Cinderfella

Story: Cinderfella 2: A New Life

Chapter: 36 New Battlegrounds

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Erik takes Seth and the others to where Demetrius has a home. Erik has a vision and sees an old threat in a new way.

New Battlegrounds

I hated this. A nightmare so real and sharp, I came up fighting. They were so clear when you wake up, but fade as we were awake. Naturally, the others were concerned. I got them here and only I could get them back! I needed to plan on what to do if I couldn't. It would be a while before anyone got to the other to return everyone home the long way.

There's a feeling I get when I've made a fool of myself and that feeling grew was the images in my head faded.

Demetrius was walked up quickly and sat by me. "What happened?" He quickly asked me and others around me.

"I fell asleep," I said feeling embarrassed and silly now. "Is it still a nightmare if it happens in the daytime?" I wiped my face with my hand over whatever was tossed in my face to wake me up, and then licked my hand. My eyebrows rose delighted, "It sort of tastes like apple." I let it play on my taste buds. "Not quite." My mind was going over samples I had stored in my head. "Not at all too tart..."

"It's aporo kikokiko," Demetrius said with a smile.

"That wasn't a helpful answer," I grumbled. "I still don't know."

"Flesh apple," Demetrius chuckled. He reached over and grabbed what I assumed was an apple. He grabbed a knife and cut the apple in half and showed me...I knew apples! Really. The pale inside color of this firm and juicy fruit, wasn't pale! Had the apple soaked in something red? Where the pale fruit normally was, it was stained red! It seemed to have soaked in from the fruit surface and covered the apple. "It only grows here in the cooler South." He pointed to the reddened portions. "The lack of water..."

"Maybe," Seth nodded, but refused to take his eyes off me, "I'll be fascinated, I'm sure," he said, "Later. I have never seen anything like this with Erik." I heard the alarm in his voice, "I shook him!" He shook his hands in front of him and shook them violently, "He would NOT wake up! He was trapped in this world I couldn't get him to wake up."

Seeing that, I could no longer just dismiss what happened. "I'm sorry, Seth." Taking his hand.

"Oh," Seth asked. "It was your plan to scare me." He nodded and took on wicked grin, "You did it on purpose."

"Really?" I asked in a mutter.

"Then don't apologize,"

"Every person has parts of the body that work," Martha's voice said from behind everyone. The gathered parted to let her get closer.

Seth looked at her puzzled. "Some of us don't speak Fairy Godparent as well as others." Seth explained. He suddenly shook his head once or twice, then said, "What?!"

Martha smiled sitting by me and asked, "Tell me about what's sweet, the taste."

"Sweet!?" I knew the man. It was pretty easy to figure out how my scary dream and the sweet taste were related.

"No flavor comparisons." Martha said. "No like honey, or even grape juice."

Now, Seth's mouth closed and he thought a moment or two. "I can't!"

"We all have mouths and tastebuds," she reasoned. "Just tell us."

"You won't know if you don't know!" Seth said.

"No common point of reference?" Martha asked to confirm.

"Yeah," Seth nodded. "That's it."

Martha nodded and looked at me. "There is a group of people..." she pointed in a direction, "not far from here, believe dreams are a part of reality. The Dreaming reveals the four aspects of life, where the past, present and future coexist. All can be seen. There are techniques they use to harness those dreams. They can even share dreams..."

Seth looked confused, "He can read the future?"

Martha looked as if she were going to say yes, and gave a short nod and said, "No."

"A simple yes or no isn't possible?" Seth growled lightly.

"No." Martha answered quickly. "That was a simple yes or no question." She smiled at Seth. "A drop of water hits your head. What does that mean?"

"Can I assume no birds were flying overhead?" Seth asked. He looked at me and pointed out, "She said water, nothing else hit me. Without light and conditions, it maybe about to rain. Any thunder?"

Martha laughed. "No, you're fine. You know to look at signs to draw a conclusion." She looked at me. "I dream, you dream, but we all have our own dreams. I will tell you what I've learned. Using visual images, I can direct you toward having more control when dreaming." She you'll be dreaming, but aware enough to direct your..." she waved at me, "whatever that was." She looked at Seth. "You've spent a long time with Erik. You've never known him to have a nightmare? This has been difficult past few months."

"No," Seth answered quickly. "I've had a few, but he was the one to comfort me."

Martha nodded, "Things that difficult in childhood, take a few years to sort out as adults." She caressed his face gently. "I think you're doing a great job."

"Thanks?" Seth nodded and then suddenly shook his head. "Wait a minute. Lukus got me to remember my mother with a single..." he wiggled his fingers over an invisible skull, "thing. This was one nightmare."

Martha nodded again chuckling at Seth. "Yes, one dream about a coming event that hasn't been resolved yet." She leaned closer to him. "He may have another. The message is incomplete."

"Back to Sunday School with you, Seth," I chuckled. "We get messages about future events often." I said holding my hand out. "And not just our own."

"Like who?"

"Joseph!" I said back quickly.

"The Savior's father?" Seth asked.

"Yes," I nodded. "I meant Joseph before him, sold by jealous brothers as a slave in Egypt. Arrested after resisting advances by his owner's wife on lies she told, and forgotten. Two other in-mates had dreams they didn't understand. Joseph correctly interpreted them. The king had a dream no one could understanding proved it was true." I chuckled. "One of the men served the king, told about a guy interpreting his all those years ago," I shook my head, "It's amazing something like that would slip you mind." I brightened again. "Joseph did understand them. Seven years of surplus and seven years of nothing. The king put Joseph in command of gathering and storing the surplus. The only one that outranked him was the king himself." I chuckled. "I would have loved that woman that accused him were to run into him accidentally afterward."

"It was a few decades," Demetrius said to me in mock confidence, "She could have died or gotten better at it."

"If I knew who he was and what he became," Seth shook his head. "I would have left Cairo," Seth's mind was working, "Or was it Alexander? Hell! All of Egypt!!"

I waved that thought off. "Mortality rates and women don't age as well as men..."

"I beg your pardon?" Martha objected.

"You don't count," I did it on purpose and Martha went with it willingly, "And don't beg. It's unbecoming and beneath you." I said simply. "From what I've seen, there isn't a single Child of Lilith that's ugly or even a little plain. Humans are amazing and often pretty. Children of Lilith shame everyone being as gorgeous as they are. So, saying one of you is pretty...it's impossible for you not to be." I pointed at Demetrius. "Even he's pretty!"

No one spoke a few seconds, then Demetrius stage whispered to Seth, "Was I just complimented? Do I thank him?"

Seth thought about what I said and then said slowly, "I...think...soooo," And answered more with a shrug.

"The Joseph you mentioned was warned to flee Bethlehem..." Martha continued, "just before king Herod attacked and killed all male babies in Bethlehem."

"The most common," I did finger air quotes, "bad dream, is when I am supposed to do, but haven't gotten around to yet. I know I should..."

"And yours, Seth, were memories that were blocked," Martha added. "Erik's was a dream, that's different."

"Okay, I get it," Seth said in a hurry, raising his hands I surrender. "What do we do?"

"The dream wasn't forgotten, but I need to get it back up to the primary memory. Now, it's in the dream-memory. Tomorrow, or whenever you sleep again and it comes back, you should remember more." She smiled. "Ready?"

"Is there something I should do?" I asked.

Martha shook her head, "Not really."

All my complaints about the lack of anything happening to tell me something was happening...well, I'm doing it again. Other than Martha putting her fingertips to my forehead at the temples, she leaned forward a bit and said something quietly in each ear. One word. "Yad." I had no idea what that meant or even what language it was. You probably aren't surprised when I tell you it was said in a particular way. Short! But particular. It was a soft, just above a whisper, but below a spoken word for others to hear. A rolling syllable the echoed...in my head...and not due to it's empty-cavernous interior either.

"That's it?" I groused. "What was that you said? I don't feel anything."

"You've had this done before?" Martha asked.

"No," I said.

"Then how do you know that wasn't it?" Martha asked.

"He wanted fireworks or something," Demetrius confessed.

"A light show," Seth chuckled, "at least."

I shook my head, "I still don't remember any of the what that just was." I pointed at Demetrius. "You can do the pop and glitter!" I looked around at the crowd. "Where's Dara? She did it with Ella. A pumpkin into an elegant coach, horses from mice! And you, Dara, and Lukus did it with the house in Royal Valley! Shooting stars and this sound as the house changed from Thorne's mansion into our home. I'll always remember that." I pointed at Demetrius. "That was a light show."

"That was for you!" Demetrius shot back. "Technically, I didn't have to do that! I fulfilled my part of the bargain and was done. I was being nice."

"Slowly," Martha said loud and quickly, but smiling bigger and finished at a more normal pace and volume, "you will remember parts. I made the suggestion in your head. Don't rush things."

When it was over, it still wasn't as late as I thought it should be. It was by date, afternoon here. It was almost nine-thirty in the next morning was here. My head began hurting a bit, so I quit thinking about it.

I didn't worry about it. Seth and I only slept apart a small amount of time in our lives. I trusted Seth with my life. I knew it wouldn't happen again. We also learned about these unique apples here. Depending on how dry and hot it was, the weather affected the red color! The redder the flavor and the sweeter...I think. It was like eating concentrated apples in one cup and something else. It was good. No wonder I was sticky when it was poured on me to wake out of that...whatever. True to her words, I was enjoying the warm weather. Being on this high grassed topped crest allowed cool breezes to make it almost perfect. There was also a stretch of sandy beach. Seth and I honeymooned in part at Seaside Vista, in A'Dore. That paled by comparison with Arapawa Beach. The sound of the wind through the thick trees and surf was hypnotic. We walked the beach and no chilled anything passed us. For a while, I just put up with the looks. Finally, I smiled patiently at Seth. "I know it was scary. I swear, when I remember anything, I will let you know." I shrugged. "It may not be what we think."

It was and I knew it. Why? I have no idea. Thinking about those men marching here, I mean there. Back where the Natives lived and I heard the rumble of booted soles of the men advancing. It would be soon when they got to Gitchi. We needed to be back so when we could be at that mountain pass ahead of them. Why us and why now? A dark-haired man again I didn't recognize was there. Again, I was frightened for Demetrius. Demetrius was in danger. I took Seth's hand and nodded.

"Nothing clear," I said, "but I saw a face before...in that...dream?"

"You don't know him," Seth said to confirm.

"I don't recall if I do," I said. "I heard the sound of marching and many booted feet heading west. I feel the threat they pose." I shrugged. "It's not exactly like seeing some guys and what you want to know, if asked, will get a reply."

"Damn it." Seth said quietly as he grinned, "Wouldn't that be nice?"

What Dara did that evening, I wondered if I could learn to do? To serve a dish of anything, you had to know how it was done without using magic. You had to be able to cook it even if you didn't cook it! No clean up time!?

Confused? I hope so. I enjoy confusing people! It's fun! I resolve it. To make a meal with magic, you had to know how to make the meal! How long any sauces had to be made ahead of time, breads that needed to rise for how long, how long to bake at what temperature? The Children of Lilith cooked. They had time to learn and took that job seriously. Thing about it. Someone gets you mad, you don't win your point by cooking well or bad, but slightly burned crusts, undercooked meats make that important point! Cook like you expecting royalty or slopping hogs...you have to know how make it. I don't know what's in pig slop, but...why would I want that?

The table was long with long bench-like seats you could sit on or lounge on while dining. I've eaten seafood and enjoyed it. There was a large...fish? Baked or broiled and tender making chewing and option. There was a large...I don't know! Some mollusk? Snail, maybe? As big as our hands and absolutely delicious!

It was just great having the wait time during preparation and serving time cut. No clean up! No dirty pots, pans, utensils, plates, bowls...everything was cleaned and put away. One more how to do it. I wonder how Dara learned to make a pumpkin into a coach. Did that count?

It was a good day. It was a long day. It was morning when we got here. The sun was going down now in the part of this world.

Humans made some great strides! We learned to put the kill on the fire and cook it. Then, he learned to mix this and that to create a sauce and it was even better!! The seafood was sweet and the sauces added a tang or sour flavor that...it was good! Very good.

I did notice that Toby and Kohona were speaking together...silently. The use of sign language worked better for them. I know with Sign Language in English, what was said was also spoken, or at least mouthed. Toby did it. There was no spoken word with Native Sign Language. Reese, Max, Val, Beau, Ceto...all sat together. Thomas and Hana didn't really speak to anyone else. There didn't seem to be a language problem with them.

Protocol. The world operated by Protocol. Procedures and red tape. My brother was the pioneer with one aspect of protocol. All protocols were honored, except one. The witnessing the royal consummation. Most of the time the two about to be married had never even MET! She didn't know him, he didn't know her which meant the first night during confirmation of the vows, it was pretty and crowded in their bed room. I wonder if they gave pointers? Anyway, I didn't want an audience. Christian was far too shy. Proof that he knew what he was doing was at the table and Thomas looked JUST LIKE HIM.

No protocols were followed now. Thomas and Hana spent a lot of time together and often (gasp!) alone! That would never have happened in A'Dore. The still unmarried Crowned Prince and young woman alone!? NEVER!! I'm sure Ella and Christian had some long walks on the palace grounds, but was never out of sight from the chaperones. Don't forget the guards in the hall near Ella's room. I know there were lengthy explanations about protecting virtue and all that. They made sure it didn't even look possible that anything was done...inappropriately. Besides, you know Ella by now. If she doesn't make it to Heaven, none of us stand a chance! What could I do? Sit between them for the rest of this? I'm not doing that! Thomas was not that reckless.

Then, a flash of memory. Sounds with no local source. There and gone. Then again and gone.

I tried to be quiet about it. Why worry everyone.

The first man flashed back, but a new face came. He was a silhouette of black. His head was covered in the dark crimson hood. Then that hooded shadow flashed faster and faster, hand lowered the hood and he looked at ME! That face I knew! He'd gotten older, but...my heartrate sored, I gasped a quick inhalation of air as I grabbed Seth's hand.

"What did you see?" Seth asked quickly.

"Father Markum!" I said in a rough rasp. "I saw Father Markum."

"Father Markum!?" Seth asked

"Who?" Chitto asked.

Chitto had been a thousand miles away and may not have known this part.

"Father Alfred Markum," I answered as Seth encircled his arms around me.

"He was the priest in Thorne Valley," Seth answered. "He was the priest for the first year or two when it became Royal Valley." He quickly explained the man Arthur Thorne paid to influence the people working at the vineyard and winery. I made it no secret that I didn't like or trusted that priest. Just being a priest or nun didn't make anyone more holy. He stole and he lied. He challenged me with his knowledge, or lack of knowledge about the scriptures. He got Margert Hammel to press charges against FSE in Royal Valley and we had quite a few by then that lived openly together. Father Markum was going to either negate Seth's and my marriage and have us executed. Arthur claimed Seth as a son of his second wife and not of the royal family line. You know at that ball Seth was Prince Philip and eldest son of King Alexander and his wife! Punishment was offered in two ways. Execution for treason or banishment. Royal Valley, Blethos, and A'Dore!! They would not have survived in Creid. Stripping Seth of the crown and he would not have passed it on to Sam! Things were confusing for a while, but I encouraged the priest's challenge and proved Seth was Philip, King Alexander's son! You remember how and why we did it that way! Legally, it was rock solid! Seth was king and we were married! In the long run, those charges were dealt with and done away with. Marriage between two adults, eighteen was the age to enter in a contract, but parents or a guardian adult could consent. Yes! There were abuses all over the place! You try to write and enforce laws to regulate human behavior! It is NOT easy! Juvenile offenders often lay low a while and let the law pass. It wasn't difficult. Men still beat the one they claim to love and apologize profusely afterward. Sometimes. There were females that did it, too! Fewer of those were reported for usual manly reasons.

A girl beat you up, man? Really?

I should ask Daisy to pay them a visit.

"Deena and Father Markum are causing to seriously rethink my stance on capital punishment." I grumbled.

Seth buried his face to my neck and said in my ear, "Father Markum chose and Deena was crazy."

Thomas had listened and shrugged, "It sort of makes sense." He looked at some surprised faces that were no listening more. He chuckled and threw his hands out. "Well, where could he go?" He waved at Seth. "He was banished from Blethos and everyone knew him in Royal Valley." He waved at me. "You know as soon as we heard about the charges in Blethos, Dad had all those laws destroyed!"

"Destroyed?" I asked with a smile.

"I know there are books about A'Dore's history," Thomas nodded. "Dad had the laws governing marriage changed. So, when people in the future read it, the law was changed as you married Uncle Seth." He shrugged. "The entire law book was rewritten and every reference to a legal challenge by combat was done away with as were the laws of marriage." Thomas grinned. "He even had a little party scheduled and had the books with those old laws and marriage structure laws burned. All of the arbitrators in town and some from neighboring towns came, each read and burned to a crisp." He leaned toward Hana, "He loved the words like perverse and deviant when he read those laws and as they burned said, call my brother a pervert or deviant. I dare you! If you were alive, I'd burn you, not those stupid rules." Thomas grinned defiantly. "You know? We're not really members of A'Dore's Royal Family." His eyebrows rose twice.

"We're not?" I grinned. I knew what he meant, but...

"Sure," Thomas nodded, "Chitto shouldn't be here. Grandpa's and Grandma's marriage was forbidden because it was against the Law of Ethnicity. She was Muskogee!! Dad burned that one, as well."

I nodded, "Further back than that!" I held up two fingers. "We also have two additional grandmothers who are Cherokee. I think that was why we just sat on those old laws. We didn't enforce them because we didn't agree."

"What did you feel?" Martha asked. "Was this Father Markum threatening for you in what you saw?"

I sat back a little and thought. "He was threatening," I admitted. "But not to me." I looked around the table until I got to Demetrius. "No. He's a threat to you, Demetrius. Just you."

"Why?" Seth asked.

Lukus leaned closer to me. "Isn't that one of the reasons we came here?" He held his hand up as he remembered where he was. "I mean there." He wavered a shrug. "To find out? You need to dream more."

I nodded, "Sure, I'll get right on that."

"No one can harm a child of Lilith!" Seth objected, "Not even a Child of Lilith."

"Yes," Martha nodded and sighed, "Do you know about angels?"

"They are very mysterious," I shrugged, "They are often the voice of God. One even told Mary she was carrying His child." I gave a short chuckle. "HIS child! Some guy from the," I did the air quotes again, "Church says God wants us to believe this and that because God spoke to him. He doesn't talk to Mary, the mother of His child, but He talks to you!? There is no way in Hell I believe him!"

"Would you know one if you saw them?" Martha shook her head. "No. Where do you believe angels came from?"

I shrugged, "I can't tell you. I know they were all created."

"Demons. We know many that believe," Martha began, "that Lilith became a demon and she gave birth to demons."

"You're not demons!!" Seth practically shouted. "Arthur Thorne was a demon, but not you! None of you are!"

Demetrius smiled, but it wasn't the playful zany smile Demetrius often on his face. I could see Demetrius was touched deeply. A sparkle glittered in Demetrius' eye and he leaned around and hugged Seth.

"Right at the beginning," Demetrius said, "when I first met you that was the second question out of your mouth. Was I a demon?"

"You're not," Seth assured hugging Demetrius tightly.

"Thank you," Demetrius said.

"There is a mention of a war in Heaven," Martha said. "Lucifer and who he was before..."

"When he was the Venom of God?" I asked. "Samael."

"Samuel?" Seth asked. "Like my brother Sam?"

"No," I shook my head, "I does sound like I'm messing up the name, but it's ancient Hebrew. (Sam-I-el). It's in the Talmudic and post-Talmudic...the Kabbalah in the History of Mankind..."

"There's more than the Torah," Seth nodded understanding it was a huge task.

"A Hell of a lot more," I laughing at the overwhelming complexity. "A man could dedicate their life to understanding all of it, but...he'd only get the surface of it."

"I've seen you fight! Damned well!! When did you train!?" Seth asked, "I know you're smart, but..."

I smiled with a laugh, "I told you. My eternity depends on it. I sort of have to. I made time."

"You've been blessed with a hunger of knowledge," Martha nodded. "That's what fuels the drive to know."

"I can't argue with evidence when it's shown me," I shrugged. "I can't say anyone has a finger on the right answer. I could be way off base. The answers are there. Perhaps we simply don't know! It might be impossible to know and understand now." I pointed straight up. "He's very clever."

Martha chuckled. "Neither do we and there is no proof."

"I know it says we will judge them," I said. "That was in one place."

"No," Martha smiled, "there are others in the old and new scriptures that say you will."

I thought carefully and shook my head, "No, because those times they spoke of demons."

"I ask you again," Martha began with a growing smile. "Where did they come from? An angel that does something wrong is not new. The war in Heaven? They sin. It's only a theory, but the demons were angels first."

"All because of Samael," I nodded.

"The Venom of God?" Max asked.

"He was God's Muscle," I shrugged, "He was...the Angel of Death." I grinned. "When God condemned people to death, Samael was sent to do make it happen."

"He was evil?" Toby asked.

"Samael was an Archangel with a shitty job." I didn't dare say I felt sorry for him. No one was there to report what happened. "He was good and evil as Samael, as Lucifer..." You don't feel sorry for Satan. It was Satan! "Why are you bringing him up?"

Martha looked a little uneasy. "I felt something..." Martha said carefully. "It's magic...I think. It's not magic from a Child of Lilith or a Child of Eve. There are four creatures capable of magic." She chuckled, "Five if you count God. The Children of Lilith, the Children of Eve, angels, and demons. This wasn't a Child of Lilith or Eve. I've never knowingly come across any angel, but this had...a dark shroud around it, so I don't believe it was an angel..."

"Why not?" Seth moaned. "Le Nah used those grey demon snakes..." He looked at those around us. "You know? Real sea waves have the eb and flow. This has just been coming ashore and coming ashore with no end in sight! It's not a great crushing massive wave, but it keeps coming!"

"Wait!!" Thomas was shaking his head. "I had Professor Potter." He shook his head at me. "You left a large void behind in A'Dore. He was so proud of you, but you disappointed him."

I nodded, "I know," I said reluctantly and smiled. "I begged the man to stay at the palace and continue to educate me." I grinned at Seth. "I volunteered to go to extra times to learn. It was supposed to last three or four years." I laughed. "He finally tells me he exhausted what he had in five, but he got more! It was almost ten years total."

"Damn," Seth sat back. "He really did want you to be a priest?"

"What!? Oh, No!" I blurted laughing at that idea, "He literally HATED the Church. He never met a priest he ever liked. He trusted none of them. He did want me to become a Theologian..."

"Or at least stand toe to toe with anyone in the Church and challenge them and force them to admit defeat!" Seth smiled at me. "I'd say you are."

"My point is, I can't compete with you!" Thomas stated. "No one was a better student than your Uncle Erik." He said glumly then sat up quickly. "And I thought the Kabballah was written in the twelfth century."

"It doesn't matter," I chuckled. "If when I read something new or hear something new, if it doesn't make sense, I leave it behind. If it requires an explanation to make sense, I'll give it a chance. I can't tell anyone to believe one way or another. I love the open society of the Natives. I respect their acceptance of the many facets of Human Life. Chitto and his family are welcome parts of my family and I hope they aren't ever ashamed of me..."

"Not yet," Chitto grinned at me. He looked around and waved at the surroundings. "And I can expect more frequent visits now?"

I grudgingly nodded, "That would be a safe expectation." I smiled. "Just don't look for me for answers, I may have it all wrong!"

"You don't believe that." Ceto said by Beau.

"That's another thing my Native family does I like," I shrugged. "What I believe doesn't do a thing. Whoever is in control will not suddenly appear or disappear based on my belief or anyone else's. This controlling entity knows my doubts as I've voiced them frequently. My desire to learn the truth is also known. I know that solved if He wants it solved. I had a job to do!" I nodded at Martha. "I didn't feel Father Markum was after me. I don't know what this other man is, but I don't feel he is after me either." I pointed at Demetrius. "They are after you. Why?"

"I have no idea," Demetrius answered.

"If he is a demon or a fallen angel," I glanced at Seth and asked quietly, "Aren't they the same thing?"

Seth shook his head, "I know you're not asking me, but I'd say no." He saw my questioning of his reasoning and just said. "If Samael was an Archangel, he was bad before he fell."

I pulled Seth into a kiss. "Yeah, you are much more than a pretty face." I smiled at him. "You're that, too. And smart!"

Everyone take a deep breath. This isn't supposed to be Sunday School. There is no Confirmation, no Profession of Faith. There is no religious significance except that they are mentioned. Why do we need censors!? And who appointed any of THEM!?!? Clark Gable said he didn't give a damn. So, what? Neither do I. Porky Pig interrupted an ending after he stuttered and then said finally, "You thought I'd say bitch." Yes, he did! I love every single irreverent, potentially offensive members of our species!! Mel Blanc, Chuck Jones, Hugh Harman, Rudolph Ising, you had to go. I know that. Just remember, I get to tell my side of whatever Daniel is telling you! The real story when I get there. I bow at your feet, gentlemen. Real genius!!

Get your child ready for an amazing and yes, sometimes hazardous world, don't try to make the world ready for your child. Do your job! Damn it!! Educate them!!

The day was starting to wear on us. When I brought us back to Gitchi, we lost time. That wasn't really true. We bounced hemispheres, but we lived a full day. We returned to cold northwest of our continent. We offered to bring Ahaka, but he declined this time. We offered Dakotah the trip, too, but he claimed he was too busy. I thought both Ahaka and Dakotah just weren't ready for this kind of trip. Kohona maybe a tribal leader, but he not even a teenager yet! I didn't speak a word of the excited boy language. He was moving his hands and gesturing grandly. No one's Sign Language was used.

I sat with Seth, Demetrius, Dara, Max, Val, Thomas, and Hana. Some exception had to be made with Hana. She lacked confidence in her use of English, but she made it work. She had to know A'Dore spoke English. There might be some that speak Japanese, a few that spoke the Quinault language, but those languages change and evolve in time. There was one subject she had difficulty following.

"This war in Heaven," Val said as he thought about it. "When was it?"

I shrugged, "It doesn't really say."

Val nodded, "Okay, but it would have to be after the creation, and before Adam and Eve." He chuckled and shrugged. "Or Adam and Lilith..."

"Where is Heaven?" I asked Val.

He raised a hand cautiously and pointed up, "Up there, I suppose."

"And Hell?" I asked.

He pointed at the floor.

"You're sure?"

Val shook his head, "Not a bit sure. What do you say?" He challenged with a grin. "You're the Theologian."

I nodded, "Who knows enough to know I have no idea. Just really quickly, I'll say, there have been cases of people that died. somehow comes back to life. That person then tells you who was there, what was being said and reports they were floating overhead, but no one saw them." I smiled. "Why?"

Val thought a few seconds, "Maybe it didn't happen?"

"Or?" I grinned, "It happened and we couldn't see it."

"The fact that Arthur is alive and, in this world..." Seth shuddered, "Anywhere on this or inside this world..." he pointed down.

"Does it matter?" I asked. "The truth is it doesn't matter. How long ago and how long the war was doesn't matter. Where it was doesn't matter." I shrugged. "It adds context. You determine other parts of the Bible with these stories and books." I looked at Demetrius. "Nothing was left for you? The Children of Lilith?"

Demetrius' eyes grew, "A set of scriptures for the Children of Lilith!?" He though a few moments, but shook his head. "I never heard of anything."

"This is all conjecture," I cautioned before.

"So?" Max shrugged.

I chuckled and nodded, "Demetrius, you learned from your parents."

"Yes," Demetrius nodded, "And he learned from his parents."

"Are they still around?" I asked. How do you subtly ask, are they still alive?

"My mother is," Demetrius nodded and chuckled. "She's approaching nine hundred and fifty years and still goes strong."

Dara laughed, "I was youngest of sixteen. Both of my parents aren't here anymore."

"Would she mind a visit from me?" I asked. I didn't know.

"No," Demetrius waved that off, "she wouldn't mind a bit! I will say she pays little attention to the world these days, but I'll take you. Why?"

I shook my head, "You had language."

Demetrius nodded, "Yes."

"We've also speculated there was a long time between creation and Adam and Eve," I said. "Thousands of years!" I held my arms out helplessly and then pointed at Demetrius, "Tell me nothing was written!"

"Did you live in cities?" Seth asked. "Perhaps different than ours maybe."

Demetrius shrugged, "No one knows."

"And we won't find out without asking!" I said simply.

Some of this discussion was not necessary. It didn't matter if there were cities before, if there was a war before and where. If there were parts that said don't or do...tell us why? No religious group, leader or like that should mind you asking questions. If they didn't want to answer, what is they're hiding? It would be something to cause problems for the group and/or leader.

You know I have a problem with the story of creation. Six days? There was gathering information about people, Human Beings alive thousands of years ago in caves! There were those people on the large island continent with the Dreaming and Dream Sharing have lived isolated so long! We were all Human and yet so diverse.

I believed the Children of Lilith were Human, too. Only one parent was different between them and us. We shared some of the building blocks with them. We were related! All those eons and not so much as a note? I was excepting that to be true with the six days of creation. Are out!

Demetrius was right. There might be no answers, but there also might be. Here's that cup again! Half empty or half full? It again doesn't matter. There's still the same amount of water.

I detest mysteries that just sit there! There should be answers! None of them should remain unsolved.

The world was old. Very old. I would like to know what it was like in the beginning. I mention that to some and suddenly I'm speaking a foreign language and they couldn't understand me. It never crossed their minds that there was a time before our world!

Hell, they all knew our world was dead center to everything! Everything circled us, but we always were? I don't think so.

Okay, then...

"This Samuel..." Seth began.

"No," I corrected, "Samael."

"Sam...I...el. He's kind of important." He looked at the others and shook his head, "or used to be...?"

I nodded, "Very." I held my hands up. "I'm repeating what I learned. Not saying any of it is true, but..." I saw Seth give me my patience is wearing thin look. "I'm just saying!" I smiled. "Yes, there were seven in positions of authority. Michael, Gabriel, Samael, Raphael..."

"Why doesn't God simply destroy him?" Beau asked. "He created everything, including the Devil."

I leaned in Beau's direction, "That is absolutely right! You're the head of the class!" I cocked my head at Beau, "Could it be that God isn't done with Lucifer/Samael/Beelzebub yet?"

"Doesn't God know Samael would figure it out?" Thomas asked.

I held my hand up, "Bear with me," I paused and took a breath. "Samael was given a shitty job!" I looked up and shouted. "A shitty job!!" I looked at the shocked faces, "It's not like He's never heard curse words before and some worse!" I shrugged, "It's just a group of sounds we agree mean something. There is no power in them. I'm no hypocrite. I say it directly to Him." I shook my head, "There are times I see what's happening under Satan's rule and think it's awfully convenient. It's like we're being herded in a specific direction. None of which would have happened without Samael."

"You think Lucifer is a Fallen Angel, on purpose." Dara said carefully.

I nodded, "He could be God's most trusted angel." They were stirring now, and disbelief was clear. "God could have given Samael a task God would trust only his most trusted angel could do." I grinned, "On a smaller scale, the Savior could have, too. Judas could have been asked to do the unthinkable! Betray Him! In order for us to be where we are, steps had to be made and you needed to know it was done and done right."

Thomas sat back; his eyes held motionless as he considered what I'd said. Seth was also thinking about what I said.

"If you disagree, fine," I said simply. "I'll also ask you how you come to that dismissal. I can't prove it, but you can't disprove yours. I even have a friend at the Vatican in Roma! He was training to be a soldier, but was... "He was sent to the Heart of the Church. He sent me translated snippets from what could be the book of Judas! It would never pass the Church's scrutiny." I smiled, "they took what was known and seized control of it; about anything to do with God and religion." I shook my head again. "To me, it's all just a fanciful tale. We're here. Now. I am no authority..."

"You tell us," Tom smiled and nodded, "We do it."

I hoped it would be that simple. Nothing is ever simple.

Hana's calm demeanor had worn thin and the Native in her was demanding an explanation from Thomas. He smiled at her and motioned for her to be patient, but I the hand on his arm tighten. She'd never hurt Thomas.

"If he can," I said to Hana, "Thomas will explain it all."

It wasn't late...well, that's not true. The missing day was not missing, but it sort just...merged into one long one.

"When I say this," Seth began. When someone begins with a disclaimer, it usually isn't good. This was to explain how he came to a conclusion. "You believe what you said about Satan and Judas?"

I chuckled, "It's a possibility. I will tell you; the Church has evil in it." I shrugged, "It has Humans in it. There is no proof." I watched him think and delivered the other shoe, so to speak, "You and I have an upcoming need for...something bad to happen for good results. Who would you trust to do it and have no doubt it would be done? It has to be done. It has to happen."

Seth nodded, "I guess."

I was feeling better! About the situation, the new access to magic I had and calmed down from my worry. I was feeling some confidence rise as I feared so much less! Demetrius stubbed his shin. Or did he? It was for effect! Whatever. It worked!

There was a whole chunk of time missing. In the beginning, there were angels that saw people born and fell in love with them. All of this in a book the Church wouldn't accept. I would have dismissed it, but other places in other books and scriptures refereed to this. There were special angels called the Ben Elohim, or fallen angels. They watched us and reported back? Many of these angels took Human wives! The Watchers' Children were the giants I mentioned earlier. They also taught their half-angelic children about teaching psychic things, magic, and gave unknown technology. That read like the many of the Children of God!! Not just Children of Eve or Children of Lilith. I knew there were missing eons! This world is much, much older!

These Watchers we so much like Humans, you couldn't see they weren't! Short of pinning an angel down and lifting that long white robe to peer at what was beneath the robe...and still they were just like us! And had children!! That was in the first book! Genesis!? The sixth chapter! I can't be accused of making things up. It's there!! I have to include the book of Enoch! Enoch is quoted in Genesis! It makes sense!! The whole situation was confusing and only the brightest minds could grasp it and I didn't mean me! I wanted to know. I wondered it Demetrius could get me a copy of the Book of Enoch. Could I get it myself? Where should I go? I wondered if the vault to the Vatican would open for me now? Should I? We were going to our room as we, strolled at a leisurely pace.

"Uh, oh," Seth said slowing to let the distance between us increase.

My eyes widened as I turned back to Seth, "Uh, oh? What's uh, oh and why?"

"I don't know what," Seth said reluctantly, "or why until you tell me. You're preparing to do something...dangerous."

I rolled my eyes a little as I thought, "Well, it's not really dangerous, as you say..."

"Okay," Seth nodded as he used his hand to encourage me to move forward, "Let's hear about this not so dangerous thing."

It was fun all the time Seth and I spent together. Here was another example. "I never considered it before because of the massive amount of time it would take to do with the travel there, the many that would object, the time I would study, and travel back..."

"What?" Seth asked with a reduced amount of patience in his voice.

He wanted me to say it, not talk about it. "Now, I can just..." I searched for the right word, "Pop? Over there and be right back."

"Over there?" Seth pointed as he repeated. "Over where?"

"Roma," I explained quickly, "They have this vault full of testimonies," I said and hurried on. "It will take time, but I know the answer is in there!"

Seth nodded as I confirmed what he knew. "The Vatican's locked and secure vault in Roma?" He nodded, "I know what you're going to say, but...why!?"

"There's a sort of a How-To instruction manual that instructs us how to act and what to do," I shrugged. "It's broken up in all these testimonies in the Vatican!" I began a slow pace walk in a circle. "I considered becoming a priest once." I looked at Seth sternly. "I mean once! It lasted approximately fifteen seconds. I hate lying." I motioned to the books I saw in my head, books no one else saw or could see, but I remembered. "Even to the Church. Could I go the rest of my life alone? Sex is everywhere, including the Church. I couldn't give the...sacraments I'm supposed to. I could join another group, but why? The Church had those hidden books and scrolls. I didn't have to deny myself who I am to do that and I got you!" I pleaded with him to understand. "There is a lot of time unaccountable and I think the writing may have that! All that I mentioned is in those writings!"

"Maybe," Seth nodded.

"Yes, maybe," I agreed. "I'd rather look and be wrong than right and never know it!" I shrugged. "It's important do know where you are and how you got there." I shrugged. "You know? To avoid going in the wrong direction again by mistake."

Seth's left eyebrow rose, "That was...almost profound."

I chuckled, "I'm not accepting credit for it. I'm sure someone has and will say it more profoundly." I pushed Seth back against the largest portion of the pie-shaped wedge wall.

"Do you know where to go?" Seth grinned as I backed him up. "I mean with that missing book of Enoch."

"Then the hard part," I chuckled. "Reading it!"

"You said you'd know it!" Seth protested.

"And I will!" I laughed. "Old English looks and sounds like German! It changes over the years. The only way to stop the change is a lot of use! English is becoming that language!" I could no longer force him back. He ran out of room. "I've seen Arabic, Hebrew, all in their original forms old and new forms. Latin! Old Latin. They are still arguing about if was originally in Aramaic, Hebrew or even in Greek!" I grinned.

Seth wasn't resisting me at all. I don't there was much space at all between us.

(I promised no Sunday School. I meant it.)

We hear feet as someone approached us.

"Aw, it was only a few more feet!" Chitto lamented as he moved us to a door, opened it and shoved us in the familiar surroundings. His room wasn't far from ours. "You two were so close to it!" He waved at the room and smiled. "You can go wherever. Remain standing, take everything off...the possibilities are endless!" He slapped our arms. He held up a hand with two opposing fingers nearly touched, "you were that close."

New discovery was super. Seth and I knew each other. You've heard me say it enough, but do you know? There were shortcuts. Any path well-traveled will have shortcuts to make getting to your goal faster. A touch a certain way, for so long, or touch a way to make it more intensive...goal achieved!

No, we were not strangers on this trip. Seth and I were married. Thomas and Hana were going to be married. Ceto and Beau were...what? Girlfriend and boyfriend? They could have a few decades together. Reese, Val, Max were adult men. Chitto was married with a wife a thousand miles away. For those reasons that they had to do without, I didn't want to rub anything in their faces. Innuendoes included. That would be cruel. More devoted than comrades. I knew what it meant, Espirit de Corps. My head did. Now, I really understood as I felt it for the others. There is nothing I would not do for any of them. Even kill. More a kinship of flesh, ideology, honor, or even morals.

There was somethings about The Watchers I would like to see. In the original language if possible. I didn't have it long, but it was there that God had these specially made angels that were to watch people. The first humans at first were Children of Lilith, right? Did they give birth to the giants and other creatures to use magic? And get this! There was an angel named Azazel, the "bringer of Light!" Lumiel. Lucifer!! It was Lucifer that taught Humans to make metals into swords, body armor, breastplates, and shields!

This was a tangled mess.

All this I knew was important to know who we would be facing. Demetrius, Dara, Lukus...all were potentially being threatened. I felt it, but didn't know it. This threat was ancient. Who knew what help Father Markham got? Len Nah used demonic forces. Who knew what help the ex-priest had gotten. We needed to be prepared.

It was at breakfast the next day as Demetrius came and sat with us.

"What's going on?" Demetrius said in a hoarse demand. He held his finger up and went on. "The first time I saw it was just before you asked me to take you to Creid."

I pulled on my shirt and looked at it, my arms and even felt my own face. "Alright," I growled, "I don't know what's written where, but you don't know everything."

Demetrius sat back; his voice had a challenging tone to it. "You're not planning to try something risky?"

I was about to reply when I knew they were right.

"I don't think it's risky. No one should have their safety threatened." He pointed at me. "They probably won't even notice at night. It's eight in the morning here. Do you know what time it is in Roma?"

"It's morning?" Seth asked.

Demetrius shook his head, "Nope, it's after two in the afternoon..." Demetrius shrugged a nod, "and therefore may be busy."

"It's the Vatican," I said simply. "It may never have low time. All of those little minds working to find answers."

Seth sat back a little, "I'm sure there are copies that can be used..."

Demetrius grinned, "You bet! All the different versions of the scriptures."

"Different versions of the scriptures?" Seth repeated.

"Yes!" Demetrius laughed. "There are several! Some are merely a chapter or two, but there are some that had books from the unexpected source."

"Like the book of Judas?" I asked with my eyes looking at him from the side.

Demetrius froze as he stared at me quietly a moment. "You know it?"

I nodded, "I know that it is in one of those other versions of scripture."

"Not ours." Seth said to be sure.

"No," Demetrius shook his head, "It's in the Gnostic Scripture. Part of their gospel."

"Why!?" Seth shouted.

"To avoid these very questions!!" Demetrius said as loud, no longer concerned with others looking. He pointed at Seth and said to everyone there, "This...is a STUBBORN man!!"

That satisfied curiosity for the moment and conversations went on.

"I wasn't kidding." I said, "I met Caleb when I was eight?" I guessed. "He was six. Ella wasn't showing up for another year or so, but...Caleb's parents had somewhere to be during the day for Caleb to be there." I raised a finger. "There were times when separating a child from a parent isn't possible. His mother worked in the kitchen, but broke her right arm." Everyone knew how bad it was to injure a key limb. That was her right arm and we all nodded understanding. I looked at Demetrius, "All you had to do was vanish and reappear!"

"Yeah, so?" Demetrius asked and said indignantly. "I know how much it hurts until I do that!"

"Okay," I said. "Anyway, Dad was doing Kingdom stuff." I waved that off. "Caleb and his mother stayed at the palace a couple of days. That morning, I was in school! Caleb was asked to sit in." I grinned. "He was a prodigy! He is in this part of the Church doing translating..."

"Do you trust him?" Demetrius asked.

I had to think. Not that I was afraid of him, but our paths separated and we wrote, but I never saw him anymore. "Y...eess," I admitted slowly and hesitantly. "I haven't seen him except ten to fifteen years ago. I'd have to say yes."

Demetrius nodded, "He maybe how we can get in."

Seth nodded equally as eager, "He can turn us in!" He reminded us.

"What about the disembodied voice again?" I asked Demetrius. "Like the first time to Creid?"

"Sure," Demetrius nodded, "Like we did with Mordor." He shook his head, "I still love that man's name, it has this...otherworldliness about it."

"A big cuddle bear," I chuckled. Except a few people, they were right about me. I did love everybody and everybody loved me. Mordor loved his grandchildren! All three of them! I wish he had gotten to see Allister. "You're now pushing what's in the vaults?"

Demetrius shrugged, "Yes, I suppose we are."

I nodded, "Because you're dying?"

Seth inhaled sharply and looked at me sternly, "They aren't dying!"

I nodded, "Yes, they are." I reached over for Demetrius' hand. "I adore this man now. He will live long after you and I are buried by Toby or Dennis, but no more children of Lilith? There were some Daughters of Lilith who married the Ben Elohim! They had children! Where are they?"

Seth blew a breath out, "Ben Elo..." He shook his head. "Who?"

I was teaching school. I apologize. I said I wouldn't, but to know what happens, you need to understand. "The Fallen Angels? Angels so much like us, they could mate with us!" I laughed, "and did! Was one Lucifer?" I pointed at myself. "With those Little Warriors, I should be here a while longer, but now I can work the magic, we need to move quicker." I waved my finger at Demetrius. "We can no longer waste time." The Children of Eve were used to thinking about things in a short-term way. Not the Children of Lilith. Three or four hundred s of years to go? Why hurry? Because any or the resources you had as in other people were going to thin out. Caleb in Roma could be reassigned! He could hate the Church now. Or he could totally under the spell now and enraptured with the whole thing. I felt guilty about spying on Caleb. I had to have Demetrius sit right with me to help show me what to do. The last time, I was just along for the ride, now I was doing on my own. Even how I got there. There was nine more into the hours to think about. Was Caleb awake at three in the morning? I wouldn't be. He didn't want to be a priest. He was a young man still. You never just barge into a man's bedroom. Even with the vow of celibacy he didn't have to be alone. Please. He wasn't difficult to find, either! I thought of the studious attention in books he shouldn't be able to read, but did! It took five seconds.

"Okay," I said and got a motion to lower my volume and Demetrius pointed at the bed sole occupant. "I need a light show or something."

Demetrius chuckled and pointed down, "This him?"

Okay, who sleeps pretty all the time? I've seen some...interesting positions from the boys, Seth and even Kitty once. How Kitty got down with breaking his neck I wished I'd seen! He was twisted and upside down and...you had to be there.

Caleb was not a big man. He was a few inches shorter than my five-ten or sixty-five inches. The heaviest thing he carried were those scrolls. In his room, and there was no real room for it, was a desk he could fold the scroll out and read carefully. I felt guilty! This was Caleb's room!! His place to get away from the demands of the Church. There were innocents here. Caleb had been one of those innocents. This was his room, his space, and his privacy.

"Yes," I grinned, "It's him."

Demetrius shook his head and finger at me and spoke in Toby's Sign Language. No! You can't. No more strays!

There was enough light from the stars to see if you look. One. He's not a stray! And two...

You should not bring this one home!

When we reappeared, we were in Gitchi.

"I need to you to be able to sense your surroundings and know what's there." Demetrius turned away. "You were right."

"About time?" I asked.to learn

He shrugged, "Yes, we always thought...tomorrow we'll get right on that to learn how to...whatever, but there wouldn't be a tomorrow."

"Maybe," I nodded. "Where are the children of the Watchers? There is as much time from being thrown out of the Garden of Eden as there is between creation and being thrown out! You, Dara, Lukus, Martha, Ceto, Eabha are Human every bit as we, the Children of Eve are. To make it my first judgement, I'll write it, say it and yes, take an interview with him and ask him. I respect Him. Creator. I'm not, and I'm scared, but there's no way you're being left out!" I brought Demetrius in for a tight hug. "I love you, Demetrius!"

The door to our room opened and the smell of popcorn and melted cheese greeted us as Seth walked in and looked disappointed over the big bowl. "Back already? Check again, you might have missed something."

"I told you," I only stopped one arm of the hug so I could get some popcorn. I popped them in. Delicious!! "How long were you planning on?" He had a book he enjoyed reading.

"A few hours?" He turned to the side, taking the popcorn away. "You forgot something, right?"

"Sorry," Demetrius grinned taking the bowl and putting where we could all share it. On the bed.