Marihem and Sherida

Opening the doors to the chamber at the bottom of a spiral staircase, the two women paused seeing the two fallen Celestials in an animated conversation. Neither demoness seemed ready to concede some issue they were discussing, when Hekate cleared her throat.

The imposing, red headed woman glanced over at the two who had just entered, her red eyes glowing behind the three quarters mask she wore, glaring over. “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting for you. Weren’t you told this is important?”

At this Hekate bristled, hands clenching at her side, “Is his highness here, I was told I was being summoned by Lord Belphegor?”

The woman sneered at the question, “Listen little girl, I am hear and as the Grand Vizier in Gehenna, my words have the weight of the throne behind them, so I would advise you to know your place, Aide.”

Hekate, tensed her lips curling slightly as she clenched her teeth fighting back the urge to argue with this person.

Sherida sensing the Tension, laughed, “Now, now ladies, we don’t have time for your fragile egos to bustle and brag about how important you are.” Then seeing Purrsia standing slightly behind Hekate she **** a smile, “Aw Acolyte Purrsia, there you are, we could not find you and had to have another take your place for the preparations. You are dismissed, your sisters will have duties for you since you chose to abandon your place without a word.”

Purrsia, tried to object, “But High Priestess, I just went to meet….” but she was cut short with a look from Sherida, “I’m sorry, my Lady, I will go now then.” Her ears drooping as her tail wrapped around her waist, taking the tip into the palms of her hands, spinning around and quickly making her way out the door and back up the stairwell.

Marihem looked back to Sherida, “Is that girl the reason you are taking so long to set up the ceremony? She must be punished, and taught her place.”

Hekate spoke up, “She was greeting me, and making sure I knew which sanctum you were in, Purrsia is the only reason I made it as quickly as I have.”

Marihem waved a dismissive hand to her.

Sherida now tried to defuse the situation, “Lady Marihem, do not worry, my undisciplined child will be dealt with appropriately by my Shrine. Now don’t we need to discuss the situation with Mistress Hekate, after all she will need to know what she is walking into in the Mortal Realm.”

Marihem’s crimson eyes seemed to calm a little behind her mask, as she huffed. “Yes we are already later than we should be.”

Walking over to an Altar along the wall of the room, with a massive tome opened atop it, opened with a few pieces of paper scattered nearby. She tapped a finger on a page of the book. “King Belphegor sensed something was wrong and a pactum sodalis might be in danger. We will open a portal to his family’s last known location, and you will investigate what is happening. Just find out what is going on, and ensure the family is safe, but do not engage. Then report back to me.”

Hekate blinked, approaching the altar, ‘Yes, Mistress Marihem,” still a hint of displeasure with the woman evident in her voice, “but who is the pact holder? And what is the nature of the pact?”

Marihem, reached up to flip her hair back over her shoulder, “Perhaps, Nechashia would have been a better fit, she doesn’t ask so many questions and just does as she is told. Like a good little puppet should.” Then glancing at the book again, “The pactum sodalis are Juan and Maria Ramirez, and they entered into an oath pact with Lord Belphegor to save their daughter. A maid was poisoning the family for a business rival so we claimed the maid’s soul and saved the family. Since then no further sacrifices have been required, although it seems our King has offered advice to further the family business.”

Hekate’s fists tighten once again, but she held her tongue as this woman suggested that her half-sister would have been a better fit for the operation. Oh how she despised this demon, and her attitude. Then taking a moment to consider the pact she was spoke of, “So the husband and wife are in the pact, what of the daughter, would she be with them.”

Marihem rolled her eyes, “She lives with her family, she is nineteen and attends a local university. Although not a member of the pact, the girl is under our protection, so find out her status as well, then report directly back to me. I shall return to the Cathedral now, as I have no more time to waste in this place.”

With that, Marihem marched from the room the heels of her boots cllicking on the marble floor. Reaching the door, she tilted her head to look back over her shoulder, displeasure evident in her aura even as her face was hidden by the mask. Stepping through the threshold she slammed the door behind her as she disappeared from sight, leaving a heaviness in the room.

Hekate growled at her back, hissing, “I hate that bitch.”

That is when Sherida had moved behind her, placing her hands on her shoulders and kneading lightly. “Relax dear, I know Lady Marihem is hard to deal with, but she is the Grand Vizier and we must treat her with the respect of her rank.”

Hekate sighed, looking at the pages of the book, which held images of how the family looked, so she could recognize them, “Yes, High Priestess, thank you.”

Rising up onto her toes, Sherida allowed her lips to brush across the Succubus’s earlobe, her warm breath sending a shiver along the woman’s spine as she whispered with honeyed persuasion, “And dearest when you return from this mission, please feel free to return to my chambers this eve and we can discuss all you have seen. And then we can relax and enjoy each other for the rest of the night, my lover.”

Hekate now rolled her eyes, “I will consider it, Lady Sherida, but for right now I need to focus.” The temptation was there, but for right now she was not in the mood to think about pleasure as she could just feel there was more to this mission than they were telling her. Touching the page of the book a darkness seemed to be encroaching upon it, though she could not tell what. Every instinct in her body telling her to be cautious.