Fall of Lucifer (12 page)

‘Zadkiel,’ Lucifer begged. ‘You of
all
know that I loved Ebony.’ He turned to the animal. ‘Feel his cold body. He is dead . . . he is
dead
, Zadkiel.’

Lucifer fell on his knees, sobs racking his body. Zadkiel watched powerlessly as he ran his fingers through the matted jet-black hair, slamming his head against the wall like a tormented animal. ‘I am the author of death!’

His frenzied screams echoed through the chamber. He tore at his hair. The pitch of his voice made Zadkiel’s blood curdle.

‘I will call Michael.’

Lucifer swung around.
‘Noooo!’
he hissed. ‘Not Michael! No!’

He shoved Zadkiel against the door with an iron grip, his eyes suddenly lucid, his breathing shallow. ‘You must
swear!
Swear . . . swear your allegiance to
me
.’ He drew his face nearer, a new and unsettling wildness in his eyes. ‘Not to Michael . . . not to Gabriel . . . ’ A strange, evil smile glimmered on his face. ‘And not to Yehovah.’ His whisper was almost a hiss.

Zadkiel stared at Lucifer, horror-stricken.

Lucifer grabbed Zadkiel by the throat. ‘
Swear
it! Swear your allegiance to Lucifer, the shining one, chief prince of heaven.
Swear
your eternal allegiance to me above all others!’

Zadkiel’s shock turned to dread.

Lucifer watched his expression change. His grasp tightened around Zadkiel’s neck. ‘You are a man true to your word. You have always served me. Serve me again, Zadkiel. Swear your allegiance to me.’

Zadkiel remained silent. He stared at Lucifer as he struggled to breathe, a dreadful conflict in his gentle grey eyes. Tortured.

Finally he spoke, his words barely audible. ‘I swear my allegiance to Lucifer, anointed cherub who covers, the shining one.’

‘Above
all
others,’ Lucifer hissed.

Zadkiel nodded, then averted his gaze.

Lucifer dropped Zadkiel to the floor. Then he fell to his knees, sobbing wretchedly. His hand clung to the trembling Zadkiel’s as if he were a child.

His royal ring clattered to the ground, and he scrabbled after it like a wild animal at Zadkiel’s feet. ‘I am not worthy of the Seal of Yehovah.’ Lucifer’s screams rose to a high pitch.

‘Lucifer!’ Tears streamed down Zadkiel’s face; his voice was hoarse with emotion. ‘Lucifer, get hold of yourself!’

Slowly Lucifer rose to his knees, clutching Zadkiel’s legs, sobbing wretchedly. Then he rose to his full height, his face half an inch from Zadkiel’s. Zadkiel stood dead still. ‘Go to Jether,’ Lucifer said. He shook uncontrollably as he placed the heavy golden ring on the chain around Zadkiel’s neck. ‘Give him my ring as my token and tell him a terrible evil overtakes me . . . ’ He began to rock inconsolably. ‘You must go to Jether . . . ’

Chapter Twelve

Indisposed

Michael’s stride was even as he walked the gleaming ebony and marble corridors, passing the superbly crafted golden sculptures that lined the way to Lucifer’s private chambers.

He hesitated under one of the immense diamond and ruby chandeliers, in front of a new canvas. Lucifer’s latest painting stretched almost to the crystal ceilings – a slain lamb, depicted in violent butchery. A cruel and terrible triumph seemed to echo from the scene.

Michael shuddered. He would talk to Lucifer about it. He had much to discuss with him this night. He pulled his sapphire robe over his injured shoulder and continued down the imperial corridors.

Michael frowned. Where were the Luciferean guards? Usually they lined the hall at regular intervals. Now the corridors were strangely deserted save for Zadkiel, who came walking towards him.

A smile broke across Michael’s face. Zadkiel stared at him, looking sombre. As one, they clasped each other’s hands in greeting.

‘My esteemed friend, Zadkiel.’ Michael drew Zadkiel to his chest.

‘Your Excellency, Celestial Prince Michael, full of righteousness and of valour.’ Zadkiel bowed.

‘I would see my brother.’

Zadkiel drew back slightly, his eyes cast to the floor. ‘My master’s express wish is that he not be disturbed, Your Excellency. He is . . . indisposed.’

Michael stared long and hard at Zadkiel, perplexed.

Zadkiel looked in Michael’s eyes. His expression was deeply pained. ‘He is . . . he is not himself, Michael.’

Michael drew Zadkiel even closer, until their faces almost touched. ‘Speak to me, Zadkiel, in the name of our friendship.’

Zadkiel wouldn’t meet his gaze. ‘He entrusts me with his secret counsels, Your Excellency. He has forbidden my utterance. Even to you . . . ’

Michael’s confusion deepened. ‘He is tormented?’

‘I cannot speak, esteemed friend. I have sworn . . . ’

Michael held him with his gaze. He flung off his cloak and tore away his vest, revealing his bloody, bandaged shoulder.

Zadkiel stared, his lip trembling.

Michael lifted his eyes to meet his. ‘The iniquity devours his soul every waking hour, Zadkiel. I have seen it – I have felt it. But you have
seen
. You have seen the wretched, malevolent evil that has become his sustenance. I sense it. Zadkiel, you of
all
must speak . . . before it is too late.’

Zadkiel’s eyes filled with a dreadful conflict. His breathing was laboured. ‘Yes . . . yes, I have seen, Michael!’ He ripped the gold chain with Lucifer’s ring from around his neck and flung it to the floor. It bounced and spun on the smooth surface. Tears coursed down his face. ‘His soul is
damned!
’

Full of dread, Michael bent to pick up the ring. ‘You must go to Yehovah!’

‘I have sworn my allegiance . . . ’ His eyes fell. ‘Michael, I have sworn my – ’

Michael grasped Zadkiel’s hand. ‘Your allegiance to Yehovah surpasses your allegiance to my brother.’

The heavy gold doors of Lucifer’s chamber swung open.

Lucifer stood staring at them. ‘Leave him!’ he snarled. He glared at Michael and drew his dagger, then saw the ring in Michael’s hand. ‘His friendship with you clouds his judgment! He is mine!’

Suddenly Lucifer put his head in his hands and rocked from side to side. Then he lifted his head and stared at Michael, perplexed. A loving smile spread across his face as he recognized him.

‘Michael!’ He held out his hand to Michael, as a trusting child might. The dagger fell from his hands and clattered to the floor, unnoticed by Lucifer. He stared in concern at Michael’s shoulder. ‘Why, brother – you are hurt?’

Michael looked deeply into Lucifer’s eyes, realizing that Lucifer retained no recollection of the vicious sword fight. If he could, Michael would have wept. ‘It is nothing, Lucifer,’ he uttered softly. ‘A foolish accident.’

Lucifer gazed at him with adoration. ‘I have been longing for you, Michael. Come, soothe me. We shall speak of when we were young.’

Michael clasped Lucifer by the broad shoulders gently, as would a father with a child, and walked him back through the huge gold doors. They slammed shut in Zadkiel’s face.

Chapter Thirteen

Glory

Obadiah hurried through the doors of the grand Willow Library where the eight ancient elders were deeply immersed in study and reflection. He stood before Jether and bowed, then nervously pushed a monogrammed ring into Jether’s palm. Jether held it up and grew instantly grave. He held his finger to his lips, urging the youngling to stay quiet, and rose to his feet.

Charsoc opened his eyes and watched intently as Obadiah followed Jether out of the side door.

Outside, Jether leaned down to the youngling. ‘How do you come to hold the prince regent’s token, Obadiah?’

‘His Excellency, Chief Prince Michael, milord Jether.’ Obadiah stared at Jether, twitching nervously. ‘He awaits your presence in the princes’ stables, sire.’ He bowed, his curls scraping the marble floor.

Jether reached under the folds of his heavy linen tunic and placed the ring in a small brown pouch. He walked down the winding sapphire corridors of the Tower of Winds, through the crystal atrium, into the Palace of Archangels, hurrying past the vast palace orangeries, stopping briefly in front of a small, concealed doorway covered with lichen. Then he vanished, seemingly into thin air.

Charsoc stood hidden by the ancient willows, closely observing.

* * *

Jether arrived in the stables as Ariel, Michael’s groom, was shoeing Michael’s magnificent white stallion.

Michael nodded to Jether in acknowledgment. He looked drawn. ‘Thank you, Ariel; that is all.’

Ariel bowed deeply and walked out of the stables. Jether walked towards Michael, and they embraced.

Jether held out the heavy gold ring, embedded with one huge polished ruby. ‘Lucifer.’ It was a statement. Jether’s bushy eyebrows knotted together.

Michael nodded, rubbing his forehead wearily. ‘He rang for Zadkiel at three bells. Zadkiel found him sobbing, his arms around Ebony’s neck. The panther was lifeless.’

Jether stared at Michael, ashen.

Michael continued. Shaken. ‘He had undergone what is termed as
death
.’

Jether turned away from Michael fleetingly, his mind spinning in horror. Jether’s eyes widened. ‘Death!’

‘Lucifer killed his own panther, Jether. He strangled it with his bare hands.’

The blood drained from Jether’s face. He closed his eyes in anguish. ‘Then,’ he said softly, ‘it has begun.’

Michael ran his hands through his flaxen locks. ‘He is as one at war with himself. He will not rest. He will not be comforted. He asks for you continually.’ Michael shuddered.

Jether put his hand on Michael’s arm. ‘Who knows this?’

‘No one save you and I, and Zadkiel and Ephaniah the manservant. Their devotion is beyond question.’ Michael’s jaw clenched. ‘Something terrible is afoot, Jether.’

Obadiah came up behind them. He bowed to Jether. ‘The elders await your presence, milord,’ he said.

Jether slid his own ring, a simple band of gold, from his middle finger and placed it in Michael’s open hand. Then he drew out Lucifer’s ring and placed it there, too. He closed Michael’s fingers around them. ‘Give my token to Lucifer with this request: to meet me in the Tower of Winds in my private cloister at twelve bells. Alone.

‘Make haste, Michael . . . it is the fire of free will.’

* * *

Jether paced through the corridors of Michael’s quarter of the Palace of Archangels. Here and there clusters of high-ranking Luciferean angelic generals huddled together with their counterparts from Michael’s angelic high command, conversing in intense, strained tones. Whenever Jether approached, each party scattered, vanishing into the lower labyrinths of the palace.

Disquieted, Jether turned the corner into the great hall. A tall angel in golden armour strode through the enormous golden entrance of Lucifer’s quarter, his features grave. It was Raphael.

Raphael stopped before Jether and bowed deeply. ‘Milord Jether, I would speak with you.’

Jether looked into his troubled grey gaze. ‘You may speak, Raphael.’ He studied the noble face intently.

Raphael fell into pace with Jether as they passed another huddle of whispering soldiers. Raphael stared grimly at them from beneath his golden helmet. They saluted awkwardly.

‘It is untenable, milord!’ Raphael exclaimed.

Jether frowned. ‘Of what precisely do you speak, my forthright Raphael?’

‘The whisperings and intrigues that infiltrate the hallowed corridors of heaven.’

Rapheal removed his golden helmet from his head. His dark hair was hung in two braids. His chin was set, his eyes burned with a fierce fire. ‘I speak of insurrection.’

Jether stopped in mid-step, the colour drained from his face. ‘Insurrection?’

‘Of treachery in the inner sanctum of heaven!’ Raphael’s voice rang out through the corridors, echoing off the walls.

Jether clasped his arm gently. ‘Lucifer?’

Raphael nodded. ‘He who has been entrusted with so much. And yet he would . . . ’ Raphael faltered. ‘ . . . It is too awful to speak of.’

‘Yet speak you must, Raphael. It is your hallowed duty.’

Raphael stared at the marble floor. ‘He charges Yehovah with folly, milord.’

‘Folly?’

‘He charges that Yehovah would supplant His firstborn creation with that of an inferior race,’ he said, still not looking at Jether. ‘He charges that the angelic host faces a terrible and impending danger so menacing that it threatens the very existence of our own angelic race.’

‘The race of men,’ Jether stated quietly. He did not break Raphael’s gaze.

‘Who have been the recipients of Lucifer’s dissensions?’