King of Sunset

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04/13/2022 10:17 PM  For Hell's Salvation The door to the cottage shut solidly behind Erra before the sunset king waved a hand to activate the wards that would keep others from easily accessing the small home. Eve was standing in the entryway, waiting for him. He would not call it a dependency on her part, nor a case of Stockholm Syndrome, she simply did not have a choice but to wait on him after he tore her from her country in order to fulfill his task. She had no means to return to Iraq, and given this country's delectable prejudices, would face more danger appearing in the airport undocumented than she did in staying in his company.  Ninurta's presence was an unexpected complication that irked Erra more than he revealed whilst speaking to his brother. The former God of Agriculture willingly gave up his essence to be transformed to a God of the Hunt…all in order to bring Erra down and earn favor from the Almighty. How utterly pathetic. Erra thought he may have at last taught his younger sibling a final lesson when last they met in battle, but it would seem Ninurta was ready to once again be a thorn in his side. He heard the engine of Ninurta's vehicle come to life, the wheels churning on loose rocks of the drive as it pulled away from the cottage. He would be back, and likely soon. While he believed Eve to be nothing more than some sexual conquest, that would not last forever. He would follow Erra's trail and realize who was truly by his side. By then, Erra would have given the woman over to Lucifer. She was of no consequence to the blighted god. "Minu hatha?" she asked when the silence began to stretch on. "Akhi," Erra replied simply.  Eve nodded, folding her arms in a show of awkward discomfort. They shared little more than language, and Erra could see the death of those angels still marred Eve's mind. Those who knew him also knew death usually followed, but for those uninitiated, the brutality of violence that fueled him was scarring. She knew better than to run, however. She knew he would catch her. She knew there would be consequences. Erra gestured for her to abandon her position and go to the living room. She did so while maintaining that quiet bravado, not allowing her fear to be visible even if it was still palpable to him. Head held high, she walked with dignity into the cozy living room, sitting on an old armchair he indicated while he sat on the loveseat, facing her. He observed her then, as he had not had the chance to do so since their meeting at the old temple.  There was an antiquity to her that was difficult to pinpoint exactly. Perhaps something in her eyes that spoke of the age of her soul. Erra found a building curiosity within him, to ask her about the Almighty and gain a perspective no one else could give him. Not of the ancient pantheon struck from the annals of history, not the angels that followed…the first human, she who possessed God's ultimate favor before her fall to temptation. Arrogance stayed his tongue, however. What knowledge would God grant her if He did not wish for humanity to have knowledge? Like everything else, He was only content to have lesser creatures surrounding Him, to worship him without question. Erra had great disdain for humans, bordering on cruel disgust, but in this moment where he sat with Eve…there may have been a slight twinge of sympathy. They, just like all the rest, were meant for little more than a symbol of the Almighty's power. Yet another Creation made for the sake of proving it could be done and abandoned not long afterwards.   Unwilling to explore this avenue, Erra decided to contact Lucifer instead. Not with ritual or through grand means, but rather through his phone. Not content to ever be put on hold, he punched in the devil's direct number rather than that of his club, the line trilling for a few rings before it connected.    "Erra." "Lucifer," Erra responded. "I have her." "Well, well, well…you do work quickly." "You expected anything else? I've a lot to do already, you know, I shan't let your errands slow me down overly long." "Errands?" Lucifer affected a wounded voice. "It was a friendly request!" Erra snickered, leaning back against the loveseat. "The line blurs easily in this regard," he hummed. "I'll have you know, I had to slaughter a small bunch of your kind. They weren't there for Eve, or maybe they were they were very much against conversation, either way…I doubt this will be secret for long." "A curse on the host," Lucifer hissed. "What ill fate keeps them forever hovering over my plans?" "Damnation," Erra said, sly smirk lifting his lips. "I've heard it's quite effective in creating unforeseen challenges." "You would know," Lucifer retorted. "We must meet quickly. It all hinges on her, Erra." "Yes, yes I know." Lucifer had to tell  Erra his plan in order for the sunset king to help him. He never did anything for free. Whether Eve's presence in Hell would truly change the nature of the pit remained to be seen, but if it did work as Lucifer hoped…then Hell would become an army the likes of which Heaven could never defeat. Coupled with Lucifer's suggestion that they take on the Almighty together and Erra may finally see that part of his dream complete. With the Almighty dead, the Earth would follow, his past eradicated -- he would be free to swim through the dark cosmos, until there was another world that he could shine his sickly light upon.  "Come to me," Erra replied. "I'll give you my address." "It would be better for you to come to me," Lucifer said. "There's a hellmouth outside of Los Angeles, the sooner I get her there the sooner the risk of Heaven seizing her is nullified." Erra sighed in mock exasperation. "So needy, Lucifer…how have you managed to survive so long?" he teased. "Very well. I'll bring her to you, though further compensation would be required." "I would give you anything." "Deal not in deceit, clever devil," Erra replied. "Anything is too vague, or may be too much for you to fulfill. Think of it, of what you are actually willing to pay, while I get there. It shan't be too long."   0 Comments

03/02/2022 09:48 PM  Family Matters Erra was never one for being subtle. When hunting the King of Sunset, he never had to worry about tracking him down, instead he had to hunt for a means to approach him. In this age, his brother paraded about the mundane world as one of them; calling himself Adam Beaumont and lording over everyone with his incredible wealth. Ninurta did his research on Erra's Global Energy Company, Akkadia, Inc. Everything checked out, making all involved look like veritable saints for the hard work they did to reverse the damage done to dear mother earth. Ninurta knew better, however. He knew that beneath the veneer, Erra was doing far more damage to the planet than anything the humans could invent. If he was completely honest…Ninurta no longer cared about the state of the world. He was apathetic towards humanity by now, crushed by their seeming inability to live in peace and harmony. Without the gods meddling…humanity would destroy itself anyway.  Once his job was done, Ninurta would likely retreat to the Golden Palace, the home of the Creator God who may not exactly welcome Ninurta home, but also wouldn't care enough to chase him away. Ninurta could not bear to watch this once beautiful world become uglier. He felt each forest's fall, every beast slain for sport, or for trying to cross what was once its habitat before it was paved over and turned into a highway. The same highways he was forced to travel by.  For the last couple of years, Ninurta had 'hit the streets' in a way. No longer staying removed from society, he took on his own identity to fit in among the humans. At least, to a certain niche of human. He introduced himself as Nazario Ortega, a hunter of supernatural beasts. He joined other hunters for jobs along the way, hoping he might gather information on his greatest mark. The younger hunters did not know the name Erra, and while Ninurta found some joy in the fact his brother's influence seemed to be waning from human mind, he quickly realized that it was in the mundane world that Erra spread his poison now. When he asked about Adam Beaumont, the hunters knew -- although they only wondered why he wanted to know about some rich socialite. Monster hunting didn't leave a lot of time to join the green peace effort, one of them had said, thinking himself clever for the comment.  Ninurta had gone to the Akkadia, Inc. headquarters in New York City when his patience failed him, but it would seem Erra was not present that day. He wondered if his brother felt him and left, determined not to lose his position he'd crafted over the years. But then…Erra was never one to avoid confrontation, indeed he seemed addicted to it. He was not there because he was not there, simple as that. Having no business with his brother's human persona, and lacking any sort of business acumen that might help him devise a ruse to set up such an appointment, Ninurta was forced to rethink his strategy. He fell back to his role, as the God of the Hunt, to find the trails Erra took in his day to day dealings.  It was exceptionally difficult. The King of Sunset rarely stayed in one place for long. Ninurta tracked him to Russia, only to find he'd already left for Japan. Ninurta reached the island nation, only to realize that Erra returned to the west. He would never catch up if he continued to follow, he must learn to anticipate. After some time, several months at least, Ninurta began to discern a pattern. As random as it may seem without intense scrutiny, patterns naturally emerged. That was how Erra returned to a secluded cottage in the English countryside only to find Ninurta waiting for him. He considered the element of surprise, but he knew that Erra was rarely off guard. Besides, he tried many times to spring traps on his brother in the past, and was always thwarted. Right now, Ninurta was choosing tactics over violence. He had not spoken to Erra in over a century, it may behoove him to learn, from Erra personally, where the Sunset King stood these days.  Erra noticed him as soon as he arrived, how could he not? Ninurta did not skulk in the shadows this time. His expression was a mix of curiosity and exasperation upon laying eyes on his estranged sibling. Then Ninurta noticed another figure step out of the car Erra drove up the drive in. A woman, Arab -- he thought at first glance, and he laughed inwardly. It would seem he interrupted Erra's romantic escape into the countryside. At least, given the stories of his voracious appetites, it seemed the likely explanation.  "What have you come to grouse about this time, brother mine?" Erra asked once Ninurta stepped out of his vehicle.  "You would discuss anything between us in the company of a…future tryst?" Ninurta responded. Erra smirked. "She can't speak English anyway." "Sayidi?" Eve asked. "Sh," the sunset king chided.  Humor abated, Erra looked at him now with a sort of bored impatience, one that incensed him. The last time they'd met on the battlefield, Erra defeated him. It wasn't enough for him to triumph, afterwards he took Ninurta prisoner and tortured him for weeks. As an 'incentive' to make him rethink his loyalties, or at least his determination in getting revenge. Picked and ripped apart, it'd taken Ninurta freeing his essence from his godly form and finding humans to possess over the centuries ever after. Unlike Erra, who crafted his human guise, Ninurta was saddled with the burden of finding suitable hosts, but they all burnt out eventually. Humans were not meant to contain the power of the gods.  "Could you be quick?" Erra asked, breaking Ninurta from his thoughts. "I've a meeting lined up and it's not with you. Thankfully…you've always been a dreadful conversationalist."  "You think I come here to listen to your insults?" Ninurta demanded. "I came to assess." Erra sighed, pushing the woman towards the house. Ninurta took note that she did not seem comfortable in Erra's presence. Not a difficult thing to imagine. His brother held his arms out in melodramatic fashion, a smirk on his face. "Well then, assess my dear. I remember how deeply your envy runs." "It is not envy," Ninurta countered. "There is nothing you have that I want." "So, you did come here to waste my time. Bravo, you have succeeded." "You still have designs to destroy this world." Erra raised a brow, expression denoting what an obvious statement that was. Ninurta was not surprised, although he had heard rumor that his brother may have perhaps let go of that ultimate plan over time. They must have been false, as false as the rumor that he and Solaris had a child together, a laughable notion considering how much the two hated one another. Ninurta dared to assume Solaris's hate ran as hot as his own. He nodded affirmatively. "And so the hunt continues." "Oh, don't bother," Erra groaned. "I've enough on my plate without you leaping out thinking you can be an actual hindrance to anything I do." "Things have changed, Erra," Ninurta replied levelly, even if his words cut like a knife. "You will find that out soon enough." His eyes drifted towards the door of the cottage, where the woman disappeared. Erra snickered. "Oh yes, I'll be utterly crushed if you hurt her. Please, dear brother, have mercy," he sneered.  Ninurta narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Deflect as you wish," he retorted. "You will see." He turned to go back to his truck, when Erra's voice halted him. "Ninurta?" he glanced over his shoulder to look at his brother. There was a dark look on the sunset king's features, a sharp smile curving his lips. "Know that I will show you no more mercy. If you come to me again, be prepared." 0 Comments

02/05/2022 11:19 PM  She, the First   He should have expected the regiment of angels. He sought the reincarnation of Eve, so he might beseech her favor and convince her to return to Lucifer. The mere act of his meeting with the devil was likely enough to have all of the Silver City in arms. Theirs was never a formal alliance, in the beginning when the angels were created to stop the Sunset King, he and Lucifer met each other on the battlefield as adversaries. Yet, Erra would never say they were enemies. Some might blame him for the lightbringer’s fall, but this was hearsay. Lucifer was always going to question, Erra simply acknowledged that he’d done so himself eons before. Nevertheless, he and Lucifer were deemed traitors, enemies to Heaven and the Great Father. When Lucifer came to him some time ago in Erra’s offices, his presence must have been noted. While Erra’s human enterprise seemed mundane enough to the mortals who worked there, he did ward it – protecting it from the likes of those who wished him eliminated. Still, even if they were not privy to the actual plan, just knowing there was a meeting was surely enough to catch their attention. Their surrounding him now said his assumption was entirely correct. Here in what had once been a temple in the Akkadian Empire he ruled long ago, Erra’s dark hues scanned the faces of the angels who stood with swords drawn and armor gleaming. “We relive history, do we not? This is nearly an echo of that time before…well, you all may be too young to know what happened. I do not recognize any of you.” He saw no recognition in their brilliant eyes, although one’s brow furrowed ever-so-slightly – a small sign that he was correct in this as well. Naturally the Almighty would send those who did not truly know him. All the better to push the narrative that Erra was nothing but his namesake; a mistake. A blight against creation. Such naïve little things… Erra felt a sudden rash of anger as he stoically regarded the enemy. Anger at the Almighty, at the lies he perpetrated, at the pain he caused all for the sake of his wounded pride. That he would turn his back on this world that he stole, only paying it mind when that very same pride was threatened. Eve was his, the first of his people after he destroyed the world to make it in his image. To lose her to Lucifer, another failure in the divine’s eyes, could not be tolerated, and thus he sent these oblivious angels to fight Erra. No. To be killed by Erra so that his infamy could be further expounded upon. These precious creatures were sent to be sacrificed, to stoke the flames of those who could stand against the deity even further. “Who leads this rabble?” he asked with a scoff. “We have no cause to speak to you, abomination,” one of the angels declared, voice ringing out like bells. “Spare me the attempted insults, your lot was never creative in that area. And do not bother to lie, lest you lose your Grace…you have no cause to speak to me because you were ordered not to.” He smirked darkly, thinking the Creator ought to have given such a missive to Lucifer. Perhaps that was why these said not a word that could be counted as engaging. “For the Lord Almighty!” the same angel exclaimed. “For His Kingdom!” It was over quicker than Erra even guessed. Three of them charged at him as one unit, and he – already drawing on his power when he initiated conversation with them, unleashed that scorching heat and burned away their wings. As they hit the ground, screaming in their agony, the poison that was inherent in his nature and spreading across once green grass seemed to reach up like searching fingers, seeping across their alabaster skin, sinking into their pores and turning the flesh black as it was rotted in moments. While these doomed creatures of the lord writhed in their death throes, Erra was already turning to those attempting another attack. He caught hold of a sword, the edge biting into his palm and making blood flow, but that blood only joined the heat radiating out of him – forming a miasmic cloud that soon had these nearby angels choking, scratching at their necks as their own blood bubbled up around their lips and slipped down their chins. Erra tossed the blade aside, wincing as its holiness tore at his wicked nature. He held a hand aloft and within seconds his favored weapon appeared – the spear imbued with the power of several deities he’d collected over time. It was then the battle sped up, his fierce weapon piercing and slashing until the angels lay slaughtered around his feet. Breathing heavily, face stained red in droplets of angelic blood, Erra looked to the overcast sky above. “Are you pleased?” he hissed. “I shall never hesitate in chopping up your soldiers, but soon…soon they will see what it is you do.” He heard something hit the ground suddenly and he turned on his heel quickly, grip shifting on the shaft of the spear – prepared to lash out and cut down any who may have escaped death the first time around. It was no angel who stared at him in muted horror, however. It was a woman. She was dark of hair and had golden brown skin, her eyes a beautiful ochre. Full lips trembled in fear at the massacre she stumbled across. She wore simple clothes, a dark skirt that went to her ankles, a lighter shirt with half sleeves, no jewelry. She had been carrying a wooden chest but had dropped it in her surprise, the noise being the same that alerted Erra to her presence in the first place. How strange he must look, wielding this bloody spear while he donned modern clothes; a t-shirt, jeans, a light jacket…nothing that spoke of his status as a god. A soft sound escaped her and she fell to her knees, eyes wide and brimming with tears. “Hn, it really would be simpler to add you to the pile,” Erra said callously. Something about her stayed his hand, however. It seemed more than coincidence that this woman should just happen upon this secluded, dilapidated temple at this very moment. Erra’s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing her. “What’s your name?” “S-shinu?” “Shinu ismich?” She swallowed, and there was a sudden severity that crossed her expression – as if she decided if she should die, it would not be while showing her fear. “Hawwa,” she replied. And Erra grinned a sly grin, for he knew that name. Hawwa, better known to the rest of the world as Eve. She proved her mettle in the set of her lips and the hardness in her eyes. While the corpses around her had caused panic and terror before, now she stood as if they were not there at all. If she was shocked at the bloodied wings, she did not show it now. Instead, she regarded Erra steadily, body poised and taut as if she were prepared to run…or perhaps to fight. Erra closed his eyes and tapped the butt of the spear against the ground, the weapon began to fade, become translucent – until it was no longer there. Just as Erra could transport himself between his owned properties, so too could he send and retrieve his spear. With the weapon no longer in hand, he opted for his winning smile – charming, kind…though not quite reaching his dark eyes. “You do not need to fear me,” he continued in Arabic, unsure if she knew any English at all. “You have slain purity…why should I not fear you?” she asked in turn. “I defended myself. I did not come here for slaughter. I do wonder, however, why did you come here?” he raised his arms slightly, gesturing to the broken temple. She did not answer him right away, but just as he was about to encourage her to speak – for her own good, she changed her mind and gave a reply. “I had a vision, I was to come with an offering to the Lord.” She bent down, keeping her eyes on Erra, and retrieved the chest she was carrying. She opened it to show him a white flower within. Of its species, Erra could not guess, it was wholly unique. It looked almost like a star, and carried a luminescent sheen to its brilliantly white petals. This was no ordinary flower, although Erra suspected it did not hold much power either. It was a thing of beauty, a reminder that this world was once a paradise. “And I have come for you.” “For me?” the fear returned to her voice, apprehension visible in the tensing of her shoulders. “On behalf of a mutual…acquaintance.” Perplexity mingled with her nerves and Erra began to suspect she had no memory of who she truly was. No knowledge of her close ties to Lucifer, of her time in the Garden, of her fall to temptation. If she had, she might be a raving lunatic rather than a put together young woman. And yet…she did not look twice at the angels’ wings. “You’re special,” he continued. “No. I am one of God’s children like all the rest.” “You cannot believe that.” “We are all special in His light and love.” Erra frowned, contempt in his expression.  “You do not remember your soul from the time before.” “If I was meant to, He would show me those memories.” How infuriating. Her faith in the Almighty was as strong as the faith of those long gone. He expected that was a bit of her old life, resonating into the new. It did not serve him whatsoever, so rather than hear her praise the Lord, Erra decided he would end things here and bring her to Lucifer as he intended. What need have he for more conversation with her after all? “Come. There is one who waits for you, he anticipates your company…I grow weary of it already.” 0 Comments

08/12/2021 03:58 PM  An Unexpected Reunion “This one seems a bit rubbish, no?” Erra asked. Seated at his impressive desk in his office at Akkadia, Inc. HQ in New York City, the pestilence god was looking over an ancient text, with his lover and advisor Artair seated next to him. “It does, yes,” Artair agreed. “Nothing pertaining to Ziz herself, this looks like records of an old…sky journal.” “Mm, the equivalent of ancient ‘what shape do you see in the clouds’ then. Wonderful.” The double doors opened at that moment, admitting Erra’s secretary into the office. The young man only knew Erra as Adam Beaumont, CEO of Akkadia, Inc., socialite, influencer – of world leaders, not silly social media platforms, and all around one of the wealthiest people in the world. As well as one of the most powerful. It explained the nervous look on his face, one that Erra fully intended to pick and pull at. “Mr. Beaumont…sir,” the secretary began. “What did I say to you earlier this evening, Samuel?” “That…that you were not to be disturbed?” “That’s correct. And what are you doing in this very instance?” “Uh…well, I…I know…but,” “Answer the question, what are you doing?” “…Disturbing you?” Erra maintained a severe expression, although he noticed Artair’s mirth beginning to show from his peripheral. “Yes. Bravo. You most certainly are.” Samuel stood in the doorway awkwardly, audibly swallowing before he continued. “Should…should I just go then?” “No, you’ve already disturbed us. What would be the point of doing so and then not explaining the reason at least?” Erra asked, feigning exasperation. “Get on with it.” “There’s someone here to see you,” Samuel said in a rush. “Says it is urgent.” “Does this someone have an appointment?” Erra asked. “N-no?” “Why are you asking me, what do I pay you for?” “No.” Erra raised a brow, doing well to keep indignation at the forefront while Artair was still fighting a grin. “Sorry. You pay me to keep track of appointments and…but…he said you’d see him. He said he’s um another black sheep?” “That’s annoyingly vague,” Erra sighed. “Go on, Samuel, you might as well show him in at this point.” The young man swiftly retreated, and the moment the doors shut behind him Artair laughed. Erra rounded on him, grinning. “This is a very serious matter, Mr. O’Ceallaigh. How dare you treat it like a joke?” “Because his look of panic was remarkable,” Artair snickered. “Poor lad. You’ve probably scarred him for life.” “He makes it so easy.” The pair shared their humor for another minute, until there was a knock on the door and Samuel returned with the mysterious visitor. As soon as this guest crossed the threshold, Erra’s humor immediately dissipated. He wore a different face now, no longer the androgynous beauty and now more rugged, more masculine. Framed by dark locks of hair about his face, which was sharp and well-defined; handsome but in a wholly unique sort of way. Certainly another black sheep, as he said. One Erra had not seen since the end of his war, after Darkness was sealed away, after the other deities retreated when the Almighty exterminated all life so He could begin it anew, as He saw fit. Lucifer Morningstar had been an enemy then, but one Erra respected. “Thank you, Samuel. Why don’t you go home for the evening?” Samuel, perhaps sensing the power of the stranger, looked immensely relieved as he hurried back to gather his things and go. Erra then turned to Artair. “This is a meeting best held between the two of us, my darling. Will you go through the rest of this book back home? Perhaps there will be something useful towards the end.” Artair stood and collected the book, looking between Erra and Lucifer. “You will be alright?” “I’ve come to ask for aid,” Lucifer spoke, his voice still melodious like Erra remembered. The finest notes imbued with every word. “Nothing more, I promise you I have no ill intent.” Artair nodded and left the office. The pair stood in silence even after the vampire’s departure, studying one another. Just as Lucifer no longer appeared as Erra remembered, so too was the god vastly different than he’d been back then. He wore this face for centuries, but Lucifer was one of the few who saw him as he truly was. “It suits you,” Erra decided, gesturing to the devil’s form. Stoicism was replaced with a gentle smile. “As yours does. It has been far too long, Erra.” He closed some of the distance between them and extended a hand. Erra took it firmly. In truth, he was never sure if he’d meet Lucifer as an enemy again should they be reunited. Would the fallen angel blame him for his plight? Would he try to wrest control? See him as another obstacle to be crushed? “Sit,” Erra offered, indicating Artair’s vacated seat before he resumed his own. “I find it odd you’d come to me now, after all this time…what is it that you could need my help with?” Lucifer took the offered seat and released a sigh. “I need help finding someone.” Erra laughed inwardly. It would seem everyone was looking for someone. He waited in silence for Lucifer to expand on the matter. “The reincarnation of Eve,” Lucifer continued. “She is said to be here, on Earth, I’ve been looking for her for some twenty years already.” Erra leaned back in his chair, elbow propped on the armrest and chin resting against the knuckles of his fingers. “The reincarnation of Eve. Pray tell, what on earth do you need her for? Do you have another fruit for her to eat? Or is she to bear your fruit and bring about the Antichrist.” Lucifer shook his head. “The Antichrist is also already upon the earth,” he replied with a somewhat menacing smile. “No, I don’t need to inject any prophesized child into her womb, but you could say I need to lead her once more to temptation. I need to convince her to come to Hell.” Erra’s brow furrowed slightly. “Why? I’ll not help you until I know what you’re planning, Lucifer.” Lucifer was quiet, most likely weighing how much he wished to share. Erra couldn’t blame him for his caution, the two could not be counted as close even if they shared similar natures. “You know of the Harrowing?” he asked. “After Christ’s death? When he descended to Hell?” “Yes. He died for their sins, Erra. His descent was a mark of forgiveness and he was able to take Adam and Eve, redeem them for their Original Sin and ascend to Heaven with them and a host of other souls. And now there is the resurrection of Eve, the original mother; the first woman, but I am sure her soul is the same even if she does not remember her previous life. Only she will do…” he paused again, then sighed – perhaps knowing it still was not enough to move Erra to help him. “If I can lead her willingly to Hell, the very nature of the abyss will change due to the purity of her redemption. It will be liken to the Garden, rather than fire and torment.” “So. You wish to turn Hell into a second…Paradise?” Erra questioned. “Yes.” “You know, I’ve heard of some of your exploits over the years, met some of those in your direct employment…such as the demon Butcher,” Erra mused. “It doesn’t quite fit…have you embraced peace then? Your sister will be pleased to hear that at least. Azrael is still hopeful the endless war will end in treatise and not bloodshed.” There was a flicker of something in his eyes at the mention of Azrael, but he made no comment on it. “The souls of the damned are vast in number, Erra. Far superior than those souls that reach Heaven…right now, my armies are already great in number too. The princes grow their legions, slowly but surely, and yet if I were able to add the damned to my forces…I would triumph in the Final Battle. To do that, I must change the very nature of Hell as I said.” “You couldn’t just force them to fight for you now?” “I could, but they would not. They are severely damaged, broken things…Eve would nurture them anew, she would be the heart of my campaign, someone for the damned to rally behind, something to aspire to.” Erra clicked his tongue. “You know, it might be for naught…all this searching. I plan to challenge the Almighty soon,” he said. “I’ve a means to reach Him, or I will soon.” “Please do not challenge Him on your own,” Lucifer said, voice imploring. “Let us do so together, as we should have done in the past…I know you may wonder if I blame you for my Fall. I do not, Erra. It was always my decision to challenge Him, I sought you for advice – yes, but even if I had not my path would be the same. What I regret is not asking for an alliance beforehand. If we fought Him together, the course of history may have been very different.” Arrogance may have made Erra scoff in the past, but recent events had him consider the proposal more seriously. He had tried to destroy the world and could not. Solaris might be the shield of the Earth but it was the Almighty who gave her that power. Then there was the discovery of Behemoth, Ziz and Leviathan; a revelation that Erra did not know everything he should before he took his fight to the cause of his great pain. For all his confidence, and all his power, Erra had come to learn that he needed others. “I will help you find Eve,” he said. “There must be something about her that will help us identify her.” “Yes,” Lucifer replied, and something about the way he said it made Erra suspect there was more to the devil and Eve than he was willing to share. He let that remain a mystery for the time being, as Lucifer gathered another breath to continue. “I’ve scoured the United States and Europe, my next focus was going to be what once was southern Mesopotamia. Given your history to that part of the world…you can see why I come to you now.” “Yes, I can,” Erra replied. “Very well, Helel ben Shahar, let us return to where we met and find the heart of your new garden.”   0 Comments

06/30/2021 02:54 PM  Surrender There is beauty in surrendering to something greater, to erasing identity and the issues it can bring to become part of the whole, to join the collective…to experience divinity through worship to a tangible god you can reach out and touch. And he will reach back for you, and take your hand, guide you to the light of blinding purity to a world that banishes your pain and despair. To a world too bright for such shadows to dwell. One must turn that great gaze to them, through devotion and sacrifice so they can know no pain, so he will accept them in his warm embrace. She’d been in pain her entire life. An abusive father who raised his hand to her when he was drunk, who crept into her room at night while her mother pretended to sleep so she could play at ignorance. Friends who encouraged alcohol, drugs and sex to numb that negative, suffocating depression. To find a chance to breathe through increasingly numerous panic attacks. But in the end, they used her too, and she drifted through life unable to trust anyone, but wishing she could to appease the great maw of loneliness that threatened to swallow her whole. She didn’t trust men enough to date until she met Omar. Omar listened to her, great warm eyes forever seeking her dull blue hues. Omar encouraged her to face her demons instead of hiding from them, that there was a place where she could be safe from them forever. At any other point in her life, she would have refused, but since she considered…really considered…ending her life the night before this conversation, she figured she had nothing else to lose. In the end, he would probably prove that he needed her for something too, that she herself did not matter. She was invisible to the world when it came to deeper emotions, beyond the shallow ignorance she adopted in order to use other people too. Omar led her to a beautiful place in Iraq of all places. Uncultured and uneducated, she expected to see violence at every turn; desert as far as the eye could see. But this place was vibrant, far from any city and more beautiful than any other place she had seen. The green seemed to sing in its iridescent warmth, the sun an unblinking eye that watched over it all. She felt like she was in another world, another time. Free. Omar led her through the customs and traditions of the people in this area, a group numbering about fifty people. In the dewy morning following their arrival, the women took her to change into the same brilliant white robes they wore and, to her embarrassment and delight, gave to her a lit torch and led her in a dance to celebrate the rising sun. After this ritual, they dined on dates and wheat, and invited her to help them with clean up. They spoke to her, asked about her, showed keen interest in her. They were so genuine and kind, their sincerity brought her to tears because she felt they had come to her too late. And they cried with her and held her tight and she felt like she wasn’t alone for the first time in her life. At noon they had another ritual, where they stood in a great circle with their hands joined. They moved in a slow walk, around and around, directly under the noon sun. It was sweltering hot, she was sweating and needed water, but dared not break the circle. She didn’t want to offend them, not when she finally felt like she might have found a place she belonged. When they finally broke apart two hours later, they smiled and embraced her again, told her she was almost one with the sun. That evening the sky seemed painted with strokes of red so deep…they reminded her of blood. The hour of sunset was engulfing, all-encompassing, impossible to ignore. The vibrant green seemed to stand out more because of it, tinted with an orange hue like flames. The world was on fire, and she stood unharmed in the heat of the sun. Once again, she was led to find a great pyre had been constructed in the middle of this small paradise. Her eyes widened when she realized there was a person bound to this pyre. Omar took her hand and led her to the great structure, gentle smile on his face as horror filled hers. It was her father tied to the pyre. The women hummed a melodic song, cyclical, never ending, a cycle as permanent as the rising and setting sun. The oldest of them carried a lit torch that she handed out to her. She shook her head, all the old fear instilled in her from this man rising up; a great leviathan stirring from the depths to overwhelm her. But the women continued to hum their hypnotic song, the men stood in a circle around them; hands held, and Omar smiled gently as he always did – great warm eyes seeking frantic blue hues. The sun required a sacrifice before he extended his hand, an annihilation of what once was. She would be killing herself after all, but it would not be the end, rather it was the start of creation. Her new creation. Her new life. One that was not tainted by this vile man who was screaming in muffled terror around the gag in his mouth. She took the torch and she approached the pyre as the humming got louder, filled her entire being, drove everything else out. The sun overhead was scorching hot, casting her in reddish hues as she held the flame to the kindling at the base of the pyre. It caught, it roared to life, rising quickly just as her joy did. She would be free. Higher, higher climbed the fire, licking at her father’s feet, clawing up his legs and she watched with fervent eyes as it destroyed him. Deep within, where no one could see, fractures lingered and spoke of healing yet to happen. She did not want the others to see, for their faces were carved to a bright delight. Hands uplift to the sky, towards the sun and from the smoke a shape began to move. She watched in wonder as a man emerged from black smoke, he looked human but…not. She would be embarrassed at his nudity if she had space to be anything but awestruck. Something about him…something immense. He only stopped when he left the pyre, standing in front of her. The women hummed, their hands and the hands of the men lowered to outstretch towards this mysterious figure instead. The figure held his hand out to her and, shaking, she reached for his. He smiled and she smiled in return, tears slipping down her face as the searing heat of his skin made hers bubble and blister. That was when she noticed that everyone had a scarred hand, a mark of the sun and she did not fear it, she surrendered to it. She would forever give him her devotion, her faith, her love, her life, her everything. She fell to her knees at his feet and sobbed, great heaving cries of release, relief, joy and sorrow. He lowered and pulled her to his chest and now he did not burn, now he was just warm. He said nothing, but her mind was filled with one thought; please him. She would have no other purpose. She smiled again, free of all burdens as he stood and turned back to the fires that killed her father. He walked into those flames and was lost to sight, but she would always remember those dark eyes with the embers that burned at their center. She would remember to serve him, always. Individual problems such as her past had been burned away by the sun, the shadows chased away. She was one with the sun, like the others here. She was no longer herself, she was part of him, and there was beauty in that surrender. 0 Comments

06/27/2021 01:02 PM  In the Hall of the Mountain King The double doors opened to a massive, cavernous hall shimmering with heat and adorned with great swaths of gold and shining gems bursting from the stone walls. A hall such as this belonged in the past, of an age long lost and yet full of vibrancy and life as subjects wandered across obsidian floors. Chandeliers of crystal glistened overhead, casting light as if the sunlight streamed through and yet the palace was too far underground for those rays to reach. It was, as many realms still attached to this world, beyond the veil of the mundane. A human may find it if they knew where and how to look, but humanity was quite dull in regards to the mystical, relentless in filling in the proverbial map and eradicating all they could not explain as myth and legend. Even Erra would have trouble had it not been for the ancient urn he took from Ojinjintka in the 19th Century. Once she passed the ancient knowledge of the Hohokom tribe into it, Erra claimed it and took that knowledge as he needed it, learning the existence and location of this hidden place through it not so long ago. Erra was expected in this hall today, an arrangement brokered by his trusted necromancer, Jackson, who spoke on his behalf a fortnight past. He was dressed in a fine suit, tailored and expensive and out of place in this hall of those adorned in silks and robes. Even their attire was left behind by time, but what need they have for modernity? They weren't truly part of the modern world. Passing under a tall archway, Erra found himself in a large courtroom, with a marvelous stone throne at the end of it. Perched upon this throne was a strange looking fellow, his face chiseled as if from stone; rather like a gargoyle with his vivid eyes and wide mouth, a sharp nose with nostrils flared and sandy hair curling about that crevassed face. This creature waved away attendants to leave them in privacy, and when Erra was near enough, he observed proper etiquette and bowed slightly to the ruler of the underground palace. "It must be strange, for a sun to be underground," the other said, his voice like nails scraping against stone. "May what light remains to me illuminate your home, for it must be strange to literally live under a rock," Erra replied. His host chortled, taking it in stride as blue eyes glistened with merriment. That worked in Erra's favor, he did so loath those with no humor at all; especially those who could not handle retorts to their obvious digging. "Erra," the other greeted with a nod of his head. "Behemoth," Erra returned. "I expected...someone larger, if I'm being honest." For the creature seated before him was of a short man. "And I expected someone more intimidating," Behemoth replied. "You look soft, even with that sharp suit." Erra's smile retained confidence. "Well, at least you're educated enough in the present to know what to call this," he said, gesturing to the suit. "Now then, Jackson told me you were amenable to collaboration." "Ah! Jackson, there's a clever mage," Behemoth exclaimed. "Even I was impressed with him, the great orator. Yes, he told you true, little king." Erra raised a brow, and the Behemoth just grinned. “Careful now, jests and disrespect walk a fine line, and I won’t abide the latter.” "Aye, I don't doubt it. But you won't kill me over it, not yet. Not ever. Your vampire didn't know what I was either, I suspect you only have an idea based on stories. But that's neither here nor there. You need me, and that alone will hold off a conflict, vicious bastard you may be." “Do you seek to inspire such curiosity to have me take the bait and ask about your alleged truth?” Erra asked. “I don’t particularly need you, you’ll just save me some effort I’d otherwise expend.” Behemoth barked a laugh and leaned back in his throne, fingers steepled together and sharp eyes alight. “You think you don’t need me. You think you can use something like the Unfulfilled Wish, use the dagger and sever that bond between the earth and Solaris so you can destroy it.” Erra’s eyes narrowed and Behemoth smirked. “Aye, I felt your attempt in Turkmenistan, the Gate of Hell as the humans call it? I feel everything that affects the Earth. “But that isn’t enough. Not by far. Even if you killed the sun goddess, the world would not crumble to your power. For that...you need me and my siblings.” Erra felt a spark of irritation within his chest. Jackson was not given much information when he came to speak with the mountain king, just being permitted in the walls of this place, given audience with its ruler, took a lot of negotiating and while Behemoth agreed to meet with Erra, he had told Jackson very little; of his knowledge, of what power he possessed. “Are you ready to be educated, little king? You want to sit at my feet while I tell you a story?” “I want to know why you desire to be destroyed so badly.” “Stand then. What came before your father?” “He is not my father.” “He created you, right? Semantics, kid. Before you lose your head, let’s focus on the question. What came before him?” Erra found he quite despised this creature, and once he got what he could from Behemoth he would see him eliminated. Eyes hard and gaze unwavering, he replied, “the Darkness.” “And?” Brows furrowed. “It was the dark, the empty space, alive but not. When the Almighty came, he introduced more.” Such as Erra, the Almighty’s first creation let there be light. “Did he create this world?” Most believed that he did. That it was only he on high responsible for the world humanity called home. Erra knew that was not the case, that this world already existed; that it was peopled by those who came before Adam and Eve. That other pantheons of deities were established here, the Almighty was not responsible for bringing this world into the universe. After Erra’s exile, after the long years of war when he raged against the Almighty and the pantheon of his siblings, after the angels were created to stop him and his armies...the Almighty destroyed everything. All life was eradicated, replaced with the Garden of Eden, with Adam and Eve so that the world would be his. “No.” “No,” Behemoth repeated, pleased. “He didn’t create me either. What came before him?” “There were other gods and goddesses; the Tuatha De Danann, the Olympians.” “No. Those were here first, but they aren’t older than him. What came before him?” “I don’t know!” Erra snapped, forever hating when he did not know something; for his need for control extended to information as well. Yet he did not possess any, Behemoth was turning out to be an unknown. Not some failed creation of the Almighty as he initially believed, but something other. Something new. And while the thought of that could be exciting, right now it was only a detriment. Behemoth looked altogether too smug, inciting Erra’s temper and though he longed to put this creaton in his place, he abstained. He was curious, despite himself. “I did,” Behemoth answered after letting that weighty silence continue another moment. “My siblings and I; me of Earth, Ziz of air, Leviathan of sea.” “Leviathan? I fought a leviathan,” Erra said, remembering his trip across the ocean with Azrael. “I know you did, who do you think nursed her back to health?” “I always thought Leviathan was one of Lucifer’s.” Behemoth held up a finger. “Don’t be deceived by the stories, you should know above all how history can change. Leviathan is no demon, she’s not a fallen angel. She is from the beginning too, of chaos like all of us are; a time before Order, before you and your kind came with the gall to call yourself creators and gods. We are of the time Before, along with the darkness that was. When the universe was young and free. We are this world; its earth, its sky, its water.” “So, you’re trying to tell me that you, and she and this other...Ziz, all came before...everything?” Erra asked and Behemoth nodded. A moment’s silence passed and Erra smirked. “So, do I need to kill you in order to destroy this world then?” “I mean that’s one way, sure. But I won’t let you kill me and my sisters are a lot more prone to battle than I am.” “Who says I’d give you a choice in the matter?” Erra asked. “Ah yes, the deadly heat of the scorching sun,” Behemoth replied, looking completely unperturbed. “Did you know the core of the Earth is actually as hot as the sun?” he asked conversationally. “Attempted murder isn’t necessary anyway. I am actually trying to help you here.” Erra waved a hand, gesturing him to get on with it then. His time was precious, and while Behemoth was a mystery he was adamant to solve, his standing here going about in circles wasn’t helping him any. “You don’t need to go murdering me and my sisters to destroy the world. You just need our totems, think of them as keys that unlock a defensive gate.” “And you would give me your key?” Erra asked skeptically. “For a price. This place...beyond it anyway, it’s a mess. And I’m tired, if I’m being honest I was ready to kick it a couple centuries ago. What better way than a different sort of big bang?” Erra frowned. “So in exchange for you giving me this key, you want me to destroy the world?” it seemed a pointless bargain as it was his intention anyway. “You have to take Ziz with you when you go off on your grand adventures elsewhere,” Behemoth said. “Before you came and brought the sun to the world, she could sail the dark skies freely, unknowable and at peace. Then light came and it’s pretty f***ing difficult for a gigantic bird to stay out of sight. She hates assuming forms like we have, she is miserable here. She would love to sail that great ocean of stars, but she’s bound to this world the same as you are.” Erra sighed, having no desire to bring companions he had no ties to. Yet, if Ziz was so desperate to leave, it shouldn’t be so difficult getting her key either. “Should I expect trouble from Leviathan?” “Of course you should! You shoved a flaming heat ray down her throat, she was livid!” Behemoth shifted in his seat, as if these obstacles gave him great delight to pass on. “Oh, and there’s still the Solaris issue. You can’t bypass that by going through us.” “I thought you were this world. She’s just another outsider, another one of the Almighty’s.” “Yes, but he is powerful, do you think we sat by while he transformed the world? No, but he defeated us; used us as warnings and showcases of his power; claimed we were his creations to further cement his position as the One. Him tying his daughter to the world might be his security measure, but it is one I can’t help you with.” Erra sighed. “But I used the Unfulfilled Wish on something else.” “On your vampire, to free him from the Seelie Court. I know. Ziz has some ties to the Summer Court and she told me about it. Kind of a waste, don’t you think? I get it, I get it. Love is the greatest force blah, blah, blah. But you’re immortal, you could have spent a century or two getting over him and found someone else. As I understand it, things didn't work out between you two anyway.” “I abhor you already, you know.” “Most do, I’m used to it. Nobody likes hearing the hard truth, easier to hate the one who gives it.” “Oh, that’s not a truth. But I’m not here to debate such matters with you. Give me this key and tell me where to find Ziz so I may get hers too.” “So demanding,” Behemoth rolled his eyes, but he did not argue any of his points further. Instead he reached for a pendant resting under his shirt, circling his neck on a thick leather cord. He beckoned Erra towards the throne, handing the pendant to him when he was near. Erra inspected it, it seemed a simple thing; made of clay perhaps and in the shape of a mountain. “What do I do with these when I have them all?” “Return here, and I’ll show you,” Behemoth replied. “Oh, but be cautious. Leviathan will try to swallow you whole, but you know that. I know you’ve dealt with the ire of Heaven a few times, but they’ve been wary of us for a long, long time. If...or when, they realize what you’re doing, they’ll probably go after you in force.” “I’m sure they will,” Erra said, closing his hand around the pendant more firmly. “And I shall be ready when they do. Well then, this has been highly unpleasant, but I suppose I’ll see you once I’ve been to your sisters.” “I’m not looking forward to it, but you’ll be received without delay when you’re ready. Like I said, I am very tired.” 0 Comments

01/25/2021 04:46 PM  Son of Dawn, Sun of Evening War still raged in the Fertile Crescent and beyond. Erra’s great forces decimated many, his opposition beginning to crumble in the face of such savagery. That evening saw the King of Sunset upon his throne in the temple at the center of Akkad. The grand city, fashioned after Paradise when Erra shared those secrets to the Lost, had been built in his name and thus his power was at its greatest here. With every victory, faith from his people became stronger, a veritable force he felt skimming across his skin like a touch the moment he returned to the metropolis. His return was perpetuated by the conclusion of his time in Babylon. Understanding the Seven Warriors gifted to him by Anu were more a detriment to his cause, Erra had used much power in sealing them, leaving their power trapped in totems that represented their aspects. These he buried deep within the earth, so that they may rest and be undisturbed until such a time he chose to restore them. If he ever did. Needing a quick recovery so he might continue his brutal conquest, he came home. Or, as close to home as ever there would be for him in this world. Met with gifts, praise and offerings, it was with a malevolent warmth that he beheld his throne room, blood still wet splattered the tile where a sacrifice in his name had been made. The silence was disturbed by the appearance of Ishum, his trusted attendant. The lesser deity had a look of pinched reserve across his features as he stopped before Erra’s throne and bowed. “I bring tidings,” he announced. “Speak,” Erra replied. “The Almighty...He has created something new,” Ishum began. “Celestials, of such Grace...possessed of light and virtue. Bound by duty to He on High...they are warriors, and their very presence makes some of our more wicked allies hiss and recoil in pain.” Erra leaned forward slightly, attention well earned by the news. “He’s created again?” he whispered. The Almighty seemed less inclined towards Creation after He brought forth Erra and his siblings. Perhaps Erra’s crime burdened Him more than He let on, and stifled that former passion. Now it was Erra’s war that moved His hand and he felt a swell of pride that it should be so. It meant the Almighty grew wary of his progress, and Erra would want for nothing more than to frighten Him. Save to kill Him, of course. “He has. Word came in that one such of these...angels is coming here. Dare we let it enter?” Ishum inquired. “Of course, I would see this new design and find what threats are meant to be issued in order to get me to call off my war.” “Majesty,” Ishum said with another bow before taking his leave. An hour was nothing for one possessing immortality and yet, given the situation, Erra felt each minute as an eternity. Finally, Ishum returned and at his side was a creature possessed of such excruciating beauty, grace and light that Erra immediately detested it...for it made him yearn for those aspects of himself that had been lost. When this burst of rage subsided he could observe the visitor more objectively. He was powerful, Erra could feel it, but not of a strength that outmatched his own. It would have to be a careful fight should it come down to it, but one he was confident he would win. Of his appearance, he was every bit divinity in his form. Unlike Erra with his ash-colored skin, dark claws and twisted horns, the angel possessed flowing hair, silvery-white as the moon. Azure eyes held all the majesty of the distant stars, a face of adrongynous wonder and brilliant white wings that seemed to draw in light. Ishum bowed and the angel did as well. At least etiquette was observed. “I welcome you to the Temple Shamash. I am Erra, King of Sunset. I would know your business here.” The angel straightened. “I thank you. I am Helel ben Shahar, the morning star, called Heosphoros by some, Lucifer by others.” “Shining one...Light Bringer,” Erra sneered. “Of course it would be you to seek an audience with me...why have you come here?” “You must know why I come,” the angel replied. “It is for the death you cause, I seek its end. You and the monsters you’ve unleashed...it is time to quell your rage. I came to seek a peaceful means for this, but I am prepared to lead my warriors against you if diplomacy does not interest you.” Erra scrutinized this eager peace-seeker and smirked. “An odd means to go about it, an olive branch disguising the sword. You don’t want this to end peacefully at all, rather...you’d like a chance to prove yourself, hm?” Ishum claimed this new creation was bound by duty, and Erra did not doubt his attendant’s information, but it seemed as though Lucifer may not be so duty-stricken as he should be. Wonderful. He could relate to that, better he could use that. Upon his first look at this beautiful thing he knew how much effort the Almighty had exerted to bring these angels to light. These weapons of He on High would be crafted with especially sharp edges, it was only natural Erra should seek to turn those edges against their maker. “I have no need to prove myself, for I have His love and it is enough for me.” Erra scoffed, the vestiges of his temper stirring within again. He once had that love, no longer. Never again. “You have it for now,” he replied, the venom he meant to inject into his words replaced instead with that quiet melancholy that existed beneath his wrath. “But you...there is a spirit you possess not unlike the one which led to my exile. Tread carefully with your ‘doting’ Creator, His love is as fickle as a feather caught in the wind.” It struck the angel, Erra could see that it weighed heavily behind that noble brow. There like a flash of lightning before hidden by stoic serenity once more. “You will not end your campaign, O’ King of Sunset?” he asked. “No, Helel ben Shahar. I will not, I am a blight upon the world and I will consume it all.” “Then I shall meet you on the fields,” the angel said, bowing once again. “So shall it be,” Erra agreed, waving a hand to dismiss him. “Ishum, see that he is escorted safely from Akkad.” “My king,” Ishum responded, taking his leave with the angel.     Sword met spear in a harsh clash, so strong that sound burst outward from them like a clap of thunder. Erra grinned viciously, shifting his grip on the shaft of the spear and using his immense strength to push Lucifer away from him. The angel expanded brilliant wings, halting the momentum of the shove to remain in striking range. He thrust with his sword, Erra was ready, however, and stepped aside. Below his immense form, his followers clashed with the army of the Almighty. Those humans who fought for him were little match to the angels, but the likes of the Fomorians and his fellow deities made it clear this would soon become a war of attrition. For the love of carnage possessed by Erra’s forces, this mattered not at all. To die in battle would be a glorious end, to live to fight longer just as well. Even Erra and Lucifer became locked in a contest where fortune may favor the outcome rather than skill. Erra was stronger, but his large size made him slower than the angel, who was a master of flight as well as with the sword. In the end, it was the interference of another that decided the battle that day. Lucifer managed to get in close and slashed, the blade catching Erra’s cheek and splitting skin. While it excited him to have such a challenge, it was an injury that moved Ishum to join the fray. Erra had lashed out with the end of his spear, something Lucifer may have blocked or avoided had Ishum not fired a flaming arrow at the angel, calling out to his king in concern. Lucifer dodged the arrow, but the brunt of Erra’s blow hit him heavily and sent him careening through the skies before he crashed down into the earth. Erra’s blazing eyes locked on Ishum. “Do not overstep your bounds!” he snapped. “I would call on you if I needed you! Now support our left flank, it’s being overrun!” Ishum pressed his lips together to keep words at bay and nodded, rushing off to do as he was bid. Erra made his way to where Lucifer fell and came across the injured angel at the base of a large rise. He hunkered down, seeing that the magnificent, golden breastplate was cracked and blood trickled from his mouth, starkly contrasting with pale skin. “I imagine that would cause some internal damage,” Erra said conversationally. “It is a pity you did not have a fair means to prove yourself. I should kill you were you lay—” “Then do so! I will die in His name if that is my fate!” “Oh cry off with such nonsense,” Erra chided. “I’m not going to kill you. I would have another battle with you, just you and I. Do you accept?” A long pause followed the question, before he answered “yes.”     They would not meet for many moons. When they did, it was at E-gish-shir-gal, the house of the great light. Not a place of war, but one of worship. Erra had gone to Ur to dictate orders to his generals before retiring to this place. Silence was rare this fortnight past and he took this moment to relish the absence of calamitous dins. Lucifer did not attempt to catch him unawares, rather coming heavy of step before calling out to him in greeting. Erra turned to face him, and saw grievous injuries were no more. “Would you bring the burden of war to such a place?” Erra asked. “I did not come to fight,” Lucifer admitted. “I...I have questions.” Erra assessed him a moment, then invited him closer. Lucifer stepped under the archway and joined Erra at the center of the temple. “What questions?” “It is forbidden to speak of you in the Silver City,” the angel began. Erra wrinkled his nose at the comment, but did not interrupt. “Yet I wonder if...perhaps He has gone too far.” When Lucifer fell silent after this declaration, Erra sighed. “Wonderfully gifted as I am, reading thoughts is not one of my talents. Be forthright, angel of God.” “He speaks of...massacre. Starting anew. Making this world His world. Free of the influence of your kind, your followers destroyed, your deeds erased. He says it is necessary for true peace, to make this paradise that mirrors the glory of God. In order to do that, everything about you must cease. It has me wondering...what was it that you did to earn such harsh measures?” Erra stared coldly at the angel. The Almighty would stay hidden no doubt, striking down from above to finish what Erra started and destroy the world. It would be forgotten, his history struck from thought as all those who knew him would be gone. And He would claim it a mercy, He would declare it good even if he took as many lives as Erra had. They did not sing praise unto the Alpha and Omega and thus, they were not worthy in His eyes. “I would normally tell another who asked that it is not their story to know. But for you who possesses enough sense to doubt...know that what I did was hardly a crime at all. Before me, before your God, before everything there was darkness. It sang a lonely dirge and I, I thought to give it form. Something of my own. Although God forbade me and my siblings from Darkness, He did so because it was something He did not understand. While I’ll admit my motivations were mostly selfish, I also wished to soothe His worries by presenting Darkness in a form liken to our own. Instead...He stripped me of my light and made me a poison, a blight on the world. It is now my nature to wage war, to stir chaos, and I would see this world destroyed if it meant getting my freedom from what I once nurtured and now, never can again.” “You opposed His will,” Lucifer replied. “Yes,” Erra hissed. “Because I judged that it was good to question. He is not infallible, son of morning. He only demands that you treat Him as if He is! Think of what He plans! To sow destruction the same as I but it is not for the good of this world. No. It is so that He can make this His world as you said, because His greed and His need to control is indomitable and it may yet ruin us all!” “I...I should not have come here.” “Why? Because the truth is difficult to hear?” “Sometimes the right thing...may seem like the wrong until after the task is done…” “You may refer to His plan but I say it better applies to free will. Your free will. You have it, and perhaps all the angels do but none who even realize it beneath their piteous need to cleave to duty. Use it. Trust your instincts, Lucifer. It may carry consequences, but so too does it carry reward. I am no longer blinded by faith and love for a Creator who loves only Himself.” Lucifer shook his head, backing away until he was out under the open sky again. Great wings beat and lifted him from the temple, taking him away into the night.     The end began with something new. She as bright as he once was, a goddess of the sun. Loathsome creature, he despised her immediately for suspecting his prior essence was gifted unto her by the Almighty, her father. She distracted Darkness, took Erra’s creation away and stirred that heart to flame, and thus Solaris became a name spoken as a curse. It was Erra who struck at his own creation, at the source for all this conflict. And this signalled a change, it signalled He on High to act. The skies were set ablaze; choking, suffocating and unfit for human life. The water became toxic; both in touch and in drink and thus the thirst claimed the more resilient. Cities were wiped from the face of the earth and without the faith of the populace to sustain them, many of the pantheons crumbled apart and faded from thought. The grounds opened beneath the feet of those more inhuman forces, casting the likes of the Fomorians to the deep, trapped beneath the heavy, roiling oceans that became fiercely treacherous. In a last effort for survival, those more powerful pantheons retreated to their seats of power to ride out this storm, but of humanity… It was no more. The world was left barren. The only life remained in those realms beyond the mundane one, but their ways were closed; fear keeping them locked tight. He survived. Stubbornness made him survive. But he no longer had his people and without them, his power diminished until he could no longer sustain his true form. He instead took on a human guise, a face he would possess for eons to come. And he wandered that barren earth that now matched his corrupted state, lamenting the fact he had no chance to face the Almighty directly. If He did not hide behind the gates of the Silver City… The sun emerged again eventually, and with it the genesis of life repeated; vegetation, trees, oceans settled and rivers ran anew, and then there came animals. Birds flitting across skies no longer gray, but blue. In the ruins of the Shamash Temple, which now also served as faithful Ishum’s tomb, he let his hatred and his anger consume him. So when Lucifer came to the Temple, Erra lashed out and set his fingers digging in the alabaster skin of the angel’s throat. The flesh turned a brilliant red, as nothing would extinguish the heat of the scorching sun. “What do you want?” he demanded. “P-please,” Lucifer choked out, and weariness more than mercy stayed Erra’s hand and had him loosen his hold. “I think you were right.” “It’s too late for it to matter now.” Lucifer pressed on anyway. “He has spoken His plan of Divine Incarnation to us, the Heavenly Host. That a nature, lower than us, is to be united to the Person of God the Son. After all we did for Him, the pain of the war and He wishes for us to bow and sing praises...to His humanity. And what of our sacrifices? They are not counted at all for it is our duty and we should feel pride in carrying it out. I lost so many, too many, in our war, King of Sunset, to take this as anything but an insult. Perhaps He thinks we’re incapable of more, but I could show Him...” “That you’re closer to Him than He thinks? You are you know, so was I. I think you could stop Him, He’s busy planning a new creation, yes? But it’s up to you.” “My mind was already set on the matter. I have many of the angels on my side and we will strike soon, I just...if I should end up cast from Heaven. May I find you here again?” Erra laughed. “What, so we can spend eternity brooding together? I care not what you do. If you Fall and I’m in the mood for your company, you’ll know then. If you succeed...well, perhaps we’ll know then.” Lucifer surprised him somewhat when he held a hand out to him. Erra regarded it a brief moment before he took it. “I believe He did not want us to speak of you because your punishment was unjust. If I am to fail, I do not think it will be a great failure should you permit me to learn more from you.” “Then my company you will keep...but only if you fail,” Erra replied. “Embrace your free will then, Lucifer, and raise your head rather than bow it.” Lucifer nodded and they released their hands as Lucifer vanished in a rush of wings to challenge the Almighty.   ⚜ 0 Comments

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