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It was early morning and the sun had just begun to shine through the library windows of his chateau. Bourbon was sitting there smiling as he thought of the new powers that Lord Lucifer would grant him after the mid summers eve celebrations. Suddenly the room became very cold and from the doorway, the deep voice of Lord Asbaritch broke into his thoughts.
“Satanist hear my words, the three who you wanted held captive within my realm are now back here in your dimension. Their leader is very courageous for he bearded me within my own lair. But still I did delay them for one whole day, now the rest is up to you.”
Bourbon whirled around to see the terrible demon lord standing before him, he wanted to scream out in anger at the demon for failing him, but fear of what the dark lord might do to him wisely prevented him from doing so.
“I believe it is customary to take a small payment when in your realm, I will only take a small fee as your enemies are free again to trespass on your domain. But give it to me now so that I might leave this terrible world of the humans and return to my own domain.”
Bourbon bit back his curses, at least he wouldn`t be the one to pay the great lord, the female could once again pay the price for interfering in his business.
“If you will kindly follow me my Lord Asbaritch, I will take you to the one who will pay you in full.” Bourbon walked quickly over to a small table and took out a remote control device from out of a secret drawer that was concealed beneath the ornate top of the table. Aiming the device at a picture of Notre Dame, he pressed the only button on the device. A small panel within the interior wall slid back and then sideways revealing a wooden staircase that went down to a concealed cellar. Bourbon led the way down to the unconscious figure of Christina and the demon bent to drink her blood but only took a little before rising in disgust.
“What have you given to the female, I can taste it in her blood?” Lord Asbaritch asked angrily.
“It is only something to keep the female asleep, it is nothing my Lord.” Thankfully, Christina had been drugged by Bourbon, as too was Cassie. Bourbon had decided to slip a powerful sleeping draught both into each of their midday and their evening drinks.
“What of the other female is she too drugged?” The dark lord asked, still angry at what he saw as the Satanist’s attempt to withhold payment.
“She has been promised to the great and powerful Lord Lucifer, she will be his bride on mid summer`s eve.” Bourbon replied. He was little worried that the demon might demand his blood as payment as the female`s blood was tainted.
“Oh yes he does have a penchant for virgin human females. Satanist where is my drink to go?” The demon said laughing softly at his little joke.
“Here my Lord, I have made a large keg of it to warm you during the cool nights of your domain.” Bourbon said indicating a large wooden keg sitting by the wall.
The dark lord picked it up and then turned to look at Bourbon, who drew back against the wall in fear.
“I will take this as my payment Satanist, but take care that the human that got the best of me within my own lair doesn`t kill you. I might decide to ensnare you as you journey to hell, unfortunately you wouldn`t enjoy being a guest within my domain.” The demon`s evil laughter rang around the cellar of the chateau chilling Bourbon`s blood. The demon disappeared in a veil of red smelly smoke and Bourbon was once again alone, apart that is from the sleeping sisters.
Bourbon felt thoroughly disheartened by the way that the demons had all let him down, and with the need to conserve his remaining strength for the coming festivities the use of further demons at this stage was not an option. Even with Christina supplying the blood to meet the required payment Bourbon was still exhausted mentally, each time he used them, for their very presence drained a little of the life force that is present within every man, woman or child. No, he would use the human resources available to him. With this in mind he contacted an ex-convict, Joe Peterson, who he had used on previous occasions to carry out the seedier jobs required to make his task of earning his millions all the easier. Many a city worker had been blackmailed or threatened into providing him with information. On Bourbon`s behalf he hired a couple of local villains who were quite skilled at evading notice and it was these two men, after being warned about Rob`s profession, who took on the job of trailing the three friends and reporting their movements to Peterson.