Young Writers Society

XXIX

The orange moon lit the halls, throwing Asenath’s long shadow onto a wall. A black scarf was wrapped around her head, only her eyes shone through. She clutched a bag of grain, a mortar and pestle, and a pomegranate close to her body. Oni trailed like a phantom behind her. Her breaths came slowly, quietly. The secrecy sent the thrill of adrenaline up her spine. She tiptoed through the halls until she arrived at the door.

Here we go.

It opened with a faint creak. The stairwell was pitch black so she lit a candle. The single delicate flame illuminated only the first few steps. She gingerly stepped down, down, careful to leave the door cracked open behind her.

Chains clanked and a frightened voice called out, “Who…who’s there?”

Oni stood near the door to interpret.

Asenath kept the light away from her face. “A friend.”

Simeon huddled against a wall. “Go away. I…I don’t believe in ghosts.”

She smiled to herself. In this lighting, I must look a lot like a ghost.

“I’m not a ghost. I’m…”

I can’t tell him who I really am.

“Eliora, a girl who lives here.”

Simeon leaned close to the bars of his cell. “Is that a Hebrew name?” He squinted, trying to see his mysterious visitor.

She quickly set the candle in a holder on the wall and flitted back into the shadows. “You could say that.”

“Eliora…Elohim is my light. Are…are you an angel?”

“You could say that as well.”

He shrugged, pulling a thin blanket over his haggard shoulders. “I know why you are here. You are here to torture me about Joseph and what I did to him. But you don’t have to. Every stone here calls out, accusing me. Elohim is judging me.”

Poor broken man.

Asenath inched closer to the cell, avoiding the light. “Are you bored Simeon?”

He turned his head abruptly to her voice. “How do you know my name?”

“I know about you and your brothers. Answer the question.”

“I cannot be bored. My mind is always swirling, reminding me of my wrong. I can still see the faces of the Hivites in my dreams.”

I just want to help you.

“Here.” She slid the grain and mortar and pestle under his bars.

“What is this?”

“Something for you to do. And also this.” She reached out to give him the pomegranate.

He backed away from her hand that shone white in the candle and moon light.

“I’m not a ghost. Or an angel. Take the fruit and touch my hand. I am flesh and blood just like you.”

He slowly reached out, his hand shaking. His breath was raw, intoxicatingly close. His touch was brief, but it made her shiver.

So like Joseph’s, but so different.

She backed into the shadows, leaving him alone again.

“So you are just a girl. What are you doing here then?”

“I just feel bad for you.”

He stiffened. “I don’t need pity.”

“Whatever you say, my lord. I will come again, when you are done with your task.”

“How will you know that I am done?”

“I’ll know. Good night.” She sneaked away with Oni on her tail, taking the candle with her. Once the door was closed behind them, she let out a deep breath. Her body tingled with excitement.

Did that really just happen?

Joseph still slept, breathing peacefully now. After taking off her disguise, she climbed into bed. Nobody else knew.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

“Good evening, Simeon,” Asenath said in a friendly voice.

“Eliora! And her mysterious translator that never leaves the doorway. Good evening. I finished that weaving you asked me to do.” He leaned close to the bars of his cell expectantly.

Asenath stayed in the shadows and pulled the scarf closer to her face. “I know. I brought you more grain to grind and a flask of wine.”

As they exchanged goods through the bars, Simeon searched her eyes. “I feel like I have seen you before.”

She quickly pulled back into the darkness, trying to stay calm.

He knows.

“Of course you have. I have come many times in the past few months.”

“Yes, but there was something else too.”

“Maybe you saw me in the kitchen on your way down here with your brothers.”

“You are probably right. I…I miss my brothers. But now they…” He stared off into the distance behind her. “…are gone.” His face was masked by darkness, but his eyes gleamed in the candlelight. He hit the wall as hard as he could. A dull thump echoed through the halls. “I will make that vizier pay.”

Asenath held back a giggle as the tips of his ears grew deep red.

But I guess he has some right to be angry.

The dungeon smelled of human excrete and sweaty sheep. The wall at her back dripped with slimy water. She ignored all this to focus on Simeon. “Calm yourself, my lord. Getting angry at the vizier will not make your situation better. Especially if the guard who brings your food hears about it.”

The color began to leave his ears. “This isn’t his fault, this is mine. My fault! If we would have left Joseph alone this wouldn’t have happened. Was he ever that bad? A little annoying, but otherwise…he was an innocent boy. Ah, my head!” He put his head against the wall and closed his eyes.

“What is wrong with your head?”

“My head, my head!” He slammed his head against the wall.

“My lord! Stop! You are hurting yourself!”

He looked at her with bloodshot eyes and a vacant expression. “I can’t sleep. My head…my head is always thinking, reliving the moment. It has to stop!” He grabbed at the wine and poured it down his throat. Some drizzled out, looking like blood.

Asenath grabbed his sweaty hand under the bars. “Elohim will work it out. Lie down on your bed. I can sing to help you sleep.”

“Sleep? I don’t know how to sleep.”

“Just try. Please.”

He slowly lay down on his pallet, curling into a tight ball. She sang him one of the lullabies she had written for Manasseh. Her song bounced off the walls, making her one voice seem like a choir of angels. Simeon’s eyes drooped, and, after the third verse, he was asleep.

“May you sleep without dreams,” she whispered. She headed up the stairs. Oni was also asleep at the top of the stairs. “Wake up!”

Oni’s eyes fluttered open.

“You can go home now,” Asenath said. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you,” Oni yawned.

What else can I do for him? He might commit suicide before Joseph’s plan works.

She opened the door to her room. All the candles were lit and Joseph was wide awake!

He scowled at her as she entered. “Joseph! You are up! I was, just, um, I had to pick up this weaving.”

“Really? At midnight? What were you really doing?”

“I was picking up weaving!”

“The whole truth.”

She avoided his harsh look. “I, well…”

“I already know where you were. I just want to see if you would like to tell me the truth. I don’t like it when people go behind my back.”

“If you already know, why should I tell you?” she shot back.

“Why did you disobey me?! I told you not to interfere! And yet you go to see my brother! In the middle of the night! That is not suspicious at all,” he retorted with thick sarcasm.

“How dare you accuse me like that! I just wanted to help him!”

“After all these years, you would betray me.”

“I didn’t betray you.” She got close to him and stared him straight in the eye. “The man is crazy with guilt! If he is alone for too long, I’m sure he will kill himself. I’m doing you a favor!” she yelled.

“I know what I’m doing. I don’t need your help!”

“So you don’t need me. I see how it is. Fine with me. I’m sleeping in the guest room!” She stormed out.

“This conversation is not finished!” he called out behind her.

She ran away and flung herself into the guest bed. The tears came slow at first, then they poured like a torrent of rain.

I just wanted to help!