Page 3 of Lust
Michael put his notebook away. “It’s popularly believed that God had dismissed seven angels from Heaven for defying him. These fallen angels became the princes of hell, carrying out sins God had warned humanity against.”
I tried to recall my knowledge of religion. It wasn’t extensive. At most, it stemmed from rare church attendance on select occasions.
“One of the Princes of Hell is Asmodeus, the demon of lust.”
The name was unfamiliar to me, but something in Michael’s voice made me believe that he was drawing a parallel between us.
“This demon, Asmodeus, wasn’t like the other princes of hell,” Michael continued thoughtfully. “He didn’t revel in cruelty and loved music, had a passion for dancing, intoxication, and all types of… fun. He didn’t see anything wrong with it and believed it was humans who turned merriment into a sin.”
“What does that have to do with me—”
“You see, Asmodeus rarely showed himself in physical form. Instead, he came to men in dreams to lead them astray. Or he whispered in their ears with temptations of things they ought not to desire.”
“You’re not suggesting that this Asmodeus came to me in my dreams?” I asked incredulously. Surely, Michael wasn’t some religious nut. It’d be a huge disappointment were it to be the case.
Catching my drift, Michael quickly added, “It’s just… ironic, I guess. Because you have a new sister named Sara. Asmodeus had a woman named Sarah in his life, too, except his Sarah had an H at the end of her name.” He smiled though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And Asmodeus was known for coming to men in their dreams with similar offers. I’m only pointing out that your life has relevancy to his story.”
“Oh, okay,” I said uncertainly.
“Would you like to hear it?”
“Hear what?”
“Asmodeus’ story and how he met Sarah.”
I looked at my phone. “Umm. Our time is up—”
“It’s on me,” he dismissed. “I think you might find it helpful.”
Before I could open my mouth to tell him that I didn’t care, Michael transported me to a different world, his words so eloquent that I could almost see the story unfold in front of my very eyes.
* * *
It was a languid afternoon with all the promises of a summer day. Sarah lay on the grassy lawn of her favorite garden, a thick head of mane spread around her, coating her with all the softness of ethereal beauty.
A pauper interrupted her contemplations, begging for money. She didn’t have her coin purse. In its stead, she took off her jewelry and gave the man all she had.
However, a cruel passerby stopped the pauper a mere distance away to taunt him for his gout and accuse him of stealing the lady’s jewelry. Sarah watched the scene unfold. Her beautiful gray eyes twinkled, and when the passerby sat on a bench, she crawled underneath it to tie the man’s shoelaces together.
Asmodeus watched her mischief, mesmerized. He could hardly distinguish whether it were Heaven or Hell inside the girl’s heart. She was sweet and warm with a tender heart. She was equally wicked and sought out mischief.
She was his perfect match.
Asmodeus had spent eons as a lover rather than a fighter. He indulged in all women, his appetite voracious for the pleasures of the flesh.
In between his pursuits, Asmodeus enticed humanity with temptation because it was dreadfully dull to enjoy merriment by your lonesome self. For the first time in his eternal life, he felt far from weary because Sarah’s smiles didn’t permit it. Nor was there any place for cold-heartedness because she was warmer than the sun.
There was a feeling stirring inside him, a foreign one he couldn’t understand. And for the first time in his wretched life, Asmodeus' needs surpassed the desires of the flesh.
* * *
Michael paused just as the story had piqued my interest.
Other than the fact that the lust demon showed himself in dreams and someone named Sara was to join my family, I couldn’t draw any other connections. I chalked it off to coincidence, but Michael wanted me to walk away with a lesson.
“I want you to remember this story next time you’re at a crossroads.”
“Why?”
