CONVIVIUM

Mephisto took them around some large outhouses and approached the main entrance from a side alleyway.

“There are not many guards about these days; they don’t think anyone would be foolish enough to want to break in. Come to think of it, I can’t quite believe what we are about to do. Come on, let’s get it over with.”

They walked up to the dark glass front doors as if they were walking into a hotel. Mephisto held the door for Aristo in mock politeness.

“Good afternoon, sir.” He bowed. “Will sir need his luggage bringing up?”

Aristo was feeling nervous and could do without Mephisto’s bravado. “Cut it out, Mephisto, let’s get this over with.”

They stepped inside.

Aristo could not believe his eyes. It was as if he had just walked into a modern office block and this was the reception. All over the walls were pictures, some of which obviously depicted the Fall as known from the Bible. Above the reception desk was a huge black and grey negative screen print of a thin, high-cheekboned man; the print emphasised the almost perfect bone structure of his face. You instantly knew who you were looking at. Aristo was transfixed by the picture as he was sure that he knew it from somewhere.

“Where have I seen that before?” he spoke aloud.

Mephisto looked at him, “Well, unless you know Azazel, who painted it, I would not know. Perhaps you know a Demon?”

It was then that Aristo remembered where he had seen the picture before. It was hanging in the offices of Malius and Arioch.

They approached the desk, behind which a thin pale woman with jet-black hair and eyes to match, dressed in an all-in-one black suit, was sitting. She looked up as they approached and started to smile.

“Jezebel, how the devil are you?”

“Mephisto, baby, where have you been? They’ve been looking for you.” She shook her finger at him.

“Who has?”

“Everyone. They said you escaped; we had everyone here. The place has been crawling with Galearii; even that little do-gooding Indian creep from the Karma section, the bastard who sent me here just because I wouldn’t ... well, that’s history. How did you manage it?”

“Well, it was my friend here, Aristo, he’s the one who made it possible.”

“Hi, Aristo.” She leered at him then turned back to Mephisto. “Wow, he’s cute.”

“Fancy a new job?”

“Where, doing what?”

“Upstairs, my secretary,” Mephisto smiled.

            “What, upstairs, upstairs?”

“Maybe all the way upstairs.”

“Mephisto, can we please...” Aristo was feeling very nervous and glanced from side to side; he expected guards to rush in at any moment.

“Oh! Sorry, Aristo.” And to Jezebel, “Look, luv, I have got to go, got to see the boss.” Then, as if he had only just remembered, he added, “I need you to do us a small favour: We will need a head start once everyone is freed—can you arrange a little breathing space? How about the old tunnel, is it still in use?”

“Of course it is, they never found it. I’ll leave the door ajar for you.”

“Remember what I said—you might find this place a little quiet soon. Get out and meet me upstairs, you have been festering here far too long. See you soon.” He blew her a kiss.

“Bye, Aristo, hope to see you again,” Jezebel said, fluttering her eyes at him, “—real soon.”

“Yes, bye.”

Aristo and Mephisto moved off.

To the side of the reception desk was a set of lifts. Mephisto went across and pressed one of the buttons. To Aristo the lift seemed to take forever to arrive. The chimes sound