by Donovan Neal
Michael bowed and replied, "How wilt I know when aid for thee is needed?"
Eladrin righted himself, and the gear that floated above Michael's head glowed, and the gears within Eladrin did also. Eladrin then took Michael forward in time to see, and then returned to their place atop the aerie. "My halo has been given thee, its powers will you understand in time. When Death rises to claim you—call us, and we shall come."
Michael nodded in understanding. Enoch appeared from the smoke and walked towards him. "I take it that I too must keep secret what lies above the clouds of Heaven?"
Michael smiled. "I could leave you here."
Enoch raised his eyebrow and nodded. "Point taken, let us go."
Michael then took Enoch by the hand.
"Wait," said Enoch. "Are we not flying back down?"
"No," said Michael. "I am a Ladder now, come." Michael's halo then glowed atop his head and they disappeared in a burst of prismatic light.
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"What is thy command my King?" said Gabriel.
"Prayer has come before me. Daniel my servant seeks wisdom of my doings and the time of all things. Go therefore, and deliver this message, that he might have wisdom of things to come."
Gabriel bowed to the Lord and left the throne room, and departed the mountain of God to fulfill the word of El. He summoned a Ladder and lifted himself from the cliffs of Heaven to descend to the celestial realm below. Immediately to his sides two Ladders appeared and alongside him flew two of his gryphon riders, Gaishon and Makiel, commanders in the cavalry of Malakim Riders. Each was a great angel of renown who had battled the rouge angel Abaddon to protect the city.
The Lord of House Malakim descended unto the small blue planet that held El's attention and sway. He turned towards the continent men had called Asia. He knew that Marduk, formerly of House Arelim would be somewhere below. Grigoric scouts had reported to Argoth and the council that Marduk had ascended to power as the prince of Persia. The principality that now towered over the most powerful kingdom in the world of men. Gabriel hoped to arrive in stealth and avoid combat.
Gabriel smiled at Gaishon, and Makiel, who flew escort alongside him. He was grateful that they would be his guard while he conveyed his message to the man Daniel. Gabriel knew that there were few of Adam's kind who understood the cost in life to keep the legions of Lucifer from overrunning them. Yet Gabriel would not have it any other way; his command was clear. Prayer had been offered to God and El would see that the Lord's answer was conveyed to the man. For now all of Heaven now knew that God had established a clear time for when Shiloh would arise among men and defeat Lucifer. A mere man had requested insight from God and El in His graciousness took heed. So Gabriel would deliver the battle plan to this human at any cost.
Gabriel was comforted to have the presence of his comrades.
His comfort did not last long
"Makiel, to arms, we are being flanked!"
Gaishon had seen what Gabriel and Makiel had not, that a cohort of gryphons had become visible, previously covered by the powers of fallen Grigori, and was now within striking distance. Makiel's reaction was too slow and he was jousted from his mount, and tumbled towards the planet below, engaged in combat with two of the Fallen.
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The angels of Heaven looked up into the clouds. The boom that echoed across the sky was not thunder and the prismatic ray of light now familiar to all the populace signaled that a Ladder was descending. Panic quickly ensued, for it was not long ago when Ladders blasted the landscape of Heaven, causing untold destruction. Panic gripped the populace, and all raced and flew to escape the quickly descending beam. In an instant, the great cyclone of color impacted the steps of the mountain of God, and wind swept dust aside and the air crackled with lightning and the colors of the rainbow retreated above. And when the dust cleared, Michael stood with Enoch in his arms, and above his head was a glowing circular ring of gold that hovered over him. Awareness came upon the crowd that before them stood one of their own, no longer just one of the Lumazi, but now Chief Prince of Angels. Immediately cheers and chants rang out. "Michael! Michael!" Michael smiled, embarrassed, and Enoch turned to him. "It would seem the people are glad to see you."
The doors of the great mountain then opened and a flash of light heralded the entrance of the Lord. Mists and colored vapors escaped from the doors and the Ophanim raced from the gates and shot across the sky, and the visage of the Almighty could be see walking into the emporium. Immediately all bowed, including Michael. Enoch, too, upon seeing the Lord, prostrated himself and all were silent as God looked upon His people and spoke. "Rise, my children and let us query my son." All stood to their feet and Michael still kneeled and did not look upon the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him. "Hast the Michael that ascended to Eladrin, the same as the Michael that descended?"
Michael lifted up his eyes to look upon the Lord and replied, "Nay, my king. For it was as you said, for the Michael of old hast died. I have seen what the end must be. Therefore, I proclaim that I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but my Lord's will lives within me, and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of my God."
El smiled. "Thou hast spoken well my son for ye prophecy of a thing yet to come. Thou hast well said indeed. Because thou hast done this thing and hast laid down thy life of fear that my will might be done. Behold I take the gear of Eladrin and with it make it thy crown. A halo shall it be unto thee. A token between me and my Prince of Angels." The Lord then stretched out His hands and pointed at Michael. "Let all Heaven behold the Chief Prince!"
Adulation and roars of approval raced through the crowd like wildfire, and applause and shouts of joy escalated into raucous and even more shouts of praise.
Michael smiled and noted that the members of the Lumazi cheered and applauded him. Each came to offer congratulations and saluted—all except Gabriel. Michael turned to the Lord and spoke. "My king, where might I ask is Gabriel?"
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Gaishon yelled, "I will see to Makiel, take leave my prince, quickly!" Two enemy Malakim riders then befell Gaishon as he battled accosted by members of his own house. Struggling as rebel warriors attempted to spear him, he too tumbled, engaged in combat with his foes.
Gryphons of Heaven crashed into one another and clawed at both rider and beast. Gabriel's guards plummeted from their mounts as lances lunged at them. Gabriel knew that as much as he might wish he could not give aid, for their mission was clear. To provide guard, that he might break through the principalities’ defense and enter their territory. Lower therefore, did Gabriel descend, chased by a humanoid mist. He turned to see that a Grigori followed in hot pursuit. Gabriel stopped to face him and withdrew his battle staff. It elongated, changing into a fiery glaive. He launched to attack the Grigori, but the creature misted and the blade went through his pursuer as ether. Again he attacked his pursuer without success, yet the Grigori did not attempt to fell him. But instead stood, and watched him, recording. Gabriel resigned himself that the Grigori was of no immediate threat, breathed a sigh of relief, and lacking the resources available to Argoth, proceeded to lower himself into the region men had named Babylon.
Deftly, he moved, with quickness his ally. He soon cleared the upper regions of Earth's canopy until he landed clear of all angelic resistance. But as he moved over arid land and desert to make haste to the city, a great angel of the House Harrada landed to withstand him. Gabriel too landed and swallowed hard, as his actions had drawn attention to the region’s leader—Marduk. Marduk stood to bar him, and behind him stood three angels who held flaming swords and commanded an army of men on horseback. The human leader of the army was a man by the name of Cambyses. Each solider was possessed by a daemon who saw into the realm of the spirit, each aware that Gabriel was among them.
Marduk spoke. "Greetings Gabriel. It is known to me why you have come. For the Grigori hath informed me of the man Daniel's prayers. Moreov
er, how he has willed himself to self—affliction that he might know the secrets of Heaven. I knew that it was only a matter of time before you would come. For, I, too, would know the strategy of the Father. Therefore, you will deliver this word from Heaven to me—or know that you shall not return with it."
Gabriel paused to assess the situation, making detailed mental notes of his surroundings. To his front, were four angels. One was a former Archon, and behind him stood an army of fifty thousand daemon infested men on horseback. Each had been given weapons to fight angels. There remained no room to retreat, for if he was captured the word of God would not arrive to Daniel. There was but forward, or acquiescence to the will of this rebel. No, there was but one course of action. The man Danielle expected his answer, and Gabriel would see the thing done. Gabriel sighed at the sight arrayed before him, then spoke in reply. "I have come for the man's words. I speak for the Lord of Hosts. Do not deter me."
Marduk chuckled. "It would seem you have elected the 'not to return' option." The principality of Babylon then motioned his hand forward. "Seize him."
Immediately Marduk's three lieutenants moved to smite Gabriel down. The angel to his right. Ertrael, held a whip. He flicked his wrist and the stretched the elongated hide of Elomic flesh cracked and wrapped tightly around Gabriel's staff and spirited from his grip into the waiting palms of Ertrael. The second of Marduks lieutenants, Harut, moved to attack him from the front while Marut moved towards his rear. Gabriel somersaulted to his rear to avoid being tackled by the two and dashed behind Marduk. With a twisting motion, he twirled and kicked Marduk in the back, but the angel did not move. Gabriel bounced back from the force of his own blow, unable to make headway against the girth of the giant Harrada. Gabriel looked at his feet where they had struck Marduk, and sores and festers began to appear, and his flesh gave off a sizzling sound and soles of his shoes smelled as if they had been burned.
Marduk laughed. "Please, touch me again my prince. Let the flesh of sin touch the holiness of God. Let me bring corruption to His messenger. Come, let us reason together, why would I destroy the voice of God that carries the very knowledge my king seeks?”
Marduk laughed manically. His three henchmen raced towards Gabriel again to bring him to heel. Racing to escape them, Gabriel moved to battle instead the daemonic army before him. Smashing his way into the throng. Jumping, flying and kicking, Gabriel punched each one. Yet he only succeeded in destroying men's bodies for the spirits that animated them simply screamed when their corporeal shells were broken and attempted to drag Gabriel to the ground.
It was then that he knew that he fallen into a trap. For the army of possessed men were not the threat—it was the daemons inside them. Less than angel now, their minds were erased due to the tortuous afflictions of Hell. They knew only hunger for anything that lived, hunger for any remnant of the presence of God, and so they sought to inhabit all things living. Man was their highest prize, for he was made in the image of God and provided the most means of return to angelic form. Yet the daemons were spirit, and they clawed and dragged at Gabriel and pulled upon him until the Leopard of Heaven stood overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. For each man held a legion of the foul spirits, and there were fifty thousand men. Thus, the more he fought, the more he released more enemies to fight.
For twenty-one days, Gabriel engaged in hand to hand combat. For twenty-one days, men stayed away from the region of Babylonia as unearthly sounds and moans echoed and traveled across the dunes. Winds blasted high into the sky and sandstorms rolled through the region, withering the people round about with gritted particles that bit into flesh. For twenty—one days, the man Daniel prayed, not realizing that his prayers provided Gabriel the protection to withstand the onslaught of daemons that was before him. Overwhelmed by the horde that stood between him and Daniel, and unwilling to abandon the task given him by God. Gabriel still possessed faith that El would somehow see His word delivered to the man. Gabriel was smothered by daemonic bodies. Each pinned him down as they licked his face, savoring to taste what it was to be in the presence of the Lord. Marduk, Ertrael, and Harut approached him. Marduk held Gabriel's weapon, the white opal staff of House Malakim, and looked upon it and smiled.
"Turn him around, and we shall flay him until he speaks to us the word of God."
Obediently, the daemons hearkened to their master and stretched Gabriel out to receive his punishment for defying them. Gabriel, bloody and exhausted from three weeks of unrelenting combat, held no weapon to fight against the forces of Lucifer. No horn that he might put to his lips to call for aid. There was naught but faith that El would in some way provide sufficiency for the torture he would now endure. Ertrael held the staff of Gabriel high for all to see. The weapon of the chief prince of House Malakim. He uncoiled his whip and raised it high into the air to bring its lash square into the soft tissue of Gabriel's winged back. He flicked his wrist, and the cord of punishment was unleashed to find its mark. It traveled through the air, and in the seconds that ticked in the twinkling of an eye, a swooshing sound pierced the sky. A scream was released from behind him and the daemons holding Gabriel released him and started to flee.
Gabriel collapsed to the ground, then turned to look to his rear. Ertrael's arms were laying on the ground bleeding, his severed hand still gripped the whip. A glowing figure stood over him. He reached to him with an outstretched hand, and with the other held Gabriel's staff. A glowing crown hovered above his head and swords gyroscopically encircled him, and he was clothed in prismatic armor. Gabriel smiled as he took hold of the strong welcoming hand that lifted him to his feet.
Michael had come.
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"Go!" Michael commanded. "See to the man Daniel!"
Gabriel lifted himself into the sky, and dashed towards the great city of Babylon. He followed the sweet smelling trail of prayer that saturated the heathen nation, for few offerings to the God of Heaven emanated from the place. Yet everywhere Gabriel looked, the work of Lucifer was evident. Here he had established Marduk as governor, to administer from this place the dispensing of culture that twisted the truth to the narrative of the Fallen.
Gabriel followed the aromatic scent of the prayer and found a window open in a large tower. Gabriel entered the window and on the floor, kneeling in intense prayer and supplication to God was the man Daniel. His body was haggard and thin, weeks of intense prayer and fasting has taken its toil on the man. Gabriel found himself in admiration of him, this human who would at all cost know the will of God. For in the midst of the seat of Lucifer's power stood one man who would not bend the knee to the false god's Lucifer had set up. Here in the capital of paganism, a small man had risen on the back of God's grace to be prime minister even in the midst of godlessness. Gabriel hurried and revealed himself to the man, touching him and released the words El had sent him to proclaim.
"O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding."
Daniel stood trembling when he heard Gabriel's word. Then the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days. But, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for many days."
And Daniel set his face toward the ground, and became dumb. Then Gabriel, touched the man’s lips, and Daniel opened his mouth, and spoke.
"Oh my Lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my Lord talk with one such as I? For as for me, straightway there remains no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.”
Then Gabriel touched him again said
, "Oh man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong."
Daniel was strengthened and said, "Let my Lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me."
Then Gabriel said, "Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia, and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth, and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”
"For at the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee, for thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”