The Requiem Collection: The Book of Jubilees, More Anger than Sorrow & Calling Babel: Novel Set

by Eric Black

  “What do you mean?”

  Abuelo continued to gaze at Juan and Juan realized what he meant. “The garden.”

  “Yes, the garden. There he will heal and here he’ll die. But if you take him, you will not see your family again. Time there is not as time here.”

  Juan was faced with a decision he never expected to have to make. Leonore was his life. Without her was only great emptiness.

  On the other hand, Leonore loved Diego as a son and their dispute had pained her deeply. Would Leonore allow Juan to sacrifice Diego’s life for her sake? He wanted to say yes but his heart knew better. She would choose Diego.

  Tears streamed Juan’s face as he thought of never seeing his children grow. But the decision had been made: he would save the life of his best friend’s son.

  Juan looked up and saw Eduardo next to Abuelo. “You must tell my family what I did here today. Tell them I’m sorry.”

  Eduardo nodded solemnly. “Also,” Juan said, “you must tell men that I’m dead. Tell them that I was killed by Calusa warriors on the beaches of La Florida. Men must not know of this place and of the fountain.”

  With that, Juan picked up Diego’s weak body and carried him to the fountain. Cherubim approached them and a moment later, the two men were gone.

  CHAPTER NINE

  In the beginning, a small group of angels disagreed with how existence had been created. Led by the Morning Star, they did not feel that the free will of man was deserved. The angel Azazel was asked to quell this disagreement.

  When other angels learned of Azazel’s involvement, they chose sides. Most chose the side of Azazel but some chose rebellion. War ensued and those who opposed Azazel were dispelled. The recalcitrant came to be known as the Fallen Angels and later the Watchers.

  The Morning Star returned in the form of the serpent and Azazel watched as the serpent corrupted the first man and woman. As they had been given free will, Azazel was not allowed to intervene.

  He was angry when they turned their backs on God and was uncertain why they should be allowed to retain that free will. It was obvious to him they had spoiled their trial. He did not voice his disagreement aloud but doubted the wisdom of God.

  Not long after the serpent was dispelled, the serpent approached Azazel. Azazel was aware the serpent had turned Shamsiel from God so he kept his wits about him. But in the end, he was persuaded and also became a Watcher.

  He began teaching men the arts of warfare as well as how to make swords, knives, shields and bodies of armor. He taught women witchcraft and how to seduce men as a tool of deception. The weakness of mankind was exposed.

  The serpent connived and arranged for the archangel Raphael to challenge Azazel. Azazel accepted the challenge and not realizing he was being deceived, was captured. His hands and feet were bound and he was cast into an opening in existence known as Dudael.

  As he was taken away, Raphael leaned into Azazel, “It was the serpent who betrayed you.” Azazel was furious at his own shortsightedness and vowed vengeance.

  With Azazel gone, the Watchers took advantage of what he had taught women. They came to earth in human form and enjoyed the seduction of women, rejoicing at the feel of naked flesh beneath them.

  Women bore sons to the Fallen Angels and those sons were known as the Nephilim; their purpose was to unleashed chaos on the world of man.

  The decision was made to reverse the bedlam. And so, the world was wiped clean by a Great Flood that consumed the world, ridding the earth of the foulness.

  With the world made anew, the role of the Watchers was greatly reduced. No longer were there multitudes of people to corrupt, now there were only a few. And those few were guarded fiercely by the other angels.

  With little influence, the Watchers faded into the background and bid their time.

  Time passed and the world once again became populated and corrupt.

  Shamsiel watched the ancient kings wage war as he plotted. He was patient and a moment came during one of those battles when he was able to approach and lay a hand on the Ark. It was only briefly but as he touched the Ark, its power became evident to him.

  The sword of the archangel Raphael hindered that moment. Shamsiel cried out as the sword slid into his torso and watched helplessly as the Ark faded. God would not allow angels to actually kill one another, even the Watchers, but they could be banished to another plane of existence; once this happened, it took centuries for an angel to find his way back.

  Two thousand years later, the Ark once again lay at Shamsiel’s feet.

  He pulled the wooden handles from their housing and the ancient seals on the Ark hissed. Dust wafted and Shamsiel heaved the handles to the ground. He grabbed the lid and pulled it free of the Ark; it joined the handles on the desolate ground.

  “The tablets,” a Watcher commented.

  “The tablets,” Shamsiel agreed. Then to their surprise, he heaved the tablets against the side of the mountain, ruining the ancient stones. The Watchers looked at each other nervously but Shamsiel ignored them.

  He reached into the Ark and plucked the only item of interest to him – the Rod of Aaron. The serpent hissed as the rod was exhumed.

  The rod looked no different than any other that had been possessed by men. The wood was dark and stained in places and the shaft was twisted and rough.

  The uniqueness of the rod, however was the origin of the wood: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The first man had received the rod upon his expulsion from the garden as a reminder of his downfall.

  The rod was passed down and finally made its way to Moses. It was Moses who discovered that on the rod was written the name of God.

  Shamsiel would now use that name to gain entrance to the garden. But first he needed Enoch.

  Shamsiel walked boldly through the garden until he reached the Great Hall. The Watchers were timidly in tow. The vast wooden doorway barred their way only momentarily as Shamsiel pushed them inward. They swung open easily enough and Shamsiel entered unimpeded.

  He strode confidently through hall and into the vast common room. “Enoch!” Shamsiel called out.

  The room was shadowed along the outer edges but out of that shadow came a man. “So it’s Abuelo now?” Shamsiel asked in recognition of the man.

  “It’s as good a name as any.”

  “You know why we are here?” Shamsiel asked and Abuelo nodded in response.

  Shamsiel had known Abuelo and the Men of Nod since the beginning and he was saddened by what he must do next. “Go to your men,” Shamsiel ordered. “You will die fighting beside your brothers, not here.”

  Abuelo turned and looked back at the Men of Nod who lined the wall. They were ethereal but they were not angels. He knew this was the end.

  With a battle cry that resonated across the infinite room, the Men of Nod charged forward to join their leader.

  Shamsiel often thought of that glorious battle. The Watchers slaughtered the Men of Nod that day but their bravery haunted him.

  Then, the Watchers moved on to Enoch.

  Enoch looked out over creation. He had failed. The Watchers had altered existence and Enoch had been a pawn in that altering. He desired that God should overthrow the Watchers, to cast them from the heavens once again but his pleading went unanswered.

  The Watchers had taken the garden and Shamsiel now led them in creating a new, just world.

  Enoch knew it was only a matter of time before the serpent usurped Shamsiel. He watched Shamsiel and wondered if he knew it as well. Surely he had to be aware. And when that time came – with the serpent in command, the serpent would challenge God outright.

  It will happen soon, he thought. The serpent had already begun the groundwork.

  The recent changes in existence were unnatural and unrest followed. The Watchers believed that mankind should be held accountable for their actions and during those first few days, any man who committed crimes against the nature of creation (such as murder) was banished from existence – a death for a deat
h.

  As time continued, smaller offences were punished similarly. Soon, any offence became punishable. Shamsiel felt uncomfortable with what was occurring but he had agreed that mankind should be punished and could not go back on his decision; not now.

  The serpent began whispering among the Watchers, quietly questioning the motives of Shamsiel. The Watchers felt that mankind should be judged for their actions but now they felt under Shamsiel’s leadership, the punishments had become too severe.

  The Watchers observed humans discontinuing interaction with one other: mankind began to segregate and soon governments and entire countries collapsed. On other planets throughout the universe, worlds plunged into anarchy.

  The Watchers were fueled by the serpent and grew ill-contented with Shamsiel’s decisions and leadership. Soon, there was dissension among the Watchers. Finally, the divide became too great and Shamsiel was challenged for his position.

  He was accused of misleading the Watchers in his vision for a new existence. He denied the claims but it had already been decided and Shamsiel was banished.

  He looked at the angels that surrounded him. “I will leave peacefully. But before I do, my last action is to release Azazel. Azazel, my old friend, you are released.”

  The serpent was taken aback at Shamsiel’s brashness but did not let his emotions show to the group.

  With Shamsiel gone, a new leader was appointed. By unanimous decision the serpent assumed control and became the Morning Star once again.

  He knew it was only a matter of time before Azazel came for revenge.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The priest pulled the Bible of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church from the table drawer next to the bed and turned to the Book of Jubilees. “There are several references of the Nephilim and Fallen Angels.”

  “What are we hoping to find in the texts?” Diego asked. “And why does this book keep popping up?”

  “I’m not sure,” Juan answered. “But Enoch felt it was important.”

  “You’re familiar with this book?” the priest asked.

  Juan nodded. “Many years ago, the answers in this book allowed us to defeat the Nephilim.”

  The priest’s eyes widen. He had many questions but felt it pertinent to stay on task. “Then perhaps some more back story on the Nephilim would assist me.”

  Juan inhaled. “Very well.”

  It began as Carlos, the Calusa High Chief watched the village of the Men of Nod from the mountains. After their defeat, they receded and would now begin the long trek home.

  Carlos broke his gaze and looked back at his father, the Calusa High Priest and then to his men. Of the five hundred who left their homeland, only twenty three warriors now lived. Carlos’ only son had perished in the battle.

  He had considered for the past two days what he must do next. He kept coming back to a decision he did not want to make. Finally after wrestling with that decision, he realized it was the only decision.

  He left the ledge overlooking the village and walked back to his men. There, he sat down in his designated place between his father and his most noble warrior, Dominic. Each warrior looked at Carlos reverently and with anticipation. Before he spoke, he turned to look at his father. The High Priest knew the words his son was about to speak as he had spoken those words to his own father many years before.

  “I call on the spirits to accept our High Priest into the Land of the Three Gods. May he go now and battle for eternity with those who came before him.” Tears filled Carlos’ eyes as he cast them towards his father and the High Priest returned a sad smile.

  From his pouch, the High Priest unwrapped an ancient knife as he walked into the center of the circle of men. He knelt and raised the knife above his head while praying to the Three Gods. He gave one final look to his son and drove the knife into the soft flesh of his stomach above the navel. He drew the blade upward and remained composed and silent as the knife reached and pierced his heart. The High Priest’s blood pooled beneath his dying body as he exited the mortal world.

  When the death was concluded, Carlos walked to his father’s body. The knife remained in its position of demise and Carlos grasped the bloody handle. With a firm thrust, both the blade and his hand entered the cavity that had been carved during his father’s Death Ceremony and he used the steel to cut his father’s heart free.

  He pulled the heart from the body and raised it to the sky, praying to the Three Gods to guide his father. Then, he bit into his father’s heart, transferring his father’s power to him.

  He used the same knife to dig a hole in the ground and buried the heart.

  Carlos stood facing the Calusa for the first time as their High Priest. He wiped the red circle from his forehead – drawn in blood and the sign of the High Chief – and removed the cloth from his waist. The High Priest wore no clothing so that there would be no barrier between the Three Gods and him.

  He removed the boar tusks that hung from his neck and replaced them with his father’s necklace of bones. “I am your High Priest. My son would have been your High Chief had he not died honorably in combat. In the tradition of our people, I now call on the ritual of High Combat to name our new High Chief.”

  “Dominic,” Carlos announced. Dominic was the highest noble of the Calusa and all eyes turned to him as he stood. “You will combat for High Chief against Antonio.”

  A hush came over the warriors. Dominic had been chosen based on his nobility. Antonio was also a high noble among the Calusa but had left them.

  The Calusa believed a man followed his spirit guide which showed him the path to follow. Antonio’s path led him away from his people and they did not fault him for that but some examined whether Antonio should be allowed to fight in High Combat. They wondered why he would he want to return.

  Their protest remained unspoken as no man dared to question Carlos. It was decided: the next morning, the Calusa would return to the village where they had suffered much death and a new High Chief would be named.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Eduardo was the first to spot the Calusa warriors. They came under a banner of truce – the head of their former High Priest turned backwards atop a spear. Eduardo’s first thought was they had come to avenge their fallen but Antonio clarified the meaning of the backwards head. “The eyes look backwards and cannot see forward to battle.”

  The Calusa were welcomed in the village and greeted by Antonio in the village commons. Antonio and Carlos embraced and as they did, Carlos whispered the words in Antonio’s ear, “You are summoned to High Combat.”

  Antonio pulled back surprised. After the words sank in, he lifted his chin to stare straight into Carlos’ face. “I accept High Combat.”

  The ritual was prepared and late that afternoon, the Men of Nod joined the circle of Calusa warriors around Carlos, Dominic and Antonio.

  High Combat would begin with the setting sun. The ordeal was to be fought by hand and would conclude when one man was unable to continue (there was no submission). The victor would be named High Chief. A circle had been drawn on the ground with white dust around Antonio and Dominic and they circled each other as they waited for the sun to set.

  The sun met the horizon and Carlos began to dance – the bones of his necklace rattling. The dance continued for several minutes before it ended suddenly with Carlos urinated in the dirt, forming a circle in the center of the chalk ring. Raising his hands he prayed, “I call on the Three Gods to command the ritual of High Combat.”

  He turned his gaze to Antonio and Dominic. “One of you will be our High Chief. I pray as you fight you call on the spirits of your fathers.” Then, he moved out of the ring sat down among his people.

  The tip of the sun dipped below the horizon and High Combat began.

  Dominic struck first. He feigned a left hook before driving his right fist into Antonio’s chin. Antonio was rocked back on his heels. Dominic came in for an easy kill but came in too fast.

  Antonio regained his balance and side-stepped to his ri
ght. Dominic’s charge grazed Antonio but most of the force was averted. Instead, Dominic was hurled forward and lost his balance, rolling head first onto the ground. Before Antonio could take advantage of the misstep, however, Dominic rotated and was back on his feet.

  Antonio charged and drove his forearm into Dominic’s face, lacerating his lips against his teeth. Antonio continued the assault with a punch to Dominic’s throat but Dominic was able to raise his arms and block the strike.

  Dominic replied quickly with a fierce uppercut. The blow struck Antonio on the chin and knocked him backwards onto the ground. Dominic dove onto Antonio, leading with his elbows to drive them into Antonio’s chest. Antonio managed to roll away at the last moment and twisted to grab Dominic in a headlock. He detained Dominic’s head and with his free hand, repeatedly cuffed Dominic.

  Dominic’s ear began to bleed but it did not faze him. He countered with a punch to Antonio’s ribcage and the blow affected Antonio enough for Dominic to wiggle out from the headlock. He threw himself on top of Antonio hoping to pin Antonio beneath him. Antonio turned slightly but not enough. Dominic placed his full weight into his knees that pressed hard against Antonio’s shoulders. Antonio was trapped.

  Dominic took advantage and drove his fists into Antonio’s face. Soon blood spurted from Antonio’s broken nose.

  Antonio was blinded by the blood but groped forward and discerned Dominic’s eye. He drove his thumb into the eye and pushed hard trying to hook his thumb to rip the eye from the socket. Dominic screamed in pain and fell back, allowing Antonio freedom from the pin.

  Dominic did not fully retreat and managed to ignore the burning in his eye. He used his anger to drive a punch in the area right below Antonio’s exposed armpit, just as Antonio was standing. Antonio felt the bones give way as a rib broke.

  Dominic grappled Antonio but Antonio expected the attack and flipped Dominic over his back. Dominic landed hard on the ground and the wind was knocked from him. He gasped for breath as Antonio began to stomp him. Dominic rolled to avoid the blows. Antonio saw an opportunity to stun Dominic and raised his heel for a blow to the back of Dominic’s head but at that moment, Dominic came up with a fistful of earth. The thrown dirt hit its mark and Antonio was blinded.