His mouth twitched with a smile. “We don’t.”
“So, what, no Netflix and chill? Who the hell made that rule? It sucks.”
“I didn’t make the rules. There are women,” he shrugged a bit, “but they aren’t Numen. And there are rules against fraternization.”
“Sucks.” She confirmed. “So why do you want to talk to this Judah guy?”
Ethan sighed, folding his hands on the table. “It’s a little hard to explain. I want to ask him about you and hopefully get some answers. He’s kind of the expert at all things weird.”
“Is there anything you can tell us?”
“Well, I can tell you that all Numen, at least all of them so far, have their names in a book.”
“A book?”
“Yes. It’s called the Book of Metatron. Please don’t ask me about the name. It’s a long, long story, but the book always contains the names of the one hundred and fortyfour Numen who appear every eclipse.”
“Every eclipse?” Nathaniel asked. “You mean like the one today?”
“Yes. Every solar eclipse, which is every couple of years, one hundred and fortyfour Numen manifest their powers. Before then, they’re just human. Wraiths and other demons don’t sense what they are until the time is close. After the eclipse, they can smell you. That’s why they attacked you.”
Dani remembered the homeless men at the Rec Center; smelling her, circling around her as if she were meat. If Ethan was right, they thought they smelled Numen. She shuddered to think what could have happened if they knew for sure.
“When the eclipse happens, you also get your halo.”
“So you have one?” she asked.
“I have several.”
He untied a strap that kept his shirt knotted close to his wrist. Then, as he raised his forearm underside-up, he unbuckled the long metal brace around it. It came apart and clattered thickly onto the table. He pulled back his sleeve and showed that not only did he have a halo, but more than a dozen twisting up his arm, interlocking and weaving in an intricate pattern of symbols. It was like a tattoo from the universe. The symbols were so strange she couldn’t begin to understand what they meant, but at the same time it seemed familiar; like a language she forgot.
“What are they?” she asked. “I’ve never seen a language like that.”
“It’s an ancient, dead language.” He told her. “You’ve never heard it or spoke it.”
“They look familiar.” Nathaniel mused, echoing Dani’s thoughts.
“Everyone says that. It’s a mystery. New halos appear every eclipse. The marks on the halo tell a story of what we’ve done, down to every deed. They remind us of our accomplishments,” he pushed his sleeve back and put on the brace, “and failures.”
Dani couldn’t help but notice, “So if they appear every eclipse, then according to your halos you’ve been a Numen for, what, twenty six years? You aren’t twenty six. You look barely seventeen.”
“You’re right.” He told her. “I look seventeen. I’ve actually been a Numen for thirty six years. Solar eclipses aren’t regular.”
“Are you trying to tell us you don’t age? You expect us to believe that?”
“We age.” He assured her. “Let’s just say that’s it’s slower than normal. A lot slower.”
Thirty six. Ethan was thirty six—or rather in his fifties since he was seventeen when he became a Numen. One of many things tonight making her head spin.
“So we won’t age as fast either? We’re going to stay young?”
“Not young per se. Nothing on Earth can stop aging. It’s one of those laws of nature nothing can break. But as long as you live you will grow older slower.”
“Is everyone as young as you?”
“Most.” He synched the tie at his wrist and fastened on his metal armor. “Like I said, the older ones are older; centuries older. We also used to be chosen younger. I’ve heard of Numen being called as early as thirteen on an eclipse. It seems that whatever society accepts as the age of maturity, that’s the age a boy is called to be a Numen. In America, it’s usually between sixteen and eighteen. But consarn it if I know whether that’s true or not. It’s just a theory.”
Dani’s eyes narrowed. “Consarn it? You talk funny.”
“Most Numen think you talk funny. We don’t age that fast and people live longer, so slang where I’m from changes as slow as we do. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
“What are the metal cylinders?” Nathaniel asked, switching subjects. “You wear them on your arms and legs. Why?”
“They’re bracers and greaves. They’re standard armor for Guardians while out on mission, since half the time we’re running from demons to keep you lot safe.”
“So you were sent to get us?” Dani asked, and then remembered. “You were sent to get Nathaniel, I mean? His name was in the book?”
Ethan nodded. “Yes. It’s been there for almost four eclipse cycles, or what most of us just call cycles. That is about seven years. When their name appears in the book, a Guardian is assigned to them. We watch them grow up; protect them if need be without their knowledge. It forms a bond for us. Every Guardian must care for his charge.”
Nathaniel looked uncomfortable. “You’ve been watching me? Creepy.”
Ethan shrugged. “Maybe. Then again, aren’t you glad I was tonight?”
He didn’t have an argument for that.
“But my name wasn’t there.” She made it a statement.
Ethan nodded once more, frowning. “No, it wasn’t. As I said, there’s never been a female Numen.”
“Which means I never had a Guardian.”
“Yes. It was lucky you were with Nathaniel tonight. I won’t lie: this will disturb some people, especially the Elder Council.”
“The Elder Council?”
“Our bosses, you could say.”
The golem waiter appeared, handing him a large, frosted glass of something green. Ethan took a long swig. He coughed, shaking his head. “Every time—EVERY TIME—those mudbags put belladonna in it!”
“Well, I’m sorry Ethan,” said a voice over the music, “but they are made of clay. You can only expect so much.”
A man as big as a golem appeared at their table side. He had large, rosy cheeks poking over his thick, black beard that hung over the top of his wide chest. His happy complexion matched his almost instantaneous ability to put them at ease; not something easily done for someone so large. His belly was as wide as a delivery truck and his arms were like tree trunks. He was as tall as his clay waiting staff, and yet his demeanor made Dani comfortable without even speaking a word to her.
His huge beefy hand slapped Ethan on the back. “And if you don’t like the drink, don’t order it.”
“Judah,” he gestured for the big man across the table, “this is Nathaniel, my newest charge. And this is Dani.”
Judah chuckled, but it was somewhat more bemused than happy. His smile widened a fraction. “Yes. Rudolf informed me: a female Numen. That, in and of itself, brings the owner to your table.” He extended his hand to both of them. “A pleasure to make your acquaintances. As my rude friend here said, my name is Ben Judah. Most call me Judah. I am the owner of this fine establishment.”
Nathaniel shook his hand. Dani smiled her best. “Thanks.”
“Oh don’t thank me, young lady.” Judah said with the gentlest of voices. “I’m afraid that your existence is going to make quite a stir in our community. I’d chance to say that by the end of the day, the very people who saved you will probably put you to death.”
Chapter Seven Judah took the thick red curtain, undid the holds and let it fall to seal off the booth. As the curtain fell into place, the music died. Dani suspected that even the cloth in this place was not what it seemed. Judah squeezed himself into the booth next to Ethan, which was no small feat given his size.
The big man smiled at her. “Now, let us look at that halo of yours.” He didn’t grab her arm like Ethan. Instead, he patiently held out
his large palm, waiting. After a second, Dani extended her left. Judah’s eyes widened a fraction.
“The left arm, eh?” He didn’t explain the significance. Using his large thumbs, he tenderly rubbed the halo. He turned her arm over, examining it on both sides, before returning it to the table. Laying it flat, he patted her hand sweetly. “My lady, I have to say, this is quite a shock.”
“What does it mean? Is it real?”
“It is quite real. She is a Numen. But I haven’t the foggiest notion what it means.”
Dani glared at Ethan. “I thought you said he had answers.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “I thought he might.”
Judah chuckled, his whole big body bouncing around like some demented, drinkserving Santa Claus. “My dear, Ethan is right. I do know a fair more than most, but what you have there,” he pointed to her arm, “is something no Numen has ever seen. Neither have I.”
“Are you a Numen?” Nathaniel asked him.
“Heavens and Hells no!” Judah told him. “I wouldn’t fit in with the ranks of the all-boys choir. No, I am a gifted man of sorts and very happy to just run my club. It affords me a great life. A long life, too.”
“How long?” Nathaniel asked.
“Give or take a few centuries.” He shrugged. “I forget. Time passes me by.”
“You look good for over a hundred.” Dani commented slyly.
“Thank you.” He made a small bow with hands clasped. “I do try to look my best. This fine specimen you see sitting before you takes time before it can be brought into public. But, that’s not why you are here, is it?” His smile faded. “You’re here because of your situation. I take it Ethan hasn’t informed you fully of what it means to be Numen?”
“He told us a little. Numen are, like, demon hunters?”
Judah laughed; not a chuckle, but a loud, thunderous boom that shook the table.
Ethan scowled. “It’s not funny.”
“My boy, it most certainly is!” Judah’s laughing subsided as he wiped a teardrop from his eye. “You really didn’t tell them, did you?”
“I thought you could explain better.” He muttered out the side of his mouth, finishing his drink.
“Nathaniel, Daniella—it is Daniella, correct?—yes, you are partially right. Numen do hunt demons, amongst many other things. I’m sure by now Ethan has shown you the skill by which he dispatches beings of Hell. And before you ask, yes, Hell is for real. Though,” He smirked at his own practical joke, “thankfully that won’t ever be a book. What a terrible book that would be!”
He laughed and laughed, but no one else did.
“Anyway, yes, Numen hunt demons. They protect the natural and supernatural world from them, but they are much more than a mere human with a sword. By now I assume Ethan’s called you Earthborn?”
“What does that mean?” Nathaniel asked.
“It means, my boy, Earth born angels.”
Any follow-up questions Nathaniel or Dani had evaporated the moment Judah laid that on them.
“Angels? As in, angel angels?”
“Yes. Shocking, no doubt.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully. “I’m sure you know what angels are.”
Both nodded.
“Well, you may not know fully, I wager. Most people think of angels as winged, benevolent beings who bestow joy and blessings kindly upon humanity; appearing as loving fairy-godfathers who grant wishes and crap rainbows.”
“Unicorns crap rainbows.” Ethan reminded him.
“Of course. Contrary to that, however, angels are not and were not anything of the sort. They were warriors, similar to Ethan here.” He gestured to the brooding boy next to him. “Angels were God’s army.”
Nathaniel shook his head. “There’s a God?”
“Yes. Why?”
He grinned sheepishly, “I’ve never been a big believer in God.”
Judah chuckled again, though less thunderously. “Well, given your new destiny, I’d work on that.”
“Why? Are we going to meet Him?” Dani asked wryly.
“I’d say not, since most of Creation hasn’t seen or heard from God in quite some time.” Judah said, now very serious. “He disappeared after His angels went to war.”
“War?” Dani shook her head. “They fought a war? Against who?”
“Each other.” The gigantic barkeep informed her. “A few millenniums ago, probably close to the beginning of time as we know it, the angels had a civil war. We refer to it as The War in Heaven.”
“They fought one another? Why?”
“Well, there’s a matter of debate on that topic,” Judah gave Ethan a sideways glance, “but let’s just say it was over some divisive differences. Differences of opinion, if you will. At any rate, the angels slaughtered each other into near extinction.”
“And that created Numen?” Nathaniel asked, better able to think through the mountain of what Judah just said.
“Oh, Heavens no, no, no! That came later.” Judah told him. “Many centuries later, demonkind emerged. From where is also a matter of debate, but they were there. They threated humanity. And around that time, the first of the Numen became a Numen. And again how that happened—.”
Dani finished for him. “Is a matter of debate.”
Judah pointed at her, grinning beneath his beard. “Smart girl. Yes. Not much is known of how or why. Many say it was the Will of God Himself—or Herself, since technically God is neither male nor female…or He is both. I’m unsure. I think He was played by Alanis Morissette in a movie once.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “And by Morgan Freeman.”
“I did so enjoy that movie. I treasure that man.”
“Get on with it, Judah. You’re getting off topic.”
“Right.” He shifted in his seat. “That’s a habit. I do apologize. As I was saying, the very first Numen was a man named Enoch. Once he became what he was, he went by the name Metatron, meaning ‘the first guardian.’ And after him, another one hundred and forty-four became the second generation of Numen. Most of them have long since died off, as well as Metatron himself, but his legacy lives on. Every solar eclipse, one hundred and fortyfour more are chosen. Ethan explained about the book?”
They both nodded.
“The book has become the Numen’s sacred text. Where it came from is a matter of—.” He stopped, realizing he was about to repeat ‘is a matter of debate.’ Instead, he said, “It is a mystery. But it names each human who will be called to be one of the Earthborn. They have become Earth’s protectors. They even created seven societies—seven celestial cities—which guard humanity against demonkind.”
“Cities?” Dani shook her head. “As in, cities full of Numen?”
“Amongst other creatures.”
“Where are these cities? I’ve never heard of them. I’ve never seen them.”
“You probably wouldn’t, considering you’ve never seen this place, either.” Judah waved to the club. “The veil keeps the supernatural invisible and separate from the natural. And these seven cities have never existed in the same location. They move around the world from place to place, country to country. Any center of human authority has a city protecting it.”
“I’m taking you to one.” Ethan told them.
“Where is this city?” Nathaniel asked. “Nearby?”
Judah’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling.
“What? You mean there’s some kind of city above California?”
“Above Los Angeles.” Judah corrected. “Why do you think it’s called ‘the city of angels?’ There was a whole movie dedicated to the idea. They got it mostly right, though I’m not a particular fan of Nicolas Cage. Except Con Air; tremendous film…”
“It’s called Empyrean.” Ethan ignored Judah’s off-topic musings. “It’s where I’m taking you. Our Elder Council is there. They are twenty-four of the most intelligent men I’ve ever known.”
“Which is not saying much.” Judah grumbled.
“Hey!”
“I am me
rely speaking the truth.” He held up his hands.
“They’ll know what to do,” Ethan told Dani, “about you.”
“About me?”
“About how to help you, I mean.”
“My boy, I think you are overestimating their abilities.” Judah told him.
“‘Snails, Judah, what is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that the Council has never been good about breaking tradition. It took them centuries to acknowledge some supernatural creatures weren’t inherently evil; longer to protect them from demons. They hate most human civilization, including this one.”
“They do not.”
“They all call it New Babylon. I would say that is pretty prejudiced.”
Ethan sighed heavily. “I have to take her. I can’t just leave her here.” Then, thinking, he asked, “Can I?”
Judah frowned, the first unfriendly gesture he made. He looked at Dani and shook his head, “I’m sorry, my dear, but my club is my life. I have a business to protect. And sooner or later, the Council will hear of you. Hiding you here would only mean incurring their anger and I could lose everything. My golems would offer you poor protection.”
“Protection? I need to be protected from them?” Dani felt a sickening, sinking feeling in her gut. She didn’t like what Judah implied. “So, I have to go?”
“It is the best option.” He advised. “Plead your case before them.”
She hated that idea. “I don’t like begging people for anything.”
“I said plead your case, not plead.” He corrected. “I wouldn’t give those old, stogy malignancies of existence any concession. Like many bureaucracies, they get in their own way as much as their enemies. Their society is secluded; one that looks down on,” he glanced sideways at Ethan, “it’s members frequenting establishments such as mine. They may help prevent the darkness from killing off humanity, but it does not mean I look fondly on them.”
“You’re not giving me much hope here.”
Judah smiled kindly at her. “But there are a few among them who could be brought to reason. It would be enough to protect you. One in particular, Jeduthun, I know personally. He’s a sensible Elder. He may help the others see the light.” He chuckled as if the last word was a joke. “Light. Very funny if I do say so myself.”
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