by Donovan Neal
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Jerahmeel returned from shift duties and found Michael in the meeting room of the Lumazi, the meeting chambers where Heaven's governors held council to manage the affairs of Heaven. Jerahmeel entered and saw that Michael had changed the room. All the seating had been removed, and round about where tables that held maps and models of the landscape of the second heaven, and Michael was leaned over a table, lost in thought.
Jerahmeel studied his brother. Michael's eyes darted over representative pieces of armies, pouring over maps and moving pieces that represented the forces of heaven scattered across galaxies, and positioned his men to stand as buttress wherever Lucifer raised his head.
Michael, distracted and lost in strategy and tactics, did not notice Jerahmeel staring at him.
Jerahmeel cleared his throat. "Ahem..."
Michael looked up. "Hello, brother, what can I do for you?" He then quickly returned his eyes gazing intently at maps and the topography of various galaxies.
Jerahmeel continued to stare at him and said nothing.
Michael looked up at him, and they stood locked in gazes of rumination, and neither moved their eyes from another. Michael finally softened his face and looked away from the images that lined the walls, and sat on a table.
"Yes, I know," Michael said, waving his hand as if to shoo Jerahmeel away.
Jerahmeel walked over to the table of maps, and looked at the images that displayed battles on multiple fronts both on earth and in galaxies far away. He frowned when he saw a legion of Harrada, his own people, do battle to keep a star from going Nova, while forces loyal to Lucifer worked to disrupt the star’s core to send a disruption of gravity that would unlock an Archon from the gravity well of a dying star.
"The war wages across all of space and time,” said Jerahmeel. “Only eternity remains inviolate."
"Aye," Michael replied. “But for how long? How long before Lucifer finds means to return to Heaven?"
"Lucifer cannot return. El would surely destroy him."
Michael harrumphed. "Perhaps, but El could have destroyed the Adversary already, and instead chose to let him live. To remain in exile—why? I sometimes do not understand El, Jerahmeel. He has to know that his act could very well embolden others to raise up arms against him. What if El can be injured further? What if... what if the Godhead can be killed?"
Jerahmeel looked at Michael, who abruptly turned away, realizing that he had said too much. But Jerahmeel knew his brother. Knew that the other angel withheld his feelings, and so he pressed further.
"So finally, the Michael that I know hast surfaced. My brother - not the general of angelic armies - shows his face. So this thought is what plagues you? That El, despite all of his power, wisdom and might, could be laid low?" Jerahmeel restrained himself from laughing. Michael frowned at him, his eyes narrowed.
"I do not think such a subject warrants laughter. I find no such humor in the question."
Jerahmeel looked at Michael and spoke. "I see...so, recite for me the oath of our kind. What did Lucifer speak to thee upon thy awakening from the Kiln?”
"That we must never disobey God, nor through our inaction bring injury to the purpose of God. That in all things we are to obey the commands of those in authority over us unless such would bring us into conflict with the first laws of our kind. That we are to preserve our own existence except if in doing so it would bring us in violation to the others."
Jerahmeel nodded. "You have spoken rightly. What then ails you?"
Michael raised his hands in frustration and paced the room. "Therein lies my dilemma; how can I serve my God when He himself would have me violate the highest law given to our kind?"
Jerahmeel simply listened and Michael continued.
"To obey El in his thing would bring about His purpose, but yet bring injury to the giver of purpose Himself. Surely, El knows that He has placed me in an untenable position. I had to recuse myself, I saw no other alternative. How can I function in the title given, if in doing so it would lead to my master's own demise?"
Jerahmeel listened patiently, his eyes closed, and then spoke. "I think I know just what you need."
“What is that?” replied Michael. Jerahmeel walked toward his brother and held his cheeks in both his hands.
"Now hold still for a moment," he said.
Michael stilled himself and did not move.
"Now close your eyes," said Jerahmeel.
Michael did as he was bidden and when he did so, Jerahmeel slapped him across the cheek.
"OWWWW! What was that for?" Michael demanded, rubbing his cheek.
Jerahmeel looked at him and spoke. "You received those commands from Lucifer, yet he himself violated the very command that he gave us all to obey. You have lifted up a command that you have received from the Betrayer, more than the clear desire articulated to you by El. You needed a good slap in the face."
Michael looked at Jerahmeel and raised his finger as if to bring a rebuttal. Jerahmeel raised his eyebrow and placed his hands on his hips, suggesting that a reply was not wise.
Michael's mouth was open as if to speak, his finger raised in the air, but he paused, slowly lowered his hand, and smiled. "Yeah...I guess if you put it like that, I needed a slap."
Jerahmeel burst out in laughter, "Indeed, Michael, again I ask, what ails you? You speak as if El can be killed!"
Michael frowned. "That is exactly what plagues me...the death of God."
Jerahmeel looked at Michael in surprise, "This is what troubles you? The thought that Alpha and Omega could be brought low?" Jerahmeel snickered and pointed at Michael. "You really do need a break!"
Jerahmeel reached into Michael's closet and pulled out his sword and mountain climbing gear. "Here, I think you have a mountain to climb."
Michael smiled. "You know, I think I'm beginning to understand why you irked Lucifer so."
Jerahmeel laughed. "I must admit—I used to like slapping him around, too." Jerahmeel turned to exit while Michael, mouth wide open, gathered his things and quickly ran after his brother. "Wait, you slapped Lucifer? I want to here this!"
Jerahmeel grabbed Michael by the arm and spoke. "Perhaps another time, right now I have just the thing for you." And before Michael could object he pulled hard at his arm, and spoke the words to transport them to the edge of the cliffs of Argoth.
Immediately they stood at the ledge of the rocky precipice of a construction site, and behind them lay the howling winds of the Maelstrom. Jerahmeel took some rope and a hammer that was left on the ground by workers, fastened a hook into the ground, and began to strap lanyards to himself that he might hoist himself down. "Are you coming?" he asked.
Michael looked at him, annoyed. "Jerahmeel, we do not have time for this, and besides, the beams here are not in need of repair or maintenance."
Jerahmeel looked down, then spoke aloud for his brother to hear. "That's what you think! Look here, I see a crack in the beam!" Jerahmeel immediately rappelled down the side of the cliff, and was gone from view. Michael watched as the rope slowly descended over the cliff.
Michael grumbled under his breath and fastened the ropes and hoists needed to prevent the Maelstrom from sweeping him away. He flung the lines over his shoulders fastened an anchor to the ground and rappelled down several feet. He looked down and Jerahmeel stood on a beam that overlooked the Maelstrom.
"Are you mad!" cried Michael. "Would you get us both killed?"
Jerahmeel just smiled and waved, and motioned for him to join him below.
Michael's face flushed with anger that Jerahmeel would do something so foolish as to place himself in danger. He lowered himself further down to give his brother a piece of his mind, landing on the beam that stretched out a hundred yards over the expanse. The winds buffeted him, but there was silence in this portion of the mount, for God had commanded that whatever was uttered here could not be echoed, so that none may hear.
Jerahmeel stood at the end of the beam as a diver might jump i
nto a lake, looking down at the mighty Maelstrom that covered the abyss. He waved for Michael to come closer.
Michael struggled against the winds. He was lighter than Jerahmeel, and the winds mocked him for intruding into their sprint around the basement of the canyons walls. Yet his line held sure. He fought against the winds pushing to knock him off the beam. He slipped once, then got close enough to Jerahmeel to speak with him.
"Jerahmeel, are you crazy? I demand..."
Jerahmeel took his hand, covered Michael's mouth and spoke. “Jump off." Then he uncovered Michael's mouth.
Michael looked at him like as if he was crazy. "Are you soiled in the mind? No one in their mind would jump into the Maelstrom."
Jerahmeel studied the swirling winds as they encircled the black eye, and hovering over it as far as the eye could see was the golden seal of El that covered the mouth of the Maelstrom.
"We shall see," said Jerahmeel. Then Jerahmeel loosed his harness and jumped into the Abyss.
Michael watched in horror as his brother fell, and when he did the winds came to a standstill and Jerahmeel landed on the golden seal that locked Abaddon deep within. Jerahmeel stood to his feet and smiled at his brother. "You better come on. No telling when El is gonna let him out. But until then...well, don't you want to give it a try?"
Michael looked at Jerahmeel as if he was insane. He was acquainted with the Maelstrom in a way unlike any other in heaven, for it was here that Lucifer and he were swept to face destruction, and here where Lucifer learned that with a Ladder one could escape from the confines of Hell.
Yet curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he indeed wanted to see what it was like to stand in the midst of the eye of the Maelstrom. Michael released his harness and until he winded down and landed but inches from his brother.
"Michael, El hast sealed the Abyss. You cannot fall within. There is but one who holds key to this seal. One angel in Heaven is privy to open it when the time is commanded, and you stand by his side.” Michael's mouth was wide open and he marveled at the spectacle around them. They stood atop the golden seal El had created. Yet the seal was translucent and Michael could see into the darkness below. However, nothing but smoke churned under his feet and he knew that the smoke was from the Heartstone of Abaddon. He lifted his eyes and gazed all around him he stood within the center of what was the giant eye of the Maelstrom. He could see the winds; rip rock from the canyons walls. The seal was miles long in every direction, and the winds raced in a circular fashion as he stood in the center of the gale. Yet in this section of the realm that separated eternity from time, in this piece at the cliffs of Argoth, there was quietness. For God had removed sound from having a voice in this place. And nothing could be heard save he and Jerahmeel. Michael tried to yell at the top of lungs, but the volume of the sound of his voice simply converted to a whisper and sailed as ether on the racing winds.
"See?" said Jerahmeel. "Only here in all of Heaven is there silence. Now sit." said Jerahmeel. Jerahmeel sat down and crossed his legs. “What troubles thee? And why do you speak of the death of Eternal life?"
Michael again marveled that Jerahmeel was so audacious as to converse on top of the one place in all of Heaven where judgment was twice spoken. Sighing, he gave in to his brother's promptings and proceeded to sit down. He looked down, as if trying to find where to start, and then finally looked his brother in the eye and spoke.
"El since the Day of Descension hast given me foresight into the future. However, the vision He hast allowed me to see is incomplete. Yet the vision is true and is certain to come to pass."
Jerahmeel nodded and listened quietly so as to not interrupt Michael.
"In the vision I saw great nations rise and fall. We have seen Egyptia even be smitten by El, and the people released have become a mighty nation. This I had seen. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all this the Lord had shown me. And all has come to pass."
Jerahmeel nodded, "You simply rehearse that which is common knowledge to all Heaven. But it is not this which plagues thee. It is of an event yet to come."
"Aye, “said Michael. “In the days ahead there will arise a nation that fears not God, neither acknowledges him as God, and they will devise a method of torture that will rival all the means of men beforehand. For they will lift their kind upon stalks of wood, and nail them thereon, and leave them to die as spectacle to the eyes of those roundabout."
Jerahmeel spoke, "Adamson hast invented a great many ways to lay hurt to one another. No doubt many were devised by Lucifer and his minions himself."
"No doubt," said Michael. "But I have scoured the tomes of our brother before his exile. I have poured over his strategy, studied his thinking so as to know how he might operate even whilst he yet moves. For our brother is still powerful, and he goes about the earth as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."
Jerahmeel sighed, his eyes heavy with sorrow and as if loathe to agree, he nodded. "When I had looked at his tome there was a reference he made that he would see El one day 'hang from a tree' - perhaps this is the portent you see?" Then Jerahmeel shook his head. "No, no... Lucifer was always bellicose in his manner. I will give his words no importance."
Michael sighed, "What you say is true; nevertheless, El hast shown me a vision, where He Himself was hung by Adam’s kin on crossed beams of wood." Michael choked back tears, for the vision moved him with compassion. “I saw the Holy One crowned with thorns, His flesh bruised, and his side pierced.” Michael paused to collect himself, and then spoke. "I have seen war, Jerahmeel, and the injuries angel and men acquire in the execution of war. But this was not battle...this was torture, and it was El."
Jerahmeel placed his hands under his chin. "On crossed beams of wood, and bleeding out, you say?"
Michael nodded.
"And El Himself showed this to you?"
Michael nodded again.
"Then El hast shown this that ye might prepare for a day to come. Did he show you what must be thereafter?"
"No," said Michael. "The vision stopped at that point."
Jerahmeel stroked his chin, breathed in deeply, and spoke, "Michael, I trust El. I trust Him not just with my life, but also with life itself. He is life and the light of men. I do not pretend that such a portent is of no cause for concern. Nevertheless, the Almighty is eternal. He cannot be destroyed. The loss of blood He endures, He hast made clear is by His own choosing."
"But Jerahmeel...if El can bleed, He can be killed! And if He is killed, then all of Creation is lost, for all things are upholden by the word of His power!"
Jerahmeel waved at Michael as to hush him. "Michael..." Jerahmeel paused stretching out his open hand, "Just look about you."
Michael, interrupted in his anxiety, stilled himself to behold what Jerahmeel wanted him to see. About them, the winds of Creation whirled. Beneath their feet was the Abyss, sealed and trapped between two dimensions. Abaddon was contained, judged by God and created by the Holy One himself.
Jerahmeel saw that Michael took in the panoramic display and proceeded to speak. "Lo Michael, did not El know what Abaddon and Lucifer were capable of before they even acted within their own minds to pursue the path upon which they laid course? Did not El warn us that Lucifer would betray us all? Hast not El even prophesied that Abaddon would be at some point be freed, and that judgment would be felled upon Lucifer's head? Thou art mindful of thoughts that have no substance. Do you not believe that El would have seen His own cut let alone his own torture? Can the very eye of eternity be plucked out? Can He who sees all be blinded? I ask thee one question, and think carefully and ruminate. Why did El show thee the vision at all? What prompted such visions?"
Michael thought hard. He reflected and remembered the loss and pain he witnessed when legions of heaven’s citizens were encased in black tendrils and flung to the four corners of existence. It was then that he remembered that he failed to see the purpose in such destruction, failed to understand why the Creator of the ends of the earth would allow such devastation
to befall the Kingdom. Suddenly, he realized that El gave answer in the images. And Michael voiced aloud the realization that rose as a bubble from the murky depths of his conscious to the gates of his mouth.
"In El's name...I possess fear and doubt."
Jerahmeel nodded. "Yes I have seen it grip you these past few days, both fear and doubt. And there is yet another to the trinity of hesitation that plagues thee. Name it, Michael...name it and begin the process of ridding yourself of this chain about thy neck."
Michael lowered his head in the onslaught of realization that assaulted him. "I distrust...I distrust El."
“Aye,” said Jerahmeel. “Distrust.”
Jerahmeel then held up the great silver key that unlocked the Abyss, and showed it to Michael. "Here in my hand is a token of El's trust. He hast placed in my hand the means to unleash Destruction itself back into the realm. In my hand, He has shown confidence that this seal will stay shut until He commands it open. Why give a key when the voice of God alone creates and destroys? Doth the Almighty truly need a locksmith to open that which He himself hath crated? Nay. He hast created contrivances, and tokens for us. El hath no need for such things. We have need of them, and in our frailty, He hast lovingly provided the contrivances needed to be strong in Him. And now He who has selected you to be chief prince has shown the most intimate of truths to one who stands in unbelief - the truth that the Almighty will submit Himself to dissolution. Doth He do this thing to cause worry? To raise confusion within thee? Why doth He show one angel in all the universe an image? See now, my friend, the length and breadth of what El would do for love. That He would exalt thee despite your fear, all that He might show himself strong in the faith of such misgiving. Know the paradox that is the Almighty. Know this and take comfort that El but tutors thee in matters of faith. A door to grow He hast given thee. But only you may enter therein.”
Michael stood silent and took in the words of his friend. "You hath given me much to ponder."