by Donovan Neal
Lucifer smiled as they moved to escape his gaze, and he watched as they attempted to hide in the midst of the trees of the garden. Laughing at their estrangement, he viewed them as they huddled together in fear. Lucifer floated in merriment on the traveling winds in the garden, landing near them and transforming himself into a being of light garnished with diamonds, topaz, and rubies, and his beauty stood apart from the withering of the green that quickly surrounded them.
"Now your kind will service me." And Lucifer looked upon them as they lay before him cowering, and saw that all that he had made was good.
Chapter Two
Ransomed
The Lord appeared quietly in the Garden, and the Shekinah of El's presence brought colored luminance to every nook and cranny of grey and darkness, penetrating every leaf and branch. His presence made the grass to sing and the garden itself spawned new life underfoot as He walked to find His children.
And Adam and his wife heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
The Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, "Where art thou?"
Adam said, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."
El replied, "Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?"
And the man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."
And El said unto the woman, "What is this that thou hast done?"
And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."
Then El said unto the serpent, “Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Unto the woman, He said, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow, thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
And unto Adam, He said, "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, ‘Thou shalt not eat of it’, cursed is the ground for thy sake. In sorrow shalt, thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
The Lord then took a lamb and held it so that Adam and his wife might see. And with his finger, He slit the kid's throat and blood flowed from its jugular and poured in great pools on the ground. Adam and his wife watched in horror, for never had they seen death, and they watched as the lamb jerked in the arm's of the Lord until its life was spent. Then the Lord with His own hand cut from its’ flesh the skin thereof, and with it fashioned coats of skins and clothed them.
And when Adam saw that his actions had brought death to another, that his own sin might be covered, he wept. Adam then turned to the Lord to speak, but the Lord raised His hand to silence him and spoke instead.
"Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever."
Immediately angels appeared throughout the Garden and the Lord raised his finger toward the exit of Eden and motioned for the man to depart.
Adam paused and hesitated for a moment, for the garden had been his home and he had never ventured from its domain. He looked with pleading eyes upon the Lord, but the Lord did not repent of His decision and called a wind that gusted and shoved Adam away from the Lord's presence.
Adam then grabbed the hand of his wife and sprinted to the Tree of Life, and the Lumazi materialized to bar his path and each held flaming swords that blocked the way to the tree. Adam cried out to the Lord, and Adam and his wife were afraid, for the Lord did not answer and turned his back to them as gusting winds buffeted them away.
Yet Adam refused to leave the Lord's side, and Michael, seeing that the man would not yield, moved towards him and pulled from his sheath the Sword of Ophanim, the blade with which he had battled Lucifer. Its blue flame ignited in front of Adam, and the sword split into seven swords with eyes roundabout and it roared at Adam, and Michael unleashed the blades to pursue the man and his wife and drive them from the Garden.
Adam and his wife fled from the flaming swords and whenever they ran from a path other than the exit to the garden, Cherubim materialized to keep them in the way. Each Cherubim herded them further from the Tree of Life and towards the exit of the garden. Adam and his wife sprinted from Michael's swords as gusts of wind pummeled them and the Lumazi barred them from the Tree of Life and the Lord.
The two humans ran to the edge of the Garden, and both turned to see the light of the Tree of Life shine brightly in the center of the garden dim as the forest of Eden's great trees, vines and limbs closed, and sealed shut the way behind them that they could no more return, and the living mist of the garden opened up ahead of them that they might see what lay before, and a barren wilderness of rock stood before them.
Lucifer watched them from afar and smiled that the Lord had ejected the man from his home, and thought to himself. If I cannot have home in paradise, neither shall the Clayborn. But when he gloated, the Lord saw it and spoke.
"Because thou hast done this thing, thou shalt never again enter the garden of thy covet. For it shall encircle the earth thereof, and men shall speak of its wonders from afar, and when in thy lust you shalt hear rumor that it is nigh thee, then it shall remove itself from thee, ever to flee from thy face until the end come."
Suddenly the mist which covered the garden glowed bright, shimmered, and then in a flash of light disappeared, and nothing was seen but barren wasteland in its wake.
"Noooo!" Lucifer screamed
He flew to the area of where the Garden had been and reached to grasp the dark soil, and the black earth fell from between his fingers as his tears wet the ground, and Michael watched his brother’s anguish from afar.
El turned his eyes heavenward and the Lumazi then lifted themselves up to the sky as great Ladders appeared to return the court to the palace. When Lucifer saw that they were set to return to the realm immortal, he lifted himself to pursue them, and as he rose to escape the confines of the Earth and her moon he was flung back to the ground by a force unseen, and Lucifer cried obscenities after his brethren who continued on as their Ladders pulled them past the second heaven into the third, away from all things earthly and celestial, while the former Chief Prince plummeted as a meteor back to the earth.
*********************
The Lord and the royal court were assembled back in the Throne room, and each of the cherub princes sought to speak over one another as none deferred to the other and El quietly looked at Michael who immediately understood his Lord's will. Michael motioned with his hand and his brethren grew quiet and allowed him to speak.
"Lucifer yet walks the Earth. He will not leave the humans alone. My Lord, thou hast denied him home to Heaven, and hast removed from his hand the palace of his covet. Yet still he abides free. I know what is in thy mind. You have allowed me to see. Though injury to you is of your will, your plan will not see fruition for many days to come. Lucifer will not cease his grasp for the throne."
Argoth immediately jumped into the pause that Michael had left for El to respond.
"Lord, thou hast placed within the Garden all that man might ever need. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the one thing you forbade, was not needed by man. A home of plenty, sustenance, provision and knowledge ever was before him to grasp from thee. ONE command, my Lord! He had but one command, yet he hast rebelled agai
nst thee. One command that if disobeyed would bring forth his death. Why then doest the man still live? Where is the justice of my king that punishment for rebellion would be meted out on our brethren within the span of a day but death not come to Adam?" And all were silent at the audaciousness of Argoth to question the justice of God in this thing.
Michael winced at the remark and commented, "Would thou question the wisdom of God? Is the righteousness of God on trial? Was not such thought seed in Apollyon's mind? A seed that hast lead us to the genesis of covetousness today? Who is more gracious than our God, and who hast given us breath that we might have life? Where can such query lead but to division and to undermine the realm?"
El interjected before anyone else could speak, "Argoth's question poses no threat to us. For we are, and ever shall be. I AM that I AM. Verily the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Yet Adam is my image in the Earth, and in my mercy, I will see that debt of justice paid. Adam hath sinned against me. He shall surely die. Yet I will not blot my image and the work of my hands from the Earth. Am I not a Father? Did not I breathe into him my own spirit and give him dominion? Adam hast indeed rebelled, yet Lucifer hast provoked me to wrath to destroy him as my image now carries a plague of sin. Therefore, I will bring ruin on he who would defile and tamper with my image and bring justice and succor the man. But the time of fulfillment is many days to come. But know of a surety that it shall come to pass. For yet a vessel must be prepared that Lucifer's actions might be undone."
Gabriel looked at the Lord and spoke. "Lord, how can the council sit idle and stand aside to a future yet to come while conspiracy exists to destroy our Father?"
El smiled and replied, "Thou art concerned for my welfare? Noted, but there is much that cannot be relayed, for the time of reckoning is not yet nigh. For even now Lucifer moves to contaminate the realm. He is not yet defeated.”
Gabriel paced in agitation, and finally blurted out to God, "But Lord why is he still allowed to roam free? He must be destroyed!"
Each of the younger princes nodded in agreement toward one another, awaiting any reply from El.
Michael looked at Gabriel with concern, remembering his own bout of anger with Iofiel.
El spoke to them all. "I will not destroy my son, but he will serve to further my will even as Abaddon lived to show that my will shall not be thwarted. For what would thou have of me?"
El looked at Gabriel, who blurted back in anger, “Let us call down fire upon him, that he might be consumed. The realms must be rid of his influence!"
The Lord looked upon His son and frowned. "You do not know the spirit with which you speak."
Jerahmeel jumped into the conversational fray to bring clarity to them all.
"The Lord is not here to destroy but to save. For the—."
Azaziel interrupted. "Perhaps he may be turned?"
The throne room went quiet and all looked at Azaziel with curious and questioning eyes.
Jerahmeel replied, "He has plotted the overthrow of the Father. He hast committed murder, his hatred for Apollyon hast robbed him of his birthright. He has marched armies into the city to its destruction and authorized the slaying of countless Elohim. Lucifer will not be turned. His cause is to be God, and he will stand for nothing but this goal alone. No—Lucifer is lost."
Azaziel nodded, "Yea, all that thou say is true, yet there are some who report that he seemed reluctant to launch the offensive—perhaps—"
El then spoke and all immediately turned to look upon God.
"To thine credit, I see that thine heart and eye yet feels compassion that Lucifer might be turned. But know that thy brother has left his first estate. But lo, go down if thou must, and see to thy brother. But know of a surety that his time is not yet come. Reason with him that he might repent from his cause, and see for thine self that Lucifer is no more. If he hears thee, then bring him before me and if he confesses his sin and turns from his way, then even the Lord is not without mercy. But know this, he is Satan now: the Adversary to my will and his heart has hardened and will not be turned..."
And while the words were still fresh on the Lords' lips, the ground shook violently and the angels wondered if they were again under attack by the enemies of the throne, and El turned solemn as they looked upon him, and he frowned.
"Fear not,” said the Lord, “for thy brother's tantrum hast come."
*********************
Lucifer was enraged and raised his fists in anger at the God of Heaven. "El, I curse your name, for though Heaven be denied me, know of a surety that Heaven shall never ignore me!"
Lucifer reached into his robes and took the keys of Death and Hell, and plunged them into the ground, speaking in the angelic tongue.
"Give birth O soil and make thou room.
Though there be no Kiln, arise from thy womb.
O furnace of affliction, forge of anguish, thou seat, and penal see.
Loose thy bands from Heaven
And thy tortured captives with thee!"
When the words of Lucifer had left his lips, a great seal as a dial appeared in the sky and a Ladder opened, and Lucifer could see into the Third Heaven. The mountain of Hell erupted in fire and shook the floor of Heaven and the ground quaked. A great chasm opened under the mountain and Hell erupted and collapsed in on itself and fell as into a great sinkhole.
Citizens sought to escape as once more terror-filled Heaven. Angels traumatized only a week before over Ladders that had fallen from the sky to obliterate them; now grew pale as haunts of their destruction flashed before them. Some froze in fear that once more Heaven was under siege, and many of the populace sought cover as the mountain ejected fire, and a great cloud of smoke sprinted as a wave toward the city, covering the kingdom in darkness. The floor of Heaven exploded and the Cadmime beams and struts which kept the Maelstrom and Heaven at bay from one another collapsed and the ground groaned and opened up to swallow all things that laid atop of it. Once more Heaven felt the sting of death as the collapse of Hell into Heaven's floor sent masses of rock, buildings, and angels sucked into the hurricane winds of the celestial storm. The people cried out in wails for God to save them.
El heard His people's cry, and He spoke and Heaven righted herself. Yet Hell did not stop her descent and the great mountain moaned and the sound of boulders scraping against the abrasive touch of rock filled the air, and Hell separated from Heaven and fell as a great star through galaxies, and plummeted toward the small blue world that El had made.
El, knowing that the fall would leave His minted world lifeless spoke and said, "Peace be still." And when He spoke all quakes stopped and angels that had been flung into the Maelstrom were suspended in the air, as if dangling. Each angel hovered momentarily over the Abyss and then was gently moved by the invisible hand of El and placed on solid ground. Where cadmime beams had buckled and strained under the collapse of the great mountain, El's word held Heaven aloft and kept at bay the Maelstrom: that it sheared at Heaven's face no more. Hell continued her descent and hurtled toward the Earth. El slowed the descent of the mountain, and it landed to create a great range of mountains underneath the seas, and the land rose to breathe fire, and El let the mountain fall but in mercy prevented Hell from obliterating the life of men.
El then spoke and said, "Charon dost not possess his keys."
He looked at Michael knowing that his son no longer carried them and then frowned, for he saw that Lucifer stood on the spot of Hell's peak and spoke the command to summon the Warden from his prison.
"My Lord?" said Michael.
"Lucifer hast laid claim to that which thou hast not kept. For he who holds the keys to Death and Hell may on command unleash my vengeance."
Michael's eyes opened wide and his mouth was agape in horror. "Lord, no! Lucifer can not be allowed to possess the keys to Death and Hell!"
God watched and His face was grim as the flaming mountain of Hell hissed smoke, fire, and blistering heat.
"He has not stolen the keys, lest they would return
on command. But another hast through neglect allowed for their surrender. Thy carelessness of the power of God hast limited the Holy One that I cannot repent of this thing."
"But Lord, Lucifer cannot be allowed to control the vengeance of God and Hell!"
"I have sworn to my own hurt. I AM THE LORD, I changeth not. Nevertheless, your word is true, that he cannot be allowed to hold the keys in perpetuity. For he wilt surely destroy the man that I have made, and seek still to usurp that which he can never take. For the keys were given to steward. And the steward hast through neglect ceded them to thy brother."
Michael was silent and saddened by the Lord saying that he neglected the power of God, yet he knew that God was right in his judgment and thoughts of how he might undo that which had been done raced through his mind. However, the rest of the Lumazi was wroth, and demanded who had done such a thing.
El knowing their hearts calmed them, saying, "It is naught but as I have seen. For now, my son must be tested, that the end of all things might come."
Yet Argoth would not cease, and said, "If the Vengeance of God is now held captive by the rebel son, then I pray that my Lord would allow us to go in thy name, and be as vengeance to he who would steal, kill, and destroy."
And the thing which Argoth said displeased the Lord and he spoke to all the Lumazi, "And would you also seek vengeance on he that hast razed our home? Would you seek to apprehend him who wast the anointed cherub that covered that you might bring him before me now?"
Azaziel, youngest among them, spoke while those older on the council were silent in repose. "Yea Lord, we would have him chained, and Hell be home to him."
Gabriel, Jerahmeel, and Talus stood silent, and Michael set himself to sit on the steps, huddled at the foot of the Lord.
El's face became saddened, and He turned to His son Michael. "And what say you? Wilt you also take up arms to wrest Lucifer from his throne?"
"Nay," said Michael. “I will not leave thy side. Only at thy command will I leave thee. Nor will I forsake thee, for I know what the end must be."
