Chapter Three

            Wesley put the books down on the desk.  There was a bound ribbon in each marking a page.  The first was a book of symbols and amazingly about three quarters of the way through it were stars encased in circles, in triangles, in five, six and then seven sided geometrical shapes.  A little further was the septagon with the seven pointed star.  Under the line drawing was the word "Solcapprodee", then his specialty, demon of Uberty Female Possession.  Then turned to the second book, "Unconquered Demons," dated nineteen eleven.  It was large and thick, and hopefully if republished today would be much thinner.  The book went alphabetically, so if Solcapprodee was there it would be easy to find ... and there it was.   There really wasn't a lot of information, although there was a line drawing of the brand.  Also a sketch of a man who looked like Sol, except that he was dressed in what appeared to be a Blue Coat uniform.  There were only two accounts mentioned with almost no information.  The first was an Adelaide Brown, a nurse during the civil war.  The second was a woman in Calcutta who took care of the poor.  There was some mention of the brand, but very little else.

            Angel sighed, "Not much to go on."

            Cordelia came into the office and invited their new client to go to the kitchen for something to eat.  Behind her back she held a paper, which she set on the side table as she followed Susan out of the room.  It looked to be information off of the Internet and probably something that for the moment needed to be kept from their new client.

            The information that was received was very factual and to the point:

                        Solcapprodee -- Demon of Uberty Female Possession.

--Befriends celibate women who have a strong faith and influence on others in directing them in religious matters.

--After using a type of hypnosis and some aphrodisiac potions, Solcapprodee is only capable of inhabiting a woman's body if he is actually requested to do so in a sexual manner.

--A two-inch, seven-pointed star inside a septagon is branded directly below the navel over the uterus.  It appears that the menstrual cycle plays a very important schedule.  Copulation must take place during ovulation and complete possession is completed during the following two weeks.  Menoschesis was recorded in one case when the woman was restrained and placed in a mental facility. Extreme agitation continued for a period of nine months, and then was followed by a vegetative state until death.

--Solcapprodee takes excessive measures to create fear during the victims unconscious intervals by inflicting severe torture in the form of manual beating, also cutting, whipping and biting have been witnessed.

--The victim is unable to continue with religious tradition, as severe nausea appears to take place.  Any physical contact with other persons inflicts an extensive burning sensation and can create a burn like injury if contact takes place for a length of time.

--The victim tries to stay conscious for an extended period of time, but is eventually unable to do so.  Solcapprodee takes full possession of the body after the woman has been mentally and physically beaten to complete submission.

--The purpose appears to be to halt the religious turning of others by impersonating the victim and in fact worship of himself as a false prophet.

--Solcapprodee is very vain and an extensive braggart.  In 1932 under his influence the victim enticed a prospective liberator by offering information for full exorcism.  The means was that of using the incantation "Eed or pac los" during sexual relations.  It appears that both men that have attempted this have expired due to drowning brought on by unknown means.  This process was extremely painful for the victim and caused severe burning.

            There appears to be no other means of exorcising Solcapprodee.

--Solcapprodee inhabits the body until the victim's age of forty-five to fifty five at which time normal menopause is observed and the woman is left in a completely vegetative state.

            May God have mercy on the victims of Solcapprodee.

            Angel and Wesley looked at each other after reading the new information.  Wes shook his head, "Doesn't look like there is much we can do for the poor girl."

            Angel refused to believe there was nothing that could be done.  "There must be something we are missing.  We have to kill him, no one should ever have to go through this again."  He thought for a moment then continued, "What was that about being touched causing burns.  Let's try something.  Touch Susan and see what happens."

            Angel and Wes headed to the kitchen where the women were sitting at a small table having a second cup of coffee.  Susan was eating a sandwich.

            "Boss," Cordy said to Angel, "We are going to have to get a few more supplies here for when we have company.  Peanut butter sandwiches aren't everyone's favorite, and I wouldn't subject anyone to your "heath food concoction".  She tried hard to cover the fact that Angel dined almost completely on pig's blood.

            "You're right Cordy," Angel replied, "We'll try to get stocked up a little better."

            "How are you feeling Susan?" Wesley asked putting his hand on her back.  She moved a little but not as expected.  He then put his other hand on her bare arm touching a bruise.

            Susan jumped as if a shock went through her.  "I'm sorry, it just really bothers me to be touched right now."

            "Don't worry about it, I can understand why." Wesley said knowing the real reason.

            Susan stood up and went to put her dishes in the sink, which already contained about a dozen coffee cups.  She ran some water and started to wash them.  She thought it might help to get her mind off of the situation.

             Angel put his hand on her right arm.  The coolness of his touch was so comforting.  "We are going to help you.  We will destroy this demon once and for all and you will get your life back."  She continued to look down at her task through blurred vision.  The tears welled in her eyes but didn't spill.

            "The first step is keeping you awake without involving too much energy.  Cordy, why don't you take Susan down to the video store and rent some good movies.  Wes and I will discuss how we best handle this."

            "Maybe I should stay here.  Don't want anyone to call the cops when they see me," Susan answered.

            "By the time I'm finished with you no one will notice and the fresh air will do you good.  Besides around here no one gets involved in anyone else's business."  Cordy got a black leather jacket of Angel's out of a closet and found a large pair of sunglasses.  "There ... no one will ever know!"

            Feeling a little better, Susy looked down at her outfit and said with the faintest hint of a smile, "You're quite the colourful guy.  Think that black is going to be a favorite colour of mine, too."  The jacket was actually very comforting and there was the faint scent of cologne again.

            Wes and Angel went back into the office to discuss tactics.  "Well, it seems to be only human touch that creates the burning," Angel started.  "We may be able to get this thing after all.  We've already got the lethal incantation, but it would be best to double check that first."

            "Angel, are you planning on doing what I think you are?  You know what will happen if you have intimate contact with a woman.  You could loose your soul and be condemned to hell.  Besides under that much pressure no man could maintain the ability unless he was completely immoral."

            "There has got to be a way, and if the outcome is final at least there will be one less demon, a very monstrous demon.  Besides this isn't the same thing -- there is no love or lust for that matter, involved.  And as far as being able to maintain, in this human form it may be impossible but don't underestimate a vampire!  We are actually very sexual beings.  This abstinence forced on me is really a hell of its own."

            "But what about these men drowning?  There is more to this than we know about."

            "Don't forget, I don't breath so I can't drown.  We have got to try and so far this seems to be the only way.  First though I must make contact with this Solcapprodee.  The net sheet said he was very vain and a braggart, no doubt he will like to brag about his accomplishments.  The only problem we may have is talking Susan into this.  I don't think she will be so keen to participate."

            "You best figure out what you need to know before you make contact.  Try to make it short, the longer she stays asleep the harder it will be to get her out."

            The ladies returned from the store and there seemed to be a look of a little less strain on Susan's face.  Maybe for a moment she had forgotten the hell she was going through.

            Setting a bag on the table, Cordy said, "A bit of junk food to go with the movies.  Got some good action flicks, no chance of drifting off during these.

            The thought of sleeping brought Susan back to the moment and a more sober expression.

            "Sorry, me and my big mouth," Cordy apologized.

            "Angel would like to talk to you, Susan," Wes had appeared to be waiting for their return.  "I'll help Cordy with these," he added, taking the bag.  It was obvious that the conversation was to be private.

            Angel met her at the office door where he took her hand and led her to the couch closing the door behind them.  They sat down together.  He took both of her hands in his.  Why did his touch seem so comforting, especially when everyone else's physically hurt?  She knew this conversation was going to be a serious one and probably one she didn't want to hear.

            "We found out more about Solcapprodee," Angel started.  "He has been around for at least two hundred years but probably many more.  You were right, he does prey on faithful women - those in their child bearing years.  Can I ask  how old you are?"

            She responded, "Twenty eight."

            "You were probably ovulating the day you had sex with him.  It seems to be important for timing."

            Susan appeared startled.  She thought about it for a moment and said, " I guess I probably was, but how would he know that, and have it all planned?  I don't understand."

            "It appears that this demon relies on a woman in fertile condition to gain his strength.  Records show that periods cease and he inhabits until the age of forty five to fifty five, I guess the normal age of menopause."

            "So I can expect this for at least seventeen more years?"

            "Well, not exactly, it is a little worse than that.  It appears the beatings and torture are to induce submission in a total sense, a type of mental death.  He uses the person to turn people from God and actually the worship of himself."

            "I can't let that happen!"  A look of anger crossed over her.  "I will die first!"

            "I'm sure there is a way we can dispose of him once and for all, but I'll explain that later."

            "I'm not going to like it, am I?"

            "Maybe won't be so bad, nothing like what you have been going through.  But, for now I have to make contact with Solcapprodee.  He is so confident in himself that he is quite free with information and there are a few things that I must be certain about."

            "You want me to go to sleep again?"  A combination of fear and sorrow read on her face.  "I don't know."  Her chin rippled as she tried to hold back the tears, but to no avail.  "How can you ask me to do this?"

            "It's really very important, or I wouldn't ask."

            "I know."  Susan pulled away and went over to the window, pushed back the drapes and found that dusk was setting in.  Without a sound the tears flowed.  Angel joined her at the window and put his hands on both shoulders gently but firmly.  She turned to face him and looked directly into his eyes.  "I've only met you a few hours ago, yet it feels like I've known you forever ... that I should be able to trust you.  But I thought that I could trust Sol and I knew him for weeks."  She took a deep breath and exhaled.  "For some reason you are the only person who can touch me without it being painful.  Maybe God has sent you for me."  With that she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his jaw.  "When do you want to do this?"

            "The sooner the better."

            "Promise you won't leave me."

            "I won't leave you!"

            "Sol said that too."

            "I am going to help you get through this."  He held her close and felt the tension turn to submission.

            After a few minutes a knock came at the door, a pause, then Wesley slowly opened it.  "Everything okay in here?" he asked before peering in.

            "Fine," Angel said still holding Susan.  She slowly looked up and pulled away, her eyes were red and swollen.

            "I guess it is time then."  Susan faltered a little and Angel picked her up and carried her to the couch, this time sitting down so that she was on his lap.  Her head rested against his neck and he held her close to himself.

            "Okay if I wait here?"  Wesley asked as he sat down, "Just in case you may need me."

            With a slight nod Angel agreed.  Susy rested quietly, but he could feel the dampness on his neck as the tears fell.