Daystar

by Darcy Town

  Gaea streaked the sky with green light. Her wings were unfurled looking like spring leaves backlit by the sun. She enjoyed this space, this quiet. She stared out at the universe and sighed, her heart pounded a little harder. She wanted to know what was out there. She yearned to see the empty planets, to fill them with life, but she was tied to the planet below.

  She was the incarnation of life. This rotation just above the shield was the closest she had come to being separate. She reveled in the cold. Chronos passed her by and the siblings touched hands briefly.

  Gaea flipped over and flew facing Earth. She closed her eyes and sank into the silence of space. She smiled. A presence joined hers, a shifting in the space around her. Her eyes popped open. She looked over her shoulder.

  Gabriel soared overhead, watching her with singular focus. He made no move to near. He inclined his head to her. “Greetings.”

  She knew of him from her long conversations with Paimon. She flipped onto her back to watch him as they flew. “Greetings.” Her gaze trailed across his figure. He wore armor unlike the other Archangels; it was a green and copper hue, matching his hair and eyes. He fidgeted with his hands. Small ticks in his face interrupted his contemplative expression.

  Gabriel blinked at the sight of her. He felt in her the heat of the summer sun, the smell of soil and plants. He shook his head and looked away. “You are the life-force.”

  “I am Gaea.”

  “Lucifer and Dahlia’s eldest.”

  “Yes.” She frowned.

  Gabriel fell silent; his eyes were drawn back to her.

  Gaea drew a little closer. “Why do you seek to harm us, Gabriel? Can you tell me why?”

  He pulled his gaze away. “Why do you think I seek that?”

  “You built the machine that brought war to the ice. Many of my family were killed because of it. Many life forms died. I feel them all.”

  Gabriel frowned. “I built a machine, what it is used for is not my issue.”

  “It is. You create something and it is used to kill another, you are responsible for the deaths.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “There was nothing down there then, before she touched me.” He looked confused. “But then I remembered grass, seeds, and roots. I did not know of them before. I did not know of the things that could die, of the life there.” He flapped his wings and his green eyes drifted to her once more. “You are these things.”

  “And more.”

  “If you were destroyed, life would cease on the planet.”

  She gulped. “Yes.”

  He dove down and stopped mere inches from her. “Then why do you not flee me? Why are you acting as though you are not afraid? I could end everything by running you through.” He pulled out a copper-colored blade and rested the point against her stomach.

  Gaea stared him down, though her voice shook as she spoke, “You are curious, Gabriel. You have studied, I suspect, the dead planets, the elements and the stars, but you have not studied life. The creatures below fascinate you despite yourself.”

  He nodded. “But I could take you and study you, cut into you, find out what life is through your form.”

  Gaea shook her head. “No you cannot and you know that.” She struggled to keep her fright in check. “You want to experience life for yourself. You are tired of watching from afar, studying without experiencing. You seek to know it.”

  “To know life-force?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I seek to know you?” He grabbed her wrist. Gaea swallowed but did fight him. Gabriel looked at her slender green hand in his; he rubbed his thumb across her palm, finding the sensation curious. He ground his teeth. “Stay below the shield, Gaea. Come out again and I will have to take you.” He let her go and vanished.

  Gaea quaked in the cold of space.

  ***

  Lucifer finished going over Paimon and Furcas’ story; the pair stood before him on the grassy plain west of Eden. The sun beat down overhead. The others sat nearby in groups, speaking quietly. Lucifer frowned. “Why would Gabriel share with you what their plan is?”

  Dahlia looked between them. “Maybe he seeks to divert our attention there while they plan something else.”

  Paimon shook his head. “My brother is not that clever.”

  Lucifer smiled. “It is something you would do.”

  “Yes, but I am a devious, brilliant scientist. Gabriel’s a twat.”

  Furcas nodded. “It’s true, he is.”

  Gaea landed beside them having heard part of their conversation. “Gabriel, he was above.”

  Paimon whipped around. “Just now?”

  She nodded. “He’s gone again, vanished in an instant.”

  Chronos touched down beside her. “He was gone by the time I came around again.” He made a face. “I would have killed him for touching her if I had been there.”

  Dahlia reached for her daughter. “He touched you!”

  Gaea glared at Chronos. “He did not harm me.”

  “We have different definitions of harm. You were in tears, Gaea.” Chronos looked to his parents. “I sent Ifrit and Ra above.”

  Dahlia hugged Gaea. “You are sure that you are all right?”

  Gaea nodded. “He did not do anything to me. He just warned me to stay below the shield is all. I do not understand his intentions; he showed no emotion at all.” She shivered. “He has a cold, clinical stare.”

  Lucifer frowned. “I do not like this, his behavior is not usual.” He looked up. “Selaphiel, Raphael, and Jegudiel come.”

  The first two made it there quickly. Jegudiel scuffled with Bean. “Let go of me!”

  “No!” Bean bit into his hand and would not part with him. Jegudiel dragged her to their side and bowed his head to both Primangels. He glared at Paimon and Furcas. The pair snickered. Bean grinned and bit harder.

  Lucifer looked at the three. “You are the most recent to leave Heaven. Why would Gabriel warn us of coming plans? Has he changed?”

  Selaphiel frowned. “He would not warn us. It is not his way, unless he was ordered to as part of a larger plan. Gabriel has only ever been straightforward with us.”

  Raphael shrugged. “Maybe he has changed since he got his memories back. Maybe he’s more like his brother now.”

  Jegudiel inhaled to speak. He smelled the air, and he broke out in goose bumps. He leaned into Gaea and smiled. Jegudiel closed his eyes and hummed. “Sugary.”

  Paimon pushed him back. “What the fuck are you doing, you tweaky freak? Don’t act that way in public!”

  Jegudiel blushed. “Sorry!” He turned away. “I don’t have anything to add.” He shook his hand trying to release Bean’s teeth.

  Lucifer waved him away. “Then you can go.”

  Bean stomped on Jegudiel’s foot and ran. He lurched after her, pulled by the child harness Paimon had attached to her and tied to his waist. Jegudiel pulled back on the leash. “Why are you so strong?”

  Bean laughed and launched into the air. She lifted him off his feet. “Yoshi, fly!”

  Furcas smirked. “We’re evil bastards.”

  Paimon nodded. “Yes.”

  Dahlia shook her head. “Look, we need someone stationed out by the sun in case he is telling us the truth in regards to his plan.”

  Lucifer wrapped an arm around her. “Andy can go. He can get back to us the fastest; we will have the most warning if he is there.”

  Dahlia looked at Belial running between Andy and Nix. “Belial will seek to go with him.”

  “Then let her.” Lucifer spoke before she could respond, “It is better to keep them together. You wanted to go with me when you could not fight; you still stood by my side.”

  Dahlia frowned. “I know.”

  “Then let them be together. Maybe she will relearn skills by spending time with him. I have noticed that he has been trying to teach her a few things other than jumping in the air.” He smiled. “They will be fine. He will let no one hurt her.”

  Dahlia was not entirel
y convinced. “Someone else should go with them.”

  Apple and Berith raised their hands. “We will.”

  Berith looked to the sky. “If anyone shows up at the sun, Andy and Belial can get to you while we hold back the attack.”

  Apple nodded. “I have been practicing my skills, I am pretty sure I can control more than one angel now. We could hold an attack off long enough for help to arrive.”

  Lucifer took Dahlia’s hand. “I think it sounds like a good idea.”

  Dahlia nodded. “Okay, but no more patrols by anyone here.” She looked out to everyone present. “Lucifer and I will stay above Earth. If you see a signal light it is all hands on deck, red alert got it?” They nodded. She pointed to Jegudiel and Bean. “Except you two, neither of you are going into space, understood?”

  Bean nodded; she had no desire to go back up there. Jegudiel nodded as well and hauled back on the leash. “Get down, you little horror!” Bean closed her wings and dropped on his head like a rock. The blow knocked him unconscious.

  Furcas looked to Dahlia and Lucifer. “May we collect the children and go home?”

  Lucifer held back a smile. “You may.”

  Paimon saluted. “Right-o.” He looked at his arm with the formulas scrawled on it. “He’s not bullshitting by the way. If that sun goes boom this planet is fucked with a capital eff.”

  Dahlia sighed. “We know, Paimon.”

  Raphael took his spot as soon as they left. “Should I finish my Hell prep?”

  Dahlia nodded. “Yes, now more than ever.”

  Raphael grabbed Selaphiel’s arm and the two vanished. Dahlia turned to Lucifer and leaned her head on his chest. “Why can we not go back to carefree? I liked carefree.”

  Lucifer kissed her cheek. “You were right about His goals.”

  “That does not make me pleased, I would rather be wrong.”

  Lucifer frowned. “So that we would wait infinitely for an attack? I would rather this was ended soon, now preferably. I do not seek to draw this out any longer. He deserves to be torn into pieces, Heaven taken down.”

  Dahlia kissed him as they leapt into the air. She let him carry her. “What if Heaven cannot be taken down? What if He cannot cease to exist?”

  “There must be something.” Lucifer tucked her hair behind her ears. “Something to let us win.”

  Dahlia sighed. “I hope so, I really do.”

  The pair breached the shield. Ifrit and Ra appeared in a matter of moments. Dahlia pointed to the planet. “You are relieved. Go see Gaea, she can fill you in.”

  The two nodded and dropped away.

  Lucifer flipped so that his back faced the planet. He stared out into the stars. He held Dahlia against him and massaged her back. “It is amazing.”

  “What?”

  “Having you here with me, back again with powers restored.” He frowned. “I had given up hope when the war was lost. Dahlia…” He looked into her red eyes. “We lost definitively and He did not even join the fight. He will this time and that frightens me, though I will not show it before the others.”

  “You were without knowledge then and with fewer allies. Things are different now.”

  “Tell me your theories. I can see them in your eyes like unshed tears.” Lucifer stroked her cheek. “Share with me.”

  Dahlia bit her lip. “I fear to.”

  “Why?”

  She swallowed. “False hope is some of the worst.”

  “But it is hope nonetheless.” Lucifer threw his hand out to the universe. “We fight in battles, small scuffles back and forth, but there is a war at stake. We must be on the same page.”

  “I know, I know. But I do not want to give you false information.”

  “When will you know the truth?”

  “I do not know.” She squeezed his hand. “I am searching my memories and trying to decipher it. I am sure the pieces are all there, I am sure of it!” She looked into his eyes. “What are yours?”

  “My what?”

  “Your memories of your creation. They are vital I think.”

  Lucifer frowned. “You want to see?”

  “Yes.”

  Lucifer touched her hand and they were drawn into a mutual vision.

  ***

  Primangel was born in a fire that washed and cleansed his soul. He was a golden, white-light being of heat and sound. When he opened his eyes, he saw only flames, only beauty.

  LUCIFER.

  Lucifer was named, he was. He had hands, feet, and a tongue to speak and sing praises. He received a mind of unquestioning love and devotion. He knew songs and power, mastery over light and fire. Six wings adorned his back, his body strong and vital.

  Lucifer breathed life for the first time and he moved in concert with the fire on the throne. This was the beginning, the fire and the man, the being and the creator.

  Lucifer instinctively knelt before the fire. “I am yours to command.”

  LUCIFER, RISE.

  Lucifer stood, but kept his eyes downward.

  LOOK AT ME. YOU ALONE MAY GAZE UPON ME IN FULL SIGHT. YOU, MY SPECIAL ONE.

  Lucifer looked into the flame. Heat washed across him pleasing and energizing, his body euphoric, his mind blank. Lucifer opened his mouth and song ushered forth, a melody composed of wonder and delight.

  The fire on the throne was pleased by this sound, this music.

  SUCH GIFTS YOU HAVE. MAKE USE OF THEM TO THEIR FULLEST.

  Lucifer sang and the songs became permanent, part of the fabric of the place he knew as Heaven. As he sang, he made form and function; space organized itself and took on shifting lights and hues. His very voice created from the ambient power of Heaven, but the power resided within him. The beginnings of angels took shape in the firmament.

  STOP.

  Lucifer’s voice stopped. The life ceased.

  I DESIRE A SECOND, ANOTHER OF YOU. A BROTHER, DIVIDE.

  Lucifer did not hesitate. He reached into himself and split off a fraction of his power. A four-winged bluish child took shape in his arms. Lucifer lost his golden glow and took on a bluish-white hue to match the boy. He looked at Michael and Michael smiled at him. Lucifer kissed the boy’s head. “Michael, my second.”

  Lucifer set the child down and sang to him, teaching Michael the songs he had just created for himself. Michael was rapt, staring only at Lucifer, his eyes diverted from the fire.

  MICHAEL, LOOK TO ME.

  Michael’s gaze was brought to the fire and he was ensnared, terrified, and elated. He held onto Lucifer’s leg and aged as the fire passed through him. Michael grew to a youth, still very much a child. He leaned on his older brother for support. Both brothers were locked in obedience and reverence to the fire, though Michael’s eyes flicked ever upward towards Lucifer’s.

  Lucifer held him upright as Michael took in the sensations of everything around him.

  The fire looked upon both brothers and was pleased.

  Lucifer smiled and threw his brother in the air, laughing and catching him to do so again. Michael laughed and the sound was almost as beautiful as Lucifer’s. Michael’s heart filled with love to the brim for Lucifer, there was no room for another.

  The fire brushed through him and Michael was a youth no longer, but a man. Lucifer and Michael took a step apart, same in height and physique. They touched hands and shared in knowledge, thought, and sensation. Everything that Lucifer knew, he shared with Michael.

  The fire reached out and drew Lucifer in, dividing him from Michael. In the flame, He gave Lucifer orders to create beings pulled from the energy of the realm.

  Lucifer spent his time creating, building, until his Archangels assembled before him. From there he created the types of angels, assigning each to an Archangel. Each time a new creation was made Lucifer would commune with the fire and his thought and form lost distinction in the flame.

  Lucifer looked forward to these times, his commune with something greater than he was. The knowledge imparted and opinions were not his own, but they became
his with each joining. He learned with each cycle.

  Lucifer was content. He flew or sang near the throne, never straying far from his place by the fire. Michael stayed by Lucifer’s feet, adoring his older brother. The two siblings would converse often, sharing thoughts and experiences.

  Lucifer’s songs transferred to the guardians and they sang the hymns, repeating Lucifer’s melody in Heaven. This gave Lucifer time to create more, to contemplate, to join with the fire, to spend time with Michael.

  The fire left the throne.

  Though time had no measure, it was away for many songs. Lucifer was not worried. He had not been told to worry, so he did not worry.

  The fire returned, tightly coiled, and pulled away, it would not let Lucifer near to commune. Lucifer did not frown. He did not feel disappointment. He was not given these emotions or the ideas of right versus wrong. The fire on the throne though roiled with them and through their closeness, Lucifer began to pick up feelings and sensations that he had not been made to have. The fire thought alone and kept its own counsel.

  Many songs passed.

  The fire communed a last time, before the last disappearance and return. It pulled Lucifer in and Lucifer noticed a difference immediately. The fire allowed him only a fraction of a glimpse, no longer was Lucifer given a view of the whole. Though a smaller fraction, the fire burned with an intensity Lucifer had not known before.

  Lucifer smiled. “You continue to amaze.”

  LUCIFER, I WILL REQUIRE A TASK OF YOU SHORTLY.

  “Of course, anything, everything you require.”

  I WILL REQUIRE EVERYTHING FROM YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR THIS, NOTHING MAY BE HELD BACK.

  Lucifer nodded. “I will give it.”

  THIS WILL BE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TASK, YOUR MOST VITAL ROLE.

  The fire hesitated. Lucifer caught a glimpse of sadness and remorse, but it was quickly replaced with something else, hope and though Lucifer did not know it then, desire.

  YOUR SACRIFICE WILL GLORIFY ME.

  “I give myself willingly.”

  AS YOU WERE DESIGNED, SO YOU WILL FOLLOW THROUGH. A PERFECT CREATION.