Page 27 of Beast: Part Two

“However, if there is no opposition, the bill may only need two or three signatures to get passed. And Beast can confirm, though the RC used the Church for their crimes, they didn’t really care about you guys. Killing off six of you wouldn’t lose them any sleep.”

“Okay,” Lucien shrugs. “Now we just have to haunt down everyone on that committee and kill them.”

“Whoa,” Phoenix says holding up his hands in surrender. “I don’t doubt you guys are capable, but that’s not wise.”

“What would you have us do then?” Hawk questions rubbing a hand through his hair. “We can’t just sit here like this doing nothing.”

Priest holds his hands up. “He’s not saying that, Hawk. He’s saying we need another approach.”

“Absolutely,” Phoenix cosigns. “You don’t need to go after all the heads, you just need to talk to the ones that signed that bill. If you can convince them to withdraw their signatures, the excommunication order will get tossed out.”

For the first time, we seem to have a plan. For the last two weeks it feels like we’ve been twiddling our thumbs around this house. No matter how big this home is, it will never be big enough. I need to get out of these four walls.

“Yes, you need to feed me before I feast inside this home,”the demon voice in my head grumbles.

“Do you really think we can talk them into withdrawing their signatures?” Zel asks.

“In my dealings with the RC, I’ve learned there’s one thing they value more than anything else.”

“What’s that?” Many asks.

“Secrets and favors. These people have more money than they know what to do with. But what they don’t have around them is loyalty. And the talents you boys offer is something they will want greatly.”

“He’s right,” Priest says. “It’s how I got on Robert’s good side. I did him favors and was always loyal to him and he made sure nothing happened to me in the Church.”

“Alright, then how do we find out who signed that bill?” I ask, stepping away from the wall.

I was optimistic about this new plan. It gave me something tangible I could do.

“Your Pope would have a copy of the bill,” Maksim says.

Zel sighs and Hawk sinks back on the couch.

“Well, we’re back to square one,” Many says in his nasally voice.

“We killed the last Pope six weeks ago,” Priest explains to Maksim.

“Wouldn’t the new one know,” Maksim suggests.

“He would, but they haven’t appointed a new one yet. Some type of delay,” Phoenix says rubbing his chin. “But what about Fox’s records keeper? Don’t they still have those?”

“What’s a records keeper?” Lucien asks.

“Every time a new Pope is chosen, he picks a record keeper. No one knows who he is. It’s the person that would keep all the Pope’s dealings and secrets. This person is appointed so that nothing important ever dies with a Pope,” Priest explains.

“How do we find the records keeper?” Zel asks.

“Luca would have a copy of the contract the record keeper signed. It would be kept outside of the Church since it’s supposed to be top secret.”

“He’s been dead six weeks. I’m sure they cleaned out his apartment,” Lucien states.

Priest shakes his head. “No, they haven’t.”

“How do you know?” I ask.

Priest rolls his eyes as he stands to his feet. “Because I’m that asshole’s next of kin. Hawk, Maksim, Beast, and Many, you’rewith me. Zel and Lucien, I need you guys to watch the satellite. You see any heat coming our way you let us know.”

“We got you,” Lucien said.

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