Church Whore 3

by Faith

  ________

  The news coverage about the bodies found in the hotel parking lot was late breaking news. Although the names of the victims were not being released, the manager of the hotel was interviewed:

  “…They usually kept to themselves, but there were a few complaints of arguing or large banging going on in the room,” he was telling the reporter.

  “Did you have any contact with the victims at all?”

  “Only in passing.” The hotel manager wiped his brow as sweat beads formed.

  “What was your impression of them?”

  “The guy was rather cold. He never spoke, but the lady would wave if I saw her going or coming from the dumpster or something.”

  As the reporter pulled her microphone away, the hotel manager grabbed the microphone back and said, “Oh, yeah I do remember one time when the lady came in to pay. I asked her if she was okay because she acted very irritable, and she said she was tired of being cooped up in that room with her son, and he was getting on her nerves. I suggested that she take a walk.”

  “Are you sure the victim referred to him as her son?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Well, you heard it here first. Reporting live with the late breaking news of two bodies found in the parking lot area of a hotel on the outskirts of Greensboro. Back to you, Sam…”

  Delilah, Tamar and Jezebel sat in front of the TV in their hotel room, staring at the screen.

  Delilah looked over at her sisters and said, “That looks like Damien’s car.”

  “I told y’all that we need to get the hell out of here,” Jezebel blurted out.

  “Nobody told you to try to run over your baby daddy and his wife!” Delilah fussed.

  “You did what? When?” Tamar asked with her eyes all wild.

  “Oh shut up, Tamar!”

  “How did you know?” Jezebel asked, shocked that Delilah knew what she had done.

  “Are you stupid? It was on the news!”

  “Did they say it was me? Did they named me as a suspect?” Jezebel started to perspire.

  “No, but it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. I’m not stupid.” Delilah said and rolled her eyes.

  “Look, we need to get out of here, like right now!” Jezebel demanded.

  “Did you not just see the news? You know like I do that Mother and Damien are probably dead. They’re dead! And still all you can think about is yourself. Typical! They’re dead!” Delilah screamed at the top of her lungs, and then broke down crying uncontrollably.

  Tamar put her hands over Delilah’s mouth to silence her. “Will you be quiet before someone comes to the door?”

  Delilah could not be consoled. She knew in her heart that the news coverage was about her mother and brother. She felt it with everything inside of her.

  “Well, I’m going! Y’all can stay here if you want to,” Jezebel said, and went into the closet to grab her duffel bag.

  “Not with my car you’re not!” Tamar yanked the keys out of her hand.

  “Are you insane?”

  Jezebel and Tamar began tussling over the keys. Tamar was physically the strongest of the three. It was evident that she was in the midst of a manic episode.

  Jezebel didn’t stand a chance, and she knew it. “Fine! Take your damn keys! I’m gone!” she yelled. She rushed out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

  A wild eyed Tamar turned to Delilah, who was still crying. “Would you shut up!” she screamed at her in a voice that sent chills up Delilah’s spine.

  Chapter 12

  The Blanks brothers stood at the front of the church. Mud took the lead.

  “I feel like going on, I feel like going on.

  Though trials come from every hand,

  I feel like going on—

  ”Brothers, help me sing!”

  The Blanks brothers joined in the next verse with their brother, and Once again they had mesmerized the congregation with their harmonies. And when the choir stood to their feet and joined in on the chorus, church became swept up in the spirit.

  Edem took to the podium to preach the word of God:

  “Good Morning, Church. I want to talk to you today about walking in your anointing. Turn your Bibles to 1John 2:27.”

  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

  “When you make the choice to start walking in your anointing, you have chosen your enemy. Did you hear me, Church? Let me say that again. ‘When you start walking in your anointing, you have chosen your enemy.’ Why is that relevant? You are designed by God, and each of us has been blessed with an anointing. See, you won’t get on the enemy’s radar just doing your own thing. But when you tap into the power of God and you become clear with what you are called to do; be prepared for attacks coming from all sides. It is all a part of the process. The enemy will use anybody and any situation to distract you. That’s when you have to get a made up mind. When you have a made up mind, you understand the bigger the problem, the bigger the blessing. You don’t focus on how big the problem is, but how big our God is!”

  “You betta preach!” Madear hollered out.

  “Church, you cannot tap into someone else’s anointing. The word says to write the vision and make it plain. He’s not going to give someone your anointing. You cannot walk in someone else’s anointing. No one can be better at being you then you can. Your anointing is a part of who you are. It’s that special gift that the Almighty has put inside of you. So Church, I challenge you to do what God already told you to do. In the spirit realm, I see doors opening up that no man can close. I see this church full of women pregnant with possibilities. God is about to do something big, and I came to tell you to get ready. Put on the whole armor of God so that you can not only walk in your anointing, but in authority.”

  The Blanks brothers appeared at Edem’s side. “Those of you who want to be anointed today, come. Come tap into what God has already placed in you.”

  Church members came and stood in line for the Blanks brothers to anoint their heads with oil.

  ________

  Elisea stood in front of the young ladies of the Queen I am. She picked up her iPad and took her seat in the circle. “Queens, today we are going to talk about ‘soul ties’. When you open yourself up to sexual sin, you just don’t violate your body; you violate your heart. After the sexual act is done, your heart has to deal with the consequences of your actions. So, you have to protect your body and your heart. Which brings me to soul ties. In Genesis 34:1-3:”

  “And Dinah the, daughter of Leah which she bare unto Jacob went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.”

  “See, when you have sex with someone it creates a soul tie. The word tells us that Shechem did not love Dinah, he just lusted for her after he had raped her. Also, notice it said he ‘spake kindly unto her’. Sexual sin can be confusing. Everything that feels good isn’t good for you.”

  “In Genesis 34:8:”

  “And Hamor communed with them, saying the soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.”

  “Notice he said ‘the soul’. This scripture confirms that when you have sexual interactions with someone, the entangling of the souls take place. And, this can make it hard to end a relationship that you have no business being in, because you are tied to the wrong soul.”

  “Queens, please be mindful that there are natural and spiritual laws designed by God. Now these laws can bring us freedom when these laws are obeyed. However, God has given us free will, and when we violate these laws destruction and bondage occurs. That is why if you want to knit your soul to an
other, it should be to your husband. Who else better to join your soul to? That is why the wedding bed cannot be defiled. Two partners becoming one flesh before God. God’s design is perfect.”

  “So, when we operate outside the realms of the law, and we have premarital sex, we tie our souls to the wrong people. Remember, God’s law doesn’t change, and when the law is broken, we subject ourselves to bondage. First Corinthians 6:16-18 says:”

  “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”

  “That’s deep!” one of the girls said. “I never thought of it like that before.”

  “That’s just it; not many of us do. That’s why we have to be mindful of all aspects of it. Can you imagine what the average woman would look like if you could see through her? She would have different pieces of multiple spirits in her.”

  “That’s scary,” another girl said.

  “It really is. Like I said, everything that looks good isn’t good for you. That’s why I wanted to start this group so if I can get you to just prepare yourself mentally to think first, and then maybe you can make an informed decision.”

  “Did you feel guilty afterwards?” one of the older girls asked.

  “I did actually, at first. I didn’t feel guilty enough to stop. See, that’s the thing. The more you do something, the more comfortable you become in sin. After a while the guilt falls away, and you only focus on the pleasure.”

  After the group meeting and as everyone snacked on the buffet of goodies that were on the table, Elisea was setting up the gift bags on another table.

  “Miss Elisea?”

  “Hey, Taylor! You were awfully quiet today. Are you okay?”

  Taylor stepped closer to Elisea and whispered, “I found out I’m pregnant. So what you said today about that soul tie stuff really made me think.”

  “Aw, Taylor!” Elisea hugged her. “What are you going to do?”

  Taylor shrugged her shoulders.

  “What did your mother say? What about the father?”

  “I haven’t told her. I’m too scared, and he broke up with me.” Taylor dropped her head.

  “Taylor, baby, look at me. You don’t have to drop your head in shame. Been there done that, and you just made a bad judgment call. You are not the first and you won’t be the last. No one is perfect. Maybe the father will come around. But even if he doesn’t, you will be okay. But you know you have to tell your mother. It’s going to be scary, but she needs to know.”

  “Will you tell her for me?” Taylor looked like a deer caught in headlights.

  “If you want me there with you I will. And no matter what your decision is, I’m here for you. We are all here for you.”

  “You mean I don’t have to leave the group?”

  “Girl!” Elisea put her hand on her hips. “You’re still a Queen. Baby, that’s your birthright. Everything will be fine. I’ll call you so we can we can sit down with your mom.”

  A smile formed on Taylors lips and she gave Elisea a big hug. “Thank you so much!”

  ________

  At the P.U.S.H service, Mama Eloise listened intently to Eddie as he led the church in prayer, when she saw Denard helping Bernice into her signature seat. She was so happy to see her friend. Although she moved slower, she was making great strides. After she had gotten her to eat, she made sure the kitchen ministry added her to the church’s sick and shut-in meal plan where dinner were delivered to them.

  Mama Eloise got up from her seat in the first pew and took the microphone from Eddie. “I just want to give thanks to my Lord and Savior who is the head of my life, my comforter, my doctor, my father and my friend. He put a song in my heart, and I want to dedicate it to Mother Bernice Watkins. We are all so happy to see you back where you belong!”

  “We’ve come this far by faith,

  Leaning on the Lord,

  Trusting in His holy word,

  He’s never failed me yet.

  Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

  Can’t turn around,

  We’ve come this far by faith…”

  The members at the P.U.S.H. service sang along with her, and Bernice clapped her hands and mouthed the words of the song.

  “Mud, baby would you sing ‘My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord’?” Mama Eloise asked him because she knew that was on of Bernice’s favorite songs.

  Mud stepped to the mic and looked over at the musicians.

  “Though the storms keep on raging in my life,

  And sometimes it’s hard to tell my night from day,

  Still that hope that lies within is reassured,

  As I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;

  I know He’ll lead me safely to that blessed place He has prepared.

  But if the storms don’t cease,

  And if the wind keeps on blowing,

  My soul has been anchored in the Lord…”

  Although Bernice’s speech wasn’t back to normal, the Holy Spirit hit her and she began to shout and speak in tongues. The church was in an uproar because they were all watching a miracle happen right in front of their eyes.

  Chapter 13

  Everyone had gathered for Sunday dinner at the Mama Eloise’s. All of the men were in the den screaming at the TV as they watched the Carolina Panthers play.

  Officer Hudson was walking up the steps. he was about to ring the doorbell when Elisea pulled up. “Hey, O! I’ll let you in.” She popped her trunk and retrieved a bunch of bags.

  “Let me help you with that,” O said, and took most of the bags out of her hands. “Dag, E! You do as much damage as Toya in the store!”

  “I’m telling!” Elisea sang as she teased him. “Shoot, I needed some retail therapy.”

  O gave her a look. “Is that the female motto?”

  “Yep!” Elisea laughed as she pulled out her keys and opened the door.

  “Hey, y’all! Look who I found, and he’s got jokes!”

  They walked into the living room and O put the bags down.

  “Good Lawd, Elisea! Did you buy out the entire store?” Mama Eloise asked, looking at all the bags.

  Lizzie, Felicia, Tricia and Ruthie looked at each other and said in unison, “Retail Therapy!” All the women busted out laughing, while Mama Eloise had a confused look on her face. O looked at her and shrugged.

  “The boys are in the den, O,” she said, ignoring her girls.

  “Thanks, Mama Eloise. I need to talk with them.”

  She became suspicious. “What’s going on, son?” she asked.

  “I’ll be back,” O said, and headed to the den.

  The fellas were screaming because the Carolina Panthers had just won. They were all on their feet doing the “Dab”, the infamous signature move of Cam Newton.

  “Really?” O shook his head at his friends.

  “You ain’t mad, are you, Cowboys fan?”

  “Nah, the Panthers are playing a good season, and they’ll probably make it to the Super Bowl. But let’s see if they can take home that Super Bowl ring!”

  “Hater!!” Eddie teased.

  “Never that! I’m just a Cowboys fan for life. Win or lose, I still rep my team.”

  “Yeah, we know! This nigga’s man cave is Cowboy nation!” Eddie said, getting up and giving O dap. “What’s up, man? You working hard I see.”

  O took a seat next to Mud. “Yeah, about that. I have some news.” His tone had changed to a serious one.

  “What’s up, O?” Junior asked.

  “It’s been confirmed that the bodies found in that hotel parking lot are Lilith and her son Damien.”

  The brothers looked at each other and were completely silent.

  “Yeah, we figured that,” Eddie said as got up to pour a drink from the bar.

&nb
sp; “The thing is, they had a lot of fake ID’s, but I knew what she looked like so we had to get the next of kin to identify the body.”

  “You found the Harlot sisters?” Mud asked.

  “No, not yet, so we contacted Poe. And that cat is weird as hell. He barely spoke. He just had a weird vibe about him. Something’s off about that dude. He’s on my radar for this.”

  “You think Poe did it?” Junior was shocked.

  “We have a lead on Tamar though. Lilith’s cell phone records show that she had been in contact with her. And…” O got quiet.

  “What?” Eddie knew his friend, and he was holding out.

  “One of the text messages was to Damien, talking about how she was going to tell everyone that he her raped her if he didn’t come back.”

  “What the!?” Edem looked horrified.

  “Exactly!” O said. “The autopsy showed that she had been sexually active, and the semen did match Damien’s.”

  “Those sick bastards!” Junior said, shaking his head.

  “Umm, I don’t think we need to share that with E. I mean, hearing that Damien is dead may be hard on her as it is,” Edem told them.

  The men all nodded in agreement

  James looked at Andrew, who had a concerned look on his face.

  “Yeah, she’s been through enough,” Mud said.

  “I can’t imagine Poe though,” Junior added.

  “I’m not saying he’s good for it; I just got a weird vibe off of him that’s all. I think they’re all crazy. Those sisters could be behind it. They were diabolical, but not that smart. Evidence found in the car and hotel room proves that they were behind the fire, and Damien is the one that shot you, Mud and Lewis.”

  “Wow! This is crazy!” Eddie said.

  “Yeah, well I just wanted to fill y’all in on what is going on. Oh, and Poe is having them cremated here. He’s not even taking the bodies back to his hometown.”