Once, and For All

by Kendra G. Johnson

  Kenann pressed their advantage. “This is highly irregular. Who decided this?”

  The men just stared at her. Magda took an imperceptible step forward in challenge. “I did.”

  Kenann held her ground with cold assurance. “And why did you feel you had this authority?”

  Jamal stepped in at this point. “Your Highness, she suggested it as an honor for you—to welcome you.” He almost stammered. “We voted on it as the council.”

  The two women continued to stare at each other. Jamal continued. “But if it does not please you, we can reconsider.”

  Kenann slowly took her gaze to Jamal. “It will be acceptable. But don’t ever make plans for me again without consulting me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed slightly.

  Kenann then returned her slow gaze back to Magda. The venom was mutual in their eyes. She turned to Danny Mac, holding out her hand. He took it gladly. She said, “I desire a walk along the grounds.”

  Jamal started. “We will accompany you.”

  Kenann raised her other hand sharply. “No. Leave us in peace.”

  No one challenged her. Danny Mac and Kenann made their exit slowly and regally. When they had left by the front door, he leaned in and kissed her neck, whispering, “Bravo.”

  * * * *

  The group remaining in the drawing room sat down a little shaken. Jamal was the first to speak. “We may have overplayed our hand.”

  “Nonsense,” Magda spat. “If she is truly the Chosen One, she will not work against us or harm us.”

  Jamal grew intense. “But the Order is the only thing that matters. You took the oath as well as I did to put it before our own life. Any of us can be replaced.”

  This caused Magda pause because she knew he spoke the truth. She might have to adjust her strategy a bit, or else she would be the one dispatched.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Kenann’s gown billowed in the soft breeze. Danny Mac still held her hand. He looked down at her and asked, “Are you up for this ceremony?”

  “I’ll have to be. Will it be like the last one? I wonder.”

  “Hard to say. Since they aren’t following their own protocol, there is no way to really know.”

  “Boy, that Magda would love to have my guts for garters.”

  “But you held your own, tiger.” Danny Mac chuckled at the memory of the fire in her eyes.

  Kenann surreptitiously looked around. “Do you think we are being watched?”

  “Oh, probably.”

  “Wonder if we can get to Mrs. G.”

  “We can always claim we were lost or looking for a snack.”

  She laughed and started tugging him back to the house, anxious to hug her dear friend. She was starting to feel homesick for all of them. The servants’ entrances were all remarkably similar in all large estates, so they found Mrs. Gage fairly easily. The staff were startled when they walked into the big kitchen but hurriedly went to bring Mrs. Gage. Blade ran in ahead of her and hugged them both. They looked over his head in question.

  Mrs. Gage smiled. “He’s my secret weapon.”

  Blade had been careful not to speak in front of the kitchen staff, still in character as the deaf-mute. Mrs. Gage assured the others that this young couple was good and could be trusted. They were fighting the evil, too. The staff relaxed. Mrs. Gage took them to the room that had been provided for her and Blade. She told them of the information Blade had been able to obtain from his hiding place.

  Danny Mac reached over and ruffled his hair. “Good work, bud.”

  Blade beamed.

  Mrs. Gage also told them of her dream. She added, “And if I am not mistaken, I would say Moira had the same dream.”

  Kenann lowered her layered bodice slightly from her neck to reveal the scratches. Mrs. Gage raised her eyes and gave Danny Mac a telling look. He nodded in agreement. This was getting serious.

  Danny Mac said, “We had better be getting to the main floor. They will be sending out the posse soon.”

  They returned by way of the kitchen when Ashton came through the door, asking if anyone had seen Daniel and Kenann. His eyes fell on Blade. He froze and looked as if he had seen a ghost. No one moved. Danny Mac surreptitiously waved Mrs. Gage to the background. She complied, trusting in his instincts.

  Danny Mac stepped forward. “It appears you have ruined our little surprise. Don’t ask for details because none will be given. He has come back to be our sacrifice.”

  Ashton turned on his heel and fled. Danny Mac put his strong hand on Blade’s shoulder. “Well, son, are you ready?”

  Blade beamed and said, “You bet!”

  The kitchen staff gasped but believed he spoke against the evil in this house.

  Danny Mac turned to Mrs. Gage. “We will take care of him.”

  Mrs. Gage nodded in acquiescence.

  Kenann sighed heavily. Here we go again.

  * * * *

  Mrs. Gage slipped from the estate as soon as she could and made contact with Andy and the others. “There is to be a ceremony of some sort on Monday night, during the full moon. I know nothing more than that, really. You can use your discretion to tell Leticia that Blade will be a part of the ceremony.”

  Andy stopped writing. “Aw, no. Again?”

  “It appears so.”

  “Oh brother. You know I hate these things. I thought I was afraid of Carter. But telling a mother that her son is about to be the blood sacrifice at a pagan ceremony is not my idea of fun.”

  “Let Judy help you. We all signed on with full knowledge, including Leticia. We have to be strong and let Danny Mac and Kenann do what they do.”

  “Oh, all right.” He sounded petulant even to himself.

  Before she rang off, she asked Andy to give Moira a message. It made no sense to him, but he promised to deliver it word for word.

  Mrs. Gage made it back to the kitchen area in time to hear all the buzz. They were all being dismissed pronto. They were to fix enough food for tomorrow’s added guests and then leave. No questions.

  Mrs. Gage’s mind raced. She had to stay on the grounds. Somehow. She jumped in, helping the other staff prepare the exorbitant amount of food ordered. Apparently, they were expecting a large crowd for this ceremony. It took them several hours, but once they had the food covered and in cold storage, they all gathered their belongings and made for the door. Mrs. Gage followed suit, waiting for a moment of genius. She walked out with the others, holding back to the end of the queue. As they walked past the horse barn to the back gate, she knew. She slipped away silently as the others filed through the gate and into the night.

  * * * *

  Leticia took the news better than Andy or Judy expected. She stood stoically in front of them for a few seconds. Then she sighed and dropped her head. She whispered, “I trust Danny Mac.” And she turned and left the room. CJ followed her out.

  Andy looked at Judy and then took her hand. He said, “I hate this. The waiting and not being able to do anything.”

  “I know. Are you sure there isn’t anything we can do?”

  Andy had been thinking about this for two days, but suddenly an idea burst into his mind. “Well, maybe there is something.” And he smiled. There was not a moment to lose. “Go get Carter and Bridget!”

  * * * *

  Robert, Adam, and Angelo sat by themselves on the veranda. They were joining Robert in a cigar. Robert voiced what they were thinking, saying, “This waiting is interminable.”

  The other two men nodded solemnly.

  Robert continued. “Danny will save the kid but Kenann’s also in grave danger, and here we sit utterly powerless.”

  The other two men looked up suddenly and said in unison, “Not on my watch!”

  * * * *

  Danny Mac and Kenann entered the parlor with Blade between them. Ashton was visibly shaken and had obviously been trying to tell the others what he had witnessed in Egypt. He stopped speaking when he saw them and everyone stood wa
iting. It had been agreed that Danny Mac would be the spokesperson. He said a silent prayer.

  “Meet Blade. Yes, he was the human sacrifice at the Night of the Lion ceremony in the desert of Egypt. This is a sign from the gods,” his soul cringed to say that, “and so we move forward with our plans.”

  Magda was not satisfied. “Where did you find him?”

  Kenann intervened with sudden certainty. “We were walking on the grounds and he came through the back gate. He recognized us immediately and said he had been looking for us. He was led to us.”

  “Led?”

  “Yes, he has been here in this village as an orphan. He knew that he was supposed to wait but he did not know why. He was given the knowledge to come here tonight.”

  Ashton croaked out, “Where has he been since Egypt?”

  Danny Mac spoke this time as he had a ready answer. He thanked the Holy Spirit for guiding them in their words. “He said when he awoke from his trance, or very possibly his resurrection, he was taken in by a refugee family who brought him to this small village eventually. This was ordained. Do you question it?”

  “No, no, not at all,” Ashton whispered. It was the group’s consensus.

  Magda wondered if this crackpot bunch really did have some power. She had never seen anything like this.

  Danny Mac waited, then took command and a shot in the dark. “I want the book brought to me.”

  The others looked among themselves in shock and alarm. Danny Mac hoped he had not made a mistake in asking for something he wasn’t sure even existed. They finally looked at Jamal to make the final decision.

  Jamal hesitated, then said, “This is highly irregular.”

  Bull’s-eye. Danny Mac pressed his advantage. “Everything about this ceremony is highly irregular. I want the book.” His tone brooked no argument.

  Jamal acquiesced. “As you wish.”

  Danny Mac could not tell if it was fear or anger that crossed their faces. Either way, he felt like he had won the advantage and decided to “get while the getting was good.” He said, “Inanna, the boy and I are retiring to our rooms. Make the book ready to present to us prior to the ceremony.”

  * * * *

  The council sat down after Danny Mac and Kenann left the room with the boy. They were very uneasy with this new development. If they gave over the book, they would be completely vulnerable. It held all the information about their unit and all their work. Not to mention all the information about their roster of followers. Did they dare? Could they afford not to do it? The general consensus was that they had little choice at this point.

  Magda was intrigued. How had he known of this book when she didn’t? Maybe she could get her hands on it first. It would obviously give her an advantage.

  * * * *

  The people began arriving late afternoon on Monday. There was a constant flurry of activity down the path into the woods behind the estate. Danny Mac watched this with interest. What were they setting up down there? He realized the staff had been dismissed when he saw the council setting up the diminished breakfast buffet that morning. He wondered where Mrs. Gage had gone. He knew she would not be too far afield.

  The council had asked Inanna to stay hidden until the ceremony. They wanted to make a statement with her entrance. She and Blade stayed in their rooms upstairs, occupying themselves by reading and playing cards. Danny Mac, though, was free to roam the house and grounds at will. He observed the myriad of people who arrived for the evening ceremony. He was reminded of his original exposure to this Order when Pierre had told him it was made of up people from all cultures and all walks of life. This organization had permeated every aspect of society. Danny Mac stood in amazement as he watched the activity around him.

  Everyone appeared rather somber. Maybe they were aggravated for being summoned from their “cover” lives on short notice to come to this event. Or were they afraid for some reason of what was to come? Did he need to fear this, too? He pondered this but remembered who he had on his side.

  He made his way to the horse barn. He nodded to the man coming out the door. He was obviously a local man who was paid to look after the horses. He left by the back gate to return to the village. Danny Mac went straight to the stallion’s stall.

  “How are you, big fella?”

  “Better than you, I imagine.”

  Danny Mac looked up and saw Mrs. Gage grinning down from the hay loft. He returned her smile. “Have you been up there all night?”

  “Yes, well, except for an occasional call of nature.”

  Danny Mac laughed. She had made her way down the crude ladder to the barn floor. He pulled a piece of hay out of her blond hair. “Mrs. G., you absolutely amaze me.”

  “Oh, this has been fun. Reminds me of my younger days. Running from the law and living by my wits.”

  “Running from the law?” he asked incredulously.

  “Well, I haven’t always been as respectable as I am now,” she replied and laughed at the look on his face. “So what is the plan, dear boy?”

  “I was hoping you could help me with that.”

  So the two of them put their heads together and came up with one.

  * * * *

  An officious-looking young man arrived at Kenann’s door with clothing for the ceremony. He asked about Daniel and was told he was still out. He merely nodded and bowed his way out the door.

  Blade inspected the garments. “These are better than the last bunch.”

  Kenann refused to give in to her trepidation by remembering their close call in Egypt. “Here, let me take a look.”

  Blade pulled the items from the tissue paper in the box. Kenann helped him spread them on the bed. All the garments were made from the finest white material. Muslin, silk, and brushed cotton. All soft and luxurious to the touch.

  Kenann began to tremble as she remembered wearing another white gown and punching and knocking Katerina to her death. She could not bring herself to regret it. She had seen Danny Mac fall bleeding to the floor, not knowing if he would live or die. Danny Mac was her life—then and forever. She had to trust it would all be all right tonight. Please, God. It had to be all right.

  * * * *

  Danny Mac was coming up the stairs as the man was making his way down.

  “Daniel?”

  “Yes?”

  “I have the book.”

  “Bring it to me.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  Danny Mac waited on the stairs for the other man to return. It did not take long. He was handed a large leather volume. Its smooth, buttery binding was soft to the touch. He nodded to the man and turned, making his way to their rooms. He found Kenann and Blade inspecting the garments for the evening festivities.

  He was also stricken by memories of Egypt as he looked at Blade, knowing he was at risk tonight. He laid his hand on his head and asked, “Do they meet with your approval, buddy?”

  Blade beamed up at him. “Pretty cool.”

  Kenann smiled at Blade but it did not reach her eyes.

  Danny Mac made a solemn presentation of the book, always conscious of the video monitoring. “I want to review its contents. If you will excuse me, Your Highness?”

  “Of course.”

  Danny Mac went to the small table beside the window and opened the volume. He steeled himself to not react as he saw with horror and complete satisfaction that everything he needed to bring down this unholy cabal was in his hands. No matter what, he would not leave these grounds tonight without it.

  * * * *

  The night approached and Danny Mac, Kenann, and Blade were in their ceremonial garments. Magda anxiously paced behind the dais at the ceremonial site. She was disturbed by the change in Adolphus. He was remote. Preoccupied. She had yet to realize he had been consumed by the entity he called his spirit guide. Magda finally donned the hooded robe and went around the dais to join the rest of the throng. Whatever happened tonight, she was done with this bunch. It wasn’t worth her sanity to do this anymore. No m
atter what the cost.

  Jamal was stricken with a sense of awe as he watched Daniel, Inanna, and the boy descend the stairs. They were arrayed in the various flowing garments of white. Daniel’s dark, handsome face was austere in concentration. The boy seemed exuberant despite being the night’s main event. Inanna radiated confidence and an inner strength that Jamal found unnerving. She was not beautiful in the traditional sense, but her presence made you feel you could be better somehow. He shook it off. That thought made him uncomfortable.

  Jamal led the way. He hoped they had not miscalculated on this impromptu ceremony. Magda seemed to have her own agenda and Adolphus was getting a little crazy.

  Instinctively Blade went first; Kenann went before Danny Mac, who was last in the procession. Earlier, Danny Mac had offered a prayer before they left the room. It was so low he was sure the video equipment did not pick it up, but they heard it with their heads huddled together. They did a small fist bump together in their circle. Kenann had whispered, “Let’s do this.”

  The path to the ceremony was lined with torches. Kenann watched the light reflecting off the leaves along the path. The full moon cast a silvery glow over the entire tableau. She felt a strange feeling overtake her. She did not know if she felt calm or numb or simply surreal. But the closer she drew to the clearing, the stronger the feeling grew. Her blood began to hum.

  Jamal led them to the “backstage” area of the ceremonial grounds. A curve in the hillside bank created an alcove behind the stage. They found themselves alone. No one spoke as they listened to the chanting coming from the crowd surrounding the dais on the other side of the curtained stage above them. Danny Mac and Kenann knew they had no script for what was to come. They both sent up silent prayers for divine intervention.

  The chanting and pounding of the drums had become more frenetic. Kenann could feel the beat pulsing throughout her body. She looked at Danny Mac, who was watching her intently. She tried to reassure him with a smile, but none came. She simply accepted her fate and extended her hand to him. They ascended the back stairs to the dais with Blade in front of them. Jamal was there to part the curtain.