He pulled the wooden handles from their housing and the ancient seals on the Ark hissed. Dust wafted and Shamsiel heaved the handles to the ground. He grabbed the lid and pulled it free of the Ark; it joined the handles on the desolate ground.
“The tablets,” a Watcher commented.
“The tablets,” Shamsiel agreed. Then to their surprise, he heaved the tablets against the side of the mountain, ruining the ancient stones. The Watchers looked at each other nervously but Shamsiel ignored them.
He reached into the Ark and plucked the only item of interest to him – the Rod of Aaron. The serpent hissed as the rod was exhumed.
The rod looked no different than any other that had been possessed by men. The wood was dark and stained in places and the shaft was twisted and rough.
The uniqueness of the rod, however was the origin of the wood: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The first man had received the rod upon his expulsion from the garden as a reminder of his downfall.
The rod was passed down and finally made its way to Moses. It was Moses who discovered that on the rod was written the name of God.
Shamsiel would now use that name to gain entrance to the garden. But first he needed Enoch.
Shamsiel walked boldly through the garden until he reached the Great Hall. The Watchers were timidly in tow. The vast wooden doorway barred their way only momentarily as Shamsiel pushed them inward. They swung open easily enough and Shamsiel entered unimpeded.
He strode confidently through hall and into the vast common room. “Enoch!” Shamsiel called out.
The room was shadowed along the outer edges but out of that shadow came a man. “So it’s Abuelo now?” Shamsiel asked in recognition of the man.
“It’s as good a name as any.”
“You know why we are here?” Shamsiel asked and Abuelo nodded in response.
Shamsiel had known Abuelo and the Men of Nod since the beginning and he was saddened by what he must do next. “Go to your men,” Shamsiel ordered. “You will die fighting beside your brothers, not here.”
Abuelo turned and looked back at the Men of Nod who lined the wall. They were ethereal but they were not angels. He knew this was the end.
With a battle cry that resonated across the infinite room, the Men of Nod charged forward to join their leader.
Shamsiel often thought of that glorious battle. The Watchers slaughtered the Men of Nod that day but their bravery haunted him.
Then, the Watchers moved on to Enoch.
Enoch looked out over creation. He had failed. The Watchers had altered existence and Enoch had been a pawn in that altering. He desired that God should overthrow the Watchers, to cast them from the heavens once again but his pleading went unanswered.
The Watchers had taken the garden and Shamsiel now led them in creating a new, just world.
Enoch knew it was only a matter of time before the serpent usurped Shamsiel. He watched Shamsiel and wondered if he knew it as well. Surely he had to be aware. And when that time came – with the serpent in command, the serpent would challenge God outright.
It will happen soon, he thought. The serpent had already begun the groundwork.
The recent changes in existence were unnatural and unrest followed. The Watchers believed that mankind should be held accountable for their actions and during those first few days, any man who committed crimes against the nature of creation (such as murder) was banished from existence – a death for a death.
As time continued, smaller offences were punished similarly. Soon, any offence became punishable. Shamsiel felt uncomfortable with what was occurring but he had agreed that mankind should be punished and could not go back on his decision; not now.
The serpent began whispering among the Watchers, quietly questioning the motives of Shamsiel. The Watchers felt that mankind should be judged for their actions but now they felt under Shamsiel’s leadership, the punishments had become too severe.
The Watchers observed humans discontinuing interaction with one other: mankind began to segregate and soon governments and entire countries collapsed. On other planets throughout the universe, worlds plunged into anarchy.
The Watchers were fueled by the serpent and grew ill-contented with Shamsiel’s decisions and leadership. Soon, there was dissension among the Watchers. Finally, the divide became too great and Shamsiel was challenged for his position.
He was accused of misleading the Watchers in his vision for a new existence. He denied the claims but it had already been decided and Shamsiel was banished.
He looked at the angels that surrounded him. “I will leave peacefully. But before I do, my last action is to release Azazel. Azazel, my old friend, you are released.”
The serpent was taken aback at Shamsiel’s brashness but did not let his emotions show to the group.
With Shamsiel gone, a new leader was appointed. By unanimous decision the serpent assumed control and became the Morning Star once again.
He knew it was only a matter of time before Azazel came for revenge.
CHAPTER TEN
The priest pulled the Bible of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church from the table drawer next to the bed and turned to the Book of Jubilees. “There are several references of the Nephilim and Fallen Angels.”
“What are we hoping to find in the texts?” Diego asked. “And why does this book keep popping up?”
“I’m not sure,” Juan answered. “But Enoch felt it was important.”
“You’re familiar with this book?” the priest asked.
Juan nodded. “Many years ago, the answers in this book allowed us to defeat the Nephilim.”
The priest’s eyes widen. He had many questions but felt it pertinent to stay on task. “Then perhaps some more back story on the Nephilim would assist me.”
Juan inhaled. “Very well.”
