
As if the world didn't have enough problems of its own, heaven and hell are gathering for the biggest battle of all, a 'forced' apocalypse started by none other than Morning Star himself. With an insane plan to prove that God isn't perfect, he enlists the help of a very jaded archangel--Michael--to help his with his scheme. Along with Apollyon, Lilith, and their legion of Destroyers--the 'children' of the Watchers--cataclysmic worldly events quickly unfurl as one lone Philadelphia city cop discovers he plays a pivotal role in how this 'apocalypse' will end.
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BOOK EXCERPT
Michael sat perched atop of the John Hancock Building in Chicago, still incensed and confused. He felt completely uncomfortable with his current feelings. Already knowing of the recent events in South America put him on edge. He wasn’t a fan of God’s creatures, but wondered why He was allowing so much destruction to happen all over the world. Was He angry at someone? Was He trying to adjust his little stage? But that wouldn’t explain those creatures that people kept reporting at each disaster area. Michael was curious, but not that curious.
He was even tempted to go back and find out what was going on from Father himself, but his pride halted him quick. And besides, he was sick and tired of those mudballs. Michael never stood why they would pray to him and the other ‘saints’ for assistance in their petty mundane lives. He could have cared less. Did God give his clay people permission to call on His angels if HE was too busy? That was a laugh.
If God was ending the world, then let Him. He needed to start over anyway. All the wars, famine and chaos that ensued over the centuries after He created them…He could do better than that! Michael was surprised that their Father let them live as long as He did!
“I feel your anguish, brother,” came a voice behind him. Michael turned.
“Morning Star…we meet again.”
“You’re not hard to find, Michael,” Lucifer replied, his gestures humble. “It truly has been too long! The last time I saw you, you disappeared completely without even a goodbye.”
Michael said nothing, not sure of what to say.
“Taking you last looks at the world our Father created before it crumbles to dust?”
“I…I guess,” Michael smirked. “It’s not like I’m going to miss it. It was perfect before he added…them.”
Lucifer laughed. “Calling them ‘mudballs’ and all those other funny names you give them is kind compared to what I’ve called them.”
“Have the events called you to Earth to see what is going on?”
“Even better…why are you here…dwelling among them?”
“I…I had to get away for a while.”
“Daddy ticked you off?”
Michael sniffed. “I guess you could say that.”
“So…how is life among the…mudballs?”
“Unfulfilling. Boring. The majority of them are so shallow and selfish. They worry more about gaining power and stepping on anyone to get it. Brotherly love does not exist within them.”
Lucifer’s eyes twinkled. The more he could get Michael to talk about his bad experiences, the more he could use them to his advantage.
“It’s in their nature to be that way.”
“How so?”
“Because Father gave them free will! It made them senseless, empty holes! They care about nothing! They should be nothing!”
Michael’s anger rose. “You are right, my brother.”
Lucifer grinned. This was easier than he though it would be. “How else have they bothered you?” He paused. “Don’t tell me you intermingled with them…”
Michael was too angry to blush. “Sadly yes. Ten years ago. I tried to have a so-called relationship with one. Didn’t work out.”
Lucifer put his chin in his hand. “Please…do tell.”
Michael flicked him a look of annoyance. “You jest!”
“Never. I merely want to know what happened to you during your stay here on Earth.”
“The creature left me for another mudball, despite my staying loyal to her. She…she said I was too good for her, whatever that meant.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Well, that was to be expected. Thank Adam’s first wife for that.”
Michael looked puzzled. “I don’t recall Eve--”
“Lilith. Sheesh, everyone seems to forget about the poor girl.”
“Ah, forgive me. How could I forget?”
Our Father prefers that no one remember her! She was cast aside like she was nothing, like how He cast me and a third of our brothers aside. Just because we made a silly mistake. Shouldn’t mistakes be forgiven? Isn’t that what He taught us?”
Michael looked down. “Your pride was what got you in trouble in the first place, Morning Star.”
“Just as you let your pride get to you sometimes. All those time you wanted to talk to Father after you left, your determination to prove Him wrong stopped you. Am I right?”
Michael sighed. There was no way he could win that argument. “You are right again, brother.” He sat back on the ledge. “So, you never did answer me. Are you here to see what’s happening?”
Lucifer ignored the question and got to the point. “You know, I never got the chance to thank you.”
Michael gave him a strange look. “Thank me? For what?”
“Trying to save me. I know you did what you had to do when we battled in heaven…but you tried to save me afterwards. For that, I thank you.”
“I was only dong what I felt in my heart was right.”
“And you were right. That was brave of you to confront our Father about the way He treated me. And yes, He did go back on His word. I know I did a stupid thing the moment I did it, and I’ll never forget that. I’m reminded of it every day. I want our Father to forgive me, just as I know you have.”
Michael’s heart sped up in nervousness.
“How do you know I’ve forgiven you?”
“Because you wouldn’t have stood up for me if you didn’t.”
“I stood up for you because I remembered God’s law. That didn’t mean I forgave you myself.”
Lucifer pretended he didn’t hear that. “I’m tired, brother. I’m tired of being in the darkness. I miss my home. I miss my brothers. I miss you! An eternity of being without my Father’s light is unbearable.”
Lucifer’s words were actually true, but at the same time he played Michael like a fiddle.
“I...I wish there was a way I could help you…”
Lucifer pretended to ponder something, then turned to Michael in mock surprise. “Maybe…maybe you can help me!”
“How?” Michael sounded hopeful. “Perhaps if Father accepts you back, things can start being the way they should be.”
Lucifer couldn’t have been happier to hear those words. He sat next to Michael and put an arm around his shoulder. “For the longest time, I’ve been trying to find a way to show Father that even He can make mistakes.”
“In what ways?”
“Not only was ‘free will’ a major mistake, there are quite a few other things that can prove He’s made some blunders.”
“Then you must show me.”
Lucifer gave a bigger grin. “By all means, my brother. Follow me.”
***
Lucifer and Michael stood atop the London Bridge, the nippy air whipping through their hair. It looked like everyone was in a rush to get somewhere, cars moving at a snail’s pace on the bridge, honking at each other, people cursing at each other.
“Look at this mess. Overpopulation everywhere you go. You have free will to thank for that. We needn’t bother taking a quick little trip to India or China to see that little fact.”
Lucifer took Michael to a busy street in New York next. They watched--and not in much surprise--as a woman was robbed of her pocketbook and shot in the head. They watched a hit-and-run scene, the driver having killed a young girl and thrown the mother about twenty yards from her child. No one helped; they all simply stood around and watched.
“How pathetic is that?” Lucifer hissed. “What kind of creatures do nothing to help their own kind?! That damned free will will be the death of them all. How can a race be so callous, so uncaring, so ruthless and uninterested in their own welfare?” He turned to Michael, whose expression was stony. Lucifer gripped his shoulders.
“My dear brother…if you don’t understand anything else, just understand this. If our Father didn’t give them free will, the world would not be the way we see it. The things humans do in the name of ‘progress’ only kills them off quicker. They disrespect the earth, the animals and their selves! They are headed towards self-destruction, and I want to accellerate it!”
“How do you plan to do it? I’ve had it with this world these low-lifes have made for themselves. They live in their own filth and care nothing about what they do or how they do it! I can’t believe these things have souls!”
“That is exactly what I mean, brother. If these humans were originally made to obey our Father…the world would be the true Utopia that so many cry for. But they will continue killing themselves over money, power, land, religion…and people blame me for this. ME? Oh no, my brother. I’m not to blame. Blame their damn free will…or better yet…who gave it to them.”
“How could He have gone so wrong?” Michael was truly confused.
“Perhaps He didn’t think it would spiral out of control like it has. These…mudballs find it easier to do the wrong thing because it’s convenient for them. They believe doing the right thing makes them weak, makes them look stupid, and that being deceitful, cunning and licentious makes them powerful. Their sense of morality is beyond non-existent.” Lucifer grinned, leaning against a store wall. Michael stepped up to him and looked him in the eyes.
“I must know! How do you plan to end it?”
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I want to help you.”
Lucifer pretended to be in thought. “You…help me?”
“Help you end this madness and bring peace to our home and on this Earth…that’s what I want.”
“To help me. Help me get back home.”
“Yes.”
Lucifer reached out and hugged his brother. “This means a lot to me Michael. Together, we’ll make things right again.”
***
The night was pressing onward. Michael and Lucifer arrived in Iraq in front of a secreted place in the Kurdistan Mountains. This place was all too familiar to Michael. It resembled a cave, with a crudely constructed entrance inside. Arcane symbols not written by man were inscribed around the entryway. Michael took a step back.
“What are we doing here?” he asked. “This place was to be forgotten about.”
“Sticking up for Daddy again?” Lucifer chided. “Forgetting the things he wants us to?”
Michael shook his head. “No, no. It’s just…what are we really doing here?”
“Trying to put Lucifer’s idiotic plan in motion,” said a childlike voice echoing within the darkness of the cave. Michael gawked at a small boy dressed in black knickers a white shirt, black overcoat and shiny black shoes.
“Apollyon,” Michael whispered, eyes wide in surprise.
“Nice to see you too,” he answered dryly.
“How are your remaining ‘sons’?” Lucifer asked him.
“Resting. Waiting for the grand finale.” He smirked.
Michael looked back and forth at his brothers. “I’m feeling left out here. What am I missing?”
“Oh, he didn’t fill you in?” Apollyon smiled at Lucifer.
“Fill me in on what?” Michael turned to Lucifer as well.
Lucifer took a deep breath. “What is happening now…is Apollyon’s and my doing.”
“Oh sure, name me first,” he mumbled.
Michael’s expression became stormy. “YOU caused all of this?!”
“I thought you of all angels would be pleased! Or at least understand! You want to help me get rid of the mudballs’ world, and that’s excellent! But in the meantime I merely got things started! The best is yet to come, trust me!”
Michael looked at the entrance to the cave. “You have the sons of the Watchers in there, I can sense them.” He turned to Apollyon now. “I thought all of them were destroyed.”
“Well, with Lilith’s help, I managed to save some.” He giggled and Michael frowned.
“They are part of the plan, simply assisting us,” Lucifer said calmly, putting a hand on Michael’s shoulder. “Please…no need to be angry. We are all outcasts coming together in a moment of glory to tell our Father, ‘You can’t forget us! We are your children! We still love you…’”
Michael looked down, trying to think things over.
“The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead,” Apollyon said to himself, and Lucifer gave him a quick punch in the shoulder to shut him up. Apollyon looked at him impudently.
“Are you sure you have them under control?” Michael asked Apollyon.
“Of course! They’re my ‘sons’!”
“We’ll all prove our point together. He’ll have no choice but to accept us back in! There will be harmony at home once again!” Lucifer’s expression was so eager, Michael believed him.
“Once we get everything settled, Father might own up to His mistakes…and even owe you an apology. Besides,” Lucifer leaned in closer to Michael. “His favorite pet Jesus will have to apologize to you too. Remember, if he had stuck up for you, none of this would have had to happen. Our Father would have listened to him…you know He would have.”
“I know that all too well,” Michael grumbled.
“So, no need to feel bad for what we’re doing, right? It’s for the best. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense.”
Apollyon rolled his eyes.
“One more thing. I have a gift for you!” Lucifer said happily, holding out his hands. A sword materialized before him in red and black flames.
“I had this expressly forged for you,” he said, handing it to Michael.
It was identical to his original sword except the blade looked like liquid hematite and onyx combined. The hilt and handle looked like silver.
“This is beautiful,” Michael commented, waving it around for a moment, getting the urge to use it already. “Thank you, brother. This will come into good use soon.”
Lucifer folded his hands in glee, as Apollyon looked mildly bored.
“And then I’ll get my present?”
“Yes, damn it, you’ll get your present.” Lucifer sounded irritated. “I swear, it looks like those childlike tendencies are rubbing off on you.”
“Well, I won’t have to stay in this form too much longer. None of us will have to soon.”
“And the final war can ensue,” Michael said as he held the sword before him. “Watch out Jesus. I’m making a comeback.”
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