Sons of God Daughters of Men

by Benjamin Reynolds

  “Our fathers told us these stories when we were children,” Carissa said.

  “Men do not fear God as they once did," Caelan said. He sighed. "They have other gods in their hearts now.”

  “Why does God not reveal himself if he loves us? Why is he so . . . mysterious? Carissa asked.

  Caelan laughed. “It is a matter of faith Carissa," he said. "He wants you to learn to trust in his will and call upon him. Only by trust and worship will you discover the power of faith.”

  “Not fair,” Carissa muttered.

  “Many things in this world are not fair Carissa," Caelan said. "But, I am here to change that.” Caelan stared into the fire and thought about what he would do to change the world. He once thought it unimaginable that he could hold Carissa in his arms. Now, he held her closely, savoring the warmth of her body, her love, and affections. All things were possible to him now. Carissa watched the flames dancing in Caelan’s eyes. She placed her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and closed her eyes. As their lips met, the fire crackled, as if by sparked by passion. Both knew this night would change the world . . . and the course of humanity.

  9

  CITY OF THE WATCHERS

  Caelan was eager to wake at sunrise. It was a new day . . . it was a new life. Despite the soreness in his back and shoulders, Caelan was in high spirits. Finally, he was with the woman he loved. For the first time, his head was groggy and stomach growled from hunger. He stretched, then walked to the edge of the cliff, taking a deep breath to enjoy the crisp morning air and bright orange sunrise. What a great way to begin a new life he thought. Carissa awoke and silently watched from a distance. Sensing her gaze, Caelan turned to her and smiled, full of vigor and excitement.

  “Today we begin our new life,” Caelan said. He pointed to a spot next to the small river in the valley below. “Together, we will build a better world.”

  Caelan could tell that Carissa was puzzled by what he said, but he saw the unmitigated trust in her eyes. This was a woman, he thought, that believed they were going to succeed and do great things.

  “One day, we will rule these lands as king and queen," Caelan said. "I will build you a palace filled with rooms and servants. I promise you Carissa, whatever we dream of will be ours. Very soon, you will be the mother of princes.”

  “And princesses,” Carissa said..

  Caelan laughed. “Yes, and princesses for my queen.”

  At midday, Caelan and Carissa arrived at the base of the mountain. Walking down the jagged paths in the hot summer sun was difficult and tiring, but the journey allowed Caelan to test his physical prowess. He discovered that he was twice as strong, far more agile and his stamina was far better than that of a normal man. He fared much better than Carissa on the steep paths leading down the mountain. Caelan was forced to slow his pace often for Carissa to keep up with him. On arriving near the base of the mountain, he stopped after seeing an encampment several miles away in the valley below with several hundred people.

  “They did it,” Caelan said and then laughed loudly.

  “They did what?” Carissa asked. She tried to make out what he saw in the distance.

  Caelan grabbed her hand and led her to the plain. “My friends have arrived Carissa. Together, we will build the greatest city on Earth,” he said with excitement.

  They reached the encampment after walking several more miles from the bottom of Mount Carmel. Two hundred angels were in the city working on the encampment with Azazel. Everyone was busy constructing houses, animal enclosures and various other buildings when Caelan arrived. Azazel was talking with another angel and writing on a clay tablet when he looked up and saw Caelan in the distance. He tossed the tablet to the angel and ran out to meet his friend.

  “Caelan!” Azazel yelled.

  They embraced tightly and laughed.

  Azazel looked at Carissa. “Ah. Finally I get to see the face of the woman who changed the fate of humanity,” he joked.

  Carissa bowed. “My lord” she replied shyly. Azazel's size astonished her. Like Caelan, he stood seven feet tall and wore an unblemished white robe and bright, red sash around his waist. He seemed young, handsome, with no facial hair, wavy, dark hair, and deep blue eyes.

  Carissa looked around, feeling as if she had entered a city of handsome, young giants. Everywhere, stood men seven to eight feet tall, wearing the same long white robes. Some had various belts or colored vests, but their clothes and appearances were nearly the same — handsome young men with black, blond, or sandy brown hair. All wore their hair similarly, although some had straight or wavy hair. Their racial features varied from Caucasian to dark, bronze skin. None had facial hair and near perfect skin free of blemishes. The men looked perfect and otherworldly to Carissa.

  An upbeat, congenial mood pervaded the encampment. The men appeared similar to Caelan and Carissa assumed they were formerly angels who had become human because she did not feel the same presence that had overwhelmed her when she first met Caelan. As far as she could tell, Carissa was the only normal person there, making her feel out of place. Sensing her discomfort, Caelan tried to reassure her.

  “Carissa, this place is now our home. You are among friends. Soon, other women will come and join us. We will count on you to teach them our ways,” Caelan said, before turning to Azazel. “And when will we see your wife here my friend?” he asked jokingly.

  Azazel laughed. “Oh, do not worry. I have my eye on a few.”

  “Only a few brother?” Caelan asked with a hint of sarcasm.

  “Caelan, we are men now," Azazel said. "Did God not command humanity to multiply?”

  Azazel reached over and grasped Carissa’s hand, then gently kissed it. “Soon, you will become the mother of a great kingdom.”

  “My lord,” she replied and then formed an uncomfortable smile.

  “My lady, we will treat women as equals in this city…with proper dignity and respect," Azazel said. "Our laws will protect and honor you. The women of our city will never be treated as barbarically as other men do.”

  Carissa nodded to show her appreciation. Azazel then turned his attention toward Caelan.

  “So, how was your journey?” Azazel asked.

  “Ah, I did not realize how hard crossing the mountain would be as a mortal," Caelan said. "I think I am…” Caelan laughed. “Humph. I am tired.”

  Azazel patted Caelan on the shoulder. “Take your rest brother. We have prepared fish, bread, and water for you and Carissa. We have also finished building a Great Hall for you to sleep in.”

  “So soon? You are a good friend Azazel,” Caelan said.

  “We began yesterday morning,” Azazel replied.

  “You have accomplished so much in one day! I am impressed brother. How many came with you?” Caelan asked. He looked around, happy that more than he expected had come.

  “Two hundred so far,” Azazel replied and then paused. He noticed Caelan's facial features and general appearance had changed. He now had stubble on his face. His clothes were also dusty and dirty, different from when they were angels and their clothes never soiled.

  “I must look different now,” Caelan said, responding to Azazel’s stare. “The glory of God is gone,” he said sadly.

  “Aye,” Azazel replied. “We surrendered our glory to join humanity. Let us now see if it is worth it.”

  Caelan sighed. He put his hands on his hips and looked around. “Life as a mortal is different than I expected. I am sure the days ahead will hold many more surprises. I have not regrets. I am glad that I did it. Carissa is worth far more to me than what I have lost.”

  Azazel folded his arms and turned to view their encampment. He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. “The future begins here with us. All humankind, all eternity will remember this day.

  Caelan, Carissa, and Azazel walked through the encampment. Seeing the men’s progress invigorated Caelan, making him forget how tired he was from his journey. The noise of hammers, saws and laughter filled the streets. As
they moved further along the encampment, Caelan saw men working on ships near the river, building foundations, houses, streets in the city and farmland a short distance outside the city. Everything needed to support a small city was nearly in place. Caelan could see that Carissa was amazed by what she saw. In her home city of Nirim, the buildings were mostly small two-story clay houses or small shops with a marketplace in the center. She had never seen buildings built so magnificently. The large buildings with wood framing and smooth, well-crafted designs impressed her. She felt compelled to touch the smooth, sturdy beams and pillars. She looked with fascination at the strange metal tools the men used to cut and fasten the wood into place. She looked at Caelan.

  "What will these men do in a year if they have already created such things in one day?" Carissa said.

  Caelan and Azazel stopped and sat next to the Kidron River, a short distance from the encampment.

  “Caelan, we admire you for doing what many of us wanted to do for so long," Azazel said. "Your speech has inspired, invigorated...it has given us a voice and allayed our fears. Before, we would never have thought of living as individuals outside of Heaven. Being able to have wives and families was something that we could have only dreamed of. We owe our new lives and freedom to you. You are a hero now brother.”

  “I am not a hero,” Caelan balked. “Something needed to be done. Things could not continue going on the way that they were for humanity...for Carissa...for us.”

  Azazel nodded. “We are the first to willingly leave the angelic host...and probably not the last,” Azazel said with reserved excitement. “As of now, we have two-hundred men. I believe that many more will follow us once we begin to grow and prospered."

  Caelan nodded. He thought about what Azazel had said. “A peaceful resolution would be an opportunity to show the world…to show heaven, what we can achieve. All eyes are now upon us. Azazel, if we can teach humanity science, mathematics and astrology," Caelan paused and then turned to Azazel. Although he was tired from his long journey, talking with Azazel had reinvigorated him. "Through our knowledge, we can change the world.”

  “Exactly!" Azazel said. "We have included in our plans, designs to build schools and academies where we will teach our children the arts and sciences alongside the best candidates from humanity. Through the children, we shall change the destiny of humanity.”

  “An excellent plan brother," Caelan said. "Our first priorities should be self-defense. We cannot neglect the fact that when the tyrants of humanity hear about our glorious achievements, they will be provoked to jealousy and will come to take what we have.”

  “I agree. Tomorrow we begin work on the armory," Azazel said. "By next week, we should be able to smelt bronze and steel. The quality of our weapons will not match what we had before, but it will exceed anything our enemies can bring against us.

  "I can see you have put a great much thought into this,” Caelan said enthusiastically.

  Azazel nodded. He had that determined look which always accompanied discussions about weapons and war. “My plan is to start with the basic weapons first; swords, shields, spears, bows and armor,” he said. “It seems that we will not be able to use anything that we brought with us. Our clothes and all that we brought with us have begun to slowly wither and degrade”

  “I know, look at my clothes," Caelan said, tugging the top of his robe.

  Azazel looked at Caelan’s tattered and soiled clothing. “Since we cannot count on keeping anything brought with us, we have to start forging new weapons and clothing right away. Everything will be new.

  Caelan grinned. "Did you think they would allow us to keep uristeel weapons capable of killing demons while living as men?”

  “Well, I had hoped so,” Azazel responded. “By the way, Caelan, we took a vote and the men have unanimously elected you our leader." He put his hand up and shook his head. "Do not think of trying to talk us out of this decision. Whether you want to accept it, you are a hero to us now.”

  Caelan signed. “I will only accept if you will be my second-in-command.”

  Azazel nodded his silent acceptance. “Of course." Azazel smiled and patted Caelan on the back. "Now, concerning our government, I suggest we use the rule of tens as we did in heaven. We form a council of ten members, with you as President. The council will vote yearly on officials in charge of teaching and other positions of authority, excluding council membership. We should start by selecting a few leaders based on what their expertise was in heaven. Araqiel should teach the signs of the Earth and physics. Baraqel will teach humanity everything related to astrology. Chazaqiel can teach humanity the signs of the weather. Penemue would be a good candidate to be in charge of teaching humanity our writing system and language.”

  “Do you think humanity can learn our language?" Caelan asked.

  Azazel thought for a moment. "Maybe we should simplify it. We can give them a bridge language; something with signs and symbols that can be easily understand.”

  “I agree. Make sure Penemue understands that,” Caelan replied. “I think we should put Sariel in charge of all matters related to time keeping. Tell him to create indicators and calendars based on the Earth's sun. You and I will work together on matters related to war.”

  Caelan hesitated as he thought about the implications of war. “Do you think it is wise to teach humanity about the ways of war? This world is already filled with violence.”

  “Caelan, as this city grows, the few of us who have descended from heaven will not be able to govern humanity alone. At some point, we will need a larger army to keep the peace.”

  “Peace through war. Is that it?” Caelan replied sarcastically.

  “No brother. Peace through any means necessary,” Azazel replied. “Our children and brethren will serve as captains and generals. The human beings will be our legates and foot soldiers. It will not be hard to find ways of keeping our own soldiers loyal to us. As far as the rest of humanity is concerned, once they learn to fear us, loyalty will follow.”

  “Azazel, in time we will be their lords and masters. At some point, they may even worship us as gods,” Caelan said. "That makes me . . . uncomfortable."

  Azazel waved it off. “If that ever happens, we will deal with that when the time comes,” Azazel responded dismissively.

  Caelan stood and stretched his arms. He looked proudly toward the encampment, put his hands on his hips and smiled. “Azazel, our plan is perfect. I do not see how anything can stop us.”

  “Aye,” Caelan agreed. “What shall we call our new city brother?”

  Caelan folder his arms and thought for a moment. Bethyir…City of the Watchers."

  10

  ADVERSARIES

  After three months, Bethyir had become a small but thriving city teaming with excitement, music, culture, and trade. The Sons of God constructed a trade port, hundreds of small houses, workshops, and expansive farms. The key to their rapid development was their use of mathematics, architectural design, and superb organizational skills. They employed a simple building blueprint for houses and workshops using a basic twenty by thirty foot prefabricated wood framework. Using these designs, buildings were constructed in a day, sometimes less.

  Twenty person work crews performed the actual construction while other crews were tasked with finding and cutting wood, interior design and creating furniture. In the beginning, each person in Bethyir worked freely for the benefit of the community as a whole. Specialized ten-person survey teams located and extracted valuable resources of gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones. These precious items were used in trade with outside cities to buy livestock, food, clothing and materials the citizens of Bethyir did not initially produce themselves. Having come to Earth with advanced knowledge of the landscape and geology, the Sons of God easily located and mined vast quantities of valuable resources, which greatly added to their wealth and prosperity.

  Caelan and Azazel wanted to ensure that the city expanded and prosper as quickly as possible, so they emphasiz
ed that each of the men should take at least two or three wives. As they traveled throughout the surrounding areas, the men had no trouble attracting wives with their handsome features, great wealth, and promises of a better life. Every person had an individual home and a of trade or business. They settled in as fishermen, craftsmen, iron workers, masons and builders—trades that normal people engaged in. The new council passed a law first to organize a militia, with all men required to serve. Caelan knew that once news of Bethyir’s prosperity spread throughout the land, trouble would soon arrive. It did not take long for his prediction to come true.

  Caelan and Azazel were in the great hall discussing plans for expansion when Hemanes rushed through the front doors. All the Sons of God retained a supernatural ability after becoming mortal. Hemanes' gift was that he could run at twice the speed of any person. Because of this, the council asked him to patrol the borders of Bethyir.

  “My lords!” Hemanes yelled, nearly out of breath.

  “What is it Hemanes?” Azazel asked.

  “They . . . they have raised an army!" Hemanes said. "An army is marching toward us as we speak.”

  Azazel turned to Caelan with a grim look on his face. Caelan leaned back in his chair, rubbed his beard, and pondered how to respond. He took a deep breath, trying to let his anger subside.

  “How many are there and how far away are they?” Azazel inquired.

  “From the tower above Mount Carmel, I could see about a thousand men. They were at the base of the mountain when I left . . .”

  “What are they armed with. Have they horses?” Azazel asked.

  “I saw a mob armed with staffs, clubs, knives, and simple farming tools. They did not have horses”