by Donovan Neal
Iblis nodded. "It will be as you say." The angel then took to the sky and soon found his destination. He landed in a crowded city filled with the people of the nation. The Sinites were a remarkable people. In time, Iblis could tell, they would become a mighty nation, exactly as Lucifer predicted. His purposes for them were not clear, but he drilled into them ruthlessness and a rigor, that made them compliant and highly disciplined. Traxiel had speculated that there would be nations of men used to fuel the armies of the fallen and return them all to Heaven.
He landed at Pangu's seat of power in the city of Xi'an and was greeted by Dicis.
"You are late!" the Issi said.
"It could not be helped, Traxiel hast grown suspicious. Report of the plan."
"The plan has failed. For Pangu hath made the sword in hopes that it would consume the Usurper but alas, Lucifer holds the keys to Death and Hell, and with but a touch of his keys hast tamed the blade. I fear we have done naught but given him even more of a weapon to strike at the Father."
Iblis looked somber, "No—not the Father. Michael is who he will attack. What hast thy master learned of Lucifer's plan?"
"Pangu reports that he is obsessed with the Hebrews, for they are as the Grigori and write the words given by El. He has lifted from the people tomes that he may study. His attempts to destroy them hast met with failure. Though there be ten tribes now scattered to the winds, yet two remain that stand as a possible host to Shiloh, and he works even now to destroy the Judahites. He raises countless nations, all in hopes of sending men as fodder to what he foresees will be a future battle. He has plans upon plans, obsessed over the man El hast prophesied will one day bruise his head."
“Tell your master I will give report to Chronos, and let him know so that Heaven may be made aware of this new weapon." Iblis turned to leave before Dicis stopped him.
"Wait— there is yet more. Lucifer hast found a way to further enhance and change Elohim to his purposes. He hast already devastated many of the Kortai that followed him, for in them all he sees is the image of Michael. Moreover, to the creature Hell has he given them to consume, and with their Kilnstones, he hast created armors, weapons and yea—even creatures of destruction. Lucifer prepares for war, the forge fires within Hell itself. He hast hidden his plans well, for the forge is buried deep in the bowels of the creature and a great gulf separates the righteous dead from his tormented souls. A gulf he uses as a shield to bar the Holy One from assault. How then can the Almighty strike at the heart of Hell? For Lucifer holds title, and El hast sworn by Himself that He will not take what hast been given."
Iblis replied, "Aye, this is true."
"Then how then will El bring dissolution to the Hellforge?" Dicis eyed Iblis warily. "And who is this Mary?"
Iblis hesitated, for he had not mentioned Mary to him.
"How do you know that name? For from my lips have I not spoken it."
Dicis pressed his inquiry. "Who is she? What does she mean to the Godking? Where is her people, and where is her house?"
Iblis backed away and looked to his left and to his right, and he turned to fly away when two Grigori misted into view and laid hold of him.
"You have not yet been given leave, agent of El. No, we have many questions to raise with you," said a familiar voice.
Iblis turned to his rear and saw that he was surrounded on all sides, and Assyrix and his lieutenants hovered over him, laughing.
"Take him to Quetzalcoatl. He will loosen this traitor’s lips."
A strong breeze then fell sharply upon them all, and Assyrix grinned. "Yes, Chronos run and tell Michael what you have seen, for it means naught. I know you are here. You were, after all, my own charge! Ha,ha,ha! Flee, Time Lord, and let the Builder of Heaven know that his time is short!"
Chronos, invisible to the eyes of all, raced to evade their perception and lifted himself to Heaven to inform his Lord Jerahmeel of Ibis's capture.
*********************
"Master the Redactors have come for me!"
Lucifer did not turn to Assyrix and instead continued in his study of the books El had given the humans. He remained lost in thought, deep in his surmising the plan of the Almighty.
"Seventy weeks, he said..." Lucifer mumbled in unintelligible murmurs. "The time of his departure will be soon..."
"Master!" cried Assyrix, looking as the fog of the Grigori preceded their arrival. For soon, the mist would reveal the shadow of the three who by their hand were rumored to wipe out all fallen Grigori.
"Your rumors and tales of these Grigori upstarts do not interest me, Asyrr. Surely, you are able to contend with ghosts? Why do you disturb your Lord?"
Assyrix watched as the fog entered the room, and it climbed the walls and Lucifer still paid no heed. Then the fog climbed higher to the ceilings, and from the ceiling, three figures formed from the mist, shrouded in smoke, and spoke.
"You are the Grigori Assyrix. You will surrender your tome and submit to redaction."
Lucifer looked up when he heard the words spoken in his chamber and spoke, "No..." Lucifer said. "He will not. He will continue to provide me needed information and continue in my cause of libel. You, however, will remove yourself from my presence. Or I will feed your stones to Hell."
Isidor did not heed Lucifer and misted to surround Assyrix. Assyrix's stylus was then stripped from him and he froze as if caught in invisible shackles, unable to move.
"Help me!" cried Assyrix.
Lucifer turned, and eyed the three angels of smoke and spoke once more. "I have given order to depart, yet you still remain." Lucifer's voice modulated and the pressure in the room changed as he spoke. His voice formed a vortex and the wind disrupted the trio that they could no more stay misted.
Assyrix's stylus dropped to the ground and the smoky shackles that held him in place dissipated.
Turiel then spoke. "You have interfered with the redaction. You shall be purged."
Rorex then moved towards Lucifer who smiled as the Grigori floated towards him. Rorex wrote the words for deletion, and when he did a black cylindrical sphere of light formed at the foot of Lucifer and rose up his body. Lucifer chuckled. "Foolish creature, I have stood foot over the stones of the universe. There is but one that can assault me." Lucifer now walked towards Rorex. "You have exceeded your mandate. Lucifer grabbed Rorex by the throat pulled out his sword, and spoke to the struggling Grigori. "Your people hast always thought themselves aloof from the ways of angels and men. Allow me to tutor then in humility-behold the true meaning of the word 'deletion', and tremble." The First of Angels flicked his wrist and the Blade of Malice came to life. The sword hissed as a thing alive and the screams of angels, men and daemons lifted into the ears of all. Lucifer then plunged the blade into the abdomen of Rorex, his life force separated from his body, and the sword siphoned his spirit as an alcoholic libation, and the blade glowed and shimmered and Rorex's screams were added to those already contained therein.
Immediately, Rorex's body burst into ash and his person disintegrated in Lucifer's hands, as his remains floated as black drifting snow in the wind. Lucifer then turned to both Isidor and Turiel and spoke. "This is my wink at your ignorance to my power. If you wish to join thy brother in oblivion, then come. But I give you leave to depart whilst the mood still appeals to me. You will leave—and you will leave NOW."
Isidor and Turiel looked upon Lucifer, then Assyrix and Turiel spoke to them both. "The redaction is not yet complete. We will return."
Isidor also stared at Assyrix and spoke. "We will have your tome, Assyrix of House Grigori. The Usurper will not deter us when we come again." Then the duo misted behind the waves of visible light and was gone.
Lucifer sheathed his blade and it coiled and became invisible around his forearm, then turned to Assyrix, "Are you alright?"
Assyrix was shaken and replied, "Aye my Lord, but they will return."
Lucifer smiled. "Indeed, I am counting on it."
*********************
Chronos rushed into the council chamber and Argoth rose to rebuke him. Jerahmeel lifted his hand to stop the prince of Grigori. He stood and walked over to Chronos and looked to his brethren, "Chronos is my most trusted servant." Jerahmeel then turned to the member of his house. "I trust my friend that you come to the Lumazi out of order to report on something of grave import?"
Chronos bowed to his Lord. "May the guard of Heaven live forever and pardon thy servant’s interruption. I do bring grave news, my Lord, and trust in the wisdom of the elders of Heaven. Iblis by subterfuge hast been taken captive! Even now, he travels to the stronghold of Quetzalcoatl in the western lands of Earth to be questioned and I know not what may befall him if he and our contacts are exposed... We have learned much by his cooperation. We must see to his survival!"
Jerahmeel nodded and looked at his brethren, "Chronos hast spoken, what sayest the council?"
Azaziel was first to comment. "He is now numbered with the Fallen, let Iblis be consigned to his fate. He was lost from the moment he chose to side with the Usurper. I owe him no allegiance. He hast simply reaped betrayal among his own kind. What does it matter?"
Argoth spoke. "Without the network of Grigori, we have been hampered in our efforts to know the enemies’ whereabouts. For a third of all Grigori has left Heaven to explicate. And though the Redactors hunt the tomes. We have no intelligence of the enemy's movements as before. I would not be swift to lose such an asset. If he helps the cause of Heaven, he is an ally."
Metatron chimed in. "An ally? You would have me ally myself to an angel who rose up against my God? Ally with an enemy? We do not need his intelligence. We are the Host! And do you think it idle that God Himself cast Iblis from our midst?" Metatron turned to Chronos and looked him in the eye. "Chronos, I heard what he did in vowing to help Heaven for your saving him. Yet did not El take into account such an act before his ouster? Would he not be in the number of Heaven even now if El repented? But no, El's word is clear—exile. I will not help him."
Gabriel turned after hearing his brothers and said, "I will not stand idle whilst evil is allowed to destroy that which is good. For know ye not that he that knoweth to good but doeth it not, to him it is a sin? Will I sit by whilst it is in my power to lend assistance to he who hast lent me aid? Is it not good to foil the enemy's plans? Iblis is not Lucifer. If the Lord will see him among our number, then so be it. But if not, unless the Lord himself gives me command to yield. I will not see someone who hast given our cause aid go without an attempt to deliver. For what will the Host say? That if one does us good he will not reap what he has sown? Nay, Iblis will have my staff."
Azaziel turned to Talus and said, "And what of you? Will you lift your finger to rescue an enemy from our enemy?"
Talus held his eyes closed, and his fingers were crossed while his thumbs held his forehead up. After a moment, he looked up from his musings and spoke. "I am the will of the Lord. Michael is Chief Prince. If he lets loose command to go, I will go. If he sounds command to stay, I will stay. I am the will of the Lord."
Michael had heard them all speak and stood, and when he did, all others stood as well. Michael walked over to Chronos and placed his hands on his shoulders and spoke. "El may not repent. I have reason to believe He will never repent, for His will is clear that He hast prepared Hell for the Devil and his angels. Yet though punishment cannot be avoided, Iblis hast helped the host of Heaven. Would ye have me return evil for good? Should I leave him to his fate? Nay. I will not. Gabriel has spoken rightly. Iblis will be rescued. His fate, though fire may be, will not be because we failed to intervene to deliver him from the hands of the Betrayer. Moreover, consider that we might learn more of the command structure of the Adversary. We will go."
Chronos smiled and replied, "Thank you Chief Prince." And he bowed to Michael and the Lumazi.
Each then left the war room, to gather their people, and Metatron trailed Talus as he left, studying his brother as they walked in silence. Talus noticed his gaze, and stopped and spoke with irritation. "What is it?" he asked.
Metatron was quick to reply, "Why do you seem quick to put yourself in harm’s way?"
"Is there not a cause?" Talus replied.
"Aye, but this seems amiss to me. Self—injurious...as if you care not for your life. And to throw your life away for someone who hast betrayed us…"
Talus sighed. "Lucifer and Ashtaroth...have humbled me. Manipulated me. But alas, neither could do if what lied within me were not already there."
"And what is that, my prince?" said Metatron.
"Lucifer discovered vanity and pride. And because I was puffed up beyond measure, I was able to bring war to the land of Heaven. I can never remove such a stain from my name or my house."
Metatron nodded. "Indeed, it is a badge from which one might seemingly never forget. Why then doest though throw thy life away as if it is meaningless?"
Talus turned away and stood at a window, looking out to the great sky of Heaven. "I desire a new badge. A new attempt to bring honor to my God, to my people, and to myself. It is not about forgiveness. Nor is it about revenge. It is about taking control over my actions and decisions. Though I may fall in battle. Though Lucifer may indeed take my head. He will know of a surety that his path and his usage of me to his ends will come at great cost. I will see him and those that serve him know that we stand ready to implement the will of El at any time. I would bring honor back to my house. But more than all things. I will know the love of God. For El hast showed me by revelation, that scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet, peradventure for a good man one would dare to die. For while man is yet in his sins He would die for him. If I am His son, will not I be as my Father? I will go. Nay, we will all go and show the fallen that love conquers all things. Though it be wrapped within a cocoon of hell-fire, love never faileth. We will show them this thing as will our Lord, and we will be victorious." Talus then turned from Metatron and went to prepare himself for the mission ahead.
Metatron stared after his brother as he walked down ivory corridors, and wondering.
Did he just say that El will die for the man?
*********************
Yeshua walked into the war room, and Michael upon seeing his Lord bowed.
"Rise Prince of Angels," said Yeshua.
Michael stood at attention as his God reviewed the layout of maps and troop movements. Yeshua's hands stroked the wooden pieces that were displayed across the table. He frowned as He saw the position of many of his angels combating the forces of Lucifer. He stood over the panorama and stared at the display. He then stopped and looked Michael squarely in the eye. "Who do the people say that I am?"
Michael was taken aback by his Lord's question. "My Lord?"
Yeshua looked upon His son and asked a second time, "Who do the people say that I am?"
Michael thought for a moment. "Some say that thou art the I AM: some, the Elomic command; and others—the Alpha and Omega."
"All that thou hast said is true." Yeshua walked towards Michael locking His eyes upon him and spoke, "But whom say ye that I am?"
Michael considered his reply, and the words of El flooded his mind, and he raised his voice for Yeshua to hear.
"Mary shall be Mother to Shiloh
From misery shall spring forth joy.
With lashes to the back of the innocent,
Shall Lucifer be destroyed.
The blood of Shiloh shall be spilt,
Forsaken to cry and plea.
His blood shall he wash sin away,
Accursed to make men free."
"You are the Shiloh. The God—man, he who will destroy the works of the enemy."
Yeshua nodded as He sighed and smiled, "Blessed are you, Michael of the Kortai, for by revelation hast the Father shown you this. Upon this revelation will your faith stand, and the gates of Hell itself shall not prevail against this truth."
Michael stood silent, his head down, his eyes darting away from the Lord. Yeshua touched his shoulders, lower
ing his head to look into Michael's eyes. "Look into my face, and speak what is in thine heart."
Michael reluctantly raised his gaze, started to speak, and then stopped. Yeshua smiled, "Do you think that your words will be of surprise to me, Michael?"
Michael laughed at how ridiculous his thoughts were to his maker and spoke. "Lord, there is fear in Heaven. For but a day your presence was not felt in the realm, and havoc reigned throughout Creation. For one day did you rest from thy work, yet you who art everywhere wast nowhere to be found. And your son hast lifted up his hand against thee. There are but few who know what I know. And when the time is set to reveal thy plan. Who will willingly voice to see God injured? I have seen what lies before thee. How can I be party to the death of my God? You would have me stay my hand, all that my Lord may go down to deliver Adamson from the hands of the enemy? Would you have me stand idle and have me watch you die?" Michael shoved the pieces of wood from the table and they went crashing to the floor.
Yeshua was quiet and watched His son.
Michael's breathing slowed and his voice lowered in tone as he bowed his head. Looking at the wooden pieces strewn throughout the floor, he knelt to pick them up. "I will do as commanded, and even if not bidden by order; if my King's intent is to see this thing through, then I am thy right hand. But Lord, the host may not be so. They have not seen what I have seen. They fear the absence of God. They know above all Creation the risk when God is not there."
Yeshua placed his hands under His son's arm and motioned him to stand. Military pieces still lay on the floor. Yeshua turned Michael around to face Him.
"This thing is known to us. And in the days to come, you and your people will look into the ways of man, and serve as a great cloud of witnesses to acts of faith not yet seen. And all will know what Eladrin hast taught thee about love. For what would one do for love? And what I do, thou knowest not now, but will know. And what I do, I must do, for my love of the man is strong, that I would lay down all that I am, that he might live. You shall in time ponder the mystery of this thing though it now plagues your mind." Yeshua knelt and picked up a wooden piece and looked upon it. "You are your brethren are not wooden pieces to be moved across maps. Know that you and all the Host are so very dear."