The army cheered as they stormed into Heliar. The villagers screamed as the barbarians ran in, burned the houses, raped the women and killed the people relentlessly. Nimrod stood there and sighed. Salmu turned to Nimrod worriedly. "Go feed, my clever one, go feed." The leopard leapt in the air happily and ran towards the screams. Oannes walked towards him. "Sire? It is not normal for us not to see the great spirits of the king so low, that great king who walks miles ahead of the army and pillages the cities whole before we even reach it. You have been extremely saddened for many days, sire? What matters you?" Nimrod looked at Oannes and grabbed his head. "Oannes. I need to tell you something, but please don't take it the wrong way."

Oannes frowned: "What is it lord?" Nimrod sighed: "I think I may have fallen in love with your own wife, Oannes." Oannes' eyes widened and he stepped back. "But...." He nodded at him: "It is true. Oannes, I promise you the hand of any of my fair daughters in marriage in fair exchange for Semiramis." Oannes shook his head: "No. I can never part with my beloved." Nimrod sighed: "Think about it, Oannes, think about it very carefully. I am in love with her and unless I be united with her I shall remain miserable." Nimrod started to walk towards the village. Oannes stood there frozen.

Three days later he hung himself.

A month had passed before Nimrod returned to Babel. Now married to Semiramis, they sat on the throne that ruled the kingdom of Shinar in the city that was called The Gate of God: Babylon. Shinar was divided into twelve provinces. Each province lead by the tribe of that part of the world. And the chief of each tribe was stationed in the twelve-member council of Babel (the capital). In other words, Nimrod had the entire earth in hand's reach. He had the world bowing at his feet. But still, he thought he had achieved nothing.

Semiramis was a great queen; she tended to the peoples' needs and helped the poor and the orphan. Her people loved her so. And Nimrod was proud to claim her as his own.

He dedicated a shrine sacred to especially three Gods. And the largest of them held a smith's hammer.

Everyone under Nimrod was forced to worship the Gods that he worshipped, and all those who worshipped any other Gods were executed.

"Blessed are thy, my lord Cain." He said as he prayed. Semiramis took off her shoes, stepped into the shrine and kissed Nimrod on the forehead. She looked at the statue of Cain and looked back at Nimrod. "Nimrod?" She asked. "Yes my love?" he asked. "You've never told me about Cain. Why you venerate him so, and why you loathe the God of our great grandfather Noah?" He shook his head: "You cannot understand, Semiramis, as I've told you countless times before, why do you keep persisting?" She frowned: "Because I care for thee. Our hearts are one with each other but I need to know what you know so that our minds can be one as well." She clasped his hands softly and her warmth filled him with ecstasy. "I want to be to thy, what thy are to me: My heaven."

He sighed and looked at Cain's statue. He then stood up and walked towards his sheath and took out the sword. He walked towards Semiramis and she looked at him quizzically. He sat down and held the blade by his hands. "Touch it." He said. She shook her head. "You've killed every person that has ever laid a finger on the sword. I do not want my fate to be as theirs." He shut his eyes. "I promise thee not to slay. Now touch it." She blinked, then reached her hand towards the blade. As her hand closed, the swirling symbols on one edge of the swords started to glow with a faint blue light. The light grew and grew as her finger came closer.

There was a spark.

(Continued...)