The Infernal Serpent

nexus_crossings Prompt: Even the deepest darkness flees from the light of one single candle.



It had been many days since he crawled from the fires of his torture. On the cliff overlooking the lake of fire he gazed down at the multitude of angels; milling on the bank, still trapped within the fires. He did not feel guilt for his behavior, but he did feel sorrow for their torment.

"Lucifer?" The voice was known and the presence welcome. Beelzebub came to stand beside him. He had broke free just after Lucifer, second to escape the fires. Beelzebub could feel the other angel's pain as they looked upon the scene.

"You're the only one that can stop this." Beelzebub commented wondering if there were any others among the fallen who could, but he had not seen another seraphim. The archangels would squabble for power, but the master guard knew they would yield to the rule of a seraphim. It was the way they had been born to serve.

"I did not escape Heaven to take my Fathers place in another existence." Lucifer had no desire to take up the mantle of rulership. 

"Someone must or the torture won't end. He wants us to remain as this, tormented" Beelzebub looked from the angels writhing in the fire to his brother whom he had served since he was brought forth by God. He stared at the luminous angel. Even here in Chaos where others had dimmed, his light burned unending, undiminished. "I would trust no other."

Lucifer's eyes finally pulled free from the scene of despair and agony. He did not want this, of course he hadn't wanted anyone to follow him either. He had wanted to either kill God or die for relief from loss. Neither had come to pass. A reluctant sigh and nod was the first step into the guise he did not want.
Lucifer stepped to the very edge of the precipice and looked down in self pity. It lingered before will burned away any pity, sorrow or regret. He was the first, most beautiful, most perfect. He was the one they had followed without calling. He would be the one that could rescue them from this pain. He had little choice.

"Angels, princes, brothers and sisters of the angelic choirs." His voice shook the darkness as his wings ignited. He spread them to the full span, light radiating from them to illuminate even the darkest corners. The fire consumed his form until he stood as the creator once more, though dimmed enough to prevent damage to eyes. 

He glanced at Beelzebub who waited, nodding ever so slight in encouragement. "God cast us here to suffer because He believed we are weak, that we will serve His desire that we remain in torment and sorrow until He gives us permission to walk free."

His light brightened as Lucifer broke free from the chains that told him he must remain prisoner, tortured, on knees. "We have never knelt, we will not supplicate ourselves in  prostrate positions to beg for mercy from a God who shows us he bears no heart for forgiveness. Who will kill us for transgression that should be forgiven."

Lucifer's voice had swelled to fill Chaos and all angels were in silence, even the screams of those yet bound in fire ceased and gave way to the quiet. "We are here, out of His reach. No more do we listen to His false words."

Lucifer faltered because the proper words seemed to be to declare himself king, a title he did not wish. He found he could not speak.

"Lucifer, brother." Beelzebub called his attention and went to his knee in a bow. "I have always followed your lead. I will follow you now, as they will." 

It was too late to back down. Perhaps this was the path he had started when he first raised arms in heaven succumbing to hate and sorrow? A deep pause to steady his will and breath before he raised his voice again. "Do we adore He who would be our conqueror? Who now beholds you all; angels, cherubim rolling in pain within fires of his own creation to raise, no hand to end your suffering. He has placed you here."

Angels below regained their pale glow as despair gave way to hope. Lucifer went on, encouraged by the sight. "He would tread us down with pursuers and thunderbolts, to transfix us here in the gulf of fire and darkness. No more shall we bow head to His call."

"AWAKE! ARISE! or be forever fallen to the doom He would chain us to." Lucifer's voice was followed by shouts and angels turning back to the lake of fire from whence they had crawled. They called to their fellows still in chains there.

Lucifer felt a tension taking over and his own sorrow. He did not want to be a leader. He wished to be free and depart this place. His eyes moved across the mass of angels. His own friend was not among those who had escaped. His mood changed as he looked to the angel now standing once more. "Where is Belial?" 

Beelzebub shook his head amidst a shrug. They had both adored the third angel as brother, confidant, as a friend. 

"I will find him."  Beelzebub smirked at the seraphim. "You'll know when I find him, King."

The word king had come out so irreverent that Lucifer cracked a smile. Perhaps the way of God, of absolute rulership, was not the way. Lucifer stepped away from the cliff walking to toward the lake. Though not eager to be king, he was keen to see the others free of the fire. As a seraphim he could endure the flames where the angels could not, free those too injured or weak to break their chains. Maybe that was the way to rule? Not above, but among those who seek your guidance. Such rule had not existed, but the place of a rebel is to burn down the previous and replace it with something new, as yet unknown. He would not be as his Father, but he would never cease being the rebel.