Chapter 22
Young Herod's Debut
Pilate sat watching the fuming Judas as he thought how much he really liked Cobrata, in spite of her obvious attachment to Judas. The morning paper gave her just a sentence in the "unknown" section of the obituaries.
"Lady killed by accident in All Saints in Sewanee."
"Accident my rear end," he yelled angrily, then wadded up the paper and threw it at the wall. "She was killed! She was murdered! Someone, some light Nephilims were there who knew how to use their abilities. I believe one of them was even invisible. I don't even have that one down pat."
"Is there any way that we can find out what really happened?" asked Pilate.
"Maybe, just maybe. Aren't Young Herod and Jezzz about due for a call?"
"Yes, they're about 15 hours late. They should have found out where the girls are by now," Pilate said, encouraging Judas' anger towards anyone but him.
"Call them, now!" he ordered, then handed Pilate the phone.
"It's five in the morning, sir. Do you think we should?" he asked timidly.
"Why not? I can't sleep so why should they? Get them, now!" he commanded.
Abigail heard Jezzz's phone ringing. Something within her knew that Young Herod needed to be there for it. She knocked on his door saying, "Jezzz just got a call. Do you want to be there?"
"Yes, thank you. Good going, Abigail," he said as he stumbled with only his suit pants on.
He barely made into Jezzz's room before he heard her say, "Young Herod, sure he's right here beside me."
She mouthed Judas and grabbed a little notepad writing down Pilate and Judas' name to make sure he got it. He nodded "yes" while answering cheerfully.
"Pilate, yes, sure we're up. Well, if you'd called us a couple minutes later, you would've disturbed us. Sure, I'll talk to Judas," he answered as he rolled his eyes and wiped his brow dramatically as if it was a close call and it was.
"Yes, Judas, we've been very busy. We've got a couple more leads to follow. It hasn't been easy. Most of the student records where thrown out years ago. We've been interviewing the Tabor neighbors and some faculty at the University. We've even thought of contacting Abigail herself if we have to."
"Don't do that," Young Herod repeated slowly.
"Abigail doesn't have much political clout left, but she sure could attract attention to us. I want you two to drop what you're doing and go to Sewanee as soon as possible. Cobrata was murdered at Sewanee yesterday. I talked to her just before she died. She was trying to warn me about some Nephilims who already discovered some of our abilities."
"Sewanee? Okay, so what do we do when we find out anything?" he asked.
"Let me know. Don't make a fuss. I want to keep a low profile for the next couple weeks. After that, it won't matter anymore. Just find out what's going on. No more advertisement or publicity. It would kill us. Do you understand?"
"Sure, keep below radar," Young Herod answered.
"What's that supposed to mean, radar?" Judas asked, then remembered how much Young Herod was into the ancient history and lingo. "Never mind. Just do what you're told and report back. Hey, once you have, start looking for the girls again," he commanded before hanging up.
"Sewanee? Isn't that in Tennessee?" he asked Jezzz.
"Sure, Abigail and I were heading that way when you got back. The girls are there. Abigail said they wouldn’t trust us without her. What happened at Sewanee?" she asked, not being able to hear all the conversation.
"Some Nephilims murdered Cobrata. Do you think it was the girls? Do you think that Star and Day have figured out what they're capable of?" asked Young Herod as he tried to put the pieces together.
"Oh, man, can you imagine Cobrata stumbling onto the girls and being killed by them too. What a shocker. Talk about taking someone by a surprise," she exclaimed.
"My girls killed a dark Nephilim," said Abigail loudly as she fell into the room with Jezzz's last statement.
"I hate getting old. Can't hear like I used to. I heard that, though! If that's true, then they really are following in Sal's footsteps," she announced proudly.
"Why don't you come in, Abigail, since you've fallen in. There are no secrets here. It's just too coincidental, that's all. Do your girls know any Nephilim tricks, yet?"
"Well, Day has been practicing morphing lately, but Star didn't have a clue the last time I talked to her. Day is more of a Mom's girl and tells me everything. Star keeps to herself. Anything could have happened. They haven't shown any unusual abilities in the last 30 years."
"Thirty? Did you say, 30?" asked Jezzz while realizing what that meant.
"Yes, they turned 30 last month. What's so important with that?" she asked.
"Nephilim puberty," stated Young Herod.
"Yes, Nephilim puberty. Light Nephilims get their star eyes when they're 30. It's the start of a lot of influence from their angelic side. With us, it starts at 20, with our red stars. They really could have those abilities. If they developed that quick, it means they are far more powerful than we ever imagined."
"Will you two stop speculating? Come on down stairs, and I'll just call them and ask. I'm their mother for goodness sakes," she laughed, and Young Herod did a clueless swoop over his head for his stupidity.
"What did that goofy hand move mean?" Jezzz asked.
"It means we're stupid. We should've figured that out before all this chatter," Young Herod remarked.
Abigail corrected him, "Who's stupid?"
"Good one, girl," chuckled Jezzz, then she turned to Young Herod as he followed her out of the room.
"Oh, look at Young Herod. He's got some chest hairs. Oh, no, a manly man," she replied and pulled one out in an impulsive fast-snatch move while giggling as she ran down the stairs.
"Ouch, Jezzz! What did you do that for?" he spouted back. He swatted at her for it and missed.
"I'm going to keep it in my pocket for good luck. If my sister liked them so do I," she yelled up to him sticking her tongue out at him childishly.
"A sick family, really sick," he laughed, and then noticed all of the pups quietly staring at him. "You know, you're the ugliest dogs I've ever seen," he said laughing.
They growled at him for that statement and jumped off the bed. As he tried to make it down the stairs, they snapped successfully at his bare feet and ankles.
"Abigail, call off these dogs. Man, their teeth are sharp," he yelled.
"Did you insult them? They only do stuff like that when someone insults them," she said as she watched him jump onto a sofa chair to avoid their snips.
"I'm sorry guys, I apologize. You're all beautiful. You're gorgeous," he begged as he watched them settle into a warm pile in a blanketed basket near the porch.
"Do you really want to call them this early?" Jezzz asked as she looked at her watch.
"No, I guess not. We could check out a flight and be there by this afternoon. How about it?" Abigail suggested. She loved the adventure of it all. She hadn't been to Sewanee in years, and she was going to see her babies.
"French toast, anyone?" she asked while getting agreeable nods, and the pups started baying knowing they got the leftovers.
"Hey, Jezzz, you can take off for Canada, can't you? I bet you're excited," he announced, then watched her lower lip tremble, and Abigail stuck her head out of the kitchen in a panic, mouthing, "no," which he didn't get.
"What's wrong with you, Jezzz? You look like you just lost your best friend," he remarked and watched her run upstairs to her room.
"Abigail, what in the world is going on?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen while she shook her head like he was an idiot.
"If I were to guess, I'd say that you were her best friend," she informed him.
"I am. That's nice. I guess, she's mine too. Isn't that sweet," he said then pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down.
Abigail kept her mouth shut. She didn't want to meddle, and it wasn't her place to tell a grown man that someone was i
n love with him, even if he didn't get it himself. She prayed under her breath for them both, then Jezzz came down with her bags packed.
"You're right, now is a great time to go to Canada. Can we eat, now?" she asked as she sat across from him—very unemotional. Abigail was impressed by her self-control and shrugged and thought something would happen in time.
She wondered to herself with a little doubt, "Would it? It happened only just in time between Alex and her. It was her confession of affection that nailed him for her. She thought it might have to be that way again. "Please, Lord, make her tell him in time."
They ate, then they each finished getting together some more things. Abigail washed and ironed Young Herod's only two shirts. She gave him some baggy oversized boxer shorts, which he stapled together for a better fit. Abigail piled the floor of the kitchen high with dog food and several large pans of water.
"You dogs behave. You can't go," she explained to them and watched them howl in disappointment.
"Do they understand what you're saying?" asked Young Herod.
"I've come to believe they understand everything everyone says. Their dad, Nicodemus, was the same way."
Young Herod whispered into Abigail's ear, "Did they have that stupid smile too."
"Yes," she whispered back, and they have excellent hearing. Only one pup perked its ears up and ran full speed for Young Herod, then bit him on the back of his heel and returned to the French Toast leftovers.
"Ouch, these guys are dangerous. Let's get out of here." Abigail and Jezzz laughed at him until tears came.
In the cab, Young Herod snapped his fingers together like he forgot something. He pulled a small pad of paper and wrote to Jezzz, "We forgot about me getting saved."
"I haven't," she replied. She pulled out an ancient Gospel tract written by E. Stanley Jones in the 70's. Abigail gave it to her as a souvenir. She felt it was more important that Young Herod have it.
Young Herod read the tract repeatedly. They were almost at the airport when Young Herod bowed his head. This time there wasn't any violent darkness being pulled from him like with Jezzz, only the shuddering of sobs as he put his face in his hands. The cabby noticed and thought that maybe the couple was breaking up. He stepped on the gas in a hurry to unload them. He didn't need dramatics like this in his cab.
Jezzz put her arm around him and held him to her best she could. She felt wave after wave of the Holy Spirit flowing over him, and it was moving through her too. Abigail barely kept her composure. She knew what was happening. Suddenly, the Cab driver pulled off the side of the road. He also knew what was happening. This wasn't a break up. This man was getting saved.
"I'm a believer. I teach Sunday school. I want to pray with you all too," he said as he bowed his head and reached back to touch Young Herod's knee to share in the compassion. The power of what he felt coming back to him was outstanding. He felt he had just put his finger in a 220, but it was pleasant and Holy, full of peace and assurance. He remembered getting saved himself.
Finally, Young Herod looked up and smiled, "Thank you! Thank you all! This is absolutely great! I've never felt like this in my life! Thank you!"
The cabby smiled knowingly and drove on to the airport. He couldn't wait to go to church and tell what happened. Young Herod reached up and took his contacts off. The cab driver was puzzled why this was happening and looked in the rear view mirror just as they pulled to the terminal departure parking. He watched in amazement as red star eyes disappeared and reappeared as bright, white stars. He only had a few more feet to pull up, but he slammed on his brakes in a panic, put the cab in park, jumped out, and ran down to the far end of the departure area while waiting for them to get out and leave.
"Well, looks like I've already made a hit with my new stars. Aren't they great!" he said as he looked in the hand mirror that Abigail just gave him.
"Better put those contacts back on, Young Herod. We'll never get through security with you advertising like that," suggested Jezzz.
As they entered into the ticketing area, they looked back to see the cabby returning to his cab and racing away.
"There's the Maple Leaf Express, Abigail. You stay here and wait for Jezzz. I'll be right back. I'll get our Sewanee trip worked out. I guess it will be to Chattanooga, then car rental to Sewanee, right?" he stated. He turned and ran off to a counter several airlines away.
"Are you really going to Canada?" asked Abigail as she looked at a very lost Jezzz, looking every bit an orphan.
"I suppose that I was too critical of Lawrence. After all, we both planned on this, and he moved to Canada just to be with me."
"Are you sure?" asked Abigail skeptically.
"No, but what the hay, as Young Herod would say. Got to try," she said as she walked away from Abigail to get her ticket confirmed.
She came back, "Looks like my flight is right next to a Southwest gate. Think that it's next to the one you'll be leaving from?" she stated, then trembled slightly.
"Young Herod is waving at us. Yours leaves in 15 minutes. I bet we almost leave at the same time. That's convenient," replied Abigail.
When they were boarding for Jezzz's flight, she turned to Abigail and whispered, "Am I doing the right thing, Abigail? I am, aren't I?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "Do you love Young Herod?"
"My sister did. I think I do. I don't know. I think I still have Lawrence. I don't know. I've got to go," she said, then pulled away from her and went to Young Herod and hugged him lightly, more to protect herself from her real feelings.
"Have a good life, Jezzz. I'll miss you. You've been great for me," he said honestly. As she walked away, Young Herod ran to her, spun her around, and kissed her passionately on her lips. "I'd never forgive myself for not doing that with all the history between us. Take care of yourself."
She broke away from him in a bawl of tears and halfway down the boarding corridor, stopped, and wiped her eyes with her sleeves. She pulled her phone from her purse and called Lawrence. The voice message that answered was shocking, "This is the Tangie and Lawrence Scofield residence. At the tone, leave your message." In the answering machine background, was the sound of wedding music.
"That Jerk!" she yelled and turned while fighting her way back through the crowd; and noticed that Abigail and Young Herod were already gone.
She ran to the Southwest counter and begged, "I got to get on that plane. Here, can you change my tickets?"
"I can give you standby. I have only one open seat. The party has ten minutes to get here before I can let you have it. You'll just have to wait," he said cordially but firmly.
She ran to the window and stared at the plane. She thought she saw Abigail at the window. She waved at her and tired to get her attention to no avail. Five minutes later, she prayed, "Lord, I need your help. I'm one of your new believers. I don't want anyone to be hurt by me taking their seat, but I really do need to get on that plane. Please help me." She sat down and held herself together by a thread while feeling that her life was falling apart.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you going to Gate 15 on the Southwest Flight 509 to Chattanooga?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, why?" replied a small man who was dwarfed by this large hunk of humanity in front of him.
"I'd like to buy your ticket from you," stated Joseph as he pulled out a large roll of silver certificates. He started peeling 1,000-dollar certificates into the man's open hand after grabbing his free hand and forcing him to take them.
"Just tell me when to stop," said Joseph as he watched his surprised face after ten were in place.
After 15, guilt forced him to yell, "Stop, enough is enough! You're providing me retirement, now! If this ticket means that much too you, take it, here," he replied as he handed it to him and turned his back on Joseph, afraid he'd try to take back the money.
"Thanks, have a blessed day," said Joseph, then disappeared and reappeared beside Jezzz. She had her head in her hands while holding the tears in.
&nb
sp; "Hi," he said.
"Leave me alone, mister," she replied, not looking at him.
"I'm sorry, but you prayed. The Lord wants you on that plane too. Here's your ticket. I'm Joseph. The one Caleb told you about. Now, you go have a great life, for real this time," he said smiling.
They both stood up together, and she grabbed and pulled on his neck trying to get her arms around him for a hug, but he was too large. She jumped in one spot and started saying repeatedly, "Yes, praise God! Yes, praise God! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!"
"Ma'am, you can have that standby now. I'll issue that ticket for you," he announced, then noticed she had one in her hand and walked past the gate attendant, handed it to him, then ran down the ramp towards the open door. She turned briefly to wave at Joseph, but he was gone.
As she entered the plane, she saw Young Herod's head sticking far above the rest. He was 20 seats ahead of her. There were three seats on his side, and Abigail had the window seat while Young Herod had the aisle seat to give him legroom. There was a little old lady sitting between them, staring intensely at Young Herod and drooling.
Jezzz approached and tapped the lady on her head. She said, "Ma'am, do you mind if we swap seats? I'd like to sit between my friends."
Young Herod just about knocked himself out while jumping up to greet her, and Abigail put her face in her hands again while tearing up with joy. Her prayers were being answered too.
"I will not! I like sitting next to this nice, good-looking gentleman. Go find your own seat."
Young Herod started to interrupt when Jezzz put a hand up to stop him. She bent over Young Herod's seat and got into the lady's face. As she popped off a contact, her bright star eye lit up the air around her.
"I said that I want to sit with my friends. Whatever hormones you have left, you need to save them for someone your own age. Now, move!" she ordered her.
The lady wasn't scared; she was terrified. Jezzz's eye drilled down into her own, and she felt as if she was caught committing a crime. It was overpowering, and she got up and pushing Young Herod and Jezzz out of her way as she tried to get to another seat.
"That went well. Remind me to take me with you to buy my next car. You have a certain authority over people that I like," Young Herod laughed. They sat down together; and after Jezzz put her contacts back on, she put her arm through his and comfortably laid her head on his shoulder.
"I thought you were on your way to Lawrence. What changed your mind? Got scared of cold weather?" Young Herod chuckled, still not getting it.
"I came back to be with you," she said frankly and pulled closer to him.
"Oh," he answered quietly, and then it hit him, and louder next time, "Oh!"
He picked up her nearest hand and held it against face lovingly. and said, "I'm glad. I'm very, very glad."
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