Angel Watch at Blacknest: A Supernatural Mystery Page 2

  Xander and Blacknest Academy

  The students at the academy are coming along nicely. The required academics, of course, but he was especially pleased that the schools conditioning program has been so successful. The spring production this year is a big hit. It is directed by one of the teachers from Lucis Hall, Miss Samantha Grace who happens to also be a member of our little coven. It has been received enthusiastically by the students as well as their parents. They think it is about building independence and self esteem. But it is really a thinly veiled worship of our beloved Moon goddess, Diana and in the play she is called Princess Leesy, a fairy princess from a far away realm. As the play progresses, Princess Leesy appears to the students in a grove behind their school and they have found, if they bow to her and worship her she sometimes grants them wishes. The students throughout the play are sneaking out to the grove in hopes of seeing Princess Leesy; some of the parents try to stop them and others have been joining their children in the grove hoping for miracles.

  The nonsense of the play was readily accepted by the students and parents. They foolishly thought it was profound; what idiots. Their complete lack of discernment always amazed Xander; another layer of conditioning was easily put in place. That spirit of rebellion must be nurtured in these students beyond this spring play. They all someday will see who really controls everything and what of little value they are in the scheme of things. He knew from firsthand experience how little The Dark Lord valued humans. The school also gave everyone that attended necklaces as they left the theater as souvenirs of the play. The necklaces had all been placed in the magic circle the night before the play opened and dedicated to our Goddess Diana. So, a familiar spirit was attached to each of them. All praise to Diana thought Xander with a smile.

  Dottie’s Hair Salon

  The spring breeze is blowing into Dottie’s Hair Salon but the air is still thick. The salon is nearly empty. Deidre Wright is sitting behind a romance novel, with a hair dryer on her head. This is her usual Thursday appointment; a wash and a curl. She knows it will last until the next Thursday, if she carefully wraps her head in toilet paper, then puts on her silk night cap before bed. She’s turning pages not really reading; she doesn't care what juicy romance is unfolding. She’s thinking about this little town. It always felt so safe. She has lived here in this small New England town for forty years. What is happening? Where are the girls? First, Millicent Morgan two months ago, then Sarah Franks; she was home from school on spring break, I think. She was always happy and smiling and she has been gone three weeks and now Mary Burly; gone two days; without a trace, no note, nothing! Is there a serial kidnapper on the loose in our town? Or dare I think a serial killer! Oh, my! Deidre had asked her husband, Frank to teach her how to use the gun. She was afraid of it. If she knew more about it and how it worked maybe she could shake the fear.

  Dottie, the owner of the Salon shuffles over to Deidre; poor thing moving must be difficult, with all that extra weight, maybe 300 pounds on a five foot woman. What a sight thought Deidre.

  Dottie asks Deidre “How are you doing?”

  “Oh, Dottie I’m worried sick? What’s going on around here?” says Deidre with a deep sigh.

  Dottie wrinkles her nose, “Yeah, I know what you mean. I was talking to Gus, Mary’s dad down at the Blue Spot Cafe this morning. He is beside himself; plastering the town with pictures of Mary. She’s a happy girl there has never been any inkling she would want to run away. She was planning her fall semester at the local community college and she has a boyfriend.”

  They chatted and drank a cup of coffee and ate some donuts, Dottie had in the back. They calmed down after a while and decided to not think about those missing girls; surely, they would turn up. Kidnapping and serial killers and the like, was something that happened other places and on TV, not in their little town. Dottie told Deidre more about her life and how she felt lonely most of the time. She admitted that she used food as comfort and she had a big problem. They talked about the latest diet trends; both needing to lose a few pounds. They decided to maybe start mall walking at the downtown shopping mall. Dottie had a couple customers that had been talking about it. They both agreed to try it and they were also going to go to weight loss meetings again. They had both lost in the past and had put it back on and more; maybe having a buddy would help with the willpower problem. They both felt a little better now, having a plan. Deidre and Dottie hugged and exchanged phone numbers.

  The next day they talked on the phone and made a walking schedule and promised to keep each other on track. Dottie hoped this would become a good habit, that she can stick to this time. She was so tired of being the fat woman.

  Sheriff Gibbs

  Sheriff Gibbs paces as he briefs his deputies, Robbs and Colton of the latest efforts in locating the missing girls. He was trying to stress the urgency of the search but also to be discreet; people were upset enough. There had been two anonymous phone calls; one shortly after Millicent Morgan disappeared. Someone called in and said they saw her walking along Old Prairie Road around seven P.M. the night she disappeared. A white panel van stopped, she talked to the driver and then got in the van. That was her last known sighting. The other was a prank call someone saying he knew where all the bodies were buried then he laughed wickedly and hung up. How someone could make a joke about all this was beyond him. Fliers with pictures of the girls had been posted everywhere including the surrounding towns. The town’s newspaper had printed the fliers free of charge but still, no bites. The DMV had been checked for white panel vans registered locally and in outlining areas. The only two that turned up were owned by Duncan’s Sweet Shop. Those vans were easy to spot because of the giant cupcake painted on the side. So, cross them off the suspect list; it’s back to the grind. The deputies shook their heads. Everyone was under pressure. They had been doubling up patrols on the Hill and around the town looking for anything that could give them a lead. The town felt tense and nervous; people looking at their neighbors suspiciously, all wondering what in the world is going on and who will be next? None of them could ever remember anyone ever going missing before, now three over several months. They wondered how many more would be taken and by who? They had interviewed all the friends and family members surrounding the girls, but they had been no help and none of them were suspected.

  The Sheriff’s department had warned the town folk to not go out alone, especially the women. The local newspaper and nightly news cast on TV regularly reminded everyone to be cautious and lock their doors. Deputy Colton suggested handing out free pepper spray to all the women but decided there would be a lot of people accidentally sprayed so, they threw out that idea.

  Caverns and Tunnels

  Deep beneath Blacknest runs a tangle of tunnels and caverns that connect to some of the older mansions on the Hill. The walls occasionally have a cluster of strange symbols; most are obscured by blackish moss. Small rooms with barred doors used many years ago, but seldom these days, dot the tunnel. Muffled screams and moans echoed thru the tunnels over the ages. The depth of the maze preserved the privacy.

  To enter the tunnel system from Blacknest Manor, at least the most convenient way, is thru a secret hatch located in the master bedroom. With the simple pull of a lever (cleverly hidden), the trap door opens in the floor. You now just follow the winding stairs down level after level. The air will turn moist and cold. Finally, you arrive at a very large cavern with tunnels going off like spokes on a bike. The far left goes to the labs. But Xander takes the most well traveled tunnel to his right; still annoyed that he has been summoned at such a late hour by The Counsel of the Inner Circle. It is made up of the five heads of the oldest families on the Hill; Jack Evermore, Sam Grayson, Colin McNeil, Bart Moore and himself; all from ancient bloodlines; responsibilities and secrets had been passed down to them by their fathers. Flashlight in hand he trudges down the path making two lefts then two right turns. He finally arrived at the Evermore door, adorned with their family crest; a huge hawk with a f
ox in its talons encircled by holly; rather gaudy thinks Xander preferring his snarling wolf crest.

  "Knock! Knock!"

  Ferrall, the Evermore's longtime butler opens the door obviously out of breathe. Xander ignore his distress, never one to have compassion, especially for the help. He follows Ferrall through the corridor to the main foyer of the mansion; so, very convenient to not have to knock at the front door. All are assembled in Jack's study. The men look up from their conversations and nod a welcome; no one smiles. Jack immediately speaks, "I have called you all here tonight because our shipment to Amsterdam has been stolen. Our customer is outraged and is demanding his money back and is concerned about our security. Of course, his money will be returned. My biggest concern is how did this happen. The jewels were packed in the usual way and we used the same method as in the past. We have a thief. He or she must be ferreted out immediately. I want you all to use your connections and get this resolved. We also have another problem, it is Dilly. She talked to Millicent the day before we had her picked up. We need to find out what Millicent told her. We know that Millicent's conditioning had broken down. We now have her back at the lab. The doctors will put her alters back in place with their accompanying triggers. We have years invested in her. The work in mind control can be so tedious; so please move quickly."

  The Lab

  Presently, the lab has only a few residents to Xander's dismay. He knew they needed a few more girls. Millicent sits on her bed her mind in a deep fog. These unfortunate patients are going thru "the experience" aptly named by one of the lab assistants. It is a series of mind control processes, some very painful; all to split the personalities into alters. These can then be programmed as the doctors see fit or to follow the most recent orders handed down to them. The patients are completely unaware of their alters; with no memory of their own actions; a perfect ruse for nefarious activities. Blacknest Academy and its sister academies have been producing useable operatives for the past thirty years. The funny thing is none of them know they are being used until perhaps now, Millicent Morgan. Why did her conditioning breakdown Xander wonders? Perhaps, it was from the head injury she sustained when she slipped on the ice this past winter. If so, had she been remembering hidden things for the past few months? She had come out of the fog and was observing her surroundings because that creative writing piece certainly was astute to the real agenda going on around her and throughout the country. Xander thought only those unplugged from the conditioning would notice. Miss Grace had given the Counsel a copy of her creative writing paper. We were quite impressed with the depth of the paper.

  Many of the techniques the doctors were using had originated years ago in the concentration camps during the Second World War. The research has been going on a long time just the locations had changed. It has gone underground, figuratively and literally. The science of mind control and conditioning has progressed and the results were very impressive. The doctors often referred to the general public as "the people on the roof" because most of the labs worldwide are in deep underground compounds. The lab in the hill at Blacknest, Massachusetts is just one of hundreds of labs worldwide. The general public as a whole are clueless about what is truly going on in the world and that was exactly how we wanted things to stay. Xander smiles, as he watches Millicent.

  The Creative Writing assignment

  Two months ago, Miss Grace, a teacher at Blacknest Academy gave her Creative Writing class an assignment to write a paper on current events. Miss Grace thought it would be good practice for them on public speaking as well as creative writing.

  The day came for their presentations. Millicent Morgan walks up to the podium, with a big smile on her face; she is proud of her paper. She says, “I call this story,

  The Illusion of Freedom by Millicent Morgan

  Bug with a pin through it, placed in someone's collection; captured and no future. We soon will be in a similar situation, captured and then destroyed. The secret war is underway with people shuffling through their days; completely unaware, not knowing they are under attack on all fronts. We are the proverbial frog slowly being cooked in the water; not noticing as it gets hotter and hotter, completely unaware of what is truly going on. The propaganda machine is working well, convincing most people that everything is OK. The fuzzy thinking public say to themselves, "Yes, that's right, surely the rulers want what's best for us; they wouldn't lie!" But the truth is the populace is meant to be in a constant state of fear and anxiety because they are more receptive to mind control in that state. After all, this country is just a giant lab; they treat us like lab rats. But the people are too poor, tired and confused to notice or fight back. The public have a trusting child-like belief that all is well and if they don't think negatively, then bad things just won't happen. Keep your eyes shut and think happy thoughts! Don't look at the man behind the curtain, so to speak. We are under attack thru the air we breathe, food we eat, water we drink and much of what we see and hear. It is all part of a very old plan that has been patiently implemented by the ruling elite. They treat us like children. We are given entertainment and shiny little bobbles to occupy our time; to keep us under their spell. We are busy watching make believe on TV or rooting for people we don't know at sporting events. We think it is so important. We walk heads down looking at our phones, not noticing the chemtrails above us; oblivious to what is really going on. We are but insects to them, ready to be pinned."

  Millicent smiles, thanks the audience and walks back to her seat. Miss Grace for a moment is speechless. "Oh, thank you Millicent that is very thought provoking."

  Miss Grace thinks to herself, I must contact the group and have Millicent picked up immediately. That evening, Millicent while walking along the road is picked up by Silas. She willing goes with him; he looks familiar. She thinks he’s nice and kind of cute. He takes her back to the doctors at the Lab. Miss Grace has been in the coven since she was a teenager and she wants out, but she's so afraid. She wishes she could forget some of the terrible things she has seen and experienced. For the past month she has secretly gone over to the Faith Tabernacle Church and had coffee with Pastor Bud’s wife, Meg. They had first met and chatted in the local bookstore, a while back. Meg has been kind to her but Miss Grace doesn't believe all the things Meg has said about the Bible and Jesus. She thinks it sounds too simple. She doesn't want to go against the Dark Lord. She knows too much about the evil in this town. It would be a miracle if she could escape. The group is too strong.

  That evening, Velvel, a Holy One is watching and listening to Miss Grace. She is sitting on her porch swing talking to herself and worrying about her future. The Father has told Velvel to protect her. He is now watching the yellow gleaming eyes in the corner of the porch; it is Nastor, a dark one. Velvel lifts the tip of his sword slightly, and then Nastor growls and leaves. Velvel remembers Samantha Graces, mother Thelma. She had been a prayer warrior years ago, before she had gone home to The Lord. She had spent a lot of time on her knees praying for her wayward daughter, Samantha. The Father was honoring those prayers. She was now under the protection of the Angel Watch. The Father has dispatched Holy Ones specifically to guard her. Velvel thinks she will soon be a believer, sometime in the near future.

  Dilly in her garden

  Dilly’s kneeling in her herb patch picking Lemon Balm. It is a natural mosquito repellent and they are fierce this summer. She rubs the leaves between her hands to release the oils and then rubs her arms and legs; now, back to her spinning and praying. She always thought they seemed to go hand in hand. She sits down in her rocker on the front porch with the spinning wheel in front of her. She starts to spin the raw silk from the silk caps in her bag. Silk caps are not caps at all but a term to describe de-gummed silk worm cocoons that have been stretched and placed carefully on top of each other. When they dry, they resemble a small cap. Too spin you just give them a hard yank and pull them apart. A mess Dilly enjoys. Some spinners avoid them. They say it’s too much of a hassle taking them apart but not for
Dilly! She finds them a hoot; smiling to herself as she makes plans for the yarn she is now spinning. Emily has a new little granddaughter; perhaps she’ll knit her some booties and a little hat. Dilly hums to herself and talks to her Heavenly Father, who is always there listening. Standing in the yard, watching Dilly are angels, Velvel and Calev marveling at her simple faith and devotion to her Heavenly Father and His Son. Dilly has been Velvel’s charge, her guardian angel, since she was born. He loves her. Velvel turns to Calev and says, “She has no idea of the battle going on around her and the danger.” Calev nods, as one of the high commanders in God’s army, he stands almost 10’ tall, fully dressed in armor. His face and Velvels' are glowing from being in the throne room; in the Fathers presence, just moments ago. Velvel continues, “They are scheming, as we speak, the dark ones. The human believers are remarkably brave and devoted, for being such weak creatures. No wonder Father loves them so.” Calev agrees and they then turn and disappear as quickly as they appeared. Belly and Gene Gene, Dilly’s two cats, watch. They can see the Holy Ones, God’s angels as well as the dark ones, the fallen angels. The dark ones are grotesque and bring a crackling evil into the room. Belly and Gene Gene never stick around when they appear; under the bed always seemed like the safest place. Dilly is still spinning, now singing under her breath. She thinks to herself how relaxing it is to just sit and spin. What a wonderful way to pass the time. Her friends are on her mind especially Emily. Sure she puts a smile on her face but Dilly knows how hard this past year has been with her husband gone. Maybe she should take her to lunch this week. There is a new restaurant in town called, “Fix’ins Barbecue House.” Yum, sounds good…I’ll have to give her a call. I wonder how their brisket is. She’d heard some good reports. Now, I’m hungry. It’s time to stop and heat up some of last night’s leftovers. A meatloaf sandwich sounds delicious.