Songs of the Heart

A Quick Catch Up

Happy 2025. If you’re just joining Fightin’ Poseidon, or missed the initial kickoff last year, here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll find here. We’re in a battle, and spiritual warfare is more intense than ever. So many I’ve spoken to about this say the same thing. We’re fighting battles on an external front, and internal front, and a spiritual front. I called these three planes The Chords of Poseidon. In the fog of the Battle, you likely won’t be able to discern which is which. Everyone’s fighting some kind of battle. The Story of the Marsh Boy takes that and puts it in a setting that hovers on the edge of existence between physical and spiritual realms in the hearts of its characters.

If you only missed chapter 12, you can tap here to go back. If you want or need to start from the beginning, tap here to visit the chapter list.

A short note on business: I am sorry to say that the audio has been removed from my tier subscription level. It’s now a premium feature. If you want it back, I need your help to grow this newsletter to the point I can offer it again. You can do that by referring other people as free subscribers, and let me know what kind of premium features would be worth paying for every month. Together is the only way I’ll be able to bring it back, unless Beehiiv changes it.

Now, back down to the entrance of the temple of Erets.

Songs of the Heart

The claws at the end of its long, spindly fingers clacked and echoed softly against the cavern walls. The bulbous eyes of the Tannite drank in the blackness around them. No eyelids, just round protruding vacuous orbs set in a sloping forehead above a mouthful of razor sharp needle like teeth. It flexed its jaw without any crack of bone. It’s several brothers hung back in the shadows at the wall of the cave.

The Tannite that had moments ago been Jeddy Lee moved its fish legs in an awkward walk-hop towards Cole and Lily. She covered her son’s eyes and pursed her lips as she lowered her head beneath her shawl. With a swoop of its head from side to side, the Tannite took a final step in front of Lily, pivoted and turned around. It stood tall and still as it let its arms hang. Then it just bored into Jeremiah with its inky black eyes.

A drip of water splashed down into the pool that held Old Zeke beneath the surface. He banged his mittened fist against the enchanted barrier to no avail.

The four women in white gently hummed and they rocked side to side in unison.

Jeremiah ran both hands into his hair as he watched the scene. His friend had professed his love for Lily, Jeremiah’s own wife, and then brawled with him in the cavern. Moments later, Jeddy Lee growled from his gut and turned into this creature that looked like half fish, half slender-man. Now the thing just stood between him and his wife and son.

Jeremiah took a step towards them and the Tannite tensed. He shifted his weight to the opposite leg, and the Tannite responded by flexing its claws. What had Zeke said these things wanted? Why weren’t these women harmed? Why was Lily seemingly in one piece and okay?

The Tannite opened its mouth and let out a short staccato series of notes. Lily and Cole stepped out from behind it and she looked up at what used to be Jeddy Lee.

“You poor man,” she whispered.

“Poor man? Lily he just attacked me,” said Jeremiah.

“He was just scared. Aren’t you scared down here?”

“I’m being brave, mama,” said Cole as he hugged her from the side.

“I know you are, baby,” she cooed to her son.

“Are you saying you feel sorry for Jeddy?” asked Jeremiah.

“He’s had a lot happen to him. After his wife passed away from the car accident a couple years ago, he just… well, you can see what a toll it’s taken on him.”

“He attacked me!”

“Oh you’re overreacting, sweetie. He would come over and tell me about the things he and Crystal used to do. The trips they took. The memories they shared. He’s in a bad place, Jeremiah. He was just trying to deal with his own pain and hurt and no one would listen to him. He would bring over a chocolate to tell me thanks for being there for him. What’s wrong with showing your friend kindness?”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” said Jeremiah as he rubbed his face with his hands.

Cole chimed in. “Dad, you were depressed and sunk into your bed after mom died. Or when we thought she died. Jeddy would come by and check on me. He did more for me than your little pep talks.”

The humming increased from the women in white. Pink and yellow orbs of lights flickered in the air around the quadruplets.

Jeremiah staggered back and fell to the floor of the cavern. His arm fell into the puddle Zeke was trapped in. The surface of the puddle shimmered green and Zeke reached out a hand.

“Boy, you can’t be hearin’ this! Can’t let it get ya!” he shouted through the breach.

The space around Zeke’s hand closed up and sucked him back beneath the puddle.

“Lily, all I wanted was you,” said Jeremiah.

“And you’ve always had me,” she said.

“I didn’t mean to leave you when we came out to that rock. I saw you get pulled under, though. What could I do?”

“You couldn’t do anything.”

“You wouldn’t do anything,” said Cole.

“Eerrraaaaaaagh!!!” shouted Jeremiah and he hit the surface of the puddle as hard as he could. It shimmered green as water splashed around the cavern floor. Lily and Cole both flinched. Lily pursed then flattened her lips. She looked at Jeremiah kneeling on the floor with his fists balled up. She turned her eyes to Cole. From the look on his face, he just wanted things to be normal.

Lily brushed Cole’s hair behind his ears and to one side across his forehead. Her son. Her only son. Clearly her husband had lost himself. He was in no condition to talk to. A sigh left her lungs and her shoulders dropped as it did. With an unsure thought that didn’t know whether she was giving up the fight or if she had just begun it, she pulled the shawl back from her head and shook out her hair.

Every Tannite in the cavern snapped their attention to Lily. The glowing orbs that had been floating in the cavern began to pulse in unison. The other women in white raised their hands. Cole looked up at his mother. The water barrier restraining Zeke shimmered in synchronized pulses that matched the lights. Zeke himself hung his head as Jeremiah lifted his own to look at his wife.

“We must go to the temple,” said Lily. “We’ve delayed long enough. He calls.”

The women hummed and the other Tannites came away from the walls to join the rest of the party. They formed two lines on either side of Lily and began to sing.

“Where are you going?” asked Jeremiah.

“Stay if you must. Apkallu has called me.”

“Apkallu? What is that?”

“Someone who finally sees me for what I’m worth, Jeremiah. I used to stand in our bedroom and look out over the ocean, wondering where the adventure was. That’s the only reason I went with you that day.”

“You were always important to me, Lily. I worked those long hours, I did all of that for you and Cole.”

“You did all of that and were still only average. I’m destined for more than just an average life.”

“I thought you were happy with our life?”

A slight snarl formed on Lily’s lips. “I was made for more and Apkallu sees my potential. He’s going to make me his queen and I’m going bring him one final offering when I go into his presence.”

“Lily! Stop! Do you hear yourself?!”

“More than you ever heard me, Jeremiah.”

“Dad, stop it! You’re always making everyone upset. Why can’t you just let things be normal?”

Jeremiah banged his fists on the ground. “I. Did. It. All. For. YOU!” he shouted between his slams on the ground.

“There you go, resorting to anger again. Why do you always do this?”

The women in white moved to the front of the procession. They led Lily and Cole towards the temple. The Tannites followed behind them like haunted pall bearers.

Jeremiah knelt on the ground with his head down. The stone floor was cold to the touch on his forehead. He sobbed in anguish.

“I only wanted you, Lily,” he said as his back heaved between sobs.

A jolt went through his right arm and leg, sending him spinning to his left side. The jolt surged again through his left side and spun him to the right. He got his hands and knees underneath him. A spasm shot thorough his back as he arched and fell flat. His face fell next to the puddle that held Zeke. From the other side, Zeke’s eyes widened with terror. He lifted his head to look at his own reflection in the surface of the water. Jeremiah’s eyes had swollen to deep black globes.

What the Heart Wants

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can know it?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬ ‭LSB‬‬

I published an article this month that was web only. In 2024, I did a reading challenge about C.S. Lewis. Maybe you’re familiar with C.S. Lewis and maybe you’re not, but I wonder if either I missed one of your favorites or read one you’ve never heard about. If you want to read about the books that were on that challenge and how it went, tap here to read it.

Ready for the next chapter? Tap here to read An Unholy Procession.

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Talk to y’all in two weeks.

~ J.P. Simons