On the night before his ascension, the daemon Diotus appeared in a back alley bar, not too keen on business. The barkeep polished glasses, while his sole bar maid was being harassed by two hicks. The only two other patrons were the gentleman enjoying his newspaper and the subject of interest, Brian Miles. In his early thirties, with a receding hairline and worry marks too many for his age, Brian Miles looked more miserable than any human had a right to. Recently, he had lost his wife along with his dignity to a younger man and whose only company since was the glass of whiskey in his hand. This was the human the millennia-old daemon had chosen to host his final possession.
His companion and youngling, Mira who appeared beside him, could not fathom why he would choose such a deprived human for a sex possession. She looked at the human with vile derision.
"If this isn't a crude lesson on human psyche then your humour has failed to amuse me." She said to Diotus. Even skimming through the human's thoughts the previous night was an unpleasant task for her. The man exuded so much misery and hopelessness, that the thought of feeding off him made her want to return to the netherworld and never come back. Alas, her mentor was too enthralled to mind her disgust with the whole thought. "You have got to be kidding me!"
Diotus looked upon his companion with affection. If he were human, this would have been the opportune time to smile upon her. He was quite fond of her. Of all the daemons he mentored, he hoped she would prolong her existence as he had done.
"I would not joke on the last night in this world." He said. She figured he wouldn't. His sense of humour was equivalent to that of a rock and his taste for food was even worse. She tried a different approach, changing her expression from a disgusted little girl to that of a seductive vixen.
"Forget Brian miles! I know where we can find some lovers who don't mind getting kinky and not in the good way." The lilting words were laced with her potence and a far lesser daemon would have leaped at the opportunity. Her long nails caressed his grey stone chest, running small circles around his nipples. Although daemons being creatures of corporal desire, they lack the appendages to mate, merely because no daemon is ever born. They just descended from a higher existence. This and Diotus's age kept him from succumbing to the young temptress.
"To be drunk on human emotion is one thing Mira, but drowning in them spells doom for a daemon." He warned her. Soon after, her hands were off his naked body.
"You are no fun at all!" And the little girl returned. "I should find a more willing mentor once you are dead." The unceremonious statement startled Diotus, so much so that he stood there blankly without a word. Death was not a concept daemons were aware of. It was of mortal flesh and blood and the few daemons who dared to have ventured down that path were now cautionary tales. To compare death to his ascension, where his essence would stay intact was frightening even to the ancient daemon. Mira noticed his shock and responded appropriately or more like inappropriately.
"Fine! My loins won't ever dream of another daemon, if you promise to fill them tonight." Her blatant attempts were no mere tomfoolery; she desired him in a very earthly manner and she wouldn't stop trying till the last hour.
"I do not have any hold over you Mira. You are free to choose any mentor and do as you please." However, he did have a hold on her and it was driving her crazy.
"See! No fun at all." She pouted. "If you are so adamant on continuing, I might as well help." With a sultry gleam in her eyes, Mira did what she does best; she entered the bar maid's body. Oblivious to everyone except Diotus, the change in the woman was instantaneous. A slight perspiration coated her skin making it glow, ridding them of any marks. Her posture lost any signs of fatigue for a woman working this late. There was an extra pound to her stride. The confidence she exuded, carrying the round of drinks was that of a runway model. When it was over, she was a much different woman and the humans started to notice. Mira returned wearing a very human smile.
"28, single mother and the only sex she'd had in the past six months was with her rubber toy."
"What did you do to her?" He knew exactly what she did to her but he wanted to hear it from the daemon's own mouth.
"We exchanged phone numbers... What do you think?" Her sarcasm wasn't well received. "Don't worry Diotus. One way or other, tonight that woman will have a man in her bed; may it be stranger on the road or Brian miles. We both know who is more likely."
"Haven't I thought you anything till now? You never possess a human completely!" Diotus knew all too well what becomes of the human and the daemon when that line is crossed.
"What you have taught me is how to feed without devouring and what I have learned is there is no better way than to devour. You don't have to worry about me or my meals." She was right. He had neither the time nor the energy to worry about her. Not anymore. Her path was for her own to choose. All he could do is wish her luck and life.
"Speaking of meals; I have to find one or maybe two for myself tonight." She placed her hand on his chest, silencing anything he had to say. "I hope beyond hope that I see you again, even if it's a fool's hope." She leaned in to touch her lips on his. A human kiss has so many meanings: love, joy, passion, pain, longing, good-bye. Diotus felt none of these, not because he lacked human sensitivity but because he was physically insensitive. His body wasn't built to understand the slight nuances of a kiss and before he could arrive to a reasonable conclusion, Mira was gone, vanished into the night taking with her his final agape and reason for existence.
He turned his thoughts to the task at hand: Brian miles. He approached him from behind and laid his hands on his shoulders. Brian did not feel the daemon's touch. He was wondering if this glass of drink would loosen the noose around his chest. For the past six months, he had spent every night in this bar drinking, trying to rid himself of the image of his wife screwing her young lover but when morning came he woke up with the same burning image with the added bonus of a massive hangover.
Mira was right; it was downright horrible to be in the man's head. He ran through the same possibilities repeatedly, blaming himself for all the likely mistakes he made. He almost decided that it would have been better if he hadn't caught them, that denial was better than the truth.
Diotus withdrew his hands. He wanted to steer the man away from this asinine line of thought and Mira had provided the perfect distraction.
"Look up and see her." Diotus whispered into his ears. Brian's eyes immediately shot up.
The blonde maid was enjoying her work, even being flirtatious with the customers. Brian had never noticed her before. She even brought out a smile from the man behind the newspaper, who was another regular. Her smile so lovely, so captivating, so deadly, luring in her prey like a cunning predator. The prey had no chance.
"She's not like your wife." Diotus whispered listening to his thoughts. The sublime notions planted deep within his mind, taking root and eventually changing his whole perspective. It was a tricky gift of daemons to act like the conscience of a human, one that took centuries to master. Who needed possession when there was the power of the tongue, Diotus thought.
Brian noticed she resembled his wife in a way. Granted his wife was a brunette and her hair wasn't this messy but the maid's light features and blue eyes reminded him of her. Her body was also more endowed than his wife. She was flaunting them for all to see, which earned her a slap on her ass. She didn't even bother retorting to the rude act.
Diotus has seen nations fall and men killing over a single primitive emotion- jealousy and he instilled it within Brian. He won't know the reason behind it but he will act upon it, like all men do.
She came up to him next.
