Master Potter

by Jill Austin

  “Of course, Beloved, take all the time you need.”

  She turns her face to him and asks, “What does your father think about me?”

  “Mother told me they are both very impressed with your poise and style. They could tell that you are of good stock and would produce a healthy grandson for them.

  “Now, it’s getting late and I know I should get you home, but how about one little kiss for this poor beggar boy?” he teases.

  Valiant stands atop the sand dune with his flaming sword drawn. He knows Beloved’s choices in the next few minutes are critical. He fervently intercedes as he watches the approaching demonic horde.

  Enchanter and Beloved embrace passionately and kiss as an unholy fire ignites between them, uncapping deep wells of fiery passion. The pack of demonic figures scuttles across the sand dunes toward them, intent on fulfilling their satanic assignment. The intensity of Beloved’s desire scares her and she pulls away.

  “You feel it too, don’t you?” asks Enchanter, “There’s a destiny for us—together.”

  Enchanter holds her at arms’ length and looking deeply into her eyes, says, “I don’t want just one night. I want you to be my wife.”

  Amazing Grace warns, “Don’t be deceived by your fleshly desires. This is not what Master Potter has planned for you. Stop this now while you still can.”

  “This is happening so fast. We’re just really getting to know each other.”

  Enchanter replies, “But I feel like I’ve known you forever, Beloved. It’s like you’re a part of me. I didn’t know what true love was until you showed up.”

  Beloved rationalizes, Enchanter loves me and wants to take care of me. I could some day be his partner as the head of this commune. I want to have his son. This must be Master Potter’s plan for me.

  Amazing Grace continues, “Beloved, you are on a journey to learn Master Potter’s ways. This looks good on the outside, but it’s full of deception and evil intent to destroy your destiny. Don’t do this. It will cost you dearly. It could set your divine destiny back years.”

  Enchanter pulls an alabaster jar of spikenard from his pocket. “I bought this just for you because you are so lovely. I saw the way you looked at it in the market today. Spikenard is rare and very costly; it’s the fragrance of the bride. Beloved, anything you want I can give you, anything.”

  He gently rubs the ointment on her wrists and kisses each of them, slowly, sensually, then rubs spikenard on the sides of her neck, followed by kisses, and finally he pulls his finger across her lips and whispers, “Your lips are so full and inviting.”

  Demons squeal with delight as they tether Beloved in their destructive cords, igniting burning, sexual desires.

  Valiant, filled with righteous anger, sees the huge demonic being peering out through Enchanter’s eyes orchestrating Beloved’s downfall. He waits anxiously for Beloved to call for help.

  The urgent voice of Amazing Grace says, “Beloved, cry out for Master Potter. Pray in the Spirit! Flee this situation! The enemy wants to destroy you!”

  I won’t let it get out of hand, I promise. Just a little bit more; it feels so good to be desired again.

  Beloved’s body responds to the waves of passion, and she struggles between her lust and the warnings signs in her spirit. “Beloved, you need to leave now and follow the star again. Don’t even go back to Deeper Life. Don’t be deceived, all actions have consequences.” Her mind recoils at the thought of going back out into the harsh desert.

  Enchanter pulls her body close to him as the demons froth at the mouth and prepare to dig their talons deep into her tender heart.

  Seductively he whispers, “You’re so beautiful. Please say you’ll be my wife. I’ll cherish you forever. Let’s become one tonight and seal our commitment under this beautiful canopy of stars.” He kisses her mouth ever so softly as his hands start to caress her sensuous curves. “I love the feel of your soft skin.”

  “Beloved, listen to me,” Amazing Grace warns. “It’s crucial you stop now. Enchanter is a liar, sent to deceive you. You’re in grave danger! You’re being lured into a deadly trap.”

  No, no. He loves me. I love him. I don’t believe he’s bad.

  “You’ve come too far to return to your old lifestyle. It’s not too late. Don’t throw away your future for one night of pleasure.”

  Enchanter presses, “Will you marry me? Please say yes now. Why should we wait?”

  It will be okay since we’re going to get married anyway. I can serve Master Potter in this religious community. We can minister together and raise godly children. It will work out. I know it will.

  “Yes. Yes, I’ll be your wife. I want you, too.”

  Enchanter gently leans her backward onto the soft sand as the seductive fires of the enemy consume them. Carried away by her passion, Beloved surrenders herself fully to him, losing her innocence once again.

  LOST DESTINY

  Amazing Grace weeps with grief as he watches Beloved abandon her prophetic destiny to fall back into the old patterns of her former life.

  In the midst of their sexual encounter her mind disengages from her body. Her passion quickly gives way to those familiar feelings of being used by men. Demons cruelly strike her with their poisonous darts, causing flashbacks of scenes with Antagonist and other men who exploited her for their own gratification only to discard her later.

  Lying on her back looking up, she’s surprised to see the bright star she followed leaving. A tiny tear flows from the corner of her eye as it disappears out of her sight.

  Then she remembers Master Potter using Unrelenting Love to heal her sexual brokenness. I felt so clean and free.

  Beloved feels dirty again and is disgusted with herself and with Enchanter. What had seemed so exciting, irresistible and enticing just a minute ago is now bitter.

  What have I done? What have I done?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  MIDNIGHT RENDEZVOUS

  Ten years have passed. Beloved silently walks through the deserted marketplace into the outskirts of the commune. She is grateful for the moonless night. Sadly, she thinks about the women who look upon her with such envy. She came in as an outsider and married Enchanter, the one they all wanted.

  Maybe I should be grateful! I have the name, the money, and the influence, but it’s not what I thought it would be. I’m so desperately lonely! Enchanter’s never home and when he is, he’s always angry and yelling at us. I’m just a prisoner in fancy clothes.

  She continues walking toward the dunes. What am I doing out here? Am I crazy? Why should I believe what those women whisper? They’re just jealous. I’m sure that what they’re saying is nothing but idle gossip anyway! These past years haven’t been easy, but still, he wouldn’t do anything that would hurt our children.

  She continues down the path leading to the sand dunes and the grove of trees where she and Enchanter secretly met before she discovered that she was pregnant with Purity.

  The still desert air carries a familiar voice, and suddenly a hard knot of fear rises up and lodges tightly at the base of Beloved’s throat. The soft sand gives way under her silent steps through the dunes. Struggling hard to hold her emotions in check, she prays she won’t find what she fears may be ahead.

  Tormenting spirits creep along beside her in the dark shadows; sinisterly they whisper, “He never really loved you! Why should he be faithful to you anyway? If you hadn’t gotten pregnant he never would have married you in the first place. Just be grateful he gives you a home and a name for the children.”

  But it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way! I thought he was a godly man. He said we would have a ministry together and build a wonderful life. That never happened. Now, I question if he’s really even saved. What I live with at home is so different from what everyone else sees. I’m so sick of the games he and his family play, pretending to be so spiritual, acting like they’re worshipers of God. They pray eloquent prayers in public, but they never pray at home.

  BETR
AYED!

  The familiar laughter of sexual intimacy comes from behind the last dune. The emotional impact hits her with such force that she drops to her knees. Frozen for a moment, betrayal—a knife sharper than any other—stabs deeply into her heart. Overwhelmed, she must acknowledge the lie of the past years.

  Crawling to the top of the dune, Beloved makes out the dim outline of two figures embracing below. She has come face-to-face with the stark reality of truth, and it tears into her soul like the thrust of a spear. She drops her face in her hands and begins to weep. “Oh no, it’s true!”

  Enchanter’s voice is carried on the wind. “I feel like I’ve known you forever. It’s like you’re a part of me. I didn’t know what true love was until you showed up.” She’s assaulted with the same treacherous lies he used to seduce her so many years ago. “Please God, help me! I don’t know what to do. If I don’t confront them, he’ll just deny it all.”

  Making her way quickly down the dune, she gathers all her courage and wipes the tears from her face. Angrily, she shouts, “Enchanter! What are you doing?”

  Enchanter jumps up quickly, grabs his robe and covers the figure beneath him as he yells, “Beloved, get out of here! Who do you think you are, spying on me?”

  Walking up to him she yells, “If you were home like you were supposed to be I wouldn’t have to spy on you.” She shoves him aside to see the shocked face of one of the young teenage singers in the choir. Embarrassed, the girl tries to hide from Beloved’s gaze.

  “Enchanter! She’s just a child! This girl is not much older than Purity.”

  Livid with rage, Enchanter shoves her back, causing Beloved to stumble and fall to the ground. “Go home! I’ll deal with you when I get there.”

  Picking herself up, she screams, “Deal with me! You have more to deal with than just me! I’m calling a meeting of the elders. Let’s hear what they have to say about your midnight rendezvous with a 14-year-old. You’re nothing but a child molester!”

  Grabbing her arm and pulling her face close to his, he seethes, “If anyone’s reputation is ruined it’ll be yours. No one threatens me, especially my wife!”

  Numb with shock and humiliation she stumbles into the night as the terrible betrayal pierces old wounds, and she sobs, “Lord, everything I’ve lived for these past ten years has been a lie. How could I have been so deceived? My life is falling apart! Where are You? Please talk to me.”

  Heaven listens intently but silence is the only thing she hears. The howling desert winds carry away her own groans of misery and loneliness.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  PARADISE LOST

  The atmosphere around Beloved’s life is drenched with an eerie sense of foreboding and the days pass without any word from her father-in-law except a refusal to meet with her. She is praying fervently to Master Potter throughout the long days and nights, but she’s heard nothing.

  Finally she’s summoned to Pastor Beguiler’s tent for the meeting she’s requested. Discouraged by his silence she apprehensively approaches the ornate dwelling.

  “Lord, give me favor with the elders. Let them hear the truth. I know Pastor Beguiler will do everything to protect his son and his own reputation. I feel so alone. Lord please, help me.”

  A MEETING

  Unseen by Beloved, Valiant protectively walks beside her as the servant girl shows her into the pastor’s office. Smiling warmly and rising to meet her, Pastor Beguiler offers her a chair next to her husband. “Beloved, so good to see you! I’ve missed you. Enchanter has already filled me in on this little misunderstanding between you. I’m sure we can work it out—just the three of us.”

  Moving her chair away from Enchanter, she asks, “Where are the elders? I requested a meeting with them so everyone could hear my side.”

  “Now Beloved, that won’t be necessary; this isn’t a trial. After all, we’re family.”

  “But this is too serious for just the family. This concerns the whole community. You don’t understand, I found him out in the desert molesting a 14-year-old child.”

  Enchanter calmly defends himself. “Molesting! What a lie! She’s the one who seduced me and she’s hardly a child! She’s old enough to know what she wants and it just happens to be me. It’s not like she was a virgin. She came on to me for months until I just couldn’t help myself! After all, you’ve not exactly been warm and inviting lately. Besides, I would never do anything to hurt you and the children.”

  “I’m not a fool. You’ve been doing this for years. I’ve turned a blind eye because I didn’t want to believe it. But I’ve heard the whispers and seen you exchanging looks before.”

  “You’ve always been jealous of me, Beloved. What does a look have to do with anything?”

  “What about the late night meetings? I pretended not to smell perfume on your clothes or question your whereabouts but I always suspected you were unfaithful.”

  “You’re blowing this whole thing out of proportion. I provide you and the children with a good home. I put food on the table and clothes on your back. I would think you’d be grateful! I’m entitled to a little fun now and then.”

  “I don’t call molesting a child ‘a little fun,’ even if she was coming on to you. You’re a grown man and should have stopped it.”

  “Listen, Beloved, I got ambushed! This was unexpected and I admit it got a little out of hand, but you need to forgive me and just get over it. You’re always so emotional! Let’s just move on with our lives.”

  “I want you to move on, and move out of our home. I don’t want to be married to you anymore or have you around our daughter.” She turns to Pastor Beguiler. “He needs to be exposed and disciplined in front of the church to protect the young girls of the commune. Maybe then he’ll get some help and do something about his problems.”

  The two men exchange knowing looks. Pastor Beguiler places his hand on Enchanter’s shoulder. The smile leaves his face and his eyes flash with a hard glint as he tells her, “We were hoping you would just forget this little matter and come to your senses. If anyone goes before the elders of this church it will be you.”

  “I’m not forgetting anything. This is not going to be swept under the carpet like you do everything else!”

  A THREAT TO DESTROY HER

  Walking to his desk, Pastor Beguiler picks up a file with her name written across the cover. The tone of his voice changes from condescending to threatening, “I know your history; Madam False Destiny and I are old friends. She’s willing to come and testify about your character if need be. Do you really think the elders or anyone else would believe you after they hear what she has to say?”

  The color drains from her face as she realizes she’s been trapped once again in a web of lies and half-truths. Rallying all of her courage she defiantly says, “I don’t care what you or Madam says, your son is a child molester!”

  “Just so we understand each other, you have no case, Beloved. That young girl is no longer part of this community. She was sent away a few days ago. So where’s your proof?”

  “I don’t need proof! You know it’s the truth or you wouldn’t have sent her away! You’re all sick! I want a divorce! I’m taking my children and leaving this place!”

  Joining his father, Enchanter tells her, “Divorce? That’s not a problem! But if anyone is leaving it’s you—without my children. I won’t have an unfit mother raising them.”

  “Unfit! You’re the one who molests children and commits adultery. I won’t leave without Purity and Crusader!”

  Moving towards her Enchanter rages, “No one is taking my son! You no longer have any rights here, as my wife or their mother. Purity is already showing signs of following in your footsteps and needs my fatherly protection.”

  “Protection! She needs protection from you. I’d never leave them with you.”

  “It’s no longer your choice! You’re leaving today without them,” says Enchanter, pointing to the file on the table.

  Looking at her father-in-law, Beloved pleads,
“Please don’t let him take my children. They’re so little and they need me. I won’t tell anyone, I promise! I’ll do anything!”

  He mockingly smiles at her. “It’s too late, Beloved. I can’t trust you.”

  “No, no! I’ll be good! I promise. Don’t take my children.”

  Beloved begins to tremble. Looking up to Heaven, she cries out, “Please Lord, don’t let them take my children.”

  Pastor Beguiler picks up a goat’s horn and summons the elders telling her, “Master Potter doesn’t hear the prayers of thieves and whores!”

  Shoving her outside the tent and knocking her to the ground he blows the horn again. “You wanted a meeting with the elders? You’ve got it! But you’re the one on trial.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  THE OUTCAST

  Knowing she has only minutes, Beloved frantically scrambles to her feet trying to make it home. All she can think of is how to get to her children before the elders arrive.

  Enchanter yells out, “Bring her back!”

  Her heart races wildly as she hears pursuing footsteps. Gasping for breath she arrives home to find two elders standing guard at her doorway. As she tries to push her way through they grab her, and she sobs, “Let me go! Let me go! I want my children.”

  Hearing their mother cry, little Crusader and Purity rush toward her. Bursting into tears, they cling to her skirt as the elders tear them away and drag Beloved to Beguiler’s tent.

  Thrown at his feet, she looks hopefully at the people of Deeper Life crowding around her. Astonished to see the beautiful and pampered wife of Enchanter being dragged by two of the elders, the stunned crowd seems sympathetic.

  Beloved tries to defend herself and rally their help. “Please listen to me. I didn’t do anything wrong!” Pointing to her husband, she shouts, “This man is a child molester! They want to cover it up and get rid of me. Please help!”