Morgaine and Asmodeus

by Joe Vadalma

  On the threshold were tiny spots of a green substance. “What do you think it is?” Morgaine/Raven asked.

  "Probably whatever the equivalent of blood is for a homunculus. Keith's shot in the dark must've hit it or at least grazed it."

  They followed the trail of the green ichor to the secret door in the library. “It's down in the cellar somewhere,” Morgaine/Raven said. “If it went into the tunnels, we'll never find it."

  Ellul shrugged. “I'll get a flashlight."

  When he returned he and Morgaine/Raven descended into the secret rooms and searched them. The green ichor led them into the labyrinth. The homunculus was curled up in a corner of the altar room, dead. Keith's bullet had gone into its stomach and exited through its back, leaving an extensive hole.

  "What do we do with it?” Morgaine/Raven asked.

  "Stay here. I'll get a shovel. We'll bury it back there.” Morgaine knew where he meant. One section of the tunnel had a dirt floor.

  * * * *

  A few days later, after Keith had recuperated except for his gimpy leg, both couples returned to New York. His wound was a godsend for Morgaine. It gave her the opportunity to leave the apartment without him tagging along. Out of his hearing, she called Ellul, “I can meet you at the institute this afternoon. We'll perform the experiment."

  "What about a subject? Do you have someone?"

  "Not yet. Don't worry, I'll get a perfect specimen for what we are about."

  "It occurred to me that we could be charged with kidnapping."

  "Not if the subject comes willingly. Besides the type of person I'll get won't be missed by anybody."

  "At the institute at three then.” He hung up without waiting for her reply.

  Morgaine/Raven told Keith that she was going shopping with a couple of women friends. “Since I'll be eating lunch with them, I probably won't be back until late in the afternoon. I haven't seen these ladies in a while. They may even want me to eat dinner with them. Will you be all right?"

  He was on the computer updating their web site. “Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine. Stay as long as you want."

  She kissed him on the cheek and left. With the scrying stone and Dee's notes in Raven's purse, she drove to the Bowery and cruised around until she spotted an old woman wearing several layers of clothing and pushing a shopping cart loaded with rags and junk. After she found a parking spot, she hiked back to where she had seen her. The woman was sitting on the curb drinking out of a bottle wrapped in rags.

  "Hello,” Morgaine/Raven said in a friendly fashion.

  The bag lady gazed up at her suspiciously and quickly hid the bottle among her clothing. “I'll move in minute, officer. Just resting my weary bones.” She started to rise.

  Morgaine/Raven put a hand on her shoulder. “Sit as long as you like, mother. I'm not a cop.” She sat down besides her.

  The older woman stared at Raven's clothes and face. “You don't look like somebody what belongs down here. What d'ya want?"

  "To help you."

  "Help me do what? I don't need no help. I'm just fine."

  Morgaine/Raven whispered in her ear. “How much do you have left in that bottle? Let me buy you a new one."

  She licked her lips. “Where?"

  "Just come with me.” Morgaine/Raven led her, cart and all, to the parked car. Somehow, she struggled her cart into the back seat.

  As they drove, the woman kept sipping from her bottle until it was empty. In the middle of the Major Deegan she threw it out barely missing a car in the next lane. “Hey, when are we going to get this liquor store?” she asked and yawned. A few moments later she passed out and slept for the remainder to the trip to the institute. Morgaine/Raven had to shake her awake.

  She peered at the building. “Hey, what is this? It don't look like no liquor store."

  "We have to go inside. There's a nice surprise for you."

  "Shit, what is this? I ain't going into no institution again. I'm through with that stuff. Take me back.” Her mouth had a determined set to it.

  "Look at me,” Morgaine/Raven said. When the woman turned her head, Morgaine/Raven gazed into her eyes. They glazed over, and she reached for the door handle.

  Morgaine/Raven took her by the arm and led her inside and into an elevator. She brought her to a basement laboratory. The robot was there, standing in a corner attached to an outlet by a power cord. At first it seemed dormant, but as Morgaine/Raven led the old lady into the room, its eyes lit up. It said, “Raven, hello. It's good to see you again. Who is your friend?"

  "Hi, Isaac. Actually I don't know her name. What is it, deary?"

  In somnolent tone, the old woman replied, “I'm Stella. Pleased to meet'cha."

  "Isaac, remove this woman's clothing and take her to the shower room. Do you know where that is?"

  "Yes."

  "Good. Scrub her down good, put a hospital gown on her and bring her back here."

  The robot obeyed. It took Stella by the arm and gently led her out of the door. While they were gone, Morgaine/Raven set about mixing a concoction in a beaker which she placed on a Bunsen burner for a few moments. After it came to a boil, she set it on a counter to cool. By that time, Isaac returned with Stella, a frail little thing in her seventies. Morgaine/Raven had her lay down on an operating table.

  "What are you going to do, Raven?” Isaac asked.

  "Don't worry, I won't harm her. In fact I'm going to cure her of the disease of old age. Won't that be nice?"

  "Yes it would."

  CHAPTER 18

  THE EXPERIMENT

  Morgaine/Raven waited until Ellul arrived before performing the experiment. Stella was lying peacefully on an operating table in a hypnotic trance. Isaac stood by rigidly. The latter greeted the astrologer in the same manner as he had Raven. “Michael, hello. It's good to see you again."

  "Hi Isaac. Morgaine.” He nodded toward the prone old woman. “Is this the subject?"

  "Yes,” Morgaine/Raven replied.

  Isaac said, “Why did you call Raven, Morgaine, Michael?"

  "Slip of the tongue. Uh Raven, is everything in readiness?"

  "Yes. Shall we start?"

  Michael nodded his head.

  "Sit up Stella,” Morgaine/Raven said. When the woman obeyed, she handed her the potion. “Drink it down. I promised that I would get you something to quench your thirst."

  At first Stella looked at the beaker suspiciously, probably wondering why the liquor she had been promised didn't come in a bottle. But, after a few moments, quaffed the liquid down. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, shuddered and made a face. “Worst damn hooch I've ever tasted.” A moment later she turned pale and gasped.

  Morgaine/Raven took her by her shoulders and gently laid her back down. “Rest, Stella.” She laid the scrying stone on Stella's chest, raised her arms and chanted the spell she had used to create the homunculus. A smoky mist came out of the stone and descended into the bag lady's body. Ellul watched intently. When Morgaine/Raven finished, she said, “In a short while the transformation will take effect."

  Actually it happened almost immediately. After a minute a change came over Stella's face. The wrinkles faded, her lips, cheeks and body filled out, and her complexion became rosy. The crow's feet and bags around her eyes disappeared. After twenty minutes, she had the appearance of a woman of forty; after a half an hour, she looked thirty; forty-five minutes went by and she could have passed for a college coed. In fact, she was quite a lovely young girl.

  "Amazing,” Ellul cried when the transformation was complete.

  "When do you want to perform this transformation on Melody?” Morgaine/Raven asked.

  "I don't know. I'll have to talk to her. She may not agree. I'll call you."

  "I'm sure you can talk her into it.” she winked at him. Morgaine knew he could be powerfully persuasive.

  "What about this woman?"

  "Don't worry. I'll take care of her. I brought new clothes for her to wear. I'll make sure that she doesn't recall
what happened to her and drop her off in the city someplace."

  After Ellul left, Morgaine/Raven went over by the catatonic, young appearing, Stella. “Wake up, darling.” She snapped her fingers. Stella's eyes opened, and she had a startled, where am I, look. Finally she smiled and sat up. “That hooch you gave me had quite a kick."

  "Yes, that it does. Now I have the nice surprise I promised you. Come with me. I want to show you something.” Morgaine/Raven led her to the ladies room where there was a mirror.

  Stella let out an amazed, “Well I'll be damned. I'm young again.” She raised her hand to her cheek to test that what she was seeing was real. She faced her benefactor. “You did that? How?"

  "That's a secret. And you must never tell anyone what happened to you today."

  "Oh my God, I won't tell a soul. Thank you, thank you.” She reached her arms out and hugged Morgaine/Raven. “How can I repay you? I'll do anything."

  "No need. Just don't tell anyone."

  Suddenly her face changed. It got a vicious look to it. Her grin seemed pure evil. In a husky voice that was Stella's but different, she said, “I'm grateful too, Morgaine. To be released from the nether world. To enjoy the pleasures of being human again."

  "Sh. One who shouldn't know what you are is listening.” Morgaine meant Raven. Morgaine's method of restoring youth had a side effect—possession by a demon.

  Morgaine/Raven drove Stella back to Manhattan, gave her money and left her with her internal demon in midtown where she mingled with the crowds. Morgaine/Raven was home in time for the dinner Keith had cooked. After she kissed him hello, he said, “This is a first. You going out shopping without buying anything.” Otherwise, he didn't act at all suspicious.

  * * * *

  In the next day's Daily News, there was a small article about a mysterious murder in Ulster County. An eye witness swore that she had seen a monkey coming out of the window of the house where the stabbing occurred. She claimed that it was hairless and had an ugly oversized head.

  It was the homunculus, wasn't it? Raven asked Morgaine. It rose again from where we buried it. It can't be killed, can it? Morgaine did not reply.

  A few days later Michael called Raven. Keith answered and handed her the phone after the astrologer asked for Raven specifically. When Morgaine/Raven hung up, Keith asked, “What did he want?"

  "He wanted to know whether the bill we sent him was accurate. He felt that it should've been more."

  "Oh yeah. You should've told him yes.” He grinned. “Just kidding."

  "Uh Keith, I have to go out for a while."

  He was pretty much healed by this time, although he had to walk with a cane. “I'll go with you. I could use the air. I've been cooped up in this apartment too long. I've got cabin fever."

  "Gee, I'd like to take you along, but you'd be bored. I'm going to be with a bunch of chatty women."

  "Oh? Another shopping trip where you don't buy nothing. Are you having an affair, Raven?” He said it in a joking manner, but underlying suspicions were included in his tone.

  Morgaine/Raven gave him a dirty look. “Okay, if you don't trust me ... But I warn you, its a meeting of my coven. Those witches will drive you out of your head."

  "Oh no, not that. A fate worse than death. Okay, go without me. But you've got to promise to take me someplace tomorrow. I'm going stir crazy."

  She caressed his cheek. “Anywhere you want."

  * * * *

  It was noon by the time Morgaine/Raven made it through the heavy Bronx and Route Nine traffic to the institute. She also made a detour to Moonwood to pick up an item that she stuffed into an overnight bag. Michael and Melody were waiting in the laboratory. He had her in a hypnotic trance.

  "She was reluctant?” Morgaine/Raven asked.

  "Yes. But once she sees the results, she'll come around."

  "Okay, have her lay on the operating table. I'll prepare the potion."

  Morgaine/Raven wandered about getting ingredients off of shelves and inside of cabinets, carefully laying each item on a workbench.

  The robot, who was standing quietly in a corner, said, “What are you going to do, Raven?"

  "Nothing much. Just make Melody young again."

  "Like that woman you had in here four days ago. Stella was her name."

  "Yes."

  "Something was wrong with that woman after you did that to her."

  "Nothing was wrong with her. Michael, would you get this thing out of here. It's distracting me."

  Michael said, “Isaac, leave the room."

  "I cannot. Mrs. Ellul will come to harm if you do what you are planning. I will not permit that."

  "What kind of harm?” Michael asked.

  "Nonsense,” Morgaine/Raven cried, her hands shaking with agitation.

  "I don't know exactly,” the robot said. “That Stella did not seem quite right afterwards. She was like a person with multiple personalities that I read about in a book on mental disorders. Perhaps the chemicals in that drink affected her mind."

  "Or perhaps she was possessed,” Michael said angrily. He turned and pointed an accusing finger at Raven. “What was it that came out of the scrying stone, Morgaine?"

  "I don't know. It was part of the process that Dee described in his journal. The robot is imagining things. There was nothing wrong with that woman.” She continued to mix the ingredients of the formula. “Tell the mechanical man to go."

  "No!” cried Michael. “I don't know how you ever talked me into this. I don't want any demon possessing Melody. Morgaine, I'm sending you back where you belong. I know you'll not go willingly, whatever you promised, so I found the incantation in the Asmodeus files on how to return a demon back to its own dimension. I must do that now.” He raised his arms and began to speak words of power. Morgaine's pain was excruciating from the energy radiating from him. She dropped the alembic which crashed to the floor, splintering into a thousand shards. She rushed over to the overnight bag and unzipped it. The homunculus leaped out. “Stop him.” she pointed at Michael. “But do not harm him."

  The awful creature bounded at Ellul's chest, knocking him over. “Restrain him,” Morgaine/Raven cried. The little monster held Ellul's arms in an iron grip despite his struggling. It had superhuman strength. While Morgaine/Raven searched for rope to tie him up, the robot tried to pry the homunculus loose from Michael. “Don't Isaac,” Morgaine/Raven cried. “You're hurting Michael."

  This confused the robot, and it let go. While the robot pondered what to do, Morgaine/Raven bound Michael's wrists and ankles together and gagged him with duct tape. She ordered the homunculus to get out of the way. “You'll thank me for this later, Michael.” She turned to the robot. “No one will be hurt by what I'm about to do. Leave the room. I'll untie Michael when I'm finished."

  "What about Melody?” it asked. “I don't want you to drive her mad."

  "I won't give her any of the potion. I promise."

  "And what about that?” It pointed at the homunculus. “Won't it harm someone? It seems vicious."

  "It is an inhuman monstrous thing. Destroy it."

  In a quick motion the robot grabbed the homunculus by the waist and carried to the door. “I will put it in the furnace for the boiler."

  "Yes. That will destroy it forever. That's good. It has killed human beings and probably would again if it's not stopped."

  After the robot left, Morgaine/Raven finished mixing another batch of the potion and brought it over to where Melody was lying on the table. “Sit up, Melody. You must drink this."

  As Melody rose to a sitting position and was about to take the mixture, the laboratory door swung open so hard it crashed against the wall with a loud bang. “What the hell is going on?” Keith cried.

  Morgaine/Raven paid no attention. “Drink the stuff in the beaker, Melody. Quickly."

  She downed it as rapidly as had Stella, turned white and gagged. Morgaine/Raven pressed her down, placed the scrying stone on her chest, put one hand on it and began to chant. Keith
rushed over and pulled her away. “Goddamn it, Raven, stop all this witchy craft and tell me what's going on. What are you doing to Mrs. Ellul?"

  "Look,” Raven said.

  To his amazement, she grew younger before his eyes.

  "Is that it? You were just restoring her youth. Why didn't you tell me?"

  Raven put her arms around him and sobbed. When she could finally speak, she said, “I've been under a spell. That Claudia did possess me. But it wasn't really Claudia. It was Morgaine. She was in love with Ellul, and she wanted to grant his wish for Melody to stay young like him. But there's something wrong."

  "Oh my God. Now I remember. I tried to shake that damn evil spirit out of you. Does she still have you?"

  "No. I felt her leave me as Melody began to change."

  Raven woke Melody from the hypnotic spell she was under. “How do you feel?” she asked.

  Melody gazed at Raven and smiled. “I feel fine, better than normal in fact."

  "You should. You're thirty years younger."

  She frowned. “So Michael went through with his sorcery, despite my wishes. Well, I suppose I can forgive him. He did it out of love. Am I really young again?"

  "Yes. Let me show you.” Raven led her towards the ladies room.

  By this time Keith had untied Michael who immediately rushed up to Melody. “Are you all right darling?"

  "Apparently better than ever,” she said. “You know I didn't want this."

  "I'm sorry, Melody.” He hung his head. “It was shameful thing, working sorcery on you against your will."

  She took his face in her hands and said, “I forgive you. But you must give me your solemn promise never to use your powers on me again."

  "I promise."

  They kissed passionately.

  Keith said, “Well, all's well that ends well."

  Melody, after their embrace turned into a great hug, winked at Raven. Her slow wink reminded her a lot of the way that Morgaine always winked when she had done something clever. Raven shuddered, but held her peace. She said to Keith, “I hope you're right, and this end is well."

  Morgaine/Melody smiled to herself. Her sorcery had gained her everything she wanted, a return to the material dimension, a young beautiful body that she could keep that way for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, and the love of Michael. Only she must be very careful not let him know who really inhabited Melody's body.