Church Whore

by Faith

  “I’m about to pull into the parking garage.”

  Edem ran out the door and raced to the parking garage. When he laid eyes on Felicia he was able to breathe a little. Felicia got out of the car and they embraced.

  “Eddie, what is going on?”

  “I don’t know but I think we need to call the police, now. Things are going too far. Come on, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  “I’m okay, Eddie.”

  “Woman, you’re going to the hospital.” Eddie opened the passenger door for Felicia to the rental car Eddie had been driving.

  On the way to the hospital Felicia started to cramp. She became nervous about losing the baby. When they got to the hospital Felicia was screaming out in pain. They took her straight to the back and Eddie filled out the paperwork to the best of his ability.

  Eddie called Edem to let him know what was going on. Edem told him that he was on his way. Eddie paced the floor, waiting to hear word about his wife.

  “Please God let her and my baby be okay. Please.” Eddie prayed out loud.

  Edem was the first to arrive and he hugged his brother and he tried to calm him. Eddie was becoming a nervous wreck. Junior and Lacey arrived next. It seemed like every five minutes more members of the Blanks clan arrived. Mama Eloise arrived with Elisea and Tricia. When Mama Eloise saw her baby in so much pain she ran to him and cradled him in her arms.

  “Calm down baby, God’s got this. You hear me? God’s got this.” Mama Eloise held her son as he wept in her arms.

  Lizzie and James arrived next. They had been out on a dinner date when she got the call from Elisea. Mud finally came in. His eyes looked blood shot red. He looked a mess.

  “Everyone is here now, let’s say a prayer.” Edem stood up and placed on hand on his brother’s back and Elisea grabbed Edem’s hand. The family formed a circle.

  “Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you asking that you cover this family and especially our dearest Felicia and her unborn child with the precious blood of Jesus. Jehovah-Rapha you are the ultimate healer, you make bitter things sweet. Lord, today we ask you for a supernatural turn around in this situation. Your words promise us that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Father we need you now. We need you to show up and show out right now God. As a family we give to you every situation in our lives. May you be the light in every dark place. Father God we thank you in advance for supernatural turn around. In the precious name of Jesus we thank you. Amen.”

  “Amen!” The Blanks family said in unison.

  Everyone sat in silence as Edem replayed what Eddie told him over the phone.

  “Well we need to beef up security, that’s a must.” Junior said.

  “Yeah, we can get them a driver so Felicia won’t have to worry about that.” Edem agreed.

  “I called Officer Hudson on the way over, he’ll be here soon.” Junior told them.

  The doctor walked into the waiting room. “Mr. Blanks?”

  Eddie stood up and the doctor came over. Your wife is resting comfortably.

  “What about the baby?” Eddie asked.

  “We have her on a monitor to keep track of the baby. We believe the cramps were from stress. She told me what happened so some cramping is to be expected. But the baby looks great on the monitor, it has a strong heartbeat and that’s a good sign. We will be keeping her overnight just so we can make sure the cramps don’t return.”

  “Whew! Thank you God! Oh, and you too doctor, can I see her now?”

  “Yes, she’s been asking for you.” Eddie followed the doctor out of the waiting room.

  “Praise God!” Mama Eloise said. Although Felicia wasn’t her choice for Eddie they seemed to love each other a lot and she was carrying her grandbaby.

  Officer Hudson arrived and went to take a statement from Eddie and Felicia. Eddie decided to come clean about the texts and pictures.

  The family waited patiently in the waiting room. Each taking turns checking on Felicia before they left for the night. Eddie hugged everyone before they left. He went to hug his mama and she asked. “What you hugging me for? I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Mama, you don’t have to stay.”

  “Don’t you think I know that son? I want to. Felicia’s mother can’t be here until tomorrow so I’m going to stay with her until her mother comes,” putting her hand on her hip, “Is that alright with you, son?”

  Eddie threw his hands up in the air. “Aight Mama.”

  Eddie and Mama Eloise made themselves comfortable in the recliners that were in the hospital room.

  ________

  Edem and Elisea went over Eddie’s to grab some clothes for Felicia but when they arrived the door was ajar. Edem looked at Elisea and Elisea shrugged her shoulders. They gently pushed the door open. At first nothing seemed out of place until they reached the bedroom.

  Eddie and Felicia’s bed had been ripped to shreds. Someone had taken a knife to it. Feathers cascaded all over the bed from the goose down pillows being split open. Elisea gasped. Edem called Officer Hudson and took pictures of the mess. Then he called Eddie to tell him.

  Eddie left Mama Eloise at the hospital with Felicia and rushed home. By the time he got there the police were already on the scene. They were hoping that the intruder had left some fingerprints behind. Eddie didn’t want Felicia coming home to this so as soon as the police cleared out, Eddie had to go find another mattress and bedding.

  Chapter 12

  Eloise Blanks pulled up outside of the Harlot’s family residence. It was time she and the matriarch Lilith have a show down. Eloise got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Before she could even knock the door swung open.

  “Mrs. Blanks, what do I owe this surprise?” A smiling Lilith Harlow said standing in the door.

  “I wanted to talk to you about your daughters.” Eloise didn’t crack a smile.

  “Well by all means come in.”

  As soon as Eloise stepped into the Harlots residence something did not sit right in her spirit. The feeling was so strong that Eloise wanted to run out of there.

  “Take a load off, have a seat.”

  “No thank you, I won’t be staying long. I just wanted you to make sure your daughters stay away from my family.” Eloise put her hand on her hip.

  “Excuse me?” Lilith frowned her face up.

  “Just what I said, your daughters are wreaking havoc in not only my family but other families as well in the church. And it needs to stop!”

  “My daughters haven’t done anything to anybody that they didn’t want done to them. Unlike you, I know the truth about MY kids. You walk around here like you’re the queen of Sheba and that your family is so perfect and above reproach. No honey, that’s not how it is. Everybody knows that your sons are all whores! Everyone knows so don’t come over here with your holier than thou speech about MY daughters.

  “You know what lady? I have warned you, now the next time your daughters come at my blood, it’s on!”

  Eloise spun around and walked out of the house. When she reached the sidewalk she took in a deep breath. The energy in that house was not good. She drove straight to the church for prayer.

  ________

  Tricia stopped by her place to check the mail and get a few more things. She was surprised to see Mud laying there in a drunken stupor. Tricia shook her head and stepped over Mud who was lying on the floor. She pulled her phone out and texted Junior, Eddie and Edem. They all said they were on their way.

  Tricia looked through the mail and gathered some more of her belongings. As she packed her bag Mud came stumbling into the room.

  “What are you doing here?” Mud slurred his words.

  “You’re drunk, Mud.”

  “Who gives a damn? Why are you here? You don’t live here anymore, remember?”

  “I just came to get a few things that’s all.” Tricia tried to stay on an even keel but Mud was making her nervous. She wished the brothers would hurry up and get there.

  “You need
to get the hell out, you’ve done enough to ruin my life.”

  “Me? No honey, you’ve done this all to yourself. You cheated on me, remember? You neglected me, remember? So don’t try to put this off on me because it’s not going to work. I was a good wife to you and I didn’t deserve that.”

  Junior was the first one to arrive. “What’s going on here?” he asked.

  “What you doin’ here, Junior?” Mud slurred his words and staggered to stand up straight.

  “Brother, you’ve been drinking I see.”

  “Ah shit, it aint nothing, it aint nothing. I was just telling this bitch here to get out of my house.”

  “Mud! Don’t do that, that’s not cool.”

  “Why is everybody on her side? Shit, it’s not all my fault.”

  “Mud, you need to go lay down.” Junior tried to get Mud to the bed.

  “Man, get the fuck off of me! I don’t need you telling me what to do! I’m sick of y’all always telling me what to do. That’s why I’m going to start my own church and that way I won’t have to be bothered with y’all all the damn time, and my church is gonna be bigger and better than yours, watch.”

  “Okay, Mud, we can talk about all of this when you wake up but right now you need to take a little nap.”

  Edem and Eddie came in and saw the last exchange between their brothers. Edem walked over to Mud and snatched the bottle of Henny out of his hand and poured it down the sink in the bathroom.

  “Hey man, give me my stuff back!” Mud whined.

  “Shut up, Mud! I’m sick of all of this foolishness with you. Get it together! Your problems are from your own doing. No one told you to be a dirty whore and sleep with everything that moves. And your wife still hung in there and when she got fed up you want to act like she doesn’t exist. You idiot, she’s about to have your child and you acting like pure fool.

  “Ease up on him, Edem.” Junior said.

  “No, see, that’s the problem, y’all cuddle this nigga instead if kicking him in his ass. I’ve had it up to here with all of this nonsense.”

  Eddie and Junior tried to lay Mud down on the bed. Mud tried putting up a fight but he was too drunk. He quickly drifted off to sleep as they stood around the bed watching him.

  “What are y’all gonna do? Tricia asked them.

  “First he needs to sober up if y’all think I’m going to talk with him.” Edem said.

  “Edem, what’s gotten into you?” Eddie said.

  “Eddie, life is too short to be dealing with stupid mess. Plus, doesn’t the bible say don’t argue with a fool? Well he’s a fool and I’m going to need him to get it together.” Edem explained.

  “I can stay for a few hours, Felicia is spending time with her mother.” Eddie told them as he took of his jacket and shoes.

  “I need to get back to the church and get some things done but I’ll be back once I finish.” Junior added.

  “Well I’m out, call me when he’s sober.” Edem hugged Tricia before he left.

  “Wow! Edem isn’t playing.” Tricia said as she continued to gather her things. “I hope y’all know how much I love your brother but he’s changed and not for the better. I had to choose me and my baby over him. It’s not like he cared anyway.”

  “Tricia, you don’t have to explain anything to us. We know how much you love Mud. I don’t know what’s wrong with him to be honest.” Junior put his arm around his sister–in law who seemed to be on the verge of tears.

  Tricia hugged Junior back and headed for the front door. As soon as they heard the front door close Junior and Eddie started talking. They were trying to get to the bottom of what was wrong with Mud. Junior admitted that he thought Jezebel had a lot to do with the way that Mud was acting. Eddie agreed, especially knowing how crazy Tamar was; he didn’t put anything past the Harlot sisters. Junior told Eddie about his hook ups with Delilah since him and Sheila called it quits.

  “These women definitely have that snapping pussy. It’s like they put a root on us or something. I can say I’m going to leave her alone and I still find myself knee deep up in her guts.”

  “Junior, that’s just because Delilah hasn’t gone psycho stalker bitch on your ass. Trust me, if she started acting like that you wouldn’t find yourself in knee deep nothing of hers.”

  “I guess you have a point, Eddie, but it’s just something about these women.” Junior got up and fixed his tie in the mirror. Let me get back to the church and I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  “Aight, hand me the remote will ya?” Junior handed Eddie the remote and left the apartment.

  ________

  Delilah was riding the hell out of the Edwin in his office. She had just stopped by to say hi since she was in the neighborhood but one thing led to another. Edwin needed his freaky fix him and Sheila had not been seeing things eye to eye lately.

  Delilah rode Edwin into submission. What was she doing to him? He couldn’t get enough of that snapper. Edwin didn’t know if his eyes were deceiving him or not but he swore that Delilah’s eyes turned black for a split second. He jerked and pushed her off of him.

  “What’s the matter, daddy?” Delilah looked different to him but he couldn’t place what was different.

  Something spooked him and he jumped up. He started throwing his clothes on. “I gotta go.”

  “Where are you going?” Delilah started pulling on him.

  Edwin wouldn’t let her pull him back down. He was still trying to put his shoes on when Delilah clawed at his back. A burning sensation came over his back and he jumped to his feet.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Edwin was pissed off. He knew she had left a mark. How was he going to explain this to Lacey?

  “You cannot walk away from me!” Delilah said in deeper voice that didn’t sound like her own.

  Edwin grabbed his keys and his phone and got out the hell out of dodge. He could hear Delilah laughing a laugh that sounded almost demonic like. He jumped in his ride and sped off. His back was on fire so he had to drive sitting straight up. He headed straight to the church. When he arrived at the church Edem was in his office and Edwin ran in there and shut the door.

  “What the what? Junior what on earth is wrong with you?” Edem asked as Junior scared the living daylights out of him busting into his office.

  Edwin was out of breath, he was sweating, and he looked like he had just seen a ghost. Edem got up and got a bottle of water out of his mini fridge and handed it to Edwin.

  “Something happened.” Junior said out of breath.

  “Calm down and take a sip of water before you hyperventilate. Sit down too, you don’t seem too steady on your legs.”

  Junior sat down in the seat and tried to explain what had happened back at the hotel with Delilah.

  Edem listened and just shook his head. He knew from the first time he laid eyes on them that they would be trouble. He also knew that his brothers would fall victim to them. Edem was more prophetic then they knew. He had visions and dreams he never warned them about because whenever he did they wouldn’t listen.

  Edem looked in the top drawer of his desk and pulled out his anointing oil. He walked over to brother who looked as if he was stricken with sickness and he anointed his head. Then he lifted up his shirt and anointed the claw marks on his back. He was even shocked at how bad the marks looked.

  As Edem continued to pray over his brother, Junior broke down and started to cry. He felt convicted of his actions and he cried out to God for deliverance from this woman, this thing that had a hold on him. Edem watched as his brother had a come to Jesus moment.

  Junior got off of his knees and went to his office. He said he had to get this sermon out that just came to him. Edem nodded and tried to go back to what he was doing but he couldn’t help but think of the Harlot sisters. They were more powerful then he ever imagined. He didn’t understand why his brothers couldn’t see the spirit that was on them when he saw it right away.

  It was time for spiritual warfare and his family
was in shambles. Mud was under Jezebel’s spell. He was sure that she was the one who put it in his head about leaving and starting his own church. Eddie was living in fear from Tamar because he didn’t know what she was willing to do next, and Delilah showed herself to his brother and it scared the mess out of him. Edem shook his head thinking about everything. He had to do something to stop them.

  Chapter 13

  Sheila stood in her bathroom staring at the EPT test sat on her counter. The time wasn’t even up yet and two lines became very visible. She picked the test up and continued to stare at it like it was going to change the results or something. She went to her room and sat on the edge of her bed. She contemplated what to do. Edwin had to know, so she texted him.

  I NEED TO TALK TO YOU IT’S IMPORTANT.

  Sheila waited for a response.

  OK TALK WASSUP?

  Sheila rolled her eyes at the text. WHERE CAN I MEET YOU?

  She wasn’t in the mood for Edwin’s mess today. She had been feeling nauseous and hadn’t realized that she was two months late.

  AROUND I’ll STOP BY ON MY WAY HOME.

  Sheila sucked her teeth and texted back; FINE.

  A few hours later Edwin showed up at Sheila’s place. Sheila had spent the last hour throwing up.

  “You don’t look good.” Edwin said when Sheila opened the door.

  “Gee, thanks.” Sheila rolled her eyes at him.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were sick. So what do you need to talk to me about? You’re not going to quit are you? I know we’ve been going through rough patch with our friendship but I didn’t want to lose our friendship. Plus you are the best at what you do, I couldn’t replace you.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Sheila handed Edwin the EPT test.

  Edwin looked at it and then looked back at Sheila. He kept going back and forth like he was watching a tennis game. He sat down on the couch.

  “Are you sure it’s mine?”

  Sheila instantly got an attitude. “Yes I’m sure it’s yours! I haven’t been with anyone else!”