Starchild

Pater Noster, Qui es in Cœlis;

Demons are naughty, and that is a known fact. It does not mean they are bad. It just means they do things that are mostly not accepted by any society.

It's my fourth day on Earth and I am currently on my way to perform an exorcism.

This morning I woke up after sleeping like a baby on my new bed. I walked down the stairs and met the wizards in the kitchen, where we had breakfast, as usual. Wong made eggs and they were exquisite. Six minutes and sixteen seconds into eating, Strange asked me a, well, strangely obvious question.

—Demons can possess humans, right? —

I, of course, replied with the truth. Yes, we can, and yes, they will. A side effect of the loose demons will be possessions and they can only be stopped by the ruler of Hell, or holy powers against them. They cannot do a lot of harm, though. Sure, a few vomits, some blood, violence towards other people, and dislocated limbs or neck. But worse than that, impossible.

However Strange rushed us out of the Sanctum, ordered a "taxi", and now we're going to another city because a real possession has been reported and he wants us to start properly investigating.

—What's the plan? —I look at him, —If you have one, of course. —

He keeps looking at his phone. —You two will take care of the possession, while I snoop around and see if there are any other demons. —

Wong frowns, —How do we know it's a real possession? —

—The Vatican was called. —he shrugs, —And I've seen the videos. It looks real. Now, do you know how to at least fake an exorcism? —

I nod, —Yes, I know how it goes in theory. But it could kill me, don't you think? —

He brushes it off. —You'll be fine. You were at the most important church and sat through a whole mass. Saying some prayers won't do anything. —he searches for something in his backpack, and brings out a small box, handing it out to us. I aim to grab it, —This is an exorcism kit. —I move my hand away. Wong grabs it instead. —Star, be careful with it. Especially since you're going to play the priest. Wong, you're the assistant. —

—Do you want me to die?! —I whisper, remembering there is a strange man driving,

—You're the one who knows about exorcisms! —

I have heard a term before that applies perfectly to this situation; suicide mission. If I touch a cross, it stings. If I touch a Bible, it burns. Incense alone gives me a rash and smells terrible. And I do not plan knowing what holy water feels like. But I am here to have fun, aren't I?

I am not.

But I point at my clothing and continue with the plan. —Looking like this? —

—No. —he shows me a picture on the phone, —Looking like that. Your name is Father McKenzie, you're forty-three, and you were sent by the Vatican. Wong, or Father Wong, is simply your assistant. Good thing he's already wearing his robes. —

One thing I hate about shapeshifting is turning into people I do not feel like. Even when duty calls, it is absolutely confusing to look in the mirror and see an old man looking back at you. Using the picture as a reference, I become a little shorter, a little chubbier, with darker skin and eyes. My hair? Shorter than ever. I am now wearing priest robes.

Strange laughs at me. The driver looks at us, confused and scared, and stutters. I stop him. —You did not see anything. —he shuts up, and puts his eyes back on the traffic.

—Well. Nice to meet you, Father McKenzie. —Strange grins,

I narrow my eyes at him. —What if I die? —