Lucifer's music playing in their minds."
"Excellent work begets excellent reward, hmm?" said Kara. "I
understand. And when the Lord decides to reward such excellence
with the stewardship, and I lead a delegation of Elders to your
house and beg you to serve..." said Kara, already framing the pro-
ceedings in his mind.
"I would never object to any decision of the Elders or the Most
High," answered Lucifer. "I would reluctantly, but graciously take
on the task. And both of our situations would change drastically."
68 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"So be it," said Kara, as they clasped arms and parted.
----------------
The Grand Square of the City was one of the most beautiful
and busy places in the Kingdom. The square itself was paved with
lovely precious stones that were polished and perfectly fitted,
forming a beautiful geometric mosaic. All of the impressive build-
ings which surrounded the square were the official buildings,
housing the various ministries of the Kingdom. To the north was
the Great Temple complex, where the presence of the Most High
resided; facing the Temple, from the south, stood the Hall of
Assembly where the Elders functioned in their service to the Lord
and the Heavenly Host.
On the east side was the House of Wisdom, where all the
archives of Heaven were stored, including a vast and mysterious
vault of sealed scrolls and books which had yet to be opened and
which were forbidden to all. On the west sat the enormous Great
Hall of Ceremony, where important occasions such as Michael and
Gabriel's installations occurred, or where special services unto the
Lord were held. Normally the square was brimming with angels
going about their daily business, but today the square was practi-
cally empty, except for a large figure sitting by himself and think-
ing deeply.
Michael's mind was absorbed with recent events. His talk
with Crispin, while confirming some of the things he was thinking
about Lucifer, had also opened a great door into a much larger,
much darker problem. If Crispin was correct, and there was a con-
certed effort on the part of Lucifer and a small number of angels to
introduce an independent attitude among the Host for their own
purposes, he needed to do something right away.
But what could he do? Crispin advised caution. But Michael's
nature was to attack problems headlong. He could speak with
Gabriel about it again, but he had promised his friend that he
would not bring up the subject until he had good evidence that
something was amiss. There had to be a different way to get at
"What are they searching for that they must go to Lucifer to find?" 69
Lucifer without arousing too much suspicion, and without treating
Lucifer unfairly.
As Michael sat in solitude where recently thousands of angels
had converged to celebrate the announcement of the Creation, he
saw Serus walking toward the Great Hall where the Elders met.
Since the announcement, Lucifer had cloistered himself in his
house, working feverishly on the music, receiving no visitors, and
conducting no business except for his occasional Council meetings.
Michael watched as Serus walked up the marble stairs holding
Lucifer's latest work and disappeared into the gigantic hall.
Michael wondered if there was a way to talk to Serus without
arousing too much suspicion. Perhaps he could get through to him.
"Blessings on you, Michael."
Michael turned to see Sangius, the Minister of the Holy Flame
walking toward him.
"Sangius!" said Michael. "Greetings in the name of the Most
High! How are you, my brother?"
"Quite well," said Sangius. "Excellent, in fact."
Sangius sat down next to Michael. The two had been much
closer friends at one time, but now the different directions in ser-
vice they had chosen had kept them from any meaningful fellow-
ship. Sangius sat back, closing his eyes in a very relaxed manner.
"You do look well," Michael remarked. "I have never seen you
looking so refreshed."
"That's because I am fresh from worship, Michael. I almost
forgot how to really worship our Lord, what with my official office
and serving on the Council. You know, Michael, as Minister of the
Flame, I am quite near the Lord's presence much of the time. I am
very privileged to hold such a position that places me so close to
His holiness. Yet even so I felt myself growing more and more dis-
tant." Sangius had a dreamy look in his eyes as if deep in thought.
"But today you are refreshed in His presence," said Michael.
"What happened?"
"Two things really," said Sangius. "A discussion we had at the
Council made me realize that I had to choose to worship the Lord
regardless--out of my will to do so and love for Him. I am a creature
70 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
with freedom and I choose to worship the Most High!" Even as he
said these words a glow began to appear around Sangius' face. "I
choose, Michael! The other thing which refreshed me was that I
choose to no longer be a part of the Council of Worship." He laughed.
"Or perhaps the choice was made for me. Either way I am free."
"Really?" said Michael, quite interested.
"Yes. I suppose it was a mutual parting of the ways," said
Sangius. "One or two meetings after the Creation was announced
Lucifer asked me to step down." He laughed. "How I must have
disappointed him! I guess I was not the kind of angel he needs on
the Council. So he chose another angel to take my place and I feel
quite unburdened."
"Really? Do you know who he chose to replace you?" asked
Michael.
"Yes. An angel by the name of Berenius," said Sangius. "Ever
met him?"
"We met once," said Michael, remembering Berenius' conduct
at the Academy. Even as he answered Michael felt ashamed and
angry at the conduct of the angels in the classroom that day. "Tell
me, Sangius. What goes on in those meetings?"
"That's as suspicious a question as I have ever heard," said
Sangius. "I'll be glad to tell you. I have no more obligation to
them." He sat back, relaxed. "In the beginning, Michael, we would
discuss various aspects of the worship ministry in Heaven. You
know...how to involve more angels, whether or not a piece of music
suited the occasion. That sort of thing. It was truly a legitimate,
deliberative body functioning in the manner which had been
described to me when Lucifer asked me to serve on it."
"Excuse me for saying so...but you don't have any real musi-
cal gifts, do you?" asked Michael, as diplomatically as he could.
"Who, me?" said Sangius. "I have about as much musical abil-
ity as you, my friend. I have musical disability." They laughed.
"But I know worship."
"So why did Lucifer want you on the Council?" asked Michael.
"I never really knew," Sangius said thoughtfully. "And I never
asked. But I believe it had more to do with my position a
s Minister
"What are they searching for that they must go to Lucifer to find?" 71
of the Flame than anything else. You see, only a few of the mem-
bers, such as myself, have any real knowledge in matters of wor-
ship. Most of us...them...serve in other capacities. All highly placed,
capable angels for sure--but musical? Not really."
"So what you are telling me is that Lucifer's Council of Wor-
ship is seated with angels who have little ability in the worship
ministry. Doesn't that seem a bit strange?"
"Of course," said Sangius. "But Lucifer has his reasons. He
wanted a variety of angels so that the ministry could affect every
facet of the Kingdom--wisdom, warrior, and worship. At least that
is how he explained it to me. It made sense at the time."
"So why did he ask you to resign?" asked Michael.
Sangius shook his head at Michael. "I guess it was because I was
increasingly at odds with the rest of the group, or seemed to be. I just
wasn't comfortable with some of the discussions--especially
toward the end."
"What did they talk about, Sangius?" asked Michael pointedly.
"I am ashamed to tell you, Michael," said Sangius. "And I am
embarrassed for having sat on that Council for so long."
"It's very important that you tell me," said Michael, "much as
it causes you distress." He noticed Sangius' attention directed else-
where. "What's the matter?"
Sangius was staring out toward the square, with just the
slightest hint of anger in his beautiful brown eyes. His reddish aura
was slightly manifesting. Michael looked out onto the square and
saw Serus walking back across the square toward Lucifer's house.
Serus looked over and saw Michael and Sangius together but con-
tinued walking as if he didn't see them. Sangius watched him until
he turned out of the square down Lucifer's street. He turned
toward Michael.
"He certainly gets around!" Michael said, as he watched Serus
disappear.
"Now there's the angel you should talk with if you want to
know about Lucifer," said Sangius. "Of course you wouldn't get
anything from him. He's totally devoted to his master."
72 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"I know very little about Serus," said Michael. "I know he
didn't do well at the Academy. But he found a choice position for
himself, that is if you don't mind working for...hmm...how do I
say this?...a potentially difficult taskmaster."
"Well done, Michael!" said Sangius. "I was thinking along less
cordial lines!" They both laughed, and Sangius excused himself for
the indiscreet remark. "I am sorry, but after serving on the Council
I feel I am owed some satisfaction! Truly, Michael, that Council
bears watching."
Michael wanted to know more about the Council and decided
to tell Sangius about his conversation with Crispin. He went over
the details about the prevailing sense of change at the Academy
and cited his witness of Berenius' behavior in Crispin's class.
Sangius nodded from time to time as if he saw a puzzle coming
together in his mind.
"What you tell me makes perfect sense," said Sangius.
"Though I haven't been privileged of late to many of the discus-
sions. `Closed room,' Lucifer called them. I know that the Academy
plays a significant role in their talks, mostly receiving negative crit-
icism. Of course Pellecus has no love for the school anyway. I sup-
pose with me off the team Lucifer has a completely free hand with
the Council. I was the only one who ever questioned him on some
of the discussions, and rather weakly, I must admit. From time to
time Tinius will raise a question but a rather intimidating look from
Rugio will usually set him down. I suppose any opposition, how-
ever weak, cannot be tolerated by Lucifer." Sangius then added
with humor, "No need for closed-room conferences now!"
Michael looked at the angel with compassion. "Sangius, are
all of the angels on that Council with him? I mean, are their loyal-
ty and obedience unquestioned?"
Sangius continued, "Lucifer is definitely in charge, I can tell
you that much. Even though the learned Pellecus and a number of
other angels who command great authority in the Kingdom sit on
the Council, they all pay homage to Lucifer. I personally found
their loyalty to him solid and unswerving, while their disposition
to the Most High was disturbingly close to disdain. I believe they
"What are they searching for that they must go to Lucifer to find?" 73
would follow Lucifer anywhere." His eyes shifted to Michael omi-
nously. "Perhaps they shall."
"But why?" asked Michael. "What hold does he have on
them?"
"The same hold he had on me, I suppose," said Sangius. "Luci-
fer has a way about him that makes you feel...important, needed, and
that you're going to miss a tremendous opportunity if you don't join
him. He makes you feel like you're on a great journey--part of
some great plan. He inspires confidence in an angel--particularly if
that angel is searching, or hurting, or discontented."
"About what?" Michael retorted. "What are these angels
searching for that they must go to Lucifer to find?" Michael's pas-
sion was rising within him. "What could they be hurting about...or
discontent with? These are some of the most exalted angels in
Heaven! Apart from Pellecus, who has brought disgrace upon him-
self for teaching questionable doctrine, I see no reason that any
angel should have such an attitude. Why don't they speak with an
Elder...or bring it to the Temple if they have a problem?"
"I can only speak for myself, Michael," said Sangius. "I joined
the Council because I felt it would serve the worship ministry to
the Kingdom. But the more time I spent with Lucifer, the more
unsure I felt about...everything. The changes in my attitude were
all very subtle...very quiet. But within a short time I didn't
approach my places of service with the same passion I once did,
and I felt my closeness to the Lord slowly slipping away.
"Meanwhile the Worship Council became more and more
important to me even as it became more and more antagonistic
towards the Kingdom. I also noticed the agenda becoming increas-
ingly hostile. Rather than promote worship Lucifer began promot-
ing himself. Again, Michael, it was all very subtle. And whereas in
these new discussions centered on the Lord's ability to reign, now
they centered on His authority to reign!"
Michael bristled at this statement.
Sangius looked at Michael with tears in his eyes. "I finally
came to a point where I had to choose to believe Lucifer or to
believe the holy teachings. I began searching. I immersed myself in
74 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
the truth. I began to differ with the group in meetings. I voiced
favorable opinions of the Lord. I took up His cause. In doing so I
found myself increasingly isolated from the others. In my final two
encounters they started the closed-door meetings in which
I sat
outside the conference room with Serus to `see to my comfort.' "
Sangius smirked and added, "It wasn't long after that I was asked
to step down. By then I wanted to stay on if only to upset the agen-
da. But I'm glad I left. If I had given myself over completely to
Lucifer as some of these others have, I might never have been able
to worship the Most High again."
"What now, Sangius?" asked Michael. "Where are they taking
this...recklessness?"
"I don't know for sure. The last meeting I attended they were
very excited about the Creation. It seemed to hold great possibili-
ties for them."
"So they discussed the Creation in Council?" Michael asked.
"Interesting."
"By then I was not in the same room, you understand. But
they have previously discussed what they would do if and when
another world was ever made available. Lucifer would of course be
archon--ruler. And this lovely Council would govern with him. It
was all such a horrendous and prideful fantasy. I did happen to
overhear a few things as I waited outside. Of course one can hear
much when one is listening outside a door." (Michael smiled at
this.) "It seems the coming Creation is very much on Lucifer's mind
right now--and not just because he's writing music for it. Believe
me, music for Lucifer has become merely a bridge to greater things.
He actually believes that if he was made ruler of the new world, a
great many of the angels would join him there! What disturbs me,
Michael, is that I believe he is quite correct in that assertion."
"Sangius, would you be willing to say these things to some
other angels?" asked Michael. "I don't mean reckless, talkative
angels. I mean friends to both of us?"
"Of course," said Sangius. "If you think it will help end this
nonsense." His eyes slowly shifted toward the direction of
Lucifer's house; the direction Serus had walked. "But we must be
careful. Lucifer has ears all over Heaven."
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