Pools of tears filled her eyes as thoughts of Poisonous filled her mind, but happiness overflowed from her heart in a bittersweet way. “If Poisonous has found happiness, then I want it too. I won’t give up until I find it for myself. It’s just too powerful to ignore.”
Shane sat at his booth, deep in thought. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she screwed up enough courage to talk to him. Well, here goes.
“Hi Shane. May I talk to you?”
He looked up, puzzled, “Do I know you?”
“Well…no, but you know a friend of mine, Evie Chen.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, have a seat. I need a break from my thoughts, anyway.”
“Thanks.” She sat down across the table from him, steeled herself and began. “Shane, my name is Veronica. You don’t know me, but I know you very well. In fact I’ve known you since you were a young boy of twelve.” She let that sink in. His body remained still, and the blank look on his face told her that she was not succeeding. Hoping he might have a clue as to who she might be, she steeled herself, and waited.
“I’m sorry; have we met before?” he finally asked.
“No. You would never have physically seen me before. You would only have heard me in your mind.”
Shane stared at her, wide eyed. She grimaced.
“What? Did I hear you correctly? How do you speak to me in my mind? Are you some kind of psychic or something?”
VD looked deep into his eyes. “I have spoken to you that way because I’m a... ” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m a dark spirit…a ‘demon’ as you would say.”
Shane looked at her; his eyebrows furrowed and his head shook. Her heart beat faster within her chest, and her palms started to sweat. She had to convince him that she was real, and that he was not losing his mind.
“Who are you really?” he asked.
Not wanting anyone to hear the ugly parts of her life, she spoke softly again.
“First, no, you’re not under the influence of some bad hallucinogenic drugs. I’m known as Virtue Destroyer.”
“What? Wait…did I hear you right? Look, I don’t know about your kind, but I just want you to leave me alone: you and your friends.”
“I’m here on my own. I’m not here to torment you as I have in the past.
Shane shook his head. “This is just too fantastic to be real. You’re trying to tell me that I’m talking to a—”
Again, quietly, “Demon. Yes, Shane, I’m a demon, but I’m not here to torment you. Please believe me.”
“O-k-a-a-a-ay,” he said slowly. “You don’t look like one. You look like an attractive girl. But what do you want with me?”
She gave him a warm smile. “I know it’s hard to believe that someone like me really exists, and would even be talking to you, but I am what I say I am. All I want to do is to talk to you. I need some answers to questions that I believe you are also seeking. Since you’re doing the same, I figured we might...well...compare notes.”
Shane still looked at her, shaking his head.
“I didn’t expect you to believe me right away, so let me prove it to you.” All the events in Shane’s life that had drawn him into his lifestyle of promiscuity, from reading that first girlie magazine, to Gracie, were laid out on the table. She even recounted his recent encounter with Jennifer.
“You know about Gracie?” he asked, eyes wide open in disbelief.
“Yes, my old partner and I were both there when that happened. In fact, Evie is my old partner’s roommate. Evie has given her heart to…” What do you humans call Him? “... um... Jesus Christ. She’s much different than she used to be. I guess what started all of this was when Perri—who is a demon named Poisonous—came here to torment humans”
“Perri? I know a Perri. She and I have had meaningless sex together, but I still don’t understand. You’re saying she’s a demon? That’s too fantastic to believe; she didn’t act like a demon to me. At least I didn’t notice it.” He paused. “But what exactly does all of this have to do with me anyway?”
She figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Give me wisdom, Lamb of God. “You see, Shane, I’ve watched you a lot lately, especially in the last three days. You and I are both reconsidering many things. You’re searching for answers, and so am I. I know my heart has always been dark, but I want to change. Perri is…well, she’s happy, and, I want that for me. Since you seem to be unable to figure things out right now, I figured talking about it might answer some questions for both of us. Besides, misery loves company, right?” The irony of her words made her roar with laughter. “Oh, my…it’s all so crazy…”
Shane smiled, and relaxed his body, then laughed as well, which bode better for the conversation. “I must admit: you have a point there. Ever since Gracie walked out on me, things have not been the same. I realize now that I really cared for her, and it has been bothering me ever since. I just can’t settle for meaningless relationships and living from one thrill to the next anymore.” Shane stopped, and stared at her. “You really saw me through all those wild and wooly times I’ve lived through?” He laughed again.
She didn’t laugh with him. Her heart ached even more, and she felt tears falling down her face. “Shane, you must believe me when I tell you: I’m truly sorry for all Poisonous — who you
