Fifteenth Kilometer – The Consort

She appeared out of nowhere. It was as if she was born of all that dust. And lust. Dusky. There was an aroma in the air. Like a dark, nocturnal flower suddenly opened its eyes.Father Merrin could sense her walking along for a while , but he didn’t take heed. Finally, she said, in a voice that was low like surf on the shores,

“ have you got something to eat, mster?”

Father didn’t answer.

“Aren’t you hungry, master?”

He kept quiet.

“I have a small dwelling here. You can rest awhile”

Suddenly he was famished. She turned to a pocket road. He obeyed. The sheath of the chain began to shiver subtly. His whole being began to whisper, ‘ danger, danger…’

But there was nothing he could do but go behind her. The spell was hard to break. Despite the feeling, he began to chant,

“He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. ...12 So they went off and preached repentance.  13 They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."  18 Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.  19 Behold, I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.  20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

The  woman turned to look at him. In the moonlight, he saw  that it was full of blood. As if someone peeled off the entire skin from her face. She smiled like a grimace and two huge fangs appeared. The earth began to move. And corpses began to emerge. The zombies began their dance, approaching him. He kept on chanting. Flames appeared beside him. They took on the face of demons and licked his skin. Father Merrin was oblivious to pain. He chanted,

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."  39 Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.  40 For whoever is not against us is for us. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.  19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?  Therefore they (Jewish exorcists) will be your judges.  20 But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

With a roar, he manifested.

“ I need the magick book” several voices said simultaneously.

“Over my  dead body” Father  said.

He bellowed. The earth shook.

“Do you know who I am vermin? Do you understand your master?”

“I have no master but the supreme one.”

“I am the one.”

“You are but a  servant”

He roared again. The corpses were closing in.They were tugging at the bag. Father pushed them away. He lit a lamp with olive oil and threw it in the direction of  the south. A huge fire broke out and started swallowing corpses. They went up in fire like twigs. Roaring again, the figure of Belzebub rose over the melee.

“Give me the book,” he said.

“Lord, there’s no one but you whom I adore. If I have to obey Satan, then you are not…” He screamed and in his Ganja-laden mind, the scream went up till the sky.

A bolt came down, blazing the entire region. The moment it touched the ground, it assumed shape: Raphel.

He towered the scape by sixteen feet. His shield of iron shone in the moonlight. His sword glinted ominously.

“Dare you touch my master” His voice was as cold as the iron. With one swipe of his sword, the darkness, corpses, fire, woman everything disappeared. Only dust remained, as an Amen.

Father Merrin was senseless. When he came around, he was comfortably cozied up in a bed. He sat up.

“My bag..” He groaned.

“Everything is safe Merrin. Rest is essential.” The  elegant abbot of the seminary greeted  him.

“So, it is safe?”

“Absolutely.”