In Rebellion (Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven, Book II) (2 page)

Chapter 1

SEPARATING THE HEAVENS
FROM THE EARTH

It was the day after Adam and Eve had been cast out of the Garden of Eden, and the sun rose over the Earth as it had since the beginning of time. But this day it illuminated a planet where there were major changes from a scant twenty-four hours earlier. For there had been terrible consequences for the disobedience of the two Humans. Eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil had caused a major shift in the Almighty’s Universe that rippled into the Seven Heavens. For the first time, storm clouds appeared in the skies over the Earth, as a result of the Almighty Himself shifting the Earth on its axis as the Humans were cast out. The ever present beautiful weather and calm steadiness of the winds and clouds that existed on the Earth up until now was replaced by constantly changing temperatures and wind patterns. And just as there were changes in the atmosphere of the Earth, other changes were brewing in the Seven Heavens above. The Heavens could not be immune from the effects of this disobedience by the Humans, as the truth became apparent that the deception that triggered the disobedience was caused by some of the most powerful members of the Heavenly Archangels.

The day in the Seventh Heaven began as usual with the morning ceremony, although the Almighty was in a mood the Heavenly Host had never seen before. The Archangel Luciferael and his Auxilium seemed out of sorts as well. The Archangel Jarahmael was thankful that it was short, as he did not like the feeling he was getting from Luciferael. Jarahmael also had his own concerns about the fate of Adam and Eve, hoping that it would not cause any problems for his own Human mate, the woman Lillith.

Immediately after the morning ceremony, the Almighty dispatched Angels to the Earth with new assignments to deal with the aftermath of the fall of Humans. The bulk of the Angels were assigned to continue construction of the pyramids, and to seal off the transportation portals within the structures. This would restrict the Humans’ movement on the Earth and block off their future access into the Heavens.

Some Angels had special assignments. Jarahmael and his brother Archangel Michael, for instance, flew to the pyramid in the Garden of Eden where they were met by the head of the Cherubim Angels, Cerebriel. Cerebriel had gone on ahead to check on the work at the pyramid, and waited for the two Archangels to join him.

Jarahmael pulled his wings in behind himself as they landed on the entrance platform above the pyramid’s steps.

“It's a sad day after all this work,” Michael said to Jarahmael as he, too, tucked in his wings.

“True,” responded Jarahmael as he looked behind Michael into the stretches of Eden. He could see the entrance into the Earth was now guarded by Cherubim guards and a long, ever-twisting column of fire spiraled up into the sky. He focused again on his two friends and asked, “What will become of Adam and Eve and the race of Humans?”

“I don't know,” answered Michael. “I am not sure if even the Almighty knows. The notion of ‘free will’ opens up all sorts of possibilities.” Michael changed the subject as he rubbed his hands on the entranceway wall. “Cerebriel, you have done a magnificent job on this structure. The artwork is marvelous!” he said as he slid his finger into the lettering on the walls. His touch made all the lettering shine brightly, as his energy rolled off his fingertips.

“Thank you, Michael. It has been quite rewarding to develop a language and writing for the walls. I have never been privy to the Book of Creation as have some of you Archangels. But it has been an honor for the Almighty to allow us to work on this project.”

Michael continued to run his hand along the wall as he began to lead the three of them deeper into the pyramid. “The only Archangel that has had full access has been Luciferael and even then I believe he has only had access to portions of the Book of Creation. From that he was able to create the dinosaurs and serpents.”

“Wait. Didn't you have access to the full Book, Jarahmael?” Cerebriel asked.

Jarahmael thought back and answered, “Yes, Luciferael had granted me access when I was perfecting my mirrors. But I didn't access anything beyond that. The Book is self-limiting, in that it provides exactly what you request of it, nothing more and nothing less. Actually, it will break itself into parts if need be, as it did on that first day when we were creating life forms for the Almighty. What did you think about the Almighty's speech this morning?”

“I thought it to be quite disturbing,” Cerebriel answered.

“
W
hat a disaster
this notion of free will
can create!” said Jarahmael, a pang of worry passing through him as he thought of his Human woman, Lillith. “Adam and Eve only had one commandment to comply with and they failed to do that. It makes me wonder what Humans will do when they are faced with harder choices such as finding the means to survive, especially now that they are mortal and can die. I tell you, it has given me pause about the well-being of Lillith and how to protect her in the future.”

“All I know is Adam and Eve’s banishment from Eden onto the surface of the Earth has made more work for us,” said Cerebriel. “We have been disconnecting any pathways between the surface and the entrance way into Eden, in the First Heaven. I have also sent a detachment of Cherubim to remove the main writings on the walls in Aegyptus, and wall up the entrance way into the pyramid. We need to deter any Human from trying to access the Heavens through the pyramids. Without access to the Tree of Life, Adam's and Eve's days of life are numbered. Do you bring Lillith to the Tree of Life, Jarahmael, to preserve her life?”

“Unnecessary, Cerebriel. She had taken some branches for herself when she left Eden and was in hiding. The branches never die and produce fruit everyday even as they form their own tree. She has branches with her in my palace in the Seventh Heaven
.
So I am sure she will be fine,” Jarahmael said.

“Did you see how the Almighty was affected by Adam’s and Eve's disobedience?” Cerebriel said as he slightly changed the subject.

“It is no wonder He will be gone for at least a week. It looked like He needed the time to sort things out again.” Michael said.

“It certainly seemed that the Almighty never believed that the Humans would disobey Him. They certainly played into Luciferael's hand. Luciferael has been against them from the start,” Jarahmael said.

Michael absentmindedly said aloud, “We should have destroyed those serpents at the same time we went after the dinosaurs.” Hearing himself, he focused again and continued, “I never should have listened to Sammuael and Luciferael about sparing those creatures. From what I understand, Eve was tempted by that creature Serpentalia and then the chain of events was set in motion. I will never understand what Luciferael ever saw in these creatures.”

Cerebriel responded quickly, “Yes, getting those creatures out of the First Heaven has proven to be been quite a chore. After the Almighty cursed them, making them slither along the ground, it has made it tougher to locate all of them. They are sneaky creatures, and they like the dark and the night. So we have to track each one carefully before we are able to discard them onto the Earth. The Humans are going to have a problem with them for a long time to come.”

“You said it was that creature Serpentalia that tempted and tricked Eve?” asked Jarahmael.

“Yes,” responded Michael.

“Cerebriel and I watched that creature sneak around Eden spying on the Humans,” Jarahmael said to Michael. “Now it has become clear why he was doing so. Clearly,
Serpentalia
was biding
his
time and waiting for an opportunity to alienate those creatures from the Almighty.” Jarahmael paused for a moment, thinking back on his other encounter with the serpent, back in the cave when he was searching for Lillith.

“Didn't think that the creature would be that smart,” said Jarahmael. “He didn't seem to have that level of intelligence. When I discovered him after his encounter with Beelzebael and Sammuael, there was not much left in the creature’s mind. It would take someone very crafty to come up with such a complex plan. Most Angels would not have been able to create that plan either. To set in motion a plan that would entice the Human woman to break the only commandment given to her, while she was living in a perfect world, shows a lot of cunning. Then, to have enough foresight to think that the Human man would also break the commandment to follow his woman is not something I would expect from such a simple creature.”

Both Cerebriel and Michael nodded their heads in agreement.

“Definitely took a twisted mind!” said Michael.

“I agree with you, Michael. The serpent and his kind are best placed away from other creatures. It’s a shame they were not totally destroyed and they will still have access to the Humans on Earth.” Cerebriel said.

“They are such good liars, too,” said Michael. “The Almighty had dispatched me to enforce
H
is curse specifically upon Serpentalia and the creature repeatedly denied having anything to do with Eve, much less have a conversation to trick her. He admitted that he had been spying upon her but he couldn't recall why. I had no intention to get into a debate with the creature, as far as I am concerned the creatures should have already been destroyed. I have not had a chance to discuss this with the Almighty yet, but I will bring it up next time I am in His presence.”

As they walked further down the main corridor they saw other Cherubim rolling stones into positions ready to block passageways to the other pyramids if it became necessary to permanently block off any access from one pyramid to another.

“I see these large stones are quite massive,” said Michael to Cerebriel.

Cerebriel answered as he watched the work. “Yes, they are, Michael. Just in case Humans ever get inside the pyramids and then try to access Heaven through the use of one of these passageways, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible for them to gain access.”

“We know that Lillith stumbled upon these passage ways and used them when she was hiding from Adam,” Jarahmael added. “We certainly don't need to use them as we can travel to Earth, either in our pure light forms or by flying when we become more solid by slowing down the energy vibrations and more Human like.”

“By the way, have you seen the rest of the pyramids on Earth?” Cerebriel asked the two Archangels.

“I have seen two of them,” responded Jarahmael.

“I have only been in the one in Aegyptus and seen the others only from flying above,” responded Michael.

“We have to go check on Adam and Eve anyway. They should be around the pyramid in Aegyptus as that is where we dropped them off as it was the closest to the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Let's check on them, and then we can tour the other pyramids. Besides, I think you will enjoy the pyramids. They have been a lot of work, but we are all very proud of them,” Cerebriel said.

“I had promised Lillith I would be back shortly,” Jarahmael said, concerned about how long all of this could take, altering his plans.

“She will be fine,” said Michael reassuringly. “She is, after all, in your palace. There is no shortage of amusements in our palaces and it is far more beautiful than Eden. Besides, she remains immortal and is in the safest place in the entire Universe: she is next to the Almighty's Throne Room in the Seventh Heaven.”

Jarahmael laughed at his own worry. “You're right, Michael, as usual. Nothing can harm her there, we have no serpents or the like in the Seventh Heaven. Lead the way Cerebriel!”

The two Angels followed the Cherubim down one of the passageways and disappeared.

The three Angels emerged near the pyramid in Aegyptus. The work was still in progress when they arrived. Cerebriel led the way out of the entrance with Michael and Jarahmael following right behind. Before them stood the large sphinx which guarded the entrance to the pyramid.

Jarahmael could not help himself from commenting to Cerebriel. “My, my, old friend. That Sphinx statue looks a lot like you.”

Cerebriel was slightly embarrassed at the comment, but regained his composure and joked, “Yes, and the one over there is an even better
replica
of Annabael’s face.” Cerebriel pointed to a second sphinx guarding another entrance to the pyramid complex.