Chapter 10-2 Book 7

Chapter 10-2

The Masked Dance

Part 3

What I could tell was the plan was going well as I watched each person in their own way stop the High Bishop and give him a donation or small token for his birthday, and the moment they had Jenny and the team would steal it back and return it to its rightful owners, leaving crumbs of what they actually had given him in the first place. I could only imagine the fallout once he goes to his safe and to count his gold coins and finds some of the money missing. He'll begin by asking who took it, then point fingers at his honor guard, systematically eliminating them. Eli and his dad said that the honor guards surrounding them murdered and raped children and that they were hired as trained assassins to do his dirty work.

Eli and I being sixteen and seventeen like most of his friends would have been starting our training the moment we became active members the moment we turned sixteen. Using our wives and children as hostages until we completed our training, and when we had accomplished our missions until we had enough kills under our belt, we would be welcomed into the fold of the honor guard. I had been told there are three levels of the honor guard: Spies, Interrogators, and The Elite.

Each level gives you the right to kill if asked to, known as soft kills, as a spy to bring back information, interrogator to send a message, and the elite that involves all three and moved up guarding your moving target to and from their destination in case someone is trying to kill them. There is always a sense of wonder if they will betray and kill you in order to take your place. Once you have been placed as an honor guard, your job is to participate in the circle of the rituals as overseers and participants like when they killed that girl's grandfather and then ate him like a Thanksgiving turkey. One of the many reasons why Eli wanted out is because he could do without someone with great honor like that.

The more training you have and the killings you have, gives you power and wealth, which is the focus of the church and the reason they want to take over the world in every aspect. Intending to free Lucifer from said prison so he can reign over us. Like that's ever going to happen, but it does make them quite dangerous to the rest of society as they try to accomplish their main goal or goals, and again not all Satanic Churches involve kidnapping private citizens off the street or killing their own people and using them to rape and sacrifice their children.

Animals, yes, but that's a whole different can of worms. They in most cases, they stay close to the laws governed in their states and cities. Those aren't the people we are worried about. As I have stated before, we're after the ones that abuse the SRA (Satanic Ritual Abuse.)

* * * * *

Satanic ritual abuse (SRA, sometimes known as ritual abuse, ritualistic abuse, organized abuse, or sadistic ritual abuse) started in the United States in the 1980s, spreading throughout many parts of the world by the late 1990s, and persists today. Throughout much of the United States, there are reports of physical and sexual abuse of people in occult or Satanic rituals. Some allegations involve a conspiracy of a global Satanic cult that includes the wealthy and elite in which children are abducted or bred for human sacrifice, pornography, and prostitution.

Nearly every aspect of the ritual abuse is controversial, including its definition, the source of the allegations and proof thereof, testimonies of alleged victims, and court cases involving the allegations and criminal investigations. The panic affected lawyers, therapists, and social workers who handled allegations of child sexual abuse. Allegations initially brought together widely dissimilar groups, including religious fundamentalists, police investigators, child advocates, therapists, and clients in psychotherapy. The term satanic abuse was more common early on; this later became satanic ritual abuse and further secularized into simply ritual abuse.

* * * * *

Those are the people that are doing the killing, raping, and all the above to reach their goals. Listed as Top Secret at the time under the terrorist groups that the US Government wanted to remove off the map or send back underground to die from starvation. I and my friends and my Rothwell family were just a small handful that were involved. I can't write their story, but I can write mine.

Once the gathering had enjoyed mingling with expensive bottles of champagne or sparkling grape juice for those under the drinking age, or glasses of orange juice, or hot mugs of hot chocolate. That was about the only thing Stringham, Tony, and Jenny were allowed to drink because they really wanted a bigger stick to play against the bad guys. It would not look good for them to be baptized by drinking and smelling of cigar smoke.

It was probably the hardest thing they ever had to do. Reminding me and my ghostly friend that it better be worth it and keep his end of the bargain. All I could do was shrug my shoulders, stating that he would, or he wouldn't, but they would find out once they had done what he asked. So, in some ways, Jeff was doing his missionary work across the veil or the afterlife.

Don't ask why, because I don't know why other than it has to do with the light of Christ to help you fight off the darkness of the Satanic Church. But Stringham was already against the wall, freezing his assets off without that protection, wearing three pairs of long Johns underneath his expensive Armani suit, wearing a solid gold watch and cufflinks with diamond edging. He, like us, was dressed to the nines as they would say back then. Today they would say flying or blinging. I prefer rocking-hot or your smoken, with a hand wave leaning into a slide.

I had to admit that my new custom-made wheelchair was the bomb; it was a hell of a lot easier than using my hands to get the wheels moving and best of all people moved out of our way, using my horn to say here I come, or I was going to run you over. Jared and I loved the fact it stopped on a dime and turned with such ease. It was the best thing since sliced bread, adding hot melted butter and jam. I didn't want to know how much they cost, but I had a feeling I would once I balanced the books and receipts when I got the next chance to do so. Remembering that pile of homework on my desk makes me want to crawl into a ball and cry for my mommy. I wanted to smack Jeff for making me play the role of Shawn.

I'd blame him too if I could, but it was Jeff that insisted I do it. Now he wanted me to make sure I visited the school that Arthur is attending. Calling it a light duty, but necessary. At least I didn't have to play Arthur, but it did come across crystal clear that these custom-made wheelchairs were going to get me in the door. The only good thing was, at least when we were done using them, they would be donated to someone who truly needed them. It didn't matter how I felt about it and didn't matter that Arthur would spill his guts, telling them there was nothing wrong with me. Not being drugged out of his mind or with his behavior issues the moment they watch him throw a fit. Which I am sure is what they intend to let happen, sealing the deal.

Yet I knew my friend Jeff, to know he was up to something because of how quiet he was and how unhelpful he was tonight. Without uttering a single word, it conveyed to me that both Tony and I needed to be notified about what we should search for. This unspoken communication strongly suggested that he was concentrating in a specific location, deeply immersed in the tasks that Jeff, as a spiritual entity, usually pursues or hopes for us to tackle before the all-mighty Jeff grants his aid.

I wasn't worried about the danger I was in because I was confident that Tony and his team could handle it and I could, in a pinch, help, but if I did, our cover story would be blown. So, I mingled, and I smiled warmly as I honked my horn and being a teenage driver in his brand-new set of wheels. Trying to get the ladies to notice me, but then again, I was engaged to be married this Friday so the only girls and boys I should be interested in are Rhoda, Jackie, and Eli. While my mermaid friends and Highland friends, who could come, were taking a backseat.

Again, I wasn't sure how I was going to work that one out with my two new brides and groom and his bride coming along to meet the in-laws as they would say. Which I was dreading, knowing how the nuclear meltdown they had when I called them. I had sent out my wedding invitations to my Santaquin friends with a note stating the name change and why, so when Nate Carrion was being married on Friday, they would know who that was and not call me by my real name during the said event.

I wish I had called them instead, but I simply didn't have the time to do so. I'm always moving from one thing to another. To prepare for tonight's party, and then there is tomorrow as we drive to Salt Lake City around the crack of dawn and spend the entire day there picking out rings, wedding dresses, and whatnot for the following day as we introduce Arthur to his new home, tailored made just for him, bodyguard not included. A cell phone would have come in really handy back then. So instead, I focused on today, as Pa would say take one day at a time and never count your chickens twice when you are collecting eggs in your basket.

Since we were the ones throwing the big bash, we were entitled to sit up front with the High Bishop center stage, who should be grieving over his wife the High Priestess. Yet I haven't seen him shed one single tear, or even mention her during our many conversations. Eli told me that most likely he wasn't in love with her, or he would have still been grieving like his father was when he lost both his wives. His third wife died of childbirth losing both her and the baby which was speculation that she had been poisoned either by him or someone in his honor guard and never had children before that. He had decided he wasn't about to take a fourth because he had lost the mustered to father another one at his age.

Again, most likely one of the reasons he was being targeted was to be killed because of his age, and his children were now grown to have children of their own. As for his second husband, he discovered him dead in a puddle of blood two days after their wedding. It was suspected that his first wife killed him, being jealous of wanting him all to himself. Like I said it's a cutthroat bloody bunch.

Stringham stood as the High Bishop was toasting him for throwing this party in his honor and then rattled on about how he plans to change the world and Blah, Blah, Blah. Laughing at his own jokes as everyone else faked a laugh to make him feel better.

When he finally sat down, mostly because someone was pulling on his coattails that the entertainment Stringham had hired was about to start. Pointing to them as they were waiting for him to shut up and sit down. Tony's team worked the crowd and made notes of who was who by using the identity markings, getting them to stand and smile for the camera that they couldn't see as they pickpocketed and put a name to their picture. He had hired a live band and some celebrity I had never heard of to perform while we ate. Mine and Eli's eyes were dropping by the time it was over, considering none of us had much sleep if any since visiting Crest-Ridge.

Stringham graciously decided to forgo the dancing session for me and Jared, realizing that it would only add more stress to my already overwhelming schedule. The thought of not being able to practice at home made the idea of attending the dance seem like an insurmountable task. However, in order to ensure that we could leave early, right after the cake was cut and the adults had their fair share of dances, I made this compromise. As Eli eagerly took the chance to dance with Jackie, I extended an invitation to Rhoda to join me for a ride. She had unexpectedly climbed to the top of my priority list, surpassing my three mermaids, my boyfriend Dillon, and the girls from Highland.

We danced until 9 pm when the guests left a little bit at a time considering the program stated the advent was scheduled from 6 to 10 and that it was a school night for the ones that lived here in Heber, regardless of if they and their parents belonged to the Satanic Church. School and Homework always came first no matter who your parents were. Bad people with kids still had to follow the rules.

Stringham was the last to leave as Jenny took us home in her state-of-the-art van with every bell and whistle that Tony and Stringham could think of that made her heart go bump'ied bump. Tony turned his head towards me and said. "So, are you looking forward to tomorrow?"

I looked at him and said. "No, Tony I am not. I am looking forward to a nice long hot bath and finding what it is like to shut my peepers after two nights of no sleep."

Eli said as he asked. "So about tomorrow; I am assuming that we four are going, or do we get to miss out on all the fun?"

Jenny said. "Hell no, the girls and I are going shopping. And you boys better be thinking how lucky you are to have us girls at your side. After all, you promised us a Cinderella wedding, and we plan to get one, so no excuses. I don't care how many bad guys you find tomorrow; we are getting married in a proper church by a real preacher. If we have to spring you boys from prison tomorrow to do it. Do we make ourselves clear, Prince Charming's?" (Meaning us three boys) "We are walking down that aisle, well we girls and Eli are walking down the aisle, and you two boys are rolling down it.

"Then we're going to spend one night in the best hotel in Salt Lake City has to offer and make love to us all night long if necessary; before we leave for Santaquin so Eric can spend some much-needed time with his mother and brother, Aaron. Yet, I don't know where we are going to fit us all into the same house, but if I have to put us all on the roof, we're all going. Until we can figure out what kind of security we are going to need, considering I have never been to his house or Santaquin?"

Tony said. "Yes, baby, anything for you." Trying to remain on her good side, so he can get that little extra gift of tonight.

Thank goodness they had their own room. Now that some of my friends had already left for home, I would see them all at the wedding. Then the next time I would see them would be when I visited them at their new homes.

Tony nudged me and leaned in and asked. "How small is your mother's house and Santaquin?"

I said, "As far as Santaquin goes, you blink, and you miss it." Additionally, I should mention that my room in Heber is bigger than my mother's house, including the basement. Oh, and by the way, the nearest hotel is in Provo. Well, technically there is one in Payson, but I wouldn't recommend it unless it's an emergency. It's a fleabag hotel, and I've heard it's currently undergoing remodeling."

"He groaned by rubbing his face with his hands. "You're killing me, Kiddo, killing me."

I shrugged my shoulders and said. "At least we won't need these beauties, but as far as transportation, it's a little iffy at the moment. My mother doesn't have a car anymore, and Stringham has a lead on one, but it's in Santaquin.

"The limo would attract too much attention, so I don't know how we're all going to go. Dad and everyone else still haven't worked out the details. But I have a working plan in mind. But for now, let's see what they come up with. The other problem being is my father, he is going to have a nuclear meltdown when he sees my house guests.

"I am looking forward to sharing the news of my marriage with him. This is not your typical wedding, as it involves two brides instead of the traditional bride and groom. What adds an extra level of excitement to the situation is the fact that there is a groom involved, and I am genuinely curious to observe his response upon being informed of this. The situation becomes even more momentous when I disclose to him that they are both expecting our child. That is going to be something for the record books; since he would prefer me and my brother Aaron dead not giving him grandchildren."

Tony roared with laughter, a booming sound that echoed through the room as he recounted the hilarious antics of my family. "Yes, sir, it's going to be a gas," he chuckled, the anticipation evident in his voice.