In the Beginning (Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven, Book I) (36 page)

Chapter
47

The morning ceremony following the fall of Adam and Eve was different than any other that had come before it. And easily the shortest. Luciferael could tell the Almighty was angry about the prior days' events in Eden by His reluctance to speak about it with him before the morning ceremony. All that He would say about it was His announcement to the Assembly of the Angels that He had banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and that they were exiled to the Earth. They would no longer be immortal, nor would they have access to the Garden of Eden or the Tree of Life. Now earthbound, they would also not have access to the pyramids as a transportation system, as He did not want them to be able to access the Heavens again.

For once, He did not entertain any discussion about the situation from the Assembly of Angels and announced that He was going to be away for a week to rearrange things in the Universe to accommodate these new events. Upon His return
H
e would make final decisions, but for now He wanted the Humans to remain earthbound, and connections between the Earth and the Heavens severed. He took a few moments to give individual assignments to various Angels, but did so directly into their minds, without announcing them publicly. And He left immediately after the announcement.

Luciferael now was angry too, as he wanted to discuss in more detail what to do about the Humans, how to destroy them once and for all, but never had the opportunity to do so. And he did not like that the Almighty did not publicly announce the assignments given to the other Angels, especially with
H
im leaving for a week. How was he supposed to lead under these circumstances?

Certainly this was not the result Luciferael expected, or worked so hard to bring about. He had major concerns that the Almighty did not immediately destroy all of these Humans and return the Universe back to the way it had been before His experiment with these new Beings. They were clearly as much, if not more, of a failed experiment as Luciferael's dinosaurs. His anger was rising and knew that it was best not to remain where the other Angels could see that within him. But he also did not have much information or details about what happened with the Humans after they had eaten the fruit. He knew he could not stay around the Garden of Eden as he did not want to be caught by the Almighty or other Archangels in his disguise as Serpentalia, or even more troublesome, as himself. There was no legitimate explanation that he could think of that would adequately explain his presence there. As the morning ceremony was breaking up, he quickly whispered to Sammuael to see what he could discover from the other Angels. Then Luciferael waited for a few moments after the Almighty left the Throne Room, and headed back to his palace in the Seventh Heaven to await news.

Sammuael was able to speak with Michael as he was leaving the Heavens with his group of Archangels. Michael inadvertently revealed that he and his group had been assigned to check on the status of the pyramids and the Humans. Sammuael then flew to Luciferael's palace to deliver the details. Upon arriving, he found Luciferael deep in conversation with Mephistophael and Beelzebael. Despite his anger, Luciferael was smiling as he was telling them the details from the day before and how he so easily tricked the Human creatures.

"War with those creatures would be easy," Luciferael said, his eyes gleaming. "They may think for themselves to a degree, but they are unable to see all the possibilities of their actions. Archangels such as us could destroy them quickly. A few lies and dupes and they will fall into any trap we set."

"Pardon me for interrupting," announced Sammuael as he entered into the room. "But I have news about Eden."

"Pray, tell us what you know!" said Luciferael as he pointed to a seat next to him.

"Well, my
l
ord Luciferael, this is what I found out. Michael and some of the other Archangels know of the events as you described them of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit," Sammuael said as he seated himself. "I found Michael as he was flying with Jarahmael and the others on their way to the Earth. Michael explained that the Almighty discovered the Humans attempting to clothe themselves, when they appeared before Him. At that point, the Almighty realized that they had to have eaten of the Tree of Knowledge for them to feel shame about their bodies. When He confronted them about it they eventually both confessed."

Luciferael and the other Archangels nodded in approval.

"What happened as a result?" asked Luciferael.

"Weren't they supposed to die immediately?" asked Beelzebael.

"Good, we are done with those creatures!" said Mephistophael.

"Not quite," said Sammuael. "The Almighty spared them."

"What?" said Beelzebael outraged

Luciferael was now flushed with anger.

Sammuael continued to speak but also did not want to be the target of Luciferael's growing rage. "The Almighty sentenced them, that they will die, but for now they will live out the rest of their lives on the Earth."

"I knew it!" said Luciferael. "The Almighty still won't destroy these creatures! They are worse than any of the dinosaurs or serpents I have made. These Humans can think for themselves, yet they choose to disobey the Almighty. And without any immediate consequences. They should die immediately!"

"What should we do, my
l
ord?" asked Beelzebael.

"Is there anything for us to do?" asked Mephistophael. "After all, we have never had much interest in Eden, why should we care about any of that now? Nor
has there been much of interest left on the Earth since your dinosaurs were destroyed my lord."

Luciferael looked each of them in the eyes as he moved his glance from one
to the other
and spoke with resolve.

"We must finally destroy these Humans. They are a threat to the very existence of the Angels. As Beings of Light we should have always been above any interest the Almighty had for these mud creatures. Next thing we know, the Almighty will be allowing these creatures into the upper Heavens."

"Should we go destroy these Humans on the Earth?" asked Mephistophael, with a gleam of enjoyment passing through his eyes.

Beelzebael added, "Wait, didn't the Almighty already
allow
Lillith into the upper Heavens?"

Luciferael grew quiet for a moment. The others could see that he was deep in thought.

"Killing the Humans would not end this," Luciferael said. "Isn't the real problem that the Almighty no longer treats
us
as the special ones?
His greatest creations, t
he First Born?
"

"Yes," said Beelzebael.

Sammuael added, "The Almighty will just create more like them. Possibly more refined and perhaps less subject to your charms, my lord Luciferael."

Mephistophael pulled himself up to his full height of nine feet and said: "Let's get to the crux of the matter. We simply need to replace the Almighty. Our lord Luciferael can do a much better job, and he loves us Angels
above all other creatures.
"

Luciferael stayed quiet for a moment as he let that information sink in with all of them. He had been working for this day for a long time, although he may not have always known it. He could only see that in hindsight. But the thought of him ruling the Universe excited him. It was what he was born to do and his destiny.

"You realize that once we choose to take the path of revolting against the Almighty, there will be no turning back," Luciferael said.

"Yes
,
we do."

"What about the others in the Auxilium and those disgruntled in the ranks of the other Orders of the Angels? Will they agree to cast out the Almighty and place me as the next Almighty?"

"I am sure they will, my
l
ord," Sammuael said. "But at some point you will need to meet with all of them and discuss the situation. Remember not all Angels have been happy about our lesser roles or yours."

"And do the three of you agree that I should be the next Almighty?" Luciferael asked point blank.

"Yes!" said Sammuael.

"Yes!" said Mephistophael.

"Yes!" said Beelzebael.

Sammuael, Mephistophael, and Beelzebael were the closest and most loyal to Luciferael and he saw that they were all smiling joyously at the prospect of taking over the Heavens for themselves. To solidify their decision to rebel, they all gathered around Luciferael and clasped their wings together, and formed a cocoon with their overlapped wings. After a few moments they separated again.

Luciferael then commanded. "Go forth and gather all the Angels loyal to me. Assemble everyone at the Fifth Heaven in the Hall of the Virtues. It is time to replace the Almighty and rid the Universe of these Humans. Let us prepare for war!"

THE END of BOOK I