Chapter 26
Tangled Webs
"Riley, don't leave. You don't understand. It's not what you think. Well, it's worse than you think, but I can explain," shouted Day as she tried to pull him back from the door.
"I can't have my dad fooling around with my English professor while I'm having to lay low. I'm out of here! He's going to embarrass the fire out me!" he said angrily.
Abigail somehow got between Riley and the door. She pushed him forcibly back into the room while Jezzz and Young Herod sat quietly in the corner beanbag chair while watching the soap opera. As far as Riley went, they were just some visiting friends from Chattanooga.
"Listen to me, Riley! You are way out of your league here. There won't be a Jerusalem left if you don't cooperate," replied Abigail emphatically.
"Ma'am, with all due respect, get out of my face!" he shouted.
"Mom, I need Riley. We need Riley! I love him! Don't treat him that way!" she pleaded and pulled Abigail away from him as he ran past her and out the door with Day chasing after him.
Riley raced down the walk towards his dorm room just as Star and Hayden drove up. When he saw them, his face turned beet red, and he walked the opposite direction. He walked as fast as he could without running. Ahead of him was a very tall man in a business suit who watched the Riley-Day road race. Hayden decided not to enter the race and went to visit Abigail.
As Riley passed the man in the suit, he got chill bumps on his arms. Star caught up with Day and grabbed her arm to make her stop, "Leave him be, Day. His dad said he'd calm down. Did you tell him?"
"Heck no! He's upset because he thinks you're dating Hayden. He doesn't know you're marrying him!" she exclaimed.
They stood in the middle of the walk arguing, but all Day saw was her Riley walking away. She was so upset that tears raged down her face; and at one point, she almost slapped Star for trying to keep her from following him.
Young Herod greeted Hayden at the door, then froze in terror. He could see Day and Star arguing, and from moment to moment, almost fighting. He also saw Pilate walking towards them. He ducked inside and pulled Hayden after him.
"What in the heck?" started Hayden.
"It's Pilate, Jezzz. He’s coming up the walk towards the girls!" he whispered aware of their own hearing ability. She jumped up and looked through the blinds.
"Who's Pilate?" asked Hayden. He was hushed quiet by Jezzz and Young Herod.
"Abigail, do you have a gun?" Young Herod asked.
"Not on me, but Star still has a Louisville Slugger I gave her before she left home. It's kind of a keepsake now," she said but pointed to the bat leaning upright in the corner of the room. "Who's Pilate? Is he on Judas' team?" she asked quietly and watched Young Herod nodding "yes."
Jezzz commented as she went to the corner to pick up the bat, "I need a keepsake like that right now."
Hayden recognized Judas' name and went cold. He thought how important the destruction of Jerusalem must be to the dark Nephilims. They'd probably do anything to keep on track. He didn't know Pilate was looking for Jezzz and Young Herod. Hayden pulled the door open and rushed out towards the girls before he could be stopped. He cut across the lawn and saw Riley on the far side of the campus as the girls tangled viciously over his episode. Riley was feeling guilty for causing such a scene. He saw Hayden marching towards them and got angry again. Suddenly, something told him that the girls were in danger. He turned and walked briskly back towards them too. Hayden watched Pilate carefully. He couldn't tell whether he knew the girls or not. Neither of them had seen him, yet.
Hayden mouthed the words towards Riley, "Stay back!" from across the campus, which he didn't see, and kept coming.
Pilate saw the girls and began to realize who they might be. From behind Hayden came Jezzz and Young Herod who fanned out and ran his flank towards Pilate. Pilate hadn't noticed, still focused on the girls. Only 50 feet from them, he stopped, and noticed Young Herod, Jezzz, and Hayden. He instinctively turned around and looked behind him at Riley. He was surrounded, but he didn't know by whom. The only ones who didn't notice were the girls.
Star felt an alarm going off in her heart and looked at Day with a panicked face. She saw Riley coming back across the campus lawn up behind Pilate; and Hayden, Young Herod, and Jezzz advancing on this same guy with synchronized moves: she sensed the danger.
Star spoke quietly to Day, "Shut up. We have trouble. There is this guy who looks and feels like a Nephilim coming towards us."
"Star, what can we do? If this guy's with Judas, he may blow the whistle on the whole thing right now. Jerusalem might be history today."
"We have to help Jezzz and Young Herod stop him. Do you see anyone else in plain sight, right now?" asked Star without moving her lips.
"A couple is walking away from us a couple blocks down. Anyone could be inside looking out. How would we know?" she asked still looking around for others.
"Disappear, now!" commanded Star.
They did. Hayden saw them disappear from his peripheral vision and knew what had happened, but Riley shook his head in disbelief. Pilate saw it too and figured it out instantly. He pulled his phone from his suit coat pocket and speed dialed Judas. That was all Young Herod needed to move. He moved so quickly that he was just a blur to Pilate.
"This is Judas. Is this Pilate?" asked Judas.
"No, this is Young Herod. So nice for you to send our buddy Pilate for a visit," he replied while standing a hundred feet away with Pilate's phone in his hand. Pilate was speaking into his hand, not realizing his phone was even gone. He saw a streak of movement right after the girls disappeared.
By this time, Jezzz reached Pilate with a big smile on her face. "Pilate, so nice to see you again. Have you been doing okay? Is this business or pleasure?"
Pilate was confused. This was too much for him to take in at once. He didn't have his phone and saw Young Herod under a tree talking on one. He suspected it might be his. The twins were gone, which left him a distinct impression that they could be anywhere, even right beside him. Of course, there was the Young Herod blur that made Young Herod look as if he was in three places at once, then Jezzz chatting at him like he was at a family reunion.
"Judas sent me. You didn't call in. We thought you might have run off. Can't afford any mistakes. Where's my phone? Where are those girls? They're Star and Day, aren't they?" he said, still stunned and confused. Riley came up near them as they were talking, just as Hayden walked up behind Jezzz. Hayden backed away from Jezzz for some reason by several feet and walked away from her towards Riley.
"Who are you? I recognize you from somewhere. Oh, you're the Hayden writer, aren't you?" Pilate spoke slowly, still trying to articulate everything.
"I'm more than that. I belong to Star," announced Hayden protectively.
Riley heard the tone in his dad's voice and knew that Pilate meant to harm the girls. He bristled, "And, Day's my fiancée," he replied rebelliously.
Hayden and Riley were close enough to reach each other for a handshake by this time. With a small voice to each, Riley and Hayden heard Star and Day count, "On a count of three: one, two, three!"
Jezzz heard it too. With "three" Jezzz swung the keepsake from behind her back across Pilate's face and forehead. Hayden and Riley grabbed Pilate by the arms as he went crashing to his knees. They propped him up for a second just as Day and Star appeared in front of him and swung together in a joint solar-plexus punch. It wasn't needed. With a little more than a groan and spitting up blood, he was out cold. Riley and Hayden were aghast at the terrible damage the bat caused. They looked around the campus to see if anyone noticed; no one did.
"I was thinking about stopping him, not killing him. Can't you Nephilims ever do anything less violent? My goodness sakes. He's a mess," screamed Hayden dramatically.
"He wouldn't have been as nice as we are. He would have killed both of the girls and us in a millisecond. He'll heal up, given enough time. We always do. He's lucky he's stil
l alive. He is, isn't he?" Jezzz said flatly.
"Yes, he's breathing just fine. I imagine, he's going to need a plastic surgeon. I doubt he'll even remember his name," replied Hayden.
Young Herod approached and put his arm around Jezzz knowing how she felt about what she just did. It was starting to take affect, and Jezzz was trembling all over.
"I'm sorry I did it, Young Herod. I'm sorry. I promised after I killed the Agrippa twins that I'd not hurt another human being again," she leaned into Young Herod's arms and wept.
"You didn't. You hurt one of Judas' dark Nephilims. It's not the same," Young Herod answered, but it didn't help.
"We've done worse with Cobrata, guys. Right, Day?" stated Star, going to Hayden and putting an arm around his waist, then laying her head against his shoulder.
Day answered, "Much, much worse. It's not the same, Jezzz. Day went to Riley and put her hand in his. Riley was looking at his shirt splattered with Pilate's blood and feeling sick from it.
"Were we spotted?" asked Young Herod.
"If we were, they're staying hid. I don't see a soul around. You guys go back inside. I have an idea. Hayden, where does that storm drain go?" Young Herod asked as he pointed to one only 20 feet away.
"It winds its way down to the bottom of the mountain. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yep. I figure a long wet ride after getting your face caved in is just what the doctor ordered. I really don't think he'll even know his name when he comes to," Young Herod announced.
He was really giving Jezzz another word that she hadn't killed again. It was for her benefit. His living was more of an absolution for her sins right now. It was like saying, "You see. He's alive. You're still a nice person, Jezzz."
Young Herod picked up Pilate and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of beans. He walked slowly across the lawn towards the sewer opening. He dropped Pilate beside it and pushed him in, with casual sidekicks, and let gravity take it from there. Everyone heard him hit the water with a splash and a groan. Young Herod figured he'd be halfway down the mountain by morning. He doubted, with his disorientation, he'd be able to figure a way out for days, then he'd have to find a drain big enough to crawl out of.
"That guy was going to hurt you two, wasn't he?" asked Riley, still unsure what happened.
Jezzz was feeling better and confirmed what she had said before, "He would have killed them if we'd given him half a chance. Pilate wasn't the smartest of our dark Nephilim group, was he, Young Herod?" she stated as she held on to him tightly and watching him nod in agreement.
"Fiancée?" asked Hayden, having just now reacted to Riley's announcement.
"Yeah, fiancée," replied Riley as they both started chuckling.
Abigail walked up and stated, "I think you guys need to accelerate your plans. Who was that on the phone, Young Herod?"
"Oh, that was Judas. I told him that we were going out partying with Pilate in Chattanooga tonight. I told him he was washing up a little. He did end up washing down, at least," he laughed as the rest joined him.
Abigail walked up to the group discussion and advised, "Day, go back to the house and talk to Riley. We'll meet you out here in a second."
"Sure," replied Day. She grabbed his hand and pulled him after her.
Twenty minutes later, Riley came walking out with Day. He was shaking his head while they were still talking about their plans.
"Well, Dad, I have to admire your good taste. Here's the good news and the bad news. The good news is that I'm still going to Jerusalem with you this weekend. The bad news is that I'm going as a married relative and not planning on coming back for my calling. I'm breaking my promise. If you go with Star as your wife, I'm going with Day the same way. I feel like saving Jerusalem is as good as serving there for 20 years."
"Great, then you don't mind making it a triple, do you?" asked Young Herod.
Abigail jumped excitedly. I've got just the priest for you if he's still alive. Come on guys. Follow me," replied Abigail as he walked towards a nearby cottage, and they followed her obediently.
"Hey, Bob!" she yelled as she banged on the front door. "Get your sorry rear end out here!"
A man appeared in his bathrobe from an afternoon nap. He peered out, saw Abigail, and flung the door open excitedly. "How about that! It's my favorite nun. How about that! Hey, Hayden. Hey, Riley. These aren't your girls all grown up, are they? And you two?" he shouted at Jezzz and Young Herod.
"These are those pesky little girls that used to steal your watermelons every summer. Now, down to business, Bob. Got a job for you, old man. If you do it, I'll stay and talk your ear off for a day or two. Is it a deal?" she challenged him.
"Absolutely, Miss Abigail. Absolutely!"
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The Chancellor
Star finally convinced Riley to change his mind about the marriage. Actually, in a moment of remorse, Day joined her effort. He tearfully admitted to them both just how much being a Jesus Priest meant to him. The Holy Spirit wasn't too far behind tugging on his heart and pulling him mightily towards the right decision. Riley gave in and acted as best man for Hayden and Young Herod. They all made plans to leave on Saturday morning, just two days away.
It was difficult for Hayden to imagine what had taken place in the last day or so. It was a rush of vows, packing, flight scheduling, and goodbyes to Abigail so she could get back to take care of the pups. Jezzz and Young Herod were planning something completely different. They promised to give the rest only five days to stop the Jerusalem nukes before acting on their own. They were headed back to Nashville to take care of Judas.
Star didn't hide the fact that she was staying at Red Fish with Hayden, and she never went out of her way to tell anyone about their marriage. The rumor mill thrashed through Sewanee like a bush hog until the chancellor heard about it. After class on Friday morning, Star was summoned by the theology board to meet in the chancellor's office.
Star walked into the chancellor's office and saw five Sewanee educators. They were all professors of religion and two women from the county school board. They all looked stoic and serious. Star was struck by how funny their prudish ways made them look. She felt she was at a Puritan picnic without the eats. She chuckled lightly to herself as she sat down.
"Do you mind telling me why I'm here?" she asked, in a positively perky way and received more frowns and grumbles.
The chancellor moved directly in front of her and seemed to growl as he said, "We're the ethics committee of this theology school. Does that tell you something?"
"Ethics, I believe that means, in the Reign of Peace, that you are very bored," she replied smiling, then she leaned from her chair close to his face and spouted, "I didn't know you had any, Chancellor." She saw one professor turn his face towards the wall in a quiet chuckle.
"That will be enough of that! We're bringing charges against you. You are being accused of not righteously representing our school and the reputation for which it stands in our Anglican tradition!" he hissed back at her, then shook his finger in her face.
Star reached out and grabbed his finger and pushed it painfully towards him, which forced him to his knees, in a yelp, "You better know how to use a finger like that before you stick it in my face!" She let him go, and he fell backwards against an empty chair. The others helped him to his feet as he walked back behind his desk and tenderly held his hand.
"That's just what I'd expect from someone with your morals," he replied.
Just then, Star received a call from Hayden. She pulled her phone from her purse, "Hold that immoral thought for just a second. Hayden is calling."
"Yes, Babe, what is it?" she asked while emphasizing "Babe" on purpose because of a realization of why she was really there. She continued to play her own hand out, now.
"Sure, just make sure you pack plenty of our underwear. Oh, why don't you take a break? Come on down to the chancellor's office. Yes, the chancellor's office. Oh, just a little inquis
ition. You ought to enjoy it. Seldom will you get another opportunity like this."
She turned to her audience, "Excuse me. Hayden is coming over. Got to meet him outside. Be right back. Give me five," She got up, bowed slightly, and left the door open behind her.
She heard comments from the chancellor as she walked away that confirm what this was about. "Babe! Did you hear that? Underwear, did you hear that? She's done it this time. Hayden will never make that speech in Jerusalem this weekend, or any other time. That Presidential kid will be hung out to dry, shortly. I'll not have it in my school!"
Hayden drove up in minutes with Star's Hummer floored all the way. He saw her in front waiting for him and ran from the car almost falling down. As he approached her, he saw her big smile.
"What's going on? What in the heck is going on?" he asked repeatedly.
She ignored his questions and jumped into his arms, then kissed him passionately, saying, "Just follow my lead, lover boy." She saw office staff and the ethics committee looking from the windows and around doorsills, then she saw an especially jubilant look on the chancellor's face—an I-got-you look.
"Okay, but this better be good. I was just about finished packing. Every minute counts, now," he scolded her while she pulled him by his hand into the building.
"This will be the best excuse for leaving packing that you'll ever get. It doesn't get much better than this. Let's have some fun. You'll figure it out in just a moment."
As they entered, Hayden stated, "Folks, I'm Hayden. Star just invited me to join you for some reason." Hayden went out to the hall, grabbed another chair, and squeezed it in beside her so their arms touched.
"Well, this is just better than I thought. We have both of the reprobates here at once. Star Tabor, we are bringing morals charges against you. Your presidential ties can't save you this time!"
A rather big woman with an immensely flowered hat, spoke snobbishly at them, "Yes, you have broken one of our cardinal rules."
"Come on, guys, say it! Say what you mean! I want to hear it from your own lips, straight out!" taunted Star.
Another professor stood this time and announcing grandly, "You have been sleeping with Hayden. Reports have come in from all over campus that you've moved into Red Fish about two days ago. Is that right, Miss Star?"
"Oh, my, Hayden. They've caught us. Oh, my, what are we going to do? I'll have to resign, now. You'll have to move away. Maybe we can find a place to start over in Arizona. What are we going to do?" she exclaimed as she pretended she was upset at their terrible dilemma. Hayden almost burst out laughing at her wonderful acting. It was all he could do to control his humor fit.
"Answer the professor!" yelled the chancellor as he moved in front of her with a fist in her face, rather than any fingers this time.
"Answer what?" she asked flatly.
"Have you been sleeping with Hayden? Answer us!" he yelled again. The administration office just outside the chancellor's office went quiet. Twenty office staff were on the phones with friends and students who wanted a blow–by-blow.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! I have been sleeping with Hayden!" she shouted loudly in pretend exasperation. She got up, pushed his office door open widely, and yelled to her administration audience, "Yes! I confess. I have been sleeping with Hayden. I confess! I loved it! I'm an evil woman, but I'll do it again the first chance I get!"
There was a hush, and then more ran for phones as she turned back into the chancellor's office. This was wonderful gossip. The chancellor beamed in his victory. The whole group stood up in united confidence.
"You're not welcome anymore on our mountain, Hayden. I wouldn't count on speaking at Jerusalem this weekend. Star, you can pick up your last paycheck from the cashier. Don't expect a reference for your next job if you can find one after this," touted the chancellor.
"Bravo! Bravo!" came the cheers of the others in the room.
Hayden stood up as Star winked at him, a go-ahead wink. He stood silently while the crowd thought they had crushed their evil opponents. He spoke quietly to them just above a whisper. His whisper was so loud that it shattered their rejoicing, "I don't think so. I don't appreciate you all talking about my wife that way."
Hayden kissed Star passionately, and the lack of sound in the room was almost hard to imagine. There was a sound of breaking egos, hearts; and somehow, Hayden thought, internal organs.
The chancellor pushed past them saying, "I need the men's room." He was running with his hand over his mouth but never made it.
As Star and Hayden walked through administration, Hayden said loudly, "Mrs. Hayden, I just got your ring back today. Got it resized for a perfect fit. Here let me put it on the right finger for you."
He pulled out a knockout set of diamond rings and slipped them gently on her finger. No one had even noticed his ring. There was a thunderous applause as Star and Hayden left the building. The chancellor and the inquisition squad's demise was now the biggest news of Sewanee.
As they walked towards the Hummer, Hayden commented, "You know, you lied? We've been so busy with plots, plans, and strategies, we haven't…"
"Shut up, Hayden! We're going home to fix that lie right now!"
"My lips are sealed!" he said enthusiastically, and they both ran for the car while giggling like a couple of excited teenagers.
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