“My world’s neshama, its spirit, is embodied in the music I spoke of earlier. Every day was filled with it. Every night, we would fall asleep listening to it. But now it has been silenced. This silence is stifling us. Without the music, our land is dying. And with its death, we all will die as well.”
Adom lay down, his head cradled in his tiny paws. Carrie, Lindsay, and Rebecca looked at each other. Adom seemed so hopeless, so helpless. Their hearts ached for his plight. Yet they did not know what they could possibly do to help him.
“The music came from one source,” Adom continued. “A violin. This violin was once played by a man named Elijah. After some time, the music became a part of the strings themselves, and the violin took on a life of its own.”
“When you say Elijah, do you mean the prophet?” Rebecca asked.
“Some would agree with you, still others would not. The tales surrounding this man are as countless as the years he lived. But this is not important for your quest. What you need to know is this: Asmodeus has stolen the strings from the violin, thus silencing the instrument permanently. We need you to get them back.” Adom sighed, exhaustion written plainly across his features. The three girls could see the tension settled in the muscles of his small shoulders as he lay upon the grass.
Lindsay gazed at him, wanting desperately to pick him up in her arms and to tell him it would all be all right. “Why don’t you just make new strings?” she asked, hoping to be helpful. “Surely there is some instrument maker in your land who can restring a violin.”
Adom raised his head off his forepaws. “These stolen strings are the only ones that can give life to our world. The music is written upon them. They are what contain the melody required. They are what contain the magic, if you will.”
“I’m sorry if I seem insensitive here,” Rebecca said. She seemed to have been drinking in all Adom had told them, and now she had some questions. “Why can’t Elijah go and get his own strings back? I mean, he’s probably as magical as the instrument, with the lifespan of the world and all. I’m sure he’s a better choice for the job than a group of silly teenage girls.”
Lindsay and Carrie exchanged a look. What Rebecca was saying made sense to them. As exciting as this quest sounded, neither of them really felt up to the job.
Adom nodded. “You have every right to question my choice. It shows caution and intelligence. Both are commendable assets.”
Rebecca blushed deeply. “Thanks,” she muttered.
“I have clearly not said all I should have,” Adom continued. “Elijah has been gone for countless years. The instrument has been playing itself in his absence. We have tried sending others from our world to retrieve the strings. Thus far, none have returned. We know now that Asmodeus has cast enchantments around his castle against all from the kingdom of light. We cannot enter his domain. This is just conjecture, but we—myself and the king—feel that Asmodeus would never expect people from your world to ever come to our aid. Asmodeus lost faith in your people eons ago. Which is why I came here and found you.”
Adom looked Carrie right in the eye. She held her breath, not wanting to break away from his gaze. Could she possibly live up to his expectations? It was a lot of responsibility. At that moment, she was not so sure she could handle it.
“Can I please have a moment to discuss this with my friends?” Carrie asked Adom.
“Certainly,” Adom replied. “But know that time is short.”
She watched as Adom walked a little ways away. “Guys?” Carrie looked at Rebecca and Lindsay. “What do you think we should do?” She tried to gauge their enthusiasm, their skepticism, their willingness to participate.
“I’m in,” Lindsay said, smiling.
“I don’t see how I could ever turn my back on someone in trouble,” Rebecca said. “Of course I’ll help.”
“You really think we can do this?” Carrie asked. “It seems simple enough on the surface: go and get some string.”
“Strings,” Lindsay corrected. “And they’re liable to be catgut. Most violin strings are.”
“Whatever,” Carrie said. “Anyway, it seems easy until you factor in this demon king. This could be dangerous.” She knew she was going to go regardless, but she wanted her friends to be sure. She didn’t want them to feel as if they were being pressured into anything.
“Of course it will,” Rebecca said. “If you read any story, all quests are dangerous. That’s kind of the thrill. I can’t believe any of this is real! It’s kind of awesome.”
“Yeah,” Lindsay added. “It totally is.”
Carrie nodded, relieved her friends were on the same page. “Okay, what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” She stood and shouldered her backpack. She saw Rebecca and Lindsay also preparing to leave. “Lead the way,” she called to Adom.
Adom approached the same bush through which he had appeared. “Follow me,” he said and vanished among the foliage.
Carrie stared at the small collection of leaves. How could she possibly fit through that? She hesitated, and one of her hands sought her necklace. She gave a small shrug and got down on all fours. As she approached the bush she heard her dog barking hysterically from the house. “Bye, Finn,” she whispered and crawled forward.
Was she shrinking? Was the bush getting larger? Whatever was happening was clearly magic. Carrie crawled onward. Branches and leaves caught in her hair and tore at her pack. The tunnel (for she was now sure there was a tunnel in that collection of twigs) seemed to go on forever. Carrie was keenly aware of everything around her. Her eyes sharply saw each leaf in stark detail, the way the light filtered through the holes in the foliage and dappled everything in a mossy green. She heard every breaking branch under her knees and hands with a sharp, resounding crack that seemed to stab the silence in the air around her. She felt their sharp ends scratch her hands through the velvety moss that carpeted the ground she crawled over. Her lungs breathed in the moist air—cleaner than the air of cities and suburbs and more real, more nourishing than anything she was used to. She smelled rain, grass, and soil, all of which smelled natural, lacking man-made smells from home. The overabundance of oxygen made her head heavy; her heart felt as if it would burst.
Just as she thought she would never reach the end of the tunnel, she abruptly found herself kneeling under a night sky, surrounded by a primeval forest, the likes of which she had never seen before. Carrie stood up on shaky legs, speechless, in another world.
Chapter Seven
Nesie
Carrie was awestruck. Unlike her backyard, the sun was only just setting here. Despite the encroaching darkness, she could see the inherent beauty in the land. The trees surrounding her had grown so tall she could barely see the leaves and branches above her. The ground beneath her feet was springy and dotted with mushrooms that gave off an incandescent glow in the moonlight. Here and there, Carrie could see flowers curled up in hibernation for the night. A light breeze wafted a soft scent of clean earth and jasmine through the air. Carrie’s hand unconsciously reached up and grasped her necklace as she looked around in wonder. A noise from behind her broke Carrie’s daze. She turned and saw her friends’ arrival.
“This place is gorgeous!” Rebecca said, a huge grin plastered on her face.
“Wow. Just wow,” Lindsay said, her eyes wide as she stared at the forest around them.
Carrie turned to Adom, who sat waiting patiently. “Where do we go from here?” she asked. Her feet were itching to get moving. She desperately wanted to begin exploring this new world, see all it had to offer, learn from its mysteries.
Adom looked around, tail swishing. “Asmodeus’ castle lies west of here, upon the tallest peak of the Mountains of Darkness. You will have to head in that direction past the Golden Mountain and the caves. I wish you luck in your journey.”
Carrie stared at the fox. “You’re not coming with us?” Her voice was heavy with disappointment. She had not known him for long, but she was already fond of him and did not want to lose his company
just yet.
Adom shook his head. “I regret that I cannot accompany you on your way. I have much business to take care of in the palace. I have been called back to aid the king and queen. With all that is occurring, there is much turmoil in the city. I am required to be there. You three must proceed on your own.” Adom turned to leave. Carrie could see that he was anxious to get back to his duties. She figured that with all the trouble going on in this world, Adom would be greatly needed by the royal family.
Rebecca looked perturbed. “I hoped you would be our guide,” she said. “We’re alone in a strange world. What if we get lost?”
“I have much faith in you,” Adom said. “Unfortunately, as the king’s chief aide, I am greatly needed by him. I truly must depart.”
“What if we need help?” Carrie asked. “We’re traveling blind.”
“You will never be alone,” Adom said. “You have each other. If you truly need help, trust that I will know and find you.”
On a whim, Lindsay stooped down and scooped up the fox in her arms. “Goodbye, Adom,” she told him as she hugged him tightly. “I promise we won’t fail you.” She dropped him back down onto the ground.
Adom shook himself, smoothing out his fur. “Thank you,” he told her, looking quite nonplussed, though he was smiling.
“Goodbye, Adom,” said Carrie and Rebecca.
Adom gazed at all three of the girls. “I should tell you one more thing. Start on your journey as soon as you can. I would begin now if I were you. I realize it seems like it is night, yet since the music stopped, it is never day. We have not seen sunlight for far too long. Also, keep in mind that Asmodeus may have set traps in the chance that beings, such as myself, may have sought help. I wish you much luck. Stay safe.” With that, Adom turned and disappeared into the trees.
Rebecca shivered. “All of a sudden this place doesn’t seem quite as beautiful anymore,” she said, looking around. “It’s just so sad. To see such a place of wonder and know that it could all end any moment. It’s horrible.”
“I know what you mean,” Carrie agreed. “So should we head out?” She surveyed the land. “Um, which way was west again?”
Lindsay reached into an outer pocket of her massive suitcase and pulled out a compass. “You guys are going to be so glad I pack like I do,” she said, smiling.
Rebecca giggled. “You’re nuts,” she told her. “You do realize that, right?”
“Uh-huh,” Lindsay answered. “But that’s why you like me.”
Rebecca nodded. “But I’m still not helping you with your bag. I will not carry that thing around. You got that?”
Carrie laughed. The somber mood had completely dissipated. She was so happy her friends had come with her. “Let’s go.”
And so, armed with a compass, the three girls began their journey west, unsure of what trouble lay in wait but content to know they would be facing it all together.
Chapter Eight
Beyzer Cholem
Carrie, Lindsay, and Rebecca walked on, covering what felt like miles. The mood between them fluctuated between giddy excitement and amiable silence. Occasionally, they would sense something moving through the trees alongside them, but they could never catch a glimpse of what it was. Yet, the presence did not feel dangerous or threatening. The trees carried on around the girls as far as they could see. Here and there, they saw a bird flitting about among the leaves, and off in the distance, they heard the plaintive call of an owl.
After hours of walking, Carrie sat down on a nearby pile of logs that lay on the ground tied together with twine. She pondered why a woodsman would abandon his work in what must have been some haste as she stretched out her legs and groaned, her calves protesting the movement. She was not used to walking such long distances. She had never been good at getting enough exercise, and now she was beginning to regret that. Up ahead, Lindsay and Rebecca turned and noticed she had stopped. They walked back to where she sat.
“I don’t suppose you packed a tent in that bag of yours,” Carrie said, looking up at her two friends.
“No,” Lindsay replied. “Don’t own one and didn’t have a chance to buy one before we left. But I do have a few blankets. Do you think we should stop? I know I’m exhausted, and you definitely look like you are too.” She joined Carrie on the log pile, took off her shoes, and rubbed her feet. “You realize this wood is the first sign of civilization?” she asked. “I suppose everyone’s scared of the dark.”
Rebecca looked around. “You’re probably right. It’s not getting darker, but somehow I doubt it’ll get lighter either. There’s also the fact that this is an unnatural darkness. I’d probably be staying indoors too. Anyway, we won’t be very effective if we meet up with Asmodeus and are too tired to stand, let alone think on our feet. We probably should stop for a little while.”
Lindsay undid her suitcase and began sifting through her belongings. Carrie looked through her backpack and pulled out some bottles of water and snacks. She passed them out, and the three of them sat for a brief time in silence, resting their weary feet and eating.
“You seemed to recognize the name of this dybbuk,” Carrie said when she finished her snack. “Tell us about him. We should know what we’re up against.”
Rebecca swallowed her last mouthful. “Well,” she began, “from what I remember about the stories my bubbie told me, people always tried to make deals with Asmodeus. Sort of like deals with the devil, you know?” She paused in thought. “But he never really seemed like an evil guy in these stories. He was more sneaky and very clever—super tricky and devious. He was always trying to get the better of somebody.” Rebecca looked at Carrie and Lindsay. “However, I don’t ever remember him winning. You know what really bugs me about this whole quest?”
“What is it?” Lindsay asked as she sat playing with her bottle cap.
Rebecca squinted into the darkness. “In all of my bubbie’s stories, Asmodeus never did anything that ever messed up the entire world like this. He usually focused on one person, and he exploited that person and their issues—or more specifically, the human desire to cut corners, take the easy way out, be mean, cruel, nasty. He took these traits, and he totally mocked them.”
Lindsay looked thoughtful. “So he was a personification of yetzer hara, or the bad side of a person, rather than true evil.”
Rebecca nodded. “Exactly. This version of Asmodeus doesn’t fit. It’s as if we’re dealing with a completely different person.”
Carrie sat between her friends and twisted the chain of her necklace around her fingers, “What did he look like?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Rebecca answered. “My bubbie never really described him. I knew he was the king of the dybbuks. I knew he had powers and could look like a human when he wanted to, but she never gave a real explanation as to what he was. She left that to my imagination. I remember how sometimes he even did good deeds and helped people. There was one story where he helped a blind man and another where he stopped a man from killing himself. He was all about balance. This, well, this upsets the balance. That’s what really bothers me about the situation.” Rebecca punctuated this with a large jaw-cracking yawn.
“Maybe we should get some rest now,” Carrie said, noting the tired looks on her friends’ faces.
Lindsay cleared the garbage from their snacks and tucked it away into an empty pocket of her suitcase. She then covered all three of them with a large flannel blanket and set her watch’s alarm for a few hours later.
“Goodnight,” Carrie said sleepily.
“Goodnight,” Rebecca answered.
“Becca?” Lindsay asked.
“Hmmm?”
“You were really young when you heard these stories,” Lindsay said. “Maybe she never told you them all. Maybe she thought they were too scary for you to hear.”
“So it’s possible there are sides to Asmodeus I never learned about,” Rebecca said.
Lindsay nodded. “I think it’s very possible,” she said sleepily.
<
br /> “In any case,” Carrie said, “we should all be on our toes.”
Carrie lay awake for several hours listening to her friends as they slept. Rebecca was snoring softly, her breathing deep and even. Lindsay’s snores sounded like a freight train. Carrie groaned. With this level of noise around her, she would never get the rest she felt she desperately needed.
The sound of tiny feet on dry leaves caught her attention. She willed herself not to move, not to sit up and have a look around. Something told her not to call attention to the fact that she was awake. She heard soft cackling laughter in the air around her—two, maybe three voices.
“They really believe they can defeat our king,” one high-pitched and whiny voice said.
“Our ruler is scared of these puny little mortals?” a second voice added. “I will not believe it.”
“Do not stand here presuming what our king fears,” a third voice angrily piped up. “We need to stop them as we were commanded.”
Carrie lay still, her eyes wide open. All her earlier desires for rest were long gone.
As he pulled back one of the blankets, the first dybbuk said, “I like this one. Her yellow hair is quite pretty in the dark. Maybe our king will let me keep her as a pet.”
Carrie bit her tongue to keep from crying out. She screwed her eyes shut tight, feigning sleep. She lay there paralyzed with fear. It terrified her to hear them speak about Lindsay that way. Something had to be done, but what?
“You can have her,” the third voice snapped. “She makes enough noise to wake the trees around her.” Carrie heard his footsteps as he prowled around them in the dark. “I like the dark-haired one. She looks mighty delicious.”
“Ha,” the second voice chimed in. “You always did have the worst taste in women.”
The Song of Hadariah: Dybbuk Scrolls Trilogy: Book 1 (Dybbuk Scrolls Trillogy) Page 4
