by Andrew Gille
Relieved, Lucifer crawled up to the altar to recover as his new disciple stood ready reveling in his newfound powers.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Machariel's Legitimacy
In stealth, they recruited, cryptically, clandestinely. Speaking the message that the rebellion was strong and its leaders were backed by the legitimacy of the words of the Anatalian Letters. The Letters were copied in secret by an unknown network of scribes and passed out to all who were not known to be steadfast supporters of Os and his son Shalos and wife Entera.
They assembled in secret, meeting on the barren moon of Veritas, Jirian. Lucifer’s secret building project only took one month from the beginning to completion. A cabal of workers loyal to him was employed in creating a massive ziggurat with large chambers in which he could house the armies he was building. They had completed the project two months ahead of time due to their motivation and the fact that they were not lowly angels but arch-angels, principalities, and virtues. Many used their magic to heave giant stones and place them, never actually touching the rocks that they used in construction.
Angels had no need for air, food or water and indeed they could exist on any surface of the solar system. However, they did feel cold, and heat and the discomfort of the moon and its wild temperature extremes were evident. Only the shelter within the walls of the ziggurat made it bearable. Within the stone walls of the ziggurat, they also hid from the authority of the Powers who would have been obligated to report their activities had they been discovered. The methods employed by the Powers to keep watch over heaven were provided by angels of the Order of the Powers sympathetic to the rebellion and now loyal to Lucifer. This kept Lucifer and his cohorts one step ahead of discovery.
Further aiding their ability to hide their activities, no one came to Jirian. It was rocky, desolate, cold and dull. It served only as a means to keep the tides and orbit of Veritas in check, the other moon Illyas was also prettier from the surface, a blood red surface and slight atmosphere which created a brilliant blue sky contrasting with the red surface, caused it to be occasionally visited.
Lucifer sat at the head of the table in a special council room built into the ziggurat. He had assembled 12 angels who were now his conspirators in the rebellion. They sat at a great white marble table with a large opening in the wall looking out onto barren moon’s rocky landscape. It would be many years before humans would bring the invention of glass to Heaven and right now the solar winds of Jirian, moved through the room. This was his council, the leaders he would rely on in this rebellion.
Beelzebub, sat at his left, an old and trusted friend. Beelzebub, the highest of the cherub, paralleled his ally Lucifer who ranked above all of the seraphim. Beelzebub was elevated beyond the other Cherubs and it was believed he was stronger than most of the seraphim save Lucifer. Lucifer considered Beelzebub the third most powerful being in heaven even though most seraphs contested that idea. Beelzebub had gained favor with Lucifer and was as close to Lucifer as the arch-seraph would allow another angel to be.
Machariel, the newly empowered lowly angel, sat at his right. Lucifer knew this was going to cause friction with his council, but with several seraphim, and other mighty cherubs, he stood a chance of being overpowered. With Machariel’s unwavering loyalty, Lucifer could not be challenged on his council. Legitimizing Machariel meant challenging the Anatalian Letters which was the reason many angels regarded Lucifer as the rightful ruler of the angels. It would be a very tricky line to walk, but he needed Machariel to ensure his power within the rebellion and to enforce his law amongst the other mighty angels once he assumed the throne.
Asmodeus of the order of the seraphim was also an ally of Lucifer, one of Os’ Heavenly Council members, he had secretly defected right after the announcement. On his visit to the world of men, he had been disgusted by the inferiority and weakness of the human beings and now worked to ensure that no angel would ever be subservient to them.
Astaroth, the Seraph, had come under Lucifer’s wrath in the past. He found Lucifer off-putting and reckless and rash. However, he did admire his ability to get things done. He had been dismayed by Os’ seeming apathy and felt that Lucifer’s ambition would overcome Os and his family for control of Heaven. He joined as an opportunist who sought favor when the new regime was installed.
Moloch the Cherub likewise was no friend of Lucifer. However, he hated the idea of subservience to human beings. Contrary to Lucifer, as he was on so many things, he wanted to destroy the human beings regardless of any benefits they might have to the angels.
Azazel the cherub felt that being a part of the rebellion would allow him to get closer to Lucifer and help his own status and power. Whatever best suited his personal gains and ambition were what drove him. He didn’t care for the humans but mostly because he didn’t see helping them as a means to help himself.
Mulciber of the Virtues had taken the Anatalian Letters very seriously and had become a scholar of their meaning and origin. He believed every word and thought that Lucifer had a real legitimacy to heaven’s throne and that Os had murdered their rightful creators the Colossals. He felt that through Os’ death the Colossals would come back stronger to be their legitimate deities.
Raamiel of the thrones was so dismayed by the announcement that the angels would be expected to serve human beings that he was immediately open to the suggestion of rebellion. It didn’t take the Anatalian Letters, or charismatic coaxing from Lucifer to sway him. Merely the notion that they would change things so that humans served angels. This was what he felt was the proper and natural order of things.
Belial of the Dominions sought order and uniformity, he felt humans represented chaos and that Os had acted chaotically in creating them. He sought merely to restore order, and the destruction of the Earthly universe was how he would return balance to all of the realms. He was a proponent of the Anatalian Letters because they conveyed so much about the hierarchy and the order of angels of which he was also a staunch adherent.
Baal, the archangel, took Michael’s place as the sole representative of the choir of archangels when Michael refused to join the rebellion. Baal had a disdain for both the lowly angels and the humans because he was in charge of a group of lowly angels whose duty it was to copy manuscripts for the libraries of heaven. Baal was not a great leader and put his failings on his underlings and lashed out at them when they attempted to point out that some of the problems that arose were as a direct result of his leadership. He saw the humans as just one more group that would exert their superiority over him as did the lowly angels under his command, although he also saw their use and how they could help him become more powerful, much like he used lowly angels and had already recruited many to the cause. Lucifer recruited him as a last resort due to his loyalty and the mutual feeling he had that humans were not to be destroyed but to serve the angels.
Belphagor of the Principalities ruled the city of Habia on Os’ own planet Paradisio. Belphagor was not known for being an especially useful leader within the ranks of the principalities. He was emotional and quick to anger but also quick on making decisions that the people of Habia had to pay for. Long ago he had made himself a favorite of Os through sycophantic manipulation of his policies and actions in his rule of Habia. What seemed like an idyllic city run for the glory of Os, was actually a corrupt municipality which served to enrich and glorify Belphagor.
The council sat at the marble table with the brightness of the heavenly sun streaming in. The murmur of quiet conversations was focused on one topic, the blasphemous lowly angel sitting at the head of the table with the most powerful angel in heaven. Who was this unknown one in their midst? Where had he come from? How bold and impudent to think that he was worthy to sit with them. The Anatalian Letters clearly laid out the hierarchy of angels. Lowly angels were not to be put in positions of leadership. Yet he seemed very unlike a lowly angel, seemed to emit an air of power, he was an imposing figure at the head of the table with Lucifer and Beelzebub, his most
trusted cohort.
Lowly angels walked around the table and poured wine from the finest vineyards of Hesperides. They looked at Lucifer before they poured Machariel’s cup, Lucifer nodded, and they poured him a glass. This sort of discrimination incensed Machariel, and he sat staring ahead, angry, as the rest of the group chattered. He could feel his power, he knew he was equal to all of the angels who sat at this table now and their inability to recognize that was infuriating.
Lucifer brought the council to order, “Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n, For since no deep within her gulf can hold Immortal vigor, though oppressed and wronged, I give not Heav'n for lost.”
Astaroth interrupted, “Lucifer before you attempt to rally us to your cause, you must address the problem we all see with this council. Namely that a lowly angel, sits at your right hand. It is an offense, and to those of us who regard the Anatalian Letters as a new sacred text, it is a sacrilege. He should be filling our chalices with the fine wines of Hesperides. I heard in fact that he is a gardener from Hesperides, why is he not tending to his grapes and someone of stature like Samael not sitting there? The Anatalian Letters distinctly define the hierarchy, and they say, “ Each of you has his own duties that I have assigned through your rank. Your ancestors the Colossals are worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in my system.”
Machariel began to become enraged, Lucifer, put his hand on Machariel’s shoulder to stop him from saying whatever it was he was about to say. His words could not be a help right now, only Lucifer could stop the general negativity toward Machariel right now, “The Anatalian Letters also say that I am the highest angel. I have installed Machariel as my general, and I am your ruler, do you dare defy my wishes? I will not tolerate such insubordination. Samael will sit on this council in your place if you continue to hear words that contradict my leadership.”
Baal then spoke up from the back of the table, “Lucifer, Astaroth’s words are harsh, but you must consider that many of us are here because Os puts lowly beings above us. For many, our motivation to join you is analogous to having this lowly angel put before us as a leader. The Anatalian Letter specifically forbid this sort of thing.”
“You’re no adherent to the Anatalian Letters, Baal,” Lucifer snapped, “You have said that they lack credibility.”
“Lucifer, don’t put words in my mouth, I merely said that those who blindly follow the letters should ensure that they carefully read them. No one here doubts that you are the supreme angel and that our rightful place is as the leaders of heaven. Most of us would object to a lowly angel being put above us as well, regardless of the words in the Anatalian Letters.”
Baal spoke calmly, the tension in the room was causing him to become uneasy about his place on this council. Technically Archangels were the lowest of the 8 groups of “High Angels,” spoken of in the Anatalian Letters, so he didn’t care to contradict a higher angel while trying to make his point that the hierarchy of The Anatalian Letters should be followed.
Mulciber, was the foremost authority and one of the most prominent adherents of the Anatalian Letters, commanding a secret cult of followers who had now joined the rebellion. Mulciber then spoke as if he knew that Baal needed the backing of a higher authority in the debate.
“My Lord, we do not seek to contradict your leadership or call into question your decisions, but as Baal says, The Anatalian Letters clearly state that we must follow the protocols of hierarchy within our ranks. Should we fail to do so, we will not receive the blessing of Temerian, and the Colossals themselves will destroy us.”
Asteroth disregarded protocol and candor and once again interrupted the civil conversation, “Remove this lowly angel from this council at once Lucifer! He profanes this table with his stinking presence, he is not worthy to be the mat upon which we wipe our feet to enter this sacred place, we cannot follow a weak and common angel when we are the great leaders of our new kingdom. This inept, lowly angel should have the sense to remove himself from the presence of greatness…”
Asteroth was cut off when Machariel stood, his muscles coursing with anger, he lashed out. Even Lucifer was surprised with the ease with which Machariel picked up the Seraph and tossed him across the room. Baal sat shocked, watching the scene unfold, his heart pounded in his chest as Machariel approached him. Lucifer watched as an inventor trying out his newest design for the first time. He had done well, with he and Machariel now firmly in control, he wouldn’t have to endure any challenges to his leadership. Lucifer, though shocked by the ease at which Machariel handled the high angel and seeing him approach the archangel Baal, took control of the situation once again.
“Be seated! Machariel! Save your power for the loyalist angels who are traitors to their own kind. We need solidarity and order!” Lucifer shouted, this time at Machariel, he had displayed his power now it was time for Lucifer to show that he was in charge of Machariel and thus in charge of the council.
Machariel sat back in his seat. Asteroth’s head was slowly healing from the grievous wound Machariel had inflicted upon him. He could not see, speak or hear yet, but his senses slowly returned as his wounds healed. Angels were invincible, and to the other angels, it was one more trait that made them superior to the human beings, no human would have survived that from which Asteroth now recovered.
Asteroth picked himself up off the floor and looked at his fellow angel, “This is an outrage,” Asteroth said as he returned to his seat, only he didn’t exclaim it, he said it almost under his breath. The seraph also allowed Machariel a wide berth when he walked back to his seat.
Lucifer pointed at Machariel, he hadn’t wanted to say this until he’d seen Machariel in action and his powers could be proven to be greater than the highest of angels, but now that was abundantly clear, “You question this angel’s presence here? You dismiss his legitimacy and use the Anatalian Letters to justify your prejudice against him? Witness what he has done? You Asteroth, of the order of Seraphim, would you have been so easily thrown by a lowly angel? No, bear witness to The Enrauch, the giant who is prophesied in your sacred scripture to deliver you from the oppression of Os and make for you a place of victory in heaven.”
“I don’t think that…” Baal was interrupted by Asteroth as he sat back in his chair, “Quiet archangel.” Baal shut his mouth and looked on still very shocked by what had just transpired.
Lucifer waited a moment for the commotion to calm and began, “Machariel and I will be out on the battlefield with our soldiers fighting side by side against the forces of Os. While you send your minions to war to fight for you, Machariel and I will be marching forward into the glory of battle. All of you have indicated that you are too cowardly to engage in this battle yourselves. You pledge your minions, but the majority of you will be cowering in your palaces as we fight to keep them from being overrun by a weak and inferior race. When you are enriched and enjoying the spoils of our victory, it will be from the courage of this angel, Machariel, The Enrauch, and I, King Lucifer who will be destroying the loyalist forces as we look them in the eyes. Do not forget this after Os is destroyed and we reign in heaven.”
Lucifer paused for effect, as he spoke he walked slowly around the room looking each angel in the eye as the sunlight illuminated him from behind and cast rays of light from behind his body, he continued, “Os has chosen an unknown archangel, Michael, as the leader of his armies. I know this one, weak, unsure of himself, unwaveringly loyal to Os and everything he stands for. We will exploit these weaknesses, destroy his forces and we’ll be marching into The City of God before Michael figures out how to properly execute a battle plan. Right now he is overwhelmed and bewildered, our spies tell us that he doubts himself and has made a series of gaffes that have embarrassed him in front of his troops. Of course, he asks Os for strength and wisdom, we all know what the answer to that has been. Silence and indifference as usual.”
Then Lucifer’s tone changed, his voice became less harsh, suddenly it was calm and friendly, “Each of you has pl
edged troops to our cause, you have verified and ensured their loyalty, and they have committed to ending the tyranny of oppression for which we are all victims. For that I thank you. Only through your support are we able to battle back the powerful forces of Os and take back what is rightfully ours. Your soldiers, who have agreed to fight Os, do so for their own reasons, perhaps like Mulciber you are a devoted adherent to The Anatalian Letters, the audacity of Os to violate the sacred words of the Colossals as he’s done time and time again, is an outrage to you. Perhaps like Raamiel, you’re incensed at the idea that he demands that you subjugate yourself to these inferior beings. You know the angels are Os’ greatest creation and to have him suppress all angels so that he can elevate a group that is lower and rightfully our subordinates is outrageous to you. Maybe it is more personal, perhaps you are tired of the apathy and inaction of a God who turns his attention to other things when everything around him is burning to the ground. All of these are valid reasons to be with us. All of these things will be rectified. We will march on Paradisio during the Temerian Meteor Showers, I promise you that.”
Lucifer continued, “General Machariel and I have a plan to take Veritas, in two weeks I will lead our troops into Antares after securing every other major city on the planet. This is Machariel’s home planet, and our first two-pronged attack will hit his hometown of Hesperides and Cibolia. We will defeat and take prisoner any resistance we encounter, we expect little in these cities, and we expect them to fall quickly.”
Azazel the Cherub spoke, “Machariel, does our immortality not preclude the thought of war against the loyalists? When an angel is beaten down, yes we can keep them captive, but what as they regain their strength. It will require greater than the entirety of our present armies to hold and either continually sap the energy of these angels or keep fully recovered angels in captivity.”
