Chapter 1
The Seven Scorpions ~ continued from Chapter 1 | The Moab Priest
“Jemb al-la tiqrab, jemb al-haiyyi fru nam. By the side of the scorpion do not come; by the side of the viper spread your bed and sleep.”
A scorpion emerged from the back of the cave.
“Nish-e aqrab naas rah ast tabiyyat-ash hai,” the priest muttered.
He bent close to the earth, watching the insect crawl on the rocks.
“Little evil one,” he said.
He placed his hand over the creature. “Will you sting or will you be my instrument?”
The priest struck at the scorpion and held it tightly until its blood ran onto the cave floor.
“Blood, blood, blood,” he said. He squashed the remains and drove them deep into the hard, cold earth.
He drew angry breaths and closed his eyes while trying to let the Bethlehem morning breeze clear his troubled mind.
The priest looked at the baby.
“Now, my little one, I had a dream about a blazing light and its resting place. Davooowd must die; he must not give the burning light a resting place.”
The Moab did a little dance.
“I must take his blood, the one they call Davooowd.”
The baby giggled.
“Yes, I will take his blood.” He looked at the child and then picked him up and rubbed his fat cheeks.
“Yes, you will help. You will be my instrument if I fail.”
A ray of light pierced the cave depths and a rattling noise was heard far from the entrance.
The mother’s eyes went dark. She spread her hands over the cave floor and hissed a curse. As she spoke, her head bent low to the ground.
“Lady of the Burning Sands, Sekhmet, Mistress of Terror, May no enemy find me, May no harm approach me, Your sacred fire surrounds me and No evil can withstand your eyes.”
The sad mother became a fiery vision. Her hair fell around her shoulders, her face glowed and precious jewels shimmered on her neck.
The rattling noise grew until it filled the cave and on the wall appeared the shadow of a viper rising to its full striking height.
The woman let out a shrill yell, “Lalalalalalalalal!”
Continue reading… Chapter 1 | The Rose
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