David Ascendant (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 7) Read Online Free PDF

patriarchal culture. Of course, Goliath and the rest of the males in the society used them to gratify their perverse pleasures, but they did so with contempt.
    “I unite with my brother in arms in his vow,” added Ishbi.
    Goliath looked over and placed his hand on his companion’s shoulder in solidarity. Ishbi grasped Goliath’s as a warrior would in facing death together.
    In their focus on familial love for Lahmi, they had again overlooked the need to plead on behalf of the tagalong runt Ittai. They had brought him to the temple, but they did so as an afterthought, as one would remember to bring a child’s beloved pet.
    Suddenly, a wisp of air rushed through the sanctuary. Goliath and Ishbi heard a whisper from the image.
    “Goliath.”
    They looked up, shocked.
    The flickering torchlight made the shadows dance across the stone image giving the illusion of movement. But it was only an illusion. The purpose of images was to be a physical vessel for the earthly presence of the heavenly deity. The devotees would “call down the breath” of the god into the image as a representative of the god. Evidently, that breath now spoke to Goliath.
    “Yes, my lord and god. Your servant listens.”
    Ishbi’s eyes went wide open in astonishment. The two boys remained prone and unconscious on the altar.
    The air went dead. Goliath heard no response. He could only hear his and Ishbi’s anxious breathing. His heart beat heavily in his chest. The smell of fish penetrated his nostrils. Was that the remaining odor of sacrifices?
    Perhaps it was just his own delusion, created out of the grief of losing his dear brother. But Ishbi had heard it too, had he not?
    Goliath looked at Ishbi. Ishbi did not return his gaze. He stared like a statue frozen in fright at the image of the god.
    Goliath followed his gaze.
    He saw a shadow glide out from behind the image. It stood eight feet tall. Goliath now knew the aroma was not from sacrifices but from the god who consumed them.
    That god now stood before the prone children and kneeling warriors. He was frightening. He did not have his lower fish half like the image did. He was fully humanoid, but clearly not human.
    Goliath could see the pale scales of the deity’s greenish-white and slimy skin glitter in the torchlight. He was clad only in loincloth and carried a trident. His musculature was broad and well built. He wore a golden ring to crown his elongated skull. He had deep inset eyes with black lips. And his breath stunk of rotted fish guts.
    Goliath felt vomit rise in his throat. He pushed it back and swallowed.
    “So, the young and mighty gibborim dedicate their lives to my glory, if I will but heal their precious little boy loves.”
    “Yes, my Lord,” blurted Goliath.
    Ishbi thought it was strange that the god would misspeak about Lahmi and Ittai. They were not their boy loves. Did the deity not know that Lahmi was a sibling and that Goliath and Ishbi were erotic warrior companions?
    Dagon said, “Well, I have heard your prayers, and I must say I am moved. Your ambition has brought you renown. You have caught my interest.”
    Another odor drifted into Ishbi’s nostrils. It was the rancid smell of rotting flesh. He brushed away a couple annoying flies buzzing around his head.
    Dagon spoke to the both of them, but his attention was more on Goliath than Ishbi. He said, “Goliath, you are of the Rephaim. A descendant of the antediluvian Nephilim. Do you know your heritage?”
    “I know only that the Nephilim were the children of gods and men.”
    Dagon continued, “You are a demigod. And you carry their royal blood. You are both from a chosen line that goes all the way back to the Serpent.”
    Goliath and Ishbi grew more interested with every word. The Serpent was well known and worshipped throughout Canaan. They knew him as the giver of wisdom and eternal life.
    “But do you know why the gods chose you?”
    “No, my lord,” said Goliath.
    “Because as the seed of the Serpent,