Excerpt: Devonhouser's Angel

Chapter 8--The Wizard of Hartfordshire--©

As the giant doors of the castle swung open, three demon monkeys flew in like a happy parade of thieves. The castle of Hartfordshire was the home of the high Wizard Randal Mortaman. He sat quietly on his throne with one hand under his chin, watching eagerly, and patiently, as the monkeys drew closer.
The floor of the castle was covered with brilliant marble grey tiles, that glistened like diamonds. The sun was shining in through the huge windows on either side of the great throne. There were twelve steps leading up to the throne. Next to the throne was a large golden table holding a shiny silver gobbler, filled with sweet wine that the wizard loved. Two handmaids stood on either side of the wizard, fanning him with giant white feathered, leaf like fans.
The curtains that draped the huge windows were red with golden trimmed tassels and cover with specks of pure gold inlay. The room spelled of pure sweet Jasmine, an intoxicating aroma that made the monkeys sway as if they were drunk. They held their noses to help them get used to the scent, as they drew closer to the wizard’s throne.
The monkeys stopped right in front of the twelve steps, retracted their great golden brown wings, and bowed down before the wizard.

Vingo the head monkey in charge, stood up first. He was about five feet tall with long black hair that draped over his wings, and nearly covered his entire backside. He wore a checkered vest, blue jeans and army boots. His face was like that of an old man with animal features. Grey hair covered his eyebrows and a grey beard hung down his chin, all the way to his tummy.

His ears were large and round, filled with diamond studs. His face and skin was golden brown, and silky like fine smooth hair.
He opened his mouth wide and gave a disgusting grin, with giant teeth, razor sharp and hideously yellow to the view. Then he tapped the other two, Meko and Gizon and they stood up as well. They both were shorter than Vingo but looked exactly the same, as if they all were twins. Then Vingo slowly raised his hand to his face, and rubbed his slender fingers across his nose, the long yellow nails tangled his beard a little as he wiped away the lingering scent of Jasmine once more. Then he reached down into his vest and pulled out a long stroll of paper and begin giving the wizard their daily report.

Sire, we have taken care of the human called Junior, of which you made rich beyond his own desire. Now he is shunned by family and friends alike. Today he has burned his fine car, and human police have taken him away to a prison cell, "natural confinement", as you ordered.”

Meko leaned over and looked on the stroll as well and then he chimed in. “However, there was this human woman, who saw us---”

“Silence Meko!” Gizon hissed with anger.

“Saw you--- A human woman saw you?” the wizard leaned down over his chair as if he might get up, but he did not.

“Yes, the woman, Elizabeth is her name…. she did, indeed, see us---”

“And she also spoke to us sire,” Meko added as if he was telling the greatest story ever told. Vingo and Gizon had the look of furry in their eyes as they rolled them at Meko, who was obviously trying to get in good with the wizard today.

“Bring me my crystal ball, let me view her.” The wizard commanded as he leaned back comfortably in his high throne chair..

“But sire, we have already tried, she can not be seen in the crystal ball." Vingo replied.

“Well,” he said slowly in a low and dark voice. “Bring me the tell all mirror I will view her there."

“But sire----”

“What-- she can not be seen there either!” the wizard bellowed impatiently as he stood up from his throne and began to pace the floor in discontentment.

“Huh, no she can not,” Meko answered in a slow and calm reply, holding his head down and backing away from the wizard as he spoke.

“What form of human is this that can not be viewed in the crystal ball nor the tell all mirror?” the wizard looked at all of the demon moneys as they surrounded him with humble pie faces.

“She must have supernatural connections on the other side.” Gizon offered as an excuse, trying to appease the wizard.

“She could be channeling someone.” Vingo added.

“Or maybe "he" is helping her discover powers.” Meko leaned toward the wizard and twisted his fingers as he spoke.

“I hear she is charismatic in her own right.” Vingo continued.

“Yes but how powerful is she, what level of knowledge has she?” the wizard returned to his throne and sat down with a puzzled look on his face.

“Of her powers...that we are not quite sure.” Vingo hung his head as he spoke.

“Well you should visit her during the night, probe her head and discover her secrets...and who is this "he" that you speak of ?” the wizard ordered.

“But sire---”

“Now what, can she not be visited either!” the wizard raised both hands and flailed them around in the air, his face flushed with anger.

“She has a fence of angels around her at all times, they guard her and the children well. The only time they let their guard down is when she is with him.”

“With him…him who” the wizard shouted, impatiently annoyed and confused.

Sire, she is the friend and, we think, the lover of the warlock Vampire known as William Collinsworth

“Collinsworth,” the wizard seemed even more puzzled and confused.

“You know him, the black guy--- the half breed, half Zipoclone warlock -----”

“Half Vampire." Gizon and Vingo finished Meko's sentence.

“The Royal Emperor, the mighty keeper of the Collinsworth Colony.” Meko continued.

"Yes, yes, I know him indeed." The wizard threw his hand up like a stop sign, flushed red and miffed. "I know him... my vexatious brother figure--- a thorn in my side--- piercing my gut like a bad headache--- a pain in my as----”

“Sire,” Meko cut the wizard off as he placed his foot up high on the first step and began to climb. “May I come closer?” He asked before taking another step.

“Come if you must,” the wizard answered with a mutter, turned his head towards the window and began to gaze at the sunlight glistening through, as if it was his only pleasure. He was quite put out. He was displeased to say the least. Nevertheless he was always thinking of what to do next.

Meko blinked and rubbed his eyes as he continued his climb of the huge steps. Vingo and Gizon followed close behind him. Each step was wide--- about 4 feet in length, covered with shiny golden marble. They gleamed and hypnotized the monkeys, making it hard for them to keep their focus. They all stopped on the seventh step.

Now closer to the wizard, Meko continued his speech. “ Sire, we have discovered the whereabouts of the golden key and the golden locket. This woman, Elizabeth, has two children and they process the jewels. And the angels guard them all. The only time they surrender is when she is with him.” Meko concluded, careful not to mention William Collinsworth to the wizard by name to many times, for fear of fueling his anger once more.

“When she is with William Collinsworth huh.” the wizard gritted his teeth and seized with disgust as he spoke the name. He breathed a sigh and for a moment silence filled the room. He closed his eyes and rubbed the side of his temple, carefully pushing back his long locks of dark brown hair, with his long finger nails shining as if they had been freshly manicured and polished.. Then he stroked his smooth face back and forth, ever so gently, moaning softly, as if he was massaging himself with deep thought. He slowly opened his eyes, batting his long and luscious eyelashes like a beauty queen, winning a pageant. He eased back to comfort in his chair, and smiled a sleazy smirk. With one long finger touching the corner of his mouth, he licked his lip, as if a light bulb had come on in his head..
“Then we must find a way to go through him.” He calmly whispered.

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All these characters, plot, settings, etc. are my personal property and I am their owner. Any republication of this material will be a total infringement of my copyright.
Sharon Young Bishop©2008-2010