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“Corbin had a theory that this weapon was designed with two primary purposes in mind. One being killing the first demon and secondly to be used against the four horsemen. So, anyone going after that kind of thing would likely be facing?Indiana Jones’s Temple of Doom?times a thousand.” Abby held the journal a bit more to the side allowing her sister a better view of the page in question.

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“The Four Horsemen…as in?‘辞蹿?THE?础辫辞肠补濒测辫蝉别’?” Jenica shook her head once not liking where this was going in the slightest.

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“The very same.” Abby responded.

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“Why would anyone be attempting to steer you towards that kind of weapon? Unless, someone with an inside track and everything to lose had reason to believe that one of the heavy hitters was close to summoning the horsemen.” Jenica couldn’t see any other possible reason for anyone to have a vested interested in someone finding that particular weapon. But boy did she ever wish there was.

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“So you think we’re talking a possible?‘end of days’?scenario?” Abby asked while looking to the brunette upon getting a nod in response the detective sighed heavily. “Great.”

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(ooc: If you have any ideas as far as the weapon goes feel free to use them. I have nothing specifically set yet for it.)

Rudolph Yerbler was relieved he did not need to risk the powers of Judas unleashed just yet. It seemed he already had enough on his shoulders. The Mark of Sorrow may be laughable in the face of other obstacles, but it would be difficult to overcome, Rudolph well knew. Now he was given the license to do something he reveled at already. "Thank you, my Lord," Yerbler respectfully bowed and with a happy smile began percolating on the one order he could execute rather well.

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"I would appreciate the hint," Rudolph politely volunteered, not truly sure how useful the hint could be to him or what it even referred to. Just as likely, it would prove to be something valuable to Crowley himself and he would still be held responsible for deciphering the wretched thing. It almost made him sad, but then the Mark of Sorrow made everything said anyway.

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Distracted from his consideration by a pile of papers, Rudolph ducked by reflex and hastily left his mentor's presence. Being around Crowley was often reassuring but his famous wrath and biting sarcasm unnerving enough to make him want to run. Fortunately, now was not one of these times, since Rudolph was busy, pondering the ramifications of his orders.

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It seemed obvious for him to include this angel, Castiel and his demoness on the Lovers card. He would draw them set apart by space, and varying angles of position, which could magically create a difficulty between them as well. If he wanted to accentuate some differences between them, he could try to use Dew, but the girl was too unreliable of late to entrust with such an important mission. Perhaps he would simply capitalize on all the properties of division?already possible in the Lovers card. Maybe highlight some?different hues for each of them, Yes, he might not shake off that wretched Mark of Sorrow yet, but it didn't mean he couldn't make Crowley proud despite his difficulties of fighting against its corrosive influence. ?

Rudolph Yerbler slowly nodded, the respect for his elder shown in a hint of a smile. He had to be forthcoming with a superior, even ones he utterly despised, let alone the one he chose for the role of his benefactor. But all of his instincts were warning him against the danger that was Judas. It wasn't just that the human himself?had been?close to divinity and could boast powers of his own while still alive. It wasn't only?that he represented an archetypal force in his own right, one older than the?earlier Elevated Masters. It was about any of these factors, but more so than anything else, of Abbadon the Elder's?ancient powers?which had the capacity to encourage sacrifice and surrendering that Judas somehow inherited from the ancient demon.

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Yerbler relished the old days, the knowledge still preserved then and lost later, the surprising revelations the past could grant, the secrets he could personally glean and use to his advantage, but despite all of his research, he still could not come up with a convincing answer as to how Abaddon, the greatest source of dread for demons before the landing of the unmentionable luminosity, could still?exert his influence?from below and even generate his gruesome offspring. The mystery behind the entire process became the greatest puzzle Rudolph has ever faced, with the most confusing elements being in the inconsistent and distinct shapes the offspring took, never truly resembling their great sire, except?in the abilities they have?displayed.

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Rudolph could not be sure if any conventional transmission of power was at play, if Judas was a true avatar of the ancient being, or simply a close ally, but had the distinct feeling the arising of the young?could somehow trigger the rebirth of the Old, and he was not sure even Hell itself could accommodate such a change, without all the senior demons and demon Lords uniting their powers, which hasn't happened for some time in demon history.

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So overall,?the demon found himself?rather relieved that his master made the right call, for the greater good of Hell itself, even if he would execute his orders to the letter otherwise, no matter the cost to?his homeland.?The injunction to find more information was pleasurable as well, but the words that followed made him doubt his standing. He appeared to somehow disappoint Master Crowley though for the life of him, he could not figure out how.

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Inwardly tracing back the sequence of their conversation, Rudolph tried to recall the charming little song in question but?to his surprise every thought of it brought forth the Mark of Sorrow, proving with all due certainty that the Lord of the Crossroads was correct once again. Anything the Mark?implicitly opposed had to be helpful, even if Rudolph missed how at the time.

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Fortunately, never being able to find straight answers to?Hell's most tantalizing puzzles, Rudolph learned to ask the right question instead. In this case, a question of this sort had to start with an assumption he no longer questioned. Somehow, his?benefactor knew of his problem, and tried to intervene on his behalf.?Crowley's abilities were as diverse as they were mysterious and could not contain any useful answers.?The timing of his discovery might provide a good clue instead.

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After all, that day started with him using the help he did not?even know he needed, until forced to use it on the childlike Salome. Crowley could have been trying to help him originally in a dream. If so, it would not at all be surprising for him to get irritated that his help was rejected twice. If?his patron was indeed in his dream...no it was all wrong, Rudolph realized with a start.

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The dream was of Belial, and fear of the demon made Rudolph instinctively retreat from the rest of the images, but thinking Crowley could be involved, released the flow of it once again and this time he could remember. The demon offering him instruction in the dream only used Belial in the way of illustration but was not his former trainer. Nor was it his current benefactor after all. If he were asked about the dream image, Rudolph would call it his own but he knew it would be incorrect.

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There were some differences between the demon he saw and himself. The dream demon's face was slightly longer, more angular, with eyes set apart even wider than his own, and shoulders that were far broader and bespoke of physical fitness. No, if there was once clear similarity, it was in the?long blonde hair cascading down both of their shoulders. But otherwise, it was somebody else, a stranger aware of his difficulties and willing to help him out. Possibly using dreams so as not to be detected by strong demons of Belial's ilk.

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Perhaps it wasn't even a coincidence that his thoughts of Judas and?his relationship to Abaddon culminated today, as his first success at warding off the Mark of Sorrow on Salome. After all, Belial was the demon who initiated the art of unholy temptation at Abaddon's command in the long ago. Somehow it all connected, everything leading him onto a certain path. Rudolph may not know where, but despite being as terrified of what he shall learn as he was exhilarated,?he intended to follow the thread of that particular mystery and one day, possibly to his own horror,?unravel it. ? ? ?

Rudolph found himself unexpectedly gaping at his boss, his singing not entirely unpleasant but utterly incongruous with their conversation. The demon simply could not decide if that meant Crowley was in a good mood and hiding some vital information that could explain it, or was as unhappy as he'd seemed about the whole thing and chose singing to deal with his feelings. Either case implied he did not know the Lord of the Crossroads as well as he'd imagined and the thought made him uncomfortable.

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Trying to focus on the matter at hand, Rudolph attentively regarded the drawings of the bewildering couple and slowly nodded. "The connection here is not? just tenuous as happens with random encounters. There is a power in the images issuing from an angel or a demoness of stature based on the individual power of each of them. But the unexpected factor is the specialized power generated from the two drawn in tandem. Such?power may never stem from the ordinary addition of the two which shows the connection between them is more intense than could be expected. We don't have enough?information to decide if it is their antagonism that generates such magical field, their selection by?the Fates, or hidden passions between them. Perhaps even they don't know themselves. But it is uncanny that between them they could open portals to our world or others, all that potential energy is simply awe striking and whatever its source,?should be able to be harnessed," Rudolph commented, not bothering to hide being impressed with the raw power they might gain access to.

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"I have contacts within the portal powered by Judas, and could use its influence, although some forces are better suitable to channel it. I suppose if we delegate the job to them, we would have to cut more deals though..." the demon questioningly looked at Crowley trying to gauge his reaction to the possibility.?"I?could do it myself too, but with such grave manipulations involved, Judas himself might be rising from?his long time captivity.?Do we dare risking it without Lucifer's direct orders or at least Eve's? I will follow your?direction on the matter as always," Rudolph explained respectfully?"but on second thought, this specific task might be done better if performed by an ally who specializes in matters of relationships specifically, while I?provide the power base for the operation. With greater precision, the disturbance should ne minimal," Rudolph thoughtfully considered, the Mark of Sorrow?swiftly springing to life and burning him at the thought of Judas.

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That was probably what provoked the unexpected pain in the first place, Yerbler reasoned out, and?comprised a good reason to include an untrustworthy Cupid if it helped him to avoid the clutches of despair. Especially since the bitch in question wondered away from her own sources of power and into his domain, so should be safer to control now than she had ever been before. Rudolph assumed all of?this but was content to?let his boss make the call. Following order should not be as painful for him as considering his?own options.?Crowley always knew best anyway, Rudolph reminded himself and messaged his achy forehead, hoping the burning pain would quit if he only kept himself distracted. ? ? ??

Rudolph Yerbler did not mind gathering more information and was almost relieved when he thought he was free. Being called back and offered chances of promotion was far less tempting in his eyes. Every time the opportunity was mentioned by his boss, the Mark of Sorrow placed onto him by Belial started burning on his forehead, even though the demon had dulled its influence on him so that Rudolph could function once again, without ending his existence in the fiery pit of Doom as the?Mark of Sorrow had encouraged him to do.?

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But that dream that helped him work out the solution to Salome's problem also brought back the influence of the Mark into his life and even the influence of the Sacrament Rudolph had constructed for Salome's behalf and reiterated for his own could not entirely erase the dire memory of Sorrow. Even thinking of positive things, hope, promotion, forbidden love, brought its ire back into his mind, searing the despair into his bone marrow, or so it seemed. Rudolph had never told Crowley about the devastation the mark had wreaked upon him, since it was doubtful even his crafty boss could overcome Belial's influence, but he did strive for its influence to never slow him down.

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Slowly considering the problem at hand, the forlorn demon thought he finally came up with the solution his master would be pleased with.? "There is a way to entrap even greater powers with my cards. Especially in this case, it may be possible. Provided of course that the feelings between the two parties are genuine and not entirely lustful. In my original deck I have crafted the Lovers' card and bound it to the ever flexible influence of the Gemini sign. Love can be used for strength if course, but as every other card, it has its polarity and?could use the demoness'?own resources against her in the process of entrapment. Her very feelings would force her to gravitate downward towards a gateway designated in advance to embrace her.?Same with the angel, although he might be traveling through a different portal entirely.?The power of treachery drawn from the magnificence of Judas, the unholy patron of Gemini?through whom?my portal?shall be anchored?could force powerful bonds over both participants, unless they have the lore?to escape my clutches.?After all, their power is significantly stronger and could not be fully accounted for. If they fail, they could both remain bound and at your mercy.?There is no guarantee to my success, but the prospect of entrapment itself seems worthwhile to give it a try," Rudolph reassured and though promotion was not something he was interested in for his own sake, he had to wonder how it would improve his chances?to woo the youthful looking Salome.?It was fortunate that the Mark of Sorrow did not appear to counteract his need for the female?demon as it did with his own needs.

“That’s good. Because you’re probably going to need all that he taught you if even half of what I’ve heard is true.” Jenica always kept her ear to the ground where the supernatural was concerned while most of the time what information she managed to gather was strictly run-of-the-mill lately it was far more disturbing. “Last I spoke to him, Corbin mentioned something about having found a much younger person for the task of chasing down artifacts.”

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She inclined her head somewhat regarding the young woman following her seemingly surprised reaction to the information provided about?‘Old Yellow Eyes’. “Now that is the million dollar question. I don’t know that he’s ever encountered a situation where there wasn’t. Somehow, he’s always managed to find the ones who’ll one day have what he wants.” While the thought did spark some curiosity in the huntress daring to summon the demon in question for a little?‘蚕&补尘辫;础’?was most definitely to be avoided at all costs.

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“He gave them his blood in order to pass along powers to them with the intention of creating an army who would fight on hell’s side.” The brunette shoved her hands into her pockets as she walked the streets with Corbin’s protégé carefully considering what information should be provided and kept secret. Though her fallen friend’s faith in the young woman was enough reason to answer whatever questions she might ask as honestly as possible.

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“Yes…really. I’m just as human as you are.” Jenica spoke in a reassuring tone to be safe though it might be necessary for her to do so. While she carefully studied the young woman searching for any clues as to what she might be thinking in that moment. It was always a matter of curiosity for her when involving someone who had only very recently learned the truth of who she was.

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“And yet…you don’t seem to be a hunter.” She mused not seeing any of the usual indications to the contrary. Maybe this one of those rare instances when the supernatural had touched the life of a child who hadn’t grown into being someone blinded by a need for revenge. The woman’s reaction to her mention of ‘Old Yellow Eyes’ hadn’t gone unnoticed either.

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“Consider yourself lucky. Most who cross his path either meet with an untimely end or enter into a deal with him where they promise him something in return. Those usually tend to end with a fiery death above the crib of the person’s six month old baby because they walked in on something they shouldn’t have.” She didn’t know how much this girl knew about him but was willing to offer up whatever information she could about him. “His name…is Azazel.”

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Giving a slight nod. “Lead the way.” Truth be told, she had nothing better to do at this point in time aside from dwelling on what a colossal mistake it’d been reaching out to someone simply because of a striking resemblance to her long dead brother.