Nephilim

6 - The Exorcism

The book that Zoya had managed to extract from God alone knows where gave a detailed explanation on how to perform an exorcism. In Latin. Thankfully, the margins had English scribbles that translated the entire process. All of the different processes said the same thing. It's easy in theory and a bitch in reality. I wonder if any of them have tried to hammer a nail into the wall. Zoya had a little notebook in which she noted down all the steps to perform a basic exorcism. But before she began, I noticed that she drew two symbols on the cover of the notebook. They were the same symbols I had graffitied on the side wall of the PO to angel and demon proof the building. I guess no supernatural being could now access her notebook. I admitted to myself that it would be fun to watch them sweat it out for a little notebook. Once we were finished discussing and then re-discussing our exorcism plan, we talked about all kinds of other things. I knew next to nothing about the kind of person Zoya was but I liked to think that I like her.

"How's work?" I asked her.

She rolled her eyes and replied, "Awesome."

I was itching to ask her about her family background. The kind of mission she was going on was borderline suicide. Was there really no one who would miss her or worry about her? I wonder where inquisitiveness is born. We find ourselves not-so-strangely lacking when standing in comparison with others that we can't stop ourselves from questioning them and then questioning ourselves. This is perhaps why a person would be his own harshest critic. Also, when information is withheld, one is possessed by a burning need to know more. What another covets, we covet. What another earns, we covet more. What others discard, we think it worthless. I decided I didn't have the time nor the energy to beat around the bush so I said, "You know your family might be in danger because of this."

I immediately saw her eyes widen and then with a little bit of ice in her voice, she replied, "I have no family."

"So you're just another orphan then," I replied. Maybe that's why I felt some form of kinship towards her. We orphans have a radar of sorts and find the company of other orphans somewhat comforting. Well, as comforting as it can get.

"Worst. I wasn't given away. I was wanted far too much by my father in ways I did not want to be wanted." 

There was complete silence after that. She didn't elaborate. I didn't ask. We arranged to meet at the PO in exactly 8 days, after the exorcism had been performed. There was no way I could hang around and watch her perform it because it would risk discovery as far as... well, everyone was concerned. The fact that Zoya and I knew each other was something only we knew. And I wanted to keep it that way.

In about 2 days' time, Tina texted me the exorcism details which I forwarded to Zoya. This particular demon was a newbie, according to Tina. Should be easy to send him back to Demonland. I reached the spot where Tina already had him trapped with the help of the Demon's Trap she had painted on the floorboards of the dilapidated cottage. He had been tied to a wooden chair and his mouth gagged. He appeared to have possessed a human. His eyes were white. No eyeballs. Charming. His skin was pale and it looked like he was swearing as he tried to wiggle out of the chair. I decided that the first exorcism could go on without an interrogation and didn't touch his gag. I remembered thinking about how the entire process of an exorcism was so methodical. This was way too easy. I wonder how Zoya would be getting along. Recalling the incantation, I started chanting it. The demon before me started squirming in his chair. Good. I've always wanted people to squirm when I say something. There was some abominable pleasure about making someone feel so uncomfortable that they get downright offensive. I figured that this demon wanted to do more than just be offensive. I felt something inside my shift as I continued chanting. I didn't stop to examine it as I could see the demon struggling violently against the ropes he was bound by. Suddenly, some kind of smoky black organisms started pouring out of his ears, eyes and mouth. Within seconds, the demon slumped in his chair, not moving or twitching anymore.

I saw Tina enter the cottage. I had expected it. She would be snooping about to meet Zoya and she was now going to be so terribly disappointed.

"What are you doing here?!" It sounded more like an accusation than a question.

I put on a smirk that I knew would annoy her to no end. "Exorcising."

"But Zed was supposed to be doing that. What if TEC noticed you performing it and decided to take you in?" she asked.

She thought I was stupid. Cute. "Zed is performing an exorcism. They don't need your help. Or mine. And what was the chance of you handing me a demon that would definitely get TEC's attention?"

Tina didn't answer.

"Yeah. That's what I thought," I replied and started walking out of the shithole.

"TEC will make your life miserable. Yours and Zeds," she shouted.

I turned to look at her. Her eyes were filled with pure loathing. I knew she hated me for having outsmarted her. Well, too bad. She was just going to have to get smarter. And it was she and the angels who needed to remain in my good books. Not the other way round. She couldn't afford to make an enemy out of me. For the first time, I realised that this was a clear hint at the kind of power contained in me. And not for the first time, I wondered when it would unleash itself. I was fascinated and repulsed by it in equal parts. Fascinated because I didn't know what it was. Repulsed because it was a part of me.

I went home and stood under the shower. As the cold water cascaded down my body, I thought of Zoya and how her exorcism was going. She had texted me just this morning that she had managed to track down a demon. It looked like she had some skill after all. I only prayed that an Erudite would be lurking about to see her in action. I would hate for the exercise to be a complete waste. After 6 days, I met Zoya at the PO. She was already seated comfortably, wearing a t-shirt with a cartoon character on the front and distressed jeans torn at the knees. She was reading another leather bound book. She looked up at me as I took my seat and grinned.

"I'm in," she said. "A badly suited man told me he could find a place where my talent could be put to proper use and I could be trained."

"How was the exorcism?" I asked. I realised that I had not really worried about her. Somehow I had assumed that she would come out unscathed.

"Very bloody. But demons are really thick. Or at least that one was. Got trapped by a demon trap that I drew from his own blood. Was quite disgusting. Their blood is black. Did you know?" she asked. For the first time I saw her look genuinely happy. It seemed that this kind of work agreed with her. What demons was she escaping from that she didn't mind facing death or worse at every step?

"I did not know that. But I'm glad you're okay." And I really was.

"We need to figure out a new way to communicate. We can't meet or text. If I am staying at TEC for training, I am positive they will be tracking every moment of mine. And also checking my mail, email and cell phone. What other options do we have?" she asked.

I realised she was right. We couldn't botch this operation. And if they found out that Zoya knew me, I didn't know what they would do to her. It was a bit tricky but lucky for me I had a solution and plenty of time to kill.

"Easy," I replied. "We learn the Morse Code."

**** Author's Note ****

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