Evil Agreement (12 page)

She had no idea she was being stalked. Ed was just a few feet
behind her. The crowd stepped from the curb and rushed across the street. Cars
trying to speed through honked their horns in anger at the pedestrians who had
darted in front of them, causing the drivers to come to a sudden stop. She had
hesitated and hadn’t followed the first rush of people across the street.

Perfect,
he thought.

A tourist trolley was coming down the street closely followed
by a large truck bearing the advertising for a regional brewery. She saw these
vehicles and held back from trying to cross the street. After these two, she
noticed there was no traffic and there would be time to cross.

Just as the trolley passed by with its loudspeaker blaring,
she felt a push from behind. She lost her balance and fell face first into the
street. Her soft drink flew from her hand as she tried to stop her fall. She
fell into the shadow of the oncoming truck. It would be the shadow of her
death. The driver of the truck saw her tumble forward directly in front of his
left front wheel. He hit his brakes but it was too late. He felt the bump of
her body as his truck rolled over her. The driver felt sick to his stomach. He
felt another bump as the twin rear tires rolled over her body as well. He had
been going only twenty five miles an hour. The truck came to a stop in a few
feet. He jumped from his truck to help the woman.

A couple of woman screamed and held each other. A man jogging
down the street stopped a few feet from her body. The truck had rolled over her
upper body. Her head was crushed. Her arms, sprawled in front of her, were
broken too. Her purse lay at her side. A spilled soft drink container rolled
along the street. The jogger pulled a cell phone from his fanny pack and dialed
911.

“She fell into the street. I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t stop,”
said the truck driver. A police officer on horseback followed by another
officer on a bicycle arrived on the scene. The officer on horseback radioed for
a police car and an ambulance. He was told that both were already on route. The
officer on the bicycle dropped his bicycle and knelt next to the victim. He
checked her pulse. Nothing.

Ed watched and waited for the arrival of the ambulance. No
one had noticed his pushing her in front of the truck. Everybody was too busy
and distracted with their own lives to notice much. The ambulance arrived in a
few minutes. The
EMTs
checked her over just in case
there was a chance to save her life. The results were the same, she was dead. A
police officer took photos of the scene after which the
EMTs
covered her body with a white sheet. An officer picked up her purse and began
to look through it for identification. Two other officers began to speak to the
crowd to see if anyone had noticed anything. People’s heads just shook no to
the questions. Before the police could question Ed, he decided to move along.

He pushed his way through the growing crowd.

Some tourists even snapped pictures of the dead woman’s
shroud covered body.

A souvenir is a souvenir,
thought Ed as he put
distance between himself and the death that he had orchestrated.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, flipped it open and
dialed a number.

“Ed, here. Good news, it’s a Powell all right. I’ll bet
anything he’s the one she raised as a nephew. Yeah, yeah, I know. Uh-huh. Sure.
Yeah, I took care of that, too. Listen, there’s more. He’s coming to Vermont.
Yes, you heard right. When? Now, I think. I know, I know. Okay. I’m heading
back now. I should be there tonight. I’ll meet you at Samuel’s welcoming.”

He powered off his cell phone and put it back in his pocket.
He had much to do. He would abandon the rental cars along his return route. A
simple call to the local police to report an abandoned or possibly stolen car
would ensure the cars were returned to the rental companies. He needed to clean
up all loose ends. After taking the “T” back to Cambridge, he checked out of
the Comfort Inn and picked up Interstate 93 heading north back to Vermont. It
was
3:40
in the afternoon. The
traffic, while heavy, moved along without interruption. He pushed the accelerator
down to get his speed up to seventy-five miles per hour. Even at that speed, he
was passed quite frequently. He kept it at that speed. He didn’t need to draw
any attention from the patrolling State Police. He could easily talk his way
out of any ticket—after all he was a “brother” law enforcement officer, even
though he was retired. The professional courtesy was good for life.

This revelation of a male Powell and that he was heading to Vermont
almost seemed too good to be true. His lifetime in law enforcement made him
skeptical of most things.

This is almost too easy,
he thought.

15

Reverend Simon B. Mitchell hung up the phone. He was filled
with emotion. He most certainly would share this good news with the entire
Church membership, but first, the coven itself. He called Josephine Lawless.

“Hello, this is Jo.”

“Josephine, this is Simon.” He could never quite bring
himself to call her Jo.

“I’ve got some special news. We have located a male Powell.
He’s a direct descendant.”

The news was greeted with silence.

“Josephine, did you hear what I said?”

“Simon, don’t you play around like that.” She was the only
one who could speak so boldly to him.

“It’s the truth. I just took a call from Ed. He’s confirmed
that Elizabeth Powell had a son. He’s located him. Our time could soon be at
hand.”

“Where is this Powell now?”

Josephine was always one who could cut to the chase.

“That’s the best part. He’s coming to Vermont.
Ed’s tracking him even as we speak.”

“Reverend, this is the most joyous news our faithful have yet
heard.”

“Yes, I agree. I expect to tell them tonight at Samuel’s
welcoming ceremony. I do think the coven needs to meet this afternoon, the
sooner the better.”

“I agree completely. Is Samuel to join us at this meeting?”

“Yes, of course. I was hoping you would call the others and
set up the meeting for around
four o’clock
at the Judge’s house.”

“I’ll do that. See you then.”

The Reverend hung up the telephone. There was a soft knock at
thedoor
of his study. He opened it. Standing in the
outer office were the parents of Brittany.
It was Clement and Anne Coolidge. Mrs. Coolidge’s eyes were red and swollen
from crying. Mr. Coolidge’s eyes were puffy as well.

“Come in, please,” said the Reverend as he gestured to the
two leather chairs set before his desk.

They both headed to the chairs and sat down.

The Reverend went around his desk and sat down as well.

The father spoke up first, “Our daughter is a foolish girl,
but she meant no harm. We’ve raised her the best that we can, and we just know
she would never tell—she just wouldn’t.”

“I’m sure you have done the best by her,” said the Reverend,
“but you both know the law.”

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” sobbed the mother.

“No, I’m afraid not. If there is anything that binds us
together, it is the law.”

In an uncharacteristic effort to soften the blow, Reverend
Mitchell decided to share the good news. “Listen, I shouldn’t tell you this
now. It’s supposed to be a surprise. I guess it wouldn’t do any harm to tell
the two of you, knowing how faithful you both are, that is.”

“What?”

“We have located a male Powell,” he said.

He let the words sink in. The Coolidge’s sat forward in their
chairs. The expressions on their faces rapidly shifted from deep sadness to
soft smiles.

“Can it be?” said Anne Coolidge, wiping away a tear.

“Yes, I believe so. Now your daughter, Brittany, will serve
Moloch and all of us in a very special way. You should both feel honored.”

“Anne, just think, our Brittany
and the finding of a male Powell. It’s an omen—a powerful omen,” said Clement
Coolidge.

“You must keep this a secret until tonight’s ceremony.”

They both nodded their agreement.

After a bit more conversation, Brittany’s
parents left the Reverend’s office. They had come to him, hoping to plead for
their daughter’s life. Now they were leaving rejoicing in the role their
daughter would play on this historic day. They were beaming with new found
pride. They hugged one another as they headed to their car.

The Reverend watched them leave from the slender window next
to the front door.

He turned and headed to his office. He had much to prepare
for and he couldn’t waste a moment.

Josephine Lawless had wasted no time in contacting the
others. The calls were brief and to the point. She did not mention the good
news the Reverend had revealed to her. Her years as the Office Manager to the
past five Governors had taught her the value of keeping executive secrets. The
Reverend should be the one to reveal this news to the others. This is how it
should be, of that, she was certain.

Everyone was at the Judge’s house except for the Reverend.
Samuel was driven to this meeting by his father, in their new truck. No one
asked Josephine why a meeting had to be called. It was routine for everyone to
obey whenever a call was put out for a meeting of the coven. Judy
Perrillo
went around the living room drawing all the
drapes. Shirley Carter, the self employed beautician, was still wearing her
work clothes as was Bob
Senecal
and Walter
Yandow
.

“I hear the State Police have been contacted about a couple
of hikers who failed to arrive at their destination!” said John
Farnum
, Sutton’s Volunteer Fire Chief.

“The woods are a dangerous place sometimes, especially for a
couple of flatlanders,” answered Walter with a smile.

Before the conversation could continue, the Reverend walked
in the door.

He smiled at the fellow coven members and nodded an
acknowledgement to a couple. It had been getting hot and humid the past couple
of days and today was the worst. In the short distance from his air conditioned
car to the Judge’s house, he had broken into a powerful sweat. He removed his
handkerchief and wiped at his brow.

The Judge poured him a glass of ice tea from a carafe sitting
on the side table next to a bookcase filled with musty old law books.

The Reverend turned around and spoke to the assembled members
of the coven.

“Let us join hands,” he said.

With that, Ed Foley and John
Farnum
rolled back the antique rug in the center of the room uncovering a pentagram
carved into the old wide pine floor. Everyone now stood in a circle around this
symbol and held hands. The room was lit by a couple of small lamps sitting on
end tables next to the sofa. A room size air conditioner hummed from the side
window.

As they clasped hands, each of them seem to fall into a
trance like state. Their eyes now closed, they rolled their heads from side to
side. In a few moments, they each opened their eyes and for each, their look
was the same. Their eyes were now entirely a glistening black. Their faces
became muscular and distorted and their bodies seem to swell to the point they
seemed in danger of bursting out of their now tight fitting clothes. The
Reverend spoke in a voice that was his, but slightly distorted.

“Faithful servants of Moloch, I bring you THE ONE MESSAGE we
have been waiting for, as our ancestors have, from long ago. We will share this
news with Him. Now join me in calling to our Prince of Darkness.”

The entire coven except for Samuel, who had not yet been
taught all of the ways of the coven, now chanted in unison as they swayed to
the chant.

“We call to you all powerful Moloch,
Certe
Ne
Diaza
Orce
Pru
,
Giasha
Morte
Lee
Xintra
Moloch,”
they repeated three times.

In the low light of the room, a shape began to take form in
the center of the circle. The shape seemed to be struggling to untangle itself.
This shape, shrouded in a haze of eerie spinning light, now stood erect before
them. The shape was well over six feet tall. The shape was a human form was at
the same time not human. The head was misshapen. There were two knobs on the
top of its head just above each eye, protruding nearly three inches. The arms
were unusually long. The hands had long fingernails that made the hands seem
bigger than they already were. Its unclothed torso was dark, muscular and
scaly. It stood upon two powerful legs, which had cloven hooves instead of
feet. This shape also had a tail that seemed to have the characteristics of a
snake. The eyes were dark, sunken and radiating red. They glowed as if they were
on fire.

“Welcome Great and Powerful Moloch,” spoke the Reverend.

The shape was none other than Moloch himself. He had been
summoned from the nether world. Hearing his name called, he turned silently and
faced the Reverend. Moloch thrust his face directly in front of Simon.

“Yes,” he hissed.

“We have found a male Powell.”

The words brought great pleasure to Moloch as he pulled back
from Simon and raised his long arms up, fist clenched. The news also surprised
everyone else except for Josephine who had heard earlier. They reacted with
smiles and shouts for joy. Their tongues, now serpent like, darted from their
mouths and licked across their lips.

“Tell me more,” demanded Moloch.

“One of our coven is tracking him now. It seems that this
male is coming to Vermont. He may
even be coming here to Sutton.”

Without turning around, Moloch twisted his body and
immediately placed his face within inches of Samuel.

“And what can you tell me, Samuel?” said Moloch. He
pronounced Samuel’s name almost one letter at a time.

Samuel closed his eyes. His face grew contorted in an almost
painful way. And then he spoke.

“I can see Ed. He is driving back here. He has some papers
that confirm what Reverend Mitchell has spoken. His heart is full of joy for
you.”

Moloch now spoke to everyone. As he did, he twisted his body
so that he could place his face directly before each.

“I renew my vow to each of you, your ancestors and your
descendants, too. I will walk this earth. With your help I shall prepare the
way for Lucifer to rule over all. You shall rule by our sides and shall share
in the power, the glory and all the riches that earth promises and you shall
have life everlasting for your loyalty. Now go and do what must be done. I
return to Lucifer with your news.” His shape began to lose itself as it
vaporized and blended with the swirling lights.

When the last of his presence had faded away, the coven
members returned to a trance-like state. Moments later they opened their eyes,
now normal, and began to hug one another. Samuel got a few hearty slaps on his
back. After a while they settled down and organized into action groups.
 

***

It was a little past
six
o’clock
when Aaron pulled into the parking lot of the Ethan
Allen Inn.
The motel was situated on a hillside in Berlin,
Vermont just three quarters of a mile from
Interstate 89. Berlin was less
than three miles south of Montpelier.
It was very humid. Aaron exited the car and stretched his legs which had become
stiff from all the driving.
Korie
also got out of the
car and stretched her legs. The two weary travelers walked into the motel’s
lobby. It was small but well appointed with several Vermont
type artifacts and photos. They approached the desk. A young man exited a side
office and approached the desk.

“Yes, may I help you?”

“Why yes, I believe you can. I would like a room for three
nights for the two of us.”

Korie
poked him in the ribs, which
prompted him to poke her back.

The desk clerk raised his eyebrow to their behavior as he
placed a check-in register card and a motel labeled pen on the counter.

“Very well, please fill this out while I check on room
availability.”

Korie
spoke up, “Non-smoking
please.”

“All of our rooms are non-smoking. We were one of the first
motels in Vermont to practice a
non-smoking policy,” he said proudly, “I see we do have a room available. The
rate for double occupancy is seventy-four dollars and sixty cents a night. That
includes tax and a free continental breakfast. Now, let’s see,” said the clerk
as he examined the register card.

Korie
and Aaron were both road
weary.

“Mr. Powell, I see here you’ll be paying by charge, may I
have your card to take an impression?”

Korie
pulled Aaron on the arm.

“Excuse us for a moment,” she said to the clerk.

“We can’t use your real name, not here in Vermont,
especially when we’re this close to that town.

“You’re right. What do we do now?”

“I’ve got an idea. I’ll pay for the room. I’ll put it on my
charge card. You can pay me back later.”

“Better yet, I’ll pay with cash when we check out. We’ll use
your card just to hold the room.”

They turned back to the clerk, who seemed mildly amused by
their behavior.

“Listen, we’re going to put the room on my card, okay?” said
Korie
.

“It makes no difference to me, plastic is plastic.”

In a moment, the clerk processed the charge card and then
gave them room keys. The keys were plastic cards with a magnetic strip coded to
unlock only their room.

“Your room number is 245. It is located around to the left,
fourth entrance down. It’s a poolside room. Please enjoy your stay with us and
should you need any assistance please feel free to call the front desk. My name
is Victor and I’ll do my best to make your stay is a pleasant one.”

“Thanks, Victor. One question, if I may? How’s the motel
restaurant?”

“It’s not bad. We have a new chef. He’s developed some nice
entrees. I think you’ll enjoy the food. Service is good, too.”

“Thanks.”

Korie
and Aaron headed back to
their car and pulled it around back. Before they entered the motel they both
took a moment to notice that from the parking lot overlooking the valley below,
they could see at least thirty miles to the east, the same to the north and
west.

“That mountain over there must be Camel’s Hump,” said Aaron
pointing to a tall mountain to the west.