by Donovan Neal
"NOOOOOO!" Jerahmeel cried, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Immediately, Metatron, Eskalion, Turiel, and Jerahmeel raced toward his position, as Lucifer threw the now withered body of Gabriel into the dust.
* * *
Charon's barbed bony tentacles waved about him as he defended himself against the seven bladed Sword of Ophanim. Michael struggled, despite his power of the three kings to contain the giant angel and keep him at bay. Fighting that he might serve as interference his brethren might contend with Lucifer.
The bodies of the three beings merged into a united fighting force, allowing through Michael's halo, the ability to communicate mentally.
We cannot kill him! Michael thought while bringing his fist squarely on the giant's chest. Pummeling Charon, he dashed off to prevent his own demise if Charon grasped him.
Eladrin replied, We cannot bring Death to heel, but the stalling of Charon is not the true goal. We must regain the lost keys of Death and Hell. Only then will this come to an end.
Nephanos's fire accosted Charon's face and blinded the giant angel. Remember, Charon is not our enemy. He is but an unwilling servant to the Usurper. We must be careful to avoid injury.
A tentacle grabbed Michael by his leg and lifted him up high, then slammed him into the ground. Michael heard something snap on his wing and the pain of a thousand needles shot through his neck. He rolled over to spy bruised tendons that connected his wings to his shoulders.
Alas, the Warden does not hold our own injury in such high regard. We must hurry or we may not be able to avoid risk to him. He will grow stronger in time, and we must stop Lucifer before this occurs.
Charon's scythe flew in great swaths before him, deflecting the smaller swords of Michael away. Eladrin then separated from Michael and left he and Nephanos to contend with Charon while he raced to confront Lucifer.
Hell was run amok, and in the chaos that ensued in the Realm of the Dead, four angels: Jerahmeel, Metatron, Eskalion, and Turiel fought the Dragon.
Dashing between sword strikes, and plowing blows to face and body, Metatron and Eskalion attacked Lucifer in hand to hand combat. Blood and strips of flesh tore from the lacerations each foe gave to the other.
With the power of sound and light at his command, Lucifer bellowed projections that sliced through armor and flesh. Jerahmeel provided sheets of ice to protect his brothers and raised spears from the floor of Hell to impale Lucifer, but Satan leaped into the air. Turiel slashed at him with his dagger, attacked him misted, his dagger whizzing about him in stabbing attempts to strike the rebel king.
But Lucifer was the former prince of angels and he moved with great swiftness. And with the percussions embedded in his flesh, he blew toward Turiel and caused the gaseous Grigori to dissipate against the blast of powerful air.
Lucifer tucked in his wings and fell hard onto Metatron, slamming the angel into the ground. He quickly rose, and with a leg sweep tripped Eskalion, knocking him onto his back with a thud. Yet Metatron would not be denied. He opened his palm, and a conical force of sound flung from his hand and as an invisible knife, sliced through Lucifer's armor and bit into his flesh, causing the angel to bleed.
Lucifer cried out in agony and raised his sword to fling at him. The blade of Malice released and flew through the air like a coiled serpent...an emerald weapon of dark magic designed from Hell's own essence to siphon the life of all it touched. The sword whirred and spun, crossing the field of battle and as it traveled it bore the tortured sound of Kilnstones gone mad. The cries of captured souls strained to get out, yet in the moments that passed, four faces flew across Metatron's path and the sword caught in the King of Ophanim rings and wheels within wheels. The blade hovered, mere inches from Metatron's face.
Metatron backed away, and when he did, Eladrin held the sword and twirled it within his body's rings, gyrating. The momentum of the blade still moved from one wheel to another and Eladrin swiveled the sword and turned it back to point at Lucifer. Eladrin released it from his twirling wheels and it flew back toward its master. Lucifer ducked, and Jerahmeel, who approached him from behind, also ducked as the green blade hurtled past him and lodged into the moist wall of Hell.
The blade began to grow emerald green, and the sapphire power oozed from it and crept up the mountain walls. The blade instinctively attempted to do the impossible and siphon the life of Hell itself, and as a cancerous cell devours flesh, so, too, did the Hell-forged blade now seek to feast upon the beast.
Jerahmeel faced his brother, and the two ran toward one another. A mighty crash sounded and Lucifer brought his fist squarely against his brother's face. Jerahmeel kneed his sibling in the abdomen.
Cries of struggle and exertion radiated from their fight. Lucifer fell back to his rear, and Jerahmeel grabbed him and pounded him across the face. The duo traded powerful blow after powerful blow, and while Lucifer grew lost in his battle lust directed at his brother Jerahmeel, he failed to see Turiel reach toward the back of his neck and pull on the keys of Death and Hell. The Dark Lord's head jerked back as Turiel pulled with all his might. The chain links snapped...and the keys of Death and Hell fell to the ground.
Lucifer detonated in light, blinding all that surrounded him. Jerahmeel covered his eyes, and Turiel misted instinctively to avoid the attack. Metatron crawled on the ground. Eladrin raced to scour the ground and recover the keys.
Lucifer pulled his Blade of Malice out of the wall and turned to find the keys lying on the ground. As his brethren groped the floor in blindness, he flew to recover them, but when he reached to pick them up, a sandaled foot stepped on his hand and a voice of many waters spoke.
"You have something that belongs to me."
Lucifer looked up and when he did, the Lord Yeshua stood above him, glowing in power. Behind him, Abraham, Moses and David were running towards him, swords drawn, as millions of the righteous dead followed, having beat Satan's forces to come for him.
* * *
Michael wrestled with Charon and whilst he did, the Angel of Death spoke.
"The keyyss, they haveee fallennn."
Michael immediately stopped his attack and Charon also ceased from his struggles. Both turned to the Lord's position and watched the true struggle that ensued within eyes view.
Lucifer was on hands and knees and had reached to retrieve the fallen keys of Death and Hell, but the Lord towered above him, and His foot was on the Keys of Power. Lucifer pulled his hand back, gripped the Sword of Malice, and raising the green blade attempted to plunge it into Yeshua's abdomen.
The Lord neither moved nor budged, His face stoic and grim. Michael had seen the same look before. It was in the eyes of his King prior when He had judged his children and flung them into exile. And now once more, Michael saw the King of Kings' eyes narrow, as His rebellious son sought to strike down His Master. Yeshua then grabbed the blade with His bare hands and stopped its penetration into His flesh. The Sword of Malice glowed in its voracious attempt to steal the life of God. To reap the living soul of the God-man, Yeshua.
Lucifer smiled with glee, his eyes wide in anticipation that the soul reaving sword had found its mark. Here in the confines of Hell, within the dimensions of a creature whose hunger was satisfied only by Elomic flesh, Lucifer would finally destroy the indestructible God.
But it was not so.
For when the sword of Lucifer's making glowed, Yeshua also glowed and lost the appearance of a man as He took on the semblance of El. And when He spoke, His voice was as the voice of many waters, and His words were on this wise: "Did I not tell thee, all souls are mine?"
The Lord released the blade and allowed it to strike Him in the abdomen, and when it did, a green hue overtook Yeshua. All watched as Lucifer attempted to hold the Sword steady as green waves of power flowed from the sword into the Lord. But the green flowing stream of power reversed and extended from the Lord's body to Lucifer's hand, and Satan grabbed the hilt with both hands, struggling to hold on, but could not.
T
he blade screamed as Yeshua siphoned the power from it. Visible waves of emerald light pulsed from it and into the Lord. Voices and whispers echoed upon one another as the blade shrilled and then exploded in jade and limelight. The emerald blade shattered in Lucifer's hands and crumpled as dust at the Lord's feet.
The explosion of light rocketed the cavern and released a shockwave that raced in all directions and pummeled all to the ground. The voices of those consumed by the blade soared from captivity. Ethereal bodies glowed as misty winds flew in all directions, screaming, and crying out for revenge. Unleashed from artificial confinement at last, they wailed and enraged, and attacked forces of the Horde that remained in the cavern.
Pandemonium broke out as the unreleased wrath of both Hell and spirits hostile to Lucifer attacked all that swore allegiance to the Devil. The released spirits accosted members of the Horde still fighting and ghosted through their bodies, causing agonizing pain and sending many to their knees in agony. As hornets disturbed, they flew in locust-like swarms everywhere the eye could see, and the soldiers of Lucifer swung at the air in vain to keep the vengeful spirits at bay.
The Sword of the Lord then pointed at Lucifer, who hastily scooted backward to escape. The Prince of Darkness rose and ran, and when he did so, the bow that floated about Yeshua unleashed a nocked arrow that caught the enemy in the rear of his shoulder.
Lucifer cried out in pain, and all watched as Yeshua stalked the mighty cherubim. The Prince of Darkness fell, tripping over his own feet and crawled to flee the presence of the Lord.
The Shekinah manifested around Yeshua and He was brilliant in luminescent radiance. His steps made indentations in the earth as He walked, and the scythe that floated as an electron around the Lord flung itself forward and swung at the feet of the enemy. Lucifer gained his footing, tripped and fell face-first in the dirt. His face crusted with dried blood as the cut above his eye continued to drip. His teeth were coated with blood from his battle with the Lumazi, and he spat the blue plasma from his mouth. His vicious contempt landed at the Lord's feet and their eyes met.
Coughing and wiping blood with the back of his hand, Satan backed away as Yeshua approached him, sword drawn. The righteous dead bore witness as God menacingly walked toward His enemy, ready to strike the final blow. To end the suffering of mankind. Each eye widened as the Sword of the Lord raised to bring to naught, he, who through the power of Death, had kept men in fear; he who through his works sundered Heaven, and rent fellowship between God and Man.
Lucifer looked into Yeshua's eyes and screamed, "I do not fear Oblivion. Strike and show all the power of thy great might, for if thou be the Son of God, show them with the sword what it is to fear God!"
The Lord then raised His blade, Satan lifted his chin in defiance and grimaced, swallowed hard, and closed his eyes in horrifying expectation. The Sword of the Lord reached its apogee, then fell downward, and with bated breath, all waited for the head of Lucifer to fall severed to the ground.
The blade fell a mere hair's breadth from Satan's mouth and hit the heated ground with a 'thunk.' Lucifer felt the wind of the sword's edge cool his face, and when he opened his eyes, Yeshua stood above him in glowing majesty. The Prince of Darkness gritted his teeth and opened his mouth to speak, and the Lord placed His foot atop his face near the base of his neck, cutting him off.
Yeshua then lifted from the folds of His robe, the necklace that carried the keys to Death and Hell and raised them up for all to see.
"Hell...peace, be still!"
The creature immediately stopped its assault on all that indwelt her, and lava flows and tendrils receded into her roof and the beast was calmed. Members of the Horde fell to their knees and laid down their arms, for Yeshua stood atop their leader with the keys of Death and Hell clenched in His fist, raised high for all to see.
The cavern erupted in cheers, and members of the Host hugged one another as cries of victory rang out through the whole of the underworld for in the deep places of the earth, and beyond the sight of mortal men, Yeshua spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly...His foot atop the crushed head of Satan with His fist raised in triumph.
The Lord then spoke for all to hear.
"The battle is over, but the war still rages. For above, my people must continue to undo the works of the Enemy. A word have they been given that upon which the gates of Hell shall not prevail, for, in a few days' time, the sentence of Fire shall be carried out against this one, and upon all who have sought to undo the Father! And know, oh rebellious house, that I shall return, and when I do, cry woe! For know then that thine judgment is at hand."
The members of the Lumazi came near to look upon Satan who yet laid under the Lord's foot with bloodied features, gritted teeth, and hissing contempt as they stared at him.
Jerahmeel walked past first, and he lowered himself down to speak to his brother.
"You have an eye that belongs to me. I want it back." He reached down to gouge Lucifer's eye, but the Lord grabbed his hand.
"If I forbade Peter to draw his sword to protect me, how much more must thou learn this lesson of vengeance? Stay thy hand, for this one shall have his reward." The Lord nodded toward Charon who walked toward his triumphant master.
Jerahmeel nodded in obeisance and backed away, and when he did, the Lord reached into the dust and spit into it and placed His hands over Jerahmeel's face, and Jerhameel's eye was restored to its place and he was made whole.
Jerahmeel felt his face and smiled. "I thank you, Lord."
Lucifer laughed, and when he did the Lord pressed harder on his neck, and he became silent once more. A flying spirit flew over across from the Lord and when it landed within Lucifer's sight, the Lord blew His own breath upon the ethereal creature and before the eyes of all, the ghostly apparition changed and solidified, and Gabriel stood before them whole as before. He bowed to the Lord, and the Lord nodded in acknowledgment. Gabriel rose and walked where Lucifer could see him more clearly, and spoke, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you think me so slow, brother, to be caught by thy blow to dissolution? I but obeyed the King and met with those held prisoner by thy sword, that upon their release they might be convinced to plague thee. To my surprise, they needed little convincing to plague thee. Imagine their joy when I told them that at the last day they would one day accost thee in flames of fire." Gabriel then shook his head and walked away.
More of the royal host, and David and Abraham and others stared upon Lucifer, his face still in the dirt.
Michael walked through the crowd and spoke aloud to his brother.
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, that I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; and I will be like the most High. Yet look at you now, brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. And who are these that narrowly look upon thee and consider?"
Turiel then picked up, commenting where Michael had stopped, "Is this the man that made the Earth to tremble, and that shook kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; the one that opened not the house of his prisoners?"
Lucifer squirmed under the sole of the Lord's foot and growled like a trapped animal.
Talus then flew over and looked at his King. The Lord nodded His approval and Talus knelt on one knee to look at Lucifer. He stared into his eyes, and Lucifer tried to look away but Talus would have none of it. He squeezed his cheeks and made him look at him and spoke in authoritative victory as he narrowed his eyes, leaning close for Lucifer to hear. The Lord loosened His foothold so Talus could raise the Adversary's head enough to glare into his eyes. Talus looked at him in defiance and whispered in triumph, "I see four lights."
He then spit on the ground and released him and Lucifer's face fell into the moist earth where
Talus had spit.
Yeshua nodded as His son walked away, then raised His voice and spoke to all. "It is time to return home."
The towering figure of Charon then created a shadow over them as he drew closer and he spoke to the Lord.
"Am I alsooo tooo retunnn hommmme?"
The Lord smiled. His eyes grew soft and He shook His head lovingly to curtail His creations disappointment.
"Nay," Yeshua said. "There will be a time that fire, yea even a lake of fire will house this one, and then thou shalt be home to do what thou wast charged to do. Until that day, go to, and arrest those this one made thee release, and return them captive to captivity. And whence I am returned, I will make a home where in the next creation, my vengeance can be fulfilled on this one here." And the Lord looked at Lucifer crossly when He spoke.
Charon bowed and turned, and as he walked away, the sounds of chains and the smell of fire and ash trailed him as he marched to parts unknown.
Abraham then came to the Lord. "And what of us, my King?"
Yeshua smiled. "It is now time to enter into rest." And when He spoke, the funnel that Hell had created grew wider and the Lord looked up. And when He did, El and El Pneuma were standing in shining garments and looked down from Heaven.
Then Yeshua shouted up in the hearing of all. "El Pneuma, I am ready."
El Pneuma nodded and spoke one word.
"Resurrection."
And a tremor shook within Hell itself. The righteous dead began to glow, and many looked at their hands as the Shekinah began to overlap all of them. Then in flashes of blinking light, each one rocketed into Heaven through beams of light. Hundreds, then thousands, then billions took to the air in illuminated bursts of light. As rain that fell upward, the people of Paradise emptied and the righteous dead were no more to be seen in the Underworld.
Michael and the all the Host watched as their human brethren lifted into Heaven and he said, "Come...let us welcome our brothers and sisters home. We have much to celebrate!" His halo glowed, and Eladrin began to turn twirl in sparkling light, while Nephanos covered the Chief Prince with his body and he rose to return to the realm immortal. The Host also looked to the sky and lifted themselves into the heavenly portal to return home.