The Falling Star, Chapter 8, Part 1
Posted 08-29-18
Revised 02-07-21
Revised 02-09-21
An
Angel from Hell story
By
Christopher Leeson
Chapter
8, Part
1
Jezebel regarded the ex-princess dubiously. “The last time I looked, Britain was still broadcasting boring Star Trek: The New Generation reruns. What do you mean you destroyed it?”
Frances looked up, red-eyed. “My homeland was once the most powerful empire ever to exist on Earth. It defied both Napoleon and Hitler, even while standing alone. Today it reels, paralyzed. They're guilt-tripping over the very idea that they have a right to defend their own country and livelihoods.”
The Watcher shrugged. “That figures. If an Englishman isn't at your throat, he's on his knees. Get to the point.”
Frances drew back defensively. “It's not simple to explain.”
“If something's too silly to say, sing it,” suggested Jezebel.
Frances took a deep breath. “The Cabal took the throne of England with the reptilian Tudor dynasty in 1485. In the Sixteenth Century, when the Tudors couldn’t make the Church submit, they set up an English church full of reptilians that would be more pliant. Creating the Empire was all about falling in with the Cabal's plans
“At the end of the nineteenth century, the Cabal took over the Bank of England with the blessing of the government. From that point on, with state, church, and economy all firmly under Satan's servants, Britain became even more of a fortress for Cabalism.” The longer “Frances Dillon” spoke, Jezebel noticed, the less Arkansan she sounded.
“The purpose of the Empire was to destabilize the world with war and to take over its weakest nations. That culminated in Britain using every provocation it could think of to turn local disagreements into World War I and World War II."
“As I see it, Britain was left a dried up husk after those wars," observed the angel.
“Yes, Britain's Cabalist leaders had recklessly fouled their own nest and when their country was wrecked, the really important Cabalists put them with the small-fry leaders after that. The real moving force behind the Cabal has always been the central banks, which have more recently been joined by the international corporations. Those people simply took advantage of the inroads that their agents had made inside America during the two world wars and started using American money and blood to serve their ends."
“Old news. What do you mean that you destroyed Britain?”
With a wince, the ex-princess continued. “After Britain was reduced to a military and economic shell, the Cabal decided against investing in the cost of renovating and decided to take away its empire and leave it poor. They mentally filed it with unimportant minor nations. That meant that their people and resources would be exploited, but its leadership would no longer factor in the struggle for world power."
Jezebel sighed. “For such a little lady, you sure can be long-winded.”
Though exasperated, Frances went on: “I've already told you how the Cabal trained me from childhood to be the “People's Princess. It was all a fraud; I was sold for public consumption like a patent medicine. Everything you saw or heard about me was a hoax and a fraud. There wasn't even any dispute between me and the Royals. We stage-managed that so I would look strong and heroic. I was actually too terrified to antagonize them in any way.”
"So, you actually had no problem with the Royals?”
"No, I did. But all the publicity was a sham. The real issues that existed between me and the Royals never came to the people's ear. I was supposed to be idolized. I was supposed to be a goddess-heroine for a country that the Cabal had already drained of religious faith and moral fiber. But I wasn't really that kind of person and I grew more miserable the longer it went on.”
The Watcher grunted. “Frankly, I never understood what anybody ever saw in you. There are plenty of worthless celebrities on this planet, but you were near the top of the list for losers. But, mehh, is it your fault that Great Britain could be satisfied with a tacky Plastic Princess? They got what they deserved.”
Amazingly, Frances did not flare. “Even I couldn't stand myself. I know I’m not the lovable type. I wasn't even a good person. But I finally started to hate myself. And even more, I hated the people.”
"Because they were idiots?”
Frances grimaced. “The common man is so sheep-like. Why is it so hard for him to understand what the intended fate of sheep has to be? I was pulling the wool over the eyes of millions. I wanted so much to fail. I wanted the English to see through me, to expose me and disgrace me, make me useless to the Cabal. Then I hoped I could just retreat into private life and do something that was right for me for a change. Fergie was able to do that.”
"Fergie. Yeah, there used to be a Fergie, wasn't there? If you ask me, Andrew should have married that racy actress Koo Stark, instead. If a duchess looks great on a pinup poster, what more does she need?"
Frances was frowning as the bad memories returned. "When Fergie served her purpose, they cast her off. The prince was happy enough to go back to the kind games that he loved best, like the ones they play on Epstein Island.”
Jezebel was trying to sort this out. “So the idea was to start the British thinking of you like a sister or daughter, only to have you suddenly be killed, publicly and brutally. I suppose the idea was to make the whole population feel like they had just lost a family member.”
“Yes,” Miss Dillon said. "Demonic entities can infect emotional wounds like bacteria. The Cabal has an open channel to the Dark World. The Second Heaven wanted to numb the entire population with despair and apathy, to make them forget about unimportant things like freedom."
"Well, they went for Brexit, so maybe there's still hope for them."
"Yes, I pray that you're right."
For the moment, none of this mattered much to Jezebel. Her concern was whether she should turn Holly over to some unknown Southern preacher and the woman who, by her own confession, had ruined Western civilization.
"Why do I always have to be the one to decide these things?” Jezebel asked herself. She glanced up at the ceiling. "Why don't you ever talk to me?” she mentally demanded.
Another thought came to her then, a powerful one that seemed to override her own: “Why don't you ever talk to me?”
Jezebel blinked. Had she said that to herself, or was someone else speaking to her?
The angel shook her head and stood up. “Unless somebody can tell me why I should believe a thing that you two are saying, I'm out of here.”
Reverend Garland opened his lips but, something drew his glance upward. He was now gawping, like he'd done at the hotel. Ten seconds later, the cleric shifted his glance and met the Watcher's stare.
"Yeah, what?” Jezebel asked irritably.
"The Lord says that you should.... I don't understand it. Maybe His request will make sense to you.”
"What request?” she grunted.
"He says that you should take off your coat.”
Her coat?
Almost by its own volition, Jezebel right hand disengaged the coat zipper. She bemusedly hung the quilted garment over the back of her chair. A few seconds later, the Watcher saw Holly approaching between the tables – wary and sober.
When she could see France’s face, she paused in mid-step. Apparently, the singer, too, could see “Miss Dillion's” true appearance.
"This is Holly,” the Watcher told the seated pair. Then, to the celebrity, she said, “This is Reverend Orson Garland. And this lady calls herself Frances Dillon. She teaches school and destroys civilizations.”
The Hollywood refugee forced a smile and nodded. “P-Pleased to meet you...ma'am.”
"Won't you take the chair next to Miss Jill?” suggested Orson.
Holly sat down at Jezebel's right.
"We're also very pleased to meet you,” the minister added.
The waitress smiled tentatively, while her eyes addressed silent questions to her traveling companion.
"I can't make a lot of sense of it all,” whispered the latter. “They say they've been sent to help. I don't know if I trust them, but I don't know that I shouldn't, either.”
"Well, okay,” said the singing sensation. “Fill me in on what you've been talking about, please.”
For the next few minutes, with Orson doing most of the talking, the three briefed Holly. She was being invited to settle in a town called Jasper, where the couple would do all they could to help her live safely under a new identity.
"This is heavy. What do you think, Jill?” the younger woman asked.
Jezebel addressed Orson, “You sort of fit in with what I should have expected. God decides to place a lost soul into the care of a simple parson. No big surprises there. But why would he send a high-profile Nephilim along with you?”
Reverend Garland shook his head. “I'm not sure. It may be because Sister Frances has experienced some of the same mistreatment that Holly has. They may be able to comfort each other. Or perhaps the Lord thought that having a lady with us would reassure our young friend. And there's also the chance that God might wish to bring Frances out of the shadows and have her become more active in comfort-giving. The reaping of souls during the End Times shall require the work of many willing harvesters.”
"What about you, Holly?” Jezebel asked. “Would you ever feel at ease around a royal princess who happens to be a half-human ex-Cabal agent? The reformation rate among their upper crust has never been very impressive.”
The minister, wincing, looked back at the other restaurant diners. He was worried that someone might have overheard these frank words.
The Princess of Wales raised her chin. “Orson tells you true. I've been hiding since 1997. I've received mercy, but I haven't been doing very much to deserve it. I want to change that part of my journey. I don't know why, Holly, but it seems that your fate is important to the Lord. I think that helping you is the best way to make myself right with Him.”
"I don't know about that," Holly replied. "All I’ve ever tried to do is make myself rich and be famous. If there is really a God, I don't know why he'd bother sending an angel to help someone like me."
"An angel?" asked Frances.
The former star nodded. "A girl I didn't know led me out of a mansion full of child-murderers and cannibals. Then she suddenly appeared, days later, on a bus-seat behind me. She told me that the town that we happened to be in just then would be a good place for me to hide. The next thing I knew, she was gone again."
"I could tell a few amazing stories, too," the English girl said with a troubled smile.
Holly glanced to Jezebel. "Do you believe all this religious stuff, Jill?”
The latter shook her head. “I’m only doing what I've been told to do. But I truly believe that the supernatural is real. Science, on the other hand, not so much.”
Holly looked uneasy. “Who's telling you what to do?”
"The good guys – I think.”
The ex-star, ex-waitress digested these scraps of information briefly before asking, “If I went with them, could you come with us?”
The angel was now looking glum. "I really would like to have some quiet time, Holly. But I'm pretty sure that vacation leave is not in the cards for me.”
"You only came into my cafe two days ago, Jill, but it feels like it's been much longer. I'd hate to think that I won't be seeing you again. I've never met anyone like you. You're a frightening person, but at the same time you make me feel safe.”
"It's nice you should say that. But I'm just a pawn, an interchangeable part. When one task ends for me, another begins. There's a war going on and I'm expected to fight in it. Tomorrow, the battle will be somewhere else. But if I can’t be taking care of you from here on, you have to work extra hard to take care of yourself. I'm going to be very angry if you get yourself damned after all I've gone through to save you."
"Well, I'm going to do my best to not get you angry."
Jezebel nodded. "And I promise you this, Holly: I'm going to be looking in on you, and that won't be too far into the future. If you're doing all right, you might not even know that I've been there. That's for the best. Trouble rides around on my shoulder and I want the soft and breakable people like you to kept clear of it.
"But if I find that you're not in a good place, I don't know what else I could possibly do except kill anyone who's done you wrong.” Pointedly, Jezebel challenged the glances of the pair from Arkansas. “And I'll do the same with anyone who I find out helped them do it.” Reverend Garland appeared grave, but not frightened.
The princess then leaned forward. “She'll be all right, Miss Jill. If she's not, and if I'm to blame, go ahead and kill me.”
TO BE CONTINUED IN Chapter 8, Part 2
Frances looked up, red-eyed. “My homeland was once the most powerful empire ever to exist on Earth. It defied both Napoleon and Hitler, even while standing alone. Today it reels, paralyzed. They're guilt-tripping over the very idea that they have a right to defend their own country and livelihoods.”
The Watcher shrugged. “That figures. If an Englishman isn't at your throat, he's on his knees. Get to the point.”
Frances drew back defensively. “It's not simple to explain.”
“If something's too silly to say, sing it,” suggested Jezebel.
Frances took a deep breath. “The Cabal took the throne of England with the reptilian Tudor dynasty in 1485. In the Sixteenth Century, when the Tudors couldn’t make the Church submit, they set up an English church full of reptilians that would be more pliant. Creating the Empire was all about falling in with the Cabal's plans
“At the end of the nineteenth century, the Cabal took over the Bank of England with the blessing of the government. From that point on, with state, church, and economy all firmly under Satan's servants, Britain became even more of a fortress for Cabalism.” The longer “Frances Dillon” spoke, Jezebel noticed, the less Arkansan she sounded.
“The purpose of the Empire was to destabilize the world with war and to take over its weakest nations. That culminated in Britain using every provocation it could think of to turn local disagreements into World War I and World War II."
“As I see it, Britain was left a dried up husk after those wars," observed the angel.
“Yes, Britain's Cabalist leaders had recklessly fouled their own nest and when their country was wrecked, the really important Cabalists put them with the small-fry leaders after that. The real moving force behind the Cabal has always been the central banks, which have more recently been joined by the international corporations. Those people simply took advantage of the inroads that their agents had made inside America during the two world wars and started using American money and blood to serve their ends."
“Old news. What do you mean that you destroyed Britain?”
With a wince, the ex-princess continued. “After Britain was reduced to a military and economic shell, the Cabal decided against investing in the cost of renovating and decided to take away its empire and leave it poor. They mentally filed it with unimportant minor nations. That meant that their people and resources would be exploited, but its leadership would no longer factor in the struggle for world power."
Jezebel sighed. “For such a little lady, you sure can be long-winded.”
Though exasperated, Frances went on: “I've already told you how the Cabal trained me from childhood to be the “People's Princess. It was all a fraud; I was sold for public consumption like a patent medicine. Everything you saw or heard about me was a hoax and a fraud. There wasn't even any dispute between me and the Royals. We stage-managed that so I would look strong and heroic. I was actually too terrified to antagonize them in any way.”
"So, you actually had no problem with the Royals?”
"No, I did. But all the publicity was a sham. The real issues that existed between me and the Royals never came to the people's ear. I was supposed to be idolized. I was supposed to be a goddess-heroine for a country that the Cabal had already drained of religious faith and moral fiber. But I wasn't really that kind of person and I grew more miserable the longer it went on.”
The Watcher grunted. “Frankly, I never understood what anybody ever saw in you. There are plenty of worthless celebrities on this planet, but you were near the top of the list for losers. But, mehh, is it your fault that Great Britain could be satisfied with a tacky Plastic Princess? They got what they deserved.”
Amazingly, Frances did not flare. “Even I couldn't stand myself. I know I’m not the lovable type. I wasn't even a good person. But I finally started to hate myself. And even more, I hated the people.”
"Because they were idiots?”
Frances grimaced. “The common man is so sheep-like. Why is it so hard for him to understand what the intended fate of sheep has to be? I was pulling the wool over the eyes of millions. I wanted so much to fail. I wanted the English to see through me, to expose me and disgrace me, make me useless to the Cabal. Then I hoped I could just retreat into private life and do something that was right for me for a change. Fergie was able to do that.”
"Fergie. Yeah, there used to be a Fergie, wasn't there? If you ask me, Andrew should have married that racy actress Koo Stark, instead. If a duchess looks great on a pinup poster, what more does she need?"
Frances was frowning as the bad memories returned. "When Fergie served her purpose, they cast her off. The prince was happy enough to go back to the kind games that he loved best, like the ones they play on Epstein Island.”
Jezebel was trying to sort this out. “So the idea was to start the British thinking of you like a sister or daughter, only to have you suddenly be killed, publicly and brutally. I suppose the idea was to make the whole population feel like they had just lost a family member.”
“Yes,” Miss Dillon said. "Demonic entities can infect emotional wounds like bacteria. The Cabal has an open channel to the Dark World. The Second Heaven wanted to numb the entire population with despair and apathy, to make them forget about unimportant things like freedom."
"Well, they went for Brexit, so maybe there's still hope for them."
"Yes, I pray that you're right."
For the moment, none of this mattered much to Jezebel. Her concern was whether she should turn Holly over to some unknown Southern preacher and the woman who, by her own confession, had ruined Western civilization.
"Why do I always have to be the one to decide these things?” Jezebel asked herself. She glanced up at the ceiling. "Why don't you ever talk to me?” she mentally demanded.
Another thought came to her then, a powerful one that seemed to override her own: “Why don't you ever talk to me?”
Jezebel blinked. Had she said that to herself, or was someone else speaking to her?
The angel shook her head and stood up. “Unless somebody can tell me why I should believe a thing that you two are saying, I'm out of here.”
Reverend Garland opened his lips but, something drew his glance upward. He was now gawping, like he'd done at the hotel. Ten seconds later, the cleric shifted his glance and met the Watcher's stare.
"Yeah, what?” Jezebel asked irritably.
"The Lord says that you should.... I don't understand it. Maybe His request will make sense to you.”
"What request?” she grunted.
"He says that you should take off your coat.”
Her coat?
Almost by its own volition, Jezebel right hand disengaged the coat zipper. She bemusedly hung the quilted garment over the back of her chair. A few seconds later, the Watcher saw Holly approaching between the tables – wary and sober.
When she could see France’s face, she paused in mid-step. Apparently, the singer, too, could see “Miss Dillion's” true appearance.
"This is Holly,” the Watcher told the seated pair. Then, to the celebrity, she said, “This is Reverend Orson Garland. And this lady calls herself Frances Dillon. She teaches school and destroys civilizations.”
The Hollywood refugee forced a smile and nodded. “P-Pleased to meet you...ma'am.”
"Won't you take the chair next to Miss Jill?” suggested Orson.
Holly sat down at Jezebel's right.
"We're also very pleased to meet you,” the minister added.
The waitress smiled tentatively, while her eyes addressed silent questions to her traveling companion.
"I can't make a lot of sense of it all,” whispered the latter. “They say they've been sent to help. I don't know if I trust them, but I don't know that I shouldn't, either.”
"Well, okay,” said the singing sensation. “Fill me in on what you've been talking about, please.”
For the next few minutes, with Orson doing most of the talking, the three briefed Holly. She was being invited to settle in a town called Jasper, where the couple would do all they could to help her live safely under a new identity.
"This is heavy. What do you think, Jill?” the younger woman asked.
Jezebel addressed Orson, “You sort of fit in with what I should have expected. God decides to place a lost soul into the care of a simple parson. No big surprises there. But why would he send a high-profile Nephilim along with you?”
Reverend Garland shook his head. “I'm not sure. It may be because Sister Frances has experienced some of the same mistreatment that Holly has. They may be able to comfort each other. Or perhaps the Lord thought that having a lady with us would reassure our young friend. And there's also the chance that God might wish to bring Frances out of the shadows and have her become more active in comfort-giving. The reaping of souls during the End Times shall require the work of many willing harvesters.”
"What about you, Holly?” Jezebel asked. “Would you ever feel at ease around a royal princess who happens to be a half-human ex-Cabal agent? The reformation rate among their upper crust has never been very impressive.”
The minister, wincing, looked back at the other restaurant diners. He was worried that someone might have overheard these frank words.
The Princess of Wales raised her chin. “Orson tells you true. I've been hiding since 1997. I've received mercy, but I haven't been doing very much to deserve it. I want to change that part of my journey. I don't know why, Holly, but it seems that your fate is important to the Lord. I think that helping you is the best way to make myself right with Him.”
"I don't know about that," Holly replied. "All I’ve ever tried to do is make myself rich and be famous. If there is really a God, I don't know why he'd bother sending an angel to help someone like me."
"An angel?" asked Frances.
The former star nodded. "A girl I didn't know led me out of a mansion full of child-murderers and cannibals. Then she suddenly appeared, days later, on a bus-seat behind me. She told me that the town that we happened to be in just then would be a good place for me to hide. The next thing I knew, she was gone again."
"I could tell a few amazing stories, too," the English girl said with a troubled smile.
Holly glanced to Jezebel. "Do you believe all this religious stuff, Jill?”
The latter shook her head. “I’m only doing what I've been told to do. But I truly believe that the supernatural is real. Science, on the other hand, not so much.”
Holly looked uneasy. “Who's telling you what to do?”
"The good guys – I think.”
The ex-star, ex-waitress digested these scraps of information briefly before asking, “If I went with them, could you come with us?”
The angel was now looking glum. "I really would like to have some quiet time, Holly. But I'm pretty sure that vacation leave is not in the cards for me.”
"You only came into my cafe two days ago, Jill, but it feels like it's been much longer. I'd hate to think that I won't be seeing you again. I've never met anyone like you. You're a frightening person, but at the same time you make me feel safe.”
"It's nice you should say that. But I'm just a pawn, an interchangeable part. When one task ends for me, another begins. There's a war going on and I'm expected to fight in it. Tomorrow, the battle will be somewhere else. But if I can’t be taking care of you from here on, you have to work extra hard to take care of yourself. I'm going to be very angry if you get yourself damned after all I've gone through to save you."
"Well, I'm going to do my best to not get you angry."
Jezebel nodded. "And I promise you this, Holly: I'm going to be looking in on you, and that won't be too far into the future. If you're doing all right, you might not even know that I've been there. That's for the best. Trouble rides around on my shoulder and I want the soft and breakable people like you to kept clear of it.
"But if I find that you're not in a good place, I don't know what else I could possibly do except kill anyone who's done you wrong.” Pointedly, Jezebel challenged the glances of the pair from Arkansas. “And I'll do the same with anyone who I find out helped them do it.” Reverend Garland appeared grave, but not frightened.
The princess then leaned forward. “She'll be all right, Miss Jill. If she's not, and if I'm to blame, go ahead and kill me.”
TO BE CONTINUED IN Chapter 8, Part 2
Finally! The story is done. I had it done weeks ago, but my internet connection was having a lot of trouble. Long outages and brief periods when it was working, usually badly. It may go bad again, but while it's working I'm trying to take advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteThe ideas in the last couple chapters are pretty wacky, but, honestly, these are almost entirely real "conspiracy theories," adapted to serve as the backdrop of Jezebel Watcher's world. I kid you not. Princess Diane alive and a Illuminati, the Royal family being a tribe of child-eating predators, agricultural companies deliberately poisoning the world, conspirators actively seeking a nuclear war, Hollywood run by Satanic fiends, and what the FBI and CIA are really up to. I couldn't dream up things as great as this by myself.
In about a month I wish to start a new story. I think I know which one I will want to post, but I won't say anything until I decide for sure.
I really enjoyed doing Jezebel's first adventure. I hope to go back to the character in the future, but right now I need to concentrate on writing the new Eerie, Arizona novella. The plan calls for picking up the story in what I may call "The Belle of Eerie, Arizona." It has been a terribly busy time since last April and circumstances have caused a long halt in my creative work. Last month I got a break in the pressure (which included business problems and poor health) and I wrote the just-posted Chapter 8. I made an effort to make up for at least 1 of the months of non-publication by doing the entire chapter as a whole instead of just a half chapter, as I have been doing. Interestingly, I have not gotten a single comment about FALLING ANGEL, neither pro or con, over the entire year and a half I have been posting it. What's wrong? Does no one care? Is this comment utility hard to use if one is not a registered member? I find it very good, myself. It is fun to create, but it is also fun to know that people are enjoying what I put so much effort into doing well. Anyway, that about catches things up for now.