In Exile (Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven, Book III) (34 page)

A SHORT REST

After their narrow escape from Hell, Enoch and Jarahmael came through the mirror into a large chamber that lit up softly when they stepped into the room. Enoch helped Jarahmael through and slowly let him down onto the floor. Jarahmael was clearly drained of energy and exhausted, and he fell directly asleep without telling Enoch exactly where they were. Enoch could see that there was a passageway that led away from the chamber, and also that there were illuminated letters written along the walls that gave the room its soft glow.

Enoch was able to understand the writing, and determine that he and Jarahmael were in a female sphinx, the second one near the great pyramid at Aegyptus.
There are two sphinxes?
He thought to himself. He only knew of the one that stood before the Great Pyramid and had never seen or known that there was a second one, female-faced that was paired with the male one, the one with Cerebriel's face. According to the diagram on the wall, it should be within a short distance and viewable from the other Sphinx. Now that he knew where he was, he looked over at the Archangel he had just retrieved from Hell. He had been sent by the Almighty to retrieve this Archangel even though most of the other loyal Archangels objected to taking the risk of going into Hell to save him. Before he left on this mission, Enoch had also heard rumblings that this Archangel was nothing more than a traitor to their cause and was most likely working with Luciferael in Hell itself.

He wanted to question him, but could see that this Angel needed to get some rest. His wounds appeared to be healed from Raphael’s elixir, but he was sure that Jarahmael still needed to heal more, as he had been on that rock for a long time with little rest or respite from the torture by that creature in Hell. The Archangel looked so familiar to him, but he could not place where he knew him from.

He did feel great sympathy for this wounded Archangel, who reminded Enoch of himself in many ways. He found himself getting sleepy; it had been a difficult and long task to get this Archangel out of Hell and there was more that they would still have to do, so he went to sleep too.

There was no outside light into the chamber, so both Angels slept for a long time. Enoch awoke before the Archangel and took a more thorough look around. He read the map along the wall and was able to make his way out of the Sphinx, and into the daylight. As he returned he saw that the Archangel was beginning to awaken.

“How long have I been asleep?” asked the Archangel as he began to stand up.

“It has been a while, my lord Jarahmael,” Enoch replied.

“Thank you for coming to release me,” Jarahmael said. “And who are you?”

“My name is Enoch. I am the son of Adam and Eve,” Enoch responded.

Jarahmael responded, raising one eye brow, and asked, “Who are your parents?”

“My parents are Adam and Eve, my lord Jarahmael,” Enoch responded.

“I see,” Jarahmael responded. “And can you tell me where you got your wings?”

“My mother told me I was born with them and that they were merely a deformity.”

Jarahmael then asked, “How many years have you been on the Earth?”

“I had been on the Earth for a large portion of my youth, and then was taken up into the Heavens to live. I have seen many things, my lord Jarahmael, including the murder of one of my brothers, Abel, and the banishment of another brother, Cain, to live among the Simians. The whole Human race has grown quickly, as Humans and Simians have combined,” Enoch answered.

“Why did you come save me from Hell?” Jarahmael asked.

“The Almighty summoned me to the Seventh Heaven and asked me to go and save you, my lord. Luciferael and his rebel Angels have been causing greater and greater trouble on the Earth,” Enoch replied.

“Why would the Almighty want me freed after all these years?” Jarahmael asked.

“He was just waiting for you to become open to coming back to the Heavens, my lord. He sent for me as soon as you asked for help. Besides, the Heavens and the Earth need you, my lord,” Enoch said, watching Jarahmael closely as tears began to run down his cheeks. “And my fellow Humans are in trouble, Luciferael and his daemons are wreaking havoc among them!”

“Can't Michael and the rest of my brethren handle Luciferael?” Jarahmael asked. “Michael played an important role in preventing Luciferael's takeover of the Heavens.”

“Yes, that's what everyone believes, my lord, but the Almighty told me that if it was not for you and your sacrifices that Luciferael would have defeated Michael and the others.

“The Almighty also informed me that Lillith has been captured and trapped in Hell. And that she has been producing offspring. He does not know if it is willingly or by force, but the Earth is becoming plagued by these hybrid creatures of hers. He told me no one else knows her like you do. Nor does anyone else understand how the rebel Angels operate like you do.”

Enoch watched for Jarahmael’s reaction, but he saw none. It was not difficult for Jarahmael to hide his emotions anymore, as he had become well practiced at making himself unreadable throughout the torture by the carnabus.

Enoch then continued, “You should know that Michael and the others believe that it is you and Lillith working with Luciferael and the others that have been creating these daemons. But I saw what they were doing to you, my lord, I know that you were just another prisoner in Hell.”

“My memory still isn't good, but the last I knew she was captured by the rebel Angels and held captive in Luciferael's palace in the Seventh Pit of Hell,” Jarahmael said. “There are more prisoners?”

“Yes, Luciferael was initially assigned to be in charge of the Underworld and has the authority to hold the souls of the Humans after their death, some to await the Almighty's redemption, others to be held by him for punishments. But now the rebel Angels have started to collect the bodies and souls of the unwary, and Luciferael always wants more, my lord.”

“Things have changed since I was captured, there is much I will need to learn,” Jarahmael said as he hesitated, walking towards the sunlight.

“We should go up into the Heavens, my lord Jarahmael, the Almighty awaits us,” Enoch said as he started to walk down the corridor towards the sunlight.

Jarahmael looked at Enoch, his eyes far off from where they were in the basement of the Sphinx. He then removed some of the stones in the room and pulled out a couple of pyramid-shaped prisms, light swords, a light spear, and a horn. Seeing Enoch’s reaction, Jarahmael said, “Just getting some of the weapons I stored here years ago.” Then Jarahmael added, “No, my son, there is no time for me to return to the Heavens with you, I need to go save your mother, Lillith. I am going back to Hell.”

Enoch looked at the Archangel as he stepped into the mirror and disappeared. When Jarahmael reclaimed Enoch by calling him his son, it opened up some of the memories he had of his father. He was able to remember the early years of his life when he used to fly on his father's back along with his mother, the woman named Lillith, in the mountains near the cave of Adam and Eve. No wonder the Almighty had sent him to retrieve this Archangel! Now it was his turn for the tears to roll down his face as he stood looking into the mirror where his father had disappeared.

THE END