The Deer and the Dragon

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, and sexual content.

Dagon appears in all his ancient glory. He is displeased to have been trapped for so long in a place such as America, where the ancient ways and beliefs have been discarded. As Azrames questions him, Dagon keeps referencing a certain goddess who bound him but who is also bound by her own trap of Bellfield.

After Dagon disappears, Azrames tells Marlow that it is Astarte, a Phoenician goddess of sex, love, and war, whom they must seek. They return to the motel, where Caliban is waiting for them. Marlow runs to him.

Marlow asks how Caliban found her, and he says that he always knows where she is. She tells him about Fauna, Azrames, and meeting the King, his father; she chastises him for risking losing the war against Heaven to prevent this mortal incarnation of her soul from dying.

Caliban says that he’s already found Astarte. He believes that Silas sent him there to protect him and guesses that perhaps Silas doesn’t support the war and is disloyal to his God.