The Continuation of the Legend
Across Heaven the note blew into the realm of the Darkness.
And into the in the clutch of the female twin of the creator, the note read ‘Use this one wisely’.
She felt the cold blast of the winter of Heaven across her face. She tucked the note inside her tunic next to her heart and smiled to herself.
“I will…” She laughed as she turned and headed deeper into the darkness.
The days grew cold in Heaven, but Lucifer still tended his duties keeping the border safe from unwanted intrusions from the dark. On this occasion he patrolled with both his young lieutenants, Dagon and Michael.
A group of deposed dark angels was watching from the fringes as they passed. They hissed their displeasure long after Lucifer had gone, but still in earshot of Michael.
He spun and drew his weapon.
“What was it you wished to say? Say it loud so we all can hear.”
The gang didn’t speak up, but didn’t back away either. They began making their way towards the solitary angel so he could hear their advance.
Lucifer had already moved ahead out of sight along with Dagon, Michael was alone in the presence of several of these malcontents.
Michael faced the barrier between the Light and the Dark holding his sword in a somewhat confused defensive posture not knowing exactly where his enemies were. They were behind the wall of darkness that he couldn’t see through. He spoke in a commanding voice though to ward off his would be attackers.
“I am the defender of Heaven, under the command of General Gabriel!”
A finger poked the fabric of darkness stretching its pliable sheen until it broke upon impact with Michael’s chest, enveloping him in sudden darkness.
“We’re not afraid of Gabriel or you. Are you afraid of us?”
Michael suddenly realized attackers that he couldn’t see surrounded him in the darkness. He was blind; yet he held his sword up bravely. If he were going to die, it would be fighting.
“I fear no one!” He swung his sword through the air and as the blade cut through the darkness it emitted a flash of fire lighting its trail and exposing the hidden faces.
Startled by the unexpected weapon they began alternating positions to stay ahead of the weapon’s path. But all the while they were closing their ranks around the lone angel. Certain of a small token of revenge upon their defeat with Chronis one of the dark angels jumped Michael.
The attacker’s perceived victory was short lived.
Thrown to the ground by an unseen hand the attacker rolled attempting to get to its feet and was knocked down again.
“Lucifer!”
“That’s right.” The captain smiled.
“Do we have a problem here?”
The sound of scurrying angels drifted into the deepest shadows and away from the skirmish. Only those who had started the altercation were left to stare down the captain.
Lucifer had his sword in the angel’s chest. The point just pricking the surface of the skin, it started the angel’s blood to glow.
“Lucifer, one day I’ll see you without that thing…” He started in.
Lucifer pulled the sword back, but continued to stare his victim down. He handed the sword to Michael.
“Here hold this.” He gazed at the angel planted on the ground. “Get up! Here’s your chance. Michael, leave us!” He commanded.
The rest of the angels in the area used the cover of the fight to make their escape while the angel on the ground did nothing. Lucifer continued to look into the dark angels eyes.
“You’ll never amount to anything Set. You talk too much, and do too little.”
Lucifer took his sword back from Michael and placed his hand on his lieutenant’s shoulder. As he did this Michael was able to see in the darkness as Lucifer could. He saw Set crawling on the ground like a worm trying to hide from his captain. He could also see the exit back to the light.
“What now?” He asked.
Lucifer pointed to the exit with his sword and led Michael back to the light where Dagon was waiting for them.
“That group you just encountered, Isis, Osiris and Set. They’re a bad lot. Stay clear of them, they well do whatever they can to bring you down.” Lucifer told this to both his lieutenants.
***
Back in the Hall of Light, Gabriel was again summoned.
“Your Captain Lucifer has crossed the border of Light and Dark.”
“He was created with that capability, my Lords. I’m sure it was for good reason.”
“Have you noticed a change in Heaven Gabriel?”
“Yes my Lords, it has grown cold.”
“It is the Winter of Heaven, Gabriel. It has to do with the note.”
“The note you sent me on the Plain of the Gray?”
“What did it say?”
“I tell you my Lords I do not recall.”
“The words have great meaning.”
“Then you feel the note is in the possession of the Darkness?”
“Yes Gabriel, it has crossed sides.”
Gabriel looked dejected, he had let go of the note and now all of Heaven was suffering for it. He was confused. He couldn’t remember what was on the note, let alone its importance.
“My Lords, I will expel the darkness from Heaven and with it the bitter cold that haunts us.”
The Godhead spoke, but again in riddle, further confusing Gabriel.
“Balance is Balance.”
Gabriel shook his head in confusion. He was supposed to be wise but he couldn’t understand their riddles.
“What, my Lords?”
“Balance, Gabriel.”
“Yes my Lords, all responsible will be punished.”
Gabriel turned to leave, still confused.
They called out to him as he was leaving.
“Gabriel.”
“Yes my Lords?”
“Balance is Balance…”
Confused, but determined to carry out what he perceived was his orders Gabriel left the Godhead.
After Gabriel had made sufficient distance from the Hall, the Godhead called out to their trusted servant.
“Aeon!”
The greatest of all Angels stepped foot inside their chamber, bringing with him light and warmth. He crossed his enormous wings in front of him and bowed low in the utmost respect for those who had animated him.
“Aeon, all angels are now fallen save for you.”
The great being, head still bowed shed a tear. He said nothing, but waited for them to continue.
“Gabriel is confused, he has sinned but without malice. Ignorance is a sin Aeon. Pride, lust and ignorance are now loose among us. Bar the gates of Heaven Aeon, prevent the return of these evil diseases. The experiment started by Moloch has begun. Let it play out its course. Do not confuse or alter it in any way. The place we prepared for this reason is where all the angels will eventually fall. They are cast out. Let it be so.”
Aeon’s tears had began to puddle at his knee where he bowed. It moved the Godhead.
“Aeon. Keep an eye on the fallen. We will give them a chance at redemption. One will rise up from this travesty.”
The mighty Angel looked up with gratitude.
“Thank you my Lords.”
The Godhead was pleased. There was still hope.
***
The process of falling wasn’t instantaneous; it took time.
Gabriel, confused by the words of the Godhead, decided it was time to release Lucifer from his duties. He called the captain to his office for a private word. He was seated at his desk as the captain entered and stood before him.
Lucifer as always was standing at attention, just like the good soldier he was created to be.
“Lucifer, t
he day you arrived you came with a messenger, do you remember that?”
“Yes sir.”
“Do you recall what happened to that message?”
“It was handed to you sir.”
“And after that?”
“I don’t know sir.”
“We are in the throws of winter here in Heaven, Lucifer. The message has fallen into the wrong hands…”
Lucifer shot Gabriel a gaze that left no doubt that he understood that Gabriel was accusing him of this treachery.
“Sir?”
Gabriel thought for a moment where he was taking this line of questioning. If he dared say too much, Lucifer could turn on him the way he had Chronis. He thought better of it and changed his approach.
“Do you know what was on the note, Lucifer?”
Lucifer was still stunned by the innuendo that Gabriel had just dropped on him. He wasn’t paying attention, but thinking out loud.
“I have never done anything against you or the Godhead to warrant this kind of…”
“Lucifer! Do you know what was on THE NOTE?”
Lucifer let out an angry sigh; even if he did he wouldn’t tell him now.
“No Sir.”
Gabriel spun his chair around and in frustration slapped his hand over his eyes, slowly letting it slide down his face and come to rest in his lap. He was facing the wall his back to his captain. He couldn’t face him when he gave the order.
“Get out of here Lucifer, Get out of Heaven, get out of my sight…”
“What?”
“You heard me go.”
Lucifer’s expression was one more of hurt than anger at this point.
“Why? I’ve done nothing wrong…”
“Take the Dark side with you.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I release the dark into your hands to do with, as you will. We have failed my friend.” The general’s tone grew quiet. “We won the war, but we lost Heaven I’m afraid. The Godhead means to replace us.”
Lucifer’s anger was gone replaced by confusion that equaled his general’s
“Does this have to do with the note?”
“I believe so, but I’m not sure.” Gabriel never turned to face his captain. “Lucifer, it doesn’t matter, we lost when we won. I don’t know? You? Me? Something went wrong. The Godhead means to replace us. There is a new creation. I know little of it. I know I’m supposed to protect it. But I don’t know from what?”
“Sir if you need help?”
“Lucifer as far as I can tell you’re the problem…”
The captain was stunned.
“Me?” He couldn’t believe it. “What have I done? I have always followed orders. I have always done what is right…”
“Lucifer!” Gabriel stopped him. “I’m telling you what I know. It came into question that you went back into the dark abyss again.”
“I had to. They were going to kill Michael…”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Gabriel covered his ears from the perceived lie. “Just do all of Heaven a favor and go!”
Lucifer clutched his weapon, but he couldn’t bring himself to draw it out. His hand slowly relaxed at his side. He didn’t know why he couldn’t raise a hand against Gabriel, but he couldn’t. He really didn’t want to.
Gabriel sat silent in his chair. If Lucifer was going to raise his sword he didn’t want to know about it. He would rather die quickly and painless. Instead Lucifer addressed him while Gabriel’s eyes were reverently closed in prayer.
“Sir…” The captain breathed not knowing what else to say.
Gabriel let out a sigh knowing that it was over between them.
Lucifer left the office a confused being, just as confused as his general was.
The meaning of the note, ‘Use this one wisely’ was lost on both of them as they parted ways.
Lucifer found Dagon on his way out of the general’s office. Dagon curious of why Gabriel had called Lucifer in here in the first place excitedly inquired.
“What are we going to do now, boss?”
Lucifer at first didn’t answer him. Instead he started walking with Dagon following close behind. Finally he whispered.
“We’re crossing the barrier.”
Dagon was excited.
“On a mission?”
“No Dagon…” Lucifer stopped walking and faced his friend. “Not on a mission. We’re going home.” He again started walking.
Dagon stood in the same spot for a moment while Lucifer walked away.
“Wait a minute? Home? What are you talking about?”
Lucifer waited for Dagon to catch up.
“Dagon…” He stopped again and took a deep breath of the cool Light air. His breath became as visible as the chill fog would allow it as he gave Dagon the decisive news. “We are now the rulers of the Dark side of Heaven.” He again began walking and didn’t stop until he penetrated the fabric of the barrier of Light.
Dagon held his ground; he gazed back across the Plain of Gray toward Heaven and home. He knew his fate was tied to the captain. Dagon reluctantly followed Lucifer into the Realm of Darkness.
***
Oestara was excited. She saw Lucifer enter the realm. Something had changed, Heaven was different and she knew it. She hurried to catch up to the two new arrivals clutching her heart where the note was safely tucked under her tunic. As she approached the two from behind, she called out.
“Is Michael coming with you?”
Lucifer quit moving. The voice was somehow familiar, yet strange, like it both repelled and commanded him. He turned to see the face behind the voice.
“Excuse me?”
“Michael?” She looked around them hoping to catch a glimpse of the object of her desire, but didn’t see him. “Is he coming as well?”
Lucifer could see the hope and pain in her expression and sensed that she was anticipating something more than his and Dagon’s arrival. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her before, but felt obliged to be kind. He smiled at the amazingly beautiful goddess.
“I’m sorry…” He lifted his hand slightly to take hers.
“Oestara.” She took his hand politely.
“I’m sorry, Oestara, but Gabriel has chosen Michael to replace me on the side of the Light.”
Her smile, although it had been nervous, faded to a sullen expression of bitter disappointment. Lucifer feeling her pain, whispered.
“I’m sorry…”
She reached out to him, neither of them knew why. But Lucifer felt just as compelled to give her a hug. They stood there in a sad embrace on the cusp of the barrier between the realms. Neither belonged here, neither could go back, neither had what they wanted. They just had the comfort of a familiar stranger.
Finally Oestara let go of Lucifer. Her head never rose to face the soft gaze he was giving her. Her eyes were shut and wet with her emotions, but she didn’t want them visible for all to see. She nodded her head quickly while spinning around and raced back to her hiding place in the deepest regions of the realm.
Lucifer’s hand was frozen where it was when he let her go. He was watching her run through the darkness, when he was brought back to his stark reality by another feminine voice.
“Let her go. She’s weak.”
Lucifer turned towards the woman.
“Isis…”
“I knew you’d be back.” She smiled.
Dagon made an instinctive move towards her and her henchmen. Lucifer’s hand so gentle when holding Oestara, flashed into Dagon’s chest halting the mammoth angel in his tracks.
“No Dagon…not this time.” His eyes engaged Isis’ “They’re are friends now.” He almost choked on the words.
Isis let out a sinister laugh that could be heard across the entire realm.
Lucifer settled into the Realm of the Dark; but he never embraced it.
***
Michael cruised the route that Lucifer used to patrol. He was growing a little wiser in his approach. He wasn’t given the
ability to see in the Dark as Lucifer or Dagon could so without their protection he kept a safe distance between the barrier and himself.
Oestara watched daily as he passed by. She wasn’t alone today. Moloch silently watched his sister gaze at the handsome angel strolling past. Unlike her he still knew she was his sister. The Godhead had taken the memory of him away from her though. So he was a stranger to her.
As Michael strode out of sight she turned to leave. Moloch was standing right behind her in the corridor of transition. The place where the realms mingle,
“You’re taken by the Angel of Light, aren’t you?”
She acted coy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She pushed passed him.
Moloch smiled as she pressed on by.
“You’ll see him on Earth…”
That got her. She stopped briefly. The name of the place she’d help create, how could anyone else know of the Godhead’s secret plan?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She repeated a little more confused this time.
She continued to walk, although now at a much quicker nervous pace.
“You do…” He smiled as she shot out of sight. “We all will once Lucifer finds the place.” He shot a quick glance in the direction of the long disappeared Angel of the Light. “You made a big mistake giving my greatest creation back to me, Gabriel.”
Moloch turned from the corridor and headed toward the dark corner that Lucifer now occupied.
In a smoke filled dingy corner just a whisker above depressing was the most crowded place of the Dark Realm. These angels had been defeated but they wouldn’t allow that to subdue them. In this forbidden corner of Heaven they had set up a ring. A place combatants could vie for position here in the banished kingdom. Always on the look out for a new savior, the angels of the Dark held these contests daily.
They had concocted a beverage, dubbed Ambrosia. It could stimulate the mind and loosen the body. They had smoldering herbs filling the room with a foul incense that though nasty smelling; it too was a stimulant. This combination of fisticuffs, drinking and the intoxicating aroma of the herbs made this the favorite hangout of the most undesirable members of the Dark Army.
“Welcome to Isis’ world.” The queen of the Dark greeted Lucifer as he strode through the door. He was quiet as usual. He had taken to wearing dark clothes and shading his eyes so no one could see his reactions or read his thoughts. Dagon was right behind him as always. She placed her arms around Dagon who entered right behind the Supreme Being and gave him a kiss.