Once, and For All

by Kendra G. Johnson

  As they entered the ceremonial platform, everything went eerily quiet. The only sound was the crackling of the fire in the center of the clearing. Danny Mac’s eyes were drawn to the stone slab at the bottom of the stairs. Dark-robed and hooded people filled the clearing on both sides of the fire. Kenann froze. It was her dream. Before she had a chance to process this, the sound of the ceremonial gong catapulted her back to that platform in Egypt. Her mind began to cloud. She fought it. She had to fight it.

  Danny Mac felt her sway and gripped her elbow. They both froze when beyond belief a robed man in a goat head mask emerged out of the fire. He stepped out onto the sacrificial slab, raising his arms to claim this altar as his own. He then strode purposely up the steps toward Kenann. Danny Mac stepped in front of her. They would have to go through him to get her.

  To his horror, two men approached and took hold of Blade. They raised him above their heads and walked toward the fire. Danny Mac reacted on instinct. Running down the steps, he took out both men swiftly and efficiently. Carrying Blade in his arms, he turned and ran back up the steps to protect Kenann. No one challenged him. They appeared to simply be spectators in this tableau.

  He found the masked intruder still standing in front of Kenann. He had splayed his hand across her head. She simply stared up at him. Were they communicating? Danny Mac started to step between them again when Kenann put her hands out in front of her, indicating to let her pass. Danny Mac moved back almost against his will. Kenann stood at the edge of the steps with her arms outstretched.

  “A sacrifice is required for life of the Order,” she announced. Then she began to descend the steps.

  Danny Mac’s heart seized. He put Blade down, took his shoulders, and said, “Run to the woods to the left behind this stage. Go!” He shoved him back through the curtains and Blade ran for his life. Danny Mac whirled to run down the steps to Kenann. She continued her slow, hypnotic descent to the fire. He stepped in front of her, grabbing her arms and trying to get her to meet his eyes.

  The man in the mask started a low chant that was taken up by the crowd. As it reached a crescendo, the man raised his voice and addressed the crowd. “I have brought you the Chosen One. She has come to us as our blood sacrifice.”

  Danny Mac’s head shot up. Others came alert as well.

  “She was given to the dark forces as a child by her mother. This is her destiny. Her soul will now be ours forever.”

  * * * *

  In the woods, a dark figure crawled stealthily forward. A hand clamped over the mouth of the dark figure and a voice whispered, “What in the devil do you think you are doing?”

  Angelo responded to Adam in a hushed tone, saying, “I could ask you the same thing, Johnson.”

  They both dropped to the ground to reconnoiter. Adam spoke first. “We need to get as close to that clearing as we can.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  * * * *

  Another figure crept through the woods toward the gathering. She scanned the crowd and chose someone in the back who was the right size and made her way behind them without a sound. A small sedative injected into the neck and a tug on the robe to ensure the victim fell backward. Now that part of the task was complete. Granny James swiftly donned the woman’s robe and gagged and bound her to a tree. She couldn’t help if her hapless victim had made the unfortunate decision to not wear anything under the ceremonial robe.

  * * * *

  Danny Mac gripped Kenann’s shoulder. She looked him in the eyes and said, “I’ve always known it was coming to this.”

  “Those are lies, Kenann.” His eyes pleaded with her.

  Danny Mac was suddenly ripped from Kenann by hands pulling him backward and onto the ground. Kenann moved to the stone slab and lay upon it on her back in surrender. Granny James, in her stolen robe, approached the altar and knelt at Kenann’s head. The words that passed between them were lost in the night. The figure in the goat head mask became alert. He started down the steps but was stopped cold when the figure raised her head and looked at him. He felt powerless against the shield of protection around her and Inanna. How could this be? Who was this who held such power?

  Danny Mac fought like a lion. He was ready to break free when two dark figures emerged and dispatched all remaining opposition. The two men took firebrands from the fire and waved back anyone who dared challenge them and pummeled anyone who got past the torches.

  Adam yelled over his shoulder, “Save your girl.”

  Granny James slipped back into the shadows. Her work here was done.

  Danny Mac ran to Kenann and pulled her into his arms. Her eyes were clear. She was back. Her smile confirmed it. It was then that he saw it. Mirrored tiles in the fire creating an optical illusion. He could see now it opened into an underground tunnel.

  He wasted no time. With Kenann in his arms, he dove into the small cavity of heat-resistant mirrors and heard the screams from the crowd. Was that Magda calling his name? Angelo and Adam fought on, knowing they could trust Danny Mac to finish this. The man in the mask raced after them.

  Danny Mac followed the tunnel to its end. He came out behind the dais and sat Kenann down. He stepped back and braced to fight. But the man moved slowly and confidently from the opening.

  He looked at Kenann and simply said, “Finish it. You are mine now.”

  Danny Mac had had enough. “Oh, shut up.”

  He landed a roundhouse punch to the man’s face, knocking the mask askew. The man staggered and Danny Mac ripped the mask free. Adolphus. No surprise there, but what was surprising was the completely blank look in his eyes. Suddenly he knew. He was only the tool. The real enemy was a coward. And a liar.

  “By the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have no power here.” And then for his own satisfaction, he growled, “And you can’t have her, you unholy jerk.”

  The final powerful blow felled the man. Danny Mac shook his hand, grabbed Kenann, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”

  Kenann looked back over her shoulder in time to see the outline of a beast jump from the bank and pin the startled man back to the ground. That growl was oddly familiar.

  * * * *

  They quickly reached Mrs. Gage, who held both horses’ reins. Blade had already been placed on the back of the dark gelding.

  Danny Mac took the reins of the stallion from Mrs. Gage. “Did you get the book?”

  Mrs. Gage answered by patting the messenger bag slung across her shoulders, happy she still knew how to dispatch a guard. They heard a loud commotion coming from the ceremonial clearing. Things were heating up.

  Danny Mac sprang to the back of the powerful horse, pulling Kenann easily up behind him. “I’ll meet you on the other end of the village. Let’s separate.” Despite Mrs. Gage’s small stature, she mounted her horse with grace and skill. She told Blade to hold on and they raced into the woods.

  Danny Mac turned to Kenann behind him. “Ready?”

  Kenann reached around her love and squeezed him with relief and pure joy. The horse sensed their exuberance and reared in a rather showy pawing of the air. Danny Mac laughed. He turned the horse and they flew to the top of the ridgeline.

  For years to come, the village people told the tale of the night that evil was banished from their midst as the valiant warrior and his lady rode across the mountaintop silhouetted by the light of the full moon.

  EPILOGUE

  It was much later that night when they realized the commotion they heard from the clearing had been the cavalry showing up. Between Bridget and Carter’s respective contacts and Andy at the helm coordinating the operation, an international commando force had been dispatched to surround the entire compound. Stealthily moving in, they had captured all concerned.

  Judy had been at Andy’s side at “command central” during the raid. Afterward, she went looking for Granny. It took several hours to locate and retrieve her, as she had been rounded up with the several hundred other dark-robed figures in the clearing.
When Andy and Judy got there, she was patiently explaining to the tall British commando, “Who else would have tied that poor naked woman to a tree?” They made their apologies and hurriedly got her home, scolding her like a child for running off and pulling such a stunt. What did she think she was doing? She hung her head with sufficient remorse to appease them. She did not tell them that Mrs. Gage assisted her, knowing that no one else would have approved their plan.

  With the book in their possession, they were able to enact lightning strikes on the operations under this sect of the Order. The weather station and the chemical manufacturing plant had gone into self-destruct mode when the security was breached, but they were satisfied to have shut it down by any means. The information found in the book had to be enough.

  Magda made every effort to slip away, but when foiled, she became one of the nameless crowd. This, too, proved fruitless as she was identified via the one-way mirror by Carter. He was accepting accolades by the local constabulary when British intelligence arrived to take Magda into their custody. No questions were answered, but Carter had been around long enough to recognize when someone was rescued by one of their own.

  Adolphus was apprehended near the end of the raid. He was found cowering under the stage, rambling incoherently. The beast had kept him subdued until help arrived, then it slipped quietly into the night.

  The beast had then sought out the prayer warrior in the crowd, staying by her side as they were transported to the local constabulary. He then slipped away and found his way home. The others found him sleeping by the fire the next morning. Granny would keep his secret to her dying day and make sure his supply of treats never ended. After all, God’s warriors had to stick together.

  And without a hitch, the performers went on stage Tuesday night to a packed house and rave reviews. Tucked back into one of the private boxes were two young Brits who were thrilled to play a part in this exciting adventure. William and Kate had found themselves, almost against their will, drawn to this crazy group. Despite the lack of paparazzi, the cast knew they were there. This performance was for them. Every punch line was delivered to them (with a wink) to the delight of the grinning duchess.

  After the performance, the exhausted band of friends collapsed in the great hall of Mrs. Gage’s Hungarian castle. Despite its size, it was made cozy by the roaring fire and the soft, cushioned furniture. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts of the last few weeks. The duke and duchess had made themselves at home. Bridget walked by at one point and, leaning in, whispered, “Welcome to the Merry Band of Misfits.”

  At one point in the gathering, William made his way to Mrs. Gage. He graced her with his winning smile and said, “My mother would have loved you.”

  “I met her, you know.”

  “No. Where?”

  “I was on—well, shall we say, I had an agenda.”

  William smiled.

  “It was in Africa,” Mrs. Gage continued. “She was there in her work against land minds.”

  William’s gaze became intense as it always did when he was about to learn any scrap of new information about his mother.

  “She saw me in the crowd. Our eyes met and there was a moment of…recognition—deep understanding. It was if she saw the pain that I have felt and she knew me.” Mrs. Gage paused, overcome with the memory. Her voice was husky. “It was extraordinary. I shall never forget it.”

  Neither spoke for a moment. Then William said, “She was an extraordinary woman.”

  “Yes, she was.”

  * * * *

  As usual, Mrs. Gage convened a council of war. Everyone gathered around as she summarized the events, calling out accolades to various ones who had performed with valor. Blade beamed when he was given praise for recognizing that Ann James was following them and for remaining cool, calm, and collected at the blood sacrifice…yet again.

  At the conclusion of her opening remarks, she opened the floor. As the eternal skeptic, Judy asked, “Okay, what do we do now?”

  Carter interjected, “Well, I can tell you this. I have been given the green light to continue this team for as long as we wish.”

  Mrs. Gage beamed. “So we shall continue to the end of this tour and then we shall see where it leads us. Dear ones, we have done amazing things. No matter where we are led by the Lord God,” she looked at Carter, who knew better than to make a face, “I shall be thankful for each and every opportunity and experience we have.”

  She reached out her hand to Jake, who took it with pleasure, smiling down at his very own diminutive dynamo. Andy pulled Judy in for a kiss. She giggled. She never giggled. CJ opened both arms, pulling Leticia and Blade in. They were a team now. Even if it wasn’t official yet. Adam went to Moira and put an arm around her. They looked to their beloved Kenann. She was the undisputed light of both their lives.

  Bridget looked at Carter, who returned her gaze. She laughed to see his discomfort. Oh, this was going to be so much fun. She owed him one, she supposed, as she tried to track down for whom this Magda had been working. Obviously, she had been one of theirs and in very deep cover. But that was a task for another day. Tonight was a night for celebrating.

  Kate and her beloved William thanked their good fortune to be a part of so many wonderful things in their life. First and foremost was their children, who hopefully would wake in the morning never knowing their mummy and da had ever been away.

  Robert was eternally grateful to be free to return to his son, who barely knew him. He was going to change that just as soon as he could. This crazy band of people had forever changed his life. Angelo sat near the fire with a sense of peace he had never known possible. It had come on slowly, but it was powerful.

  He would always love Kenann, but he no longer feared it would cause him to destroy the good that they shared as friends, and the solid bond he would always have with Danny Mac. As soon as he could, he would go home and see his mama. Yes, life was pretty doggone good. Doggone? He smiled. He had been in Tennessee too long.

  No one objected when Danny Mac led Kenann outside onto the grounds. He took her hands and pulled her in a circle under the soft moonlight. She laughed. He would always love that sound.

  “Well, kid. Are you happy?”

  “Delirious.”

  “I am well aware of your mental state.”

  She sobered slightly. “Are you okay with me and my…weirdness? This whole Inanna thing that seems to show up?”

  “It’s a part of you. And I love all of you.”

  She laughed again. “Oh, MacKenzie, you are good.” She wagged her finger at him. She took his beautiful face in her hands. With his piercing eyes and strong features, she was struck that this man could love her as he does. She threw back her head in pleasure, her curls falling freely around her face.

  “MacKenzie?” She laughed.

  “Yes, MacKenzie?” Joining in her pleasure and mirth, he twirled her again in a circle.

  She broke away and began pulling off her top. Laughing, she ran toward the lake, hopping on one leg as she kicked off her pants. “Let’s go skinny dipping!”

  Danny Mac shook his head and laughed. Pulling off his shirt, he ran down the hill toward his love and the rest of his life.