Once, and For All

by Kendra G. Johnson

  “Carter has been tracking and has known of an agenda that has been in play for possibly several years,” Danny Mac began. “He tried to get his peers at State to act on it, but they dismissed it from being a credible threat. Well, Carter, tonight you are vindicated. Magda confirmed everything you have gleaned from your analysis of the international data. This particular wing is working on the mind-control aspect of the overall agenda developed by the Order. And they have found a way to manipulate weather and geological processes. She did not elaborate, but with what Carter showed us in D.C. and what she said, I believe her. We are in a battle for our very existence.”

  Everyone tried to let the enormity of this sink in. They couldn’t. It was too much.

  Jake shook his head. “This is impossible. How can this be?”

  Carter finally looked up. A sad expression permeated his face. “I am afraid it appears all too true. All of us have seen many people who were obsessed with power and the ability to control.” He smiled ruefully. “I guess you could say it lies within each of us. But I became convinced that something was on the move, yet I couldn’t get anyone to listen to me. My only hope was this group who sit in this room. It’s up to us.”

  He seemed to gain energy as he spoke. “I know I am a heathen among the godly, but what Danny Mac is saying makes me bold to appeal to each of you to stay in this fight.” He paused, then said, “Please?”

  His words broke through the heart and walls of everyone in the room. They were one. United in this common fight. Without a word, everyone looked to Mrs. Gage as the person who spoke for them.

  “John, you have our undivided support,” she confirmed. “What do we need to do?”

  * * * *

  Carter was humbled. He paused to gather his thoughts. He did not underestimate this moment. “I know we face a formidable foe. But I truly believe we are positioned well for this moment. I mean, think about it. We have literally stumbled into more information than we could have hoped to gain after years of work.”

  Mrs. Gage grinned. “No accident, John. It’s a ‘God thing.’”

  Several in the room echoed with amen.

  Carter cringed inwardly but could not bring himself to openly question this. Too many things pointed to an overarching presence. And one who appeared to be interested in them. He would consider this later. He said, “Okay. So let’s do the job.” He saw the nods around the room and was spurred on. “We open in Venice in two days. We keep to our schedule of performances. Magda has already agreed to this. She obviously wants to work with us, at least Danny Mac and Kenann, so we go with it. And see where it takes us. But we can never lose sight of the big picture. They want to control and manipulate all of humanity. We have to be the ones standing in the breach. They have to be stopped no matter what.”

  What he was saying slowly permeated their hearts. They understood. They were being given a direct mission. Even though they had not taken the “Oath of Allegiance’ sworn by all those who served in the Armed Forces, they knew in that moment that something had shifted. They were all committed to the security and the safety of those they loved, and the country and even the world they held sacred.

  Since it was getting late, they said their good nights and retired. Andy, Judy, Danny Mac, and Kenann walked up the stairs together.

  Andy looked at Danny Mac and laughed ruefully. “Man, it just keeps coming, doesn’t it?”

  Danny Mac blew out a breath as he unconsciously reached down and took Kenann’s hand. “Yeah, it seems to. I’m starting to think ignorance really might be bliss.”

  They parted at the top of the stairs for their respective rooms. Kenann stopped Danny Mac from moving farther into the room once the door was closed. “Are you okay? Did it go okay with Magda?”

  He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m okay. Just a lot to take in. And Magda is more like her sister than she would like to believe. I can handle her.”

  “Did she put the moves on you?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Is the Pope Catholic?” And they both laughed.

  * * * *

  Mrs. Gage couldn’t sleep. Her mind was filled with the words and images she had learned tonight. She had seen all the ugliness and evil the world had to offer but this…this was on a scale she had never before experienced. She replayed it once again in her mind.

  The Order apparently operates on the same premise as Fortune 500 companies. There are divisions that operate in silos. It is one of the ways it protects itself. No one knows it all. The executives of each silo maintain contact but still do not have full knowledge. Mrs. Gage remembered Pierre had been tasked with gaining control of the world’s largest oil supply to destabilize the market, and their ultimate goal—be in control.

  Magda and her crew are apparently tasked with the manipulation of the mental and physical world. She had to give Carter credit for not giving up despite being dismissed by his peers. He saw the patterns and their nefarious portent. The hair lifted on the back of her neck as she knew in her very being that this was directly connected to Kenann’s experience in the jungle and their prophetic dream alerting them of its importance. Someone wanted them to pay attention. She prayed it was the Eternal God and not some demonic force manipulating them.

  This silo had somehow either created or predicted all kinds of physical disasters. Did they have a team of psychics on their payroll? Or did they, as they claim, have the power to create geological or meteorological events? She believed their interest in contacting people around these events was an effort to study reactions and ability to cope with this stress, developing some sort of psychological profile to use in their manipulation efforts. This was just her theory, but she could not think of any other reason for this.

  Now the amnesia? This baffled her. Were they experiments gone bad? That was Carter’s take on it. But she couldn’t help thinking it was more. Her mind went to a different scenario in which the people were being prepared. For what? She did not know.

  A soft knock sounded on her door. She rose from the settee and went to open it. She was not surprised to see Moira standing there in a soft blue robe and her long hair plaited and hanging down her back.

  Mrs. Gage smiled and stepped back to welcome her. “Can’t sleep, either, huh?”

  “No. My mind won’t shut down. I keep trying to figure things out. Or be prepared. But for what!?”

  “I don’t know, Moira. I have been doing the same thing. I am afraid on so many levels. I have enemies from decades of…activity. I know there are forces at work here that are not of this world. Good versus evil. God against Satan. I just don’t know where the threat is coming from.”

  They sat in silence for several minutes, lost in their own musings. Suddenly Moira blew out a breath. “We weren’t given that dream for nothing.”

  “What do you have in mind, Moira?”

  “It’s not fleshed out yet, but I think I have a plan.”

  Mrs. Gage smiled and leaned in. “Whatever it is, I’m in.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The next night, they fell into the rehearsal easily. Their lines and blocking were second nature to them now despite the stage being a different size. Carter, Robert, and Blade laughed as if it was the first time they had seen it. Since it was the first showing for Adam, he laughed louder than anyone. Carter had relaxed considerably. He did feel vindicated, as Danny Mac put it, by the recent news. The others had begun to warm to him again and this was a welcome relief as well. Despite the world being in imminent danger, he felt pretty darn good.

  Magda contacted Danny Mac to get opening-night tickets. She needed two, as she was bringing an important guest. She also indicated that he and Kenann needed to make time after the performance. Nonnegotiable. It rankled but he agreed.

  The opening night was a rousing success. Danny Mac surreptitiously scanned the crowd for Magda but never saw her or her mysterious guest. She had told them to wait backstage after all the curtain calls and she and her guest would come to them. And as
directed, he left two back-stage passes at the door for them.

  The final curtain call was concluded and the cast was standing together, making every effort to represent casual conversation. Everyone was on high alert. Danny Mac and Kenann had gone to change from their costumes with Rough in tow. The dog had barely left Kenann’s side of late.

  Magda made her appearance with a tall, formidable-looking older man. He smiled at the group and clapped. “Bravissimo!”

  The group murmured their appreciation and wore masks of benign interest.

  Magda took charge. “Daniel has graciously invited us to spend the evening to celebrate the opening night. We loved the performance.” She turned her gaze to Gabrielle. “It’s Mrs. Gage, isn’t it?”

  Mrs. Gage nodded and smiled serenely. If only Magda knew what lurked beneath that smile and what this small woman was capable of doing to her, she would have made a hasty exit.

  Magda continued. “You are to be congratulated. You appear to have an international hit on your hands.” Her laugh was perfect.

  Before anyone could respond, Danny Mac and Kenann entered the backstage area. The tall man repeated his earlier accolade to them. Everything seemed to happen at once. Kenann grabbed her head and fell to the floor in a dead faint and Rough lunged at the man, pinning him to the floor with teeth bared.

  * * * *

  Danny Mac pulled Kenann into his arms and ran to the couch on stage. He left the others to deal with Rough. He laid her down and began rubbing her wrists. She opened her eyes and looked at him but did not speak. She looked lost…and terribly, terribly sad. It broke Danny Mac. He put his arms around her and rocked her.

  “It’s all right,” he crooned. “I’m here.”

  She remained silent. He pulled back and looked again at her face. She seemed detached.

  “Kenann?”

  She finally made eye contact. “Yes?”

  “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “Hmmmm?”

  “You fainted, baby.”

  “I did?”

  He was getting scared. “Do you know where you are?”

  She looked around then and shook her head no.

  “Do you know who I am?” He prayed she had the right answer.

  She paused way too long for his comfort but finally exhibited a beginning of a smile. “Danny Mac?”

  His breath came out in a rush. “What happened?”

  She was beginning to come back at his point. “I don’t know. I remember leaving the hotel. But the rest is blank. Wait, this is the stage, isn’t it?”

  Danny Mac nodded. “We changed and then came backstage to meet Magda and her guest.”

  “Okay…?”

  “Do you feel sick?”

  At this point Granny James and Judy were there, touching her and reassuring themselves she was okay. Judy was incredulous. “Man, it took all the guys to get Rough off that guy! What the heck?”

  Kenann started to get up. Danny Mac put a hand on her shoulder. She asked, “Is Rough okay?”

  Granny James said, “Jake got him off stage and is taking him back to the hotel. Blade was helping. His whining for you about broke my heart, though.”

  Kenann exerted more pressure and Danny Mac allowed her to sit upright. At that point the others joined them onstage. Magda looked puzzled. That was the only word to describe the look on her face. The man with her had excused himself and left.

  “It appears, Magda, that we will have to postpone our outing.”

  “Yes, for now. I will be in touch.” And with that she fled.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  Mrs. Gage took charge. “Let’s get back to the hotel.”

  They looked at each other. Everyone moved at once.

  * * * *

  They were all back in Mrs. Gage’s suite. Kenann was pampered and coddled. She waved away the last cup of tea and said, “Enough. I am okay. Now let’s figure out what happened.”

  They stopped hovering and settled in for a council of war.

  * * * *

  Magda was incredulous. She turned around with a flourish to face the tall man across the room. She had brought this man here because she had been instructed to. “What was that about? What just happened?”

  The man was pensive. “The fact that she reacted so strongly to my voice is very telling.”

  Magda knew her voice was rising an octave. “I contacted one of the guards who escaped the Egyptian underground village as soon as the raid started. I sent him pictures of Daniel and Kenann and he confirmed they were the ones claiming to be Inanna and her high priest.”

  “That still does not mean she is the Chosen One. Until now we have not considered these two people to be the same.”

  “But what in the world is going on?” Magda was out of her depth and frankly getting scared.

  He had been groomed from a young man to be the one who would locate and identify the Chosen One. For many years he had heard a voice that guided him…instructed him. He knew that Kenann’s reaction to him was significant. Could she actually be the Chosen One? Her mother had offered her up as a child to Baphomet, but that was intended to ensure the mother’s place in the Order. It was not revealed until recently that her daughter was significant. He must consult his spirit guide.

  * * * *

  They completed their run in Venice without further interference by Magda. No one had any doubt they were under scrutiny, but they had definitely hired the B team to keep tabs on them. Andy and Judy had fun messing with them—nicknaming them JJB for Jr. James Bond. They ran them a merry chase around the city a few times and returned to the villa in stitches, regaling the others with their antics.

  Danny Mac kept a close eye on Kenann for any aftereffects from her fainting episode, as did Granny James and Mrs. Gage. The three of them were wired for any contingency. Kenann finally confronted them.

  “Okay, guys, I know you are concerned about me, but if you all don’t take it down a notch, you guys are going to be the ones who crack.”

  They looked at each other and saw the evidence of what she was saying in their faces. Mrs. Gage was the first to grin, and before long they were all laughing. Kenann smiled and thought, Well, that went better than I anticipated.

  * * * *

  Danny Mac sought out Mrs. Gage. “I’ve just gotten word from Magda that she wants me to change our itinerary.”

  Mrs. Gage raised an eyebrow and listened.

  Danny Mac continued. “She says we must go to Budapest next.”

  “That is interesting.”

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  “Well, we have been waiting for her to show her hand in some way. This is a start.”

  “But we can’t just drop our current itinerary and change…can we?”

  Mrs. Gage laughed. “We can do anything if we are decided and are willing to face the consequences.”

  “So?”

  Mrs. Gage nodded. “So we are on to Budapest.”

  * * * *

  Mrs. Gage had simply patted Danny Mac’s cheek and said to leave the details to her. Once again, he marveled at the cool control and power of this woman.

  And so they were off to Budapest. Carter scrambled to let his people know of the change in plans and Bridget contacted the duke and duchess to alert them as well. She heard Katherine in the background telling William she would love to see Budapest. He laughed and said he would see what he could do.

  * * * *

  Mrs. Gage had once again performed her magic. There were no major venues available on such short notice, but as usual Mrs. Gage had friends in the Budapest Operetta Theatre. It was booked out for years, but due to the success and notoriety of their play, they were being offered the venue on off nights during the week. The manager was thrilled, as he felt sure it would draw large crowds of tourists.

  The group was in awe as they toured the building. It had rows and rows of small boxed seating around the walls, which were gilded in gold opulence. The ceiling was painted in
fresco style reminiscent of the Renaissance masters. They felt it a privilege to be able to perform in such a beautiful setting. They had come to see themselves as performers at this point without even being aware of the change.

  Mrs. Gage also did not disappoint in their lodgings. It was definitely a castle this time. High in the hills but a quick drive into the city. It was very Gothic in design and not a few of them wondered if this had been the inspiration for her home in Memphis. They settled in, being free to choose their own rooms in the myriad of choices. Mrs. Gage once again delighted in pleasing her loved ones with her possessions. They only brought joy to her if she could share them.

  As ordered, Danny Mac contacted Magda to reveal their location. She indicated she would be in touch when it was necessary. This frustrated Danny Mac, who did not relish being Magda’s lapdog. He complied with her and her incessant sexual innuendos for now, but he was growing weary of it and her. She did treat Kenann with a rather new deference that he found interesting. Something was obviously up or she would not have dictated they come to Budapest. So he would wait and not let Kenann out of his sight.

  But for now they were going to be tourists. Mrs. Gage loved showing off her native country of Hungary. When Judy asked if she had family in the area, she replied, “Oh, they are all gone, dear.” No one pressed her for details.

  They walked across the Chain Bridge and admired the beautiful architecture on both the Buda and Pest sides of the Danube River. Blade looked up on top of the mountain overlooking the city and said, “Can we go up there?”

  Mrs. Gage chuckled and said, “We most certainly may.”

  She explained as they made their way to the Buda side of the river that he was referring to the Buda Castle and what is now called the Castle District. They entered Adam Clarke square and she led them to a series of funny-looking cars that ran up the mountain on a track.