Nydia stood firm as new faith filled her. 'Yes, Janet. I would be lying if I said that for a time I didn't enjoy this afternoon.'
'I'm certain it was very—ah—fulfilling,' the teenager said with a smirk.
Nydia wanted to reach up and slap the girl. She controlled that urge and said calmly, 'I don't believe we'll be needing your services any longer, Janet.'
'Oh, my!' the teenager feigned great disappointment and alarm. 'I must have done something to displease you, Miss Nydia.'
Within the house, Janet's parents began laughing, the laughter ugly.
Deep color touched Nydia's face. She lost her temper. 'You lying, deceitful, goddamned sorry little bitch!' she hissed at the girl.
Janet's eyes grew dark with uncontrolled evil. The wickedness lanced out at Nydia, touching her. The woman wanted to run but found strength within her to face the depravity leaping at her.
Janet licked her lips, running her tongue over her teeth. 'This is not the end, Nydia. This is but the beginning. We will have other encounters, you and I. Some will be pleasant, others not so pleasant. I do not question my Master's actions. What is done is done. My Master and your Master have been playing this game for longer than time itself. I will admit that I do not know all the rules. But this time my Master feels the victory will be ours. Else he would not have changed the game plan. Personally, I would have kept you and Sam under our control, stumbling about in confusion, making fools of yourselves, and providing us some amusement. But I am not as smart as the Master. I do not know all or see all. So I do not know why my Master returned your clarity.' She shrugged. 'I am sure my Master's way is the best way. Goodbye, Nydia. Take your—child home and care for him.' She laughed. 'And be prepared for many surprises.' She turned and walked back into the house.
Nydia stood for a moment, looking at the closed door. She could feel the evil emanating from the house, along with the odor of unwashed bodies. She walked slowly back to her car. She and Sam had a lot of talking to do; a lot of understanding to reach. A lot of planning ahead of them.
She hoped they would be strong enough to face what lay before them. She thought they would. She felt their love for each other would help greatly.
Sam was waiting on the porch of their house. She got out of the car and stood for a moment with Little Sam in her arms. She stood silently looking at the tall, muscular young man on the porch, returning the silent look. She initiated the first move toward understanding.
She walked toward him.
'We were tricked,' Sam said. 'Satan had both of us in his grasp. It isn't any excuse for what we did; we should have called on our faith to sustain us. But,' he said with a shrug, 'we can't undo what was done. We can put it behind us and look ahead.'
'You know about Janet?'
'Yes. I just put it all together. It came in such a rush it was staggering.'
'For me, too. Sam, I don't believe Desiree Lemieux is one of them.'
'I think that way, too. But the child of the Dark One—my child, is near. I can sense the presence.'
'But who could it be?'
'I don't know. It may be another of Satan's tricks. But I don't think so.'
'No. I don't either.' She smiled. 'Sam, I hate to tell you this. But you stink.'
'Tell me. The devil pissed on me. I'll tell you all about it later.'
'Gross!'
'Piss and gross,' Little Sam said.
The young couple began laughing. Nydia climbed the steps to the porch and kissed her husband.
'We're going to make it, Sam. I—won't say it's going to be easy. 1 think we are both going to be tempted over and over again. Probably rougher than we've experienced so far. But I know I love you and you love me, and we both love God. If we can keep that in our minds and hearts at all times, we can make it through this.'
'Yes,' Sam agreed. 'And we're going to have to work at it. You want to take a bath first? I'll watch Little Sam.'
'Sam—as badly as I crave a long hot soak, please be my guest. And go before the wind changes.
Laughing in the face of Satan, the young couple and their son entered the house. They had renewed their faith, their love for each other, and for God. They felt they could now face the upcoming horror with all that in their favor.
The door closed behind them.
In the orchard beside the stone house, a Beast stuck its ugly head out of the ground. The Beast was confused. It sensed something it did not like. The house beside the old orchard now contained two people whose love of its Master's enemy overrode their fear. The Beast was uncomfortable with that. He would tell the others about the people, and they would try to avoid contact.
'You see,' the thunder rolled across the firmament, 'faith is still strong among some.'
'Umm,' the warrior replied. He was not yet convinced his help was not needed.
'I think,' the thunder rumbled, 'the Arrogant One has just made the mistake that will defeat him. If the small group can endure what is in store for them.'
'In Logandale,' the warrior amended that.
