| Summer Series 2002: The Journey of the Fool Story the 5th ~ The Hierophant By Kuzibah |
| Disclaimer: Spike is not mine, more's the pity. Spoilers: For "Grave." Archive- Please email request. Feedback- Absolutely. ******************* ~ Tangier, Morocco Spike hustled the demon tribute, whom he had taken to calling Ariel after the sprite in "The Tempest," off their boat and out into the swirling mass of humanity in the port city. After their "mind-meld" experience, the creature was able to understand Spike, although it still could not speak anything but the bird-like chirps and trills which were now a familiar and welcome sound to the vampire. He would miss the demon, he realized, especially the calming effect it seemed to have on his newly-restored soul. "We're not meeting the Hroonta's bishop for a few hours," Spike told Ariel, consulting the written instructions he'd received in Dakar. "We have time to get you some fresh food, and maybe find some blood for me. Let's go." They made their way to the city's main marketplace, and quickly found a fruit stand. When Spike affirmed Ariel could choose whatever it liked, the demon selected several avocados and a sackful of cherries, plus a bouquet of red flowers which it devoured with obvious relish. Finding blood was not much more challenging. Spike could smell it all around from the market butchers that slaughtered and cut up the unfortunate animals right in their shops. Convincing one of them to sell him a few pints was something else, and Spike at last had to resort to veiled threats. The butcher brought Spike a basin filled with blood (part sheep, part goat), his hands shaking, and Spike drained it on the spot. He gave the butcher a generous payment, then took Ariel back into the marketplace. They came to an open plaza filled with people, most of them dressed as he and Ariel were, in long concealing robes. Spike sniffed the air, and his eyes narrowed. The plaza was filled with demons of all kinds. "You here for the tribute, too?" a voice asked in English, and Spike turned to see a silvery Mariko demon peering out from beneath a large head-scarf. "Yeah, transporting for the Hroonta," Spike said. "A living tribute." The Mariko was impressed. "I'd be extra careful, if I were you. Lots of demons in town wouldn't mind grabbing a few of the rarer offerings to support the reformationists. There have been attacks already." "I'll keep my eyes open," Spike said. "Bunch of damned heretics," the Mariko said. "Best of luck to you." �You, too, mate,� Spike said, and he pulled Ariel behind him towards the hidden temple where the Hroonta bishop was to be found. Vampires, as a rule, do not follow a complicated system of deities with an attendant religious structure of priests and cardinals, but Spike knew a surprising number of demon species did. And unlike human systems of faith, where corruption was denied and concealed, the Satanic church was quite open about it. Tribute given in life meant reward in Hell, it was as simple as that. Tribute obtained by murder, theft, deceit, or violence was all the sweeter. Of course there were rituals, obscure and arcane, designed to do the will of the Gods in the Hell dimensions here on earth, and the temple reflected this, with blasphemous statuary and ancient occult symbols everywhere. The air was thick with incense. The bishop was waiting when they arrived, and Spike was surprised to see he was not Hroonta himself, but some other species that looked more or less human. �You have brought the tribute. Excellent,� he intoned in a deep sonorous voice, and Spike rolled his eyes. These �ber-evil types were all alike. He�d be twirling his mustache and letting out a hearty �Mwa-ha-ha� next. Spike could sense Ariel stiffening with fear, the first strong emotion the demon had shown, and Spike patted it on the arm. �It�s alright,� he said. �Let the bishop just take a look at you.� Carefully he removed the veil and headdress. �Ah, a Ghee demon,� the bishop said. �A treasure indeed. And quite a beautiful specimen, as well.� Spike felt oddly proud, as though he had selected the creature himself. �It sings, too,� he said. �I think His Most Infernal will enjoy it very much.� �Undoubtedly,� the bishop said. �It�s so rare one gets to enjoy Ghee these days. It�s said they are nearly extinct.� Spike felt a sudden chill. �Extinct�� �Hardly a surprise,� the bishop went on. �Their brains are such a delicacy.� Spike could not believe his ears. �You�re going to eat it?� �Of course,� the bishop laughed. �What else would you expect His Blasphemousness to do? Pat it on the head?� �He can�t�� �He can and will, vampire,� the bishop snapped. �It is the sworn property of the Demonic See , and if he wishes to eat its brain, its skull will be split before you can say �amen.�� The words had scarcely left the bishop�s mouth before he found himself knocked to the ground by Spike. The vampire was in a furious rage, and in one swift movement, he twisted the bishop�s head half off his body. Spike let the body drop, limp, to the floor. He turned back to Ariel, who was watching the scene closely. �I�m sorry,� Spike said, and he noticed his hands were shaking. �I didn�t�� The demon crossed to where the dead bishop lay on the floor and looked down. Spike got to his feet and took its hand. �We have to get out of here,� he said, and Ariel turned to him. In the demon�s eyes was a keen intelligence Spike had not seen before. It nodded in agreement at Spike�s words, then stepped across the body to the temple altar. Glancing over the collected tribute, it quickly gathered everything there that was small and easily liquidated: gems and gold. They disappeared into the folds of its clothes. �I like the way you think, pet,� Spike said. He tossed their travel bag onto the floor beside the bishop, then broke one of the wooden altar-pieces into sticks. He tossed one of the sharper shards beside the bag and added a few handfuls of ashes from the incense trays. �Not bad for last-minute improvisation,� Spike said with a grin, and Ariel smiled back. �That looks good on you,� Spike said. �But we have to go, now.� Once on the darkened streets, Ariel turned toward the dock. Spike caught its arm and turned it in the opposite direction. �If that trick doesn�t work, they�ll expect me to head for America directly,� he said. �So we�ll take the ferry to Gibraltar instead. Work our way up through Europe.� Ariel smiled again and nodded. �Let�s go, then,� Spike said, and they headed for the highway to try and catch a lift. Go to the next story - The Lovers Main Menu ~ Return to Summer Series 2002 Menu |