Under the Pendulum Sun

by Jeannette Ng

Her hair haloed behind her like the cascading folds of a goldfish’s tail and when she laughed there was but a bubbling noise. Strange symbols were burnt onto the hem of her dress, and knotted into her skin by red, angry scars. I recognised the symbols immediately. They were Enochian.

stared at her, at first thinking that I would suddenly learn to read that language of angels that had eluded my man...

None of the guests had reflections within any of the mirrors.

i do so have mirror-fear

I carry it in repentance for the sins of my heart, for that is the same as the sins of the flesh.

My heart is worn out and bruised beyond repair, and in my deep loneliness I often wish to be gone, but God knows best, and I want to do every ounce of work He wants me to do.

Crystalline grapes dangled from the ivy, each with a bright blue flame burning inside.

Enochian scarred into her flesh.

The stranger was dressed in the dark red of old, dried blood, calling to mind the scabbed-over cuts that itched and itched. At the hem of her dress were row upon row of shimmering Enochian.

He wore the front of a charred skull on his face, covering his coal-black features. A purple toga coiled loosely around him.

golden sigils embedded in deep scars were Enochian.

“Mab won’t notice, brother. She’s far too busy starting up that feud again with the Abyssal Lords. The winter Masquerade out of season, the fox hunt tomorrow.”

“Still, she could be trying to snub the Green King or the Lady of Iron. She hates a lot of people. Comes from being quite so old.”

“We both remember when the sun was lashed to a chariot, brother.”

now, isn't that an interesting bit of information like, the sun became a pendulum bc of interactions w humans i wonder what the moon was BEFORE

“Though I do concede that this could all be her trying to stake a claim on winter. It must have cost quite a lot,...

“And I hear the thundersnow that is to come later will be from Finland. There simply aren’t enough hands to make that much snow.”

She breathed out and the skin of her cheeks fluttered open like gills.

I rather do prefer it when we buy summer.”

Another breath and the gills on the stranger’s neck opened into eyes that blinked green and gold.

“I am Penemue, known as That Within, and this is my sister, Kasdaye, known as the Covered Hand and the Blood Astrologer.”

a watcher in Enochian lore.[1] He is a curer of stupidity in man, mentioned in Bereshith Rabba.[1] As an angel associated with Abraxiel (Abraxas), Penemue was also likely of the order of healing angels called the Labbim.[citation needed] The name of the fourth is Penemue: he discovered to the children of men bitterness and sweetness; And pointed out to them every secret of their wisdom. He taught men to understand writing, and the use of ink and paper. Therefore numerous have been those who have gone astray from every period of the world, even to this day. For men were not born for this, thus with pen and with ink to confirm their faith; Since they were not created, except that, like the angels, they might remain righteous and pure. Nor would death, which destroys everything, have effected [sic] them; But by this their knowledge they perish, and by this also its power consumes them.[2]

“I am Penemue, known as That Within, and this is my sister, Kasdaye, known as the Covered Hand and the Blood Astrologer.”

a fallen angel, the fifth mentioned of the 20 watcher leaders of the 200 fallen angels in the Book of Enoch. Tamiel is also called either Kasdaye (also Kasdeja, from Aramaic כַּשְׂדָּי kaśdāy—"Chaldean", "inhabitant of Chaldea", "astrologer")[1] or Kasyade (prob. compd. of כָּסָה kasah—"to conceal" + יָד yad—"hand", "power"; lit. "covered hand", "hidden power")[2] in the Book of Enoch, Chapter 69 Michael Knibb lists the translation of Tamiel as "God is Perfect" or "Perfection of God" (the combination of tamiym and El-God). Tamiel was attributed as a teacher of astronomy (Enoch 8:7). He also taught "the children of men all of the wicked strikes of spirits, [the strikes of] demons, and the strikes of the embryo in the womb so that it may pass away (abortion), and [the strikes of the soul], the bites of the serpent, and the strikes which befall through the noontide heat, [which is called] the son of the serpent named Taba'et (meaning male)" during the days of Noah, not the days of Jared.[citation needed]

“I am Penemue, known as That Within, and this is my sister, Kasdaye, known as the Covered Han...

AAAAAAAA, HARDCORE ANGELOLOGY *BLISS*

“Hold any name up to the light of truth and you can make rainbows from their sounds. It doesn’t mean anything. And they are as good as any other,”

“We don’t need to hide them the way Mab does. We aren’t famous. No one reads the book of the watchers.”

HERE WE GO, FOLX

“But I was hoping to title myself a slattern, dear brother. In the Pale Queen’s example.”

suddenly afraid of the importance and power of names.

I could see behind the edges of his mask, white veins under his skin, ever shifting, an endless scrawl of almost words. His breath smelt like the glue on the spines of new books and the rich ink of old ones.

“Our Unbegotten Father and his Misbegotten Son may claim it, but it is not theirs alone. You have as much a right to learn it as any other, though I do not think you will understand its secrets. Ink and paper can defy even death.”

She won’t be easily impressed like the other, brother.” “But dust can learn, just as clay can. And I don’t like teaching those who aren’t a little impressed,”

They flowed around each other with an enviable familiarity.

“I can cast your fate in blood, little one, if you want to know. The stars will speak for me.”

“Have you not wanted to speak to me all your life?” “H-have I?” “You’re human. And humanity loves us.”