Oh Lord, remember me

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"Superstition ought not to be confounded with religion, however much their history may be interwoven, nor magic, however white it may be, with a legitimate religious rite."
The Catholic Encylopedia (1908)

Friday, early afternoon

I've been thinking a lot about my conversation with Lugh. Exorcism is a strange word. I look down at the bible I have put on the counter in front of me.

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

And then I turn forward two chapters in Matthew to another passage I've never paid much attention to.

And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.

I am not an apostle. Can I do this? And on whose authority will Lugh be casting out this demon? On whose authority will he be getting back Lucien's soul? If it is his own, am I taking part in a blasphemy? I don't know. But it has to be right, to try to save someone's soul. I suppose God can work through all of us, even gods.

I sigh and close the bible. It has been such a strange week. Robert Reaves found murdered, and the election postponed until the case is solved - and now that has been overshadowed by the sudden death of Anushka Voronin and Antony Marks - Ares - in a house fire. I heard that Glass fainted in the Miskatonic Cafe, and that Dorian of all people took her to see Lucien. I get more and more confused by Glass's acquaintances... Dorian hit her, so why is he helping her? I wonder if she heard about Anushka and was overcome with - relief, maybe? Or just too much feeling. I even braved going to the tavern on Wednesday to see how she was. The barman said she and Iago were not to be disturbed, as Glass was not well, so I asked him to pass on my best wishes. I left a jar of preserves. I hope he passed it on.

Today, however, there's a bright spot - Hermia and Valmont are getting married, and they are having a celebration. The invitation said that I could bring a guest, and so I have asked Tess. It would be so rude to not invite her when she is staying at my house! And besides, I like having her with me; it's comforting, somehow. Now I'm trying to decide if she would take offence if I offered to lend her something to wear. I think Tess's clothes are fine, but Hermia and Valmont are always elegant, and I don't think Tess is likely to have any party clothes with her... We're not quite the same size, but I have one or two things that might fit. It makes me smile, a little.

I try to push thoughts of what Lugh is asking me to do from my mind. I will have to speak to Laurence about it, but for now, I must get back to work, and enjoy the celebration. Even in these dark times, it seems like people keep falling in love. And that to me is proof that good is still working in the world.

[closed]