* * *
"Arrrgghhhhh!!!!!" screamed Talus.
His cries of anguish echoed across the gulf into Paradise, but his howls simply melded into the moans of the damned. Lucifer, the source of his torment, castigated his captive as he hung from an acidic cross of fire. Charon, the Angel of Death, watched in silent witness to Satan's cruelty as he swaggered back and forth.
"Is this how God treats those He loves? 'Blessed be the death of His saints,'...pssfftt. Foolishness. We have both seen our share of death. We have seen the embodiment of men's fear smite both angel and man down."
Lucifer chuckled. "But I do not fear. I do not fear death because I command it! Know that my plans for the Godking cannot be stopped nor thwarted by those who even now seek to rescue thee, for in seven days' time will my hands grasp the prize of Paradise!"
The Prince of Darkness exulted as behind Talus, the black, self-constructing cadmine bridge, built itself across the gulf. An unstoppable, plodding and arced marched scaffolding that stretched, clawed, and with every day, inched closer toward Paradise and join the realms of the righteous and unrighteous dead.
Lucifer waved his hands in giddy elation. "I will make Yeshua bask in the very pain He hath made for us for He sits in judgment over all, and makes even His own image...His own image, to taste separation from Himself. To experience the void when one is distanced from God. Oh, yes, the Godking willingly evokes punishment as to serrate another from the Author of Life, but is too cowardly to undergo what He Himself would make His own creation endure. But this...this...will...end. For I will cause El to know this intimacy...to know separation. And when I am done, He will know sin in a way that is beyond the mind of both men and angels.
"For El, in His audacity, hath come down. And come down to do what? To usurp me? To destroy me? These petty incursions by His Son to deny my people habitation within the Clayborn will NOT stand, and His ill-gotten attempts to undue the plague of sin that I have unleashed upon the Adam will be for naught.
"For soon, I will inhabit one close to Him, one He cares for, and with the same, betray Him into the hands of His own sin-stained image. The very creation that El loves, this chattel of soft flesh He so dotes over, will I move to destroy Him, and on that fateful day I will stare into Yeshua's eyes as the man He loves brings Him to dissolution. And I will stare into His face, that He might know what He has caused me to know...the gnawing pain of abandonment."
Lucifer's lips turned down and his brow hard as he thought on the perceived injustice of his condition, and then shook his head and laughed at the irony of it all.
"Indeed," he quipped, "I will wound El in a manner unknown since His bleeding at my hand for I will destroy His physical shell, and then He will experience separation from Himself. HE WILL ACTUALLY BECOME SIN! Oh, yes! I will make the Almighty experience in the flesh what He Himself would allow others to know...what...it...is...like...to...die. For I, my brother... I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!"
Lucifer smiled at Talus while his captive's head hung limp and blood streaked down the Arelim's face. The Evil One then floated, hovering and drew close to whisper into Talus's ear.
"Thou shalt see, for His spirit will descend into Hell, and while dis-empowered in Paradise, I will cross over the gulf and finish what He and I began when El sat on the throne and my sword missed its mark. I will take the spirit of His Son, His beloved Son, and use Him to engine my rise again to Heaven and will forever end the tyrannical rule of the Father."
Lucifer grinned in smugness, proud of the ingenuity of his plans, and confident in his control. He cocked his head and observed that perhaps Talus was not listening,
"Nothing to say? No witty remark? No retort? Perhaps you think you can just ignore me?" Lucifer turned his head up, stroked his chin and muttered, "Hmmpff." He then lowered himself back to the ground.
"I see this subject poses no interest to thee, and that perhaps I have digressed from our initial topic of conversation. Let us return then, shall we? For there is indeed a matter of most importance that we must settle, you and I."
Lucifer then waved his hands and five brilliantly illuminated orbs shown into Talus' face.
"I shall ask you again. How many lights do you see?"
Talus was silent and with glaring eyes, he scrunched his face and contemptuously spat on the ground at Lucifer's feet.
Charon, having observed the tirade, chuckled at Talus's obstinance.
"Do I amuse you slave? Very well...smite him until the Arelim bleeds." he said to Charon.
Charon paused and turned to face Lucifer, folding his arms in defiance.
Lucifer smiled and spoke in sarcastic pentameter. "Doth Death hath compassion on this angel?" He harrumphed. "It matters not. You will not challenge me in this thing."
Charon roared and spread his bony wings. His tentacled arms spanned wide and he fell to the ground and snorted. Hell lurched when he did so and the creature heaved in displeasure. As a bull ready to stampede, Charon snorted, then roared.
Lucifer took a step backward and grabbed the locket of keys around his neck. Hell instantly obeyed the command of the Prince of Darkness and flaming tendrils descended moved to restrain Charon. He heaved the coils off him and pulled from his ashen robes a scythe, slicing the creature's coils. Hell roared in pain, and she lurched so that even those in Paradise felt the tremors and collapsed to the ground as the rumbling ground began to fissure. And when Talus saw that Charon fought back against his captor and that his rage might sunder the righteous dead, he screamed at the Warden to cease.
Lucifer then commanded Hell to stop her attack, and she paused, and he spoke to Charon. "Thou art my slave, but if the desire to serve me is distasteful to the Vengeance of God, then, by all means, listen to the shrill voice of the living dead."
"Charon..." Talus said, "it may be that thou canst fight Hell throughout eternity, and it may be that thou canst perhaps resist this cretin and one day be free of his leash. One day...perhaps, but if thou continue, destruction to the realm of Paradise will most assuredly come. Cease, I beg thee...and do what must be done."
The skeletal mare snorted in retort. He looked with socketless eyes at the ceiling of Hell. Her flaming and acidic strands hung ready to continue their assault at Lucifer's command. He looked past Talus to the denizens across the gulf...humans who did not deserve his vengeance and they too looked back, watching the spectacle from afar. He then eyed Talus who stared at him with eyes that understood forced servitude.
"Please, great one," Talus said, "do what thou hath been bidden."
Charon then eyed Lucifer and roared again. Smoke and fire and ash erupted from his person as the echo of his rage flooded the hallways of Hell, and in the roar that all in Hades heard, rang the message that he would recompense in time. That there would one day be vengeance. Lucifer, self-assured, and smiling, stood his ground eying the Warden, gloating in the control he exercised over the lives before him. He stared in silence at the angel of death to see if re-education was needed, as to whom the angel served, and patiently waited.
"You will obey my command and strike the Lumazi until he bleeds," Lucifer said.
Charon grunted, paused for a moment, and then his scythe disappeared. He pulled a glowing flagellum of fire from beneath his smoke cloaked wings. The weapon of angelic torture hung limply from his bony hands as Charon stared at Talus and spoke.
"Butttt yoooo doo notttt dessserveeee veeengeeeanccee..."
A tear streamed from Talus's eye and he screamed at Charon. "DO IT!"
And Charon, powerless to exact righteous justice, roared in anger and did so.
His bony hand gripped tight around the Kiln forged handle, and he heaved it over his shoulders. Its three barbed and fiery thongs stretched out in fury through the stench of brimstone, and the angelic weapon of torture bit into Talus's chest. The crack of its sting against flesh cascaded through the cavern for all within the realm of the dead to hear, and when Charon pulled the whip away, plumes of blood and strips of angelic flesh soared through the air. Hell savored Talus and released her maggots to feed upon the open wounds.
And Talus – the mighty prince of all Arelim – screamed
And Lucifer, Lucifer stood watching in smug satisfaction---smirking in nodding approval.
Trials
Enoch and his companions crossed meadows of fire, and the sweltering incalescence of Aesir made the air twist in gaseous eddies. Flames floated as musical notes across the land. Hues of orange, yellows and golds dotted the landscape. The party marched over a hill and sitting at the base of a valley, great towers of flames jetted into the sky, and Enoch knew from his study of Grigoric scrolls that he viewed the great Seraphim city of Ashe. The Aerie and the mountain of God were surely sights to behold, but before him was a city of living flames. Towering spires and houses of fire erupted before him and men of great stature lived within. The city was named aptly, for all that the eye could see burned; and smoke emanated into the air, carrying aloft the constant aroma of burning wood, but the sight and scents were nothing compared to the sounds that assaulted one's ears, for, behind the crackling of flames, there was music.
Exquisite tonal notes swept the land as though the crackling of flames were choirs ablaze in harmonies of tenors, baritones, and bass.
Great horse-like steeds of fire galloped across the skies. The Malakim Griffins and Aithons flew overhead. Some had wings as eagles and others did not, but all flew and left trails of fire in their wakes. The three visitors could scarcely pull their eyes away.
The chief captain of the guard escorted them through the city gates, and across the public squares, the populace was filled with Seraphim. The Burning Ones were aptly named, but unlike the Elohim who were as varied as the snowflakes of the Earth, the Seraphim were the same physical appearance, for Enoch could not tell one from another.
"Beautiful..." Enoch muttered aloud, and his mouth gaped as he stared at the views round about him.
The captain of the guard smiled. "All of Aseir is beautiful, Adamson."
Enoch realized he was gawking and replied, "My name is Enoch, and might I be privy to your name?"
The captain motioned them to a shining temple, and replied, "I am called Sherkanim, and am captain of the King's legions."
"It is an honor," replied Enoch.
Gabriel and Metatron also replied, "We, too, stand honored. We hope audience with your king will allow us to break bread in fellowship."
Sherkanim smiled delighting in the thought, but when he caught himself doing so, he made his face expressionless. "That is for the King to decide," he said.
The citizens of Ashe stared at the foreigners, pointing at each as they ogled with curiosity. Some reached out to touch them. Gabriel and Metatron smiled and allowed the people to handle them as they looked at them in wonderment.
"Why do they stare at us?" said Enoch.
Sherkanim continued to lead them up the final walkway to the temple. "It has been many days since the Schism. Some have forgotten what angels look like. Others were not created until afterward. To many, the Elohim are a thing of wonder and awe, and for some...fear. Some had even believed that Elohim no longer exists since none has passed underneath, through, or over the mountain in many ages."
"And you Sherkanim...what of you?" Enoch said.
"Our histories say El banished them beyond the mountain. Banished them because one of their number by the name of Lucifer, genesised evil. Nothing comes over the mountain now but Ophanim, and nothing comes under but the Zoa and the Mists, the dread fog that we must constantly keep at bay. Thou, human, art only the second of thy kind to walk these lands."
Enoch wanted to query further but Sherkanim had stopped at the temple, an imposing structure. The building's walls were an enormous bluish flame. Diamonds and crystals lined its floors, and everything solid, from the doors to the windows, seemed held by invisible flames that somehow floated in place.
"We are here," Sherkanim said. He then faced the people who had assembled in the courtyard, took his spear and raised it high for all to see, and made annunciation.
"Hail King Nephanos! Keeper of the Living Fire, Appointed by our Lord and Sovereign, El Almighty! All hail King Nephanos!"
Everyone knelt on one knee. Enoch looked at Gabriel and Metatron, who motioned him to kneel and he did so. The temple doors opened and great plumes of smoke entered the courtyard, creeping out as dark clouds toward the people, and a tall figure similar to the Seraphim exited the Temple. The creature had six wings and stood twenty cubits tall, muscular like all the other Seraphim, but upon his head was a crown of fire, similar to Michael's crown, but within the flaming circle was a jewel that shone as a star.
Enoch noted that all the Seraphim floated when in the presence of their king and covered their eyes with two of their six wings. And Enoch, being curious, as to the king, looked upon Nephanos and caught his gaze.
"A human...and two Elohim," the king said.
He waved his hand and a small whirlwind of fire formed around the trio. The embers were cool to the touch, and Metatron watched as butterflies of living flame floated over his hands. Amused, he opened and closed his hands as though to catch them, but the whirlwind twisted upwards and the embers nestled within the Seraphim king's waiting palm and disappeared. He sniffed his palm, then recoiled. His eyes bulged, and he took a step back as his muscles became rigid. Immediately, the guards raised their spears towards the three foreigners as if to protect their king.
"The Elohim have the plague and are infectious...the human is like the other and cannot harm us. Take the angels to be burned. The human, however, may remain."
Gabriel and Metatron tightened the grip on their weapons and started to rise in self-defense, but Enoch read their body language and motioned for them to pause.
He then rose to his feet. "I am Enoch..."
The guards shoved him down and King Nephanos spoke.
"We know who thou art, Enoch. We know thou art the Candlestick of the Lord. Fear not. Thy companions will not be harmed. But too much exposure to the Withering will sunder my people. These are infected, and they must be purged before it spreads. The Burning will not harm them."
Gabriel and Metatron lessened in their anxiety, and Enoch attempted to shove the guard's hands off him. Nephanos nodded his head and the guards released them all.
"I am the anointed of El, and rule this land at His will," he said. "None shall be harmed...yet."
Gabriel eyed Nephanos, and Metatron noted that Nephanos eyed Gabriel as well. "I would hear what the Lumazi Gabriel would say. It has been a long time, Malakim Prince."
Metatron whispered to his brother. "He knows you?"
Gabriel responded. "Aye, and I him." Gabriel then spoke aloud to Nephanos. "It has indeed, King Nephanos. It has indeed. Know that we bring thee no harm."
Nephanos harrumphed. "That remains to be seen, for thou hast entered my domain in defiance with our accord, agreed by our Lord El. Moreover, thou comest bearing the Withering. You wilt be purged of this plague, and upon your return, you will explain why I should not exercise my covenant rights and grind your clan into the dust."
Gabriel bowed. "As thou sayest, great king."
Nephanos nodded and Sherkanim and several guards escorted the two angels away. Enoch stared after them in anxiety, but Gabriel smiled and nodded.
"Do what thou hast been called to do. We shall return."
Nephanos then spoke. "Candlestick, come walk with me, and we shall have words."
Enoch swallowed hard and walked up the temple steps with the king, and the head of the Seraph people escorted him into the temple. The flaming structure was latticed with the colors of the spectrum. When the two had moved into an inner court, the king spoke, "Enoch, thou comest with two Elohim. How doth a human come to travel with Elohim?"
Enoch looked up at the towering king and replied, "I am on assignment by the Lord, for the Lord God came to me and said I must find the man, Elijah, and that he must be brought back to Michael that his people might be healed. And to this end made I petition and asked several to accompany me. Two thou hast seen, and one is not, taken by Zoa in an effort to bring me to the shores of Aseir. Therefore, I beseech thee, great king, have you seen my masters servant and may I see Elijah that I might be about my Lord's business?"
Nephanos nodded. "You said the Lord said this to thee?"
Enoch nodded.
"Hmm, surely, those that accompany thee have shared with thee, the story why their kind hath been shut off from Aseir?"
"I have been told by the Chief of Eyes, Argoth, that..."
"Argoth?" the king said. "When I last saw the temple, Raphael was Sephiroth. What hath transpired that Raphael is no longer head of the Grigori?"
"Perhaps great king there is much we might know from one another. But Raphael is no more. He was destroyed in an attempt to bring the truth of Lucifer's treachery to light. He now rests with those that sleep in the Lord."
Nephanos frowned and his black eyes cast downward as though he were recollecting times past. "I am sorry for the Grigori's loss. Please expound to me those events that have transpired since the Schism. We have no Grigori here and are cut off from the happenings on the mount. I have many questions and I ask thy forgiveness, for I asked if thou knew of the events that left the Seraph sealed behind the mountain."
"Indeed, I do," Enoch said. "They say that long ago there were three races of Heaven were one in unity and worked to the ends of the Lord, and Lucifer, jealous that he was not first in worship, challenged thy kind who were adept in all manner of music and craftsmanship to contest to determine who in Heaven was the greatest. And that through traffic, guile and duplicity, he obtained one of thy own seven trumpets, and with them sang a melody that the Ophanim concluded was first in the ears of all present. The winner was to be banished behind the veil, sealed, and to provide a tribute to the temple of God. There now remains four of thy people, who in accordance with that ancient accord, serve as witness to El's holiness, and to thy people's wager, but El was wroth in what Lucifer had done and took from him the trumpets received in guile and restored them to thy people with promise that He would, one day trumpets announce judgment upon his son. And that He sealed all the Sons of God behind a barrier and set up the boundaries thereof, each to remain in their respective habitations. This is what the Elohim have told me."
Nephanos brow became hard, and his fiery forehead visibly wrinkled over Enoch's words and replied, "You have heard the story as given by those who used deceit and trickery to obtain advantage. Now know the truth of it, and consider, for of all the Sons of God, it was we who brought music to the court of Heaven. It was we who in our very movement, like some of the Draco, created melody by mere motion. The trumpets were not mere instruments. They were tokens given to us by El Himself, and as the Elohim's Kilnstones kept them alight, the Trumpets were our people's gift from El, and with them, we could make any music in the mind of the Almighty. With them, we could create instruments of such beauty. We, Adamson...we were the living instruments of El, created to bring warmth and hymns, but Lucifer eyed anything that was preeminent over him. Any praise that was not lifted to God, Lucifer expected to be lifted to him, and thus he coveted the power to bring Heaven to song, to lift crowds to adulation and sought means to steal God's gifts. Thus, he eyed our people and found Camael."
Enoch looked intently upon Nephanos. Camael? I have heard of this name from the Grigori."
Nephanos nodded. "Camael is my brother, for not all celestial people are birthed from a kiln, Adamson. Some are like the Virtues and are but the residue of God's breath, but we are His voice, manifested as fire. His living word. We are the Seraph and are birthed from the breath of the Lord! And as one flame would ignite another, so we have come to be. Where you see fire on the plains of Aesir, you see the Seraph, a multitude who burn in holiness and worship of our God.
And Enoch marveled, for Aesir, and the eddies of flame that were her meadow were sprawled across the entire land. "So everywhere I see flame in the land..."
"Yes, Adamson, thou are seeing my people at rest. Therefore, the moment you didst step through the portal of Limbo and thy feet touched the land, we all knew that one, not of us, dwelt in our realm. What thou seest is but the form we take in thy midst, but we are as the flames that sit before the Lord. The flames that the Elohim sit behind. We are fire. We are the Burning Ones."
Nephanos and Enoch entered a room, and it was decored with all manner of furnishings, and the place was aflame in colors of blues, and in the room was instruments of every imagination, from the flute to the harp, to the cornet and cymbal – gilded with the finest golds, made from every conceivable stone, and the temple was filled with instruments. Enoch walked the length and breadth. When he touched a flute, it turned to fire and echoed melodies of sweetness, and musical notes took the form of colored smoke that wafted through the air. Excited, Enoch touched a lyre and strummed it, and the song was sweet, and the room changed color as it responded to its song, and such was every instrument within the room that all exhaled music the likes he had never heard. Branded into each was a symbol...a sigil similar to what he had noticed with the Elohim.
"All the instruments bear the same stamp," Enoch said.
"Yes."
Nephanos walked over to the lyre that Enoch was near and strung it. And when he did, it lit aflame and the music was even more powerful than when Enoch strummed it. And Nephanos extended himself so that his body became as fire and touched over each instrument and lifted it from its place. Immediately all the instruments came to life, and the sound was the likes of which had never been heard. The room glowed in colors that changed and flickered, and melodic notes bounced off walls, and the room erupted in orchestral praise. For a moment, Nephanos was changed, elated to be the celestial conductor of instruments that hearkened to his command to wash the air with praise, and all the city took note that within the temple music could be heard.