As Jesus approached the temple area, alone except for me, I could sense his temper already building. Not only did his thoughts boil like black smoke, but he was walking fast and taking wide steps.

Of course, everyone knew what went on there--and I honestly didn't see why it was such a terrible thing. People needed to buy sacrifices, didn't they? They needed to exchange denarii for shekels to make the purchase. How else were they to do it?

But I knew better than to argue. The last thing I wanted was for Jesus to calm down. Probably he wouldn't actually kill anyone--but a demon could hope.

"If you've got any of your soldiers in the temple area, Darius, you'd best get them out of my way."

I nodded. "I did summon a few dozen of them. They're there to help, but trust me, they'll keep their distance."

At this he paused and stared at me. "Your demons don't belong in the temple. For that matter, neither do you."

He was breathing hard, his teeth were bared. He really was worked up.

Not one to take pointless risks, I floated backward, putting some distance between us and raised my hands, palms out. "I told them to possess a few guards, prevent them from interfering with anything you were about to do."

He frowned and some of the thoughts boiling around his head seemed to calm when he heard my answer. He said nothing though, and I decided to take silence as approval.

With that argument settled, he resumed his march toward the temple. In a short time, the gates were in sight and the sound of the haggling rose to us like the sound of the surf by the ocean.

"You know, I appreciated your joke about Satan being divided against Satan a while back. In some ways, we're one of the most divided kingdoms I could imagine."

Jesus shot me a faint smile.

"But the people of God seem just as divided: pharisees, saducees, teachers of the law--not to mention you and the rest of them. I wonder which of our kingdoms is worse?"

He nodded. "An unfortunately astute observation."

As we drew near, a burly vendor shoved a woman in dirty robes away from his cart. She fell, dropping the few dates she held to the ground. Instantly, she scrambled to pick him up.

Jesus growled and started to run. I easily glided alongside, keeping up the pace. When he reached the woman he helped her to her feet. She was thin, almost skeletal, with cracked and dried lips.

Once she thanked him, he knelt down again and began collecting the rushes which were strewn everywhere.

After he'd collected a good number he then, with a practiced hand, began twisting them into a long cord. I'd seen similar cords in his carpentry shop used for a variety of purposes.

As he worked, his thoughts boiled and became darker.

A few people stopped to glance at him, but no one seemed to recognize him. Almost, I didn't. I'd so rarely seen him angry, nor had I seen rage transform a person's face quite like this.

Once his cord was half again as long as his body, he exploded upright and lashed his makeshift whip. It made a satisfying snap that drew everyone's attention. The crowd quieted as they glanced, curiously, in his direction.

"Does this city not have enough markets?" Jesus shouted. "Is it not filled to the brim with places to exploit and cheat one another?"

No one answered. "This is supposed to be a house of prayer."

He then ran to one of the money changing tables and kicked it, knocking it over and sending the coins jingling across the courtyard. His whip snapped again, striking some nearby cattle. The beast raised its shaggy brown head and people scurried out of its way.

"Is there a shortage of stables and places to keep animals?" he screamed. "This should be holy ground."

People were starting to get out of his way and move toward the exit. A few ran. Jesus kicked over another table, scattering pidgeon cages across the ground.

It was then that the priests noticed him. The gathered together, and marched forward Caiphas at their head, walking toward the Jesus through the rapidly thinning temple courtyard.

As the crowds thinned, Caiphas strode up to Jesus, giving the whip only the briefest of glances. "Will you strike me Rabbi?"

For several long seconds, Jesus stared at him in stony silence. When he spoke, his voice was pure ice. "You have taken my father's house and turned it into a den of thieves."

"Your father's house. That almost sounds like blasphemy."

To this Jesus gave no answer.

"Yesterday, you referred to yourself as the Son of Man. Do you see yourself as the great king foretold by Daniel? Do you imagine that you will be given dominion over the Earth? Will you turn this whip on the Romans and free us all?"

Jesus shook his head. "Do you imagine that you are in bondage to the Romans? You are blind, all of you. They are a mere earthly power. What enslaves you all is money, selfishness."

Caiphas looked around at the guards by the gate and the others who stood along the wall. They all looked on in stony silence. My demons had possessed every single one of them.

"For the sake of what you did for my servant, and for the Passover we will celebrate in just a few days, I'll overlook this tantrum--but I warn you, carpenter. Don't do anything like this again."

The two stood there, glaring at one another for a long time. Finally, Jesus turned and walked away.

I glided as near as I dared and said, "I have to say, I was hoping for more. Lightning, an earthquake, people dying--something of that nature."

"Be patient," Jesus replied.

On hearing those two words I immediately left his side, summoned my legion, and sent them back to sheol. Then I went to a deep place in the earth to shiver and release my darkness and fear.

The other time Jesus had used those two words was right before Mikal was brought into his presence by men who wished to stone her. Even thinking about that encounter was enough to give me shivers. What would it mean this time?