He was reminded of days since gone by…of things that once were, as the melancholy song rang out… He raised his glass as the collective roar of the crowd below giving the song its proper voice.
“A toast. To us.” He raised his glass to the west, his eyes far and away. “And to them, wherever they are, whatever they are doing. My thoughts and prayers go with you both.”
The young woman, a beautiful blonde with pale skin marked with delicate pink shook her head slightly but smiled all the same. Raising their glasses in unison they drank to themselves. He thought of his friend ever since they left that day. He could have never imagined how different life would become. Barely under a full year from his official entry to the University and he was already capturing the notice of even the brightest professors at Oxford.
Life was becoming brighter, and brighter for him now. He barely even noticed his own voice; foreign English with the native French, its sweet tenor tune adding its own melody to the multitude. But as the words of days gone by rose onto the night air, and tears of the sweetest melancholy fell to the ground. He couldn’t help but feel that everything was going to turn out okay.
He had made it. Out of the senselessness that was wasting his life; a waste that many others could never even acknowledge they were in, let alone escape. Out of crushing despair and guilt that drove so many before him to such self-serving self-destructing self-pity. To at last arrive to his life’s purpose…he could feel it…but more than that. He believed it.
As the song ended and the crowd below roared its joy he turned to his bride. “Come. It is cold, and we have the entire year before us.”
“I love you, Charlie” Stella said touching his face, her eyes so deep within his.
“I love you, Stella” Charlie replied bringing her close looking up to the manmade stars that burst upon the sky…whispering silently to what he knew was watching…“Thank you.”
Together they poured two more glasses that sat full on the table long after they left, until at long last the waiter came to take them, confused by the waste.
Epilogue; Walter, Jeannette, and Shane
Walter stared into the depths of the obsidian mirror. The agents of corruption almost won. It was interesting how masterfully Taint’s agents had been placed. It took a lot of resources to discreetly facilitate Cain and his Succubus wife to slip through the border. And even then, Cain almost got his throat sliced by a drunk…a homeless drunk! Of all the things that could have gotten him!
“Walter, perhaps it is enough today, no?”
Walter turned, Jeanette was lounging in a cherry wood armchair that had been recently added to the empty space.
“Not quite. Remember that paper that came in the mail?”
“Ah yes, ‘ow crude it was. I caught the forgery monsieur Lamentson tried to pass on to you-”
“I signed it.”
Jeannette stood, “What? Walter, that contract-”
“I know. It all went according to plan…thousands of years ahead of schedule. It is something I never expected.” He rubbed his chin and grinned. “The Succubus is irrelevant now. Her child is everything. I suspect the daughter of Cain and Al’bah Lamentson will be the most powerful Nephelim ever.”
“But, but- Z’at would mean Monsieur Harper is now in a position to-”
The door burst open, “Freeze! FBI! Hands up!”
Walter looked up… and smiled. All according to plan.
***
The court proceedings for Walter Stratton and Jeannette Telannis were a shady ordeal. So many private conferences with the judge and the new DA...Shane didn’t like it.
Against Walter’s wishes, Shane opened the package he had on the former DA, and put him down anyway. And subsequently his fifty-to-life sentence was cut short by the crooks he put in prison. The official report was that he hanged himself…yeah, sure.
Just like all the private conferences were done in the interest of justice. Shane took an exasperated breath as the judge, Walter and several lawyers returned from yet another conference. He wouldn’t be surprised at all if Walter walked. Especially seeing the content look in his face. Shane cursed himself, he knew the new DA was just as corrupt. He had to be, the damn bastard’s first job was at the Stratton law firm.
“All rise!”
“Mister Stratton, given the recent enlightening events and your cooperation with the law, I sentence you to three years of house arrest. Your firm and all its controlling assets will remain under your control.” The Judge banged his gavel, and Walter nodded his acknowledgement to the bailiff who uncuffed him.
Shane nodded grimly at the powder-puff sentence. That Walter was a real slippery one. He would deal with him later.
Shane glanced over to a man in a suit standing by the exit. It was the sign for him to get a move on. His role in this city was played out, and the Tal-Voh was completely destroyed, another body count, this time in the hundreds…and another notch to the leather band on his hat.
Just as he started to make his way, Jeannette stood in front of him. Her blue eyes were cold, her usual pouty mouth was pulled into a hard line.
Funny how much she reminds me of detective Fullson lookin like that. Shane mused and tipped his hat. “Ma’im.”
“Before I spend my sentence with Monsieur Stratton, I would like to give zis to you, Shane ‘arper.”
Shane grimaced slightly; that she used his full name conveyed a ‘polite-hatred’ he had never experienced before. But, he’d be damned if a woman cowed him now. Especially this particular woman.
“Suppose it couldn’t hurt.”
Jeannette turned to the Bailiff and handed him a small object and left without another word.
“This mean anything to you?”
Shane took the small object.
“I guess y’all could say that.” Shane muttered, remembering Walter’s words as he tumbled the object in his hands. It was a chess piece…A silver knight.
Epilogue; Cain and Al’bah
“Cain, it is time.”
Time for what? Cain mumbled in his mind, wondering for a moment who was speaking.
“Cain, Rinnah is coming, I can feel it! She is ready!”
Rinnah? Who is- Oh shit! Cain got up from bed and propped himself up on his elbows. “Are you sure? Are you in any pain?”
“Am I sure? Yes. Am I in pain? No. I am quite well. Cain, it is a miracle. Today is the day we shall see the face of our daughter!” Her eyes were bright with purple fire, casting a strange illumination within the room.
“Well, is there anything I can do? I never-”
Al’bah placed her fingers to Cain’s lips, and closed her eyes, allowing darkness to settle in once more. She made a shushing sound that went on, and on. “I can not imagine anything I want or need, but for you to be awake to witness our daughter being brought into the world. Be still my love, my husband, there is no danger; rejoice.”
Cain rolled over on his back, barely able to keep his legs still. He could hear his own breathing complemented by Al’bah’s. Every so often she would shift her body, or make small vocalizations fueling his anticipation.
“Do we have time? I need a moment.” Cain said quietly.
Al’bah opened her eyes again and he could see her nod.
Cain got up, and reflected on the last six months. It all seemed like a strange dream. Ever since they left the Well’s Al’bah revealed another use for her spiritual abilities; she could locate gold in any form, with incredible ease. Cain wondered why he didn’t realize it sooner. The many times she accused him of ‘worshipping’ money and her stating such worship gave money immense spiritual power.
The day after their wedding, Al’bah declared her wedding present to Cain would be to never need money again. He chuckled to himself as he got out a bottle of water out of the fridge of the tiny run-down apartment; even though they could live like royalty, he preferred to live with fewer things than he had when he worked construction.
In fact, he couldn’t even remember th
e last time he needed Al’bah to find gold so they could buy the things they needed to survive. As much as Charlie was a silversmith, Cain had taken to masonry, wood, and leather crafting. Most of the things he crafted were masterworks; custom doors, clocks, frames, toys, and all sorts of odds and ends. All of them sold for pittances, but still more than enough to subside on.
Al’bah was right. She was always right. Cain could finally see the truth in her statement, and Purity’s statement; things get in the way of what’s important. And although he was technically richer than he had ever been in his life; he no longer cared for money, or its gain.
She and Cain were always on the run, and kept a slow, but steady migration south. He loved the heat, and how it contrasted with cold, cold nights. He loved the culture and the people. Al’bah had even helped him to learn Spanish by extending his dreams by lifetimes. And, although only six months had passed since they were married, Cain felt like he was with Al’bah for thousands of years.
It wasn’t always an easy love. There were times he made her so angry she revealed her monstrous form to him on more than one occasion. And, there were times she made him so angry. He even once took a motorcycle in what was supposed to be a solo suicidal joyride on the mountains of Peru. That was another turning point in their relationship; for that day, Al’bah took flight, and saved his life.
It was the day Cain surrendered to her, as she had done to him so many times, so many lifetimes ago. And now-
“Cain, quickly!”
Cain re-entered the bedroom; Al’bah had turned on the light, she was now on top of several towels. Her eyes were wide, as was her smile. She held out her arms and Cain quickly came close and took her hands.
“Are you ready?” She whispered.
Cain nodded, feeling an electric shock run through his body.
“Good.” She lay back down, and in seconds, Rinnah Lamentson entered the world upon the hands of her father; a newborn, a Nephilim, a Human-Succubus hybrid that cried softly, and looked upon the room with eyes filled with confusion.
“She is cold, she is hungry.” Al’bah said softly, sitting back up, holding her arms out to receive her miracle.
Cain stared dumbstruck into the face of his daughter. Her eyes were a brilliant green, her face was a complete copy of Al’bah’s and-
“Cain, Ma-e-Tai; please, let me hold her.”
Cain handed Rinnah over, and watched Al’bah wipe the after birth from her body and cradled her close to her breast. “Jal-tei-Rinnah-ra-tel-yu-yun-ha-mei” She cooed.
Cain panted; he hadn’t done anything extraneous, but he was completely out of breath. There, before him was the most beautiful sight he could ever imagine; revealing so much of the greatness, mystery, and majesty of the Lord.
“This moment calls for a picture, yes?” Al’bah said looking up at Cain; tears in her eyes.
“Oh, yes.” He got the camera out of the closet, and took a picture. “Al’bah, are you okay?”
“I feel weak, but I am so happy. Cain I-” Al’bah’s words dissolved into soft sobbing. “Oh Cain,” she cried caressing the face of their newborn child. “A child, our child! Oh Rinnah, my most precious joy! Never, never forget that you are loved. Never, never forget that I love you, that your father loves you.”
To you, dearest reader; thank you.
I do not know what message, or worth, or meaning you took from this story. But just knowing that this story will last longer than me is a humbling thought.
All I can do, is leave you now with my promise to work as hard as I can to get the sequel out as soon as I can.
With that, here is a teaser… the first few chapters of the next book; The Greatest of all Nephelim.
Translations
There is a good reason why I do not translate Al’bah’s speech. Because, in my mind Al’bah, and those like her do not normally communicate in any form humanity can comprehend.
From the little that is ‘kinda-sorta’ translated I always (try to) make it clear that what is translated or perceived is far more complex than we could understand. People might balk at this, stating that I could make the language simple if I wanted to. Yes, well…an apple is simple enough to understand for the layman, but an apple as a concept is far, far more.
If you got that, I need to go no further.
But if not, an apple is….
A plant, a fruit, juice, a part of a recipe, food, a representation of knowledge, representation of sin, life, death, a source of healing, protons-neutrons-electrons, energy, red, green, yellow, multi-colored, a source of poison, taste, sight, smell, sound, a seed, a tree, a weapon, delicious, disgusting, to die for, to choke on, sour, sweet, tart, mushy, crispy…etc, etc.
Apple.
Our perception is limited, we perceive what we want and filter out the rest. Al’bah, and those like her (in my opinion) do not. They experience language, we can only claim to understand only so much with the little life we have.
As far as Al’bah’s internal dialogue… she presented me with an apple tree.. all I could do was take a small bite from one of its many apples, and write what I could.
Tsumetai resei heiwa shiso = Literally; Cold calm peace philosophy
Tsukidasu yasashī = Gentle push
Baka-sha = Idiot
Cain-sama! Abunai kotow a kega no uchi = To knowingly flirt with danger invites injury
Sama = A Japanese honorific that denotes high respect. (Charlie uses ‘sama’ with no sarcasm)
Ne touchez pas que les ordures = Do not touch that trash
Ah-hoyo Harper-san = Hello, Mister Harper
Watashi wa daikirai chichi = I hate you, father
Daijyoubu = It’s okay
Seiko = (essentially) fuck you
Ryouyaku-wa kuchi-ni nigashi = The best medicine tastes bitter
Yasuukeai-no hayawasure = A cheap promise is soon forgotten
Watashi wa idaina kanashimi de tatakau = I fight with great sorrow
Mu-Onna / Yuki-Onna
Mu-Onna = A type of supernatural creature; literally means “nothing woman.” She has the ability to merge with living children, and absorb memories, thoughts, and desires.
Yuki-Onna = A type of supernatural creature; literally means “snow girl.” Usually depicted as evil, leading travelers astray and freezing them to death. Yuki-Onna is almost always depicted as an extremely beautiful woman.
Ani sayonara. Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu = Goodbye brother, I love you
Saidai no ai wa, kazoku kara shira retu iru = The greatest love is known from family
The Greatest of all Nephelim
Chapter 1
Rinnah Lamentson
“I warned you; touch my daughter, and die.”
-Al’bah Lamentson
Charlie unfolded and read and re-read the letter that his best friend for over ten years had sent him.
Dear Charlie,
Forgive me; I haven’t been in contact for these long four years. It is amazing how quickly time passes. I’m not sure if you’ll get this, but I have confidence. Or as Al’bah tells me, faith.
Al’bah and I are married. Aint that something? I even accepted Christ as my savior. I know what you’re thinking ‘what happened to Cain, right?’
Well, just to prove that it’s me; I say “the river gave us both life.”
Anyway, Al’bah and I had a kid together. Her name is Rinnah; the name was all Al’bah’s idea, it means ‘joy’ in Hebrew. Al’bah tells me that she ‘knows’ that Stella told you everything by now.
I am dying to know what you think of it all; Al’bah being a Succubus, and all that crap happening because of some pissed-off demon.
Well, for the moment Al’bah and I are safe, but we need your help; all three of us in fact.
Rinnah is going to undergo some sort of transformation. The problem is; she needs to be in a safe spot for some time. Al’bah asked if I could ask you. She trusts you and Stella, and in truth; I can’t imagine anyone else who would be more worthy.
&
nbsp; I know what’re thinking, “how can we take care of a four year old?” well, Rinnah isnt exactly –four– years old.
I know it’s hard to believe, but Rinnah is self-sufficient as any teenager. We also will send her with a generous amount to help with rent, utilities, and (God knows you’ll need it for this) food.
If you do not want to, or can’t, I understand; there is still enough time, Al’bah tells me that this transformation can happen anytime between three months to a year.
May God bless you Charlie, my one and only true friend.
In Christ,
Cain Lamentson.
Charlie folded the letter and put it away again. He shuffled his feet nervously in the airport terminal and was about to reach for the letter again when his wife Stella slapped his hand. “Seriously Charlie, you probably memorized that letter by now. Relax, Rinnah’s plane landed only a few minutes ago. She’s probably getting her luggage.”
Charlie chuckled nervously and hugged Stella. “I know, it’s just so amazing. Al’bah is a Succubus, and all the news we saw about them on the TV. Then, out of the blue Cain sends a letter asking for us to take care of his daughter!” He was grinning ear to ear. The very day he received the letter he and Stella both sent him a response to the return address that was somewhere in the southern part of Mexico. Soon after that, they received a postcard from Colombia just stating the flight itinerary for Rinnah, and their thanks.
Stella sighed; rolling her blue eyes, and brushed her blond hair out of her face. “Sheesh. Charlie, you just don’t know how much work this is going to be. I think your ‘Asian’ enthusiasm is making you blind to-”
“Stella! Charlie!” A voice called out.
Charlie turned around and was pounced upon by some teenager.
“I can’t believe it is you! Father told me so much about you, and now here I am. Here you are! Happy!”
Charlie’s mouth dropped, the teenage girl that pounced on him was an -exact- replica of Al’bah. Her hair was long, reaching down to her hips, glossy and jet, jet black. And yet, Rinnah’s hair was flat where her mothers’ had a slight curl. Her skin had the same color and tone as her mother’s; a rich caramel color that was tinged with pink here and there, accentuating her jawline and cheekbones. And yet, Rinnah’s eyes were a sparking emerald green that one could get lost in while Al’bah’s eyes were a violet-blue. She smiled and placed her hands on either side of Charlie’s face and kissed his forehead. “Happy!” She cheered again and jumped down and turned to Stella, her face was a strange mixture of outrage and shock.
Succubus Tear (Triune promise) Page 41