Dark forces

Chapter 3

«“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee...” — Matthew 4:8–9»

The rebellion was over.

The war that had shaken Heaven had finally come to an end, but the consequences of that rebellion were only beginning.

Lucifer had lost Heaven.

He had lost the place where he once stood among the angels. He had lost the glory that once surrounded him and the position that had made him admired by many.

But there was one thing Lucifer had not lost.

His ambition.

As he stood in the darkness of the place that had become his new home, his eyes remained fixed on the distant Earth.

The world below looked peaceful.

Cities continued to grow. Families continued to laugh. Children continued to dream. People worked, studied, prayed, fell in love, became wealthy, became poor, fought one another, forgave one another, and continued with their lives without knowing that something terrible had already entered their world.

Lucifer watched them carefully.

He had learned something during his rebellion.

People could be controlled by what they desired.

Some desired wealth.

Some desired beauty.

Some wanted power.

Others wanted fame, extraordinary abilities, long life, or victory over their enemies.

Human desire was endless.

And Lucifer intended to use it.

“If I cannot rule Heaven,” he whispered, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Earth, “then I will build my kingdom here.”

Behind him stood hundreds of fallen angels.

They no longer looked like the glorious beings they had once been. Darkness surrounded them, and their presence carried something cold and unnatural.

Lucifer slowly turned toward them.

“You followed me because you believed I could give you freedom,” he said.

The fallen angels remained silent.

“Now,” Lucifer continued, “you will see what that freedom can create.”

He walked toward the center of the gathering.

“But we cannot control humanity by ourselves.”

His eyes moved across the crowd.

“We need leaders.”

The fallen angels exchanged glances.

Then Lucifer raised one hand.

“Seven of you will stand above the rest.”

The crowd became quiet.

“Seven will carry the greatest desires of humanity.”

One by one, seven figures stepped forward.

The first was a tall man with a calm but intimidating expression.

Lucifer looked at him.

“Damian.”

Damian lowered his head.

“You will become the Lord of Wealth.”

A faint smile appeared on Damian's face.

“Humans desire money more than they admit,” Lucifer said. “They dream of beautiful houses, expensive cars, luxurious clothes, power and comfort. Some believe money will solve every problem in their lives.”

Damian's eyes glowed faintly.

“I will give them what they desire,” he said.

Lucifer smiled.

“Give them wealth. Make them believe that wealth is the answer to everything. Then watch what they are willing to sacrifice to keep it.”

Damian stepped forward.

He understood his assignment.

The second figure approached.

His name was Don.

Unlike Damian, Don carried himself with curiosity. His eyes seemed to study everyone around him.

Lucifer looked at him.

“You will be the Lord of Gifts.”

Don raised an eyebrow.

“Gifts?”

“Yes,” Lucifer replied. “Humans look at one another and become jealous. One person sees another person's talent and wishes they had it. One wants intelligence. Another wants extraordinary abilities. Another wants a special gift that will make them different from everyone else.”

Don smiled.

“And if I offer them what they want?”

“They will begin to believe that nothing is too expensive for the gift they desire.”

Don nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

The third figure stepped forward.

His name was Dom.

There was something dangerous about him.

Even the other fallen angels kept their distance.

Lucifer looked directly into his eyes.

“You will be the Lord of War.”

A cold smile spread across Dom's face.

“War is easy,” he said.

“Perhaps,” Lucifer replied, “but do not begin with armies.”

Dom looked confused.

“Begin with people.”

Lucifer walked around him slowly.

“Create hatred between families. Turn friends against one another. Encourage communities to fight. Make leaders suspicious of one another. Allow anger to grow until people no longer remember why they began fighting.”

Dom's smile grew wider.

“And when they are divided?”

“Fear will follow.”

Dom bowed his head.

“I will make them fight.”

The fourth was Helena.

She was beautiful, even among the fallen angels.

Lucifer studied her carefully.

“You will be the Lord of Beauty.”

Helena smiled.

“Humans already worship beauty,” she said.

“Exactly.”

Lucifer's voice became quieter.

“Many people are dissatisfied with themselves. They look into mirrors and see everything they believe is wrong with them. They compare themselves with others. They want to look younger, thinner, richer, more attractive.”

Helena touched her hair and smiled.

“Then I will give them what they believe will make them perfect.”

Lucifer nodded.

“But make them believe that beauty is the source of happiness.”

Helena's smile became colder.

“And when they discover that perfection is never enough?”

Lucifer looked at her.

“They will want more.”

Helena laughed softly.

The fifth figure stepped forward.

His name was Pinky.

Unlike Dom's frightening appearance or Damian's seriousness, Pinky looked almost cheerful.

But there was something unsettling about his smile.

Lucifer looked at him.

“You will be the Lord of Fame.”

Pinky's eyes immediately brightened.

“Fame?”

“Yes.”

Lucifer turned toward the others.

“Humans want to be noticed. They want people to know their names. They want followers, admiration, recognition and attention.”

Pinky smiled.

“I can give them all of that.”

“You can,” Lucifer said. “But make sure they always want more.”

Pinky laughed.

“One hundred followers will make them want one thousand. One thousand will make them want a million.”

“Exactly.”

The sixth figure approached.

His name was Jack.

His presence alone made the others uncomfortable.

Lucifer stared at him.

“You will be the Lord of Power.”

Jack remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked, “What will I offer them?”

“Authority.”

Lucifer's answer was immediate.

“Give them positions. Influence. Control. Let them taste what it feels like to command others.”

Jack's expression changed.

“And when they taste it?”

“They will never want to lose it.”

Jack smiled.

“I understand.”

Finally, the seventh figure stepped forward.

His name was Mackie.

Unlike the others, he said nothing.

Lucifer studied him for several seconds.

“You will be the Lord of Immortality.”

For the first time, Mackie's expression changed.

“Immortality,” he repeated.

“Yes.”

Lucifer turned his attention toward Earth.

“Humans fear death. They fear growing old. They fear losing the people they love. Some would give almost anything for more time.”

Mackie slowly smiled.

“Then I will give them hope that death can be escaped.”

Lucifer nodded.

“But remember,” he said, “when they believe your promise, they belong to you.”

Mackie bowed.

The seven stood together.

Damian.

Don.

Dom.

Helena.

Pinky.

Jack.

Mackie.

Lucifer looked at them with satisfaction.

“Seven fallen angels,” he said.

“Seven desires.”

He paused.

“Seven kingdoms.”

Then his voice became stronger.

“Seven Lords.”

The darkness around them seemed to grow deeper.

From that moment, the seven were no longer ordinary fallen angels.

They had been given a purpose.

A kingdom.

And a mission.

One by one, Lucifer gave them places where they could establish their kingdoms, hidden from ordinary human eyes.

Damian's kingdom rose around treasures beyond imagination. Gold covered walls. Precious stones filled enormous chambers. Everything reflected wealth and luxury.

Don's kingdom was filled with mysterious objects. Some appeared ordinary, while others seemed to possess strange abilities. The kingdom was designed to make anyone who entered wonder what they could possess.

Dom's kingdom was hidden beneath the earth. The sound of distant battles seemed to echo through its halls. Weapons surrounded the dark fortress.

Helena's kingdom was filled with mirrors.

Everywhere a person looked, they would see a reflection.

Beautiful gardens surrounded the palace, and everything appeared perfect.

Pinky's kingdom was completely different.

Bright lights covered the enormous palace. Music filled the air. There were stages, celebrations and crowds that never seemed to disappear.

Jack's kingdom stood high above the earth inside a mighty fortress.

From there, he could look down upon everything beneath him.

It was a place built around authority and control.

Mackie's kingdom was the strangest of them all.

Time seemed different there.

A person could enter and feel as though only minutes had passed, while much longer had passed outside.

The kingdom was filled with ancient secrets surrounding life and death.

The seven Lords looked at their new kingdoms with satisfaction.

But there was something else they wanted.

Followers.

Lucifer gathered them once again.

“You do not need millions of people at the beginning,” he told them.

“One follower is enough.”

The Lords listened carefully.

“Find one person who desires what you control. Give that person what they want. Once they believe in you, they will tell someone else.”

Lucifer smiled.

“Then that person will tell another.”

His eyes darkened.

“Soon, your names will spread.”

Damian looked toward Earth.

“What if they refuse?”

Lucifer's expression became serious.

“Do not force them.”

The seven looked at him.

“Let them choose.”

Lucifer continued.

“Offer them what they desire. Make the choice look beautiful. Make darkness appear like an answer to their problems.”

He paused.

“When they come willingly, they will become your followers.”

The Lords understood.

They would not need to drag humanity into darkness.

Human desire would do much of the work for them.

Soon, the remaining fallen angels began preparing for their mission.

They changed their appearances.

Some became teachers.

Some became workers.

Some became friends.

Some became advisers.

Some entered families.

Others appeared as strangers.

They entered cities and villages.

They walked through schools, workplaces, homes and communities.

Some even entered places of worship.

They looked ordinary.

No one would look at them and immediately know what they truly were.

Their mission was simple.

Find weakness.

Find desire.

Offer temptation.

And lead people toward darkness.

Meanwhile, the seven Lords remained hidden within their kingdoms, waiting for their influence to spread.

The first battle on Earth had not yet begun.

But the enemy had already entered the battlefield.

Far away from the kingdoms of darkness, Bamidele sat quietly in her garden.

The evening breeze moved gently through the trees.

She had been trying to enjoy the peace around her, but something felt different.

She could not explain it.

The air seemed heavier.

The silence felt unusual.

Bamidele slowly lifted her head.

“Selena?”

There was no answer.

She stood up.

A strange feeling passed through her body.

It was the same feeling she had experienced before whenever danger was near.

But this time, it was stronger.

Much stronger.

Then she heard a faint voice behind her.

“Bamidele.”

She turned quickly.

Selena stood several steps away.

But unlike before, Selena's expression was serious.

“What is happening?” Bamidele asked.

Selena looked toward the sky.

“They have begun.”

“Who?”

Selena looked at her.

“The Dark Forces.”

Bamidele's heart began beating faster.

“What do they want?”

Selena hesitated.

“They want something every human being carries inside them.”

“What?”

“Desire.”

Before Bamidele could ask another question, Selena stepped backward.

“Wait!” Bamidele called.

But Selena was already disappearing.

“Selena!”

The garden became silent again.

Bamidele stood alone.

She looked around, confused.

Seven kingdoms had been created.

Seven Lords had been sent into the world.

And their messengers were already among humanity.

Bamidele did not yet know their names.

She did not know their powers.

She did not know who would become their first follower.

But somewhere in the darkness, the Lords were waiting.

And their first temptation had already begun.

The war on Earth was no longer coming.

It had begun.