When I found the three sisters, they were in the company of a teenage boy. He sat in the window of a marble palace, watching crucifixions, his eyes alight and hungry.

As I approached the group, the three demonesses regarded me warily.

The three were all winged, all had three horns upon their heads, three eyes--one of which looked backward, and three taloned fingers on each hand.

The first Umbra, "The Devourer of Shadows," favored the preparing of destruction. She hovered above the tall marble columns encircled by three ravens who flew in orbit about her.

The second, Kolasi, known as the "Devourer of Light," was full of passion and blood lust. Her glory was in the waging of war. The tallest of the three, her armor glowed with the same red as iron in a furnace. An eagle stood perched on her outstretched right hand.

The third, Carnis, the "Devourer of Remains" was the party girl of the group. She delighted in the pillaging, raping, and burning which followed battle. She leaned against a column in the midst of numerous vultures, a lustful smile upon her bloody lips and a golden cup in her right hand.

I knelt before them. "My name is Darius, Warlord of the Dark and Deep. I come to bring you an opportunity for glory."

They laughed at me.

"Can a worm bring glory to a raven?" Umbra asked. She gestured to the boy. "What can you offer us that is better than the chance to educate our darling Caligula?"

"No," I said, not daring to rise. "This worm comes to you because the task assigned to him is beyond his strength and the need is dire. I am tasked with undermining the Son of God."

"Go on," Kolasi said. Her eagle fixed me with its regal gaze and flapped its wings lightly. "We are listening."

"A woman was sent to aid him. Her heart shattered my sword. Vipers--

Here I had to stop and wait for the mocking laughter to subside. I endured it as I knew I must, but their scorn burned me. For some of our kind, laughter can act as a kind of scourge.

"The viper I sent against her failed, as did four of my best lieutenants who have merely weakened her. This woman has a warrior's spirt, a heart for sacrifice, great endurance, and a vast store of wisdom. I would have all three of you join my four and put an end to this woman's life."

Carnis regarded me through half-lidded eyes. "All three of us? Who is this woman?"

"Her name is Mary of Magdalene. Outwardly, she is nothing--"

"I know of her," Umbra said. "Portents in shadows and storms have whispered to me of this chance. Sisters, we should listen to our worm."

Carnis shook her head. "She is not for me, sisters. I can see how the wisdom of Umbra and the warrior's spirit of Kolasi might allow them entrance to this woman's soul, what quality do I have that would permit my entrance?"

After speaking, she put her cup to her lips and tipped it back. Blood spilled from the edges and down her cheeks.

"You possess people and lead them to suicide, over and over. Destroying yourself. Sacrificing yourself again and again for hell's cause."

Carnis licked her lips. "Maybe I'm just a masochist."

I shook my head. "Worm though I may be, I am a leader, a commander of demons. I have watched you enough to know that you are not driven by anything so simple. You believe in our cause. If you did not, you could not be one of the three."

"He perceives you truly, sister," Kolasi said. Then, to me, she added, "Lead us worm. Show us this woman."

Upon receiving this command I rose and flew across the earth. It took little time before we were upon the Magdalene.

Mary sat in a small room, attended by a half-dozen people. They provided her with water and food, but she insisted on waiting on them. Despite protests, she served them bread which she had kneeded and baked herself.

Was this desire to keep her dignity a weakness for this woman? I hoped it was.

My three rushed upon her. Umbra struck first. When she entered Mary, her eyes at once grew milky and pale. I could see her spirit was confined there, much as my four spirits had been locked in parts of this remarkable woman's body.

Kolasi took up the battle next. Her sword went into Mary's heart as mine had done. Though the blade was heavier and its fire brighter, it, too, shattered. Mary shook with pain and screamed in concert with Kolasi at this turn of events. Undeterred, the second sister threw herself into Mary. Her body shook with pain, spasming so hard that the people who'd assembled to help her rushed forward to help her stand.

Carnis gave me a sultry, bloody smile. "This looks like a lovely party you've invited me to, worm."

I smiled back.

Carnis gave me a sloppy kiss. Her mouth was both ecstasy and poison. When she pulled her lips away, I fell to my knees, feeling myself boil with darkness and pain.

With that parting gesture, Carnis entered Mary. At once the woman tried to crawl into the oven where the bread had been baking moments before. If not for the friends who, with great difficulty, restrained her, the woman would be dead. At last, I had found a way to overcome this Mary.

To finish her off, though, I needed to return to my legion, find other demons to possess these friends. With them out of the way, the seven could drive this pitiful woman to kill herself.

But I could not move. Carnis's parting kiss had filled my soul with such darkness and pain that I sank into sheol, writing in torment.

I'd just have to trust that the seven had things well in hand until I could return.