Exile of Lucifer

by D. Brian Shafer

  and came close to Michael. "Cast me down, Archangel!"

  The warriors holding Michael began laughing and cajoling him.

  "I will still see you cast down," said Michael, who continued

  feeling out weak spots in the angelic prison which held him.

  Nathan handed Rugio Michael's sword. Rugio held it next to him

  as if he was wearing it. "I make quite a dashing archangel, hmm?"

  Nathan and the other angels burst out laughing. "Quite so,

  commander," said Nathan. "It suits you well."

  "Good," said Rugio. "We'll just call it a trophy of war."

  "What is the meaning of this, Rugio? Where is Lucifer?"

  "I believe he is in Heaven," said Rugio. "In fact, we should

  soon have word from him that we may set you free--that is, once

  our business with the Lord is finished. So relax, Archangel, and it

  will soon be over!"

  256 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer

  Michael looked at Serus. "Serus, how could you betray me?"

  he said. "How could you betray the Lord?"

  "You can only betray one with whom you had trust," said

  Serus. "You never trusted me, Michael."

  "But I did," said Michael. "How else would I have ended up

  here? I trusted you, Serus! Serus!"

  Serus took flight and headed back toward Heaven. He turned

  to Rugio. "My instructions are to meet Lucifer at the Temple and

  report on your situation," he said. "I will send word from Lucifer

  when Michael is to be freed!"

  "Very good," said Rugio.

  Serus disappeared into the sky. Rugio turned his attention

  back to Michael. "Serus is a fool--but he's a useful fool. Don't

  struggle, Michael. It will be over soon, I told you."

  "What is Lucifer attempting?" Michael asked, still fighting

  against the force of a thousand angels. "It can't possibly succeed,

  you know!"

  "You arrogant angel," Rugio snapped back. "You and Gabriel

  and the rest who think that your example must be followed by the

  entire Host! Well clearly that is not the case! Even now, Michael,

  Lucifer marches on the Temple with upwards of one-third of the

  angels to become steward. Yes, Michael. One-third of the Host

  decided they had enough of you and the rest of your pandering

  crowd!"

  Michael suddenly lunged forward, just missing Rugio, before

  a flood of angels who pulled him back buried him again. Vel and

  Prian drew their swords. Rugio continued talking, relishing the

  moment in having so important a captive.

  "The remainder of the Host will give way," Rugio continued,

  "especially when they have been told that the reason you are not

  present is because you refuse to fight against a brother angel! Bril-

  liant, hmm? So you see, in this instance your example-setting ways

  will finally become useful, Michael, as you set the example to the

  rest of the Host not to resist!"

  "This cannot possibly succeed," Michael responded. "Stop

  this nonsense before it is too late! For all of you!"

  "I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 257

  "Ah, Michael," purred Rugio, who was now toying with

  Michael's own sword. "It is already much later than you realize!"

  ----------------

  "Morning Star! Morning Star!"

  The crowd of angels was shouting the name in a chant which

  all of Heaven could hear. Lucifer spoke to them from above,

  perched on the Temple roof above the entry. He was so proud of the

  angels who were turning out for him--the operation could not

  have unfolded any better.

  Next to him on the Temple were some of the most important

  angels in Heaven representing the Academy, the Elders, the legions

  and the Temple. Lucifer made quite sure that the Host saw a unit-

  ed and encompassing movement within their body. Those mem-

  bers of the Academy (like Crispin) or of the Elders (like Dabran and

  the Chief Elder) who were not in accord with Lucifer were being

  detained in other quarters of Heaven--just as Michael was held on

  earth.

  "Brothers!" Lucifer shouted, as the noise subsided. "Hear me out!"

  "No! Throw him out!" came a voice, which was quickly stifled by

  a group of warriors who were assigned to prevent such disturbances.

  "Yes, throw me out!" he went on. "Throw me out of the King-

  dom if what I have to say makes no sense. But first hear me out!"

  "We'll hear you, Morning Star!" a voice shouted, which was

  followed by a general consensus among the noisy crowd. Lucifer

  waited for the noise to subside.

  "I know most of you are wondering what has happened to

  your Morning Star," Lucifer continued. "For some time now you

  have all been hearing rumors, whispers in the great halls--stories

  of subtle plots and sordid schemes. You have heard that I am a rebel

  and an insurrectionist. But let me tell you who I am.

  "I am one who seeks only what is best for the Host. I am one

  who stands for the freedom of angels to reach their greatest destiny.

  I have no argument with the Most High! He is wonderful and He is

  God. Neither do I have an argument with Michael. And as you can

  see by his absence, Michael has no argument with me. But I recog-

  nize, as he does, that from time to time new eras of realization come

  258 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer

  into being. The Creation brought in the age of man. Now let man

  bring in the age of angels!"

  Lucifer's angels burst into uproarious cheers. The other

  angels continued to watch cautiously. Some wondered where

  Michael was. Others awaited the response of the Lord Himself to

  such pride.

  "Yes, I say the age of angels!" Lucifer continued. "You see next

  to me some of the greatest angels in Heaven. We are not monsters--

  we are liberators. We seek not to rebel in Heaven but to exercise

  angelic destiny on earth! Can an angel be stewarded by a man of

  mud--a beast? I say no! I say that angels must be allowed to fulfill

  the destiny to which they are called!"

  ----------------

  In the Academy classroom where Crispin was being detained

  with some of the other teachers, the noise of the cheering mob

  could be heard. Berenius was in charge of keeping order at the

  Academy through what was becoming known among Lucifer's fol-

  lowers as "the liberation." He looked at Crispin and the other

  teachers.

  "Quite a bit of noise," he said. "Sounds as if Lucifer is making

  one of his magnificent orations!"

  "You are right about one thing," agreed Crispin. "He is making

  a great deal of noise. I suspect it will get quiet when Michael appears."

  "I don't believe the archangel will make it to this meeting,"

  replied Berenius slyly. "At any rate, once Lucifer begins to lead

  these angels in praises to the Most High to demonstrate his devo-

  tion there will be no need for Michael. Worship is so moving, hmm?

  Lucifer has said that angels are like the cattle of earth, easily

  moved, easily led."

  "It is only a matter of time," said Crispin, "before the Most

  High responds to your master's nonsense. And then we will see

  who is cattle and who
is King."

  ----------------

  Gabriel paced the hallway outside the Zoa's chamber restless-

  ly. Like everyone else in Heaven, he could hear the great noise of

  "I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 259

  Lucifer's mass demonstration going on. Why had he been ordered

  to remain here during the most important and critical event to hap-

  pen to the Kingdom? Should he not be with Michael and the oth-

  ers? Instead, the Zoa had ordered him to remain until they were

  ready to dispatch him. Perhaps it was pride, but Gabriel wanted to

  play a part in this drama. He wondered what was happening in

  Heaven. A voice called to him from the darkness.

  "Gabriel," said the voice of one of the Zoa. "We must tell you

  what is to happen in Heaven."

  Gabriel turned and once more entered the presence of those

  who stood before the Lord in service to Him. The Zoa stood as they

  had the first time they met with Gabriel. The lion-faced Zoa spoke

  to Gabriel first.

  "So many questions are in your mind, Gabriel," he said. "But

  we have already told you that there is only one answer."

  "And that is found only in the Lord Himself," continued the

  Zoa with the face of a man. Gabriel could make out the thousands

  of eyes that made up the bodies of these strange creatures, staring

  at him in the darkness.

  "Yes, I know this," said Gabriel. "I was wondering why I was

  called here and not allowed to take part in the conflict itself."

  "Yours is the greater part of the conflict, Gabriel," said the

  eagle-faced Zoa. "For to you it has been given to know the events

  which shortly must take place. After which you shall seal this

  knowledge until the fullness of time when it shall be released."

  With that the Zoa began to speak of incredible and frightening

  things which would one day take place. Gabriel could hardly

  believe what he was hearing, yet, with each word, understood

  more and more the great depth of love of the Most High. It also

  made him feel a sense of sadness for Lucifer, whose pride stood no

  chance against the power of such love.

  ----------------

  "And so it is with humble but resolved heart that I appear

  before you today," Lucifer continued. "I am prepared now to voice

  before the Most High Himself our urgent request that A'dam be

  260 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer

  guided back to his inferior position and that an angel be named

  steward of the new world!"

  Tremendous cheering went up among the crowd. Kara next

  stood up to speak.

  "Dear brothers," he began. "As you are well aware I am an

  Elder, second in rank to the esteemed Chief Elder. It has always

  been my heart and purpose to serve your best interests. This you

  know. When we as a Council determined that an angel be named to

  the stewardship we knew that we must be careful in our selection.

  We knew that the angel who would serve God on earth must also

  be a proven servant in Heaven. Among the Elders one name con-

  tinually surfaced. We deliberated and prayed and sought wisdom.

  Even the Zoa themselves brought word to us that a steward would

  be named. And thus it happened that we arrived at the decision to

  commend Lucifer, the Morning Star and Anointed Cherub to

  become earth's steward!"

  Wild cheering broke out in the assembly. Kara looked over at

  Lucifer who gave him a knowing exchange. Even Pellecus was

  acknowledging Kara's competence as a crowd-pleaser.

  "Brothers!" he went on. "Join us in recommending to the Lord

  the name of Lucifer as earth's steward!"

  Lucifer stood once more, thanking Kara amidst the cheering,

  noisy sea of angels. The commanders of legions loyal to Michael

  were paralyzed, as they had standing orders never to take the

  offensive against Lucifer unless Michael was directing them per-

  sonally. The other angels, those of the wisdom and worship classes,

  simply observed the carnival atmosphere in bewilderment.

  "I thank you deeply for your confidence," said Lucifer. "But

  confidence may not be enough." The crowd grew still, wondering

  what Lucifer meant. "There are those who would oppose us on

  this--even now. There are those who are so fixed upon the ancient

  teachings that they are unaware of the prophetic nature of those

  texts. So bent are these upon keeping the old ways preserved, they

  have stifled the potential for creative destinies.

  "You all witnessed or heard about the tension at the debate.

  Angel against angel in shameful disarray! Yet such a conflict was

  "I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 261

  not only inevitable but needful! It demonstrated that angels who

  are resolved will fight for truth. I am prepared, brothers, to resolve

  this situation without conflict. I am equally prepared, however, that

  should it come to it, I will go to war for your freedoms. Are you

  with me to the end?!"

  The crowd suddenly burst forth in wild cheering as they

  responded in dramatic affirmation to Lucifer's challenge. All of

  Heaven seemed a tangled mass of angels flying here and there,

  some scuffling with other angels, others demonstrating in unre-

  strained merriment. Lucifer looked down at what he saw as "free-

  dom unleashed" among the Host and encouraged it on--whipping

  the angels into a greater and greater frenzy.

  Lucifer turned to his Council.

  "Appearances are everything--I told you that. Now do you

  see why I said we don't need every angel--just an impressive show

  of strength? The other angels don't even realize they have us out-

  numbered by two-thirds."

  "Quite impressive," agreed Kara. "But I suggest we end this

  quickly before someone tells them."

  "Perhaps so," said Lucifer, looking around him. "The demon-

  stration has made its point. I will speak to the Zoa at once and

  demand, that is, make known our petition."

  "My lord!" came the voice of a clearly troubled Tinius.

  Lucifer turned to acknowledge him.

  "Some of the angels have broken into the sanctuary of the

  Temple."

  "What?!" Lucifer screamed. "Have we no order here? Who

  was it?"

  "Amman and most of his troop," continued Tinius. "They

  were so emboldened by your words that they boasted they would

  bring you the greatest trophy of all--one of the Most Holy

  Emblems."

  "My words were meant to encourage resolve, not idiocy," said

  Lucifer. "They have sealed their fates. Let them pay for it!"

  262 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer

  "Serus!" Lucifer called out. "I will shortly become steward. As

  soon as I have exited the Temple you may tell Rugio to set Michael

  free. It is finished!"

  Serus looked at Lucifer, flush with the coming victory.

  "I will do as you command," Serus said, knowing Lucifer had

  won after all.

  ----------------

  Michael was weary of the struggle. From time to time in the

  Heavenlies he could hear the great noise coming from Heaven.

  Those an
gels around him who were holding him also cocked their

  heads, listening to the great cheers and noises. Something impor-

  tant was happening up there. Was Lucifer actually going to win this

  battle? Or was something else going on? Michael was frustrated by

  the angels who held him. He wanted desperately to get into the

  fight.

  "Sounds like the noise of war," said Rugio calmly, still hold-

  ing Michael's sword. "War in Heaven. How did it ever come to

  that?" He snickered.

  "Because of the war in your own spirit, Rugio," said Michael.

  "And Pellecus. And Lucifer. All of you have fought a war and lost.

  You have lost to pride."

  "Don't lecture me on pride, Archangel," said Rugio. "You and

  your kind are the prideful ones. Lucifer is simply changing the

  order of things. Your pride will not allow you to recognize this."

  "I pity you, Rugio," said Michael.

  "I don't want your pity, Archangel," said Rugio sarcastically.

  "It is I who pity you. I will thoroughly enjoy seeing you come to

  terms with the new order in the cosmos. You will simply have to

  live with it. And who knows? Lucifer might even appoint me

  archangel of earth!"

  Nathan pointed toward the sky at a bluish streak moving rap-

  idly toward them.

  "I believe it is Serus, commander," he said.

  "So soon he brings the news," Rugio responded, looking at

  the sky. "I would have thought that the Lord would have held out

  "I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 263

  a little longer than that! Looks as if it's over, Michael. Your deliver-

  ance draws near!" He smiled.

  The bluish streak of light crashed violently into Rugio, knock-

  ing him down. Michael's sword went flying and Serus grabbed it

  and drove into the angels immediately around Michael. The sight

  of the sword of the Archangel manifesting its powerful aura pan-