Accompanying that piercing and agonizing shriek, dense columns of black smoke burst frantically from every orifice of the doll, as if the entity were trying to escape a burning building, but the instant that darkness came into contact with Lief's golden light, it was instantly annihilated, dissolving into nothingness.
The supernatural cold that had frozen the room was swept away and purified by the wave of sacred heat, the paintings that were banging against the walls stopped dead and the window panes stopped vibrating, returning to the room a calm so absolute that it seemed that time itself had stopped.
The only thing still moving in that silence was the doll, which convulsed violently under Lief's palm, its physical form flickering erratically between light and shadow while the black and red energy fought its last and futile battle.
"No... NOOOOO!"
The trapped demon howled, trying desperately to use the doll as an anchor to resist the crushing pressure of Lief's power, but its resistance was as insignificant as trying to stop a tidal wave with one's hands.
"Dust you are and to dust you shall return... or something like that," Lief recited with a serious expression, vaguely recalling another biblical quote suitable for the occasion while intensifying the pressure of his hand just a fraction more.
!
The golden light exploded completely with a final blinding brilliance!
The doll reached its limit, tensed rigidly with a final spasm and then slumped onto the chair, inert and limp, like a puppet that has had all its strings cut simultaneously.
The last wisp of black smoke floated lazily out of its glass eyes and evaporated in the golden glow before touching the ceiling.
In the room, the disgusting stench was swept away completely, instantly replaced by a clean and tranquil freshness, similar to the smell of damp earth after a rain.
It was all over.
Lief withdrew his hand and the halo of solid light floating above his head, the one that had blinded those present with its majesty, began to slowly fade until it disappeared, returning the room to its natural lighting, although now impregnated with a warmth that soothed the heart.
"..."
Silence descended upon them.
In the entire room, the only thing that was heard were the rapid breaths of the three spectators.
Mia was practically collapsed against the doorframe, her legs turned to jelly and about to give way. She stared at the inert doll and then shifted her gaze toward Lief, feeling that her brain had completely locked up, unable to process the miracle she had just witnessed.
On the other hand, the Warrens, the supposed experts in the paranormal, were behaving even worse than her.
Ed had his mouth open in an expression of total stupefaction, the silver cross had slipped from his fingers and fallen to the floor, but he hadn't even realized it.
In his long career he had performed countless exorcisms, had looked evil spirits in the eye and had prayed asking for divine intercession hundreds of times, but never, in his wildest dreams, did he imagine seeing a living person shining with their own light, manifesting a halo and purifying a high-level demon with their hands!
Lorraine's state was slightly different, her face was still pale, but her body was trembling... but with emotion.
In the instant that light turned on, she felt as if she had been physically dragged to a higher plane of existence... a place where all interference and darkness were irrelevant before a greatness so vast that she found it impossible to describe with words.
"... Done, matter settled," announced Lief, breaking the silence.
He turned around, completely ignoring the three faces of absolute astonishment and walked directly toward Mia.
His face now wore a soft smile, a mask that was completely different from that of the "Messenger of God" and majestic figure that had occupied the space seconds before.
"Miss Mia, you can rest easy, your daughter's problem has been eradicated at the root. That doll is now just a simple doll."
"Ah... oh... go... good..." she stammered, nodding stiffly with her brain still blank.
"Excellent," Lief's smile became even brighter and more charming. "Then, since we are all here... let's talk about my fees."
"...Fees?"
"Yes, let's talk about the fees," Lief nodded with total naturalness. "My agency specializes in high-end personalized exorcism services, we guarantee immediate effects, absolute safety for the client and, most importantly, zero recurring side effects."
He cleared his throat with a small theatrical cough and, adopting an unquestionable tone.
"The total for the intervention amounts to one hundred thousand dollars. I accept cash, certified checks, or international bank transfers, I will write down the agency's account number for you in a moment. Ah, and by the way, a small warning: we don't work with installment payments or credit."
"One hundred... one hundred thousand dollars?"
Mia's eyes opened wide.
That astronomical figure dragged her violently from the shock of the miracle back to the cruel and cold reality of her bank account.
Even Ed and Lorraine, who were still processing the theophany they had just witnessed, snapped out of their stupor to look at Lief with a mixture of disbelief and astonishment.
An angel charging Wall Street consultant fees?
Lief spread his hands with a pragmatic "take it or leave it" expression, without an ounce of shame.
"Miss, you must have the correct perspective. What I just purified wasn't a common resentful spirit that leaves with a little holy water, it was an active demonic beacon and the entity operating it from the other side."
"With this move, I have destroyed its base of operations and severed the link at the root, eliminating any future problems forever. One hundred thousand dollars in exchange for peace of mind and the lifelong safety of your daughter... honestly, I think it's a bargain."
"..."
Mia opened her mouth, with the instinctive intention to protest or haggle, but her gaze drifted toward the inert doll on the chair, that thing that had stolen her sleep and sanity.
She remembered the sheer terror of the last few nights, the blood, the notes...
It was true.
Compared to her daughter's life, what did money mean...?
Money could be earned again, Leah had no replacement.
Besides, the young man in front of her... had just demonstrated that he had what was needed to set whatever price he wanted.
"Fine... Alright, I'll pay!" said Mia, gritting her teeth and nodding forcefully, accepting the debt. "Thank you, Mr. Connor. Really... I have no way to thank you for what you did."
"You're welcome, it's simply my job." Nodding with satisfaction, Lief rummaged in the pocket of his trench coat and took out a crumpled paper napkin and a pen.
He quickly scribbled the name of his agency and a series of bank numbers, and handed it to Mia.
"Here is the data. Please ensure you settle the balance within a maximum period of three business days."
Once the business with the client was closed, Lief turned his attention to the two spectators.
"I've heard a lot about you," he told them, offering them a polite nod.
"He... hello," Ed finally recovered his voice, taking a step forward with a complex expression. "Son... excuse me, Mr. Connor. I am Ed Warren, and this is my wife Lorraine. We... could we ask what kind of power you just invoked? We have studied theology and demonology for decades, but that... that is not in any book we know."
Lorraine also approached, her sensitive eyes fixed on Lief, trying to read the aura that was now latent.
"That energy... is overwhelmingly pure," she whispered fascinated, "Never, in my whole life have I felt a force so... primal."
"...Let's just say it's a trade secret," Lief replied with an enigmatic smile, cutting off any interrogation.
He looked at the legendary couple, they seemed like interesting characters to him, dedicated, although limited by the rules of their own game.
"However, I can see that you two are serious professionals in this field," he added with a glint in his eyes, "If in the future you encounter any request that is too 'complicated' you can consider referring it to me. I am a reasonable man, I could even offer you a referral commission."
"C... commission?"
Ed and Lorraine exchanged an astonished look. Was the being of light offering them a subcontracting deal?
Without interest in delving deeper or staying to debate about this, Lief looked at his wristwatch and it was already time to close.
"Well, the matter is resolved and the verbal contract is made, I should go," he said, making a farewell gesture to the three of them.
"I'll walk you out..." offered Mia out of inertia, taking a quick step toward him before he could refuse.
Taking advantage that both their bodies blocked the Warrens' line of sight, who kept whispering among themselves, Mia dangerously shortened the distance between them, invading Lief's space with audacity born of the adrenaline of the moment.
With a subtle and quick movement, she slid a small piece of folded paper into the palm of Lief's hand, touching his fingers with an intention that went far beyond gratitude.
"It's my personal number..." she whispered, ensuring that only he could hear her. "One hundred thousand dollars is a difficult sum to gather at once in cash, but... maybe we can find another creative way for me to pay off part of that debt."
Looking up, she bit her lower lip slightly, and gave him a slow wink charged with unequivocal seduction.
"..."
Lief stood petrified, feeling the paper in his hand.
He didn't expect this from her, a religious woman... besides, she was married and had a daughter...
But he didn't reject anything, he wasn't a saint, and definitely didn't fear anything, much less a beautiful grateful woman.
A wolfish and amused smile curved his lips.
It seemed like an interesting proposal to him, he liked direct people.
Without hesitating for an instant, and with the same fluidity with which she gave him the paper, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
It was a kiss that, although brief, wasn't hurried. It was a firm, warm, and deliberate contact that he took the time to enjoy, savoring the daring of the moment right under the noses of the most famous exorcists in the world.
Upon separating, with their faces still millimeters apart and Mia's breath catching from surprise, Lief winked back at her and whispered:
"$100 off."
With that discount applied to the account, he straightened up with a satisfied smile, turned on his heels, and walked toward the door of the child's room.
Under the absolutely shocked gaze of the two of them and with Mia still touching her lips, stunned and blushing, Lief took a relaxed step, crossing the threshold between two distinct physical locations, and then turned to say goodbye with a lazy gesture before closing the wood behind him.
"Goodbye."
Click
...
Once he returned to the safety of his room, the familiar silence of his home welcomed him.
He stretched out long, cracking his back, and let out a huge yawn that almost dislocated his jaw.
It was over.
He took off his trench coat and launched himself in a jump with open arms, letting himself fall heavily onto his large and soft bed.
"Mmm..." he murmured against the pillow. Definitely, his own bed was the most comfortable place in the universe.
________
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