Chapter 24 - Transported
Everything wavered—the trees, the moon, the taunting darkness, his flesh. Enoch slashed his arms back and forth, beating back the night—with his light and words. “By the power of the Ancient One, I will go home!”
Enoch stumbled and righted himself, looking around the room, dazed. “I must be going mad! You again?”
Onami took a step back just as Enoch appeared before them.
“Interesting,” Delmar said, raising his eyebrows.
“Indeed,” Yamezerak agreed. “Enoch, Son of Adam, would you mind telling us—”
“How did you get here?” Onami cut in, marveling at Enoch’s glowing form.
“I don’t know. One moment I was in Avenland Forest and these things—I could not see them—were beating me, attacking me and then—”
“You just transported,” Azam said.
“Why is this happening?” Enoch shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. “You’re still here? You just keep showing up, you’re everywhere, in the fire, in my dreams—”
Enoch walked slowly toward Yamezerak. “But not you. You were with Tubal-Cain!”
Medici Tiph’arah walked through the door, her scowl turned into a broad grin. “Enoch, when did you get back? The scouts have been watching for your return. Did you sneak around the seti gate?”
“I came in quietly—” Enoch coughed, trying to collect himself, “through another entrance. Why are these men waiting at the Seat of Council?”
“What men?” Tiph’arah gestured towards Yamezerak. “There’s just this Watcher Yamezerak. Are you well?” Tiph’arah moved closer to Enoch, examining the cuts and bruises on his limbs. “Did you hit your head? Is that it?”
“No,” Enoch surveyed the room again. “I’m fine.”
(“Enoch, she cannot see us. She is only aware of Yamezerak.” Azam said calmly.)
“Did you hear that?” Enoch rubbed his ears and shook his head.
“Hear what?” Tiph’arah said. “Poor thing. You did hit your head. These look bad. It’s a good thing Yamezerak brought these herbs. There’s even a bit of alroue. Sit.”
Enoch did as she commanded, staring at Onami who lifted a finger to his lips and placed a large pot right behind Tiph’arah.
“Oh good,” she said turning around, “Everything I need is already here. While we are waiting for the Elders, I might as well patch you up like a good Medici.” Tiph’arah pressed the paste she’d just made into his wounds and dropped one of the alroue leaves into a bowl of steaming water.
“The Elders are coming?” Enoch said.
“They will be arriving any moment now. Of course, no ruling would have been made without you. But they agreed to give him an audience.”
Yamezerak pulled an alroue leaf from the inseam of his hood, picked up the steaming bowl and plopped the it into the brew. “Enoch, Son of Seth, the news I bear is for you alone. I will not answer any questions from the—”
“Is that right now, Watcher?” Tiph’arah snatched the bowl and passed it to Enoch. “You are in no position to be saying what you will and will not do.”
“Tiph’arah, please,” Enoch touched her shoulder. “I intend to hear him out, privately. Tell the Elders I will call for the Council soon.”
“Fine,” Tiph’arah threw the heavy spoon into the pot and hoisted it onto her hip, “will there be anything else for the Bearer?”
“No, that is all,” Enoch said.
“Just so you know.” Tiph’arah gave Yamezerak the evil eye on her way out. “I’ll be watching you.”
Enoch devoured the bowl of steaming broth, breathing in the aroma as he ate and walked. He glanced out the peephole. Two scouts stood at the top of the stairs with their backs to Enoch. Tiph’arah was already alerting them.
Enoch set his dish down. “All right, what do you want Yamezerak?”
“I need you to speak to the Beloved on my behalf.”
“Why don’t you speak to him yourself? You are Elohim, are you not?” Enoch said, smirking.
Yamezerak shuffled on the hard stone and turned his head away, but not before Enoch caught the pained expression on his face.
“I am not sure what I am anymore,” Yamezerak said. “I need you to petition the Beloved for me. Ask him if I may hope. Ask him if I can still be what I once was.”
Enoch frowned. “I don’t understand. What are you now? What happened?”
“I am losing the way of the Elohim—and though it is not entirely absent yet—my perception has changed, and my nature diminished. Many Watchers are altered. Captain Semjaza is deeply affected, so much so he doesn’t notice or care.”
“For truth, you know the cause of this,” Enoch said.
“Indeed. We, that is, some of us have broken the Code and done that which was restricted. I know it is judgment. I was just hoping—perhaps there is still a possibility for return.”
“You mean you want to repent of the wrong?”
“Yes, my error is grievous.” Yamezerak bowed his head.
Could this eve get any stranger? Can a man intercede for an Elohim? Enoch prayed silently as he waited for the One Mind to guide him. When he heard no clear voice, nor felt the familiar burn, he sighed. “Very well, I will beseech the Beloved on your behalf, for your presence is troublesome here.”
“Thank you. May the Ancient One—”
“Do not thank me. I make no promises. But I do know when I pray, the Hidden Father eventually responds. Fair enough?”
“Fair, indeed,” Yamezerak said with a grateful nod.
“If you were a son of Adam, I would ask you to bring a sacrifice. But since you are not—”
“Mere blood would not be an acceptable sacrifice for an Elohim—our life is not in the blood,” Yamezerak said. “But perhaps there is something I could do to prove my sincerity to the Beloved. I could try to right the wrong, to help the others who may not be too far gone and—”
“I think that is the least you could do,” Enoch said.
“But Yamezerak,” Onami interrupted, “some things cannot be undone.”
“Truth,” Yamezerak dropped his head again, “Although I had no part in it, I did not stop it. The numbers of the divine are growing and the first of them will be bringing forth soon.”
“What are you talking about? Who are the divine?” Enoch said.
“Semjaza has started calling the daughters of Eve who have married Elohim ‘divine’. The one called Naamah is due to have her child any day now.”
“Naamah married an Elohim!” Enoch stood abruptly, overturning the bowl next to him. The hot brew splashed against his leg scalding him. “They actually went through with it! She conceived? Are you sure it was Naamah?”
“Positive,” Yamezerak said, “Her father, Lamech, was anxious to make the match. He even allowed the communion to take place before the ceremony of union.”
“I didn’t think it was possible—” Enoch grabbed a cloth and patted the spot on his calf, trying to hide his shock.
“As far as anyone can tell, it is. But who knows what the childling will be?” Yamezerak pulled another alroue leaf from the inseam of his hood and handed it to Enoch. “This one is not as aged and will speed your healing.”
“But Naamah was promised to Letah—” Enoch said.
“Letah is dead,” Azam shook his head. “Father Lamech killed him.”
“Lamech must be punished!” Enoch dropped his cloth.
“No one resists Lamech,” Yamezerak said, “or Semjaza.”
“But Naamah,” Enoch said, pacing, “Is she well? How could Father Lamech do that to her? We must help her at once!”
“Enoch,” Yamezerak said gently, “I do not think Naamah wants to be rescued.”
“What do you mean?”
“Naamah is altered,” Yamezerak said. “I believe it’s too late for her. But it may not be too late for all.”
“What do you mean altered? How is she altered? What is wrong with her?” Enoch said.
“There is a new thing amiss. I didn’t want to mention it until I was sure, but I am almost positive—”
“Is it the Fallen?” Azam said.
“How did you know?” Yamezerak said.
“We saw it too,” Azam said.
“So, I’m right then?”
“Stop! One of you better start explaining or—” Enoch said.
“The Fallen have infiltrated you humans somehow,” Azam said curtly, cutting him off. His expression softened at Enoch’s panic-stricken face. “They are hiding among you., or more accurately—within.”
“We can’t sit here doing nothing! Who else is affected?” Onami’s voice grew louder by the moment. “We must act quickly before—”
“Calm down,” Azam said. “As much as we want to help, we will not proceed without orders. Is that understood?”
“But—” Onami said.
“Is that understood?” Azam’s tone was stern.
“Yes, Captain.”
“Enoch,” Azam said, “may act as he pleases, for this is his realm. But we will not overstep our bounds. The Code tells us clearly—”
Onami shuffled restlessly on the stone seat as he listened to yet another one of Azam’s lectures. Finally, unable to restrain himself, he interrupted— “Captain Azam?” Onami said, “Forgive my presumption, but—”
“Yes?”
“I was wondering if I might have your permission to check on Tiph’arah. Confirm her whereabouts.”
“Why is that necessary, Lieutenant?”
“I feel it would be prudent. She has gone to the Seti of Nod before without a scout or even an escort. She is unpredictable and—”
“Very well, Onami. Confirm her whereabouts and report back immediately.”
“Thank you, Captain.” Onami saluted and turned to leave.
“Onami,” Yamezerak called
“Yes?”
“Be careful.” Yamezerak said.
“Of course, B’Nai. I always am,” Onami said.
Azam sighed and leaned back against wall. “Yamezerak there is one thing I am curious about?”
“What’s that, Captain?”
“How were you able to resist the deception and not Semjaza?”
“I didn’t realize he was deceived. We were following orders as usual. Semjaza is our leader. I didn’t consider that his judgment was flawed until—” Yamezerak said.
“What’s this?” Azam patted the bulky sides of Yamezerak’s hood.
“Just a bit of alroue. I always keep some on me. The fragrance reminds me of the Beloved. It is quite like His aroma. Very useful for treating what ails the humans.”
Azam crushed the alroue, releasing more of its essence. “Yamezerak, I believe this little leaf is what has protected us from the full onslaught of the Fallen. Their stench somehow twists your judgment. I experienced it once myself long ago—before the Conflict.”
“I heard the tales regaled.” Yamezerak leaned forward. “Is it true you were the only one to escape the Great Uprising?”
“It is true. I was about to give in. I couldn’t hold out any longer, when Semjaza came to my aid. He realized I was in jeopardy and followed me, watched over me. Captain Semjaza was the one who pulled me to safety.” Azam ran his hands over the weapons concealed under his cloak, checking their placement again.
“I always wondered, why me? Why was I allowed a chance to escape and none of the others? That point seemed ordinary. There was no sense of danger until—”
They sat in silence for a few seconds. Yamezerak had hoped the Captain would continue his story, but when he realized Azam was in no mood for further transparency, and Delmar looked pensive as well, he cleared his throat and chanced a question.
“Captain Azam, does Lieutenant Onami keep some of the alroue on his person?”