Skin and Bone and Thrones

Ezekiel’s Threshold

A new turn is coming at the end of The Story of the Marsh Boy. A lighter shade. A new day. Yet, as we know, it’s always darkest before the dawn. One of the lessons I learned from novelist Ted Dekker was to paint evil with the blackest of brushes. There’s always a hook in the bait, as Lily Marsh is finding out. Why is this story going to these depths? Sometimes we’re given over to our own choices, and we find to get what our hearts desire may be the worst wrath of all.

Some secrets of Erets are kept under horrific lock and key within Old Zeke's mind. He knows the box must be opened and he dreads to see what’s inside. If you missed the second tangled walk through his thoughts, tap here to go back and read the last chapter. If you want to go back and read the first trip through Zeke’s mind, tap here to go way back to chapter 10 and read The Unseen Realms of Glory and Shadow.

We last left our boys on the altar of Erets. At the altar is where we pick up this week.

Skin and Bones and Thrones

The Tannites held Zeke and Cole on the altar. There were too many. Though they struggled, the Tannites’ grip on them did not loosen. They were held below black eyes and needle teeth.

The dark shadow of Apkallu loomed over them. Inky black mist rolled into and out of the shroud of the dark lord as he stood before his writhing offering. He began to laugh to himself.

“Lily Marsh. You give this old man and your son to me to be my bride. Their fear is a pleasing aroma to me. Your pathetic hope of rising above your status is even sweeter.”

Lily lowered her head. She knew she had chosen wrong. Jeremiah hadn’t been perfect, but her desire for more had led her here. This was who she had wanted to be, and now the desire twisted in her gut like a hot corkscrew of regret.

“You will see my love, Lily,” said Apkallu. He turned to the blonde priestess who had remained kneeling in front of the alter. “Calista, come,” he beckoned. The woman lifted her wide and wet eyes to her master, bit her lip, and stood to her feet. Her bare feet were noiseless on the temple’s stone floor as she approached her lord’s shadow. He laid his hands on Calista’s shoulders.

“Do you love me?” Apkallu asked his bride.

She hesitated for half a second, then said, “Yes, lord.”

Apkallu’s eyes narrowed. He raised his right hand and flexed his fingers. Sharp claws like those of the Tannites sprang from his fingers. He traced a claw down the left side of Calista’s neck, across her collarbone, and down to her chest. As he traced the claw, he pressed, and blood ran from the path of his claw.

“I am a jealous god. Your husband demands your commitment, and you give him pause?”

Lily stared with eyes wide.

Apkallu grabbed Calista by each shoulder and twisted his torso, flinging his arms apart. As his arms spiraled, his grip on Calista held. His claws dug into her. He tore her body apart diagonally down the middle from shoulder to waist. Blood spurt from her mouth as she choked on the life being ripped out of her. Her lower body and legs crumpled to the floor as a dark crimson pool spread out from the remains. In the other hand, Apkallu held her shoulder, arm, spasming neck and hanging head. The high priestess of Apkallu was lifted high for everyone in the throne room to see. Heather smiled as she knelt on one knee. Amber knelt with her hair covering her face. Emily slithered behind Lily, held her by one arm, and kept her in place. The Tannites reached their claws to the ceiling and croaked.

Lily stood and her mouth hung open.

Broken ribs and a jagged spine protruded from what had been Calista as bloody gore dripped from her torn whole. He turned her body and her head bobbed back at the neck. Apkallu met her lifeless eyes with his. In a low and tender voice, he spoke to her. “You were always my favorite.” Then he shrugged his shoulders and cast her other half to the floor.

Apkallu rolled his shoulders as he faced Lily. “Behold, my love, woman,” he said . “I accept your offering. Now, I will make a covenant with you.”

Lily didn’t dare say it but in her mind she thought, “What have I done?”

Without looking down, Apkallu walked between the halves of what had been his most favored bride. With blood soaked feet, he stood at the altar with Zeke and Cole who were still being held down by the approval croaking Tannites.

Apkallu raised his hands again and flexed his shadowy claws. Cole clenched his jaw, waiting for the coming blow. Zeke began to sing.

Apkallu paused and tilted his head. Zeke sang the song of the single note. The Tannites chirped and hopped as he sang. The walls and floor of Erets began to shimmer with an iridescent green. The Tannites holding Zeke and Cole began to sing, as well. As they sang, their grip loosened.

Cole squirmed away and ran back towards his mother. The youngest Marsh boy held her, wrapping his arms around her, and squeezed her shoulders into his side. Zeke stood his crooked body up on the altar. He sang the song with his mouth, and in his throat down into his chest he produced the melody of the women in white. Apkallu observed the development with curiosity.

Zeke’s body spasmed and arched as he sang. His eyes blackened and protruded from their sockets. Needle teeth emerged from behind his grizzled beard. The knit toboggan fell off his head as the slope of his forehead grew.

“My son! My prodigal son! He has returned!” shouted Apkallu as crimson lights danced around the temple and crimson stain became sticky beneath his feet.

Ezekiel Marsh stretched the limbs of his Tannite body and felt the tightness of his new aqueous skin. The obscenely disproportionate head on his spindly shoulders swung from side to side, looking. Searching. The Old Tannite climbed down from the altar as his father grinned and rubbed his hands together. The two large Tannites who had been his party in this damnable place stood glassy eyed behind Lily and Cole. Ezekiel croaked at them out of his new vocal chords.

Above the altar, steps led to the platform and Apkallu’s throne was the centerpiece. Apkallu stood on the steps. Ezekiel croaked again, gave out the note of the song, and with a green shimmer of light, flashed his webbed claws at his side.

Tension in the Temple

Yikes.

There’s always a hook in the bait. Lily is finding out the promise she believed contained more than she bargained for.

Isn’t it like that for all of us?

Do me a favor and tell someone about the Story of the Marsh Boy.

We’re building momentum towards the end. There’s only three chapters left. Now’s the perfect time to catch up so you can read it when it gets here.

Talk to y’all in two weeks.

~ J.P. Simons