Realm of the Dead

by Donovan Neal

  Enoch looked puzzled and shook his head. "I do not know the meaning of these things. They are too great, but I will share with thee all that I have been taught from the Elohim. They, too, are a mighty people, but pride hath brought them far from where they were smelted in a kiln of fire. Pride hath seen them fight with one another even to make their habitation with man. When they are noble, they are a light which can never be hid, but when they are dark, worlds shatter and stars fall. But I have learned as we are the Lords, so too are they, and He hath committed them to a plan and a future, for there is one among them who hath lifted himself above all that is called God, and has moved to destroy all things. We must do all we can to remove his presence in the Earth, I see that God would have us help in this regard, but the way is not yet clear."

  Elijah nodded. "Then drink with me, and let us pray and seek the face of the Lord and I shall tell thee what I have learned of these flaming men, and thou shalt teach me what thou hast learned from these sons of stars, and perhaps the Lord's will, will be known."

  Enoch nodded and two old men, poured each other drinks and talked late into the night.

  * * *

  Sherkanim and two Seraphim guards escorted Gabriel and Metatron into the audience chamber of the king and opened two towering golden doors bathed in blue flame. The angels gasped as the floors and walls were completely covered in flames, and seated on a throne from which colored vapors emanated was Nephanos.

  "My king," Sherkanim said. "I present the Lumazi, Gabriel of House Malakim, and Metatron of House Draco."

  Nephanos motioned them forward, and Sherkanim stood to their side that they might come closer to the king.

  "Metatron, I have not had the honor to meet thee. It has been some time since a member of the Draco hath adorned these halls. In times past, I would have enjoyed our coming together to create music for El, but, alas, those days are gone for one of thy house is the reason we stand behind the mountain. Tell me, Lord of all Draco, why should the brother of Lucifer be allowed to live?"

  Metatron was taken aback by the king's question and stumbled in reply to the king's words. "Uh...my king..."

  Gabriel seeing Metatron's discomfort intervened. "Great King, we come in peace and ask thy patience, and if afterward in thy wisdom we should be destroyed, then let dissolution be our lot, but not pray-tell before our petition is made."

  Nephanos put his head on his fist and waved his other hand for Gabriel to continue. "Very well. Speak thy petition."

  Gabriel stepped forward and then lowered himself to his knees.

  "Great King, I stand before you in a great straight. I beg you for the life of my people, for the Withering hath come and runs rampant throughout the Great City. Its presence strips us of awareness of El and saps from us the very life that animates our stone, but it was your people who built the Kiln and by command of God lit it. Thy fires can purge the madness that slowly eats away at our people. We have no more kiln. But if thy people come and lite again the ground of Jerusalem, we shall also be lit, and the Withering shall be burned off and our people saved. Therefore, Great King, wilt thou help us? We come to thee as servants asking a favor. Do this, and the Elohim will forever be in thy debt."

  Nephanos was quiet. Stoic even, as He contemplated the words of Gabriel and looked on Metatron. He heaved a sigh and spoke.

  "I have seen the images from the burning, and the destruction of the Kiln in thy memory. Who was responsible for its ruin?"

  Gabriel swallowed hard. "Chief Prince, Michael destroyed it to prevent the renegade, Lucifer, from possessing the power of the Godstones."

  Nephanos stood when he heard this.

  "So, the collaborator Michael, who gave suggestion to Lucifer to steal from us, is now in conjunction with the rogue angel responsible for the destruction of the gift our people had given to El? And this, after having crossed the mists of Limbo is what you seek to tell me? And now, because El hath removed Himself and set thy people to discipline. Discipline because the Elohim in pride hast made themselves to tear all things asunder...this is why you come to me? Only to look for us to provide thee with a balm to sooth the welt that El's scourge now levels against thy people?" the King shouted.

  Gabriel prostrated himself to the ground and replied, "Mercy, Great King. Do this for our people and whatever debt you would collect from us. Surely we will pay thee all."

  Nephanos shook his head. "No, Gabriel, High Prince to thy people. Thou hast once more come to my land, and what king would abide such trespass against his people? Our treaty is clear. We have divorced ourselves from the Elohim and none but El can bring us back into covenant. When He calls, then and only then will we enter into a relationship with thy people."

  Gabriel's arms fell to his sides and his eyes glanced downward to the dirt.

  "But my King, hath not this worm lowered himself to thee, even beseeched thee to consider that our cause is just? For I bring thee in remembrance that once our peoples walked together, as was the will of El from the beginning, and even now hath sought thee to hear thy servant out for our people are in sore need."

  Nephanos laughed to his lieutenants, and then his face became flushed and he clenched his fists in indignation. "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up thy loins, for I will demand and you wilt answer me for thou hast come to me on bended knee because thou hast no choice. Thou comest because the chastisement of the Lord now corrects thy wayward people. Tell me, High Prince, if El had not blighted thy people with plague, wouldst thou be before me now?"

  Gabriel swallowed hard and raised his eyes to Nephanos. "No. Yet, I come on orders of the Chief Prince, and not of mine own accord."

  Nephanos tilted his head and nodded toward his bound guest. "Spoken truly. At least that is a start. Yet if thy people even now succumb to the Withering, why send an underling to do a leader's bidding? Thou dost beg for the life of thy people, but do not represent thy people, but the life of thy prince. For if he truly led his people, then he himself would stand before me now, and not his adjutant." The king then spoke to his lieutenant. "Sherkanim."

  Sherkanim immediately snapped to attention. "Yes, my king?"

  "See to their provisions and make their bags ready for travel."

  "Yes, my king."

  "In the morning, Gabriel, you and this one shall leave my land. Now, therefore, be gone from me, Malakim, or feel my wrath. Tell your Chief Prince that if he would petition for the life of his people, he must beg for it himself. For this reason and to prevent war, I give you my leave to return with this message. Now go, High Prince, and return from whence you came, and never, ever return this way again."

  * * *

  Azaziel spoke to Yeshua while He still communed with the Lord in prayer.

  "Pardon, my King. But there come of the son of men a squad carrying lanterns, swords, and staves. Surely they mean to do you harm."

  Yeshua saw them afar off, sighed, and knowing all things that should come upon him, lifted Himself up from prayer and walked forth.

  Azaziel looked flummoxed, unsure of what to do.

  "My King?" he said, but Yeshua did not reply and set Himself to meet them.

  Azaziel and his soldiers eyed the entourage, inspecting every inch of their person, ready to strike them blind or stop their hearts at a moment's notice. Other Elohim spread abroad throughout the countryside, ready to lay the whole region to waste if necessary, daring any of the Horde to come closer. None did save one.

  Lucifer fell from the sky, his glowing persona lighting just yards from Yeshua, and within the protective circle, Azaziel and his band had set. Yeshua's royal guards raised their shields and swords, but Lucifer raised his hands in abeyance and spoke.

  "I come naught but to observe. I mean the Godking no harm. Behold, see one of his own disciples comes to bring his love." Lucifer turned with a smile, his eye upon Judas who was at the head of the squad.

  "Hail, Master," Judas said and kissed Him.

  "My friend," Yeshua said. "
Wherefore art thou come?"

  Judas stepped back with gripped conscious but answered not the Lord. He meekly smiled and turned toward the armed party.

  Yeshua then spoke aloud for Judas to hear. "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?"

  Judas looked down, shaken at the words but did not reply. Lucifer smiled, and his hands folded behind his back in smugness as Azaziel and his angels grew increasingly frustrated.

  Lucifer sat on a rock and spoke, "Do not look at me. The human acts of his own volition," he said with a snicker as Yeshua narrowed his eyes at his rogue son.

  Yeshua turned to the throng before him, focusing on those with swords. His face turned grim as He spoke. "Whom seek ye?"

  A temple constable replied. "Yeshua of Nazareth."

  Yeshua said, "I AM He." The power of Yeshua's voice carried on the gust of a sudden wind, and He spoke with such authority that soldiers shrank in fear and stumbled backward to the ground. Even Lucifer became discomforted but watched silently as his plans unfolded before his eyes.

  Azaziel and the host warily eyed the men, ready to pounce, itching to cut down the whole entourage at Yeshua's word. Hands on hilts, the angels hovered. Azaziel's eyes looked pleadingly at his master for the command to move. But the command did not come. And Azaziel, having no command to engage, watched the exchange of God and men in dismay.

  Yeshua then asked again, "Whom do you seek?"

  And they said, "Yeshua of Nazareth."

  Yeshua eyed His disciples, not willing that any should perish, that the saying might be fulfilled, of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. He knew that with but a word He could unleash a legion upon the fools who sought to unknowingly apprehend their Creator. With a single thought, He could send them screaming to the realm of the unrighteous dead, but He did not. He looked at Azaziel, who stood ready to slice the captain's throat, and Christ opened His hands to signal surrender.

  "I have told thee that I am He: if therefore ye seek me, then let these go their way. But why come ye out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was with thee daily in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is thy hour and the Power of Darkness," He said with a side glance at Lucifer.

  Lucifer then projected his voice that only Simon Peter might hear and said, "Wilt thou stand idle whilst these men take hold to the Savior? What dost thou have in thine hands?"

  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote Malchus, the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

  Azaziel smiled. Finally, someone brave enough to confront this rabble.

  But Yeshua frowned at them all and especially Lucifer, and said unto Peter, "Put thy sword into the sheath: for the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"

  Azaziel realized the Lord not only rebuked Peter but was also speaking to him and his soldiers as well. Yeshua's eyes were stern towards Azaziel, and the angel knew the Lord would not permit them to interfere. And Azaziel and the rest of the angelic guard sheathed their swords and stood watching their King, attentive to any command.

  The Lord Yeshua then bent down and took Malchus' ear and healed him. Then the squad and the captain and officers of the Jews took Yeshua into custody, and the disciples seeing the Lord bound, fled every man to escape.

  Azaziel withstood Lucifer to his face and spoke, "This is your doing Deceiver, you will pay for your crimes, and I will be there on the day you art judged."

  Lucifer replied, "I could kill you before thou saw me coming; nevertheless, at the moment, thou hast more pressing concerns to attend to, do you not?" And Lucifer chuckled as he lounged on the rock smiling, waving goodbye, and shooing him away.

  Azaziel snorted in frustration, turned, and joined his brethren who followed the Lord, as He was led by evil men, alone and captive through the dark of night.

  * * *

  Nephanos had watched Sherkanim's officers escort Gabriel and Metatron away. However, the chief of the guard hesitated, turned to his Lord and waited to be acknowledged.

  Nephanos took note but said nothing. Moments of silence passed between them and Sherkanim stood at attention, waiting for the glance that he knew would allow him to speak.

  Nephanos sighed, then spoke to his waiting servant, "We've have known each other for many eons, you and I, yet you still stand in my presence captain after being dismissed--why?"

  Sherkanim fell to one knee. "My king. Since our birth as a people, El hath always intended that all of Heaven's children be one. Never was it in His heart the schism that now exists between us. Yet due to our hardness of heart, He hath allowed us to stay behind the mountain of Heaven. And while idle in our solitude, we have silently awaited El's bidding to rejoin the Ophanim, and Elohim, and once more be one. Is it not possible that these emissaries are a sign from El that the time for reunification is before us? And lo, a new race stands on our grounds, these...Humans. Therefore, I ask my king to reconsider this course to dismiss the heralds from the throne room of God."

  Nephanos nodded. "I have heard thy petition. If the angels are in such dire straits as they proclaim, then the Chief Prince will come, bend the knee before this throne and submit himself to my pardon. Then we shall be one. Then offense can be forgiven."

  Sherkanim lowered his head further and glanced upward, careful not to look at his master. "Oh great king, did we not barter with the Deceiver? Hath, we no culpability for what has befallen us? We cannot blame Lucifer alone for what hath transpired. And what of his war now against the Godking Himself? Will we stand idle and watch as he schemes to bring down the fall of God? My king, I beg...."

  Nephanos stood, and raised his hands. "Silence. Thou speakest out of turn, Capitan. Do not presume to lecture me on how to rule for thou hast spoken beyond your station. Now go to and see to your duties while I see to mine."

  "My apologies, my king. It shall be as you command." Sherkanim then touched his forehead to the ground in obeisance, scooted backward until he was far enough from his lord to stand, bowed, and turned to leave.

  Nephanos communed with his own thoughts, as he watched his servant depart his presence and when Sherkanim was gone, Nephanos walked to the rear of his throne, past a door to his inner chamber. He opened the door and rest his eyes on instruments of the finest craftsmanship, each stamped with the flaming symbol of Camael. His glowing hand glided over each trumpet in a light caress.

  "I have not whispered into your innards the breath of my fire for many days now. Not since my betrayal at the hands of the Deceiver. Not since my brother made me stand in proxy to wear this accursed crown."

  Nephanos then lifted the token of kingship from off his head and threw it across the floor. As it toppled to rest, a faded God-stone gleamed atop...a stone that no longer sung a song asking to be...a stone silenced from begging its maker to shape it to his will.

  The King of the Seraphim sat in a chair and rocked, then placed a tortured head in his hands and murmured his growing anxiety. "Did Prince Gabriel recognize me? I cannot allow him to leave the city and reveal my identity." The king's eyes darted back and forth. "No one must know. For if the people were to see the truth..."

  Nephanos stood and paced within his private chambers, and grew increasingly agitation as he eyed both the crown and the instruments assembled before him. In a gesture of frustration, he swatted several flutes and lyres to the floor and hunched over the table where they had been displayed.

  "Nephanos, my brother, what were thou thinking? When Lucifer and I conceived the plan to upset the balance of power, when we created the trumpets, we could have unleashed their untapped power and ruled all! But no, instead of siding with thy own brother, instead of taking what could have been ours, thou didst reveal my sin to El and left me here to taste the burden of power. And
after all this time, after all, these years, for what? To teach me the weight of ruling? To make me eat the bread of my lust? I am not thee, brother. For mine is to craft songs to lift our kind to worship and exaltation. Together, Lucifer and I would have melded light and sound and made the universe tremble. But no! Now I must take on this false persona, for I, Camael, the greatest of our kind, must be resigned to play 'king.' While true power sits on a mountaintop among the heights of the clouds, here I stand to rule within its shadow. And what of you? Thou hast chosen to go off and yelp in obeisance every time someone enters the presence of El. And what of these angels before me now. Is this thy doing, brother? To convince me to submit to El and once again unite our people? Is this your feeble attempt to bring me an olive branch? Pssft. I will see your emissaries destroyed, and their purposes brought to naught."

  Camael laughed, and his eyes glazed and sparked, and he stared longingly at the dormant Stone of Fire in the crown that was on the floor.

  And unbeknownst to him, standing hidden outside his doorway was Enoch, having entered the king's chamber in hopes to gain an audience. He stood with his hands over his mouth, horrified, shocked that the King of the Seraphim was none other than the traitor, Camael!

  * * *

  Jerahmeel and Iblis covertly wound through tunnels and corridors lined with Hell's villi.

  Jerahmeel looked in the dimness and noted that they saw no servants of Lucifer, but the air echoed with groans and screams of distant angels caught in the creature's digestive tract.

  "Why have we not seen any of Lucifer's servants here?" Jerahmeel said.

  Iblis moved carefully around a dangling tendril, watching where he stepped so as not to awaken and bring attention to Hell's consciousness.