Lust of the Light

            What is in a name?  The angel Gabriel and his wife Helena pondered this the day their first child was born into the City of Angels.  They looked upon their blue eyed daughter and knew she was good and pure.  Gabriel smiled at his wife, “Her name will be Alora meaning God’s Light.” Helena nodded in agreement, “She will be the light of this world and the next.  I trust she will heal this world and destroy the darkness.  We will raise her in goodness and light and may she never stray from it.”  Gabriel kissed his wife’s lips and blew his trumpet suddenly hundreds of angels were upon them.  “Brethren, children of the light, join us in welcoming our daughter, Alora.               Alora looked down from her home above the earth.  For centuries her people had watched as the people of planet earth turned on each other and destroyed their peace.  There was a time when they were allowed to go to the land and reveal themselves to humans.  Now they were only permitted to go to earth if they stayed hidden and helped others in secret.  She longed to explore the earth again, it had changed so much and there were many different kinds of people now.  She sighed knowing she would never be given the freedom her parents once were and it was all because humans had failed their maker.  She quickly pushed the dark thoughts away as she turned away to see her mother coming up behind her.             She sat down on the green grass beside her daughter. “My child, what is it that troubles you so?”  “Mother, I just long to know what is down there.  What is it that drives these humans to such darkness?  Can they not see they are destroying themselves?  I have never seen people turn on each other in such a way.  Husband against wife, daughter against mother, brother against sister, do they not see that they are destroying the system the Maker has put into place?”             Her mother sighed,” Darling, I wish we knew why the human race has decided to destroy themselves.  We cannot worry about what they do, that is up to the Maker.  We can only do good and help them in the ways which we are able.”             “Mother, I hurt for them!  I feel pain when they feel pain.  I long to help them and go to them.  Why do I feel such empathy for those I have never met?”             “It is because it is your destiny my dear.”  “What do you mean my destiny Mother?”  Helena looked around nervously, “There was a prophesy where you were born.  The angels were celebrating and the archangel Michael came to your father and I privately.”             The celebration had ended and the parents felt great bliss at their new baby.  The archangel Michael came to them afterwards.  He pulled his hood down revealing his light shining off of his face.  He closed his eyes to dim the light from blinding them.  “Congratulations on your child my friends.”  “Thank you Michael, we are blessed.”  “Unfortunately I have some news for you that has been shown to me in my mind’s eye.  The prophesy on your daughter’s life states that when she is 18 she will become a light of the world, but not just our world.  She will heal the earth with her inner light.  She will shine so bright they will not be able to resist her.  However, her light will be darkened by a strong life force, the strongest force in the universe, love.  She will work so hard to bring light to this darkness that she will destroy herself in the process.  She will blacken her own light trying to heal everyone else.  She will lose herself and her goodness if she is not stopped.  Her heart will darken and her purity will be given away.  She will create the end of the world through her decisions while trying to save it.”             Alora’s mouth hung open in shock.  She didn’t know what to say, her heart would turn dark?  She would bring the end of the world?  She could never do anything to harm anyone, how would she possibly do such a thing?              “Why have you never told me this?”  Helena’s eyes were tear filled, “Darling, you have been 18 for 6 months now and we have seen no change in you.  We have protected you and made sure to raise you in kindness and goodness.  Your heart has remained pure.  We believe we have protected you from the darkness that loomed over you.  I am telling you now because I believe it will be beneficial for you to know what your life could have been.  You are the purest of heart my dear, I believe your father and I have protected you from such a fate.”             She looked into her mother’s eyes and took a deep breath.  “I understand Mother.  I just wish I had known, but I know you were protecting me.”  Helena nodded as a trumpet sounded twice.  “A meeting in the Great Hall has been called, we must go.”  She took her mother’s hand and walked down the golden street to the large white building with the golden pillars.  The doors were propped open allowing everyone to enter.             “Alora!”  She turned and smiled seeing Apollo coming towards her.  Apollo was chosen to be her husband from the time they were small babes.  Their parents had not told them, but allowed them to find each other on their own.  His light brown hair had blonde specks throughout and his green eyes matched the greenest grass in the city.  She believed he was the most handsome being she had every laid her eyes on.  His sun kissed skin shone in the light and his arms were chiseled like that of a god.              He held out his arm for her to wrap her hand on.  She smiled and blushed as he gazed at her.  “You look lovely Alora.  I must be the most highly favored child of light in this realm.”  Her laugh sounded like a melody as she responded, “I believe I am the lucky one,” she nodded towards the girls giggling nearby as he waved at them.  “No one could ever mean to mean what you do sweetheart,” he kissed her forehead as he pulled out her chair to sit and took the seat beside her.  Apollo was the child of Michael, the second in command to the Maker.  He was best friends with Alora’s Father Gabriel, third in command to the Maker.  Everyone knew they would end up together, but that did not stop the girls from pining after him.             Raphael banged a gavel to call the meeting to order.  “Attention everyone, we have some news from the Maker. Michael, Your Holiness, please proceed.”  Michael nodded and stood, “The end is upon us, the Lord of Darkness has activated the tribulation.”  Everyone was whispering and buzzing with chatter.  “Silence, the humans have turned on themselves.  The war between good and evil has begun.  It is time we send a light bringer to earth to live among the humans.  We have a central spot we want to place them, the Lord of Darkness has a strong presence here and we believe this is where the Darkness Bringer will be placed.  This being will not be aware of who the being is, they will need to have a great deal of light to discern the darkness.  They will bring the light to the world to spread in the darkness.  This being will be very critical in our war to stop the darkness from taking over.  This will be our only chance at saving the human race.”             Everyone looked at each other distressed by what they had just heard.  Gabriel looked in pain as he met his wife’s eyes across the table.  Apollo spoke up, “Who will be the light bringer? I volunteer to go.”  Others stood up and chimed in they would volunteer.  Gabriel held his hand up and stood, “There will be no need for volunteers.  This person was chosen long ago before they were born.  It is the prophesy and their destiny.”             Helena’s face paled as she realized when her husband looked into her eyes across the room.  His pain was evident as he said, “Alora will be the one.”