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“Hi there,” he says, looking her up and down appreciatively. “Do I know–”

Before he can finish the sentence, Annoth seizes him by the back of his neck. He gasps in pain as she forces him into a crouch, both of them hidden by the car. The tips of her fingers have turned into sharp black claws. My heart begins to hammer double-time, but at least I’m thinking clearly enough to take out my phone and snap a picture of his license plate.Insurance, I tell myself.Leverage,says the voice in the back of my mind.

“You do know me, and I am in need of your services,Father,” Annoth says softly as I stand in front of them, glancing up and down the street to make sure there’s no one around. Father Benjamin looks up and appears to recognize me.

Panic contorts his face. “You…you! Hey, I’m really sorry about yesterday! I swear, I wasn’t trying to–”

“Shut up!” I bark, kneeling down next to him. Desperation crushes my chest, making it harder for me to breathe; desperation for this nightmare to be over, for things to return to normal. I’m going to get what I need from him, but I can’t help feeling a little guilty. He’s obviously terrified, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and eyes wide. I shove the guilt down. I have to end this, and I can’t let myself feel anything about it. As long as no one gets hurt.

“Look, I’ve still got most of your cash,” the priest rambles. “I’ll give it back if you just let me go, ok? We don’t need to make this a whole thing. I really wasn’t–”

“We do not need the money,” Annoth interjects. “We require you to complete the ritual. To separate us.” Benjamin looks up at her and his mouth falls open as he takes her in. Her eyes have now gone wholly black, with no white and no pupil or iris, and there’s dark veins creeping up her neck and face. She looks like something out of a horror movie, with her fangs and claws bared near his throat.

“You’rethe demon…” he whispers. “You’re the…the entity I saw.Dios mío, I thought I was finally going crazy…” Something different comes over him, like he’s actuallylessafraid now, and he turns his eyes to me. “She’s possessing you…and you need me to finish the exorcism.”

I nod, unwilling to explain further while we’re still on a public street. “So, you’re going to come back with us and finish it. Alright? You’re not going to make a scene, or else I’ll go straight to the cops and give them your name, email, license plate number, everything. I’ll tell them that you robbed me, and that I suspect you’re scamming otherpeople too.”

He actually laughs in response. “Oh, I see. You think half the cops in this city don’t already know me, huh? Alright, here, I’ll come quietly if you just call off your…attack dog, and let me grab my bag.”

Annoth hisses again, but releases her grip on his neck. There’s a few red marks, but no apparent damage. He stands up and brushes himself off, then gives me a thousand-watt smile that, unfortunately, makes my stomach squirm. Where the fuck did this man come from, and how is he a priest? He’s wearing dark jeans and a faded Green Day t-shirt under the leather jacket, there’s a little silver hoop in one of his ears, and…he’s definitely checking Annoth out.

I donotwant to take this man home. He seems like trouble, and I alreadyhave more than enough of that.

12

Annoth

Theodore’s discomfort quickly becomesapparent through our connection, but I cannot tell if it is related more to my aggressive tactics, or the fact that he is attracted to the young priest, who is rummaging in his vehicle. He pulls out the large bag he had in the apartment the day before, then locks the door and looks at us.

Theodore folds his arms and nods toward me. “That’s Annoth,” he says stiffly. “I’m Theo.”

Benjamin just grins and sticks his hand out, but Theodore does not shake it. “You can call me Ben. I’d say it’s a pleasure…but…”

“Walk,priest,” I snap, pointing down the street.

“So, the thing about that–” he starts to say, but I cut him off.

“We shall discuss this in private.”

He glances at Theodore, who nods and starts walking. I will have to watch him closely to ensure he does not lose his nerve and allow our captive to go free simply because of his own guilty conscience.

“Ok, I know you’re new to this…plane of existence,” Theodore says to me quietly, “but this is illegal. It’s kidnapping.”

“You think I give a damn about your pathetic human laws?” I snarl. “My job is to punish sinners, and forcing him to finish the job for which he was paid is hardly a punishment. I believe you humans might even call itjustice.”

“Ok, just…don’t hurt him, alright? Because then it’s kidnappingandassault.”

Benjamin turns to walk backwards in front of us and asks, “What are you, a lawyer?”

“No,” Theodore mutters, “it’s just common knowledge.”

“This is literally insane,” Benjamin laughs, then he turns around again. Theodore leads us on a more circuitous route back to the apartment, most likely trying to avoid running into his female friend with the brightly colored hair. When we are all inside with the door locked, the useless priest flops down onto the couch as if he is a guest.

“Did your cleaning lady get possessed too?” he asks, still grinning. Theodore removes his jacket and scarf, while I simply wave my hand to make my outer layer vanish, then go and stand beside Father Benjamin, arms crossed.

“You will complete the ritual now,” I tell him. He tilts his head back and looks at me with a strange expression–curiosity mixed with hunger. Fiery rage spreads through my body and I clench my fists.

“Yeah,” he says with a yawn, “I tried to tell you two before, but…I’m not a real priest. Not anymore, anyway.”