Chapter 3 Part 13

Serpent Blackheart stood in full battle dress in the chambers of the high priest of Set within the House of Asp. With him stood Miguel and Morteous. They patiently awaited the arrival of the Duke of Hell, Asmodeous, who had reluctantly agreed upon this meeting place. The fact that he had agreed at all told Serpent, his brother, and son that the high leader of the Hell wanted something very badly.

The wait was not long. For at the appointed hour, there was a flash of light and the unmistakable smell of sulfur. There appeared from the light three figures. There were two female humanoids of stunning beauty, even with the tiny horns and short tails which ended in tufts of hair like that of a lion. Their lavender skin suggested a smoothness and softness that gave rise to many thoughts.

The third figure, however, was that of a man of great charisma and comeliness. His beauty was said to charm the most faithful of women into his bedchambers. He stood easily six feet tall and had hair as black as his soul. He wore a goatee and a thin mustache. He was every bit the elusive tall, dark stranger than women dream of in their youth. He too had horns, they were shiny black and protruded from his forehead right above his crimson eyes.

All six bowed to each other simultaneously. Serpent was the first to offer greeting using the high speech.

"Welcome to the House of Asp, great Duke of Hell. Great honor falleth upon us with thy presence."

Asmodeous returned the favor. "The honor is mine, O Favored of the Godking. The pleasure as well is all mine, for it not often that one such as myself stands in the presence of the three most powerful members of the Serpentine Dynasty. Please extend my thanks and best wishes to thy patrons."

"I am sure they will be most pleased," Miguel said.

Asmodeous smiled at the youth and them turned back to Serpent. "Your son has grown quite a bit since I was last here. You must be proud of him."

"Quite proud." Serpent again glanced at Asmodeous' companions and then readdressed the devil. "Verily thou art trying to produce an heir of thine own?"

Asmodeous laughed. "No," he said, "these beauties are for your pleasure." The devil snapped his fingers and the diabolical damsels strolled seductively across to Miguel and Morteous and embraced them hungrily. Miguel eagerly returned the affection, or perhaps lust was a better description. Morteous on the other hand, though he found the creature desirable, was far too experienced to be distracted. He did put his arm around his charge though.

Serpent smiled. "O great Duke of Hell, thou hast always played dirty at the bargaining table. I fearest that my advisor's minds may be compromised by thy assistants' presence. But I darest not bid thee send them away, lest I face a mutiny and lynching from mine own family." Serpent and Asmodeous laughed.

"Come then, Dread Lord of Aspberg, let us wheel and deal as we have done so often before."