Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:50:18 -0500
From: amcterrapin@netscape.net
Subject: The Daemon Inside Part 5: Epilogue

By AMc Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. 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.

This story is not intended as an attack on the church or anyone's personal
beliefs. The author would appreicate any feedback to continue posting.


Epilogue part 5


Martin woke slowly to find himself surrounded in whiteness. A movement
caught his eye, and turning his head he saw a sheer curtain billowing at an
open window. The room was stark with bare white walls and no furniture
except for the bed he lay on and a side table. When his confusion cleared
he recognized his own room.

 Images of the blotchy green daemon with yellow eyes tumbled through his
mind. Did he really spend a night in the possession of a sexual devil? Or
was it just a dream brought on by too much meditation and deprivation at
the retreat? He was ready to dismiss it as a lurid dream when he pulled the
sheet back to discover his pubic hair was shorn and he felt discomfort in
his posterior.

In seconds he went from horror to shock to exhilaration. He never felt so
alive in his life. Everything was sharp and vivid as he glanced about. He
inhaled the scent of lavender coming in on the breeze and noticed the
texture of the wood floor with amazed delight.

He felt the way he did the first time he had proper glasses. For years he
had poorly fitted ones until William insisted he get his eyes examined and
was stunned at how clear everything was with the right prescription. Only
this time it was his mind that was focused properly. He sat up and
retrieved his glasses from the night stand. An immense smothering weight
lifted from him. He was FREE and like the blind man cured by Jesus, the
darkness of sin was washed away and he could see life with new eyes.

In a daze he rose and walked to the bathroom. He gazed at his reflection in
the mirror with wonder. There was a glow about him he never noticed
before. He put a hand to his beard. What he always regarded as a symbol of
strength and wisdom seemed meaningless. It had to go along with the rest of
his old life burned away in the white light of epiphany.

He dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a blue silk shirt Daniel had given
him.  He left the house and was startled when he glanced at a clock to see
it was twelve thirty. A notoriously early riser, he had never slept so late
in his life. He stopped by a barber shop since he didn't trust himself to
shave without cutting his face in the attempt.

He proceeded to Daniel's house and went to the side door leading to the
kitchen. He knocked and heard a response to enter. Daniel was sitting at a
table nursing a cup of coffee, absorbed with the morning paper spread out
before him. He looked up at Martin's entrance and greeted him
warmly. Martin leaned down and kissed him affectionately on the lips.

"Thank you Daniel." he said with gratitude. Daniel frowned.

"For what?"

"For last night." Martin replied, his tone meaning for everything. Daniel
just stared at him.

"Last night? Oh damn we were supposed to meet weren't we? I'm sorry, I was
so tired from work I fell right to bed and slept like a dead man." he
replied apologetically.

Martin was confused.  Why was Daniel pretending last night never happened?
He looked closely at Daniel's forehead for any remnants of horns but there
wasn't a mark on him. He touched the thin hair on top gingerly. In
response, Daniel reached out and playfully twisted a lock of Martin's curly
hair around a finger.

"Hey you shaved your beard." he said excitedly his brows jumping in
delight. That was not a response that's easily faked, he seemed genuinely
surprised, Martin thought, still puzzled by the continued denial.

"I like it, it makes you look sexy, but then I have a thing for dark
skinned, beardless men." Like his old lover Ahbrad who was part Turk, part
Indian. Martin thought the comparison interesting.

" I hardly resemble a Turk." he said with mock umbrage, referring to the
ancient rivalry between the Greeks and Turks. Daniel gave him his patented
lopsided smile and laughed, getting the joke. Martin got a cup of coffee
and joined Daniel at the table. He glanced at the date on the paper and
with a shock saw it was Sunday. He had slept a whole day.

"Oh no, I missed morning service."  Martin never missed Sunday mass.

"That's all right you can go to the evening one." Daniel assured him off
handedly. Martin had a sudden impulse.

"Will you come with me?" he asked.

"Sure." Daniel replied as if he had nothing better to do. Martin was taken
aback by his reply as he had never shown any inclination in the past.
Daniel seemed uninterested in religion or rituals of any type.

It gave him something to think about as they made their way to the Greek
Orthodox church later that day. They quietly entered the small ornate
building tucked among the hills surrounding Nice. Martin liked the place
despite the distance to travel. He knew the pastor, an understanding and
tolerant man who was glad to have someone he could confide in about the
life of a priest. Father Milos lead the mystery with a strong voice that
carried over the heads of the small, older congregation crowded in the
nave. Daniel and Martin stood, as custom, wearing dark suits. There was no
causal attire in a church Martin insisted.

Daniel watched the proceeding in a mixture of fascination and confusion.
Martin would lean over and explain the liturgy and he would nod in mild
comprehension; there was enough novelty to hold his attention. After too
long standing, the mass ended and people wandered out.

"What did you think?" Martin asked Daniel.

"It was interesting." he said sincerely. Martin wanted to embrace Daniel
but it was not the proper place.

"Wait outside, there's something I need to do. " Martin said. Daniel gave
him a nod and wandered out side. Martin walked over to the wall covered
with icons and looked at a small picture depicting a mournful, emaciated
Christ. he crossed himself and gazed at the image reverently.

"Thank you Lord for sending Charybdis and thank you for giving me Daniel."
A tear slid down his face and after a moment to compose himself, he walked
out into the sun to join Daniel for lunch.