Daniel didn’t talk much to Raymond over the next few days. They still went to church, still delivered sermons, and still saw each other in passing. But they hardly spoke a word, and never had any contact outside of church.

The young priest spent much of his free time pouring over strange old texts he’d picked up from the library and used bookstore, or reading articles he’d found online. He wasn’t sure which, if any, of these texts were authored by reputable sources, but it didn’t matter. None of them said anything about how to vanquish a demon.

He stayed in the basement of the church most of the time, sorting old boxes and sulking. He preferred to do this alone, but he was usually joined by Father Nestor. Nestor wasn’t exactly the friendliest fellow.

“You should get a haircut,” Nestor said one night, as he was moving a box of old rosary beads.

Daniel didn’t say anything. He was reading an ebook about the occult on his phone.

“You hear what I said?”

“What?” Daniel looked up.

“Oh God.” Nestor rolled his eyes, and turned away.

“Nestor, I’m sorry.” Daniel pocketed his phone, and stood up.

“You know, you should learn to pay attention when people are talking to you.”

“Nestor-”

“And stop calling me Nestor!”

“Yes Father.”

Nestor shook his head. “You’re a good kid Daniel, but you need to learn to respect your elders. This is not very becoming of a young priest.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s better.” Nestor pat Daniel on the shoulder. He then sighed. “It’s not wholly your fault. You’ve spent too much time with that peculiar friend of ours.”

“Raymond’s a good man. He means well.”

“And the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Nestor shook his head. “Sometimes I don’t think he takes this that seriously. He lets in all these gays, and other weirdoes. And he treats his sermons like stand-up, makes the congregation laugh and sing. That type of thing might be permissible in one of those black churches, but we try to be more solemn here.”

“Yep.” Daniel nodded, not really sure what to say.

“The church is a holy place. And the worship of our lord must be taken seriously. For if we dare veer from that righteous path…I don’t even want to think about it.”

“I understand sir.”

“I hope so.” Nestor nodded solemnly.

“What were you saying earlier while I was on my phone?”

“You need a haircut. The one you have now makes you look like a fag.”

***

One Sunday morning, Raymond was late to the morning mass. Daniel and Nestor were standing by the entrance to the church, greeting people as they came inside.

“I’ve tried calling and texting him, and he doesn’t respond.” Daniel said. The image of the demon’s all-white eyes kept flashing in his mind.

“Probably decided to sleep in late,” Nestor said. “He has often spoken about the importance of rest and relaxation.” Nestor shook his head. “If he wanted to help people relax, he should’ve opened a spa. But it’s no worry. I’ve prepared a backup sermon.”

Nestor began to excitedly pull a folded-up piece of paper from his pocket, when the side door to the church opened, and Raymond entered.

“Ah nuts,” Nestor said, stuffing the paper back into his pocket.

“Sorry I’m late.” Raymond quickly moved past them, as he made his way toward the pulpit. Nestor and Daniel took their seats in the back. Daniel kept staring at Raymond. His old mentor was limping up the aisle.

Raymond reached the pulpit and turned to face his congregation. “God works in mysterious ways, and today he thought it’d be funny if old Father Raymond was late. Our creator is many things, and a jokester is certainly one of them.”

The crowd gave off a small chuckle. Nestor folded his arms as Raymond began his sermon. Daniel wasn’t listening. All his attention was on the bloody bandage sitting on Raymond’s forehead.

***

Raymond finished the sermon, and Daniel asked if he wanted to have a cup of coffee. They went to the back office of the church.

“How do you like your coffee Father?” Daniel asked.

“Sweet and creamy, like me.” Raymond said, a devilish smile on his face.

Daniel nodded as he opened the sugar packets. He tried to keep his eyes from the bandage. “How is our…friend?”

“Patrick is doing wonderful,” Raymond said. “He’s been reading all the books I’ve given him, and he has even taken an interest in joining the priesthood. And he plays a mean game of checkers.”

“You haven’t had any problems with him?”

“No.”

Daniel looked up at Raymond, and stared directly at him. “None whatsoever?”

“Daniel,” Raymond said sternly. “If you have something to say, then say it.”

“Did Patrick hurt you?”

“Daniel, what happens between me and a member of my congregation is no one else’s business.”

“Unless it’s something wholesome and cute like when you and Patrick play checkers, is that right?”

“You’re a priest. You know better than most, that the private matters of a person’s life are complicated; there is a reason why we are forbidden to disclose the contents of a person’s confession.”

“When Patrick hurt your leg, and gave you a gash on your head, did he confess that?”

“That is a cruel and unfair question. You are denying a person their fundamental right to seek forgiveness before the lord!”

“So he did hurt you?”

“Yes.”

Daniel’s blood went cold.

“It was an accident, and he said he was sorry.”

“And I’m sure a rabid dog is sorry when it bites someone.” Daniel sneered.

“He lifted me up to give me a hug, and dropped me by accident.”

“He gave you a hug?”

“He’s very affectionate.”

“Well, whatever he is, he’s still a demon. We can’t trust anything he does. It might be a trick.”

“You’re overacting.”

“He’s a demon! You literally pulled him out from the depths of Hell!”

“You don’t understand. If you’d only spent a few minutes with him, you’d see how wrong you are.”

“I have met him.”

Raymond paused. Then he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Daniel asked.

“You didn’t meet him. You saw him for five seconds and fainted. You haven’t spoken a single word to him.”

Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

“If you’re really so concerned about all this, then come back to my house and see for yourself.”

Daniel’s face went pale.

Raymond smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. “There is nothing to worry about. And besides I’ll be there.”

Daniel looked down at the floor. His mind filled with images of that hideous creature. He could see it roaring, beating its chest like a gorilla.

“Just come for a few minutes. You’ll see that it’s alright.”

“And what if it isn’t?”

“Have faith that it will be.”