Author: Elizabeth Bennent
Discalimer: This story half belongs to the authors of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I am not making any money off of this (for details see John 2:12, Jesus in the Temple.) But original characters and situations are mine, so please ask if you would like to use. Thanks.
Dedication: As always, to the Princess Circle. Also, to the cast of Guilford's "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Mary had been born and raised in the fishing town of Magdala, on the edge of Lake Galilee. Her father, Carpus was a known and wealthy merchant. He married into the wealthy family of his wife, Hephzibah. Their children were respected and the pride of the town. Mary's older brothers, Adino, Allon, Asaph and Felix all were part of her father's fishing and trade business. Her older sisters, Avigayil, Ariel, and Atarah all were married well; their husbands were also part of the business.
Mary, the youngest, was loved by them all. Especially the mother of her father, Drusilla, who lived with them after Mary's grandfather, had died.
Mary was spoiled with fine things, within the limit of the Jewish religious ways. She learned to read and write scripture verses and eventually began to help record profits at the warehouse occasionally.
Magdala was always busy, open, and fresh. Mary didn't want to live anywhere else. She loved the lake and the people. She loved the wharf where she loved to walk and talk with the fishermen.
By the time she was fifteen, and ready to marry, she was sophisticated and cool when she talked with her male friends. The fishermen adored her and would have asked for her hand if she weren't above them.
However, men that were of her station paid her no heed. She was too outspoken and associated with the fishermen and their families. Mary's family became worried when she turned sixteen and was still not married. However, her parents loved Mary and her way with people. She was partly why the family was so well respected. This went on until Mary was twenty.
As long as Mary had lived, the Romans occupied the town and were looked negatively at by the Jews. Furthermore, the Romans had a secret alliance with the outcast robbers and pirates of Galilee; people who hated the wealthy families living around the lake. Carpus' family especially.
Carpus had managed to not have any sort of confrontation with the robbers and Romans who protected them. Yet around the time Mary was twenty, they became restless. They wanted Carpus, along with other merchants, and his business to go down, while stealing his profits.
After weeks of small fights among the pirates and fishermen, the waters surrounding Magdala were red with blood. The fighting had grown so violent the Romans were forced to intervene which meant trouble for the fishing district.
Carpus and the other merchants had to do something. They had to sacrifice something. The pirates wanted Mary, and other unmarried, yet wealthy women. Some refused, some caved. Carpus refused.
Mary remembered going to sleep after prayers one night. She was tired and looked forward to sleeping well. Her brother Allon was outside her door, guarding. She was safe and fell peacefully into sleep.
Towards the first hours of morning, however, Mary heard clattering and groans from outside her door. Heavy footsteps. A sword placed back into a belt. She got out of bed and moved toward the curtains to hide. But the door opened; a grimy pirate stood, holding onto his belt. Allon lay on the floor, gasping for breath and clutching his chest.
"Allon!" she cried. He could not reply. She screamed, hoping that someone would hear. They had to.
The pirate shut the door and moved towards her in the darkness. She could barely see him, but she could see enough. He grabbed hold of her arm and threw her onto her bed.
"Help!" she cried, kicking and slapping at the man. He laughed menacingly, saying something about after having his way he would take her back to his leaders and give her to them.
"No!" she cried, biting at his arm. He fought back.
"Stop moving…around…whore…" he said and he struggled against her
"Get off of me!" she screeched. She bit him again. The taste was bitter and she wanted to gag. His weight pressed on her and she began to feel light-headed. She then realized that he had his hand on her neck. Why, if she passed out…
She attempted to scream again, but the man's pressing hand allowed none of it. But Adino and Carpus had heard her screams, and burst into the dark room. Her brother charged at the man, quickly killing him. Carpus took his daughter by the hand and led her to Drusilla's room.
Mary ran into her grandmother's arms. She stayed there for a minute, terrified and unwilling to move from the safety.
"Come," Hephzibah said. She pressed a basket of clothing and food into Mary's arms and gave her a heavy cloak. "Your grandmother and I will take you to the stables, but then you must leave quickly."
"What? Where am I going? Grandmother…" Mary questioned.
"No time. You must leave. It's too dangerous for you to stay here. Go into Samaria then Judea. Away from Galilee. Go to your Aunt in Jerusalem!" her grandmother said, guiding her along the halls of the house.
"By myself?" she said, "Surely we all must escape."
"Your father and I won't leave the business. It's important Mary. He loves it so much. It is something he built…something he is proud of. We dare not leave it," said her mother as they reached the stables.
"He created me!" Mary protested, "I'm important, you both love me, surely?"
"Of course. We all do, but Mary it isn't safe for you to stay here!" said her mother, brought around a donkey.
"Can I not take Asaph or Adino with me?" Mary pleaded. Her heart was pounding so much it hurt, "I'll die if I go all the way to Jerusalem by myself."
"God will be with you," said Drusilla, "He has always blessed this family."
Mary raised an eyebrow. She swallowed.
"You must go…now," her mother said again.
"Moses wandered for forty years, child, survived and was blessed by God and now his people thrive. You shall also thrive, but you must be brave as Moses was," her grandmother said.
Mary loaded her clothing and food and water onto the donkey, silently received an embrace from her grandmother, and then her mother who placed the gold family locket around her daughter's neck.
"We will send for you when this is all over. No go!"
Mary walked for many weeks after that night. She rested at inns and kind people's homes. Upon reaching the deserts outside of Jericho, she was low on food and water, and she was tired, hot…weak.
She and the donkey were happy to sit and rest near a gathering of rocks one afternoon. Mary felt sick. Her stomach was empty and her head heavy. She was dirty. Voices began to swirl around her. She didn't know what they were saying, but she could tell they were menacing and evil voices. Where were they coming from? She heard the squawks of vultures and the hum of insects. Something was rotting. She glanced at her donkey. The animal, who had appeared healthy moments ago, was swiftly crumbling; the skin disappeared, revealing the insides. It began to foam at the mouth. Mary shrieked and jumped up and stepped back. She ran into something.
Behind her was a man. No…it wasn't a man. Whatever it was was scarred, demonic, and shouting blasphemous utterances. His eyes bled and he grinned. His fingers spouted fire. Suddenly, behind him, six more repulsive creatures appeared. A bald, naked and deathly white woman, a large creature with stone horns, a dark cloud of rot with slimy eyes and teeth, a ripped and disemboweled wolf, a serpent as tall as the first demon with venomous fangs and wide hood, and lastly, a dark-cloaked being, seemingly more powerful than all the others, with a white face that showed veins, long nails, dark eyes. Cobras writhed from under the cloak.
Mary fell to her knees, beginning to pray in Aramaic. The demons inched towards her and each time she opened her mouth to pray, they seemed to fly in. They all resided in her abdomen now. It was silent, all except the panting and rotting animal behind her.
She heard crackling and realized that the ends of her hair burst into flame. She ran for the water bag and poured what was left over her head, but it did no good. She reached for the knife and began to chop off the burning ends. It smelled horrible. Smoke rose from her head, smothering her…
She was going mad!
She needed to get home. She needed a temple. She looked back at the donkey. It lay on the ground dead, and serpents began to shoot out of the carcass.
She began to run. She ran until she reached the edges of the town that had to be Bethany. She ran until she reached the town square. People looked at her strangely as she passed; she looked around for the Temple.
"A rabbi! I need a rabbi!" she wanted to scream, but deep blasphemous noises came out instead. She felt as if she were vomiting the words.
Women around her screamed with fear, children cried and men tried to pull everyone back away from this crazy woman.
"Help!" Mary finally let out in a shriek.
"She is possessed with demons!" someone finally said.
Mary had fallen to the ground, and began whipping her body around violently in attempt to rid herself of the demons that were overtaking here. Please, Oh glorious Lord, make them leave!
She couldn't think. She had gone mad. It came suddenly and took over. She couldn't see any of the people. She could only hear them. She seemed surrounded by walls of fire and death.
She could hear someone go for the rabbi, and she could later hear his chanting scripture and she could feel the strong hands of men holding her down as he did so.
"It isn't working!" the rabbi said finally, "She must be executed."
"No!" came a woman's voice, "You will not touch her!
"You keep you mouth shut, you whore," came a man's voice.
"She must be stoned or the demons may possess us," another said.
"No! Lazarus! Help me!" said the woman.
Mary stopped moving. She couldn't see, and she was breathing heavily, but for a moment, it seemed peaceful.
The man, Lazarus walked up to Mary, and she could feel him pick up the locket she wore around her neck.
"The engraving on this locket says she from Magdala in Galilee," he said.
"What has that to do with anything?" the rabbi asked, "This woman is possessed by demons and must be killed before anyone is harmed or possessed themselves."
"It is not her fault that she is weak with hunger and exhaustion. It's plain to see she is sick! Not possessed!" the woman shouted.
"It is true rabbi," said Lazarus, "This woman is ill, but not possessed."
"She spoke in the voice of Satan!" the rabbi protested, "And how would you know? You claim to be some sort of medic or healer but we know that you are a poor and lonely beggar man!"
"Nonsense. I can't believe you men in this town; you're all ridiculous…" the woman ranted more, but Mary heard none of it. She fell into darkness where it was cold and hot at the same time. Where there was no one to protect her. Far from God and her family Mary slipped away.
Perhaps…perhaps this is death.
Mary half-awoke to cloudy vision. She was laying on a bed somewhere. She didn't know exactly where…she didn't know what had happened. She barely knew who she was. But the bed was warm…comfortable…
Mother sent me away…nearly died in the desert…the man and woman fought for me to stay alive…the demons…they…they're gone…She tried to remember all that had happened, but it was difficult.
"Magdalene? Magdalene? I believe she's awaking now, Mary," said a voice. It was a deep and calm voice. It enveloped her and held her in a comforting embrace.
"Mother? Father?" Mary said.
"I'll get her some water," said the woman. It was the same woman who had fought for her. Was she also called Mary?
"What is your name?" asked the man.
"Mary," she said weakly. Vision was slowly coming back to her. The man had a dark head of hair and beard and deep, kind eyes. He smiled.
"I happen to know a lot of Mary's," he laughed, "Mary, you are from Magdala, no?"
"I am," she said and breathed in sharply, "Pirates overtook it…I had to escape, but demons…they…"
"There were no demons, Mary," said the man, "You were weak with hunger and you needed rest."
"But Satan himself…I believe…" she tried to explain what it was like, but found no where to begin.
"Don't talk," came the other Mary's voice, "I'm Mary of Bethany."
Mary nodded at the woman who handed her a clay cup of water, "You kept them from stoning me."
"Hardly," the woman said, "They never listen to me…"
"God helped them to listen that time, Mary, you should feel proud that you saved this woman," Jesus said to Mary of Bethany, laying a hand on her shoulder.
She smiled, "Jesus, how you talk. You know as well as I do they wouldn't acknowledge a whore like me for anything."
Jesus frowned, but changed the subject when he noticed the confused look on Mary's face.
"Either way, you are safe now Mary Magdalene," he said. Mary cocked her head to the side when he said 'Magdalene'. It sounded beautiful. Why she hadn't thought to call herself that before…
"Where am I?" Mary asked.
"Bethany…in Judea," Jesus said.
"I figured," Mary replied. She sat up, "I am not intruding your home, am I?"
"No. This is neither of our homes," said Mary of Bethany, "My brother, Lazarus found this house on top of this hill. He thought it would make a great small farm. But since it is on the hill it costs a bit more and no one has purchased it. We put you here for the last three weeks and took turns watching over you. It wasn't until Jesus came this morning and blessed you that you got better."
Mary looked at Jesus. He smiled. "Well, now that I am reassured you are well, I must go meet my friends. We make our way back to Nazareth tonight."
"It was good to meet you. Thank you for all your help," said Mary of Bethany. She showed him to the door. Mary pulled off the sheepskin cover and stood up.
"Do you need something?" Mary of Bethany asked after Jesus had left.
"My clothes…and my food…I left them with my donkey when the…when I was stricken with illness," Mary said quietly.
"Your donkey came into town a day after you arrived," Mary of Bethany said, "Here, your basket is right here."
"My...my donkey is…alive?" Mary asked.
"Of course," said the woman.
"Oh," Mary peered out the window. In the small farmyard, the animal grazed lazily against a setting sun. She turned back to look at Mary of Bethany. Although she had met the woman a full five minutes ago, this was the first time she got a look at her. Mary was dressed in a bright red and low-cut robe that was thin and she wore no under-robe. She wore gilded sandals and many anklets, bracelets and necklaces. She had earrings that reached almost to her shoulders. Her hair had a red tint to its darkness. Mary of Bethany noticed Mary's stare.
"I know I'm probably not like most women you've met," she said.
"Well, no, you're not. But it is not necessarily a bad thing," Mary answered. In truthfulness, Mary of Bethany was quite lovely and fascinating. She smiled at Mary's reply.
"My brother, and my sister, Martha should be along any minute," said Mary of Bethany.
"Is Jesus your husband?" Mary asked.
"Goodness, no," said the woman, "I only met him this morning. Lazarus brought him to see you this morning to see if he could make you well."
"Why would he be able to make me well?" Mary asked.
"You haven't heard about Jesus? He's a well-known rabbi. He has been known to do miracles. They say…they say he is the Son of God," Mary of Bethany lowered her voice to a whisper, "They say he is the one who has come to deliver us from the oppressive Romans. And…I believe it."
"What? Elijah is the…"
"It's not a known fact that he is. Have you heard of John the Baptist?" Mary of Bethany asked.
"A little," Mary replied. She only heard utterances from her brothers about the Baptist who baptized followers in the river at Jordan.
"He believes that Jesus is the Messiah as well. Jesus preaches differently from any other rabbi, Mary. He believes in equality and preaches about the love of God rather than His wrath."
Mary had to admit that did sound more intriguing than being preached to about her sins over and over. But she did not know what to think of Jesus.
"Mary…back in the town square," Mary said to the woman, "That man he called you a…and then you called yourself…"
"A whore?" Mary of Bethany said raising an eyebrow, "Mary, they call me what I am. I shame my family, good people that they are, but we need money. Lazarus tries to support Martha and I, but it isn't enough."
There was silence for a moment. "If you wish me to leave because of what I am, I will. I'm not a bad person…just desperate."
Mary stared at her. She knew her family would be appalled to learn that she had dreamt of demons and was now under the care of a prostitute. Yet, somehow…Mary of Bethany did not appear to be all that she had been warned of as a child. She had, after all, cared after Mary.
"We are both in desperate situations, Mary. God would not frown on me for befriending the person I am in debt to."