Chapter 8 – Battlelines

Ariel met up with Gaius and Alden at Joel’s quarters. Ariel could sense the tenseness in the room the moment he entered. The weight of the decision was obviously heavy upon their shoulders as well. Gaius stood in one corner of the room in a musing stance. Alden sat on the couch, wringing his hands. Joel was pacing the floor and mumbling incoherently to himself.

            ‘I spoke with Yahweh,’ Ariel reported.

            Joel stopped pacing. ‘You what? He allowed you to speak with him personally?’

            Ariel nodded. ‘He is actually quite friendly despite what you may otherwise think.’

            ‘But the protocol says that we cannot speak with him unless it is on the Mount,’ Gaius reiterated.

            ‘I really needed to talk to him,’ Ariel replied, ‘it seems he sees our needs as greater than protocol.’

            ‘What did you ask? What did he say?’ Alden asked curiously.

            Ariel took in a deep breath. ‘All he wants us to do is trust him.’

            ‘That is it?’ said Joel, flabbergastedly. ‘That is just the problem! Why should we trust him?’

            ‘Because we can,’ Ariel replied.

            ‘But it is not that easy,’ said Gaius, ‘there are so many forces at work.’

            ‘He acknowledges it,’ Ariel responded.

            ‘But can he solve our dilemma?’ Alden remarked.

            Ariel shook his head. ‘Only time can tell. We will have to put our trust somewhere eventually. Either in Yahweh or Lucifer.’

            Joel let out a groan. “Lucifer has the planning, organization, and weaponry. Not to mention that those who already choose him are confident and decided.’

            ‘I know,’ said Gaius, ‘it almost seems like to choosing Yahweh is to choose the side that is weak and undecided.’

            ‘I have something to say,’ Alden spoke quietly.

            Everyone turned their gaze in his direction.

            Alden took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘I have been visited by two of Lucifer’s representatives. They offered me a portion of heaven to rule over.’

            Gaius suddenly became livid. ‘How dare they!’ he growled. ‘The matter has not yet been decided, and already they are portioning out heaven as though it belongs to Lucifer and his entourage.’

            ‘Calm down, Gaius,’ Ariel put a restraining hand on the burly angel. ‘Anger will get us nowhere.’

            Gaius threw off Ariel’s arm. ‘I do not care how many knives or swords he has managed to carve out; Lucifer does not own heaven!’

            ‘He told me that there would be those who would be jealous,’ Alden retorted curtly. “Now I realize that it is true; like Yahweh, you do not want to see any of us ascend to greatness.”

            ‘We are already great, Alden,’ Ariel cut in. We do not need Lucifer’s reformation to prove that.’

            ‘I think it is a very benevolent offer,’ replied Alden.

‘It sounds more like a bribe to me,’ Gaius responded heatedly.

‘I too have been offered a post by Lucifer,’ Ariel informed, ‘but I have not concluded my decision based on that. We must see the real issues of the matter.’

Joel slapped his fist against his palm. ‘Ariel is right. It is the issues that are important.’

‘Why must we be tormented by the quarrel of the two rulers of heaven?’ Alden moaned as he held his head as though it were aching.

Ariel leaned his head back against the wall and let out a weary sigh. ‘I think it is because there should only one ruler among us. Everyone else should be servants.’

‘What does Lucifer want from all of this? ‘Gaius put in.

Ariel thought for a moment, then said, ‘Perhaps it is envy.’

‘He has the highest position in heaven, apart from Yahweh himself,’ Gaius remarked. ‘What more could he want?’

It was then that it struck Ariel. At first, the very thought seemed too preposterous,, but it soon became sharper and more apparent.

Ariel slowly balled his fist. ‘He wants to be Yahweh.’

‘What?’ Joel said with knotted brows.

‘Lucifer wants to be Yahweh,’ Ariel repeated. ‘Why did I not see it earlier?’ all his controlling, all his pomp and pride of place. He always insisted on his way.’

‘But that is insane!’ Gaius guffawed.

‘Exactly,’ said Ariel somberly, ‘exactly.’



Ariel left Joel’s residence feeling very disturbed. Now more than ever, he could sense that heaven was fraught with danger. Ariel stopped short as he approached the entrance to his quarters. There were two Seraphs standing by his door. Ariel recognized that they were the same ones who had summoned him to Lucifer.

‘What can I do for you?’ Ariel asked them curtly.

One of the Seraphs was golden-haired and tall, and the other one was shorter with short-cropped black hair. The shorter one smiled conspiratorially and said, ‘Our master summons you. Come with us.’

‘Who is your master?’ Ariel asked.

“Lucifer, of course,” the tall Seraph replied haughtily.

Ariel did not notice the two Seraphs bearing any weapons, but he knew they were wearing them under their robes.

Ariel nodded. ‘Lead the way.’



‘I assume that you have given thought to my proposition,’ said Lucifer moments later as Ariel stood before him.

            Ariel decided that whatever happened, he would not let his fear show. ‘I have given it thought,’ he answered flatly.

            Lucifer gave an expectant, closed-lip smile. ‘And?’

            Ariel fixed his eyes resolutely on the cherub. ‘In all good conscience, Lucifer, I cannot join you or support your plans. My allegiance is toward Yahweh and all that he stands for.’

            For a short instance, what appeared to be a smoldering mask of anger crossed Lucifer’s countenance, and his appearance became almost transformed from a regal archangel to something otherworldly malicious. Then it disappeared, and his countenance softened. A secret smile came to his lips.

            ‘Very well, Ariel, you must decide what you decide.’ Holding up an index finger, Lucifer continued, ‘But I must warn you that the lines have been drawn. There is no middle ground now. All those who are not with me will be considered as being against me.’ Lucifer’s eyes now narrowed almost unnoticeably. ‘I cannot guarantee the safety of those who are not with me.’

            ‘Is that a threat?’ Ariel asked, steely

Lucifer gave a nonchalant, idyllic sigh. ‘No. I am simply informing you of the situation as it exists.’

Ariel stepped towards the door, turned, and said, ‘I will take my chances.’

‘As you wish,’ Lucifer replied dismissively.

As Ariel closed the door behind him, he noticed Lucifer’s two Seraphs. They gave him a cold, hard look. For the first time, Ariel saw pure hatred in the eyes of an angel. With every muscle in his body tense and a great sense of apprehension, Ariel left Lucifer’s chambers.



In the days that followed, there were incidents of skirmishes all over heaven. More and more frequently, there were attacks being made on those who were supposedly supportive of Yahweh. A deep current of tension permeated throughout the realm, and soon it was hard to trust anyone. In spite of the ensuing chaos that seemed to grip heaven, there was no response from Yahweh. Lucifer was also silent in the matter for a while but soon started making appearances and holding public forums.

At these meetings, he would blame Yahweh for the state that heaven was in. Ariel attended one of the meetings that were held in the city park. Ariel stayed on the fringes of the crowd, making sure to avoid being spotted by Lucifer or any of his close agents.

Lucifer’s lieutenants would first approach the podium and give their introductory speech about their master’s kindness and generosity, lauding him as being of sincere virtue. Ariel gritted his teeth and seethed with anger at every word that was spoken. He wished that he could speak out and denounce what was happening,, but he knew that to do so was to invite the wrath of those gathered there. Ariel watched and listened.

Soon the lieutenant finished his speech and, with great flamboyance, introduced Lucifer to speak at the podium. Lucifer came forward and was greeted by the cheers of the throngs like a conquering hero. To all this Lucifer waved his hands in a meek-like response and gave a reassuring smile. After a long round of applause, Lucifer gestured for the crowds to quiet down. When they finally did, he cleared his throat and began.

‘My brethren, my comrades, my champions,’ he boomed, ‘I greet you with love and open arms.’

Again, the cheers went up, and again Lucifer asked for calm.

Lucifer bowed his head as though gripped by emotional travail, then lifted his head and spoke. ‘Honorable angels of heaven, I stand before you this day with a heavy heart. I stand before you knowing that in you is the potential for greatness. But there are hindrances to this goal. There are those who would not see you excel and be Lords unto yourselves. It is with earnestness that I have taken it upon myself to champion the cause of our liberty. We must be free from the chains that hold us to our present state.

‘We must rid ourselves of whatever obstacle that will stop us from achieving our best. Each of you has rights but he who would rule tyrannically over you has stymied those rights. He is unbending. He will not hear you. He will give you no place. Who is this that I speak of? I speak of no other than Yahweh himself!’

At this, the crowd of angels began to chant, ‘Down with Yahweh! Down with Yahweh!

There were some in the crowd who said, ‘We want to be ruled by Lucifer.’

Ariel only glared.

Lucifer held out his hands for silence, then continued, ‘Do not be fooled, my brethren; our liberty will not come by desire alone. We must be willing to stir ourselves and fight for what we believe. Yahweh will not freely give us what is rightly ours. It is up to us to rise valiantly and take what is ours!’

The crowds broke into cheering.

Lucifer seemed to soak up the adoration of his audience, basking in it as though he were reaping worship. ‘We will have liberty.’

The crowds cheered.

‘We will have freedom!’

The crowds applauded.

 ‘We will have heaven!’

The cheers now rose to a cacophony.

Ariel did not wait for the crowds to disperse but left immediately. There was somewhere he had to go. He was worried, and he needed to know something.



Ariel flew low and cautiously towards the White Mountain. He made sure to stay on the hilly side of the terrain, using it as cover. He knew how dangerous going to the White Mountain was now and he was not taking any chances. Silently and unglorified, Ariel descended before the entrance of the White Mountain.

Ariel looked around to make sure that he had not been followed. When he was satisfied that he was not spotted, he entered the tunnel entrance of the mountain. As Ariel made his way into the mountain, all was silent, and there was no sight of anyone.

Whoom!

Suddenly Ariel was stopped in his tracks, and all he could see before he was dragged away into a corner was a massive outstretched wing. Two strong hands gripped him, one covered his mouth and the other held his arms behind him in a painful viselike lock.

‘Who are you and what are you doing here?’ A deep powerful voice whispered.

Ariel mumbled through the hand that covered his lips.

The stranger removed his hand from his mouth and said, ‘Make any commotion, and I will dismember you. Now answer my questions.’

The hand came away from his mouth,, and Ariel spoke. ‘I am here to see Dextor? Whose side are you on?’

The tall figure released Ariel and stepped fully into the light. Ariel stared in stunned amazement. He was face-to-face with the archangel Michael.

‘I am the commander of the Lord’s forces. Whom do you have allegiance to?’ Michael asked levelly.

‘Must I choose now?’ Ariel asked, still wincing from the arm hold.

‘You have come into a rather serious circumstance,’ Michael replied. “For me to let you leave here having seen me I must know who you stand for.”

‘I stand for Yahweh,’ Ariel replied finally.

Michael’s hand went inside his robes and extracted a huge gleaming sword, which had a golden handle, lined with precious stones. ‘You must first pass a test.’

Ariel gazed at the shimmering sword and gulped. ‘What test?’

In an instant rush, the blade came whistling down towards Ariel.

Whoof!

The blade seemed to suddenly strike a solid wall of air and stopped only a hair’s width away from Ariel’s forehead. Ariel blinked and swallowed nervously. ‘What are you doing?’

Michael smiled and sheathed his sword. ‘You have passed the test.’

Ariel could still feel himself shaking. ‘What do you mean? You almost took my head off.’

‘But I did not,’ Michael replied matter-of-factly. ‘If you were lying the blade would not have stopped.”

 ‘What is going on, Sire?’ Ariel asked. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I will tell you,’ Michael answered, ‘but not here. Let us go somewhere safe.’