Heaven and Hell (61 page)

The four angels sat around the table in Johann’s study. They spoke among themselves, occasionally glancing toward Johann and Nick. They had seen the strange vehicle these curious humans had created, witnessed its potential. They’d heard the unique plan they had devised to rescue a single soul from the realm of satan. They’d listened to Aaron’s impassioned plea regarding this human with the amazingly lucid soul. It was persuasive, if not incredible. They had even seen the mysterious world floating in outer darkness, a world hidden from the eyes of man and angel up until now. It was their leader, Moriah, who finally spoke out. He stood up, partially spreading his wings as he did so.

“You make a persuasive case for our intervention, Professor Kepler. It would seem that this condemned human has even reached out and touched the heart of one of our own. I agree that what you propose does not violate the principles by which we angels live. Still, what you propose places you and your companions in great jeopardy. In the event that we were overwhelmed by the demon hordes, and your craft were to prove itself incapable of returning you to the realm of Heaven, I could not guarantee that we would be able to carry you to safety.”

“We understand and accept that risk,” said Johann.

“Do you?” posed Moriah. “No one has ever attempted such a thing as you propose this day. I cannot guarantee what the Father’s response would be if you were to find yourselves trapped within Hell. I do not know the mind of God. Have you considered what might happen to you if satan got his hands on you? You have no right to go where you propose to go. This one lost soul means that much to you?”

“It does,” said Johann. “I know that it has no less meaning to you. Satan has taken far too many liberties with the human race. He has confused and deceived them, tricked them into believing that the Father did not care, yet we know that He does. Didn’t Jesus speak of the shepherd leaving his flock and going out after the one sheep that had strayed? Jesus risked all for us, and I am willing to take this risk.”

“As am I,” said Nick, his voice resolute. “We have to go. We can do nothing less.”

Johann and Nick were somewhat surprised when a smile appeared on Moriah’s countenance. “I am surprised that you know the heart of the angels so well. So be it. I shall speak to the angels who I believe would consider such a bold venture.” Quite abruptly, Moriah’s voice took on a more solemn tone. “But know this; we cannot condone the removal from outer darkness of Serena, Abaddon, or any other soul…no matter how noble you might consider them to be. The Father in His righteous wisdom condemned them to that place, and it is there that they must remain.”

“Of course,” replied Johann, “that was always our intention.”

Moriah nodded slowly. “Very well, then we are agreed. We shall assist you in this endeavor to the best of our ability. Let us discuss the details of our covenant that we may act as one, protecting each other from he who would seek to destroy us all. Let us shake the very pillars of Hell. Let us give satan but a taste of those things to come.”

A
ARON descended from the dark, starless sky, landing on the narrow ledge at the entrance of Abaddon’s cavern fortress. This place had changed. There was a shattered boulder that partially blocked the entrance of the cavern. The tunnel beyond presented a realm of total darkness, only the presence of the luminous angel of God lent any light to the apparently dismal realm. Aaron walked in.

The floor of the cavern was littered with rocks and the air seemed musty and stale. Aaron moved cautiously forward, hoping that the changes he saw were the attempts of Abaddon and Serena to disguise the entrance to their subterranean sanctuary and not something more sinister. He proceeded through the winding tunnel, a growing sense of foreboding in his heart. He was relieved when he saw the faint glow of the great chamber before him and emerged into Abaddon’s realm. All was as it had been before, though far more subtly illuminated. Only a few of the great crystals imbedded in the ceiling were glowing, and those that were did so with a dull sallow light, casting long harsh shadows about the room.

Aaron was surprised, nearly alarmed, when several dozen flying creatures similar to the one he had seen in the dark angel’s garden emerged to greet him. They swirled around the room like bats, only far more swift and agile. After a moment they gathered together on the floor before him. They stood upright on their powerful back legs and gazed up at the angel in unison. Then they bowed, as if to honor him. Their ranks broke, to allow this servant of God to pass.

“They would make formidable guardians, would you not agree?”

Aaron turned to see Abaddon step from out of the gloom. Aaron was rarely surprised, but this was one of those rare moments. “Yes, my brother, they would.”

“I found the advice you offered me during your last visit to be sound and took some precautions regarding the security of my domain.”

“Yes,” confirmed Aaron. “I see that. The changes were most convincing. Had I not been here before, I would have believed the cave to be deserted.” It took the angel only a few seconds to fully regain his composure. “I am the bearer of important news.”

“I see,” said Abaddon, as the lighting of the room came back up to its normal levels. There was a look of concern upon his face, almost a frown. “I hope your news this day is not as dire as what you brought us two days ago.”

“No,” confirmed Aaron, “quite the opposite.”

“Hello, Aaron.”

Aaron turned to see Serena, dressed in white, emerging from the side passage that led to her chamber. “Hello, Serena. Your husband has sent you much this day. One of the things I carry is indeed wondrous.”

“And you said you had news? Good news?”

Aaron hesitated, “Yes, I think so.”

“Then let us hear it,” Abaddon said, motioning to three chairs set in a circle not far away. “We could use good news right now.”

“We could,” confirmed Serena. “During the last day we’ve seen far more demons than usual in the sky over the island. It’s a good thing that Abaddon disguised the entrance to the cavern. They might have dropped in on us if he hadn’t. I’m starting to feel trapped. I feel like they’re closing in on us.”

“Hush, sweet Serena,” bid Abaddon, placing his arm around her. “I’ve seen swarms of demons flying over the island before. It occurs from time to time, we just happened to be near the mouth of the cave when they passed by. They didn’t stop; they didn’t give this island a second thought. It was just a chance meeting, nothing more.”

“I wish I was that certain,” admitted Serena. “I’m starting to feel like I’m living on borrowed time.” Then she caught herself. She would not talk like this, not before these two very precious friends. She managed a smile. “You were saying you had good news?”

“Indeed I do,” Aaron said, returning Serena’s smile. “Don’t lose hope, child; your deliverance might be closer than you think.”

Deliverance? It was such a wonderful word, sweet music to Serena’s ears. If only it were true.

The three sat down facing each other. Aaron scanned the faces of his two dear friends before beginning. “When I last saw you, I was not certain that we had a plan of action. I can now tell you that we do and that I am very optimistic of the outcome.” Aaron focused his attention on Serena. “Child, we are going to deliver you from Hell, and unto a place of refuge far beyond satan’s reach, a wonderful green world. There you can dwell in peace, free from fear. It will even be possible for your husband to visit you there for days or weeks at a time.”

No, this was too good to be true. “What about Abaddon? Could he come with me?”

Aaron turned to the dark angel, then back to Serena. “That is totally up to him.”

Abaddon looked at Aaron incredulously. He was not so certain that Aaron was being entirely truthful with Serena. Perhaps he was endeavoring to raise her spirits, to give her hope in a time when it was in short supply. He pondered if, under the present circumstances, it was wise to challenge his bold statement. “What refuge are you referring to?”

“Another world in outer darkness—a world where neither angels nor demons, nor humans have ever trod. I have seen it with my own eyes; it is indeed wondrous.”

Aaron outlined the plan to Abaddon and Serena in detail; and in doing so raised the hopes of their downtrodden souls. There were still some problems to work out. The Spirit’s temporal capacitor, though vastly improved, was still not up to the task. Yet Nick and Johann felt confident that they were on the very threshold of a breakthrough; indeed, they might already have achieved it.

Then Aaron handed the strange glassy sphere to Serena, speaking of its potentials and its dangers. All was quickly moving into readiness, they could very well be rescued within the next 24 hours.

When all was told, Abaddon looked at his companions, searching for the words that he knew would be difficult for them to accept. He looked to Serena, took her hand in his. “Serena, I can’t go with you to this new world, my place is here.”

Serena’s heart sank, her voice faltered, “But Abaddon, I need you.”

“No, you don’t, you’ll be fine in this new world. You need to go there. I cannot protect you from satan and his minions if you remain. In the end, they would have you, do unspeakable things to you—I couldn’t bear that. But I must stay. Someone needs to mind the garden, and more importantly, tend to my children.

Don’t you see? They must grow and learn, and I must be here to teach them. I tell you this, one day they will be the undoing of satan and all those who stand with him. I will live for that day. I must believe that what I’ve worked for here has not been in vain.”

“But you could take them with you,” objected Serena.

“No, Serena,” said Abaddon, “the time has come for us to part company. We will meet again. I am certain of it, but for now, we must go our separate ways.”

“Perhaps you can speak of this later,” suggested Aaron. “For right now, we must concentrate upon the plan. It will be difficult, but not impossible. Its success will not only be a victory for you, but for Chris and Johann, and all of the angels in Heaven. We all need this victory. We need to bring satan a defeat in the very heart of his empire. We need to bring him the message that he is no longer the master of outer darkness. He needs to know that his days of dominion are indeed numbered.”

After Aaron departed, Abaddon spent the rest of the day in the vicinity of the cavern entrance. He needed to be alone with his thoughts, while at the same time evaluating their situation. His concerns grew ever greater as he spotted more and more demons in the sky over his tiny archipelago. Never had he seen so many. For the moment, they seemed uninterested in the small patch of land beneath them, but that could soon change. It was good that Serena was leaving. He would miss her, miss her terribly, yet to allow her to fall into the hands of satan was an even more appalling thought. No, she had to leave.

He returned to the depths of the cavern to find his lovely companion in the garden. Strange that she should be caring for a place that she would probably never see again. She was on her knees, cultivating around the vegetables, the crystal sphere Aaron had given her on the ground by her side. He stood there for a moment in silence, trying to burn the image of her into his mind. When he would recall her in the days to come, this is how he would remember her, working in the garden, caring for the last breath of life that this violated world still held within her bosom. Serena glanced up to see him and smiled.

“I’m going to journey some distance to the south,” explained Abaddon. “There is an island there, the dwelling place of Batarel, a fallen angel like myself. He abides within a cavern there, one not nearly so grand as this. I’ve seen many demons flying from that direction in the past hours; I’ve become concerned.”

“Would you like me to come along?” asked Serena, rising to her feet, and brushing off the dust from her dress.

“No, it would be far too dangerous with so many demons about. You had best remain here, it is the safest place. I shall not be gone long. When I return we can talk. It might be our last opportunity.”

Serena smiled. “I’d like that.”

Abaddon caressed Serena under the chin and smiled. Then he departed, leaving her to return to her labors in the garden. Abaddon didn’t leave her by herself very often. She remembered that, on the first day, he had told her that he would need to lock her in her room when he left her. He never had. The door to her room had never swung shut since that day. There was a bond of trust between them. In a way she hated to leave him. He’d be here in solitude once more, and that disturbed her. If only she could convince him to come with her; still she would not question his decision. He was a creature of duty, and the task he had set for himself was not yet complete.

Serena returned to her work. She glanced at the crystal sphere like a teenage girl standing by the phone. She was waiting for a special call.

Abaddon reached the mouth of the cavern and scanned the realm beyond. He tarried for over a minute before spreading his wings and launching himself into the air. His wings beat rapidly as he accelerated into the black sky. Under normal conditions, it took about half an hour to cover the hundred or so miles between here and Batarel’s island. He would try to make the trip in considerably less time today.

He climbed to a comfortable altitude, just above the turbulent air that swirled and tumbled above the flames of the sea. He was ever watchful for any sign of trouble, any traveling demons, yet none met his eyes. He’d find out if Batarel knew anything about the demon movements that he did not, then quickly return.