Fiefdom of Angels: Volume 1

By Kevin Max

Before the creation of mankind there were angels. You either believe in the realm of spiritual and supernatural beings, or you don’t. There is no middle ground, really, is there? Even as a young boy I believed. Before my conversion to Christianity I had a huge imagination for this sort of thing. After becoming a Christian, as a young man, my favorite stories in the Bible involved angels. These incredible beings were filled with mystery and wonder. But where did they come from? The beginning of the human race is well documented, but the subject of angels is sorely overlooked. There is just a glimpse into their existence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483528014

Book preview

abomination.

abaddon knew about the recorded Omni-View archives, but did a supernatural job of rendering his mind a hollow vessel around Lucifer. He could govern himself in the Archangel's presence, unlike so many others. He knew the way to gain Lucifer's confidence and trust, and the secret was to be a listener. Lucifer could drive even the wordsmiths to madness with his interminable rants, and today would be no different.

Abaddon climbed the portal staircase to the main throne room within the Kingdom of Keren. The day buzzed with more activity than usual due to the impending arrival of the First Angel. Lucifer's vassal angels were busy aligning his monitors and seating area in the sound room. They hurried to finish, and began to leave, one by one, as Lucifer ordered their departure for the confrontation with Gabriel.

Lucifer was seated on his throne facing away from the entrance to the massive room. The seat of power was positioned in the center of the room, surrounded on all sides by giant diander pillars. The massive stone seat obscured his long, lanky figure, but his presence was undeniable in its mystery and gloom. Abaddon walked in with confidence and expertly shrouded his own thoughts.

Lucifer turned in the chair and Abaddon found it hard not to be consumed with awe. It happened every time, to everyone—supposedly even to Uriel and Gabriel—for Lucifer was a vision at every turn. His eyes smoldered in a piercing violet; his face offered a mask of concentration and beauty, and his long, dark tresses reached down to his chest. The skin was a luminous white, like Holo Stone, and marbled with sinews and veins. His very presence was like a mysterious work of art. Take a seat, Lucifer said casually. There is much to cover before Gabriel is among us. Lucifer turned again in the throne and keyed a code into the panel arm control. Immediately a flood of light glowed in the monitors. This is the beginning of the end, he said, studying the inflections in Abaddon's mind. I have uncovered a plot by The King to create another race, likened unto the angel. These files were purloined from the Omni-View.

Lucifer tilted his head, stretching his chin out in a bored and self-righteous posture. Abaddon sat speechless, masking any previous knowledge of the files. But he did allow the revelation to soak in that this meant the Temple was breached, and that alone was a feat of miraculous proportion.

You may be thinking I obtained these through telepathy, but these were acquired through great skill and cunning. We have only a few Meta-files, but they are enough to show us the mind of The King and how he intends to create a new being much like ourselves for the purpose of populating an alternate planet . . . perhaps even an extension of our own universe. Lucifer continued in his dissertation, explaining how his newly accomplished demons had learned of the entrance beyond the Labyrinth of Time a few months past. He boasted how, in all of his genius, he had used the Recorder to replicate the original Omni-View files.

Abaddon knew that he would have to show his hand eventually, and, with his most unflappable tone, spoke for the first time. I have known of the archives, Lucifer. I read the mind of the demon, the one named Lament, in whom you have placed so much unwarranted authority. His tone was slightly irreverent. He stood back, waiting for the infamous fury, but Lucifer only looked at him in puzzlement.

So my creations are vulnerable to other powerful angels. I suspected as much; it means nothing. Gabriel will see the betrayal in The King's plan. I am confident we will have the Trinity Angels in accord, and, with their endorsement, we will strike the first blow to the soul of The Temple! Furthermore, my demons, as you know, bend to my will and would carry out any request I put to them, even if it comes to war. We will bring these plans of God's to ultimate ruin by exposing the eventual degradation of our fellow host.

But, Lucifer, I . . . , Abaddon began but was cut short by a flick of the wrist and the strained sound of the lord of Light's patience coming to an end.

I have no need for your opinion. That is what tethers you to your own doom, Abaddon. I need to collect my thoughts as Gabriel approaches.

Abaddon understood that he was being dismissed in an altogether unsubtle way and he turned his gaze from Lucifer to the outdoor monitors. He could see angels grouping in the streets and knew that he would need to make himself scarce before the First Angel, as Gabriel was called, appeared. Abaddon knew Gabriel would be able to breach his thoughts like air and he needed to obfuscate his own machinations where possible. Without speaking, he made for the entrance through the hallway and took the underground passage beneath the Tower to his private quarters within the city.

Lucifer lifted his angular frame from the chair and floated across the room in dramatic fashion. The Trumpets of Light could be heard across the town and in the tower; he gazed out upon his city through the boom lens. Angels began to file into the streets, waiting for a glimpse of the renowned visitor, and before he could feel the other Archangel's mind, Gabriel was among them. Lucifer hoped that the First Angel would not be able to make out the obvious lack of real angelic numbers within the crowd or the mechanical composure and concentration on their faces. Their minds had been turned subtly toward the inevitable change and would most likely not divulge covert information.

Sauntering like a returning warrior king from battle, Gabriel moved slowly through the crowd. He was walking, not gliding, as Lucifer was famous for. Walking was known as a pace of respect and Gabriel loved the attention.

Lucifer smiled. So much pride and so much vanity. He knew these flaws so well, as he was the lord of Light, named by God Himself. And he would worm his way into Gabriel's mind, either by force or by subtle manipulation. Then he would plant the seeds of rebellion within the First Angel.

Krath and Lament stood underneath the main tower bridge. In the shadows, no angel could see them, and only Lucifer or another Arch could breach them. Their gray-cast skin blended into the walls of Keren's main keep, and their dull yellow eyes watched the procession of Gabriel with malice. Having pinned wings, demons could not fly or even hover, but they had other strengths. Their skin as hard as stone, was almost impregnable, and in the place of hands their extremities ended in talons, curved, long, and sharp as knives. They could rip an angel in two if the victim ventured within reach, and this was all they desired.

It was blood that drove them now, the blood from which their tortured bodies were constructed. Blood lust dominated their eyes as they slowly watched the giant form of the First Angel enter the tower gates. They salivated over the dream of destroying every unturned angel in the nine kingdoms, especially Gabriel. His image made their stomachs roil and their black blood surge. Their haunches tensed in dread and their tails swished like the great desert cats.

We will taste his blood soon, rasped Krath. The lord of Light assured us it would come to pass.

Gabriel now mounted the Keep steps and the demons slunk deeper into the recesses of the bridge.

He cannot hear us, spoke Lament in a high-pitched hiss. No one but the lord of Light can hear us. And in the darkness, they stood side by side, deformed and undetected.

Gabriel mounted the final staircase and entered the landing hall, making his way to the huge stone entrance to Lucifer's throne room. The entrance was flanked by two sizable cherubim who, upon seeing his approach, stepped back lightly. He pressed on the right door with a bit of force and moved quickly into the antechamber.

He could sense Lucifer's presence without seeing him in the darkness. He was now in the huge hall, which led purposefully to the main throne room. The exquisite marble flagstone and ancient pillars rose to a darkened ceiling of pure onyx and diander. He could see the throne backed against the wall, and the monitors softly glowed as Lucifer turned in the massive chair to face him.

Gabriel, you look spectacular, said Lucifer, flirting with his baser emotions. Then he softly rose from the massive seat and moved toward Gabriel in a gesture of friendship, arms outward and palms up.

I cannot say the same, Lucifer. Gabriel shot back looking nervously about the throne room. What do you want from me?

Lucifer was not surprised that Gabriel was hesitant, as he could breach his mind at will. However, he could feel the Archangel trying to gain access to his own mind and knew that he would not find the information that he desired. He paused for a moment, and then flung his heavy black cape over his right shoulder to reveal his elaborate chest plate.

Floating over to the control panel, Lucifer pulled up the coded files and the central monitor came to life. In mid-air the screen began to show a series of blueprints and design sketches that could only have been fabricated by the Master. The images were rudimentary for what the angels would have expected God to create, but they were completely original. Lucifer stepped back in dramatic repose, his lanky frame craning toward Gabriel in an effort to divine his initial reactions.

The new species the blueprints depict is angelic-like, but altogether different and with an unknown purpose. These prototypes seem to be missing elements that at first glance seem to be massive flaws, but, on a closer inspection, appear to be complete. These are preliminary files I have acquired, but they foreshadow a much greater invention. God is creating a planet much like Terra One with a solar system and its own contained universe. In my opinion, this is the beginning of a series of creations that will set the angelic race into an amalgam of species.

As Lucifer spoke he penetrated Gabriel's mind, but it was a blur of confusion and astonishment—nothing that would betray a prior knowledge of the images.

Gabriel turned from the screen and for the first time settled his mind onto Lucifer's. I do not pretend to even know what this means Lucifer. What I do know is that God does not create out of abandon or general amusement. There is purpose in everything He does. We must acknowledge this and try to be patient.

Patience is for the weak! Lucifer spat, sinking back into his throne. We do not understand the reasoning for this creation, but we can see its potential. God is not satisfied with the angelic race. This alternative creation is for His obvious pleasure and it could spell ruin for us. The only logical eventuality is some kind of altercation between our beloved race and His newest playthings.

At this, Gabriel shot toward Lucifer in a burst of unseen speed, bringing him within striking distance. Lucifer pulled back against the tufting of the throne, bracing for the blow.

War is not an option! screamed Gabriel, his cold blue eyes turning red at the edges and his voice exploding in supernatural volume. God will not be challenged like some inferior creature! Gabriel dug his finger into Lucifer's chest in accusation. You have defiled the Temple by stealing information from the seat itself and if you even think of inciting a rebellion, you will be cast down and destroyed, if not by me, by the King of Kings!

Lucifer extinguished his hatred for Gabriel and silently floated upward from his seat. He continued to float to the ceiling and stared down at Gabriel who was watching him ascend through clenched teeth and heaving chest.

You know what I am capable of, slave to the King, and if you stand against me, there will be hell for you! Not the one that was created to house abominations, but one that is much worse—a living hell—a hell wherein you are subjugated to another race. We were meant to rule, Gabriel! Not to beg like slaves.

He continued to watch the First Angel and bridged the swelling anger within. Of course, I will give you time to understand what is unfolding, and any other information I find, I will share with you without reservation. But, first, understand that my mercy only runs so far; it is not endless. Lucifer's tone became calm, controlled, and apathetic as he floated back down to the floor.

As Lucifer continued to lecture, Gabriel noticed a crack in his appearance for the first time—the beautiful ivory skin looked dull and the violet eyes were flecked with blood and darkened by sleeplessness. Lucifer did not notice Gabriel studying him and continued his tirade.

You are quite ignorant to suppose that God considers you in the midst of this. You are just another one of His creations, nothing special. Just another oddity in His menagerie . . .

With so much to process, Gabriel drifted away from the lord of Light as his head began to swim with a rising bewilderment.

Even though I am not the first created and do not hold all the supernatural power that inhabits your body, I have a stronger penchant for defiance and will not be swayed by His special attentions . . . and, for that reason, I am ahead of the curve. Even now, while He is away, I am building an army that can storm the gates of His own Tower! We can take back what we were meant to have as heirs . . . eternal life in this, our own paradise!

Lucifer's vassal angels were now outside the main throne room in the great, pillared hall of the Tower of Sound. They had been called by Lucifer to aid in breaching Gabriel's mind. Impenetrable. They stood just around the corner from the monitor shafts, focusing all energy onto the mighty Archangel.

Gabriel felt them and shook with rage, trying in vain to stay the violent waves of anger that threatened to control him. With a rush of focused energy, Gabriel bolted from the room, headfirst into two cherubim and sent them sprawling across the marble floors.

Gabriel! Lucifer screamed in objection but stayed rooted to his throne, not daring to cross the physically stronger Archangel.

As Gabriel landed and dashed past the guards, Lucifer's shouts of anger morphed into deep mischievous laughter.

Gabriel flew upward toward the massive coffered ceiling and eyed the exit. Then, plunging downward, he broke through, throwing the massive door off its hinges. The stone smashed against the hall flooring and another horde of vassal angels appeared, disoriented and full of fear. As they took in the massive outline of the Archangel before them, they planted themselves against the wall as he ran toward the circular staircase to the ground below.

He was now free and in flight, tearing through the sky with a force he had not used in eons. His mind nearly drowning in a cavalcade of images—the form of God's newest creature, so like His own, but alien; Lucifer's grotesque intentions and the subtle change in his own appearance. Could the lord of Light be on to something that would change the hearts of angels around the planet? Did God plan to replace His first creation for these? Did this mean that angels would be subject to the servitude of a lesser race?

Again, his mind was pierced. Even from the growing distance, he could feel Lucifer trying to penetrate him with the help of the head demon, Lament. He had knowledge of the demonkind and knew that Lucifer had changed through his infernal tampering. Gabriel had seen an image of the laboratory in his prescient visions. Lucifer was experimenting with a serum, and it was obvious that many within his kingdom had already been infected with it somehow. He had noticed a change in the angels when he first arrived in the Kingdom of Keren.

Lucifer was already amid a physical metamorphosis. Gone was the halo God placed on his head as a sign of love, the halo that would burn bright whenever he was in communion with the King. It seemed to Gabriel that God had stopped communicating with Lucifer altogether, for there was nothing lovely about him anymore. Even the coveted violet eyes had grown dark and veiled. His skin was sallow and seemed to be touched by some unknown disease.

Gabriel had seen the demonkind through the mind and messages sent to him by Onyx and he could only guess at how they had been created in the darkness of Lucifer's secret labs. The secret must be in the serum, a liquid agent that had infected and somehow changed the constitution of angels. These miserable creatures had been transformed from their original nature into something completely devoid of supernatural gifts. Angelic tampering. Lucifer had gone deep into the genetic construction of their race and tried to change that which was made perfect in the sight of God.

Gabriel's body again began to shudder at these deeper revelations. What's more, he had inadvertently come in contact with these beings once before, something Lucifer himself had not known. Gabriel had felt their presence many months ago while exploring deep within the desert. He had come upon a skeletal-looking creature mining for food within a deep-water cave. The creature did not hear him descend upon the flat rock of the cave and was undeterred in tearing apart a newly fallen Thresher Cat. Its makeup was foreign to Gabriel so he sat transfixed just yards behind the creature. When it was finished, the creature perched its long, bird-like talons upon the earth and rested. Gabriel, taking advantage of the moment, crept up on it and beat the creature unconscious. After minutes of studying the physical characteristics, Gabriel concluded that it was some strange angelic aberration. He could not understand how it survived without detection, and even more sinister was the fact that it was self-sustaining. Instead of killing it and bringing it back to the City of Gold for closer inspection, he decided to leave it be. He knew now that he had caught its scent and was acquainted with its composition, he would have no problem finding it again.

And now, as he crossed the distance between Lucifer's city and his own, he began to imagine the worst. Lucifer had a secret army of these wretched things under his command. And it was clear that he had intentions of using them to an end that was sheer madness, even within the limitations of his own will.

He hoped that Lucifer's anger and ridiculous plan was a thoughtless reaction to the discovery he had unearthed. Surely not even the lord of Light could imagine marching against the very Throne of God. The thought made Gabriel ache for the brooding Archangel. He had sunk into deeper levels of dementia and delusions of grandeur than he thought imaginable. Still, this knowledge would eventually have to be shared with the other members the nine, and he would accomplish it before Lucifer could work to convince others on his own. For now, Gabriel needed to keep his knowledge of the situation completely hidden from all until he could figure out a way to deal with Lucifer, though he feared it might be too late already. War against the Great Kingdoms of the Desert might be eminent.

at mid-day on the second Sunday of the month of the Twin-Suns, Uriel and Lakonia successfully birthed a male angel. As vassal angels assisted her through the delivery, Uriel maintained a masked composure rivaled by few, yet was intensely focused on her and the execution of the birth.

Angels birthed their offspring in much the same way as humans would come to birth their own, with a couple of notable exceptions. During the birth, the female angel uses telepathy to awaken the mind of the chan (infant) angel. Upon the awakening, the two angels work together in moving through the birthing canal. Also, angels experience only slight discomfort during the process. The primary concern is ensuring the chan folds its wings inward so there is no tearing. This requires the utmost concentration between mother and chan.

Lakonia pushed hard after the connection was made; she could feel the Chan folding its wings in. Before Erika, the head female vassal, could even move, the tiny angel was already on the birthing table. Embryonic fluid and placenta matter covered its head and wings, but it appeared to be an extremely healthy specimen. Its wings began to unfold and Uriel took in a sharp breath. It was larger than any Chan he had ever seen. It was amazing that Lakonia did not feel pain—a thought shared telepathically by all those around her.

The infant angel appeared to be breathing correctly and it opened its wide expressive eyes to reveal a deep cobalt blue. It smiled and sat up, looking for its mother. Lakonia cradled it immediately and all the angels in the room shouted with joy. They began to sing praises to the King of Kings, and Uriel's voice rose above the others through the chanting. My son, at one with the sky and cherished by his people, will be called Michael for he will be their protector!

Uriel held the chan close and could already divine that Michael would be a most amazing and formidable angel.

The new parents spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the main meeting room of the tower, receiving a steady stream of friends and well wishers who dropped by to get a look at Uriel's bloodline. As the day turned to evening, Uriel and Lakonia took a long-needed nap and woke to see the sleeping chan surrounded by attentive vassal angels in his newly adorned sleeping quarters. Most of their friends and the council members had left them for the evening and Uriel, for the first time, could relax with his chan.

Michael's color had come to his skin, and the wings were already starting to develop muscle and the downy covering was filling in with feathers. As Uriel held Michael, admiring his beloved, the infant angel stirred in a deep sleep and Uriel began to sense a strange vibration coming from within the child.

He looked closely at the chan's features and opened himself to its tiny mind. The hollow core that was typically vacant during the first year of the change was a cacophony of light! Suddenly Michael's eyes opened wide and Uriel looked into them, startled and in awe.

It was as if the chan were trying to speak.

But that was impossible; speech only happened after two or three months of maturation and Michael had arrived mere hours before.

As he continued to study the chan, a bolt of light and energy probed his senses, whipping out like a tentacle of righteous thought. Great joy for the house of Uriel! Michael will be made an Archangel, and, by him, I will accomplish many things. Honor to your house and to your kingdom!

The very words of God penetrated Uriel's mind. He had not heard the mind of God since the third eon, and now he felt the warm tremor of glory that was the Holy Language. A wonderful explosion of surprise and love shot through him in waves. He was hovering above his chair with Michael in his arms without knowing it and immediately there were messages of salutations sent from Gabriel, his cherubim, and many others in congratulations.

Lakonia had heard the clamor and ran straight for their sitting room. Uriel, is this true? she stammered in short gasps of excited amazement. I did not know! She clasped her hands to her chest and hurried over to see Michael's face again.

Soon the entire house of Uriel had heard the news, either by telepathy or word of mouth. Michael was to be an Archangel, and the lord himself had spoken to Uriel. Michael's resting period had been breached by the King of Kings, and he was to be honored. The Kingdom of Shamar was abuzz as the Glory of God shone on its very streets.

*****

Erika made her way out of the eating room and heard the shouting coming from further down the hall. Her mind was awash with the news and she had already seen the majestic size of the child's chest and wingspan. Her hearts were full of happiness for her lord and lady, but she also felt a twinge of jealousy. She never would have a chan of her own to love and that fact was a bitter wound in her side.

Her own husband, Gareth, was not half the Angel that Uriel was and would not mate with her for fear of the loss of their positions. Vassal angels could not have children without compromising their status. Their life's purpose was to serve their Archs and this took much of their time and focus.

Gareth was proud—probably more than he had the right to be—and for this reason alone, his whole life was lived out in service to Uriel, even to the extent that he neglected his own wife.

Erika felt completely neglected many times during the course of a day, and when she and Gareth came together in the evenings in their quarters along the Great Wall, Gareth acknowledged her as he would any other vassal—polite, yet reserved. They no longer shared a bed or even a room. Any conversations were brief and superficial, and Gareth had long ago stopped giving affection to his wife. The love between them had waned and Erika knew that it would take a significant event to see Gareth change. Though she still held some hope, her hearts ached a little more every day over how indifferent he had become.

She walked through the outer hall to the garden and sat upon the rim of the fountain, staring into the rippling water. With her hands bound together tightly and her lovely head bowed to her chest, she began to cry. It was a soft cry, but she felt it through the whole of her body. This evening, like so many before it, she was quietly mourning the death of her marriage. She shut her mind off to everyone and her lovely wings curved down at the ends in utter sorrow.

From deep within her mind, she could hear the new Voice again. It initially had breached her many months before, in almost the same time and place. And here it was again, as if it had prescient knowledge of her surroundings. It was a slow deliberate voice that she could not deny or shroud. It was nurturing and understanding beyond what she knew with the normal relationships she had garnered in her lifetime. In a soft, almost unfamiliar undertone of love and care, it was calling to her, gently prodding, over and over in