Thank you, those of you who continue to read the story. It's still got a while to go, but as of right now, it's about half over. Please continue to read it and review, as always.
Chapter VII
I fumbled around, bumping into random furniture until Mara hit the light switch. The light blazed to life, revealing the grand interior of the mansion.
"Whoa," I breathed. The foyer was painted completely white. A beautifully woven rug depicting cherubs surrounding a cross that was draped with some kind of sash extended from the door to the foot of a solid gold throne. The throne sat underneath a balcony that could be accessed by stairs on either side of the room. Two passage ways were open on either side of the throne, but they were too dark to see where they led. Red couches that matched the hues of the rug sat perpendicular to it.
"Stop gawking and come on," Mara ordered. I followed her up the stairs and down a hall located just beyond the balcony. The hall was painted a forest green, had a hard wood floor, and smelled faintly of pines. Doors appeared every couple steps, but they were all closed. The wall space not covered by a door held paintings and the floor space held elegantly carved tables with antiques sitting on top. Several of the antiques were ancient pots that were easily thousands of years old or old-fashioned clocks. However, it was fairly clear that no one had visited the mansion in a long time. Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust and some of the paintings looked cracked.
"When was the last time you were here?" I asked.
"I don't know. Six, maybe seven years ago," Mara responded, keeping her eyes straight ahead. I didn't know where we were going, but eventually the hallway began to widen and doors became sparser. We turned down another corridor and stopped at a certain room.
"What's in here?" I asked.
"You can stay here. Feel free to use any of the clothes in the closet. I'll be in the room further down the hall, and at the end is the kitchen," Mara explained. With that, Mara left me alone. I entered the room to discover it was even more luxurious than the foyer had been. The walls were colored gold, with a green vine design snaking along them. There was a closet that was full of clothes that were perfectly sized. The bed was huge, covered in a shiny comforter that matched the walls. The pillows kept in theme with the room and were embroidered to resemble bamboo. A night stand on each side of the bed cradled a potted bamboo. I changed into a pair of long khakis, but decided to keep the jacket and shirt of the Evangelics.
"Father God, thank you for protecting us thus far and allowing us a safe trip here. Please continue to protect me and help me with my gift, Amen," I prayed, kneeling at the foot of my bed. I crawled into bed and passed out. The next morning, sunlight shone in through the bamboo decorated curtains. I got up and wandered around the halls until I managed to locate the kitchen. The kitchen would have fit in at a five star restaurant just fine. The refrigerator was industrial- sized and there were multiple ovens and stove tops. The whole room was grey, with granite countertops.
"Morning," Mara greeted. She was sitting at the island that was in the middle, drinking something from a mug. She had changed her clothes to match what she had been wearing the day I had met her. It was exactly the same type of robe, with gold trim, but minus all the rips and tears.
"Same," I replied, grabbing an apple out of the fruit basket located on the island to eat.
"Ready for your training session?" Mara asked.
"What are you talking about?" I said, more focused on my breakfast. The apple was really crisp, much better than any I had ever eaten.
"Don't you remember last night? Bathsheba is going to train you in your gift," Mara explained.
"That old lady?" I asked. Mara gave me her vicious glare, but I had gotten used to it.
"Yes, her. Show some respect. She has been more help to me than you know," Mara defended the Elder. I raised my arms in surrender.
"Fine, I'll go. How are we supposed to get there?" I asked.
"There's a trail from behind the house that leads down to the village," Mara said. We sat there in a few more moments of awkward silence.
"So what's with the throne?' I asked, genuinely curious. It wasn't a normal thing to have around a house, or even a mansion.
"Oh, that thing? It's just here because my father is kind of arrogant," Mara responded.
"Is that why you want revenge on him?" I questioned, hoping to learn a bit more about Mara.
"It's not exactly that. It's more of the fact that my father thinks he can avoid the inevitable, but I'm going to prove him wrong," Mara summarized. That didn't really tell me much, but made me even more curious.
"Okay, so what if..." I started but Mara cut me off.
"It's time for you to go. Just go down this hallway, turn left and follow the main corridor to the end. Go down the stairs and out the back. The trail shouldn't be hard to find," Mara directed.
"Anything else I should know?" I checked.
"It's pretty warm out. I wouldn't wear your jacket," Mara advised. I noted that and left for my lesson. On the way out, I stopped at my room to drop off my jacket. Unfortunately, I had to check several of the doors until I figured out which was mine. Each room seemed to have a different theme, such as the ocean or even fire. I finally found my room and left my jacket. I was glad Mara had warned me, because as soon as I had meandered my way out of the house I was blasted with an intense heat that sharply contrasted with the coolness of the mansion. The backyard had a massive pool, complete with water slide and diving boards of varying heights. I ignored my temptation to jump into the inviting water fully clothed and instead located the trail. I walked along a dirt path that wove between the many rolling hills and observed how peacefully the grass swayed in the breeze on this partially cloudy day. The ocean glimmered, which made me think of how I had never been to the beach.
"I wish I could relax instead of train," I mumbled. I didn't understand why I had to train. This place was paradise, and I figured as long as I stayed here, I'd never be in danger from the Imperial Army. I could live out my life, and never worry about the prophecy. It was then that I realized that would also mean I couldn't save my family and friends. I had almost completely forgotten that they were going to be sold to the slave trade. How had I forgotten? What if they were already there?
They are still safe, but realize what must be done. I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit echo inside of me. I could no longer avoid the prophecy. I would have to defeat the King and complete the prophecy if I was going to save them all. That gave me a new determination, with courage replacing my fear. I finally reached the village, and despite my inspiring self-realization, I was drenched in fear–based sweat. The village was full of almost identical houses. The homes were rounded huts, seemingly made out of mud. The doors were built from driftwood and the roofs were made out of woven grass, giving the whole place a primitive feel. Each house was only distinct from the next because of how they were painted, with each one different. Some had artfully-depicted scenery of religious scenes, while others seemed to sport randomly splashed colors. I realized I didn't have the slightest clue as to which structure was Bathsheba's home. I knocked on the closest door.
"What? What do you want?" a raspy voice yelled from behind the door. The door swung open to reveal an old man that I recognized as Elder Habel from the previous night's encounter. He had been the only one who hadn't said anything.
"Sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for Elder Bathsheba's house," I started to say.
"I remember you. You came along with the Princess," Habel interrupted.
"Princess? You mean Mara?" I asked.
"Yeah, her. It seems you don't know who she really is. Kids these days, always so oblivious to everything," Habel grumbled.
"Who she really is?" I asked, very confused.
"I swear, if I wasn't one hundred and ten, I'd give you a good thump on the head to jog your memory," Habel complained.
"A hundred and ten?" I said with disbelief. Sure this man was old, but surely not that old.
"You bet your good legs I am. Bathsheba's been around even longer than me; she's a hundred and twenty -seven. Anyway, good luck boy," Habel said. He slammed his door shut in my face before I could say anything more. I sighed and went to another house to get pointed in the right direction. Fortunately, the occupants of the next hut were eternally more helpful, and able to point out the hut Elder Bathsheba lived in. It was one on the edge of the village, and was painted with a scene that resembled the gates of Heaven. Numerous angels in white clothing were gathered around a golden gate, tending to various things. The gate itself decorated with various gemstones. After staring at the picture, I finally knocked and Bathsheba answered the door.
"Good, you came. I was beginning to suspect you wouldn't," Bathsheba said, waving me inside. The inside of the hut was not much more glamourous than the outside. The floor was covered in rough tapestry that had ranging colors and designs. A wooden bed was pushed against one side of the hut, while a fire burned in a pit located in the middle of the floor. The smoke rose up through a hole in the middle of the roof. Elder Bathsheba invited me to sit down around the fire.
"Are you really 127 years old?" was the first thing out of my mouth." Bathsheba laughed a bit, which sounded like shallow breathing.
"Indeed I am. You must've spoken with Elder Habel. Before we begin, would you like to ask me anything," Bathsheba offered.
"Just one thing. How'd you know about my gift," I asked.
"As a fellow holder of the Gift of Mercy, you understand that you have the ability to read another person's heart, correct?" Bathsheba said.
"Yes," I confirmed.
"I see that you have not had your gift for very long, so it is understandable that you would not know this. A person's heart is not just their emotional state, which is what you see. A person's heart is formed through their experiences, opinions, and natural abilities. In essence, the heart is like a blueprint of someone. The heart, like a blueprint, has many layers and details. You've begun to experience these layers as you've come to identify areas of darkness in people's hearts. Things such as jealousy and anger, and you have tried to help them. I was able to discern what your gift was by reading the history part of your heart, the doubts you have in yourself, and your fears," Bathsheba explained.
"Wow. I did not know that," I breathed.
"Of course not. It has taken me years to discover it for myself," Bathsheba grinned.
"That can't be the only thing you wanted to teach me," I surmised. Bathsheba gave me a nod.
"Besides refining your reading abilities, I also want to teach you to shield your heart," Bathsheba said.
"Do what now?" I asked.
"Shield your heart. Here, try to read my heart," Bathsheba challenged. I focused on the Elder, but for some reason the image of her heart would not conjure up as effortlessly as I was accustomed. I tried focusing all my mental attention on Bathsheba until my head began to pound from the effort.
"I'm sorry Elder Bathsheba, I can't," I sighed, feeling defeated.
"Don't feel bad. Its required a great deal of self-discipline to get a shield as strong as mine. However, I will train you to do the same," Bathsheba said.
"How?" I asked.
"Follow me," Bathsheba ordered. She began to hobble her way out of her hut and down the hill. I followed until she sat down where the grassy hill met the sandy beach. She closed her eyes.
"Sit down?" I asked. Bathsheba nodded.
"You are going to meditate now. Connect to God, find comfort in His Word," Bathsheba instructed. I closed my eyes and let the Elder's words wash over me. I felt comfort and peace begin to fill me, despite my fears, which seemed to shrink and almost fade. I wanted to release them but my flesh seemed to hold on to them. I began to let my mind flow with verses from the Bible along with their meanings. This seemed to diminish the fear further, but yet it would not fade completely.
"Why won't it go away?" I mumbled.
"Sometimes it is hard to let go of everything. Don't worry, it will disappear with time. For now, try shielding your heart. Pray to God that He will surround your heart with protection, and a shield," Bathsheba encouraged.
"God, protect not only my physical being, but my heart too. Wrap it in Your word so that it may form a barrier so that none may see it except You," I prayed quietly, letting the words flow from my mouth, like they were beyond my control. When I finally opened my eyes, Bathsheba was now standing.
"Well done. I cannot read your heart. You've created quite a strong shield," Bathsheba congratulated.
"Thanks. I feel really relaxed," I said.
"That is because you put much more of your faith in Jesus and God than you normally do. Now, just remember that prayer anytime you feel it necessary to shield your heart," Bathsheba explained.
"So what now?" I asked, rising to my feet.
"Now we refine your other current abilities," Bathsheba said. We returned to her hut to continue training. Bathsheba allowed me to view her heart so I could practice identifying different emotions. The Elder's heart was surprisingly clean, since she had come to terms with her pain and no longer suffered petty emotions. However, there was one speck of a black spot which was minute worry for the future of her people. We stopped for lunch, in which I ordered freshly roasted fish. We got them from some of the local fisherman, who dropped them off around noon. Apparently, Bathsheba claimed they had caught them with their bare hands, which I didn't really believe. About an hour after lunch, Bathsheba dismissed me from the training section.
"Thank you for everything," I acknowledged, honoring the Elder with a bow, which was not something I would do willingly very often.
"No need to. It was my responsibility to teach you. Remember it well, because I feel we may not get another chance to speak," Bathsheba said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You shall see soon enough," Bathsheba said. As I walked back to the mansion along the dirt trail, what Bathsheba had said nagged at the back of my mind. In order to try to forget it, I tried to let my mind wander into a memory, which I was fortunately able to do.
It was raining and I was trapped at Uncle Saul's mechanic shop, which wasn't a particularly a bad thing. The shop was shaped like a cement box with two garage doors leading to the area where the levias actually got worked on. The front lot was full of old levias that were my uncle's "projects" and that he occasionally sold for extra money.
"Uncle Saul, when am I going to get my Spiritual Gift?" I asked, being a ten year old sitting on the edge of Uncle Saul's work desk while he was filling out paper work. My friend from school had just gotten his gift, though I couldn't recall what it was. All I knew was that he kept bragging about how great it was.
"When God feels the time is right," Uncle Saul answered without looking up from his work.
"But I want mine now!" I whined.
"I won't be in too much of a rush if I were you. Spiritual Gifts can be tricky to get control of, and can even sometimes hurt you if you can't handle them," Uncle Saul warned.
"I hope I get the Gift of Prophecy like Daddy had," I said, carelessly swinging my legs.
"That would be cool. You'd be like your sister," Uncle Saul agreed.
That radically changed my opinion on what gift I wanted.
"Do you know what Mommy's gift was?" I asked. Uncle Saul stopped his work for a moment, like he had started thinking about something depressing. He resumed his work before he responded to my question.
"Sorry Amos, I don't know," Uncle Amos said
"That's okay," I forgave him, though deep down I really wanted to know. I leapt off his desk and went to splash in puddles instead to entertain myself.
With a start, I realized I really didn't know what my mother's gift had been. I began to wonder if I had gotten her gift, but that was impossible. There was no way my mother had been killed because of the King's decree. However, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed likely. It was pretty common place for Spiritual Gifts to be passed down. It didn't seem like much of a stretch to say I had gotten my mother's gift. When I finally arrived back at the mansion, I was surprised to see Mara lounging on a beach chair outside around the pool, still fully clothed in her robe, reading a book.
"How are you doing that? It's as hot as the surface of the sun out here," I complained. Mara lowered her book and glared at me.
"This robe is functional for all seasons. I'm completely comfortable," Mara countered.
"Whatever. I'm finally done with my lessons for today," I explained.
"That's good. Learn anything?" Mara asked, turning to resume reading her book.
"Yeah, quite a lot actually," I said, then proceeding to explain all I had learned. I also told her about my realization on the trail.
"Wait, what does this realization mean?" Mara questioned, though her eyes said that she didn't want to hear the answer.
"We have to go to Jericho, so I can rescue my family and friends," I announced. Mara looked like she was ready to tackle me and choke me to death.
"Seriously? Wouldn't that mean you have to fulfill that prophecy?" Mara warned.
"Unfortunately, yes," I replied. Mara sighed and stood up.
"So be it, even if my father does live there. When are we leaving?" she asked. I was kind of surprised Mara wasn't getting all angry at me, but I pushed my surprise out of my mind.
"I don't know. A few days," I suspected.
"That sounds like a good plan. It gives me a more time to prepare some food and stuff to take with us, and for you to get more lessons from Elder Bathsheba," Mara agreed.
"On that note, I'm going to get something to eat," I said, running into the house. I quickly realized that I had no idea where I was going until I found myself back in the foyer. A strong temptation came over me to sitting on the throne. I began to sneak up to the throne, hesitating every so often to make sure I wasn't going to trigger any kind of traps. I finally made it and sat down. Despite the chair being made completely of metal, it was incredibly comfortable. I felt like true royalty. Suddenly, the front door burst open, and David stumbled inside.
"Please, where is Mara?" he asked. He was breathing very heavily and his brow was coated in sweat, like he'd run the whole way to the mansion.
"She's out back," I answered.
"Can you lead me?" he requested. I obeyed, but not without first helping him to his feet. We maneuvered our way through the hallways, even though I had to keep David from collapsing of exhaustion several times. When we finally reached Mara, David almost tripped over himself and would have went head first into the pool. Fortunately, I caught him.
"David, are you okay?" Mara panicked, instantly jumping to her feet and out of her chair.
"No time. Elder Bathsheba has just passed away," David heaved. At that Mara nearly wilted, and I was afraid I'd have to catch her too.