Before the Fall

by L. G. Castillo

  “Please, not him.”

  Her father smiled. “Fear not, my daughter. There is another that I would consider worthy of your hand.”

  Hazel eyes flashed through her mind.

  “Jeremiel is admired by all in the city. Word of his reputation has spread even to Jericho. He has been called ‘a god among men.’ Someone like that is worthy of being my son-in-law.”

  “Look. They’re coming!” A voice yelled.

  “It can’t be,” another voice said. “It’s too soon.”

  A murmur of disbelief ran through the crowds. Then from a distance, three runners came into view.

  “It’s true! It’s true! Look for yourselves!”

  The crowd roared.

  Her heart pounded when she saw Lahash running at Saleos’s side. Jeremiel was close behind.

  “Father, may we go near the city gates to watch the runners climb the wall?” Lilia’s big brown eyes looked up at her father.

  “Of course, child,” he said, patting her head. “Naomi, take your sisters. Make sure you return to the square as soon as the first runners have passed. We must make sure you are ready to give the winner his prizes. And maybe soon thereafter, our family will have our reward.”

  Naomi ran with her sisters toward the city’s sixteen-foot wall. As they neared it, she lost sight of Lahash. There was a lull as the crowd waited to see who would be the first to climb over it.

  Then she saw a thick hand slap down on the top edge of the wall, followed by a slender one right next to it. Her heart leaped into her throat. Lahash. It had to be him.

  The crowd roared as Saleos and Lahash both emerged on top of the wall.

  Sweat rolled down Lahash’s face, which was darkened by streaks of mud, highlighting the intensity of his hazel eyes. He grunted and clenched his teeth as he pulled himself over the wall. He then pulled the rope over the wall and tossed it down. When he was half way down, he let go of the rope and landed with a hard thud on the dirt.

  “Go, Lahash!” Lilia and Leah squealed as they ran closer to the wall, trying to get a better look.

  “Lilia! Leah! Stand back!” She rushed after them. They were much too close to the wall.

  At that moment, she heard a loud roar.

  Everything seemed to go in slow motion as she struggled against the crowd to reach her sisters.

  Saleos pushed himself off the wall and flew through the air in an attempt to land ahead of Lahash, who was scrambling to get onto his feet.

  When Saleos hit the ground, he swung around to face the square. His sword jutted out and hit Lilia across the face.

  “Lilia!” Naomi shoved a woman out of the way and dropped to the ground next to her sister.

  Her sister lay on the ground, a red slash across her cheek.

  “Oh no. Lilia!” she sobbed. “Leah, go get Mother. Hurry!”

  Leah balked as she looked at her motionless sister. She then darted off into the crowd.

  “Move. Let me get to her.”

  Naomi looked up and saw Lahash pushing his way through the crowd. Concern filled his handsome face.

  “Lahash, what are you doing?” Jeremiel grabbed his arm.

  His eyes met hers for a moment and then he looked in the direction Saleos ran. He was getting farther away from them and closer to the finish line.

  “Don’t let him win,” he growled at his brother.

  Jeremiel hesitated for a moment and then glanced down at Naomi. Without a word, he took off in a blur after Saleos. Most of the crowd followed after him, cheering.

  Lahash sat down on his knees and gingerly lifted Lilia onto his lap. “She’s wounded.”

  “Saleos’ sword. It hit her across the face. Why won’t she wake up?”

  “I don’t know.” He looked down at his mud-splattered clothes. Then back up at her.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “I need something . . . give me your shaviss.”

  She quickly took her head covering off and handed it to him. “Why are you doing this? You were winning.”

  He took the corner of her head covering and gently wiped the blood from Lilia’s cheek.

  “This is more important than winning a race.”

  Naomi watched as his slender fingers brushed Lilia’s cheek. After a moment, Lilia stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She looked up and her brown eyes grew wide as she stared up at Lahash.

  “Well, hello there. You gave us a scare,” he said.

  Lilia cried.

  He chuckled. “I think she’s going to be fine.”

  Naomi let out a breath of relief.

  “My poor Lilia,” her mother said as rushed over with Leah.

  “Thank you...”

  “Lahash,” he said as he placed Naomi’s crying sister into their mother’s arms.

  “Son of Raphael and Rebecca?” Her mother asked.

  Lahash looked surprised. “Yes, I—”

  There was a loud roar in the distance, followed by chanting.

  “Jeremiel! Jeremiel! Jeremiel!”

  “You must get to the square quickly. Do not embarrass your father. Please, Naomi.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  Naomi glanced at Lahash. A sad expression crossed his face as he held out her shaviss.

  She reached out to take it and placed her hand over his. The simple touch sent a jolt through her body, making her heart flutter.

  “Thank . . . thank you, Lahash. And I’m sorry you lost the race and the . . . prize.”

  He swallowed thickly.

  “Me too.”

  13

  Lahash leaned against the front wall of the inn as he watched Jeremiel weave his way through the crowd, waving a red sash. Men cheered him, slapping him on the back. Young women reached out their hands to him in hopes of touching him. A glow emanated from within him, making his handsome face even more impossibly glorious.

  “Jeremiel. Jeremiel.” The crowd chanted.

  Jeremiel basked in the admiration that they gave to him freely, and Lahash wondered what it felt like to be loved by so many. Was this why he was such a disappointment to his father? Because he didn’t have his brother’s skill to draw people to him? As hard as he tried, he could never live up to the skill and strength that Jeremiel had. And he so wished that he could. Not that he didn’t love his brother, he did. All he wanted was for his father to be proud of him too. His mother loved him. He felt it from her every day. But his father? It was clear that he held Jeremiel in high esteem and cared nothing for him.

  Jeremiel stepped onto the small platform that was placed in the center of the square. The governor went up to him and shook his hand. He then waved over Naomi, who stood in the corner of the platform with a small bag in one hand and her head covering in the other. Her father stood behind her, keeping careful watch.

  Naomi handed her shaviss to her father and walked slowly toward Jeremiel with her eyes down. The crowd yelled louder when she came into view.

  Lahash felt a pain in his chest at the sight of her. He could tell she didn’t want to do this, and he wished he could help her out of it. Unlike his brother who thrived on being the center of attention, it didn’t look like Naomi liked it.

  She finally reached Jeremiel’s side. Holding out the leather pouch, she waited for him to take it.

  Jeremiel took the bag from her with a large grin on his face. Naomi was about to take a step back when he placed a finger under her chin.

  Lahash pushed himself off the wall and took a step forward.

  Pink tinted Naomi’s face as she looked up at Jeremiel.

  “Thank you.” Jeremiel’s voice was deep. It wasn’t a tone that Lahash had ever heard him use before.

  He took another step forward, his jaw tensing.

  The crowd cheered, making her blush a deeper shade of red.

  Jeremiel turned his attention back to the crowd. “People of Ai! Today is a day of celebration for us all!”

  He opened the bag and dumped its contents into his hand. Then he swung his arm u
p, releasing the gold coins into the air.

  The crowd went wild. Everyone jumped up, trying to catch the gold coins.

  The crowd continued to chant. “Jeremiel. Jeremiel.”

  Lahash looked to Naomi as she slowly took another step back, and he chuckled. She was trying to sneak off the stage. With the crowd distracted and the governor and her father congratulating each other, it seemed like the kiss was all but forgotten.

  He scanned the audience in search of Saleos and Baka. They were nowhere in sight. Maybe she wouldn’t have to kiss his brother after all.

  Just as Naomi was about to step off the platform, the crowd’s chants changed. It started with an elderly woman who stood in the back of the crowd.

  “Kiss!” She yelled. “Where’s the kiss?”

  Lahash stiffened and quickly looked to Naomi.

  He prayed that no one else heard and that she would make it off the platform and disappear into the inn.

  Then there was another voice, followed by another, until the entire crowd was chanting. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

  Lahash saw the governor wave at Naomi. Her father scowled when he saw her standing at the edge of the platform.

  Biting her lip, she went back to them.

  Jeremiel turned his attention to her. He grinned at the sight of her, his dimples flashing.

  With each step she took toward him, the crowd’s chants grew louder. When she was finally beside him, he gave her a wink and bent down, sticking out his cheek to her.

  Lahash let out a breath of relief. Naomi appeared to be just as relieved. She only had to kiss his brother’s cheek.

  Even though Jeremiel had bent down slightly, she had to step up on her toes to reach him.

  “Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd yelled as she slowly reached out to his cheek.

  She was less then an inch from his face when Jeremiel quickly turned his head and his lips locked down onto hers.

  The crowd roared.

  Lahash pushed himself off the wall, his back straight as a rod, his hands curled into fists as he watched Jeremiel kiss Naomi. The crowd cheered, encouraging him to continue. His brother wrapped a muscular arm around her tiny waist and placed his hand on the nape of her neck. He drew her closer to him, deepening the kiss.

  The crowd thundered their approval.

  Lahash spun around, slamming his fist against the side of the wall. He froze in shock as fragments of mudbrick fell to the ground.

  What had he done? He looked around quickly to see if anyone else saw the massive dent he’d made in the side of the building. He looked down at his hand. There was not even a scratch. He had felt a mild pressure on his hand when he hit the wall, but that was all.

  He turned back in time to see Jeremiel release Naomi. She was looking at him with a glazed expression, and his heart sank. If he’d ever had any hope that Naomi would be interested in him, it was over now. His brother had won . . . again.

  Lahash ran down the dirt path between the inn and another building. Anger coursed through him at the cheering that echoed in his ears. He needed to get out of the crowd—away from everyone. He wanted to be alone.

  When the sounds of the crowd were in the distance, he slowed down. He looked around. There was no one in sight. He sank to the ground, dropping his head to his chest.

  He could have won. He’d had his chance at the stream. He could have tripped Saleos or even shoved him away from the fish before he had the chance to spear it. That would have given him at least a few seconds. Instead, it was Saleos who had shoved him, and he had fallen face down in the mud. If he had only done to Saleos what was done to him, it could be him with Naomi in his arms.

  His head shot up when he heard a muttering of voices. One of them sounded like Uriel.

  “Did you see Raphael’s son? He truly is a god among men.”

  Lahash groaned. Even Uriel admired Jeremiel. He was about to leave to find someplace where he could be alone when he heard his name.

  “I am most impressed with Lahash,” a deep voice said.

  Lahash stopped and headed in the direction of the voices. At the end of the building, he carefully peeked around the corner. Standing in a courtyard with Uriel was the tall dark haired man he had seen with him and Baka at the games.

  “I am surprised to hear you say that, Lucifer,” Uriel said to the dark-haired man. “I mean, Lahash has potential but he is not nearly as skilled.”

  “He is young yet,” Lucifer said. “With each year that passes, he will grow in strength. And I have no doubt that he will even surpass the others.”

  “Even Jether and Joab?”

  “Yes, even them. I will see to that.”

  What is this madness? Lahash thought. Who was this Lucifer to think he could make him stronger? Did he know something about his and Jeremiel’s gifts?

  “There is one problem though,” Uriel said. “How will you get them to join us? Raphael still harbors ill will against you.”

  Lahash leaned in. His father knew Lucifer? He’d never heard him mentioned before.

  “What did you do to Raphael? I brought up your name up once a few years ago and his face turned purple at the mere mention of you.”

  Lucifer waved his hand. “It is not of any importance. Jeremiel and Lahash will join us.”

  “You will take them by force?”

  “No. They will come to me. First Lahash. Then Jeremiel. The innkeeper’s girl holds the key.”

  Naomi? What was Lucifer talking about? And join him to do what?

  Lahash heard footsteps headed in his direction. It was Baka. Quickly, he flattened himself against the crevice of a door. Baka looked deep in his own thoughts, too angry to notice Lahash when he passed him.

  He let out a breath of relief when Baka passed, and then Lahash ran back toward the square. Strange that Lucifer knew his father. He wondered if he should ask him about Lucifer. No, it probably wasn’t a good idea. If what Uriel said was true, his father and Lucifer didn’t appear to be on the best of terms.

  The noise of the crowd grew louder. He paused when he saw Saleos standing across the square, his thick arms folded across his chest. His face was a mask of fury as he stared at a smiling Jeremiel. Naomi was nowhere in sight.

  “Lahash!” Jeremiel turned to a young woman who was by his side. “If you will excuse me. I need to have a word with my brother.”

  The woman pouted as he left her side.

  “Let us celebrate! Come. We shall go to the inn for drinks and merriment.”

  Jeremiel’s excitement was contagious. Lahash wanted to stay mad at him. He couldn’t.

  “Perhaps we can ask Father to join us? He would be pleased.”

  “I’m sure he will be,” Lahash mumbled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I won’t be able to join you. I still have chores to do. Father is already angry with me for coming. I should get back.” He headed toward the city gates.

  Jeremiel followed, jogging beside him. “I know that look. You’re angry with me. You told me to win.”

  “I know that.”

  “Then what is it?”

  He threw a glance at the inn when he passed. Maybe he should go in there with his brother. An image of Jeremiel kissing Naomi flashed across his mind. He walked faster.

  “Nothing.”

  “Come now, brother. We keep no secrets from each other.”

  He stopped and turned to Jeremiel. He took in the concerned expression in his blue eyes. Sunlight was setting behind him, giving him a crown of light around his head. He did look like a god, like their father. It didn’t matter if he told his brother about Naomi. It didn’t matter if someone else thought that he had potential. His father would probably call Lucifer a mad man for even thinking such a thing.

  His father cared for him. He had no doubt about that. But it was painfully obvious that his father adored Jeremiel.

  No, it was better to keep to himself and count the days until he could leave.

  Lahash forced a smile on his face. “I
need to move the herd to the west pasture. It will take a while to do so. Tell mother I’ll sleep out there with them.”

  “Then I will join you.”

  He sighed. It was hard to say no to Jeremiel. He wanted to be alone. He wanted to think about the race and how close he had come to winning. Most of all, he wanted to dream about the kiss that almost was.

  14

  Uriel cocked his head to the side as he studied the dark-haired angel suspiciously. When Lucifer had asked him to search for the strongest men in Jericho, he hadn’t questioned it. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal. It was actually fun as he went from inn to inn in the large city, challenging the locals to wrestling matches and assessing their strength. A side bonus was all the women he attracted.

  He had no reason to mistrust Lucifer. His life was exactly as Lucifer had promised: adulation from women, the freedom to love and be loved by them in any way he wished. He had expected his exciting life to be an endless delight, but one day he awoke with a strange feeling. The naked beauty in his arms did nothing to take away the strange sensation of emptiness.

  To make matters worse, he could have sworn that he had seen Rachel. He ran down Jericho’s city streets chasing after her. She was nowhere to be found. He brushed it off, thinking that maybe it was someone who looked like her. But after that, he couldn’t seem to get back to his old self. He found it less enjoyable to bed the women he met . . . not that it came to a complete stop though. Lucifer saw to that, encouraging him to do more. Though why Lucifer would care, he had no idea.

  Until one day when he was at a small village inn just outside of Jericho and a brother of one of the women he had bedded confronted him with sword in hand, claiming that he had soiled his sister and that she was with child.

  Lucifer dismissed the brother’s rants and told Uriel to do the same. Ignoring Lucifer’s advice, he searched for the woman. He had wondered if his child would be like Jeremiel. Like Raphael, he wanted to raise his son. After weeks of searching, he couldn’t find her or her brother. Though he asked around in the small village, no one seemed to know who they were. It was as if they had never existed.

  “Lucifer, you must change Saleos. Now.”