Excerpt:
Stewart read, “All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.
Ecclesiastes 1:7″
Stewart called out, “Preacher Pat, I need to talk to you.”
There was no answer. But then Stewart heard something that sounded like whispers. Stewart called out, “Who is there.”
Then Stewart heard giggles and suddenly the loud sound of laughter. The sound of laughter sounded like it was coming from the cellar. Stewart walked to the staircase to the upstairs. Then he walked to the side of it where there was a door to beneath the stairs. Stewart opened the door. Behind the door was a ladder that reached down into the cellar.
Stewart called out, “Who is down there?”
There was no answer. There was only more laughter.
Stewart reached beside the ladder and flipped a switch. The cellar lit up. Stewart asked himself, “Should I climb down there?” Stewart screamed, “Preacher Pat, there has been a bio terror attack on the church. Please don’t go inside the church.” Stewart had a God awful feeling that his message was too late. “Preacher Pat, please answer me.” There was no answer.
Stewart stepped onto the ladder. “Who could be down in the cellar?”
Hearthville Serial: Book 7
Episode 17
Any Truth, Proper Grammar, or Correct Spelling is totally coincidental if not accidental.
All characters are fiction. This story is fiction. This story makes no claims about any real person.
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved
Steed parked Victor’s white van in the church parking lot. Leroy pulled up beside him and parked. They both got out of their vehicles.
Leroy told Steed. “I know Victor is powerful. He sent Belial to hell. But I have the most awful feeling.”
“I am new to this witch stuff. I don’t know what to think.”
Leroy and Steed walked around and found Judy and Jack sitting on the picnic table. They weren’t sure what they were going to be told or what they were going to say. Then they saw that both Judy and Jack were crying.
Judy stood and fell into Steed’s arms. “Preacher Pat is dead.” Judy pointed to the Hazmat EMS crew. “Victor knew it before the body was brought out.”
Steed scratched his head. “It is kind of odd the way they are leaving the stretcher with the body bag just sitting there.”
Jack said, “Victor vanished right in front of us. Before he vanished he said he was going to stop the soul of Preacher Pat from being caged. Why would anyone want to cage the soul of Preacher Pat?”
Steed said, “I don’t know.” Steed looked around. He mumbled, “Something does not feel right but I guess since this covid nightmare began nothing has felt right for a very long time.”
Leroy said, “Victor would not be worried about Preacher Pat’s soul being caged without reason. I guess there is more to Preacher Pat than any of us knew. I wish I had been kinder to him. But his type of religion creeps me out.”
Steed said, “Preacher Pat would visit my mom at the mental institution. I guess I need to tell her about his death before she hears it from someone else.” Then Steed looked around. “Say, where is Stewart. After Stewart learned who I am, he made a point to visit my mom with Preacher Pat. It might help if Stewart would come with me.”
Judy said, “Stewart would visit your mom. I did not know that.”
“It was always with Preacher Pat. They visited other patients. It is just after Stewart learned about me and mom, he made a point that she be one of the patients they would visit. My mom can be a hard case and it was not my idea for Stewart to visit her, though I was glad he and Preacher Pat did. I am still scared for you to visit her. She can be really mean.” An image of that awful night in the attic where his mom and Rita Angster had attacked Victor flashed in his mind.
Judy had never heard the story of how Steed’s mom Rachel had tried to kill Victor. Judy said, “I understand.” She didn’t really but that was an argument for another day.
Leroy asked, “But where is Stewart. They have Preacher Pats body there at the EMS Van. I don’t see Stewart in the crowd that is gathering there.”
Judy thought a moment. “The last I talked to Stewart he was worried about Preacher Pat. He was trying to call him on the phone. I guess he went back to Preacher’s Pat house looking for him. Stewart would have known to not go into the church.”
Steed looked around.
Jack did as well. “Stewart was close to Preacher Pat. He is going to be as devastated as I am. Stewart doesn’t need to be alone.”
Judy said, “We need to go to Preacher Pat’s house. Stewart must be there.”
* * *
Earlier…
Stewart tried calling Preacher Pat but Preacher Pat did not answer his phone. Steward ran up the steps to Preacher Pat’s house. The hard wooden door was open behind the closed screen door. Stewart opened the screen door. “Preacher Pat,” Stewart called out. No one answered. Stewart went into the home. He flipped a switch to turn the light fixtures and lamps on. All the lamps were on the same switch as the overhead lights. Preacher Pat did like his antique lamp collection.
Stewart looked at one lamp that that had a blue mermaid at its base. The shade was a double sided glass square and reached from top to bottom to surround the mermaid. Between the panes of glass was water that bubbled with oxygen. “That looks new. It must have been a gift. Cool though.” Stewart noticed an opened bible next to the lamp.
Stewart read, “All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.
Ecclesiastes 1:7″
Stewart called out, “Preacher Pat, I need to talk to you.”
There was no answer. But then Stewart heard something that sounded like whispers. Stewart called out, “Who is there.”
Then Stewart heard giggles and suddenly the loud sound of laughter. The sound of laughter sounded like it was coming from the cellar. Stewart walked to the staircase to the upstairs. Then he walked to the side of it where there was a door to beneath the stairs. Stewart opened the door. Behind the door was a ladder that reached down into the cellar.
Stewart called out, “Who is down there?”
There was no answer. There was only more laughter.
Stewart reached beside the ladder and flipped a switch. The cellar lit up. Stewart asked himself, “Should I climb down there?” Stewart screamed, “Preacher Pat, there has been a bio terror attack on the church. Please don’t go inside the church.” Stewart had a God awful feeling that his message was too late. “Preacher Pat, please answer me.” There was no answer.
Stewart stepped onto the ladder. “Who could be down in the cellar?”
* * *
Victor stared at Preacher Pat. He thought back to when had been in Preacher Pat’s bedroom and had seen the dream Preacher Pat was having of where he was at the crucifixion of Jesus. Victor had stepped into Preacher Pat’s dream. Then Victor thought to the conversation that he and Stewart had with Preacher Pat on the porch. Victor realized something did not feel right. He felt manipulated but was the manipulation from Preacher Pat or someone else. If the manipulation was from Preacher Pat then that would mean that Preacher Pat isn’t human.
The papers on Preacher Pat’s desk suggested that Preacher Pat had been given up for adoption by his mom Ellen and Arthur Ramsey. Preacher Pat had said he did not know how the papers had gotten there. Victor wondered if that had been part of the manipulation.
Victor turned to Madison. “Honey, be a dear, and you take over flying your ship.” Victor stood up from the controls. He put his hand on Preacher Pialo’s shoulder. “I am sorry you are feeling so confused.”
“I am confused. It is so hard to believe that I am dead.”
Victor looked up at the monitor. He watched the many spaceships riding the roller coaster that he had created. “Sometimes I feel confused. Even as my higher self, I can be fooled. I can be tricked. Betrayed.”
Victor looked at Donny Maxtone. “You take Captain Crayon, he does not always look the same. He always has that nose but some witches can totally shape shift.”
Donny Maxtone said, “That is true but if you are thinking that I am someone else, you are wrong.”
“How did we learn that Preacher Pialo is dead?”
Madison stared at Victor.
“Preacher Pialo was never in danger of being caged, was he? Donny and I are the ones in danger of being caged, aren’t we?”
“Who suggested that Preacher Pialo might be caged?” Madison asked. “It was not me.”
Victor said, “Donny.” He asked, “Why did you think there was a danger that Preacher Pialo might be caged?”
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I guess it was a weird assumption. It was just a thought that came into my head and out my mouth and then I believed it. There was a bio terror attack on his church so maybe it was not such a weird assumption.”
“Well, any time Madison is around, I guess it is wise to figure there is danger. And you did warn me that I could be in danger.” Victor studied Preacher Pialo’s face. Then he turned to study Madison’s face. Victor was not sure what to think.
* * *
Earlier…
Stewart climbed down into the cellar of Preacher Pat’s home. Stewart had been down in the cellar before with Preacher Pat when Preacher Pat was looking for a book to loan Stewart. Stewart considered that he had not gotten around to reading the book yet. He couldn’t even remember the title of the book. But Preacher Pat had wanted him to read the book.
Stewart looked around the cellar. The ladder was surrounded by book cases and with just one opening at the corner between the book cases. Stewart thought he heard foot steps from behind one of the bookcases. “Who is down here?”
Stewart felt nervous as he eased toward the opening. He had never seen behind the bookcases and somewhat felt like he was invading Preacher Pat’s privacy. Still, he walked to the opening. Beyond the opening, the lights were flickering and flashing. “Damn fluorescent lights.” Stewart stepped beyond the bookcases. He noticed an old grandfather clock. The only time he had ever seen such a clock was in the movies; usually the movies were of horror or mystery. Stewart joked to himself, “Now where is the secret compartment.”
Then it was like suddenly, out of no where a door appeared next to the grandfather clock. Stewart guessed the door was always there. It was just those damn flashing fluorescent lights that prevented him from seeing the door.
“Should I open the door?” Stewart felt afraid.
* * *
Leroy watched the crowd. “Why would they be letting people to get near to Preacher Pat’s body? And the men who brought the body bag out on the stretcher are taking off their hazmat suits. That doesn’t make sense.”
Steed said, “Exactly. And just leaving the body there. Crazy.”
Judy said, “It doe not make sense, does it?”
Leroy, Judy, Steed and Jack gathered themselves from where they had been at the picnic table and walked toward the crowd. They walked into the crowd. They walked toward the stretcher. They looked at the body bag.
Leroy said, “There is no body in the bag.”
One of the hazmat team said, “We could not find any body in the church.”
Jack said, “Preacher Pat is not dead.”
The man said, “I can not say that, but we found no body. There was no one in the church.”
Judy puzzled. “Why would Victor say what he said?”
Steed said, “Victor was being tricked by Madison. This is not good. I’ve got to call my father and let him know.”
Judy asked, “Who is Madison and what do you mean Victor was tricked by her?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain. This is all so confusing.”
Leroy said, “This is not good. I need to talk to some people also.”
Jack said, “Preacher Pat might not be dead. This is very good news.”
Steed and Leroy looked at Jack. Leroy said, “Victor might be in trouble.”
Steed said, “I’ve got to call my father?”
* * *
Arthur Ramsey threw his cellphone across the room. “I hate this. I hate it.” He stared at his wife, Clarice. “What am I going to do? I do not want to believe it but I fear that Alice Malokey is working to have Victor caged.”
“Why? Why would you say that?” Clarice asked.
“They have not found Preacher Pat’s body and Victor went to rescue Preacher Pat from being caged. And I just got off the phone with Alice and she is saying that she doesn’t know what is going on?”
“Maybe she doesn’t know. I don’t know why she trusts Madison Grant. Trusting that woman is just crazy.”
“So do you think this all may be Madison?”
“I don’t know.”
Suddenly the ghost of Nanny Ogleby appeared next to Arthur. He jumped in fright. “What the hell? Woman. You scared me.”
Clarice laughed. “Bitch, you old ghost, what you be doing here.”
Nanny said, “I wish I was in a playful mood but what brings me here is that I am scared for Artorious.”
Arthur asked, “What the hell is my father up to now?”
“They and by they let me make clear that I have no idea who the hell they are but they told Artorious that if he would pretend to be someone they would help him find Netty, you know, Jossette.”
Arthur said, “Well, I am worried about Jossette also. I would like to know where she is.”
“You don’t understand. I am not sure I understand. But the bottom line is that he is going to betray Victor Duddley. I am pretty sure that whoever they are, they are planning on trying to cage Victor.”
Clarice asked, “Do you know who Artorious is supposed to pretend to be?”
Nanny Ogleby said, “Preacher Pat.”
Arthur screamed, “Shit. Shit. Shit. Son of a bitch. What the hell am I going to do? Somehow I have to protect both Victor and my father. Should I call Alice Malokey or is my worst fear real and she is in on this shit? I did not like our last conversation.”
Nanny Ogleby said, “I don’t know. Artorious would not tell me much. He just told me that if he vanishes, he wanted me to know what his vanishing might be about.”
“What witch can I call to help that will not betray me?”
Clarice said, “You need to let Iapetus know what is going on?”
“I am not sure I can reach him.”
* * *
Madison sat at the controls of her spaceship. She knew Victor was testing her. Could she count on Artorious who was pretending to be Preacher Pat jumping in to help her if she needed help? Could she dare change the direction of her spaceship and fly it where her father had directed her to fly it? She sat like a deer in the headlights of a car.
Suddenly, two spaceships flew up next to her spaceship. She knew from the Assignment Numbers on the outside of the ships that they had been sent by an organization, “The Round Abouts,” that was controlled by Sabian Blackrock.
A man with a squeaky voice came on the radio intercom, “Follow us to the realm of Golgotha.”
Madison asked Victor, “What should I do?”
“Proceed to the Second Iapetus by evading them. You know how to do that.”
“Maybe you should take back control of the ship,” Madison said.
Artorious pretending to be Preacher Pat stared at Madison. He wanted his Netty back. He thought he would move heaven and earth to have her back by his side. But he considered and questioned that if he continued with his betrayal of Victor would she ever truly be at his side. He had no idea how he should play the hand that he had been dealt. He considered transforming back into his self and let Victor know who he was and why he was doing what he was doing. But he just wasn’t sure.
Victor smiled. He asked, “So what is this all about?”
Madison and Artorious said nothing. They sat silent.
Victor took control of the radio. He spoke to the men in the two ships. “Yo, bitches. Get the hell out of here before I send you to, yeah you know what I am going to say. Hell.”
The two ships quickly vanished.
Artorious transformed himself from looking like Preacher Pat to looking like himself. “I agreed to do what they wanted because they promised that I would get to see my Netty.”
Victor said, “Jossette. Do they know where Jossette is?”
“Nanny Ogleby suggested they might be lying. She begged me to not again betray you.”
Victor nodded.
Madison said, “Sabian Blackrock promised my father that if I betrayed you that he would release Napoleon.”
Victor nodded. He stared at Donny Maxtone.
Donny laughed. “Man, I am here with you. I want to know where Jossette is but I had no idea what they had promised Artorious. I thought he was Preacher Pat.”
Victor said, “God damn. Such a mess. I also want to know where Jossette is. Have they done her like Napoleon? Have they caged her?”
Donny said, “I think she actually has been visiting Rachel. It is just when I have tried to catch her there by basically camping out with Rachel, Jossette visits on a different vibration from me. Of course I could be wrong, but if they have her caged now I don’t think they have had her caged the entire time.”
Artorious said, “Rachel is very convincing that Jossette has been visiting her but I have been like Donny, I’ve never seen Netty there. And we all know that Rachel imagines things. The men who came to me were very convincing that they could bring Jossette to me.”
Madison put her spaceship on autopilot to the Second Iapetus. She stood up. “Do you remember how you were freed from the First Iapetus, a realm that no one else has been able to open up and leave?”
Victor said, “I don’t think I was there. If I was then I was in a sleep.”
“Sabian Blackrock told my father that you were there and a group of witches held a seance and summoned you forth. He would not tell my father who you are but I would guess that you are Caelus or Uranus, whichever name that you prefer.”
“I prefer the name Victor.”
Madison grinned. “Okay.” Then her face became more stern. “But the point is that Sabian wants to gather that same group of witches to send you back to be imprisoned in the First Iapetus. Jossette was never the weak witch that she pretended to be. She is not as powerful as Amberline Darko but pretty close to it. The Witches Council are very afraid of both women. But now Sabian Blackrock does not mind poking the bear and playing with fire.”
Artorious said, “There is no way Sabian can gather that entire coven together to send you back. I wasn’t sure who you were, but if you are him, I sure as hell do not want you sent back. You are the only hope we have to free earth of the Space Alien Witches.”
Victor cocked his head at Madison “Are you sure that I am Caelus?”
Madison said, “My mom told me some things when I was studying the subject. I studied you long before I met you though until I had you on my spaceship I wasn’t sure who you are. And I guess I could be wrong and you aren’t Caelus, but I don’t think that I am. I might could convince myself to betray Victor but I would never betray Caelus.”
Victor nodded. “I guess I told you enough for you to figure it out.”
Madison said, “My mom first suggested it to me. She told me that me and my father were being fools. But I do want my Napoleon freed.”
Victor said, “And I want my Jossette safe. I do not want her hurt.”
Madison said, “So how are we going to play this to protect Jossette and try to free Napoleon.”
Victor threw his head back and looked up toward the ceiling. “Napoleon will be freed in time. When I told you that I was serious. But to how I will protect Jossette, I don’t have a fucking clue.”
Donny asked, “How powerful is Victor without you, Caelus?”
“Very. But he is broken. He is a mess. And I don’t know if I could maintain a connection to him if I allowed myself to be sent back to the First Iapetus.”
Madison said, “No. No. Don’t. I mean no. You can’t allow yourself to be sent back to the First Iapetus. You are our only hope.”
“There is Amelia. Somewhere there is my brother Jesus.”
Donny said, “We know that Amelia sleeps. I’ve been told that Jesus will not come past the Wall with the three thrones. Caelus, we need you.”
“And maybe the souls who are trapped in the First Iapetus also need me. Maybe if the coven can gather again they can send me back. I can gather my army. And they can bring me back forth with my full army.”
Artorious said, “We are not that powerful. We could barely free you the first time.”
Madison said, “You sent Belial to hell. You can help defeat the Space Alien Witches.”
Victor or Caelus said, “I did not send Belial to hell. Victor did in a confused state where he thought he was dreaming and playing a video game. He is a mess. But don’t underestimate my spawn. I think I do need to go back to the First Iapetus. The Space Alien Witches can’t be defeated without opening the First Iapetus back up. We need those souls trapped there freed. We need those numbers to scare the Space Alien Witches shitless.”
Madison said, “There is a soul who may know how to open the First Iapetus up. I have had to pretend to be his enemy and play him the dummy to keep the Space Alien Witches confused. I need your help with him. Please. I beg you. Do not allow yourself to be sent back to the First Iapetus.”
“You came here with malice and now you would save me?”
“I came here to save my Napoleon but I tried to convince myself that you aren’t Caelous. I now know that you are. I would never have malice against Caelous, only love for my Napoleon. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
Donny said, “Let us get the hell out of the outlands.”
Madison said, “We need to get Caelous to his son, Iapetus. We need them together.”
Caelous asked, “And Victor.”
Artorious said, “Madison and I will swear an oath to protect Victor. My Netty loves you, him, whatever and I guess I must leave my insane jealousy behind.”
Donny Maxtone said, “And you know how I feel about Victor.”
Suddenly Victor/Caelous screamed. “Oh hell. They are going after Amelia.”
Victor fell to the floor of the spaceship. Madison knelt down and shook him. He felt limp. She looked at Donny and Artorious. “We must all swear an oath to protect Victor and Caelous no matter what our way comes.”
Donny said, “I have sworn that oath many times. I swear it again.”
Artorious said, “I swear to protect Victor/Caelous, you Madison, and you Donny with all my ability. I swear.”
Madison said, “Then we are Three as One.”
Donny said, “In time we will be a greater number as One.”
* * *
Trembling, Stewart opened the door. “I feel afraid but I must not be so. I must be brave.”
Stewart walked through the door. Flashing lights surrounded Stewart though he could not see the source. He heard giggles. Then he heard Preacher Pat Piaolo’s voice.
“Please leave me some dignity. Please.”
Stewart wondered if he should call out to Preacher Pat to let him know that… “What would I let him know. I don’t even know what is going on. I don’t know who are responsible for the giggles. And these lights. Why are they flashing around me?”
Stewart walked through a large space into a much narrower space though for a passage or hallway it was wide enough. Again, Stewart heard Preacher Pat’s voice.
“Stop pulling my boxer shorts down. Leave me my shorts. Don’t let my body be found naked.”
Stewart heard a woman’s voice.
“But you are a handsome man. I see your ass is nice and firm. And your cock is large. Seeing your cock makes my pussy wet.”
Stewart continued walking. Then he stopped cold. In the flashing lights he stared at the wall. “There is writing on the…” Stewart examined the wall more closely. “The wall is lined with crypts. I am in a mausoleum of some kind. I would not think the church is old enough to have a catacomb beneath it.”
Stewart heard Preacher Pat’s voice.
“Those aren’t crypts. What is this behind the facade?”
* * *
Out from Witch City In the Metaphysical World…
Sam Bigalo’s mother, Samanjela stood on a rock balcony overlooking a river some 1200 feet below. She turned to see her grandson Rabbit who was sixteen and something of a wild one. Sam Bigalo was his father.
“Granny, why were you upset that I brought Winston with me to visit you and grandfather.”
“You must understand that Winston’s grandfather, Sabian Blackrock is dangerous and is our enemy. Sabian is a danger to Amelia.”
“I hate the way my father treated my mother. He might have loved my mom more if he could have just let go of Amelia.”
“I guess I understand but you don’t wish Amelia harm, do you? You didn’t sneak Winston here to get back at us, did you?”
“Of course not. Winston is having trouble with his parents. He needed some place to get away from them. He had never been to the Witch City and I thought this would be the perfect place for him to hide from his parents. I just wanted to be up front with how I feel about Amelia because I did not want you to get the wrong idea.”
“Your grandfather and I should not be helping Winston to hide from his parents. Because of how we feel about Sabian, when discovered, they will build it up into some kind of conspiracy like we kidnapped him or some terrible such thing.”
“Please do not send Winston back.”
“We must let Bilford Arthur and Winfey Blackrock know that Winston is here. I will advocate that he be allowed to stay.”
Rabbit hugged his granny. “Thanks. You will find that Winston is a great young man. You know he saved me from drowning after mom vanished.”
“Sam never told me about that. Were you trying to do harm to yourself?”
“I don’t know what I was trying to do. I was drunk and feeling sorry for myself but I don’t think when I took the dare to swim across the bay I was much thinking about anything. Of course back then I could not cross the line between the living and dead. I could not visit places like Witch City.”
“Yes. Earth is a very much different place once you realize that earth is not one world but many worlds and understand that death is an illusion. Still we can not go to all worlds. Some worlds are locked. And there are some worlds that we must earn the right to enter.”
“I wish I could find where mom has gone. I guess she must be in a world I can’t enter.”
Samanjela knew things she was not about to tell Rabbit. She changed the subject. She asked, “Where is your friend Winston now?”
“Taking a long shower. I am afraid one of the few pleasures he gets out of life is imagining that he is the lover of some celebrity while jerking off.”
Samanjela gave her grandson an eye roll. Then she looked up toward the sky. She saw three spaceships hovering and she felt a great fear in the pit of her stomach. “You know we relocated here to protect Amelia.”
Rabbit looked up to see what his grandmother was seeing in the sky. “I haven’t told anyone. Winston would not tell anyone. Honest.”
“I believe you.” Samanjela called out to her husband. “Ansil, there are three spaceships hovering.” She pulled out her eye glass to get a closer look at the ships. “I think the ships belong to the Round Abouts group but I am not sure.”
Ansil came out. He looked up at the spaceships. Then he looked around. “I am going to the computer radar. I’ve got a bad feeling.”
“So do I. I’ve got a feeling the Blackrocks have found where we are.”
Rabbit screamed, “Winston would not tell anyone.”
Ansil said, “I am not accusing him or you. This is not about accusing. This is about protecting our asses. Boy. Don’t you understand that we are in danger. I do not want any of us to end up in a cage.”
Winston walked out on the balcony. “We are in danger. Have my parents found out where I am?”
Ansil screamed, “I don’t have time. I have got to get to the radar computer.”
Rabbit hugged on his friend. “They are afraid for Amelia. Dad told me how your grandfather has already tried to get her once.”
Winston nodded. “I hate my family.”
Caelous appeared on the balcony but only one person on the balcony could see or hear him. Caelous said, “We need to get Amelia on the boat that is down in the water caves. Do you understand?”
No one responded to Caelous.
Winston said, “I don’t think they can see or hear you.”
Caelous said, “But you can.”
“Seems that way.”
“Tell them. Please hurry. Tell them.”
“There is some dude here that says you need to get Amelia on the boat that is down in the water caves.”
Rabbit asked, “Who? I don’t see anyone.”
“I don’t know. He looks like that Victor Duddley dude I was reading about the other day.”
Ansil ran out on the balcony. “They are positioning to surround us.”
Rabbit said, “According to Winston, Victor Duddley is telling us that we need to get Amelia to the boat in the water caves.”
Ansil stared at his wife. “Do you know what he is talking about?”
Caelous screamed, “You follow me and tell them to follow you.”
“I will follow Victor and you should follow me. I think he is trying to help.”
Samanjela said, “We have Amelia hidden.” She quickly fumbled with her phone that was in her green apron pocket. “I’ve got to call Sam.” As she pressed a couple of buttons she managed to get her phone to her ear as the number dialed and he picked up. “Son. We are fixing to be under attack by the Round Abouts Group.”
Sam said, “Shit. Alice told me that Arthur Ramsey is afraid for Victor and Jossette. I did not think I should be afraid for you all as well.”
Rabbit could hear what was being said on the phone. He screamed, “Winston says that Victor is here in astral form. He wants to get Amelia to a boat in the water caves. Can we trust Victor?”
Sam said, “I am so confused. What are you and Winston doing in the Witch City with your grandparents?”
“Dad, the spaceships are coming closer. We don’t have time for your questions. Can we trust Victor?”
Sam screamed, “Mom, do you have an escape plan.”
“We have Amelia hidden. They should not be able to find her.”
Caelous said, “They know about the secret room behind the fireplace in the kitchen.”
Winston said, “If you have her in the secret room behind the fireplace in the kitchen, they know about it.”
Ansil said, “I don’t see where we have any choice but to get Amelia and follow the boy.”
Sam said, “Okay dad. Do it. Save yourselves and save Amelia. Rabbit, know that I love you. And Winston, know that I do not hate you.”
Winston laughed. “Sir, back at you. Now we’ve got to get our asses moving. Victor is already heading to the secret room to get Amelia. I am following.”
Samanjela put her phone back into her apron pocket.
Everyone followed Winston who was following Caelous. Caelous entered the kitchen.
Caelous said, “Sorry young fellow but I am going to need to borrow your body.” Caelous jumped into Winston’s body.
Winston stretched open the gray sweat pants he was wearing. “He jumped into my body and now my dick is 12 inches long. It feels different.”
Rabbit peeped at Winston’s cock. “Damn.”
Winston quickly popped his sweats to again be snug back against his stomach.
Caleus/Winston then turned the antique radio on that was on the mantel above the fireplace. That opened the secret door to the secret room where Amelia was hidden.
Samanjela said, “He knew how to open the door.”
Caleus looked at Amelia laying in her bed. Tears filled his/Winston’s eyes. “Mom.”
Samanjela and Ansil looked at one another. “Mom?”
They heard people begin to break into the home.
Caleous/Winston snapped his fingers and transported everyone but the intruders to the boat. Caleous/Winston said, “You all will be safe here.”
Caelous stepped out of Winston’s body. Winston again opened his sweat pants to look at his cock. “Damn. Man. Couldn’t you have left me with a 12 inch cock.”
Winston pulled his sweat pants to again fit against his belly. Winston and Rabbit both looked around the boat which was more of a small ship than a boat.
Rabbit said, “This is not a rowboat. It is a ship.”
Caelous said, “It is an invisible ship, hidden by old magic that the space alien witches know nothing about. Amelia will be safe here. I must go.”
Winston said, “Caelous. Wait. Please don’t go.”
“You know my name.”
“I do know that your name is Caelous but I do not know how I know that.”
“I must go. Tell them how the ship is invisible and protected by old magic. There are canned goods and good beverages in storage off the galley. I’ve got to go back to my body and figure out what I am going to do next. Your grandfather’s people may have Jossette prisoner.”
Caelous vanished.
“Victor, that is Caelous, is now gone. He told me to tell you that the ship is invisible and Amelia will be safe here on the ship. There are canned goods and beverages in storage off the galley.”
Rabbit smiled. “This is fucking cool. Man. Your parents and grandfather will never find you here. And just think, an invisible pirate ship. Man, the damage we could do with this. Imagine being a pirate with an invisible ship.”
Samanjela touched Winston. “Thank you for getting us and Amelia to safety.”
“Well. It was all Caelous really, but you are welcome.”
Caelous reappeared to get another look at Amelia. Winston saw his return and how he walked to Amelia. He touched her face and said, “May you soon wake.”
Winston said, “He is back.”
Caelous turned to Winston and said, “Tell Samanjela that I also say that she is welcome and let her know how much I love her for taking care of Amelia.”
“Caelous also says that you are welcome and that he loves you for taking care of Amelia. Know that his are are not empty words. I could feel the love he feels in his heart for you and your husband.”
Listening to Winston’s words, Caelous realized that Winston could not only hear his words but feel his emotions. Most witches, even if they have the power of empathy, often do not use that power.
Caelous said, “Young man, thank you. I must being going.”
Caelous vanished from Winston’s view. “He is gone.” Winston shook his head in anger. “My grandfather would even fight a god. Grandfather Sabian is one crazy son of a bitch.”
Samanjela shook her head. “Wait. Caelous. The Caelous. You mean Victor is the god Uranus. He is not trapped in the First Iapetus?”
Winston said,. “I don’t really know much about such things but I know Victor loves Amelia very much and that he hopes that she will soon wake.”
“Does he have the power to wake her?”
“I don’t know. If he does he did not use the power.”
Ansil saw the troubled look on his wife’s face. He said, “Dear, we have taken care of Amelia all of these years. We have protected her. Are you prepared that she may be about to wake?”
Rabbit said, “Caelous did not wake her. She still sleeps there. Why would you think she might be about to wake?”
“Caelous being here means something. His saving us means something. His wish that his mother might wake means something. So again I ask, Samanjela, are you prepared that Amelia might be about to wake?”
“Of course I am prepared. I want her to wake. I dream that she will wake.”
“But we dream that she will still love Sam. We dream that we will still be part of her life when she awakes. We dream that she will be grateful. But when she wakes and she no longer dreams in her slumber, it might not just be the end of her dreams but ours as well. She is God. And who are we? We are nobody.”
Winston walked over to Amelia. He touched her as Caelous touched her. Then he looked at Rabbit. “Do you realize your dad was married to God. The God. This woman laying here in this hammock, this woman that I just touched, is the entity that created the computer system that controls all these worlds.”
Ansil looked at his wife. “Computer system?”
Rabbit walked over next to his friend. He stared at Amelia and shook his head. “Wait. Is this a sex hammock?”
Samanjela said, “We will find a cabin suitable for her and move her there. I don’t know why Caelous would leave Amelia in a hammock on the deck of this ship.”
Ansil said, “A god just saved us. Don’t complain.”
Winston said, “He had to get back to his body. He has to figure out how to save his woman, Jossette.”