Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 (21 page)

Pellecus smiled as he watched the downcast faces around the table slowly begin to perk up. Another plan! Lucifer always had another plan. Even Belron’s countenance lifted. Only Pellecus and Kara knew what Lucifer was about to divulge and they were enjoying the effect of the revelation on the group.

“The child presents an interesting dilemma for our enemies. In Abram we have a rather peculiar faith—a flawed faith if you will. He has hoped for the promise of the Most High; waited for years. Then in his own wisdom, and encouraged by Sarai’s desperate pleadings, he has now thwarted the plan of God. Rather than have the legitimate heir as promised through Sarai, Abram will spawn a pseudo-heir from Hagar.”

“And she is an Egyptian, no less,” offered Kara. “That is delicious!”

“More importantly, she is a fool,” said Pellecus. “From the moment she conceived she has become proud. Even now we are hammering Sarai with a spirit of jealousy, in order to drive a wedge between them.”

“To what end?” asked Belron.

“Don’t you see?” Pellecus asked in an astonished tone. “Once the child is born, he becomes the heir-apparent. He becomes the caretaker of all that is Abram’s. The prophecy will travel through him—and instead of all the nations of the world being blessed, they will be abandoned. Abram will have settled for an inferior heir and the world will find itself seeded by a very different family indeed!”

“And the bloodline of Seth will be finished!” added Kara. “It will disappear within the dregs of these human creatures.”

Belron nodded silently as if finally understanding. “This child becomes the seed…a new seed…a false seed,” he said.

“More important that that,” added Lucifer. “He becomes
our
seed! This is why Berenius is assigned to him. To nurture him—to bring him up in the proper respect of the gods of this world and to lead the world in a glorious revival. I tell you this child and
his
seed shall one day rule this planet! The world shall finally become that for which we have fought so hard and we will finally have the freedom for which we long.”

“What about the mother?” asked Belron.

“Once the child is delivered the woman becomes immaterial to us,” said Lucifer. “Besides, from what I understand, Sarai will handle Hagar for us.”

Lucifer nodded to an aide, who brought out a large book.
The Prophecies of the Morning Star
was a collection of Lucifer’s inspired words that he was keeping as a testimony to his role as spiritual authority on earth. He opened the book, which was fast becoming sacred among the angels who had vacated Heaven.

“I wish to share with you a word of hope for us all,” he began. “The Most High is not the only voice in the cosmos. When once before we met and I opened this book, these sacred writings became the impetus of our movement. They have survived our expulsion from Heaven, and they shall bear witness of our triumphant return!”

He began speaking loudly now, his purplish aura casting an eerie light on the temple walls. “I promise you, brothers, that one day our voices shall be heard over the pretenders in Heaven! Let these words stir your hearts to courage and the continuance of this struggle.” He then began to read:

Rise up, O seed of Morning Star
Rise as a dawning day over Eden bright and glorious before
its shame;
With all creation, host and human, trembling at thy name.
Rise up, O seed of Morning Star
And take thy place among the earth, among the nations of men,
Remaking in their hearts and minds an image born of sin.
Rise up, O seed of Morning Star
The Host of earth and Heaven watch thy destiny unfold
Until that grand and glorious day,
When Heaven sees the shame of its way
And we, the true Host, will increase the glory of our fold.

C
HAPTER
11

“The plan is truly inspired.”

Chronicles of the Host

Ishmael

Lucifer and his council awaited the delivery of the child whom they hoped would confound the plans of God, and Hagar, encouraged by her status of mother-to-the-heir, began to despise her mistress Sarai, causing bitter feelings between the two women and much grief for Abram. We angels observed such behavior and put it down as the folly of human nature. But neither the Host of Heaven nor the rebel angels could have anticipated what would follow with Sarai and Hagar…

Abram sighed a deep sigh. He had grown weary of the constant complaining of his wife. How could he express to Sarai that she would always be the love of his life; that even though Hagar carried their future child, he and Sarai would raise him together as his mother and father; that she mustn’t allow Hagar’s proud demeanor to get to her?

It had gotten to the point that he hated going back into the camp, preferring the company of livestock to that of squabbling females. Abram looked at the camp in the distance, the sun hanging low in the western sky near Hebron. He could almost hear Sarai’s voice now, starting in the moment he returned to their tent. Sometimes he wondered if they had made a mistake in bringing Hagar into this situation. Had they done the right thing?

“O Lord Creator,” Abram said aloud. “You promised us a son and we have a child coming. Yet I have not heard or felt Your voice since Hagar conceived. I did this for my wife, O Lord, as she was so very distraught. If we acted in haste, forgive us. But don’t abandon us; don’t abandon Your promise…”

The noise of the wind blowing through the grass and the sounds of animals nearby were all that he received in answer. He ordered Eliezer to call the servants in to camp. It was time to return…again.

Berenius had made quite a study of human conflict. His observations led him to believe that Sarai would eventually have her fill of Hagar and would demote her to one of the lesser servants—after the child was born, of course. So his current assignment was to continue fanning the flames of jealousy and to keep a tense situation on edge. Ultimately it was necessary to remove Hagar from the situation completely to ensure that Sarai alone would raise the child.

“Well Berenius,” came a voice, “is Hagar as forward as ever?”

“Ah Kara,” responded Berenius, as he watched Kara gliding in from the east. “Yes, of course. She only now ordered that from now on she should be served in Abram’s tent. That was a little suggestion of mine,” he added with a smile.

“Very good, Berenius,” said Kara. “You are certainly headed for greatness. But remember that the key is to keep the flame burning at a steadily increasing rate. She must have the child first—then what happens to her is of no consequence.”

They watched as Sarai carried a bundle of material into her tent. Within seconds, she came storming out of the tent, calling for Hagar. From tent to tent she went, finally looking in Abram’s own tent. Her voice could be heard all over the camp.

“How dare you take my rings?” she demanded. “And what are you doing in my husband’s tent? Get out of here at once! And never get into my things again!”

Hagar came out of the tent, looking very upset, but taking her time about it. She glanced at some of the other women in the camp, who were snickering at the tongue-lashing she had just received. As she walked, Hagar passed Abram coming from the fields. She smiled and greeted him, then began to weep. He looked at her quizzically, then with growing understanding when he heard Sarai’s angry voice from within the tent. Abram stopped, and looking a bit embarrassed, walked into the tent to try to soothe his wife.

“Another little suggestion,” Berenius said. “I proposed to Hagar that she begin to wear some of Sarai’s jewelry—you know—befitting the second most important woman in Abram’s household. She went for it completely and the results have been most gratifying!”

“Yes,” agreed Kara. “But as I was saying, a slow and steady antagonism is called for here. Hagar must have the child while still a part of this household. Afterwards she can be driven off…or even murdered…”

“Murdered?” said Berenius with interest. “Now that is news. By whose hand?”

“Daron specializes in presenting humans with a choice of self-destruction that is very attractive,” said Kara. “Hopefully she will die by her own hand.”

“I understand,” said Berenius. “But why must she die? I enjoy playing my little game with her.”

“Because, Berenius, we want this child to be completely freed from his birth mother,” explained Kara. “This is why it is of utmost importance that she remain with Abram until the child is born. He must be born in the house of Abram.”

They walked through the camp as Kara spoke. At one point a large dog, sensing their presence, began barking and growling in their direction. A servant kicked the dog, which yelped and looked at the demons once more before lying down.

“The plan is truly inspired,” said Kara. “And an honor for you that you are a part of it. Once the child is born, Hagar is in some way removed to ensure that Sarai never feels threatened by the real mother’s presence. This will help Sarai’s long-suppressed nurturing feelings for the child to take over completely. She will raise the child as her very own—with no threat from Hagar. This also will legally bar the claims of any other child of Abram—even if it should come from Sarai’s tired womb.”

“Brilliant,” said Berenius, imagining the plan’s progression.

“You see? Even if Abram and Sarai
do
manage to create a child of their own, Sarai can never let the second child replace the one who came to her in her grief. Hagar’s child will always remain the firstborn and legitimate heir.” Kara snorted and added, “Even if the Lord Himself were to conceive a child in her womb, the legal right would belong to the issue of Hagar!”

“But will Abram honor that?” asked Berenius. “I mean, the promised child must obviously come from Sarai’s womb.”

“The promised child will be the firstborn of the house of Abram,” said Kara. “It is the custom of these people that the firstborn is the heir. This is irrevocable.”

He smiled. “No, dear Berenius, I don’t see how it can be overturned. Do you see the brilliance of the plan?”

“Very subtle indeed,” came the voice of Michael.

The archangel stood nearby with Serus. They walked over to Kara and Berenius, who smugly greeted them.

“So that’s the game,” said Michael. “Rather than stop the prophecy you’ll simply provide a poor substitute…a fraud.”

Kara gave a mock look of concern.

“Is that any way to talk about a baby?” he asked sarcastically. He then added, “Besides, the decision belongs to the humans. It always is their choice!”

“And should they choose to create a surrogate through Hagar, so be it,” added Berenius. “After all, a child has been prophesied. What matter who the parents are?”

“Yes,” said Kara in a surly tone. “And with a simple-minded father who waits for an empty promise, and an insanely jealous wife whose ability to bear children slipped away years ago, we are doing them a favor.” He gave Michael a puzzled expression. “You should be thanking us, Michael, rather than opposing us.”

Michael looked at Kara with searing eyes. Serus moved forward as if to take some sort of action against Kara and Berenius. They burst out laughing at him.

“Come now, Serus,” said Kara. “I have never seen the warrior side of you. Is this what comes of angels who associate with archangels?”

“Better than what becomes of angels who associate with traitors,” said Serus.

Kara smirked.

“Still bitter after all this time, I see,” Kara said.

As they spoke, several fallen angels began closing in on the area, chattering like crows in trees. They were hoping for a contest between Michael and Kara, looking for an opportunity to avenge their defeat at Michael’s hands during the ill-fated rebellion. Michael noticed the demons closing in but never flinched. Serus looked about and prepared himself for a possible fight.

“You can’t possibly thwart the plans of the Most High, Kara,” said Michael calmly. “The prophecy will hold in spite of what you do.”

“Mark me, archangel,” said Kara, his anger rising a bit. “You forget you are dealing with humans. Humans! The very creatures who overthrew the Most High in the garden! One can never predict human behavior—you would do well to remember that.”

He laughed aloud, joined in by catcalls and jeering of the now several hundred devils who had joined the mob. Some of them taunted Serus, calling him a traitor for having abandoned Lucifer, and daring him to try something bold with them. Berenius joined in at Serus’s expense. He hated Serus with a passion. Serus—his onetime co-conspirator—now apprenticed to Michael, the greatest angel in Heaven.

“You’re right, Kara,” said Michael. “If we must depend on humans to win this war, we have lost already.”

Before Kara could answer, a great disturbance broke out in the camp. All of the angels turned to see what was the matter. Kara broke off from Michael and hurried to the scene where Hagar, with a small bundle of clothing in her arms, was being run out of the camp by the women. Sarai was standing at her tent looking defiant and egging the hostile women on. They had endured all of Hagar that they could, and Sarai had insisted that Abram put her out.

Hagar was weeping bitterly, crying that she carried Abram’s child, but it was to no avail. The many devils that had gathered were swooping in and out of the crowd, agitating them even further in an attempt to have them kill the woman rather than let her get away. Some of the women even stooped to pick up stones but were stopped by the men. Kara was stupefied as Hagar brushed past him.