Morgaine and Asmodeus

by Joe Vadalma

  "If that were true, why would you have gone down there. He could've climbed up the rope without your help. I believe you found something of interest. Tell me what."

  Raven conferred in whispers with Keith. “A few things,” she said to Morgaine. “We believe that the room we are in now is the bedroom of the woman who wrote that journal you took from us. We found a few lines of script in the same handwriting on a sheet of discarded writing paper. Also, there's a crypt in the basement. The names on the vaults seem to indicate that the Frankensteins were real people. That's about all."

  "Bullshit."

  "Hey, if you think there's something more, you're welcome to come down here by us and help us search."

  "I don't think so. I believe you've found something that you're hiding from me. Well, spending the night in Frankenstein's castle should make you more cooperative. Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."

  As Morgaine stepped away from the hole, she felt her control slipping. Her human form faded, her hands became talons and great wings sprouted on her back. She leaped into the air and flew across the moon's path and into a cloud.

  * * * *

  Hours went by before Morgaine was able to recreate her Claudia Van Beck persona. The sun was rising as she returned to the villa she shared with Michael. Luckily, he was still asleep. She made herself a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs over easy. When Michael finally did rise, he questioned her about where she had gone. “The shops in this little village close at eight in the evening, Morgaine. I didn't go to bed until after eleven."

  She gazed into her coffee cup sheepishly. “I know. I lied. I discovered that Melody and the detectives she hired are here in Belrive. I went up to the castle. They were there. I put Melody under a sleep spell. The detectives are trapped in the castle. I believe they've found something. We must find out what."

  "Why didn't you tell me that was what you were going to do?"

  "It is imperative that they don't connect us together. I want you to make an appearance. If you're with them, you can monitor everything they do."

  "What about Isaac?"

  "They probably came across the robot while they were searching the castle. My bet is that Melody and her detectives have the robot with them."

  "Well, Isaac should be safe enough with them, probably safer than it would be with us. Those hoodlums who are after it probably wouldn't think of them having it."

  Melody brought the crystal out and laid it on the table. “We must find out what the detectives next move will be.” She gazed into the many faceted object until she went into a trance. When she came out of it, she said, “They're heading to the Orkney Islands for some reason."

  "Why do you suppose they're going to the Orkney's?"

  "It must have to do with something they found in the ruins. They're smart people. They probably stumbled on exactly what you're looking for—the place where the fifth element is hidden. As I said before, you must join them. Sooner or later you've got to present yourself to Melody anyway. Now's a good a time as any."

  "Perhaps you're right. Those detectives are very sharp. We sure could use expert help with the search. What are you going to do?"

  "I'm sure that they don't trust me after the things that I've pulled on them. You go by yourself. I'll monitor events using the crystal. If they suspect that we're working together, deny it."

  A long while after Michael left the room, Morgaine slipped out of her material body and returned to her mistress, who used demoniac powers to bring Raven's aura into her world.

  The next day her and Michael left for the Orkney Islands, the place the crystal had indicated that Melody and the detectives had gone.

  * * * *

  That night Raven had a nightmare. She dreamt that Keith and her were in dimly lit underground caverns. The walls dripped with a greenish-brown substance that stunk to high heaven. They slogged through ankle-deep filthy water from which dense and putrid vapors rose through a labyrinth of twisting tunnels with dead ends, ninety-degree turns, side tunnels, grottos heaped with human skulls, narrow places and dark areas. From time to time faraway screams, cries of pain and terror and insane laughter reached Raven's ears. In the back of her mind she had a feeling that they were entering a place of absolute horror. She pressed close to Keith. “What are we looking for down here?"

  "The secret of life and death,” he replied cryptically. “Sh, it's coming."

  Some huge beast was breathing heavy and snorting. Its movements, the scraping of its tail along the mold-encrusted stone walls, the heavy thump of its thread echoed throughout the cavern.

  "What is it?” Raven cried. “It's coming toward us. Let's get out of here."

  "No it's behind us. We can escape through that passage.” Without a moment's hesitation Keith ran into the absolute darkness of a side tunnel.

  "Wait,” Raven cried, frozen in terror of what that tunnel contained until the clatter of his footsteps faded away. The tunnel became silent except for her sighs. Tears ran down her cheeks. Again she heard the beast's slobbering, grunting breath very near behind her. Panicking and absolutely terrified, she ran straight down the main tunnel, not heeding where she was going, running and stumbling and turning and diving through side passages. Finally, with heaving chest no longer able to go on, she halted in a vast chamber with stone benches built into its sloping sides, an auditorium of enormous dimensions. In the center was a stone altar identical to the one she had once seen in the basement of Ellul's mansion. It, too, was surrounded by skulls.

  While Raven looked for another exit, an enormous reptilian beast entered from a doorway on the opposite side of the auditorium. It hissed and roared and flicked out its forked tongue, but did not attack. Upon its back was Morgaine, naked with huge wings in her Claudia persona. Keith rode nude behind her, his arms around her waist. They dismounted near the altar. Raven called to him. He looked her way. “Stay away, Raven."

  "Yes Raven, stay away,” said Morgaine. “He's mine now. Although you may watch.” Shrieking with laughter, she grabbed Keith by the shoulders, pulled him over by the altar and gently laid him on it. She climbed atop him, and they made love as Raven watched.

  "No,” Raven cried and ran toward them, but the beast blocked her way, hissing and baring its daggered teeth.

  * * * *

  Before Raven reached the beast, she was awakened by a loud knock. The sun was barely up, and the room was in semidarkness. She let out a deep sigh and wiped tears from her cheek. Melody opened her mouth to ask who was there, but Raven put her finger to her lips and shook her head. Keith had taken another room in the bed-and-breakfast to watch over the robot. If it had been him, he would've used the secret knock that they agreed upon. Melody caught Raven's signal and kept silent. Raven got out of bed quietly, removed her pistol from her holster on the bedpost and tiptoed to the door. There was no peephole but a chain allowed her to open a door a crack without allowing the knocker to burst in. She peered out at a dark, handsome, well-dressed man with a well-trimmed beard. Raven recognized him immediately from his pictures and the descriptions Melody had given her. It was Michael Ellul.

  "Hi,” Michael said, “I'm the man you've been searching for so diligently. I'm Michael Ellul. May I come in?"

  Melody leaped from the bed. “Let him in. It's Michael. Michael, Michael, we've found you.” A moment later he was in the room, and she was in his arms, hugging him and kissing his face and neck, tears streaming down her face. “Oh Michael, why? Why did you leave? Where have you been?"

  After a while he held her at arm's length. “Why did I leave? Look at me, Melody. What do you see?"

  "You're just as you were when you left. Perhaps even younger looking."

  "Yes, and as I was twenty years ago when we met. As I was a hundred years ago. Two hundred years ago. You see the truth now—that I don't age."

  "So you left me to seek someone younger, someone closer to your apparent age,” Melody bawled, hurt and anger in her voice.

  "No darling. That is
not the reason at all. I left for your sake. Soon people would talk. Reporters would pester us day and night, trying to get the scoop about the man who doesn't age. Your name would be in the tabloids; they would call me your boy toy. Then there would come a time when I would have to watch the most beautiful woman in the world whom I love more than life itself shrivel up and die. I needed to find a way to save you from the ravages of time."

  "But where did you go?"

  "All around the world. I've been on a quest, a quest to find the elixir of life. The one thing that would allow us to be together for eternity—or close to it. Many years ago, I had such a serum in my hand, but a madman used it to animate a being manufactured from parts of corpses. When he realized the horror of what he had created, he destroyed the remaining precious fluid that we had synthesized and the formula to reproduce it. I need to find how to make that serum again so that I can restore your youth and make you as I am."

  "Oh Michael, I love you. Don't ever leave me again, no matter how I change or whatever the tabloids may say about us. Promise me. If you insist on pursuing this chimera, take me with you."

  "My love, because you've gone to such lengths to find me, I will accede to your wishes. Oh believe me darling, being away from you has been an awful trial for me too. Many's the night I longed for you so much it was all I could do to end my resolve and hurry home to your side."

  Raven cleared her throat to break Melody's raptured gaze into her husband's eyes. For several moments they had been like a statue of an embracing couple. “Well Melody, it seems we've found your husband. Or rather he's found us. If you'll give me enough cash for an airline ticket, Keith and I will go home now. I'll fax you a final report and a bill if I feel we're still owed anything. It's been a pleasure working for you, Melody. And Mr. Ellul, I'm pleased to have made your acquaintance. I hope that you're true to your word and not leave Melody again or otherwise treat her badly. I consider her my friend now; we've shared an adventure."

  Melody hugged Raven. “I thank you for all you've done. You know darn well that I would've never found Michael without you. And I'm not sure whether he would've returned to me until he found his damn formula—if he ever would. Once we're all back home, you and Keith must visit us. I want our friendship to continue. Whenever you're ready to leave, I'll cash traveler's checks for whatever amount you need."

  Raven kissed her cheek. “Yeah, we'll see you real soon, provided Mr. Ellul doesn't keep dragging you from country to country on this holy mission of his."

  She dialed the phone to tell Keith that the job was over. It rang and rang, but he did not answer it. “Man sleeps like a log. I'll have to get dressed and tell him in person.” Raven gathered fresh underwear, jeans and a blouse and headed for the bathroom where she brushed her teeth, took a quick shower and dressed. When she returned, Ellul and Melody were in deep conversation. Ellul turned to her and said, “Miss Lenore, before you tell your partner the news, I'd like a couple minutes of your time."

  "Okay. What's up?"

  "Melody and I would like continue our business relationship with you."

  "To do what?"

  "Help me find the formula for the elixir of youth. You heard what I told Melody. Already you've found things I've been unable to locate in all these months. You really are excellent detectives. I realize now that I need people like you if I ever expect to find what I'm seeking."

  "I'll have to ask Keith. But Mr. Ellul, I remain a bit skeptical that such a youth serum actually exists. Aren't you on a wild goose chase?"

  "Perhaps, but I'm not ready to give up yet. I'll pay you double what my wife was giving you. And there's another thing. I have enemies, dangerous enemies, who are also after the formula. Their threats and actions did not bother me as long as I was alone, but if Melody is going to be with me, I want her to be protected as much as possible. I want you to be her bodyguards."

  "As I said, I'll have to talk it over with Keith. Which reminds me—what about the robot you've been hiding? Where are you going to with it now? Frankenstein's castle and your estate are no longer safe havens. Those guys posing as G-men know about Moonwood, and a woman called Claudia Van Best knows about both places. By the way, do you know her?"

  He grimaced. “No, the name is unfamiliar. Where's Isaac now?"

  "In Keith's room. You've been on our trail. Didn't you see a strange woman with us?"

  His eyebrows shot up. “That was the robot? You people are clever. It would've never have occurred to me to disguise him as a woman."

  "Him? I saw the robot without pants. She didn't have a penis that I could see."

  Ellul grinned. “Pardon my male chauvinism. Since I'd been told that the robot's name was Isaac, I simply thought of it as male. Besides, I was born in an era when women were considered tender objects of worship. It would've never occurred to me to assign it a female gender."

  "Okay, I'm going to Keith's room. I'll bring the robot back here and let you know what we decide about your offer."

  The door to Keith's room was ajar. Raven rapped a few times and yelled, “Keith, it's Raven.” There was no reply. She removed her gun from her holster, slid it into the waistband of her jeans for easy access and pushed the door open. No one was in the room, and the bed was unmade. It was as messy as Keith's old apartment before he moved in with her. She did a quick search.

  A large mirror was above the dresser. Someone had written on it with lipstick: HI RAVEN, KEITH WAS TOO DELECTABLE TO LEAVE BEHIND. TELL MICHAEL THAT IF HE WANTS TO SEE THE ROBOT AGAIN, HE'D BETTER GIVE ME WHAT I WANT. DON'T LOOK FOR ME. I'LL FIND YOU. CLAUDIA

  Raven let out a loud scream. “NO!!! YOU BITCH! YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM."

  Moments later Ellul and Melody burst into the room. “What's the matter, Raven?” Melody cried. “I heard you yell."

  Raven pointed to the mirror in lieu of a reply.

  "Her,” Ellul said with menace in his voice. “Oh, what have I done, releasing her from the depths where she belongs? She's become a powerful enemy."

  "What are you talking about?” Raven asked.

  "The one you know as Claudia Van Best is not human. She's an elemental who in my naivete I thought I could control and help me achieve my goal."

  Raven gazed at him suspiciously. “I'm assuming that the Van Best woman, or whatever she is, is after the same thing you are. Am I correct is this assumption?"

  "I'm not sure, but our paths will definitely cross. Besides, according the message she left, she wants something from me. Don't ask me what. I have no idea."

  "Good enough.” Raven held out her hand which he shook. “Now, I have no choice except to become you're employee—at least until we find Keith. If you want, I'll draw up a new contract in a day or two. I'll need a computer with a printer."

  He shook his head. “No need. I'll simply pay you double whatever Melody was giving you on daily basis, however long we remain business associates. I have an instinct about people. I have faith and confidence in your trustworthiness and diligence.” He pulled out a wad of money from this wallet and peeled off five bills. “Today's salary,” he said, winking as he handed Raven hundred-dollar bills. “Okay, what do we do now? I assume the first order of business is to find out where Claudia took your partner and the robot."

  "Correct. First, let's find out whether they left the island and if so, where they were headed. There's only one way they could've gone unless Claudia has a boat—the ferry to Shapinsay.” Raven fumbled in her purse until she located the ferry schedule. “Shit. The first one in the morning just left. They're probably on it. Do you have a car, Mr. Ellul?"

  "Yes, but please call me Michael."

  Raven nodded. “Okay Michael, drive me to the ferry port and leave me off. Then you and Melody pack up and meet me there. I'll buy passage on the next ferry which is in about an hour and a half. I imagine Claudia will head straight for the Shapinsay airport. If so, I'll try to figure out which flight they took."

  When Ellul dropped Raven at the ferry station, she asked at the ticket
booth whether a man and two women, tourists, had gone on this morning's ferry.

  "Aye lass, and the one lady was a bit strange if you ask me."

  * * * *

  When Ellul had gone to the room where Melody and Raven were, Morgaine in her Van Best disguise knocked on the room she knew that Keith and the robot were. As soon as Keith opened the door, she placed him under a control spell, wrote the message she had left for Raven and ordered the robot and Keith to come with her. She drove out to the ferry to Shapinsay. While the ferry crossed the short expanse of water between the islands, she again consulted the crystal in the ladies room and learned that what she was after was in London.

  CHAPTER 13

  LONDON FOG

  Morgaine turned to Keith, who sat staring with a faraway zombie-like look in his eye. “Well, Mister Borgenson, it looks as though your girl friend really is smart. She's right on the track of the information I need to carry out my plan to get everything I want. Don't worry. Soon you and she will be reunited. Only it'll be me calling the shots, not Michael or Melody."

  Keith made no reply, but continued to stare blankly into space.

  Morgaine again brought Raven's aura into the underworld.

  * * * *

  Soon after Raven and the Elluls checked into a hotel suite in London, Raven had another nightmare in which she was in the enormous underground auditorium. She was chained naked to the altar, hundreds of black-robed figures filled the bleachers, their faces hidden behind cowls. Flickering lights from torches cast eerie shadows. There was a stench of sulfur in the air and a steady beat of drums. More robed figures appeared chanting in Latin. The two leaders halted in front the altar and faced the congregation. They raised their arms and loudly chanted in an ancient guttural language. When they finished with this invocation, they turned toward Raven and pushed back their cowls to reveal themselves as Morgaine—Claudia to Raven—and Keith.

  "Keith,” Raven cried, “what's going on here? Take these chains off of me."