The Syndicate’s first message had been simple. 

            Demons had been observed in several cities, bodies were turning up without organs and so far, the police weren’t talking. 

            Those incidents came to be dismissed as urban legends and passed into the lexicon of slumber party and overnight camp stories. 

            “Don’t go home with a stranger, you’ll wake up without your kidneys!” Was the cautionary cry. 

            Nervous laughter around the story circle, but also some wary nods. Everyone liked a scary story, no one wanted to be the subject of the scary story.  

            The second message was that the body count was increasing, and that violence was tracking alongside at a record pace. 

            The message was received, recorded and filed away, hoping that it would become someone else’s problem. 

            The Council – balanced with Angels and Demons both were paying attention, but not too much. They were hoping that Humanity would get its act together and start being the luminous and loving souls they were designed to be. 

            The Council didn’t want to get involved. 

            Not just  yet. 

            Meanwhile, a subset of Demons was counting on the Angels to do nothing but send thoughts and prayers, leaving them to take action. They took advantage of the apathy to sow the seeds of fear, chaos and anger wherever they traveled. 

            They were damn good at their job. 

            Message three read: “Acts of violence and domestic terrorism continue their upward trend since reporting has been shared publicly.”

            The Council had to take action, more people were noticing, and members of their own ranks were turning in reports that, frankly, scared them. The Veil was getting torn at an alarming rate and there didn’t seem to be enough soldiers to repair the damage. 

            Meanwhile, personal gun ownership startled climbing to 33% over the past year’s sales figures but gun safety training has not kept pace with purchases. Death by domestic violence also has increased dramatically. 

            The Department of Health and Human Services continued to monitor and report on the situation.  

            Meanwhile, police officers and social workers could see the connections all too clearly. More anger, more frustration, less investment in the infrastructure, something had to give and most likely it would be someone’s temper. 

            The Council knew that something must be done, but what, if anything at this stage, was the question? 

            Perhaps they should call an extraordinary meeting of the full council and maybe, just maybe, take action? 

            They’d have to discuss it first. 

            The general public was too jaded to believe in miracles any longer and if Christ did make a spectacular return, he would most likely be arrested as an undocumented immigrant. 

Christ didn’t look anything like the paintings and stained-glass renderings in most Western churches. He was much less surfer dude and much more swarthy. 

            In the heart of Dis there was great glee. The Demons knew that their patience was being rewarded and that Pandorous was going to take his place on the throne of thrones and the age of Chaos would come to be. 

            No more reason, no more calm, just full on gluttony and gorging on flesh, fowl and fauna. 

            Forever. 

            When Pandorous was King it would be glorious. 

            And the Demons were counting the moments.