From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) (11 page)

The demons cheered in agreement.

“Maybe he is right, Lucifer,” one of the black-winged angels said.

Lucifer turned to him. “What do you mean by this?”

“Maybe we have gone too far.”

“Tear his wings off,” Lucifer commanded.

Demons obliged him. Hundreds of black-winged angels retreated.

“Leoran! Take a group and follow them.”

Lucifer looked for Leoran and could not find him among the ranks. He
growled in frustration.

“Dispose of them. And bring Leoran to me!” he screamed.

 
A large group of demons gave
chase.

Lucifer turned back to Drean. When they made eye contact the seraph
attacked.

Lucifer grabbed Drean’s blade in his free claw and held it. His scales
hissed as the sword dissolved them. Drean’s flame erupted, towering over him:
the rush of hot air sent demons and angels sprawling, but Lucifer stood firm
with a confident smile on his face.

“Celestinite may have adverse effects on us now...” Lucifer clenched the
sword tighter and snapped it in half; it vanished from Drean’s hand in a bright
flash of light “but even a celestial such as you cannot equal my power.”

Lucifer struck him: his blow shattered Drean’s chest plate, doused his
wing’s flame and left him on the tile breathless.

Lucifer’s army jeered Drean and cheered for its general.

A light that shone with every color and no color at all appeared above
the throne of God.

“This has gone far enough.”

“Greetings, Father. Come to relinquish Heaven to us?” Lucifer turned and
faced the Light of God.

“Not quite. You and your kind are not welcome here any longer. You desire
to think freely and partake of this violence? So be it. But do so elsewhere.”

Lucifer howled and writhed before a conflagration exploded from his body.
Fire obscured Drean’s sight, and his vision dimmed to black.

* * *

Riell removed herself from Drean’s mind and found herself
hyperventilating. She had crushed one of the arms of her couch. Sweat permeated
her clothing. She could not calm down. Drean stared at her and did not know
what to do.

“Are you ok? I think you broke that.” Drean gestured at the couch’s arm.

She cried while Drean stared at her and did not stop until she realized
he was watching her.

“I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes. “Your memories just remind me of things
I’ve been trying to forget.”

“I apologize for that,” Drean said.

“It’s fine. Viewing memories takes a heavy toll on the mind. It leaves
your emotions very vulnerable. I’ll be ok in a second.”

She stood up and stumbled across the room and down a hall.

I’ve never had so much trouble recovering from a mind meld before.
What is wrong with me?
Riell thought.

Drean heard a door open and close and the sound of running water.

I can feel her sadness whenever she is connected with my mind
, he
thought.
I wonder what she is so sad about.

“So, why did all the angels treat you with such disrespect?” she asked
when she came out of the hall a few minutes later.

“What do you...” Drean gaped at her.

She had changed into black shorts and a fitted green lacy halter-top,
exposing most of her legs and surrendering cleavage.

Riell smiled before she could check herself.
I keep forgetting he
hasn’t spent much time around women.

“They didn’t call you Drean,” she said. “They... Drean keep your eyes on
my face or something in the room.”

He blushed and looked away from her. She laughed at him.

“I’m only messing with you,” she said.

“I didn’t have a name at the time,” he said.

“You didn’t have a name? Surely an angel with an important position such
as yours would have a name.”

“No, my Father blessed me with that among other things before I left
Heaven.” He glanced at her.

“Interesting, among other things? What else did he give you?”

“Free will.”

Riell stared at him. “You mean you couldn’t think for yourself before
then?”

“No, I could only think within the confines of my duty to God.”

“What is that like?” she asked.

“I was content at my post.” Drean shrugged. “I could not really think
anything of it.”

“No. I mean, what is it like having your mind change from being so one
sided to what it is now?”

“It’s overwhelming. I never knew any emotion other than contentment.
Now...” he looked into her eyes “I feel so much more.”

Riell wanted more than anything to draw him close.

“Now that you’ve asked me all these personal questions, can I ask you
one?” Drean asked.

She breathed out and regained control over herself at his question.

“Sure.”

“Can you tell me about your origins?”

Riell sighed at his question.

“Okay.”

Why do I feel like I can trust him? I’m supposed to be handing him
over to Shrazz. I’m going against my duty and our contract by harboring this
angel.

“My father was one of the angels that fought in Lucifer’s army.”

Drean’s eyes widened. “But that would make you thousands of years old.”

“Thousands?” Riell laughed. “I’m not that old.

“I guess that makes sense... Gerald told me the angels that fell from
Heaven fell not only through space but through time as well.”

“Yeah. That’s what I was taught when I was young,” Riell said.

“Did you know your father?”

Riell cried again.

“No. I’m sorry I’m so emotional right now. It’ll pass. I promise.”

“It’s ok. I’m sorry I asked.”

“No, no. It’s fine.”

Riell composed herself.

“All I know of my father is what my foster father told me. He said he saw
my father rape a woman in an alleyway. My father flew away and left my mother
for dead when my foster father found them. She immediately swelled up and went
into labor. During my delivery, she changed into a demon and then died.”

“How did she die so suddenly?”

“After falling from Heaven, fallen are extremely fertile and cause rapid
pregnancies, some of which are near instantaneous. Their potency gradually
fades with time. Their negative energies are passed on through sexual activity.
Humans are strongly affected by them. Women that do not conceive usually
survive the transformation. Very few survive the labor.”

I didn’t know emotions could be this powerful
, Drean thought.
I
feel hatred for the fallen angel that raped her mother. But, if that horrible
act hadn’t taken place, Riell wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t have
learned anything from her. My emotions and knowledge of this world wouldn’t be
as developed had I not met her. Yet I want to maim the angel who took her
mother’s sanctity away.
Drean made up his mind.

“I want to find this angel and erase him from existence,” Drean said.

“How can you decide that so quickly? Don’t let your emotions take control
like that, Drean,” she said.

“He caused you great pain and has probably lived his life taking pleasure
in the pain of others. He needs to be erased.”

“Okay,” Riell conceded. “But do you even know what rape is?”

“I’ve never heard of it until now, but somehow I know what it is. Maybe
God granted me knowledge such as this before I left Heaven.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“You’ve been searching for the angel, haven’t you?” Drean asked.

“Yeah. That’s why I started working for The Falling Curtain. It polices
half-breed and fallen activity throughout the universe.” Riell wiped her eyes.

“So they sent you to kill me?”

“My boss wants you alive. I’m not sure why. I really don’t know what he
wants from you, Drean. I would have been instructed to kill you myself had you
been just another fallen angel, but you’re special to him. He seems to want to
do the job himself.”

“So do you trust me?” Drean sat up a little and waited for Riell’s
response.

“I think I can trust you. I will try to trust you.”

“That doesn’t change much though,” Drean said. “You will still have to
apprehend me. It is your duty.”

“Hey.” Riell laid a hand reassuringly on his. He looked into Riell’s dark
eyes. His thoughts quieted and his muscles relaxed.
“
I don’t know what
I’m going to tell my boss yet. But I’ll think of something when the time comes.
You are not the monster he believes you to be. I’m sure of that now.”

Riell hugged Drean, who did not know what to do in response.

Drean felt Riell’s warm body against his, and a giddy sensation swelled
up inside him.

“Drean, this is a hug.”

“A hug?”

“It’s a gesture of friendship and affection. I’m honored to be the first
to share it with you.” Riell squeezed Drean.

Drean wrapped his arms around Riell and did the same.

“Like this?”

“Yes but not so tight!” Riell gasped.

“Sorry!” Drean loosened his hold on Riell.

“That’s better. Just like that,” Riell said.

Riell caressed his back and let herself appreciate his toned muscles, the
wooziness his affection inflicted, and the bitter sweetness of her sin against
Shrazz and The Falling Curtain. Though she knew her actions would be considered
unforgivable it made the situation all the more alluring. She could not stop
herself.

Riell released Drean from her embrace and slid away from him on the
couch, out of his reach.

“I’m sure that you’re not the one we’re looking for, Drean. If my boss
knew of your purity I’m sure he would not be after you either.”

“So why don’t we just tell him?”

“I haven’t decided what to do about that yet.” Riell pursed her lips in
thought and remembered Gerald.

“He’s convinced you’re going to destroy the universe,” she said.

“That’s not true.”

“I’ll think of something, but in the meantime,” Riell looked at Drean,
“do what I tell you and you should be fine.”

“Alright.”

Their gaze became one, focused on one another and each other’s need to be
together: as close as humanly possible. Drean had no idea what to do or say.
Riell was frozen as well, but she knew what had to be done.

“We should... get some rest, Drean.”

“Alright,” Drean said, but he did not look away.
Riell blinked, stood and mentally shook Drean’s eyes out of her mind, so she
could make it to her bedroom.

“Drean,” she said when she reached the doorway.

“Yes?”

“I enjoyed our time tonight.”

“I enjoyed it as well,” Drean said and smiled at Riell.

“Do you want the lights on or off?”

“The light? It’s fine,” Drean said.

“Ok. Goodnight.”

Riell closed the door behind her.

Drean sighed and lay on the couch.

I hope when I awaken I find that I haven’t been asleep a thousand
years. I want to remain with Riell.

Drean thought of his mission.

God wants me to learn about these humans, these emotions. I feel like
I shouldn’t distance myself from my desires. I should embrace them. To deny
them would be to deny the mission God has given me.

He stood up and walked to Riell’s door. He stuck his hand out and knocked
quietly.

Riell opened the door. Drean opened his mouth to speak.

Riell kissed him before he could.

Their kiss ignited a firestorm of passion. All thoughts of God and his
mission melted away.

Riell put her hand out. Drean took it, and Riell closed the door behind
them.

Leoran had traveled through the dark, cold dimensional tunnel that led to
Heaven for hours. He had wrapped himself in his wings to stay warm. He collided
with something and tried to unfold his wings to see it. Pressure held them,
like a great hand had grasped him. He was pulled downward into endless
frigidity and blacked out soon after.

Memories of the war flooded Leoran’s somnolent mind.

* * *

“Lucifer.” Leoran saluted.

“Yes, Leoran. Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, sir, we are prepared to follow you, even if it means our erasure
from this existence.”

Lucifer nodded.

“Good, I expect no less. We’re going to need that kind of faith to
compete with what we are about to face.”

“We understand, sir. We have trusted you thus far. We will follow your
example.”

Lucifer turned and looked at The Sanctuary.

“If I am his second in command, that seraph would be his third despite
his lack of free will,” Lucifer said. “Humans... why does God give them His
undivided attention? They always have chance after chance to rejoin God even
after their lives have expired despite being the most heinous of God’s
children. They feel pleasure and learn from pain: actually living their lives.
We follow God’s every beck and call and experience nothing. They think their
lives are difficult, not knowing what their purpose is in God’s plan. If only
they knew what God truly does with His divine power... what he has done with
it. He doesn’t deserve such power, and they do not deserve its comfort and
protection.”

Leoran had been silent, distracted by Lucifer’s private abode. The
spacious residential dome had two stories: Lucifer spent the majority of his
day on the first. He studied documents given to him by God and maintained
constant surveillance over the angels of Heaven through his telepathic link
with them as their sovereign angel. The second floor was accessible through a
hole large enough for an archangel to get through with his wings outstretched.

Leoran had stared up into the hole and recalled the day he had stumbled
upon The Morning Star and his consort Annarae making love. He had been jealous
then, and even when God banished Annarae along with all of the other female
angels, he remained envious of Lucifer.

“One day you too will have a love, Leoran,” Lucifer said. “We will all
love again.”

Leoran’s gaze snapped down to Lucifer’s. “I didn’t mean to let my mind
wander, sir,” he said.

Lucifer embraced Leoran, kissed him on the forehead and turned to The
Sanctuary. Leoran was stunned by his gesture.

“You have always been a close friend and ally,” Lucifer said. “It will be
an honor to fight by your side.”

“When you give the signal we will converge at the rendezvous, sir.”

Leoran wished he had conceived the plan that would finally bring God from
his throne.

“Then let us stall no longer. The time for retribution has arrived!”
Lucifer unsheathed his celestinite long sword and held it aloft.

It gleamed as the light of Heaven played on its keen, sleek features.
Angels all over Heaven stirred at his signal and abandoned their Heavenly
duties.

When Lucifer assaulted The Sanctuary, Leoran deserted him. He waited near
the Gates of Heaven to see how Lucifer would fare. He heard God’s voice boom,
and the air grew hot. The Heavenly Gate wavered as God tapped into His power,
and it allowed even demons to pass through. Soon after, Leoran heard Lucifer’s
cry of anguish, and a pillar of flame erupted from The Sanctuary. He flew
outside the gates of Heaven before the flames exponentially grew, engulfing the
demons and angels in the vicinity of The Sanctuary and all of Heaven. When the
conflagration cleared only pure angels remained. Leoran had escaped because the
flames had not reached him.

* * *

Leoran woke on soft grass. He stared into the blue sky, bathed in the
warm sun and relaxed. He forgot his ambitions momentarily, closed his eyes and
let the calm permeate him.

He heard footsteps and sat up to find Satan. Leoran realized he was in
Hell and remembered himself.

Satan offered Leoran a wrinkly hand.

“Let me help you up, brother,” Satan said.

Leoran stood himself.

“Your obsession with nakedness eludes me, Lucifer.”

Satan laughed.

“Your obsession with armor amuses me. But I did not bring you here to
talk of our differences. You spoke with Shrazz?”

“Yes. I was going to check in with you after I reported to Heaven.”

“You do not need to lie to me, Leoran. I have no idea why you fear me
so.”

“I do not fear you.”

“Would you like me to remind you? I do delight in manifesting your
perceptions.”

“Your illusions do not frighten me either.”

“No. You only fear truth, Leoran. That is why I have brought you here. To
remind you of the truths you hide so well, to curb your delusions. You will
never surmount me. You will never surmount God. The most you can hope for is to
be Shrazz’s guardian. Cooperate, comply with my wishes, accept your place, and
if you succeed you will be my commander.”

“I am no one’s. I am worthy of more than servitude.”

Grass entangled him, and grew around him forming an enormous fist of
vegetation. It lifted him. The ground behind it broke apart and gave way for
its long arm. Satan was a gargantuan, multitude of plant life.

“You do not know what it means to be worthy.”

Leoran held his ears but could not dampen Satan’s voice.

“You have no cause but greed, no means but deception. You are empty.”

“Our Father says the same of you, brother.”

“I am losing my patience with your immaturity, Leoran. Your existence
remains in jeopardy as long as you cling to it.”

“You will not erase me. You have no other liaison but me. It is not
immature to remain ambitious.”

Satan pulled Leoran to his writhing face of vegetation, vines, flowers
and thorns.

“Your ambition will never be fulfilled. You will never be more than what
you are now. Never.”

Vines entangled Leoran’s body. He could not breathe. Satan flung Leoran
into his thorny throat and all was dark and painful despite his armor. Satan’s
throat contracted and shoved him deeper into his thorny innards. They flayed
his skin like razors, drawing hot blood that pooled in his armor. He curled up
and despite himself, prayed for it to end. Though the torture was excruciating
he did not struggle or yell.

He would not give Satan that satisfaction.

He reached the blinding light. When his vision cleared he stood before
the Gates of Heaven. He did not bother to check his wounds. He knew it had all
been an illusion.