Although it seemed self-evident that he had taken the material intentionally, she felt obliged to at least grant him the ordinary period of a library borrowing before making an accusation against him. She worried that if she accused him of taking the material, and he subsequently returned the items on time, then it would weaken her testimony about the fear that he had caused her to feel during his visits.
By the time she closed the library she had decided that she had best grant the visitor the opportunity to return the material within the standard borrowing time of two weeks, before making any accusation against him. At that stage it did not occur to her that he might never return to the library, and that she might not have the opportunity to discover his name to press the matter further.
5 friends
Lucifer had two great friends, Troy and Ham. For some time, he had been trying to persuade them to come to the library with him, but to date his persuasions had been in vain. Thus part of the purpose of his theft had been to bring the show to them. It had been over a week since he had exited the library with his prize, and he was becoming increasingly confident that there would not be any repercussions.
During that week he rarely left his abode as he gorged himself constantly on any gore or filth that he could find. Ultimately though, he concluded that the time had come to introduce his friends to that which he now delighted in. Being subtle in nature he realised that he could not share with them the type of scenes that he now devoured. Vaguely, he remembered his own shock when he had first looked upon far milder scenes of violence, hatred and sleaze. He realised that Troy and Ham would also need to be introduced gradually, as was he. Collecting an appropriate visual recording from amongst his haul, he exited his abode and headed for Troy’s place. It was but a short walk as all three friends lived within close proximity of one another.
Lucifer’s abode had suffered under the weight of the evil therein and thus it was darker than any other structure in that region. As that region was darker than any other, it had the dubious honour of being the darkest structure within the entirety of the Kingdom. Luckily for Lucifer, those that inhabited his region were the least discerning of all spirits and hadn’t noticed this. As he walked out of his abode, Lucifer looked momentarily in the direction of his parents’ home. Being at the far end of the Kingdom he couldn’t see it, but the brilliant light emanating from that region of the Kingdom was clearly evident.
Looking at that light dazzled him as though he was looking directly at the sun. This only annoyed him, as did most things now. While his region was indeed darker than other parts of the Kingdom, there was still beauty to be found there. The structures that were utilised by spirits as their homes, or as meeting places, were all woven into the fabric of the land such that trees, shrubs, plants, rocks and other natural objects formed the basis of each individual structure. Animals, birds and insects roamed at will but, being intangible, were entirely harmless and interacted freely with one another. Oceans, rivers, springs and waterfalls were found throughout the Kingdom and fish and other ocean and freshwater creatures were found plentifully in those waters. All of this beauty was wasted upon Lucifer however, as he had ceased to be thankful for it.
When he arrived at Troy’s place he found him absent, which annoyed him also, but his mood lightened somewhat a few moments later when he found both Ham and Troy at Ham’s place.
‘Lucifer, how are you?’ asked Ham, a short, stocky spirit, with light brown hair, blue eyes, a round face and broad nose. Ham was not entirely unattractive, and had his countenance been bright he would have appeared glorious indeed. Unfortunately though, it was not, which provided a backdrop that was quite plain and that failed to highlight his features.
‘Well thank you,’ replied Lucifer. He didn’t bother asking how his friends were as he didn’t really care.
‘I’ve brought something for your visual pleasure,’ said Lucifer slyly.
‘What is it?’ asked Troy, hoping that his friend may have something that would liven up his slothful and dreary existence.
Like his friend’s, Troy’s bland countenance did little to highlight his blond hair, brown eyes, thin face and long lanky frame.
‘Some of the material from the library I’ve been asking you to visit. You wouldn’t come with me so I’ve brought the show to you,’ responded Lucifer a little begrudgingly.
‘Ah, very good Lucifer,’ Ham replied with some excitement. Both he and Troy had been concerned about going to a library and observing that which had been forbidden. The thought of doing so in private was much more appealing.
Clearly it wasn’t the evil that had concerned them, it was being seen.
They moved into Ham’s abode and Lucifer played to them a brief twenty minute piece that contained just a little evil. At the close of the session Troy was quite shocked and Ham a little alarmed, but both wanted to see more. They resolved that they would meet the next day at the same time.
Having left his friends, Lucifer walked back to his abode delighted that Troy and Ham had desired to see more. While he was happy to rejoice in evil for evil’s sake, this was not his sole purpose. Underneath all of his substandard personal qualities lurked an insatiable lust for power, and already a very vague plan was beginning to take shape in his mind. He walked slowly, deep in thought, considering the role that his parents had played in his life. At the first twinge of guilt however, he pushed any fondness he felt for them from his mind, focusing on that which he had not received, as does a brat.
‘It is Father’s fault for not giving me more power,’ he whispered to himself. He grew angry as he considered that he was almost twelve thousand years old and that he hadn’t received greater accolades.
He became jealous as he thought of Michael developing talent after talent and ultimately receiving a calling that he had long coveted. He decided in that moment that if his parents weren’t going to give him what he deserved he was going to take it. He knew that the very starting point of this strategy had to be support from his two great friends. If they could not be influenced then he could never even hope to prevail, but with them on his side he might just have a chance.
6 jezebel
Initially, there was only one other with whom Lucifer dared to share the proceeds of his theft. He had promised himself to her long ago, and he was confident that she would not betray him. Not because he trusted her but because he knew her weakness. While Lucifer didn’t value female spirits, or appreciate in the slightest their implicit virtue and goodness, he was a pragmatist. He realised that if he was going to obtain the support he needed he would need the backing of many of his sisters. Jezebel was crucial because he hoped that she would assist him in gaining this support.
To look upon, Jezebel was pretty enough. She had a thin frame, long red hair, and small, yet attractive brown eyes with long lashes. Her height was five foot five inches and, like her eyes, the rest of her facial features were also petite. Measured by her countenance though, she left a little to be desired. Lucifer’s countenance was the dimmest of the males and hers was the dimmest of the females. Jezebel was intelligent but had become entirely one dimensional. She loved music with a passion and had ultimately foregone the study of all other subjects of learning in favour of developing this talent further. She had forsaken service to others as it consumed some of the time that could be devoted to her music. To labour for the general good of the Kingdom was a bore, to study virtues tiring, to learn physics or mathematics irritating and difficult. Her one talent was exquisite, she had a beautiful voice and knew music intimately, but as a spirit she had become a songbird without substance.
For this reason, and also on account of his own personal ‘virtues’, Lucifer had tired of her and had recently neglected her. As he stood at the entry to her abode he realised that she may not be altogether pleased with him. When Jezebel arrived at her doorway, she scowled at him before asking facetiously ‘Who are you?’
‘It is your loved one my dear, surely you have not forgotten me,’ sa
id Lucifer in his gentlest tone.
‘Why on earth wouldn’t I have forgotten you Lucifer? I’ve barely seen you for weeks and the last time I did, you were rude to me.’
Jezebel spoke the truth. Lucifer’s visits to the library, and the subsequent periods that he had spent within his own abode, had taken much of his time. When Jezebel had dared to ask for some attention she had hardly received a kindly reply.
‘I’m sorry my love. While I have been absent in spirit I have always had you foremost in my mind,’ said Lucifer smoothly.
Jezebel’s heart softened somewhat but she wasn’t about to let on just yet.
‘Why should I believe you?’ She demanded. ‘Lately you have done nothing at all to show that you have been thinking about me.’
‘On the contrary my love, you have been present always in my thoughts,’ he lied.
‘Prove it to me!’ said Jezebel with disdain, mingled with just a little delight.
‘I have found new music.’
‘New music? What do you mean, new music?’
‘Yes Jezebel, you have never heard anything like it before. You are going to love it!'
With that, any thought of playing hard to get, for even a moment longer, evaporated and Jezebel suddenly became desperate, as he knew she would.
‘Play it to me!’ she insisted.
‘I don’t think I should,’ replied Lucifer, playing with her as a cat does a mouse. ‘I’m not sure that you are ready. The music is attached to footage from an earth and there are things within that footage that may disturb you.’
‘Nothing concerns me except music!’ Jezebel screamed in a shrill voice, the likes of which had never before been heard within the Kingdom. Indeed, no spirit had ever felt so desperate.
‘Alright I’ll show you, but you must promise not to be shocked and even if you are you can’t tell anyone,’ insisted Lucifer.
He knew that he could afford to play for Jezebel material that was stronger than that which he had played for Troy and Ham, just so long as it was accompanied by new and unusual music. She quickly promised that she wouldn’t tell anyone, and with that he played her the footage. The scenes shocked her but the music delighted her. Her level of delight outweighed the measure of her dismay, as Lucifer knew it would. After some further niceties he left jubilantly, knowing that he could rely on her support. Although his plan was still in its early stages he knew that Troy, Ham and Jezebel were crucial to it.
7 the crime
During the fortnight following the theft, Sarah was restless. She suspected that the goods would not be returned but she couldn’t be sure. On the rare occasions that a spirit did enter the library she always felt a twinge of fear just on the possibility that it would be Lucifer. It was difficult also for her to keep secret that which she desperately desired to share with Samuel. Having already made the decision to tell him made it even more difficult to keep the matter to herself.
Finally, at fortnight’s end, she closed the library and headed speedily for Samuel’s abode to share her experiences with him. Upon entering she wasted no time.
‘Sarah, how are you my love?’ asked Samuel warmly, smiling and looking at his greatest treasure through his deep blue eyes.
Those eyes, and his other features, usually captivated Sarah each time they met, but on this occasion she was distracted from this simple pleasure by the business at hand.
‘I’m well enough, but I have something to tell you,’ responded Sarah in a serious manner.
‘What is it? You are sounding very serious,’ said Samuel, who ordinarily preferred to see the lighter side of most things.
‘I believe that a spirit who regularly visits the library at which I work, has removed some items from the forbidden room, and I don’t believe that he has any intention of returning them.’
Despite her tone and serious demeanour, Samuel at first thought that she was joking. The thought of someone taking something without permission and failing to return it, seemed absolutely preposterous. Very quickly however, he ascertained that this was not a laughing matter. As Sarah shared the details of that which had occurred, it became clear to him that the spirit in question had definitely been up to no good, and that theft appeared to be consistent with his other misdeeds. Sarah recounted the fear that she had felt in his presence, and the way that he had looked at her, before breaking down. She did so partly because of the trauma of these events and partly because she had not told Samuel sooner. As do many victims, she felt a level of personal responsibility for what had occurred, and she also felt some guilt for having kept these matters from her truest friend.
Samuel comforted her and reassured her that none of this was her fault, and that she had done the right thing in waiting to be sure before making an accusation. This was something that Sarah desperately needed to hear. Despite his placid nature, Samuel was very angry with the offending spirit. When Sarah had finished explaining the matter to him fully, he was determined that the perpetrator should be reported to their parents so that he could be disciplined. It was only at this juncture however, that Samuel discovered from Sarah that she didn’t know his name. Obviously this made discovering the offender infinitely more difficult.
Sarah attempted to describe, and even draw, the character but unfortunately drawing was not a talent of hers and the combination of her description and her drawings were not sufficient to provide an accurate profile of Lucifer. At length, Sarah and Samuel resolved that it was not possible to pursue the matter further without the offender’s name or an accurate sketch of his person. They also deduced that it was highly unlikely that he would ever return to the library to allow Sarah to obtain more information about him. Ironically, although Sarah didn’t know Lucifer, Samuel did and could immediately have identified him, as they had once been closely associated.
8 part of a plan
Having exposed his ‘love’ and his two best friends to a month long program that eased them gradually into some of the more sordid deeds to be found on earth, Lucifer felt that they were ready to hear his proposal. He had invited them to his abode, which was the very best location in which to consider dark subjects. Impatiently he waited for them to arrive, even though the hour of their appointed meeting time had not yet struck.
Jezebel arrived first and he greeted her with the type of warmth that she should have seen through. Ham arrived next and was likewise warmly greeted, though the greeting reserved for one of his friends was sadly a little more genuine than the greeting that had been provided to his ‘true love’. Troy was five minutes past the hour. Lucifer felt like being short with him for that reason, but was able to constrain himself. It was very important that he keep in mind the bigger picture at this crucial time.
Once they were all seated, Lucifer said that he had something important to discuss with them. Firstly though, he enquired as to whether they would like to watch a little earthly footage before they got started. He asked the question knowing each of them would. Lucifer absolutely wanted to harden them up before his proposal. By asking them whether they would like to indulge, he not only achieved this purpose, but also reminded them just how indebted they were to him for introducing them to such ‘special’ subject matter.
‘Well that was quite a show wasn’t it?’ Lucifer said once the recording was over.
‘It sure was. I can’t believe that Father and Mother have prevented us from enjoying these things for so long,’ commented Ham, as if the matter was somehow perplexing.
‘I’m glad that you raise our parents, Ham, because I also have a little something against them,’ Lucifer ventured.
Such a statement could not have been uttered in any other forum throughout the Kingdom at that time, without drawing the ire of the attendees, but Lucifer had managed to find three who did not find such a suggestion detestable.
‘What do you mean Lucifer?’ asked Jezebel, intrigued, and just a little excited by the statement.
Lucifer put his hand up to his chin, as if he was deep in thought, and
then proceeded to say just exactly what he had always planned to say.
‘Well, I’m just not sure that they have been doing the right thing by us,’ he stated.
‘In what way Lucifer?’ asked Troy, sounding surprised.
‘Well, when I look at Michael and others who have received great authority and recognition, I can’t help but think that each of us deserves more,’ he said.
Lucifer had struck a raw nerve and was pleased to find that each of the invitees had all felt the same twinge of jealousy that he had. By fleshing out the discussion he was able to turn the light green feelings of Troy, Ham and Jezebel into rich emerald. Having developed the problem somewhat in the mind of each of his companions, he was more than happy to present the solution. True, the solution that he had been working on was wildly incomplete. Nevertheless, he found that the broad concept was enough to excite each of his co-conspirators. By meeting’s end it would be an overstatement to say that they had a clear way forward, but at least they had agreed upon the next step.
9 the first meeting
The very first rebel meeting took place in the outer reaches of the Kingdom, in one of the dullest areas that could be found. There were just seven in attendance, the minimum number of spirits required in order to form a council. The fact that there were just the seven was entirely by design such that the vote could be rigged. By chance, the four that had called the meeting had decided beforehand that there should be four elected officials who should control all future meetings. These counsellors would also be the only ones eligible to vote on all matters pertaining to the movement. Lucifer had pointed out that it would be necessary for one of them to be president, and that the president would need to hold the casting vote in the case of a deadlock.
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