Tarnished Reputation
By Becky
The heavy velvet purse dangled enticingly from his whitened hands. The soft, luxurious material itched against his supple skin and made him twitch. Annoyed, he slowly lowered his eyes to the trembling man before him, a distraction from the irritation.
"Thirty silver pieces. And that's enough to buy your treachery?"
An unsure hand crept upwards, fingers shaking with anticipation. The bait was cast, now they were reeling him in. It was like waving a red flag infront of an enraged bull. Easy prey.
"Fool! You're going to take it aren't you? You're going to betray your precious King of the Jews for a measly bag of silver! Why?!"
Shining trails charted their course down the face of Judas Iscariot. His breaths, hard and contemplating, eyes burning with the anger of a thousand flames. Offering no answer, only pain.
"Wretched boy! Get up and refuse! Why do you turn your back on one you call 'friend'?!"
Two intense stares met, born from side-ward glances. The pale priest sighed to himself.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
The large form of Caiaphas remained adamant. It was what he had decided.
It was what they had decided.
In all his years, almost a decade of being classed as a high priest, Annas, son of Seth, had never been faced with a situation his experience and wisdom doubted so deeply. What was it about this Jesus that bothered him so?
Perhaps, it was the inevitable fact that the man was plainly innocent.
He knew it.
They all did.
Politics is an evil word. It was what had brought them here today, asking a vulnerable man to sell his soul, for the sake of a few clumps of shining metal. All for the sake of politics. Power, and control. Fear. The pillars of the community, resorting to murder over a new found popularity. Pathetic, when he thought about it, but necessary.
Nobody ever said life was fair.
Up came those fingers, willing if not eager to grasp their prize...and their doom.
The fee bearer stayed expressionless.
"You won't last, Iscariot. If you grasp these coins, it is death."
The shaking white stalks brushed across the bottom of the full bag.
Annas loosened his hold on the tokens of information, lowering the purse by a centimetre or two.
"Fine. Go on you fool! Take it! Betray your king! Betray your god....but you won't sleep easy tonight."
"On Thursday night
You'll find him where you want him
Far from the crowds
In the garden of Gethesmene..."
"And neither will I."
Well done Judas
Good old Judas
~Fin~