Chapter 17: Scene %* – Prayers Answered

Holly had misjudged the Malice before her. For one, the woman on her throne was not a wasp. Amanda seemed astonishingly un-wasp-like and much more like an amusement box, whatever that entailed. Holly didn't expect to kneel in front of her, palms sweaty with anticipation as her captor spoke of vocational opportunities.

"If you work for me," the crystalline voice of Amanda began. "Then I will ensure that you never want for food or shelter again. I can supply everything you require. You will be safe from the evils of this world." The echoes of the machine before her spoke of temptation and guile. It was delusional, of course; the Malice thought herself a god.

Holly wanted to be sure of what the woman was saying. "I understand what you're offering, but I have questions of my own," Holly spoke to her new god, mind calculating questions to ask to delay the temptation of the flesh, erm, faith. "What about the Magical Warriors? Wouldn't they pose a threat to my new home, my way of living?"

"What about the Magical Warriors makes you think they threaten me?" Amanda bluffed, trying to keep her composure up. "I have already beaten one this day, fought off their armies as they invaded my mirrored… um, maze. Mars was down for the count before she knew what hit her."

Adorable. Holly bit her lower lip. This Malice tried so hard to sound impressive that she fumbled her way into corny. The shapely woman before her probably lucked out and won against the Magical Warrior by chance, but Mars was rumored to be one of the strongest Magical Warriors in town. Maybe her defeat wasn't a fluke?

Unlikely, but possible. Holly would have to know more.

Amanda felt a rush of faith and assumed her words had the intended effect. She continued, doing her best to put on her godliest facade. "If you follow me, my power will grow… sevenfold." The demon wiggled her fingers, emphasizing her last word. "Together, we can take on the other invaders, and live happy lives together. You just need to call me cute… lots and lots. Okay? Call me adorable."

Oh, my Amusement Box. Holly found herself doubling over and trying hard not to laugh. "Y, yes. Your Majesty, though your offer is generous, I am wondering how you expect me to fight a Magical Warrior? If you haven't noticed, I'm human." Time for her second question. She was almost sure she knew the answer, but she had to be sure. Her mouth was dry as Holly opened her mouth. "Will you be turning me into a Malice?"

“Of course I will! Just worship me and,” Amanda paused, her screen turning to static before she could complete her deal. What replaced the static were numbers with a circle in the background, counting down from twenty.

The room grew dimmer as candles strewn about the cathedral flickered and turned a shade of pink. Amanda twitched, her body no longer under her control. Wires wrapped around her wrists, spilling out from the gaps between her sleeves and gloves.

Holly watched in morbid fascination as the ends of each cable were tugged upwards, hooked by unseen fingers to something deep inside the darkness. Like a marionette on strings, Amanda was jerked to her full height and lifted off her throne. Mechanical wings burst from Amanda's back, cogs twisting and steam hissing from calliopes in the joints. Strung up in a T-pose, a video began to play from her monitor screen.

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