THE FALL (Rapha Chronicles #1) (The Rapha Chronicles) (2 page)

Then came the melting, the sifting, the re-molding; all within Adonai’s very being. No grief could exist there. In Adonai only wholeness and light wrapped Rapha in peace. He drank deeply of the goodness—unfathomable, sweet, all encompassing, freeing. There, hidden in Adonai’s embrace, Rapha slept.

Chapter Two

Rebellion

Rapha woke to celestial war.

Many had joined Lucifer’s rebellion. Heartbreak and devastation infiltrated the fabric of the heavenlies threatening to strip creation from its foundation, attempting to topple the very throne of Adonai. Finally Lucifer, the instigator and accuser, stood before the assembly proclaiming Adonai’s treachery.

Into the midst of this firestorm of severed trust strode Rapha, his eyes and voice aglow with faith in Adonai. In ages past Lucifer had ruled in the celestial court, his arguments the most compelling, his voice and mannerisms irresistible. But that day belonged to Rapha. Many who were prepared to cast their lot with Lucifer hearkened to the authority of Rapha’s testimony, moved to repentance by his absolute trust in Adonai’s goodness, while those who had remained faithful were ignited with renewed passion.

Even as Rapha spoke, flowing with eloquence, joyfully describing his rebirth, he could feel Lucifer seethe. Lucifer had been certain of victory, now Rapha could sense the shift as thousands hearkened to his words, “There is no room in Adonai’s goodness for deception or betrayal,” Rapha stated. With a surge of bliss, he felt Adonai’s pleasure.

It was at that moment Lucifer did the unthinkable. He attacked Rapha before the very throne of Adonai. Rapha’s words were cut off by searing pain as he realized a shard of light was protruding from his chest.

But Michael was prepared. While Rapha crumpled, eyes wide with disbelief, Michael’s forces, scattered strategically throughout the faithful and treacherous, leapt to action.

The brawl that ensued was decisive, not in determining a victor but in revealing loyalties. When it seemed every hand was raised in violence toward a brother, Adonai spoke one word.

“Peace.”

The heavenly inhabitants froze.

If the moment had not been tragic—and painful for Rapha who wrenched the shard from his chest—Rapha would have thought it comical to behold his celestial brothers caught in suspended animation, expressions of anger and surprise etched on their faces, bodies arrested in various violent postures.

“Samael,”
Adonai addressed Lucifer who had one hand on Michael’s throat while the other grasped a jagged bolt of light aimed directly at Adonai’s throne.
“Observe what your pride has done.”

Lucifer’s body shuddered as his hands were forced to his sides and the bolt of light dissipated. Finally, his tongue was loosed and he said through clenched teeth. “I
hate
that.
Never
call me that. I am Lucifer, the bright morning star!”

“Even in this moment, when all is brought to the brink of ruin, you consider only yourself.”

“Someone must watch out for my interests,
as You once did
.”

“Your lack of faith separates us.”

“My lack of…. Do you hear this?” Lucifer spoke to the motionless witnesses around him, “Adonai betrays us. Then he would lay the blame at
my
feet!”

“Enough.”

Once more Lucifer was mute though his eyes continued to flash with fury.

“Two choices are before you this day. Either repent of your rebellion and remain or… go.”

When Lucifer was once more released he spun, a blur of raging light, to fling cords of power, power that would have destroyed his defenseless brothers but for the sphere encasing him, a buffer from Adonai. Abruptly Lucifer stopped, stricken senseless by his own poison.

There would be no repentance. That day Lucifer and his followers, fully one-third of the celestial population, were banished.

Heartbreak infiltrated the heavenlies as longstanding friendships were severed.

It was not long before Lucifer’s forces felt the poverty of their new existence outside Adonai’s favor. Like fish gasping out of water, their bodies longed for His presence though they had not realized their need until they were deprived. A few threw themselves on Adonai’s mercy and accepted their sentence, an age of witnessing the ongoing drama trapped as watchers in the sky. But the rest believed Lucifer’s lies, that Adonai had goaded them to this place of desperation and rejoiced in their pain. Their hatred and hopelessness drove them to greater evil. They raged throughout the cosmos defacing all in their path, joining Lucifer in venting their fury. Galaxies were thrown out of alignment and whole planets were destroyed or rendered lifeless due to their scorching blasts.

Rapha and the other loyal celestials were dispatched to restore order. At every turn they were ambushed as Lucifer and his followers became adept at this colossal game of hide-and-seek, burrowing deep into planets to continue their destruction like unstoppable termites, devouring in darkness. Wars raged on distant planets as Lucifer tried to ensure no outpost of safety remained for Adonai’s prophecy of creation’s future redeemer. Even Rapha, battlescarred and weary of the struggle, had moments of doubt as Lucifer’s destructive lust swept the cosmos and verdant planets were reduced to dust-shrouded tombs.

Michael, the leader of heaven’s forces, also adapted as he learned to listen to Adonai’s quiet leading rather than rush headlong in reaction to Lucifer’s wrongs. To this end he relied heavily on Rapha whose ear was attuned to Adonai’s direction. Time and again they surprised Lucifer’s troops, having foreknowledge of his plans before they were put into action. Finally, heaven’s forces began to have the upper hand and the sphere of Lucifer’s influence began to constrict.

But Lucifer would not accept defeat. When he realized the noose tightening around his position he lashed out, driving his faithful hordes to madness as he screamed defiance and proclaimed the righteousness of their struggle.

How the heavens crashed with frightful flashings and rumblings. To the inhabitants of Earth, it appeared the end had come, as day and night strange flares lit the sky. Finally, the tide turned. Within Lucifer’s own hosts mutiny erupted and as the rebel forces fought among themselves, Michael’s troops surrounded them, cutting off Lucifer’s escape by forging an impenetrable net of heaven’s unified power.

Even then, bound, defeated and delivered before Adonai’s throne, Lucifer was defiant. “Is this how you treat your
free
citizens? Do you see, you blind beggars serving this tyrant?” Once more Lucifer was silenced. As he stood looking as if his tongue had sealed his lips, Adonai spoke.

“We will now hear the charges.”

Angel after angel stepped forward to state Lucifer’s offenses, even some who had joined him in his rampage across the heavenlies. Finally Adonai asked,
“Will any stand to defend the accused?”

All was quiet. Still Lucifer held his head high to stare at those who had spoken against him.

Suddenly, every eye was drawn to Adonai’s throne where, in the center of holiness, the bright purity grew blindingly brighter until the brilliance pressed forward as if to engulf all. Just when Rapha felt his being crushed by overwhelming bliss, the orb of holiness contracted, compressing back to the throne, yet increasing in its intensity. Immediately the tension vanished and a dim shape became visible. To Rapha it appeared five darker points were emerging from the center of Adonai’s being. Gradually the shape became discernable—two arms swinging free, two feet striding, a bright robe covering the torso, and hair that flowed to the shoulders. But light did not pass through. Rapha pondered this fact. This being was clothed in light, he even glowed with Adonai’s radiance, but He was not of the same fiber as the surrounding celestials.

This relatively small someone strode until he stood before the throne within arm’s reach of Lucifer.

“I will speak for him,”
the One said.

A jolt of joy coursed through Rapha. He had heard only five words from the man’s mouth, yet Rapha
knew
him. How could this be?

Lucifer stared at the white-robed figure and, with a hand over his mouth as if stifling a laugh he said, “Is this my only friend? How pathetic.”

But the One before the throne ignored him.
“Father, Samael is your child. Whatever offenses he has committed, and they are many, let them fall on me.”

Lucifer gasped, “
Father
? Is this… No.”

The man continued,
“My flesh and blood alone can restore him to holiness.”

“Your flesh and blood?” Lucifer spat. “This…
thing
is not worthy to stand in my presence!” Lucifer’s voice rose and his slander became more and more vile while the man stood, quiet and calm.

“Silence.”
Adonai’s voice boomed from the throne.
“This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.”

A collective gasp resounded.

Lucifer stared up and down the small figure as if searching for a hint of greatness. In fact, Rapha could feel every eye fixed on the man, such a contrast to celestial splendor. This was the One—fully God and fully man. The prophecy stood before their eyes.

“So this is what all the fuss was about?” Lucifer sneered, “How disappointing.” But his body betrayed the condescending tone with tremors of fury.

The man before the throne turned to face Lucifer.
“Will you accept Our gift, Samael?”

“I am the Morning Star, the brightest and greatest of all creation! I have no need of your
beggar’s rations
,” Lucifer proclaimed.

Once again the voice from the throne filled their ears.
“At any time, Samael, my servant stands ready to restore you.”

“Restore? Him?” Lucifer laughed but his eyes remained deadly, “To what? Could I too be ugly and dress poorly?”

Though many celestial voices murmured with anger and Michael grumbled at Rapha’s side, the voice from the throne remained steady.
“Since you reject restoration, your sentence is set. No more will you have access to the heavens. You will be confined to one planet just like those you destroyed.”

“That’s not fair! I am a citizen of the stars. It is my
right
….”

Adonai’s voice continued and Lucifer stopped speaking, his expression intent, as if straining to hear something better.

“Make your choice. Where will you abide?”

Rapha watched the thoughts play across Lucifer’s face. If a loophole were available, no matter how obscure, Lucifer would find it.

“Just to make things clear,” Lucifer said, “will I dwell alone?”

“No. I will not hinder those who choose to accompany you.”

Lucifer smirked, “I choose Earth.”

“No!” Michael shouted from the crowd. “He chooses Earth to hinder prophecy.”

“But, if the Most High wants to go back on His
word
….” Lucifer said.

Michael made a move toward Lucifer and Rapha laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“But,” Lucifer’s brow furrowed with concern, “am I correct in assuming I will maintain my other powers? After all, I must not be left to the
mercy
of my enemies.”

“Yes. Your other powers will remain.”

“But, Adonai,” Michael interjected again, “with all due respect, he
must
be stripped of his powers or he will destroy Earth.”

“Understand, Samael,”
Adonai addressed Lucifer,
“you are tied to the fate of Earth. To destroy her is to destroy yourself.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed, shrewd and calculating, “I will, of course, be the most powerful being there.”

“No. Authority over Earth is given to another.”

“To what? To this
son
of yours?” Lucifer hissed. “He will have no authority over
me
!
”

But the trial was over. Lucifer, still screaming threats and defiance, was ushered from Adonai’s presence and the edict was put into effect. He and those loyal to him were confined to Earth and stripped of their access to the heavens.

As Rapha and the other celestials began the task of mending the scars of war, he could not help but shudder as he considered the fate of the tiny planet that now played host to a raging outcast angel. Perhaps Lucifer would be tamed by having his wings clipped?

Michael laughed when they discussed that possibility. Rapha agreed, but he did not have the heart to laugh.

Later, when all was relatively peaceful once again, Rapha sought Luc upon Earth, delving deep until he found himself returning to the place of his own unmaking. In these depths, a slight remnant of Adonai’s fragrance clung to the cavern walls. And there, in the very hole where Rapha had known both an end and a beginning, huddled Lucifer, his beautiful hands clutching like talons at his once-glorious hair that now hung about him like tangled vines. A heavy scent of grief enshrouded him as well as… could it be… fear?

“No matter how high I fly or how deeply I delve You are there,” Luc’s voice was a hoarse whisper, “and yet I am banished from Your presence… and yet… You. Are.
Everywhere
!” Luc’s hands gripped at his glowing arms as if to wrench them from his body.