Love conquered the Dark One's force. The voice and the scenes began dissolving, breaking apart. The voice tapered off into an evil hissing; an angry dark snake, uncoiling and sliding away into the slime that is its home.
Nydia released her grip on Sam's hand. The young couple looked at each other. They were smiling. Nydia said, 'We beat it, Sam. We proved we can beat it.'
'Love,' he said. 'The Dark One cannot defeat love. The emotion is disgusting to him.' He helped her to her feet. 'Come on. Let's go help Father Le Moyne.'
'I chose your place because it's away from town and because of the faith I felt when I drew near it,' Father Le Moyne explained. 'And for other reasons: an exorcism can be very unnerving, and very loud.'
The priest looked at Jeanne. She snarled at him. 'Mother-fucker!' she hissed.
Father Le Moyne glanced at Joe and Mille. Joe's worst fears had become reality. He was about to take part in this spook stuff. He shuddered.
The priest said, 'Mille, would you please bathe the child and dress her in a white gown. Then you and Joe secure her to a bed. Tightly.'
Joe and Mille literally dragged the screaming, profane, protesting teenager to a bathroom.
'You're going to have to help me bathe her, Joe,' Mille told the man.
'I ain't helpin' bathe no full-growed girl!'
'Get your skinny butt in here!' Mille shouted.
'Lordy, Lordy!' Joe muttered.
'Yeah, come on in, Joe,' Jeanne called. 'I'll let you finger-fuck me.'
'That settles it!' Joe said. 'I ain't about to come in there with ya'll.'
'I'll help her,' Nydia said. 'You people put clean sheets on the bed in there,' she said pointing.
Mille and Nydia ripped the dirty blouse and jeans from the teenager and bodily tossed her into the shower, along with a bar of soap.
'Scrub it clean, sister!' Mille told her. 'Don't make me have to come in there and do it. 'Cause I'll find a scrub brush and peel the hide off of you.'
'Goddamn slut!' Jeanne cursed. She then smiled an evil grimace as she felt help on its way. The force entered the bathroom. Jeanne showered quickly and then faced the two women. 'You wash me,' she said to her sister and Nydia. 'Both of you.'
The force was stronger than ever before. The two women could do nothing except obey.
Mille and Nydia were in the stall with the teenager. They could not recall taking off their clothes. They could not recall stepping into the large stall. Jeanne fondled Nydia's breasts. She ran her hand over Nydia's belly and dipped downward to caress her.
'No!' Nydia screamed. She slapped the girl, knocking her down in the slippery shower stall.
Nydia pulled Mille from the shower and slapped the woman. She dressed, all the while concentrating on her love for God. 'Think of God,' she told Mille. 'Think only of God.'
The combined thoughts of pure good was too much for the force. With an evil hiss, it was gone.
'That was too close for comfort,' Mille said. 'Thank you, Nydia.'
'It will get worse, don't ever believe otherwise. But to fight it, think of love and the Lord.'
'Almost got you both that time,' Jeanne said. 'We'll get you yet.'
Nydia tossed the girl a white gown. 'Dress!' she said curtly.
They then, with Joe's help, dragged the teenager into a bedroom and tied her down. They joined the others in the den.
'I don't know if this will work,' Father Le Moyne said with a long sigh. 'I have already violated the first rule by not consulting the bishop. The Rituale Romanum is quite clear on that matter. But, perhaps in this case—' He shrugged. 'Of the twenty-one heads prefixed in the rite of Rituale, I can safely say I meet most of them. I have not fasted, nor have I lived a blameless life. I can but hope that will be overlooked. I chose not to perform the exorcism in a church for reasons of my own.
'You people—all of you—will act as my witnesses. 1 cannot allow the Blessed Sacrament near the girl; but I have my crucifix and holy water. I am going into Little Sam's bedroom for a few moments of prayer. Please do not disturb me. When I come out, we must begin immediately.'
Father Le Moyne walked softly down the carpeted hall and entered the bedroom. He closed the door behind him.
'Lordy, Lordy!' Joe said. 'What in the world is a good Methodist doin' in this mess?'
The quartet walked into the bedroom where Jeanne lay tied, hands to the headboard posts, feet secured to the base of the bed. She was dressed in a white gown of Nydia's. The gown was much too large for the young girl, and she looked pathetic lying on the bed.
Until she opened her mouth.
'Goddamnmotherfuckingcockeatingpussylappingshitfacedassholesuckingbastards!' she shouted, the filth rolling from her mouth in waves.
Only Joe had anything to say about that outburst.
'Lordy, Lordy!'
