AN: This is a set of excerpts for my novel-in-progress The Nephilim, which I'm writing for NaNoWriMo. "Garden of the Gods" is part of this, so it might end up here too. If you like this, head to my profile where you can find more information.

Warning: The Nephilim does have SLASH, so this will too. And it's not just slash, it's incest slash. The first excerpt doesn't have any, so I'll warn you again when it does so that if you don't like it, you can avoid it. Also, this has huge, gaint, major RELIGIOUS THEMES. I know they will upset some people. If you're not fond of religion, or you'd rather not see the monotheistic religions (or pagan religions, actually) twisted around, don't read it. Please. I don't want to be flamed.

Summary: After being a called a demon his whole life, Hamal learns what it's like to actually be one. He thinks it wonderful but does that life come at too high a price? Maybe he didn't think this decision all the way through...

The Nephilim

Excerpt I

It wasn’t hard carrying the empty jug down the street, nor was it that difficult carrying the full jug with two people. The trouble came once we were almost back home. I glanced up the street and saw the flash of a familiar robe as someone disappeared around a corner.

“Minkah!” I shouted, sure that was who it was.

Chike sent me a questioning glance. “Who?”

“Minkah,” I said, though I knew that would mean nothing to him. “He just turned the corner up there!”

“There wasn’t anyone there,” Chike said, now looking even more confused.

“No, he was there,” I insisted. I was sure I had seen him, even with all the odd things that had been happening so far today. Without waiting for his reaction, I dropped my side of the poles holding up the jug of water and dashed after the robed figure.

“Hamal, there’s no one there!” Chike yelled after me. I didn’t stop. I knew what I had seen. I didn’t care that Chike hadn’t seen him.

I turned the corner and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the familiar form up ahead. Finally, I could get some answers.

“Minkah! Wait!” I called. The figure didn’t even hesitate.

“Minkah!” I called again. “Please stop! I believe you! Minkah!”

This time he did stop, but I wasn’t expecting it and I couldn’t slow down in time. I thought I would run into him. I didn’t run into anything. I watched in amazement as my body passed straight through his. I whirled around to see him still standing there, though looking very confused.

I reached out hesitantly for his hand, but jerked it back when it passed right through. I glanced up. His face was turned away from me, searching the source of the shout he had heard by pure chance, a shout that I had somehow gotten to transcend time and reach him wherever he was now.

“Minkah?” I said, trying again. His head whipped around, blue eyes wide with fear. His mouth opened to say something, but before a sound came out, he disappeared.

Chike was waiting for me at the mouth of the alley. I could tell even from this distance that he was upset. But I was just as upset. I wanted to know what was happening to me, and I knew Minkah would have answers if he was powerful enough to travel time.

“What’s up with you?” Chike hissed as I joined him again. “If you start acting funny, our family’s going to be hated even more.”

“I thought I saw someone I knew,” I said as we picked up the water jug again.

“There wasn’t anyone there,” Chike said, giving me another funny look.

“That’s why I said I thought I saw someone,” I said, reaching over to rap him on the head. I was startled when the energy surrounding him began to slowly join with mine, just from the simplest touch. I concentrated hard on stopping it and was thankful when it worked. I knew, somehow, that I did not want that to happen every time I touched someone…except, maybe when it came to the evil witch lady.