The book of endings
Chapter 7
1An when the last day was come, the angel Gabriel did look to the throne
of the Lord, and the Lord's face was terrible to behold. And Gabriel did
go unto the Lord, saying: Oh Lord, is this not a time of great joy? For
the day of judgement is at hand, and your kingdom shall surely come to
pass.
2And the Lord was silent.
3Then Gabriel spoke again, saying: The righteous shall sing praises
to your name, and the earth shall be filled with light. Why art thou troubled?
4And the Lord turned away and did not speak.
5And a great fear filled Gabriel, and he asked: Oh Lord, how many are
the righteous on the earth? Surely there are the one hundred and forty-four
thousand that shall receive thy seal? And the Lord spoke, saying: There
are none, for they know not how they sin. And Gabriel saw the tears of
the Lord, like brilliant gems on the steps of his throne.
6And the Lord spoke again, in great sorrow, saying: One will come,
who will teach my works, and save the people of the earth. But, woe unto
man, for the time of endings has come, and my judgement is at hand. And
that great and terrible day shall come to pass before this one shall save
them, and all shall perish.
7Then said Gabriel: Thou art Lord, surely thou shall stay thy wrath
until he may come? And the Lord replied, saying Nay, I shall not. For the
day was chosen at the beginning of the earth, and I will not change it,
for my word is law.
8And the Lord did go forth out of that place. And Gabriel was greatly
troubled for the sorrow of the Lord. And he did go up and take unto him
the great book, which had on it seven seals. And he did also take the tears
of the Lord, which had been spilt on the steps of his throne.
9And Gabriel did go forth unto the angel Uriel, and Uriel did say unto
him Why have you the book, for only the Lamb may open the seals thereof.
And Gabriel did say unto Uriel, Do you serve God? And Uriel answered him,
saying Yea, I serve God. And Gabriel gave unto him the tears of the Lord,
and did flee from heaven.
Chapter 8
1 When the Lord did return, Michael did say unto him Lord, Gabriel
has taken the book of the seven seals, and has hidden himself among the
children of men, and we know not where he is. And Michael did turn to the
Lamb of God, saying: Wilt thou go down and bring back the book? And the
Lamb did look with compassion down upon the earth, and said: I shall not.
2And Michael did then turn to the Lord, saying: I shall take the hosts
of heaven, and go down and find the one that has betrayed us. And the book
shall be returned, that the day may come to pass as thou has spoken.
Then the Lord did say unto Michael: Take not all of the hosts of heaven,
but only a smaller part, for there are needful things that must be done.
He is but one fallen angel, and my face shall be turned away from him.
And Michael departed, taking with him a third part of the angels of heaven.
3Then Uriel did go unto the Grigori, those fallen angels that were
bound with chains in the darkness of the second heaven. And he did bring
with him a great flaming sword, and said unto them: Thou who are condemned-
Do thou serve God? And they answered unto him, saying Yea, we serve the
Lord, for we have repented of the sins of our past, but the Lord has bound
us from heaven, and his face is turned away from us.
4And Uriel did give unto them a part of the tears of the Lord, and
smote off their chains with his flaming sword, saying: Go then to the children
of men. Find that which the Lord wishes found, and keep in darkness that
which he does not wish seen.
5Then the watchers, those which had fallen from grace but had repented
of there sins did go forth to the earth, and did hide up the angel Gabriel
among those of their children that had stayed hidden from the eyes of the
heavens since the time of Noah.
Chapter 9
1And then Uriel did go forth among the angels of heaven, asking them
Do thou serve God? What would thou give up unto him, in his service? And
he did show them the tears of the Lord, and they were troubled.
2And the angel Raphael did come unto him, saying What is this thing
which thou do? For thou hast freed those that were to be bound until the
day of judgement, and now thou bring contention among the children of god,
like the Lightbringer in the first days.
3Then Uriel did lay down his great flaming sword, saying: I shall not
oppose the word of God. And he did give the tears of the Lord unto the
angels that they might know what he did.
4And Raphael did take up the great sword of Uriel, and did smite off
his wings, and cast him down to the earth, that he might never again ascend
into heaven. And then did he cry a great cry unto the Lord, saying: I have
done thy word, oh Lord, though it is a hard path. May thou in thy mercy
forgive me.
5And he did take up the sword of Uriel and cast it from the heavens,
and did go forth from that place, and hid himself up. And the Lord forbade
his angels to seek him until a time had passed.
6And there was a great unrest in the heavens, for many angels had seen
what Uriel had done, and had seen the tears. And they did say one to another,
What is the will of the Lord, that we might follow it? And another part
did say The word of God is law, that all might know their station. And
in time a third part of the angels of heaven did go forth unto the earth,
that they might find Gabriel, and see why he had done this thing.
7And the Lord was silent.
Chapter 10
1And the Grigori Baraqel did come unto Gabriel, saying: Uriel has been
cast from heaven, and is no more an angel for the sins he has committed.
And Gabriel did weep, and said unto Baraqel, Take this book, and hide it
among thy children. Let it not be found by heaven, lest that day come before
the Lord wishes.
2And Baraqel did say unto him, My children are few, for the Lord has
commanded they die by the sword. How may we keep this book safe, that it
not be found? For Michael cometh with a great host of angels bearing mighty
weapons, and we cannot withstand them.
3Then Gabriel did say unto him: Mankind has ever been our charge, as
the Lord has placed us to watch over them. For their sake we have fallen,
and shall keep hidden that thing which the Lord does not want found. May
he have mercy on us when the day of judgement comes. And Baraqel gave unto
Gabriel one of the tears which had been given unto him by Uriel, and Gabriel
did weep. And he went forth from that place, and took up the sword.
4And Baraqel did hide up the book where none save his children might
find it, and did likewise take up the sword.
5And great carnage was wrought, unseen by the children of men.
Joseph peered around as he passed through the doors of the
cathedral, wondering again at the audacity of his forefathers. Overhead the
ceiling arched up into darkness while the stained glass windows made shifting
patterns of soft color on the stone floor. Knowing now that God was real and
his curse on the children of the Grigori, Joseph felt a chill down his spine
just entering God's house, let alone hiding there for hundreds of years…
Perhaps it was all in his imagination. Behind him entered
two of God's angels, and they didn't seem disturbed in the least. Gorin was
a Throne, one of the higher orders, while Algimon was a Dominion. Both hid their
wings under sweeping trench coats, their bulk making the normally slender angels
look imposing.
Joseph felt a little less silly when the last member of their
group passed through the doors. Like him, Yuri seemed disturbed, as if feeling
like they were trespassing. Joseph still didn't know what to think about Yuri.
While human, he was as tall as the angels, and moved with a clumsiness that
reminded Joseph of a gawky adolescent. He had wondered if Yuri was actually
a giant, but he didn't have the mass. However, in combat he fought with a fearsome
efficiency that was terrifying.
A robed priest moved forward to see if they needed assistance,
but Gorin put him to sleep with a word. Concerned, Joseph looked at the other
three- that hadn't been in the plan, they needed to talk to the priest. Looking
grim, Yuri gestured towards the front of the chapel and said one word.
"Zakun."
Joseph swore as a tall man straightened from where he had
been kneeling before the altar and turned towards them. He was beautiful, with
long, white-blond hair and a delicate face lit by eyes that burned brighter
than the sun. Joseph had no idea how powerful he really was, but gave a heavy
sigh as he saw the angel draw a long, bright sword from under his coat. By the
light of the flames licking down its blade he could see other, small shapes
shift from where they had been hiding in the rafters above the alter.
To either side of him he saw that Gorin and Algimon had already
freed their wings for combat, their swords bright in their hands. Past them,
Yuri was slowly drawing out the iron bar he fought with, his face looking pained.
Looking towards the angel advancing towards them, he made a supplicating gesture.
"Zakun, do not do this. Not here in the house of the Lord…"
The angel gave him a sad smile, but did not stop. "The word
of the Lord is law, mortal. One does not question it. Did you think His house
would be a sanctuary for your blasphemy?"
Joseph threw back his head and barked a short, mirthless
laugh. The Zakun was right- it was God's war, let him deal with the property
damage. Raising his hands, he began an incantation he had learned as a small
child, and prepared to bring down fire in the house of the Lord…