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Okay. Much better dialogue between Romano and Beneventi below. I decided Beneventi is a ghost, not merely a figment of Romano's guilty conscience. As before, no one else can see or hear Beneventi, unless Beneventi wants them to. Also, I decided he doesn't read minds. It's more fun if Romano keeps getting caught talking to him. For added enjoyment, Beneventi can manipulate his environment. Also, it turns out his eternal punishment is to spend forever with Romano. There is a way out, but he's not allowed to tell Romano what it is. Should be fun.
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Romano was about to get up, when the man turned his head and faced him. Antonio Beneventi. Romano closed his eyes and muttered, “Go away.”
Beneventi rose, approached Romano, and said, “I’m not going anywhere. My place is with you — until the end of time, if necessary. I’ll follow you to the darkest ratholes on the planet.” He shrugged. “I don’t have a choice really. You see, you’re my punishment.”
Romano arched an eyebrow.
“That’s right. It’s not enough that I’m in Hell. Turns out Hell consists of spending an eternity with you. Ironical, isn’t it? But, believe me, if I have to suffer, then you will, too.”
Romano began second-guessing his decision to accompany Connor on this trip, as requested by Nnamani. Although Romano didn’t consider himself a threat to the boy, Romano knew he wasn’t a well man. He glanced at Connor. The boy needed someone along he could trust.
Beneventi followed Romano’s gaze. “His wellbeing isn’t the real reason you’re here, is it?”
Romano’s eyebrows shot up. Beneventi was reading his thoughts.
“No, Gregorio, I’m not reading your mind. I’d need a microscope to find it. But you’re predictable. You always were. The real reason you’re here with all your baggage in tow is that you think he might really be Christ.” Beneventi laughed. “And you’re going to follow him around like a puppy, carrying his water, hoping at the end he’ll feel so grateful to you he’ll grant you three magic wishes.”
Romano glared at Beneventi.
“Don’t give me that look. I’m right. And we both know what your first wish will be, don’t we?”
Romano said nothing.
“You want him to rescue me from an eternity of suffering.”
“Yes,” Romano whispered.
Beneventi covered his heart with both hands. “How noble of you. Or is it? Fess up. What you really want is for him to save you from an eternity of guilt.”
Romano stared straight ahead.
“Hah! I’m right.”
Romano looked him in the eyes. “Leave!”
“Who are you talking to, Father?” Connor asked.
“Oh, uh, just thinking out loud.”
Beneventi whispered menacingly, “Together forever, Gregorio. That’s us.”
“You’re not real!” Romano hissed.
“Oh?” Beneventi smacked Romano’s tray from underneath, spilling his water bottle.
Romano jumped, then watched, mouth open, as Beneventi returned to his seat.

My bad. The button name is +Chapter (in the posting view).

Unless the submission guidelines note that an attachment is okay, keep in mind that many people don't open Word files from unknown senders.

I like it. Thanks.
Dirk

Getting close to the end of R2. As I mentioned in my latest review, I really have no idea where the story is going. It's been mostly action-oriented chapters in various settings that don't connect well for me. I'm not sure how much of this is part of the genre and involves stuff I should already know as background.

To me it's a lot like a new TV show so far, with many apparently unrelated episodes, generally set in the same universe and involving some of the same characters, but you don't really know where anything is going for a season or two because the writers/showrunners often themselves don't know. The importance of non-main characters is also not knowable for a time until they reappear, if ever.

I read the content summaries of all four R books so far and reread the one for L. Nowhere is there a real summary of what the story (as a whole) is about. The third post in this thread is as close as you've come to a description, which is most noteworthy for saying your not following a formula. Since you're going to have to write a real blurb eventually, why not take a crack at it and drop it into the content summary of book one?

Naturally, I'll keep reading, but it would be nice to have a better idea of what to expect so that I can see a progression in the plot and characters, and not wonder if the latest series of events have any lasting impact on the story as a whole.

Hope this helps.
Dirk

Posted a short story for the mythical creature contest. It's Animal Farm "off its meds".

I've been watching short clips from Frasier on YouTube. Apparently, Niles (Frasier's brother) is allergic to parchment mites. He had been to a library and was scratching his right ear the way a dog would. Reminded me of my Professor Hinkley and his addiction to bookworm spoor. :-)

Heck with it. There really is no better way to fight demons than with holy water. It's a staple of the genre. Since that would make it too easy to find all demons in the Church, the AC is forced to use humans. He does, however, use an occasional demon when he needs to replace someone in a hurry, like the chief exorcist. The demon bodies will only last a few months, which is another reason they're not practical as human replacements.

Now I just need a reason why some of the clergy that the detectives hunt are short-lived demons. As currently written, Father Fischer is human and jumps to his death because he's afraid of the Antichrist. If he's going to jump, I'd rather make him a demon. Demons are obedient and expendable, so Father Armani would have no problem ordering one to jump to his death. In fact, he might have attempted to kill Campagna and De Rosa by landing on top of them, but simply missed by a meter.

The other option re Father Fischer is that he's human and found dead when the detectives get there, killed by a demon summoned by Father Armani.

A possible solution. Demon bodies only last a few years before they begin to disintegrate. Can't use them for long term assignments. The chief exorcist was killed and replaced with a demon clone of himself, grown from his own cells. He was replaced because the AC wanted to prevent the reverend mother from finding Connor and giving him the message from God.

I'd still prefer to make all followers demons, but then I need to think of a less obvious way to detect them than merely sprinkling them with holy water. That would eliminate the added complexity of the AC having both human followers and demons. Admittedly, in Revelation, the AC leads many humans astray, although they're not actual coconspirators.

UF?