He thought back on Cain and recalled how he had easily he corrupted his heart. Some people believed he was the true father of Cain. That was not true but he would have enjoyed seducing the first woman. In fact, he would have if God had not intervened. Even now, the thought of her virgin flesh caused a deep lust.
He had hoped to completely turn the first man and first woman away from God. It was not enough that they had been removed from the garden. He needed them to know that God would no longer keep them. He was convinced that when their eldest killed his younger brother, bitterness would consume them and they would cease to worship their creator. As such, he filled Cain’s heart with jealousy and drove him to the point of murder.
But his plan failed. Not only did the first man and woman continue to follow God, Cain later repented of what he had done and his descendants were blessed. His line continued and the descendants of that line had just entered the hall.
The Great Hall – the place where all men came as death took them. The so-called Pearly Gates. There, the deceased met with Enoch who told them what must come next.
The Morning Star sneered as he thought on the religion of man. God had promised man that whatever they bind true on earth shall be also bound in Heaven. For that reason, men designed their own fate. They approached death in various ways depending on what they believed in life. But in the end, they had all faced Enoch.
Only now they faced the Morning Star. And in the time he had occupied the throne, he had sent more souls to Dudael than not.
Men described Hell as a place of fire and torment. That amused him as pain from fire and torment was a physical aspect and the existence of the deceased was far from physical. But there was one aspect of the human-described Hell that did intrigue him. It was the depiction that Hell was a place void of God. He knew that God was ingrained in everyone and everything – his mark as one who created, much as a painter who signs his name. The absence of God was an impossibility. Even in the Great Hall, with the Morning Star on the throne, God’s presence was felt.
God could not be eliminated. But the Morning Star also knew God would always permit free will. Ironically, because of free will, the Morning Star now sat at the head of creation. He could rule that creation, even in the presence of God.
Once the Sons of Cain were defeated and the rebellious angels silenced, he would give man their definition of Hell. God would not be worshiped. In turn, God would become neutralized. The Morning Star would shape the afterlife to fit the depiction that man had of him: Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub.
The Morning Star looked up at the commotion. He smiled. They were here.
The Sons of Cain approached with want of combat and the Morning Star stood entertained, watching their arrival. In front of him on the dais, sat Enoch in a lonely chair.
The Morning Star almost laughed when the dejected look on Enoch’s face turned to hope at the arrival of the opposing army. Instead, the Morning Star kept his composure and rose to his full height. He looked down on those who refused him as he spit and cursed. The other Watchers rose from their place behind him and followed suit.
This was the dance and they all knew it. Modern warfare may be more efficient in killing more people quickly but it took the humanity out of battle. There was something to looking in the eyes of the enemy. The Morning Star had always appreciated the ancient forms of warfare and he relished the moment. The other side responded equally, inviting the Watchers to attack.
To allow Juan and Diego the necessary time to complete their task, the Sons of Cain would have to delay combat as long as possible. There were many ways to accomplish that but the one that would provide the most time was obvious.
Daniel stepped out between the two armies. “I call for Council!”
The Morning Star hissed but knew it was customary for two sides to meet in Council before combat. Many of the Watchers were very traditional and the Morning Star knew if he refused Council, a rift might surface among the Watchers.
He consented and three other Watchers joined him to meet with Daniel, Eduardo, Shamsiel and Cherubim. Enoch watched on.
“Of what do you wish to speak, boy?” the Morning Star sneered at Daniel. “I suppose you’re the leader of this pathetic army.”
Daniel smiled. He would not be goaded into a fight. As a young man, often two opposing armies would spend an entire morning drinking and hurling insults back and forth across neutral grounds at each other. Finally, one army would be drunk enough to fight. “I am here to demand you step down.” Daniel smiled intentionally. “Do you think we come to hold hands and dance around the throne?”
The Morning Star scoffed, “I will crush you like the Romans did your father. As I recall, he pissed himself as the Roman’s poured over your town’s feeble attempt at a fortress. Do you wish to hear what they did to your mother?”
Inside Daniel raged at the comment but he refrained from showing emotion. The Morning Star could feel Daniel’s rage and a wide grin drew across his face.
Daniel returned the insult, “And I will cast you aside as God did. It is said that you cried like a nursing baby
