Before They Awaken

Before They Awaken takes place in the Biblical Middle East during the time of Jesus, and centers around the search for an ancient artifact, a powerful relic missing for over a thousand years, the crown worn by King David. It disappeared the day of the king's sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. God took it away, according to legend, because David no longer deserved to wear it, it being a symbol of fairness and purity. It waits for a pure soul, unblemished, and there is but one, the coming Messiah. In those days there were at least a dozen claimants to the title, and they all wanted the crown, among them the Shepherd Messiah, a ghostly avenger thundering out of the hills righting wrongs and giving money to the poor, money taken from the wealthily. The crown is eventually found, but not by Athronges. A monk is given a box by the Essenes of Qumran, with instructions to deliver it to a mysterious sorcerer stirring up the people with crazy notions, like turn the other cheek if assaulted, absurd concepts, yet given credibility by deeds that could only be brought about by divine hands. And as Jesus breaks the seal that's been in place for over a thousand years, an astonishing surprise awaits. It indeed is a crown, but not made out of gold. It's made out of a couple of twisted together branches from the Jujube Bush, a thorn bush.