SET YOUR MIND on things above with TAKEN--A Metaphysical Fantasy Audio Drama. He was wanted a cure. He found the Creator.
SYNOPSIS:
Enoch, an alpha-tracker and possessor of the One Mind, lives in a time of turmoil at the dawn of mankind. The curse promised by the Ancient One has come to pass. First Father Adam is dead and the dreaded plague that almost decimated the tribes 291 years ago has returned. Murder they understood. Father Cain taught them that. But, this sudden disappearance of the life force terrifies the clans of Adamah. They must find the “Bearer of the Seed”—the son of Eve the prophecy declares will cure the sickness and defeat death. Enoch and his powerful rival, Tubal-Cain, are chosen for the quest of a lifetime or rather the quest that will end their lives—find the cure, a miraculous healing plant known to grow near the Forbidden Garden, and stave off death once more. Only a fool would risk the dangerous trek to the Edge and the wrath of the terrible creatures guarding it. Only the favored son would find the way and return. Enoch quickly discovers he is not enough, but also he learns, he is not alone. A mysterious stranger leads Enoch through a portal to a metaphysical realm where past, present and future collide and now he finds himself in the middle of an ancient war. Supernatural forces are plotting too—one with a mind to destroy Adam's kind and the other with a heart to save it. Enoch must choose—angel or demon, friend or foe, dark or light before death overcomes and the Seed is destroyed forevermore.
--PLEASE share this UPLIFTING READ with your friends and get ready to SOAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING and MAY THE FAVOR OF THE ANCIENT ONE BE ON YOU. Want to know the Beloved? – Visit - https://youtu.be/Bn4M7t69mB4
--DOWNLOAD TAKEN EBOOK FOR FREE through Amazon Kindle - https://tinyurl.com/y2v29fn6 OR through Barnes and Noble at https://tinyurl.com/cjpb5c6n
--VISIT https://karasmatic.com/TAKEN for updates.
MUSIC/SOUND SOURCES:
SET YOUR MIND on things above with TAKEN--A Metaphysical Fantasy Audio Drama. He was wanted a cure. He found the Creator.
SYNOPSIS:
Enoch, an alpha-tracker and possessor of the One Mind, lives in a time of turmoil at the dawn of mankind. The curse promised by the Ancient One has come to pass. First Father Adam is dead and the dreaded plague that almost decimated the tribes 291 years ago has returned. Murder they understood. Father Cain taught them that. But, this sudden disappearance of the life force terrifies the clans of Adamah. They must find the “Bearer of the Seed”—the son of Eve the prophecy declares will cure the sickness and defeat death. Enoch and his powerful rival, Tubal-Cain, are chosen for the quest of a lifetime or rather the quest that will end their lives—find the cure, a miraculous healing plant known to grow near the Forbidden Garden, and stave off death once more. Only a fool would risk the dangerous trek to the Edge and the wrath of the terrible creatures guarding it. Only the favored son would find the way and return. Enoch quickly discovers he is not enough, but also he learns, he is not alone. A mysterious stranger leads Enoch through a portal to a metaphysical realm where past, present and future collide and now he finds himself in the middle of an ancient war. Supernatural forces are plotting too—one with a mind to destroy Adam's kind and the other with a heart to save it. Enoch must choose—angel or demon, friend or foe, dark or light before death overcomes and the Seed is destroyed forevermore.
--PLEASE share this UPLIFTING READ with your friends and get ready to SOAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING and MAY THE FAVOR OF THE ANCIENT ONE BE ON YOU. Want to know the Beloved? – Visit - https://youtu.be/Bn4M7t69mB4
--DOWNLOAD TAKEN EBOOK FOR FREE through Amazon Kindle - https://tinyurl.com/y2v29fn6 OR through Barnes and Noble at https://tinyurl.com/cjpb5c6n
--VISIT https://karasmatic.com/TAKEN for updates.
MUSIC/SOUND SOURCES:
Chapter 25 - Trouble
Tiph’arah darted up the stairs two at a time until she reached the top. “Good.” Tiph’arah exhaled—the banners were still low and the torches lit. “The Elders have not assembled yet.” From this view she could see the entire Seti of Seth. Thousands of dome-shaped dwellings, carved from the hillside, peered through the cliffs along the winding pathways. Every elders’ home held a bright banner swaying in the slumbering sky. When the Council met to settle disputes, each elder would take his clan’s banner to the Seat of Council.
“Here to,” Tiph’arah hailed a scout passing by. “Have you seen Methuselah?”
“Greetings, Medici Tiph’arah. May the Ancient—”
“To you as well,” Tiph’arah said, tapping her foot. “Where is Methuselah?”
“He said he was going to Father Seth’s abode. If it pleases you, I would be more than happy to—’
“There’s no time for that,” Tiph’arah said, already heading toward her father’s house. “Just find another scout and stand guard at the entrance to the High Council. The Bearer is there, and he does not want to be disturbed.”
“The Bearer returned? Is he speaking with that Elohim?”
“Just do it,” Tiph’arah ordered, “and stop running your mouth. If the Bearer wanted you to know his business he’d tell you.” Tiph’arah rushed up the spiraling path toward her father’s abode—the only structure higher was the Seat of Council and Adam’s former home, which was being prepared for Enoch. Everyone was surprised when Mother Eve announced she wanted to dwell with the Medici after Adam’s death. ‘It is too full of his presence’ she’d confided in Mother Awan, her eldest daughter. So, it remained empty until now.
Tiph’arah charged in, pushing through the heavy veils, and plowed right into Methuselah, almost knocking him over.
“Pardon,” Tiph’arah said, breathing heavily.
Methuselah righted himself and laughed. “We were just speaking of you.”
“No need to rush, my dear,” Father Seth said. “The others will be arriving soon—”
“Enoch is back,” she blurted out.
“When?”
“Just now. He called off the gathering of the High Council,” Tiph’arah said, still panting. “He sent me to tell you and the Elders.”
“Slow down, Tiph’arah,” Father Seth said.
“We must—”
“And stop interrupting, Tiph’arah,” Father Seth gave her a stern look, “you may be a Medici, but you will still show reverence for your elders.”
Tiph’arah looked down. “Yes Father, many pardons.”
“Now, tell us about Enoch,” he said taking a seat on one of the cushions, “when did he return?”
“Father, we must tell the others not to go to the Seat of High Council. Enoch wants to talk to the Elohim alone. He said we are not to—”
“Fine, fine,” Father Seth said. “Methuselah tell the others quick as you can.”
“Tell the others what?” Dinah said as she brushed pass Methuselah into Father Seth’s private room
Father Seth called after him. “Make haste, we don’t want the Bearer to be disturbed.”
“Enoch is back?” Dinah said, dropping the tray of food. Aloti cakes and black berries spilled onto the floor. “When? Where is he?”
“Careful, Dinah,” Father Seth said, “I know you’ll want to greet him. Tiph’arah here just told me—”
“Oh, Tiph’arah told you. I see. So, the Bearer is not to be disturbed, is he? That is a fine thing. So, he cannot even meet his own wife first. We’ll just see about that!”
Dinah stormed out the door.
“Medici Dinah, please,” Tiph’arah called after her. “It was not like that.”
“Tiph’arah, let her go. She will settle down soon enough. She is just frustrated. All the Medici are on edge.”
“All the Medici, Father?” Tiph’arah said, picking up the scattered berries and cakes and dumping them into a basket.
Father Seth grinned. “Of course, I should have said most Medici, my dear. You are as light as a gazelle, leaping through the plains of Edenia, and about as hard to tame as well.”
Tiph’arah laughed. “It is good you do not try too hard, Father. But, I fear you are right. The Medici are anxious. The alroue is not as powerful as it should be. I mean we are preparing it and distributing it as fast as we can, but these last batches do not cure as they did before Zohar—”
“That was most unfortunate,” Father Seth agreed.
“They only ease the symptoms. We have been working nonstop to prepare as much as we can before—”
“Go on.”
“Father, I fear the alroue is losing its power altogether. No one will say it. But it is as plain as the rising sun. I told the Medici so. Dinah’s not too fond of me for speaking the truth. She thinks we just need to work harder, improve our storage methods. But I refused to pound another leaf and went into the wild-lands instead—”
“Tiph’arah!” Father Seth raised his voice, “when you became a Medici you took an oath.”
“Yes, Father, an oath to heal, not an oath to foolishness, and I told Medici Dinah just that. We are wasting time we do not have.”
“You speak of Mother Eve?”
Tiph’arah avoided his eyes. “Sorry, Father. It is getting worse. She did have the first batch and improved greatly for a time. I went out today, searching for more four-runners. With them we can cover more territory, find other useful plants, and if the Ancient favors us, maybe even a new source of alroue.”
“Perhaps you could have spoken more gently to Medici Dinah, daughter. And going into the wild-lands alone was foolish. You know the rebel beasts full of blood lust roam there. I cannot believe you—” Father Seth stopped chiding when he saw his daughter’s downcast look and sighed. “Yet, you speak the truth. Even the healing I experienced in the storeroom is fading fast,” Father Seth grasped his long black braid, now streaked again with silver.
“We cannot hide what is plain much longer, Father—the alroue is not working—” The heavy drapes covering the entryway fluttered, startling Tiph’arah.
A strange woman, wearing the robes of a Medici, entered the room followed by Methuselah carrying a young girl. “By the Ancient’s grace, please tell me my ears deceive me. The alroue must work. We have come too far—” The woman broke into tears and collapsed by the fire.
“We have guests,” Methuselah said, placing the young girl on a blanket near her mother.
“What in the name of the Ancient is going on?” Father Seth frowned. “Why have you brought these daughters of Cain here?”
“Father, this is Medici Yabbesheth and her daughter, Chalal.”
Tiph’arah rushed over to Medici Yabbesheth, who was now sobbing uncontrollably.
“Medici Yabbesheth came to The Seat of Council demanding to see the Bearer. I told her he could not be disturbed, but the girl looks like she really needs help,” Methuselah said. “So, I brought them here. I was not sure one of our Medici would see her without the Bearer’s permission. But, since Tiph’arah does as she pleases, I thought—”
“Tiph’arah will do exactly as instructed,” Father Seth gave his daughter a warning eye. “Let this woman seek Father Lamech. Do they not have the great B’Nai Elohim Semjaza to heal them?”
The girl screamed.
Father Seth, startled by the brutish sound, dropped his staff and stared deep into the girl’s eyes for the first time and scowled. “She doesn’t even look like a daughter of Eve! Did you see—”
“Father, I am surprised at you,” Tiph’arah said sharply, “this is no time for grudges.” She placed a hand on the girl’s forehead. “She is barely more than a childling and she’s burning up with the sickness.” Tiph’arah grabbed the woman’s shoulders firmly, forcing the woman to look her in the eyes.
“Medici Yabbesheth, you must be strong.” The woman stopped crying, but tears still welled up in her eyes.
Tiph’arah relaxed her grip. “Please tell us what happened.”
(Good. Just in time. Onami walked past Methuselah and stood behind Tiph’arah. She is right to be concerned. This girl looks horrible. Loose strands from Chalal’s thick, braided hair stuck to her forehead. Reddish splotches dotted her arms and legs as she tossed and turned, scratching the hives repeatedly. He put his hand on the girl’s forehead and began to hum. Poor little one. Why was Azam hesitant? I was right again. Tiph’arah is in the middle of the action.)
“Please, be at ease. You can trust us. Tell us what happened,” Tiph’arah said. “Methuselah, bring me my kettle.”
The woman caught the aroma laced with the hint of alroue and smiled gratefully as Methuselah placed the large pot next to Tiph’arah. Tiph’arah dipped a small bowl into the kettle and held it to the girl’s lips. “See if you can get her to drink.”
Yabbesheth nodded. “Chalal fell into a patch of wild potonic while running.”
“And?”
“And that is all.” Yabbesheth fidgeted and kept her eyes on the door as she fed the broth to her daughter.
“That is all? Medici Yabbesheth, wild potonic may explain the skin sickness, but your daughter looks as if she fell off a cliff and then some.” Tiph’arah snatched the bowl out of the woman’s hands. “Lies will not gain you the favor of the Ancient One, nor our help. If you expect us to—”
“Please, we brought the sacrifice required. I left it outside. Ask him,” Yabbesheth said, pointing toward Methuselah. “He helped us carry it. Please we need this!” She was sobbing again now.
“Medici Yabbesheth,” Tiph’arah said softly, “we will not be able to help your daughter properly without the truth.”
Yabbesheth rocked back and forth, her eyes darting from Tiph’arah and the door.
“Are you afraid to tell us? Did someone follow you? It’s Father Lamech, isn’t it? Someone needs to show that impious old—”
“It’s not Father Lamech,” Yabbesheth looked down and folded her hands into her lap. “You must promise not to tell anyone. If he finds out—”
“Not a soul here will break your confidence,” Tiph’arah promised.
“It is my husband. He did this.” The woman buried her face in her hands. She spoke through sobs. “Chalal is a very beautiful girl and—you see, it is not his fault. I am no longer what I was and—she is very beautiful.”
“What are you saying?” Tiph’arah grabbed the woman’s arm.
“He lies with her—in the way of a wife,” the woman said quickly looking down at her lap. She was wringing her hands now.
Tiph’arah gave the woman the bowl.
“Why didn’t you—” Methuselah opened his mouth, and then shut it tight when he saw Tiph’arah shaking her head.
“Then, when my Zohar went mad in the wilds, searching for alroue. It pushed him over the edge. He took his anger out on me, on Chalal.”
“Zohar is your son?” The color drained from Tiph’arah’s face.
Father Seth gripped his staff so tight his knuckles grew white. “Methuselah, go fetch the Bearer.”
“But Father he does not—” Methuselah stopped when he saw the look on the Elder’s face. “Yes, Father, right away.” Methuselah did a quick bow and dashed out of the room.
Father Seth extended his right arm and held his hand over the girl. His voice was barely a whisper, but Tiph’arah recognized the words. He was praying.
The woman nodded and began feeding the girl the broth again. Chalal twisted and mumbled as her mother forced the liquid into her mouth.
“I try to please him, but he does not want me. Everything was fine. We were fine until the harvest celebration, until the shadows came. That’s when my husband changed. So, I sent Zohar to get alroue.”
Tiph’arah put her arm around the woman’s shoulder.
Father Seth prayed louder.
“It helped a bit, but then the eve of the Ceremony of Union, he was worse, much worse.”
“Who was to be married that eve?” Tiph’arah said.
“Why Naamah, of course, to Captain Semjaza. We were all enjoying the celebration—”
(Onami tuned out the woman and focused on the girl, Chalal, as he felt the rush of energy surge through him. Waves of iridescent light poured from his core and out of his back, flaring like wings behind him. Poor, poor girl. He began to sing. He touched her forehead.)
“—but after that night, after so many of our daughters were wed in that manner, it was awful. It was like the Elohim were different. They no longer shined with the light. Even our men, it is like they are—well their minds have bent. That is when my husband began going after Chalal. I tried to stop him—I did! But he bruised me for it. And Chalal, she just cried and cried. This last time she tried to fight him, he beat her, and said he would give her to Semjaza if she did not submit. I heard him. I heard him! And before sun’s birth we slipped away and ran. We ran and ran as fast as we could, but Chalal fell and—”
“And now you are here,” Tiph’arah said. “You are safe with us and Chalal will mend. The alroue is aiding her.” The girl lay quietly now, sleeping peacefully.
Tiph’arah took the woman’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You have been through much. I know this must be painful for you to speak of, but what did you mean when you said your husband was going to give Chalal to Semjaza? That is not possible if he is already wed to Naamah.”
“Oh, Medici Tiph’arah,” Yabbesheth said, wringing her hands, “I have not told you the worst of it. The Elohim do not honor our ways. Semjaza has taken several wives. Now that Naamah is with child, he tires of her. But,” she began sobbing again, “since my Chalal is ruined. She would not be a wife. She would just be a nuta, to be used for his pleasure, without any honor.”
“Does anyone else know?” Tiph’arah said.
“I don’t know. I tried to conceal it. I was—I am so ashamed. That is why I could not bring her before our Medici. They would have found out. I don’t know what to do. My husband can be—we cannot go back. Please!” The woman looked at Father Seth with desperate eyes. Her bruised face made the appeal.
“Your husband must stand before the High Council.” Father Seth was resolute. “He has broken the way of the Ancient One. He will be judged and—”
“Who are you to judge? You’re no better than us!” A burly figure plowed through the entrance and tumbled over Tiph’arah’s pot. His speech slurred. “Give me my wife!” The man rushed toward Medici Yabbesheth with bulging eyes and clinched his fists.
“Rafas!” Yabbesheth slid backwards, clutching the hem of Father Seth’s robe.
“I tried to stop him,” Methuselah rushed in followed by Enoch and two scouts.
“Leave the woman alone!” Enoch pushed his way around Rafas blocking the man from striking his wife, still cowering on the floor. “Restrain him.”
(Onami nodded to Azam as he followed Enoch into the room.)
“You have no right—no right to keep my wife and my daughter from me!” Rafas squirmed to free himself from the scouts. “Since you claim to be the Bearer, you ought to know the Ancient gives me authority over my wife and my child.”
“Enoch, this man is an abomination.” Father Seth pointed his finger in the intruder’s face. “Your wife told us of your treachery. Do not think—”
“Yabbesheth, you fool of a woman. I’ll pound the lies out of your ignorant tongue.” He lunged toward her almost catching the side of her face with his fist as he swerved out of the men’s grip. “That’ll teach you to go a whorin’ after alroue!”
Suddenly the man stopped.
“I can’t move.” The man gasped, struggling to speak. “You, you’re doing this!” Rafas scowled at Enoch, who still glowed with the light of the Beloved. “Release me. I have heard of your trickery. They say you have access to the One Mind. But I say your power is from the serpent.”
(“I will destroy this one.” Azam held a dagger to the man’s neck with one arm as the other captured him in a choke hold. “I am Azam. I will rid the Beloved of this nuisance.”)
(“Azam!” Onami grabbed the Captain’s arm. “Remember, you said we must not exceed our bounds.”)
(“He is detestable. We know of his doings. Yamezerak recorded everything. He will die now,” Azam said.)
(“Yes he will, one day. But do you have orders?” Onami said.)
“I can handle this,” Enoch said loudly, glaring at Azam, while he addressed Rafas. “My authority is of the Ancient Father. The Elders will hear your grievance by sun’s peak. Methuselah, take this man to the Seat of Council.”
(Azam sighed, pushed the man forward and replaced his dagger in one motion.)
Methuselah and the scouts grabbed Rafas as he stumbled; this time binding his hands behind his back with a thick rope.
“I was told you brought the sacrifice,” Enoch said, addressing the woman.
“Yes—” Medici Yabbesheth began.
“You can’t do this!” Rafas bellowed as they forced him toward the door. “Only a father can offer the sacrifice for his household and I refuse to—”
“A father will offer the sacrifice, or did you forget? As Bearer I stand in Adam’s stead. Take him away.”
The scouts struggled with Rafas, who kicked and yelled, disrupting the calm twilight as they drug him along. A few women poked their heads out of their windows to see the cause.
“You’ll pay dearly for this, you just wait. The Elders of Cain will see to it. We are not subject to you. If you try to keep my family, you will pay with your blood. You killed my son! Now you would steal my wife and daughter too? You sons of Seth think you are The Hidden Father’s chosen, but you are weak. Soon you will see it. You will—”
“We didn’t kill your son,” Enoch’s rose his voice over the man’s ranting. “You speak lies. Our tribe doesn’t murder.”
“Zohar is dead!” the man wailed.
“Silence!” The scouts warned, as they hoisted Rafas over their shoulders like a log. “Clear the way.”
Medici Dinah was running full speed up the path toward Enoch, and barely missed colliding into the prisoner.
“Slow down woman,” Enoch said, pulling her away from the ruckus and into his arms. “At least you are glad to—”
“Enoch!” Medici Dinah panted. “Come quick. The storehouse—” She wriggled out of his embrace and pulled him with all her might, “The storehouse is on fire!”