Camael sat on the couch in the dark at Hannah’s house. In his hand was the garden spade she’d been using when he left the previous morning. Once he arrived, he conducted a thorough search which eventually led him to the backyard. That’s where he found the spade sticking up out of the ground halfway between where she had been planting flowers and the back door. It was also where he caught the scent of evil. It was faint, having dissipated over the last thirty-eight hours, but evil always lingered. It was then he knew Dagon had her. No one else had been stalking her but the Dark One.
Anger like he never experienced before began to build inside of him. He stewed for a while, and then he made plans. Now he sat waiting for the messenger to show his or her face so he could hear whatever message was being delivered, and then he would find Hannah and save her and their child. He absently tossed the spade in the air and caught it, repeating the action while the wheels in his mind turned. The house felt empty and cold without her laughter, her warmth, her presence. His heart ached, and he fumed over his feelings of frustration. He was itching to take off, but he knew he couldn’t just refuse a direct order from a higher host, could not refuse a messenger of God.
Finally, the dark room lit up in a blinding white light. A sound swelled within that washed over Cam. The choir of angels sang greetings in keys that human ears could not detect. As usual, it filled his heart and brought forth joyous tears to his crystal blue eyes. A form took shape at the center of the light. Golden robes shot through with the shiniest of platinum and silver threads billowed in the breeze catching the illumination and sparkling like billions of stars in a newly formed galaxy. He tried to look directly at her face, but messengers of God shone so bright, even his kind could not view them straight on. It was the equivalent of a human trying to stare into the sun.
“Camael, it has been a millennium.”
He may not be able to see her face, but Cam recognized the voice. “Zaureliana. So, He sends you.” The irritation in his tone did not escape the angel.
“Would thou prefer not to see me?” Sadness tinged her melodious words.
“No. I simply would prefer it not be you that orders me away from my Hannah. I assume you know the story.”
“Of course. And it is not I who orders you away. He who created us all demands you obey.”
“I have always obeyed.” Cam stopped himself from saying any more.
Zaureliana flowed closer and Camael felt her warm hand on his shoulder. Her light dimmed just enough so that he was able to turn and see her silver eyes. They were as kind as ever, and her lovely face smiled quietly down at him. “I taught you well.” Her hand stroked his hair like a mother soothing a child. He remembered that hand doing so often in the early years of his existence. When he first came into being, whole of body, he was put into her care. It was Zaureliana who taught him all he knew. It was she alone who raised him as any human mother would a child save that he was already fully grown, cut from the celestial cloth by the hand of God. He closed his eyes, feeling nothing but love for her, and regret for what he planned.
“What is the message?”
The hand ceased its stroking, and she sat down next to him on the edge of the couch. “You, Camael, are tasked with retrieving the Blade of the Morning Star.” The serious tone of her voice told him this was not going to be an easy chore.
“Why? What is this weapon? Why is it important?”
“I believe Cassiel already shared more with you about it than he should.”
Nothing ever escaped Zaureliana. “He mentioned Astarte. How is she involved? I don’t understand how a self-proclaimed goddess has anything to do with what’s happening.”
“I guess I’ve never told you the story about Astarte and Lucifer, have I?” Zaureliana looked off into the distance as if gazing back in time.
“No, you didn’t.” Cam waited for her to continue.
“Well, in the beginning, after He created the heavens and earth, our father began creating the heavenly hosts. Lucifer was the most beautiful of us all and a favorite of the throne.”
Camael chuckled. “I thought you said I was the most beautiful one?”
Zaureliana laughed and put her arm around Cam, pulling him in for a hug like she did when he was newly made. “You were quite the beautiful boy. Still are,” she said as she ruffled his hair in a motherly manner. “But then, I’m biased. I raised you. However, the kind of beauty Lucifer possessed…possesses, is one that is surface-deep. He needed constant affirmation that he was beautiful and loved, and when he saw that all the other hosts worshipped and loved the throne, he became very jealous. It was startling for us because none of the other angels of my personal acquaintance had this character flaw. At least, I never saw it. Astarte was a lovely one who ranked much lower than me and Lucifer. He was put in charge of her order, and she did not fail to notice how brightly he shined. When he smiled at her, she became,” Zaureliana stopped to think. “Well, she became as silly as a human girl when she first notices a boy.”
Cam raised an eyebrow. He’d heard of angels becoming enamored of humans, but this was the first time he’d heard about attraction between angels. It just wasn’t something the warrior class ever thought about…until they came into physical contact with human men and women. That’s how it was for him when he first laid eyes on Hannah.
“As you can imagine, Lucy loved the attention.”
“Lucy?” A grin tugged at the corners of Cam’s lips. He’d never heard Lucifer referred to in such a familiar, and less-than-dignified way.
“No one calls him that except a handful of us originals. But yes, he thrived on her attention. Cultivated it, and before we knew it, they were having a torrid affair right under the nose of the throne.”
“How is that possible? He knows all!” Cam’s brow lowered into a perplexed line.
She grew serious and looked Camael in the eye. “Never repeat this, but, Camael, there are ways to remain out of the all-knowing eye of the throne.”
“How?” He sat forward, intrigued.
“That’s not important right now. What is important is that you understand the deep connection between Astarte and Lucifer. When he was finally cast down into the pit of a thousand years, Astarte grieved terribly. She grew angry, bitter. She failed to listen to reason that she’d chosen the wrong side, aided in a rebellion in heaven, even helped recruit other angels who were dissatisfied with their lot. She chose to fall all on her own, and when she did, she wreaked havoc on Earth setting herself up as a deity in her own right. Humans are easily fooled, you know. They are mostly ruled by fear, and she instilled great fear in them by destroying their villages using her angelic powers. Several other fallen followed her lead, and with each trying to rule in their own right, fought amongst themselves for thousands of years. The Greek Gods of mythology are all fallen, Camael.”
“So, she was forced to stop seeing her boyfriend. You’re saying Hannah is somehow mixed up in some nonsense caused by their forced breakup? That’s insane!”
“Exactly. She’s insane. And she’s quite dedicated to Lucy still. She’s found a way to open the pit and bring him back. That cannot be allowed to happen. It will bring hell on Earth and war in heaven. The Blade of the Morning Star was created when the Almighty cast Lucifer down. The blade closed the pit, and the blade will open the pit. You must retrieve the blade and bring it to the throne. That is your task, and one you cannot, dare not refuse.”
Cam sighed. His frustration at being kept from Hannah tearing him apart. “How does Dagon figure into this?”
“Dagon is her lover.”
“What? I thought she was madly in love with Lucifer?”
Zaureliana smirked. “Camael, you are still so very young yet.” She patted his head. “The heart of a woman is deep, and sometimes very twisted. In Astarte’s case, she uses all at her disposal to reunite with her lost love, even if that means using another angel to achieve the goal. Dagon is full of conceit. All Astarte had to do was smile at him and throw out a few compliments. Her beauty and intelligence are her weapons.”
“My word. This is like one of those Mexican novellas some of the humans watch before passing over. I thought they were silly, but to hear you tell it, the plot is similar, only this time it involves my Hannah and our child. This isn’t funny, Zaureliana.”
“No, Camael, it is not. It’s quite serious. And completing this task is the only way through the situation.”
Cam felt himself giving in against his better judgment. At last, he caved. “Okay. Where will I find this blade?”
Zaureliana stood. “Jerusalem. Beneath the Temple of Solomon, you’ll find a network of underground tunnels. The unopened chamber is where you’ll find the hilt.”
“Wait, only the hilt? What about the blade?”
“The weapon was split to prevent anyone from finding it. The blade, my dear boy, is deep in the tomb of the risen dead.”
Zaureliana began to ascend, becoming brighter as she prepared to leave.
“Wait! What do you mean? Whose tomb are your referring?”
The light burst, then faded. Zaureliana was gone and Cam had no answer.
“It’s Lazarus, of course.”
The deep voice belonged to the tall, dark-haired angel walking out from the back room. His curling locks shone, and his violet eyes sparkled wickedly. The serious expression on his face added to the ‘bad-boy’ look as he sauntered over and sat down on the couch next to Camael.
“You think so, Gabe?”
Gabriel raised his hands behind his head and leaned back with knees spread, at his leisure. “I do. The tomb of the risen dead could be no other.”
“It could be the Nazarene.” Cam eyed Gabe.
“It could be, but it’s not. I’ve already looked.” Gabe smirked.
This surprised Camael. “You did? When?”
“Millennia ago. It’s not there.”
Cam stood up and paced. “Well, you heard Zaureliana. What do you think? It looks like I have no choice now but to find this blade.”
“Looks like. But some of what she said doesn’t quite add up. I was there, you know. Back when Lucy and Astarte had their little romance. As I recall it, she was already growing tired of him by the time he was cast down.”
Cam stopped pacing and eyed the archangel who seemed to be loyal and yet willful and self-serving. He didn’t understand how Gabriel got away with half the things he did, but somehow, he remained in favor. “How do you know this?”
Gabe grinned. “Because, Camael, she and I were starting our own flame.”
Cam’s eyes opened wide. “How is it I knew nothing about this? Is it some sort of secret or what?”
“No, not a secret. Just not discussed. Our father didn’t want the newer hosts getting any ideas.” Gabe stood and stretched. “But Michael knows.” He walked to the front door, then turned back and looked at Camael. “Are you coming or what?”
“Stop dropping these bombs on me!” Cam’s nostrils flared as he tried to deal with the knowledge that his leader knew all along what was really going on and chose not to confide in him. He felt betrayed. He also felt used. Adding those feelings to his already frayed heart had him chomping at the bit to hit something and knock it down—like a mountain!
Cam caught up, locking the door as he walked out into the night and taking flight. He glided alongside Gabriel, both moving swiftly over the Atlantic heading across Western Europe and toward Israel. His thoughts were on Hannah. Where was she? He knew now that Dagon had her, but he knew not the location.
“Any ideas about where the Dark One would take Hannah?”
The angels descended through the clouds, flying over the tops of homes built of stone, their residents tucked into their beds in the early dawn hours. The scent of fresh bread baking reached their noses. Jewish, Muslim, and Christian bakeries alike were preparing for the day before the sun rose.
Gabe inhaled, smiling.
“I smell Matzah and Naan. Mmmn.”
“This is no time to think of your stomach, Gabe.” Cam could smell the different breads as well, but the scents weren’t a distraction to him as they seemed to be for Gabriel.
They landed at the northernmost side of Mount Zion. Not many tourists ventured here. Instead, they made the pilgrimage to the western side of the hill to see King David’s Tomb – a tomb that didn’t actually contain the body of King David. Visitors also frequented the Room of the Last Supper, and many simply wandered the graves in the old Christian cemetery where they might come upon the resting place of Oskar Schindler, the gentile who saved over twelve hundred Jews during World War II. Camael looked out over the city below as dawn peeked over the horizon with one sleepy eye. It had been a long time since he’d last visited Jerusalem. There wasn’t much here then.
“There is always time to break bread, my friend.” From nowhere, Gabe produced a large flatbread still steaming from the oven he magically swiped it from. He ripped it in half and extended it toward Cam who shook his head.
“No thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” said Gabe through a mouthful. “Now, as to your question, I would imagine Dagon would keep her right where he intends to use her.” He walked across the overgrown field that once was the legendary temple courtyard.
Cam followed, alarm bells going off hearing those last words. “What do you mean, “use her”?
“Come on, Camael. He took her for a reason. It wasn’t just for giggles, you know! He would have been acting on Astarte’s orders. If she’s really hellbent on springing Lucifer from the pit, she needs a key.”
Cam stopped walking. “Ritual sacrifice?”
Gabe turned, chewing idly, saying nothing.
Camael’s face darkened like thunderclouds. His heart pounded and he could hear the blood rushing through his veins.
“No! I won’t allow it! She’s carrying our child, Gabe! I won’t let this happen. I won’t!”
Gabriel dropped the bread and rushed to Camael placing his hands on his shoulders. “Then stop wasting time! They need this blade, Cam. Zaureliana wouldn’t have sent you on this mad quest otherwise. Don’t you see that? We have to find it before they do.”
Camael clenched his fists at his sides. His anger bubbled over, and he pushed past Gabe heading for the entry at the side of the hill. No one knew of this doorway. It wasn’t visible to humans, and since very little excavation was ever allowed on the temple mount, it remained hidden. Centuries upon centuries of vegetation and decay grew over the ancient door. With a wave of his hand, Cam parted the twisted vines. Beneath, a door made of splintered wood and oxidized metal appeared. Symbols written in angelic script were carved into the metal frame overhead. They were so old and worn that they could no longer be deciphered. It was clear no one had used the door since the time of Solomon. Cam reached out and grasped the handle.
“Wait!” Gabe stopped him from pulling the door open.
Camael turned, irritation flashing in his blue eyes. “What for?”
Gabe pointed to the unreadable words above the doorway. “You can’t just open the door, Cam. Can’t you read?”
The angel looked at the faded and worn metal, squinting. “No. I can’t read it, Gabe. It’s no longer legible. I take it you know what it says?”
Gabe sighed and mumbled, “The things you don’t know, kid.” Then he shook his head and began patiently, “This door was sealed by Samael. It’s bound by angelic magic. Anyone who attempts to open it will be obliterated whether human, demon, or angel.”
“Then how in Hades are we to get into the catacombs?”
“There’s another way. We just need to find the great hall.” Gabe looked around, trying to get his bearings. “Back in the day, there was a secret room off the great hall. Inside that room was a massive stone wall carved out to reveal a maze of sorts. It appeared as an illusion, a wall within a wall. Pillars lined the walls and looked three-dimensional. One of them actually was. When approached just right, you could see there was a hidden entryway. It led to a very narrow and dark tunnel that wound around and down hundreds of feet into the base of the hill and even further underground. It led to the catacombs.”
Cam looked around at the overgrown hill. “Gabe, I don’t think that entryway exists anymore. No temple, no room with secret carved entrances.”
“Sssh!” Gabe closed his eyes and appeared to be listening intently. He began to walk slowly back up the hill to a higher flattened area.
“What are you doing?” He followed Gabe who was now making his way north with eyes closed and head cocked.
“It’s here.” Gabriel stopped at an indention in the field.
“What? The wall?” Cam raised a dubious eyebrow. He was beginning to think Gabe might be a bit mad.
“No. Not the wall. The wall is long gone. Do you see a wall?” He spread his arms wide in the open space and gave Cam an inpatient look. “The tunnel. It’s here. Look down.”
Gabe pointed at his feet. Cam looked down at the pile of rocks in the indented earth. Giving the other angel the benefit of the doubt, he tilted his head to the side and focused, listening. Then he heard it, the high-pitched sound the wind makes when passing over and through small openings. There was a hollowness to the sound that meant they were standing on top of a cavern of sorts. Gabe stepped back and pointed his finger at the pile of rocks. They exploded up and out, landing all around them, but never once hitting either angel. A hole the size of a man appeared. When Camael stepped closer and looked down inside, he could make out the rudimentary outline of stone steps leading down.
Gabriel grinned. “See? Told you so. After you.” He waited as Cam sighed heavily and then stepped down inside, slowly disappearing from sight. Whistling a happy tune, Gabe jumped in after him, and soon, both were deep into the ancient catacombs. Cobwebs greeted them, and the heavy odor of moldy, damp soil coated their throats with each breath. When they reached the bottom of the winding stairs, Cam turned to Gabe.
“Well? Which way? Left or right?” It was dark, so Gabe bent down and broke off a large root growing out of the wall. He snapped his fingers and the tip of the root burst into flame. Light flooded the narrow corridor revealing crumbling stone walls covered in roots, moss, and slime. Earthworms wiggled out of the cracks, and a rat ran past their feet squealing at them, no doubt perturbed at the invasion of its home.
“Right. Follow me.” Gabe led the way. The tunnel wound downward steadily going deeper. Camael thought they’d come out the other side of the planet after nearly twenty minutes of following behind his friend.
He mulled over the past forty-eight hours.
So much had happened in a very short amount of time. Hannah had been taken. He was ordered away to watch over a passing soul right before that occurred. It seemed rather convenient now. He didn’t begrudge Elia. It wasn’t the old woman’s fault, but why couldn’t someone else have been chosen to escort her to the throne. Why him? And why did Michael simply not tell him what was about to happen? His absence was uncharacteristic. Even when he didn’t agree with orders from higher up, he abided. He set the example for them all, so why not just explain it all? Why not just tell him that Hannah was to be sacrificed, and their baby used to open the pit of a thousand years? Yeah, okay. Camael had to admit to himself that he would’ve fought tooth and nail to save her even if he’d been ordered to stand down. Now he was being waylaid once again to find some dagger that any of the other hosts could have retrieved. Or could they? Gabriel said he’d searched for it millennia ago without success. Camael blinked. Why would Gabe have been searching for this dagger? And why was he helping him now? Sure, he’d called and asked for his help, but the angel agreed rather easily which was unusual. One thing he knew about Gabriel, he didn’t do anything unless it somehow benefited him. It was one of those quirks about him that always made Camael wonder how he got away with blatant selfish behavior.
Gabe stopped. “We’re here.”
Cam looked past him at the archway leading into a pitch-black chamber. Gabriel stepped through and the glow cast by the torch lit up the walls. The room was vast, and empty.
“What’s this?”
Gabe looked around, clearly as puzzled as Camael. “This is the chamber beneath Solomon’s Temple.”
“So where is this hilt hidden?” Cam stretched out his arms indicating the open space.
“I don’t know.” Gabriel walked to each corner looking up, then down, kicking at the stones on the ground.
“Is there another room?” Cam felt his anger flare.
“No. This is the only chamber beneath the temple that I’ve ever been aware of. None other exists.”
A loud snort escaped Camael. “We’ve been had.” He turned and began walking back the way they came.
Gabe caught up. “Why would Zaureliana lie to you?”
“She didn’t.” Cam raised his fist and punched the stone wall as he moved through the tunnel. Dirt, rock, and debris exploded, raining down on Gabriel as he came up from behind.
“She did!” The surly angel side-stepped the pile of rubble falling at his feet.
“She didn’t, Gabe. Zaureliana would never lie to me. She spoke the truth as it was given to her.”
“You’re saying she was simply delivering a message; that she didn’t know?”
“Exactly.”
“Then who gave her the message to give to you?” They reached the stairs and began climbing back to the surface.
“That’s what we’re going to find out.” Camael gained the grassy ground first, and leapt into the air, spreading his wings, and flapping furiously.
Gabriel ditched the torch into the dirt and shot up, coming up on Cam’s flank. “Where are we going?”
“To pull Michael out of hiding.”
Stay tuned until next week!
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