The Third Heaven: The Rise of Fallen Stars Read online

  Lucifer scratched at his chest as if irritated. He motioned the two princes to follow him. “Come, El awaits the council.”

  Michael and Raphael turned to follow. Michael eyed his elder brother, for his organs were musical instruments, and as Lucifer walked, every movement made one want to dance or sing. The sound was pleasant to the ear, and Lucifer could create any sound within creation in any key, with any pitch and volume. Lucifer did not speak; he sang.

  Michael studied Lucifer, mimicked his gait, and waved his hands with flowing motions through the air.

  “Michael, what are you doing?” Raphael whispered.

  Michael fluttered his wings like his elder brother but still nothing.

  Raphael looked at him wondering if Michael had lost his mind.

  “Michael,” said Raphael.

  Lucifer turned around to see that his brother mimicked him. With eyebrows raised, he spoke. “Would you for a second stop fooling around, and come on!”

  “There it is,” said Michael.

  Lucifer looked at Michael with irritation and put his hands on his hips. “There is what?” he said.

  “That thing you do with your voice — that twang. How do you do that?”

  “Ugh, you are as incorrigible as Jerahmeel.” Annoyed, Lucifer shook his head and walked away.

  The brotherhood knew Lucifer was the most serious minded of them all and possessed little humor. However, no one could irritate Lucifer more than Jerahmeel, whose brashness and disregard for protocol irked him to no end.

  El never rebuked Jerahmeel, as if El knew the high princes needed his sage, yet frank advice. Jerahmeel always told Lucifer to “lighten up." Yet, despite all of his seriousness, no one among them was more devoted to the service of El than Lucifer.

  “See! He did it again,” said Michael.

  Raphael walked past him laughing. “Lucifer is right; you are incorrigible.”

  “What? I think it’s the pipes in his throat and forearms. That’s what’s making that sound! I want some too!”

  Passing through the veil of the inner chamber, they entered the throne room: the seat of all power in the multiverse. Four members were already assembled and on bended knee waiting for El to summon them.

  Michael lifted his hands to his eyes to block the glare from the blinding white light as waves of intense heat overtook them as they neared El’s presence. Lucifer’s company never helped, for his mirror-like skin just heightened the effect.

  Michael looked over and whispered to Raphael, “I will never get used to this.”

  “Hush, Michael,” he replied.

  The three princes traversed the throne steps and arrived at their apex. The steps of the throne were made of the same material as the street of the city: a translucent gold. All streets in Heaven found their paths ending at the mountain of God and the throne room. Before the throne, the floor was as a sea of glass similar unto crystal. In the midst of the throne and round about the throne, a mist filled the air, and a rainbow arched above the throne.

  Seven basins of fire were set before it, a place for each high prince to sit before the fire. Within each lamp lived a Virtue: living smoke, whose foggy presence filled the chamber, yet did not emit the smell of burning or make one choke. The fragrance of the Virtues was akin to frankincense, and they wafted about the throne room with transparent eyes and moved as fish swim in formation.

  The white marble pillars of the throne room shook from the voices of the Seraphim outside. Behind and beneath the throne were the Ophanim; living creatures that looked like wheels within wheels. Two of these creatures were underneath the throne as if its entire weight rested on them, and two were horizontally behind it.

  Each had four faces. As for the likeness of their faces, each of the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side and the face of an ox and an eagle on the left side. They sparkled like chrysolite.

  Two rotating wheels with wings crisscrossed by two other wheels with wings surrounded them. Moreover, they moved in any one of four directions the creatures faced; and all four wheels were full of eyes all around.

  Each Ophanim generated powerful gusts that propelled the throne at El’s whim. When the Ophanim moved, the wheels beside them moved, and when Ophanim rose from the ground, the wheels rose. Wherever the Lord God went, they went too, and the wheels rose along with them because the spirits of the living creatures were in the wheels.

  Affixed to the top of the throne were two Cherubim; each faced one another with backs arched and heads bowed. With outstretched wings, they covered the throne as if it were possible to provide shade for the God who is light, yet they stood ever ready and awaited any command from El. El’s train filled the temple, a living blood red cloak that draped round about the throne and flowed down unto the crystal floor below.

  The angels of his presence, the Lumazi, had assembled and stood before the Lord. In unison, the seven princes bowed, as was protocol before the Lord of all things.

  Others could not look upon El without blindness, yet their eyelids as High Princes allowed them to filter the luminance and made it possible to see an outline or at least a partial visage of his form. The Shekinah Glory surrounded El, and those who looked upon him directly would invoke blindness, for the Shekinah was the residue of God’s breath. A living shawl of breathing light that enveloped and irradiated the person of God. The Shekinah illumined all that came near the Lord and left an afterglow on anyone who attended Him, even after one had left his immediate presence.

  To describe El was difficult. All angels were in a manner of speaking a reflection of Him, yet He surpassed all intelligible attempts to describe Him.

  Michael looked upon El, and He appeared as a bearded Elohim of 10 cubits height: whose hair was as wool, youthful in looks yet ancient beyond understanding.

  Michael observed that El possessed two legs, two arms and that there was no form, comeliness, nor beauty that He should be desired, just an all-encompassing gentleness and power. When El walked, he did so with a slow deliberate and steady gait. Only on the most momentous of occasions did he even leave the throne room.

  When Michael asked what his brethren saw, each saw a different thing. Raphael said that he saw a two-legged figure with a blindfold over his face, having four arms; each arm held four objects: a book a stylus, an inkhorn, and a balance.

  Gabriel swore he saw a feline-like creature with wings on each foot.

  Lucifer–– Lucifer never discussed how he viewed El. He was always reluctant to speak of what he saw. Michael always thought his reluctance strange, but if he were not confident of Lucifer’s devotion, one would say contempt would be the look Lucifer displayed whenever Michael broached the subject.

  Then El spoke and awakened Michael from his daydreaming.

  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Stand before me and give account of thy stewardship. Approach, Michael.”

  Mindful to bow, Michael walked towards the Lord, sat before him, and gave his report.

  “Lord, the additional housing that you have directed has been completed. There are one billion new units now available for occupancy. The granaries have been expanded for increased food storage, and the city expanded by an additional 25% by your orders.

  "Lord, it would appear that we have more than enough room in the capital and clear that we have more living space and food production capabilities than is necessary. May I ask the purpose of these additions to the kingdom?”

  Michael waited for a response. El smiled at him. Michael remembered El once told him that his trusting and inquisitive nature was one of the attributes that He most enjoyed about him.

  “Soon all will be made clear, my friend. I will announce my intentions at the next assembly. By then all preparations will be complete, and on the seventh day I will rest from all my labor.”

  I knew it! So an announcement is forthcoming! Michael thought to himself.

  Michael shook his head, knowing that by the time he understood what
El wanted done, El had been planning the outcome from the very beginning.

  Michael continued until he concluded his report.

  “I am pleased with the progress to the city my son. Well done.”

  Michael stood to his feet, bowed, and walked backwards until he was again with his waiting brothers at the steps below.

  “Lucifer, Son of the Morning Star, approach.”

  Lucifer was titled “Son of the Morning Star,” and other than God Himself, there was no object brighter in illumination, thus the title of honor. God had named each member of the Elohim and had written their names on their flesh.

  Then the Lord said unto Lucifer, “Whence comest thou?”

  Then Lucifer answered the Lord, and said, “From going to and fro in the Earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

  “And how fares the happenings on Earth?” the Lord asked.

  “Lord, per your orders, the seas have brought forth great beasts after their kind, and the skies filled with fowl. A particular species glides for several furlongs with a grace that rivals even the Elohim my Lord.

  "I am most impressed by your designs and creativity. To pattern this planet after some of the same flora and fauna as in Heaven, I would not have thought to do that, especially in light of the variety of worlds that you have allowed us to administer, but this world is particularly beautiful, Lord. I thank you for allowing me over-site as its Archon.”

  Michael shook his head and smiled at his brother. Look at him as giddy as a new Archon still

  As soon as he knew the importance of this assignment, Lucifer fawned all over it. Michael had never seen Lucifer so pleased with himself than when El titled him Archon of Earth.

  Michael was happy for Lucifer: proud even, for he had assisted him since the very beginning. Lucifer was always there always helping each new Elohim that God created to acclimate to their new assignment. Initially it was a daunting task when the Elohim were fewer. However, nothing was too much for El. He was their Father, and they happily obliged Him in all things. Never would Michael have thought to see the wonders that they now behold.

  In each of the last assemblies, the council had come to learn more about the thing El had called Time and that He would create a sphere of creation that would be subject to it.

  Each member of the Lumazi was to explain to their race the meaning of all that they learned, and commit to their knowledge the conduct required to operate within each realm. They adjusted over time to the knowledge and reality of these new heavens and the limits that El had directed as they roamed within each one.

  Lucifer continued his report and in a twinkling of an eye displayed to his maker all the wonders of Earth’s beauty. He noted how the planet had angels making sure that each river ran its course per the explicit directions of El.

  Michael listened awestruck as to the level of involvement that El had in every aspect of creation. He never realized how his duties in the capital dulled him from appreciating how much design went into the massive undertaking of creation.

  Four days they had all labored, and Lucifer gave his report on the latest day’s efforts, detailing to the Creator information on new flying creatures, wingspans, and even the number of feathers each one needed to remain airborne.

  Michael leaned forward absorbed as Lucifer elaborated on the difficulty in achieving the color combinations that El commanded in certain species of flowers. On and on, the First of Angels relayed the intricate details of life that was quickly enveloping the planet El had named “Earth.” God nodded his head in approval and saw that it was good.

  “Well done, Lucifer. You have done all according to my will. Well done indeed.”

  Then it happened.

  El stood!

  With a wave of his outstretched hand, the throne room suddenly disappeared. The walls vanished before their eyes, and all that remained were seven angelic princes still on bended knee floating within the second heaven El had named “space.”

  El’s eyes turned towards one of the many galaxies He had created, and for a moment, any equilibrium the princes possessed failed them as the motion of stars, planets, and other phenomena too wondrous to describe flashed before their eyes.

  Then within full view of them all, El reached for a small blue orb of a planet, which encircled the now familiar star named Sol, and lovingly held it within the palm of his hand.

  Once again, they moved and found themselves partially submerged in water.

  Michael became off balance as a sea of water surrounded him, and waves crashed over his face. The whole group struggled to swim, fly, and adjust to the instantaneous nature of how they traveled from the throne room of Heaven to this planet with its teeming oceans.

  Panic-strickened, Sariel cried, “Look!” and pointed to several large creatures moving with great speed towards them.

  Then they appeared: great whales––giants gliding in the great deeps of the watery world, and littering the sky above them were countless fowl whose numbers were too abundant to tally.

  With arms outstretched and a voice of gentleness and satisfaction, God saw that it was good. The Lord God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the Earth.”

  Then with a flash after having reached this planet of teeming life and having adjusted to the state of water and motion, the group found themselves instantly atop the Mountain of God in El’s throne room.

  “Wow,” said Jerahmeel, soaking wet with the biggest smile on his face. “Now that was fun! Can we do it again?”

  Gabriel lost all sense of balance and immediately toppled over. El’s unique method of instantaneous transport was finally too much to overcome. Michael laughed aloud and Gabriel shot him a hot frown.

  “I am not amused,” said Gabriel, who then put his hand over his mouth: his cheeks turning green.

  Michael smiled, looked up, and noted that the Lord had settled into his throne. Lucifer also was sitting before the Lord and had continued his report while the rest of his brethren; pale and queasy attempted to compose themselves.

  “Show off.” Michael whispered to Lucifer.

  Lucifer grinned and continued his report.

  Michael glanced up and noted to his astonishment that El was chuckling at them.

  And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

  Chapter Two

  Finishing Touches

  Day Six

  “What is wrong with you?” asked an angel.

  I had never thought that I was different, never until someone pointed it out to me.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Why is your stone broken?” the angel replied.

  I reached my hand into my robes and pulled my sigil stone from my chest for inspection. It felt fractured, even coarse in some parts, yet there was clear delineation of smoothness to half of it. A quarter of the stone was missing, but it was clear that two halves of the stone were stitched together. I looked down to see the gouged hollow absent from the whole. My Heartstone warmed my hand as it pulsated in my palm. The ginger colored stone shimmered with a crystal glint; it had firmness and heft to it. The outer skin of my heart rose and fell. Something moved within that strained to get out of the stone. Smoke and ash floated from it, and it crackled with a sizzling sound. It gave off an aroma akin to burnt charcoal.

  My self-inspection showed that nothing seemed amiss.

  “I do not know,” I said. “It has been this way since my creation. What’s wrong with it?”

  “Your stone is broken,” the angel said. “Something is wrong with you.”

  Your stone is broken. Something is wrong with you: that is all he ever said. It's funny as I think back, but I never did get that angels name.

  “Apollyon are you ready?”

  Perhaps now after all this time I will gain the respect I have always wanted.

  “Apollyon, stop day dreaming. Are you ready?” Saesheal said.

  “Yes my friend. You fuss over m
e like I am going to forget!”

  Saesheal laughed, “No — I fuss over you because you do forget!”

  I laughed because I knew Saesheal was right. He was the first to take any interest in me: my truest friend. He has always been so protective, and I had to admit I enjoyed how he doted over me.

  “Leave him alone. You can mock about someone else’s stone, when you acquire the power to create one yourself. If El does not worry, then neither should you.” The angel scowled and walked away. I turned to my benefactor and looked upon the smaller Arelim who had come to advocate for me.

  “My name is Saesheal,” he said. “We will be serving together in the Sol system. What is your name?”

  “Apollyon,” I replied. “El has titled me Son of the Dawn.”

  “Truly?” Saesheal said. “Impressive––that name is similar to Lucifer’s. It is my pleasure to meet you. My quarters are not far from here. Care to get a bite before training?”

  “That would be nice. Thank you,” I said.

  “By the way, I happen to think your stone makes you unique. It has an orange color to it.”

  I tried my best not to roll my eyes. I hated orange.

  “Thanks,” I replied.

  How ironic, that after all this time, I find myself now bathed in the orange glow of this star. Saesheal interrupted my daydreaming.

  “I always knew that you looked good in orange Apollyon.” Saesheal teased. “You are now Archon of Sol, I am proud of you.”

  I positioned myself in the center of the sun and reveled in the blanket of its warm embrace: its flames soothed tendons and muscle. I was now officially the Archon of Sol. I could feel my jaw widen with the grin that I knew stretched across my face.

  Archon: I liked the sound of that. My assignment as archangel over El’s prized star would give me great prominence among my people. Perhaps now, I might command respect and no more be called, "broken stone."

  I looked at Saesheal, who smiled at me, and remembered the angels of times past who sneered at my difference. “Shhhh, here he comes," laughed an angel.