Demon Singer

by Nichols, Benjamin

  "Hello Lover, what did I miss?"

  "Keylac's next payment. We have to meet this nutball Peter Falspoh so he will lead us to someone named Rondeaux. We find him in Price, Utah and give him a bottle of wine." Lyric carefully extracted his arm from hers, ignoring the twisting in his stomach that accompanied her touch.

  "Hmmmm, so you're now hell's assassin. That's an interesting twist."

  "I'm no one's assassin, I'm simply paying off my debt." Lyric said irritably.

  "Dress it however you like, Lover, but hell doesn't deliver bottles of wine unless they're poisoned."

  Lyric didn't answer for a moments he mulled this over.

  "Maybe I'll follow it to the letter and deliver it to him but then I can break it before he drinks it. Thus, payment made but murder averted."

  "Afraid it doesn't work that way, Lyric." Keylac's voice came from behind them. Lyric stopped abruptly and rounded on the demonic messenger dog, causing an eddy in the current of humanity flowing around them.

  "I won't kill someone, Keylac." Lyric said angrily. "This violates the terms of the agreement. Widoc said none of the payments would harm me. Being party to the murder of an innocent would definitely harm me."

  The Keylac remained unruffled, though he did shoot a nervous glance toward Acheron.

  "Don't worry so much, Lyric. We know far better than you do the terms and boundaries of your contract. We'd never make you knowingly responsible for the death of an innocent. Your moral fiber is germane to our cause and not something we'd compromise. First off, this is not a poison, it's a slow acting concoction tailored to Rondeaux alone. Anyone else drinking it will simply enjoy an extremely rare and expensive glass of wine. Rondeaux, however, will eventually be stripped of an ability we find immensely irritating. Considering this ability is mind control and he has used it to orchestrate the deaths of thousands of simple-minded saps, I believe you will consider this to be in your best interests as well. Especially once you learn just exactly who he is. Now, I recommend you get on with your task before your window of opportunity closes and I'm forced to deliver you to the Nefarious Seven."

  "Save your threats, mongrel. The only person scared here is you.

  The Keylac finally looked at Acheron directly, "by the way my lovely lady, you will want to make yourself scarce. Both Falspoh and Rondeaux have the second sight. If you're recognized Lyric will never get near them, which makes his life forfeit, which in turn will lead to what I understand to be a very unpleasant experience for you."

  Acheron took a step toward the Keylac, but he smiled and melted away into the crowd and began speaking with a woman passing by.

  "Jessica Fairfield, I have a little message for you..." The demon's voice faded away as they moved with the crowd.

  "Well, good luck cutie!" Acheron smacked him on the butt and vanished.

  Lyric looked around at the people around them, concerned about the demoness' disappearing act. Oddly, no one seemed to notice. He began walking with Cadence again and struck up a conversation with the man walking on his other side.

  "What do you know about this Falspoh character?"

  The man looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

  "Prophet Falspoh is the voice of the Goddess Melody. He has been blessing Flagstaff for the last three weeks. Where are you from?"

  "Just came to town today, saw the front page of the paper and decided to come out of curiosity."

  The man nodded.

  "That's good, there's nothing wrong with curiosity. As the Prophet says: Curiosity is a gift of the Goddess, the drive that propels mankind to greatness. We mustn't be afraid of what lies behind the veil of ignorance, only the lost and cowardly lack the desire to tear down that veil."

  "Sounds like I'm in good company," Lyric smiled.

  "Indeed, my friend, I pray that the Goddess opens your eyes tonight. You'd be wonderfully fulfilled in joining us in the effort to bring down the veil. Of course," the man chuckled, "the Goddess will do all the heavy lifting. As she has promised, the veil will fall."

  He clapped Lyric on the shoulder, the Singer smiled weakly as his insides turned at the phrase, and he recalled his conversation with Nit and the bodies spelling out the words.

  What the hell was going on? The Keylac said Falspoh would take them to Rondeaux, but according to cult member number one, Falspoh was a prophet for Melody, the delusional psychopath that had the Soul Singers Guild calling to arms.

  The Keylac said that Utah wasn't necessarily out of the way. Obviously Rondeaux and Melody were connected, but how? Was Rondeaux the mysterious power that could kill Singers or vanish an entire town? According to the prophecy, it would seem Melody was the deceptive song from the east. But who or what was the desolation approaching from the west? Rondeaux?

  They reached the large open space where the sea of humanity had come to a turbulent rest, people milling about, laughing, singing, and praying. It had the feel of a very warm, friendly and slightly creepy festival.

  At the center the crowd, standing on top of a flatbed truck Lyric recognized the smiling face from the paper. Falspoh was shaking hands and waving to people. His expression was so genuinely pleasant, you'd swear he never met a person he didn't like. Lyric grabbed Cadence's hand and they worked their way through the crowd to get closer to the prophet.

  "Friends, listen closely!" Lyric was surprised at how well the little man's voice carried. "I won't waste your time with a long boring speech meant to lull you into a stupor and cloud your mind. Goddess Melody loves you, she cares for you! Each one of you is here in this place at this moment for a purpose. The goddess has guided you here to open your eyes and ears so that I might reveal that purpose to you. There is a veil of ignorance that stands between you and glorious truth. This world our goddess has created is full of wonders and magic that you have barely imagined. She wants to help you tear down the veil of ignorance that sloth, apathy and wicked men have erected to isolate you from the fullness of life she intended for you.

  "Naturally the thought would occur to some of you 'if she's a goddess why doesn't she just remove the veil herself?'" Lyric smiled, those were exactly his thoughts. "Understand that the Goddess Melody accepts those doubts without impatience or anger. The fact is, were she to do it for you, you would be unprepared and overwhelmed by the wonders that await you. Instead, just as every mother and child must struggle in the birthing process to usher new life into the world, you must put forth a difficult and sometimes painful effort to push through that veil yourself to find your greater purpose. Glorious mysteries long to be revealed by those who prove themselves worthy in the struggle.

  "A fleet of buses await those of you without transportation and an address will be provided those of you who are self sufficient." He pointed over toward the trees and Lyric saw a large sign being erected with an address printed on it. Pulling out his phone, he snapped a picture of it. "We leave tonight and before dawn you will meet the Goddess' general, the man entrusted to be her strong right arm just as I am her voice. So join us now and be part of the revolution! The veil will fall!"

  "The veil will fall! The veil will fall!" The crowd took up the chant and dissolved into wild cheering.

  Lyric stood quietly amidst the manic sea of sheep, his heart lurching at the manipulative power displayed by the little man. Acheron had said it would take an army or two to bring down three Singers. Nit had told him of the army being amassed by Melody's general. He looked closely at the crowd, not a child, not a single person with gray hair, no one overweight. These were vibrant, healthy men and women in the prime of their lives, whipped into a zealous frenzy by a few words. Enough time and training by someone knowledgeable in military tactics and this crowd alone would make a force to be reckoned with. He was beginning to see why the Guild was concerned. He and Cadence started back to the car, another long drive lay ahead.

  “Neat trick.” Acheron said as they got into the car. Lyric looked at her in the rear view mirror.

  “What are you talking about?”
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  “Someone has demon-proofed that field you went to. I couldn’t see or hear anything that went on. The only reason I didn’t come looking for you is because the tie was still there, but you completely disappeared.”

  “Let me guess, only a handful of hellions could have pulled that off.”

  “Um, actually I have no idea who could have done that. I wouldn’t have thought it possible for anyone on my side of the fence. That leaves someone from your side or a completely unknown player. Neither of those options is very appetizing. So, where we headed?’

  “Price, Utah, to meet Rondeaux.”

  “Soooo, another long boring drive with you and Chatty McChatterpants up there?”

  Lyric gave her a sour look in the mirror.

  “What do you think, sweetie?” Acheron poked Cadence on the shoulder. “Want to ride back here with me? We could play strip poker while Lyric pretends to not be interested!” Cadence didn’t react to the demoness’ teasing. Acheron flopped back into the seat and sulked. “You guys are complete dorks.” With that, she vanished.

  “I’m sorry,” Lyric said, not knowing what else to say. Cadence shrugged her indifference and looked out the window.

  * * *

  Seven hours later the caravan began pulling off I-70 in Utah. Miles from nowhere, Lyric was pretty sure his GPS had fallen asleep an hour before. As the fleet of buses left the road up ahead Lyric watched as they drove a couple hundred yards, and then one by one they shimmered and vanished. As he approached the pull-off, he saw two women in day glow orange vests waving the line of cars off the road. His nerves pretty wound up, he breathed deeply and forced himself to smile at the guides as he followed the line. A sense of wrongness jangled harshly against his racing heart. Acheron appeared in the back seat.

  "What the hell is go-"

  Her voice cut off as she abruptly vanished from the back seat with a shocked look on her face. Lyric was torn between surprise at Acheron's departure and shock at the appearance of an enormous green valley teeming with people and buildings and vehicles and even a lake where seconds before had been empty nothingness.

  Acheron?

  Here, Lover, though I can't see you anymore and my ass is bruised from being tossed out of the car. It's pretty wild, I can see the cars disappear right as they reach me! Listen, I can't come with you unless you summon me via the tie. It's the same demon proofing as at the park. If you get into trouble, don't be brave, summon me.

  I think I'll manage Lyric thought at her in annoyance and broke the connection.

  "Acheron can't follow us, apparently this place is demon proofed."

  Cadence arched an eyebrow.

  "I know, not a stellar record so far for hell's big bad ass. I suppose I should be thankful for that though. So before we crossed that barrier back there, did you feel a sense of wrongness?"

  Cadence furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head, then pointed at Lyric questioningly.

  "Yeah, I did, but now it's gone away and I feel... excited? Nervous? I don't know, all I'm sure of is I'm looking forward to getting out of this car."

  Cadence nodded in earnest agreement. As they reached the bottom of the valley, Lyric parked with the rest of the new arrivals. They got out of the car and followed the excited crowd to the large pavilion that sat grandly off the side of the parking lot.

  Standing erect in the center atop a picnic table was a striking man in jeans and a T-shirt. His short hair was dark with just a touch of silver at his temples. He was tan and fit and had an easy air of command about him. Lyric knew exactly who he was before he spoke.

  "Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Rondeaux.”

  21 RONDEAUX

  "You will find that your time here is well spent and that the struggle ahead is the most worthwhile task you've ever engaged in." Lyric felt as though Rondeaux was talking directly to him. "In the days ahead, as you open up your mind and heart to our cause, you will find fulfillment that only service to the Goddess Melody provides."

  Bold, Lyric thought, but refreshingly direct and honest. This man is a born leader.

  An elbow in his ribs caught Lyric's attention. Cadence had both fingers in her ears and motioned for him to do the same.

  Lyric quickly plugged his ears, mind control, it must be in his voice. Affecting the same plastic smile he saw on the faces around him, Lyric carefully avoided Rondeaux's words by softly humming while keeping his fingers in his ears. Before long the crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheering. Lyric joined them, wondering briefly what he was cheering for.

  Looking around he saw a woman making her way through the press of humanity up to the table Rondeaux was using as a stage. The military man was pointing at people and as he did fresh cheers erupted as those selected made their way forward. Rondeaux's eyes lit on Lyric and Cadence and a brief spark of surprise flashed across his serious countenance. His arm raised and he pointed his first two fingers at them. Lyric grabbed Cadence's hand and led her forward as encouraging and occasionally jealous shouts accompanied them.

  Upon reaching the front of the crowd, Lyric saw a large ugly man with an oddly porcine face standing on the farthest edge of the pavilion's concrete floor. He was accompanied by a strikingly beautiful woman, the two of them in earnest conversation as they observed the proceedings.

  Another, younger woman met those selected by Rondeaux in front of his table and asked them to accompany her. Their path took them right by the man and woman Lyric had noticed.

  "....deaux's forces will be in place in 18 days. My strike force stands at two hundred fifty thousand men. Rondeaux's command outnumbers them four to one. They will be more than sufficient to overwhelm the western front. By day nineteen we should be in occupation. That gives you plenty of time to get there and work your magic. Do you know how you'll get in yet?" The woman's voice was cold, devoid of feeling.

  "She said she'd take care of it. She said that the idiot is already on his way and has no idea he's providing me entrance." The large man growled in a voice that put Lyric in mind of chewing glass. "You are confident you will be able to provide the needed distraction...?"

  Lyric passed out of earshot as he followed the smaller group up the hill, chewing on what he just overheard. Obviously, they were talking about the war and for some reason what had seemed a vague idea of something far away was suddenly very real to him. A cold feeling settled in his stomach as he realized that according to what he'd just overheard the attack on Markhato was less than three weeks away.

  The woman was likely Melody herself, which Lyric found surprising. He didn’t think a goddess would spend her time among the rabble. Who was the giant though? Where was he going and why? And who was the idiot they were referring too? Too many questions and too few answers. They approached a small building that looked like a doublewide trailer.

  The woman escorting them opened the door and held it, allowing them to enter the dim interior. Lyric looked around and saw the plush furnishing and ornate decor. It was just one large room done up like a fancy old time parlor. He and Cadence sat in a pair of overstuffed armchairs and surveyed their new companions. Besides the man and woman Lyric had seen come forward from the crowd there were two other men and three more women. From a physical standpoint, nothing stood out about any of them, nor were there any common traits. One of the men was Asian, another looked like a surfer, where the first man was a towering redhead. The women were also a mix, two Caucasian, one African with a huge beautiful smile and a Latina who looked like she never smiled. Lyric wondered what the common denominator was that caused them all to be selected. As far as he could tell, Cadence and he were the only two who’d been together before the selection.

  “So, what are you in for?” Lyric asked the giant redhead. The man gave him a level look before he spoke.

  “I’m here for the same reason you are, sir, to serve the goddess however she sees fit. General Rondeaux made it very clear that we would be placed in positions of authority if we pass the interview process.”

  Ly
ric nodded with a plastic smile on his face. That must be what Rondeaux was saying when he had his ears plugged. It was an odd way to select leaders, apparently randomly from a crowd of strangers.

  “I hear he can tell if you’re lying just by looking at you,” the first woman said. Lyric wasn't sure if she sounded nervous or in love.

  “That’s not real hard,” the Asian man snorted. “The human body betrays deceit like a beacon if you know how to look.”

  “And you know how to look?” the Latina arched an eyebrow.

  “Yes ma’am, I’m an interrogator for the Flagstaff PD. I’ve sat across the table from every type of slime ball there is, even the upper crust ones,” he paused to look the well-dressed white woman. “They all lie and I always know.”

  “Sounds magical,” said a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see Rondeaux had arrived silently. Lyric wondered how long he’d been standing there. “I’d love to see it in action Mr....?”

  "Polph, Gary Polph." The Asian stood up and displayed his exemplary posture. Rondeaux smiled slightly.

  "At ease, Mr. Polph. This is an informal meeting. As all of you are aware, my name is Rondeaux. You may call me Rondeaux for now, but after the interview process you will call me general or sir. Please, sit down Mr. Polph. The rest of you relax. Because we have a strict time frame, I cannot do a great deal of handholding, reassuring or pep talking. With your permission, I will give it to you straight.