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

by Donovan Neal

  "How foolish is the Lumazi?" said Ashtaroth. "We have held Raphael's inkhorn and stylus and been tutored by Lilith himself, your tricks will not avail you here."

  Argoth turned to face Ashtaroth who moved to again bar him from his master. Lucifer continued to walk away, indifferent to the skirmishes behind him.

  Argoth cried aloud after him. "Why do you hide behind your shield? Are you afraid to contend with the might of the Lumazi? For with thy sin with Apollyon no longer secret, to what owest thou fear? Ye who would be God!"

  Lucifer stopped walking and, knowing he was provoked, smiled. He turned to face Argoth and his brethren. Then lifted his hand, "Hold servants, cease from thy attack."

  Immediately, Murmur, Zeus, Ares, and Ashtaroth ceased hostilities and backed away to return to their master. Lucifer motioned them to his rearward, and they moved to stand behind him.

  "Do all the Lumazi believe that ye might upend me?" said Lucifer.

  Gabriel, Talus, and Jerahmeel held their peace. For they knew that Lucifer could not be brought down through arms alone, and had not entered the fray, seeing Lucifer had not provoked them to battle.

  "I see...," said Lucifer. "So El would have me to be a schoolmaster. Once again I find myself doing the bidding that the so-called 'Godking' cannot do Himself." Lucifer chuckled. "Very well, then—come, and let the lesson begin." Immediately Argoth, Azaziel, and Metatron, leapt to attack him.

  Azaziel lifted himself into the sky and thought to bring his sword down hard atop Lucifer. However, Lucifer lifted himself to meet him and dodged Azaziel's blow. The angel then grabbed him by his wrist and swung him into an uncontrolled descent into Argoth. Argoth misted to avoid being struck, Azaziel smashed into Metatron who stood behind Argoth, and the two crashed into the ground, raising plumes of dirt into the air knocking Azaziel unconscious.

  Argoth moved to attack Lucifer, punching, and lunging to strike at him. Lucifer weaved to his right and then to his left as he backed away from Argoth. And every time that Argoth went to reach for him, Lucifer slipped from his grasp.

  Ares laughed, "The Grigori cannot even touch the master!"

  Ashtaroth then taunted Talus, Jerahmeel, and Gabriel. "Why dost the whole Lumazi not attack our Lord? Do you cower from he who hast bled God?"

  Immediately, Gabriel vanished, then materialized within arm’s reach facing Ashtaroth, his staff inches from Ashtoreth's, face ready to pummel him. His swiftness caught Ashtaroth off guard, and he stumbled backward and fell on his rear.

  Gabriel towered over him and spoke. "On the day that I would choose to engage thee in battle, know of a surety that you would never see my hand smite thee." Gabriel then vanished and reappeared standing next to his brethren, and they watched as Lucifer continued to battle their younger siblings.

  Murmur, Zeus, and Ares laughed at Ashtaroth; his cheeks flushed for having fallen before the Lord Prince of Malakim. He stood to his feet and shoved Murmur, who mocked him.

  "Silence!” Ashtaroth growled.

  Metatron raised himself from the ground, rolling the unconscious Azaziel from off him. He noted that Lucifer's servants did not aid their master and that the senior Lumazi stood aloof. All watched Argoth attempt to strike at Lucifer, and the king of rebellion just walked slowly backward as he ducked and weaved, avoiding Argoth's touch, toying with the angel. Metatron then hurtled himself into the air and from above unleashed a sonic wave that rained down upon the Chief Prince. Lucifer staggered backward and echoed his own blast, canceling out the concussive force. Argoth fell upon him, for Metatron's attack gave him time to bridge the distance to lay hold on the rebel prince. Argoth misted, and as a living gas entered the openings to Lucifer's innards and began to solidify from within.

  Lucifer screamed in pain, and the blast from his cry sent a concentric wave from his person that flung out into all directions, knocking everyone off their feet.

  Incensed, the fallen angel inhaled and then exhaled, and a great wind rushed from his mouth, revealing the gaseous form of Argoth. Argoth immediately materialized and continued to move toward Lucifer in concert with Metatron, who narrowed the gap and drew his sword.

  "You have now succeeded in annoying me. Enough," Lucifer said.

  Lucifer's living armor scaled over his person and he hurled himself at Metatron.

  Metatron braced himself as he fell backward. Lucifer pressed his attack as sonic waves surrounded his arms and light emanated from his person so that none could see. With brute strength, he brought his armored and cloven fist hard on the leg of Metatron, shattering the bones. The angel cried out in agony. Lucifer then reached for his back and tore a ligament from Metatron's wing, yet not enough to detach it and make him lame. Metatron screamed and collapsed to the ground.

  His main threat now disabled, Lucifer moved as light to assault Argoth. Argoth failed to mist, not accustomed to such speed, and Lucifer was upon him as a lion atop helpless prey. Argoth misted, thinking he could escape, but Lucifer reached for his quarry's chest. The colors of his skin were mesmerizing that Argoth found he could not look away, and Lucifer held him by the throat despite the misting, and spoke.

  "I am he who has walked atop thy stone. Even misted, thy form gives off light, and thus enables me to handle thee. For among all angels in Heaven I alone am able to hold light itself in my grasp. Your powers are nothing to me."

  Lucifer's talons unsheathed from his hand and he raised his fist to smash against the terrified Argoth.

  "Enough!" cried Gabriel. "Lucifer, they have had enough! Cease with thy lesson!"

  Lucifer paused and glanced back at Gabriel, then back to Argoth who quivered in his grasp, and smiled. "Indeed."

  Lucifer held Argoth by his collar and spoke softly to him. "Thou art a tired excuse to be stead holder for Raphael. Did you think that by your hand I would be felled? That by your might I might be brought low? I have walked upon the Argonite and Oxygen stones from whence thou wast taken. Only El hast power to upend me and even He will not risk destruction to His children to do so. I have held the very tome of Raphael in my hands. Yet even I did not bring him to naught. But you—you I hold in no such regard. Remove thyself from my sight. For if the shadow of thy presence but crosses me again. I will confiscate thy stone from your gaseous chest, and wear it as a diadem around my neck." Lucifer then released him.

  Argoth backed away, cowering, afraid at the might of Lucifer to bring dissolution to him even while misted. Jerahmeel reached to help him up and Argoth pushed his hand away, for he had been humbled in all their sight, and he rose to his feet then laddered himself away. Azaziel awoke from his daze and went to the aid of Metatron and they too laddered away. Lucifer stood alone in the center of the clearing. Charon who stood yards away and Lucifer's lieutenants watched from afar. The prince gazed upon his former brethren, and the three senior brothers looked at Lucifer: each group standing mute. Their eyes alone spoke in volumes of words and feelings: feelings that now could never be verbally expressed. Each grim face looked upon each other in an exchange of body language that communicated respect, and forewarning. A silent conversation that in the future they would settle all differences between them...differences that would only be settled in blood.

  Lucifer nodded to them, and the trio nodded in return. Lucifer smiled and returned to his followers, motioning for the myrmidon to follow. Charon turned to attend to his master, and Lucifer covered his entourage in blinding light and was gone.

  Jerahmeel looked behind him and noticed that Metatron and Azaziel had already returned to the realm immortal. Jerahmeel looked at Talus and Gabriel and spoke.

  "Youngin's—can't tell ‘em nothing."

  ********************

  The Lumazi knelt before the Lord of all things. Solemn, quiet—defeated.

  "Report of thy stewardship,” commanded the Lord God.

  Michael still worshiped at the Lord's feet, and from his position looked at his brethren, curious to know how they fared. For Lucifer did not stand before them in chains, but when h
e looked at Gabriel, his brother shook his head for Michael to remain silent.

  Talus was first to speak. "My king, it pains me to report…" The Lord lifted his hand to silence Talus, and Talus immediately went mute. "Azaziel, what were your brother's words at the suggestion of pardon?"

  Azaziel looked up at God, then bowed his head and refused to look the Lord in the eye. "I—he—Satan hast rejected thee, my Lord. He will not be turned."

  The Lord sighed. "Did I not say that thy brother is no more and that what remains is but a shadow of whom he wast before? Why then didst thou doubt?" Azaziel was silent to the Lord's query and knew that he held no answer to give to the Almighty.

  "Argoth, report of thy stewardship. If thy brother would not yield, why is he not in chains before me?"

  Argoth trembled before the Lord as he spoke. "My king, the Usurper commands the Vengeance of God! How can one such as I do battle with God!"

  The Lord replied, "Even now, you would face me in pride? Even now, knowing that pride leadeth thee to destruction. As I liveth, you shall at great cost learn the lesson that Iofiel in revelation shared with thy brother Michael.

  "For what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Yet you have sought to upturn the Adversary with the same means that he himself would use to upturn me. Only in weakness will thy brother be brought low. For if you exalt yourself you shall be abased. But if thou humblest thyself, thou shalt be exalted. There is no room for pride at my feet, Lumazi. No shade for haughtiness, for only he that would surrender all can defeat thy brother. You do not yet know the cost that must be endured to bring him low and to succor the Heavens from his influence. For not many days hence, I will be lifted up, that I might draw all men unto me."

  Argoth was shamed, for he knew that he spoke amiss, for though God had indeed silenced canyons, He would also silence all haughtiness that would also try to speak.

  God continued, "Lucifer even now conceives abomination, to tempt the Holy One. For he knowest not that he but makes a causeway to rescue the man. Jerahmeel, go to and watch over a man by the name of Jared. He will bear a son that will be a champion for me. Go down and see to the man's welfare. For in time, thine brother will see what I have seen and will see to the destruction of the child the man would bear. Behold, for a generation shalt thou, be a shield to him. When the fullness of time has come, I will then take Enoch from thy charge that he might serve as candlestick before me."

  Jerahmeel was taken aback that a man would be a candlestick. "You mean to bring this man Enoch to stand as a light before thy presence?"

  "Aye, my son. Now go, and wait with Jared until I come for the lad."

  Jerahmeel then bowed and left the presence of the Lord in wonderment of what would cause God to bring a man to Heaven.

  *********************

  Michael left the throne pondering all the words the Lord had spoken and met with Argoth to discuss matters of state.

  "Have you come to gloat, Chief Prince? To scold me for thinking that I might bring Lucifer low?"

  "No," said Michael, "You do not entirely despise correction. There remains hope that you will grow in the knowledge of the Lord. No, Argoth, I have reasoned that there are some lessons that can only be taught through pain. I perceive a similar lesson will never be needed by thee again."

  Argoth nodded. "Then what brings the Prince of Kortai to the Hall of Annals?"

  Michael was taken back by the sarcasm and replied, "To what do I owe such derision that you would speak to me thus? If I am a prince, then where is thy honor? If I be a chief, then where is my fear?"

  "Aye, a high prince you may be. However, it remains to be seen if you are worthy in the eyes of the people to rule. Though thou hast fought Lucifer himself to stand-still, you are not the Lightbringer. You have much to atone. For under the watch of the Lumazi was Heaven laid low. Why then should any of Heaven's people show thee honor?"

  Michael paused and was slow to speak. There was much to the words of Argoth he could not dispute. He closed his eyes and lowered his gaze to the floor, pondering his words carefully, then spoke.

  "To lead Heaven is not my desire. For, I am but a servant, and ever shall be to the cause of El. Nevertheless, I am the last to walk on the stones of thy birth. I stand as he who holds title of 'Dragon Slayer', and El himself hast chosen to elevate me to Chief Prince, not I. Therefore, if thou hast issue with my selection to ascension, then your quarrel is with the Almighty himself. For there is no power in Creation save that which El allows, and the powers that be are ordained by God. Therefore, to rebel is to resist not I, but the Lord God himself..." Michael then unsheathed the sword of Ophanim and pointed it at Argoth. "And rebellion against the Lord hast a heavy price in blood.”

  Argoth raised his hands before him and motioned surrender to Michael. "Sheath thy sword, High Prince. Rebellion to El does not live here. How might the Hall of Annals serve thee?"

  "I seek your assistance," said Michael, "For I am greatly disturbed concerning the safety of El. The Godhead bleeds, and there still yet lurks danger to El himself. Danger that He hast shown me, danger, that I am pledged to prevent even to the laying down of my life."

  Argoth harrumphed, "Danger to El…preposterous! The thing cannot be as you say."

  "Nevertheless, I have been given a prophecy by El. He has shown me images of what I believe to be of that, which is come."

  Argoth looked amazed. "Truly... for only the Grigori hast been given sight to on occasion glimpse the future. Yet you say El has shown you things to come?"

  Michael nodded. "It is unclear what I have been shown. I...I have yet to come to grips with what I have seen. For to be Chief Prince is to hold to a secret of God. Yet I find that I must seek counsel and reveal this matter. For perhaps my understanding is not what El would have me to believe. Thus, I come to you, that out of the mouth of two or three may the thing be established. Yet my words do not take alone, for does not my Grigori record all? Let my ledger be proof to thee where my own words do not suffice, and testimony of thy own people ring true if you doubt my word. Recall my Grigori's tome and reference the Day of Descension and my conversation with El after Lucifer's exile."

  Argoth stood unconvinced, yet did as Michael commanded, and turned to speak to the Hall, giving it a command to image. "Regress to the Day of Descension, display Michael Kortai's conversation with El."

  Walls flashed around them and immediately the whiteness dropped away and they were standing on the steps of the mountain of God. God had exiled a third of Heaven to the celestial realm below, and Michael saw the image of himself as El touched his forehead. The scene triggered grief and pain. He staggered to a knee and grimaced as he remembered the day, and anguish rushed to embrace him, smothering him in angst.

  Argoth looked at him in concern. "Are you all right?"

  "It is nothing,” said Michael, though his words were heavy. “...Continue."

  Argoth motioned for the record to resume and watched Michael's past splayed in color, sound and smell before him. He watched as El walked back to take His place on the throne.

  "Will not the judge of all the realms do right?" the image of Michael said.

  Each watched as the Lord sighed and turned to His son. In the Hall of Annals, Michael turned his back to the display, closing his eyes. Argoth continued to watch his brother out of the corner of his eye but focused on the image as El touched Michael's mind and revealed to him all that would transpire.

  "See, O beloved of angels, the things that are yet to come," said the image of El.

  A shimmering globe appeared in El's hands, and Michael's image gazed into the giant crystal. It displayed pictures similar to that of the walls within the Hall of Grigoric records, but these images were different. For the Earth below was populated with humans, and they multiplied as the stars in the sky. Argoth watched as hundreds of thousands of humans escaped a land that had kept them in slavery for 400 years, brought out by the mighty hand of the Lord a
s the seas swallowed their pursuers.

  Moreover, men named Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David lived and died to serve El's purpose, and Argoth noted that they fought to scrape out holiness in lands that had begun to worship the very ones El had just ejected. Many a nation rose and fell by the command of the Lord. Finally, the image revealed a man whipped and beaten, and a crown of thorns was placed on his head. Argoth winced as the man was whipped, and flogged, as flesh was torn from his lacerated back. Argoth then beheld what Michael had seen, as he looked deep into the eyes of the man that hung on a cross. He watched as the man pushed his body upwards on the wooden beam from which he hung, and the Grigori stared with recognition of the identity of the man. The eyes of the man told him all that he needed to know. Argoth became wroth.

  "The man is El! Michael, the man is El!"

  Michael said nothing, his back still turned from the sight now displayed spectacularly in three dimensions.

  "Cease record," commanded Argoth, and the wall stopped and flashed white.

  Argoth walked over to Michael, grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look at him. "You have known this since the day of wrath, and you have said nothing... nothing!"

  Michael finally looked at his brother, meeting his eyes sadly. "What would you have me say? And to whom would I share my vision?"

  Argoth was silent, his mouth looking for words to speak, then after a moment broke the hush that stood between them. "Why then come to me with this?"

  "I have a charge for you and a select group of thy kind," said Michael.

  Argoth looked upon him curiously. "And what would you have of me?"

  Michael responded, "Do what only thy kind can do...watch."

  Argoth smirked. "Then you ask for nothing, for which we are not already called to do."