Witches and Devils

Selections

Michael and I lay in the bed, cuddling and looking up at the ceiling, "you think they've eaten the apples yet?" I run my fingers up and down Michael's arm.

"I don't know, but I'm not in any rush to stop them. If they all die, it solves our problem."

"I suppose you're right. Just doesn't seem like much fun."

"Bringing about the end of the world isn't always fun."

"What poison do you think they used?"

Michael shrugs, "I'm not sure."

"Despite the choice of poison, I can't imagine it will be a very attractive end."

"Poisoning never is." Michael sighs, "but if they have turned on those they are to protect, I can't imagine it will be long before they come for us."

I sit up on my elbow and look to Michael, "we are the Antichrist and the Supreme, what do we have to fear?"

Michael chuckles and shrugs, "not everything can be solved with magic."

"Of course, it can." I lay back down.

It isn't long before Venable and Mead walk into our room, Michael looks over to them, "ladies, we're a little busy right now, if you can't tell."

"This won't take long." Venable places the foot of her cane on the floor, between her feet.

Michael and I sit up, getting dressed, although we are in no hurry. Michael looks over to Venable as she walks over to his side of the bed, "What's this?"

"We're making the selections now, Mr. Langdon. And I'm afraid the two of you didn't make the cut."

Michael and I laugh, "I'm sorry, we wanted to let you have your moment, but just couldn't hold it in."

"You two think this is funny?"

I shake my head, buttoning up a red silk blouse, "Impressed, Ms. Venable. We weren't sure you had it in you."

Michael takes a deep breath, "you've passed the test. You're perfect for The Sanctuary."

Venable takes a deep breath as the smile fades from her face, "Ms. Mead."

"I wouldn't do that." Michael shakes his head. Mead points a gun at Michael, Michael just stares at her. But she doesn't pull the trigger.

"Ms. Mead." Venable repeats as she turns.

Mead slowly moves the gun from Michael to Venable and she pulls the trigger, hitting Venable in the chest. Venable looks over to Mead, hurt and betrayal in her eyes as she falls to the floor. Mead looks to her friend just as shocked as Venable was herself, "I don't know why I did that. I was always loyal to her."

Michael leans down beside Venable, "it's alright. You were obeying commands, like you're programmed to do. My commands." He looks over to Mead, who gasps. He stands as he smiles, "did you enjoy executing the poison apples plan as much as we enjoyed coming up with it?"

"What?" Mead shakes her head, "but I heard the two of you at the party, you didn't know."

"Acting." I chuckle, "of course, we knew. Why else would we leave before we got a fresh apple."

"You two wanted everyone dead?"

"I've never been a fan of getting my hands dirty. Learned that from my Father," Michael shakes his head. "And since Rose and I have been hoping for an heir, I don't want to put her in harm's way."

I nod, "Plus, it's always more fun to entice men and women to dirty deeds."

"Confirms what we've always believed."

"What do you believe?" Mead looks between the two of us.

"That all people, if given the right pressures or stimulus, are evil motherfuckers."

"I'm having trouble with this," Mead shakes her head. "I know I'm just a machine."

"Never say that."

I walk over to Mead and place my hands on her shoulders, "you are so much more than that."

"You're not just a machine," Michael shakes his head, "Not to us. When I tasked The Cooperative's R & D department to have you constructed I gave them a prototype to model."

"A prototype?" Mead begins to calm a bit.

"Someone from my childhood. Someone very special to Rose and I."

"The beautiful boy." Mead smiles.

"That was me." Michael nods.

"And the woman he loves." Mead looks to me.

"That's me." I smile.

"But I had to keep the most important part of  you hidden from your mind." Michael takes a deep breath.

"Why?" Mead looks back to Michael.

"To protect you. And the plan. But now it's time to remember it all. We lost you and neither of us could bear it. I can't imagine a new world without both of you by my side. The only two women who ever really understood me."

Mead nods, "who ever really loved you." Michael nods and step forward, the two of us hugging Mead.