BENE-HA-ELOHIM (THE CHILDREN OF GOD) An Elena Duran-Corazon Negro Story 8/15 by Julio Cesar divad72@prodigy.net.mx HERU-SA-ASET, THE FORGOTTEN PRINCE "And have done as the sons of men do, by taking to themselves wives, and who have been greatly corrupted on the earth; That on the earth they shall never obtain peace and remission of sin. For they shall not rejoice in their offspring; they shall behold the slaughter of their beloved; shall lament for the destruction of their sons; and shall petition for ever; but shall not obtain mercy and peace." Book of Enoch 12: 5,6 Neolithic Period By the shores of the Nile 6,000 BCE. The attack had been fast and effective. Without warning, without mercy. The shores of the great river were covered in blood. The small village was no more. Osiris was dead, the pieces of his body dispersed and scattered all over the camp. In the middle of the smoke and chaos, Heru-sa-aset ran toward his stepmother, Isis. A strong arm grabbed him for behind. "Where do you go, little one?" Heru-sa-aset turned to see his captor. Even though he didn't know him, he felt a strange sensation about this man, this beast who had killed his stepfather. In a bizarre way, Heru-sa-aset felt connected with the odd warrior. "Who are you?" he dared to ask the man. The man laughed with a sound that seemed the one of a hyena. "My name is Sutekh, but you can call me Seth." "Sutekh?" Heru-sa-aset asked in disbelief. "The great warrior who led the armies of Ra?" Sutekh smiled. "Ra is nothing but a decrepit old chieftain. Only under my command can all the tribes in this region stand as one. That's why I'm here. I came for you." Heru-sa-aset felt the blood in his body turn cold. "You killed my father, the great Osiris!" "Your father? My boy, you know better than that. Osiris found you as a foundling child lying in the wilderness. Your soul belongs to me. Now, where is Isis?" Heru-sa-aset tried to run, but Sutekh was too strong. "Tell me now, and I won't kill her." "Never!" Heru-sa-aset cried. "Let him go!" Isis's voice came to them in the middle of the smoke. "He is but a child!" Sutekh turned his head viciously. "So, the woman of Osiris isn't a coward, after all," he exclaimed. "Let my boy go," she repeated. "You have now what you came looking for. My husband is dead, let my child go." "Where is the other one, the one you named Anubis?" Sutekh asked. "Far away and safe from you," Isis answered proudly. "Ra desires no heirs from his children, that's why he sent me to kill his son Osiris. Tell me where Anubis is, and I let you live. Refuse me, and you will join your husband in the afterlife." "I damn you, Sutekh," Isis replied. "I damn you for all eternity." "Your curses have no effect what so ever over me, Isis. You have nothing and no one behind you to make a stand against me. Give me Anubis, or I will kill Heru-sa-aset right now." Sutekh remarked pressing his weapon toward Heru-sa-aset's neck. "Last chance, where is Anubis?" Isis lowered her head in shame. "You would kill them both any way," she whispered to herself. Then, her gaze met Heru-sa-aset's. "Forgive me, my son. You have more chance to survive than your brother. Please, forgive me." Heru-sa-aset couldn't believe when his mother seemed to disappear covered by the smoke. With a swift movement, she was gone. "Just as I expected," Sutekh whispered. "Never mind, little Prince, now you are mine. A new world is about to be opened to you." ======== Ural Mountains March 21, 2013 Heru-sa-aset awoke from his dream. For a moment, his gaze scanned the darkness. Then he sighed as Zarach's message reached him one more time. Danger!!! Beware!!! She is back!!! We are all in danger!!! "I know," Heru-sa-aset whispered. Over and over, he heard the sound. Near whisper, silent and sibilant, like the crack of a serpent's tongue. Lilitu. The screech-owl voice shrieking in the twilight, crouched over the edge of sanity, stealing the breath of babes and whisking away the Dreamers' seed. The touch of every shame, the glinting teeth of a lover none will admit but all desire. The red-haired Immortal who would rise to usher in the end of the world. Heru-sa-aset left his bed and walked around his chamber. He'd seen her. In fact, every Immortal has seen her, one way or another. A cult of her devotees celebrated her example, and any number of books, pamphlets, songs, scriptures and tracts had been created to damn or deify her. According to rabbinical legends and the bygone testaments of Ur and Babylon, Lilitu had been the first woman, the left to Adam's right, the equal grown from his back, flesh of his flesh. Besides her, Eve, Adam's second wife, was a pale specter. As part of the original couple, Lilitu had inherited magical birthrights and learned great arts. Rightfully, she considered herself the equal of Adam; but like most men of the past, Adam saw things differently. When he raped her, Lilitu appealed to her God, who delivered her out of Eden and cast her out into the unformed world. From that point, it was said, she became a vengeful demon, killing children, stealing seed and waylaying virtuous men. Hers was not an unfamiliar story in the history of the world. But Heru-sa-aset knew better. Regardless the legends, no matter the tales, all could be reduced to a single fact. Lilitu was Immortal, just like him. But she was the most powerful Immortal ever. She was also the creator of the Game. And she desired to rule the world. Simple as that. Heru-sa-aset took the bell besides his bed and rang it. An instant later, a man entered his room. "Yes, sire?" "We are going to have company, Cherti. And old friend is coming to visit us. And he is not coming alone." "What is your command?" the man asked. "Go to our private airport. The Dreamer is coming. The day has arrived." "You mean Corazon Negro, my Prince?" "Yes," Heru-sa-aset answered. "His lost love is with him. As soon as they arrive, bring them to me. We have much work to do." The man bowed and left the room. Heru-sa-aset closed his eyes, gathering all his strength. Soon enough, he would need it all. ======== Their plane landed a few minutes after sunset. A black Mercedes-Benz limousine was waiting for Elena Duran and Corazon Negro at the private airport. Elena was ... unhappy. "I don't like this, my love," she said as the driver stood patiently waiting a dozen feet away. A beanpole of a man, tall and thin, his hairless face was the color of old leather, and completely without expression. Dressed entirely in black, he was definitely not a local. Elena thought he looked Arabic. "We might be walking into a trap. Remember Omar back at Paris in 1985? That hijoputa over there remains me of him." Corazon Negro, the new Dreamer, smiled at her. "Don't worry, my love; we are fine." Seeing the mistrustful expression in Elena's only eye, the Aztec hurried on. "We don't need to worry about anything. This entire trip was arranged weeks ago. I swear we won't need saving. We're probably safer now than before." Elena tried to smile, but she couldn't forget why they were here. Her voice as cold as the night air, she said, "I still don't like this. Why aren't we going after Lilitu directly, instead of taking this unnecessary trip to the Urals to confer with mysterious strangers?" Corazon Negro looked at her, smiling. "I thought you never liked hunting Lilitu before." "Yes, well," Elena said, her only eye sparking mysteriously. "People change, as you know. Besides, the sooner we kill her, the sooner I'll have you just for myself," she said, sounding both exasperated and frustrated. Corazon Negro didn't blame her. Twenty years before, Elena had been the one who had quit Lilitu's hunt. She had tried to recover her life, and she had lost an eye, barely held onto her sanity, and almost lost her head. Yet, Corazon Negro still loved her, even with her minor faults. After all, he had minor faults, too. He laughed. "Very well then. But we need information, and we need allies." Elena. She stared at the chauffeur. "How do we know we can trust this man? Our enemies are everywhere." "His name is Cherti, and he is Egyptian," Corazon Negro said gesturing at the driver to step closer. "He has served as a chauffeur of one of Zarach's numerous friends many times in the past. A loyal servant to his master, I assure you his will cannot be bent to serve another." Elena stared at the leather-skinned man, her eye blazing with suspicion. He met her gaze unflinchingly. After a moment, Elena turned away, shaking her head in frustration. "His face is harsh and unyielding as weathered stone," she declared. "He could be an assassin sent by Lilitu. His master, this friend of Zarach, must be an interesting person, my love, to command such devotion. You seem to have made an extremely wide variety of acquaintances since the last time we were together," she remarked. "If you live long enough," Corazon Negro said taking Elena by the hand, "you get to meet a lot of interesting people." He nodded at the chauffeur. "Let's move, Cherti. We've spent too much time talking." "Please, follow me," said Cherti, his voice as rough as his features. "My master awaits." The limousine featured a portable bar and dark tinted windows. Impossible to see inside the passenger section of the car from outside, it was equally impossible to see out from within. Elena, who had been hoping to see the mountains, was even less happy. "One thing I learned from previous visits to this region," Corazon Negro said, answering Elena's unasked question as Cherti steered the car into the tangle of roads surrounding the airport, "is that staring out the car windows in this country is not advisable. The drop is usually several miles straight down. Scenery in the Urals is best viewed from a stationary location." "I'm not fond of heights," admitted Elena. "There are no mountains in eastern Argentina." "Well, there's not much pampa in here," Corazon Negro said smiling. "The person waiting for us is familiar with both types of terrain. As you may have also guessed, he values his privacy highly. No one knows the exact location of his fortress. It sits somewhere in the mountains. While he trusts me more than most, I'm sure that the doors and windows won't budge until we arrive at our destination." "How long is the trip?" Elena asked. "About two hours," Corazon Negro answered. "Zarach has a theory that we might be driving in loops for most of that time and the building is actually located twenty minutes from the airport. Only Cherti knows for sure, and he will never tell." "You still trust Zarach?" Elena asked suddenly. "And his friends?" "They are the Ancient Gathering, my love. Only with their combined forces will we have a chance to defeat Lilitu. The Immortal we are about to see is a good friend, as you will soon learn." Corazon Negro closed his eyes. "What are you doing?" Elena asked. "I'm calming and relaxing myself, my love. I haven't had much free time to concentrate on the Dream the past few days. I need to gather my thoughts before we arrive." Elena stifled the hundred questions burning in her mind. Closing her eye, she settled back on the comfortable cushions of the limousine, knowing she was too excited to rest. Corazon Negro's hand on her shoulder woke her up a few minutes before their arrival. "Sorry," Elena said, groggily, as she rubbed the sleep out of her eye. Her fingers were stiff. "I didn't expect to doze off." "No problem, my love," Corazon Negro said, gesturing gently to her. "You needed the rest, and I valued the silence." "You're not saying I talk too much, are you?" she asked playfully, then continued, straightening up in her seat, "Are we nearly at the fortress?" "Any minute, according to Cherti," Corazon Negro replied smiling at her; then he added, "The car's stopped. We've arrived." A moment later, Cherti opened the door on the right-hand side of the limo. "Please, follow me. My master awaits you in the reception room." As they entered the main door, Elena and Corazon Negro felt at the same time the powerful Immortal presence emanating from inside the fortress. Cherti led them inside corridors that in Elena's eye, seemed to have certain familiarity. She paused, studying the strange symbols painted on the walls. As she fanned her gaze around the rooms, she saw that every wall inside the huge house was decorated with faded painted hieroglyphs, something strange in that part of the world. "Holy Ground," Elena whispered. "The entire place is Holy Ground." Finally, they entered the reception room. Cherti stepped inside it first, announced the guests. "Corazon Negro, from the Aztec people, milord," he said bowing. Cherti's master sat in a comfortable-looking armchair in front of a small cocktail table in a parlor decorated entirely in blue and gold. At his side stood a tall majordomo, dressed entirely in black, his features as dark and impassive as those of the chauffeur. "My friends," said the mysterious Immortal, rising to his feet as they entered the room. "Welcome to my home. It's good to see you both. Please, sit down." The man gestured to two seats directly across from him. Elena took the chair to the left, Corazon Negro the other. Cherti circled around the table and took a position by his master's armchair, opposite the majordomo. "Something to drink after your long ride? Or perhaps a little food?" "I'm fine," Corazon Negro said. "But Elena might like something." "A glass of water would be nice," Elena said hesitantly. "And I am a bit hungry. We only had a snack on the plane." The man glanced up at his majordomo. "You heard. A glass of spring water for our friend. I will have my usual. Then have the chef prepare something special. We can eat as we talk." The short exchange gave Elena a few seconds to scrutinize their host without obviously staring. The Immortal appeared to be in his early twenties, just as like Zarach and Aylon, the only other members of the Ancient Gathering she had previously met. Like them and Corazon Negro, this man was big, about six feet tall. He wore dark pants and a dark pullover shirt pulled snugly over wide shoulders. He was obviously in superb physical condition. He had a strong chin, hawk-like nose, shaved head, and his skin was the color of molten bronze. His eyes blazed with intelligence. "As you desire," murmured the majordomo. "So shall it be done." Bowing slightly, he glided from the parlor. "Aten can be so dramatic," said the Immortal, chuckling, as he focused his attention on Elena and Corazon Negro once more. "He likes to ham it up for visitors. Usually, he just says, 'yes, boos.'" Corazon Negro grinned. "You've been letting him watch too many Batman movies on TV, Prince," he remarked. "More likely Dr. Frankenstein than Mr. Wayne," said the other Immortal. "But Aten, despite his affectations, is efficient. Here are our drinks." Elena stared at her drink. It was served in a crystal goblet edged with pure gold filigree. The glass had to be worth thousands. It seemed sacrilegious to use it for just water. "You have yet to introduce me to your beautiful woman, Corazon Negro," said their host, as he took a sip of amber liquor from a similar goblet. "Sorry," said Corazon Negro. "I've forgotten my manners, Prince. I'm honored to present to you Curi-Rayen of the Mapuche people, now known as Elena Duran, student of the noted warrior Roderigo Rubio." He looked at Elena. "My love, may I introduce you Prince Heru-sa-aset of Egypt?" Their host inclined his head in a slight bow. "A pleasure, Elena. I met your father once in the Iberian Peninsula, where he was fighting the invading Moors. His death at the hands of the Moor Saint Cloud was ... distressing." Elena wondered if he'd just read about her father, but he seemed sincere in his regret. One point for him, she thought. Her host continued. "Corazon Negro spoke to me years ago about your extraordinary character. You see, Corazon Negro spent many years here with me, learning the way to reach his Dream." Heru-sa-aset nailed Elena with his gaze. "I see by your aura that he did not exaggerate." Elena couldn't help smiling back. Her 'aura', eh? She looked at Corazon Negro. "So, this is where you stayed all these years?" "Among other places," Corazon Negro answered. "Zarach insisted I should always stay on Holy Ground, protected from Lilitu." "A difficult task, I should add," Heru-sa-aset said to Elena. "Especially with such a lovely woman like yourself waiting for him." Elena blushed. She certainly didn't feel beautiful. She was weak, out of shape, handicapped in many ways-she'd been away from the good fight for too long. But now she was back! Shaking her head, she wondered if Corazon Negro had discussed her with every other Immortal in the world. But you don't really mind the attention, do you, Elena? she asked herself. Of course, she didn't mind at all. Suddenly, her host's name rang a bell in her head. "The name Heru-sa-aset -- isn't it another form of the name Horus? You've taken the title of the ancient Egyptian sky God, Prince?" she asked to make conversation. She knew that many powerful Immortals took the identities of famous mythological beings as aliases. It seemed a little arrogant to her, but then again ... Her thoughts were interrupted by Heru-sa-aset, who began to roar with laughter. Corazon Negro sighed heavily. Elena blushed again, bewildered, and wondered what she had said wrong. Then she knew. !Cono! Horus, of course. "A natural mistake," said the Prince, wiping tears from his eyes. "Please, forgive me. I am not using Horus' name, my child. I am Heru-sa-aset, adopted son of Osiris and Isis, stepbrother of their legitimate son, Anubis, and former protege of the Immortal Sutekh, better known in Egyptian mythology as Seth the Corrupter. Though I am certainly not a God, far from it, I am one of the world's most ancient Immortals. I'm the real Horus." ========