Escape Ch.9

Athens was radiant in Tirzah's eyes. She couldn't hold in her excitement when they arrived, running to the city. Azriel, smiling, ran after her. He walked beside her, Tirzah quickly buying and talking to the natives. She introduced herself as Yocheved and Azriel as Jahaziel. She smiled as Azriel wondered what she said to the old man.

"He can find us a good place to stay, hidden in the mountains but still close enough to town to get goods."

"I did not know you spoke Greek."

"My father taught me."

She smiled, taking her newly purchased things into her arms, the old man directing her on where to go. She walked through the town, Azriel following her and keeping his eyes open. They entered a spacious building, greeted by a man.

"Welcome to Athens. I am Theophilus. Of what service may I be to you my lord and lady?"

Tirzah interpreted for Azriel, the man smiling.

"Ah yes!", he said,"There is one. It has been abandoned for years. No one goes that way any longer. But it is all yours."

Azriel handed him a great deal of gold, telling him in the only Greek he knew, "You never met us. We donnot exist."

The man nodded and understood. He bid them farewell and at once went to count the handful Azriel had given him. Azriel shook his head, Tirzah laughing as he smirked.

"Greed...", he said under his breathe.

Tirzah and Azriel entered their new home, Tirzah smiling. It was white stone, a large courtyard at its center. There were five rooms, one bath. There was a large pool in the back, a fountain and stone benches inside and out. There was a large bed in one of the rooms, smaller beds in the other three. One room was empty. Tirzah began to clean at once, Azriel going back to town for food and extra things he knew Tirzah would like. Tirzah made the house look livable, as if she and Azriel had lived there for so long...

"My lady!!", Azriel cried as he arrived, Tirzah overwhelmed as he arrived with people to help with the house. They helped put the new beds and clean some more, by nightfall they had their home complete. Tirzah's room was covered in white drapes, her bed as soft as ever. She danced around the house, Azriel was eating at the table. He smiled, she was herself again.

"Did you ever dream of a more beautiful place?"

"No, no dream I had could compare to this."

"I wish we never leave here. Ever."

"As you wish my lady."

The days passed, Tirzah and Azriel living a quiet life in the mountainside. As Azriel trained outside, Tirzah grabbed her heavy water pot like she did in Jerusalem to bring him water.They had no neighbors, no one knew them and they kept to themselves. They went to town once a week, together. They were never suspected of anything but being a private couple. No one bothered them, Azriel was well respected amongst the people, Tirzah seen as a model wife. Azriel bought her enough dresses to wear one every day for a month. She dressed like a princess every day, Azriel gazing upon her beauty.

"If I am correct I am 17 now."

"Really? How do you know?"

"The flowers bloom when it is my birthday."

He looked at the hillside, flowers in bloom. He smiled and kissed her forehead, Tirzah blushing. He left her alone, going inside to make her something with almonds. She liked almonds....

That night he took her to town, there were feasts that night. They danced and ate, Tirzah not allowing him to drink. They chased eachother around the path home, Azriel lifted her in the air as they entered their home. He put her down, bolting the door. He smiled as she danced around, Azriel moving closer to her, cornering her.

"My lord..."

He moved closer, their faces close.

"Yes?"

"Why is the gate swung open?"

He looked at her confused. He turned and could see down the hall that the back door was open and the gate as well. He grabbed his sword from his belt, telling her to stay close. He check the rooms, no one. As he walked outside he heard heavy breathing.

"Rashne....You were always too loud. Hiding was never your strength,"

A cold laugh came from behind him, a tall man, tanned and with long black hair appeared from the shadow.

"Azriel, my little one...It has been too long. Come now let us not waste time. Khaled and Ilyas are about to enjoy your woman. I'd like a taste."

Azriel felt the anger consume him as soon as Rashne mentioned Tirzah. He charged at Rashne at full force, cutting his arms off. When Rashne fell to the ground Azriel looked him in the eye.

"No man touches her. Good bye brother."

He pierced Rashne's heart, Azriel's sword going through until the handle was on one side and the rest out of the other. Azriel pulled it out, running inside. He heard the clashing of metal, finding Tirzah fighting with Khaled. She was too quick for him, putting all her might into the sword as she plunged the sword into his chest. She stepped back as he fell, Ilyas now coming for her. Azriel came at him, blocking Ilyas's hit. Ilyas threw Tirzah and she hit the wall and fell to the floor. Azriel began to fight him, no weapons. He reached for Tirzah's water pot as Ilyas choked him. He got hold of it and smahed it against Ilyas's head. Ilyas rolled of Azriel, Azriel rushing to Tirzah. But Ilyas grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Azriel found his small knife and jammed it into Ilyas's neck.

"Tirzah?", he said sweetly as he held her in his arms. She was breathing slowly, her eyes closed. He put his hand on her cheek, calling her name out. He didn't fight the tears the fell from his eyes. She had blood on her dress and he was afraid to see from where it had come from. He slowly lifted her up, carrying her to the bed. He kissed her forehead, and covered her with a silk sheet. He rid the house of the bodies, heading into the mountains, hiding them as he had been taught. He buried them as soldiers would be buried, he wrote fake title on a rock.

He returned to the room, Tirzah still knocked out cold. He held her small hands in his, hoping she would open her eyes.

If you exist, I ask you Yahweh, if you take her from me, let her open her eyes once. That I may gaze upon the eyes of your angel..One more time...