The Night Gods III- The Triumph Of Evil- XX: Damon

Artwork by @marty-art on Steemit... With many thanks.

Lord Penrose watched with great interest the budding friendship between his nearly estranged daughter and the prospective World President- his protege. A union between U'Bamah and Gwendolyn would cement his relationship with the Chosen One, this could only enhance his grip on world domination.

During their garden tryst, U'Bamah disclosed with great candor, details about planting explosives while he worked for Hamas and Hezbollah and later in Iraq and Syria... also, details about other of his activities. He told Gwendolyn how he had come to Europe in the guise of a refugee and about his chance meeting with St. Simone. Gwendolyn knew St. Simone and doubted seriously the serendipity of the meeting. U'Bamah was charming- too charming. There was something wrong about him... nothing Gwendolyn could put her finger on- but there was something behind his eyes, something dark in his winning smile and smooth facade. He would bear watching.

She played the scenario of their conversations over and over in her mind looking for a clue... there was something disingenuous about him- the more she thought, the more trroubled she became... his charm and soothing tones would fool many people. She decided to call Przybysz- it was early morning in Geneva, the middle of the night really- it should be about 10 PM where he was.

"Hi Prz, I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?" She asked.

"No," he replied, but this must be important- it must be the middle of the night where you are."

"It is Prz, but that doesn't matter," Gwendolyn said, "Father just gave one of his parties... a meet and greet for U'bamah and the Hollywood elite- about the movie they're doing about him. I got to spend some time talking with him."

"Waht did you think?" Przybysz asked.

"He's smooth- charming," Gwendolyn said earnestly. "Too smooth and far too charming. I'm worried Prz, with the movie and all, he's going to win over a lot of people."

"What do you think we should do?" Przybysz inquired.

"I don't really know," Gwendolyn went on, "he likes me. I think... he was very straightforward with me about his past. I'm going to try to get closer to him- I think he sort of trusts me... as much as he's capable of trust."

"Be careful Gwen," Przybysz cautioned, "he's dangerous... just because he has a winning smile and charming manner doesn't mean he won't hurt you."

"I will," she promised. "There's something really, really evil about this guy Prz... something really dark behind his eyes- I wish you could have seen him. He's smooth, sort of smarmy, but it doesn't come across unless you're face to face. People are going to believe his lies Prz- lots of them. I'm afraid... not just for myself, but for everybody else."

"Then I don't have to remind you he's dangerous too Gwen," Przybysz warned her, "you be careful."

"Thanks, Prz, I will," she said solemnly. "There's something else I wanted to talk with you about. Have you heard of Damon Campbell?"

"The actor?" Przybysz asked. "Sure, who hasn't... my daughter talks about him all the time. Why do you ask?"

"he approached me at father's party. He wants me to call him. What do you know about him?"

"Only that he's made overtures to the resistance," Przybysz replied. "He's a part of the New Hollywood- that doesn't exactly inspire trust."

"What if he's really on out side?" Gwendolyn asked. "He could be quite an important asset... He's playing U'Bamah in the new movie you know."

"Yes, I know," Przybysz replied. "Look Gwen, I don't want to see anything happen to you... you're an important asset as well- an important link in our chain. If anythiong happens to you..."

"I'll be careful," Gwendolyn promised.

"Call him back and find out what he wants," Przybysz advised. "Why would he come to you? Why would he know you have anything to do with the resistance for that matter... it could be a set up."

"What should I tell him?" Gwendolyn asked.

"Don't tell him anything," Przybysz told her. "Let him do the talking. Are you going to be up for a while?"

"I can be, why?" Gwendolyn asked.

"Let me do some checking through channels here... I'll call you back within an hour." Przybysz said.

"Thanks hon," Gwendolyn said gratefully, "I'll look forward to your call... How are Ann and Anica, by the way? I loved Anica, she's so sweet and innocent."

"They're fine... and sweet, innocent little Anica is becoming quite a handful," Przybysz laughed. "She loves the necklace you gave her- we can hardly get her to take it off. She says the most beautiful lady in the world gave it to her."

"That's sweet," Gwendolyn replied, "give tham both my love and I'll wait for your call."

Przybysz first call was to Dick who immediately set David and Uwe to checking internet files. in a matter of minutes he discovered that Campbell had contacted resistance people in and around Boulder where he lived. He said all of the right things... but so too would a plant, so nobody took a chance. Campbell was still on the outside looking in as far as the resistance was concerned... there was simply too much at stake to take a chance on an outsider- particularly one with Damon Campbell's background.

Baraq U'Bamah returned from the party before the sicker festivities began... the thought of ritualistically raping and murdering children for pleasure still sickened him. Killing for a purpose was one thing, but this... Hassan was still up waiting for news of the event. Baraq told him of his chance encounter with Gwendolyn Penrose. What he viewed as a chance meeting Hassan saw as destiny... an opportunity to build a relationship that would eventually lead to Gwendolyn's demise.

"Hassan," Baraq told his friend. "You are wrong. She's not like the others... she's different."

"All the more reason... Her innocence will make her sacrifice have more meaning."

"No Hassan, no," Baraq said emphatically, "I will not do it."

"You will do it," Hassan replied with zeal in his eyes. "Allah has ordained it."

"I think it is Hassan and not Allah that ordains it, my friend," Baraq looked at Hassan. "Do not let petty jealousies cloud your vision Hassan. Allah does not condone the deaths of innocents."

"She is an infidel... a non-believer," Hassan spat. "They all deserve to die."

"It is because of the infidels that you enjoy the luxuries you now enjoy Hassan my friend," Baraq said with a smile. "Have you forgotten that?"

After speaking with Dick, Collins and several of the resistance people, Przybysz called Gwendolyn who was waiting by her phone.

"I'm not sure what to tell you," he said, "except that there's nothing really negative I can find. He seems ok, but we have a lot at stake here... you'll have to use your own judgement- if he's really ok, he could be a tremendous asset. If not..." his voice trailed off.

"I'll see what he says when I call him," Gwendolyn replied. "I'll record what he says and maybe you can sense something in his tone."

"Sounds good," Przybysz said, "we'll paly it by ear from there."

At his apartment in Boulder, Damon Campbell awaited Gwendolyn's call with great anticipation. He had been terribly abused, bith at home and as a child star... his stardom had come at a heavier price than any child should have to pay. His own mother had pushed him into the Hollywood meatgrinder at an early age... one producer after another had placed him into compromising positions where he was forced to perform depraved acts on older men. When he informed his mother of the depravity, she had laughed at him, telling him: "That's show business." He hated them all and vowed his revenge.

He was an actor, and a good one... after hearing of Gwendolyn's virtual estrangement from her father, he was surprised at his luck finding her at the party and thought she might prove a valuable ally. Damon was also an American- he believed in America and despite his position in the New Hollywood, he wanted nothing more than to see the country of his birth prevail. He had unsuccessfully reached out to several of the rsistance groups, but because of his position they were understandably suspicious... but he wasn't about to give up. Damon Campbell, damaged American patriot would find a way. His own investigations had revealed that Lord Penrose was in large part the power behind the entertainment business... if not directly, certainly indirectly.

Campbell had attended the soirees at the Penrose estate before, both as part of the entertainment and as a guest. He had been made to perform public sex acts since childhood, often with Natalie and Cheryl... all a part of Penrose's bizarre sex shows and he loathed it no less than Penrose himself. Much of the information he had gathered came from Natalie Williams and Cheryl Layne- neither of whom were particularly circumspect when speaking of their sexual exploits... or anything else for that matter. Damon was wagering his future that Gwendolyn Penrose would be the key that would unlock the door to the resistance that up to now had been slammed in his face.

For links to previous chapters go to Chapter XV)

https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-iii-the-triumph-of-evil-xv-the-loveboat
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-iii-the-triumph-of-evil-xvi-a-platform-of-peace
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-iii-the-triumph-of-evil-xvii-the-man-of-peace
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-iii-the-triumph-of-evil-xviii-hassan-s-prophesy
https://steemit.com/fiction/@richq11/the-night-gods-iii-the-triumph-of-evil-xix-the-whirlwind-begins

GIF by @papa-pepper