The Sisters of the Little Moments (short story)

 was the fifth story in The Boulevard: Volume One. It was given the alternative titles of Hyparxis House and The Senator and the Parasite, a love story.

Summary
The Senator from Pennsylvania, Andrew Jacob Skrelli was disturbingly clean from scandal. Well, disturbing, that is, to Sister Agnostina, who needed to farm the small motes of time that came from his constituency losing hope. Frustrated, she decides to hire a subcontractor, Dyzeps, a parasite.

Agnostina's order is bothered by Cousin Nefanda of Faction Paradox, who's come to pick up the in-between moments. She's frustrated that they're not yet ready, and insists on going to find Agnostina to offer advice.

Meanwhile, Agnostina is trying to set up media to catch Skrelli with his pants down at a luxury resort. Instead, she finds him paralysed in a random motel room in the middle of Florida. Dyzeps says that the host is refusing to comply and he needs more time, Skrelli fighting him all the time for use of the vocal cords. Nefanda shows up, lamenting that this plan obviously isn't going well, in spite of Agnostina's protestations. She suggests instead a new plan. The Dyzeps parasite eventually releases a spore cap from the top of its host's head, causing it to explode. Why not do this on television?

Dyzeps is aware of the ongoing situation around them, aware of the wartime powers, but no, what matters is the Host Body. The Host Body challenges Dyzeps, titillates it. Complete union is necessary.

Nefanda pointed out that Dyzeps' spores spreading everywhere is a rather large issue, and it may look like the Mundane Order of Sisters of the Little Moments have violated their neutrality. So she decides to help Agnostina out and cover up the holes in the plan.

Skreli looks out at his body while Dyzeps tries to woo him with his own body. Long walks on the beach. Nights in in front of the fire. Occasional glasses of wine. A surreal nightmare of body horror.

Agnostina opens her eyes in a church, next to a woman, who, as they hear glass breaking, hands Agnostina her baby and tells Agnostina to get to safety.

Dyzeps' spore cap is swelling with anticipation, no Host Body has ever lasted this long. But if they complete the act, Host Body will die. If they leave Host Body, it will die as well. Both options end in anguish.

Back at Hyparxis House, now located in Florida, the Abbess of the Sisters of the Little Moments is worried about Agnostina, with Nefanda assuring her that Agnostina is safe.

Agnostina is watching a door, but doesn't recall why. She's assaulted and dragged into the door. The people who grabbed her then attempt to slice into Amber's baby but instead trigger a bomb.

The Abbess watches this, and goes to fetch Agnostina, running into Dyzeps and Skrelli. Seeing that the man is dying, and how Dyzeps wants symbiosis, she offers to grant this, with Skrelli in control, yet constant pain. He accepts, enraging Dyzeps.

The Abbess finds Agnostina and returns her to Hyparxis House. Skrelli returns a changed man in more ways than one, his party affiliation, a private separation from his wife, and an affair with a young campaign volunteer. Dyzeps' jealousy stayed the same.

Characters

 * Andrew Jacob Skrelli
 * Agnostina
 * Dyzeps
 * Nefanda
 * Amber
 * Anin

Continuity
to be added