Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2

by D. Brian Shafer

  “That is because I am in the light now,” said Serus. “I am free.”

  “No you’re not, my misguided friend,” said Lucifer. “You have exchanged one prison for another. You were worthless to me but I could have made you great. Now you are apprenticed to an archangel who will never share glory with you.”

  “Michael shares the glory with no angel,” responded Serus. “He gives all of it to the Most High. So you see there is none to share.”

  “I will one day settle accounts with both of you,” said Rugio, who was becoming increasingly angry. His reddish aura was beginning to manifest. “On my terms.”

  “That will be interesting,” said Serus. “I’m sure Michael looks forward to that day.” He then departed to keep watch over the human family.

  “How I hate that angel,” Rugio said, remembering bitterly the day that Serus had helped Michael escape Rugio’s trap.

  “Forget about Serus,” said Lucifer. “We have a much more severe problem to deal with.” He turned to Kara. “Call the council together immediately. We must take action.” Kara nodded and was about to leave when Lucifer stopped him.

  “Kara, despite your obvious appetite to become embroiled in this matter, I have a special assignment for you,” Lucifer said, putting his hand on the former elder’s shoulder. “I am removing Rugio from Cain. I know your ambition has made you eager to get into the game. Rugio is useful when force is necessary. But I need something…”

  “Subtle?” offered Kara.

  “Yes,” said Lucifer. “And final.”

  “I am at your command,” said Kara proudly.

  The two walked on together as Lucifer continued. “Cain must be continually encouraged in his wreckless anger,” he began. “It is our only hope in overcoming prayers such as Abel is capable of. In spite of this disappointing reconciliation between the two of them, you must compel him with everything in you to remain embittered toward Abel. I want a wedge driven between them so that Cain will become poisoned permanently.”

  Kara grinned. “I will not disappoint you.”

  “I am also sending along a very promising angel, who will become your assistant from this point on.” Lucifer laughed. “You, Kara, will plow the heart and mind of this tiller of the soil, and this angel I have in mind shall plant the seeds of his destruction.”

  “Who is this angel in whom you place such confidence?” asked Kara.

  “You recall Berenius,” said Lucifer. “He caused quite an uproar at the Academy of the Host—asked too many intelligent questions.”

  “Oh yes,” said Kara. “He was one of Pellecus’s favorites at the Academy. He specialized in teacher baiting as I remember.”

  “Yes, well, I’m leading him in a new specialty now,” replied Lucifer.

  “Really, and what is that?” asked Kara.

  “Murder.”

  CHAPTER 4

  “Let humans pray, so long as they are disobedient in their hearts.”

  Serus sat next to Eve as she stirred the evening fire. She and A’dam had discussed the events surrounding their sons’ offerings and were trying to determine the best course to take. She felt badly for Cain, but was buoyed by Abel’s report of the reconciliation that had occurred between the two brothers shortly afterwards.

  Abel joined his mother near the fire and put his head on her shoulder, resting there. Eve looked at her husband, who smiled at her across the fire. She loved moments like this, when the family seemed together and safe—especially in the uncertain world they had made for themselves. Even Cain, who was bringing in more wood for the fire, seemed uncharacteristically good-humored. It would be a good night.

  As Serus enjoyed the fellowship of the family, he thought about his own situation. How things had changed for him! While serving Lucifer in Heaven, he had been made to separate himself from the fellowship of the other angels. Now he knew of the power and importance of such community—especially when devoted to the will and purposes of the Most High God.

  “Enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, Michael,” said Serus, looking at the archangel who entered the camp. “I was thinking back to how I once was so lost in Lucifer’s world. I thank the Most High every day that I saw the true nature of things before it was too late.”

  “I only wish these poor creatures had,” said Michael, indicating the family around the fire. “Things could have been so different for them.” The two angels sat for a moment in silence.

  “Michael, what will be Lucifer’s next course?” Serus finally said, looking at the archangel to whom he was now apprenticed.

  “Actually, Serus, I was going to ask that of you,” answered Michael. “You knew Lucifer better than any of us. What would you suspect is going on in his mind?”

  “To be sure the most significant thing that happened today was how you overcame Nan so strongly,” said Serus. “I too felt Abel’s prayer—but it wasn’t directed at me. I mean, I wasn’t compelled to act upon it for some reason.”

  “Serus, I can only say that as Abel prayed I sensed something building inside of me until suddenly I was released and knew exactly what must be done. It was as if the Most High Himself gave me an order upon the conclusion of that prayer. I was empowered from on high to act and I did.”

  “You certainly did,” admitted Serus. “The look on Nan’s face was unforgettable. And Lucifer didn’t look too comfortable himself.”

  “I suspect that as this conflict goes on we will learn much as to the nature of the prayers of men and our part in them,” said Michael. “But one thing must truly be unsettling for Lucifer: if humans can pray a prayer of faith that moves the heart of God and causes Him to act, or if they can pray and call angels down on their behalf…”

  “Then Lucifer and his party have a whole new war on their hands,” Serus said, finishing Michael’s thought. “And THAT is what is on Lucifer’s mind right now.”

  Lucifer quietly watched his leadership grasping for answers. He often wondered how he was to succeed in the war with such dissolution in the ranks. He counted on Pellecus to teach the new way of things, but even the new academy Pellecus was organizing could go only so far to indoctrinate these fallen angels. Somehow he had to clear Heaven out of their minds so they could see the potential in overcoming the enemy.

  Tinius’s voice finally rang above the chatter. “I don’t understand this,” he said. “Why was Michael able to rise up as he did on the strength of some ridiculous prayer?”

  Pellecus could only grin at the idiotic question. “As usual, Tinius,” said Pellecus, “you miss the point. And a very dangerous point, I might add.”

  The council that had convened upon Lucifer’s orders was discussing a response to the earlier events. Lucifer continued to sit back and listen to his council as they discussed, deliberated, and sometimes wandered in an attempt to explain the challenge posed by Abel’s prayer. Finally Lucifer stood to speak.

  “One should never underestimate one’s enemy,” he began, “nor overestimate his own strength. It is apparent that the humans are allowed a very special grace: to call upon the Most High in their troubles. This could prove bothersome to us.” He walked about the council place, this time in a deeply wooded area on a mountainside.

  “Prayer is a privilege of spiritual creatures,” snorted Tinius. “Why would the Most High pollute such an honor by allowing humans to pray?”

  “Because, Tinius, humans are spiritual creatures,” said Pellecus, assuming his teacher role for the council. “Oh, they have the curse of death upon them now, to be sure. But they are immortal. Their bodies will return to the stuff of earth one day, according to the judgment. But their spirits will live forever.”

  “In any case they can pray,” said Lucifer. “And as we witnessed, when they do it effectively and in faith, however primitively, the Most High will respond. He always was one for sentiment with humans. The point is that we find ourselves contesting this disturbing weapon.”

  “And where do we begin?” asked Lenaes.

&nbs
p; “The same place we always begin with humans,” said Lucifer. “The mind. Let them pray. Let them pray all night if they want. Faith is the critical factor. Brothers, if we can rob the humans of their ability to pray with faith, then let them pray.”

  “But how can we do that?” asked Tinius.

  “By cultivating another attitude that is devastating to faith,” said Lucifer.

  “Which is…?” queried Tinius.

  “Disobedience. While it is true that the Lord honors prayers of faith, as we witnessed today, it is also true that the Lord does not honor disobedience, which we all witnessed in Eden. Humans, while spiritual creatures, have a tendency to stray.”

  “Disobedience certainly has its price,” said Rugio. The others looked at him.

  “What our chief is saying,” said Pellecus, “is that God will not honor one who prays, if one is also disobedient. Let humans pray, so long as they are disobedient in their hearts. Prayer will become a meaningless expression—a pitiful call for help. They will get nowhere with the Lord; consequently Michael’s efforts will be paralyzed.”

  “Yes, that is all well and good with people like Cain,” said Rugio. “He is a brute. But what about Abel? He is a man of faith and obedience.”

  “Leave Abel to me,” said Lucifer.

  Cain sat on the ground to eat. He still had much to do to prepare for the harvest of grain that was growing bountifully in the field. He took a bite of the flat bread that his mother baked every day on the rocks by the fire. He could just make out an indentation on the bread from one of Eve’s fingers. He smiled at the thought of her working the rough dough and working it into the little flat shapes that baked into this wonderful bread. He wished she were there so he could tell her that he loved her.

  In the distance he heard the sound of Abel’s horn, calling the flocks in. He was glad that he and Abel had come to terms and hoped that in the future they would become better brothers—even friends. Perhaps Abel really did mean well. Things were shaping up for a good future. Perhaps the next time he made an offering to God it would be acceptable.

  “There he is, Berenius,” said Kara.

  “He doesn’t look to be the brute that Lucifer made him out to be,” said Berenius, looking at Cain. “He even appears quite content.”

  “He’s a brute alright,” said Kara. “As are all humans ultimately. And we are to bring it out of him.”

  The two angels walked over toward Cain and began circling him. Kara kept a careful watch for any of Michael’s angels as they steadily brought the circle in closer to Cain. Whispering as they walked, Kara began feeding thoughts into Cain’s mind, hoping one would attach itself.

  Cain caught himself thinking back to the previous day’s events. Abel was very generous to offer that they build an altar together next time. He was fortunate to have so understanding a brother as not to shame him. Still Abel had been a bit smug the way he remarked that Cain was not a man of faith. “I am a man of faith,” Cain reasoned. Just because he expressed it differently didn’t mean he had no regard for the Lord.

  After all, Cain was the firstborn —his rightful place of authority superceded Abel’s and always would. Yet Abel found himself accepted and Cain the firstborn was rejected. Maybe Abel knew all along that the fruit of the ground would be rejected, and wanted to make the firstborn son look foolish. Abel always did have a smug attitude—especially in things regarding the Lord.

  Kara smiled as he sensed Cain’s anger beginning to well up. He continued to pummel Cain with accusations about his brother, whispering into his mind how Abel was secretly enjoying Cain’s embarrassment. Berenius encouraged Kara in his relentless attack. Finally Cain stood up and cursed out loud.

  “Excellent, my lord,” said Berenius. “In a moment I’ll begin to work on him.”

  “Abel has always been an obstacle to me,” Cain said aloud. He threw a rock at one of his melons, breaking it open.

  “Aha!” said Berenius. “There is the door for me, Kara. He said it himself—the obstacle must be removed! If this doesn’t lead to murder I’ll be a holy angel!”

  Kara stepped back as Berenius moved in close to Cain, taking hold of his broad shoulders and whispering into his ear: “Abel will always be an obstacle. You will never be honored as long as he is permitted to run amuck and ruin your life. He tricked you, you know. He knew your offering would be rejected…”

  Cain’s face was growing reddish-purple as he thought about his brother allowing him to be made a fool of. “He knew,” Cain muttered under his breath. Berenius looked at Kara and smirked, and continued the assault.

  “You foul spirits,” came a voice. “Is there no end to your deception?”

  Kara turned to see Michael, with Serus and Gabriel standing behind him.

  “No prayers this time, archangel?” Kara asked. “Pity. Berenius is doing a marvelous job inciting this creature to a rather poor decision.”

  Michael’s instincts were to move in and crush this spectacle immediately. But, and Kara was correct, without the prayers that gave him consent to act, or without special instruction from the Most High, he could only watch. Kara found it delicious.

  “And you, Serus, were given charge over this man?” Kara continued. “How dreadful that you will soon have blood on your hands.”

  Serus glared at Kara.

  “I think we’ve made quite a bit of progress,” said Berenius, backing away from Cain. “Just a little more and he will be choosing. These creatures can only take so much suggestion before their small minds are drowned in what appears to be the only choice available to them.”

  Cain’s face was contorted and angry. He began walking away from the field. Berenius followed. As they neared the edge of the field Berenius suddenly lurched forward and fell to the ground as if pinned there. He was shrieking violently, and then suddenly still and quiet. The other angels watched in confused horror.

  “Cain,” came a Voice.

  Kara also fell to the ground, paralyzed with fear. Michael, Gabriel, and Serus, fearing the Voice in a different way, bowed in humble adoration of their God.

  “Cain.”

  Cain turned to see a bright light all around him. He could barely make out the figure of a man inside the intense brilliance. Berenius could only lie still, unable to make a sound even if he wanted to.

  “Why are you angry?” said the Lord.

  Cain was so frightened that he could not even speak. He stood in shock, shielding his eyes from the bright light.

  “Why is your face so downcast? Don’t you see that if you do what is right and proper, you also will be accepted? But I must warn you, that if you do not do what is right, sin already is lying at your feet, ready to strike at you!”

  Upon these words Berenius was picked up by an overwhelming force and thrown down at Cain’s feet. He struggled but again became immobile and speechless.

  “The sin at your feet desires to have you—to deceive you and cause you to stumble. But you must master it.”

  Cain looked down, afraid to look further at the Lord’s figure in the light. Had he been able, he would have seen a squirming Berenius directly in front of him. “You must master it, Cain, or it will master you.”

  Suddenly the light was gone and the voice disappeared. Berenius left with a shriek and disappeared into the earth. Kara protested, “Unfair! Unfair!” and quickly vanished. Michael, Gabriel, and Serus were alone with Cain, hoping that he would consider the Lord’s words to Him.

  “Will he relent?” asked Serus. “Or did Berenius plant the seed too deeply?”

  “I hope for all humans that he will choose well,” said Gabriel. “But we have seen in the past how well humans choose.”

  “I tell you it was the Lord Himself,” said an exasperated Kara. “How long can we contend if He keeps interfering?”

  Lucifer, Rugio, Pellecus, and Kara were gathered in another frustrating strategy session. All were silent except Kara, who recounted the events with Cain. “It was all going so well,” he continued. “B
erenius was doing a masterful job and Cain was seething. Michael and Gabriel were completely helpless. Nobody was praying, as I could tell. And then the Most High stepped in to interfere.”

  “Yes, how dare He?” asked Pellecus with mock outrage at Kara’s babbling. He looked at Kara. “He is, after all, sovereign. Unpredictable, but sovereign.”

  “How like the Most High to interfere and counter our suggestions,” Lucifer agreed. “We are fighting according to the rules. But as Pellecus points out, God is sovereign and can adjust the rules as He sees fit.”

  “But even God cannot interfere with Cain’s ability to choose,” said Pellecus hopefully. “That is our advantage. I believe that in the end Cain’s low character will carry the day. We must remain vigilant.”

  “Agreed,” said Lucifer. “The battle is in the choosing. Until the choice is made the outcome is still in doubt.”

  “So what do we do?” asked Kara. “If the Lord interferes every time we are suggesting to a human…”

  “We must keep at it,” said Lucifer. “Day and night we will hammer the humans. And should the Lord speak to their hearts we will seek to undo the damage He does by continuing a persistent, relentless attack. In short, we must wear the humans down.”

  “And they do wear down,” said Pellecus. “As they proved in Eden.”

  Michael and Gabriel were in the Great City, walking down one of the many avenues that crisscrossed a wide boulevard in front of the Temple of the Most High. All of Heaven was thundering the news of God’s intervention and hailing it a great victory for the Lord. Only Gabriel and a few others knew that the battle was far from over—or won.

  “The Lord has called an assembly of all the elders and archangels,” said Gabriel. “The Most High will deliver through the Chief Elder the new protocol in dealing with humans. It will then be disseminated throughout the Academy and become a part of the Host’s new disposition in the war.”

  “The war,” repeated Michael. “What odd words in Heaven. Who would ever have thought it would actually come to war?”