Page 25 of Dead Evil
“Sounds like a wonderful life, Maria, but you wouldn’t be here asking for our help if the picture was as rosy as you’re painting it. Tell me why you’re here.”
“Over the last year, I find that I’m filled with rage. It comes on over nothing. I scream, throw things, and I’ve hurt my husband.”
“Physically?” Duke asked, sounding appalled.
Maria hung her head and nodded. “I’ve never been angry like this before. I’ve managed not to let these feelings spill over at work with my patients, but I can feel myself losing the battle. There are times when I don’t feel like I’m in charge of my body. I’ll do and say things that are totally out of character and I can’t stop. It’s like someone or somethingelse is in control.”
Duke nodded solemnly as Maria spoke. “What you’ve described are the hallmark symptoms of demon possession, but all is not lost. We’re going to change your life, Maria, but only if you believe. Do you believe in the glorious good power of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior?”
“I do,” Maria agreed.
“I didn’t hear that, Maria. Do you believe you are about to be delivered of this demon and set free?”
“I DO!” Marie shouted.
“Very good. Very,verygood.” Duke turned from Maria and stepped to the front of the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Duke began, a hand over his heart, “what you are about to witness may not be suitable for children or those with weak nerves. If you feel that you cannot handle the glorious power of Jesus Christ, this is your opportunity to leave the auditorium.”
No one moved. Ten remembered seeing Duke Barrymore onstage with Levi Shackleton all those years ago. The warning speech he’d given that night was identical to the one he’d heard back then. He couldn’t help but feel this was nothing more than scripted drama.
Duke raised both hands to the sky. “I call upon you, Jesus Christ. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Grant me the power to heal our sister, Maria. Allow me to absolve her of her sins! Use my body as your lightning rod! In your all-powerful and exalted name, I pray!” Setting a hand on Maria’s shoulder, Duke began to speak, softly at first, then growing in volume and intensity.
The proceedings were all déjà vu for Tennyson. He’d seen this dog and pony show before and didn’t need his gift to predict what was going to happen next. More prayers. Maria flopping on the stage like a fish out of water with Barrymore claiming victoryover the demon. He turned to Ronan and saw his husband was entranced by what was happening. Looking to his right, he saw Everly, Wolf, Jude and Cope were equally caught up in the spectacle. He turned his attention back to Barrymore, who was riled up in a frenzy of prayer.
“In the name of Jesus, I banish thee, demon! I revoke any hexes and curses you’ve cast upon our sister! No longer will your black aura cause this woman to sin! No longer will she rage at her family or strike her husband! I beg for your protection, Jesus! Wrap your loving arms around this woman and welcome her into the kingdom of heaven! In the name of the Holy Spirit, I cast you back to the fiery pits of Hell from whence you came!”
As Duke shouted, the crowd grew louder and louder, urging the demon to be gone. They were joined by Dwight and Cantor adding their voices to the din, shouting their praises to God’s holy name. Ten’s body buzzed with the same energy he’d felt all those years ago in the sweltering tent in Kansas City. He wasn’t sure if Maria was possessed by a demon or was simply a woman who had too much on her crowded plate. He tried to reach out with his gift, but with the energy level in the room spiking and so many people shouting ‘Amen,’ and praising Jesus, Ten wasn’t able to get a read on Maria or Barrymore. He turned his attention back to the stage in time to see the real show start.
Maria’s body jerked, as if she’d been struck by lightning. She began spewing nonsensical words, mingled in with her own cries for deliverance. The alleged demon fought back with a series of growls. Maria collapsed to the floor, where she began flopping around in earnest. The frenzied crowd began to chant Maria’s name, as if they were offering the woman their own strength to fight her affliction. After several more minutes with Duke shouting for the demon to be gone, the voices stopped and Marialay still. The auditorium was dead silent. Everyone waited to see if the battle had been won.
“Are you okay, Sister Maria?” Duke asked, his eyes on the crowd.
“I’m not sure,” she said, sounding as if she were in a daze.
Cantor and Dwight came to her side and helped Maria back to her feet. Both men held her elbows as she regained her balance.
“How do you feel, sister?” Cantor asked, excitedly.
“I feel lighter,” Maria said, sounding astonished. “It’s gone. It’s really gone. I feel like my old self again!”
“Let’s hear it for the power of our glorious God!” Duke raised his hands to the heavens, as the crowd burst into applause.” Cantor walked Maria back to the security guard who had escorted her to the stage. The man led her out of the auditorium.
“What did you all think of that?” Duke asked. “I felt the power of the Lord, did you?”
The crowd cheered. Ten noticed Ronan, Jude, and Wolf clapping. Everly and Cope both looked gobsmacked. He wanted to ask Everly how she felt or if she thought it was real, but Duke began shouting again.
“Silence, everyone. I need your complete silence.” Duke walked to the front of the stage and stood silently, waiting for the crowd to quiet down. “What you just witnessed was an honest-to-God miracle. God is good!”
The crowd erupted again. Ten couldn’t help but think everyone was going to wake up hoarse in the morning, sounding like they were all two pack a day smokers.
“If you thought Sister Maria’s deliverance was miraculous, wait until you see what I have coming up next.” Duke paced thestage silently for a few seconds. “Dallas Demonologists has never attempted what we’re about to do. If we succeed this is going to be ground-breaking and historical. Before we begin, I’d like to bring out a special friend. A man who truly has God’s ear. When this man speaks, God, Himself, listens. Join me in welcoming Pastor Levi Shackleton from megachurch, King of Deliverance.”
The crowd went wild. People shouted his name, others shouted their praise to Jesus. For Tennyson, it was a world gone mad. He was sitting in an auditorium in the Witch City, which was filled with witches, magicians, psychics, mediums, and the like, not to mention a robust gay community. Everyone in the room, with the exception of Ten and his friends, were cheering for a man who disdained them all. What the hell was happening?
“This isn’t good,” Everly whispered in Ten’s ear. She wore a worried look on her face.
Ten wanted to grab his daughter and run out of the room. He’d run all the way home if he had too. “I agree. Let me know if you need to leave.”
“I will.” Everly looked around the room. “What is wrong with everyone? They’re acting like Jesus zombies or something.”
