Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch. 10.2: Love-In...OF TERROR!!!

The stairs led to a hallway not unlike the ones on the second floor. However, it gave off more 'haunted house' vibes than the other parts of the interior did: furniture covered in dusty tarps lining the wall, thread bare carpet covering scratched floors, doors that looked like they hadn't been opened for years, and old portraits whose eyes always seem to follow you. It was like walking into a Scooby-Doo cartoon.

We passed about five closed doors on either side of the hall before reaching the only door that was open. We stepped into a large spare room that indeed had a balcony attached to that. When I say 'large,' I mean that it was big enough to fit my group (plus Alice), Charlie's Family (who were about the room, helping the Satanists,) and about somewhere between ten to fifteen Satanists that seemed to be constantly coming or going. And still had room for a few more people without having to worry about going through the floor. I noticed the many tale-tell dust impressions along the floor, I'd surmised that they must've moved whatever they could to make room for tonight. Even with the lack of furniture, or perhaps because of it, the large room certainly gave off the whole 'haunted house' vibe; much like the hallway.

However, where the hallway made you think of Scooby-Doo, the various occult paraphernalia around the room gave it a more adult-oriented kind of spooky: various pentagrams and sigils painted on the walls, a lot of lit black and red candles being used as the main source of light, statuettes of various demonic creatures and nude people on the few tables left, ETC.

I looked over to the far end of the room, where it connected with the balcony. The double doors to the balcony were stained glass and were wide open. Two lit torches were fastened upon both corners of the balcony's railing; aiding the candles in illuminating the room around us, at least as far as their light extended. The only other form of light came from the full moon. From where I stood, I could see only a part of it, just peeking out from behind the crown molding of the balcony's doors.

And on the balcony was what appeared to be a shrouded table. Even with my cyber-lenses, I couldn't tell what was under the sheet; the table seemed to have a design that had its corners extend in a way that held the sheet up without giving away what was underneath it.

Beside the balcony doors a silver tray on one of said tables. Placed upon said tray were some very interesting looking items; of which I will mention further on and in some detail when it's time, dear Readers.

As I scoped out the room, Charlie left us for a bit to talk to his Family. With him out of earshot, I overheard the following conversation take place:

"Not gonna lie," I heard Rozz comment softly to no one in particular, "I was expecting a bit more than this. I mean, this is supposed to be an Anton LeVey led Black Mass, yeah? They're supposed to be legendary! But nobody's wearing Halloween makeup or masks, I don't see any whips or hot pokers, and nobody's nude." He paused, then let out a small 'tsk'. "Nobody's not even playing a dirge on a pipe organ."

"Sorry if this offends you, Rozz," I heard Norah say to our resident Demon. "but have you've ever been to one of these Black Masses before?"

"No offense taken, luv," Rozz replied softly with a small chuckle. "I was raised in the Goetic denomination, so we don't really practice the Black Mass. I've only been to one; a Satanic mate of mine invited me to one. He told me most of the basics of them, though."

"Do they all end in... human sacrifice?" Norah asked, keeping the last two no higher than a whisper.

"If they're done in the old-school Orthodox Satanic style, yeah," he answered a little too casually. "Of course, human sacrifice has gone somewhat out of style among my lot. Only the older or more zealous Demons practice that, nowadays. However, the one I went to was really an Unorthodox Satanic Black Mass. The Unorthodox Sect is more popular with Demons under 1000 like my mate- and incidentally, myself. That's because their practices are more modern, especially their Black Mass: they're usually more laid back and sex-oriented, but they still do all that mockery towards..." he paused, presumably to point upward. "Well, you know who," he added. "Again, bein' Goetic, that's not really my cup of tea." He paused again. "But, from what I'm seein' right now," he added with a more serious tone, "and from what Al and I felt earlier, I doubt this is going to be one of the modern ones. If what they're plannin' is a Black Mass, that is. Either way, be ready to have your friend with the whip tag in, or however it works. Just in case, yeah?" Not hearing her say anything, I could only assume that she nodded her answer.