The Book of Jubilees mentioned that some of Nephilim survived the Great Flood and their sole purpose was to lead man astray. Juan brought a copy of the Ethiopian Bible back to Spain with him and Buono had been given a translated edition.
“I have also read the Book of Jubilees,” Antonio told Rephaim.
Rephaim smiled. “A book given to Moses, lost in the land of Ethiopia. A book that also speaks of a fountain. We are the cousins of the Men of Nod. You are a Man of Nod, are you not?” Antonio nodded. “So we are cousins,” Rephaim finished.
“Well, cousin,” Antonio asked, “what do you seek from me?”
Rephaim answered by turning his head. Antonio followed his gaze and in the darkness of the room he saw a man leave his place along the wall. Antonio recognized the man as he came into the fire light.
“Buenos dias, Antonio.” Miguel came to Rephaim’s side. Miguel had been a member of Buono’s crew and had sailed with them to Spain. Antonio had never fully trusted the man and thought he had died in the battle at the village.
“Buenos dias,” Antonio answered. “Why are you here? How do you know of this place?”
“You already know that answer, do you not?” Antonio acknowledged by nodding his head and Miguel continued. “Do you come to join us?”
“I am bound to no one,” Antonio answered.
“Are we not brothers? I would have you bound to me as a brother.”
“And where would that brotherhood lead?” Antonio asked. A vision began forming in his head but that vision was still cloudy.
“To the fountain,” Miguel answered.
Antonio sensed Miguel’s intentions. “You know that Diego Columbus still lives?”
“Aye,” Miguel answered. “I will go there and shall avenge the death of my father.”
At that moment, Miguel’s tale became clear to Antonio. Decades prior, Diego had Miguel’s father imprisoned and took his family’s land. The jailing and taking of land was unjust, which the courts agreed with later but it was too late for Miguel’s father. His father had been beat relentlessly and murdered in prison. Miguel entered in service under Juan with the aspirations of locating Diego and slowly sliding a knife across his throat.
“I know that you see,” Miguel smiled.
“Were your loyalties ever with the man who paid you?” Antonio asked.
“It was a means to an end.”
“And that end drew you here?”
“I was drawn here the same as you. You, I believe are here for another reason. I was brought here to help convince you to join us.”
“Your revenge is short-sighted. Diego has gone beyond the fountain with Juan.”
Miguel’s eyes darkened and a smile came across his face. “Then that’s where we’ll go. And you will lead us.”
Antonio was surprised. “How can one go beyond the fountain? The village is guarded by the Men of Nod and the fountain by Cherubim.”
“Abuelo travels beyond the fountain as he wishes. You may do the same as a Man of Nod,” Miguel answered. “The Nephilim are as the Men of Nod. Rephaim can teach you to control that power which you now possess. Will you not join us?”
When Antonio did not answer, Miguel stepped off the platform and stood in front of Antonio. “I know your position,” Miguel lowered his voice. “They are your brothers. But you have been betrayed by the Men of Nod. They have given you their power and in doing so took your honor. They felt you could not win in High Combat unaided and now you are disgraced. You are the rightful High Chief yet now you are exiled because of them.”
“And what will you do with the garden?”
“I will take my revenge on Diego and the garden will be ours to reclaim for men. Why should we not have all that the garden offers because of the mistake of our ancestors?”
“Why should I trust a man who has no loyalty? You served Juan and yet you abandoned him and here I find you. You claim to be one of these men now – without explanation as to how you know of this place – and yet how long until you turn on these men?”
“He is here because I invited him,” Rephaim answered. “As for his loyalty, I only ask what each man offers freely.”
“How long have you been here?”
“We have existed in this land as long as the Men of Nod.”
“And you sought out Miguel? Why him and no one else?”
“He is the one who will serve our purpose.”
Antonio considered Rephaim’s comment. “Why would I help you recover the garden, providing I have such ability?”
“You possess the ability. Do not insult me by claiming you do not. As for our desires, we only wish to set right that which man has taken. Man was given everything and yet fell short. Our fathers fought against this injustice but were banished for their stance. We seek to honor what they started.”
“And Juan…what will happen to him? I do not wish him harmed.”
“He will be given an opportunity see the world as we do. After that, it will be up to him which side he takes.”
At that moment, all was seen by Antonio. He understood the intentions of the Nephilim. Once it was explained, he knew the Men of Nod had no right to deny their claim to the garden. He knew his answer was yes. The men of Nod had robbed him of his heritage and he would not see it happen to anyone else if he could prevent it.
He loved his Spanish
