“But you do not think he will be successful. What makes him so confident?”
“I hear he has the favor of the king’s daughter, Ariadne. The story is that when she first saw him, she swooned for love of him. He has vowed to marry her when he returns from the Labyrinth.” Men do the most dangerous exploits to impress women. I shook my head in disgust.
I saw Theseus the next day in the market square as a crowd gathered around him escorting him to the labyrinth, so I followed. As we approached the entrance, Ariadne waited for him with a huge ball of red yarn sitting upright upon a large wooden dowel, which she had spun.
“Take this end,” she said, “and as it unwinds you will be able to follow it back out.” Clever, I thought, such a simple solution for such a complex problem. For weapons, I noticed that Theseus had a regular sword and shield. All the courage—or stupidity—in the world would not win him this battle.
“Theseus, would you care for some company?” I asked him. I had seen many men before they entered battle, and Theseus had courage, but his demeanor also portrayed uncertainty. He nodded in thankfulness at my suggestion without speaking. Not bothering with a shield, simply holding my sword—that had a silver coated tip—and gathering several torches, I entered the Labyrinth with Theseus.
I immediately saw Daedalus’ handiwork in the maze, for the tunnel immediately split off into three choices. Lifting my nose, I inhaled trying to determine the best course by scent. It seemed to me the stench was strongest to our right and gestured with my sword in that direction.
“What say you to this way?” I asked.
“One is just as good as another I suppose,” he agreed, and we headed into the darkness with just the flickering torch for light. The tunnel was not smooth but rough hewn, with no identifying marks, and barely tall enough for us to stand upright. It soon branched yet again but this time in a Y formation. Without asking, my nose directed me, and I led us to the left branch. It soon led to a square room with two other doorways and a staircase in a center well.
“Let’s try downward,” Theseus suggested, and so we headed lower. We wandered ever deeper, choosing random lefts and rights, going down and up various staircases, searching dead ends and rooms placed haphazardly about, until I knew that the only way we would be able to find the exit would indeed be with Ariadne’s string. But as we went deeper, the smell of the Minotaur got stronger.
“There, did you hear that?” Theseus finally asked. So we stopped, holding our breath as we listened and sure enough, I heard the sound of hooves scrapping against stone.
“To our right here, I think,” I said.
“Light another torch so that we will be able to see more,” Theseus recommended, and I immediately did so, as I could tell from the smell that we were close.
“Be ready,” I whispered.
At last we came upon the beast in a room that had a doorway in each wall. The Minotaur was in the sunken center where steps made suitable benches for either sitting or lying. Theseus dropped the end of the string at the door through which we entered, and I tossed the torches, one to the left and one to the right. The bull head gave a massive, ear shattering roar that echoed around the cave walls. It paced up the steps and then pawed at the ground with a foot, snorting and clenching its hands into fists.
It charged, bending at the waist so that its horns would impale us if they connected. Theseus went for the frontal assault, slicing at the curved horns, whereas I stepped around and drove my sword tip with its silver coating into its unprotected back. The Minotaur screamed another roar rearing backward trying to dislodge the sword to no avail. Soon it started to smoke and shake, falling to the ground as it did so and finally bursting into black ichor and smoke. My sword clattered to the stone floor. Theseus had been knocked down in the struggle, but was getting to his feet as the Minotaur disappeared.
“The gods have reclaimed their creature it appears,” he said.
* * * *
The Present
The Catacombs of St. Domitilla were not as elaborate or complicated as Daedalus’ Labyrinth, yet it had posed its own challenges. But as a simple ball of string was the answer to the Labyrinth’s puzzle, so I felt that the demons of the catacombs also had an answer that would be equally as simple, if we could just figure it out.
A nurse called for Jarret, and I was alone for a time. While there had not been a time when so many warriors had come together, I could think of at least one time when there had been more than just one demon about…many more.
* * * *
950 BCE
I was Solomon, King of Israel, son of David, a warrior for the Light, and my mother, Bathsheba, was a demon. You are supposed to love your mother, or at least honor her, and I did. But I grew to manhood watching as she never aged, it was unnerving. When people began to ask questions, something had to be done. While she had never harmed anyone, they feared her.
At the time of this unrest, another demon came to Jerusalem, one Asmodeus. He smelled unlike my mother. He was a foul, loathsome creature. I found him with her one day in the garden.
“You must not stay here. He is a warrior and will kill you.” I heard my mother say.
“I heard that you have control of him. You have only to tell him to leave me be,” a strange male voice responded to her. I came around the edge of the concealing shrub and greeted them.
“Good morning, my mother. How are you today?”
“Solomon, my son, I am well, thank you,” she looked a little sick actually. “Let me introduce you to Asmodeus. He comes to us from a far eastern province.” It was at that moment I smelled him. Bathsheba had explained that she was a demon, and as her son, I was a warrior.
She told me that she had changed. Not having killed anyone for centuries, she had gained her humanity—or something close to it, she thought. As she chose not to kill any more, I chose not to kill her. It seemed that the closer a demon came to gaining humanity, the less foul it smelled. Asmodeus reeked! Obviously he still consumed the souls of those he killed.
“What would you do here, creature?” I asked in anger, my fist tightening around the dagger at my waist.
“What I will, warrior, or it will be the worse for you.” He raised a hand and upon snapping his fingers together, three black-cloaked creatures materialized from elsewhere in the garden. I took a step backward in astonishment, drawing my dagger.
“It will not be you we attack, warrior, but your sweet mother here. I think you would not be able to defeat us before we had torn her to shreds. What do you think?” he asked as if mildly amused at some slight joke. “Or perhaps someone more close to you.” At his next gesture another demon appeared, pulling Naamah with a grip that had drawn blood around her wrist. She was a daughter of an Ammonite king given to me to unite our peoples but whom I loved more than my own life. I took a step towards her, anger boiling in me at the thought of her being injured.
“Easy, King Solomon, you would not wish to see her more permanently harmed, would you?” Asmodeus held up his hand in warning, stopping me. “Now, we should just have a little mutual understanding. We want a new home, and Jerusalem seems to suit us. As long as you do not interfere, your loved ones shall remain unharmed. But should you attempt to kill one of us, then we start with your mother and lovely Naamah here,” he stroked his hand down her beautiful face as he spoke, and Naamah cringed away, her black hair swinging down her back. Laughing, Asmodeus waved at the demon holding her to release her, and she ran over to my side, tiny and fragile in comparison with her head only reaching my heart.
“Go tend your wound,” I said looking at her wrist. “I will be with you shortly.” When she had left, I looked at my mother who shrugged helplessly at our predicament.
“Now, I think we need a new home and feel that the temple you have built will suit us well. We shall move in shortly, and you will not interfere in any way,” he said in satisfaction, and in defeat, I knew that I would obey. I could not risk either my mother or my beloved wife. The temple h
e spoke of had been started by my father and was to house the Ark of the Covenant. It was only months from completion.
The demons left, and I went to check on Naamah, trying to decide the best course of action. Finally, I settled on at least sending her away so that I only had to worry about my mother.
Naamah had been gone a week when two demons showed up dragging her to me in the garden once more. This time she was covered in gashes and smudged with dirt, her hair tangled with twigs. She was thrown down at my feet and lay prostrate, sobbing as Asmodeus approached and said, “Send her away again and she will not return to you alive.”
For the next few months, my people were terrorized by mysterious killings that they correctly attributed to demons. Finally, Bathsheba came to me and said, “Son, it will take both of us to kill them.”
“What do you mean, Mother?” I asked in astonishment.
“There are too many for a single warrior. What we must do is arm your men with silver tipped arrows and spread them around the Temple. Then as they come out to feed in the evening, the demons can be picked off, one at a time from whichever direction they emerge. When that is done, the two of us can enter the temple and confront Asmodeus.” It was a sound plan, well thought out, and we put it into action a week later. Only the best archers in the army were chosen and sworn to secrecy. As night was falling, the demons came out and one by one were shot with the arrows. My mother’s plan…so far successful. We entered the temple knowing that one of us probably would not come out. I like to think that I was willing to sacrifice myself for her, but I wanted to survive…I wanted us both to survive.
The temple had a huge ceremonial room set up to house and honor the Ark. I knew that is where the “king” demon would be satisfying his pride, arrogance, and belief in his superiority. He was on his way up the stairwell when our presence surprised him. As he looked at us, he seemed to sense that he was on his own and fled downward. In an effort to slow him down, Bathsheba threw a silver dagger at his back, but it missed, just seeming to slice his arm as he rounded a corner. Unfortunately, that was the last we saw of him. He simply disappeared.
For years I watched over Naamah and Bathsheba, fearing Asmodeus’ return, but he never did so. Though demons did turn up much more frequently, and stories began to circulate about my abilities to control them. Even though they had sworn secrecy, the attack on the demons became common knowledge though somewhat confused and missing the essential details. Some said that my ring with its silver six-pointed star, which became known as the Star of David, gave me power over the demons and caused them to bow down before me in fear.
* * * *
The Present
After getting my foot set, I staggered out on crutches to find Jarret waiting for me. His arm was in a cast, and he had bandages stuck over the most severe lacerations on his face. Strangely there were little bits of plaster everywhere, especially in his hair. I started laughing as soon as I saw him, finally doubling over and having to find a seat wheezing.
“All right, take it easy,” he said, starting to chuckle too. “There was an accident with the plaster when they were working on my arm.”
“I’ll say.”
“I waited for you. I thought we could catch the train together,” he suggested.
“Yes, that sounds good. With your arm and my leg, we make one good person between us. So let’s go.”
We emerged from the emergency room to greet the rising sun, the end of a long, dark night chased away by the light.
15 Flight Home
As I got in a grungy cab outside of Alex’s apartment, its seats torn and wadded-up fast food wrappers all over the back floorboard, my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Diana, this is Bishop Soratino.” What was he doing calling me at six-thirty in the morning?
“Hey, Bishop Soratino,” I said with surprise evident in my voice. I didn’t remember giving him my cell number.
“I hope I did not wake you,” he said hesitatingly.
“Umm, no, as a matter of fact I’ve always been a very early riser,” I responded. “Is everything okay?”
“Well, there appears to have been some trouble at the catacombs last night. I was told there was an earthquake that caused quite a bit of damage.”
“An earthquake?” I asked with genuine surprise in my voice and then realized, oh yeah, I must have been the earthquake. Who would have thought grenades would be mistaken for an earthquake?
“Yes, so as today is Friday and you had told me that you were going into the catacombs today, I wanted to warn you that it would be blocked off. You won’t be able to get near it with the clean-up crew about,” he really sounded aggravated about that, but I was just glad I didn’t have to go back…hopefully ever.
“Well, if there’s that much damage, maybe there’s no need for me to go there at all. What do you think?” I grabbed for the door handle as the cab took a corner so fast I was flung across the seat!
“I am afraid only time will tell, young lady, but I will certainly call on you again should the need arise.”
“Sure, just let me know.”
He wished me well and hung up as I was arriving at the airport. I felt relief I didn’t have to tell him that I was on my way to the airport and never intended to go to the catacombs today. What was the punishment for lying to a bishop? I shuddered to think.
Clearing customs fortunately didn’t take as long as it could have as I had no luggage. Boarding was complete as I reached the tunnel connecting the building to the plane. They closed the door behind me—last one on-board. Whew, I’d made it! I was glad that Sam and Maggie had brought my bag for me. As soon as we were airborne, I was going to change!
We were sitting in first class fortunately with its wide, comfortable seats, only being so lucky because the business class had been sold out when we’d purchased our tickets. When they saw me come aboard, Sam got up from the seat next to Maggie and moved to sit with Helen so that I could take his place, both of us needing some girl time together. I smiled in gratitude, and he gave me a thumbs up. Helen had a look of strain and worry on her face when I first appeared, but seeing me, she smiled in relief and leaned back to close her eyes. I guess we were all pretty tired.
“So what happened to you?” Maggie asked as soon as I’d sat down to fasten my seat belt. I gestured for her to slide the shade down over the window—the morning sun was still too bright for me.
“You’re not going to believe it, Mags,” I said. “But Alex showed up.” She gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
“I know. I felt the same way,” I said. “But he ended up helping me. I wouldn’t have been able to get out of there without him, and then he patched me up.” I swung my leg back and forth showing her the tears in the calf of my jeans. The pants were black so at least the blood didn’t show. As we taxied out to the runway and lifted off, I filled her in on my adventure, if you could call it that, with Alex.
“Did you bring my backpack with my clean clothes? I really have to get out of these things.” I asked her as soon as we were in the air. At her nod, I got the pack and hit the extremely tiny restroom to change. How did Superman manage it in a phone booth? I sighed in relief as I exited the stall, feeling better immediately. When I returned to my seat, Maggie was asleep, her head leaning against the wall of the plane cushioned only by a tiny pillow. I thought that was a really great idea, and it seemed as if I’d just sat down, when I too fell asleep.
* * * *
1912 CE
I was so tired—sick really. My latest wounds had exhausted me. So a trip to America on the RMS Titanic seemed ideal. It would give me time to rest and recuperate. After settling the luggage in my cabin, a deck chair in the sun called my name to come stretch out for a nap. I found a secluded, little nook, gave a big sigh, and closed my eyes just when the light was suddenly blocked.
“Diana?” When I opened my eyes, a man stood near me with his back to the sun casting his face in shadow. He moved to sit on the
deck chair next to mine as I shaded my eyes with my hand and squinted; and my heart actually stopped beating for a few seconds before it sputtered back into a racing sprint. Alexander. Unbelievably, he was before me. Not just found me but also recognized me!
“How did you know?” It just popped out confirming my identity before I even thought to try subterfuge.
“You look virtually identical to the last time we were together, so I knew it had to be you.” He actually smiled at me. I took a deep, steadying breath. Well, I thought resignedly, I guess I won’t be making it to thirty this lifetime either.
“Look, Alexander, I’m not here for you. And I’ll be honest, I’m tired and injured so, if you want to kill me, go ahead. I won’t even fight back. Just do me a favor for old times sake and make it as quick and as painless as possible…if you would. Please.” His smile faded as I spoke, and he looked toward the ocean for a moment, contemplating, before he turned back to me.
“Diana, I am sorry for what I’ve done to you in the past. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I truly am. I’m not here to hurt you—I won’t ever hurt you again.” His blunt declaration rang with sincerity and conviction.
“Well, that’s…different but somehow I just do not believe you,” I paused. “Look, I don’t know what kind of game you’re trying to play, but I’m not up for it this time. I’m too tired. So, if you’re not going to kill me, please just leave me alone.”
“If that’s what you want,” he said no longer looking at me but at his feet.
“Yes, that’s what I want. I just want to rest and find some peace.” Of course, I would never find peace now that I knew he was on board, but surprisingly he nodded, though I thought there might have been pain in his eyes, and walked away. Relief rippled through me but napping on deck now seemed like a really bad idea, so I went back to my cabin to rest before dinner.
My cabin had a velvet wall covering on the top half and dark wood, raised paneling below. My bed to the left of the door was a single bed attached to the wall but with a canopy hanging down from the ceiling on the two open edges. I had a lovely little table with two padded sitting chairs with oak arms and a sweet tiny reading lamp below a large rectangle window—only the finest for a first class passenger.