Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 33

Though Satan was no longer dressed in a white toga as he had been upon their first encounter, he wore the same necklace of eleven diamonds with one ruby which hung just above his black breastplate.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the air was humid and warm.

A shrill shriek startled the middle-aged professor. From behind them flew a flock of pterodactyls. Millions of years out of their natural time line, yet here they were in a strange land, a foreign world.

Where am I? Why am I with Lucifer?

From their vantage point, Jonah could see the banners of two armies come into view. Organized columns of tall warriors stood upon the left and a rabble of misshapen bodies and unknown creatures upon the right. Speckled amongst the later forces were demons of earth and air, werewolves and giants, tall and fell. Opposing the armies of Hell were warriors who carried blue banners placed atop long spears. The flags bore the image of white lightning bolts upon their streaming fabric. This army was clad in silver armor that sparked with power. Many there were of these immortals, who now transfigured into beings of light, some of which rose into the air as they prepared for battle.

Drums echoed dark and foreboding beats whose deep rhythm was intermingled by the heckling calls of the damned.

The trumpets and horns of the Olympians sounded as ten thousand swords were drawn in unison. The slicing, sliver of sound sent a shiver up Jonah’s spine. The blades were speckled here and there by various colors of enchanted light. Some there were who wielded spear and bow, upon chariots of fire, which were pulled by winged steeds in the vanguard. Others rode upon gryphons, armor clad and swift of flight. Yet despite the impressive display, they were hopelessly outnumbered. For the forces of darkness, from where they stood appeared like a mass of angry fire ants, whose end could not be seen beyond the rising hills in the distance.

The Devil turned to Jonah with his black eyes glinting as he smiled and said, “It is time.”

The last son of Azazyel raised the severed branch of the Yggdrasil overhead as it flared to light…

Jonah sat up quickly, wiping perspiration from his brow, his breathing rapid. For a moment, he struggled with where he was as he frantically looked around the cave. The other mortals were asleep. He was comforted when he felt the warm surface of the staff of Moses which still lay beside him. At one end of the cavern, the glow of the lighted stones of Gabriel and Raphael caught his vision. He liked to think that nothing could harm him while in the presence of the archangels, yet this dream or vision had seemed so real and disturbing. Jonah said a silent prayer. He lay awake for a time, fearful of what might befall him should he give into the chameleon of death again. But he was so weary. His mind wandered and his breathing slowed, before drifting off into a fitful sleep.

***

Angelica lay with her eyes closed as she pondered the events of her life since the death of her parents. The words of the three angels whom she had met in recent weeks replayed in her mind. Recalling a feeling of what she thought must be the Holy Spirit the night when the demons had attacked her in Konosak’s home, she tried to summon that sensation once more. The angel Afriel had saved her using Solomon’s ring, which Angelica now bore. Before her parents’ death, she had remembered a warm feeling at church sometimes or when reading the scriptures, but she had pushed all that aside with her pent up anger at God. Physical fatigue from weeks of hiking, and mental duress from life changing events had worn her down. This crusade of hating God was wearisome.

Raphael had told her, “Murder is a grievous sin, but God did not kill your parents. Their slaying was the choice of the being who used his free agency unrighteously. Angelica, if you were permitted to see the paradise of the righteous dead, or even the lowest level of Heaven, then you would not fear death. Rather you would desire to go there.”

I want this weight lifted off my shoulders.

As she turned her head to one side, she noticed that this was the first time she had ever seen the archangels sitting. They whispered in the angelic tongue.

After rolling out of her sleeping bag, she walked a short distance and knelt down and prayed. It was a very sincere pleading with the Divine. I can’t go on like this God. Please! I need to know if you are real. If you are, please guide me. Forgive me. All was silent in her mind while she knelt with her hands clasped. Long she remained still until her knees began to ache, and her back became stiff as the quiet whispers from Gabriel and Raphael echoed softly around the chamber. Their conversation sounded like lovely music in running water.

Suddenly, a warmth settled in her chest. Though her eyes were closed she was blinded by a glorious light that was golden and white. In the middle of the brightness, she saw a smile. It was her father. Standing next to him was her mother. They did not speak. All of the positive memories she had of her parents flooded through her, rushing before her eyes like a rapid slide show of her life. Their loving gaze was held for a moment longer as they reached out to her and placed a hand on each shoulder. Though they were spirits she sensed the contact. The radiance around her mom and dad did not hurt to look upon like when one peers at the sun, but was rather; soothing, loving, and peaceful.

Her parents turned away from her and walked together hand-in-hand towards a shimmering veil that was like a sheer curtain. It had no beginning and no end that Angelica could see. Even though her vision beyond the sparkling barrier was filtered, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Four other spirits waited on the other side of the veil, clothed in white. Now she realized that these were her grandparents. Though they had been aged when they had died, they now appeared as they had when they were young adults.

The spirits of her mother, father, and their parents turned and began to walk upon on a street of gold. They journeyed up the path which wound its way towards the top of a mountain, and at its summit was a golden city of light. Above the heavenly city, Angelica could see endless stars and galaxies.

There was no pain, stress, or worry. A great weight was now lifted from off her shoulders. She felt peace.

Something came before her eyes and the light was gone.

Removing his hand, Raphael gently wiped away a tear from her cheek and then helped her to her feet.

“Oh, Raphael, it was so beautiful.”

“It is well Angelica, it is well.”

Solomon’s ring glowed faintly blue upon her finger. Its appearance had changed. While it still had the raised mark of the Star of David upon its surface, there were now also four gems. A ruby, diamond, sapphire and an emerald which glinted from the light of Raphael’s carbunculi.

Stepping forward, Angelica hugged the heavenly healer tightly.

He seemed shocked by this physical contact. Though he did not protest openly or attempt to pull away, he held his arms outstretched. But after a few moments, his expression softened and he hugged her back.

Quite sobs escaped Angelica’s lips while she kept her head upon his chest. After releasing him, she returned to her sleeping bag. Climbing inside, sleep claimed her quickly, carrying her away to a peaceful realm where no night terror might disturb her dreams.

Gabriel stared at Raphael from across the cavern. Though he looked concerned by these events, he said nothing as he turned away to watch the path ahead.

***

Raphael took up watch of the path behind. He dwelt for a time on the feeling of physical contact which he had just experienced. It was unsolicited, but it went against heavenly decrees. There was danger in the touch or gaze of a mortal. Though his missions to the earth in ages past had included touching humans at times for the purpose of healing, he had never received an embrace from a mortal woman. He turned away from where Angelica lay and walked to the back of the cave to guard the tunnel from whence they had come.

Attempting to distract himself he turned his thoughts rather to his brother, Sandalphon. Though Asgard’s King was known by mortals as Odin, it was not his heavenly title. How long has it been since I have seen thee brother? Thousands of years.

It was the second age upon the earth which was marked by the awakening of Satan’s fallen army from the angelic sleep, shortly after the death of Adam. It was then due to the cries and mournful prayers of Eve, that Sandalphon, Raziel and Jophiel disobeyed Father, and they and their legions came down to this fallen world. For their disobedience they were banished, but their powers were undiminished and their forms unchanged.

Before Odin was exiled, he had come to try and explain why he, Zeus (Raziel), and Poseidon, (Jophiel) were leaving heaven with their legions to battle Satan upon the earth. Though their quest seemed just, it was against their Father’s command. “We go to try and defend the mortals from the evil and darkness of the Devil and his fallen angels,” Odin had explained.

Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel could not bring themselves to disobey their Father, yet neither would they hinder the parting of their brethren. Since that time, these four had been named the Faithful Archangels, for only they remained in heaven of the twelve Sons of the Morning.

They were getting close to Asgard now. How would Sandalphon receive them? What of his legion of angels? Would they join Father’s army once more for The Battle of Armageddon? Time would tell.

Raphael stood a while longer before sitting with his back against a stalagmite. He had noticed weariness setting in a few days before. It was barely perceptible at first. He had not mentioned it to his brother until Gabriel’s foot had sunk below the surface of the water. Then he realized that they both had been effected. Cut off from the light, their power had lessened. This unnatural weakness from the prolonged darkness which they had been submersed in brought back memories of his youngest brother, Azazyel.

A great weight settled upon his mind. For it had been he and Gabriel who had imprisoned Azazyel shortly before the floodwaters came and the lands were changed. For his sins in taking a mortal wife and for teaching humans how to make weapons and armor, they had been commanded to bring God’s justice upon him. It was they who had buried him alive in the desert of Dudal, but the tomb was lost ages before. For during the flood of Noah, the single continent, Pangea had been torn asunder. When the waters receded all was changed. Their younger brother was alone in the dark, buried beneath sharp rocks, and in pain. Like Azazyel, they were now growing weaker in the dark confines of this subterranean world.

MORGAN LE FEY

(Morgan the Fairy)

Chapter 18

This is the story, of Morgan Le Fey,

Blood of both fairy, and men some do say

Beware dancing lights, and fairy charms,

Some fairies help, and others may harm