LITR 3731 Creative Writing 2006

 Joe Cuellar

Lone Pairs ↑↓

Prologue

1

In other times, before the Earth was reshaped, there was a wondrous place of peace and joy. In this place, the children lived among the angels. The angels were loving and powerful creatures that were entrusted with the protection of the children. The King’s eldest son, Lucifer, sat proudly to the Right of the Throne. “The Angel of Light,” as Lucifer was called, was the most revered of the angels. In the days when armies were necessary, Lucifer’s bravery and courage as the commander of the angels were legendary. Now, his Father’s treaties had insured that there would be no need for his warrior skills ever again.

Lucifer and the angels had been granted ever-lasting life by his Father, and only the blow from another immortal could end their eternal lives. His Father had also given the children the same gift calling them “souls.” “Why did Father do that?” Lucifer thought.  “Someday, the souls may come to believe that they are our equals.  They may even believe that they do not need us.  I would have never done that if I ruled the Kingdom,” Lucifer also knew that he would never rule the Kingdom. Even the children, those worthless, pathetic souls, knew that he would not. Lucifer believed the souls were taking him for granted. He heard rumors circulating that some of his exploits were exaggerated. His light was beginning to dim and there was nothing he could do to outshine his Father’s shadow.

2

Lucifer decided it was his turn now: he earned it.  His Father was old. “He cannot possibly rule this entire kingdom on his own”, Lucifer reasoned. The King should step aside and hand part of the throne to His first and true heir. His impatience grew until one day he asked, “Father, when shall I have a Kingdom to rule as my own?” The Father looked bewildered as He contemplated the question.

“Why do you need a kingdom of your own?  Are you not satisfied with what you have?” asked the King.

“There could be more,” Lucifer responded. 

“All that we need is all that we have. You should not long for any more than you need.  If you keep wanting, when do you know you have enough? No, my son, there is no need for more.”

“But…”

“That is all.”

Lucifer bowed to his Father and left the room.  The King knew it was not the answer that Lucifer wanted to hear.

3

Lucifer was angry at his Father’s decision. “Why should He have all the glory? Why should He alone be worshipped? I did not ask for His kingdom. I only asked for a kingdom of my own. If He will not give it to me, I shall take what is rightfully mine.”

With that, the Angel of Light met with his most trusted lieutenants. Lucifer paced the room as he spoke, “We shall rule this Kingdom and all others like it. We will no longer be obedient puppets to those inferior beings. We made this kingdom what it is.” Lucifer’s voice then trailed into a soft whisper, “…I made it what it is.”  Lucifer noticed his reflection in a large mirror and slowly walked toward it intrigued.  Still mesmerized by the sight of himself, Lucifer spoke again, “I did.  I made this kingdom. I am the warrior that fought for it. I am the most beautiful one of all, just look. I am perfection. I should rule this kingdom. When I am finished, my Father will beg me to take the throne.”

“But Sire,” his senior advisor cautiously asked, “what if He does not?”

Lucifer turned back to face the group, his eyes burning with the rage that was consuming him, “Then we destroy it.”

4

Lucifer’s bands scoured the Kingdom. To defeat his Father, he had to strike at His pride—the souls.  Lucifer’s plan was not to destroy them…yet. He would promise them things his Father never would. He would let the souls see a life filled with riches beyond imagination.  Lucifer would take them to the brink of absolute bliss and then promise even more. That part would be easy. The souls were trusting and naïve. He would use them to begin a rebellion. Lucifer knew his Father would not hand the throne over easily. He knew this would be a battle; he knew this was going to be a war. 

For a moment, Lucifer hesitated. He questioned his own motives. He asked himself if he was doing the right thing. He wondered if his Father was right, “when do you know you had enough?” He stood by the window and looked over the kingdom. Then from the south, he saw a fire ball and heard the screams of anguish. A smile crossed his lips and he knew there would be no turning back now. “So it begins,” he said with a thunderous laugh.

5

The war was long, much longer than Lucifer ever believed possible. Casualties of immortals were high on both sides. Too many of the angels had sided with his Father. Too many of those “insignificant” pests had rallied behind his Father. No matter. In the end, it will be his. Lucifer looked out upon the Kingdom from atop a hill. The intense fires consumed and destroyed everything in their path. The bodies of angels and souls littered the landscape as far as the eye could see. Amongst them were the rotting corpses of Lucifer’s fallen angels—those that now called themselves daemons.

The daemons number’s dwindled and Lucifer went to the killing ground. Not content with observing anymore, he took to the battle. With every swing of his sword, his blood lust grew. Lucifer made his way to the Palace. He had determined that he would wait no longer. He now believed that only way to claim his prize was to kill his Father. After all this time, if his Father was not going to surrender, then His head would make a fitting centerpiece for the trophy room. As his fury grew, Lucifer began to cut down everything in his path. Angels, souls and daemons were all struck down. 

6

When Lucifer made his way into the Palace to the Throne room, his Father stood in full armor. “I was waiting for you,” the King spoke in a firm, but loving voice.  “Are you satisfied with what you have done? How long must this continue?”

Lucifer stood in front of his Father. Two charred spheres sat where his eyes once were. The bloods of all his victims blended on his burning body to turn his skin a dark red color.  His blonde hair had turned charcoal-black as it was covered with the soot that burning corpses produce.  His wings had been burnt beyond their former glory and now resembled the leathery wings of a bat.  With no trace of the voice that once led heavenly hymns, Lucifer growled, “This will continue until you step down.”

“I can’t do that. Son…”

“Don’t call me that!” Lucifer snorted “I told you this would be mine; I told you I would have my kingdom.”  Lucifer lunged at his Father with a blow meant to kill. The King easily avoided it and every other subsequent attempt by Lucifer. The King grew tired of his son’s insolent behavior. He deflected Lucifer’s stab and struck him down. The King clutched him by the neck and lifted him. In one motion, He turned Lucifer and ripped the wings off his decaying body and slammed him to the ground. The King picked up the Spear of Destiny and prepared to lunge it into what remained of Lucifer’s charred heart. 

The King then hesitated as tears filled His eyes. He put the spear down and picked Lucifer’s broken remains off the ground. He embraced him and coddled him as when he was a mere child. “Just repent. Ask forgiveness for what you have done and we can start anew,” the King told him.

“You still can’t do it,” Lucifer responded through laughter. “You cowardly old fool! I am ready to take your life and you still can’t kill me. Your enemy stands before you, defeated, and you can’t finish it. This is why I fought and you got the glory?”

The King carried Lucifer outside the Palace and gently lay him down on the ground. The Father looked around at what had become of His Kingdom. “You wanted a kingdom of your own to rule,” the King quietly spoke. “You now have it.” The King picked his son up and placed the crown on his head. “You are a still a Prince. This darkness you created is yours,” the King told Lucifer as he held him up by his shoulders. “Your name means nothing now. You shall now be known by the name of the ancient evil. Your name will be spoken in shame. Those who worship you worship evil. Those who ally with you will be allied with Satannas.”

The King then turned his back and began walking north. The dark prince struggled to keep himself up and shouted at his Father, “This has only begun. You let me live. I will gather my armies. I will find you.”  Lucifer fell to his knees, struggling for breath, he continued to shout, “When that happens, you will be defeated and I will destroy you. Do you hear me?  I will destroy you!”

7

The King continued to walk until he could no longer hear the screams and the stench of death had left his nostrils. When He looked around, He found himself alone and surrounded by a void. The Father, remembering the glory of His Kingdom, began to shape a new reality. For several days, He toiled alone at the task of rebuilding. After six days, much of His work was complete.  He stood back and saw that it was good.

The sixth day was a joyous one for Him.  The surviving angels, now led by the archangel Gabriel, had found their way to Him. Gabriel told tales of hardship and despair. He also told tales of faith and belief. The angels were confident they would find Him and that He would not desert them. Gabriel then told Him about the souls, “Many were sacrificed by the daemons, but many are lost and could not find their way. The souls need a path to us.”

“We shall create this path,” the King said.  With that, He gathered some mud from the earth and shaped it.  “We shall create a being in our likeness.  He shall rule over this earth.  The souls will use this medium to find us.  We shall call him ‘Man’ and he will be christened ‘Adam’.  When the souls all find their way back, we will regroup.  When we are all together, we will expand the new Kingdom to all places where the light can reach.”  With one breath, he gave Adam life and placed him on the earth.  “We must also be vigilant.  Luci…Satannas will also try to rebuild his stronghold and not give up easily. He will try to confuse the souls and delay their return,” the King warned. With the renewed hope in their future, the angels and the King rested on the seventh day.

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