Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim) (12 page)

“Only archangels can accomplish this binding?” asked Noah.

“It is one of our talents,” admitted Uriel.

“Now we are talking,” smiled Noah.

Uriel sighed. He wondered if he would ever get this man to build the box.

“You mentioned Ereshkigal is the sister of Inanna,” said Noah.

Uriel nodded. Noah smiled with satisfaction. It was more satisfying revenge to kill the family members of your target of hatred before you killed them. “She is much weaker than Anu,” he said.

Uriel nodded again. He knew where this was going.

“So, if we start with one of the weaker gods,” Noah speculated, “we can work our way up the pantheon.”

“Noah, this is not your calling,” said Uriel.

“Think of it this way,” said Noah, “we are helping you to fulfill your calling.”

Before Uriel could respond,
a strange bellow in the distance interrupted them. The hideous noise sounded like a beast from the pit of Sheol. The camels stirred in agitation.

“What is it?” asked Methuselah
, looking to Uriel.

“The call of the Gibborim,” said Uriel darkly.

“Gibborim?” asked Tubal-cain.

“
The mightiest of the Nephilim, Seed of the Serpent. We are being tracked,” said Uriel. He began packing up his things. “It was inevitable.”

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Tubal-cain.

“Run for your lives,” said Uriel.

Jabal gave a nervous laugh, and then realized Uriel was not jesting.

“We have to leave now, or you will all die,” said Uriel.

The others began packing up
immediately.

Uri
el turned to Noah and said, “It is probably a squad of four to six of them. We do not stand a chance. If we stay, they will find us. You may face the gods sooner than you expect.”

The five Nephilim stood at the southern edge of the sand canyons. The leader of the squad looked down at some camel droppings on the sandy floor. He took a deep breath through his nose, seeking a trace scent. Then he leapt forward into the canyon opening, followed by the others. The ground rumbled under their feet, a rolling wave of evil. They were tall and would be slowed down by some of the tight corners and low hanging formations of the canyons. But they were locked in on their prey, and it was only a matter of time before they found them. Just as the height and strength of the Nephilim were amplified, So too were their five senses, which were acute to an extreme. It was said they could see their target’s eyes at nearly 700 cubits, smell blood at half that distance, and when on the hunt, could hear the silent breath of their victims. But they were also offspring of the Sons of God, born of sorcery, that gave them a sixth sense into the spiritual world. They were more than mere killing machines. They were killing demoniacs.

Noah and his men barreled out of the north canyon passage and found themselves at a crossroads. The desert lay before them, while to the east spread the Fertile Crescent valley. They gathered to take their bearings.

“Split up by twos,” said Noah. “Take different routes and we will meet at a common destination.”

“Where?” said Methuselah.

Before Noah could decide, Uriel pronounced it, “Mount Hermon.”

The men looked at him with surprise, Noah, the most taken aback.

Uriel
answered their expressions. “The mountain village of Kur, where the goddess Ereshkigal guards the gates to Sheol.” Noah was surprised at his change of attitude.

“You said you wanted to start with a weaker god,” said Uriel.

Noah smiled. Uriel was on board, but not entirely. The angel had his own agenda yet, for the box. But Noah now felt for the first time that he actually had a chance at revenge. He could not resist getting a dig in. “You changed your mind,” he said on the sly.

“No!” snapped Uriel. “My charge is to protect you until
you
change
your
mind!”

Noah grinned. “So if I build the box, you will leave me alone?”

“It would be my pleasure,” retorted Uriel. The others shared a smile amongst themselves.

Noah called Methuselah over to him and reached in his pack, pulling out the rolled piece of leather he had been marking on. He handed it to Methuselah. “In case, I
do not reach you.”

Methuselah unrolled the leather. It had cuneiform written all over it, along with a drawing of a large rectangular box. Noah had memorized the plans from
his vision and had written them down.

Noah
swiftly mounted his camel and whipped it around with a yell. Uriel followed him toward the southwest. They would try to shake the Nephilim from their trail in the harsh desert before reaching Mount Hermon.

Jubal joined Jabal and they raced
northward. Methuselah and Tubal-cain went east. They all had much ground to cover if they wanted to stay ahead of the infernal hounds on their tail.

Tubal-cain
mocked Methuselah, “You had better keep up with me, old man.”

“It is you I am worried about, fat man,” Methuselah shot back.

Tubal-cain looked hurt. Methuselah had got his goat, found the chink in his armor. “I am not fat!” he growled, “I have iron bones!” He kicked his camel and the two of them raced into the desert horizon. Methuselah was glad that this way he could keep an eye on this dubious character.

It took several days for the Nephilim to wind their way through the canyon maze and navigate through the layers of distraction laid out by Uriel. A supernatural tracker himself, Uriel had the advantage of knowing how to set false clues and dead-end trails. He knew they needed the time to gain enough distance before the Nephilim found their true exit point from the canyons.

The opening to the valley where Noah and his men
had split up breathed with the sounds of life. Insects buzzing around, crickets chirping, distant howls and birdcalls combined in a cacophony of nature. Suddenly, all those sounds stopped. Dead silence. The ground started to rumble. Moments later, the five Nephilim reached the gap at a steady hunting pace.

The pack leader sniffed the air. He studied the hoof prints on the ground
, then scanned the horizon. In an uncanny display of unspoken understanding, they split up into three groups, two taking the north passage, two to the east, and the leader bounding westward. After a short sprint, the pack leader let out his hideous Nephilim call. It echoed loud through the desert plain. The other Nephilim circled back and all joined the pack leader’s pursuit.

All five of them were on Noah’s trail.

Alittum noticed the special attention given to Emzara. The Chief Maidservant burned with jealousy and envy, though she kept it judiciously hidden. Lugalanu did for Emzara what he had promised; he extended her leash in the palace and city. Nindannum, the Sumerian name that Alittum used for Emzara, had already been exempted from the cultic duties related to the temple worship, which Alittum thought could only lead to ultimate betrayal of Anu. But now this so-called “lady of strength” had been given more privileges; her own quarters, a personal allowance, and a day of rest during the week, something usually reserved for chief administrators like Alittum.

Nindannum got out of the temple district into the surrounding community even more than Alittum
. The Chief Maidservant was saddled with so much responsibility she never had time for herself. Nindannum shopped for the palace food in the marketplace, inspected the fields outside the city walls, and even got involved in trade with traveling caravans from other cities and countries. Nindannum was not at home in this world. Alittum could see that. She could also see through her demure composure. That was not shyness or submission. Nindannum protected herself. And she was plotting something, Alittum was sure of it.

Alittum
could not conceive of anything beyond the obvious. She assumed Nindannum aimed to replace Alittum herself as Chief Maidservant. In every way she could think of, Alittum resisted. But what more could she do in competition with this upstart foreign slave? Alittum had thrown her body and soul at Lugalanu. She debased herself by gratifying his every perverse desire, his every disgusting excess of a soul depraved with absolute power. Of course, he could do whatever he wanted with any of the temple staff as well as his concubines. But Alittum saw early her chance at advancement if she was agreeable in her participation. If she embraced his perversion rather than merely passively allowing him to use her, he would be more attached to her—or so she thought. Alittum could not know that her acquiescence only served to increase his contempt for her
.

Alittum
felt certain that Lugalanu was not having sexual relations with Nindannum. It surprised Alittum, since pregnancy had never stopped him before with her. In some ways his restraint toward Nindannum inspired him toward more degenerate acts of abuse with Alittum. She could not imagine what Lugalanu could want of Nindannum if it did not include his use of her for his wanton pleasures. He treated Nindannum with such respect and esteem that it made Alittum’s heart ache with loneliness.

Alittum considered ending her life to escape the despair. Hopefully
, Lugalanu would regret his actions toward her. But then she became more constructive in her calculations. She reasoned that the best way to make him sorry would be the destruction of the object of his affections. If she could only eliminate Nindannum, and that detestable child in her belly, in such a way that it would not be detected, she might regain her station with Lugalanu. He might finally see her in a new light.

Alittum’s experience afforded her great knowledge of every intricacy and detail of the palace and temple as well as the politics of
court. If anyone had the resources to conduct a perfect palace crime, it was Alittum. Therein lay her plan, a plan that would begin by becoming Nindannum’s best friend.

As a first step,
Alittum visited a sorceress to put a spell of misfortune on Nindannum and to conjure the demoness Lamashtu who could kill Nindannum’s unborn if given the right opportunity. She had heard through the gossip of the palace servants of such miscarriages, but had never seen it for herself. Now, she wanted to see it with all her liver, the very seat of her emotions. She had never considered herself an ambitious or vengeful person. She had never even used black magic before. It was too malicious for her personal integrity. But Nindannum’s relentless pursuit of advancement forced Alittum’s hand. She needed to protect her own status and legacy. Alittum purified herself through washing and oils, and sat through the incantation of the sorceress. She prayed for the utter ruin of Emzara, even as she prepared to reach out to her in feigned camaraderie.

Emzara’s pregnancy was beginning to show. She knew she had little time if she wanted to escape this comfortable prison before her child was born and given up to false gods. She ran through all the possibilities in her head. She could hide out in a trading caravan leaving the city. But those were extensively searched for just that reason. So many slaves had tried to run away that the guards had become quite skilled in the art of uncovering stowaways. That was a sure path to a flogging. Many had died from the wounds of that punishment.

And what if she did get out of the city? Where would she go? She had no idea where Noah might be
. She would be easy prey for the predators of the desert, both animal and human. She could not do it on her own. She needed help. But who could she trust? Alittum had become much more agreeable in recent weeks. She knew she was a threat to the Chief Maidservant because Lugalanu obviously favored her. But Emzara had fought so hard to affirm Alittum’s station and defer her own that it appeared to calm Alittum of her fears.

It had occurred to Emzara that perhaps she should prepare for the kind of opportunity that she did not anticipate, such as the attempt of her husband to rescue her. She
had been taught the basic plan of servants’ access throughout the temple district, but she knew there was a network of more secret passageways. Only a select few of the leadership, like Alittum, knew the details of those hidden ways. If Emzara could learn those networks, she might be ready should an opportunity present itself.

But then her heart went sick. Her beloved Noah did not even know she was alive. As far as he knew, she was dead along with
all their tribe. Even if he was not sure she was dead, how could he possibly discover her whereabouts in the very heart of darkness in Erech? And even if he could discover that, what difference would it make when he was being hunted by a band of assassin Nephilim? They were so skilled he would not stand a chance against them. He would need a guardian archangel for even a shekel of hope. She fought the impulse to cry. He was probably already dead. She prayed to Elohim instead.

When she finished
praying, she felt more at ease. Prayers always took her mind off herself and her impossibilities and onto Elohim and His possibilities. She got up to return to her staff duties. A thought suddenly struck her. Whether Noah was dead or alive, whether he would save her or not, she should begin to think of others and not just herself. It might not be to her advantage to seek escape, but it might be to the advantage of others; those who were the sexual slaves of the temple and palace, those who were beaten so badly they preferred to die in the wilderness seeking freedom in death to their own hell on earth. If she could learn the network of secret passageways, she might be able to establish a pathway to freedom for other slaves. She could become the means of redemption for others, a redemption that she could not achieve for herself.

It was surely the providence of Elohim when, the very next day, Alittum approached Emzara and asked to speak to her in private.

“Nindannum, how is your health?” asked Alittum.

“I am well, thank you,” replied Emzara, holding her womb affectionately.

It struck Alittum that Nindannum displayed no signs of trouble. Surely, the Lamashtu demoness would have done something by now, even if just to harass her victim. Alittum would have to consult the sorceress as soon as she had some time. She brightened her countenance. “It is no secret that I have not treated you as you have deserved these past months,” said Alittum. “I have been intimidated by your poise and presence. But now I see that you are a woman of true character and virtue, and I want to apologize for my inappropriateness, my impatience and shortness with you.”

Emzara was shocked. She did not know what to say. “Alittum, I bear no complaint. I have nothing but gratitude for the privilege of being your aid
e and learning from your wisdom and experience.”

Alittum could barely stomach the patronizing flattery. “
Well, I think it is time for you to become aware of one more privilege.”

Emzara sat up with piqued attention. Alittum continued, “It is of such privacy and significance that only the highest of temple and palace caste are allowed to know of it. I am talking of a system of secret passageways through the city
.”

Inside her gut, Emzara felt the rush of excitement. Elohim had answered her prayers.

Alittum concluded, “They connect all the main palace structures and lead outside the city as well.”

“To what do I owe
the honor of this revelation?” asked Emzara.

“To your own character,” replied Alittum. “I feel
that I could trust you with my life. So I knew that I would need for you to trust me with yours. But you must tell no one, not even Lugalanu.”

S
trange, thought Emzara. Why would Lugalanu not want to know? In fact, would he not have been the one to ask for her initiation?

Alittum answered Emzara’s thoughts as if she read her mind. “If anything should happen through the use of those passageways
— anything against the law — it would serve to protect you from any implication if Lugalanu knew not of your acquaintance with them.”

Could this be true? thought Emzara. Could Alittum be offering her the very opportunity that she
sought? Surely, this was from Elohim! She could not have asked for a more perfect opportunity.

Then Alittum added, “But be careful. These passageways also lead to the secret chambers of the gods, where no human is allowed to enter, save the king.”

Emzara had heard of these chambers, but did not know much about them. Rumor said they were places where the gods engaged in sorceries, including the birth of the Nephilim from the daughters of men. The women who were forced to carry these infernal fetuses in the womb were never seen again. Emzara wondered what fate had befallen the innocent Shazira, the girl chosen as one among many to be the vessel of a demigod. Emzara suppressed a wave of nausea.

Alittum continued, “The chambers are said to contain the secrets of the universe. Wonders that humans cannot bear to behold: Astrology, sorcery, magic spells and enchantments. It is said that should a human
learn such secrets she might become a challenge to the gods themselves.” To Emzara, this seemed more like a tempting offer than a dangerous warning. She could feel a tug in her own soul toward the forbidden knowledge. Access to the heart of this evil empire could one day be used to bring about its downfall.

Alittum had carefully avoided reference to the punishment for such a breach of confidence.
This kind of violation would no doubt require the ultimate price of one’s life. Still, the focus on the possibilities had its affect on Emzara. The knowledge fed her hatred of injustice and her desire to right the wrongs of her world. It served her sense of significance, that she might be in the position to alter the course of history. It nurtured her pride.