The Diabolist (Dominic Grey 3) by Layton Green

called magi. They were magicians of course, which is where we got the name, and also the Three Magi from the Bible. Did Ahriman have his magi as well?”
    “The magi who worshipped Ahriman were reputed to have instructed King Solomon in the dark arts, including the summoning of demons. We know almost nothing about Ahriman’s followers, except they were feared throughout the ancient world. And there’s almost no mention of Ahriman in historical records except for the writings of Rudolf Steiner, a prominent philosopher and Goethe scholar from the early 1900s.”
    “Don’t know him, either,” Grey said.
    Viktor pushed away from the window to prepare more absinthe, speaking as he fitted the slotted spoon and sugar cube above the glass. “He started a movement he termed anthroposophy, which combined elements of Nietzsche, Goethe, European transcendentalism, and theosophy. He gained a sizable following, but his cosmology was bizarre. He viewed three figures as central to human evolution and spiritual development: Christ, Lucifer, and Ahriman. He believed an ‘Ahrimanic influence’ has been at work since the middle of the fifteenth century, and that Ahriman would incarnate sometime during the third millennium, just as Christ once did.”
    “The third millennium being now? ‘Bizarre’ would be an understatement.”
    “I mention it solely out of lack of reference points,” Viktor said.
    “Another guess,” Grey said, rising to stretch his legs. “Your old pal was a Diabolist.”
    Viktor’s lips pursed. “Correct.”
    Grey placed his empty coffee cup in the kitchen, returning to face Viktor. “And so were you.”
    “I dabbled,” Viktor said evenly, “but no.”
    Grey had long known that Viktor’s interest in religion and cults went far beyond mere law enforcement. On more than one occasion he had questioned whether Viktor’s decision making was geared towards helping the victims or satisfying his own curiosities.
    “So what does this mean for us?” Grey said.
    “Darius—Simon—was brilliant, but awkward and terribly reserved. A social outcast. It’s hard to believe this was the same person I saw on the Internet, yet I’m sure of it. And magicians, especially Diabolists, shun the limelight.”
    “Maybe your old pal had a change of heart along the way,” Grey said. “Decided he’d rather have a Porsche and some nubile young followers.”
    Viktor did not look convinced.
    “So a Diabolist,” Grey reasoned, “could have motive to call both Matthias Gregory
and
Xavier Marcel a heretic.”
    “Possibly, yes.”
    “Of course it could all be a coincidence, the Diabolist’s robe, the emergence of Simon close in time to the murders.”
    “Of course,” Viktor said.
    “I don’t believe very much in coincidence,” Grey said.
    They stared at each other, Viktor in silent acquiescence.
    “The immediate question,” Grey said, checking his watch, “is whether it stops here. Are we solving murders or preventing them?”
    “I received a call from my Interpol contact this morning. Jacques said another letter has been delivered, to a society of magicians in York. One of the oldest in the world.”
    “I didn’t know there were societies of magicians,” Grey said.
    “There are many.”
    “Well, today’s a day of enlightenment,” Grey said. “Another six-day deadline?”
    “Yes, but three days have already passed.”
    “So we go to York?” Grey said.
    “I do, but not yet,” Viktor said, his gaze disappearing into his glass. “There’re a few things I need to investigate in San Francisco, based on this new information.”
    Grey didn’t even bother asking. “And my job?”
    “I need you to look into Xavier’s death.”
    Grey nodded, slowly. “That makes sense.”
    “Good. I’ll purchase a ticket to Paris for this evening. We’ve no time to waste.”
    Grey said his good-bye and moved to leave, then paused with the door half-closed. “Just one more thing.”
    “Yes?” Viktor said.
    “I