The Snake Charmer

Robert Fletcher came inside the room and put a plate full of vegetables and meat in front of Rachel and said with kindness, "Enjoy your breakfast, ma'am. I hope that my service has been remarkable." Rachel asked weakly, "Why would you do anything for a lowlife prostitute like me? Will you sell me after the meal to some of your customers?" Robert said sadly, "Ouch. Those harsh words has hurted my soft heart, dear. I'm not a pimp nor any person who sells his guest for money. Me and my brother, Robin are indulged in a very pure and noble line of business. We deliver organs and happiness to the needy for a kind price and we never had enjoyed any of our services ourself."

Rachel asked, "Deliver organs and happiness?" Robert said, "You don't look like a prostitute. In fact, you don't even have any tattoos or sigils on your body? That fucker Lee had a crazy obsession of labeling his prostitutes." Rachel said, "He kidnapped me and gave me to some bastard for the night. I want to go home, to my daughter and my husband." Robert asked, "Where is your home, sweetheart?" Rachel replied, "Los Angeles." Robert smiled, "Okay. Let me talk with my brother about this and see what he thinks of your return." Rachel said, "But..." Robert said, "Don't worry about me. I know my brother. He won't let my request go unanswered." He rose and shut the door behind him. Rachel looked at the pitch darkness and sighed, "Only God knows how much pain my daughter must be suffering from?" She started crying and lied on the floor weeping.

Robert walked briskly upstairs and stopped near a door and knocked on it and then went inside it and changed his clothes and then quickly went downstairs and went outside the house. He stopped near a car and opened the door and went inside the car. He looked at the man sitting next to him. Fair complexion, smoking a pipe and looking at the watch with cold eyes, the man was his elder brother, Robin Fletcher, the infamous organ and sex trafficking mogul. Known by the name 'The Red Beetle', he is wanted by police all over the country. Robin looked at his brother and smiled, "You are late, brother. If it was anyone else, then he would have been lying dead before me, but you. You, my brother always tries to piss me off with your stupid antics." Robert asked timidly, "What happened, brother?"

Robin narrowed his eyes and said, "You think you are the only smart guy here, don't you? I know about the woman you have holed up in your room. Well, I can't blame you too as it is the age where lust boils in one's pants. I give you two days to fuck her and kill her or else you know how I treat women whom I don't like." Robert said sadly, "But, brother. She is different and innocent and I can't leave her like that. I see our mother in her face. She too was a who..." Robin slapped him and said, "Don't compare that flithy dirt with our mother, you idiot." Robert said sadly, "Truth won't hide with violence. You know it too. The hatred for the woman has deep roots with your tainted and painful relationship with our mother." Robin said, "We are not here to discuss about the past but to talk about our future." Robert asked, "What do you mean?" Robin said, "After your act back in Peru, Mr. Lee and the Chinese Mafia have joined hands with our old archenemy, Thomas Walter. News is that even the Argentine police and government are planning to join them as they consider it as a clean and effective way to secure them the next election victory."

Robert asked, "Why don't we contact Assayah? He has been a great help when Thomas almost killed us in the ambush." Robin said grimly, "I don't trust that guy. He has been everyone's friend for years and kind of has lost my trust. He will surely play double agent with everyone and in the end vanish like smoke." Robert said, "But, I still trust him. Man, that guy literally traveled two countries in the dark of night to protect us that day. Even if Lord Jesus comes down and says that Assayah is a bad person, I will become an atheist but won't believe it." Robin sighed, "Fine. Lick his boots if you want, but I ain't wasting my precious time hanging on a rusty chain." He looked the other way and said. "You have changed quite a lot, Robert. People like Assayah are parasites. Once they hinge on you, even death can't separate you from them. I'm more experienced than you in these matters and I know that one day your innocent heart will shatter into many pieces when you get to know his true face." Robert asked, "Why do you hate Assayah so much?"

Robin said grimly, "Because I once called him a friend and brother. But, he choosed to abandon me when I needed him the most. The whole disaster fell on my shoulders and I had to lose my life earned belongings and start from scratch." Robert said, "I don't know what grudges you have with him, but at this time Assayah can only help us." He took out his phone and called Assayah. After few rings, Assayah answered, "Yes, Robert. I have heard about your problems and I am already on the way to solve it. But, it will take time. Mr. Watwell wants to meet you and your brother soon." Robert smiled, "That's all I wanted to hear." He disconnected the call and smiled. Robin said, "He called us for a meeting with Mr. Watwell, didn't he?" Robert said, "Don't be so pessimistic, brother. He just wants to settle the scores between us. And after all, friendship with Mr. Watwell will benefit only." Robin sighed, "Okay. But, get rid of that woman soon. A prostitute living here will only taint our reputation." Robert mumbled, "Jackass." They stopped near a large casino and walked outside as two men welcomed them inside.

They slowly walked towards the casino table and looked at the table. The croupier came near them and asked, "Which number would you like to bet on?" Robin said, "We are not here to gamble. We want to meet Mr. Rosario." The croupier asked, "May I know your identity, sir?" Robin smiled, "Tell him that we want to talk about the 'Peru' incident." The croupier dialed a number and after few rings, the call was received. He said, "Someone is here to meet you, sir. He wants to talk with you about some 'Peru' incident." The other end replied, "Send him in." The croupier said, "He is upstairs." Robin and Robert went upstairs and knocked on a large door.

After sometime, a man in uniform opened the door and they went inside. Mr. Rosario looked at them and said, "Robin and Robert. The Fletcher Brothers. I can't say that I wasn't expecting your arrival." Robin said, "Whatever happened with Mr. Lee was unfortunate but he deserved it. I know that he was one of the biggest donor of your casino, but you shouldn't forget our old friendship." Rosario rose and smiled, "Money is more thicker than friendship in our business. You ain't my friend if you ain't helping me financially. I run a casino, Robin. Everyday, new cash enters and old cash flows away and if suddenly you come here one day saying that I should help you on the cost of losing one of my biggest donors, then sorry man, I'm forced to deny your alliance."

Robert said grimly, "Mr. Lee was a selfish exploiter and don't you think that we don't know how much debt your casino got in due to his 'special' friends. He is a bloody leech and will throw you away when he's doing sucking all your casino." Rosario said angrily, "Then, you should have killed him that night. It would have saved us from much trouble." Robin said, "Look, Rosario. We cannot undone what has already happened so it's better to think about the future and try to improvise it." Rosario gave them a drink and asked, "What are you suggesting, Robin?" Robin said, "Mr. Lee is a smart guy. He won't come out so easily until he finds something interesting. And I want you to give him that 'interesting' thing." Rosario asked, "What interesting thing?"

Robin said, "I will talk with Assayah and Mr. Watwell and arrange a second shipment of women who will come to Argentina by the same route as usual and will be in control of one of my trusted guy. I want you to alert Mr. Lee about the shipment and when he comes to attack the ship, our men will easily gun him down." Rosario asked, "But, why would he himself come to take a puny shipment?" Robin smiled, "He will. Because you will be with him." Rosario asked, "Why would I be with him?" Robin said, "Not on the ship. But, you will persuade him to go on the ship." Rosario asked, "But, why would he believe me?" Robin said, "I will tell you the rest of the plan tomorrow." They rose and went outside of the casino. Robert asked, "Do you trust him?" Robin said, "No, but I trust my money and Rosario will even dance naked for money." They slowly disappeared in the distance as a red dot.

Assayah was cleaning his table, when Kayuba entered the room as a red mist and said, "The amount of mess that you have created is much bigger than you usually clean." Assayah asked, "What mess have I created?" Kayuba replied grimly, "Don't act like that you don't know it already. Bacca had appointed you keep the evilness alive in the mortal world and you have only corrupted the already corrupted, and that too not very much." Assayah smiled, "People are not demons who are born evil and malicious. It takes time to make them see the ills and negativity of the world and sprout evilness in their minds."

Kayuba said, "We don't have enough time to wait for the sprouting of evilness. Kenchi is already cooking up numerous plans everyday to capture Bacca's seat and you are telling me that you will wait for some miracle." Assayah smiled, "Your paranoia will be your end someday. Kenchi won't be able to do anything until he has the spear or the girl who is the spear's protector and you perfectly know that this will be next to impossible for him." Kayuba said, "Assumptions won't help me, Assayah. Solutions will. That girl has suddenly disappeared and now we are helpless and have to wait for any clue." Assayah said, "That's why I was telling you to wait. Look, Kayuba go and take some holiday or something and I assure you that I will personally keep Kenchi away from Bacca's seat. I already have much trouble on my plate and I just don't want to spend my energy on the matters of the Monastery."

Kayuba said, "Fine. But, remember Assayah that Kenchi shouldn't smell our tiny union or he will used it against us in the future." Kayuba was about to leave, when there was a knock on the door. Kayuba said grimly, "Handle your guests. That's what you do now anyway. An entertainer." He laughed and disappeared in red mist. Assayah sighed and opened the door and saw Mr. Watwell standing there.

Mr. Watwell came inside and said in a rough tone, "What took you so long, Assayah? Do you know what is happening right now? I'm finished, Assayah. I'm finished." Assayah said grimly, "Sit down, Mr. Watwell. I have talked with my friends in both Peru and Argentina and they said that the Fletcher Brothers are ready to have a peaceful meeting with you at Clive Baxley's bar." Mr. Watwell said grimly, "It's not that easy, brother. I know Robin very well. He won't agree to come in terms with me so easily, especially after what that traitor Lloyd did."

Assayah said, "Mr. Lloyd is dead and they have extracted their share from Mr. Lee already. They also know that you have no fault in the sabotage of the deal. I assure you that once we meet them and clear our misunderstandings, then we will reap much better rewards than now." Mr. Watwell said, "Okay. I trust you. But, the problem doesn't end here. Lloyd, even though he was a scumbag, he was a smart man of mine and his absence will be greatly missed." Assayah said, "Okay. I will look on this matter too." Mr. Watwell hugged him and went outside. Assayah sighed and opened a bottle of wine and drank it. Kayuba said, "I can become Mr. Watwell's assistant." Assayah spitted the wine and said, "Never. That guy is a swearing machine and you will certainly lose your temper and eat him alive."

Kayuba smiled, "Don't worry, Assayah. Mr. Watwell's life is very precious. He will become a ladder for me in getting hold of the girl, Alice. You just recommend me to him." Assayah smiled, "Well, if you want to be his assistant so badly. I won't mind helping you." Kayuba said, "I have another thing to tell you, Assayah." He whispered in Assayah's ears and Assayah said smiling, "You are incorrigible." Kayuba smiled, "Can't help. It's my trademark." He turned into red mist and disappeared. Assayah smiled, "Sometimes, I think that I'm the only sensible demon in the whole history of demons." He smiled and continued drinking the wine, as the clouds slowly moved in the sky.