Chronicles of the
Children of Destiny
The Celestyel Angel Aphrayel
‘Torn Asunder’
by
Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly
http://noahidebooks.angelfire.com
Chapter One
‘Another!!!!?’ Aphrayel stood there, stunned at her Father’s
words. Stunned, shocked and
disheartened. In the over two millennia
since her beloved Samael had left her, now abiding in Sherwood Forest in
England, she had oh so often craved his company. To feel his touch, his caress,
his love. Yet her beloved Samael
– now the fallen Satan, having been renamed after her Saruvim brother – was, in
the destiny planned by her eternal father, to be with another. And not one of her
Celestyel angel sisters, but a human – a daughter of eve. Such was the announcement her father had just
made. And in that announcement, her
heart was torn asunder.
‘Dear Aphrayel.
I also ask you to be the one to share this offer of return to your
brother. I have sensed him in England
and know that Logos words are true.
Satan has softened. His heart is
again showing compassion. Yielding to the spirit of love and harmony. And thus, if his heart can show true love to
those of the children of Adam and Eve, if his heart can claim one true love
amongst the daughters of mankind, then I will allow him to return to Azion.’
‘Father. Do you know….. Do you know how I feel for Samael? How the love I felt for him all those years
ago still burns strong within me. And
you ask me to do this. To let Samael seek another heart, another love. How can you ask this of me Father? How can you ask?’
‘Daughter.
Samael is a creature, like yourself in many ways, yet his heart, dear
daughter, you have yet failed to understand.
I ask you, Aphrayel, to trust my judgement in this issue. In time you will understand.’
She
stood there. She stood there, unmoving,
perhaps unwilling to move. She wanted to
object – to say no. She wanted, as
others before her had done, to defy her God on this issue. Yet, in what he had just said, Aphrayel
perhaps saw wisdom. If the love Samael
had for her was true it would remain as such. Yet, if a daughter of men were to come
between them, better it be known. Better
it be known for both their sakes.
‘Very well. I will accede to
your request.’
‘You
may see him to declare his task at any time.
I leave it in your hands.’
She stood there, in the throne room
of Azion for a few moments, lingering to see if, perhaps her father would yield
– would change his mind. Yet, as she
knew in her God, such things once decided would be.
She
walked off, veering to the windows of the throneroom. She looked at her abode and also at Samael’s,
vacated for so many centuries. She would
shortly see her beloved. Yet, when she did,
she would keep her heart in check. She
would remain formal and not express her own heart. Her own concerns. She would let Samael show what he thought,
and of that she would learn what she needed to know.
* * *
* *
That
morning, after having played on his harpsichord as usual, Samael sat in
reflection. He thought on life in his
exile, living in Sherwood forest, the place he felt
most at home. Another millennia,
according to Logos, and he would be returned to Azion – the Golden city. It was not, now, to long a wait. But, as he did every day, his heart yearned
to be returned to the place he had once called home.
A knock
on the door interrupted his thoughts. He
stood up and answered the door, wondering if it could be Logos or Sandalphon. And, too his very great surprise, his one time
lover and best friend, the Celestyel angel Aphrayel stood before him. She was smiling at him, her face alive with
joy and happiness. ‘Greetings Lord
Lucifer,’ she said, the sarcasm obvious. Samael laughed at the title, but would not
let it go unanswered. ‘Lucifer? Come now, I am far from being a Babylonian
Prince.’ Aphrayel laughed at his joke,
the allusion obvious to her. Samael
continued. ‘My dear Aphrayel, what
brings you to my earthly abode?’ Aphrayel, ever so happy to see her beloved, asked the question. ‘What, no kiss for your one-time lover?’ Samael grinned a little. As with the initial meetings with Logos and
Sandalphon, with the great time that had passed since their last meetings, a
space had come between them. A space of,
not so much not knowing, but worry as to how much they
had changed and what type of person they were now. And with his lover Aphrayel before him, he
decided a formal approach may be the best way to start. ‘Well, I had thought about it, but felt that
such time has passed between us that such a thing might not be that
appropriate. Perhaps humanities ways are
rubbing off on me.’ Aphrayel reflected
on the comment. She did indeed want the
kiss but, understanding her mission, and the required formality, did not object
to her brother’s words. ‘I suppose that
must be it,’ she finally said in response.
‘Well,
are you going to invite me in, or must I stand here at the door into
perpetuity?’ Aphrayel asked. ‘Certainly. Come in, come in,’ said Samael.
She
entered the room and looked around the shack.
It seemed, in comparison to the abode her brother had once enjoyed, a
far humbler affair. A very basic wood
shack with very little in the way of furnishing, apart from a rather elaborate
harpsichord and 3 very nice bookcases.
She gave the harpsichord a quick look, wondering to its origin, but then
turned back to her beloved.
Samael motioned for her to sit on
one of the couches along the wall of his shack.
She sat down, and very shortly he spoke.
‘Now
tell me, why the visit? Is there some
news from the realm that I should be aware of?’
Aphrayel considered her words and decided to be honest. ‘Yes, I guess, in a way that is it. I will get straight to the point. Father has reviewed your situation. He has received from the Logos such glowing
reports on your progress that he has decided to give you an opportunity to end
your exile early. That is if you
complete a certain task that he has set for you.’ Samael looked directly at her. ‘To end his exile early’, he thought to
himself. ‘Could there possibly be any
better news,’ he pondered. ‘Yes, yes of
course. I would do anything to return to
the realm sooner than later. What is the
task?’ ’ ‘Well,’ began Aphrayel. ‘Father knows that you do indeed show
affection to us angels these days. But
he is not yet satisfied that your heart is full of the love which he birthed
you with. Because of this he has set a
test for you. The task is this. You will be made into completely human form –
able to die. And you will be given five
years in this form. Five years to show
that your heart really does in fact love.
In this five years you must, to be able to return to the realm, find
amongst the human beings one who calls you her true love.’
Samael looked at her.
‘One who calls me my true love?
You mean I must marry a daughter of Eve?’ ‘No, not necessarily. You will not have to marry her, but she must
call you her true love - forsaking all others to love you alone.’ Satan thought this over. It would be a challenge, certainly. But such an opportunity it was. He had to take it. ‘Yes, yes, I agree. It is certainly worth the challenge. Anything to return to the
realm.’
‘Well, before you get too carried away, there is one last requirement. You must tell her of your true identity. You must tell her that you are in fact the
old Devil, Satan himself.’ Samael stared
at her, slightly taken aback at that statement.
‘But, but. If I tell her who I
am, surely she will have nothing to do with me.
You know my reputation amongst the humans. They think I am the Lord of Evil. No, what you ask is surely too much.’ ‘I am afraid that is the condition’ replied
Aphrayel. ‘Father was quite adamant on
that point. Naturally, it is a difficult
decision. So, I will return to you in
three weeks at which time you can tell me your decision. If you decide to go ahead with it, you will
be made completely human and will have 5 years in which to find your true
love.’ ‘Yes, yes,’ said Samael. ‘I will need that time to think it
over.’ With that said Aphrayel got to
her feet and walked over to the door. ‘I
will see myself out, but I will return in three weeks. My love, I hope you make the right
decision.’ ‘Yes, so do I,’ said Samael. ‘So
do I’.
Chapter Two
Aphrayel
sat in her abode in Azion, Sandalphon over by the side counter, enjoying his
usual scotch. Yesterday she had spoken
with Samael and had told Sandalphon of the encounter. Sandalphon had been permitted to visit Samael
on occasions, when Father allowed, and had taken the news of Samael’s decision
calmly. In truth, such a matter of the
heart bothered Sandalphon little. Women
were no great concern in the grand scheme of things to the firstborn of the
Oraphim angels. Certainly, they had
their charms which he enjoyed, yet he did not give them the respect of
intellect which he allowed his fellow male angels. Yet, perhaps, not so much out of pride but
rather from the way he was used to treating the opposite gender due to their
usefulness for sexual pleasure. Perhaps,
as Aphrayel had considered from time to time, this diminished his respect for
his Celestyel sisters. Yet, in the many
millennia she had known him, his love for them still remained true, regardless
of his brutish mannerisms, which were all to common in the children of men.
‘Aphy. Let it bother you not. That is my advice. Samael – well – like me he has been known to
like a piece of flesh. All those years
ago when we first chased those human girls, he was as much a womanizer as the
rest of us. Apparently he had a child to
one of them. He mentioned that once, in
passing. We were drunk up late one
night, and I don’t think he remembered he had told me in the morning, but I
have never forgotten. So he says, a
woman from Cain’s line he had taken a fancy to and apparently gotten her
pregnant. Yet we were banished from our
human delights before he could ever see the child and confirm the
pregnancy. Yet he was sure she was
pregnant.’
Aphrayel
looked at him. She remembered those
days, when the sons of God had first encountered the daughters of men. They had filled their appetite on new flesh
until Logos, as he inevitably would, forbade them from
entering earth again. Was it true that
her beloved had sired a child? Was he a
Father? She put the thoughts aside, and instead returned to her current melancholy.
With 5
years he would likely, and perhaps inevitably, complete his task if he chose to
accept. Her brother, so experienced in
love-making and winning her heart would, she believed, if he chose to put his
mind to winning a daughter of Eve inevitably win one. Inevitably so.
Yet she
also knew, as her father had not stipulated otherwise, that Samael merely
needed the woman to love him. Samael
himself need not reciprocate such love.
That had never been mandated by her father. And in that fact, Aphrayel hoped, prayed and
believed that her beloved Samael would win the heart, yet never forget his true
love. On that desire Aphrayel placed all
of her hope.
* * *
* *
When Aphrayel returned to Samael three weeks later, her
brother had made up his mind. The knock
came to the door and Samael opened it, expecting Aphrayel, who indeed it
was. ‘Well, lover. Have you made up your mind?’ ‘Yes, yes I have,’ said Samael. ‘I will go through with the agreement.’ ‘Very well,’ Aphrayel said. ‘Follow me outside, and take off all your
clothing.’ Samael undressed and followed
her outside. Aphrayel led the way to a
small clearing a few yards away from Samael’s shack. ‘Stand there,’ she said, pointing to the
middle of the clearing. Samael did as
requested. She raised her hands and
looked towards heaven. Soon she spoke
out in the angelic tongue. ‘Yelti, yelti. Hada Samactani. Sata Saruv Samactani.’ Suddenly a great wave of light shone down
from above, encompassing Samael all around.
He was lifted a few feet of the ground and suddenly he felt his body
changing. ‘What was happening?’ he
thought to himself. Before he got an
answer the light suddenly diminished, and he was dropped to the ground. Instantly he passed out.
* * *
* *
As her
father had requested, Aphrayel took Samael’s now human body and flew, ever so
quickly to the place Father had designated, in a forest in northern Wales. Reaching the destination, Aphrayel placed her
beloved’s body, naked, upon the forest floor.
She looked at him, longingly. He,
now that he had indeed made the decision to go through with the task, would
face true humanity. And he, as Logos had
already done, would find just what it was like to be human in every
respect. She looked over his body,
prayed a silent prayer of protection to her father for him, and spoke the words
to bring forth the portal to Azion.
* * * * *
‘They
are at rest, Aphrayel.’ Aphrayel nodded,
but not really understanding what her oldest brother, the Logos, meant by such
a statement. ‘Humans are at rest at
death, Logos. I understand that
truth. Yet, where do they go when they
die? They certainly do not come here and
I know of no place other than our home.’
Logos,
sitting in his room above the temple and below the throneroom of God,
considered his response to his sister.
They mysteries of life and the universe, it would seem, Aphrayel rarely
questioned in great detail. Perhaps this
was just the nature of Aphrayel, or perhaps it had never been needed by herself to ask such questions.
‘Aphrayel. My mother, Mary, whom much of the Church is
truly devoted to, lives in a place away from us. A paradise we of the Realm of Infinity do not
travel to, can not in fact travel to. As
you do know, I am away from here very often.
Often for days and weeks at a time. And I do not share were I go with my angelic
brethren, despite the numerous queries. They assume I am on earth, ministering to the
church. While this is true at times, at
others I am in my Father’s eternal house.
A place, a realm, were I work with others to
build the new universe – the new eternal home for all the children of
mankind. Others assist me in this
endeavour. The patriarch Enoch works
with other angels who you do not know to build various communities awaiting the
resurrection. These angels, who no other
of Infinity knows about, and I forbid you to share this news with them, live in
a Realm called the Realm of Eternity. It
is, in many ways like ours, yet different as well. And in that place, as strange as it may seem,
are faces you may know. Connected to
this Realm – the Realm of Eternity – are portals which lead to new planets, alike Earth, were the resurrected humans will live. Now, each of these planets has what I would
term a netherworld or a Hades. Every
human, depending on race, culture, family and many other factors, is chosen to
be placed in a particular abode of the dead in several of these planets. And when the great day of the resurrection
comes, they will come to new life on these planets. New life in their eternal
abodes. It is in these
netherworlds, dear Aphrayel that humans go to when they die. Some are lucky, and already enjoy the life of
these worlds, my mother included. Yet
some await in the netherworlds, awaiting their
judgements and rewards.’
Aphrayel
looked at him, quite shocked. Eventually
she spoke. ‘Other
Angels? The
Realm of Eternity? But, but why
have you never spoken of this. Surely we
should know such details.’
‘Father
has asked me to reveal such things sparingly.
I have judged that in your need such information will comfort your soul,
so have decided to give you this information.
Yet I forbid you, Aphrayel, from telling others this news. It is for you alone.’ She nodded, now having some form of
understanding were Samael, if he were to die
unexpectedly, perhaps might go when he died.
‘Thank you, brother. Thank you
for sharing that with me.’ ‘Be at peace,
Aphrayel. Be at peace.’ Logos touched her forehead, gently caressing
her head with the love of the oldest child of Infinity, Aphrayel accepting the
caress with the purity and love in which it was given.
Chapter Three
Aphrayel
stood in the library of Azion, just north of the temple in the centre of the
city. She stood, gazing down into the
viewing portal Logos had created to enable the angels to watch over humanity. She knew not how it worked, but did know that
whatever name she spoke of to be viewed, was brought to life in the calm water
of the portal. And the name she had
spoken was that of Samael her brother.
Initially, when she had said his name, only a dim image had
appeared. And then she remembered Logos
words and said ‘Satan’, after which he appeared far more clearly. Such, she recalled, was the judgement of God
on that issue.
She, as
she had done these last few days, had been following her brother’s
progress. He had come from the forest to
the town of Beltingham and then to Crossden where he now resided. And one female human in particular, a lady
called Rachel, had been associating with him.
The
incident with the teenager Lucy had bothered her, yet Samael had had little to
do with her after this incident, usually just speaking with her at the dinner
table of the Samaritan hostel.
Right at
the moment, though, she was concerned.
Some of the words Samael had been saying to Rachel expressed an interest
in her above what Aphrayel desperately hoped for. And now, Samael was in the abode of Rachel
for the second time. To say the least,
Aphrayel was concerned. She spoke ‘sound’,
and the conversation between Samael and Rachel came alive to her.
‘So, I
guess Callodyn, that is just life in Crossden. It has its ups, its downs. I am used to it and it suits me well
enough. It suits me well enough I
suppose.’ Samael nodded. He looked at the clock. They had been speaking for a while now, and
with Celia absent he was a little concerned of what Rachel may think,
especially after her words the last time, so decided to call it a night.
* * *
* *
Perhaps
for the second time in recent weeks Aphrayel’s heart was torn asunder. She sat on her couch, Lovrayel her Celestyel
sister seated next to her, encouraging her to drink some Orange and Lemon
juice, while Sandalphon stood, as usual, over by the counter drinking his
scotch.
‘It is
as I told you, Aphy. Samael does not
have the heart like you think. It is a
male’s heart – a man’s heart. Not a
woman’s. You girls devote yourself to a
man and, I think, vainly assume he will return such love. But sister, while we may say at times we love
thee truly, and in fact there may be love, yet do not be so deceived into
thinking the devotion you seek is in any way the equal to which you give. Aphrayel, do not be so naïve. We men are hard. It is the difference, you see, between the
sexes. Men are naturally aggressive,
forceful, outgoing. Women are often the
opposite. It is why we are attracted to
each other. Do you see what I am driving
at?’
Lovrayel
nodded, affirming Sandalphon’s words.
‘He may be an idiot, sis. But
Sandalphon’s words are laced with wisdom.
It really is what is different between is.’ Aphrayel, ever so melancholic, asked the
question. ‘So, what is your point
Sandy? What is your point?’ ‘My point is this, beloved sister. Samael may fall for this Rachel woman. He may express his love. In fact he may express his eternal love. And, in truth, he may love the woman. But lass, know this truth. He is a man.
He is a man. And while he may say
as such today, and for many a long year, his heart will inevitably wander, as they
all do. And in you, Aphy, while he may
in deed love you, while perhaps not as you wish, but perhaps as you need,
Samael will find a friendship. A friend, from his youth, who he will always have in his life. He will always want to be near you and around
you Aphrayel. You will never, really,
lose him. He will go with women, don’t
doubt that. But in you his sister he
will find a comfort and a friend which will last forever. It is the pragmatic relationship that you
will both need.’
Lovrayel,
having listened to Sandalphon’s words, found wisdom in her older brother’s
statement. She turned to Aphrayel. ‘You know, as much as I hate to admit it, the
big lug probably has a point. It is what
men are like. It is their nature. Perhaps if you can find some solace in that
truth, Aphy, your heart will mend.
Aphrayel
nodded, sipped on the juice, yet in her heart would not be consoled. They were comforting words yet, perhaps, that
was all they were. They were not
reality. Her brother may in fact love
the woman forever. That was part of
Samael’s nature – the seriousness with which he had been born. And she doubted it would change any time
soon.
Chapter Four
6080 SC (2010 AD)
Rachel
Rothchild, Crossden resident for 26 long years, reflected on the simple fact
that her silent prayer to God for a man may finally have been answered. Callodyn was, to Rachel, perfect. Not only did his life situation not bother
her, she found it a comfort instead.
Callodyn was humble because of what life had thrown at him. While she knew not that his tale of living on
the streets was false, it was indeed true that his sojourn on earth had humbled
the once proud firstborn Onaphim. Yet,
in this humility that had been born within the soul of Samael – having taken
the human name of Callodyn Bradlock in his new human form – Rachel found a
peace, a gentleness, and a strength which she desired,
oh so greatly. He seemed, in truth, wise
beyond his years. As if he had
experienced much and instinctively understood that life was life – you took it
as it came. He was in many ways reserved
about things, in conversations, in actions – yet in those reservations it was
as if he instinctively understood what others saw in their actions and, in his
experience, as if he had lived through such things countless times
already. As if he already knew how life
worked.
His red
hair suited his face, which was quite handsome.
He was shaven and had not grown any facial hair since she had met
him. Apparently this was his preference,
which she secretly preferred. Her father
had, perhaps still in the old Torah tradition of the Rothchild family, worn the
beard long and unshaven, as her grandfather in fact still did. Though as a Jewish family this was not that
surprising. However, in the liberties of
Anglican faith to which she had been raised, Rachel preferred the practice of a
shaved face and a neat and trim appearance.
It is what she was more suited to and, thankfully, what Callodyn
displayed for her.
It
seemed to her, especially now that Callodyn was working and seemed to have the
promise of a good future, that he would make the ideal
partner for life. The
ideal person to be her husband.
In truth she loved him. And in fact, quite greatly now. His personality had won her, in fact, almost
instantly. So, if she dared, she would
subtly broach the subject of marriage that evening. Subtly let her new love know just what was on
her mind.
* * *
* *
Leaving
the portal, Aphrayel’s heart was again in emotional torment. Rachel had spoken with Samael and declared
her love. A love which Aphrayel, looking
at the way Rachel always acted around her beloved, knew to be true. And then Samael had likewise voiced similar
love to Rachel. And now Aphrayel felt
that, perhaps, she had lost her love.
Perhaps he would be gone from her.
She sat
down on one of the chairs in the library, her heart full of silent misery, not
noticing the soft footsteps of Logos approaching. He spoke her name. ‘Aphrayel. Sister. Father would speak to you.’ She looked up at her brother, and looked into
his face. ‘Yes,
brother. I guess he might. If he knows what Samael and Rachel have
expressed, I guess he may.’
Logos
reached out and took Aphrayel by the arm, leading her in a walk around the
library. Shortly he spoke. ‘Sister. I know your love is true for Satan. I know you feel strongly for his heart, and
his welfare. And, in truth, I care as
such also. Yet this love, if it is to be
true – if it is to be eternally true – must stand the test of time. It must be tested. It must be put through trials and tribulation
which, not only does it not like, yet truly detest. It must be put to the most thorough of
examinations. For, dear sister, if it is
not true love. If it does not last and
overcome all obstacles – then it is not for you. If Satan ultimately does not call upon your
name – your heart – your love – then he is not yours,
and never will be. Yet a truth remains,
Aphrayel. A truth which means that you
needn’t worry, you needn’t concern.
Whatever will be will be, Aphrayel. Yet, if it is indeed meant to be – if your
natures are to be one – then they will inevitably be as such. In this truth you need not fear. If he is to be yours, then time will lead him
back to you.’ Aphrayel nodded, somewhat
comforted by her brothers words. Yes, in
truth, she thought to herself. Whatever
will be will be.
* * *
* *
‘Thus is what you shall say.’ Aphrayel nodded,
understanding the task father had just set her.
God, it seemed, had been monitoring the situation between Samael and
Rachel and had decided it was now appropriate for Samael to be reminded once
again of the full terms of the requirements of his return to Azion. To be reminded that not only must he child of
Eve declare her love for him, but for him to tell her of his true identity –
the ancient Devil. This reminder
Aphrayel was now to give to Samael.
She left
the throneroom and started her way back to her abode. Having returned, she went to the kitchen to
get some Lemon and Orange juice, a juice she had been enjoying recently. A knock came to her door, and she expected it
to be Sandalphon, who usually visited her daily. She found her older Oraphim brother, new
bottle of scotch in hand, standing at her doorway, already slightly drunk. ‘Driinghk with mmehh,
Affie.’ She looked at him, and
smiled. She should probably tell him to
go away so she could dwell in misery, yet, perhaps, getting drunk may be just
what she needed. So, perhaps against her
better judgement, she invited her brother in.
Later
that night, after they had made love, Sandalphon being one of the few of her
brothers whose intimacies she still enjoyed, Aphrayel lay on her bed next to
her drunk sleeping brother, looking up at the
ceiling. That was life, she thought to
herself. Sometimes, in ways unexpected,
it fixed itself – and not always in the way you would want – but perhaps,
despite its many flawed approaches, in the way you needed. She looked at Sandalphon, realizing that
while, in truth, her heart belonged to Samael, she loved
Sandalphon – Sandy – as the brother who had remained her closest friend for
many long centuries. In Samael’s absence
he was her main lover, he also partaking of Gemrayel’s affections, as he always
had. Yet, she did realize that despite
the loneliness in her heart that only Samael could fill, Sandalphon – big
hunking, brutally male Sandalphon – was also a dear and treasured part of her
heart and soul. And because of that she
silently thanked God for the solace her older Oraphim brother brought.
Chapter Five
Aphrayel,
having told Samael God’s judgement was still intact, had returned from earth
and was now in the library watching Samael through the portal. Samael had proposed and Rachel had accepted. And Aphrayel, now used to the way her love
had gone after another woman, watched on with a guarded heart. The wedding had been traditional and Samael
had looked the proper gentleman in his tuxedo.
And now, today, Rachel and Samael were in a hotel on the Welsh coast,
having made love that morning, and reclining.
‘Aphrayel. Go
stand in front of Samael’s abode. You
and others will be there. Go there now.’
Aphrayel, in response to the command of God, reluctantly
left the viewing portal and walked out of the library through its northern
entrance, to see other angels standing just in front of Samael’s tower. Logos, Sandalphon
and a whole host of the angels – probably most of them – stood in front of the
tower. She approached and made a query
to Logos who explained that they were awaiting someone.
Moments
passed, and then a vortex of light appeared in the sky just in front of the
gathered crowd. Slowly, coming through
the vortex, was a figure – a figure which Aphrayel knew immediately – her
beloved brother Samael.
Samael
landed on the ground and looked around, almost as if he was not sure were he
was. Logos came forward and greeted him,
as the other angels did in turn.
She
looked on, and realization of what had happened struck home. He must have kept the terms of the task, and
now Father had brought her beloved home.
She had brought her Samael back to her.
After
half an hour of various greetings and well wishes, Aphrayel made her way over
to Logos, Sandalphon and Samael. She
made her way slowly, anxious to see him.
Samael
turned towards her. ‘Aphrayel!’ he
said. She nodded. He then came forward and hugged his sister.
* * *
* *
She,
sitting there with Samael next to her, Sandalphon over by the side enjoying his
scotch, was blissfully happy. So blissfully happy.
Samael was returned, and life was, finally, back to the way it should
always have been.
‘I
suppose, for such a long exile, I may have expected something more from Father
in the words he spoke. Yet he simply
welcomed me home.’
‘Bah. Worry not for such things brother,’ began
Sandalphon. ‘Father is glad for you to
be back but life, Samael, goes on. We
knew you would return eventually. Do not
get me wrong, we are glad to see you back, but life has a merry strum here in
Azion. You will find yourself back in
the routine. Mark my words.’ Samael nodded, seemingly agreeing with those
words.
‘Life is
good, brother,’ began Aphrayel. ‘I know
that while you were on earth you encountered some of the harsher elements of
existence. But life in Azion is
blissful, really. I am sure, once you
again accustom yourself to this life, you will be back to your old self. This is your home of birth. It is what you will instinctively understand
very soon, I am sure of it.’
‘I
guess,’ began Samael. ‘I did have such a
great sojourn amongst men, though. It is
most strange, in some ways, to actually be away from earth, now back home. As if I had been uprooted.’
‘You’ll
get used to it,’ said Sandalphon.
‘I
suppose,’ replied Samael.
* * *
* *
Yet her
beloved, while seemingly at peace and joy in the great return to his beloved
home, was not at rest. He was not at
peace. And as the year
slowly passed by Aphrayel sensed within Samael a yearning – a deep yearning –
for something and, perhaps, someone.
She tried denying it for a while but, inevitably, she acknowledged that
it was likely the woman Rachel who Samael longed for – desired to touch – to be
intimate with again. He did not
explicitly state as such to herself but once, in lovemaking, he called her that
name and Aphrayel knew her love’s heart was elsewhere.
A little
while later, Aphrayel was sitting quietly beside the pond of Rageeta garden, at
the northern most edge of the golden city of Azion. She sat on the grass, drinking some melit
water from the jug she had with her. She
sat there, staring at the pond, when she heard a voice hail her. She turned to see Samael approaching. She rose to her feet and smiled at her
beloved as he came near. He spoke. ‘Aphrayel. We need to talk.’ ‘Yes, Samael. What is it?’
‘My heart, Aphrayel. It is broken.
It will not mend – it cannot mend.
It is missing a vital part – a part that must be restored to me.’ Aphrayel looked at him, and turned towards
the pond, hiding her face from him.
There was disappointment there.
She knew she had lost him. That
she had not won back her love. That,
despite her constant affections towards him – her prayers to God – her purest
love – that she had failed to win the heart of her beloved.
She
turned to him. ‘Go to Father,
Samael. He may allow you to see
Rachel. He is most gracious and
merciful.’ Samael looked at her, and
nodded, then turned and walked away.
* * *
* *
And
then, no sooner had he been returned, then he was gone
again. Almost in a
moment. And yet again, the heart
of Aphrayel, Celestyel Angel of the Realm of Infinity, was torn asunder.
She
watched him in the portal from time to time – she watched him in his new life
with Rachel. She saw how happy – how
blissful – how joyful his life was and knew that her brother was now at
peace. That he had found contentment for
his heart. Yet hers was not – could not
– be as such.
She
spent her days, neglecting her work duties, which Logos allowed her to,
reclusive in her abode, even now occasionally partaking of some of Sandalphon’s
devilish scotch. She was – to state it
bluntly – depressed. And
then one day, the most strange of announcements. News which, for the
community of Azion, seemed perhaps most unexpected.
Logos,
of course, had become human all those years ago and walked in Israel – the
redeeming Christ for mankind, still an issue of much contention. Yet while Samael had preceded him in arriving
on earth for any great length, he had followed him in his human manifestation. For these things, a purpose had been
stated. Yet these two, it would seem,
were not to be the only ones to taste human existence.
Samael’s
wife, Rachel, had become pregnant. Even
now God was knitting together the fabric of life for the child within the womb
of Rachel. Yet one thing was necessary
for this child – necessary in its very early developments inside the womb. This child would be born with an Angelic
spirit. Born – in
truth – as an Angel of God. And,
it would seem, God and Logos had selected one of her brothers to be born as
this child. And the one selected was the
firstborn of the Oraphim, her best friend Sandalphon.
* * *
* *
‘You
have to be excited, Sandalphon. It is a
new start – a new beginning.’ ‘Bah. Such things are for fools like Logos. He likes humans that much that he was happy
to be one of them. It is the last thing
I would want to do.’ Aphrayel knew her
brother would react this way, yet persisted.
‘You
know, it is a little ironic. You are to
be Samael’s child. You’ll have to call
him, as the humans put it, daddy.’ There
was just the faintest hint of a jibe in Aphrayel’s voice. Sandalphon looked at her and, with a slight grin said ‘Shaddup’.
Aphrayel continued unperturbed.
‘Little baby Sandalphon. I am
sure you will make the cutest of children.’
Sandalphon
strode over to the window and looked out.
He took a sip from his glass and said, ‘It is so long now. So long since I have been
young. Father tells me, you know,
that each of us will go through this.
Each angel will taste the flesh of human life.’ Aphrayel nodded, already having been informed
of that fact.
‘It is a
new beginning brother. A new life, almost.
And, perhaps, you will never be the same again. Never quite the same old
Sandalphon.’ He looked at her,
looked out at the window, and muttered, ‘Yeh.’
Chapter Six
5981 SC (2011 AD)
Callodyn looked at the child in his arms. He looked at his beloved Rachel, who looked
up at him from the hospital bed, the exhausted look on her face betraying the
ordeal she had just been through. ‘Well?’
she asked.
‘Is grandfather’s name acceptable?’
Callodyn looked at her, and again looked down at the child in his
arms. ‘Young Leopold Bradlock,’ he
said. ‘You will be fine young man. You will be a fine young man.’ Rachel looked at both of them and
smiled. She was exhausted, but she was
happy. They had a child and, in many
ways, Rachel’s life was now complete.
She had family.
* * *
* *
Aphrayel
had not really expected it. So soon
after Sandalphon’s departure, and suddenly Logos announced that several more of
the angels of Infinity would be becoming human.
And, surprisingly enough, that included herself. Logos came to her abode and shared with her her new destiny. She
was to be born to, ironically enough, a couple who also lived in Crossden, very
near to were Samael and Rachel had set up home.
They were David and Samantha Talbourne.
The Talbourne’s were an ancient English family, and David had moved to
Crossden with his wife Samantha after a job lead which had proven
successful. Logos instructed her that
the Talbourne’s, as so many were, were dear to God’s heart, and that in her
destiny this family would be the best and most suitable home for Aphrayel to
become part of. Aphrayel trusted God so
assumed that her Father’s plan for her would be in her best interests.
She
pondered the news greatly in the few weeks before the incarnation. She had seen Sandalphon’s birth via the
portal and now knew she would be joining him.
And, of course, she would grow up in Crossden and, perhaps inevitably,
get to know Sandalphon, Samael and Rachel.
Perhaps, it would seem, such was part of her destiny.
* * *
* *
‘Just
relax, Aphrayel. Just relax.’ Aphrayel was surrounded by Logos and her
Celestyel sisters, lying on a bed in Logos abode. It was the time of the incarnation. Logos had prayed first, and was now drawing a
spiritual veil into the mind of Aphrayel.
‘This veil, sister, will make you slowly forget your past. Do not be alarmed, it will be slow and
gradual. And while it is happening you
will drift off to sleep. And after that,
you will come into the life of the child in the womb. Your new beginning.’ Aphrayel nodded, still a little nervous, but
excited as well.
Her mind
felt, as the veil entered, at peace and suddenly overflowing with a feeling of
ecstasy. She pondered various thoughts –
as if all her life came to her at once – and in that encounter she sensed God present, teaching her a lesson. Teaching her a basic lesson of what it had
all been about so far and the purpose she served. And right at that moment, it seemed, she had
answers. Answers, suddenly, to the
millions of questions she had asked in life, about the purpose of it all. Suddenly it was all so clear. Suddenly it was all so beautiful. Suddenly everything just made perfect
sense. And then, just as suddenly, she
was gone – off to the new world, the new life – to begin again amongst the
children of men.
* * *
* *
5981 SC (2011 AD)
‘David. Come here, quickly. You can feel it kick.’ David Talbourne came over to his wife
Samantha and felt the child in her womb.
After a few moments he did feel it kicking. And it kicked and carried on like that for a
good few minutes. ‘It hasn’t done
anything like that before,’ said David.
‘Why the sudden rush?’ ‘I don’t
know, beloved. It is as if the child
suddenly came alive. As
if it was suddenly glad to be alive.’
‘Well so it should be,’ said David.
‘We love it to bits and will work damn hard to give it a good life. The best of all lives.’ Samantha nodded knowingly. Her husband often made claims, yet was
always, as belied his character, willing to make good on them.
* * *
* *
5989 SC (2019 AD)
When she
was 7 years old, Jane ‘Aphrayel’ Talbourne noticed the boy down the street. Leopold, although he hung mainly with Justin
Goldfire and Alex Radrillion, two boys she knew but really didn’t like that
much due to their dangerous or reckless behaviour, seemed like the sort of boy
she could be friends with.
Leopold’s
parents had brought her family to dinner one night, when she was introduced to
Leopold and his baby sister Rebecca.
Jane had
felt very different at the dinner that night.
Of course, she had never met Leopold’s parents personally prior to that
occasion, although she had seen them from time to time. Yet there was strangely familiar about Mr
Bradlock. As if she had known him
before. Of course, she knew that could
not be true, yet found these thoughts interesting – especially for a mind as
adventurous as young Jane Talbourne’s had become.
Her
daddy, David, was an accountant who worked for a chain of pubs, the main one
being stationed in Crossden were she lived.
Apparently Mr Bradlock worked in the main pub, which was how he knew her
daddy. Over time they had become friends
and Mr Bradlock had invited her family to dinner for the first time that Jane
could remember (although, actually, she had been a few times in her younger
years, but had forgotten the occasions).
However, now that she was getting a little older, Leopold stood out to
her.
Leopold,
for a young lady like Aphrayel, seemed to be the childhood friend she desired
that would make a memory for her whole lifetime. Jane knew she was not that popular a girl in
school – she was teased and none of the other girls liked talking to her, nor
the boys. Leopold was in the year higher
than her at Crossden School. She noticed
him there, as well as Alex and Justin, yet it was Leopold who normally
attracted her interest.
Leopold
seemed, like her daddy, a strong character.
Someone, for a young heart who sought such heroes in its life, that she could look up to and rely on. She felt, which was perhaps naïve for someone
so young, but she felt that in Leopold she would find a friend – someone who
would take care of her and be kind to her.
Almost like the brother she never had.
One day,
after school, and walking home (which her parents had allowed due to the very
good crime record for Crossden and the short distance to home), Jane noticed
Leopold, Alex and Justin playing over in the park on Smith Street, just around
the corner from home. Plucking up the
courage, she came over to them to say hello.
‘Hi Leopold. Hi Justin. Hi Alex.’ The three boys looked at her. ‘Girlie, girlie,’ yelled Alex, Justin soon
joining in the chant. Jane was about to
walk away, disappointed, when Leopold came over to her. ‘Don’t worry about them, Jane. They are just teasing. You can be friends with us if you like.’ Leopold turned to the other two. ‘That’s ok, isn’t it?’ Justin nodded. ‘Yeh. Jane is alright.’ ‘It would be good to be friends with Jane,’
Alex agreed.
They
spent the afternoon their in the park, playing for hours. It was eventually Mrs Bradlock and Jane’s
mother, worried out of their minds, who found them were they expected them to
be. ‘We have been worried sick
Jane. Have you been here all afternoon,
playing with Leopold and his friends?’
‘Yes mummy. We have been having
fun. They are my new friends.’ Samantha looked at Rachel. ‘We have a gang, it would seem.’ Rachel nodded. ‘As long as they don’t turn out to be a gang,
then it’s okay with me. It would be good
for Leopold to have a female friend. And
I have always hoped he would like Jane.’
Leopold, standing between his mother Rachel’s legs, looked up at his
mother and said, ‘I like Jane, mum.
She’s fun to play with.’ Jane
looked at her mother. ‘Can we play here
after school each day? Can we,
please?’ Samantha looked at Rachel. ‘Well, is that okay with you?’ ‘I think it will be okay, Samantha. I can check them from time to time and ask
Hilda to keep an eye on them.’
‘Hilda?’ ‘She is an old friend of
my mother Celia’s, and lives just there,’ said Rachel, pointing to a house
right next to the park. ‘I think if she
keeps an eye on them they’ll probably be fine.
Crossden is so safe these days.
Ever since that minor recession ended it seems as if crime has virtually
disappeared from our town. Grandma tells
me it’s like the old days – when you trusted your neighbour and left your house
unlocked.’ ‘Yes, I know what you are
saying Rach. Times have certainly
changed for the better, fortunately. I
am so grateful we came to Crossden because of it.’ ‘mmm,’ nodded Rachel
knowingly.
Later
on, after dinner, Jane was finishing off her basic homework, to draw a picture
of her mum for show and tell on Monday morning.
Samantha had brought out some charcoal and a large sheet of art paper
for Jane to draw on. Jane knew that her
drawing was not very good, but perhaps instinctively knew that this was because
she was young. When she had finished,
she brought it to her mother and said, ‘Do you like it mummy?’ Samantha looked at the picture and nodded. ‘It is wonderful, Jane.’
That
night thoughts of all kind were in the head of Jane Talbourne. Thoughts of school,
thoughts of her drawing of her mum, and thoughts of the Bradlock’s. She thought on Leopold and felt, just maybe,
she would find the friend – the kind friend – she wanted, and perhaps really
did need.
* * *
* *
‘Go on
Leo. I dare you.’ ‘Well if you say so, Jane.’ The four of them were just up from the
playground, a hundred metres up the road, near the pipe which ran under the
road into the murky darkness. Jane had
dared Leopold to venture into the pipe.
‘Are you two coming?’ Leopold asked Alex and Justin. ‘We’ll wait until you return. You can be the scout,’ said Alex. ‘Chicken,’ said Leopold, who started into the
pipe.
The
three of them sat there for a few minutes, as Leopold yelled out various things
from inside the pipe, before the brave adventurer returned. They looked at what he was carrying – a
bright orange street traffic lamp, one of those used to ward off cars and
trucks. It was not flashing, however,
and seemingly had been dumped there by reckless youths of latter years. They all grabbed it, looking over it, trying
in vain to make it flash – yet to no avail.
‘I want to take it home,’ said Alex.
‘Yeh, you would,’ said Justin.
‘Well I found it, so I will decide,’ said Leopold. He turned to Jane, got down on his knees and
said, ‘Your Majesty’, presenting her with the traffic light. ‘You dork,’ said Justin, Alex echoing. But Jane was thrilled, and said, ‘Thank you
noble Knight,’ in return.
They
returned to the park, yet each of them planned on visiting the pipe some time
later to see just what else lay hidden within it.
* * *
* *
‘Now
what, exactly, is that?’ asked David Talbourne to his wife Samantha. ‘A traffic light, dear,’ his wife
replied. David nodded. ‘mmm.’ He looked at Jane who was on the couch
watching television. ‘Is that your
traffic light, dearest?’ Jane, while
hearing her father speak was not concentrating, but
intent on the episode of Ben 10. David
thought about repeating the question after no apparent answer, but Samantha said
to let Jane watch her television. David
looked at the traffic light and said, ‘Now were on God’s green earth did she
find that?’ ‘Who knows,’ was Samantha’s
reply.
Chapter Seven
Logos
sat in his abode in the temple of God in Azion, the Golden City. Aphrayel was on his mind – now Jane
Talbourne. In truth Logos realized that
Samael had fallen for the woman Rachel Rothchild and had married her. Yet, in truth, he believed that there was,
ultimately, one true love for his brother Samael, and he tended to believe that
would be his sister Aphrayel. They were,
he felt, the most suitable of couples.
Sandalphon,
now Leopold Bradlock, Samael’s human son under his human name of Callodyn
Bradlock, would perhaps come between them to a degree. Watching through the portal Logos realized
that since their seventh years, the two of them – Jane and Leopold – had been
inseparable.
Yet the
love of his beloved sister Aphrayel – a love which had been torn asunder –
would be healed one day. Of that being
the truth did Logos have no doubts.
* * *
* *
5994 SC (2024 AD)
When
Jane Talbourne turned twelve, and was hanging in the Bradlock’s back yard with
Leopold, Callodyn Bradlock arrived home early from work one day with some
flex-time taken that he had built up. He
was speaking with his wife Rachel in the kitchen and noticed Leopold and Jane
out back so decided to go and say hello.
The two
of them were inseparable these days, as they had seemingly been since they were
7. Over that time Callodyn had noticed
things about them. Character traits and
behaviours which reminded him of his angelic brethren
back home – a fact he found most interesting.
Coming
outside, Leopold rushed past him, yelling to Jane that he would be back in a
few minutes, saying a cursory ‘hi dad’ to his father.
Callodyn
came out, nevertheless, and sat down on the porch bench, a little away from
were Jane was sitting.
Jane
looked at him. She sat there staring at
him for quite a few moments, which made Callodyn a little nervous. After a while he spoke up. ‘So, Jane. How was school today?’ ‘Its holidays Mr Bradlock.’ ‘Oh, that’s right. I was forgetting. I suppose you and Leopold and Justin and Alex
have had a good time of it, then?’
‘Justin and Alex are away on holidays.
It is just me and Leopold.’
Callodyn nodded, understanding gained.
‘I suppose you two must be good friends by now.’ Jane nodded.
‘Yep.
Leopold is like my brother. That
is how I feel about him. I couldn’t live
without him.’ ‘Really?’ asked Callodyn,
rhetorically.
Jane
picked up a set of the Super League trading cards, which both herself and
Leopold collected, and brought them over to Callodyn. She stood next to him and started showing him
some of her favourite Welsh players.
Callodyn, feeling her presence for the first time in a long time so
closely, was startled. It was as if he
was in the presence of someone he knew – someone he knew intimately, and for
many years. Almost as if she was one of
the angels of God, which he knew could not be true.
He
looked at her, noting her face and thought instinctively of his sister
Aphrayel. She did not have Aphrayel’s
looks, but, perhaps, could be the kind of child born to an Aphrayel, from his
experience in seeing humans and their offspring. She could almost be a child of Aphrayel he
thought to himself.
He
wondered to himself, just then, were his beloved
sister was in life. What she was doing,
back home, in the Realm of Infinity. He
had thought of her occasionally, as he had most of his brethren, yet of course
not constantly, so much so had he been enthralled with his new life with
Rachel. But Aphrayel had been on his
mind from time to time, and he did miss his sister.
‘What
are you thinking about?’ Jane asked Callodyn.
‘Oh nothing, Jane. Just an angel I once knew.’ ‘An angel. You really knew an angel?’ ‘Well, perhaps,’ responded Callodyn. ‘What is this card? Is it a special one?’ Jane looked at the card Callodyn was
holding. ‘That is one of the foil
cards. They come one per pack. Every player in the super league has a foil
card. They are hard to get for your
favourite players.’ ‘Oh really,’ said
Callodyn, looking at the card, but thinking of his sister Aphrayel.
‘Was she
pretty?’ Callodyn looked at the card in
his hand, although thinking of his sister.
‘Sorry, what did you say, Jane?’
‘The angel you knew. Was she was
pretty?’ Callodyn looked straight at
her. ‘She was just as pretty as you,
Jane. Just as pretty
as you.’ Jane smiled, and gave
Callodyn a hug. ‘Thank you Mr
Bradlock. That was really sweet of
you.’ ‘Think nothing of it, Miss
Talbourne.’
They
went through the super-league cards for the next few minutes, Leopold
eventually returning with the set of Australian Rugby League cards that he had
found in his room – something which he had bid for and won on eBay.
Later
that night, Callodyn lay on his bed, next to Rachel, thinking of his sister
Aphrayel. He had been close to Aphrayel
– so close – for thousands of years. And
then, not so long ago, they had met again after centuries of exile. Yet at the time his heart had been
pre-occupied with Rachel, so much so that he had not given his beloved sister
the attention she deserved. Since being
returned to earth he’d had no news of the heavenly realm. None of his brothers or sisters had contacted
him since his being returned to Rachel and Crossden. This had not really bothered him, though, as
he was engrossed with his life with Rachel, Leopold and his daughter
Rebecca. They had consumed his heart
since his return to earth. Yet Aphrayel
had been at the back of his mind from time to time, and right at that moment he
wished, if it were at all possible, to be able to see his beloved sister, one
who he had cared for so greatly. Yet,
seemingly, such a thing was not possible.
So instead he thought on her and gave a silent prayer to God for his
sister’s life and well-being.
* * *
* *
5994 SC (2024 AD)
A little
later on that year, after an incident in which Leopold, Alex and Justin stood
up to a bully near the train-yards of Crossden, a favourite hang-out spot for
the gang, Leopold and Jane were again in the Bradlock’s back yard.
Callodyn,
arriving home, noted Jane sitting talking to Leopold. He noted her from the kitchen window, and
taking his dinner his wife had left him in the oven, as she had gone out for a
bingo night with Samantha, Callodyn went into the main living room and sat in
front of the television watching the nightly news.
After a
while Leopold and Jane came inside. They
sat down in front of Callodyn watching the news. Callodyn looked at them. He thought on Jane and again thought on
Aphrayel. And then he thought back to
the times he, Aphrayel and Sandalphon were together, enjoying their lives,
usually in Aphrayel’s abode in Azion, the Golden city. Perhaps, in a strange way, Sandalphon was
replaced by Leopold and Aphrayel was replaced by Jane, and the three of them
were together again. He chuckled to
himself on that idea. Leopold
as Sandalphon? His
son as his best friend. Now that
would be ironic.
Just
then, ‘You know, those thoughts aren’t as strange as
they may seem, brother.’ Callodyn
jumped. A voice had spoken. He looked at Jane and Leopold to see if they
had noticed something, but they both stared at the television. Callodyn got up, nervously, wondering if he
had really heard such a voice, or wether his mind was playing tricks on
him. He walked into the kitchen, grabbed
a can of Coke from the fridge, and sat drinking it at the kitchen table. Just then the voice spoke again. ‘Well, how have you been, Samael? How have you been, dear brother? Miss us?’
Callodyn, then, recognized the voice.
It was his Ozraphim brother Atros – he was sure of it. ‘Is that you, Atros?’ Just then, shimmering in front of him
emerged, from a vortex of light, the firstborn of the Ozraphim angels – third
seven of the Angels of Infinity – Atros, his younger brother. When he had materialized, Callodyn stared at
him, and finally spoke. ‘Well, I never
thought I would see you. Of all the
angels I would have expected Sandalphon or Aphrayel – even Logos himself – yet
not Atros.’ ‘Don’t be so alarmed,
Samael. It would have been virtually
impossible for Sandalphon and Aphrayel to have materialized right now. A challenge even for the
Logos to arrange that.’ ‘And why,
exactly, is that Atros?’ ‘Because they are sitting in your living room.’ Callodyn tilted his head, walked to the
doorway to stair into the living room, but only saw Jane and Leopold staring at
the television set. He returned to Atros
and said, ‘Well, I do not see them, brother.’
Atros chuckled to himself a little at the irony of such a
statement. ‘Their not
hard to miss, Samael. They have
been there for a while.’
Samael
looked at him and then, slowly, as if a piece of a missing jigsaw puzzle fell
into place – one which gave sense to the whole picture – he realized just what
his brother Atros was driving at. He
stuttered, ‘Leopold….Jane….. They, they.
They’re…’ ‘You guessed it
genius. Sandalphon and
Aphrayel. Really, I would have
thought you would have figured it out by now.
You must be getting old. To long
as a human, I think. Dulled
your senses.’ Samael just stared
at him for a few moments, and turned to walk into the living room, while Atros
behind him said, ‘I’ll be going now, but I will return later on. We have things to discuss.’ Samael barely noticed, as he was staring at
his son Leopold, who was his angelic brother Sandalphon, and his son’s best
friend Jane, who was his sister Aphrayel.
He sat
down on the couch, staring at them, and after a few moments chuckled to
himself. ‘Aye, God. You do have a sense of humour, don’t you.’ Leopold looked
at him, asking, ‘What did you say dad?’ ‘Oh, nothing Leopold. Just talking to myself.’ ‘Oh, right,’ said Leopold, returning his gaze
to the television.
Callodyn
looked at both Leopold and Jane and, inevitably, said to himself,
‘Well, it’s a small world after all.’
* * *
* *
5994 SC (2024 AD)
Atros
did in fact return to speak with Samael later on that year. He spoke of the incarnations of several of
the angels, including Raznadore, who was firstborn of the Abraphim angels, the
eighth group of seven, of the angels of Infinity, who was one of Leopold’s
friends, Alex Radrillion – as well as Shadray, firstborn of the Noahphim
angels, ninth seven of the angels of Infinity, who was manifest as,
unsurprisingly, Justin Goldfire, the final member of the group. It occurred to him to ask wether his daughter,
Rebecca, was one of the other angels of Infinity, one of his Celestyel sisters
and, unsurprisingly, the name of Lovrayel was given in response to that query.
It was,
indeed, to Samael, firstborn of the Onaphim angels of Infinity, a small world.
* * *
* *
5996 SC (2026 AD)
Jane,
sitting in the back yard of Leo’s house, sat staring at Mr Bradlock who was
lying on a towel next to the pool alongside Rachel, sunbaking. That kind of thing, given the fact that the
weather in Northern Wales rarely suited such a thing, was rare. Yet the pool was a heated pool, which meant
they could enjoy it all year around, and now in the middle of summer, and on a
hot day as well, sunbathing seemed a good idea.
Jane sat
staring at Mr Bradlock because last night she had dreamed of Angels and Ghosts
and Demons. A very weird mixture of all
sorts of things, in which Mr Bradlock had kissed her on the forehead, said he
loved her, and rescued her from a gigantic dragon. There had been nothing inappropriate about
the kiss, but Jane had felt the love Mr Bradlock had expressed for her in the
dream – felt it strength and devotion – and now stared at Mr Bradlock in the
flesh wondering if he had dreamed anything similar. Jane was now 14 years old, and starting to
become a little more than curious about men.
Of course, both of her and Leopold’s families almost expected that the
two of them may in fact marry when they got older. They had been so close for so long that such
a thing seemed, perhaps, inevitable.
Naturally Jane loved Leopold, a great deal in fact. He was a headstrong, determined young man,
not given to foolishness. And he
commanded the respect of others, who in fact looked up to his strong leadership
qualities. She did notice, though, a
strong stubborn streak within him. Almost a silent determination not to yield a piece of his heart. Yet that did not bother her, and she loved
him regardless.
She had
noticed, strangely, that Leo’s father, Callodyn, seemed to never have aged
since she had known him. He should have
now been around 50 years of age, yet looked only about 40. Perhaps this was just due to a good diet, or
perhaps there was some other mystery about Mr Callodyn Bradlock that he was not
sharing with everyone. It was indeed an
item of curiousity for her, one she had discussed with Leopold, who had
dismissed it without any real thought.
Callodyn
was, although she knew she should not think such thoughts about a married man,
yet he was quite attractive she felt.
She had entered puberty and had noticed boys and was not naïve about the
birds and the bees. Of course she was
still a virgin, despite Leopold’s many recent attempts to change that
reality. They had kissed a great deal,
and she had let him feel her breasts a few times, but nothing more. Not yet anyway.
Yet,
after last nights dream, she could not help feeling, despite herself, a little
bit of lust for Mr Bradlock. She knew
she should dismiss such thoughts, which were not fitting for a Christian, but
she entertained them nevertheless.
Later that
afternoon, when everyone was inside, Jane said she wanted to go out the back to
lie down and enjoy the later afternoon sun for half an hour or so. After about 10 minutes of lying there,
Callodyn came outside, heading over to the towels to pick them up to take
inside. She stared at him, noting his
fine body, and asked him to sit and talk with her.
‘You
know, Mr Bradlock, you are quite handsome.’
Samael looked at her. He looked
at her, knowing it was his sister and former lover and decided, despite his
marriage, to allow this situation go were it would go. ‘Thanks, Jane. I do workout, you know. Not fanatically, but I try to stay in shape.’ Jane looked at him and decided, if she was at all going to have that forbidden fruit she
wanted, to be bold. ‘You know, Leopold
has tried to have sex with me at times.
I have let him touch my boobs, but nothing more. Nothing more than that.’ Samael looked at her, and looked over her
body. It had been developing, so he had
noticed, quite finely and beautifully.
‘That is really not that surprising, knowing Leopold, Jane.’ ‘Yes, that’s true. But, for my first time. For my first time I want it to be exactly the
right person, if you know what I mean?’
She looked straight at him, and lowered her bikini top a little to show
her nipple. Samael stared at it and her,
understanding just what she meant.
Just
then the back door opened and Rachel came out.
Jane quickly put her bikini top back up so that Rachel wouldn’t notice,
and continued chatting with Callodyn. Callodyn,
nervously, stood and handed the towels to Rachel. He turned to Rachel and said, ‘you know, Jane
here has a very vivid imagination, Rachel.
A very vivid imagination.’ ‘I’ll bet,’ said Rachel, taking the towels
and returning back inside.
When she
had left Samael looked at Jane and thought on his wife. He looked at the fine young figure of a woman
before him, the new and lusty nubile flesh, and then thought, ironically
enough, of one of the particularly relevant 10 commandments. ‘Ah father, he thought to himself. You do have your ways.’
He
stood, gave Jane a look, and said ‘See you later,’ and returned inside. Temptation, it would seem, was not the newest
thing for Samael, the angel of Infinity.
Jane
watched him go, disappointed, but realizing that she would have more
opportunities in the future. Perhaps not
straight away, but inevitably a chance for her would come. And if it did, she would take it with both
hands.
* * *
* *
5997-6002 SC (2027-2032 AD)
When Leo
began working at the Red Boar Pub alongside his dad after leaving school early
at the age of 16, Jane was likewise tempted to quit school and look for a
job. Yet her father David and her mother
Samantha insisted she finished her schooling, and hopefully go off to a university
education. This, in fact, is what
eventuated. Like Leo’s mother, Rachel,
Jane attended Cardiff university, studying a degree in
English Literature. She had strongly
considered a sports trainer education and qualifications, as she really enjoyed
Rugby League and was on the girls team at school, having been vice-captain for
a couple of games due to her skill at the game, but her love for the English
classics which David had raised her to read, alongside a natural creative
talent in fiction, had led her to, in the end, take the traditional pathway of
a solid degree in English.
At
Cardiff university, in her second year, she was
extremely pleased and happy to meet up with James Castleton, the famous author,
who had written her favourite book ‘The Dark Side’. James was visiting Cardiff University, upon
the invitation from the Uni to speak at a lecture on inspiration for ideas.
Jane,
beside herself at seeing her favourite author in the flesh, had sought him out
after the lecture to introduce herself.
James,
one of the children of heaven, sensed her spirit immediately, and knew she was
the angel Aphrayel. Yet, naturally, he
would not share that information with her, as the Children of Heaven had never
revealed their identities to the Angels of Infinity or Eternity.
James
asked Jane if she would like to come out to dinner that night and meet up with
a friend of his who had accompanied him to Cardiff, a certain June
Middlesworth.
At
dinner June, after having eaten through the entrée, June asked Jane a
question. ‘Jane. Have you ever had any direct encounter with
the divine?’ James looked at June and
thought of asking her not to ask the question, yet realized that perhaps she
also should. ‘What do you mean, June?’ ‘God. Angels.
Demons.
Have you ever met any?’ Jane
thought on the question, a puzzling one, and answered honestly. ‘Well, no.
Not really. I am a Christian,
though, and I do believe in God. But the
supernatural has never really been that much of an issue to me. Why do you ask?’ James took over the conversation. ‘Do you, Jane, know what you are? Do you know were you are
really from?’ Jane looked at
James strangely, not understanding what he was driving at. ‘What do you mean,
were I am really from? I was born in
Crossden in northern Wales. That is were
I am from.’ James smiled, unsurprised at
the comment. ‘You, dear Jane, are an
angel. One of the Angels of Infinity if
I am not mistaken, Aphrayel I think from memory.’ Jane looked at James, stunned at first, and
then smiled. ‘Oh, I get it. It’s a joke, right?’ ‘Not exactly,’ said June. ‘Jane, I am sure you see the news. You know what is going on in the world, don’t
you?’ ‘Basically, I guess,’ replied
Jane. ‘Have you heard of Alexander
Darvanius?’ Jane thought on the name and
realized who they were talking about.
‘The next pope or something, isn’t he?
The one getting them all together, all the churches I mean.’ ‘That’s him,’ said June. Now Alexander is, actually, an angel like yourself. Not from
the Realm of Infinity but the Realm of Eternity. And he was, in truth, a dread angel. An angel who caused great
disharmony amongst the angels of the Realm.’ Jane listened, not quite believing, but
listening anyway. ‘Why are you telling
this to me?’ ‘Just listen,’ continued
June. ‘There is an encounter coming,
soon. An encounter
coming on planet earth in the years ahead. An encounter between good
and evil – light and dark. This
encounter is spoken of in scripture – in prophecy. It is an encounter which has been brewing
amongst the children of men for many years now – an encounter which will be, in
a sense, a culmination – a resolution of things.’ Jane nodded.
‘What is that to do with me?’
‘The angels are key characters in this final encounter, Jane. So much of what will take place is as a
consequence for actions back in the ancient pre-earth days. It is, in some ways, the end of days Jane. The end of days.’
They
talked for a while longer, June telling Jane about her and James various
encounters with Darvanius, Grimlock, Brax and various other figures – divine
and otherwise. For Jane it was, in
truth, a sudden and unexpected entrance into the world of demons, angels and
magic – yet an entrance which, for Aphrayel angel of Infinity, was as
inevitable as the eternal destiny before her.
Chapter Eight
6002-6007SC (2032-2037 AD)
When
Jane had finished her degree in English literature, she gained work after a few
months as an English teacher in a school in Cardiff. She worked there for two years before finally
winning the position of English teacher at Crossden High School.
Returning
home was a heart-warming experience. Of
course, she knew that the Bradlock’s were no longer in
town, nor was Alex Radrillion and Justin Goldfire. They all had left Crossden within months of
each other, and despite her attempts to find forwarding addresses, nothing but
failed responses were gained. It would
seem that her best friends had disappeared off the face of the earth.
The news
was becoming increasingly more interesting.
Dramatic, disastrous, but definitely more interesting. All throughout the world, as the headlines
made clear each night, disasters were now becoming frequent. Environmental doomsayers were everywhere,
stating the obvious truth that mankind had abused mother earth for so long now
that her vengeance had arrived. And not
only environmental doomsayers, but the more traditional kind of biblical
fundamentalists were rampant. Her
father, David, called them all ‘false prophets’, after what Christ had said
would advent before his return. David
had been raised a regular Christian. In
his youth the second coming had been a non-issue by and large, with the
accepted status quo that Jesus may show eventually. But, perhaps even in spite of the culture he
was raised in, the second coming seemed, perhaps, not that fanciful
anymore. They, living there in Crossden,
lived it seemed in a haven, cut off from the rest of the world. But out there, in that big bad world, it
seemed as if the forces of darkness and the forces of light, just as James and
June had said to her, were gathering for their anciently prophesied
showdown. As if the end of days truly
had arrived.
She
thought on the figure she had been studying on the internet ever since talking
to James and June – Alexander Darvanius and his attempts to unite
Christendom. Alexander, it seemed, had
been baptized in every Christian church known to mankind, practically. Every major church, and probably most of the
minors, claimed they had experienced Alexanders
fellowship from time to time. Alexander
ran the Ecumenical centre for Monotheistic truth. This organisation, with links to all major
monotheistic religions, had been, since its inception, slowly gaining the
approval of most of all the major leading religious figures. Alexander dined with the Pope, the now ageing
Peter the Second, regularly. They both,
it seemed, shared a common vision of one true world religion, united under the
authority of Almighty God. The Archbishop
of Canterbury, head of Janes Church of England, likewise dined with Alexander
regularly, as did leading Rabbis of the reformed Sanhedrin and various leading
Imams throughout the Muslim world. The
Bahai had named Alexander the unofficial spokesperson for God in this day and
age, faithfully undertaking the work of Bahaulla and the Bab, there revered
prophets.
Alexander,
from all that Jane had seen of him, was the most charismatic and intense person
she had ever known. In the speeches she
watched online he was smooth and polished, as if he had dedicated himself to
diplomacy since a newborn. He spoke
eloquently, fluently in 17 different languages, and was well received with
leading politicians around the world. It
seemed, from Janes perspective, that Mr Darvanius
would, inevitably, unite the church – and perhaps even the Jewish and Muslim
worlds – under his authority, and claim that goal which he perhaps sought. And, given the worlds current tension over so
many of its concerns, the saviour they sought in Alexander Darvanius, he was
completely willing to be.
One
thing, though, June had maintained to Jane.
That Alexander, despite the appearance he gave the global village, was
in fact none other than the greatest human adversary of all – the dreaded
‘Antichrist’.
Jane had
studied this idea out in great detail, researching the biblical passages on the
Antichrist, and compared them with the figure of Alexander and what he was
intending to achieve.
However,
the revelation, in truth, as it had for countless other souls over the
centuries, stumped her. For every
church, it seemed, there was a differing interpretation. And getting to the bottom of that prophecy
and working out just what it really was all about was, perhaps, beyond the
capabilities of Jane Talbourne. Perhaps
only God himself could teach her the truths of that most mystical and ancient
of books.
Still,
she questioned and wondered and, eventually, after praying one night for
understanding, she found a knock on her flat door, opening it, to find June
Middlesworth, of the Elect Church of the Living God, James friend who had
taught her about her supposed angelic identity.
Jane had
welcomed her in and, almost immediately asked her questions about Revelation –
questions which she oh so strongly desired answers for. June had taught her what, seemingly, was an
apparent truth of the book. The bible,
taken as a whole, gave most of the clues to the interpretation of the final book. So many new revelation students got carried
away with this and that so-called great revelation that they had received, yet
theories often fell apart when critically examined. June had told her what she now felt was a
basic truth. God honoured proper and
correct scholarly and honest study. If
you faithfully studied the entirety of scripture, trying to understand each
book on its own merits, and then trying to understand the whole bigger picture
of the entire library of books, you could gain understanding into the purpose
of revelation and what the symbolism of major themes of the book meant on a
world scale.
Of
course, she shared with her various basic views on the text – ones which the
worldwide Christian community had known of for centuries. But there was some information that June,
Jane honestly felt, was holding back. As
if she had a deeper insight into the revelation, one deeper than that of
ordinary people. And one that she was
not willing to share that easily.
Jane
spent the next few years studying out those theories. While she was very dedicated to ensure her
work as a teacher never suffered, the life of a single lady, flirting with men
and partying, never seemed to eventuate.
Prophecy, it seemed, and the end of days, was the major preoccupation in
the life of Jane Talbourne. And as the
years passed, and as she noted events in the bigger world, Jane felt that the
‘Bigger Picture’ of what Revelation was all about was slowly coming into her
mind. And with that bigger picture,
decisions had to be made.
* * *
* *
6007 SC (2037 AD)
‘And so,
Jane, what are your conclusions?’ Jane
looked at June Middlesworth, and began her response. ‘To say Revelation is one dimensional in
fulfilment, perhaps, may not be exactly the case. It has, I feel, potentially multiple
fulfilments. For example, in an
allegorical sense the book continues to be true with the growth and existence
of Christendom. Christ reigns, the
church is over 3 billion strong, and it may do so eternally. In this sense the Kingdom of God reigns, and supposedly always will. This, of course, is a very popular
interpretation. Yet, I feel, especially
with the way the world is going these days, an ultimate fulfilment may be at
hand. The prophecy, in this sense, I
feel is fulfilled in two major ways. The first being that it is an age-long prophecy, from the ascension
until the beginning of the millennium.
The second, that it is by and large fulfilled
in the final tribulation period. I sense
that both fulfilments may perhaps be at work.’
June looked at her. ‘Who is the
beast, Jane? Who is the beast?’ ‘Well, that, I suppose, is one of the
fundamental questions. This is my basic
answer that I have come up to at this point.
The history of the bible is a history of God’s sovereignty versus, I
guess, the Devils. Yet the Devil’s
sovereignty is seen in the Empire of the Idol.
The idol which opposes God’s sovereignty. So much of the message of the Old Testament
was Gods rebuking of the idol – that which opposed his own Kingdom. Christ announced the beginning of God’s
Kingdom, the necessary response to the idolatrous Kingdoms the devil has
established worldwide. While it is most
definitely true idolatrous empires have been worldwide, I feel, in relation to
the Revelation and the Beast, the empires talked about are significant
scripturally. Revelation 13 and 17 talk about a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The book of Daniel, which is the basis for so
much of the language of revelation, speaks of beasts as well. These beasts, the book of Daniel teaches are
empires. Daniel chapter 7 teaches that
there are four great beasts – or four great empires – which have arisen in
opposition to God’s Kingdom. These
empires are usually ascribed these identities, which the book itself seems to
interpret.
The
first beast is traditionally Babylon – and the head of Babylon was the Emporer
Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel served in
Nebuchadnezzars kingdom.
The
second beast was Media and Persia.
Chapter 8 of Daniel teaches that the Ram’s two horns are the united
kingdom of Media and Persia. So this
kingdom is the second beast – the bear – of Daniel Chapter 7. Darius the Mede, which was probably a term
Daniel used to describe Xerxes, was one of many of the idolatrous heads of this
empire.
The
third beast was Greece – the next major player on the world stage in the area
of the middle east and Europe, Africa and Asia. The most famous Emporer of the Greeks was
Alexander the Great, yet the various Antiochuses, who had names of blasphemy in
their titles, were also significant rulers.
And the
fourth beast – the one Daniel feared the most – was Rome. And the head of Rome were the Caesars.
For the
fulfilment of Daniel chapter 7, Christ slew the Fourth beast over time as the
Church conquered the Roman Empire and turned Rome Christian. The Vatican is a sign of Christ’s triumph, in
this respect.
Now
these four beasts, I feel, are part of the 7 headed
beast of Revelation 13.
Taking
the prophecy from an age-long perspective, if we look at chapter 17 it says
that at the time of John’s writing the revelation, while living on Patmos, five
beasts had fallen, and one remained, with another yet to come.
I feel
that the one remaining at the time of John was Rome. It was being ‘Slain’ by the church at this
time and finally conquered over the following centuries.
Now for
the five who were fallen. I feel that
the last three of these were the first three of Daniel’s beasts – Babylon,
Media-Persia and Greece. These are the
three major beasts scripturally to have been idolatrous empires over the
history of the bible at that time. Of
course, there were 2 initial beasts – the first two heads – that preceded
Babylon.
Examining
scripture to find empires of idolatry before Babylon which opposed God’s
sovereignty leaves us with 2 major players.
First, prior to Babylon, was Assyria.
Sennacherib was a protagonist of the Israelites, and they were likewise
an empire based on idolatry. Assyria is
the major empire of idolatry, scripturally, prior to Babylon.
That
leaves us with the first head. This,
really, is not hard to guess. One of the
main reasons for God punishing Egypt at the Passover was due to the idol. God was, so scripture says, punishing the
gods of Egypt. Egypt was the first head
of the 7 headed beast.’
June
nodded, having taken all that information in.
‘Yes, Jane. This is what our
church has also generally concluded. The
identity of the heads, once revealed, seems generally consistent with what you
have maintained. Some argue that
Babylon, the first head of Daniel’s four beasts, is also the first head of the
7 headed beast of Revelation.’ ‘Then who
would be the five heads who have fallen in John’s time?’ ‘Well, John was prophesying from, in this
interpretation, during the final tribulation period. The five beasts who
had fallen, in this interpretation, were possibly Babylon, Media, Persia,
Greece and Rome – with Media and Persia as separate beasts. Or Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome and
another empire of idolatry having arisen and persecuted the church since that
time.’ ‘And who would that be.’ ‘I’ve heard a number of theories. But, regardless, what you have come to are
the general sort of ideas true Christians hold to towards the end of the
age. It seems, to us, the generally
received understanding. Anyway, in your
theory, who is the seventh head? The one who would reign only a short while?’
Jane,
who had been thinking over some of the ideas which June had just shared with
her, came to her senses. ‘Oh, yes. The seventh head. Well, I feel, based on the nature of the
first 6 heads, and how they persecuted God’s people, the seventh head to arise,
which would only endure a little while according to John, was Nazi
Germany. And the 7th
Antichrist none other than Adolph Hitler.’
June
nodded, very pleased with the results of Janes
scholarly studies. It pleased her when
people, from her perspective, actually made a reasonable attempt to understand
revelation properly. To
understand it in its biblical context.
They
talked, then, that afternoon, going over various theories about prophecy and
Christian life in general. Watching the
news together, the latest disaster only heightened their awareness of the
biblical text.
It was
an intense experience, delving into the mysteries of God that afternoon for
Jane. Yet life, she concluded, perhaps,
would not be quite the same without, as strange as the thought may seem, a
little drama and excitement provided for from the creator of the universe.
* * *
* *
6007-6008SC (2037-2038 AD)
Over the
next couple of years, Jane settled into her life as an English teacher, always
alert to the news and the latest happenings, but reminded to not let that
interfere with her everyday responsibilities.
June
visited her now and again, occasionally with James in tow, and they discussed
various issues of prophecy. James shared
with her of his encounters with Darvanius, some of which shocked Jane. Yet, scripturally, despite their claims, she
could not place Alexander as either the Antichrist or the False Prophet. His history, of that which was available, did
not seem to fit up with their theory.
Mainly, due to the fact that Alexander was supposedly born in Nebraska
in the USA, and not in one of the Kingdoms of the 7 heads were the two human
beasts would likely arise from, June considered that Alexander was not the best
candidate. Perhaps he was something
significant in scripture – perhaps. But
at this stage, despite June and James protestations, she took Alexander
Darvanius at face value. Perhaps, if she
ever met him in person, she could form a better opinion.
As the
years passed, one thing did attract her attention. A figure in Israel amongst the Samaritan
community – the Samaritans which had started the hostel in Crossden – was
starting to gain greater and greater notoriety.
The Samaritans claimed he was the ‘Taheb’. The great world redeemer. In their tradition, based on the written
Pentateuch or Torah alone, the Taheb was a messianic type of figure. Yet not of the line of David which,
apparently, was Jewish tradition and not Israelite tradition, the Jews,
according to the Samaritans, being the promulgators of Judah’s ideas, Judah
being one of the sons of ancient Israel, Jacob himself. This, so it seemed, was where the name
Judaism came from – form that particular son of Jacob. In the bible much of the tension had been
between the kingdoms of Judah and the northern Kingdom of Israel. They had developed over time separate
traditions, although the Rabbis constantly claimed that the Samaritan
Israelites were not Israelites at all, but Assyrian by bloodstock – a claim
which the Samaritans disputed.
Yet, the
Samaritan Taheb had been bridging the gap between the two communities, and many
Rabbis, it seemed, now accepted him as something of a messianic figure. Yet not all. There were those who claimed that the true
Davidic Messiah would inevitably arise – the one who would be the true redeemer
and saviour for the people of Israel.
And, of
course, Messianic belief – those who accepted Jesus as Messiah – was still
strong in Israel, many of them anxiously awaiting their soon coming king.
All, it
seemed to Jane, was ready in the world.
All was awaiting something. Some great and grand climax.
Everything looked forward to the great conclusion, as Iron Maiden, a
band she now liked, sang about in one of their songs from their Dance of Death
album. Everyone, it seemed, was awaiting
a great and eventful day. A day in which God showed just who and what he was and those who
he, in truth, favoured.
* * *
* *
6008 SC (2038 AD)
At 26
years of age, in the year 2038, Jane sensed something about to happen in the
world. For three and a half years now,
in the time she had been intently studying Revelation,
the disasters in the world had been growing and getting worse and worse. It seemed, in response to Jane’s inquiries,
as if the end was finally at hand.
And
then, one day, surfing the web, she came over an ancient Christian prophecy of
the church fathers which spoke of the time of the end. It stated, conveniently, that there were 2000
years of grace, 2000 years of law, and 2000 years of Christ – and then the
millennium of 1000 years of rest – mankind’s Sabbath. Looking at the calendar she knew that the
2000 years of Christ, if not from his birth, was probably marked from either
the beginning of the Gospel, which would have been approximately 30 AD, or from
the day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Church, which would have been
approximately 33 or 34 AD. No scholar,
in her opinion, had concretely demonstrated the date for Christ’s birth, so as
strange as it may seem, she tended to use 0AD as the best guide. Which meant, if the
prophecy were true, that the millennium was almost upon her. And, to her way of thinking, this seemed
quite possible. Quite
possible indeed. The signs were
in place. Prophetic fulfilment could
generally have been said to have come to pass.
All that, perhaps, awaited was the rapture of
the church and the emergence of the final two human beasts – the Antichrist at
the head of the 7 headed beast, and the spokesperson for the False Prophet
beast.
And upon
this reality Aphrayel awaited each day, nervously, knowing that time was
ticking very carefully indeed.
* * *
* *
That
year, which according to the Taheb’s calendar was 6008 since creation, the
Taheb made an official announcement on behalf of the people of spiritual
Israel. The Taheb, having just been
accepted by the Sanhedrin, as the High Priest and intercessor in the role of
Moses – the promised ‘Prophet’ Moses spoke of – with the building of the third
temple finally complete, made this announcement.
‘To all the children of all the nations of the world. All
of us, children of Adam and Eve – children of Noah. Israel, today, is born again. We are again a Kingdom united. And today, a Kingdom with
one true King. The
King of all humanity, Almighty God himself, Mighty Shaddai. The third temple, now
complete, stands as a testimony to mankind of the saving grace of our eternal
and Almighty heavenly Father. It
is on this temple – the sign of unity for all the children of God – that the
sacrifice for the sins of the world will take place. On the day of
Atonement this year, not long from now, a sin sacrifice will be offered, for
the first time, on behalf of all the children of mankind. Every nation, every people, every person,
will be presented to Almighty God and through our sacrifice we will ask our
eternal Almighty father to forgive us. To forgive us for the wrongs done to neighbour. To forgive us for the
wrongs done to other nations. And to forgive us for our sins against him. I call on you, nations of God, children of
the Almighty, to present yourself anew to Almighty
God, to accept the signs of the covenants of faith – the rainbow and the
circumcision – and to walk in faith, purity and love with God and all the
children of mankind.’
The
announcement made the news headlines of many major papers and was on the
television news. It seemed that many
religious communities worldwide looked to and respected this new Taheb – one
who seemed, for Christians, so much like their Jesus and, for Jews, so much
like their Moses. And for Muslims,
comparisons to Mohammed were, to a degree, restrained, yet so many of what had
become known by the term of ‘Moderate Muslims’ looked likewise to the Taheb,
one who had been so cordial, polite and kind to the people of the Koran.
The
Taheb, it seemed, was God’s answer to the promised redeemer and saviour the
children of mankind sought. And, for a
while, people over the planet were pleased.
The Taheb seemed to so many to be a living and active voice for the
Almighty – a tangible flesh and blood reality – that a new spirit of peace and
togetherness found itself working into the hearts of mankind. A peace and togetherness which so many of the
children of men, Jane Talbourne included, found such great delight in. Yet, seemingly, not all.
Alexander
Darvanius had, it seemed, been trumped.
His grand vision of the Church united, under Christ, with him as
universal leader had been defeated by the appearance of the Taheb, who was the
one the world now turned to. Yet, he
would not let this setback end him. He
would speak to the Taheb – he would meet him – and he would bring to a conclusion
the questions so many people had about religion, truth and the nature of faith.
Jane
Talbourne, then, watched Alexander Darvanius ever more closely and as the year
2040 approached, a culmination to events approached. A culmination in which the
lives of Jane Talbourne, Alexander Darvanius, and many others would be a witness
to. And a
culmination which would bring the heart of Aphrayel and Samael, angels of
Infinity, together again – to a reunion which would answer many questions for
the angels of God.
But such
is a tale for another day, for this one is now complete.
THE END