The Devil's Shadow | The Empty World Sequence

Five

Eden, last of the Haven Cities, circa 26 AD.

A hidden pass in the mountains led them to a walled settlement. The walls looked old now and about to crumble. It was night when they arrived, torches lighting their path, but Paris could see up onto the wall. A child-sized creature was up there, and then he saw another. "Be gone Nephillim Spawn, we can't shelter any more of your kind," the first called down.

"I have been called. I will be known here by the name Shade," Paris shouted up to them.

And this was when the second creature laughed. "We have been waiting for this one, at least some have. Welcome, Shade, and come in."

The gates were opened and Paris led his family inside.

The small creature hopped from the top of the wall and introduced itself as Beleth. Paris looked about then and saw that within the walls there was a busy metropolis entirely populated-but for the four Humans with him-with supernormal beings. Paris pulled his family close and left their belongings at the gate, following Beleth when he beckoned them forward.

"What is this place?" Paris asked their guide.

Beleth turned about and gave a little laugh, just as he had up on the wall. "You really have no idea do you?" He asked, then, knowing the answer said, "It's called Eden, though it's not the very first place named so, but we thought New Eden a bit pretentious, being The City's not nearly what the original was. You know, new and improved."

"Oh," was all Paris managed.

And Beleth went on as they walked past glittering buildings and facades of brightly painted marble or limestone. "Perhaps Azyur Ka has told you our time here is nearly up. Of course there's no going back to our world, it's become quite uninhabitable, but there will be a new kingdom established, not a kingdom here on Earth mind you, we are leaving. At least, this is what Michael tells us, and he usually gets word before we do. We used to have many havens here, but they fell. This is our last. You know? Some of us really think it was a shame loosing our workers, first our clones going on strike, then the Nephillim affair, the rebellion, and then the whole thing with the Humans, it's really impossible to get good help anymore."

They stopped just outside a building made of red-painted bricks, above a stone foundation. "This is the Nephillim House," Beleth said, "they'll be expecting you. You must be used to it by now...knowing things."

Paris led his family into the Nephillim House. Just inside there was a room with fountains spraying water and many exotic brightly coloured plants hanging from baskets or sitting in pots. Azyur was there, with Salamiel, whom Paris recognised from the dreams of course, and some others, Asbeel among them. Azyur Ka introduced some of the others, Azza and Helel. "You should recognise Salamiel, his other was leader of the ones called Watchers and Sons of the Gods when they were outcast for their disobedience," she said.

Salamiel was outraged that Paris had brought Humans into the house. He came forward and bared his teeth, demanded they be removed. Paris stepped between the old Nephillim and his family, stood defensively. "These Humans are all my family, they know what I am, they do not have fear as most of their kind, they are not ignorant. I will not leave them unless I know there is a place in this city they will be unharmed."

"I remember when we did not have to keep secrets from anyone, and still we inspired fear," Helel said, "in olden days."

"Azyur Ka, take your Spawn's mortal kin out of this house. See that they are given protection here," Salamiel barked still looking at Paris.

Azyur Ka came forward, pushing Salamiel gently aside. She gazed for a long moment at Paris. "If they will follow me I will take them to a place where they can rest safely. Everyone in this city must put aside grudges or else remain outside, we can't afford to fight the old fights with Humans so close to destroying us all, before we can make our preparations. Even our enemies here would treat them kindly."