An Unholy Redemption

Chapter 1 continued

The eerie silence was almost deafening, silencing the wind. It was as though everything had

ceased for a final moment in time; past, present and future had now joined together to witness

the end. A muffled growl issued from Lucifer’s stomach, getting louder making its way up into his chest, then throat, until finally Lucifer threw his head back. He opened his mouth and released a deafening scream, causing his sword to burst into flames that burned the brightest shade of red. Lowering his head, he slowly opened his eyes to view his army of angels around him. Some looked on him in fear; others glorified themselves in their leader’s fiery gaze. “Behold,” Lucifer said in a voice like thunder, “you see before you your leader in all his glory. Do not be afraid. This day you will be delivered and you will have your paradise − that I grant you. Come with me and let my will be done.” Lucifer lifted his sword and pointed it at his brothers. As he uttered a word only known to him, some of the flames fired off the sword and entered the hearts of his brethren. In an instant their eyes flashed red, connecting them to Lucifer’s energy. Lucifer, accepting his followers’ allegiance, turned to face the holy ground below, and using his sword he shot out a red flame that lit up the ground creating an almighty bang of thunder, causing the holy ground to shake and tremble until it finally cracked and opened, revealing an eerie red glow of light surrounded by smoke. From amidst the smoke and red light, a moaning started to sound, the sound of dammed souls who had been serving Lucifer for an eternity in the fiery depths of Hell. These souls started to surface and hover above the holy ground, bending in submission to their master, ready for his command. It

was not long before the surface was a wave of red souls glowing in anticipation for the chance to expel their anger into the world. Lucifer roared to his army of souls below: “It has begun.”A strange feeling resonated through Michael’s body on hearing the roar of Lucifer and as he knelt in prayer. It was a feeling of such intensity and urgency that he broke from his meditation and looked west. Realising that the time was near, he turned to his brothers. “Come brethren, let us join minds in honour of the Most High.” The other angels stood to join Michael, bowing their heads whilst placing their right hand over their heart. As they reached a perfect unison of minds, Michael closed his eyes and held his sword to his face.

“Father, it has begun. In your name and in the name of love, we serve you.” Above the angels’ heads, the blue sky opened. A blue light began to glow brighter. Slowly, it

descended on Michael and his followers and then it began to vibrate on a different frequency.

Becoming quicker and urgent, it gathered in momentum, collecting its energy until it burst like a clap of thunder. Michael watched with joy as it escaped its confinement from the vast sky and descended like a shot.

 

 

On opening their eyes they looked to the heavens to see the souls of the saints and the saved exiting Heaven and descending towards the holy ground and the red souls

below. Then with a commanding voice, which resonated with a new kind of authority, Michael spoke, “The time is upon us, a time to defend what we know is good and true. It is time to preserve the word of the Most High and keep Paradise safe from the hands of the unworthy.”

 

As the burning sun reached its highest point, Michael flew high above the ground with sword

shining blue ready to strike. The blue sky surrounding them was shining brighter than ever

before, as the destiny of their souls was igniting to complete their mission. Approaching them

head on was Lucifer and his gathering. Their half of the sky was of a blood red colour, lit by

flashes of lightning ripping through the dense sky. As the souls raced to each other, Lucifer could see the shining red and blue eyes dancing in the air like rubies and sapphires. He then turned to look through the flapping of his wings to see if his angels were still as faithful as the souls below. Feeling satisfied and proud of where he was on this day, he broke into a laugh that rumbled like thunder.

“Michael!” Lucifer shouted his war cry as he accelerated to meet his main opponent.

“Lucifer!” Michael returned his shout as the two came together in slow motion.

As their swords connected, spraying sparks rained down to earth. Angels from both sides were fighting using their swords and wings as weapons. All around fell from the sky, as their injured wings could not keep them in flight. The battle of the souls below also raged in confusion amidst the rising dust from the desert floor. Out of the dust, blue and red ghost-like souls entangled in a battle for survival to join the surrounding mists that were embroiled in a battle of their own. Gabriel looked up to the sky at the blue energy which was much stronger than the quickly diminishing red energy. We are going to win, he thought as he pulled his sword from the chest of another defeated angel. Hours of fighting ensued. In the heat of the battle, Lucifer looked down to see his shrinking army of souls and then looked behind to see the few remaining angelic brothers. I have to win, I must have ultimate power. He swung his sword in rage at Michael. Fending off this attack Michael rushed at Lucifer and flew straight into him, stunning him.

“Gabriel,” Michael shouted, “fly down and order the retreat.”

“Why? We have almost won; retreating is not necessary.”

“Just do it!”

Gabriel folded his wings close to his body and descended with speed to the battle below. After issuing the order, Gabriel rejoined the battle above where Michael and Lucifer were crashing together like thunder. Gabriel wondered whether to assist Michael, but a stern look from Michael told him otherwise. Michael fended off another attack from an enraged Lucifer, then, for a moment that seemed to last forever, Gabriel watched in horror as Lucifer’s sword first struck Michael’s left wing and then a second strike severed his right wing.

“Michael!” Gabriel screamed as Michael’s wings began to flap lifelessly. As Michael fell from the sky, he turned to look at his brother Gabriel and the blue light from his eyes began to fade, revealing two white tear filled eyes. Michael fell to the ground, whispering Gabriel’s name. The sword fell from his dying hand, returning to its dormant metal. With a look of horror and disbelief, Gabriel saw the blue light in the sky fading fast, engulfed in the brightness of the red. “What do we do now Gabriel?”

Gabriel turned to see Daniel looking exhausted and demoralised.

“We have lost,” Daniel said, “none of our swords can match Lucifer’s and with Michael gone we have no hope!”

Gabriel barely heard him. With effort, Gabriel broke from his moment of contemplation and

lifted his head to the heavens which were now nearly red.

“Why?” Gabriel shouted. “Oh, God save us, win us this day.”

A cackle, which broke into a roar of laughter, interrupted Gabriel’s call for help. Gabriel turned to see Lucifer, sword poised in hand ready. “You see,” Lucifer said, “God has abandoned you. So why do you love God so much? Why don’t

you come with me and I will grant you paradise? You and your brothers have fought well. Let me reward you.”

“Never!” Gabriel replied, looking up to the sky like a lost lonely boy for one last hope of aid from the Most High. Then he turned to the few brothers that remained and ordered a retreat. “Grant me the permission to recover Michael’s body,” Gabriel pleaded.

Lucifer nodded in agreement with a smirk on his face and arms open in a mocking gesture. His eyes followed Gabriel flying down to the now silent battlefield below.

As he approached the ground, Gabriel’s heart sank at the sight of all the bodies, of angels

together dead on a sea of flesh and feathers. Through tears, Gabriel spied Michael lying lifeless next to his sword. He gently lifted Michael over his shoulder, grabbed hold of the sword and took flight. Ascending into the sky, he looked up and observed the last of Heaven’s souls retreating into the last of the blue sky. Gabriel closed his eyes in horror, his heart swelling with remorse at such a failure on this day. He reopened his eyes to see to see Lucifer in front of him. “You know you had the choice to be on the winning side Gabriel,” Lucifer mocked. “I really hope you find your peace Lucifer, and one day you will realise what you have done on this day.” Gabriel gently made his way towards the heavens with Michael still cradled over his

shoulder. “Realise what I have done. I have defeated God’s army. I think I am at peace, don’t you? We will now have our paradise, a paradise on earth with me as God.”

Gabriel took one last look at the death and carnage and defiant Lucifer below, then he submitted to the closing blue light which was getting smaller and smaller until it was a small pinpoint in a sky. It finally collapsed in the fullness of a red sky.

It is done, Lucifer thought. The sound of cheering and merriment below drew his gaze to

the ground where he could see his faithful angels waiting in anticipation of his return. With a

triumphant heart and glorious wings, Lucifer swooped down to join his companions.

“My lord, your throne awaits you,” Simon remarked as he landed. Lucifer saw Simon standing next to a golden throne, in front of which stood the two beasts that had previously guarded the sword. Now they were free, calm and pleased to see their master as he landed and patted their heads. “Yes Simon, I will take my rightful place. The one that was destined for me as a god and ruler on earth.”

“Yes, my lord, we are all waiting to see you in your chair as our ruler.”

Lucifer rested his sword on a mounting attached to the throne and took his seat. The congregation knelt in perfect submission and swore allegiance once more to their leader. Simon lifted the crown fashioned from all the precious metals and stones found on earth and gently placed it on the head of its new owner.

“My faithful souls you have dominion on earth. As a reward you may now drink from the riches of life − greed, lust, avarice and all earthly pleasures are yours now for the taking. This is my command to you on this victorious day when my paradise came to earth.”

Dark shadows flickered on the ground as the souls danced around the blazing fire. Its flames

reached up to meet the dark blanket of the night. As each beat of their drums sent them more into a more frenzied state, Lucifer turned to his angels who were sitting beside him.

“These souls are very easily satisfied. You give them what they want and they will follow you even to death and beyond. I am very proud of what I have achieved this day.

 

 

 I have proved that the Most High made a mistake in casting me out of heaven. I have become the most powerful god alive. I succeeded to let God and man know who I am and he ordered his angels to retreat in fear of my superiority.”

“Yes, my lord,” all the angels said in harmony. Lucifer’s moment of self-flattery was disturbed by the silencing of the drums. He turned to see what had happened. Out of the darkness of the star-vacant sky, a tiny bright light was making its way towards them. Suddenly, there was a flash of light which temporarily blinded everyone.

When Lucifer’s eyesight recovered, he saw his angels and souls screaming at the white light

which ploughed along the ground turning their bodies to ash in the very place they were standing. Lucifer, stunned with disbelief, took a while to gather his senses, then with horror he reached forward to take the sword from his throne and leapt to his feet.

“Nooo!” Lucifer roared. The last thing he saw before he collapsed was the ash of his pets float off in the wind.