Page 8

Annoth

Clambering to his feet, the priest lets out a string of words in another language, shielding his face with his hands.

Theodore stands between us, and I can see that he is willing to put himself in harm’s way for this stranger, even as the priest backs toward the door.

Theodore turns and sees him attempting to escape.

“Please, don’t go!” he yells. “It’s not done yet! I need your help!”

“I-I’m so sorry!” Father Benjamin sputters, his jaw slack and his eyes wide. “I didn’t think…I didn’t realize…this isn’t…”

“Do not allow him to leave!” I cry. “He sees the truth! He can complete the ritual!” But Theodore is shaking now, and braces himself against the wall while the priest seizes his bag and wrenches the door open, then disappears into the hallway.

Theodore will not move. His breathing is rapid and shallow, and I withdraw back into his body, which is laced with physical pain, but not enough fear or panic for me to take control.

Even now, his emotions are dulled, and I let out a scream of aggravation, which causes him to clutch his head.

“Wh-where did he go?”

He took your money and fled, I growl. You ought to go after him and exact revenge. Force him to complete the exorcism and then I will rip his–

“I’m not going anywhere!” Theo gasps. “That hurt so fucking bad…why did that hu rt me?”

The connection between host and demon is strong , I answer. Your physical body has not yet adjusted to being my host, and my powers will affect your well-being, just as your emotions affect me.

“I-I don’t understand,” he coughs, slumping down to the floor and leaning against the wall. “What went wrong?”

He did not believe. He did not think that I was real and was attempting to steal your money.

When I showed myself, he fled like a coward.

It is appearing less and less likely that I will be able to rid myself of you, Theodore.

You must go after him and force him to complete the exorcism.

Now that he has seen the truth, it ought to have the intended effect.

Afterwards, I will punish him for his insolence myself.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Theodore groans, pulling himself up. “And I don’t blame him for running. He probably forgot all about the money when he saw you like that.”

You are soft! I tell him. Weak! And I will not endure this foolishness a moment longer. You will go after him! I move to the back of his mind and begin to scratch again, but he merely walks over and slumps down on the couch, holding his head.

“If you don’t quit doing that, I’ll go up on the roof and throw myself off,” he mutters. I desist immediately. If Theodore perishes, I do too, and given his current emotional state, I do not think that he is bluffing.

What will we do now, then? I cannot remain here with you.

Theodore picks up his telephone and begins typing on the screen.

“I’m going to look for other…priests…exorcists, I guess.

There’s a couple Catholic churches around here.

Maybe they’ll know someone.” He makes several phone calls, and I listen closely.

No one at the first church is trained to perform exorcisms. The priest who answers at the next church is apparently a friend of Theodore’s father, and Theodore immediately ends the call without a greeting.

There is no answer at the third church. No luck.

No exorcist. No way out of this mess. No way, except, perhaps…

to approach the problem from a new angle.

In the final phase of my training, we were taught that some human hosts, particularly males, might be more responsive to…

gentle treatment. A slow, smooth seduction, rather than a forceful terror campaign.

Theodore has recently parted ways with his female lover.

He is clearly lonely, in need of companionship.

I am not a demon of lust, sent here to seduce and beguile with such feminine wiles, but perhaps I can improvise.

I soften the shadows I have threaded through his body, trying to make my presence warmer, more soothing.

He has ceased his search for another exorcist and is lying still on the couch with his eyes closed.

“What are you doing in there? I can feel that. It’s weird.”

I am doing my best to build your strength, I answer in a softer tone of voice. If you are weak, you may not survive another exorcism attempt.

“Well, quit it,” he snaps. “I don’t trust you.”

Perhaps you should trust me, I murmur, coiling my heat lower in his body. Perhaps, instead of fighting one another, we could become…allies, if not…friends.

Theodore jumps off the couch and squeezes his head. “Nope! Stop it! You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Get your slimy self out of my stomach and back into my head, at least.”

What about something even better? I offer, then pull myself out of him and manifest into a physical form: A human body, soft and feminine, one I believe he will enjoy. He blinks for a moment, taking in the sight of me, then laughs out loud.

“ That’s what you’re going with?” he asks.

“You must think I’m pretty fucking stupid.

” He moves away into the kitchen and pours a glass of water without so much as a second glance at my new body.

I let out a short huff of frustration, then go to a mirror hanging behind the door to admire my handiwork.

The female body I have created is not exactly the correct shape, perhaps the skin is slightly more gray than I had intended, but the dark hair, pretty face, and revealing costume are certainly well done.

And I did manage to do away with the horns, tail, and wings of my demonic form.

Perhaps a little more practice and I might be able to hold his attention the way I need to.

I turn around and lean on the kitchen countertop.

Theodore is watching me from the corner of his eye, but he still does not seem impressed.

“I thought you were quite attracted to the princess from the Star Wars films, especially when she wears this…ridiculous outfit,” I purr. Moving my mouth to speak is a strange feeling, and I run my fingers along my fleshy jawline, taking in the smoothness and heat of my new skin.

“I am,” Theodore answers, setting his cup down rather aggressively, “but I’m also not dumb enough to fall for that.

” He turns away and I spot a photograph sitting face down on the countertop.

Theodore is occupied, digging through one of his cabinets, so I pick it up.

The human female sitting beside him in the image is not unattractive.

Rather small and mousy-looking, with brown eyes too large for her pale, petite face, and a cascade of shining brown hair tied into a braid over her shoulder.

Theodore looks happy, however, with his arm around her waist and his lips pressed to the side of her head as she beams. I suppose this is what human affection looks like.

“I could attempt to take on this form,” I say, holding the photograph up as he turns back around. Apparently horrified at my suggestion, he snatches it from my hand.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” he hisses. “That’s another thing that’ll send me up to the roof and off the edge. Got it?”

“Very well,” I sigh. This new approach does not seem to be yielding the results I want, but then I recall how Theodore reacted when Father Benjamin came to the door. “I could take on a male form…if you prefer that. ”

He merely rolls his eyes. “How about you just shut up, stop with the tricks, and let me think, alright? There was one church where no one answered the phone. Today’s Saturday, so maybe it’s the priest’s day off or something, but he’ll definitely be there tomorrow.

We just need to…go down there tomorrow after Mass and talk to him in person. ”

“You will not be able to enter a church while you are my host,” I tell him.

“Fine, that makes sense. I can wait outside until the service is over.”

“Very well. What shall we do until then?” I glance around the living area.

I have no basis for comparison, but I suppose it could be classified as ‘filthy’: Rumpled, unwashed clothing strewn across the floor and furniture, pieces of trash, used dishware, and dust. A great deal of dust on most surfaces.

“I don’t know.” Theodore scrubs his face with his hands and pushes his hair back. This is clearly not the same man from the photograph, who was clean-shaven and well-dressed.

“Explain to me what has happened,” I say, pulling up one of the tall chairs beside the counter and sitting in it.

He looks up at me, eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Explain what?”

“What has caused you to live like this?” I wave my hand around at the apartment. “If I am to make another attempt at possession once we are separated, I ought to be able to understand human behavior. I fear my training did not discuss certain things in…so much detail.”

Theodore lets out a weak laugh. “Your training? What, demons have…meetings and performance reports and shit like that?”

“I do not understand these terms, but yes, I did have training prior to this mission.”

“And your ‘training’ didn’t cover basic human behavior?”

“Insomuch as it related to possession, yes, but I am finding that perhaps it was…insufficient. I was not prepared for this particular scenario. ”

“Ok, look,” Theodore sighs, “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but…I’ll give you some…pointers or something, if you promise to leave me alone the rest of the day. Deal?”

“I accept your offer,” I say, putting my hand out. Theodore eyes it warily. “I shall not trouble you the remainder of the day, if you will provide me with more detailed information on human behaviors and emotions.”

“Go sit on the couch then,” he says, moving away without shaking my hand, “but…God, can you please…change what you’re wearing?

” I glance down at my attire, which does seem a touch over-the-top now that my planned seduction has failed.

But what do human females normally wear?

I have only watched the Star Wars films since arriving, and I do not think that is an accurate depiction of modern clothing.

I look around the apartment and see more photographs hanging on the wall.

“Who is this female?” I ask, pointing to one.

“That’s Molly, my big sister.”

“Is this clothing typical of females in your age subset and geographic location?”

“I…guess so?” Theodore laughs, coming to look at the picture.

“Here, try this.” He turns on the television and changes the pictures for a moment before stopping on one.

I approach and observe the images. A group of humans sit around a table in a kitchen, eating and talking.

Three males and three females. I quickly take in the females’ attire and then shift my own shadow-clothing to match.

“Is this acceptable?” I ask, turning back to Theodore. He looks me up and down, then swallows.

“Yeah, that’s fine. Now, just sit down and watch this show. It’s…a bit outdated, I guess, but you might be able to learn something.” I sit on the couch and curl my legs beneath me.

The human form I have taken on feels strange and unwieldy: awkward limbs and long hair and strange lumps of flesh on my chest, but I can see by watching the television that I have done relatively well.

I glance over at Theodore, who is wandering about the living area aimlessly, picking up bits of garbage and tossing them into a box.

I can sense his eyes flicker over to me occasionally, but I am not sure if the glances are suspicious or desirous.

My training certainly did not cover this type of human, but I am nothing if not adaptable, and I have waited centuries for this.

Perhaps, I must simply wait a little longer, bide my time and feign softness before he gives in.

Then, I shall rip him open, sink my teeth into his very soul, and he will be mine.