There was a storm raging outside and a tempest whirling inside my head. I just confronted an actual demon in the yard and fled into the house in terror.
My reaction was totally instinctive―I had never experienced such a loathsome creature and my flesh was still crawling. But understandable as my reaction was, I was torn between fear and shame.
I had heard Victoria’s frantic cries for help but abandoned her when she needed me most. I was profoundly shaken and terrified—I wanted more than anything to go back and rescue Victoria but my flesh rebelled.
I was so shocked by what I saw, I was totally immobilized. I literally couldn’t stand on my feet, let alone wage battle against a supernatural power that overwhelmed me with such menacing fury.
I was reduced to a heap on the floor, sobbing and bemoaning my powerlessness.
“Gray! Oh my God, are you all right?”
I raised my eyes and looked up at Victoria bending over me.
“What happened to you?” She asked frantically.
I couldn’t make sense of anything. I felt totally confused and dazed.
“Did you have a fall?’ She asked, “I’ll call an ambulance—I think you’re in shock.”
“No ambulance,” I gasped, “just help me to my feet.”
I could see she was unsure whether to move me, but she relented and struggled to help me up and steer me to the couch where I collapsed again, feeling disoriented and exhausted.
“Give me a minute to catch my breath,” I croaked.
She ran to the kitchen and poured me a glass of cold water and brought it to me.
“Drink this,” she urged, her features clouded with doubt ad concern.
“I was attacked,” I managed to gasp, “a demon lured me outside.”
“Why did you take such a risk?"
“I heard you calling me for help and I thought demons were attacking you.”
She threw her arms around me and Hugged me tight.
“That was reckless, but very brave—thank you, for trying. But you could have been
really hurt or even killed. Breton said we needed to work as a team.”
“I know,” I nodded, but that’s why I did it—I thought you were in trouble. I guess we’ll have to stay even closer together from now on.”
“Well, I’m not protesting that,” she smiled.
”I feel like a complete failure,” I moaned. “Here I was, thinking I was protecting you, and the Enemy was easily able to trick me.”
“I think you should phone Breton,” she urged, “and ask him for advice.”
“Good idea,” I nodded, reaching for my cell.
She put her hand over mine and looked at me compassionately.
“Don’t blame yourself,” she admonished. “Breton told us we’d be dealing with deceiving spirits who are also supernatural. He also told us there would be a learning curve.”
“Well, I think I got my first lesson,” I grinned ruefully, “but Thank God it turned out that you were all right.”
“We’re both all right,’ she whispered, leaning into me, “and as he told us, “if one can put a thousand demons to flight, two can repel ten thousand. We need only be in agreement and stand together in this fight.”
“I like those odds,” I laughed, kissing her and holding her tight.
