The Cybersybils present Venusberg

"Excuse me, I'll be right back, I know I have what you want," the host - obviously the Jackal in the pelt - promised and walked toward the intruders.

"Don Juan Carlos, my name is Ms. Madeleine Lacroix. Remember our recent meeting in the Queen's Chamber?"

A pair of shifty eyes closed slightly, then the Spaniard exclaimed with a friendly smile, "I sure do...mama!"

"Whatever. My close friend has disappeared and I'm afraid she may be in danger. Will you help us find her, Mr. Jackal?"

The assassin looked intently at the distraught woman and thought a moment. "I'll assist you for a certain price. Please wait in the library, where one of my ladies will serve you refreshments. And fill out this card, as I'll need some background material on your friend. Come this way..."

Juan Carlos' Study

The Waffle traversed the length of an outstretched arm, through the parlor, into the library, Professor Peyton close on her heels. Juan Carlos then returned to his favorite activity - pimping.

Meanwhile, Maddie browsed through a collection of expensive volumes displayed on burgeoning bookshelves. The librarian recited aloud the titles and authors while the Prof sipped at a cup of tea.

"Trevanian!" Madeline announced as she carefully removed a worn book from the shelf. "This is right up..."

Just then, a door squeaked opened and in walked the proprietor. "Thank you for waiting. Now, what can I do for you two? Last I checked, I'm no Sherlock Holmes."

"May I introduce Professor Robert Peyton, the father of our missing person, Olivia Primrose Peyton. Here's the card you asked me to fill out."

Juan Carlos examined the flowery handwriting and proclaimed, "A real Leo dame, I see in your name. And your friend, she is a Taurus girl...a lover of life who is kind to children and animals, am I not correct?"

"May we dispense with the astro-babble?" Madeline queried the assassin-turned-New-Age-Nostradamus.

"My amazing intuitive powers are easily explained, Miss Lacroix, by the power of lexigrams, nothing more, nothing less."

"Please, call me Ms. Madeline, thank you. Lexigrams? Are you referring to the fashion designer, Lexi Graham?"

Lure of the Black Rose by Icart

"I think I said lexigrams, which are really quite similar to anagrams. The rules as to their construction are quite simple, and when followed correctly, the process proves most revealing. Perhaps I will teach them to you another day."

"No thank you," Madeline sighed with frustration. "May we please get back to who might have kidnapped Miss O? Rumor has it that you deal with those who inhabit the shadier side of the street, Mr. Jackal, and I thought you might make some discreet inquiries on our behalf. Intuition born of Aether has told me thus, and that sense has never once led me in the wrong direction."

"Ah, the Quintessence, the fifth essence. Yes, the Quintessence, more subtle and pure than fire. Horace spoke of 'the kisses that Venus has imbued with the Quintessence of her own nectar,' as I recall.

"Why Juan Carlos, it does seem that your tongue is as honeyed as when last we met," Madeline cleverly segued. "I admire your respect for the Classics, although as I was saying...."

"Pardon me, however I'm wondering right about now if we'll be finding my daughter any time soon," the Prof interrupted, unafraid of the Jackal's infamous bad temper.

"I know every slime bag in captivity," Juan Carlos chuckled, rather pleased. "I'll find your Miss Olivia - but only if the lovely Ms. Madeline agrees to accompany me on the search."