glaring at Pellecus. "However, I do agree with you that Day Six
grows burdensome. I wish He would get on with it and finish the
work." He looked at the others and added, "When His work on
earth ends, mine will begin. Glorious days ahead, brothers!"
Lucifer led the group through a path already worn by the
newly created beasts of the field. They surveyed the animals,
amazed by the variety. "Notice that they are paired off," said
Lucifer. "Like every other living thing on this world, these crea-
tures are blessed with the ability of reproducing after their own
198 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
kind. Quite an imaginative way of filling the planet, hmm? The
creatures themselves become procreators."
"The Most High was wise in that He didn't allow angels the
ability to reproduce themselves," said Pellecus humorously. "It
would be difficult to imagine two Michaels for example! Or two
Lucifers..."
"There is only one Lucifer," said Lucifer, smiling. "That is
quite sufficient!"
"And a good thing--else we would have two angels wishing
to be named steward!" Tinius added.
Lucifer looked at him coldly. "I only serve those who would have
me named steward Tinius--I do not serve myself in this matter!"
"Of course, lord," said Tinius sheepishly.
"At any rate," continued Pellecus, "the Lord has decreed that
these animals shall fill the earth. What a mind our Lord has. Such
an imaginative mind! Look at them!"
Pellecus pointed to a group of gazelles gracefully bounding
through a meadow, while nearby a lioness was playing with a cub.
The sound of an elephant trumpeting in the distance added to
earth's music. "Such a wide array of creatures," Pellecus went on.
"A marvelous mind to be sure!"
"Marvelous indeed," admitted Lucifer. "But what good is a
mind which is stagnant and closed to change? True, the Creation
demonstrates the capacity of our Lord to think great, imaginative
thoughts." An eagle soared lazily overhead and Lucifer watched it
for a moment or two. "But I do the same when I compose a worship
service, do I not? Yet my mind is ever evolving. Our Lord's mind
remains fixed. This is precisely the point that you were making
with the wisdom angels at the Academy, dear Pellecus! Such a pity
we must come up against such a mind!"
"If I may digress, dear prince," said Tinius, "I must congratu-
late you on your boldness in dealing with Michael. Your meetings
with him seem to have soothed his curiosities."
"As I said, Tinius, the best way to deal with your opponent is
to deal with your opponent!" He laughed. "However, I only met
with him the one time. Just prior to Kara and the Council barging
"Was it really from this position all of Heaven was to quake?" 199
in and demanding I take the stewardship of earth." He looked at
the two angels, smiling. "Michael's look was priceless!"
"I speak of the more recent occasion," said Tinius. "Just before
the debate."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Tinius," snapped
Lucifer. "I haven't seen or spoken to Michael since the meeting to
which I refer. Except of course when he interrupted that splendid
scene Pellecus caused at the Academy!"
"That is odd," Tinius responded. "Michael was at your door
prior to the debate. Serus allowed him in."
"Serus never mentioned to me that Michael came to call," said
Lucifer, confused and a little angry. "How do you know this?"
"I saw him myself," said Tinius. "I was on my way to the
debate and observed Michael at your door. Serus looked quite agi-
tated and quickly ushered him in. I naturally thought you were
inside."
"I was not," said Lucifer. "I was in the Academy talking with
Kara at the time." Lucifer's aura began to manifest around him. "So
Michael spoke with Serus..." Lucifer's eyes now gave off a bluish
glow as he became more and more agitated. He looked at Pellecus
and Tinius.
"Where is Serus?" he almost whispered.
----------------
Serus was thinking about the conversation he had had with
Michael. As he wandered through Lucifer's great house he won-
dered if he had not made a critical mistake. Surely word would get
back to Lucifer that he had spoken with the archangel. A fear
gripped Serus as he contemplated the confrontation with Lucifer--
most likely in front of the entire Council. He wished he had never
contacted Michael. And still...
He entered the room where the Council of Worship met. The
room seemed strangely quiet given the usual activity that tran-
spired here. He looked at the large table that served as the focus of
strategy. It was from here that Lucifer had launched his bid for
becoming earth's ruler. Serus began to circle the table, placing his
200 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
hand upon the chairs that seated the more prominent members of
the group. As he did so he thought of those angels and how their
destinies were bound to Lucifer's.
Here sits the wisdom angel Tinius: reserved, careful, often
doubtful. But quite clever. He smiled as he thought of Tinius' ever-
present misgivings which Lucifer always artfully dealt with. Tinius
was always prepared to raise questions though backed off defend-
ing the issues he raised. However, his ambitious nature tied him
closely to Lucifer.
Next to Tinius, opposite Lucifer at the head of the table sits the
esteemed Pellecus. The brilliant and bitter Pellecus had helped
Lucifer fashion a philosophical impetus for their movement. He
was shrewd, ambitious and, where the Academy was concerned,
vengeful. Serus moved behind the chair and looked down the table
to Lucifer's chair. The chair seemed filled with Lucifer's com-
manding presence. These two were skilled at manipulating the dis-
cussion between them to a desired outcome.
The next seat was reserved for Lenaes, the Keeper of the Light,
a symbolic office granted him by the Most High. Lenaes was
shrewd, reserved and calculating. Lenaes rarely spoke up in Coun-
cil, but was probably one of the more dedicated angels in the move-
ment. It was Lenaes who would become Lucifer's liaison to the
court of Heaven one day--the embassy from earth.
The final wisdom angel was Belor, whose title Angel of Light
bore with it the responsibility to teach accurately the truths of the
Most High. Belor had long since departed from teaching and, like
Pellecus, dreamed of the time when he could put to rest the notions
of Crispin and the other arrogant angels, whose preferred teaching
had driven him and Pellecus out of the Academy.
The next four chairs were reserved for the worship angels
Drachon, Fineo, Sar and the recently chaired Berenius, who took
over Sangius' position. Of the four, Berenius was by far the most
cunning. Alert, daring and articulate, Berenius was a rising star in
Lucifer's world and his future in the new regime was assured. Dra-
chon and Fineo were bou
nd to Lucifer for their love of praise and
saw themselves in exalted roles on earth as leaders in the worship
"Was it really from this position all of Heaven was to quake?" 201
there. Sar was something of an outsider whose desire for promi-
nence in Heaven found refuge in Lucifer's world.
Serus moved to the final four chairs which hosted the warring
branch of the Council: Rugio, Vel, Prian and Nathan. Led by Rugio,
who commanded the Legion of the Fiery Host, these angels repre-
sented Lucifer's strength in terms of the ability to wage war. Rugio
was brutal, strong and loyal, but also tended to be headstrong and
impetuous. His warrior charges Vel, Prian and Nathan blindly took
their orders from him and together they represented a large num-
ber of warrior angels who were drifting to this adventurous cause.
Finally Serus came to Lucifer's chair. Slightly larger than the
others, it was from this seat that the lord of a few opposed the Lord
of all. Serus suddenly found the entire idea amusing. Was it really
from this position that all Heaven was to quake? He felt both proud
and ashamed of his master: proud, because of the boldness and
brashness which seemed to be carrying Lucifer to a sure steward-
ship of earth; ashamed because in his heart he knew Lucifer was
wrong.
He thought of the many conversations which had taken place
in this very room; of things seditious and secretive; of things per-
verse and presumptuous; of things arrogant and abasing. He could
see Lucifer, self-assured as ever, discussing disturbing issues in
such a manner that by the time he was finished any angel might
hold with him.
He could envision Pellecus affirming Lucifer's dialog with
philosophical jargon and nonsensical angelic logic which, by the
conclusion of the meeting, seemed to make perfect sense.
He also thought of poor Sangius, who had opposed Lucifer,
and was disgraced by being removed from the Council and having
his name besmirched at the Temple by angels acting on Lucifer's
orders.
As these thoughts flooded his mind, Serus also thought of the
words which Michael had spoken to him: how the Lord was always
ready to receive one who was truly prepared to turn to Him. Hadn't
Sangius recently recovered his joy? If Sangius could recover his
name and fellowship among the Host, could not Serus? Yet there
202 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
was a hesitation, a doubt which gnawed at Serus, and which ham-
mered away at him accusing him of his unworthiness to serve the
Most High. He was in too deeply with Lucifer and must now see it
through to the end--not because he wanted to, but because he felt
he deserved the same fate as Lucifer.
Serus had already secretly taken the position that Lucifer
could not possibly prevail. At best he would be completely over-
whelmed by Michael; at worst he would be completely destroyed.
He glanced again at the chairs and thought of how each of these
prominent angels might one day become a byword for rebellion.
He tossed his own name in the mix as well. Serus was certainly not
prominent, but he was as guilty as the rest.
He walked over to the large window from which Lucifer often
brooded. The Temple looked glorious as usual, sparkling in the dis-
tance. If there were only a way that led back to that place of fel-
lowship with the Most High he would certainly take it. His eyes fell
casually to a chart on a side table that was a map of the Kingdom.
He picked it up and lost himself for a moment as he surveyed the
layout of Heaven.
All the paths lead to the Temple eventually, should one desire to
make the journey, came a thought. He lay the map down and started
to walk away when suddenly something deep inside him repeated
the phrase. This time he looked around certain that someone in the
room had spoken the words, but realized that the voice he was
hearing was from within. A sensation suddenly stirred with him--
something ancient, something sacred, something that he had not
felt in a very long time. He could barely recognize it, yet it was
quite distinct. It hearkened back to a different time, a happier time,
a joyful time. It was the unmistakable presence of the Holy One.
----------------
"Serus!" boomed Lucifer. "Serus!"
No answer.
Lucifer glared at Pellecus and Tinius who had followed him
back to Heaven after their discussion on earth. They looked at each
other and said nothing.
"Was it really from this position all of Heaven was to quake?" 203
"I am astonished that he is not here!" Lucifer growled. His
aura was so bright that the room was filled with bluish light, cast-
ing an icy pallor on everything. "I will see him serve in the remotest
part of this universe!" he bellowed. "SERUS!"
"Perhaps he is simply at worship," offered Tinius.
"Serus? At worship?" Lucifer laughed. "He worships here.
No, I believe he is with Michael. Serus is the one angel in Heaven
who could damage me. And now he is with the one angel in Heav-
en who could disrupt all of my plans? I have been betrayed!"
"My lord, until you speak with Serus you cannot possibly
make that assumption," said Pellecus. "If he did speak with
Michael, better to court him than punish him."
Lucifer thought about Pellecus's words for a moment. The
blue aura began to subside as Lucifer calmed down. "I quite agree,"
he finally said. "I'll deal with him in my own way." Lucifer paced
the room thinking. "Serus is easily swayed. Better to hold him close
and offer him something than put him out where he cannot be
trusted."
As he spoke those words the door opened and Serus ambled
in. Pellecus and Tinius stepped out of the room and met Serus com-
ing in. He carried with him a large scroll. When he saw Pellecus
and Tinius he knew immediately that Lucifer was in the house and
his casual attitude deserted him. Pellecus motioned in the next
rooms and said, "He's in there." Tinius simply smirked at him.
Lucifer had by now completely regained his composure, real-
izing that in dealing with Serus a soft answer would yield much
greater benefit. He asked Serus to sit down--a first in their rela-
tionship. Serus began to sit in a side chair but Lucifer motioned him
to the table.
"No, no, Serus," said Lucifer. "Here, at the table."
"The Council table?" asked Serus meekly.
"Of course," said Lucifer. "After all, you aspire to sit on this
Council one day, do you not?"
"I have always thought about that," admitted Serus.
"Excellent," said Lucifer. "What have you there?"
204 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
Serus held out the scroll he was carrying. "I borrowed this
from the Academy library. Polias recommended it as a good source
on the creation of the angels."
"Well," said Lucifer in an impressed tone, "you are certainly
ambitious, Serus."
"I simply wish to be informed," Serus said guardedly. He was
not at all accustomed to being treated with such cordiality.
"Don't we all?" said Lucifer, concealing his contempt for
Serus. "Pellecus! Tinius! Come in here, please!"
Pellecus immediately recognized the scroll as he came into the
room and took his place at the table. "Ah, the Creation Chronicles,"
he said. "Quite an interesting summation of the creation of Heav-
en's citizens, Serus. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I haven't read them yet," Serus answered. "But, yes, the cre-
ation of the angels is quite fascinating to me." He watched Tinius
take his usual position. They all looked at Lucifer, his hands folded
in front of him.
"There is, as you are aware, another creation occurring,"
Lucifer began. "Perhaps you will read about it one day as well. We
just returned from earth, Serus." He indicated the other two angels.
"Pellecus, Tinius and myself have come to a vital conclusion: The
Lord will soon finish His marvelous work there. Afterwards, things
should become very interesting in Heaven and on earth."
"Yes indeed," Serus concurred. He looked at Pellecus and
Tinius who remained impassive. Serus remained quite wary.
"Indeed," repeated Lucifer, looking with compassionate eyes
at Serus. "I'm sure you are aware, Serus, that great events are about
to take place in the Kingdom. Wonderful events which are much
bigger than you or I. Some of the Host are prepared for them, and
some are not. But in either case there are set in motion plans which
cannot be altered--either by an angel or archangel." He looked into
Serus deeply. "Plans which include you, dear Serus."
Serus looked at Lucifer. For the first time Lucifer was address-
ing him as something of an equal--not on his own level to be
sure--but as an insider; as one who is close to the situation. It felt
"Was it really from this position all of Heaven was to quake?" 205
good. Serus looked at Pellecus, who nodded in agreement with
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