Jaston stood and began pacing, his eyes never leaving the demon. ÒIn fact, if you thought about it, you could probably blend in with the rest of us humans, no problem.Ó

The demon stood, spilling some of his drink with the sudden motion. ÒIt is not my job to Ôblend inÕ. It is my duty, my sole work, to further the goals of my Dark Lord!Ó The demon was angry, but he still had the foresight to lick the drops of whiskey off of DillardÕs hand.

ÒEasy, easy! IÕm not arguing the point, good buddy. IÕm just saying, you know, when in RomeÉÓ JastonÕs eyes glinted almost as brightly as the demonÕs.

ÒIÕm not familiar with that expression.Ó

Jaston Phillips crossed to the possessed body of Dillard Whatever-his-name-was, placed an arm across its shoulders in a fatherly way, and explained.

The auditorium glowed under a starscape of soft lights. The crowd, numbering in the thousands, sang along with the 200-piece PRAISE Gospel Choir and Band, their voices a mere hum compared to the wall of music issuing from the sound system. Cameramen with high-end digital cameras stalked the aisles, the catwalks, and even the stage itself in pursuit of the perfect angle.

Jaston Phillips stood backstage, waiting for his cue with no hint of nervousness. He was not the main event tonight, merely a Ôspecial guest ministerÕ on The Right Reverend HarlowÕs Hour Of Righteousness. The show lasted three hours, in reality, but television lives by its own rules, and Jaston was willing to live with that. For a little while, anyway.

Three months. He still couldnÕt believe it had taken so long to get to this point.

Jaston was a patient man, in most things, but demonism had turned out to be a real pain in the ass. Dillard -- the demon would not admit to a name, so Jaston used the most convenient moniker -- was not the sharpest netherlord in Pandemonium, but he was as stubborn as a Baptist. Jaston had spent a week just outlining his plan, and another to finally convince Dillard to agree. Then there were the experiments with changing hosts, each success inspiring the demon to Ôtry outÕ his new bodies in more and more perverse waysÉ

Well, Jaston had to admit that heÕd enjoyed some of that process, especially when he found out that Dillard, while asexual, could possess members of either sexÉ

Still, it had taken more than a month to get the bugs out of the act, and another to draw the attention of the network boys. Even with all the planning, he was only being offered a guest spot, which was not quite the victory Jaston had pictured.

But thatÕs all fine and dandy. I only need one night, after all.

The Right Reverend HarlowÕs voice boomed from the stage. ÒBrothers and Sisters, I want to introduce to you a fellow soldier of the Lord. Some of you mightÕve heard of this young fella, and the miracles heÕs done recently. In fact, I bet a whole lot of you good people might just be here to see what happens tonight.Ó There was a muffled response of genial laughter. ÒThen I think itÕs Ôbout time we brought this good man out here and let him do his work, how Ôbout yÕall?Ó

ÒThen let me introduce to you a man that the Devil dearly wants, but thankfully the Good Lord already recruitedÉÓ Jaston had written that part himself, and he could hear the applause crash like thunder over the stage even before Harlow had finished the introduction, ÒGodÕs Exterminator, Jaston Phillips!Ó

Jaston jogged onstage, his smile one of complete innocence, his gestures loving and kind, and he shouted out, ÒAre you ready to believe?Ó

And the crowd danced in his hand like angels on a pinhead, and he talked the talk and walked the walk, and when it came time to drive out the demons, when the lovely blonde in the short skirt levitated above the audience and began screaming for his blood in a voice from the bowels of Hell itself, Jaston remembered the final thing heÕd told Dillard, the one convincing argument that led to this fruitful partnership.

ÒBut I canÕt go out there in the middle of all those people,Ó the demon had argued. ÒI canÕt survive that many worshippers of the Adversary!Ó

ÒSon, youÕre all confused. Those people arenÕt there to worship God,Ó Jaston had explained. ÒTheyÕre there to worship me!Ó

Jaston faced down the demon. The crowd went wild.