Fall of Lucifer Read Free Page B

and kings threw down their golden crowns in awe and wonder.
    For His beauty was indescribable, and to those few who had ever looked upon His face – they could not but hear His name and weep. Their faces burned radiant, and they wept unceasingly with the awe and the wonder of it for His tender mercies and compassions were unfathomable.
    And so, as One, He dwelt in the throne room.
    And as Three.
    For they were indivisible.
    And they were indissoluble.
    And so they dwelt as a great and sacred mystery.
    Of such great and wondrous secrets the twenty-four elders, the ancient angelic monarchs, were stewards.
    Lucifer inhaled deeply. A deep and palpable peace crossed his features.
    ‘Yehovah,’ he uttered.
    With his great strength, Michael pushed open the massive golden doors of Lucifer’s chambers. He strode across the gleaming sapphire floors, flinging his cloak onto one of the enormous golden thrones, and then walked through the jewelled columns and out through the balcony doors. He bowed deeply in reverence to Lucifer.
    ‘Chief Prince Lucifer, filled with wisdom and perfect in beauty.’
    Lucifer raised his head slowly to Michael. A magnificent smile lit his features. ‘Michael, my brother . . . ’
    Michael clasped Lucifer’s neck.
    ‘Young Gabriel fell afoul of your finer tactics, I believe!’
    They embraced with great affection, then again bowed low to each other in reverence.
    Gabriel burst out onto the balcony. His grey eyes gleamed with the exhilaration of the race. He bowed reverently to Lucifer, then mockingly to Michael.
    The three statuesque angelic princes stood together: blinding, dazzling figures, nine feet in height, sinewed and bronzed in their white robes. Michael’s fierce, intelligent green eyes blazed out of the chiselled, noble face, softened only by the incongruous dimples that accompanied his rare but highly infectious laughter. His gleaming flaxen hair was tied back with emeralds and gold in one thick braid. The younger Gabriel stood next to him, lithe and aesthetic in appearance. His beautiful features were flawless, almost pretty: the perfectly carved cheekbones; the long, fine platinum locks; the regal heart-shaped countenance. The brothers’ wings were of a spirit-body matter, visible only at certain angles, where they gave the appearance of millions of atoms radiating at the speed of light.
    ‘Gabriel.’ Lucifer strode towards him, kissing him on both cheeks. ‘Beloved Gabriel, a great day dawns for you.’ He stepped back and surveyed him, an elder brother’s pride glinting in his piercing sapphire eyes. ‘Not many moons hence you shall join your brother and me in rank in the service of our Father. This is a great honour. Are you ready to receive this responsibility?’
    Gabriel looked from Michael’s clear green eyes into Lucifer’s generous sapphire gaze.
    ‘Gabriel,’ Lucifer whispered passionately, clasping his brother’s face in his hands, ‘the responsibility . . . one-third of the angelic host, wholly at your command. Are you ready to handle the mantle of power, the weight of accountability?’ He clasped Gabriel’s shoulder protectively.
    Gabriel looked straight into Lucifer’s eyes without fear or guile. ‘I am,’ he answered softly.
    ‘It is His will you must always serve, not your will. It is His will that must be done. His kingdom come,’ said Michael, nodding resolutely. ‘He is to be unequivocally worshipped and adored, to be obeyed.’
    Lucifer nodded. ‘Humility will be your salvation, Gabriel – humility and service to Him who is worthy of all worship.’ Lucifer wiped a solitary tear from his eye with the back of his bronzed hand. ‘Worthy of all honour, of all adoration.’
    He gave Gabriel his brilliant smile, then clapped his hands, gesturing towards an enormous object covered in gold cloth, just inside the doorway. ‘I have a gift for my beloved brother.’
    Gabriel eagerly unwrapped the gold muslin from around the huge frame.
    ‘To