TRUE INTENTIONS

"Help me to decide

Help me make the most of freedom

And of pleasure

Nothing ever lasts forever."

Lorde, Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Sybil lit up some tealights and one of his favorite incense sticks. As the billowing smoke courted the air with the mesmerizing fragrance of Nagchampa, he moved to the kitchen. Humming the Gayatri mantra, he prepared a licorice herbal tea. It was a perfect choice of drink since the night was going to be chilly. He placed two porcelain cups on a tray along with the Japanese teapot Maria bought him and quietly headed back to the terrace, extra careful not to get tangled in his ball sleeves.

After serving the tea to his guest, he took a seat beside him. He crossed his legs and flattened the creases on his white robe right over his right knee. Lifting his cup, his eyes indulged on the fine floral painting—a blue lily blossoming out of the white emptiness of the ceramic. Enjoying the silence, he took a sip of the unsweetened infusion. His gaze shifted up to behold the everchanging sky. Warmth lingered in his loins, melted by the heat of touching a living star. His heart has never been lighter.

Licorice's hint of bitterness hit his tongue, immediately washed away by the irresistible sweetness. Upon gulping down, came the slightly bitter aftertaste. It reminded him of Set. Glancing at the boy, Sybil smiled to himself. Even though the future of the world was at stake, it was a pleasant moment.

John's modulated voice brought him out of his contemplative state. "Aren't you even the slightest bit worried about him?"

Sybil pulled his most innocent tone. "Why should I?"

"Why?" The cardinal slowly shook his head. "I want you alive. We have to take precautions." Half a smile formed on his lips implying he knew more than he wanted to say.

Sybil didn't answer but slowly turned his questioning gaze on John. Helping the Oracle wasn't a smart choice. The best one would be to get rid of him and find a way to use Solomon's ring.

In response, the cardinal glanced at Set, who stood at the terrace's edge, his back against the low wall. John's green-blue eyes sparkled in amusement upon meeting the boy's glare. Obviously, he didn't want to say too much in front of a demon, yet he was intrigued. Set bared his teeth.

"Oh, silly me," Sybil interjected in his most delicate tone. "Even though it's such an important thing, I haven't really introduced you two properly."

His eyes searched Set's and he stretched out his hand as an invitation to come closer. Noticing his hesitation, Sybil bestowed him a reassuring smile and brought his left palm to his heart. Set slightly shook his head, but finally closed the distance between them.

Tameness was definitely out of character for his pet, but Sybil didn't want to hurry and break the spell by finding the actual reason behind it—not yet, at least. He placed his right hand on the small of Set's back, his fingers relishing the warmth of the touch. The boy stiffened slightly, his gaze running to a distant building, yet he didn't pull away. His self-consciousness rekindled the flame in Sybil's lower abdomen—he couldn't resist the temptation of teasing more. His fingers drew slow imaginary circles on the boy's bare skin, making him shiver. Conscious that he couldn't be swayed in, his eyes drifted back to the cardinal.

A wry smile bent his lips and he pulled his most sensual tone. "This is Set and I'd like to share everything with him," he professed.

Set's hand swang belligerently toward his head, but it slowed down before hitting its target. His fingers gently stroke Sybil's hair and following the slow movement of his arm, the boy crouched down. "Spare me the bullshit," he blew in the Oracle's ear.

Despite the shivers crawling up his skin, Sybil kept his straight face. "Don't be jealous. I'd never cheat on you—at the very least not with this tricky man," he quipped, pointing his index at the cardinal while he shook his head to emphasize the concept. "John, by the way."

John hid a chuckle behind a cough. "Sybil, please, don't make it sound like it's something I may be interested in," he clarified.

Sybil ended the conversation with a careless flip of his hand and contemplated the silent darkness that was gradually enveloping the terrace. Lifting his gaze back to the sky, he slowly sipped the rest of his tea. The warm sweet taste on his tongue, his awareness focused in his center and a deep sense of peace filled him from within.

After a while, Set left his side and pulled a chair to sit between him and the cardinal. Sybil smiled to himself but his gaze kept chasing stars until John put down his cup with a thud, reclaiming his attention. He had his game face on.

"I need to know what's going on with you two." His measured, low voice was as eerie as the trembling shadows seizing his face.

Set's eyes dashed to Sybil—the faint candlelight lit his irises with a golden glow. Drawn to it, the Oracle put down his cup and a strand of his white hair fell to the front. He tucked it behind his ear before his hand ventured to Set's nape, pulling him close. Plunging into melted chocolate, he breathed in the boy's breath. Yet, Set's eyes widened in alarm as he froze on the spot. Changing its course, Sybil's mouth leaned in almost kissing the vulnerable skin of the boy's neck. From over his shoulder, he spoke in a lenient, bone-chilling tone.

"Do I need to draw you a picture?" A mischevious grin crossed his face.

For a moment, the cardinal was left bewildered, and then his eyes narrowed. "That's not what I'm talking about. How will you...?" His fingers moved up to unbutton his collar and he took a deep breath before he bent in, resting his elbows on the table.

Letting go of a completely dazed Set, Sybil straightened up. "A gunshot to the back of the head, in a bedroom facing Central Park." He mimicked the gun and mouthed the shot as he leaned back in his chair.

"Are you absolutely sure?" John pressed, a shade of concern coloring his voice, his eyes still cast down at the table. "Did you get a good look at the shooter?" He held his head in his hands, massaging his temples.

"Yes, I did." Sybil crossed his legs and promptly pointed at Set.

John ran his hands over his face, while the boy tilted his head and gave Sybil a blank stare like he had been speaking in tongues.

Then, his eyes widened and his fist hit the table. "You lied!" he exploded.

Sybil remained calm. "I did not."

Set's lips quivered. Angst drained the rage from his face, leaving him with a pained expression that Sybil wasn't prepared to see yet, but was awfully similar to the one he had dreamt of. The Oracle reached for his hand and held it in his.

"At first, I was planning to kill you, but when I met you, I just couldn't," he admitted. "You didn't want to hurt me and you were not even carrying a weapon."

At those words, Set tensed up again, but Sybil kept holding his hand until his body relaxed.

John cleared his throat. "Sybil, in all honesty, I've nothing personal against you and I'm more than willing to forget about one isolated incident. So, why don't we just get this done with?" he proposed calmly. "You give back the ring and I offer you protection—you could stay with us until the threat has passed."

Sybil glanced at the cardinal, his eyelashes fluttering. "You know, I'd hate it if you got sick because of me."

"There are side effects then," John muttered as he leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms behind his head. His gaze lifting up to the sky, he inhaled through his teeth and exhaled loudly. "Mattaku (Good grief), Yukihira. Zen zen kawaranai (you never change). Totally seeing through me, aren't you?" He brought his eyes back to the Oracle, determination burning away all the softness in them. "Whatever. Only two people should handle that thing. The first one is dead and the other one is me."

Sybil's brows arched. "I'm not dead, yet."

John buttoned up his collare and adjusted his shirt, then he slowly stood. "My apologies, I'm not comfortable with having this conversation in front of your demon pet." His voice took a dark note as he headed to the terrace's door. Right before stepping inside though, he hesitated. "I need to have a word in private. Why don't you and I take a little walk?"

"Sure. I'll humor you."

Sybil let go of Set's hand, but before he could stand, the boy grabbed his wrist. "You come back and explain to me clearly," he hissed, a plead hiding behind his threatening tone.

Sybil gifted him a sweet smile and drew closer. As a diversion he mouthed the word sweet and, while Set's eyes were caught on his lips' movements, he lent a kiss on the boy's forehead. Set jerked back, almost falling from his chair, confusion all over his face.

Sybil's smile widened. "I'll be right back, I promise."

John's laughter made them both turn toward him. "Maybe you do have a heart after all," he noted in amusement.

Sybil walked up to him. "Did I just look like a cruel, cold-hearted, unapologetic bastard up to now?"

"Fret not. You still do," John teased.

The Oracle shrugged it off and moved to pick up his cloak while the cardinal wore his black coat. As they were about to cross the entrance door, Set's yell stopped them. "Oi. Oi! Maria is not coming today! What about dinner?"

A mischievous light glimmered in Sybil's eyes. "Please, cook me something tasty, honey," he flirted, shutting the door behind his back.

In the elevator, John informed Marcus he was going for a stroll with the Oracle. Apparently, he wasn't authoritative enough, and as soon as they stepped out of the building a black Rolls Royce pulled up beside them. The driver got off to open the backseat door, but John lifted his hands and took a step back, disclaiming all responsibility.

Letting his curiosity take over, Sybil poked his head inside and was met by Marcus' algid eyes. The boy's blond hair was neatly pulled up behind his head, his tightly buttoned, white-collar stood out against his all-black outfit and his closed lips didn't as much as flinch when he patted his hand on the seat, inviting Sybil to sit. The Oracle pulled an innocent smile and, gesturing behind his back for John to follow, got in the car. His body sunk in the comfortable, leather seat and as soon as he crossed his legs and flattened his robe, John was by his side. Promptly, the driver closed the door and moved back to the front, while Marcus pushed a couple of buttons that cut out all sounds and turned the glass partition dark.

Eyeing the boy, John joined his hands on his lap, his thumbs tapping one another. "Didn't I tell you I wanted to talk privately with mister Vain? Why are we squeezing in the car now? "

"This is a Phantom's Privacy Suite and I stand by the sacred seal," Marcus pointed out. "Whatever trivial conversation you are so concerned to entertain yourself with, you have plenty of room and discretion. So, please, go ahead." He sounded as gentle as a winter breeze bearing snow.

Still, his eyes were the clear blue heights extending beyond the sea of white clouds and the melodic tune of his voice recalled the jingling of crystal bells. Sybil smiled to himself at the bizarre sense of familiarity they gave him.

John inhaled deeply and massaged his forehead before glancing back at the Oracle. "Listen, I have a suggestion."

Sybil nodded graciously.

"Long story short. When Dee was a teenager, he made a deal with Glasya-Labolas. As you should know, the demon feeds on fear and has a certain fondness for torture, slaughtering and killing. Needless to say, Dee fell into a bad way but eventually sought redemption in our Church. We sealed Glasya and made him an inquisitor." John held the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger before taking another deep breath. "Up until this point, we've had no mishaps."

Sybil yawned and stretched. "You have a good sense for cars, you know?"

John gave him a stern look. "We should do the same for Set."

"We?" The Oracle wrapped a strand of his hair around his fingers, glancing through it at Marcus's inflexible face.

John bent in on himself and rested his right elbow on his knee. His eyes half-closed, he stretched his left hand out and gently tugged at Sybil's hair, catching his attention back.

The cardinal's cat-like eyes had turned green in the semi-darkness of the car. "Join me. Together we can change the world."

The Oracle shooed his hand away. "Kiyotsukero, boya (be careful, boy). I can bite." His eyes narrowed. "Just leave the world to Solomon. The circumstances of my death will solve all your issues anyway." He tucked the white strand behind his ear. "To be master of the ring you need to know its power and use it in the only way it should be used."

John rubbed his chin, weighting the Oracle's words. "Are you saying that Solomon will reform the world?"

Sybil didn't reply. He lifted his right hand and glanced at his nails as if they were more interesting than their conversation.

Shaking his head, John leaned back in his seat. "Zettai muri da ne (it's absolutely impossible)," he muttered, folding his arms. "What's the point of you dying for Solomon? What can a single man even do?" His deep voice resonated confidently in the soundproof space. "Apocalypse is already happening—we expect a catastrophic cascade of events on a global scale. Even an extended organization like ours is powerless to act faced with it. The entire world has become very unstable, and to change it in its entirety is way out of reach. The only sensible solution is to save as many people as possible." His tone mellowed toward the end of his speech. His features relaxed, his eyes softened and half a smile pulled at one side of his mouth. "I'm informed about what happened last April—you prevented that terrorist attack, didn't you? Your abilities can be very useful to our cause."

"You are mistaken, John. I was being selfish, and so are you," Sybil objected. "Consider the obscure oligarchy controlling all economic flows, the collective poisoning perpetrated by food and pharmaceutical industries, the surge of radiation and electromagnetic waves and the progressive annihilation of the new generations. Who do you think is behind all this?" His words were intentionally soft-spoken to be in stark contrast with the subject. "We are—still breeding judgment, separation and violence, hunger, poverty, and war." He clapped his hands to close the curtain on such an uncomfortable projection.

At the unexpected sound, John flinched.

Sybil gave him his fox-smile. "If you are looking in the wrong direction, the list of atrocities is so long and varied that it'll turn your hair white," he quipped before gifting the cardinal his best insight. "Ultimately, we are all one and the same, John. Only an individual revolution can bring about the change you seek."

"How?" John inquired.

"The world is transformed by the recognition of the Source. Reconnecting to our true self, we discover our creative power and we are able to reshape reality. We can promote consciousness leaps and ultimately breed a collective rebirth." Sybil took a deep breath, moderating his enthusiasm for the subject. "Don't you want to know who you are, how did you get where you are and why? Wake up, John, and you'll understand. Aren't you tired of living a lie?"

John opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, overwhelmed by the unforeseen turn of speech, but he eventually got back to his rational self. "This is not about me, Sybil. The New Church of Philadelphia can't allow anyone to hold the ring's power."

"How very ... medieval of you. It's just about helping out an old friend, who has remarkable visions and very good intentions. Honestly, the ring is little more than a toy for Solomon," jested Sybil.

Finally, Marcus snapped and chimed in. "Mister Vain, are you seriously entertaining the idea that we might consider leaving in your hands the power to control the world?" His lips were slightly parted, his breath uneven.

"Right, there's always a chance I might use it," Sybil admitted with a shrug.

"Exactly." The boy missed the irony and nodded stiffly. "Based on what you give the Head of our Church the advice of understanding you? How can you even be so arrogant to ask his support?"

"I realize I spoke in terms you seem to have a hard time grasping," the Oracle huffed. "Back to practical things then. Topping off my clairvoyance ability, I'm perfectly capable of using Sepher Raziel HaMalakh, Sepher Ha-Razim, and Lemegeton, and I'm already holding onto Solomon's ring. If I'd wanted, I could put you in a rather uncomfortable situation by now. Yet, I didn't." He smiled like a dad ready to forgive his little son. "Doesn't that mean I'm a good boy?"

John couldn't contain a chuckle. "Debatable, but you sure are fun to be around."

"Drop this Church of yours and be around then," Sybil suggested with a wink.

John turned toward the road and flung the door open. "Let's get out of this car first," he said and swiftly got off.

Sybil bowed his head at Marcus—with his frownin, angel face—and followed the cardinal. They silently walked to the park's nearest access, where a pleasant breeze swept the trees, making the leaves sung a low relaxing tune. Sybil breathed in nature's welcoming.

"Seriously, you lost me there." John's hands slipped into the pockets of his black coat. His shoes scrunching along the shingly path, at the rhythm of his calm, long steps. "You called me to return the ring, but now you're trying to keep it even though it might kill you and blabbering about Solomon changing the world one person at a time. Do you realize it doesn't make sense?"

"Inconsistency, one of humanity's most charming aspects, don't you think?" Sybil chirped, taking his arm.

The shade of a smile bent John's mouth. "I can't trust your word."

"What are you willing to do to save the world?" Sybil leaned toward him, staring straight into his eyes, every trace of humor vanished from his face.

"All it takes," John avowed.

The Oracle chuckled. "Even killing me?"

The cardinal looked away. His blue-green eyes reflected the park's streetlight before narrowing. "Tell me. What is it you really want?"

"Same as you, John. Enjoy my life in a happy world."

The other man kicked a small stone away. "Our methods are different."

"Yet the end justifies the means—wasn't that your principle?"

"I'm in no position to support you," John uttered.

He tried to withdraw his arm, but the Oracle held onto him. "I don't need your support."

"Then again, what do you want from me?"

"Shoot me."

The cardinal steps stopped abruptly. He slowly turned his head and met eyes with Sybil. "Why on earth would I do such a thing?"

The Oracle leaned in and breathed in his ear, "For the only path to freedom is power."

"What are you talking about?" John puzzled.

Sybil spun around and stopped in front of the other man. "Come on, spare me that face. I know what you really want." He snapped his fingers to John's face. "That organization was all you could do, but it's no longer enough for you. Your rules are your limitations now. What's the point in getting back something that you are not even allowed using?"

John's eyes widened before he huffed and looked up. The direct artificial streetlight turned his irises into a crystal clear blue, contrasting with the darkness pooling under them. The seriousness of his profile made him look his age for once.

"Are you suggesting me to kill you and flee with the ring?"

Sybil stretched an indulgent smile. "Am I now?"

The cardinal looked down at him and clicked his tongue before grabbing him by the shoulders. "Alright. I considered using the ring—but I'm not going to live on the run, chased by my own people. No way. I need to find the best possible solution."

"You are looking at it."

Still unconvinced, John shook his head. "And you, what do you get out of this?"

"Set's liberation." Sybil's words warmed up his own heart. Gratified, he brought his hands to his chest. "How can we change the world, if we can't help a single person?"

John sighed, his hands tightening the grip on the Oracle's shoulders. "What if I refuse?"

Staring straight back into his eyes, Sybil smiled. "Whatever you do, just be yourself. It will be fine."

For a minute, the cardinal studied his face in silence. A whole load of dark thoughts creased his forehad but lastly, his eyes brightened up. "Tomorrow, I'll come at four."

Sybil nodded and offered him his hand to seal the deal, but the man ignored it, turned on his heels and started walking toward the park's exit. Giving him time to work things out in his head, the Oracle stalked a few steps back.

As they both noticed the Rolls Royce, waiting at the roadside, John stopped and waited for the Oracle to catch up. "Our exorcists used a modified ritual from the Lemegeton to seal Glasya-Labolas within Dee's body. I believe you're more than capable of doing the same for your pet." He didn't turn to look at Sybil but kept his eyes on the black car. Still, his voice sounded clear and confident. "Be pragmatic and get him to safety."

"I'm prepared for that. However, he needs a leap of consciousness for his karma to be rewritten." Sybil hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I can show him the exit from this karmic loop, but he's the only one who can jump out of the stage he set up for himself."

John crossed his hands behind his back, slightly arching it. His gaze followed a couple of joggers as they ran past him. "If killing is a necessary experience for his spiritual growth, we should just watch and wait, then accept and forgive."

Sybil rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I choose love over pain as an instrument of liberation."

John smiled at him from over his shoulder. "And what if Set's accidentally killing somebody who doesn't find suffering in death? His karma would be resolved, right?"

"I make the perfect candidate," Sybil chirped. "If I just could..." He glanced at his feet and huffed.

"Who said anything about you? Self-centered, vain oracle." John chuckled and walked off to his limo.