A/N: Okay, so I don't know whether anyone's still reading this story, but if you are, here's the next installment for you to read. (Of course, it would be great and much appreciated if you could also write a review!)

Chapter 26

What are you doing, you idiot? Sara's demonic mind screamed at her. Go back before they kill you!

But her human mind controlled her body, and it had other ideas. Clutching the Device prototype in her left hand, Sara piloted an Imperial shuttlecraft toward the Papal Palace.

The Palace was oozing demons by now. At this point, it seemed unlikely that any humans would make it out alive, even if her plan succeeded. It would take a miracle. Fortunately, Sara knew Someone who could help in that department.

"Father," she whispered, "I know that you and I haven't been on speaking terms for almost eight thousand years,* but I could you maybe—"

A jarring collision interrupted her prayer. One of the black cords that enveloped the Palace had lashed out and struck the shuttle. Sara struggled with the spinning craft for a few frantic moments before it crashed through the Palace wall.

Still holding the Device, Sara staggered out of the shuttle, feeling optimistic. Things seemed to be going slightly more smoothly than usual. As the gaping wound in her forehead slowly closed up under the influence of the fruit of life, she took a quick stock of her surroundings.

Inside the demonic worm that had enveloped him, Abbot Edwin had heard the crash.

"What the hell is going on out there?" he called.

"I believe," Abbess Juliana replied, struggling with Brother Theodore's possessed body, "that that demon-girl has arrived."

"What?" the Abbot screamed, trying to punch a hole through the side of the demon-worm. "That can't be! Wasn't anyone guarding her? That abomination must not be allowed to run free!"

"Would you shut up?" snapped Sara. "I'm trying to help you!"

"Liar!" the Abbot screamed, thrashing inside his slimy prison. "Just wait till I get out of here—"

"Listen!" Sara shouted to the possessed Luciferans who stood behind the Pope. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to obey him any longer. There's a way out."

The Luciferians' lips did not move. But in her angelic mind, Sara heard Lord Asmodeus's answer.

What stupidity had possessed you, Saraqujal? Don't you realize that we could rip your body to shreds and cast you screaming into the Abyss?

You're right, Sara replied. What I'm doing now is incredibly stupid—which proves that I have a human mind, doesn't it? The Device gave me a human body, and the Creator gave that body a human soul. My demonic will isn't my only will anymore. I have a chance of salvation. You can too, if you let me help you!

The darkness around the Luciferian swirled contemptuously. Semjaza, rip her to shreds.

Abbess Juliana gasped in relief as Cardinal Tortellini loosened his hold on her throat and turned to Sara.

What are you waiting for, Semjaza? Kill her!

The cardinal fell to the floor. Between the cardinal's body and Sara, the darkness seemed to churn and coalesce. Sara shrank back as Semjaza stepped toward her in the shape of a pale, seven-foot-tall man wrapped in a black cowl.

Then Semjaza did something no one was expecting. He knelt before Sara.

Please, he said, make me human.

Semjaza, you fool! Asmodeus screamed. What are you doing?

With shaking fingers, Sara reached out and attached the Device to Semjaza's false body. She squeezed her eyes shut and gagged as a dizzying stench assaulted her nostrils. When she opened her eyes, she saw a green-eyed woman staring up at her.

"It worked," whispered Abbess Juliana. "I don't believe it."

Kill them, Adramelech! snarled Asmodeus. Adramelech?

One of the worms was slithering toward Sara.

Me too, Adramelech said in the angelic tongue. Please.

Another wave of stench struck Sara, almost drawing tears from her eyes, and a man with silver hair lay on the Palace floor.

Suddenly the darkness lifted from the Palace. Noon sunlight streamed through the windows as the air was filled with voices begging Sara for help. Enveloped in the only remaining patch of shadow, Asmodeus screamed in rage as demon after demon submitted to the Device.

At last Sara turned to the Luciferans whom Asmodeus still held under his power. It's your turn, Asmodeus, she said. Don't give up this chance.

Surrounded by a crowd of newly-hominized demons, Sara held out the Device. The other demons looked toward Asmodeus expectantly.

At last the archdemon spoke. Okay, fine, he muttered.

* The Church Father St. Jerome calculated that the world was created in 5199 B.C. This used to be the Catholic Church's quasi-official date for the creation of the world. I arbitrarily decided that this story takes place in 2743 A.D. (in an alternate universe, of course).