Page 9

He writes down a note. “And what activity has there been?”

“Voices…I mean, one voice, in my head. Uhm…shadows? Like, a shadow creature, and weird stuff with the TV and lights.”

“Destruction of property?” Father Benjamin motions around the apartment, which does look like it was hit by a particularly violent poltergeist. Unfortunately, that’s all on me.

“Yes,” I say. Annoth snorts in my head. “Yes, she’s been quite destructive.”

“She?” The priest raises an eyebrow. “A female demon? Interesting.”

“Well,” I say with a shrug and an involuntary grin, “it’s the 21st century now. Women run the world, right?”

His face splits into a smile and he actually laughs. It’s a bit loud and ridiculous, but it makes me smile even harder. “I can see she hasn’t damaged your sense of humor. That’s good.”

This is quite painful for me to witness,Annoth says dryly, and I clear my throat, trying to get the conversation back on track, even though all I want to do is make him laugh again.

He clears his throat too and the smile disappears. “Has the entity told you her name, or made any demands?”

“She said her name was…Annoth’zagoz, and she wants me to…commit crimes, I guess? She said I should strangle the neighbor’s dog, hurt people, stuff like that.”

“And…have you given into any of the demands?”

“Of course not!”

“Have to ask.” He holds his hands up, then sets down the notebook and pen. “Now, if you follow my directions, this might be quick, but I can’t promise it’ll be painless. Ready?”

“I guess so,” I sigh.

“Sit on the couch, please.”

I move over and sit down, anxiously running my hands through my hair and scratching the two-month beard I’ve managed to grow.

“Have you done this before?” I ask as Father Benjamin takes a large crucifix out of his pocket.

“Of course,” he replies with a reassuring smile. Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel better.

“How common is…demon possession?”

“Mr. Keating…” he laughs. “I’ll need you to be quiet for this first part.”

“Right,” I sigh. “Sorry.” He holds the crucifix up and starts speaking quickly and quietly in Latin. I learned some for my Confirmation classes as a kid, but I can’t follow anything he’s saying, so I just clench my hands together and close my eyes.

Nothing is happening,says Annoth.Why is nothing happening? I ought to be able to feel myself being drawn out of your body.

“I don’t know,” I reply out loud, not thinking. Father Benjamin falters slightly and looks up at me with his eyes wide. I just shrug my shoulders, trying to stay silent as he continues speaking in Latin.

This is ridiculous,Annoth seethes after another full minute where nothing happens.This priest is either incompetent or fraudulent and must be dealt with accordingly.

“No!” I snap.

The priest stops speaking and lowers his crucifix. “Do you feel anything?”

“Uhh…yes, she’s…she’s resisting it,” I tell him. “She’s fighting it.” He looks slightly taken aback, but goes back to his bag of supplies and returns with a clear, plastic bottle bearing a gold cross.

“Holy water,” he says. “Sometimes…it takes more time for it to start working.” I close my eyes and nod as the droplets hit me. He continues speaking in Latin, but I still don’t feel anything other than Annoth’s anger building.

I try to talk to her down inside my head.Just be patient.

I am patient,she snarls,but something is very wrong here. This priest is not a believer. It is the only explanation.