Friday, April 27, 2012

Tell A Story Blog Hop


Warning: This short story is written in Lucifer's point of view. In this tale you are given a deeper glimpse into the history behind Love's Prophecy and how and why the war began.

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The War According To Lucifer
Forgotten Realm

Demons scattered as Lucifer stormed across the stone floor of his dungeon. He stopped and glowered at the thousands of human souls locked behind the enchanted metal bars of what he called the Holding Cage.
   “Take them to the Pit,” he snarled to his servants.
   “Yes, Lord Lucifer.” A demon bowed and hurried to do its master's bidding but stopped, frozen in place by invisible restraints.
    “What did you call me?” Lucifer asked, fury swirling in his soft spoken question.
    The demon trembled and stared at its feet.
     “What did you call me?” Lucifer's voice boomed, bouncing off the stone walls of the chamber.
      “Lor...Lord Lucifer, Master.”
    “That name is no longer mine. I am Satan the Mighty. Satan the Great! Never do I want to hear the name Lucifer again!”
    “Yes my, Lord Satan. My deepest apologies.”
      Rage coursed through Lucifer's veins. He glared at his groveling servant, wanting to peel the leathery skin slowly from the hideous being, but instead he reached out his hand, and in a blinding flash of light, the demon's essence returned to him. Its empty body exploded, sending a shower of gray dust to settle on the stony floor.
     Lucifer straightened his black robes and glared at the remaining demons in the chamber. “If I hear that name fall from anyone's lips, know your fate will be the same as this maggot's. Do I make myself clear?”
     In unison the demons bowed and said, “Yes, Master Satan.”
    Without another word, Lucifer climbed the stairs to his private chamber located at the highest peak of his black castle. He slammed through the door and willed the many candles placed throughout the room to light, then gazed at the vast sea of blackness through a large archway cut from the stone.
    He despised this Forgotten Realm. There was nothing but blackness. No stars, no planets, no sun. It was as its name suggested, forgotten.
    He turned and watched the flickering flame from a candle as it ate darkness and spewed forth light and heat.
     Lucifer craved light. When he was younger--back before humans were even a thought--he would bask for hours in the light and warmth from the Sacred Dimension's two suns. He'd lain
upon the green lawns and played his harp while his brothers and sisters sang and danced.
     He played beautifully; one of the best in the whole dimension. He remembered the glowing praise from The Creator and the happiness he felt when asked to play before all.
     Sadness crept into his heart. Sometimes he missed those days and nights spent in peace and harmony. He missed the company of his siblings. And if he was honest with himself, he missed the company of The Creator most of all.
     Lucifer walked slowly to his black throne and slumped down. He picked up a candle and brought the flame close to his face. Unblinking, he stared into the fiery depth as memories flooded his mind.
    Oh, how he had loved—worshiped—The Creator; recalled how he desired to be just like Him. How he craved the slightest attention from Him. How the touch of His glowing hands upon his face lit his soul, filling him with love and devotion.
    The Creator loved all His angels, as he called them, but Lucifer knew deep down, he had held a special place in his Father's heart.
    They spent much time alone, strolling upon the green lawns, discussing art, music, and many nights gazing out at the stars. He loved those quiet times together when he had his Sire's full attention. But that all changed when humans entered the equation.
   Turning from that thought, his mind drifted further back. Back to the glorious day when The Creator had stood before all His angels, informing them of His plans to create a beautiful planet He would call Earth.
     He had filled their minds with His thoughts and ideas, and to each angel, He had bestowed the gift of creation. But the gift only allowed them to create what The Creator desired.
      When the angels descended to the barren ball of rock, they began the arduous task of shaping and filling the Earth with many wondrous creations. Thousands of years they labored until they had finally brought the plan in their Sire’s thoughts to life.
     As Lucifer strolled the earth, awe filled him at all they had accomplished. The beauty of it took his very breath. The trees, the mountains with their rivers rushing and tumbling down to meet the seas, the flower-filled meadows that soothed his soul and saturated it with contentment. He never wanted to be parted from the Earth. His love for what he'd helped create was all consuming, and when it was time to return back to the Sacred Dimension, he'd decided not to go. Here he would stay and pass away eternity.
     When all the angels returned to their home, Lucifer built himself a beautiful castle on top of the tallest mountain.
     Many years he passed in blessed solitude. Then one day his brother, Genuine came upon him as he meandered through the great forests.
    “My brother,” Genuine said, greeting Lucifer. “You linger here over long. It has been many years since we have completed our long labors.”
     “Aye, my brother,” Lucifer replied smiling. “The Earth I love and here I shall remain.”
     “Tis a wondrous kingdom for sure brother, but our Lord God has called us home and you are sorely missed.”
     “Alas, my heart now belongs here.” Lucifer sat down on a rock and closed his eyes, listening to the music of the birds as they frolicked and sang in the trees towering above their heads.
     “Aye, the Earth and all her beauty holds a special place in all our hearts, but to ignore the request of our Sire 'tis foolish.” Genuine sat beside Lucifer and laid a hand upon his knee.
     “Foolish it may be,” Lucifer said. “But I will not forsake the Earth.”
     “What would you have me tell our Sire?”
     “That I desire to remain here and call the earth my home.”
     Genuine stood and dusted off his white robes. “Aye. I will convey your request. Till we meet again, my brother.” With a bow he vanished.
     It wasn't long before The Creator took matters into His own hands and called Lucifer home.    When Lucifer appeared in front of The Creator, his heart filled with anger for the first time. Anger to have been brought back against his will when he desired nothing else but the Earth.
    “My son, why do you not come at will?” The Creator asked.
     Lucifer bowed low. “Forgive me, my Lord. The Earth, in all her glory, I love beyond measure and my heart desires to remain.”
    “This I know for I have read your heart’s desire, but the Earth was created for another purpose.” The Creator stood and tilted Lucifer's chin up. “This is your home, my son. The Earth will be home to my other children.”
    “Other children?” Lucifer gazed at his brothers and sisters who stood against the stone walls. “Who be these others, my Lord?”
    “All will be made clear.” The Creator walked over to the large arched window cut from the white stone, looking east toward Earth. “They are waking up as we speak.” He turned and looked each angel in the eye and sent them His thoughts and plans for these other children whom He called humans.
      As his Father's thoughts entered Lucifer's mind, hatred and fear filled his once gentle heart with blackness.
     No! Not his beautiful home. Humans will destroy all with their need for food and shelter. All his animals will be at risk, and his beautiful, majestic trees will topple with their biting axes.
     He couldn't allow this to happen. He had to put a stop to this madness. How could his loving Creator allow these... atrocities to come to pass?
    “My Lord,” Lucifer said bowing low. “Please, tell me this isn't so. Lift my heart and tell me this be only a jest. All my—our years of toil will be for naught.”
    “Lucifer,” The Creator said with a sigh. “This is why Earth came to creation. To be their home.”
      Lucifer locked eyes with The Creator. “The Earth is mine, no others. I will not allow these usurpers to destroy what we all had a hand in creating.”
     A collective gasp filled the chamber.
    “You will not speak again of the Earth belonging to you!” The Creator's voice boomed. “Your place is here at my side.” He strode over to Lucifer and laid His glowing hand upon his shoulder.        “Let go the madness I sense in your heart, I beg of thee.” He looked deep into Lucifer's eyes.“From this point on you are forbidden to walk upon the Earth. This is my will and you shall obey.”
     Lucifer bolted from the chamber, his heart shattering. And in silence, he vowed to take back what was his.
    Many years passed, but instead of diminishing, Lucifer's hatred towards humans grew as he
watched from afar the slow destruction of what he and his brothers and sisters so lovingly brought forth. But of all the treacheries he had to endure, the one he could never forgive was the humans' place in the Heavens and in his beloved Creator's heart. They had all: the earth, the Sacred Dimension and his Father's love.
     One evening, when all in the Heavens slept, he crept down to the Earth and spied on the usurpers. As he stalked his old home, hatred and jealousy grew until it consumed every corner of his soul. Destruction was everywhere--from his precious trees to the animals he had come to know and love—humans by their very nature, were takers, destroyers.
     Consumed with madness, he raised his arms to the heavens and pledged from this point on he would destroy all humans and steal them from The Creator as He had stolen the Earth from him.
      From out of the seas he created giant storms that smashed into the lands, destroying towns and villages. And upon the Great Plains, he created violent wind tunnels that demolished all in their path. And with a mighty roar, he shook the lands so violently they split apart, forever changed.
      Lucifer stood upon the peak of the highest mountain, watching with joy the destruction he caused. He despised the devastation and ruin to his beloved home, but to be rid of the humans made it all worthwhile.
     When he returned to the Sacred Dimension all was in chaos. Human souls entered Heaven by the thousands, crying and afraid. Lucifer hid in his private chamber. Fear now replaced his joy.
    Time passed slowly. Each second felt like a full circle of seasons on earth. When he couldn't take another moment of waiting, a knock sounded at his door. He pulled it open and without a word, stepped out into the hallway and followed silently behind his brother, Genuine.
       As he stepped into the throne room, he was struck by the deadly silence. He glanced up. All his siblings were lined up, creating a walkway from the entrance to the throne where The Creator sat with an unreadable expression on His beautiful face.
      Lucifer dropped to his knees at The Creator's feet and placed his forehead onto the cold stone floor. He despised this subservient position and longed to flee.
      Silence pulsed through the room.
     “Rise,” The Creator said.
     Lucifer stood, but his head remained bowed.
     “I would have your eyes on me so I can see the truth.”
     Lucifer raised his eyes and stared into the ageless face of The Creator.
    Time passed as The Creator captured Lucifer's gaze with his, reading all.
      After what felt like time without end, The Creator closed his eyes and sat back against his throne. “Your treachery knows no bounds. It has wounded me beyond measure.”
      Anger flooded Lucifer, loosening his tongue. “My treachery? What about your treachery?”
     The Creator gripped the arm-rests of his throne and leaned forward. “You destroyed what is mine!”
     Lucifer took a step forward. “You betrayed me!” He swept the room with a hand. “You betrayed us all! We knew nothing of your plans. We blindly did your bidding, toiling and slaving away for centuries, never asking questions, and for what? For you to betray us with your second children? Not only do they now call the Earth home, but when they die they are welcomed with open arms to our home!”
     The Creator remained silent.
      Lucifer clenched his hands into tight fists and snarled through gritted teeth, “I will not bow to those usurpers, ever!”
     The Creator's eyes dulled. “I see I am left no other choice in this matter, though it grieves me deeply.” He fell silent. A wave of pain crossed His face, dulling his inner glow.
      Lucifer, seeing the weakness, snarled, “What shall you do, my Lord? Destroy me?”
     “It would be just if I did, but alas, my heart is for creation not destruction."
     “Just perhaps, but to destroy me would also destroy part of yourself, and in so doing, weaken you.” He laughed a sinister, dark sound, the likes of which had never been uttered in the Sacred Dimension thus far.
      The Creator pegged Lucifer with a hard glare. “You are banished from this Sacred Dimension until such time I deem you repentant of your sins. You may go where you will, but not to the Earth. Remember, I see all.” The warning behind His spoken words was very clear.
      Anger and hatred twisted Lucifer's once beautiful face into a hideous mask. “I will never grovel at your feet, begging for forgiveness. Never!” His ice-blue eyes searched through the line of angels until they stopped on his brother, Vampier. “You see all, you say. Tell me, my Lord Father. Do you see what Vampier has created behind closed doors?”
     Vampier's face blanched. His dark, panic filled eyes glanced from Lucifer to The Creator, and then back to the floor.
      “I know what Vampier has created. But his creations were born out of love, not hatred and jealousy."
      Lucifer glared at Vampier's bowed head, completely taken aback. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Vampier had the gall to create children of his own, yet here he stands while Lucifer's heart was ripped a part. What madness was this? “You know of his treachery and yet he remains unpunished?”
     “He and his punishment are no longer your concern, Lucifer. You have chosen your path and unless you wish to repent your actions, you will not involve yourself with any who reside here from this day forward.”
      Lucifer addressed his brothers and sisters. “You are all weak-willed cowards. You are merely slaves—servants to carry out our Lord's bidding” He walked to the entrance and turning, he gazed at The Creator and hissed, “You stole from me my greatest love and for that alone I will never forgive. And know this, my... Father. For your treachery I declare war upon you and your precious humans.” With a swirl of his robes he disappeared from the Sacred Dimension.
      A burning pain pulled Lucifer back to the present. He glanced at his hand. Hot wax from the candle he held had spread over his fingers and palm. He made a fist, extinguishing the flame and dropped the mess to the floor.
      So many years had passed, but his Creator's betrayal was still fresh. It still had the power to hurt him. Cursing, Lucifer stood, but didn't move. His thoughts changed to his beloved Earth, figuring there were  maybe 200 to 300 years left before all was destroyed. No matter, once humans and vampires were obliterated he would repair the damage before moving in.
      That's if the gods didn't interfere again like they had in the past. Though the gods were bound by their own silly laws. They couldn't meddle too much with what went on with the Earth and her children. And since humans were destroying the earth themselves--helped along by his demons--the gods' hands were tied.
     Lucifer's lips stretched in a wide grin. Besides, look what had happened to the gods plan of sending vampires to protect humans. He, the All Mighty, had fixed that by sending his demons to destroy vampires. And it was working. Vampires were slowly dwindling—they couldn't keep up with his demons.
     What perfect revenge. Not only would he destroy The Creator's precious children, he'd destroy his brother's as well. Patience, that was all he needed.