didn’t bother going in the front door, as she needed to make haste. Sherry could be in serious trouble. Sherry’s scent led her to the one of the Presidential Suites, so she flew into an empty bathroom, and changed back to Perri.
She walked into the living room, where she saw what appeared to be a wealthy man accompanied by two of his ‘bodyguards.’
“You’ll do as I tell you, or Ben and Jack, here, will teach you some manners,” the man warned. A large red mark in the shape of the back of one of the hands of the hired muscle covered her right cheek.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen. Is there a problem?” She asked.
The wealthy man and his two hired gorillas turned in her direction, his face contorted with anger; the help’s with surprise. “Who let you in here?” the man demanded.
“I did. You are mishandling one of my friends. You had better let her go if you know what’s good for you.”
“You and what army?” Jack asked, smirking.
“Yeah, baby. You’re cute, but I think you’re a little out of your league, here,” Ben added.
The usually gray-green eyes burned a glowing hot red. All three of them stood still, with blank expressions. “Now, gentlemen; I’ll need you to follow me,” she commanded. Turning to Sherry, she said, “Don’t worry, sweetie. They won’t bother you ever again.” The party of four, led by Poisonous, went down into the lobby, and headed for the men’s restroom. One man stood at a urinal, minding his business.
“Leave!” she ordered, eyes glowing with extra power, making the man obedient to her command. He quickly finished his business, and left. Gone, she turned to the three men. “You will stand very still, and not move a muscle.” Already under the power of her suggestion, the men said nothing, and stared straight ahead. One by one, she filled them with deadly poison, and in turn, they shriveled up and disappeared, leaving not a trace of their existence.
Finished with the problem clients, the building’s fancy elevator took her back to the Presidential Suite, where Sherry sat on the bed with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Don’t worry sweetie: I’ve taken care of those awful men. They’ll never bother you again.”
“He seemed so nice at first,” she lamented.
“You know, Sherry; hopefully you’ll learn from this. Never judge a book by its cover. Just because this man obviously had lots of money didn’t mean that he had any intention of treating you like a lady. He simply thought he had bought you to do his bidding. He probably turned on the charm just to lure you into his trap. Moral of the story: get to know your gentlemen before you pursue them. It will save you a lot of trouble down the road.”
“Y-you’re right,” she stammered. “This was awful.”
“There, there, dear. You just go ahead and go back to your apartment, and I’ll pay you double for all your trouble tonight.” Which will be quadruple for Mr. Moneybags.
“Thanks, Perri. You’re wonderful.”
“I do my best, sweetie.”
Fourteen
Monday, September 8th
The news of the disappearance of Frank Migliaccio, a well known mobster who owned several shady businesses up and down the East coast, reached Dan Hightower’s desk. Reviewing the video footage from the hotel where he was last seen, his favorite person of interest showed up again, leading Frank and his accompanying muscle to a men’s room in the lobby. In the footage inside the men’s room, the three men stood still as mannequins, and as she walked up to them, her hands went into the necks of the three men, and they proceeded to shrivel up and disappear in a cloud of smoke, as though she had baptized them in spontaneous combustion.
Taken aback, almost not believing his eyes, Dan reviewed the video footage again. The outcome was the same as the first time. He shook his head, and said, “This is just too fantastic to believe. She seems to have the ability to make people disappear.” The thought rolled around in his mind for a while, and he said, “Wait a minute…” He dialed the Chief of Police, who answered on the first ring.
“Haywood.”
“Barb. This is Dan Hightower, F.B.I. Wasn’t there a case from about two and a half months ago of the disappearance of a young man in his twenties named Chad Brisbois? Was his body ever found?”
“Truthfully, Dan, he seems to have disappeared without a trace. He was last seen at the Capital Scene, and after reviewing the security footage, he was accompanied by a young woman, who looks to be of Indian descent, about five feet, six inches tall.”
The now all too familiar perp’s modus operandi made him shiver with a sense of foreboding. Not only did she seem to inflict harm on all she came across, she had the ability to make people literally go up in smoke. What kind of monster is this woman?
“Well, thanks, Barb. We’ve been tracking this woman ourselves, and are very interested in finding her, and bringing her in for questioning.”
“Good, luck, Dan”
“Thanks, Barb.”
* * *
The lunch with Roger proved relaxing, and fruitful. They had discussed various enterprises to be exploited on the Dark Web, and, of course, the hunt.
“All this talk of the hunt makes my blood boil, sweetie. Keep it up, and I’ll have to have my way with you.”
“I’m not standing in your way,” Roger responded, grinning.
“Mmmm. You’re speaking my language…”
Poisonous walked back towards the apartment, glowing from her encounter with Roger. As she got closer to apartment 618, the presence of the Light hit her with more power than it had ever done before. She struggled as she got closer to the door, and when she finally walked in, the presence of the Light suffocated her. However, she mustered up all her courage and bucked up her resistance to the powerful effects of the Light. As she walked in, she noticed a man who looked very familiar: it was the man from the Islamic Center that she had convinced to be her ‘husband.’ She had made him forget her the last time she had encountered her, so saying, ‘Hi, how have you been?’ wouldn’t work. She could do no more than to witness the event.
Evie sat next to the man, and looked as if they had been carrying on a very impassioned conversation.
“Would you like to pray to receive Prophet Yasū‘ as your Lord and Savior?” asked Evie.
“Yes, Evie. I would,” said the man.
As she watched, flabbergasted, mouth wide open in disbelief, the Light weighing heavily on her, the man asked Prophet Yasū‘ to be his Lord and Savior. Everything in her wanted to get as far away as possible, but she stood there, transfixed. Having never actually been a witness to such an event, it fascinated her in an odd way.
Evie looked up, and beaming, said, “Hi Perri. Abdullah here has been seeking the truth about Prophet Yasū‘, and today he decided to give his life to the Lord and The Lamb.
“Well, I see you have made a follower of the Light out of him,” she said.
“No,” said Evie. “I’ve only shared the Good News with him. Lord Yehovah has opened his eyes, and he has responded to the Truth.”
Not wanting to be rude, and give away her true feelings about followers of the Light, she walked over to Abdullah, and shaking his hand, said, “Congratulations, Abdullah. You seem to have found something you’ve been looking for.”
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“I have, and it is wonderful,” Abdullah exclaimed. “I feel like all those things that made me feel empty, have gone away. As it says in the book of John, Chapter eight, verse thirty-two, ‘And you will know the Truth about salvation, and the Truth will set you free from the penalty of sin’”.
“Well, I hope you are happy,” she said, not believing the words she said.
“I am,” he answered.
“Would you like us to explain the Gospel to you, Perri?” Evie asked, grinning.
“Ummm…maybe another time,” she answered. “I think I’ll go to my room now.”
She waved ‘Good Bye’ to Abdullah, and walked towards her room. Laying on her bed, a strange feeling revisited her: she felt hope again. For a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to be in Lord Yehovah’s good graces again. Then, her demonic sensibilities returned, and she brushed away the thought; but the peace that had come over her wouldn’t leave.
A while later, after she heard Abdullah leave, and got up the courage to go and talk to Evie.
“Hi. You witnessed a soul being saved from the effect of sin, and being saved from eternal death. How does that make you feel?” Evie asked.
She sat next to Evie, and trembled, her voice becoming thick with emotion. “I can’t cope with that kind of hope, Evie. My lot is to be punished forever. I can’t hope: it’s not in my future.”
Evie gave her a warm smile, making her feel comforted, a strange sensation to her. Mixed emotions ran riot through her twisted soul, and she broke down, and started crying. Evie came over to her and hugged her. She didn’t resist. Her heart had softened just a little, and she couldn’t resist asking the question. “Evie, is there really any hope for me? Don’t tell me something that turns out to be a lie: I couldn’t bear it.”
Evie looked straight at her, very serious, and said, “Poisonous, there is hope for all who call upon the name of the Lord. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Simon Peter quotes the Prophet Joel, and says,
I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.
“Even you, a rebellious angel, can know hope and redemption from your hopeless plight. Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Poisonous shook hard, teeth chattering, tears streaming down her face. “It’s too much for me to bear, Evie. I don’t believe Lord Yehovah would care about someone as evil as I.” Turning to her, and holding her hand, she managed, “But thank you for believing the best for me.” Her heart felt a very different sensation: it ached, as though it missed something. Sadness hit her with such strong power that it overwhelmed her. She got up, and said, “I can’t take this Evie,” and ran towards her room. In her room, she cried out, “NO! I can’t have this kind of hope.”
“Arrest her, Lord Yehovah,” Evie prayed.
The rest of the night, heartbroken sobs echoed throughout the apartment.
* * *
Lucifer sat at his desk, looking over the report he had just received. Shaking his head, and rubbing his temples, which now throbbed, he said, “This is no good: it just can’t go on any longer. The Light is heavily influencing Poisonous, and this must stop. Before you know it, she will turn her allegiance to The Light, and that would be disastrous.” He thought for a while, and then the idea hit him.
“Well, she went to earth against my orders, and got herself surrounded by the Light. Now it’s time she was surrounded by darkness.” He turned to his personal aide, and gave a curt order, “Call upon Snakebite, and have him report to me immediately.”
The aide scurried away with great haste, and within moments, a dark spirit, filled with deceit and charm, and almost as good at lies as his master, entered Lucifer’s chambers, bowing low before him.
“What do you require of me, O great and powerful Master?”
“Cut the theatrics, Snakebite. You can’t out charm the original liar and charmer. I already got Eve’s spirit to die, to be taken out of Lord Yehovah’s good graces by turning her curiosity into rebellion and to sentence her husband and the entire human race to be under a curse. I was amazing, I must admit.” He chuckled to himself, admiring his prowess.
His gaze returned to Snakebite. “You, however, now have a mission. It seems one Poisonous, a lust nymph, has broken protocol, and left for Earth to walk among them in human form, wreaking havoc. The idea has its merits, but she was made to live with a member of the Light, a former angel who escaped my clutches, and gained redemption. The worst part is, the Light is affecting her, and she, if something isn’t done soon, will end up being made a member of the Light herself.”
“May evil prevent it, my Lord,” said Snakebite.
“Actually, you will prevent it. I want you to do the same as she has done, and walk among them in human form, forming a close relationship with her. Keep her from seeing the Light, and make sure she ultimately is sent to Hell for her insubordination. Have I made myself clear?”
“Very clear, Sire.”
“Then go, and do as you have been instructed.” His glare fixed itself on Snakebite, burning into him with great ferocity and menace. “And do not fail, or you will burn in Hell as well.”
“Yes, Sire.”
“Now go!”
* * *
Tuesday, September 9th
Snakebite decided to have the human name of Sam Bittenbeidter. In human form, he cut the figure of a well-dressed, well-to-do gentleman. Young women gave him the eye as he walked the streets of D.C. He let them ogle him, gave them a friendly acknowledgement and continued walking. He had a mission, and he intended to find her, and influence her for evil.
He knew where she lived, from intelligence gained by demon spies. He walked towards “The K” in the Metro View condominiums. Her scent grew stronger as he approached the condo complex. As luck would have it, she walked through the front door of the complex, and headed towards Seventh Street, apparently for the Metro at the Mt Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Station. As she walked closer to him, he smelled small traces of The Light in her, but approached her anyway. Stopping her, he said, “Pardon me, but I was wondering if you could direct me to the Mt. Vernon Square Metro Station?”
She eyed him up and down, and then smiled, exuding interest in him. “Sure. Just follow me. I was on my way to a rendezvous with another gentleman, but could always use the company of a handsome man like yourself.”
Her flirtation impressed him, so he stepped us his game to match hers.
“Well,” he said, “I must admit that being escorted by such a delightful member of femininity is indeed a pleasure. Allow me to extend my arm, so the lady may be escorted by this gentleman.”
She paused for a moment, and then said, “Sure. I like men who treat me like a lady.”
He and his mark walked hand in arm towards the Metro Station, exchanging pleasantries.
“Where is your destination?” he asked.
“The Flats at Union Row, in walking distance of the U Street/Cardozo station. A good friend and lover lives there.”
Her remark may have been meant to evoke jealousy in him, but he was not afraid of someone bragging of their sexual liaisons.
“I can see why you and he are friends and lovers,” he remarked. “Someone as attractive as you should have many admirers.” He looked up at the station sign, and realized she had reached her destination. Before she left, he asked, “May I call upon you again? I would like to have a chance to get to know you better. Maybe I should start by asking you your name.”
“Sure,” she said, without hesitation. “I’m Perri. Here’s my number. Call me sometime.”
“I will do just that. My
name’s Sam; Sam Bittenbeidter. I look foreword to better making your acquaintance. Here’s my number as well, just in case you should decide that an encounter would be good.”
“Thanks.”
As she got up and walked away, the smell of the Light had dissipated somewhat. “This bodes well,” Sam said. “You can always win a Lust Nymph over by appealing to their libido.” He got off one stop later and returned to the demons dwelling place. “I need a plan and a strategy. More importantly, I need to find an abode in which to live.”
* * *
Sitting next to Roger on his couch, Poisonous recounted her meeting with Snakebite. “Roger, sweetie, I just met the most fascinating man. He’s a gentleman, and he seems interested in me. Better yet, her approached me, and not the other way around.”
“Well, Ms. Perri; you seem to be a very popular woman. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Now I need to discuss something with you about business transactions.”
“Does this involve the Dark Web?”
“Yes, sweetie, but I don’t need to know what you’re doing. I just need some advice on closing the sale. I have made many deals, and most have proved quite profitable. Others have proven disastrous. Why, some double-dealing fraud tried to cheat me out of my money by putting a Cancel Payment on his transaction. Do you know how I can avoid such bad transactions on the Dark Web?”
“Well, all I can think of is that you make your transactions in bitcoins, which are cashless, moneyless ways to store money. If you move these from one person’s ‘wallet’ to another, no bank is involved, and transactions can’t be cancelled. Moreover, Bitcoins are completely virtual coins designed to be 'self-contained' for their value, with no need for banks to move and store the money.
Poisonous: A Visit To Earth (DC Angels Book 2) Page 17