My Soul to Keep

By Stephen C. Hill

Harry Bennett a free-wheeling tabloid reporter covers a murder trial in Louisiana. During the investigation, Harry interviews an Ascendant Angel.
The Heavenly apparition returns to Earth to ask Harry to go behind the veil to help destroy a nefarious plot to take over the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephen C. Hill
• Release date: Sep 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9780986009228

Stephen C. Hill

Born in Atlanta, Georgia. Graduate of Georgia State University. Divorced. Lives in Sarasota, Florida.

Book preview

Foreword

Everyone has a soul.

The soul is the essence of the personality in a human being.

The soul is the conscience self,the Id,the Ego, and the I of a human being.

When you are about to take your last breath of life, your soul leaves your body.

The soul is pure energy and cannot be destroyed.

Will your soul reincarnate and return to earth with bits and pieces of your past lives, hidden talents and memories?

How does your soul return to the earthly plane?

When you pass away does your soul linger in a different dimension?

Do good souls go to Heaven and bad souls go to Hell?

My Soul to Keep

Cast of Characters

Harry Bennett-Journalist, reporter, sleaze writer, self taught detective, former employee of the tabloid magazine, The Blast

Lou Lou Bennett-Wife of Harry and owner of the Chicken Kitchen restaurant, President of a local bank and the United Psychic Event Evaluations (UPEE), a psychic medium network

Michelle De La Cruz-The Bennett’s across the street neighbor

Dr Hector Miranda-Washington based scientist and researcher

Nicole Wagenbush-Editor of the Blast Magazine

Tom- spirit guide on Earth

Lily-spirit guide on Earth

Shaun- spirit guide on Earth

Cassandra Comfort-associate of Lou Lou and a psychic medium

The Walrus-The Old Master-The Purple One-An Ascendant Master from the world behind the veil

Mara-Mermaid-daughter of a Demi God

Mary Margaret Mooney-student friend of Harry Bennett (MM’s)

Flume- Nobel Scientist who has passed away and his soul remains behind the veil

Sugarfoot-the Bennett’s family cat

Mr. Pink-a mid-level Sprit guide and educator

Perma-Pink’s assistant at the Visitor’s quarters.

Anatheis-The Ascendant Master who wants to create chaos on Earth.

Emily Mimi Fenton-the Tent Revival Evangelist with a message and a gift.

Gisellen-Demi God from the Reptilians

Yannee-Demi God from the Grays

Alsador-Demi God from the Insectoids, along with the Walrus

Preston Brown-Crime reporter for the Metairie Courier newspaper

Jiggs McIntyre-Friend of Preston Brown, graduate assistant in Metallurgy

Jason Tanner-Friend of Preston Brown-Mechanical engineer

Abby Fontenot-Copy editor at the Metairie Courier

Thomas Girardeau-High school delivery boy

Phillip Montenegro-newspaper intern

Samuel Mathis-Big Mojo Sound

Prologue

In a quiet suburban neighborhood in Metairie, Louisiana, a former tabloid news magazine reporter has retired and is living with his new wife.

Life for Harry Bennett was satisfying but, rather hum-drum.

He longed to return to his past of exposing high-profile people, corrupt politicians, scam artists, and cheating spouses for the sensationalized check-out line, grocery store magazine, The Blast.

His innate ability to embellish controversial rumors, innuendos, and uncover factual information for public display was well documented in lawsuits, legal sanctions and his hefty paycheck.

In a unique interview during a murder case, Harry and his uncanny, sleuthing abilities prompted a visit from some ‘people’ that would change his life and possibly the World.

Harry Bennett was asked for help and asked to travel, to where all souls originate.

The reporter must step through the invisible veil, which separates the living from the dead, to expose a nefarious and diabolical plan.

And Harry wants to remain alive!

Chapter One

Here kitty-kitty, come here little kitty, come here Sugar, Harry Bennett called out to the pet calico cat, navigating the top ridge of a velveteen Victorian parlor couch.

Are you talking to me dear, Lou Lou Cannon Bennett called out from the kitchen?

No honey, I’m calling Sugarfoot, our cat, to have a little tummy rubbing.

I’d like that too, says Lou Lou as she enters the antique appointed living room in their rustic, ancestral, family home in Metairie, Louisiana.

Here honey, I made you a sandwich, passing him a tuna, celery and cucumber combo to her new husband, sitting in his roomy, Laz-y boy recliner.

She placed a glass of sweet tea on a coaster, on the accent table next to the overstuffed recliner.

Have we got time for a little loving, Harry, asks plaintively?

"No I can’t right now Harry, I have to be back at the bank to review the construction plans for the children’s clinic, at the hospital.

"It’s such an important project and the children need the additional space to become healthy again!

It is amazing the discoveries which have been made to reverse destructive, violent behavior, brought on by mental disorders, the newly minted Mrs. Harry Bennett replied.

We can enjoy each other later tonight, if you would like to make a date?

Harry grumbled under his breath over what she had said and didn’t respond.

Since they had gotten married two years ago, following the murder of Lou Lou’s sister Belle Massey, sex had become an afterthought in her mind.

Their new love; once intensely sexual, had slowly waned to once a week event, unless Lou Lou was drinking.

Only after a few libations did she become the aggressor and would want to engage in intercourse, again and again.

Very well my dear, I am getting a little horny, replied the discontented spouse.

Oh Harry, you’re always horny, teased the matronly Lou Lou.

"You need a hobby, something to take you mind off of sex!

All you do is sit around all day, while I’m at work!"

Harry remained quiet.

He was content to be a house husband.

In his mind, he did agree with her about a hobby or maybe a part time job.

Although, the thought of just doing anything or busy work wasn’t appealing, even as a part timer to Harry.

And the couple didn’t need the money.

Lou Lou had hired an attorney out of Atlanta to unravel her deceased sister’s dual wills and the probate of the properties, where Belle was unknowingly used as a straw buyer for the Mob.

The attorney was expensive but, the results gave Lou Lou a very healthy monthly income and an enormous bank balance, once the chattel properties had been liquidated.

Money in the bank and a wonderful home gave Harry a sense of security.

"Make a date, huh? Harry said under his breath.

Chapter Two

What kinda hobby or work do you think I would enjoy? He asked his wife.

"When I met you Harry, you were a great reporter,

Your ability to interview people to uncover clues that the police missed is uncanny!

I don’t want to write about people’s dirty laundry any longer, shaking his head while speaking to his wife.

Harry, maybe not a crime or expose writer, maybe a non-fiction research author!

But I’m not a trained writer or journalist; I only graduated from high school,

I just got lucky with the Blast magazine.

"Harry, the articles you wrote about Belle’s murder were very insightful and heartfelt.

"And your insights and articles about the operations of the Mob were terrific.

"And you’re eerie, written descriptions of the shocking materializations of apparitions at the trial, boosted my membership in UPEE, dramatically.

Harry, my love, you were born to be a writer!

Harry enjoyed the adulation and support but, knew his limitations.

Oh wait, I got something from the frame shop today! Lou Lou exclaimed.

It’s in the car, I’ll be right back!

Lou Lou leaves the room and returns with a 14 by 24 inch package, wrapped in brown paper.

Move Sugarfoot, Harry whisks his hand at the head of the cat; who is sniffing the tuna and cucumber sandwich.

She smells the tuna fish, she loves tuna fish, added the wife.

So do I, Harry replied to Lou Lou with a twinkle in his eye

Yes, you do Harry and you lick the bowl too, laughed Lou Lou.

I like to lick you darlin’, Harry was becoming sexually aroused.

Lou Lou knew she had to change the subject quickly or Harry would soon entrap her upper torso in his immense arms and then it was good lovin’ time.

Having a ‘quickie during the work day would be fun but, I have too much work to do today", she thought to herself.

"Look at this! She chirped with excitement, tearing open the package.

I had it put together in honor of Belle.

She removed the remaining wrapping paper and held the face of the frame toward Harry.

Inside the framed shadow box was an attractive head and shoulders studio photograph of Belle in her mid thirties and a lock of her sister’s hair above the photo.

A gold chain necklace, with an engraved cross, was hung north and south and attached to the backing, to the left side of the photo.

The mahogany framed tribute had a golden green background, similar to the color of lily pads in the brackish waters of the bayou.

"Do you like it, Lou Lou gushed?

"Yeah, ol’ Victor Montenegro forgot all about the cross he snatched off of her neck, just before he executed her, commented Harry.

Tragic how she passed away Harry continued, she wasn’t an angel but, she didn’t deserve to die, the way she did!

Looking at the photo, Harry vividly remembered the Ghost of Belle Massey in the courtroom.

He felt a shiver run down his spine.

The memory of seeing the Belle’s apparition and those of his parents, cousins and friends, who had already passed, was frightening, surreal and unearthly.

Harry gazed at the montage and began to experience the identical physical symptoms he felt, during the trial, in the courthouse.

It’s odd, he said to himself.

Was this shadow box tribute haunted?

Was it inhabited by Lou Lou’s late sister’s ghost?

Was it her or others trying to contact him?

The ghostly images at the trial had told him to use his innate curiosity and research abilities to help people.

Those mental impressions from the court house trial seemed to rerun in his head in a continuous daily loop.

Did those spirits have a plan for him?

If the spirit in the courtroom had Harry in mind for some deed of gratitude, what was it?

Well, do you like it, asked the happy wife, Lou Lou.

Her question snapped Harry back into reality.

Chapter Three

The sandwich, oh yes, it’s very tasty!

No silly, the photo and mementos from my late sister?

Uh, oh, yes I do, I would have like to have met her, when she was alive.

Lou Lou takes the framed art piece from Harry and places it on a drop leaf table facing the majority of the room.

Here you are my dear sister, you can keep Harry company, she seemed to mock the fact of Harry staying at home every day.

By the way Lou Lou, who was the guy at the trial named Baba White?

I know you told me his name was Bill Hendricks and you said you knew him?

What or who was he exactly, my dear?

Oh, Lou Lou answered, I’ve told you, he was a driver for our restaurant and attended my UPEE psychic convention in Orlando.

Yes dear, you told me that story but, how did he get the powers to summon ghosts?

His conjuring display and materializing those ghosts was eye-popping!

I don’t think anyone who saw what I saw, would ever forget it.

It still haunts my thoughts.

I interviewed him, before the trial and he seemed kind of odd.

He seemed, almost, as if, he was from another world, in his speech and demeanor.

In all of my work for the Blast magazine, I had never met such a powerful man with those abilities.

He seemed to be able to control everything and everyone in the court room.

Harry, I know he was strange and yes, it was surprising how it all turned out but, I don’t believe Bill would remember the courtroom events.

He wouldn’t remember, uttered Harry?

Some of the folks in my UPEE upper circle believe his mind and body were taken over; possessed, if you will, by an Ascendant spirit from beyond our earthly plane.

What are you talking about Lou Lou?

I know, I said I believed in ghosts but, possessions by Ascendant spirits?

What in the world are you talking about?

My dear uninitiated Harry, it’s complicated to explain but, I’ll try and give you the short version, kinda like a Cliff notes on other-worldly possession of humans.

Chapter Four

First, you must understand there is a parallel universe of souls and Ascendant Masters, who are just beyond the thin veil of being alive in this dimension.

You and I are in this room, right now, this is our reality!

"However, although we don’t see them, there could be numerous other entities in this room.

And each of those entities may be on a certain level, either good or evil.

They could desire to appear or materialize or speak to us, using a voice you hear inside your head or actually share your body and affect your visual and physical reality.

"You see, my ghost-curious husband; an entity can enter the personality and the soul of any living vessel, in the blink of an eye.

At times, some living vessels or humans are more than willing and ask to be possessed.

Possession can take place in a conscious or unconscious level.

From what I recall about Bill Hendricks and his mental state, he would be a perfect candidate for a possession.

You may have heard people say, The Lord made me do it or the opposite; the devil made me do it, or even an alien from another planet overtook my mind".

"Society believes they are mentally ill and shuttle them in and out of institutions, using a cacophony of psychoactive drugs, which eventually destroys the human psyche and the body.

"Nonetheless, should an entity have a reason to share or possess a soul on the Earth plane, nothing can thwart its purpose.

Sometimes the entity is good but, more often, it is evil!

"Back to explaining Bill, in my opinion, Bill wanted to apologize for not warning his friend, Charlie Savage, about a troubled, drug addled, nutcase; who was stalking him.

Bill’s obsessive compulsion to be able to talk with his friend would be an understatement.

Hendricks felt he was solely responsible for Charlie’s death.

Bill was so intently focused on talking with his friend, plus with the mob chasing him for the supposed theft of millions, the stress may have caused a tear in Bill’s psyche.

Bill’s mind was asking for help, just long enough for an Ascendant Master to take over some or all of his soul.

I believe the circumstances were ripe for a possession!

So, considering the situation and adding what Belle and Mad Max had shared with me...

Harry cut her off with a sarcastic remark, Oh, you mean the ex-boyfriend!

Funny Harry…Lou Lou confided, Max was more like a son.

Some son, I would say, more like a homicidal killer, Harry replied with a smirk.

Well yes, I found out later about him but, he was always well mannered to me, parried Lou Lou.

"Do you want me to continue, Mister Detective?

Yes, I’m sorry, please go ahead

"Anyway, according to Mad Max Venetti and verified by Belle, the crew from the mob beat Hendricks up pretty good.

"Bill was as close to death as a human can get without dying and the Master entered into Bill’s physical body vessel at the very last moment.

"Bill was not Bill, as any of us, had previously known him.

"He had the physical characteristics of how he looked in Metairie but, he became the vessel for a greater and higher power.

"Even disguised as Baba White, we all knew it was Bill, the moment he revealed his face and eyes to the folks in the courtroom.

"Bill, the DJ and delivery driver, without his knowledge, had become an ascended being, who knows the future, a shape shifter, who can read minds, and travel between dimensions of life and death.

"You know, all of the psychic stuff, you have heard me talk about.

It was Bill’s body but, it was the Ascendant’s mind and spiritual conjuring which manifested everything we saw that day.

Harry interjected; I heard Bill as Baba White was on the radio helping people to reconnect with their lost loved ones and helping people to cope.

He said to me in his interview, his purpose was to save souls.

"Yes, all of that is true Harry, Lou Lou confirmed.

"You do know Harry, I was the one who contacted Baba White to come here and find Belle’s killer?

I knew you wanted to hold a séance but, then you became ill.

So you asked Baba to come here? Harry questioned his wife.

"Yes, and I had no idea Baba White and Bill Hendricks were one in the same.

Chapter Five

"Since the trial, I’ve had a strange feeling we haven’t seen the last of the Ascendant Master, Lou Lou commented.

"My guess, along with my UPEE members, is the Master spirit saw a positive ability in Hendricks in Orlando.

"Bill must have unconsciously exhibited a certain special desire to assist and help people in need.

"Bill or Baba had the ability to calm people’s fears, especially those people who were deeply bereaved and required solace and peace.

"So the Ascendant Master put him to work saving souls of those who were deeply afflicted by a person’s death and were possible suicidal victims.

Souls, in particular, received from suicides are tainted and eventually succumb to deep and dark evil, Lou Lou remarked to her husband.

"From our UPEE sessions, and talks with spirit guides from the other side, the evil of Today’s world is brought about by so many disenfranchised souls returning to the earth.

"The Ascendant Master decided to provide Bill with special insights to reverse the mental death spiral of those suicidal souls, who lived without hope.

"Hendricks was given a special ability without a doubt, Lou Lou reiterated.

I understood from my interviews, he helped people from all walks of life and even counseled and communicated with the poor soul’s deceased pets, Harry replied!

Chapter Six

As you said Harry, Bill was given the ability to save souls!"

"Bill’s radio show, I mean Baba’s show was wildly popular.

"So, as repayment for Bill’s good work, the Master exposed clues undisclosed in Belle’s murder investigation.

"Bill thought the world of Belle, because she gave him a job, when he was in need of one.

"The Ascended Master knew Belle would be murdered along with several others but, by covenant with the King of Kings, the Ascended Master could not change their fates.

"So, the Master allowed Bill to summon Belle’s ghost to produce the crushing evidence to send Victor to prison.

"I imagine, after the trial and once Bill got back to Sarasota or Atlanta, Bill may have tripped and fallen, even lost consciousness.

"He may have had to go to the hospital.

"In his house or at a hospital, when Bill woke up, the Master spirit would have removed himself from Bill’s body.

"Bill would have no recollection of any of the events, which had taken place from the original psychic tear in his brain.

"He probably had a bad headache, Harry snickered!

"You would too, my dear, if you had to share two personalities!

She continued, as Harry sat dumbfounded.

"Bill could have had the Ascendant Master with him in his consciousness for many weeks prior to us seeing him at the trial.

"Only the Master would know how long Bill would be the Master’s earthly vessel.

"The Master was in control of any memory of the events leading up to and after the courtroom scene.

"Something else…she paused

"The Master would also have left a definitive mark on Bill’s body!

The reporter asked;" An Ascendant Master would leave a physical sign on the human’s body?

"Yes dear, newly acquired body markings from the Master are signposts to other spirits, that the mortal has a willing mental capacity to allow the integration of a super consciousness into their mind.

"Or they have actually talked with the dead!

"Like my tattoo on my right arm.

She turned her arm over to display the inked skeleton key on her skin.

"And finally, because I have to get back to work; my group also believes Bill may not have retained the gift of talking with the dead!

"Only Bill knows for sure.

"Again, only a guess but, Bill’s mind was likely wiped clean of any memories.

"His only clues as to what happened would be a mark and perhaps an artifact.

Goodness that is some theory, Lou Lou!

"Oh, and one more opinion I must add, my dear Harry!

"Our UPEE members believe once the Master had taken over Bill’s mind and body, he probably sent the mortal Bill Hendricks on some mental wild goose chase.

"All Bill would see is a new mark on his body and the gift of gratitude from the Master.

And Bill will have to live with the curiosity of those gifts for the remainder of his life!

Oh yes, he will, and without a doubt, some mind boggling questions, Harry exclaimed.

"Unless, of course, he attends a medium’s circle of hands or a séance to ask questions about what happened, Lou Lou contributed.

"Although, even with a séance, he might be able to talk with the dead but, the spirit guides might not reveal themselves to him.

"It would be more in a form of telepathy or channeling for Bill, is my professional opinion.

"Of course, who knows what remains in his conscious, regarding any psychic ability?

"Maybe, Bill will attend another UPEE convention?

"I’d love to know more about his life, and if he still remembered any of us.

Chapter Seven

What I saw on that day was amazing and frightening at the same time, stammered Harry

It was almost unholy!

Bill froze the movements of the entire courtroom

Did you see where the court bailiff couldn’t rise from his seat to administer the oath to tell the truth?

Simply amazing!

I couldn’t move

And from what I could see no one else could move either!

Then with a Shaun of his hand, everything ghostly and any spirit in the room disappeared

So powerful!

Remember Harry, it was an Ascendant Master, not actually Bill Hendricks.

Lou Lou didn’t want to ramble on; however, she continued her explanation.

Ok honey, one more wrinkle about Ascendant masters.

Once the mortal is possessed, the Master can come and go at any time.

But, the mortal must accept the initial duality.

"The only way to know who is in control is by their actions or their eyes.

Yes, Bill’s eyes. Those eyes!

I interviewed Baba White for Agent Stockton and I got no identifying information from him

It was I was looking at eyes that were vacant.

It was creepy!

Bill had no expression in his voice or in his actions.

Very calm, no matter what questions, I would ask him.

Lou Lou, I don’t know if I am breaking any classified information law by telling you this but, Baba…I mean Bill, gave me a pair of contacts when I spoke with him at the trial.

Evidently someone from his official witness protection detail had him wear them when they were in Metairie,

Bill said the contacts are designed to fool retina eye scans.

Simply by focusing on someone’s eyes who is facing you, the contacts act like a mirror,

They reflect the thoughts of the person who is speaking or looking into your eyes

Like a mirror of what they are thinking or saying!

The only information I got from him was my own information.

Very weird, out of this world technology!

Using the contacts apparently can make you totally anonymous.

And make you impervious to someone trying to know what you are thinking or seeing.

Harry got up from his chair, opened a drawer of an occasional table to show her the contacts Baba White had given to him.

"Harry, a gift from an Ascendant Master is a very powerful message, his wife commented.

"The Master must have seen something in you where, he felt you would be beneficial in the future.

"He wouldn’t have told you about what or why but, he sees you as working in some scenario in the future.

"Ascendant Masters are right below the demi-gods in the hierarchy of the heavens.

"They have a higher level of consciousness, a higher frequency, so to speak, than a normal mortal soul.

"Harry, you need to be prepared to accept the idea of an Ascendant Master or one of his envoys visiting you.

"The masters know the future.

"Mortals do not; she grimaced, regardless of what the TV psychics so heavily advertise.

"A visit from an Ascendant master may be in your future, it makes sense to me Harry!

What do you think?

I don’t know, Harry replied

I just don’t know.

I have to go back to work Darlin’; I’ll see you at the Chicken Kitchen for cocktails around 6, Ok?

Ok, I’ll see you there, he said with a smile, while shaking his head in astonishment.

Chapter Eight

Although now, with Belle Massey’s photograph overseeing his living room/ man cave, the memory of seeing ghosts at the trial triggered thoughts of where do the good and bad souls go when a person dies?

Do the souls go directly to some place or do they linger in a parallel level, just beyond our vision, until they can be lifted into Heaven and then reincarnated?

Who does the repurposing?

Does a soul ever die?

Is it God or angels in charge of collecting, disseminating and quantifying the recently deceased souls?

Harry’s curiosity was piqued.

What about the dark and evil souls?

Is there a giant warehouse somewhere, with a conveyor belt of souls to be recycled back to this earth?

Or was it a like an energy farm or a giant meadow where old souls were planted with the younger souls?

Harry was curious but, like a cat, he knew to be cautious and careful in his quest to find some answers.

Chapter Nine

Harry had grown up in a religious family and was taught good souls go to Heaven and the bad souls are imprisoned in an eternal Hell.

Dante’s Inferno was on his high school summer reading list and Harry enjoyed the Italian writer’s descriptions of the nine levels of hell.

He always wondered if the levels of hell were real.

Harry continued to ponder about a person’s soul.

Were new souls created at birth or were the old souls from the dearly departed recycled into new bodies?

He had read a soul was indestructible and the energy of a soul had no material constrictions.

Taking a bite of his cucumber and tuna sandwich, he let his mind continue to wander.

Where do the souls go?

What if the collectors run out of good souls?

Do reincarnated or recycled souls explain how toddlers can play Tchaikovsky or compositions from Beethoven?

Do students who graduate from college at 14 years old have mental disorder or are they in possession of a soul, personality and intelligence of a past genius?

Are their skills genetic, environmental or some oddity of nature?

He laughed at himself imagining a collector with a wheel barrow in a garden of souls, selecting those souls, who would be just right.

Reminiscing about his first encounter with a spirit came into his mind.

It was around the time Harry was reading Dante’s Inferno, the Divine Comedy for a high school project, when one of the neighborhood kids received a mystical Ouija board game.

As teenagers, Harry and his friends would gather at a house where the parents were out for the evening, to play kissing games and tell ghost stories.

Some of the kids would smoke cigarettes and occasionally smoke marijuana, when someone scored a stash.

Harry leaned back in his Lazy Boy recliner and closed his eyes.

His memory was good with remembering details of events and people.

In his early years, when his friends got together to hang out, Harry revisited the fun his buddy’s had, trying to frighten each other, especially those who were high from the illegal herb.

As the group assembled, they’d review the latest movies each had seen, highlighting the horror genre.

Once the group was thoroughly engrossed in suspense and horror, the Ouija Board was brought out, to the chagrin of some and the excitement of others.

Each kid would take a turn to ask a question from the oracle.

Most of the questions were typical teenage nonsense.

Who loves who? When will I get married, and on and on?

The girls in the young group always seemed to be more intense about divining with the Ouija.

Harry was only partially interested in the convened circle of squealing young girls and knowing the séance participants would eventually evolve into fondling or actual intercourse with one of them.

As a youth, Harry was always interested in finding one of the girls who would agree to allow him to play with her breasts, maybe allow him to finger her and have her rub his penis through his pants.

One frightful event, one Harry had thought over many times, had happened using the Ouija board.

Margaret Mooney was an early incarnation of a post 70’s hippie chick.

She loved crystals, astrology and anything associated with the black arts or the occult.

Her personal attire was Earth Mother/ Whole Earth catalogue.

She wore colored ribbons in her long, reddish brown hair, beads, bracelets, necklaces, patchouli perfume, scarves, sandals, and sewn on patches which, adorned her ever present blue jeans.

Her peasant blouses were often white or light in color and loose fitting, to allow her male admirers, just a peek at her ample chest, when she bent over to pick something