Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:55:14 -0500
From: amcterrapin@netscape.net
Subject: The Daemon Inside part 1

This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to persons living or dead is
purely coincidental. The author retains all rights to this work and you may
not copy or transmit it in any way except in it's entirety and with this
disclaimer.


The Daemon Inside
By AMc Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.


Part 1


"If only I could confront this daemon and be rid of the guilty beast once
and for all."  Martin swore for the hundredth time as he sighed in
resignation.

He had plenty to feel guilty about when he left the Eastern Orthodox
priesthood and was disowned by his family for the blasphemous action. He
ran away and changed his name from Mikolas to Martin Stavoropolous and
wandered around aimlessly for years. The realization that he was gay only
added to his misery.

Martin's desire to free himself of his inner monster bordered on
obsession. He woke one night in a sweat, heart pounding after a nightmare
so frightening, it took him several minutes clinging to his lover Daniel to
calm down.The latest bout of anguish drove him to a monastery retreat for a
month of fasting and prayer. He was happy to be back and anticipated seeing
Daniel again despite lingering doubts.

He walked along a street with a light step. Nice was pleasant this time of
year. He hadn't felt this way since, well since William.When he died it
sent him into a long sliding depression. Then he met Daniel Conners and his
gloom was swept away. A breeze from the sea cooled the sweat on his
forehead as he turned a corner.

Daniel's house required a short hike up winding stairs, offering a stunning
view of the Mediterranean Sea from the top of the hill. It was private and
comfortable; hidden among a forest of trees with a garden on the verge of
chaos.

He raised his hand to knock on the front door when he noticed it was ajar
and the house was dark. Caution rose to alarm as he pushed the door open
and called out but there was no answer. He walked slowly down the short
hall to the grand foyer of the otherwise modest house.

"Daniel." he called again. The large double doors were closed and he could
see a ribbon of light at the threshold. Odd, he thought with alarm, those
doors are never closed. He opened one carefully.

He was hit with the overpowering scent of incense and something
rotting. The normally sterile white room with a black marble floor, was a
mass of blood red drapes, even the windows along one wall were
covered. Mounds of dark sand were piled around the perimeter. Candles
scattered around the room bathed everything in a soft glow. The oval shape
of the room added to the strange effect. In the center was a large bed with
a cast iron frame.

At the far end stood a naked figure with his back to him, looking in a
mirror above a small table. He ignored Martin as he continued to smooth his
hair with a hand. In the dim light Martin saw something hanging down from
his backside, it twitched and he realized it was a tail. The hair on his
neck rose in fear. The man turned around and he gasped, involuntarily
taking a step back in terror.

'Oh Jesus, oh no, tell me I'm hallucinating', he begged inwardly as he
stared at a daemon.  His skin was a mottled dark green and brown like an
over ripe pear. Perched high on his forehead were two small nubby
horns. The hair was dark and slicked back. The eyes were a leonine yellow
and unfamiliar as they bored into him. He looked like Daniel but it wasn't
the tall, slender man he knew.

He regarded Charybdis carefully. He didn't look exactly like Daniel. The
eyes were an unearthly gold whereas Daniel had sea blue eyes. The daemon
had hair like a drowned rat. Even though Daniel was only thirty-five, the
hair was receding at a rapid pace, leaving a sparse forest of hair the
color sunlit straw on the top of his head.

"Daniel what's going on here?" he asked, hoping this was a weird joke.

"There's no Daniel here." the daemon said in a flat tone.


Martin mentally retreated from the confusion of the moment as he remembered
when Daniel came to his photography studio three months ago. Martin
recognized him from a previous encounter but Daniel hadn't paid him much
attention then and why should he? Martin was a stout man with curly black
hair, lush beard, and dark eyes hidden behind thick glasses.

They got to chatting and found comfort in each other's company. Both had
lost their lover's and were running on automatic pilot- in shock
mostly. Daniel appreciated someone who spoke English as his French was
functional but rudimentary. Martin was well educated and spoke several
languages.

Martin had his unruly hair trimmed and switched to lightweight wire rims in
an attempt to look younger than forty two. He screwed up his courage to
personally deliver the matted and framed photo. Daniel was touched by the
gesture and once more they fell into easy conversation.

As they grew closer he was more affectionate with Daniel; it was not
unusual for European men to be demonstrative in public but their liaisons
were timid and clumsy like awkward teenagers unsure of themselves. Daniel
never backed away and encouraged him to take his time.

A loud grunt broke Martin's reverie and he continued to stare in shock at
the apparition before him. He came from a culture that believed such
creatures were quite real. A daemon could be an aspect of one's self; a
thought form created from within. To come face to face with one was beyond
anything Martin could imagine. He closed his eyes and willed the being
away. He crossed himself and called on every oath he had learned as a
priest. He heard a scornful laugh and his eyes opened to see the beast
still there.

"That's a nice gesture priest but it won't help you." he said, his voice
loaded with sarcasm. As he walked toward him, Martin glanced down to see
the daemon's erect penis jutting out like a third horn. He was frozen to
the spot as the dark creature grabbed his head with both hands and kissed
him violently on the lips.

"I am Charybdis, I know well who you are as I come at your bidding." he
continued to stare at Martin whose brows jumped in recognization.

Charybdis the "deadly whirlpool" and it's twin Scylla from Greek
mythology. Was he truly caught between a rock and a whirlpool of danger?

His breath caught in his throat as he looked around frantically. This was a
joke right? He waited for Daniel to burst into laughter and say "fooled
you." Perhaps he was still at the monastery and had entered into a
trance. Or was this a dream? He would wake up any minute and find myself in
his studio slumped over his worktable; stiff from sleeping in a chair. He
would scold himself because he would be late meeting Daniel on his first
night home. Martin was a stickler for punctuality.

"Lord Jesus what's happening to me?' Martin whispered. No sooner did the
words leave his lips when a stinging slap brought him to his senses.

"You wanted me here priest, don't call on your fucking God now." he
snarled, pointing a finger at him like a dagger. Martin turned and reached
for the door.

"Don't!" the daemon snapped and Martin stopped.

Martin stared at the man as slow comprehension came to him. Whatever this
was, dream, hallucination, nightmare, he had to confront the raging in his
soul this monster represented. The conflict at leaving the priesthood, his
homosexuality and all the complications it brought to his life. Martin
dropped his hand and turned to face the daemon squarely.

"Why are you here?"  he demanded.

"Because you summoned me."  he replied.

" I never-" then he remembered the night he woke from a nightmare. He had
created this hellish thing from his own doubts and desires. He suddenly
felt nausea.

"What do you want daemon?" he asked in resignation. A thin smirk of evil
developed across the creatures face. He casually strolled across the room
and picked up a goblet on the table. He took a sip as he contemplated an
answer.

"Your soul. " he said as if placing an order at a restaurant.

"Never. " Martin returned.

"Fine I'll take Daniel instead, I already have his body." he snorted at
some private joke as he brushed at his genitals.

"Monster, let him go." Martin said in sudden rage and took several steps
toward him.

" He's involved now that you gave his cock such pleasure. You brought this
on yourself, deal with it." the daemon rejoined and Martin stopped in his
tracks. He hung his head, resigned to the trap he stepped in.

Daniel was as much a part of this as Martin was of Daniel's life. Not a day
went by without him thinking of the blonde American; the softness of his
skin, his bright smile. He was the gentlest man he had ever met. How in
God's name did he become this thing?

"What do you want me to do?" Martin asked in a broken voice, looking at the
floor.

"Kneel down and kiss my feet." With some hesitation, Martin knelt and
kissed the bare feet. The skin was rough and smelled acrid. Charybdis
laughed and pushed him away roughly with a foot.

"Take your clothes off and stand at the end of the bed." he ordered. Martin
did as he was told, neatly folding them in a pile on a small chair near the
door.

"That will have to go too." he pointed to the heavy silver chain and cross
around Martin's neck. He placed a protective hand on it, unwilling to part
with the cherished object but the glare Charybdis gave him told him there
was no compromise. He reluctantly removed the cross and kissed it
respectfully before placing it on the pile of clothes. Charybdis made a
derisive sound at the gesture.

He stepped forward and removed Martin's glasses, placing them on the pile
and pointed to the bed. Martin grabbed hold of the horizontal footboard
while his hands were locked in place with leather cuffs on the end of a
chain welded to the legs. Martin tugged on the restraint anxiously. He
didn't like the vulnerable position and his face reddened in
humiliation. The daemon stood behind him and pressed his groin into
Martin's rear. He tried to move away but he was held tight around the
waist. Charybdis leaned forward and whispered in his ear.

"I know your mind priest. I will give you the pleasure you have denied
yourself. Here is the challenge." he stopped long enough as both heard a
church bell somewhere strike nine o'clock.

"I will drain you there three times before the night is over." he chuckled
self confidently. He rubbed Martin's groin for emphasis, causing his member
to stir.

Three times in one night? Martin was aghast. He was lucky if he could have
three orgasms in a week. He didn't think he was capable of such outpouring
but remembered his soul was at stake.

"And what will you take for the prize?" he knew the price but it needed to
be spoken aloud.

"Your soul and Daniel too." he snickered. Martin shook his head vigorously.

"No, leave him out of this, this is between you and me,." he said, his
anger rising.

God, what have I done? Martin agonized. He remembered the night when he
could not contain his lust any longer and took Daniel in his mouth. The
hard flesh of his manhood sent him into an ecstasy he never
experienced. Daniel looked a little unsettled afterwards and asked if
Martin was all right with what he'd done.

"I'm damned for being a homosexual anyway." he answered pathetically.

Although marginally religious, the Conners were earthy, pragmatic New
Englanders, Daniel nevertheless respected Martin's beliefs. There was a lot
about the orthodox religion Daniel didn't understand. He was mildly
surprised to learn that priests could marry or leave the priesthood, unlike
the starchy Catholics he grew up with in Boston.

Martin was a mystery to Daniel in many ways. He rarely volunteered
information so it took some prying by Daniel before Martin spoke of his
large close knit family and his travels after his break with the church.

The daemon held on tighter when he realized Martin was drifting. Martin did
not want Daniel caught in his web of guilt and stood up the challenge.

"No, you're dealing with me daemon, you can not forfeit his soul for my
sins. Here is my answer; if you are drained three times before me I will
command your soul. "

"Agreed." The daemon growled. He got off the heavy set man and lit six
pillar candles, three black and three white. He looked to Martin with evil
intent.

"Shall we begin?"