Celestial Crisis

by Leo E. Ndelle

  “Hello, my love,” Luciel whispered after she planted a soft passionate kiss on his lips.

  She sat on his lap and nestled against his chest.

  “Hello Luciel,” Michael replied flatly.

  Pleasantries were a luxury he could not afford at this moment. Luciel could sense the shift in his persona, but she chose to fake ignorance. She was still on a mission and, hopefully, she was going to see it through soonest.

  “Uriel was here just now,” Michael continued in the same flat tone of voice. “We had a long conversation about the rebellion and I’ve made my decision.”

  Michael felt Luciel tense up. Her body language was the only confirmation he needed. Despite siding with Uriel, a part of him, albeit a very tiny part, still wished for a better outcome for everyone. Somewhere in the deepest parts of his psyche, he still held on to a tiny vestige of hope for a solution in which they would all coexist happily; a situation without a rebellion. That tiny sliver of hope was all he had and with Luciel’s reaction to what he just told her, that sliver of hope was burned away. Michael heaved his shoulders.

  “You were right,” Michael added and paused.

  He felt Luciel’s body relax a little with relief.

  “There is a rebellion afoot,” he added. “But Uriel is not their leader. You are!”

  Luciel cursed and her body tensed up in a prelude to a teleportation escape. But Michael summoned the ethers and neutralized her move. Luciel tried to free herself from his death grip as she wondered how in Celestia he could neutralize her teleportation attempt.

  “There are so many things you don’t know about me, Luciel,” Michael said coldly as flames oozed from his eyes.

  Luciel stopped struggling and gaped at the sight. She was paralyzed by fear like she had never felt before. First of all, Michael neutralized her teleportation and now fire in his eyes?

  “Yes, Luciel!” Michael continued coldly. “You never should have thought so highly of yourself.”

  Michael turned his flaming eyes towards her and glared at her. Luciel tried to scream but only a whimper escaped her throat.

  “You never should have underestimated me!” Michael added coldly.

  The cold truth of Michael’s words smacked her psyche. Her overconfidence and pride had rendered her blind and deaf to objectivity. Here she was, trapped in the arms of the one she promised to kill. There was nothing she could do. As the leader of the rebellion, she had failed woefully and now, the rebellion was doomed. If Michael was going to end her with extreme prejudice, then she was glad she would not be around to see what Michael was going to do to the rest of the rebellion. This new version of Michael was a version she was sure no other angel or archangel had seen. Soon, though, Celestia was going to find out.

  “But I will not end you, Luciel,” Michael added, much to Luciel’s shock. “At least not here and not like this. I will give you the opportunity to repent and have a fair trial. Your cause is pointless and your demise is a given. You’ve seen what I’m capable of. Take my offer as a sign of good faith, despite your transgression.”

  Michael relaxed his arms and Luciel stumbled out of them. She crawled away from him and thought to teleport away but changed her mind. It was pointless. Michael would just follow her to the rebellion and commence the slaughter himself. Yes, it was going to be a slaughter! But Luciel steeled herself as her ego took control once again.

  “Our cause is not pointless, Michael,” Luciel rebutted.

  “Then take your cause and go to another realm!” Michael offered. “Start a new life there and have things your way. This must not result in the ending of existences. Take this offer and leave now, Luciel.”

  Michael was pleading to her sense of reason and compassion, if she still had any left. Michael wanted to avoid the senseless loss of existences at all cost.

  “You don’t understand, Michael,” Luciel spat and stood up. “It is not just about our cause! As long as you live, as long as you are still out there, I’ll never be archangel supreme. And if I’m to become archangel supreme, you must die!”

  “It all makes perfect sense now!” Michael scoffed. “The ‘cause’ is merely a distraction for your personal agenda, albeit a most foolish and selfish one. You do not care for your brethren! You do not care about anyone!”

  “You lie!” Luciel shot back. “I DO care about my brethren! I do care about everyone! I just want something better, something more, and to live to my full potential. I just want a realm where we can all live to our full potentials; a realm where free will is truly free! This is the reason for the rebellion! We say ‘NO’ to the so-called ‘purpose we’ve been given! We’re creatures of Celestia, for wings’ sake! Not guardians to savages in lower realms.”

  Luciel stepped closer to Michael, feeling emboldened by her renewed drive for the rebellion.

  “And now, we have great opportunity to demonstrate how free will really works,” Luciel said. “Every angel and archangel must choose. Either he or she is with me or against me!”

  “Because it is all about you!” Michael rebutted calmly. “Is that not so?”

  “It’s about what I want for ALL of us!” Luciel argued.

  “But if you want a realm where ‘free will is truly free’, why not go to another realm?” Michael asked. “I won’t stop you. No one on my side will stop you. Just take your rebellion and go! Why the obsession on being archangel supreme in Celestia, when you can be archangel supreme in another realm?”

  “Because, it’s what I want!” Luciel seethed through clenched teeth.

  Gone was her fear. Gone was her uncertainty. Somehow, speaking her mind to Michael was liberating. Finally, she had no need to hide her intentions or to contain her feelings anymore. Finally, she could be who she really wanted to be; an archangel worthy of challenging Michael for the title of archangel supreme.

  “Don’t you get it, Michael?” Luciel continued. “Can’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you? I don’t want another realm because I don’t want to be archangel supreme in another realm. I want to be archangel supreme IN Celestia! I want to be number one HERE!”

  “And if I relinquish my position as archangel supreme,” Michael said. “If I take my loyal followers to another realm, will you desist from the rebellion?”

  Michael’s unexpected question shocked Luciel to silence. For a moment, she could only blink and stare speechlessly at Michael, until she regained herself.

  “You would never do that, Michael,” Luciel scoffed. “You of all archangels. You, with all your ego.”

  Luciel erupted in laughter and shook her head in amusement.

  “I never thought such base trickery was something you would ever consider, Michael,” Luciel sneered. “Truly you disappoint me, archangel supreme.”

  Michael leaned forward and leveled an expressionless stare at Luciel.

  “Look into these eyes you’ve beheld so many times before now,” Michael said calmly. “And tell me if they bear trickery in them.”

  Luciel obliged and when she did, the look of scorn on her face vanished as if by magic. Her smirk was replaced by the shock of his sincerity. In those eyes, Luciel realized that verily, Michael spoke from his essence. In those eyes, there was not a single iota of deceit. In those eyes was nothing but the truth of his words. Luciel opened her mouth to speak but her words died in her throat. She took an involuntary step backwards and her shoulders slumped as a huge reality beset her. And in that realization was Michael’s victory that not would resound in Celestia’s history, even long after his demise.

  In those eyes was the final testament how much of a better leader Michael was; the kind of leader whose power and authority paled in comparison to his love for his brethren. Michael was the kind of leader whose leadership was not founded on his ego. His brethren and Celestia always came first. And Michael would selflessly give it all up for Celestia and his brethren. These were qualities that Luciel could never boast of and as she averted her eyes from his, in shame, disgust and defeat, Luc
iel conceded to Michael’s victory.

  “This is my final offer, Luciel,” Michael said. “Will you accept?”

  “My mind is made up, Michael,” Luciel replied weakly and met his gaze.

  There was defiance in her gaze, but her gaze was devoid of the conviction it bore a few moments ago. There was defiance in her gait, but it was devoid of the ambition it bore a few moments ago. Luciel squared her shoulders and smothered the last string of sanity left in her psyche. It was a shift within her essence, birthing a new kind of persona. In that moment, Luciel became an embodiment of her ego and nothing was going to derail her from her quest. Michael understood, nodded and rose from his chair. And The Scribe, cloaked from the presence of both archangels, smiled in victory.

  “In the name of the Realm of Celestia,” Michael said, “I charge you, Luciel, and everyone in your rebellion with treason. Should you not submit willingly, we will be forced to use whatever means necessary to contain and possibly eliminate all of you.”

  Luciel’s core was rent in twain as the reality of impending war finally dawned on her wings. There was no turning back now. Despite her resolve to become archangel supreme, somewhere deep within her, a tiny voice of reason screamed for a different solution. But it was just a tiny voice compared to the booming of the voice of her ego. However, in the final declaration of her intent, in her final rejection of Michael’s final over, that tiny voice of reason was choked out and nothing was left but the deafening mantra of the voice of her ego.

  Luciel ran towards Michael and kissed him deeply and passionately. The two archangels knew this was going to be their final moment of intimacy before the war began. Michael pulled Luciel’s waist into his body and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. She was shaking and trembling with grief, with a sense of loss, and most of all, with love! She thought it would be easy to tune Michael off when it came to war, but she was wrong. For a split moment, she felt a deep sense of regret. She wished she could change everything and call off the rebellion. But it was too late. Her ego had gotten the better of her and now she had a rebellion to lead. She kissed her lover on the lips again and took a step back.

  “I am so sorry it has come to this, Michael,” Luciel said, and meant it. “But I cannot accept your offer. I will see you at the battlefield, my love.”

  Luciel then turned around and walked towards the door. She twisted the door knob, cracked the door slightly and paused.

  “I love you, Michael,” Luciel said and turned around to face him.

  She met his gaze and understood he also wished things were different.

  “I love you so very much!”

  Michael opened his mouth to speak but Luciel would not let him. She was afraid if she heard him say the words, her resolve may shatter and the rebellion would be lost. No! She could not let him say the words. She would not let him say the words. Luciel stepped through the door and closed it behind her. Michael heaved his shoulders as he clenched and unclenched his fists. His eyes and mouth blazed and flared massively with bright, golden flames right before he let out a scream that threatened to render his domain to smithereens.

  ***

  “That’s Michael’s message to you all,” Uriel said to the group of angels and archangels who had gathered to receive updates about her talk with Michael.

  “This does NOT sound good at all,” Gabriel said again for the fourth time so far. “We already trust him enough and he has our unfailing loyalty. But this is pushing it.”

  “I share your sentiments, Gabriel, and I know it’s a tough request,” Uriel said. “But, for lack of a better way to put it, we just have to trust Michael.”

  “I wonder what he could be doing over there with that traitor right now!” Drusiliel spoke as if something was plucking annoyingly at her wings. “Why doesn’t he just end her and make this easy for everyone?”

  Drusiliel was still really angry about the fact that Malichiel had chosen to join the rebellion. Love or not, infatuation or lust, she would not betray her oath as an archangel. It was unfortunate that she would have to face her former mate in battle. This was going to be beyond awkward.

  “Knowing Michael, he would want to give Luciel and her rebellion a chance to recant and if they do not accept his offer…” Raphael trailed off and there were murmurs and nods of agreement from across the domain.

  “Even in the face of such insanity, he still wants to reason with these fools!” Raphael seethed. “Good thing he’s the leader.”

  “Good thing he put you in charge in case… you know,” Samaliel interjected.

  “Maybe he just wants one final hip-slapping before cutting off her head,” Gabriel’s sarcasm and cynicism were slowly becoming obnoxious. “You never know what gets him off.”

  Raphael glared at Gabriel and Gabriel cowered slightly.

  “We wait then,” Raphael said. “If he is having this conversation with Luciel, then it should not be a long one. If Michael is the same Michael that I know, that we all know, he will NEVER lose sight of what must be done. Granted, he may have certain reservations, but he will do what he feels he must. So, please, let us all grant him his request and continue to trust him. We have come this far and we certainly can go a little farther.”

  “Good thing I didn’t make you my right-hand for nothing,” Michael said, startling everyone in the domain.

  There were gasps and murmurs from everywhere as he walked among them, heading towards the center of the domain. There were clasping of forearms, pats on the shoulder, hugs and words of encouragement and support. When he was close to Raphael, both men clasps forearms firmly and nodded their mutual respects at each other. They released each other’s arms and Michael glanced in Uriel’s direction before he turned around to address his brethren.

  “My brothers and sisters,” Michael said. “I must start by thanking you for...” he paused for a few moments not knowing what to say.

  His emotions were getting the better of him. These were trying times indeed for every angel and archangel in the realm. The domain was so silent one could hear a feather fall to the floor.

  “Everything,” Michael continued. “I want to thank you all here present and those who are not here, but who are staying true to our cause, for everything. It is because of angels and archangels like you and I that Celestia still exists and we will keep it that way. No one, and I mean NO ONE, angel or not, will change that without having to go through us first!”

  There was a loud applause from every angel and archangel in the domain, except from Uriel. She watched and observed. While everyone saw a resilient and fierce leader, she saw an archangel barely clinging to the last feather of hope for a more preferable outcome. She knew him so well that she believed she could feel his feelings. And as Michael continued his speech, she continued to observe and appreciate the fact that the archangel supreme had not forgotten how to get a crowd all riled up.

  “Uriel must have told you all already about my intensions to go away for a moment,” Michael continued. “I, myself, do not fully comprehend my decision, but in my heart, I feel it is what I must do. My instinct dictates that I pursue this course of action and my instinct has never failed me. I do believe that my going away will be of great benefit to our cause. I asked Uriel to convey my message to you, because I thought at the moment that I would not come here myself to deliver it. But I changed my mind and I am glad I did.”

  There was more applause but not as much as the previous one.

  “As such, I’m making it official,” Michael said. “Raphael will lead the charge in my absence and in case I do not return before the war begins.”

  “TRAITOR!” an angel screamed from the back, startling everyone.

  The angel leapt in the air as a spear formed in both her hands. She was going for Michael’s neck but Michael did not even budge. He felt sorry for this lowly angel on her suicide mission. What a waste of an existence! But just as the angel was about to strike Michael, another angel zipped fro
m the left and blindsided her. The attacker crashed into the wall but quickly regained battle stance. Palubiel rose to her feet as well and calmly walked towards the attacker. Raphael raised a hand and everyone stayed in their positions.

  “Palubiel!” the attacker exclaimed. “I thought you were one of us!”

  “You thought wrong, Niziel,” Palubiel replied. “And unlike you, I have not forgotten who and what I am.”

  Palubiel summoned a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left hand.

  “And to get to my leader, you will have to go through me first!”

  “Then you will die along with your leader!” Niziel screamed and charged.

  The two younglings squared off in a battle that was fascinating for their peers, complimenting to their trainers and entertaining for the senior archangels. The angels were both young, but they fought at archangel level. They gave their all and as they fought, Michael realized how much loyalty there was with those who stood with him and those who stood for the rebellion. If these two younglings were ready to take existences away for a cause they so believed in, then he too must be ready to take existences in the name of Celestia. A deep sense of sorrow overwhelmed Michael at the notion of what was to come.

  After a few moments, Palubiel did a fake spin towards her left, baiting Niziel to attack to her left. Niziel took the bait and lashed out her spear in a horizontal arc towards Palubiel’s neck. But Palubiel did not complete her spin. Instead, she ducked and flung her shield at Niziel’s knee. The shield crashed into Niziel’s outer knee, knocking Niziel off balance. Before Niziel could regain her balance, Palubiel did a forward roll and as she came up, she lashed her sword in an upward arc, cutting off Niziel’s spear-bearing arm. Niziel screamed in pain as angel light oozed from the stump. Palubiel punched Niziel in the throat with her free hand and Niziel crashed to the ground. But when Niziel tried to get back on her feet, she was greeted by the tip of Palubiel’s sword in her face.