Realm of the Dead Read Free Page B

beings who can fly?"
    Kalien laughed. "You think your lack of flight serves as a disadvantage? If God has told you to combat angels and yet you do not fly, then you have failed to understand the point of our sessions."
    Enoch sat on a bench and wiped his brow with a towel.
    Kalien sat by his side and swigged water from a quartz bottle.
    Enoch turned to look at him while rubbing the tension from his temple. "I fail to see the lesson. Am I that bad of a student, or are you a horrible instructor?"
    Kalien laughed. "Perhaps a bit of both." The angel stood and placed his towel over his shoulder. "My friend, you fail because you think that the weapons of this warfare are carnal. All of Heaven knows Lucifer will not be brought low with swords nor feats of might. Doth not Michael himself yield the Sword of Ophanim? Is he not crowned with a halo that, at his call, the King of the Ophanim will come to his aid? Yet despite an injury to the Dragon by the Chief Prince's own hand, Lucifer still lives. No, Adamson, our sparring serves another purpose that you have yet to grasp."
    Enoch thought hard on his friend's words. Argoth had committed Kalien to train him to understand how angels moved. To accustom him to seeing angels as creatures not so unlike himself. "I thank you, Kalien, for your training me these many days. I think I will retire to my chambers and study. Your words have given me much to meditate on."
    When Enoch stood, Kalien bowed to his friend. "My pleasure, Adamson, and for what it's worth, you are not a poor student. You still grapple with seeing through eyes of flesh. You yet walk too much by sight, and it hobbles you. When you are free from the shackles of thine imagination to accept the vision El would have you see, then you will understand how you might do exceedingly, and abundantly, above all that you might ask or think. In time, Enoch...in time."
    Enoch smiled. "Thank you," he said, and bowed in return.
    Kalien immediately took to the skies.
    Enoch grabbed his belongings and walked to the quarters assigned to him at the mount of God. He ruminated on his time in Heaven thus far. God had brought him here to complete a mission for a yet appointed time. He stood as witness to the Ascension of Michael to the role of Chief Prince and saw Yeshua step down from his throne to serve His created people. He had learned so much and had come to appreciate all that had transpired around him to battle the rogue angel, Lucifer, who had taken Enoch's people hostage. He appreciated Argoth's tutelage, yea, even the Sephiroth had become softer, more humble somehow. It was as though all of Heaven was tilting toward an inevitable outcome.
    Enoch waved as he passed angels along the street. Most flew, but a few walked and ran. Heaven was indescribably beautiful. Serene even. It was difficult to imagine a day when the streets ran blue with angelic blood, but time operated differently here. In Heaven, events on Earth played out in seconds and hours. He had watched from the Hall of Annals whole kingdoms rise and fall. He knew his family was long dead, and yet he was the only man in Heaven. Why was that?
    Enoch climbed the crystal stairs to the great golden doors of the temple. He opened them and the boom of the Seraphim rushed over his eardrums and roared throughout the city. The Seraphim stared at him, as though ready to ignite him in flames. Each of the four chanted saying nothing but 'the chant'. Nothing but the repeated refrain of HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!  THE LORD, THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! Why were there but four at the gate? He would have to ask Argoth later. He walked past them and into the outer court of the temple of God. The majestic structure was built into the mountain of God. Attendants scurried everywhere, each in ministry to the God of the universe. There was a hustle to the palace, a hub of activity as each carried out the bidding of the Lord.
    Perhaps he shouldn't bother El, but they had spent so little time together since his arrival.