The Defense of the Library (Part 3)
<The Archives>
Serena watched with dismay as she saw the proudly strutting Zakandra,
Balseraph Baron of Technology, lead a contingent of Impudites and Djinn
of Technology to the dark fields from which the odd place called the
Archives rose. The testing of his discovery was obviously filling the
Liar with even more pomposity than what was usual in his breed, and he
was surveying the assembled demons of Fire, The War, The Game, Fate, The
Media, Nightmares, and even Theft and Greed. Despite the presences of
Prince Asmodeus, Prince Nybbas, Princess Beleth, Prince Mammon, Prince
Baal, Prince Kronos, Prince Valefor, Prince Vapula, and Prince Belial,
Zakandra still flew over the assembled gathering of demons, his
black-scaled chest puffed with overweening pride. His six eyes
contemplated Hell's skies and a gloating smirk hung over his features.
The despairing Lilim watched as Zakandra flew over to where the Princes
Vapula and Nybbas were quietly conferring. Without waiting to be granted
permission, Zakandra began speaking.
"Prince Vapula, I'd like your sponsorship." When the Habbalite and
Impudite looked up in irritation, Zakandra went on. "The way I see it,
the discovery of this backdoor into Heaven is a discovery that furthers
the Word of Technology, and I would like to apply to Lucifer to be
granted a Word. Oh, a small Word, certainly. Maybe something like The
Path or The Internet. I'd like your sponsorship, sir."
Vapula and Nybbas looked at each other for a long moment, then Nybbas
grinned. "Hey Vaps, I've got an idea! It'd make great press for the
discoverer of this fabulous new advancement in the War to be the first
into Yves' Library, ya know, see if it works? All in the name of science
and ratings, right?" Vapula's answering grin struck a sliver of ice
straight through the Balseraph's growing pride...
<An hour later>
Zakandra stared with trepdiation at the stacks of books in the Archive.
Next to him, unnoticed, stood a Lilim in white robes. Zakandra was more
concerned with what was *behind* him. He could feel the looming,
impatient presence of the Prince of The War like a heat furnace on his
scaly back. The swirling curiousity and gloating interest of Vapula's
emotions batted around his head like a storm of fireflies, while the
grim, cold presence of Kronos swallowed all hope just to Zakandra's left.
The Balseraph looked behind him with a smile as false as any of Nybbas' s
and then said "And now, let the downfall of Heaven begin!"
Baal's voice was an irritated growl. "Just get on with it."
Zakandra gulped and nodded, shoving down his anger. ~Who does he think he
is? I serve Technology, not the War! When I'm commended for my ingenuity
with a Princedom, I'll remember his tone with me today.~ With that,
Zakandra reached into a large duffel bag hanging his wing muscles and
pulled forth the small device he had crafted. To Serena it resembled
nothing more than a black ball with glowing blue buttons. The Balseraph
typed in a coded sequence with the tip of his tail and squeezed all but
two of his eyes shut.
All around the assemblage, the Archives rippled and swirled, shimmering
with pearlescent light. The air of the Archives seemed to swirl for a
long moment, then a shimmering rainbow light covered the demons,
accompanied by a sense of upward momentum that resembled being fired from
a cannon. When the light cleared, Zakandra stood unscathed from the
passage. Baal, Vapula, Kronos, Nybbas, Serena, and a small contingent of
the Servitors of The War, Fate, and The Media stood in an entirely
different stack of books a few yards away. These books were neatly filed
in a room that smelled of pine and was lit by orbs that radiated a soft
white light. The smell of dry, musty books was the same however. Vapula
turned to Zakandra.
"Well done Baron. I may just sponsor you for that Word after all."
Zakandra's fluid bow hid his large grin. Baal's smile was possessed of
the elegance and generous grace of a noble tossing candy to a child as he
said "You have provided a new strategem in the War and exposed a weakness
of the Enemy's. I too will sponsor you." Nybbas's camera was rolling even
as they spoke, held by an Impudite of the Media. Baal waved a wing and
they set out. No one noticed Serena slipping away as they marched off
into the Great Library.
Beth was speaking to the assembled angels of Stone, Faith, Archives,
Destiny, War, and The Sword. The Archangel of Archives had a lilting
Irish brogue to her voice as she said "And remember, keep collateral
damage to a minimum. No Songs of Fire or Entropy are to be used, to avoid
damage to the books. Try to avoid soul-killing if possible, but if you
see any demons defacing the books, do what you must." She noted the grim
smiles of the Malakim of Archives. They were going to so *enjoy* doing
what they must. It was on this note that Serena entered and knelt.
Beth just looked at her. "If you're here, then I guess they're here?" At
Serena's nod, Beth sighed. A yellow-scaled Seraph of The Sword stepped
forward. "Shall we go and commence battle, Archangel?" Beth sighed and
nodded, watching the hunting parties split up to go find the demons. She
was surprised, however, when Serena got up to go with them.
"Where are you going Serena?"
Serena grinned. "I have an idea, Lady Beth."
Beth raised an eyebrow and beckoned Serena closer. The Lilim began to
whisper in her Superior's ear. As she did, the grin grew wider and
wider...
Zakandra was already feeling the burning in his body from the rarefied
atmosphere of Heaven. He was starting to think this might not have been
one of his brighter ideas. But still, if it could be pulled off, this
might be his ticket to the upper echelons. Ignoring the War and Media
demons before him, the Balseraph felt his resonance starting to flow
around him: a distorted fracturing, like a black wave reaching from him
and around him. ~Yes, let's see....Zakandra, Prince of Mysteries, Lord of
the Paths between the Planes. I could see myself working with Alaemon,
perhaps Beleth and maybe Kobal. The Comedians are a funny lot.
Andrealphus could be useful. I like what I see when I go to his section
of Shal-Mari. Furfur, Belial, and Saminga are useless idiots. Mammon is a
tired old fossil and Lilith's only a human. Hmmmm....Kronos is pretty
ancient too, and Magog? Who remembers him? Maybe I could work with
Fleurity and Nybbas, but Vapula's got to go. I could see myself as Hell's
new inventor. What does Vapula do anyways but fight Jean. Its' the
moronic versus the mad, and I don't know which is which...~
So wrapped up in his own thoughts was the Vapulite Baron that he did not
see the glittering eyes staring at him from between two stacks of
philosophy texts. Then the stacks flew apart as a Malakite, flaming sword
aloft, leaped into the aisle in front of Zakandra. The startled Balseraph
yelped. Behind him, he could see the small knot of War-Servitors raise
their guns and swords in a smooth motion, testament of the harsh training
of Gehenna. The Media Servitors were scattering in all
directions....until the screams started. Smashed cameras and microphones
came back, tossed over the bookshelves or skidding along the floor.
Zakandra was staring into the eyes of a Malakite clad in red-gold robes,
and he didn't need to be a Lilim to see his death in the Malakite's eyes.
Zakandra smiled weakly. "Ummm...hi. I'm not with Fate or anything. I'm
from Technology and I'm sure that we can cut a deal. How'd you some new
books for the Library, huh?" Zakandra quickly rummaged through his duffel
bag and tossed out several books. One read "The Kobalite's Guide to
dealing with Princes." A subtitle beneath that read "Guaranteed to work
100% of the time, or your Essence back." Another read "Angels for
Dummies--as narrated by Annith, Lilim of Cruelty." A third read "Becoming
a Demon Prince in 666 E-Z Steps." The fourth one had an image of Novalis
in chains before a smirking Andrealphus in leather gear and holding a
whip. The title read "Flowers and Desire--the latest epic from Shal-Mari
Press." The fifth book's title read "The Idiot's Guide to Terrorizing
Underlings--as narrated by Annith, Lilim of Cruelty and narrated by Fere,
Impudite of the Media." The last one read "The 12-step Guide to
Selfishness." Zakandra smiled. "Take them, they're yours...." With that,
the Balseraph swung the bag in the Malakite's startled face, grabbing the
spherical device that slipped out and slithering between the Malakite's
legs while he was distracted. To the disgusted cries of the
War-Servitors, Zakandra took flight away from the scene. Just as they
moving in on the lone Malakite, the Library saw fit to drop off twenty
Malakim of Stone, Archives, The Sword, and War. The Baalites tightened
their hands on their weapons and just stared grimly at each other....
In the meantime, Serena had approached the small cleared space where
Baal, Vapula, Nybbas, and Kronos were conversing, a small contigent of
War-Servitors patrolling the area. The Servitors of Fate and the Media
stood in a tight cluster nearby. Serena took a deep breath to calm
herself, preparing to enter the emotional field of Vapula, then she
marched right over and knelt before Kronos.
"Dread Prince Kronos, I bear you good news!" When the Prince of Fate
looked at her and raised a hand for her to continue, the Lilim swallowed
and said "Sir, we have flushed out Yves! Even now, our forces hold him
trapped and at bay for you!"
Kronos's face remained frozen for a moment, then, slowly, began to split
into a grin as dark as the Pit. "Well done, Temptress. You will be
rewarded. Lead me to him." He stood and followed the Lilim as she was
carried off by the Library. The stacks of books shifted and flowed about
the pair...then suddenly stopped. There were bookshelves on all sides of
them...but no Yves. Kronos looked down at Serena. "What is this?!"
A cold voice, like a rumbling avalanche, answered. "This is a trap." When
Kronos looked up, he saw David standing atop one of the bookshelves. On
another shelf stood Yves, and on the shelf opposite him stood Beth. The
Archangels of Stone, Destiny, and Archives all had grim smiles on their
faces as Serena was carried out of the trap by the Library, which shut
tightly about the Prince of Fate again. David just laughed. "This is
going to be fun..."
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EDG <[email protected]>
In Nomine Collection Curator