Poetry Friday ~ Unrequited Love <3

Hello, everyone! Welcome.

Here are the words from Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge:

“Circled and Squared”

I almost tossed in the towel when I saw the two prompt words for the week. What was I supposed to do with that? I thought. But in the end, I decided to give it a try. I’ve been hard at work with the blurb, cover and formatting for my upcoming book, The Rise of Gadreel. Please forgive me for not being consistant with my Friday posts the last few weeks. My Etheree poem was inspired by the second book in my Fantasy Angels Series, Son of the Serpent. I’ve also included an excerpt from that book. I hope you enjoy it.

Photograph by Mateus Campos Felipe @matfelipe

Unrequited Love

I fell in love with a beautiful mind

thoughts of him spiral out of control

as I crave what I cannot have

He entered my life and made

everything better

I can’t regret him

or corrupt him

he’s married

to the

church

Photograph by James Coleman @jhc

Dracúl came across a young girl named Miriam while searching the streets of Egypt for a place to rest for the night. She informed him that the pharaoh ordered every Israeli male child not yet walking be thrown into the Nile River for the crocodiles, and she feared for her newborn brother’s life. Here’s an excerpt in Dracúl’s voice from Son of the Serpent.

Gadreel and I left the waterfall and made our way to the street where I met Miriam. I found the house she disappeared into and knocked. 

      The door creaked open and a man stood before us. “Yes, how may I help you?”

      “We seek answers,” I said, bowing my head out of respect. “A girl named Miriam stated that we could get answers from her father, Amram.” 

      “I am Amram,” he said, creasing his brow. “You say you know my daughter, Miriam?”

      “We met once. She told me of a terrible decree ordered by the pharaoh. I have many questions. You could provide me with the answers I seek.” I glanced at Gadreel. She stared at the ground, and I returned my gaze to him.

      “Come in,” he said.

      I did not hesitate to do so. His home was humble but clean and cozy. The fragrances of incense and fresh bread wafted through the air. They did not have much but offered everything they had. Miriam came out of one of the rooms and helped serve food and drink to Gadreel and me. 

      “Why are Egyptian soldiers killing the innocent?” I asked once the meal was finished. 

      “Three months ago, a witch who passes herself off as an astrologer claimed that a liberator, a male child of Israel, was to be born. She told the pharaoh that this liberator would grow to be more powerful than any pharaoh of Egypt.” Amram’s face flushed as he gave us his account of the happenings.

      “Witch? Does this witch have a name?” Gadreel touched my arm and scowled at me. “Apologies. Please continue,” I said as heat bloomed in my face.

      “The pharaoh decided to end the threat by getting rid of the liberator while he was still a babe, so he ordered every male child that cannot yet walk be killed. My son was born three months ago, on the very day the witch predicted the liberator would be born. We believe our son is the liberator of Israel, for a radiant light filled our house when he entered this world.”

      Gadreel gasped, placing her hand over mine.

      “We have concealed him for three months, but it is becoming impossible to do so any longer,” Amram said as he wrung his hands, staring at us like we were his last hope.

      A woman approached and set a basket made of papyrus on the table. “My name is Jochebed. I am Amram’s wife and mother to Aaron and Miriam, and this is my newborn son.” She extended her hand toward the basket.

      Gadreel and I rose from our seats and looked into the basket. My eyes were fixed on the infant. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. I was mesmerized.

      “He is special.” My words were barely audible.

      “We must do something,” Gadreel said, standing on her toes as she gazed at the infant.

      “I can help your son, but you must trust me,” I told Jochebed and Amram.

      They glanced at each other and then Amram spoke to me. “I knew God had sent you the moment I opened the door and saw your face.” He nodded once, and I picked up the basket with the babe inside.

      “Is the basket impermeable?” I asked. “Will it float?” 

      “Yes, I weaved the papyrus reeds tightly,” Jochebed said.

      “Very well.” The babe, he smiled at me the way only one pure of heart could. “I will take your son to safety. Say your goodbyes.”

      The family came forth, kissed and caressed the child, and said their farewells.

      Gadreel and I made our way to the door with the infant.

      “I will go with you!” Miriam said, hurrying to us. “Please. Let me come with you. I want to see where my brother’s fate leads you.”

      I faced Amram. “It will be a dangerous undertaking. If we are caught with the child, they will try to kill us.”

      Miriam turned to her father, her face wet with tears of desperation and sorrow. “Please father! I implore you. Allow me to go with them.”

      Amram frowned and waved her to go. She grabbed my arm, pushing me forward and out the door, perhaps afraid her father would change his mind.

      We rushed through the streets. The babe fell asleep and remained silent. He looked comfortable, wrapped in soft cloths.

      “The witch they spoke of––it must be Lilith,” Gadreel whispered.

      “It is she. I am sure of it,” I said, moving quickly while scanning my surroundings. “I do not know what makes me so certain, but I am. I will save this child, and then I will deal with her.”

      As we reached the bank of the Nile we stopped to look out to the water. Gadreel gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth, stifling screams. Miriam was shrieking so Gadreel rushed to her side, holding her tight as the girl sobbed on her chest. I stood frozen by a sight so astonishing in its level of horror that I had to bite my lower lip hard enough to draw blood to be certain I was not having a nightmare. A myriad of dead and mangled babies floated downstream on the Nile. 

Son of the Serpent is a High/Supernatural Fantasy sprinkled with Horror and Romance for an 18+ audience. Get your copy and give this book a try. It may surprise you.