by Jessie Wolf
School Time for Death - Resurrection
Book 5 of the Death Dealer Saga.
By Jessie Wolf
Kindle Edition © 2015 Jessie Wolf
First Edition: November 2015
For Maiha Nakatoma going back to school is not all it’s cracked up to be. Will she ever know what a normal day is?
Edited by Prof. Virginia Whippeal, djkauf, HoneysuckleP, and my loving husband Paul
Dedication
To all those who have helped me with this work of fiction. First my editors whose hard work this story would be nothing more than a dream. Donald J. Kaufman SR, and Professor Virginia Whipple. If not for the two of you I know that my writing would be nothing more than the ramblings of a desperate writer. For Paul my loving and very forgiving husband, without whose encouragement I would never have had the courage to even try writing this story or his putting up with stacks and stacks of notes covering his dinner table.
Author’s Notes
Censorship Rating (18+).
About the author
Jessie Wolf lives in a small seaside town in South Carolina with her husband of 19 years and two very inquisitive cats. In her day to day life Jessie works as a Network Manager and IT guru for the resorts and hotels of her home town. In her spare time she is an avid reader of all forms of the written word - science fiction, fiction, fantasy, crime novels, detective stories, and just about anything else she can get her hands on. She is also a former member of her countries military and is a proud US Army veteran.
Publisher’s Note
Jessie Wolf is an exciting new author of the Twenty-Teens era. Jesse’s work has an established fan base who regularly comment on her work with great enthusiasm. They eagerly await each chapter as it comes. Jesse’s stories have a descriptive edge that keeps you wanting to read what happens next. The fans are already clamoring for a film of the Death Dealer’s Saga.
****
Chapter 1
With a bow to me and my family, the three men returned to their tables. I noticed that during the meal they were more engaged with the students at their tables. May be Bethany and her friends’ rash decision to join the Silent Sisters drove home the fact that they had a problem in their school. One that is going to take more than just some counselling sessions. This is one that is going to take some real work on their part to fix.
Once we had finished, mama stood up and called for the girls’ attention. Once she had it she explained why they were all wearing robes of an initiate. “Ladies as some of you had already noticed this morning each of you were given robes of an initiate to wear today. The reason behind this is that you would not be allowed to enter the Temple in your school uniforms or every day clothes. While they may be appropriate for school or every day wear, they do not fit with the Temple standards of modesty or humility. Please, remember that the people who live and work there have taken vows along those lines. Now, before we head over to the Temple are there any questions?”
Selina Kyle was the first to raise her hand. Mama, nodded for her to ask her question. “Yes, ma’am, I noticed that your three younger daughters are wearing a different color of robes from those of Lady Maiha and Allison. I assume that yours are those of a Reverend Mother, may I know what the difference is between theirs?”
“That's very observant, of you young lady. While all members of the Nakatoma family are members of the Temple, we do not all follow the paths of the brothers and sisters. To answer your question, Maiha and Allison wear the robes of a Temple Guardian, while their younger sisters wear those of a novice for the Sisterhood of Enlightenment. Now, while you’re inside the Temple you shall meet members of three different Sisterhoods. The first, and most prolific, is the Sisterhood of Enlightenment, you can tell them apart from the others by the dark red ribbon trim on their robes. The second is the Sisterhood of the Divine Mistress, they can be identified by their purple robes, the novices wear similar robes with a white wimple and head cover. The last Sisterhood is the Sisterhood of Blessed Silence.”
Another of the girls raised her hand and at mama’s nod stood up and asked her question. “Excuse me ma’am, but are they the ones in the all red robs with black trim?” I was surprised that one of our guests even knew how to pick out one of the Silent Sisters. Dee De quickly gave me her name. Xanga Li Ming Tao, first granddaughter of Gushan Beizi or the Banner Price Xanga Mu Xing. No wonder she could tell the differences between the sisterhoods, her grandfather more than likely used the threat of forcing her to join them to keep her quiet.
I stood up before mama could answer. “Yes, Li Ming, that is exactly who they are. And before you ask, none of those sisters entered into their order against their will. As a matter of fact they are asked at least three times if they wish to make their vows for each one. If they refuse just once then they cannot join the order. No one can order someone to go into the Silent Sisters.” I watch as her shoulders relax and the fear leaves her stance. My suspicions must have been closer than I thought.
“Thank you, Mrs. Nakatoma that was my next question.” With a bow she starts to sit back down when mama stops her. Only it is the Reverend Mother Dai Etsu who does all the talking, in Chinese no less.
“When, you have a chance come see me, child. I shall answer all you questions, and try to put you on the right path.” When mama finished she switched back to Standard. “While you are at the Temple if you should have a question, please feel free to ask either of my younger daughters, the Princess Daniela, Susan Whitehorse, Lisa Van Peirce, or myself. Please, do not bother the nuns or monks that you see. If however they approach you feel free to question them. The only ones who will not say anything to you are the Silent Sisters and their novices; they have all taken the vow of silence. Now, if you will follow us, we will take you all to the Temple of Inari Ōkami.”
As one me and my family stood up at mama’s command and followed her out of the Great Hall. Our guests were quick to catch up with us and once again the question began, most were directed to my sisters, the Princes and her friends. Even though some of the questions were hard for them to answer and required mama to answer them. There was one though that none of us would answer. ‘Where were Bethany and her friends?’ That was one question that could only be answered by the Reverend Mother Mary Robert, and she ain’t talking.
When the girls got their first true look at the Temple they fell silent. I don’t know if it was from awe at its beauty or out of the feeling of reverence and peace this place induces. For me it will always be the latter. I know that the first time I saw this place over sixty years ago I felt this overwhelming sense of peace come over me. Matsu had brought me here to receive the blessing of the Reverend Father upon our marriage. I did not follow their faith or teachings then, but it still meant so much to her I did it anyway. When I married Alice I knew that as the Head of House that I had to have the Temples blessing, so I did it in front of mama, and everyone else.
I doubt that I’ll ever really be able to have faith in something I don’t understand, but I will try to understand mama, and my sisters. They have faith and see the good in all people. I guess I’m just too set in my ways to change when it comes to some things. As we enter I step off to one side and do not enter all the way staying in the foyer. I watch as our guests follow mama and the others further into the main Temple. Once again I don’t even hear, see, or sense her arrival.
“So child, do you not feel that you belong here?” Spinning around I come face to face with Reverend Mother Katsumi. I swear by all that is Holy the woman is a ghost. She stands there just looking at me for a minute before saying anything else
. “Ah yes. I can see it clearly now, it is in your eyes. That hunted look of one who has seen too much violence and death. Hear me out Death’s own Daughter. Of all the Temple Guardians, you hold yourself to too high of a standard. You have earned your place here inside of these walls.”
Looking her in her eyes, I can tell that she truly believes that. “No, that is where you are wrong Reverend Mother. There is far too much blood on my hands and too many ghosts in my past. There always has been and always will be. No, I’ll stay where I belong, out here with the rest of the violent world. I am your Guardian, your shield and sword; I have no place inside this place of peace and harmony.”
“That, is where you are wrong, child. Like all those who pay the price that we may practice our ways in peace, you feel you do not deserve that reward. In the words of the ancient philosopher Qui Jung Cain, ‘Peace is paid for by the warrior.’ We here at the Temple know this, and honor those who would be our Guardians. Like your grandfather, you let the steel of honor hold you to a standard that others could learn from. So enter and receive your reward, Death’s own Daughter.” And then like the ghost she is she vanishes.
I have said before, and I’ll say it again; there are times when I really hate some of the Temple staff. That does it, I have Dee De and Charlie both bring up a radar tracking program and every other sensor method I can think of to keep track of that woman. That will be the last time she pulls that shit on me. If it’s the last thing I do I will find out how that woman just appears and then disappears like that.
Commander, I know that you are upset by the Reverend Mothers little trick but is this really necessary? (Charlie)
“YES DAMN IT! I want to know how that woman just appears then disappears like that.”
Maiha, honey, calm down you’ll blow a gasket if you don’t that or go completely bug nuts crazy. (Dee De)
“Look damn it! That woman defies the laws of physics as if they are her personal playthings. I will know her secret if it is the last thing I do. She has to be using some kind of device to mask her movements. Find it.”
I get a pair of yes ma’am’s from the both of them and step further into the Temple in search of the woman who has come to embody everything I can’t stand about certain Temple staff members. I know it seems petty of me, but I just can’t see how certain members do the things they do. Sure, I know that there is a logical reason for some of the stuff I have seen them do. However, my problem is that I can’t find those reasons, and therefore I just can’t accept them. I am tired of these people denying the law of physics.
As I move through the Temple I stop and take in the true beauty of the place for truly the first time. I find that I just maybe wrong, when it comes to the mysticism and traditions that guide the brothers and sisters that call the Temple their home. It may have been built by the hand of man, but the inspiration could only come from something higher. I watched as my students are guided through the nine stages of death, then to be followed by the eight stages of rebirth for the Saint Ichigo Kurosoki. All the initiates are taught the means of the seventeen stages before being allowed to join one of the five orders within the Temple.
A young monk approaches me as I stand before the last stage of death. The depiction of Ichigo’s soul rising up to his reward. “May I be of service Guardian Maiha?”
“Oh, not really brother. I was just wondering what will be my reward when my time comes to be judged.”
“If you’ll forgive my presumption, I believe that you will be welcomed by the Goddess herself, and guided into Paradise.”
I laugh lightly to myself and shake my head no. “I highly doubt that brother. I fear that I have shed the blood of too many of her children for that. Oh, She may meet me when I die, but it will be to make sure that I find my way into Hell, rather than Paradise.”
“If I may ask, Guardian, what has brought you to so harsh a judgment of yourself? The Goddess knows those who take up the sword in protection of others and welcomes them into her arms and heart.” Looking over at where Bethany, Lisa, Stacey, and Kimberly are beginning their first duties as novices of the Silent Sisters the young man guesses my dilemma. “I understand now, Guardian. You feel that you and the Temple failed my new sisters. Please, be assured you did not.”
“Then tell me why their only choice of sisterhoods was the Silent Sisters?” I was angry over them or any girl being forced to make that kind of choice because they thought of or tried suicide. It just made no sense to me. Just another problem I have with the mysticism of religion. “And don’t give me that standard operating bullshit answer of their sin of suicide. They should be allowed more than just the one choice. Why can the Enlighten ones or the Mistress’ Servants take them?”
The young man sighs before answering me; I can tell that this bothers more than just him. “There is more than just one of us, who wish there was another way, Guardian. The problem for the sisters is the sin of suicide. By the tenants of our faith there is only one penance for suicide. Even for a man the penance is the same. If you survive the attempt you must spend the rest of your life in silent servitude. This was handed down by Inari Ōkami herself. For your friends to join our Temple the Silent Sisters were their only option as the other two sisterhoods must be able to interact with outsiders and require the ability of speech.”
“So you’re telling me, that if they had not thought of suicide then they could have joined one of the other sisterhoods?”
“Yes, Guardian, that is exactly what I am saying. Before you ask all must confess their sins before either a Reverend Father or Mother before being allowed to enter any of the brotherhood or sisterhoods. All of your sins are taken into account from the smallest to the greatest, with suicide being the greatest of them all. Only one order could have over ridden this and they have not been in existence for over four thousand years. Even then it would have done them no good as it only took former soldiers at that time.”
“Thank you for explaining that to me brother. Oh may I know your name?”
“I am Brother Samuel, Guardian. Before you ask I came to the Temple after serving as a member of House Nakatoma’s military. If the Goddess can forgive me, surely she can forgive you and those who still serve.” With a bow the young man left me standing there with a good deal to think about. Could I really find forgiveness by the Goddess as he said?
This time I knew she was there before she could get the drop on me, but once again I had no idea of how she just appeared. “I take it child that you had a most productive talk with Brother Samuel?”
“Yes, Reverend Mother, I did. How did you know to send him to talk to me?”
Once again the woman drives me crazy with her reply. “How does the flower know when to blossom or the rain knows too fall? They just know.” And once again she disappears saying nothing more. This time though I know that Dee De or Charlie caught something on their sensor reading, they just have to.
“Dee De, Charlie, did you detect what she has been using to pull her little act?”
“……” (Dee De)
“……” (Charlie)
“Talk to me, damn it. What is she using?”
Data is inconclusive Commander. I detected no activation of any known technologies. (Charlie)
Sorry, honey, but he is right. (Dee De)
“DAMN IT! Don’t tell me that neither of you got even a glimpse of what she is doing or using?”
As I said Commander the data is inconclusive. (Charlie)
I must have been more distracted by my conversation than I realized as Fuyuko caught me unawares. “How many times has she pulled that on you now, sissy?”
Not thinking I tell her the truth. “I think somewhere around five times in the last thirty hours.”
“And, you’re still trying to figure out how, right?” she asks me giggling.
“Yeah.” Is all I say.
“Sissy, I told you to let it go, or it’ll drive you around the bend to bug nuts crazy. It is like I said there are more theories about how she does th
at than there are ways to build a mouse trap.” She just keeps giggling at my discomfort. “Come on, mama wants to see you over by the Temple altar.”
Nodding my head at her I let her lead me to where mama is. When I arrive I am surprised to see all of the Heather’s there as well. “It seems daughter that some of your students wish to make a sacrifice, but do not know how?” oh boy, why didn’t I just stay outside like I originally planned? Thinking fast I use the fact that neither Alice nor I are members of the Temple sisterhoods.
“If I may ask why it is you need a pair of Guardians as witness’ to what is a matter for the Reverend Mothers to handle?” oh yeah if I can throw this back on the mystics I just might learn something. “It is after all a matter of faith is it not?”
“I am afraid, Guardian, that this is not the case here.” mama gives me the look of ‘you will do your duty in this’, but I can tell she’ll be lending me a hand. “It seems that these girls all wish to become Temple Guardians. As you know whenever an outsider joins the Temple as a Guardian they must meet certain standards. Those standards are set by the current Head of the Temple and House. As you have set that standard you must be the one to take their vows and oaths. We as Reverend Mothers and Fathers are to be your witness’s in this matter.”
Holy Hanna! Christ on a crutch! She is right. This is a matter for me, not the other way around. This is a matter for the two senior Temple Guardian’s. In short Alice and me. “What is their sacrifice?” I need to buy some time here so Dee De can get me the information on the rituals.
Janet Smyth steps forward. “Um… Lady Maiha our sacrifice is the Heathers is this acceptable?”
“Why do you wish to be Guardians?” I need more to go on here. I don’t know what happened amongst these girls, but now is my chance to find out.
“For the past two days you and your family have shown us that we have more than just the paths laid out for us by our families. You have made each of us look at how we have done nothing but take from those around us, while giving nothing in return. Yesterday you showed us the ultimate sacrifice paid to keep us free. To be forced to see how shallow, petty, and hateful the Heathers have become is something we cannot live with. Then this morning, to learn what our sisters did to find peace, why it was just too much to stand against. We would rather spend the rest of our lives protecting them, than to continue down the path we have been following.”