Page 35 of A Beginner's Guide to Demonic Possessions
Paz looked aggravated at that, but Cassius put his hands up in a non-threatening gesture and laughed. “Don’t yell at me, Pazuzu. You’ve lived in his head, so you know it’s true.”
“He is right,” Trent muttered. He knew himself well enough to know his shortcomings, although it was sweet that his demon wanted to defend him.
Rather than address that, however, Paz asked, “How did you know my true name?”
Ah, yeah, Trent hadn’t even thought of that. HowdidCassius know that?
“I know a great many things,” Cassius said mysteriously. “I know you’ve been summoned and you refused to go. I know that management will not let such a thing go unresolved, as well. There are forces working against you, but there are those that would see you succeed.”
“Could you be any more cryptic?” Trent mumbled.
“Mmm, probably,” Cassius said thoughtfully, but there was a mischievous look in his eyes. “Seers of old used to talk in riddles. Would you like it all in riddle form?”
“Fuck no,” Trent responded. Dammit, why couldn’t anything ever be easy?
Cassius laughed then. “I’m just messing with you guys. You really make a lovely couple, and I’m glad to see you two together. Of course I’ll help you out, although even without help I’m sure you would figure it out on your own. Eventually.”
Trent rolled his eyes at Cassius, but he felt Paz’s relief, and it mirrored his own.
“Alrighty, lovebirds. Have you noticed anything… odd? About the two of you? Together?” Cassius asked.
“Well, he’s a demon and I’m a human,” Trent replied.
Cassius rolled his eyes that time. “Yes, but how about something that isn’t quite so obvious?”
Paz hesitated, and then he said, “Well, Trent was the nicest human I ever possessed. And we’re in love.”
Cassius sighed in exasperation. “Yes, but beyond that…” and he trailed off, looking expectantly at them.
Trent looked at Paz, who was looking back at him, but neither of them seemed to know what Cassius was going for.
“Man, this is gonna be difficult,” Cassius mumbled. “Ok—anything abnormal between you two? Paz? You’ve possessed lots of people. Is there anything different about Trent?”
“He’s sweet?” Paz said unsurely.
“No, he really isn’t,” Cassius snapped. “He’s a grump.” Cassius was shaking his head exasperatedly, and Trent was getting just as annoyed.
“Can’t you just tell us?” Trent snapped.
“No, I cannot just tell you. If I could I would have. I have certain constraints when it comes to afterlife politics, and this one is pretty strict,” Cassius snapped back.
Before he was even done speaking, the door was flying open, and the large dark-skinned guy named Ari that Paz had recognized in the home goods store was walking in followed by the shorter guy, Mike.
“Thank goodness,” Cassius mumbled. He turned to the newcomer. “Ari! Mike! Lovely! So good to see you! You can come and sort these two out, yeah?”
“Dude, don’t think you’ve ever told me it was lovely to see me!” Ari jokingly replied.
They came over to the table, Ari grabbed a chair and sat, and then he pulled Mike into his lap, smiling all the while. Cassius turned to go, but before he did, he reached over and did something to Paz, and Trent felt that pull in his chest again.
“Hey! Knock it off! That hurts!” Trent cried out, covering his chest. Cassius looked smug, but Mike and Ari were looking at them closely.
“I have coffee to make. Ari and Mike will handle this from here. Congratulations! Come visit often, but you aren’t getting free coffee and sweets. I am running a business, you know. And I love my job, because if I didn’t, I woulddefinitely quit,” Cassius said, emphasizing the last words before he walked back behind the counter and took over taking orders.
Trent looked at Mike and Ari, who were both still staring at them, but they were also smiling.
“I’m Mike, and this is Ari, and we met in the home goods store, although I think you weren’t you,” Mike said.
“Yeah, I was there, though,” Trent replied. “This is Paz, and he was me,” he said, gesturing to his demon.
