Navigator – Chapter 12 – A Sunday Short Story

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inSunday Short Story
Image credit: © lovepik.com

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Suddenly…the electrical power in the hotel went out…

…at the same moment that Setho Zang’s magma talons lifted Mr. Tracer (Maatu) from the flames of salt encircling his feet. Frantically, Setho Zang tried albeit unsuccessfully, to pull Mr. Tracer (Maatu) through The Door with her.

In the now dimly light darkness of the stairwell, the only true light— was the two-meter diameter circular door around the abyss of the Dark Realm. The flaming hand still writing meticulously letter-by-letter: the incantation that Isabella had spoken to open The Door.

Then came thunder…

And out of the thunder, a voice…like the sound of many waters, spoke:

“No! The die has been cast. Let him go!”

Screaming louder than Mr. Tracer (Maatu)’s still-screaming voice, Setho Zang, queen of the harpies gripped her son with her magma talons more tightly, (for he was her son, centuries ago when she gave up her human soul to save his life in a spell which bound him, her dying newborn child, to life while she assumed the harpies’ throne as queen, in exchange)…

Still wailing, for she knew what was to come, Setho Zang surrendered to the voice’s command and released her son Mr. Tracer (Maatu)…who promptly went silent as he vanished from this life…banished by the voice like the sound many waters to the abyss until that day of judgment.

Suddenly…

The box of salt Isabella had been clutching tightly containing The flaming sword normally carried along in her half-angel, half-human bloodstream, sprang from her arms towards The Door spilling every last drop of salt in mid-air.

The expunged salt formed a massive shepherd’s staff hovering over Isabella’s head.

Then like the sound of a jet engine on takeoff, every granule of salt transformed into a nail!

Meanwhile…

In between the transfixion of the now about 28,000 nails, the flaming sword materialized in Isabella’s right hand.

Isabella knew what to do.

She wielded the two-meter flaming sword as only she could, swinging for the divine fences; she swatted the shepherd staff of nails (salt) towards The Door.

Then… Isabella whispered the incantation in Latin, (for there were no equivalent words in ancient Aramaic), to close The Door:

“Sigillum Dei!” (meaning, “seal of God”)

Suddenly…each one of the twenty eight thousand nails (once granules of salt) took off like arrows from an invisible army of archers firing every one of the seven arrows in their respective quivers, at will, on a course heading for The Door.

Then it was as if time froze, everything except the advancing nails stopped.

As the nails began one by one to fasten themselves to the circumference of The Door…the flaming hand that had been writing the incantation Isabella spoke to open The Door…vanished— as if someone had softly blown out a candle.

Blood-curdling screams could be heard from the now halted/thwarted army that Setho Zang and Legion had amassed behind The Door in the Dark Realm. Their screams were not out of fear; but, at their horror at their new fate— condemned to fester in the fetid darkness of absolute nothingness, forever.

One hour later…

Just as the final nail, began the important task of putting the finishing touch to The Door’s seal, Setho Zang swatted the final nail with her massive wings as she flew out The still-open Door…

Inexplicably, or so it seemed, that one final nail deliberately missed its mark and reverted back to salt.

But it did not revert back to just any grain of salt. This final “nail” (salt grain) now sparkled diamond-like and appeared larger than even the coarsest grain of salt imaginable. It fell eerily, silently to the stairwell floor in front of The still-open Door.

Taking up a position to block Setho Zang…

Isabella spoke with authority to the queen of the harpies:

“You should not be here…”

Before Isabella finished her sentence, she restrained her words. She realized what had happened.

Isabella realized that she had not paid Setho Zang’s price for saving her life last night from an almost certain death plummeting from the Burj Al Arab Hotel’s rooftop.

Isabelle knew two things as guardian of The flaming sword. First, to close any spiritual door: the Word must be fulfilled. And second, of no less importance, a promise/oath must be honored.

“What do you want, in payment, queen of the harpies?”

“My son brought back alive to this world!”

At Setho Zang’s words, The flaming sword vanished back into Isabella’s bloodstream.

With her mind racing…Isabella owned her mistake and quickly hatched a plan. She had one chance to set things right. But she would need help; and, that help was very far away and long ago…

But first…she had to slip away unseen, from Setho Zang one of the fastest-winged demons of all time at flight speeds up to Marc 1.

Isabella searched the stairwell floor with her spiritual vision (not her real eyes) looking for the last grain of salt now camouflaged or transformed, or whatever had happened to freeze the grain of salt into a small diamond-like object.

First, she prayed.

Then, in her mind’s eye…she saw the diamond-like grain of salt a short distance away on the stairwell floor. As fate would have it, or not, it was behind the tip of Setho Zang’s massive right wing.

Oblivious to the last grain of salt and its transformed nature…Setho Zang stepped on the final grain of diamond-like salt with her magma talons as she readied herself to leap toward Isabella. The diamond-like final grain of salt began to smolder quietly, its soft plumes drifting upward…

In that split second…

Without hesitation, Isabella spun upward off her feet and lunged between Seth Zang’s advancing talons. Isabella twirled 360 degrees while falling backward in mid-air between Setho Zang’s massive wings, hoping to get enough of the now smoldering salt ash over her head…to disappear out of the stairwell.

Miraculously, it worked…

Thus, in the almost imperceptible puff of smoldering salt dust mingled with magma…Isabella vanished.

Isabella landed courtesy of her vanishing act outside the Jumeriah Hotel Southeby’s main floor Emergency exit, while Setho Zang still on the other side of the exit door, howled in disappointment.

—Smiling to herself Isabella whispered in her heart: “Who said hope was not an exit strategy?”

Meanwhile, Setho Zang pacing back and forth inside the Emergency Exit stairwell mumbled necromancy incantations to shapeshift herself, temporarily, and successfully into a human female.

Now, in a female form, Setho Zang’s complexion/skin was the same navy blue to jet black shade as her plumage. She was “clothed” in a ninja-style body suit made of her armored soft inner feathers. Her eyes flamed. Their red orbs dripped magma when she blinked.

Setho Zang cursed a host of expletives, angry that all her abilities save for her incalculable strength, had to be sacrificed for her shapeshift to human form to pass muster alongside the inquisitive gaze of the real humans that she might encounter.

Then the transformed Setho Zang raced out of the Emergency Stairs Entrance/Exit. She kicked the door with inhuman force.

Angrily, (because she knew that was not as fast on foot) she let the door and its hinges fly off into the lobby with a loud bang, as she sped, unflinching, her arms flailing with military precision as she sped to catch up with Isabella…

“****To Be Continued Next Sunday****

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

79 thoughts on “Navigator – Chapter 12 – A Sunday Short Story”

  2. 🌩Suddenly…the electrical power in the hotel went out…🌩

    It still takes my by surprise, no matter how many times it happens in the day. Yet the impact is most felt after the sun has gone down.

    Powerful introduction

    🌩And out of the thunder, a voice…like the sound of many waters, spoke:🌩

    Oh yes, I hear the sound of many waters 💧…
    Maybe due to lack of reading, but I haven’t come across such a striking metaphor of rolling thunder, before.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Re: “Powerful introduction”…well punned comment. I love it. Thank you. Made me smile😊

      Yes power outages are never pleasant and at night quite discombobulating.

      Glad you like that imagery of the sound of many waters… a unique sound indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you poet 🙂
        Yeah, it is the voice that came out of the thunder, that sent ripples down the spine

        Lol, yes
        Bedeviling
        Ones whole body is overtaken with darkness

        Liked by 1 person

  3. 🌩for he was her son, centuries ago when she gave up her human soul to save his life in a spell which bound him, her dying newborn child, to life while she assumed the harpies’ throne as queen, in exchange🌩

    These sacrifices of both mother and son pains me everytime I’m confronted with their history.
    Some women kill their children when life take them over the edge and after that they disintegrate by sheer horror of their own action.
    This is a true story, it happened to a woman in my country.

    “for he was her son” – what mothers won’t do, even if they have to sell their souls.

    We also had a case where a mother took her son’s life because she simply could not deal with his addictive violent nature anymore. A female judge set her free. She pardoned her.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. 🌩The flaming sword normally carried along in her half-angel, half-human bloodstream🌩

    What an amazing creation with a special blood type that connects the body to the spirit.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. 🌩shepherd’s staff hovering over Isabella’s head🌩
    Compassion authority, power and defense commanding and holding swayover her. A puissant moment

    🌩Sigillum Dei!” (meaning, “seal of God”)🌩

    It sounds so beautiful. Strange that there are no likeness in the ancient Aramaic language.

    🌩Suddenly…each one of the twenty eight thousand nails (once granules of salt) took off like arrows from an invisible army of archers firing every one of the seven arrows in their respective quivers, at will, on a course heading for The Door.🌩

    Granules of salt turning into arrows, divine weapons.
    A glorious depiction of spiritual warfare.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “Puissant” perfect description! You know some marvelous words. I love it!!!

      Regarding “Sigillum Dei” and your point regarding “no likeness in the ancient Aramaic” In ancient Hebrew times (where ancient Aramaic was spoken) the name of God (“YHWH”) was not spoken out loud, far less in a forbidden (by God) incantation.

      Yes! Well spotted, salt to Nails, spiritual warfare! You are always an astute reader! Thank youi!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha, reading your literature, sometimes I have to seek words to make my response vibrate on that frequency 😊

        Ah yes, I had a feeling that this was the reason.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. 🌩Their screams were not out of fear; but, at their horror at their new fate— condemned to fester in the fetid darkness of absolute nothingness, forever.🌩

    You describe the alternate state of fear 😨 with horrific clarity. Leaves me numb and hollow.

    🌩Setho Zang swatted the final nail with her massive wings as she flew out The still-open Door…🌩

    Trust the rugged fighter to rescue herself in this do or die battle

    Liked by 1 person

  9. 🌩But it did not revert back to just any grain of salt. This final “nail” (salt grain) now sparkled diamond-like and appeared larger than even the coarsest grain of salt imaginable. It fell eerily, silently to the stairwell floor in front of The still-open Door.🌩

    It’s like it contains a memory, something it has to do in moments like this or could one say fight or flight situation. Responding intuitively, it sparkles!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. 🌩Isabella realized that she had not paid Setho Zang’s price for saving her life last night from an almost certain death plummeting from the Burj Al Arab Hotel’s rooftop🌩

    For what reason did she have to think like this, in the moment that she is waging a battle with Setho?

    Liked by 1 person

  11. 🌩Isabelle knew two things as guardian of The flaming sword First, to close any spiritual door: the Word must be fulfilled. And second, of no less importance, a promise/oath must be honored.🌩

    Oh here we are, the ethics of war

    🌩At Setho Zang’s words, The flaming sword vanished back into Isabella’s bloodstream.🌩

    The sword considered Setho’s heart desire in this moment?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes “the ethics of war” in response to your earlier question “for what reason did she have to think of this…”

      Yes!! Exactly. The sword considered Setho Zang’s heart desire. Well spotted.👍👍

      Liked by 1 person

  15. 🌩hoping to get enough of the now smoldering salt ash over her head…to disappear out of the stairwell.🌩

    Baptism in salt hope it is just enough

    🌩Thus, in the almost imperceptible puff of smoldering salt dust mingled with magma…Isabella vanished.🌩

    Explosive really

    Liked by 1 person

  16. 🌩Meanwhile, Setho Zang pacing back and forth inside the Emergency Exit stairwell mumbled necromancy incantations to shapeshift herself, temporarily, and successfully into a human female.🌩

    One can only dread the type of female she will turn into given the direction her incantations are traveling

    Liked by 1 person

  17. 🌩Setho Zang cursed a host of expletives, angry that all her abilities save for her incalculable strength, had to be sacrificed for her shapeshift to human form to past muster alongside the inquisitive gaze of the real humans that she might encounter.🌩

    Stripped naked
    Bringing the full monty so to say 😂…lol…I’m not serious

    Liked by 1 person

  19. 🌩Then the transformed Setho Zang raced out of the Emergency Stairs Entrance/Exit. She kicked the door with inhuman force🌩

    Lol, transformed feels deviant in this context

    Liked by 1 person

  20. 🌩28,000 nails🌩

    I forgot to ask earlier; what is the meaning behind this amount or number

    🌩as she sped, unflinching, her arms flailing with military precision as she sped to catch up with Isabella…🌩

    The chase is on!!!
    Next week its the battle between the angel and the deviant females

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ah! regarding 28,000 nails. Can you believe that science has counted how many grains of salt there are, in various measurements from a teaspoon of salt all the way up to larger sizes? So they say that for the 1.81kg box of salt (which is what Isabella had obtained), there would be 28,000 grains of salt in that box.

      However, another reference to “28” will come up in the story.

      Yes, the chase is on! I love the word “deviant”😊

      Thank you for the alacrity of your reading and fastidious commentary. I truly appreciate you!!💖🙏🙏

      Happy Sunday!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh I didn’t know that. The wonders of science. Thank you for sharing that information.

        You are most welcome.
        Thank you for sweating through this chapter.

        Wishing you a Happy Sunday too.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. 🌩“Who said hope was not an exit strategy?”🌩

    This is an awesome thought.

    I was reading the other day, someone wrote about a woman who was sentenced to life in prison, how everyday she lives with the discipline of hope that she would come under review

    Like

  22. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this chapter with the focus on these two females, the young and the ancient and the build up to the ensuing battle.

    Great read Poet.
    I must reread certain parts again in the evening 👏👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Pingback: Navigator – Chapter 13 – A Sunday Short Story – Suzette B's Blog
  24. Pingback: Navigator, Chapter 14 – A Sunday Story – Suzette B's Blog
  25. Pingback: Navigator, Chapters 15 & 16 – A Sunday Story – Suzette B's Blog
  26. Pingback: Navigator, Chapter 17 – A Sunday Story – Suzette B's Blog
  27. Pingback: Navigator, Chapter 18 – A Sunday Story – Suzette B's Blog
  28. Pingback: Navigator Chapter 19, A Sunday Story – Suzette B's Blog

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: