The Third Heaven Series Boxed Set: Books (1-3)

by Donovan Neal

  Lucifer beamed approvingly at them who were as countless as the stars. Then he eyed the man and saw his frailty and the fawning that El spent upon his new creation. Contempt grew as pus within him, and his thoughts teemed with bile towards his maker. Lucifer noted that the people applauded a creature that neither flew nor possessed the power of Arelim, the voice of the Draco, but was made from the dust of the Earth. When he saw the man and his own people cheering in senseless applause, Lucifer noted that none thought for themselves.

  A multitude of bleating sheep you are: huddled and flocked together. Like the wheat fields on Earth, as chaff carried aloft with the breeze. Ah, my people, alas thou art blind to the truth, nor do you perceive, but lost in the mesmerizing bask of worship to El. If only thou might see what I see. Then would you be loosed from His chain.

  Lucifer marveled at their docility: the Elohim simply obeyed, never questioned, and now they stood baying in applause at a creature beneath them in beauty.

  Is this how El sees us?

  Lucifer basked in his perch above the throne. All of creation seemed as a quilt spread out before him and all realities appeared at once. He reveled in the sense of knowledge. It was intoxicating.

  Swallowed in his pride, Lucifer looked upon the people: proud that he alone could see the truth that they truly were all slaves to the whims of the Almighty. Sadness began to flood over him. Sadness that El had created a source of labor to carry out his dictates, sad that his people were relegated to serve this ‘greatest creation’. Angry that El would in his selfishness hold back such knowledge. Lucifer then looked upon El and despised him. His countenance changed towards his maker while he questioned the goodness of God and ruminated with thought after thought in his mind until one seeded itself above all others. I will be God.

  Lucifer continued to look upon El, and El’s continued fawning over the man gnawed at him.

  Lucifer then looked upon the man. He was indeed beautiful: soft not hard like the diamond and scales of himself. The man, however, was limited, mortal even.

  Lucifer’s mind reeled with unbelief and disgust. Surely, El would not turn over such a realm as Earth over to a creature, which was of mud and clay. No true King should behave in such a way! This — this is the creature that should bear El’s image and likeness?

  Lucifer looked upon El, and the form that he had despised for so long revealed itself to him. He attempted to rid himself of the image, yet the vision would not cease. Like a persistent apparition, he saw El through the veil of fog.

  The servant looked upon his master and disgust began to fill him. This represents El’s true form?

  All of Heaven watched as God personally created two trees from the rich soil: one that released the knowledge of good and evil and a companion tree of eternal life. Each was set within the midst of the garden. The Lord then gave the man instructions concerning the trees and of what he could eat.

  Then the Lord God brought every beast of the field and every fowl of the air unto Adam to see what he would call them, and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof.

  Adam then gave names to all cattle, to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field.

  Lucifer became incensed.

  Adam bestowed on every creature a name, and with each act of naming: God further sealed man’s dominion over them. For Heaven's code states that he who names a thing defines and administers the thing. Lucifer observed as man steadily and with little effort gave each creature a name, which defined it.

  The Lord saw that there was no mate for the Adam and said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.”

  The Lord God then caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. Then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh thereof.

  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.”

  The Lord was pleased with the form of them, and the Shekinah moved from El and hovered over the man and the woman. The brightness of his glory covered them that they shown as the stars, and the shawl of living light covered their face and skin, and they glowed even as the Lord.

  They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. And the Lord walked in the cool of the day with the man and the woman and fellowshipped with them, and they with him.

  Moreover, Lucifer made note of the name that Adam had named the white, docile creature that nauseated him, the creature that in Lucifer’s mind was the identical image of El.

  He pronounced the word aloud to hear it for himself, speaking it into the air. He now had a name to assign to his image of El, a designation that symbolized all the weakness he now came to despise in his creator. There was only one word, which perfectly described his repugnance: Lamb.

  ********************

  El ceased from talking with the man and his companion, and as the hours marched onward on Earth mere seconds passed in Heaven, and El immediately continued to address the congregation.

  “Behold the pinnacle of our creation. For with great thought have plans been laid to secure man’s future. Know that we shall accomplish all our will. Therefore, we will watch over his coming and his going.

  Thou great Elohim, birthed from the fires of our Kiln, shall also serve to aid man to understand all things. As we have taught thee, go to and teach thou Adam and his seed that he might have dominion.”

  El turned to enter the temple again; smoke, lightning, and thunder echoed in his steps. Lucifer immediately lifted off the throne and covered El’s backside and the Ophanim propelled the throne back into the great hall of Mt. Zion.

  As El departed, Lucifer’s own glory diminished, yet he continued to pronounce the majesty of God, and Heaven rang with cheers of, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

  Slowly, each member of the royal court left the dais; from the eldest to the youngest until only the seraphim were all that were left to march into the great hall. Their, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” echoing across the emporium. When all parties left, Lucifer alone stood on the rostrum and watched the crowd as they dispersed.

  Lucifer scratched at the burning that ached in his chest and his mind raced with just one thought: Thou must decrease that I might increase.

  ********************

  Lucifer settled into the center hall of Athor prepared to address the elders of the city. He stood behind the raised platform so that he could adequately see all the participants. The elders of Athor slowly made their way into the chamber hall.

  The room was circular with seats made of white marble. The floor was lapis lazuli, and the ceiling was gold etched in silver with cursive angelic script, which pronounced the glory of El. The walls were quartz and reflected the light, not just of the noonday sun but also of Lucifer himself, who stood high in the center of the chamber surrounded by the marble stadium seats.

  In the course of time, all sat and Lucifer began to speak.

  “Fellow Sons of God — I as Chief Prince and Archon of Earth have asked you here that I might assign to you the tasks necessary to complete our mission to instruct the humans. We have….”

  Lucifer was interrupted by Srosh, one of his fellow Draco. He was tall and muscular; his species shimmered in scales of bluish silver. His blonde hair draped his shoulders as he raised his serpentine-like body for attention.

  “My pardon, Chief Prince, but perhaps you would enlighten the elders on the rumors which circulate Athor, for much has been made of Apollyon and his deeds.”

  “And what would you know Srosh that has not already been reported?”

  “Chief Prince, is it true that El has closed the mouth of the Kiln? Reports from Heaven say that a living mountain of ash and fire now draws power from that which is our womb. Is this so?”

  Lucifer eyed the crowd. They too fastened their eyes on him, fixated and waiting on his ever
y word.

  “That which thou hast heard is true. There is a mount of breathing rock tied to the Kiln itself and which lives off the flesh of Elohim.”

  Gasps echoed across the room. Mouths dropped. Whispers circulated within the center hall.

  “My Lord, then are we to be no more? Is this the end of the Kilnborn? Will there be no more stones to fire our ranks?”

  Lucifer pondered the words and turned them over in his mind. Will there be no more stones––is this the end of the Kilnborn?

  Another angel arose to speak. “My Lord, is it true that Apollyon now lives in punishment within the belly of this mountain?"

  Then another, "And what of this dark creature reported at the mouth of the new mount? What is he? He does not present as other Elohim”

  “Master…”

  “My Lord Prince…”

  “I have a question…”

  Lucifer found himself suddenly barraged with demands from all fronts. Shouts of angels quickly filled the chamber, each vying and clamoring for attention, all in query. Lucifer looked upon his people and pity welled up within him, for they were as sheep with no shepherd.

  Does El even understand what he has done? He thought.

  Lucifer’s Heartstone pained him, and he clutched and scratched at his chest for relief. He staggered as the pain became more intense. He looked up at the crowd that now argued amongst themselves and spoke to regain order. “Silence!” he roared.

  Immediately, the room fell mute as the power of Lucifer’s deep voice shook the ground, and the south quartz wall cracked. However, Srosh a fellow Draco did not move. He did not cow upon Lucifer’s rebuke. Like all Draco, he was regal in stature and able to project his own voice. Despite the command of his Chief Prince, Srosh spoke the mind of many within the room.

  “Are we to be servants Lucifer, forced to serve a creature of mud and clay?” Srosh’s statement emboldened another to speak.

  “I do not wish to serve.”

  “Free Apollyon,” cried an Arelim.

  An Issi elder immediately retorted, “Let him burn within the mountain!”

  Lucifer frowned; his brow tightened in anger. Anger, that El has placed him in such a position; anger that he would have to answer for his creator. Anger that despite all his desire to give an answer, he had none with which he could defend his Lord’s actions.

  Anger — that was unleashed.

  Once more Lucifer spoke, but spoke with such force that the floor opened its mouth, and Srosh and several of the assembled elders cried for help and struggled to find release from the fissure, which now raced across the floor. Panic quickly ensued, and the Chief Prince stretched his wings and lifted himself from the ground to address his audience.

  “It is true that the Kiln now fuels Hell’s belly and also true that Apollyon now lies trapped therein. It is true that El hast made Earth, home to the humans: a home that you have carefully maintained and assisted in its very fashion.”

  "Was it not you who ferried flora across the world to populate the garden that the humans now occupy? Was it not you who mined the floor of Earth to encase Athor in gold and glass: its beauty and illumination a floodlight in the night sky? Its luminance seen even from the second heaven of Sol?”

  “Aye,” said Lucifer. "It is true that El hast made a creature of such hunger that it feeds off the very life of Elohim, and lo, within the span of one day we see two abominations. One — a guardian to keep our brother imprisoned. And two, a creature so beneath us as to be made from El’s spittle and the mud that we walk upon. Yet were we given the title to anything? No. We serve.”

  “We praise a master who rewards us not according to our works nor celebrates our accomplishments. Nay my brethren, our reward is clear. We will no longer be fashioned to seed the heavens.”

  Lucifer looked each in the eye probingly. “No longer will the Kiln burn to fire our creation." Lucifer pointed hard at his chest repeatedly. "Nay, the Kiln now burns to fire our prison! It exists to remind us that those who refuse to serve will burn therein!”

  “I,” said Lucifer pointing again at his chest, “Am Chief Prince, Lord Lucifer Draco, and First Kilnborn of all Elohim. I alone walk upon the Stones of Fire. I will not serve, and I will not burn. I pledge to free our brother Apollyon!

  For I will ascend into Heaven.

  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

  I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

  I will be like the most High!”

  ********************

  Raphael walked into the throne room, sat before his king, and looked at the enormous book within his hands, which contained all the information the Lord El had requested.

  “My Lord, the task wherewith I have been charged is complete. I have tallied all as thou hast commanded.”

  El looked upon Raphael and smiled, “And what did your examination find, my son?”

  Raphael’s face became angst-ridden. His heart and mind burdened by what he knew, knowledge he must now dispense to the Lord. Never had he given the Lord a negative report. Now he must be the first Elohim to broach the subject of treason with his king.

  “My Lord, your instruction was to find all instances of thought, conduct, and or speech similar to Abaddon’s. To bring to you a concise volume that lists all Elohim and the result of my findings.”

  El saw that Raphael’s lip tightened and that the cherubim struggled to choke back tears.

  “Raphael, speak my son, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be made known. Fear not.”

  Raphael straightened himself, wiped his eyes, cleared his throat and spoke as directed.

  “Lord, of the host of Heaven there is a number whose mind is pure and whose fealty my King can command without question. These whose names are written therein are not so. They number almost a third of Heaven. Those who dissent to thy rule speak of displeasure with Abaddon’s sentence, the existence of Hell, or take issue with relations with the humans. They say that the humans are not Kilnborn, not of the Stones of Fire. There are some who are displeased to serve a creature of mud and clay.”

  “And what of the Grigori?” asked El.

  “My God, again the Grigori as a whole are with thee my king, yet it pains me to report that all are not so. I regret that I have yet to determine the extent to which my own kind has departed from the way.”

  "I do know that entries of several tomes have made me concerned. There are records, which seem to do more than simply state the observations that the Grigori have heard or seen. I have found several Grigori whose records have added commentary to their accounts. Some no longer seem content to only document the observations of their charge but to annotate as well.”

  Raphael looked away from the Lord and paused.

  “Continue, do not hold back that which thou hast found.” said El.

  “I have traced the genesis of this corruption my king. Moreover, I am afraid that one of the Lumazi is the seed to the fruit from which all springs. In a review of which tomes no longer hold true, they point back to one Grigori. Lilith and his tomes are no longer valid, thus out of the mouth of two or three must they now be established. In a review of the tome of Lilith on the Chief Prince, I have seen an entry that hast given me pause.

  Lilith’s entry was not journaled in accordance to Grigoric law, but because the Grigori are abundant in number; another was in proximity at the time and reveals an inconsistency.

  "I believe this entry is the accurate one my Lord, and that which I present now to thy light: the copy of which I hold in my hand. Its record compels me to further investigate any new additions in Lilith’s accord of Lucifer.”

  “And the entry; what did it contain my son?”

  Raphael tossed the book into the air, and the voluminous work stood vertically as if coming to attention. The manuscript separated into cover and pages; its sheets flew across the throne, a
nd the pages assembled themselves so that the recorded journal entry was chronologically on top.

  Light glowed on the first page. It floated higher to touch the ceiling and the image of Lucifer and Lilith walking in the Garden of Eden appeared. A Grigori assigned to watch a flock of sheep observed the occurrence and documented a portion of the unauthorized conversation.

  “And what is thy desire, Chief Prince? What would satisfy you?”

  Lucifer looked skyward. His eyes aimed upward as if he gazed directly at God and Raphael.

  “That I might ascend into Heaven; that mine throne would be exalted above the stars of God.

  That I would sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: To ascend above the heights of the clouds…”

  The image then dissipated, and the mammoth book flared with a flash of white light, reassembled itself, and then fell with a loud thump to the floor.

  El stood, Raphael kneeled, silently waiting on any command from his Lord. Then El spoke. “Go, Raphael. Summon thy brothers as there is much to do, the seventh-day approaches, and I must take rest from all my labor.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” Raphael bowed, picked up the book, and turned to walk away. Leaving the sanctuary through one of the many side chambers, Raphael returned to his home within the mountain itself. He walked through the corridor of Mt. Zion and entered the Great Hall of Annals.

  He passed by multiple stacks and shelves of records and books until he came to a desk, sat, and placed the completed tome he had just recently finished down; it hit the stone slab of the desk with a thud.

  He looked over and noticed that Lucifer’s tome was still recording. New information was penned in angelic script. The letters were in flames, and Raphael's eyes fixated to one passage that leapt off the page.

  Raphael’s eyes grew wide and his mouth opened, but his tongue could not form words.

  His mind raced with thoughts and then froze in disbelief and panic, as he lifted the book and reread each new passage. Hope dashed away as he read, and the horrible truth dawned on him with each sentence, words that he knew somehow would forever change creation.