by Donovan Neal
My name is Jonah, and yes the Bible belongs to me. It belongs to me and I believe Christ died on the cross for our sins. I wish I had believed before the rapture but I believe now. And your Leto Alexander is nothing more than the Anti-Christ that has been foretold. I will not call him a god. I will not pledge my allegiance to this charlatan of a leader... this Beast.”
The sergeant took out his Glock from his holster and pointed it at the boy's head and pulled the trigger.
Elizabeth stood next to him and brain matter splattered over her and a fine mist of blood. The soldier then nodded his head holstered his weapon and spoke to her.
“His answer was the wrong answer. Now young lady I still have another eight prisoners here to ask. And I’d like to make sure I get home for dinner timely. He reached out, and another guard gave him a clipboard and he quickly ruffled through the pages and read the contents.
“It would seem young woman you have also not pledged allegiance to the Chancellor. It’s not clear from the record here if you profess to be a Christian. So I will ask you plainly. Are you a Christian?”
Elizabeth had studied for a year the major religions of the world. She had come to the intellectual conclusion that Christianity was historically supported to give one reason to believe in its claims. But she had never confessed Christ as Lord. Had never surrendered her will over to him. She never thought more seriously about it until Carol disappeared before her eyes. The teenage remembered every word her friend had said. Even her attempts at leading her to Christ.
So this is it, she said to herself. This is how I am going to die?
Vantress the angel assigned to watch over this human female observed helplessly as he stood behind his charge attempting to impart courage and faith to her. Waiting for Eridu’s dreams to finally be realized and the bloodline of Elizabeth Foley to finally be snuffed out.
The guardian angel turned his face towards the student section to see his nemesis sitting in the center of the throng; watching, grinning and with suggestive words inciting the teens to call for Elizabeth Foley’s death.
✽✽✽
“Well, Ms. Foley what will it be. Behind curtain number one we have you going home; maybe you can even finish out your senior year! In fact, you’re a looker I might even take a personal liking to you myself. He grinned as he looked at his truck with one of the xx twins waiting for him. “But there is still another choice waiting for you. Because behind curtain number two, well…” He paused and felt the contour of his nine millimeter. “Let’s just say I still have more bullets in my Glock. He unholstered the weapon and pressed the muzzle into her forehead between her eyes turning it slightly for effect.
Elizabeth’s heart raced. She remembered her friend, remembered the words spoken to her about Christ and eternity. She noted the trail of blood of those who had already been shot. Thoughts upon dashing thought swirled through her mind. She didn’t want to die. But she knew what she saw. Knew what she heard from her friend’s testimony. And finally, when it was all said and done she decided.
“I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Leto Alexander can go to Hell.”
“Such a precious waste,” said the soldier.
He smiled then pulled the trigger.
Elizabeth heard a bang and then felt a stinging sharpness then nothing. For a moment echoes was all that she could hear.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to slip into the blackness of unconsciousness.
Off in the distance she saw a great light overtook her, and could see a city set upon a hill. No, a mountain. Its colors were that of the rainbow and she turned to her left and right and there were angels who traveled next to her as if she was in an honor guard.
She got closer and saw to land and saw that many people were smiling. She could hear clapping.
Sounds of cheers and congratulations overwhelmed her.
She set her feet down and she looked into a crowd and standing before her was her brother, her father, her mother and Carol her best friend.
She put her hand over her mouth, her eyes grew wide and she began to cry. Immediately her mother came to her and fell upon her wrapping her body as a blanket, holding her baby.
“I’ve waited so long to see you again. I have told so many about my brave girl.”
Elizabeth looked into her mother’s soft eyes: eyes that welled up with tears. “Mom?” she began to cry.
Her mother nodded. “It’s OK baby. It’s OK. I’m here. I’m here.”
She cradled her daughter in her arms and stroked her hair. Elizabeth looked up from her mother’s breast and her checks were awash with tears and her face was red.
“Wait, how is it that you are here? I saw you take your own life.”
“No baby, you saw what you were meant to see. You were a child, and you created memories to help you cope. I didn’t kill myself baby I would never leave you. Nothing could ever keep me from you my darling. No, sweetie I was murdered. My body positioned and made to look like it was a suicide. My murderer still runs free. But he will have his a day. The Lord will make sure of it. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. This is the promise of the Lord.”
Elizabeth was weeping into her arms, anguish and grief washing away from her as the exit from a cleansing shower.
“Mirabelle I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
Elizabeth recognized her father’s voice and remembered the childhood nickname he had given her and she turned to him.
The similitude of a man stood next to her father, and he stood at least two feet taller. He glowed and his clothes were the whitest white she had ever seen. He stood with a staff in his hand.
Her father then spoke and said, “Beloved daughter, I would like to introduce you to Gabriel. One of the chief angels in service to God.”
“It is good to meet you. I have taken great interest in your study of religion.”
Elizabeth looked at the angel in awe. “The pleasure is mine, sir. But why me?”
Gabriel smiled at her and replied, “The father has taken great interest in you. He has worked for many seasons to see that you would one day join your family. And while you have gone through much. You should know he is looking forward to seeing you. But I am afraid we must cut short our conversation for now.”
Gabriel looked at another angel and replied, “Robe her and find her a steed, we must soon be at arms.” The arch angel then placed his hand on Elizabeth’s father’s shoulders and continued. “Benjamin you must quickly teach her what she needs to know.” Elizabeth then looked at her parents then at Gabriel curiously and replied, “What is happening?”
Gabriel looked at her solemnly and replied, “We are going to war Elizabeth Foley. War where you will in all probability confront the spirits that have attacked your family for generations.”
Chapter Twelve
When Evil Returns Home
Leto was sleeping when he was awakened by the sound of wind and a bright light that illuminated his room. He rubbed his eyes and smiled at the young man who lay naked in his bed still asleep.
Leto put his hands to his face and strained to see through the light and after a few moments his eyes adjusted to the view and the angelic figure of Lucifer slowly came into view.
Leto looked at him concerned. “What’s wrong? What has happened? Is it time?”
Lucifer stood stoic and replied, “Dismiss your lover. What I say to you is not for his ears.”
Leto immediately shoved the young man and pushed him out of his bed. His sexual companion fell to the floor startled and wide awake. His side smarting from where Leto had kicked him out of his bed. He looked at the Chancellor in confusion and Leto returned his gaze and said. “Get out.”
The young soldier grabbed his clothes, hurriedly put on his pants and scurried out of the tent of the most powerful man in the world.
Lucifer watched his son proceed to dress himself and spoke. “You had the bodies of Enoch and Elijah left pu
blicly for view near the Temple walls. I have word that they have just risen from the dead and have left for Heaven. There were some who saw this. This image was shown on your airwaves while you enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh”
Lucifer turned his palm upward and a conical projection filled the tent. Leto watched as Lucifer showed that passerbys had live streamed Enoch and Elijah as the two men stood fully healed and wearing white robes. “We go to the God of the all the Earth.” They said. “We have completed our mission. Leto is not God. Repent, and perhaps the True God of Mercy will spare. Our king is coming soon and every eye shall see him! For every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Yeshua is the true king, and this will be done to the glory of God the Father.”
And a great voice from heaven was heard saying unto the men,” Come up hither.” And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the two men floated away and disappeared in a small burst of prismatic light.
When they disappeared a great earthquake, shook the city of Jerusalem and the tenth part of the city fell, and the dead from the earthquake were seven thousand. The remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Lucifer dimmed the light of his body and spoke. “Even now there is a rumbling in some corners that you are NOT a god. Some who no longer hold to the belief that my son is who he says he is. We must strike now. Strike while the faith of mankind still seethes against the Creator, and while all those who know the tongue of prayer are being hunted to extinction. It is time my child to capture the throne of the universe.”
Lucifer's light dimmed and he spoke with a musical hiss as he transformed into a giant beautiful serpent with golden wings. “I have brought the Ophanim, I have the two shards and you are the third. Meet me outside, your legions are ready. Let us go and meet he that Creation calls God.”
Leto proceeded to finish dressing and left his camp as he and the Devil exited to go towards the launch pad Leto had prepared.
Leto and his angelic father came to the staging area. Leto found General Hagan and spoke. “Bring my father the cage with the creature.” General Hagan did as commanded and brought to the head of the army a caged Ophanim that Lucifer had captured via Charon many ages ago. He ordered the men to stand back and each wisely did so.
Lucifer then approached the cage and unlocked the electrified prison it was contained and opened the pores of its flesh and sung to the creature. It calmed and the army of men that stood also were affected. Lucifer’s beauty and singing made all quiet and Lucifer touched the beast’s wheels and gently held them in his hands. He spoke angel speak and another wheel materialized and then slowly another; wheels within wheels emerged from it, and Lucifer continued speaking and mounted the circular creature and sat atop its head for all to see.
Lucifer then took the Ophanim and with it spoke the Elomic command given him. The creature gyrated upon its hearing. Twirling, twisting and turning until the realms of space and time folded back to reveal a tunnel to the third Heaven.
The realm of God.
The sky opened and suddenly a curtain of prismatic light poured down as rainfall overshadowing Leto's forces, as the sounds of tornadic winds enveloped the ears of all.
Some men immediately soiled themselves, while others steeled themselves knowing they would be the first to travel to another dimension.
The dimension of angels.
Lucifer pulled the reigns of the beast. This wheel within wheels and the Ophanim lifted into the air and pulled the battalions of mankind with it. Thousands upon thousands were now gripped in the creatures grasp and it towed the army of the anti-Christ through space and time into the realm of the living God.
Men and women armed with weapons synthesized from the mineral of the God-stone saw themselves flung past stars and planets. Weaving between gravity wells and roundabout asteroids. The wake of the Ophanim’s flight made both man and their machines creak and groan. Equipment strained against the contorsional forces that attempted to pull them into the vacuum of space, as the Ophanim crisscrossed quantum realities. But the ladder was sure and when the creature that hailed from Heaven saw the light of its home. It swerved as was its nature and lightning and sparks from its gyrating rings moved and continuously spiraled until the eyes of the creature locked onto the Mountain of God.
The Ophanim landed at the cliffs of Argoth. Lucifer stood atop the head of the creature. It’s mind under his command. The ladder then burst from the basement of space and breached the airspace of Heaven then curved as the powerful funnel slammed into the ground. A cloud of rainbow colors trailed it depositing Lucifer’s Adamic army in tow.
Prismatic twinkling lights sparkled for a moment over the forces of the transported men and then dissipated. Lucifer and his armies now stood upon the shores of Heaven. The Devil once more in lead of a mass of beings intent to destroy the God of Creation. He eyed the magnificent landscape of his exile, smiled and spoke aloud.
“I am home.”
✽✽✽
Michael had been preparing for this day.
From the moment he and his men had found the trackers Leto had placed on their clothing. From the intelligence gathered by the Grigori of the host. It was clear that Leto would never be content to stay earth-side. Evident that Lucifer was planning an invasion. Michael had ordered the armories and forges of Heaven to be working at full capacity. Each day brought new humans across the borders of Heaven. Each one needing quarters, equipment and training for what was coming.
So Michael had commanded the house of Issi and Draco to train the Humans and schooled them in the art of Elomic warfare, and showed them how to harness the power El had deposited in their resurrected bodies. Gabriel and his house made sure each was given a robe. A garment made from the finest of Elysian silks. The fabric was alive and it provided freedom of movement and contoured to the body of the wearer and could instantly armor to take on the properties of Elomic steel.
Michael knew this day would come. Knew that he would one day either battle his brother or his brother’s latest creation.
Michael set up the Ophanims to control the skies, “Let nothing be allowed to soar above us unchecked.” Eladrin bowed to Michael in acknowledgment and made sure he and his people would see that nothing passed them.
Michael assigned the Seraphim would serve as the heavy cavalry. For their flames and sonic booms caused disruption in the last war and the Horde was not prepared to fight them. However, Michael knew this time the element of surprise would be lost to the Host and that Lucifer would compensate for such a thing.
Michael wished Argoth could join them. Argoth would not be present for this fight but still present with the Lord: still unfurled being read off by Yeshua. The Lord could not be disturbed while he read the secrets of the Almighty. So the Elohim would protect the Mountain of God. And Michael staged each house to defend a possible breach into the throne room.
Soon Michael would know the power behind Leto Alexander. If what he sensed when he was near him was truly real. That he possessed the ability to drain Elomic life. Michael could feel it when he was last near the Beast; could feel the Withering take his life; as he sat and attempted to reason with the creature. A sensation he had not felt since he entered Hell. He knew then he could not let the Abomination know how his presence affected him. Could not feign weakness. There was no clear gambit against such a power but distance. And Michael calculated how he might keep the creature at bay while the rest of Heaven’s army did their work. Only the Triune God could stop this and He had yet to intervene or give word of abeyance. Until Yeshua stepped into the fray or gave a counter command: Michael would prepare for what was coming. He would prepare for war.
Michael still wondered why Lucifer would create such a being, knowing the cost could be his own life. But it mattered not. It was clear to Michael that Lucifer was making a desperate gambit. A gambit to once more see God and perhaps if such were possible to take the life of God itself.
Michael walked and
inspected his troops; he helped humans properly lace their amour and gave last minute instructions on how to use their weapons. Each apostle and the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel were given command over their respective houses and divided into infantry units.
Michael ceaselessly worked collaboratively with David, Moses and others to shore up any perceived defenses of the city. Their human eyes revealed the prejudices Elohim had about combat. King David pointed out where he would attack if he led the attack against the city and his rationale as to why if he possessed the knowledge that the Horde and the sum of Human understanding had. Michael agreed, and gave them their assignments.
The Chief of Angels looked out from a tower towards the cliffs of Argoth. A large prismatic funnel had descended and he watched as unredeemed men assembled to create a beach head on Heaven’s shores.
Michael looked at his assembled brethren and spoke. “We have fared through much you and I.” Michael walked down the line of his comrades as they stood for inspection and he smiled as he looked at Gabriel and Metatron and spoke aloud for all of them to hear. “From Limbus to Ashe we have prevailed.” He then moved down the line and looked at Talus and Jerahmeel. Placing his hands on the shoulders of Talus. “From the depth of Tartarus to the bowels of Hell we have prevailed…yea some have even survived Hell itself.” Michael then stood at the head of the group and looked them over. Azaziel, Talus, Gabriel, Metatron, Jerahmeel all looked at him and nodded in pride at the angel who once, did not desire to lead them. Michael continued, “I know that this will not be our last battle. I know this because I trust in the Lord my God. My faith is in the God of Creation.” Michael took one more look from his window at the giant ladders that by the second delivered mankind's troops. The Prince of Angels then turned to his fellows and said, “I know that this will not be our last battle. But for all those that would defy God and for our brother Lucifer...let us go. Let us go, and make it his.”