by Joel Stewart
Lucifer's Legacy
Book 1 of the Heaven's Insurrection Saga
Joel Stewart
Copyright © 2021 Joel Stewart
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Part I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Part II
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Part III
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Part I
The Mysterious Lena
Chapter 1
The Chengarian Capital, Chentar
“Denoria will pay!” The high pitch squeal seemed to come from a child more than a man, and yet the origin of the sound was Alexander Denof, the Supreme Ruler of Chengar. He was a middle-aged man wearing a military-style jacket that looked too extravagant to be on his small frame. He had a thin wispy mustache to go with what seemed to be a sad attempt at growing a beard.
Chengar was once a prosperous country, but several centuries of entitled dictators had squandered its natural resources, left it with an unsustainably large military, and an agricultural industry that had been poorly developed. Alexander Denof blamed none of the country’s problems on himself of course, and usually levied blame at Chengar’s historical rival that lay across the Farasi Ocean, Denoria. As was usually the case when he couldn’t sleep, he called together his war council to rant and rave about whatever it was that was keeping him awake. This particular night, the topic was the Farasi island chain.
There were several small, but militarily strategic, islands in the Farasi Ocean that were perfect staging areas for a possible future war against Denoria, but efforts to occupy them were being thwarted by Denorian military presence and the threat that occupation would mean war, which Chengar was not currently prepared for. Denoria had a slight edge in the technology race as well as several stout allies that put Chengar on the losing end of a war. This apparent weakness infuriated the Supreme Ruler.
Denof’s war council, consisting of twelve high ranking military officers, was located several feet below his elevated throne and the members sat around a U-shaped table that had both of the ends of the U ending on each side of where Denof sat. There were two doors, one on each wall to the right and left of his throne, and the back wall opposite his throne was lined with large picture windows that gave an inspiring view of the city. Two armed guards were posted at each door and two more were located on each side of his throne. Several moments of silence had passed since he had sealed Denoria’s fate in his mind and speech, and yet no one had offered any suggestions on just how this would be done, making Denof even angrier than before. “Well?!” He screeched.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Admiral Charles Stenman, the highest-ranking military officer in Chengar, sternly responded as he stroked his long grey beard. “Sir, I do not believe Denoria is bluffing, they will go to war. We need more alliances if we are to take them head on. Going to war alone at this point would be a futile effort and our nation cannot afford to take any more resources out of food production to strengthen our military further.”
Charles Stenman was a relatively short man, standing only 5 feet in height, but he had a distinguished aura to him that denoted wisdom. At this moment he was channeling his disdain for the Supreme Ruler out of his face and voice and into the pen he was tapping nervously in his palm. He knew this man-child would not take his words well, especially not with the stink of alcohol he could smell coming off of him from halfway across the sizeable room.
“I am tired of excuses!” Denof raved. “If a few peasants starve to death then we will just have fewer worthless mouths to feed! Maybe we just need to forgo a full war and level one of Denoria’s cities to the ground! That will show them we are not to be threatened!” Denof often began to get irrational when no one was pandering to his mood.
Tired? Being a mad, power hungry dictator can be tiring at times. Admiral Stenman thought to himself with a visible smirk on his face.
“Toran, Scera, and Brendora are sympathetic to the plight of our people with the ongoing food crisis.” General Rogner added to redirect the Supreme Ruler away from suicidal ideas. He pressed several buttons in front of him and a map of the Borendar continent appeared on the engineered glass tabletop in front of him. He highlighted Chengar and its three southern neighbors that filled out the sizeable land mass. “If we take the official angle that we need to annex the Farasi Islands to capitalize on their strong fishing industry, we may get them to stand with us against Denoria on this matter.”
Admiral Stenman looked over at General Rogner with a raised eyebrow and a nodding head—his way of saying “Thank you” without actually saying it. Keeping the Supreme Ruler focused on constructive ideas was always difficult at these meetings, and it was everyone’s responsibility to chip in.
Denof was pondering the idea when a gruff, sinister voice came from the back of the room by the pitch-black windows. “May I interject?” Murmuring erupted from around the table as Captain Chenok emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Even the guards seemed confused as none of them saw him enter the room. Chenok was wrapped in a black cloak with a hood hiding most of his face. A very distinct scar could be seen coming from the shadows on the tip of his nose all the way down to the bottom of his left cheek. Beneath his cloak, his clothing was of a similar black material and his black boots rounded out his dark motif. Darkness seemed to exude from him when he did not want to be seen. This strange optical effect obscured him from view as long as there was something dark to blend into, such as a large floor-to-ceiling picture window on a pitch-black night.
“You are not a member of this council and have no business in this room!” Admiral Stenman exclaimed while bolting to his feet. Anger could be seen clearly on his face. Captain Chenok was the commander of Chengar’s Special Forces and his black ops teams reported directly to the Supreme Commander for many of their missions. Whenever Chenok counseled Denof on large scale military strategy it was always ambitious and tremendously risky.
Denof smirked and motioned for everyone to sit back in their seats. Unlike the rest of the council, Denof always looked forward to hearing Chenok’s opinion. The two of them were often on the same page when it came to taking action instead of submitting to lethargy. “Why, certainly Captain Chenok. I really should have you on this council instead of these fools, you always seem to have a positive contribution to the discussion.” The sarcastic
looks from around the room spoke for themselves as they all believed the complete opposite of Chenok.
“I have discovered a way to give you almost everything you have ever desired!” Chenok announced loudly as he pushed back the hood of his cloak. His scarred face came into full view and his mop of black hair fell down to his shoulders and slightly covered one side of his face. The distinctive scar seemed to disappear into his hair somewhere around his temple.
“You want Chengar to occupy the Farasi Island chain? Done!” He said in a mocking tone as he walked past the arch of the U-shaped table near the back of the room. “You want to take control of Toran, Scera, and Brendora? I know how we can take them without a shot. In fact, Farsia and Mendoria will join us as well!” He stopped and glared past the ridicule that was etched on the faces of the war council to stare Supreme Commander Denof in the eyes. “And if you truly want to see the ultimate end of Denoria, I know a way . . .” Chenok began to say but was interrupted.
“Whatever it is, I want it! No matter the cost!” Denof exclaimed excitedly. He jumped out of his chair like a child that had just been told he could have every toy in the store. “If you are trying to deceive me, Chenok, I will put your head on a pike! But if you can really deliver Denoria to me I will make you my second in command!”
Chenok paused for a moment. “I do not deceive you Supreme Ruler, but I did say I could only deliver ‘almost’ everything you have ever desired. The price is high, and it is something that you value.” Chenok kept his eyes locked on Denof, but he could see the faces around the room were turning from ridicule to curious. As Denof slowly sat back in his chair in eager anticipation, Chenok turned his back to the room and walked toward the center of the rear wall. There was a section of wall space between two large picture windows that was 3 feet wide and rose from floor to ceiling. Chenok positioned himself there before turning around and putting his hood back over his head. “The cost is your life.” He said unemotionally.
The war council almost unanimously stood to their feet in protest and the guards started screaming for Chenok to get on the ground as they swarmed around him with their rifles raised. All eight guards could barely keep their arms steady. Captain Chenok was the most dangerous man in the country, probably the world as well, and they were raising their weapons to him? Denof leaped back on his feet in anger. “You think you can replace me!” He roared.
Chenok was careful not to move and incite the guards but his facial expression did not change. “Not me,” he replied in that same, unemotional, tone. “Her.”
The windows along the back wall exploded in toward the room, engulfing the guards in flying glass shards. The members of the war council dropped to the floor and hid under the table or chairs—anything to avoid the glass that had been turned to shrapnel. Chenok smirked as he looked down at the ring of guards. Only two were still showing signs of life. He had strategically positioned himself in-between the picture windows to avoid the explosion. Denof slowly lowered his hands from his face. His forearms along with any other exposed skin was covered in glass shards and blood was beginning to saturate his clothing from numerous other wounds.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Denof roared defiantly. He whipped his head back and forth looking for some sign of help, but it was apparent none was coming. His guards all looked to be dead and the war council was in disarray. Several council members that were near the arch of the U were dead, but the ones that were closer to his side of their table looked to be stirring.
There was no immediate response to Denof’s question, but the lights in the room began to flicker as a sinister figure floated through the window and into the room. Denof stared in disbelief. She was flying. She landed gracefully on the floor in front of Chenok. Long black hair and the tip of her white chin was all that could be seen under the dark cloak and hood she was wearing. She looked up, slightly revealing an evil smile. Most of her features were hidden by her dark cloak, but there was one other feature that could be seen by those in the room . . . her eyes. Her eyes were fixed on Denof, as if no one else in the room mattered, and they were glowing red ever so slightly under the dark hood that was hiding her face.
“You all now belong to me.” Came a cold ultimatum. “The only alternative is death.” Her voice put a chill down every spine in the room. It seemed to exude fear and hopelessness just by its tone. There was nothing about it that left any question to what was about to happen.
Near the side wall, a guard that was still barely alive raised his rifle with a shaking arm. Captain Chenok pulled out a pistol and deftly put a bullet in the guard’s head. Even though the gun had a silencer on it, the sound of the shot seemed to echo through the room.
“That was noble Chenok, but completely unnecessary.” The woman commented without turning her head away from Denof. She started to slowly stroll toward the supreme commander. As she reached the arch of the table, she levitated over it and landed gently on the other side, placing her in the center of the room. The faces of the remaining war council members began to contort, a smell of rotting flesh seemed to be coming off the woman.
Denof fell back into his chair. Blood was soaking through his clothing, but he did not want this woman to realize the wetness in his pants was not from blood. He tried to speak but his false bravado had been shattered and his mouth was dry. When he finally did start talking it came out as barely more than a whisper.
“Sh . . . sh . . . surely we can come to some type of arangem—” His sentence was cut short as he felt a strangling force wrap around his midsection. He looked down bewildered—there was nothing there but air. The force intensified and began to snap bones in his ribcage and arms, blood convulsed out of his mouth and then began to drool off his lips. He struggled to look up to figure out what was happening to him, but all he could see was the woman, still in the center of the room. Her arm was stretched out toward him and her hand making a grabbing motion.
He could feel what seemed like giant invisible fingers, mirroring her grip, wrapping around his body and crushing him like a man would an insect. Vertigo overcame him and he found himself hurtling through the air. The woman was swinging her arm toward the back of the room and Denof’s body was following its arc. He slammed into the side wall then flew into the small section of wall in the back of the room that Chenok had previously used to allow her grand entrance. Once his body collided with the back wall, he felt her grip release and fell to the floor in a heap.
Admiral Stenman forced himself to his feet. One side of his face was covered in glass shards while blood and more shards were imbedded in his clothing and beard. He looked at Chenok with contempt then over toward the woman with resolve. “Stop this madness!” He commanded as if he could force her to comply through his meager words. He swallowed hard and tried not to think about the fate he had just brought on himself. Through his fear, he looked at her sternly. When the woman’s head slowly swiveled toward him, his body began to tremble. Beneath her hood she had a wicked smile, evidence that she was immensely enjoying what was happening, and her eyes glowed a dark red, piercing his soul.
Before responding to his demand, she raised her arm out to her side without looking in the direction of the action. Stenman looked past where her arm was pointing and saw General Rogner reaching for his sidearm. She made a flicking motion with her fingers and an invisible force slammed into Rogner, laying him out flat on the ground. The shockwave continued past him and knocked a six-foot round hole in several walls before blowing out the side of the building 80 feet away. Rogner was stirring on the ground but not getting up.
After this display of power, the woman spoke. “Your military experience makes you very valuable to me Admiral, and for this I shall spare your life today. If you ever talk to me like that again . . . your fate will be the same as this pitiful wretch on the floor before you.” She gestured toward Denof who was lying on the floor twitching. To drive her point home, she waved her hand and Stenman found himself flying through the air and into the side wall of the
room. He fell to his hands and knees on the floor.
Now that she had addressed his insubordination, she turned her attention back to Denof. “Stand up, wretch!” she commanded. “Stand up and I will finish you quickly, stay down there and I’ll make sure you feel every last limb rip off your pathetic body.” Those of the council that could see her face shrunk back in fear. Her smile was wicked and cruel, and her eyes were glowing such a bright red that they were reflecting off the broken glass all over the room, bathing it in a sinister blood-red aura. Everyone could tell this sadistic display was bringing her great pleasure and none of them wanted to be the next focus of her attention. Denof fought through the pain and staggered to his feet, desiring a quick death.
The streets around the royal palace became filled with chaos as debris fell like large hail stones over several city blocks. The flying wood, stone, and glass caused dozens of injuries and several fatalities. Light streamed through a large hole in the wall on the fifteenth floor of the palace and the silhouette of a woman could be seen against bright backdrop. A crowd began to form around the mangled form of Alexander Denof that had been ejected to the street below, and it did not take long for them to tie the silhouette that was staring down at them with the corpse in front of them. There had been a coup.
Chapter 2
The Denorian Capital, Dengrin
Alex yawned and stretched as she sat up in bed. She had forgotten to close the blinds on her patio door last night and the morning sun was at the perfect angle to flood the length of her room with its blazing glory. Her room was not very wide—maybe 10 feet at most—but it was over 40 feet long and there was no escaping the sun’s unrelenting gaze. Instead of closing the blinds and trying to return to her bed she decided to walk out on her patio and drink it all in.
The world stretched out before her as if it were her own. Several hundred feet below her she could see the outer wall of the ancient castle she had the privilege of living in. The castle crested the top of a mountain, and the mountain was surrounded by five smaller hills. Beyond the hills was flat land for leagues in any direction. She tried hard to envision the valleys as they used to be before civilization conquered the landscape, but she could not.
