Chapter 7-1 Book 7

Chapter 7-1

Black Wedding

Part 2

I watched as he went back to the big altar and picked up the larger knife that was the twin of its brother. I heard the cooing of birds at the sound of lambs and sheep nearby, but then again, we were on a sheep ranch. It was the knife I focused on and the birds seeing them flutter around in a cage as someone had us stand as they removed the small altar.

Eli whispered that we were now married to each other, which was very creepy compared to an LDS wedding. They only married the bride and the groom, and they certainly didn't try to light us on fire or have them marry their best man or friend. I said to myself here we go and closed my eyes not wanting to see them being killed. It's not that I have never seen birds or animals killed before, because I had when I lived on a farm with the Downings. Pa had explained that they were meant for us to care for them and they cared for us by nourishing our bodies. I still didn't like it and made myself scarce when he did it, the bigger animals like cattle he took them to be butchered. I knew it had to be done but wasn't the same anymore after that, yet it was a while before I would eat meat again, but I did get over it.

Eli took me by the hand, motioning me forward as I noticed movement as my soon-to-be wife unless we were already married now, but according to Eli, we were married that now our wives, and we were being blessed to have children, which explained the doves. I have heard of doves being used at weddings as they released the doves into the air, freeing them as a symbol that angels would bless our union, not sacrifice nor use their blood to bless them to bear our children.

We were told to kneel in front of the large altar using the gold pillows provided. Our would-be parents positioned us to kneel before the large altar on the gold pillows, ensuring our long golden capes concealed our shoulders and backsides, leaving only our feet visible. They also checked that the silver clasps securing the capes around our necks remained fastened, preventing the congregation from seeing our bare backsides. Trust me, seeing the back of someone's naked butt for a long period wasn't something I wouldn't want to see, plus it would spoil the wedding, such as it is.

The vivid detail was astonishing, as the warm glow of the bonfires danced upon our glistening, naked skin, and the intense heat embraced us. I felt a growing sense of apprehension as I observed the movement of the girls. They chose Rhoda, my new bride, to go first to honor her status as Eli's sister and the High Bishop's daughter. I noticed that the black cloth still adorned the grand altar as they guided her toward it and her mate; this was unlike the wedding ceremony when they removed it with the candles and ceremonial items. I watched as they removed Rhoda's golden cape, allowing her to recline on the altar, while the black veil remained draped over her, enveloping her and the sides of the altar. A golden pillow was placed on the altar for her head, and with the assistance of one of our parents, she lay down upon it. As soon as she settled, they carefully spread the surrounding veil, ensuring her comfort.

Slowly, they positioned her on the altar, securing her wrists and ankles loosely, and then covering her face with a fresh veil. The soft fabric cascaded over her body, exposing her stomach and her delicate sweet spot. Stepping back, a woman, whom I assumed to be Rhoda's mother, Jenny, reached into a cage and retrieved a white dove. With reverence, she handed it to the High Bishop, who blessed it with a solemn gesture. Simultaneously, Jackie, now Eli's fourth wife, accepted the bird, knowing it was her offering to her beloved Rhoda. The air was thick with a mix of anticipation and sacredness as Rhoda lay on the altar, her heart pounding in her chest. I averted my gaze as Jackie ended the bird's life, allowing its blood to trickle down her stomach and onto her sweet spot.

The High Bishop rubbed the blood across her body, smearing it with solemnity. Our assumed parents lifted the veil, covering her breasts and stomach before draping it back over her. They then handed the dead dove to the High Bishop, who ceremoniously tossed it into the flames of the right bonfire. Our assumed parents assisted Rhoda off the table, lifting the veil as they replaced her golden cape around her shoulders. They motioned for the other girl, named Jackie, to ascend the altar, so she too could receive blessings and anointment.

While the High Bishop blessed the offering of the dove now burning in the bonfire as he waited for Jenny, who was playing the role of our mothers, to retake her place as I listened to our wedding guests chant in the background kneeling, raising the arms above their head as they bowed to us; praising their God and master for choosing my bride to be one of their chosen Queens that will bear our children to rule over as one of the Holy ones in our stead, long after we have been called to return to serve at the side of our master our true God Lucifer and his daughter Mormo and holy Queen.

If only they were aware that none of those plans were going to materialize, particularly since my new wife and Eli's new wife won't be bearing our children. Not only was I already aware that my wife wouldn't bear my child, but I had also received confirmation from both Tony and Jeff. It was Eli's I wasn't sure of; then again, he had already fathered three children, so he says. I didn't inquire or even care about his fate once he was taken for interrogation, but I was aware of the possibility that he could face imprisonment for his heinous acts of assaulting women and children. The person I had doubts about was Tony, who, like me in the role of Shawn Rothwell, had experience as a trained assassin. However, Tony's past involved serving the United States Government, not the Satanic Church, according to him and Mr. Stringham.

My eyes followed my bride Rhoda as they replaced her cape and veil. Her sisterhood, including Jenny playing the part of her mother, took her to the bathing tent for a separate ceremony.

Earlier, I had noticed someone getting ready in the far corner. They were pouring water into metal tubs, like the ones my grandma had for laundry and bathing in the past. I wondered why we were doing this outdoors. I watched as my bride stepped into a small tub, while someone lit cauldrons in each corner for light. Jenny returned and stood next to Tony. I felt relieved that I wouldn't have sex with a girl covered in blood. They seemed to use blood for everything, even drinking and eating organs. Just thinking about it made me want to hurl.

However, Eli's bride's anointing and the arrival of two lambs redirected my attention. She joined her friend in the tent for her own anointing and to clean off the blood. Meanwhile, Eli was motioned to the altar and our parents-to-be waited for Jenny to return from taking Eli's bride to the bathing tent.

His father the High Bishop helped Tony remove the cape from around Eli's shoulders and helped him lay down as the High Bishop blessed the lamb … The moment he was done, I closed my eyes tightly, but hearing and feeling the lamb being killed was something I would always remember. More so because they forced me to do it, guiding my shaking hands. I had done it once before with Pa, but it bothered me so much that I had refused to do it ever again. Yet here I was doing it again and wasn't for the meat on our table. It was for pure and simple a slaughter so they could use its blood to anoint us with and burn it as an offering to their God, Lucifer, and his avenging Angel Mormo.

Tony guided my hands, making sure the lamb didn't suffer as I felt the warm tears racing down my cheeks and felt the warm blood ooze over my hands into the golden bowl to be used to anoint Eli and me when it was my turn. No one said anything because everyone else except me and Tony and his team that were watching my tears run down my cheeks. They probably thought my tears stemmed from the emotion of anointing my mate, husband, and friend with a loving gift.

Yet I had to do it and I needed to know, not that I wanted to know, mostly because I knew I was next as Eli would do the same for me, and I prayed I would never have to do it again. How wrong I was because I had been forced to do it many times after that, so I could look like I was one of them. I then watched as the High Bishop and Tony drained the blood as it was being poured into a large golden bowl designed with skulls and snakes and people holding knives over a person lying on the altar. Just like the ones I had seen at the abandoned storeroom hiding the secret entrances, and in Heber.

Once he had the blood, the High Bishop tossed the dead lamb into the left bonfire, which was the opposite he had done with the doves. This again showed our unequal standing, despite our marriage. The church's view was that the women were less important than men. Tony helped me wash my hands, whispering to me how proud he was of me, hoping to console me.

Jeff too was proud as he filled me with love replacing the cold darkness that was surrounding me even though it was a hot and humid night in Texas with an average winter temperature of 90 degrees compared to back home and in Heber where it was thirty to forty degrees and would get even colder when the snow falls reaching temperatures of ten and below. The heat was even worse with heat from the bonfires and the cauldrons as our light source and used for the ritual. Not to mention the smell of the lambs and the birds being charred in the bonfire as their remains smoked through the air.

Once again, I kneeled beside the altar with my back towards the people watching. Watching the High Bishop anointed Eli with the lamb's blood this time using a brush I would use for basting, coarse and round like a big fat paintbrush. Watching him being covered him from the neck down all the way down to his feet and using his hands when he was anointing his loins and penis instead of using the coarse brush on the sensitive areas but making sure as he had with the girls that it had been covered entirely as he lathered the blood on his sack and stroked his penis until every inch of it was covered.

While we listened to the people behind us chant as the High Bishop made symbols in the blood on his body. Then blessed him using the burning bowl watching it as he moved across his body, after the fourth pass he kissed his son on both cheeks and helped him off the altar, and replaced the golden cape around his shoulders, having him take my place to slaughter my lamb then returned to kneel like I had done while his father the High Bishop anointed me.

I climbed onto the altar and closed my eyes, hearing the lamb being killed for me, or should I say for Shawn. The moment the warm blood touched my skin I cringed not liking it one bit, and shivered with goosebumps. It took everything I had inside to remain still and not scream or cry as the fear tried to grip me. It wasn't long before he was done by placing a kiss on my cheek as I quickly, but slowly got off the altar. As Tony replaced the cape, I whispered. "They are planning to kill you in the morning."

He blurted as he whispered in my ear, hooking the clasp and chain said. "I know," watching Eli's honor guard take him off to the tent to be bathed and anointed, while his father the High Bishop moved off to finish preparations once we had been bathed and anointed one last time so we could be with our brides before we would be congratulated and then sent off to father them a holy child. Noticing the girls were waiting inside our tent, dressed in the robes we had previously worn for the wedding ceremony.

Tony joined my brotherhood honor guard. I stumbled, allowing Tony to help me as Eli had gone on ahead with his honor guard; telling me as he whispered, helping me that I needed to stall them until 3 am at least so they could free the slaves and deal with our problem. As we quickly caught up to Eli, they escorted us inside the tent to our awaiting brides. I didn't understand why Tony directed Eli to kneel before the altar instead of taking him to the bathing tent, while they anointed me with the blood of the lamb he had sacrificed. Again, I made a note asking Tony and Eli about it.

Once inside, I checked my watch. It was 11:30. Tony and Jenny were leaving, indicating that now that we were married, we no longer needed our parents for the night. It seemed like they didn't have other responsibilities, even though they were supposed to help hunt down the occult. My role was to keep everyone focused on me. Now, it was the girls' turn to wait until we bathed and were re-anointed. Eli explained that after we were bathed and dressed in our wedding clothes, we would join the guests and be introduced as new active members. We would sit at the front of the table, feasting and celebrating until it was time for us to make love to our brides and impregnate them. This way, they could bear our children and be blessed during the naming ceremony on the Summer solstice.