At first, the hotel corridor appeared to be deserted. It was the off-season, shortly before the time when the city would be inundated with the yearly convention goers, and thus the high-rise East Side Hotel had few guests at the moment.
I was clad in my usual finery, including a frilled poet shirt, purple velvet suit, panama hat, jungle boots, and one of my favourite opera capes. I took the transonic turnscrew, an highly-advanced scientific instrument somewhat resembling a writing pen, from my pocket and used it to scan the area.
“Definite alien presence,” I said to myself upon looking at the device readings, “but elusive. Hmmm…”
“Hey, sir,” said a female voice from behind me, “Can you tell me where to find Room 730?”
I turned around and beheld a bleached blonde of perhaps seventeen years of age, dressed in a mini-skirt, a crop-top, and high heels. She was shapely and attractive in a rather made-up way, her face absolutely painted with cosmetics.
“Room 730 would be on the seventh floor, hmmm?” I replied to her. “This is the sixth.”
“What?” replied the girl. “Oh, okay.”
A slightly-inebriated prostitute looking for her appointment, I decided amusedly. She had just gotten off the elevator lift too soon.
The call-girl was returning to the lift and I had turned away in order to continue my investigation when I suddenly heard her scream -- scream in total abject terror.
I whirled around and saw that something had suddenly appeared directly in the girl’s path. It was a large black shape with what appeared to be two eyes of burning fire. The huge phantasmal monstrosity drifted to-wards the terrified prostitute as she continued to scream in horror.
“By the Stellar Trinity!” I swore in surprise. “An Andromedan Cacodemon!”
I quickly programmed the transonic turnscrew to a certain setting and aimed it to-wards the ghastly apparition. The thing immediately halted its advance to-wards the girl and began to shake and shudder. Then, with an infernal howl that echoed down the corridor, it faded from sight. I then ran over to the young hooker.
“Are you all right, miss?” I enquired of her, steadying her on her feet.
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, recovering quite quickly. “I’m okay now. I guess I must’ve took some bad stuff. I thought I saw I ghost or something. But ghosts aren’t real, are they?”
“No, ghosts are not real,” I smiled. “Well, at least they are not what people think they are.”
“Say, you’re kind of cool,” said the call-girl. “I like you.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I have to go now, though. I am working tonight.”
“Yeah, so am I. But here,” she said, slipping a card into my pocket. “That’s my number. My name’s Annie. Call me sometime if you want, okay? For you, it’s free!” …
My name is RUMANOS -- DOCTOR DANIEL RUMANOS, Extraterrestrial Espionage Agent and Intergalactic Man of Mystery. Even though I have the physical appearance of an human being, I am in fact several thousands of years old and do carry within my blood the vastly superior genes of the legendary Aeternusians or “Watchers” of the Daemon-Star ALGOL. Originating ninety-three light years from Earth, we are the most intellectually advanced race in all of the known galaxies, whose technology is so sophisticated it often appears to be “magic” and “miraculous” to lesser beings.
Whilst most Algolites tend to keep to themselves, preferring to live in elitist seclusion from the rest of the Universe and thus merely observing the goings-on of the myriad races of the vast reaches around them, I am an Operative for a secret organisation known as the KOSMIKOS or Cosmic Intervention Department, tasked with maintaining peace and order throughout the farthest reaches of Space and Time. You know, “plausible deniability”, and all of that sort of thing. It is our ongoing mission to defend the weak, the unfortunate, and the innocent from those who would harm or exploit them.
Currently assigned to Earth, I protect its people (both upon their own planet and across the eternal void) from the hideous manipulations of the arch-villain known as Magister Don Wingus and his occult terrorist organisation, Spectral Paranormal; as well as from alien invasions, mad scientists, and indeed all manner of menace. Assisted by my friends -- the beautiful young Hollywood starlet Miss Millie Drake, and our catlike robot known as Kit-10 -- I am the living icon of Algol on this world. I am a Knight of the Eternal Spires. I am the sword of justice from the planet Daemonia. I am the cosmic crusader. I am the stellar swashbuckler.
These are my memoirs. This is my story.
I am -- THE DAEMON-STAR!!! …
A few minutes later I entered the hotel lounge, ordering a rum and cola drink from the bar and taking it to our table in the rear of the establishment.
“I’m glad you’re back, Daniel,“ said Millie Drake, seated at the table with her iced tea. “Did you find out anything from your walk-around survey of the building?”
The young lady is exceedingly beautiful, petite and perfect with luxurious chestnut hair, sun kissed skin, lovely blue-violet eyes, and luscious cherry lips. The short, tight, sky-blue dress she wore only served to highlight the soft curves of her slender adolescent figure.
“Indeed I did, love,” I replied, sitting down beside her. “I encountered an Andromedan Cacodemon!”
“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Millie concernedly. “What happened?’
“Fortunately,” I told her, “it was a minor one, and the formula of exorcism programmed into the transonic turnscrew managed to banish it. Nevertheless, if those extraterrestrial emanations we detected from headquarters are indeed being caused by such entities, there must be far more potent ones present. They will not all be exorcised so easily.”
“But why would the Cacodemons be here?” enquired the girl. “Did someone summon them?”
“More than likely,” I pondered. “The Cacodemons, as you know, are the incorporeal essences of certain ancient inhabitants of the Andromeda Galaxy. They developed the ability to thus keep their soldiers fighting after death during the old Galactic Wars.”
I then turned to our mobile personal computer that resembles nothing more or less than a small mechanical cat, at that time sitting on the floor under the table.
“Kit-10,” I said, “have your instruments managed to get a better lock on the alien presence in the hotel?”
“Negative, s--,” replied the little robot in her pleasantly-feminine voice. “Forces are definitely present, but their emanations are being cloaked by unknown abilities.”
(It should be noted here that Kit-10, along with her other catlike characteristics, is singularly possessed of the total inability to openly show respect to anyone. Sooth to say, the closest she ever comes to it is by addressing me with a slight “s--” sound -- for “sir” -- and Millie with “m--” -- for “ma’am”.)
“Hmmm,” I pondered. “That could be the technology the Andromedans developed during the wars. It was a certain type of psychic cloaking device. However, to manifest such things they would need a focus, most likely an human being who had dedicated himself to the satanic worship of the demonic forces.”
“Daniel, look at that,” said Millie Drake.
A member of the hotel staff had just erected a sign at the entrance of the lounge. It stated the name of the act that would be appearing there that evening:
“Adam Stone, Magician.”
“‘Adam Stone’,” I mused. “Now, where have I heard that name before? He is certainly no famous entertainer if he is playing this third rate hotel on a weekday evening. I wonder…” …
Unknown to us, at that same time a rather strange scene was being played out in one of the guest rooms of the hotel. For in that chamber stood a thin, dark-haired man of about forty years, dressed in a tuxedo, his face smiling with a look of madness.
“Tonight is the night,” he stated, gazing at the horrid unholy altar before which he stood. “The night when the power shall become mine.”
The altar was an hotel table on which a black cloth had been draped. Upon it where two large candles also of ebon black, before them a cruel ceremonial dagger. Upon the wall over the table had been hung a plaque on which carved was an inverted pentagram with a sigil like unto three interlocking triangles in its centre.
“For the glory of Spectral Paranormal,” exulted the magician, “tonight the Cacodemons of Andromeda return -- and this time they will prevail, and they shall aid me -- Adam Stone -- in becoming the Master of Earth!!” …
A short time later, the show had begun in the lounge of the East Side Hotel. The few bored guests watched politely whilst enjoying their drinks and bar foods. Millie Drake and I observed the proceedings from our own table, situated near the back of the lounge.
“Ladies and gentleman,” stated the magician, “my name is Adam Stone and I am here to bring you a night of wonder! Tonight you shall see things like never before!”
He then proceeded, not surprisingly, to do a few hackneyed slight of hand tricks of the type that can be learned from any children’s magic book.
“Now,” continued Adam Stone, “let me introduce to you my discovery, Drewski!”
With this, an horrible creature loped out from behind Stone’s makeshift backdrop. It was short but heavy, barely even approaching the human form and covered with thick black hair, its only clothing a leathern loincloth. Its face was bestial and apelike, with eyes betokening an animalistic fury barely contained, and an horrid mouth showing rows of large distorted teeth.
“My friend here,” Stone went on, “is one of a tribe found in the darkest jungles of equatorial Africa. He is like a prehistoric man, and is presented here today for your amusement!”
“Daniel,” whispered Millie Drake, “what is that thing?”
“Spires of Daemonia!” I swore. “He looks like a crossbreed between Homo sapiens and Australopithecus, the prehistoric primate that is an ancestor of all other hominids! There have been rumours of some of them still existing in the remote regions of the African continent, so it is indeed just possible that they may have mated with some of the more debased native savages of that part of the world.”
We then turned back to view Adam Stone’s presentation.
“Now, there is also another reason that Drewski is here with me tonight,” stated the magician. “Ladies and gentlemen, he is present in order to assist me in my next wonder that I shall be bringing to you. For I will now be summoning forth the powers of the darkest beings known to man, and the savage instincts of one such as Drewski here will aid me in their coming, as well as protecting me from any attack by those who would oppose my ascension!”
“Daniel,” said Millie concernedly, “does he mean… ?!”
“By the Triune Star!” I swore, leaping up from my chair. “I remember now! Adam Stone! He was an operative of Spectral Paranormal, and a student of Magister Don Wingus himself in the art of occult terrorism! It was a long time ago, and Stone’s activities were soon eclipsed by those of Vince Wilson, another horrible stage magician -- thankfully now deceased -- secretly working for Spectral! Adam Stone vanished years ago, but it appears he just went into hiding and has been planning to conjure forth the… ”
“Now, may I present to you,” announced Adam Stone, as if finishing my thought, “the legendary Cacodemons of Andromeda!”
It was then that it happened. A chaotic spiritual whirlpool suddenly burst forth all around the figure of Adam Stone. It was a swirling black cloud of Cacodemonic forces, in sooth a legion of them, their eyes glowing crimson red and putting forth a sound like unto the howling of a thousand satanic curs!
The other guests in the lounge barely noticed what was happening. It was, to them, merely a trick, simply a bad attempt at entertainment.
I stood up and activated the transonic turnscrew, aiming it to-wards the phantasmagorical conglomeration of Cacodemons. To my horror, I realised it was having no effect.
“These entities are too powerful!” said I. “The old exorcism formula is insufficient to banish them!”
None the less, a further horror was in store for us. Because whilst this was all occurring, the creature known as Drewski had been creeping around to a position behind me and, as I was distracted by the Cacodemons, he suddenly leapt to-wards me and attached himself to my head and shoulders!
The little monstrosity was incredibly strong. It was the strength of savagery. He wrapped his monkey-like feet around my neck and, at the same time, began attempting to move his hands into a position from which he could claw at my eyes.
Fortunately, my superior intellect and acquired skills were able to prevail against the prehistoric barbarian. I just managed to reach back and to apply a quick jujitsu technique to the back of his skull, causing him to lose his grip upon me. I then threw him several metres distant.
“Kit-10!” I called. “Blast him!”
The robotic feline then activated her nose laser, hitting Drewski and causing the horrid ape-man to fall down stunned.
“Good work, Kit-10!” I praised. “Now we shall have to contact the State Zoo to come and collect that creature before he regains consciousness. Millie, are you all right?”
When I turned back to see to my friend’s safety, I realised something. The chaotic noise of the Cacodemons had abated, and there was no sign of them or of the magician known as Adam Stone in the lounge. At the same time, I noticed something else; something that filled me with dread and foreboding.
Millie Drake was missing!
Wasting no time whatsoever, I immediately ran out of the lounge into the hotel lobby. Quickly looking around, I saw no sign of Millie or, indeed, of the horrid magician known to eternal infamy as Adam Stone.
“Kit-10,” said I to the computerised cat who had followed close behind me, “can you get any reading on Miss Drake’s current location?”
“Accessing, s--,” replied the little robot. “Negative on ability to access current location, due to extreme interference from the forces of the Cacodemons. However, there are some residual readings of her being taken onto the elevator lift, which was then set for the ninth floor.”
“We need to get to her right away,” I announced. “The presence of the Cacodemons here makes something absolutely certain. If that Adam Stone villain has indeed abducted her, which is obviously the case, he likely intends to consolidate his occult powers -- by utilising Millie as a blood sacrifice!!”
Kit-10 and I then hurried to the lift and I set it for the ninth floor. The doors closed and we were then treated to incongruous “muzak” whilst the thing made its intolerably long trip up the shaft.
Suddenly, the elevator shuddered and stopped. According to the readout, we had only made it as far as the seventh floor of the hotel.
“By Daemonia!” I swore. “The lift has stopped functioning, most likely due to the corrosive presence of the Cacodemons!”
“Affirmative, s--,” confirmed Kit-10. “Presence of the Andromedan forces is detected nearby. Sensors detect them congregating in the hotel corridors.”
“They will be looking for us,” I pondered. “Stone has sent them to delay us until he can complete the sacrificial ceremony. We shall have to take the stairway to the ninth floor in stead.”
I pressed the button to open the lift doors, but it did not work. Then the lights dimmed and we were left in the dark, except for a dim glow from the security light.
I took the transonic turnscrew from the pocket of my jacket and pointed it to-wards the doors. At first, it had no effect. Then, after attempting a couple of different settings, I found one that forced them to open, after which Kit-10 and I exited into the fifth floor corridor.
“The lights are still working here,” I noticed, “though they appear to be dimmer than usual. I wonder if…”
It was then that it happened -- the appearance of the unhallowed horror that I had known that we would be facing, there in the fifth floor corridor of the East Side Hotel on that incredibly fateful evening. For it was then that the sound of the demoniacal howling suddenly built up around us and, like unto the charge of myriads of uncontrollable furies, the terrifying legion of Cacodemons was approaching down the corridor directly to-wards us -- and effectively blocking our access to the stairway.
“My systems are being effected,” announced Kit-10. “Must shut down to prevent energy reserves from being drained completely. My apologies, s--.”
“I understand, Kit-10,” I consoled my robotic friend. “You cannot help it.”
“Shutting down now,” she said.
With this, Kit-10 ceased to function, and I was left there seemingly alone -- alone in the dimly-lit corridor of the fifth floor of that east side city hotel with the godless terror of the Cacodemons of Andromeda bearing down upon me!!
Do you even begin to recognise the extreme horror, in sooth the complete and total abject unholy terror of this abominable situation, my dear friends and always loyal readers? There I was, desperate to save my beloved Miss Millie Drake from the horrid fate of becoming a blood sacrifice on the sickening satanic altar of the Spectral Paranormal agent known as Magician Adam Stone. There I was, with my computerised friend Kit-10 powered down due to the influence of the demonic forces that were congregating around us. There I was -- with the very howling and ebony-black presences of the dreaded Cacodemons of Andromeda charging in hellish fury directly to-wards me!
I knew there was only one chance. I thought deeply of Millie Drake, "The Girl From Beyond", that beautiful young lady who has become my friend and companion and so much more. I closed my eyes and concentrated on her for some time, and on the feelings of pure love that I feel for her and her only.
I then opened my eyes. It was immediately noticeable that the horrible noise and grotesque images of the Cacodemons had now subsided.
“Kit-10!” I cried, running over to the mechanical pussycat. “Have you recovered and located Miss Drake?”
“Of course, s--,” replied the robot. “She is currently in Room 910.”
“Then we have no time to lose!” I stated as we sprinted to the stairway.
Kit-10 and I made it to the ninth floor of the East Side Hotel in what must have been record time. I soon had the door open to Room 910 and we hurried inside. What we found was a scene of horror, forsooth a tableau of ungodly eldritch terror beyond any and all sane imaginings.
Facing us in that candlelit chamber was a satanic altar, on which the swooning Miss Millie Drake had been placed. Above the altar was a plaque on which was engraved an inverted pentagram along with a sigil made up of three interlocking triangles -- the horrible symbol of that supremely villainous organisation known as Spectral Paranormal!!
Before the altar stood the figure of Magician Adam Stone, surrounded by the swirling diabolical forces of the Cacodemons. Whilst I looked on in extreme horror, he was just raising the terrible sacrificial dagger above the helpless form of my beloved friend and companion, the beautiful Millie Drake!
I then took a running leap from behind Adam Stone, grasping him by the throat. The dagger fell from his hand and clattered to the floor. Then I turned Stone around and cuffed him hard with my fist to his face, the blow sending him reeling across the room as I quickly turned to see to Millie’s safety.
“Millie,” I said to her, seeing that she was recovering from her faint. “Are you all right, my love? Please tell me he did not harm you.”
“Daniel, I’m so glad you’re here,” said the lass as I helped her to gain her feet. “I knew you’d come! He just brought me up here for this horrible ritual, but he hadn’t hurt me yet.”
“That is so good to hear,” I replied. “Now we just have to…”
My words were suddenly interrupted by the sound of Magician Adam Stone screaming in extreme terror. I turned around and beheld him as the whirling force of the Cacodemons completely surrounded him. His screams then diminished into a pathetic gurgle of defeat as the corrosive demonic entities devastated his very being.
“Daniel, what is happening?” enquired Millie Drake.
“Since Adam Stone has failed to offer the promised sacrifice,“ I explained, “The Cacodemons have turned on him. They are draining the life energies from him and then, having no longer a focus in this dimension, they should disperse into the void.”
Within a few moments, the Cacodemons released what was left of Magician Adam Stone, and we saw the desiccated husk of his corpse fall to the floor whilst the demonic powers faded away into nothingness. Within seconds, all was quiet in the hotel room.
“Come along Mills and Kit-10,” said I, turning away from this grisly sight. “Our work here is now done. I shall return later in order to retrieve the satanic ritual paraphernalia, which will be safely added to our collection of such things back at headquarters.”
“That’s good,” added Millie Drake. “It will make certain they are never used again.”
“We should also contact our friend Commissioner Carter at the City Police Department,” I said whilst we exited the room. “They can then do whatever is needed in order to clear up any legal matters that are involved in what has happened here -- and they can also make the enquiries that shall be necessary in order to properly dispose of all that was mortal of the magician and occult terrorist known as Adam Stone!”
***** DANIEL RUMANOS AND MILLIE DRAKE SHALL RETURN
