by Donovan Neal
"But Lord, Lucifer cannot be allowed to control the vengeance of God and Hell!"
"I have sworn to my own hurt. I AM THE LORD, I changeth not. Nevertheless, your word is true, that he cannot be allowed to hold the keys in perpetuity. For he wilt surely destroy the man that I have made, and seek still to usurp that which he can never take. For the keys were given to steward. And the steward hast through neglect ceded them to thy brother."
Michael was silent and saddened by the Lord saying that he neglected the power of God, yet he knew that God was right in his judgment, and thoughts of how he might undo that which had been done raced through his mind. However, the rest of the Lumazi was wroth, and demanded who had done such a thing.
El knowing their hearts calmed them, saying, "It is naught but as I have seen. For now my son must be tested, that the end of all things might come."
Yet Argoth would not cease, and said, "If the Vengeance of God is now held captive by the rebel son, then I pray that my Lord would allow us to go in thy name, and be as vengeance to he who would steal, kill, and destroy."
And the thing which Argoth said displeased the Lord and he spoke to all the Lumazi, "And would you also seek vengeance on he that hast razed our home? Would you seek to apprehend him who wast the anointed cherub that covered that you might bring him before me now?"
Azaziel, youngest among them, spoke, while those older on the council were silent in repose. "Yea Lord, we would have him chained, and Hell be home to him."
Gabriel, Jerahmeel, and Talus stood silent, and Michael set himself to sit on the steps, huddled at the foot of the Lord.
El's face became saddened, and He turned to His son Michael. "And what say you? Wilt you also take up arms to wrest Lucifer from his throne?"
"Nay," said Michael. “I will not leave thy side. Only at thy command will I leave thee. Nor will I forsake thee, for I know what the end must be."
El then looked upon Michael knowingly, and then addressed the rest of the Lumazi. "The council is of double mind. Therefore, because ye have yet to comprehend the fullness of time, to understand that in weakness shall ye be made strong, then go to and seek thy desire. Alas, the time has come to commence with thy instruction that ye may know that wisdom belongeth to the Lord."
The Lumazi bowed as one and turned to leave the room, yet Michael stayed to worship at the Lord's feet.
Jerahmeel paused for a moment, turned and spoke. "Lord, might I remain with thee as well?"
"Nay my son, your brothers will need wisdom for the battle to come. Go, that none might be lost."
Jerahmeel turned to go after his brothers as they departed, muttering anxiously to himself, "I have such a bad feeling about this."
*********************
Jerahmeel caught up with Argoth and spoke. "Shall we gather the legions?"
"Nay," said Argoth. "He is but one, we are Lumazi. Lucifer cannot withstand the combined might of the council."
Jerahmeel laughed, and heckled Argoth. "Ugh, Argoth you were asleep for most of the war. Believe me when I say that Lucifer can withstand the might of the council."
Argoth turned and stared at Jerahmeel. "You have girth of appetite but thy courage is small. If you had been more serious in your duties as Heaven's guard perhaps Raphael would still be alive!"
Jerahmeel flinched at the insinuation that he was somehow at fault for Raphael's demise, and became bitter in offense and was about to speak when Gabriel moved to interject himself.
"Not now, brother. Not now," he whispered.
Argoth laughed. "Even now you hide behind Gabriel's skirts, come. Show your skill in battle. Let the Legions stay behind. However, keep Gabriel by thy side. I would not see thee injured."
Gabriel looked at Jerahmeel, who was visibly red, and spoke to Argoth. "Mayhap it be best that our focus be on the task at hand. This conversation edifieth not, nor brings us closer to apprehension of Lucifer. What is your plan?"
Argoth smiled. "Vengeance."
Gabriel looked at the Grigori in disbelief, "But vengeance belongeth to the—"
Jerahmeel now took turn to quiet him and whispered, "He does not know, but he will know shortly." He chuckled, adding, "Let him learn this lesson." The angel turned to Argoth and bowed to him and his lips dripped with sarcasm as he spoke.
"As you saith, great Argoth, you who hast caused God to silence canyons. We shall of course follow you."
Gabriel smirked at his brother and shook his head as they walked to the Waypoint to leave Heaven. "You know, sometimes I really wonder about you."
Jerahmeel winked at him and they stepped into the Ladder’s chute and disappeared to the realms below.
*********************
The great mountain of Hell settled into the base of the ocean floor and it’s peaks jutted into the clouds, towering over the new landscape. It’s presence lifted existing mountains even higher and smoke rose from off the back of the craggy rock face and blended into the barren wilderness. Snow covered it’s top, and the mountain churned, as magma filled its chambers. The creature burrowed to entrench itself deep into the core of the planet, and the Earth groaned for she was not meant to house this creation from Heaven.
Lucifer stood aloof from the mountain in a plateau and called out to the living crag, for he knew what lived inside.
"Charon, thou hand of vengeance, hear me! You who are bidden to uphold the fury of God—come forth! I command you!"
The keys of Death and Hell glowed around Lucifer's hand and he fastened them tighter around his neck. The ground shook, and the mountain of Hell exploded. Rock and streaming gas erupted from its side, fire blasted laterally, and the explosion sent wind racing to smash and pulverize trees as boulders hurtled through the air. Lucifer stood defiant as giant boulders fell to the left and the right of him. And when the wind itself had run out of breath, it paused as man might pause to inhale, then sprinted back from Lucifer's rear, but the First of angels stood his ground as Earth and Shadow moved about him. Deep within the black smolder and flames, trudging through a newly born lake of magma—Charon marched towards the first of angels. The hulking monstrosity of Elomic flesh treaded undeterred as pyroclastic flows fell before and aft of him. Solemn was his march as fire lighted upon him, and his chains dredged the ground. Steam hissed from his frame and the air sizzled and moved from the heat that wafted off him.
Charon had heard the cry of Lucifer—and he had come. Standing 20 cubits tall, the skeletal mare was robed in black leather. His cadaverous face was hidden and chains of iron dangled from beneath him. Smoke and ash blanketed his form, and he held a black scythe in his hand. Fiery footprints trailed him and the pungent stench of decay made everything in his presence wither and die.
Lucifer stood his ground, unmoved and unflinching as the living personification of death walked towards him, stood until the Angel of Death towered over him, staring down upon he who had dared to summon him. Lucifer then spoke.
"You are mighty indeed, oh vengeance of God. Yet know that thy service is no longer to execute the will of El in judgment."
Charon snorted and proceeded to remove from his ashen robes the onyx scythe he held as trophy from the person of Minos, and raised its glistening black blade for Lucifer to see, and spoke.
"Ooooonly Ellll, commmmmannndssss me, Usurper—releassssee Hellll or know that my judgment awaits you." Charon then raised the scythe and pointed it at Lucifer, so that he might strike him down.
Lucifer laughed, "I once told you that you would pay for your insolence and now thy recompense is at hand, for lo by the will of the Almighty, I possess thy leash. El cannot take what hast been abdicated, and thou art mine to command. Am I understood, ferryman?"
Charon roared and raised his scythe to bring it down on Lucifer and when he sought to bring the blade square he lowered the edge to slice Lucifer in two but the blade bounced inches from him and Charon was knocked back falling on his hind into the Earth cratering the ground; propelling dust and rock into the sky. The great mare of bone
rose to his feet and the rusted chains of barbs shot from his chest and hurtled towards Lucifer but they too bounced inches from his person as if deflected by an invisible barrier, and Lucifer laughed.
"You will obey me in all things. For on this mote of dust hast El exiled me without means to feed. Thus, I will sustain my hunger off the souls of men. Their very spirit created in the image of God will give me strength. You will aid me in this. For you will help me to tame Hell, and the beast will be the engine of my revenge. For I shall feed her the souls of men, and the thing that El had meant for our destruction I will use to wipe the pestilence of man from off the Earth, until Hell is ripe with my armies of men, who will do anything to be released from her bowels. Yea, beast you will assist me in this thing.
"Rise now, slave, and attend to thy master. Go to and release my attendants, for I have need of them that I might bring El low. You will obey me...or I shall see Hell savor thine own flesh even as those you have destroyed. Now go, and do not return except my charges be with thee."
Charon roared in anger, and the birds in the area lifted from the trees as if to escape a predator. Charon smashed his great fists into the ground and looked into the sky and from his black robes, skeletal wings unfurled and spread from him. Fog surrounded him and cloaked him in smoke and ash. Then Death rose into the sky.
Charon's shadow brought darkness as he flew, and his shadow flew over Lucifer he watched the great angel fly to parts unknown. All living things that passed beneath his shadow withered and died. The guardian of Hell landed upon the banks of the river Euphrates, smoke trailing his person, while putrefaction wafted about him, making the air to stink. He placed his scythe into the water, and the water turned foul, sizzling to a boil. Dead fish surfaced fouling the air. Charon stirred his scythe and the great river then split into two and walled up on either side as the Angel of Death stepped down the banks of the side of the river and walked between the walls of water now raised in the air. Deeper into the trenches of the river’s center he traveled, until he came upon a cave, and at its mouth sat an Ophanim of the Lord, and the creature rose at the sight of Charon. The beast discharged voltage, and its wheels gyrated and moved, expanding to give it flight. Its unblinking eyes stared upon Charon and with revolving teeth, it roared and flew headlong into the Warden. Fog moved from Charon to engulf the Ophanim and its charge sparked, then flickered to nothing. It fell to the ground and writhed in agony, and the angel of Death grappled the beast with his great arms, and constricted the creature against his breast and snapped the spinning creature in two. The Ophanim cried out in pain and shattered falling as broken glass at his feet. The myrmidon continued his march towards the cave, and with his scythe, he sliced into the stone face. The boulder to the entrance divided in half, and the rock aged instantaneously and turned to dust before him. Charon entered the black and saw the three prime evils Ashtaroth, Zeus, and Ares chained to one another and cowering before him. Each scooted away, screaming in woe that judgment had come and that the end of all things was nigh.
Charon slashed at their iron bonds and the chains fell to the earthen floor. The trio backed further away from the ferryman, as terror gripped them to behold the Vengeance of God. Then Charon with his tentacled chains ensnared them and, manacled by the ferryman, they struggled for release, and Ashtaroth cried aloud, “Where are you taking us? Hast thou come to execute El's final judgment?"
Yet Charon exited the cave in silence, dragging his captives behind him. The water from the river still stood on end and Charon opened his wings and flew back to Lucifer, dangling the trio under him.
And as an eagle settles to her nest, Charon's shadow covered Lucifer and Charon dropped the three who rolled to a stop at the feet of their master, and he spoke, and they looked upon him as Charon landed behind them in a silence, covered in churning flames and ash, scythe in hand.
"Get up," said Lucifer. "We have much work to do."
Ashtaroth looked upon his master and smiled that his Lord still lived and that Charon sided with them, and he looked to behold the great mountain of Hell rumble behind them and knew that in time, they would have their vengeance on the God of Heaven.
*********************
The Lumazi, all save Michael, Laddered down to confront Lucifer, each wondering how Lucifer would receive them. Azaziel was hopeful that he might reason with him, to convince him to renounce his course and come home. Metatron was skeptical, however, and knew in his heart that Lucifer would never yield. For Lucifer was the pride of House Draco, the pinnacle of what it once meant to serve the living God in honor and majesty. Now the great house’s most powerful symbol of fealty to God had with his betrayal, torn Heaven asunder. Now civil war would always be remembered as a thing that House Draco ushered to Heaven's peaceful shores. Lucifer would burn them all to ash before he ever admitted defeat——ever confess to his sin.
No, thought Metatron. Lucifer had gone too far and was beyond all hope for returning.
How can one turn a creature who hast made God himself enemy? What words can be spoken to he who would supplant the will of the Lord?
Yet he was a member of the Lumazi now, and his was to support the collective cause of the court. He looked at Argoth, so confident, and he had to admit that he admired the Grigori. His was the voice that caused God to bring silence to the great canyon named after him. Metatron was honored to be in his presence. He would fight with him. He respected prince Talus, and the others, but under their leadership, Heaven had launched itself into war. Perhaps Argoth's way was indeed the answer. The others seemed timid to him. As if age and battle had weathered them. Metatron could not quite decipher what ailed him. A gnawing foreboding ate at him about this mission, that perhaps the elder members of the Lumazi knew more than what they had revealed. Gabriel and Jerahmeel did not seem enthused to face their brother. Even Talus, who was strong and mighty seemed somehow diminished; almost timid. Metatron shook himself from his ruminations, realizing that they had arrived.
Argoth spoke, to address his brethren. "Our mission is clear: to bring reason to Lucifer Draco. If he can be turned to our cause, then he will be welcomed home per the Father. But if not, we are to bring him low and return him in chains."
Talus shook his head. "You speak as if you desire to combat Lucifer. I have seen my share of bloodshed; I will not provoke battle with the anointed of God. It is not by our hand that he will be made low. Only El can sunder him, and He has made clear that his time is not yet come. Reason with him if you must, but if battle comes, let it be known that it comes at thy hand."
Argoth was silent, not expecting such an answer from one as powerful as Talus, nor daring to correct him, for Talus was more reserved than in times past, quicker to hear, and slower to speak. Nevertheless, he was still imposing, and Argoth carefully selected his words in reply.
"If battle comes, wilt thou let thy brethren be brought low by the Usurper?" All then turned to look at Talus.
Talus sighed and answered, "Nay, I will do what I must to see all home safely to the presence of the Lord. Let us finish this unsavory business." Talus paused, looking sadly at Argoth, and continued, "And may the learning from thy lesson be swift."
Argoth harrumphed and they stood six strong in a clearing surrounded by trees, and the grass was soft under their soled feet, then Argoth spoke.
"Why do you hide, Lucifer? Your powers to conceal are meaningless to me. Show thyself, coward, wretched betrayer of God. Let all eyes be upon you and not just mine alone."
The clearing shimmered and light flashed, and standing in front the trees stood Lucifer, his three attendants, and Charon. And when the Lumazi saw that Charon stood by Lucifer's side, fear overtook them. For the Vengeance of God was now ally to the Betrayer of God.
"You would do well to mind your tongue, young one," said Lucifer, "Your words give offense, and I do not suffer those who offend me. You are not welcome here. Speak quickly and explain why your stone should not be mine?"
Argoth realized that he had never tr
uly seen Lucifer. When he exited the Kiln, he was so enamored by the Lord that Lucifer was but an afterthought. But now remembrance flooded him. Lucifer had stood in the Kiln with the Lord, and Argoth noted that he had changed since then. His body was darker and his stone was redder than the deepest crimson. His demeanor was far from the submissive cherub he remembered in the Kiln. And there was a scar that lined his face as if he has been cut. His eyes burned with a visible hatred as if he might rip the tongue from Argoth's mouth. Yet despite all of his changes, he still possessed a nobleness about him. He was still regal, and the Grigori suddenly thought it wise to temper his remarks.
"We have come, brother, to speak with thee. For the Father hast offered thee pardon if you will but repent and humble thyself and turn from this wicked way. For such is the heart of God that He would extend forgiveness even to one such as thee. Wilt thou do as the Almighty has said? Will you submit to judgment and mercy, and let restoration overcome thee? For he hast set life and death before thee, wilt thou not choose life that ye might live?"
Azaziel stepped forward and gestured longingly to Lucifer—tears welling in his eyes. "Lucifer, please I adjure thee—come home, and bring revival to the heart of the Lord. For He would see the Kingdom united and His people made whole."
All turned to look at Lucifer as Azaziel knelt before the former Chief Prince, and silence was all that existed between the two groups, and even Ashtaroth, Murmur, and Zeus wondered as to Lucifer's will.
Lucifer smiled, then walked toward Azaziel. "Revival to the heart of the Lord? Revival..." Lucifer laughed. "To his heart?" Lucifer's demeanor turned steely and cold, and he yelled for the ambassadors of Heaven to hear.