Radiance - The story so far - Tiferet

As usual, here are the links to all the previous 'stories so far' where you can find links to each chapter.

Part 1 - Malchut/Kingship
Part 2 - Yesod/Foundation
Part 3&4 - Hod/Splendour and Netzach/Victory

Stairway to Heaven
Asher's mother, Emma, together with his (deceased) father Eliav, journey through heaven, encountering strange and terrifying angels. Emma crosses many thresholds, giving up Eliav and all she possesses to try to save Asher - but just as she passed the second gate, she heard a prophecy that there is a traitor in the Seven, and that Asher will die.

No Judge and No Justice
Asher has recovered from his fight with the dybbuk and is sitting in synagogue on Saturday morning, reflecting on everything he's seen and done. In particular, seeing how the Sitra Achra killed his father, while Virgo left him to his fate, makes Asher furious and he storms off into NYC, no longer caring if he breaks shabbes. He goes to see his old friend Dan Black, who advises him to get his life back in balance.

Spitting out the Demons
Virgo follows a trail of fleeing demons to find Asher in the Lower Temple, seeking answers - Mercury and Ostar have been captured and Asher wants to know where to find them. But Ashmedai, king of all demons, has a huge host of demons and is not happy to have had the peace of shabbat disturbed. Before they are captured, Virgo and Asher combine their powers and are able to escape.

Making Up
Back in the Palace of Understanding, Asher vents his anger and frustration but Virgo dismisses his feelings - they come to blows but end up in each others' arms...

What Lurks Below
Samael is trying to rouse Leviathan with the power of the captured Ostar and Mercury but it isn't working. Ashmedai expects his payment but it is not forthcoming, their mysterious Boss wants more - then the forces of the Sitra Achra also hear the prophecy that there is a traitor in the Seven and that Asher will die.

Radiance - The Story So Far - Hod/Netzach

Yesterday I began posting the 5th section of Radiance, my kabbalistic fantasy novel, and it occurred to me that it's getting harder and harder to just jump in and start reading. So here is my story so far post, to help get you up to speed and into the story.

First some links to get you caught up - all my 'story so far' posts have links to every chapter in that section so you can easily track down what you've missed.

The story so far - Malchut
The story so far -Yesod

Hod/Splendour - Chapter 1
Hod/Splendour - Chapter 2
Netzach/Victory - Chapter 1
Netzach/Victory - Chapter 2

Possession is Nine Tenths of the Law
Asher has spent the last 6 months or so with Virgo, learning about Judaism and training for combat. These skills are put to the test when the two of them face a dybbuk known as the nameless one in Columbus Circle. Using all their mystic powers, Virgo and Asher defeat the dybbuk but not before it possesses Asher.

Felafel and Houmous
Meanwhile in Netanya, Mercury and Ostar, two of the Seven, are staking out a shop that seems to be the base of the Sitra Achra's activities. Rahko, embodiment of Chessed, appears to tell them that bad stuff is going down and they should enter the shop immediately. Meanwhile Rahko went to try to find Li, Virgo and Asher. Ostar and Mercury entered the store and were confronted by Ashmedai - their fate is unknown.

Bad memories
Inside Asher's brain he fought the dybbuk, through memories of Hebrew school, his bar mitzvah and a funeral. In the end, Asher triumphed over the nameless one and just as he let go of his unlife, the dybbuk told Asher he had a secret to share.

Daddy Issues
Witnessing the dybbuk's memories from the inside, Asher saw his father meeting Virgo in a hotel lobby before his father died. Virgo left Asher's father in the hotel and he was ambushed by the sitra achra and killed.

Why did Asher's father meet with Virgo? Why did he let himself be killed? What happened to Mercury and Ostar? And will the prophecy of Asher's death be realised?

Keep reading Radiance to find out.

Radiance - The story so far - Yesod

The Story So Far - Malchut

Yesod (Foundation) - Chapter 1
Yesod (Foundation) - Chapter 2
Yesod (Foundation) - Chapter 3
Yesod (Foundation) - Chapter 4
Yesod (Foundation) - Chapter 5

The Only Way is Up
Virgo and Asher meet in Grand Central station. Virgo explains about the sephirot and that Asher should join the Seven as the manifestation of Malchut. With the help of a psalm, Asher liberates himself from the depths he had sunk to.


Crystal Palace
Asher is introduced to the Seven - Rahko with his power over water, Li who manipulates fire, Virgo carrying the staff of Moses, Ostar is the Shield who Saves and Mercury is the Sword that Cuts. The trail of the Sitra Achra leads to Netanya but Asher urges patience. Li storms out in disgust as the Seven begin more thorough investigations.

Shabbat in Netanya
We meet Asher's mother, Emma Grunfeld, and the disembodied voice of his deceased father, Eliav. She lives in Netanya and feels that she needs to do something to help her son before his fate falls upon him. As shabbat goes out, Emma opens The Book of the Chariot and begins her ascent to heaven.

School of Hard Knocks
In Central Park, Asher receives a painful lesson in hand-to-hand combat and a review of his Jewish knowledge. He finds unknown depths inside himself but is still slower than Virgo. They see a dybbuk and begin pursuit.

Something is coming
And in the dark, a creature is stirring.

Radiance - The Story So Far

Malchut (Kingship) - Chapter 1
Malchut (Kingship) - Chapter 2
Malchut (Kingship) - Chapter 3
Malchut (Kingship) - Chapter 4
Malchut (Kingship) - Chapter 5 

The Unborn Prince
Asher was sitting in the bath, feeling low after hearing the news that his father had just passed away, when Ashmedai, the king of the demons tore a hole out of the wall. Appearing somewhat like Asher himself, Ashmedai chased him onto the street where only the timely intervention of two warriors - one in gold and one in silver - saved his life. Told to 'find the edges', Asher escaped with only minor injury. Was it all a dream?

Knock, knock, knockin' on Asher's Door
Someone calling herself Virgo has been following Asher throughout his life, appearing at several key moments - his first guitar lesson, his college days, his first day as an astrology hotline operator.

Mysterious City of Gold
Virgo discovered a golem in the Western Wall excavations in Jerusalem. Calling on the power of the storm, she washed the golem away, recovering the parchment that had been used to animate him.

Englishman in New York
Asher's life has become grey and dull, so when Virgo calls and asks him to meet her at Grand Central, he leaps at the chance. On the way he meets a taxi driver down on his luck and gives him $50. Then Virgo and Asher meet.

The Sitra Achra
Meanwhile, the forces of evil are forced to make new plans. From where are they receiving their messages?

And a glimpse of things to come...
-“Words have power, Asher, and the words of the Bible contain ultimate power. Words shape reality.”

-“This,” she brandished her wooden staff before her, “is the staff that Aaron used to turn the River Nile to blood, the staff that Moses held when he split the Reed Sea..." 

-“Conjugate the verb lamed, mem, dalet in the kal form,” she said, never letting up her constantly shifting attacks.

-"Deep in the dark, something was stirring - something vast, sinuous and twisting, uncoiling in the salty depths."