by JJ Liniger
So few families left, but enough for a new start.
I found myself wanting to stay right here. To start a new journey, surrounded by friends, neighbors, and family. The town of Becton was about to change once again, this time, for the better.
Taking a seat next to my mother, where my father would’ve been, I released a breath which had once held the tension of the strangest week of my life. In its place I drew in peace, contentment and determination to finish what my father had started.
Mom’s hand touched my face. “It’s good to have you back.”
I read in her eyes what I knew to be true. “Thank you. It’s good to be here.”
THE END
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Special preview of:
I AM LUCIFER
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
CHAPTER ONE
Darkness surrounded me. Boiling lava dissolved most of the white cloth covering my body and destroyed my light.
How dare He tarnish my appearance! Hatred, hotter than the simmering lava, flowed through me. I no longer wanted to be greater than God, I wanted Him destroyed! I would hunt through all of heaven and earth to find what was most precious to Him and make it mine. Every time God looked upon His beloved, He would see scars placed there by me!
I felt for my long blond mane. No more. The tresses had been singed off by fire. I remembered my duel with Cassiel and how his blazing sword turned the beautiful locks brown. Now short, darkened hairs crowned my head. The smell of sulfur and burnt hair enclosed around me. It would take time to adjust to my new home.
Resting on my shield, I floated along the raging red river. Waves of lava splashed against my tarnished skin. With each rush of molten, the explosions continued until there was nothing left for it to burn. Those who joined me, slid through arched structures. Thick burnt bones bent over my head, twisting together to create a tunnel.
Instinctively, I hugged my wings against me to keep them away from the sharp edges of the channel. A murmur of voices echoed around me, all talking over each other, making it impossible to understand them or determine their number. I imagined my multitude were as pleased by their decision to leave heaven as I. My first task would be to find and welcome them into my service.
Jagged points of the arched bones varied in size and strength and were all black. Smoke billowed, making the massive dark palace appear like it floated in space. Exactly what I wanted.
I took a piece of cartilage from the tunnel and broke it. It took great strength, but I was determined. Plunging the piece into the angry sea, I used the handmade-oar to direct my shield, floating around my new home.
As if the smoke knew I needed it to move, the fog lifted, revealing all the work of Maalik and his helpers. It did not have the glitter and shine of heaven, but I did not want that.
The dark castle was long and grand with layers of intricate stones stacked on each other to create the multiple towers and guard houses. A slight sparkle glimmered from the dark onyx and stone fixtures. Embossed along the curtain wall, shrunken faces with mouths permanently open into a grimace and hollow eye sockets stared back at me.
The shield came to a rest and I looked up into the grand pinnacle. Firelight flickered from within the palace. The hotter flames burned purple and blue. I stepped from my shield and lifted it from the flow to keep my equipment from drowning. Heat scorched my hand, but I felt no pain.
I gave a victorious shout for finally coming into true freedom. I could become anything I wanted. There were no expectations except for those I put upon myself.
Perfection was something of God, I wanted satisfaction. I had the ability and determination to please everyone around me. Everything came back to the intention and based on that, I was pure and righteous.
Marching through the sulfur smoke, I approached the gate of the dark palace. Black twisted metal bars formed the doorway. The fence around heaven appeared impenetrable. Unless you knew how to enter, then no one could come in. I desired a palace that freely welcomed everyone.
I walked along the trellis and chunks of pavement fell and tumbled below. A dramatic thud echoed as the broken pieces landed into the molten and became swallowed. I felt caution for my new home and did not want to disturb its perfection.
The palace splintered in multiple floating branches with the lava’s red glow reflecting off the dark stone exterior. Throughout each of the hundreds of interconnected pieces I assembled smaller throne rooms. The chairs were placed in sets of three, which allowed for decisions to be made by a majority rather than one specific deity.
I grinned, loving my idea.
Some might have thought I was mimicking the Trinity. Instead I had learned from Their mistake. Though there were three gods, but they acted as One. I would not let the same happen to my followers.
For the first time, I looked at those who had taken the plunge with me. Their hair darkened with soot, and their clothing tattered and scorched.
One fallen angel lifted his cloak to his nose and sniffed. “I consider this to be a badge of honor. They protected me from the fires, but I have no need for them any longer.”
He removed the rest of his apparel and sat the material on the grey stone floor. Five others joined him. The garments branched out in each direction, creating a star. As more followed, the material circled around the star.
“Here, my LORD.” He brought me one of the many torches. The light flickered as it moved. “From your servant, Nakir.” His smooth black wings had no feathers and clung to his body like an added layer of skin.
I set the cloth to blaze.
The fire grew as more added their scorched clothing but kept the same five-sided shape. As flames danced in front of us, they formed a new song.
“He is, he is, the shining One and brings light to the Darkness. We stand at the abyss and see a palace engulfed in flames. He is, he is. By his words he saved us. He is, he is. We are guided by the Morning Star, He is, he is. “
There were no instruments, only the sound of their voices creating the beats and blending together. Singing had become a habit for many, but now their words showed appreciation to me. They understood I had saved them.
“He leads us through the blazing stream, He is, he is. In his anger, he set us free. He is, he is, the judgement that mends us together. He is, he is. Into the precipice, we fell, He is, he is.”
I had wondered what God felt when we worshiped him. I did not have to guess any longer. I knew. A righteous pride rose within me as I listened to my jinn sing praises to me. It was glorious and perfect.
When the last embers faded away, a pentagram became engraved into the palace’s floor. This would become my dwelling place. They had put their faith in me and I would not let them down.
“Friends, gather close.” I waved them in and thousands settled around me. “I meant what I said about seeking out your true destiny. I want you to find your ultimate potential.”
“Thank you, sir.” Nakir bowed and brought his broadsword across his naked chest. The weapon’s dark hilt cupped around his hand with sharp daggers.
“What is your name?” I asked another. An iron breastplate protected his chest and his wings reflected gold from the tips of his feathers.
“Zadkiel,” he answered.
“No. You will no longer be called the righteousness of God, but you will be named Zeus. For you shall be your own God. Let anyone else who’d like a new label enter my presence and their wish will be granted.”
“Thank you, my LORD.” Zeus bowed and fluttered away, leaving a trail of soot from his curly white
beard.
More came in his wake to have new names. I added Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Iris, and Artemis, to my ranks. They would work with Zeus in alliance. I encouraged them to be creative and form a history for themselves. Conceive their own origin story.
The line continued and I gave them dominion over large sections of Earth. I brought Amon to rule over the desert separated by a large river. Baal represented himself through the wildlife. Asherah, I asked to take from the timbers a large tree and to carve his likeness to be worshipped.
The crowd trembled as Abaddon approached. He kept his tarnished robes, and the scorched edges served him well. His ensemble made him appear more scary. I liked it.
“My dear friend,” I said. “You have been blessed with the ability to make all uneasy. Use that skill well and often.”
“I will.” He smirked and fluttered through the apprehensive crowd. Fear was such a beautiful thing, especially when the emotion kept people away from God.
Another came who was more attractive than the others. His full breasts reminded me of the woman. “For you, I will name Ashtoreth. You will be called on for fertility. The man and woman are to fill the Earth and we are to become their keepers.”
“How will this be?” Cassiel asked.
“Have patience, my friend,” I answered.
I smiled, pleased he had joined me. His bronze wings and armor appeared to have protected him from the scorching lava, but his new weapon had endured a great deal of trauma. His tool had once been a broadsword with a wide tip that arched out on either side like an axe. A blue glow illuminated from the tool to point others toward goodness. Now, the serrated blade sputtered like the weapon could no longer determine good from evil. In time, the sword would find its truth.
“I have a plan,” I said.
Cassiel nodded and appeared pleased, allowing the next warrior to pass.
There would be some of my followers who did not like what others did. I’d keep them from each other, unless their conflict served to my advantage. They could judge and criticize everyone as much as they wanted. There might be a ebb and flow of good and evil, my role would be simply to keep everything moving.
“Warrior, come.” I waved to Cassiel and he approached. “I want you to meditate on peace. You are kind and good. I never want those attributes to leave you. Use those gifts in your service. Call your goodness nirvana, or peace and meditation. Offer unlimited knowledge and bliss where they will aspire to greater beauty. Not for them to enter a palace in the sky, but tranquility on Earth where they can come back again to be glorified.”
“Perfect,” Cassiel said.
“Of course it is,” I agreed. “And take the name Deva. I’d like for you to find Phanuel and work with him. He needs a mentor who will guide and strengthen him. I do not want his innocence and peacefulness to be tarnished. Together, we can make the world a better place.”
“Thank you, Lucifer.” Deva bowed.
My mood darkened for a moment as I debated changing my name.
“What should I be called?” I asked.
“It could be said, you are Satan. Then, you would remain God’s enemy,” Sammael said. “Or you could be, Angra Mainyu, where you would remain vindictive. Or Shaitan.”
I shook my head because I had not led others astray but toward greater fulfillment. I also considered Devil, and would remain as God’s accuser, but that didn’t feel right either.
“My name will remain the same, for I will forever bring MY light to the world through these many helpers. Remember always, I am Lucifer!”
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