Scorn of Angels by John Patrick Kennedy Page B

other, much more untidy stacks sat before scholars who were carefully translating the words of the texts. At the far end, under a window, sat Salim’s table. Like the others, it was burdened with scrolls and books, and on the top of them, in a box, was a neat pile of scrolls. Salim picked the first one up and handed it to Arcana. She scanned it slowly, her brow furrowing.
    “Is it not what you were hoping for?” asked Salim, cautiously.
    Arcana nodded. “I think it is, Salim,” she said. “It is what I was looking for…” but it was not what I was expecting.
    She read closely.
    In the fifth year of the reign of Caligula Caesar, it came to pass that I met a woman who claimed to have met three goddesses in the desert. She had been a slave in a house in Byblos when the first of the three, called Ishtar, came and took over the house, turning the owners into slaves and then giving the house over to the second of the goddesses she saw, called Nyx, who arrived with the goddess Persephone. All three appeared as tall, beautiful women in black armor and black wings at first, though their wings later vanished. They would also take other forms—monsters, demons, men, or different guises of woman as the fancy took them.
    The goddesses were creatures of pleasure and vice, often engaging in congress with servants of both sexes and each other. They often flew away, separately or in a pair, though one always remained behind to ensure the house was not empty and that the slaves could not get up to mischief. Of the three, Ishtar was the most wicked, given to beating or torturing the servants for pleasure. The goddess Persephone was somewhat more gentle, though her sexual appetites were legendary. The goddess Nyx, while enjoying the company of the other goddesses, did not often partake in the pleasures of the flesh with mortals.
    It is said that servants listen to nothing and hear everything. This is how, as she and three others were serving in the baths, she overheard Nyx’s plans. She declared she would become the greatest goddess Rome had ever known, and that her followers would wipe out the Christians. Nyx ordered Persephone to strengthen her own followers to keep them from becoming Christians, and ordered Ishtar to disguise herself as Isis. Ishtar was most annoyed at this but did as Nyx told her.
    Arcana looked up at Salim. “There are more of these?”
    “Twenty,” said Salim, proudly. “All from the Roman period, all about Nyx. I think they were written by one of her followers.”
    “Do any of them mention Tribunal?”
    Salim grinned and picked the other scroll off the top of the pile, then the three beneath it. “They do indeed, my friend.”
    Arcana smiled nearly as widely as Salim. “You are truly a wonder. May I read them?”
    “Of course.” Salim pointed to an empty table. “There is no one using that table today. You may sit there and read all of them at your leisure.”
    “A thousand thanks, Salim,” said Arcana.
    Salim carried the scrolls over to the table. “I have duties this morning,” said Salim. “Shall we get together for lunch?”
    “We shall,” said Arcana. “And I insist on buying you the best lunch to be had in the city.”
    “I shall look forward to it,” said Salim.
    An hour later, Salim looked up from his work. Arcana was gone from the table. All the scrolls were there, spread out. Salim frowned, wondering what could have caused his friend, who wanted the stories so desperately, to leave so suddenly.
     
    High above the Earth, Arcana screamed in rage and launched herself at the portal to Heaven with every ounce of power in her body.
    “The goddess Nyx told the Emperor Caligula that Herod betrayed them…”
    The portal was there. She could feel it. In fury she threw a bolt of pure energy where it should be.
    “…And Tribunal and Nyx did meet in intimate congress many times, during which Tribunal revealed his plans for humanity.”
    The divine energy hit something, and for the briefest