Demetrius gasped from the agonizing pain. “I will see you in hell demon,” he said defiantly.
“Maybe Watcher, but not tonight,” the demon said and raised the sword. “I want to hear you pray angel. Pray for God to save you.”
Demetrius gritted his teeth.
“God cannot—” Nabal began before he was knocked off of his feet and thrown backward.
Caelan stood at the end of the alley, his arm still outstretched. The demon yelled expletives as he tried to remove the ax. Caelan ran down the alley and stood in front of Demetrius defensively with his sword drawn. He removed his helmet and flung it to the ground.
“Do you think this hurts me Watcher?” the demon asked. “This body means nothing to me. Do you hear me? It means nothing!” He tore the axe from his left shoulder.
“Be careful Caelan,” Demetrius said, “He is strong…and fast.”
Nabal jumped up and charged Caelan, swinging wildly. Caelan moved quickly, causing Nabal to strike the walls several times, as he dodged from left to right. Caelan remained calm and disciplined; knowing the frenzied attacks would soon leave an opening. Then it came. Nabal swung at his head and Caelan ducked, and then drove his sword upward into Nabal’s belly and lifting him high into the air. His body slid down the sword and onto the hilt. Instead of dying, Nabal thrust the ax forward into Caelan’s face. Grazed and cut deeply, the blow surprised him. Caelan fell backward onto the ground with Nabal sprawled over him.
The demon inside Nabal screamed, trying desperately to drive the ax into Caelan’s face. Caelan held the ax at bay, groaning, gritting his teeth, and summoning all his strength. The demon pressed harder, moving the ax within a hair of Caelan’s face. Caelan wrapped his legs around Nabal’s waist and gripped the handle of the ax tighter. With everything he could muster in his legs, he pulled Nabal’s body downward, driving his forehead several inches into the other side of the ax. His eyes wide open, Nabal gasped, letting out his final breath. Caelan rolled the lifeless body off him. He closed his eyes and looked into the sky. He had been acutely reminded him of his mortality. What if this demon is not the last he wondered?
14
HEROES
At Bethel, Caelan turned to see a portal opening with large stairway leading from Earth to heaven. He supposed someone in heaven wanted a discussion with him. As he moved to walk toward the portal, he nearly tripped and fell as his right leg seemed caught on something. He looked down and saw a black chain around his ankle. He reached down to free himself and as he did, the portal in front of him slowly began to disappear. What’s happening? Caelan wondered.
Suddenly, he fell backward as something forcefully upended the chain and pulled it backward. Daylight vanished and Caelan was engulfed in darkness. He heard a sinister laugh, then two, three… dozens of voices. Large and small red eyes began to open around him. A pair of eyes in front of him moved closer, getting larger and larger until a figure emerged from the void. Lucifer stood before him.
“Welcome Caelan” Lucifer said in a slow, cold tone.
“What do you want evil one?”
“We have been waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me? You are mistaken. I have-”
“Quit! You have spoken enough!” Lucifer shouted. “I have waited for your soul. Now it belongs to me!”
“No! You lie. I am Caelan, born a Son of God and ruler of angels and men. We have brought order and peace to mankind.”
“You have brought nothing!”
Lightning flashed brightly above them and the sound of thunder crackled loudly. Suddenly, massive amounts of rain began to pour. Within seconds, it reached up to Caelan's knees. He stood to his feet and began to panic because of the chain still around his leg. In another few seconds, the water had completely soaked his clothing and filled to his waist. He heard the sound of laughter around him.
What is going on? he thought. “Help, please help me,” he shouted as the water reached his chest.
“Now the Watcher needs help!” Satan shouted.
“God help me!” Caelan shouted.
“Now you need God” Lucifer balked. “He hears those who hear him”
“Help. Someone help me!” Caelan shouted repeatedly.
“My lord.”
Caelan jumped up at the sound of the voice. He looked around the room. A dream . . . it was all a dream. The servant for his bedchamber was leaning above him with her arms around his shoulders.
“My lord, I heard you screaming and woke you. Are you OK.”
Caelan was drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily. His nightmare felt so real and vivid. He glanced about the room before looking up at the young red-haired maiden.
“I'm fine Laura. I had a dream . . . a bad dream.” He knew it was more than that.
He was unnerved and began to question what he and the other Sons of God had accomplished. Twenty years passed the since he had defeated Nabal's army on the plains outside Bethyir and his arrival on Earth. Much had changed. Because of the battle, both fear and wonderment of the Sons of God spread throughout the region for hundreds of miles. Legends and rumors began to spread that the gods had descended upon Mount Carmel. He and Azazel did nothing to dispel those myths. They took advantage of them. Five other city-states near Bethyir sent emissaries and tribute of gold, silver, food, clothing, animals, and slaves as tokens of respect and submission.
The Council then voted to levy a standing army from the surrounding cities. Caelan and Azazel raised an army of five thousand soldiers and led them with one hundred Sons of God on a brutal ten-year conquest of the surrounding nations. When they had finished, their dominion extended throughout Canaan, and Upper and Lower Egypt in the South. In the North, they controlled the land of the Hittites, Syria and the smaller city-states up to the Caucasus Mountains. To the West, they controlled Cyprus, Crete and the border cities along the Aegean Sea. In the East, they controlled Arabia, and the land of the Medes and Persians. Caelan and the Sons of God were lords of the known world and the greatest empire in history.
The Council divided the conquered lands into five administrative provinces with one capital city in each, to be ruled by the five most influential council members. Caelan was elevated from President of the Council to King of the Provinces and ruled from Bethyir. He was responsible for unifying the provinces and overseeing the rebuilding process. Azazel governed the Egyptian province. Ramaliel oversaw the Levant. Gadriel governed the Greek province while Barquel governed the lands east of the Dead Sea, the Jordan River and all the lands north of Lebanon. As the wars ended and the rebuilding process began, the Council agreed that they would not rebuild cities. They were going to create a civilization filled with the greatest and most advanced cities humanity had ever seen. The world would be reshaped in their image - by force if necessary. To signify their power and dominion, Caelan agreed with Azazel's proposal to establish lavish temples, statues, pyramids, and palaces in the capitol of every province. Azazel believed that the best way to keep dominion over humanity was to change their culture and teach them the proper way to build and worship. They would have an advanced culture with the Sons of God and their children as icons of worship and admiration.
Tens of thousands of workers were levied from every district and forced to serve in one-month labor brigades. The levy supplemented the hundred thousand slaves captured in battle who would work on the many construction projects throughout the empire. After five years of conquest, a new, lavishly decorated palace was built in Bethyir. In Egypt, large pyramids and temples dedicated to Council members were built in the capital city of Noph at the mouth of the Nile. Caelan and his brethren had become gods, kings, and masters of humanity.
Azazel administered the Egyptian province from the city of Noph. Of all governors, his rule was the harshest and most troublesome for Caelan. He enacted laws in Egypt deifying the Council members and requiring people to worship and build temples to them. He had the Egyptians call him by his new name of Osiris. Caelan chose to hold
the annual summer tribute ceremony in Noph as an excuse to discuss some troubling rumors he had been hearing about the way he had been governing. Azazel entered the porch and stood next to Caelan as he leaned over the rail gazing down at the Nile River and waited for dignitaries and emissaries to arrive for the afternoon ceremony. The high view from the palace reminded him of how much he missed standing atop the highest mountain peaks looking down at cities.
"The brethren have concerns,” Azazel said.
Caelan took a deep breath. "What now?” he asked without looking.
“The usual grumblings. Non-Council members are threatening to leave and start cities in distant lands. Several members are accused of taking too many wives, manipulating human beings to divert tribute to their districts, and the list goes on.”
“Any truth to it?” Caelan asked.
Azazel laughed, causing Caelan to chuckle. “Of course there is. Himmon has nearly twenty wives and close to seventy-five children. You know, he is calling himself Baal now. The people have raised statues and temples to him in Babylon and worship him as a god. What do you think about that?” Azazel awaited Caelan’s response.
Caelan sighed. “If we tell them the truth now, we will be putting down rebellions for the next ten years.”
“Indeed. Besides, it is good for people to fear and worship us,” Azazel said.
Caelan turned around. “Who are we now? We love the praise and adoration. Azazel, our lust for money, women, slaves, and power has . . ." Caelan turned around. He shook his head and leaned over the porch. "Now we are changing our names and becoming gods. Where does this end? I should have stopped this—”
“What do you fear brother?” Azazel asked.
Caelan waited a moment. “I had a dream . . . that I was drowning and the world was flooding. Lucifer, he . . . he appeared in my dream and cursed me.”
Azazel huffed then shook his head. “You are too superstitious brother. You spend too much time listening to that crazed prophet. You and Thoros have a strange fascination with this… what is his name again?”
Caelan turned around. He looked into Azazel's eyes. “His name is Noah. I saw him before our descent surrounded by angels. Do not take this man lightly Azazel. He is special…chosen perhaps.”
Azazel let out a loud laugh. “Special? Yes, he is special in the crazy way. My spies say he preaches about the world ending by flood. He is even building a large ship. Can you believe that?”
“He would not be the first. Do you remember that old prophet Enoch? He predicted an end as well.”
Azazel moved closer and placed his hands on Caelan's shoulders. “And we are still here brother. Let this winemaker continue his baseless prophecies about a flood.” He shook Caelan and smiled. “We can always build better ships.”
A procession of Babylonian emissaries began making its way from the river port to the palace at noon. Musicians in white robes playing trumpets and drums led the procession, followed by acrobats, and a dozen carriage driven elephants in two columns. Behind them was horse driven carts carrying dozens of cages filled with black bears, lions, and tigers. Next, came two columns of one-hundred male slaves followed by two columns of two-hundred women slaves. At the end of the procession four horse-driven carts, filled with treasures of gold, silver, precious stones and wines followed.
Baal stood proudly next to the other Council members on a twenty-five feet, wooden platform at the end of the mile-long street as his procession entered the city square. Six Council members stood on each side of Caelan and Carissa as they sat on elaborate thrones overseeing the procession. Caelan looked to Baal and nodded approvingly. Baal acknowledged him and looked to the rest of the Council members with an air of arrogance. They did not seem happy.
The Egyptian emissaries came, followed by a dozen musicians, two columns of four giraffes, six elephants and six chained lions and gorillas driven by men with whips. Several soldiers stationed on each side of the road cringed at the sight of the wild beasts. The crowd behind them seemed genuinely elated by the spectacle. A column of three-hundred men and women slaves followed, then six carts filled with treasure. Delighted, Caelan and Carissa began clapping. Azazel looked at and incensed Baal and smiled.
The council members and their children were discussing the elaborate procession when Horus, Azazel's son came running to the platform steps. Azazel glared and waived him over. Horus stopped briefly and whispered into the ear of his mother Isis. She smiled at Carissa. The two had been at odds the past twenty years, mainly due to Isis’ jealousy and desire to be queen. Carissa leaned over and whispered to Caelan, “Horus and Isis are up to something. I do not trust them.”
“Not today woman,” Caelan replied sharply. “Can you not put your jealousy away for one day? As my queen, I expect you to show dignity and respect for our servants who have come to honor us.”
Carissa rolled her eyes. The cold, sarcastic smile Isis returned hinted at treachery. Then there was Horus, the spoiled young tyrant who treated the palace's women servants any way he pleased. His behavior had grown worse over the years as his mother bribed and dismissed the pregnant maidens and their families. Carissa knew the pair was whispering about more than fornication. They were up to something. Horus kissed his mother on the cheek and reluctantly moved on to his father, who proceeded to berate him.
“Where have you been? You were expected here an hour ago?”
“Father I was—”
“Stop it!” Azazel shouted. “You are my firstborn and a prince of this kingdom. Your tardiness dishonors me. Go take your place among the others and do not let this happen again.”
“Yes father,” Horus humbly replied.
Several children of the Council members, the Nephilim, laughed. Horus furled his lips. “You will not laugh much longer,” he said under his breath.
Caelan noticed a stir near the end of the procession. Moments later, a large dust cloud began to rise and screams of men and women could be heard. Caelan jumped to his feet. A frenzied mob ran down the street toward the palace. A giant brown snake speckled with black spots slowly slithered out of the dust cloud in the street a half mile from the palace and stood fifty feet into the air. As the Council members and families on the platform looked on with horror, Caelan reached for his ax. Carissa placed her hand over his and shook her head.
“We cannot lose you now,” she said.
Caelan looked to his son Thoros, who nodded. "Yes father,” the nine-foot warrior said with a deep voice. He turned quickly to his trusted comrades. “Hermes, Athena, Ares, Artemis, follow me,” he yelled. Thoros ran to the edge of the platform and leaped off the edge, followed by his friends.
The palace guard and the inhabitants of the city watched as Thoros sailed down from the platform, his long blond hair, and red cape fluttering in the wind. One by one, the rest of his comrades sailed down behind him, fell to their knees, and ran down the street toward the large snake. People cheered the superhuman prowess of their heroes as they charged forward while others fled. The snake was agitated and excited by the screaming people running about and soldiers throwing spears at it. One soldier hurled a spear at the monster, which landed under its neck and bounced off harmlessly. The snake opened its mouth wide, exposing two fangs as large as a man’s body. It then quickly swooped and snatched the hapless soldier into the air with half his body dangling out of its mouth. The creature leaned back and swallowed him before slithering forward to find another victim.
“Thoros, we need a plan!” Athena shouted as she ran down the street and loaded her bow.
“Strike quickly and try not to get bitten sister,” Thoros said as he grinned and continued running toward the snake.
Athena shook her head. Thoros was know for acting first and planning later, but Athena was the opposite. Both were Caelan's children by different mothers. They were used to working together, having fought in several battles and put down a half-dozen uprisings. Athena's swift thinking and brilliant military strategies had saved them many times when they
were faced overwhelming odds.
“Hermes, attack from behind," Athena called out. "Ares work with Thoros to distract it. Artemis and I will lay down cover fire.”
“Aye,” Hermes shouted. The son of Hemanes, Hermes inherited his father’s supernatural speed and was the fastest of the children born to the Sons of God. He was twice as fast as any human and Athena hoped he could deliver a fatal blow from behind.
Thoros charged forward whirling his large steel hammer high above his head. He dared the snake to attack him. “Here beast, come and fight with Thoros!” he shouted into the air. The snake opened its mouth and launched downward. Thoros spun right and drove a dagger deep into its thick hide. It squealed loudly and rose into the air, carrying Thoros with it. Artemis and Athena began pouring arrows into the snake's underbelly as Ares hurled a spear at it, causing the snake to squeal and squirm even more. Apollo sprinted from one building to the next trying to get behind the snake. He closed to twenty feet and raised his spear when suddenly, the snake whipped its tail into him, sending him flying into an overturned cart. The snake then lowered itself and slithered toward the palace. Artemis and Athena took a position in the center of the street and raised their bows. As panicked citizens fled around them, Athena calmly aimed and said to Artemis. “I will take the left eye, you take the right.”
With the snake nearly at the platform, both aimed and fired. The snake squealed and reared as it was struck in both eyes. Thoros raised his hammer and yelled before smashing it in the skull several times. Ares ran toward the beast, and tore a five-foot gash into its abdomen with his axe, spilling blood, bile, and intestines into the street. Thoros continued pounding the snake's head, until it fell lifeless to the ground. He wiped the blood from his face, threw his head back, and raised his hammer with a victorious shout. The crowd erupted with cheers and applause, calling out the names of their heroes.
Sons of God Daughters of Men Page 9