"Of course, we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden- the woman replied. It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said- you must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die."
"You won't die!- the serpent replied to the woman. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."
Cardinal David Lazarus looked up from his reading at the small crowd of thirty gathered in the pew. He was behind the pulpit of the north chapel, making a concluding remark after the mass.
The stained glass and rose windows on either side of the hall depicted various biblical figures and events.
The murals were unique, the most eye-catching being a tall depiction of Eve under the forbidden tree. She held a half-eaten apple in her hand. There was no Adam in the image.
"My friends, Eve took a bite of the apple as Satan instructed," David continued. "It was no sin. In fact, it was a gift. Everlasting life. Immortality."
"Amen!" the crowd responded.
"The Church of Resurrection founded in 1626 firmly believes that Eve is the mother of all, the first immortal. Consuming her body as we consume Christ shall bring humanity enduring life. Eve, as the goddess Hawwah, as the human Leah. LEAH UHTCEARE EVEGACA!”
"Amen!"
"I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to our congregation a new parishioner."
A young man in a white tunic left the pew and joined the Cardinal. He had medium hair with a taper-fade quiff style.
"You are welcome among us, Elijah Wood! May Eve bring you light!"
"May Eve bring you light, Elijah!" the crowd chanted.
After the mass was over, Cardinal David Lazarus gestured to Elijah to follow him.
David was in his early seventies but had a straight back and a powerful voice. He had the vibes of a younger, more virile man. Elijah could not help being intimidated by his persona.
The young hotshot lawyer had dreamed of the day- being inducted into the Church of Resurrection like his late father. Raymond Wood had been one of the chief patrons of the congregation. Unfortunately, he passed away at fifty-two—blood cancer.
After representing the Church of Resurrection several times in lawsuits, Elijah had proven his loyalty to the Cardinals, who decided on recruits.
Of course, Elijah had grown up reading the Resurrection Bible and tutored by his father on the church's beliefs.
Finally, he had received an invitation and had been initiated in front of thirty legitimate witnesses. However, it had been too sudden. Elijah suspected the Cardinals had an important job for him.
Lazarus took him behind the altar to a common room which opened into a narrow corridor. At the end, there was a door marked CLERGY. The Cardinal knocked four times. Someone in a domino mask opened the door.
"Ah, David. We've been waiting for you. All the other Cardinals have arrived. I presume you have brought the recruit?"
"He's right here, Morbius," Lazarus replied, nudging Elijah into the room.
A large television screen at the end of the room offered the only light source. Inside, seven individuals were already seated at a conference table. The man called Morbius joined the rest.
Even though it was dark, the members wore domino masks to hide their identities.
David Lazarus went to the head of the table while Elijah stood at the other end.
The members had been whispering their conversations, but they assumed silence when Lazarus cleared his throat. Elijah knew the latter was the Patriarch Cardinal while the rest eight in the room were simply Cardinals.
"Brothers, children of Eve, let us welcome our newest Cardinal, Elijah Wood."
The members greeted Elijah, and he responded to them politely. From their voices, it was apparent that they were all beyond the age of sixty. Perhaps every single one of them was a power broker in every walk of life. A top industrialist, a Vice President, a Senator, an Army General. He would never know.
"I hope you understand, Elijah, why we need the masks."
"Of course. The work we do is very sensitive by nature, and identities have to be protected."
"Excellent. Yes, to the world, we are an evangelical congregation. To some others, a renegade church. To a few who recently sued us, a cult. But what we do here must remain secret. Seated among us are very influential people of the country. They cannot reveal their faces." Elijah nodded.
"Then, without further ado, let us begin this meeting." David interlaced his fingers and regarded Elijah. "My dear boy, do you know why you have been chosen?"