"Jesus. There's just no convincing you. We can't move forward if you can't accept the truth about this."
"Don't blaspheme, please."
"Oh, for Glob's sake."
"I said don't do that!"
Leraje had taken Eliphas halfway around the world to show him the Djinn in the Middle East. Introduced him to Kali and Ram in India. He still held steadfast to his belief in Christ and his God of Abraham.
"All these other beings you've shown me are demons like you. You will not shake my faith with lies."
"They are indeed like me. I too was once a regional deity. But an ancient Israelite king warped us into the spirits of the Goetia. He conjured me into the feral monster you see today. Your angels are no different save that most were spared the merging process with animal spirits.
"I don't want to hear your pagan lies. You can't help me. I was wrong to ask Sabnock to bring me here. I'm sorry I wasted your time. I'll ask the angels to take me to Jesus. Only he can help me now."
Leraje burst into laughter. "Then you're in bad shape!"
"I'll not tolerate these insults!"
"Wait, wait, my friend." Leraje smiled and contained her mirth. "Now, you already know the angels won't help you. You will be killed if you keep that up."
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Why are they so cruel? So violent? This is not how the Bible says we should be!"
"Well, I've tried to explain. You won't have it. But I have an idea that may do the trick."
"What's that?"
"To give you your wish. I'm going to take you to Jesus."
"Really?" Eliphas lit up like a flare. "You can do that?"
"Not just yet. I'll need a device, but I think we can manage that easily enough. One more detour and we'll have you.... Uhm... face to face!" Leraje chuckled.
Sabnock was not at all pleased. He had never come to the lunar ceremony with such a paltry offering, and he had only days left. Since Armageddon had begun, too many angels were busy with their war games and too few humans had the wealth or time for the Parlour. General Gremaje was going to peel his skin off.
As if he weren't having a bad enough day, Sabnock suddenly felt the pull of a summoning sigil drawing him halfway around the globe. It was an instantaneous trip, but as unpleasant as always.
"What is this?" Sabnock complained as his aetheric eyes adjusted and he beheld Leraje and Eliphas before him. "What the cross do you want with me now?"
Leraje wiped the sigil from existence with a frown. "General?" she said derisively.
"My apologies, General Leraje. I forget myself after a port like that sometimes. Please don't take offense." He knelt to beg.
"Don't do that. Just show some respect."
"You're absolutely right, General. How may I be of service?"
"Much better. How much to take us to the Parlour?"
"You pair? I wish I could see that!" Sabnock offered up his signature guffaw. "It's two souls a pop now."
"That's highway to hell robbery!" Leraje quipped. She transferred his funds from her Copernican Dial to his and Sabnock dropped two glowing capsules into her claws.
"That's the drug he sells outside the church!" Eliphas complained.
"It's not a drug. It's middle-matter concentrate. Once we take it, we'll access the intersecting plane for spirits and human interaction. Don't fracture your brain over it. Just trust me."
