David Ascendant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 7) by Brian Godawa Page A

He shook it off and breathed in more heavily the intoxicating fumes. After a series of incantations calling upon Mot, the Canaanite god of death, to open the gates of Sheol, the Ob then engaged in a cutting ritual.
    She made a cut in Saul’s palm. She had him squeeze his fist and dribble his blood into the pit. Saul coughed from the excessive smoke filling his nostrils.
    The Ob raised her hands and bellowed, “Nimrod, the Great Hunter, mighty gibborim, ancient Nephilim, who is two thirds god, one third man, we implore thee, come forth from the depths of Sheol!”
    Saul felt a rumbling penetrate his body. He was not sure if it was a physical quake or something that happened inside him. He was also not entirely sure of what he was seeing before him in the hazy atmosphere. His eyes went blurry. He thought he saw the head of the Ob become a blur of movement. It was as if the ticks and shudders he had been noticing in her had became multiplied at a supernatural speed. Her face became lost in the smear of motion.
    He looked back at the billowing cloud and saw a dark figure rising from below. It was massive, at least nine feet tall. Saul had only heard stories of Nimrod, but did not know what he would look like. He could not see the face or any details of the shade, only its eyes staring brightly into Saul’s own soul. He felt dizzy again.
    The Ob spoke first. Her voice sounded different, like a multitude of voices. “I see an elohim rising up!” Elohim was a reference to gods or divinities of the spiritual plane. It was also the proper name used as a generic reference to Yahweh. Yahweh was Elohim of elohim, god of gods, but other elohim were not Yahweh. But Saul cared little for the nuances of religious particularities. He stood before a god.
    The shade spoke, “I am Nimrod. I am Rebel. I am Empire. Gilgamesh reborn as First Potentate. Who is it who disturbs me with his summons?”
    Saul’s throat was dry. His voice cracked, “I-I am Saul ben Kish, f-first king of Israel.”
    The being paused. Saul could tell it seemed surprised.
    “What is it you seek?” said the phantom.
    Saul no longer cared that the Ob would know the intimate details of his quest. He spilled everything.
    “Yahweh Elohim of Elohim has made me king of his people, but has withdrawn his favor and rejected me. I seek you, mighty Nimrod to be my suzerain and lead me in the ways of kingship. I seek glory and honor and power.”
    The Shade paused again. It was an uncomfortable silence. Saul shivered. He noticed the Ob was on the floor in an epileptic seizure. White foam came from her mouth and her eyes were rolled up inside her head.
    The voice of the Shade changed from the bellicose bellowing to a low breathy calculating whisper. “You want glory and honor and power? Yet, another rivals your throne.”
    “I know not who it is, my lord.”
    “I can help you find out.”
    “Mighty Nimrod, what shall I do?”
    “Open yourself to me.”
    “I do. I do open myself to you. Whatever wisdom, whatever advice, I promise to heed your words and do all as you say.”
    Saul felt dizzy again. The phantom’s eyes penetrated into his soul. He felt the distinct sensation of unity with the elohim. He felt intimate, as if the spiritual king were becoming one with him. A gust of wind washed over Saul and he fell to the ground unconscious.
     
    Saul awoke to the gush of a breath filling his lungs. His eyes opened to see the Ob pressing her lips passionately on his. She was breathing life back into him. Had he died? He barely remembered what had happened.
    He felt her tongue exploring his mouth. When she pulled away from him, he thought it felt split like a snake’s tongue. He coughed and sat up, rubbing his head. He had a hangover like the kind he had after one of his nights of heavy drinking.
    A sharp pain went through his skull. He groaned.
    She said, “Your bodyguard awaits outside.”
    He said, “What am I supposed to do? Nimrod did not explain.”
    “He is with