Author: Amir Behzadi

CHAPTER 1

Good and evil is a dual struggle that has no beginning nor no end. It leaves chaos in its wake.
Order may contain it but it can never be extinguished.

The world was created this way. A constant battle between darkness and light.

Somewhere in the East a shepherd boy wanders with his flock. He has no ambition but wants to change his life. He no longer feels enthusiasm for the toils he undertakes day in and day out. Every night he prayed for a better life. He prayed to the Gods hat he could escape the stench of domestic animals and the chores he performed on a regular basis.

Then one day, a stranger approached him. This was no ordinary stranger. He wore the finest garbs and jewels. The shepherd boy was bedazzled by what he saw. The stranger offered him his hearts content. In return he asked that he may kiss his shoulders in order to grant him his wish. The boy agreed. His shoulders were kissed and the boy screamed out in agony. The valley became dark and one by one, the flock started to die.

The boy became the servant of darkness and with that serpents sprang forth from his cursed shoulders. He was granted whatever he wished but at a price. The consequences of his actions would reverberate throughout time and the ripples would be felt right up to the modern world.


CHAPTER 2

Fatherless and living with a drug addicted mother. No one understands Kimia. She speaks languages that are incomprehensible to her mother. Languages of a bygone time. Sumerian, Assyrian, Ancient Persian, Elamite etc……

She is gifted but ever so lonely. Such is the case for all gifted impoverished children. It is better to suppress something that you don’t understand, for the truth can be frightening.

In the slums of Tehran life goes on. A scrap of bread would be a fine meal if one could get it. Kimia sits outside her hovel, day in day out Watching the world go by. She tends to her mother who is either lighting up an opium pipe or completely stoned out of her head.

Kimia is an observer of people. From the very rich to the poorest of the poor, she has come to one conclusion. All are like lost children, not knowing their purpose in life but forever driven by a desire to gain power and wealth by any means necessary.

Kimia dreams every night. But these dreams seem more like visions. Visions of past events. Visions of things to come. Visions turn into nightmares that she cannot get out of her head. One occurring vision frequents her sleepless nights in particular.

The sky had turned black. Darkness engulfed the land. Shadows spread like a veil that could not be lifted.

In the citadel of King Jamshid all are afraid. His people deserted him long ago. They hid themselves but most of all, their beloved children. For they knew what was coming.

His soldiers manning the parapets quivered in silence as they scanned the vast horizon. The days had become shorter and the nights even longer ever since the king’s power started to grow weaker. Tonight darkness would engulf them forever.

The Magi in the fire temple were consigned to the inevitability of eternal damnation. The Ataxsh had been growing weaker day by day. Their prayers were futile. Ohrmazd the supreme lord had abandoned them. Ahriman the supreme demon was on the rise. Soon his servant would be coming.

The forgotten king on his throne awaited news about the approaching armies led by the one they call Bevar asp or as he his infamously known. Zahak. He rode a chariot led by a thousand horses that struck fear into the hearts of all living creatures.

The king was afraid and it showed.

“Vizier, damn you any news on the approaching army?”

“No my lord, no sign yet.”

An eerie silence fell between them.

“And my men, are they prepared for battle?”

“Always my king of kings. But?”

The king looked at him sternly.

“But what?”

He shouted with fear hidden in his voice.

“They are afraid my lord. I've never seen them so terrified.”

The king slumped back on his throne.
“Even my immortals?”

The silence came back. The wind blew in and flickered the torches that lined the walls.

“Yes, even your immortals.”

The king grasped the handles of his throne.

“What’s this, they are all pathetic, weak, cowardly souls. They have plunged me into the bottomless pit.”

“No my lord they would never do that, but I must speak my mind.”

“Well, spit it out then”.

“My king of kings, it is you who has plunged us into eternal darkness.it is you who became corrupted with power and greed. It is you who broke the sacred laws of Zarathustra and now Zahak comes because he knows we are weak and have lost our way and....”

The king slowly rose from his throne. His whole body was trembling.

“Enough. Get out of my sight and never set foot in my throne room again, or I will have you scattered to the four winds. your last act as my vizier will be to summon my high priest. At least he is wise enough and unafraid to advise me on what best course of action I must take in order to clear up the mess you and my other incompetent servants have left me.”

“As you wish my lord. I have spoken my mind and I have told you what your people are feeling. what of the children, the poor children”?

The king unsheathed his sword with a trembling hand and raised it to strike.

“Get out, out. ouuuuut.”

The Vizier ran out stumbling over the ornaments as he did so.

In Kimia's vision dream she sees the fear of the soldiers. Most off all she feels their trepidation and anxiety.

Through the darkness lit up by a crimson horizon comes a horrific screech. A screech that wrenches the soul out of one’s body. The Earth shook and the masses screamed.

Jamshid jumps from the throne and prepares for the worst.

The priests cringe with fear and wail with terror. For Ataxsh (Fire) has been extinguished. It is time for the Dragon King to come.

All look across to the far distance and see the blood red horizon approaching. All murmur. This is no natural horizon. Thunder and lightning shake the world. A dark mass appears; it spreads slowly towards the citadel.

Zahak's army wear all black. Their banners and standards have the four serpents coming from a dark figure.

Panic engulfs Jamshid's army, hysteria takes over when the behold black stallions dragging a chariot. A sea of red behind a figure that has serpents on each shoulder. They scream and wail. Zahak's eyes are not human despite his human form. Bloodshot with greed and lust. His stallions of the underworld. They can tear a man apart with their teeth.

----- End of Introduction to Zahak the Serpent -----