CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

June 27, 2001

They entered the cathedral by the side door at about eight o'clock at night. The evening mass had just finished. A few people, mostly women kneeled and crossed themselves. A young girl lit some votive candles, said Two "Hail Marys" and left. Two men sat on one of the pews, turning their heads around as if to speak to another hidden behind.

"He hardly leaves his office."

"Who?"

"Him." She pointed to a man with dark auburn hair wearing a light pinstriped suit and dark blue shirt. He looked to be in his early twenties, but that was debatable for he carried himself as one in his early thirties, so Miss Parker figured he was between twenty- seven or twenty-nine. She had always been a good judge of ages, except about Jarod but assumed it was because the Neogenesis inserted into his nutritional supplement had aged him. "The Fixer. The Centre hired him as a corporate lawyer a year ago. Name's Antonio Lambourni. Keep low so he can't see you."

"Oh the famous or infamous Lambourni, I've been hearing about, the terror that makes Lyle and Raines shake in their boots, and who's the other man, Miss Parker?"

"Very funny, ha ha. A cop from New York. Possibly on the take or he could be trying to bring a case against the Centre."

"Why as if I dare not guess, Lyle for cannibalism; Raines for murder and corruption of minors? I suppose they locked Lambourni in."

"I wish. He locks them out. Lyle and Raines have been trying to unlock his door and haven't succeeded. They have to communicate with him by intercom. He only comes out on Sunday for the morning and late evening mass. I'll explain why. When the Centre grabbed the Fixer, Lambourni was with his youngest kids. They left the kids and drove him to the Centre. The Fixer then took one of the Centre staff to the roof, threatening to drop him if they didn't bring his children out alive. He also works for the Mob, I believe."

"Oh now we got a mouthpiece that used to work for The Firm, Miss Parker. Did they rescue the children?"

"Alive, thank the Virgin. Even paid for a house here in Blue Cove, complete with swimming pool and all the luxuries."

"Well that does beat The Firm. What else does he get, visits to the Caribbean? Oh when do we get our swimming pool?"

Miss Parker hovered between insulting glances and laughter. Obviously, Jarod was being fastidious. She nodded her head towards him and they strode past the two men in the pews. She really did not care if that Mob lawyer and his crooked cop friend saw him or not. She glanced back to see that the cop had left and Lambourni was crossing himself and murmuring. His brown hazel eyes had a crazy look to them, and she could see a deep- seated anger in below that reminded her of someone she knew.

The priest's office was in the back. He called a man and woman to act as witnesses. Unfortunately, the man was the Fixer who seemed reluctant at the idea. He hovered at the entrance, snarling silently and then sneered as he saw Jarod. It was the sneer of Dominant recognition, but he still appeared uneasy, something that a 1.6r never was.

Jarod also recognized him as a Dominant but could not understand the Fixer's nervousness—well, nervousness for a Dominant and all Miss Parker could say was, "Something's wrong with him." As for the priest, he was so engrossed in getting ready for the ceremony that he noticed nothing amiss about Mr. Lambourni.

"His kids almost starved to death. Did he try to commit suicide? Was that the reason he locked himself in to prevent getting any weapons?" asked Jarod..

"It's against our religion. He'd be risking hell and damnation," Miss Parker replied.

"Your mother was the same belief, wasn't she Miss Parker? Then she would never have killed herself. I wish Sydney had explained it to me."

"He was told not to, Jarod." She handed the priest some objects. Now there were two types of curses, one that only affected the original sinner, and one that was hereditary. To remove the second, you had to be in the area where you were born and since The Centre, the Cathedral, and Blue Cove were part of that land in limbo, Miss Parker could have gone to her house to have the curse removed. However, that would bring in the Centre goons.

She heard of this priest, an exorcist the Centre had not found out about or killed like his predecessors. Supposedly, the Vatican sent him because the present Father had difficulty getting the congregation to open their pockets. He was in his middle years, a pleasant looking man, quite placid looking, and good at balancing books. His name was Father Illuminae. What his parents named him at birth was anyone's guess. He had light blonde hair and a winning smile.

"Please stand in front of me. You over there and you there. Hmmh!"

The Ceremony did not take long, but the Priest insisted first on cleansing Miss Parker and Jarod from that Satanic curse of the Parkers. He went for his supply of holy water, called on the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, rebuked the spirit of Satan, and ordered the Arch Fiend and his army of demons to leave them alone. To make certain, he included any offspring Miss Parker and Jarod may have had including any created by "the will of man without your consent." Father Illuminae was a holy man, but he knew about the Centre.

As Illuminae spoke, a change came over The Fixer. His crazed look faded and he just stood there with a puzzled look, seeming to Miss Parker, as if he finally realized the evil of the Centre was more than threatening the lives of his babies. He shook his head for a second, gradually straightened up, and adjusted his tie.

Father Illuminae conducted the Ceremony in Latin which although Jarod and Miss Parker understood, no one else did —except for the lawyer and being a Dominant, he showed no emotion and Miss Parker was too busy listening to the priest to tell him that this ceremony was completely different from any she had heard.

She thought she heard Illuminae say, "By the law set down by the Advocate and confirmed by the Supreme Chosen, I will now conduct the Official Joining between Miss Parker and Jarod" but figured she was mistaken. In fact, the whole ceremony appeared like something out of a science fiction movie with the Father slipping her a box containing a crucifix and showing it how to fasten it around Jarod's neck. (Miss Parker half expected Father Illuminae say something like, "Now you hold the sacred flame in your hand and as his hand passes over it," but he did not..)

She did get a ring and the Father did say they were "husband and wife," and then it went back to that science fiction rote when Father Illuminae said that she was now Lady Angela and Jarod was now her Favorite.

The lone female witness who did not understand Latin let alone French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or Romanian threw flowers, and congratulated them both and left. The Fixer just remained there and insisted that he be the godfather for any children they expected.

"At least with my influence, you won't have any unwelcome visitors," he said, "Oh when we mate, we equalize our standing. Homo sapiens don't have that, except in California. That's a joke. Don't take it to court. Just keep it."

Miss Parker whispered to Jarod, "He's a Dominant and I was thinking of Sydney."

Jarod just glowered, not saying anything for fear of Miss Parker taking out the handcuffs and of not having a real honeymoon, although he had no idea what it entailed. However, in thinking about it, he had to voice some opinion. "A godfather looks after the children's beliefs if we die, right? I certainly did not learn of God while Sydney was my trainer."

She ignored him and turned to the lawyer, "We'd be honored, that is, if you do not agree with everything the Centre does."

"Raines and Lyle are afraid of me. Oh yes that Triumvirate is as well. They will all die. When you get back, things will start to change."

"What do you mean?" asked Miss Parker just as the Priest asked her to verify something. "It's as it says," she replied, "Jarod doesn't have a last name and I don't know what to use as a married name. You know what I'm up against. "

"Leave that to me," he said, "God has removed the curse. Your name is now Lady Angela because your father called you Angel and you own Jarod so he is of your household, as the ancient Romans say." He handed them a leather lined Bible as well as a couple of booklets. "I'm sure you're versed in the Faith, but I doubt your Jarod is."

Nodding with understanding, Miss Parker said, "Thank you, Father. Now I have some questions about that ceremony. Why…" She turned around, but both he and the Fixer had disappeared.

Miss Parker, now Lady M. Angela walked in front followed by her Favorite. She still intended to treat Jarod as she always had and he knew it.

Jarod opened the door of the car, and unlocked the back door. He was already loosening his tie. "On top?"

"Maybe. Take my dress out the trunk. I don't intend to wear this." She slipped in the back seat, rolled up the windows, and started to undo the zipper." A few seconds, she rolled down the window a shade. "You got my black dress? Bring it in the back and you better change as well."

She waited until he had his regular clothes back on and not once did she get on top of him to make love. Jarod was a little surprised at this so he decided to make a joke. "I suppose we will have the consummation of the Official Joining now. Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel."

"Funny you don't look like a Martian," she said with a smile. "Lock the doors then, and roll up the windows."

"Right and this time, I'm on top." The words were strong, but Jarod acted as if it were a privilege for him to initiate sexual intercourse with her. He finally got to touch her without her slapping him away. Soon, however, instinct took over, it went like clockwork and then he started kissing her and murmuring "love you Mary, Margaret, Margo or who ever you are," and "The New York Yankees are leading four to one," which brought forth a giggle. .

If Miss Parker had not stopped smoking, she would have lit up afterwards. It was that good. They did not register the marriage at the courthouse.