by Donovan Neal
"Worthy to be praised..." Lucifer nodded, then turned back towards the wall. He touched the locket of keys around his neck and reached to touch the skin of Hell. The parasitic and fiery membrane recoiled from his approaching touch. Lucifer then placed his hand firmly on the creature and his hand sizzled as smoke lifted at its touch. A moan echoed throughout the cavern, and both looked around as the interior of the creature spasmed.
"Call-sit-sa-chu," Lucifer said in the ancient tongue of angels, which means "Open their minds."
The walls of the creature immediately turned opaque and the interior of the bowel displayed all the kingdoms of the world as the beast played for its tamer, and the memories of past lives now swallowed in Hell's folds for eternity. Human and angelic prisoners now separated forever from the presence of God. Men and women of every tribe and nation, howling at the knowledge of this aching regret. Regret...a seasoning that fueled the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Images of defeat, war, and lust saturated the room as billions of thoughts from digested angels and men were now open for Lucifer and Talus to see.
"This," Lucifer said, waving his hands, "is the legacy of El! Behold, the residue of our cause to rebel against him. Our failure to rule ourselves apart from him. Tell me, is such a thing so terrible, Talus, to be self-ruled? Is it not a creature's right to live in accordance with one's own desires and dictates?"
Talus rubbed the wounds on his arms where he was shackled. "You are wise, Lucifer, but in thy wisdom, you have become foolish. El is as the air we breathe. He is the bread of life. There is no existence apart from Him. Thou canst no more extinguish His rule than thou canst sever the beating heart within thee. To do so is to invite self-destruction, and what Father would stand idly by and watch His children destroy His own house?"
Lucifer smiled, amused. "You truly love Him? After all that you have seen? All that you have witnessed?"
Talus did not hesitant to reply. "In Him I live and move and have my being."
Lucifer then raised his hands to the projected images that surrounded them in the very walls of Hell's flesh. "This is the result of your love. Behold the love of our Father! And this love that thou speak of...what kind of love doth not rescue a son from such distress as what befalls you now? What love, Talus?" Spittle slid down Lucifer's mouth and saliva spewed as he cursed.
"Do you not see the suffering...the selfishness of our Father? I will fight Him, Talus. I will fight Him to my last breath. From the depths of the abyss, I will spit at Him. From the circuit of the universe and back will I bar Him. I will NEVER...ever forgive Him!" Lucifer looked at Talus through crazed eyes, then darted his eyes to the ground, ceasing his tirade, knowing perhaps he had said too much.
Talus looked sadly upon his brother and shook his head. "So the spite of a spoiled child who cannot ascend to grasp what his Father hast denied him, is what this hast come to?" Talus then walked over to his brother and stood before him. The two siblings stared at one another...the weak against the strong, the famished against the sated. Gaunt eyes from the head of House Arelim looked deep into those of a brother he once admired. "I pity you."
Satan's face contorted, and his features became hard. He slapped Talus across the face, knocking him to the ground. Talus coughed up blood and attempted to rise, but Lucifer placed his foot on his brother's neck and pushed him down. "You are Talus, High Prince of House Arelim. Lumazi in honor among the seven spirits that stand before the throne of God. You will pledge your allegiance to me, or I swear by both Heaven and Earth, that I will invent means of torture for thee beyond even the imagination of El who has crafted a creature that consumes angelic flesh. You will choose, Talus of House Arelim...and you will do this now."
Talus stared into his brother's haggard face, and while he did so, he beheld the Heavens part and he saw the Lord seated high upon His throne, and El sat smiling at him. The look He conveyed was one of pride, as a Father might give to a son, and as quickly as the scene flooded his eyes, the moment ceased. The features of Hell once more filled his sight, and the digestion of men and angels and their screaming wails filled his ears. Talus of House Arelim then gazed into the piercing cold eyes of his brother and spoke in coughing, sarcastic wit.
"Do you think that I am careful to answer thee? These pleasantries of yours will never sway my allegiance from God for El is my King and my Creator. He alone is Alpha and Omega and worthy to be praised. If El chooses, He is able to deliver me from this furnace of affliction, but if not, false king, be it known unto thee that I will never bow down and worship thee."
Lucifer nodded. "So be it. Let it then be upon thine own head and know that from this day forward, you shall enjoy no privilege of rank or title. No privilege of person. From this moment forward you are nothing to me."
The Prince of Darkness raised his hands to summon Hell's tendrils. As they snaked down like living vines, rotted teeth once again appeared on the floor. Flesh-eating worms slid down the fiery tentacles that lifted Talus high into the ceiling, into the salivating mouth of Hell. And the creature stuffed him into the membranes of her acidic flesh.
Talus's screams and muffled wails emanated throughout the room as the living tissue fed upon him.
Lucifer looked on as Hell fed upon his squirming brother. He spat on the floor, then turned away from his brother's screaming torment; his dark flowing robes cut through the air as he walked away and left his sibling to his fate.
* * *
Iblis paced about his cell. Like a caged animal he circled the confines of his jail, fuming over his treatment since his arrival in Heaven. He sighed. I have sided to be self-ruled. To live a life apart from El. This is but my recompense. How then can I turn Heaven's ear to hear my petition?
The door lock clicked and the glowing figure of Michael, the Chief Prince, stepped in with two guards at his side.
Iblis bowed.
Michael gestured him to sit, and Iblis did so. "Tell me about this Hell-forge you mentioned earlier," he said.
Iblis guffawed. "For what purpose should I disclose more to thee? I have been locked in this room for many a day. Perhaps Lucifer was right in that true justice cannot be found in Heaven, and that El..."
"Very well," Michael said, interrupting. "Guards, bind him in fetters of iron and take him to the waypoint. Make sure he is returned to Pergamos." Michael stood and turned to walk toward the door. "I am sure Satan will want to debrief you as to what knowledge you have divulged."
The guards moved to shackle him.
"WAIT!!" screamed Iblis, who rose from his chair so swiftly that he knocked it over. "Wait...please..." He put his hand out beckoning Michael to pause. "Wait...Michael."
Michael stopped. "I'm sorry, is there something you wish to tell me? Because I would know of this Hell-forge. What is it?"
Iblis sighed. "The Hell-forge is a kiln, after a fashion. A furnace that produces weapons of war. Lucifer hast learned through magics to twist the kilnstone of daemons and shape them into images of his own likeness. He has strengthened the Horde with beasts not imagined by either God or man."
Michael nodded. "Your Prince carried a sword into battle. A weapon that drained the very life of Elohim by merely touch..."
"Lucifer is not my prince!" Iblis raged. "He is...a deceiver. He said I could rise above my station if I followed him."
Michael rebuked him. "T'was not Lucifer's deception that gave rise to your turning, but thine own desire to live self-ruled. You chose to not abide in thy calling. And instead of petitioning El to change thy stewardship, you joined in usurpation with the renegade. Jerahmeel was right. I should have never allowed you to grace the shores of Heaven. Guards, return him to Earth immediately."
"WAIT!" Iblis cried. "What if I were to take you to the forge? What if I could help you destroy it? For even I know that Argoth doth not possess knowledge of Hell's inner passages, for the beast hast changed under the leash of Lucifer and hath enlarged herself beyond the scope of his remaining Grigori to watch."
Guards approached Iblis, and
Michael raised his hand. "Leave us," Michael said. The two Arelim soldiers exited the room and closed the door behind them.
Michael eyed Iblis, turned to stand square to him, and said, "I will make this my bond to you. If you will lead a party to the Hell-forge, I will petition thy cause before El, for thou hast been exiled, and remain in the realm as a prisoner of war and are no longer a citizen of Heaven. To grant thee pardon is El's alone. If thou dost return after the forge hath been destroyed, I will make intercession for thee. Betray or fail me and I owe thee nothing, for thou art an enemy of the crown. Are you clear in your purpose?"
Iblis nodded. "I am clear." He smiled, satisfied that he had delayed his return to Earth without the forces of Heaven as an escort. "When am I to leave?"
Michael turned to leave the room and spoke from over his shoulder. "When I have convinced the head of House Harrada to not kill you while he travels by your side."
Ibis's face dropped and he swallowed hard as Michael exited the room.
* * *
The Lord called Enoch whilst he slept in his chamber.
He answered, "Here am I." Thinking Argoth had called him, he ran to Argoth, who was sitting reading in his chambers, and said, "Here am I, for thou didst call me."
Argoth looked at his guest, puzzled, and replied, "I am sorry, Adamson, but I did not call thee. Thou mayest return to rest."
Enoch went back to his chambers and lay down.
The Lord called whilst he slept, saying, "Enoch, Enoch."
And Enoch was awakened from his sleep and arose and went to Argoth's chambers a second time, and said, "Here am I, for thou didst call me."
Argoth answered, "I called thee not, Adamson. Please, I am trying to study. Lie down again, and we shall talk in the morning when thou art rested."
Enoch again did as was bidden, and when he was fast asleep, the Lord called a third time. Again, Enoch arose and went to Argoth. "Thou didst indeed call me. For I am here as bidden."
Argoth then perceived that the Lord had called Enoch. Therefore, Argoth said unto him, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls thee, thou shalt say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.'"
So Enoch went and laid down in his place and the Lord stood by his bed and called as at other times. "Enoch, Enoch."
Then Enoch answered, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."
And the Lord said to Enoch, "Behold, I will do a new thing in Heaven, at which the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. For I will perform against Lucifer all things which I have spoken concerning his house and his people: for when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth, because he trafficked in deceit and caused dissension between the peoples of the kingdom. And therefore, I have sworn unto the house of Elohim that the iniquity of Draco's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever, but only by the bowing of the Lumazi's knee will come healing." The voice of the Lord then stopped from speaking and His presence was seen no more.
Enoch understood not the saying but laid down until the morning. And when he awoke, he went about his business and opened the doors of the library housed within the Hall of Annals, and he went about reading the scrolls that Argoth prepared for him daily, and Enoch feared to shew Argoth the vision.
Argoth entered and said, "Enoch, son of Adam"
. And he answered, "Here am I," Enoch answered.
"What is the thing that the Lord God said unto thee? Hide it not from me, I pray, for God do so to thee, and more also if thou hide anything from me of all the things that He hath said unto thee."
Enoch's eyes darted to the ground, and he paused.
"Please," Argoth said, "for I have seen a vision...seven stars bow before a fiery moon, and it can but mean that the Lumazi must show humility in a time yet to come."
Enoch then relented and told him every whit of what God had said and held nothing back.
Argoth sighed, bowed his head, and spoke, "The thing is of the Lord. Let Him do what seemeth good unto Him."
"I am sorry," Enoch replied.
"There is no need for regret, for the Lord makes all things beautiful in His time. It is His way. He doth not forget, nor will He fail to restore. Now come Enoch, son of Adam. I have something to show thee."
"What is it?"
Argoth remained silent and simply motioned for him to follow. They entered the Hall of Annals, and Argoth spoke to the white, nondescript room. "Reveal the record of Elijah, son of Adam, and reference with the Seraphimic record."
Immediately the room exploded in color. Enoch beheld the projection that showed a man of years and another of younger stature, walking side by side as they spake to one another. And it came to pass, as they talked, there appeared a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire, and the two men were parted asunder, and the man went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. The fiery horses flew within a ladder, and when the ladder had stopped, countless Seraphim and Gryphons flew throughout the sky. The projection then showed a Seraphim walking toward Enoch and Argoth as if it were aware of their presence. The behemoth then opened his mouth, and when he did so, the sound that he made was of such power, the screen in the Hall of Annals shook and a crack began to appear in the very room above the duo's heads. Argoth shouted, "Cease record NOW!"
Immediately, the room stopped its projection and Argoth stood pale as he watched the fiery overhead crack sizzle and slowly dissipate.
"What was that?" Enoch said. He looked at Argoth, still perplexed and visibly anxious, as the air now smelled of brimstone.
"Whilst thee and Michael were away to see Eladrin, El gave a commission to bring another of thy kind to the realm---but the extraction of the human was not given to angel-kind."
"Another man has come to Heaven?" Enoch looked at Argoth, puzzled. "And what dost thou mean 'the human was not given to angel-kind?' I have been to the Aerie, and through all of Jerusalem, and never have I seen horses of fire such as those, yet the man clearly came to Heaven through means of a ladder. Who is he? How long has he been here? I do not understand."
Argoth sighed, "The man's name is Elijah, and he is a powerful prophet of the Lord for thy people. And, no, thou hast not seen the Aithon in this area, as they are neither native to Jerusalem nor the burbs roundabout. Elijah came before thou didst arrive from the Aerie. And hast been in Heaven many days."
Enoch mumbled to himself. "Elijah? The Lord hast made mention of this name to me...another man in Heaven...I...I wish to meet this man whom God hath allowed in the realm."
Argoth grumbled in irritation, "Adamson, there are some things..."
Enoch lifted his finger to Argoth, "No! You showed me this because thou knewest I would have learned of it. You adjured me earlier to not withhold that which God had shown me. Do not dare do so thyself when I now seek thy knowledge."
Argoth sighed. "Your words are true. Very well." Argoth sighed and waved his hand. A scroll from the Grigoric library lifted from between the shelves and flew to Argoth, landing gently on his waiting palm. He spread the scroll before Enoch on a table and spoke.
"El hast prophesied to the King of Tyrus, and Isaiah, a man servant of the most high God, hath recorded it. Read and learn."
Enoch sat at the table and read the scroll taken from Isaiah, and the words were written on this wise.
Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold. The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so. Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God. Thou hast walked up and down in the midst o
f the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned. Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God, and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty. Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. I will cast thee to the ground. I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick, therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee. It shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee. Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be anymore.
Enoch closed the book and stared at the pages for a moment, then glanced up at Argoth who waited for him to speak. "I do not understand," Enoch said. "Does the prophet speak of the king of Tyrus or another? For how can the King be the covering cherub? Nor hath this man been in the Garden of Eden, nor seen the Mountain of God. Of whom then does the prophet speak?"
"Is the answer so far removed from thee? There is but one who even now is adversary to the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Lucifer?"
Argoth nodded. "There is much, Adamson, that is untold of Lucifer's fall, for he trafficked in pride and merchandised in haughtiness until it created a schism between the celestial hosts, for none in his mind were greater in station or in beauty than he. If he was ever challenged, he was quick to bring low an adversary whose brightness might eclipse his own. Therefore, learn Adamson the tale of the Seraphim. For long ago, before the age of man, when creation was still in its infancy and light was called forth from the mouth of Almighty God, we watched the Lord God speak the realms into existence. We beheld in fascination and awe as El placed the ceiling of creation.