The Third Heaven: The Rise of Fallen Stars Read online

  The Lord God then caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. Then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh thereof.

  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

  The Lord was pleased with the form of them, and the Shekinah moved from El and hovered over the man and the woman. The brightness of his glory covered them that they shown as the stars, and the shawl of living light covered their face and skin, and they glowed even as the Lord.

  They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. And the Lord walked in the cool of the day with the man and the woman and fellowshipped with them, and they with him.

  Moreover, Lucifer made note of the name that Adam had named the white, docile creature that nauseated him, the creature that in Lucifer’s mind was the identical image of El.

  He pronounced the word aloud to hear it for himself, speaking it into the air. He now had a name to assign to his image of El, a designation that symbolized all the weakness he now came to despise in his creator. There was only one word, which perfectly described his repugnance: Lamb.

  ********************

  El ceased from talking with the man and his companion; and as the hours marched onward on Earth mere seconds passed in Heaven, and El immediately continued to address the congregation.

  “Behold the pinnacle of our creation. For with great thought have plans been laid to secure man’s future. Know that we shall accomplish all our will. Therefore, we will watch over his coming and his going.

  Thou great Elohim, birthed from the fires of our Kiln, shall also serve to aid man to understand all things. As we have taught thee, go to and teach thou Adam and his seed that he might have dominion.”

  El turned to enter the temple again; smoke, lightning, and thunder echoed in his steps. Lucifer immediately lifted off the throne and covered El’s backside and the Ophanim propelled the throne back into the great hall of Mt. Zion.

  As El departed, Lucifer’s own glory diminished, yet he continued to pronounce the majesty of God, and Heaven rang with cheers of, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

  Slowly, each member of the royal court left the dais; from the eldest to the youngest until only the seraphim were all that were left to march into the great hall. Their, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” echoing across the emporium. When all parties left, Lucifer alone stood on the rostrum and watched the crowd as they dispersed.

  Lucifer scratched at the burning that ached in his chest and his mind raced with just one thought: Thou must decrease that I might increase.

  ********************

  Lucifer settled into the center hall of Athor prepared to address the elders of the city. He stood behind the raised platform so that he could adequately see all the participants. The elders of Athor slowly made their way into the chamber hall.

  The room was circular with seats made of white marble. The floor was lapis lazuli, and the ceiling was gold etched in silver with cursive angelic script, which pronounced the glory of El. The walls were quartz and reflected the light, not just of the noonday sun but also of Lucifer himself, who stood high in the center of the chamber surrounded by the marble stadium seats.

  In the course of time all sat, and Lucifer began to speak.

  “Fellow Sons of God — I as Chief Prince and Archon of Earth have asked you here that I might assign to you the tasks necessary to complete our mission to instruct the humans. We have….”

  Lucifer was interrupted by Srosh, one of his fellow Draco. He was tall and muscular; his species shimmered in scales of bluish silver. His blonde hair draped his shoulders as he raised his serpentine like body for attention.

  “My pardon, Chief Prince, but perhaps you would enlighten the elders on the rumors which circulate Athor, for much has been made of Apollyon and his deeds.”

  “And what would you know Srosh that has not already been reported?”

  “Chief Prince, is it true that El has closed the mouth of the Kiln? Reports from Heaven say that a living mountain of ash and fire now draws power from that which is our womb. Is this so?”

  Lucifer eyed the crowd. They too fastened their eyes on him, fixated and waiting on his every word.

  “That which thou hast heard is true. There is a mount of breathing rock tied to the Kiln itself and which lives off the flesh of Elohim.”

  Gasps echoed across the room. Mouths dropped. Whispers circulated within the center hall.

  “My Lord, then are we to be no more? Is this the end of the Kilnborn? Will there be no more stones to fire our ranks?”

  Lucifer pondered the words, and turned them over in his mind. Will there be no more stones––is this the end of the Kilnborn?

  Another angel arose to speak. “My Lord, is it true that Apollyon now lives in punishment within the belly of this mountain?"

  Then another, "And what of this dark creature reported at the mouth of the new mount? What is he? He does not present as other Elohim”

  “Master…”

  “My Lord Prince…”

  “I have a question…”

  Lucifer found himself suddenly barraged with demands from all fronts. Shouts of angels quickly filled the chamber, each vying and clamoring for attention, all in query. Lucifer looked upon his people and pity welled up within him, for they were as sheep with no shepherd.

  Does El even understand what he has done? He thought.

  Lucifer’s Heartstone pained him, and he clutched and scratched at his chest for relief. He staggered as the pain became more intense. He looked up at the crowd that now argued amongst themselves and spoke to regain order. “Silence!” he roared.

  Immediately, the room fell mute as the power of Lucifer’s deep voice shook the ground, and the south quartz wall cracked. However, Srosh a fellow Draco did not move. He did not cow upon Lucifer’s rebuke. Like all Draco, he was regal in stature and able to project his own voice. Despite the command of his Chief Prince, Srosh spoke the mind of many within the room.

  “Are we to be servants Lucifer, forced to serve a creature of mud and clay?” Srosh’s statement emboldened another to speak.

  “I do not wish to serve.”

  “Free Apollyon,” cried an Arelim.

  An Issi elder immediately retorted, “Let him burn within the mountain!”

  Lucifer frowned; his brow tightened in anger. Anger, that El has placed him in such a position; anger that he would have to answer for his creator. Anger that despite all his desire to give an answer, he had none with which he could defend his Lord’s actions.

  Anger — that was unleashed.

  Once more Lucifer spoke, but spoke with such force that the floor opened its mouth, and Srosh and several of the assembled elders cried for help and struggled to find release from the fissure, which now raced across the floor. Panic quickly ensued, and the Chief Prince stretched his wings and lifted himself from the ground to address his audience.

  “It is true that the Kiln now fuels Hell’s belly and also true that Apollyon now lies trapped therein. It is true that El hast made Earth, home to the humans: a home that you have carefully maintained and assisted in its very fashion.”

  "Was it not you who ferried flora across the world to populate the garden that the humans now occupy? Was it not you who mined the floor of Earth to encase Athor in gold and glass: its beauty and illumination a floodlight in the night sky? Its luminance seen even from the second heaven of Sol?”

  “Aye,” said Lucifer. "It is true that El hast made a creature of such hunger that it feeds off the very life of Elohim, and lo, within the span of one day we see two abominations. One — a guardian to keep our brother imprisoned. And two, a creature so beneath us as to be made from El’s spittle and the mud that we walk upon. Yet were we given title to anything? No. We serve.”

  “We praise a master who rewards us not according to our
works nor celebrates our accomplishments. Nay my brethren, our reward is clear. We will no longer be fashioned to seed the heavens.”

  Lucifer looked each in the eye probingly. “No longer will the Kiln burn to fire our creation." Lucifer pointed hard at his chest repeatedly. "Nay, the Kiln now burns to fire our prison! It exists to remind us that those who refuse to serve will burn therein!”

  “I,” said Lucifer pointing again at his chest, “Am Chief Prince, Lord Lucifer Draco, and First Kilnborn of all Elohim. I alone walk upon the Stones of Fire. I will not serve, and I will not burn. I pledge to free our brother Apollyon!

  For I will ascend into Heaven.

  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

  I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

  I will be like the most High!”

  ********************

  Raphael walked into the throne room, sat before his king, and looked at the enormous book within his hands, which contained all the information the Lord El had requested.

  “My Lord, the task wherewith I have been charged is complete. I have tallied all as thou hast commanded.”

  El looked upon Raphael and smiled, “And what did your examination find, my son?”

  Raphael’s face became angst ridden. His heart and mind burdened by what he knew, knowledge he must now dispense to the Lord. Never had he given the Lord a negative report. Now he must be the first Elohim to broach the subject of treason with his king.

  “My Lord, your instruction was to find all instances of thought, conduct, and or speech similar to Abaddon’s. To bring to you a concise volume that lists all Elohim and the result of my findings.”

  El saw that Raphael’s lip tightened and that the cherubim struggled to choke back tears.

  “Raphael, speak my son, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be made known. Fear not.”

  Raphael straightened himself, wiped his eyes, cleared his throat and spoke as directed.

  “Lord, of the host of Heaven there is a number whose mind is pure and whose fealty my King can command without question. These whose names are written therein are not so. They number almost a third of Heaven. Those who dissent to thy rule speak of displeasure with Abaddon’s sentence, the existence of Hell, or take issue with relations with the humans. They say that the humans are not Kilnborn, not of the Stones of Fire. There are some who are displeased to serve a creature of mud and clay.”

  “And what of the Grigori?” asked El.

  “My God, again the Grigori as a whole are with thee my king, yet it pains me to report that all are not so. I regret that I have yet to determine the extent to which my own kind has departed from the way.”

  "I do know that entries of several tomes have made me concerned. There are records, which seem to do more than simply state the observations that the Grigori have heard or seen. I have found several Grigori whose records have added commentary to their accounts. Some no longer seem content to only document the observations of their charge but to annotate as well.”

  Raphael looked away from the Lord and paused.

  “Continue, do not hold back that which thou hast found.” said El.

  “I have traced the genesis of this corruption my king. Moreover, I am afraid that one of the Lumazi is seed to the fruit from which all springs. In review of which tomes no longer hold true, they point back to one Grigori. Lilith, and his tomes are no longer valid, thus out of the mouth of two or three must they now be established. In review of the tome of Lilith on the Chief Prince, I have seen an entry that hast given me pause.

  Lilith’s entry was not journaled in accordance to Grigoric law, but because the Grigori are abundant in number; another was in proximity at the time and reveals an inconsistency.

  "I believe this entry is the accurate one my Lord, and that which I present now to thy light: the copy of which I hold in my hand. Its record compels me to further investigate any new additions in Lilith’s accord of Lucifer.”

  “And the entry; what did it contain my son?”

  Raphael tossed the book into the air, and the voluminous work stood vertical as if coming to attention. The manuscript separated into cover and pages; its sheets flew across the throne, and the pages assembled themselves so that the recorded journal entry was chronologically on top.

  Light glowed on the first page. It floated higher to touch the ceiling and the image of Lucifer and Lilith walking in the Garden of Eden appeared. A Grigori assigned to watch a flock of sheep observed the occurrence and documented a portion of the unauthorized conversation.

  “And what is thy desire, Chief Prince? What would satisfy you?”

  Lucifer looked skyward. His eyes aimed upward as if he gazed directly at God and Raphael.

  “That I might ascend into Heaven; that mine throne would be exalted above the stars of God.

  That I would sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: To ascend above the heights of the clouds…”

  The image then dissipated, and the mammoth book flared with a flash of white light, reassembled itself, and then fell with a loud thump to the floor.

  El stood, Raphael kneeled, silently waiting on any command from his Lord. Then El spoke. “Go, Raphael. Summon thy brothers as there is much to do, the seventh day approaches, and I must take rest from all my labor.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” Raphael bowed, picked up the book, and turned to walk away. Leaving the sanctuary through one of the many side chambers, Raphael returned to his home within the mountain itself. He walked through the corridor of Mt. Zion and entered the Great Hall of Annals.

  He passed by multiple stacks and shelves of records and books until he came to a desk, sat, and placed the completed tome he had just recently finished down; it hit the stone slab of the desk with a thud.

  He looked over and noticed that Lucifer’s tome was still recording. New information was penned in angelic script. The letters were in flames, and Raphael's eyes fixated to one passage that leapt off the page.

  Raphael’s eyes grew wide and his mouth opened, but his tongue could not form words.

  His mind raced with thoughts and then froze in disbelief and panic, as he lifted the book and reread each new passage. Hope dashed away as he read, and the horrible truth dawned on him with each sentence, words that he knew somehow would forever change creation.

  ‘I will be like the most High.’

  ********************

  “But my Lord, you cannot possibly hope to defeat El! El is Alpha! He is Omega. We are but Kilnborne. He is Author of all!”

  The Chamber hall was raucous, for the elders could not believe their ears.

  “Treason!” said one.

  “Blasphemy!” said another

  “What you say is not possible!”

  “Defeat El — can such a thing be done?”

  Lucifer looked upon his brethren and spoke. “Thou hast been chosen above all Elohim to serve me. I have selected you all. You alone have raised Athor from the dust. Consider now my words. El, not I, has shown himself to be traitor.”

  “Traitor to all Elohim; for he has created us that we might be slaves to another. If we were but servants to El, I would serve happily. However, we are Kilnborn. Are we to teach one who knows not the majesty of those from whom they even learn? Are we to serve those whose sight reaches not into the Third Heaven? Who tread the ground, but possess not the power to fly amongst the stars?”

  “I say nay. El is no longer worthy of rule. He fawns over the man as he walks with him during the day. He has withheld from us and knowingly done so. Why are the granaries expanded? Why hast Jerusalem itself been enlarged? Would he elevate the humans to displace us? Soon will we not have even home in Heaven? Why doth this Earth not bring forth manna? Why? Because we were not in His mind when it was made. Indeed, we have been an afterthought."

  Many in the room nodded in agreement.


  Lucifer continued, “Of a surety El is mighty. He cannot be destroyed through strength of arms.”

  Tiriel, an Issi and an elder, of the rivers rose to speak. “You speak the truth. El cannot be defeated, yet I have no pleasure to serve the humans. How then would you, Chief Prince, bring down God?”

  The room grew quiet, and all eyes turned to Lucifer and listened expectantly for his reply. “El cannot be defeated by sheer power. However, power is not necessary to defeat El. The throne cannot be taken by force. It must be freely surrendered. El will abdicate it willingly.”

  Kaspiel rose, waved his hand angrily and in disbelief.

  “You are mad Lucifer!” he said.

  “Am I?” replied Lucifer. “What is the greater madness Kaspiel? To serve a God who seeks to enslave us for eternity and sing happily for the privilege? Is it mad to desire and fight for one’s freedom? Am I mad that I refuse to bow to a creature of mud and clay?”

  Another elder arose and spoke, “Lucifer, you have not yet stated how you would accomplish what you purport. Words alone will not the overthrow of El achieve.”

  “I indeed have a plan,” said Lucifer, “but it cannot be accomplished alone. If thou be with El then go, and I will not think the less of you. However, if thou would hear my plan, I will offer pledge of mine ability to accomplish my will. Stay and I shall say on.”

  Each elder in the room looked at the other. Lucifer also looked about the hall. His eyes scanned to see which of his elders might leave. Everyone contemplated if he should be the first to depart. Each knew that something special was taking place, and all wondered if they were destined to herald freedom for their race.

  Excitement began to fill the air with a palpable sense that the destiny of their species was at hand. Then Tiamat, an angel from Lucifer’s own species Draco stood to speak. He was silver and grey hair ran down the whole of his snake like back.

  “Say on, Chief Prince. We would hear thee on this matter. What proof would you offer this assembly that we might show thee fealty as God?”