icked enough of the warriors that Michael was able to break free.
Rugio quickly recovered and tried to stop the panic. He
ordered Vel to bring his angels back into ranks. Nathan and Prian
grabbed their swords and looked menacingly at Serus, rushing
towards the smaller angel.
"Michael!" Serus screamed.
He tossed the sword to the Archangel. Michael caught his
sword and broke free from the remaining angels who were holding
him. He lunged toward Nathan and Prian who turned at the last
moment from their pursuit of Serus. The powerful sword smashed
into the two warriors, knocking them far into the Heavenlies. Serus
grabbed a loose sword and continued the fight.
The other warriors were thrown into confusion as swords and
red light flashed in a ferocious melee. Many of the confused angels
fought among themselves, thinking they had been attacked by a
large group of Michael's warriors. About half of the contingent had
scattered at the sight of the avenging angel. Some returned to
Heaven while others hid among the desolate mountains nearby.
Rugio gave up stemming the panic and took out after Serus,
cursing him. Michael intercepted Rugio and the enemies stared
coldly at one another.
"So your little friend rescues you," said Rugio. "But it won't
do you any good, Michael. By now Lucifer has already won the
concession he demanded."
"The Lord will never give in to the demands of angels or any
other creature," said Michael, keeping an eye out for surprise attacks
from the many angels watching them. "You are totally deceived,
Rugio. You fight for a wicked kingdom with no authority."
"It is you who is deceived," answered Rugio. "Let my sword
represent my kingdom and my authority!"
264 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
With that Rugio screamed a warrior cry and lunged at
Michael, his sword giving off a reddish aura. Michael dodged the
thrust and came back hard. He knocked Rugio's weapon out of his
hands. Rugio cursed Michael and went scrambling for his weapon.
The angels around the fight were cheering Rugio on. Rugio picked
up his sword and lifted it over his head with both hands and came
down hard against Michael's sword. There was a loud crashing
sound and Rugio's sword broke in half. He looked at Michael,
holding the broken sword.
"As you said, Rugio," said Michael, "your sword represents
both your kingdom and your authority!"
Michael took off to Heaven, telling Serus to come along.
----------------
Lucifer made his way into the Temple complex. He haughtily
dismissed the Temple warden who, though sympathetic, still main-
tained an official decorum. His attempt to keep Lucifer from enter-
ing the holier recesses of the Temple went ignored.
As he neared the place of the Zoa, the atmosphere took on a
reverence that seemed so bizarre in contrast with the riotous cele-
bration going on outside.
He could hear the praises to the Most High which echoed in
these chambers day and night. As he entered the antechamber to
the Zoas, he saw a figure standing before him. It was Gabriel.
"I was wondering when you might come into this sacred
place," said Gabriel sadly. He was vacant and not at all antagonis-
tic, more resigned than revengeful.
"Away from me, Archangel," said Lucifer. "I have business
here."
"Your business is finished here, Lucifer," said Gabriel.
"Out of my way, Gabriel!" Lucifer shouted. Behind him
appeared two large warriors, adjutants to Rugio who had orders to
stay close to Lucifer. They walked up menacingly behind Lucifer
and stared at Gabriel.
"I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 265
"Your power is finished here, Lucifer," said Gabriel. "The
Lord won't even have to move against you. You never had a
chance."
"Remove him," said Lucifer, who started into the room where
the Zoa were. "I'll deal with him later."
fight them when suddenly Kara came rushing into the room from
behind. Lucifer turned around annoyed.
"Lucifer! Lucifer!" Kara screamed.
"What is it, Kara?" he shouted back.
"The Archangel! Michael!" he said, almost hysterically.
"What about him?" Lucifer said, trying to calm Kara down.
"He's here!"
----------------
With the appearance of Michael in the City, the celebration
quickly turned into violent conflict. Rugio landed not long after
and was giving commands to the warriors loyal to his warriors.
Everywhere angels were unsure of who was loyal to Lucifer and
who was fighting for Michael, but within a short time the two sides
sorted themselves out. Michael called out to his commanders and
instantly they attacked with their legions, swooping down on
Lucifer 's angels. Brilliant flashes of different colored
lights...swords smashing into each other...auras manifesting in
explosive violence...battle orders screamed above the fray...war in
the Heavenlies had broken forth!
Michael watched as his warriors valiantly fought with
Lucifer's angels. Though the battle was never in doubt in his mind,
there were times when it seemed that certain of Lucifer's stronger
warriors were getting the advantage in different parts of the City.
He smiled as he saw Serus diving headlong into the battle, chasing
a panicked Tinius with his captured sword. Sangius flew over to
Michael. As word spread that Michael was in the City, Lucifer's
angels began to lose heart, and a panic ensued.
"I wish it hadn't come to this," he said, "but it looks like it will
be over very soon! Lucifer's angels are fighting poorly!"
266 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"They are fighting extremely well," said Michael. "But they
are overwhelmed by the number of the Host who still love the
Lord."
"Where have you been?!" shouted Crispin, sword in hand.
Michael could not help but laugh at the sight of Crispin with
a sword drawn in full warrior stance.
"Have you actually used that?" Michael asked, indicating the
sword.
Crispin held up the sword proudly, pointing to a small nick in
its blade.
"You see that?" he said. "That was made on Berenius' proud
head! I cornered him over by the Academy when the panic started
and reasoned with him a little!" He smiled.
"And where is Lucifer?" Michael asked, scanning the City. "I
would like to reason a little with him myself!"
"Lucifer? He went to the Temple, of course!" said Crispin.
Upon those words Michael's sword began to manifest a gold-
en aura--one that he had never before seen. Crispin and Sangius
stood back from Michael. Even as the sword grew in its shadowy
outline, Michael's heart became more and more indignant as he
heard the words of the Most High speaking into his heart. His
countenance became strangely unfamiliar as he knew what he must
do. The direction from the Lord was not an easy one. He looked at
Crispin.
"What is it?" Crispin asked Michael timidly.
"The Most High," said Michael gravely, "has ordered that
Lucifer and all with him be turned out of Heaven--no longer to be
a part of this Kingdom. And He has given me the command and the
authority to do this!" As he said this, the sword grew in such bril-
liant intensity of gold light that all three of the angels were blind for
a moment.
"It is finished!" Michael said, and took off into the Heavenly sky.
----------------
Lucifer and Kara scurried out of the Temple, the two warriors
following. Lucifer reasoned that if he could only get to Michael he
might still carry the day. Gabriel walked behind, awaiting the
"I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 267
inevitable outcome. He could only shake his head in disbelief at
Lucifer's suggestion that he could get Michael to compromise at
this point.
"Lucifer, you will have cost me everything," said Kara. "My
position, my standing. I will be ruined in Heaven!"
"Enough," said Lucifer. "I very seriously doubt you'll be in
Heaven long enough to worry about it."
They walked out of the complex and surveyed the battle
scene. All around them were weary and wounded angels, mostly
his, surrounded by a canopy of Michael's angels, holding them in.
Not one of Lucifer's angels had been able to escape the parameter
set up by Michael. In various parts of the City were the members of
Lucifer's Council, once proud, now captives of Michael's troops.
Lucifer looked at the vigilant angels that surrounded them--
captains and warriors loyal to Michael--now captors. "The net
closes in," said Lucifer. "I have underestimated Michael."
"And Serus," came the voice of Rugio, who explained Serus'
actions in helping release Michael prematurely.
"Betrayed in the end," said Lucifer, smirking. "How like that
weak angel to throw in with Michael at the last! Serus, you are a
disgrace and a traitor!" an enraged Lucifer screamed. His words
echoed through the Heavenlies.
Michael came gliding in and set down in front of Lucifer.
Gabriel came walking up behind Lucifer from the Temple. All of
Heaven awaited this last act of the drama. Rugio stared coldly at
Michael.
"Not that it matters, Lucifer," said Michael, "but Serus did not
betray you--he remained loyal to the Lord. And that made all the
difference."
"Let him serve the Most High," said Lucifer. "For all the good
that Serus was to me I am better off without him."
Kara rushed toward Michael. He looked at the others with
whom he had worked to see Lucifer named steward and indicated
them to Michael.
"I beg you to consider, Archangel, that I am an Elder. I am not
one of these rebellious angels! I have sought only a peaceful reso-
lution throughout this affair. I worked ceaselessly..."
268 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"Not now, Kara," said Michael.
"You worked ceaselessly with the rest of us," said Pellecus,
who made his way to the top of the steps where Lucifer stood in
front of the Temple. "I am not ashamed to admit it. We tried and we
failed. The question is, Archangel, what now?"
"That is entirely up to the Most High," said Michael.
A sudden thunderous blast from the Great Mountain of the
North rocked Heaven, sending many angels to their feet. The Pres-
ence of the Most High began to slowly pour into the City from the
Mountain, engulfing the angels with a holy shroud. Every angel
bowed low before the Lord. Even Lucifer went down on his knees.
High above them in the Heavenly sky, a figure appeared who
was the color of bronze and wearing a white, flowing robe. The
angels in the sky pulled away from the robed figure, encircling
Him, heads still bowed low. The figure rode a fierce looking beast
and held a sword in his hand.
"Behold, the judgment of the Lord!" the Voice said.
Michael pointed his sword to the extreme end of the King-
dom, as the Lord had instructed him, and suddenly a great gate
appeared, which grew and eventually encompassed a quarter of
the horizon. The Host was astonished and frightened by this
strange sight at the edge of Heaven.
The gate was made of large white stones. There were huge,
barred doors which swung open. The bars looked like bronze.
Somehow everyone knew that this was a gate to be used only
once--and not as a point of entry, but as a place of final exit.
Michael instructed the angels on the ground and in the air to
divide, clearing a pathway to the gate. The path made its way
through the crowd and up the Temple stairs, ending in front of
Lucifer and his leaders.
Lucifer looked down the pathway that led to the extreme end
of Heaven. It looked as if it entered the gate itself. The angels
around Lucifer began looking around nervously.
"Surely we are not intended to go down...there," said Kara,
pointing toward the dark. "This is ridiculous!"
Pellecus merely looked at the situation and resigned himself
to whatever fate may overtake him. His expression was grim. He
"I don't intend to start a war in Heaven--I intend to finish one." 269
turned to Kara. "Looks as if you're no longer an Elder, Kara," he
said. "In Heaven or on earth!"
Rugio felt for his sword but remembered he had lost it in battle.
"I will one day face Michael again in battle," Rugio said. "This
I swear!"
"Not unless Michael enjoys fighting outside of Heaven," Pel-
lecus said.
Michael indicated for the defeated army of Lucifer to begin
walking toward the gate. All of the angels who had sided with
Lucifer began begging for mercy. But, as if compelled, they began
moving. The Host turned their backs on the guilty angels, ashamed
and saddened that some of their own had actually rebelled against
the Lord. Now, their horrible choices had led them to this even
more horrible end.
Some of the angels were still defiant, but most were terrified.
Most of them regretted having sided with Lucifer in such a reckless
affair. A few of the angels, like Amman's group, who had particu-
larly profaned the Most High in their break with him by presuming
upon the Most Holy Place, were divided further from the group.
Chains shackled them together and they disappeared into an abyss
from which their screams could be heard and out of which there
was no escape. They could be heard cursing and screaming as they
struggled in their dark prison awaiting further judgment at the end
of the age.
Lucifer was the last to leave the Temple steps. He muttered
something under his breath as he passed in front of Serus, whose
back was turned toward him like the others. As he made his way
closer and closer to the darkness he became more and more
enraged. How could this be? Why were they simply accepting this
without a struggle? He coul
d no longer contain the vicious feelings
inside him and looked up at Michael. He decided that he would not
accept defeat so graciously.
Michael saw the purplish light coming right at him. He didn't
have much time to think and quickly wielded his sword. The
angels watched in horror as Lucifer went up against Michael for
one last battle. Michael brought his sword down and crashed into
Lucifer who screamed in agony and went spinning out into the
270 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
Heavenlies. Lucifer growled like a beast and came roaring back.
Back and forth the two mighty angels thrusted and parried, mov-
ing ever closer to the dark opening in Heaven. Lucifer swung his
sword hard and it crashed into Michael's sword, sending streams of
light all over the City. Their swords were locked in struggle as
Archangel and Anointed Cherub faced each other. Lucifer's eyes
were like glowing purple coals. He smiled at Michael's apparent
distraction caused by the grotesque sight.
Suddenly, Michael's sword manifested the strange golden
aura. Lucifer backed away a bit. Michael raised the sword high
over his head. Lucifer looked at the menacing weapon and then
back at Michael. His hateful eyes met the Archangel's determined
eyes, ablaze with the righteousness of the Lord. Michael hesitated
for just a moment, giving Lucifer enough time to strike down hard
with his purplish sword. The Host gasped as Michael winced in
pain and reared back.
Michael looked to the Lord in the sky and suddenly his sword
began to shine even more brilliantly--a white gold which bathed
all of Heaven in its sheen. A strength he had never felt before
surged within him as he raised his sword for what he knew would
be the last time in this battle.
"In the name of the Lord," Michael said, as he brought the
sword up over his head, holding it with both hands. Lucifer saw
the blow coming, unstoppable, unavoidable.
"This is not over, Archangel!" Lucifer managed.