Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 (10 page)

“Until or unless Eve bears another child,” agreed Pellecus. “They were commanded to fill the earth with their vermin, you know.”

“Nevertheless Cain is useless to the prophecy,” said Lucifer.

Before he could finish his thought, the very air around them became violent, and the earth itself seemed to wrench, throwing the group of rebel angels into confusion and forcing them to the ground. Lucifer tried to regain himself and determine what was happening. Rugio assumed they were under attack by Michael and his angels. Kara sat up stupefied. Pellecus simply waited until it was all over.

When the incident abated, Lucifer observed something very peculiar. He realized that though he and the others were greatly affected by the sudden outbreak of activity, the world around them was completely unscathed—even to the point that a fawn and her mother nearby continued nibbling on the same tender grass on which they had been nibbling immediately before the shakeup.

“Something extraordinary is happening,” he finally said in a whispered tone.

As he began to make more comment, a long, low, horrible groaning sound pierced the air around them, paralyzing them with fear and wonder. The sound came from everywhere and yet from nowhere: a wailing, passionate sound as if the earth itself was groaning a horrible outcry heard only in the invisible, angelic world. Once more the physical world remained oblivious. When it was over Lucifer stood up in deep thought, attempting an understanding of what had just happened. Then he smiled at the others.

“Even the earth itself speaks to the crimes of men and angels,” he said in a sullen tone. “Nature itself is a player in this little drama of ours.”

“What was it?” asked Kara nervously.

“That was the blood of Abel,” said Lucifer, “crying out for justice.”

The sun wore on Cain as he walked through the land. He had long ago departed any familiar territory and had strayed deeply into lands that he and his family had never before traversed. He was hungry and very thirsty. But he continued eastward, away from his home, away from his parents. He was very alone.

The sound of a distant babbling creek buoyed his spirits, and with a newfound energy he bounded down a gently sloping hill to a small stream at the bottom. He half fell in, lapping the cool water greedily. After filling himself he sat up on the bank, reflecting on his prospects.

He was tired of running, to be sure. But he really had no place to go. He couldn’t possibly return to his grieving parents. Neither did he wish to face the world alone. But he was a fugitive—running from God just like A’dam and Eve had done so many years before in Eden. How often he had heard the shameful story told by his parents when he was growing up. And just as often, he and Abel had agreed that they should never be in a position of running away from God.

He had traveled several days’ journey from the place where he had killed his brother. The farther away he was from that horrible spot, the better he felt. But he knew in his heart that no matter how far he ran, the confrontation he had had with the Lord would forever be with him…

“
Where is your brother Abel?
”

Why must He play with me like that
, Cain thought.
Why doesn’t He simply kill me and be done with it?
Every night since the killing, Cain had not been able to sleep. He dreamed horrible dreams recounting the murder; he heard his brother’s voice crying out to him. In a dreamy state he saw himself standing before the Lord, asking him, “How would I know that? Am I responsible for Abel?”

“
What have you done?
”

“Leave me alone!” Cain screamed.

In an instant his mind was flooded with the very words that his father said the Lord had spoken to him on that dark day in Eden, “A’dam, where are you? What have you done?” Now it was the son’s turn to face a God whose will he had transgressed…

Cain looked at his reflection in the brook. He could not see the faces of Sangius, Serus, and Archias, a newly arrived angel from Heaven, looking down on him from the other side of the stream. What he did see was the mark of a fugitive, placed upon him by the Lord, that branded him a murderer and warned others not to kill him. Cain looked upon the mark and began to weep bitterly.

Serus looked at Archias, who had been sent to begin training in the ways of men on earth. Sangius shook his head in pity.

“One son murdered, one son branded a criminal,” Sangius finally remarked as they watched Cain sobbing. “You are certainly getting an education in the manner of men, Archias.”

“Yes,” admitted Archias. “What an inglorious beginning.”

Serus watched the sun disappearing over the high bluff to the west. “I just hope it isn’t the end,” he said somberly.

C
HAPTER
6

“How disappointed Eve must be!”

Chronicles of the Host

Darkness and Light

True to the Lord’s command, the children of A’dam and Eve multiplied into a very healthy human population. They grew remarkably in numbers, speaking the same language, forming one large, loosely-aligned society of tribes. Some founded cities or became herdsmen, while others reached inside themselves and became inventors or musicians. Thus did human culture wax stronger and stronger.

But as is the way with men, even as their culture flourished, so did their corruption. Even Seth’s promising heritage was tainted over time. Men and women, who carried in them the image of God, who once called upon the name of the Lord, now cursed it. All of humanity had degraded itself to the point that day and night evil and vile thoughts were all that men contemplated.

For their part, Lucifer’s angels had not been inactive all these years. They had sharpened their skills in tempting men, and in arousing unnatural passions within them. They had become experts in enticements that opened carnal possibilities among humans. Anger, lust, greed, idolatry, sorcery—all of these were encouraged among men, who then used their freedom to choose as a license to indulge their base natures.

So, a bloody trail marked the progress of humans, until now, as the council came together, it seemed that any chances of the Seed emerging in this sin-ravaged world was remote indeed. Some of those closest to Lucifer dared privately to believe that they would soon be positioned to force a compromise upon the Lord.

“How disappointed Eve must be that her hope in Seth was so wasted,” Kara said, announcing his arrival at the council. He took his place around the large, black obsidian table that served as Lucifer’s war room. “I hear that they are so compromised that one can hardly tell them from Cain’s wretched line. Delightful!”

“Sons of God indeed,” echoed Berenius.

“Truly it is remarkable how quickly these righteous ones have turned,” agreed Pellecus, who continued his thought that had been interrupted by Kara’s entrance. “As I was saying, these proud Sethites who presumed to call themselves the ‘sons of God’ failed to take into consideration the rather damaging qualities of the daughters of men. I’m afraid they have poisoned themselves utterly!” He smiled.

Kara sneered. “What Seed of prophecy could we possibly fear coming from these carnal freaks?” he asked, looking at the others in the room. “Surely the war is nearing an end. Man has failed the Lord dismally. He must be able to see it.”

“It does appear that corruption begets only corruption where men are concerned,” mused Pellecus.

“My agents have failed to find any sign of the coming one,” Kara continued. “All they have witnessed is our seducing spirits at work among them. Sons of God indeed! I pity the deliverer who comes from this race. We need not fear any man!”

“Except one,” said Lucifer, entering the cavern that served as his council place. The others rose to greet their leader and hail him as an impending conqueror.

“You are all fools to believe that this war is nearing an end,” Lucifer said, as he seated himself at the rock table. “Mark me. Somewhere among these perverse and fallen creatures the prophecy lives. We must remain alert.”

“Perhaps,” admitted Pellecus. “But you must admit, my lord, that as humankind continues to be degraded the likelihood of something holy being born from something so rotten is diminished.”

“Pellecus, you disappoint me,” said Lucifer with a smug tone. “Humans lost their holiness in Eden. Wherever and whenever the Seed emerges, it shall come from something that is human and therefore unholy.” He looked squarely at the faces of the council. “But I must admit that I am a bit puzzled. While it is true that humanity is finished morally, it is also true that the Seed lives somewhere among them.”

“So you believe that God will choose among these men, in spite of their rebellion?” asked Kara.

“No, Kara,” replied Lucifer. “I believe He has already chosen.”

“
Noah
.”

Noah looked up from mending the leg of one of his flock that had been attacked by some wild dogs. There was nobody near. He shook his head and went back to tending the lamb. He released it with an “off you go now,” and it took ginger steps toward the sound of its mother’s bleating. Noah smiled as he watched.

“
Noah
.”

This time the Voice came with more authority. Noah was certain that he heard it this time. He stood up and looked about. Nobody.

“Hello?” he asked very softly, feeling a bit foolish. “Shem? Is that you? Who is it?” He turned a circle as he spoke. “What do you want?”

The angels watched in amazement as Creator and creature spoke together about the grim reality of what God intended to do. They watched as Noah’s face, almost glowing in the light of the Presence, belied his shock and fear. He was listening as one who was trying to determine if it was all a dream, but coming to the dreadful conclusion that it was all very real. Then as quickly as it came, the light vanished and Noah was once more alone.

He looked around as if he was glad nobody else saw his encounter, and then hurried off to call his family together. Two angels immediately appeared at Noah’s side—powerful looking warriors—who took up guardian stances around the man whose mission it was to save himself and his family from the coming judgment.

Serus and Archias were trying to determine who these new angels were. Their belts indicated that they were attached to Michael’s command. Serus surmised that they had been assigned to Noah to protect him. The cold, steely eyes of these newly arrived sentinels spoke volumes to any who dared to interfere with Noah’s mission.

They watched as Noah disappeared toward the bit of land he farmed, his angelic companions staying right with him. Serus was about to comment when Michael appeared next to them. Archias bowed his head in respect for the archangel. Serus nodded as well, but in a more familiar way.

“Well, it’s begun,” said Michael, hands on his hips, his brilliant sword sheathed in the golden belt about him. “It’s begun.”

“I noticed two of your angels are assigned to the man,” said Serus. “Quinron, was one of them, I believe…”

“Yes,” said Michael. “And Tassius. Those two are charged with keeping watch over Noah and protecting him.”