It is a demon lover, a demon specifically formed to seduce mortals. I say “it” because demons have no intrinsic gender, and this kind can appear to a mortal in whatever form will be appealing, male or female, young or old, handsome or beautiful, even demonic or monstrous, whatever will work (except angelic with the wings and all, there’s a very strict rule about that sort of impersonation).

Is it sexy, this demon? Really, need you ask?

Is it lustful? It is positively overflowing with lust.

Is it charming? Yes, if it wants to be.

Is it Macho? It can be if the occasion demands.

Is it butch or fem? Sure, whatever.

Is it happy? Oh, there’s the rub. No, it is not happy, much as it enjoys its work, it has a terrible problem. It falls in love. By its nature, it can’t help being exactly what its victim desires, and that, more so than any mortal he or she has ever met, irresistible. But in the very act of consigning the person to Hell by satisfying the desire (and, it’s own), it falls in love. It weeps bitter tears as it sends the mortal soul off to The Pit.

Does it feel guilt? If so, only briefly. You see, it is also utterly fickle, and spotting the next to be tempted, it falls in love again and provides as much pleasure as it can before the price must be paid.

Photo by Jens Lindner on Unsplash

Bob Wertzler is retired from almost twenty years in the mental health field in California and Arizona. There are times the title, “Recovering Therapist”, seems to fit. In 2006 he retired to move to Western North Carolina to help and become primary care giver for his father who had developed Dementia. Before all that, there was work at various times as a soldier (US Army 1967-70), community organizer, cab driver, welfare case worker, wooden toy maker, carpenter, warehouse worker, and other things. He relates to a line in a Grateful Dead song, “What a long, strange trip its been.”