Page 126 of Devil Inside

The record playing is Otis Redding. His heartbreak is a bit jarring for what’s happening in this living room. I almost ask her to turn it off but keep it to myself.

Lilith stares back at me, waiting for me to begin. I’m getting the definite sense that she’s not happy about this,anyof this, but she’s here anyway. For my sake.

Isn’t that a sacrifice?

I don’t know how to start this conversation. How to ask the questions I want to ask.

Does she see me?

I’m looking for a reaction. A resistance. Any sort of red flag that might suggest her host is hurting. I don’t think I could go through with this—any of this—if that were the case.

“Tell me how this works,” I ask after a moment.

“This?”Lilith shifts in her seat, the wood warping beneath her. The chair she’s in is old. A folding chair with hickory slats. The varnish has worn off the armrests. It squeals.

“I want to know what happens to your host when you’re inside.”

“So this isn’t about me. This is about her well-being?”

“I want to know who she is.”

“Why?”

“She’s a part of this, too. There’s three of us here...”

I keep feeling like this is a supernaturalménage à trois, but I don’t know who the third person in this symbiotic relationship even is.

“Would you prefer if I were in someone else?”

“It’s hard to keep up with different hosts.”

“Your rules again,” she says, with the slightest hint of distaste.“No body-hopping.”

“I think it would help. For—”I can’t believe I’m saying this“—consistency’s sake.”

No surprises.

Why does it matter whose body she’s in? If it’s her—truly her—that I’m interested in, then it shouldn’t matter who she possesses.

Still. I need to hear from her host. I didn’t know if she’s been spiritually hijacked or whatever you want to call this. I just want to talk to her. Hear her side.

Will Lilith allow it? “I have given you everything you have asked for, haven’t I?”

“You have, but... can we just acknowledge that this is uncharted territory, yes? That neither of us have ever done anything quite like this before? I certainly haven’t.”

“Me, neither.”

“Okay, good. So we’re in the same—”

body

“—boat then. At least we’re being honest about how fucking weird this all is.”

“Honest.” The word sounds strange in her mouth. “Again, always with your morality.”

I take a deep breath, maintaining. “Show me,” I ask. “I just want to—”

“Watch?”