The Complete 8-Book Guardians Adventure Saga

by Summer Lee

  Achava had been doing everything in her power to stay positive, but finally she looked sad and allowed her disappointment come out. “We just have to be prepared for what will happen when we have collected all thirty Shekels.”

  “There are a lot of unanswered questions, Achava, but let’s go on to the next place.” Sam clasped her hand and they walked slowly out of the grave yard. Sam knew that Soul merging was exhausting and hard on Achava’s body.

  When they got out on the main road, Sam saw lights a couple blocks away. “There is a strip mall,” he said. “Let’s go see if they have a restaurant.”

  Holding hands, with the wind blowing in their faces, they walked quietly down to where the business were. A little Mom and Pop cafe was open. They went in, sat down and ate a middle-eastern sandwich made with pita bread.

  As they sat there, they reminisced about there past. Sam said, “I was just a student in college, and in walked this gorgeous lady with black, long hair. I did not think that I would have half a chance with her. But here she sits across from me, helping me recover Biblical artifacts.”

  “I am happy that it is you who is with me now.”

  “I do want to say this, Achava, that I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone but you.”

  “Thank you, Sam,” she returned. “You know that I feel the same. At least we are together. As always, I am ready when you are for the next adventure.

  “I don’t understand this one, but it seems important.”

  “I know we have to go back to the house and deposit the three Shekels we just found. Do you know what’s next on this scavenger hunt, Sam?”

  Chapter the Thirteenth

  Day Six, Morning

  ACHAVA WAS FULLY PREPARED TO GO WHEREVER Sam guided. She knew that they might travel to locations that had special meaning to her. She was especially tied to Israel and artifacts associated with its heroes of faith.

  She wondered what would happen once they wed. Would that put Sam in more danger? Would she be able to protect him, if it did? She made sure, not to leak her questions to Sam, via their telepathic bond. She wanted him focused so that they could find the remaining Shekels of Tyre. After they did, they would have a whole new problem.

  Artemis Kieleg.

  The best way to handle an enemy like him was to learn all she could about him. She could go to the police station to see if he had a record. But she was not willing to get the police involved. Not at this time.

  She opened her laptop, and typed his name in. She saw that Artemis was a female goddess. Kieleg had to do with money and a banking system in Germany. He obviously was part of that. She read, “Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent was Diana. Some scholars believe that the name, and indeed the goddess herself, was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: “Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals”. In the classical period of Greek mythology, Artemis was often described as the daughter of Zeus and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls, bringing and relieving disease in women; she was depicted as a huntress carrying aBow and Arrow. The wolves, deer, and the cypress were sacred to her. In later Hellenistic times, she even assumed the ancient role of Eileithyia in aiding childbirth.”

  So the man was associated with Greek mysticism and money. That explained a lot.

  Once they were back home, she watched Sam running around, loading up his backpack with everything he thought he would need for the next trip. He had carefully taken more time with preparation. He looked at her defensively. “This is just in case we do more traveling right away.”

  “Of course.” She laughed. “Are all your artifacts safe?”

  “Safe and sound.” He frowned. “I did something else. I made a fake stash in the attic—just in case anyone is snooping around.”

  “Great plan.” She suggested they sit awhile. “What’s next?”

  “I have some ideas, Achava, but I need to know where you think Judas Iscariot is buried.” He blurted it out, without any warning, to Achava’ surprise.

  “I am not sure,” she replied. “That is one of the mysteries that I have never solved. There is obviously a reason for us not to know.”

  Sam shook his head in disappointment. “Okay. Can you tell me everything you know about him? After he took the 30 pieces of silver, of course.”

  “Yes,” she returned. “He was guilt ridden by his betrayal, so he returned to the temple and threw the silver back at the priests who gave it to him. Where he went from there, is something I don’t know. He killed himself and was buried the same day as Christ.”

  Sam smiled at her, as he grabbed her hands. “What about the Shekels. What happened to them after they left his possession?”

  Achava’s eye lit up, as she understood where he was going. “That is brilliant, Sam! Most people are concerned with the trail of Judas! To follow the trail of the Shekels, should lead us to the rest of them! I love you for that!” She kissed him hard on the cheek.

  He looked into her eyes and smiled. He would never tire of her saying those words. “I love you too, Achava. I will always love you.”

  “Actually, I love you for hundreds of reasons. Not just your intelligence. She kissed him again. “Now back to work. What were we talking about?”

  “The use of the coins in the beginning<” he said. “Do you know what happened to the coins originally?”

  She thought about it for a long moment, as she tightened her lips. “Well, the priests did not want the blood money back. I believe that priests took the Shekels and bought the land where Judas hung himself. I had heard that they turned it into a burial place for foreigners. So the money was put to good use.”

  Sam’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s good news!”

  Achava continued, “There was a field used for the extraction of potter’s clay. It was useless for planting, but it was perfect for burials.”

  “Potter’s Field,” Sam added. “Would Judas have been considered a foreigner in his own country?”

  “Possibly!” She exclaimed. “After his betrayal of Jesus, he was an outcast and therefore considered a foreigner!”

  “Then there is a strong possibility that he was buried in Potter’s Field,” Sam said, confidently.

  Achava had a look of horror wash over her. “Akeldama. It is located in the Hinnom Valley in Jerusalem.” She looked like she was going to be sick.

  “Akeldama?” Sam asked. “That’s Aramaic for Field of Blood. I should have known. That area has a history of child sacrifices. It’s believed to be identified with hell. Are you going to be able to go with me if we go there?”

  Achava shook off her blank expression. “Yes. Of course I will go with you. Akeldama is the one place I have never been to, because of the strange way that I feel when I get near to it. The Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Onuphrius stands on the exact place where it is believed Judas hanged himself. I should have realized that before. I just didn’t think about it.”

  “That’s kind of creepy.” Sam grimaced at the thought.

  “The monastery face, the old city’s walls and Mt. Zion,” she added. “You may find the area quite familiar, Sam. There are burial caves and tombs all over the area.”

  Sam widened his eyes. “We were there! Thousands of years ago, but we were there! That is so surreal. Do we need the monastery’s permission to go to the burial grounds?”

  “No,” she said, quickly. “All you need to do is let me know when you wish to go.”

  “I’m ready now,” he said, returning to her side. “Are you strong enough to take us there?”

  “Of course,” she said. “Although,I need to spend time in meditation to find God’s power.”

  “Definitely.”

  “Give me a little bit of time. After that. . .”

  Sam interrupted, “After that. We’ll go find Judas’ burial tomb.”
r />   “Of course.”

  ***

  Sitting cross-legged in a small closet, with her hands folded in her lap, Achava put her mind on the things heaven. She liked a quotation that Paul the Apostle used. “I am seated in the heavenlies with Christ.”

  She pictured Jesus sitting by the Father. His robe and hair were whiter than snow. The band around his waist was shimmering gold. In her mind’s eye, she saw Him hold her in His arms, filling her with His power.

  She imagined angels around the throne, sprinkling her with powdered diamonds.

  “I need your will to be done on earth, just as it is in heaven. Your angels are powerful. I need some of that power.”

  She sat another fifteen minutes soaking in His presence. She felt electricity flow through her body. She knew she had been empowered. God had mercy on her once again.

  When sh walked out of the closet, she saw Sam sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. He jumped up when he saw her. “Your whole body is golden,” he said.

  “It will fade soon, but I’ll still be empowered.”

  “Is it legal for you to do this?”

  “Jesus said that if I have enough faith that I could move mountains. I haven’t asked to move a mountain yet.”

  Chapter the Fourteenth

  Day Six

  SAM WATCHED ACHAVA’S HESITATION, as they stood before Akeldama. “You don’t have to go, Achava.”

  “Yes, I do,” she answered. Her tone was serious. “Did you bring one Shekel of Tyre with you?”

  “Yes.” He pulled it out and handed it to her.

  She took it out of the plastic bag and tightened her fist around it. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on what they should do next. Slowly, her hand became warm, as a bright golden glow surrounded her fist. She waited. When she opened her eyes, the golden glow faded. She handed the coin back to Sam. “It should now assist us in finding Judas’s burial tomb.”

  He narrowed his eyes, staring at her, trying to figure out what had just happened. He knew better than question her as to what she meant. He then walked into Akeldama with Achava close behind him.

  The area did seem familiar. He could see certain landmarks that were unmistakable. A few thousand years made a bit of a difference. He walked close to where there were several tombs honeycombed into the landscape. He felt a little anxious as he attempted to read names on graves.

  Achava seemed nervous as well, as she walked through areas of the burial grounds designed for foreigners, for the first time.

  He looked at the Shekel and then the opening of the first tomb. An idea struck him. One that may not have been a conventional idea, but he wasn’t in a conventional situation. He threw the coin into one of the tombs. He saw Achava give him a puzzled look, but she said nothing. He shrugged and walked into the tomb to retrieve the Shekel.

  No words were exchanged between Achava and Sam, as he went to the next tomb and repeated the strange ceremony. He continued with every tomb he could see.

  After going through the ritual with dozens of tombs, Sam looked disappointed. He then threw the coin into another tomb, that was about ten feet away from the others.

  As quickly as the coin sailed into the cavern, it immediately came back out. Sam looked at it in disbelief. It was as if someone had thrown it back to Sam. He and Achava stared at the Shekel on the ground. “What do you think just happened?”

  “No idea.”

  He bent down to pick it up with extreme caution. Once he had it in his hand, he tossed it one more time into the tomb that had rejected it. The same thing happened again. As soon as it entered the tomb, it came flying out.

  “This one doesn’t seem to want the Shekel,” he murmured out loud, as he grabbed it once more.

  Achava showed some excitement. “Perhaps, it is because Judas rejected it that one time. It might be returning the favor.”

  Sam smiled, as he glared at the tomb. “That would mean that this is the tomb of Judas Iscariot!”

  “It is possible, Sam.” She inched closer to the entrance to the tomb. “Shall we?”

  “Ladies first,” Sam said, nervously.

  She playfully slugged his arm. “Chivalry is definitely dead!” She crouched down to enter the small opening on her feet. She then got down on all fours and crawled the rest of the way inside. Sam followed.

  He was surprised that there was no effect on the Shekel, when he entered the tomb with it in his hand. He decided to keep it there.

  It was very musky and looked similar to the tomb where they found the Crown of Christ. There was one alcove, but it was empty.

  “I expected to see something that would hold his body,” Sam said, as he sighed.

  Achava eyed the empty alcove and went straight to the back. She looked around and then started to dig in the dirt in the middle. The golden glow surrounded her, as her hands sped up. She went so fast that it was a blur. Dirt flew out everywhere from her digging. Sam had to back away from her, to avoid the barrage of dirt. He shielded his eyes to protect them.

  Achava stopped and burst out in laughter. When Sam heard her laughing so hard, he turned and looked. She had found an old box made from clay. There were no markings, but Sam knew what was inside. They brought the box out of the alcove. Achava handed it to Sam. “This is your moment, Professor Samuel Godfrey. You deserve it.”

  Sam inhaled deeply, as he felt his heart racing inside his chest. He placed the box on the ground in the main chamber and knelt down. It was a simple task for him to remove the top. It wasn’t connected, just placed. The inside edges of the top, had grooves carved in them so it would fit over the box itself. He set the top on the ground next to him and looked inside.

  There was a cloth on top. He pulled it out carefully. There was another cloth. Something was wrapped inside that fabric. He placed the cloth on the ground and unwrapped it. He heard a jingling of metal hitting against metal, as the cloth was straightened out. Sam looked up at Achava with a smile.

  He pulled back the final piece of the cloth to reveal several Shekels of Tyre. Of course, they were in pristine condition and looked exactly like the others in his possession. He pumped his fist in the air, like a truck driver blowing his horn. He was so full of excitement.

  “Is that the rest of them?” Achava asked, impatiently.

  “Let me see,’ he replied. “One…two...” He counted with enthusiasm, hoping that the remaining nineteen coins would be in there. “…six…seven…” He couldn’t hold back his excitement, even though he knew they would probably be attacked any minute. “…fourteen…fifteen…” He started to be concerned that he wasn’t counting them right. “…nineteen…twenty…” He stopped and separated them into lines of five each, then continued his count. “…twenty nine…thirty.”

  Achava’s eyes widened. “Are you sure, Sam? Was your count off?”

  He shrugged. “I counted twice. Please, verify it by counting yourself, because I am too excited to trust myself. I can’t understand what is wrong.”

  Achava went over and verified the count. “There are thirty Shekels. That is impossible though! How can there be thirty here, when we have eleven of them, including one in your hand?”

  He opened his hand to reveal the thirty-first coin. “I don’t understand.” He shook his head and put all of the coins in the cloth. Then he stood up and looked at Achava. “Please help me out here. Find the will of God.”

  Holding Sam’s free hand, Achava closed her eyes. “Lord, there is nothing impossible with you. That is what our ancestors learned when they trusted you to work miracles, All my gifts come from you. So guide us once again.”

  He felt her gripping his free hand even tighter.

  “Close your eyes,” she said and Soul Merged them both back to the house.

  Chapter the Fifteenth

  Day Seven

  ACHAVA STOOD BEHIND SAM, while he emptied the coins from the cloth, onto the table, in the secret room, behind his closed closet door. He then placed the other eleven coins near the first ones.
“I can’t tell the difference. There are different dates, but other than that, they’re exact. All of them are pristine. They all have the same pictures on front and back, with no variations. I just don’t get it.”

  “Listen,” Achava remembered an important fact. “When Jaleel touched the Shekels, he went mad and betrayed the person he was most loyal to. Kieleg.”

  Sam looked at her with surprise. “Are you saying that we should go up to a mortal and ask them to hold the Shekels to see if they go mad?”

  “No.” Achava shook her head. “Obviously, I don’t expect to sacrifice humans. What if the Shekels are all real? They could all be from Judas’ time. Just not the ones paid to him for the Christ.”

  “I think they are,” Sam replied. “But there were only thirty that Judas was paid to betray Jesus with. We should have stayed at the tombs.”

  “Were you going to throw each Shekel into the tombs, to see which ones were paid to Judas and which ones weren’t?” Achava showed her impatience.

  “Of course, you know I didn’t. Don’t be sarcastic.” Sam’s eyes pleaded with Achava. “Is there anything you can think of, to help us come up with the right answer?”

  Achava thought about if for a few moments. She felt herself tremble. “There is one way, but it is dangerous.”

  “Okay.” Sam jumped up. “What is it?”

  She hesitated to speak, because it involve messing with weather patterns. She could not tell Sam that right now

  “Remember, it is dangerous.”

  “We can handle any danger!”

  Achava took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It is the Challenge of the Elements. It is an ancient challenge. The danger aspect is the reason why I have never tried it.”