In Rebellion (Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven, Book II)

by John J Higgins

  Dubriel was equally determined and landed with a group of his Cherubim Angels, placing themselves between Luciferael and the Throne Room. But before Dubriel and the loyal Angels could attack the formation of rebel Angels, Luciferael stepped forward to protect his own rebels as he gave off an amplified blast of sound from the horn that hung around his neck aimed directly at Dubriel. The Potentates’ energy magnified and directed Luciferael's horn's sound waves to the extent that the blast knocked back Dubriel and his Cherubim, clearing a path to the Throne Room.

  Jarahmael was moving along the ground of the Seventh Heaven to join Dubriel, but the blast of the horn stunned Jarahmael too, who was on the fringes of the aimed sound waves, knocking him down to the ground. Most of the loyal Angels in the Seventh Heaven who were in the targeted area in front of Luciferael’s amplified horn were all dazed and harmed from the blast. Not able to stand again immediately after the blast, Jarahmael watched as Luciferael's other Archangels stormed up from the fighting below and joined the ranks of his protector Cherubim as they approached the entrance doors into the Throne Room. Luciferael’s blasts through his horn were well aimed and did not affect anyone who was behind him, so this strategy allowed his own rebel angels to follow him and reinforce his approach. Still lying stunned on the cloud-like ground of the Seventh Heaven, the effects of the blast made Jarahmael want to stop fighting, and he would have, save for a voice that came into his mind that told him he needed to get up again and fight; this was not the time to give up.

  Nothing seemed to be able to stop Luciferael when he used the horn amplified by the Potentate Angels, Jarahmael thought. He realized this was the method he had used to break through the bottleneck between the Fourth and Third Heavens. A powerful combination.

  Jarahmael and some of the other loyal Angels had known of Luciferael’s new use of these horns but none had the time or opportunity to develop any technique against them. Quite understandable as the loyals did not even their own access to these weapons for most of the rebellion.

  But Jarahmael was determined not to give up and neither were Dubriel and his loyal Cherubim. Despite being stunned, they regrouped. Dubriel attempted again to block Luciferael from gaining entrance into the Throne Room, but another set of blasts by Luciferael's horns just drove him and his loyal Cherubim further backwards. Despite their valor, Dubriel and his remaining loyal Cherubim were unable to block Luciferael and his rebel Angels from the Throne Room. Nor would they be able to survive many more of the blasts.

  Jarahmael realized that he had to do something and quickly, in order to keep Luciferael away from the Throne itself. Gathering himself together after the latest blast, Jarahmael took flight to see what, if any, other reinforcements were available. As he flew past the gateway into the Sixth Heaven, he glanced back down to see how things were going on that level. The fighting continued there with Luciferael's forces entangled in a warrior's dance with Michael's forces, fighting and tumbling in the upper region of the Sixth Heaven. Cerebriel's loyal Cherubim were still fighting to slow down any additional troops of the rebel forces as they moved upwards through the gateway into the Seventh Heaven to support Luciferael's attack. Cerebriel’s and Jarahmael's columns would soon be outnumbered by Luciferael's legions as they would be in the Seventh Heaven fighting Jarahmael’s smaller force while Michael’s larger force of loyal Angels would still be stuck in the lower Sixth Heaven. If the rebel Angels succeeded in taking over the Seventh Heaven, there would be no escape for Jarahmael and Cerebriel, who would then be the ones trapped.

  As Luciferael moved ever closer to the Throne Room, he kept the horn handy so he could aim it and use it again to strike down any and all of the loyal Angels in his path. Jarahmael decided that he would have to battle Luciferael inside the Throne Room and headed directly towards its center. He would then be in position in the Throne Room to block Luciferael from the Throne itself and hope by some miracle that he could defeat Luciferael before he discovered the power available to him by taking over the Throne itself. He knew that Luciferael was going after the Book of Creation, thinking that he needed them to gain the powers of the Almighty, and that it would take a few moments for Luciferael to realize that the Book of Creation was merely a substituted fake. It would take a while longer for Luciferael to discover that the Throne had its own inherent power, but it would not be too long before he realized that the loyal Angels would not be able to defeat him once he was upon the Throne. Then it was only a matter of time before Luciferael gained full control over the Universe.

  Jarahmael landed on the edge of the skylight and looked down into the Throne Room where he could see the Throne itself. For a moment he thought of taking over and sitting on the Throne himself; he would, after all, use the immense power only for good. He had a quick vision of what had happened to Luciferael from the first day of creation until now, and realized that the same twisted ambition could overcome him as well. Besides, Jarahmael’s loyalty was to the Almighty and he had not seen enough in the Book of Creation to determine how exercising that level of power could affect an Archangel or would affect the Almighty Himself.

  Having made his decision, Jarahmael dropped down through the skylight and positioned himself off to the right side of the Throne, concealing himself behind some pillars. He did not want to be seen by Luciferael or any other rebel Angel. He would be vastly outnumbered and still needed the element of surprise.

  It was not long before Luciferael and his rebel Archangels entered the Throne Room. The other members of Luciferael's lead legions turned and faced the doors protecting the entranceway into the Throne Room. This way they could protect the rear of Luciferael’s formation, and protect their seizure of the Throne Room. Luciferael remained on foot and walked towards the Throne itself. The six Potentates, Beelzebael and Mephistophael accompanied him, while Mammonael remained behind with the other rebel Cherubim to supervise the defense of the entranceway.

  The chances of the loyal Angels preventing Luciferael from taking over the Throne and the Heavens diminished with every step Luciferael took, Jarahmael thought to himself. I will have to fight at least three Archangels and I don't have any idea of what to do with the Potentates.

  Suddenly, there was a loud rumble at the entranceway to the Throne Room, followed by the doors being thrust inwards. Loyal Cherubim were battling their way into the Throne Room. Jarahmael watched as Luciferael spun around with his connection to the Potentates reestablished. But Luciferael did not have a clean line of fire to send the sound blast down the Throne Room, not without hitting a good portion of his own Angels.

  Luciferael then said something to Beelzebael and Mephistophael that Jarahmael could not hear. The two Archangels immediately took off flying back to the entranceway, and started fighting as soon as they landed there. Luciferael then turned and came towards the Throne again, his Potentate Angels still alongside of him.

  Jarahmael then saw his brother, Michael the Archangel, and some of his legion by the doors leading into the Throne Room in pursuit of Luciferael and his contingent of rebel Angels. Michael had finally broken through Luciferael’s main legions and was now trying to get through one of the opened doors at the far end of the Throne Room, in pursuit of Luciferael and his small group.

  Beelzebael and Mephistophael then took to the air flying upwards and out the entranceway into the Throne Room, with the majority of rebel Angels following the two of them.

  Michael's legions continued entering into the Throne Room, determined to protect the Throne. Luciferael slowly faced the loyal Angels’ legions coming at him, now without the protection of his own legions. Michael led the charge, his sword out, ready to battle Luciferael on his own.

  From his vantage point, Jarahmael could see that Luciferael was smiling broadly at Michael as he continued to charge against the golden-tipped Angel. Then Jarahmael saw the electrical charge between Luciferael and the Potentates grow bright, and then Luciferael brought the horn back to his lips. The sound blasted yet again before Jarahmael could do anythi
ng to stop it, this time aimed at the rear of the Throne Room, and at Michael and his legions. The blast knocked Michael and his group of loyal Angels clear out the door of the Throne Room. Once there on the ground and stunned, they were attacked from above by Beelzebael, Mephistophael, and the rebel Angels who had just fled left the Throne Room moments before.

  It was clear to Jarahmael that Luciferael was toying with the loyal Angels under Michael and enjoyed keeping them at bay. Luciferael was not concerned about losing the war, he had already won it. Twice. He stood there unopposed, near the Almighty’s Throne in the Throne Room of the highest Heaven, surrounded and supported by six powerful Potentate Angels. Michael and his legions could not dislodge him. It was only a matter of time before Luciferael figured out that he could control the whole Universe by seating himself upon the Throne. It would become obvious that no one would be able to dislodge him from the seat and that any command or spell issued from the Throne would become law in the Universe. Even without the Almighty's Books, it would be impossible to dislodge Luciferael and his Archangels from here. And with the power of the Potentates under his control within that sacred space, no one knew what other powers Luciferael would be able to exploit.

  There was only one hope. Jarahmael had to break the bond between Luciferael and the six Potentates. Jarahmael decided it was time to attack Luciferael, because if he could get Luciferael to use the Potentates again to fend off his attack, there would be a short time where the Potentates had to rebuild their power after they discharged their electrical energy. During that brief time Luciferael would be vulnerable. And at the moment, Luciferael did not have the rest of his Cherubim guards available, his Auxilium and the rest of Luciferael's legion was occupied outside the Throne Room, near its entrance where the loyal legions had been thrown.

  Jarahmael took flight from his place of hiding and flew directly at Luciferael, striking him as he was moving closer to the Throne. Using the full brunt of his own weight and strength, Jarahmael struck Luciferael with a great deal of force, enough to send him out of circle of Potentates and onto the floor of the Throne Room.

  Jarahmael hoped that would be enough to break the ability of Luciferael to amplify his sound blasts using the energy from the Potentates. As Jarahmael flew back to attack Luciferael, now that he was separated from his Potentates, he drew his two swords from their sheaths. Luciferael watched Jarahmael draw his swords and drew his own swords, and they clashed and began to sword fight with one another.

  “I will destroy you, Jarahmael!” Luciferael called out to him, striking his sword with such force that Jarahmael flinched when it hit. “You have lied to me and betrayed the Beings of Light. Before this day is over you shall see me crowned as the new Almighty and everything that has been yours shall be mine!”

  “If that is my fate so be it, Luciferael. But I shall not betray the Almighty,” Jarahmael said as he fought back, his sword narrowly missing Luciferael's face.

  “The Almighty is gone, Jarahmael. He was too embarrassed that his Simians and Humans were a complete failure and need to be destroyed. He does not have the fortitude to destroy them on the spot as I did with the dinosaurs,” Luciferael said while forcing Jarahmael to back up from the force of his blows.

  “The Almighty will return!” Jarahmael said as his swords struck back at Luciferael.

  “He will not dare show His face, I will control all of the Heavens, the Earth and the rest of the Universe before long, and He will not be welcome. And if He is not careful I will send Him along with the rest of you and the Angels who oppose me into permanent imprisonment.”

  “And where will that be, Luciferael?” Jarahmael asked.

  “Why, in the same place your brother Michael sent the first of my dinosaurs that he destroyed and then buried in the fires deep beneath the Earth. That's where you and all your brethren will be sentenced, Jarahmael.”

  “Better to be sent there than to have to serve you, Luciferael!” Jarahmael responded defiantly.

  Luciferael then attacked Jarahmael with a rapid barrage of sword strokes, driving him further back. This gave him enough time to quickly reconnect with the Potentates who remained above. Taap of the Potentates, seeing the break and opportunity, quickly completed the circuit to Luciferael, who took up his horn and blew a blast of sound that hurled Jarahmael and his swords backwards against the side wall of the Throne Room.

  Jarahmael could still see, but could hardly move, the energy had been pounded out of him. He watched as Luciferael began to move towards him, his sword drawn. He leaned over Jarahmael and lifted his head up by his hair so he could speak directly to his face.

  “This is the beginning of the rest of eternity for you, lord Jarahmael. You almost ruined my plans, but you see that no one can defeat me, don't you? You could have had it all, I thought you had more potential than all the other Archangels to be my second in command. But that is all gone now.”

  Luciferael dropped Jarahmael's head down again and began to walk back towards the Throne.

  Then out of the corner of his eye, Jarahmael could see Michael flying through the Throne Room. Cerebriel, Gabriel and Uriel immediately behind him, Cherubim and other Orders of Angels following all of them.

  Jarahmael watched as Luciferael turned to face them as they approached, reconnecting with the Potentates and their energy. Then he took out his horn again and aimed it at the approaching loyal Angels.

  I must stop him before he sends off a blast at them, Jarahmael thought to himself. But I can hardly move! Then he remembered what Cerebriel had told him and taught him on their recent ascension through the Heavens.

  If I can strike Luciferael with a lightning bolt and stun him or break his connection with the Potentates he will not have as much power and can be captured. Jarahmael tried to change his light energy wavelengths as he had with Cerebriel, but found that he could not get his energy level where it needed to be to discharge and failed to produce any lightning.

  And he watched, as the power connection between the Potentates and Luciferael continued to grow.

  After the first failed attempt, Jarahmael remembered in better detail what Cerebriel had taught him in order to generate lightning. Luciferael and his Potentates moved closer to each other. Jarahmael altered his light wave energy and felt its strength course through his body. The intensity grew for him, to a level he had never experienced before. At the same time, Jarahmael watched as everything slowed down. He watched as Luciferael started receiving an intense charge from the surrounding Potentates and he watched as Luciferael then raised the horn once again to his lips.

  Finally Jarahmael felt a massive surge of energy arise within him. He raised his right arm and pointed his index finger directly at Luciferael's horn and face, and sent the lightning bolt out of his body, just as Luciferael began to blow out of the horn. Light and lightning travel faster than sound, even Potentate-amplified sound, so the sound never left Luciferael's horn.

  The lightning bolt struck the horn, turning it into dust and causing an explosion where Luciferael stood. He was kicked backwards against the wall across from Jarahmael. Each of the Potentates was sent flying off into their own directions, rolling and tumbling through the air. Luciferael was stunned by the blast and remained incapacitated as Michael and the rest of his warriors re-occupied the Throne Room.

  A few moments later, Jarahmael could hear Cerebriel and Gabriel report that Luciferael's legions had been sent into a rout once again. Suriel had not been able to keep the main rebel force together under the attack of the loyal Archangels and their legions, and without the presence of Luciferael, Mammonael, Mephistophael and Beelzebael the rebel Angels lost the will to fight.

  Michael turned to Gabriel and said, “Tell Ariel and Uriel to join you and round up the rest of Luciferael's Angels. I do not want them running around free in the Heavens any longer. Send Raphael and his legion up here to help Jarahmael and repair whatever injury or damage that has been inflicted here.”

  “Now it’s our turn!” Gabri
el exclaimed as he turned and went off to capture the rest of Luciferael's rebel Angels. It would soon be over now.

  Chapter 48

  OPPORTUNITY FOR REDEMPTION

  Jarahmael slowly recovered his strength, having used all the strength he had when he created the lightning bolt he sent into Luciferael. Michael had his foot firmly across Luciferael's throat, pressing down, holding him in place. The rest of Michael's warrior Angels had Luciferael's cohort held down as well all across the floor of the Throne Room in the Seventh Heaven.

  “Michael,” Luciferael gasped. “Why are you doing this to me? I created you and gave you life.”

  “Not true, Luciferael!” responded Michael angrily. “You were part of the process that gave me life, but it was the Almighty that made all of us.”

  Michael looked around and saw the other rebel Archangels that had joined with Luciferael in the rebellion. He motioned to Jarahmael to release Sammuael. Jarahmael had confined Sammuael within the Crystal Prism when he rescued Michael and Ariel from captivity in the Hall of the Virtues.

  Jarahmael held out the prism and stated: “Solvo Angelus!”

  A stream of light came out of the pyramid-shaped crystal and Sammuael was deposited on the floor along with the rest of the Cheribum guards that Jarahmael had captured. Jarahmael stepped forward and quickly put a spear against Sammuael’s chest holding him down while a contingent of loyal Angels surrounded the rebel Cheribum and did the same. Sammuael writhed in anger, his face contorted, and his eyes fiery in defiance.

  Michael looked around at his loyal Archangels and then looked over at the prone bodies of Beelzebael, Mephistophael, Damiel, Mammonael and Suriel. In the background he saw the other rebel Angels surrounded and subdued by his victorious army comprised of the lesser Orders of Angels.