Exodus 20:14

Matthew

'And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.'- Mathew 6:13


Dahlia's heart stuttered in her chest. The perverse and imaginary creature from her dreams was very much in front of her and eyeing her as if she was its prey. Her skin raised with the awareness of its proximity to her. All she could do was stare at his predatory, sleek, sublime frame.

She could not help it. Despite its fear-inducing presence, she felt the raw sexuality it exuded. It was palpable and left a phenolic taste at the back of her throat. The taste was heavy and heady and begged her to writhe on silk sheets at his behest. It reminded her of the whiskey she stole from the Husband's cabinet on her twenty-first birthday. Just as how the first sip had served as a catalyst and amplifier for her libido, the creature's closeness to her left her weak with salacious want.

She was ready to be touched as she imagined him doing in her dream and he had only said six words to her.

Dahlia was unfamiliar with this woman who took over her body. The wanton, sexually needy thing, that inhabited her shell, was not her. She hadn't the propensity for it. And she was extremely bothered that it was making her react to this thing in a manner that betrayed her Christian nature.

Gathering her righteous outrage, she summoned the courage to ask,

"Who are you?"

"Ashemdai" the creature's gravelly voice responded, punctuated by his sardonic half smirk.

Her ire increasing with his nonchalant behaviour, Dahlia amended her question with arms akimbo and a heaving chest that begged the creature's eyes to follow its movement.

"What are you?"

"I am a demon, vashti. A succubus of royal blood, borne to Lilith and Lucifer in the year 7."

As the word 'demon' left the creature's mouth, Dahlia turned ashen under her chocolate tone. A demon was in her house. Her sanctified and hallowed home. It was not possible. The wards on the wall and the talisman by the door, both provided by the community's priest, should have ensured that this was not conceivable.

She didn't dwell on it too much. Rather, she lunged for the cross on the wall and one of the many King James's Version Bibles in the house.

She began to recite the exorcism taught to her as she learned her ABCs.

"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica. Ergo, omnis legio diabolica, adiuramus te... cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque æternæ perditionìs venenum propinare... Vade, satana, inventor et magister omnis fallaciæ, hostis humanæ salutis... Humiliare sub potenti manu Dei; contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili nomine... quem inferi tremunt... Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine. Ut Ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos."

Despite the dramatic fanfare she had expected. The creature simply strolled over to the brown velvet sofa and settled, as best as he could with his height, into the plus cushions. Like a cat bored with admonishment, he levelled his gaze at her and replied,

"Let me know when you're finished with your... whatever that is."

Dahlia was stupefied. Why had it not worked? Was it because her vessel was unclean? Had she been defiled because of that dream? She could not seem to get anything right. But she has to rid her house of the vermin.

So she tried again.

And again.

And once more for good measure.