Between Heaven And Hell Part 5

The Challenge.

Lucifer sat in a private room at the back of the tavern. Located on a side street near the Inst.i.tute, it was his common haunt in the late afternoons after cla.s.s. With him were Maliel and Uzi. Maliel had worked as Lucifer's a.s.sistant for a number of years, while Uzi taught mathematics at the Inst.i.tute. He and Lucifer had known each other since they were very young and he was the only angel who Lucifer trusted completely.

As the three of them talked, Beliel arrived. Beliel lived across the eastern mountains, and, happily, had been visiting friends in the city. Although he had planned to begin the journey home that morning, Lucifer had prevailed on him to stay a few extra days to a.s.sist in his project. Beliel and Maliel had known each other while they were students at the Inst.i.tute, and he had studied with both Lucifer and Uzi.

"A perfect alliance." Belial nodded at the group and then dropped into a chair. "Everyone's here. What's the proposal?" He rubbed his hands together in antic.i.p.ation.

"We're waiting on the last two members of our little collective." Lucifer took a drink of ale and glanced through the open door. "They'll be along shortly."

Maliel's face flashed with confusion. "Two others?"

"The orb and the student," Uzi mumbled. "Though why we need them, I'm certain I don't know."

"Well, Uzi, we need Adryel, first, because when she arrives she will be the brightest one in the room."

Maliel began to chuckle when he heard the word brightest.

Lucifer turned to glare at him. "Case in point." He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "If you had even half an iota of brain matter inside that skull of yours, Maliel, you'd know I meant bright as in she's more intelligent than any of you three." He waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing whatsoever to do with her being a power." He paused, glancing around the table. "Second, she will give us a certain credibility. Paired with Ramael-Michael's minion-she will lend our group an air of perceived objectivity."

"And she's pleasing to look at." Maliel smirked.

Lucifer chose to ignore him. "The student, her name is Ami, is young, but she has potential. She works hard, she's very eager to please, and she's-"

"Pleasing to look at."

Beliel and Maliel spoke the words in unison, and then they laughed and high-fived across the table.

"Imbeciles," Lucifer mumbled.

The commentary did nothing to deter Beliel from continuing to heckle. "Why, if I didn't know you better, Lucifer, I'd think you were an orb in archangel's clothing. Keeping company with beautiful females. . ."

Maliel jumped back into the fray. "You should have heard him at council meeting. He talked of ravis.h.i.+ng the orb-in front of her pair!" Maliel chuckled hysterically as he imitated Lucifer presenting his example of how a human might behave. "He said, 'I am good, of course, so I would wish you good evening, but if I were a human I would ravish you.' Right. . .if he were human. . ." Maliel snickered and the others joined in. "Seriously. You should have seen his face. Wished he were human right then and there, I'd say."

"Bravo." Beliel applauded mockingly. "Fantastic impersonation, Maliel. Really. The voice, the mannerisms. . .I mean, you sound nothing like him, but that. . ." Beliel clutched at his stomach as though the laughter was becoming too much to bear, "that was simply priceless."

Lucifer shook his head and cast his eyes upward. "Are you toddlers quite through?" He didn't wait for a response. "And you, Maliel, you are so predictable. Your mind always in the gutter. You might make a good human."

The comment put an abrupt halt to the folly, and they sat in silence for several moments. Lucifer idly toyed with the two disks that he drew from his pocket. Maliel and Beliel quaffed their ale, and Uzi leaned back, his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

"Why are you so afraid of the humans?" Uzi asked. "You surely don't truly believe they would ever be able to attack the city, much less take it."

"No, of course not. Lord Michael's army would, no doubt, be more than a match for even millions of those creatures. No, that was simply a hypothetical example of what could conceivably occur. Although. . ." Lucifer smiled, "it did generate quite a response, didn't it?"

"It did. It did." Uzi nodded vigorously. "I almost took cover when the students began to throw chairs against the wall. I was afraid they were going to march to the palace en ma.s.s to protest the entire plan. Attempt to lynch Lord Michael, perhaps."

"That would have been premature." Lucifer sighed. "The humans will pose no real threat to us." He raised his hand to cut off any protest. "I am correct, mind you. They will be evil. Living among them will be a miserable experience, and I pity those angels who are given responsibility for dealing with them. I hope, however, never to lay eyes on a single one."

"Then why the outrage? Why protest at all? Purely concerned for the welfare of others, are you?" Uzi snorted.

"It is a time of great change in our world. The humans will become important players in our universe. Times of change are times of opportunity, and I mean to make the most of the situation." He looked toward the door. "Here. Our other members have arrived."

Adryel had run into Ami as they both searched for the meeting place. They had peered into the tavern cautiously, not certain they wanted to enter, but Adryel had spied Lucifer sitting in the back room.

"Lord Lucifer, I'm sorry we're late. Neither of us has ever ventured into this part of the city it seems, so we didn't know exactly where to find you."

Lucifer stood to welcome them. "We haven't been here long. Wine? Ale?"

Adryel chose wine, while Ami reached for a mug of ale.

"Does everyone know each other?" Lucifer looked to Adryel and Ami. "Of course you know Professor Uzi. This is Beliel, and this is Maliel." Lucifer pointed at each in turn. "They are friends of mine."

"You were Lord Lucifer's aide at council," Adryel said to Maliel.

He nodded, but did not respond, his face contorting as though he were fighting the urge to smile.

She shrugged and took a sip of her wine, looking to Lord Lucifer as he continued to speak.

"Now that we're all here, as you know, we are meeting to determine a strategy for combatting the infernal plan that was presented to the council. I've outlined my objections and, I a.s.sume from your presence, you agree with me."

All five nodded.

"Everyone seems to agree it is a matter of concern, Lord Lucifer," Adryel said. "The council is expressing its apprehension and requesting that certain aspects of the plan be explained further. It would seem to me that until the council receives a response there is really nothing to combat."

"Adryel, have you seen the council's-what are they calling it?-oh, yes, a request for clarification?"

"Of course I have seen it. I distributed copies of the draft to the members. Have you read it?"

"I have, and I quote, 'We are concerned about the creatures referred to as humans. Will any safeguards be in place should they choose to do evil?' I, for one," Lucifer shook his head, "would tremble in fear should I receive a letter like that concerning some action I proposed to take. I would literally fall over myself developing safeguards. Wouldn't you, Uzi?"

"Oh, no doubt, Lucifer. No doubt." Uzi laughed. "I too would quake in my boots."

Adryel gave a small smile to acknowledge the sarcasm, something Ami, Beliel, and Maliel seemed to take several moments to comprehend.

"It was a pro forma protest, if you can call it a protest at all. It demands nothing," Lucifer exclaimed. "It requests information. What if the response is simply 'No'? What will the council do then?"

"I don't know. I suppose they might-"

"Nothing. They will do nothing. That is why we need a strategy now."

"But Adonai's response may contain a list of safeguards. . ."

"The response may not come until he is ready to breathe life into those creatures, and then it will be much too late. If we are to offer opposition, we must act."

"So what do you suggest?" Adryel sipped her wine and awaited his response. Lord Lucifer typically had a plan in mind before he called a meeting. He consulted with others in order to win their support, not to receive their suggestions. It would be most unlike him not to have a strategy ready to go.

"We should gather a force of our own and attack the palace." Beliel's eyes sparkled. "Once we are in control of the city, Adonai must pay attention to our ideas."

"Are you crazy?" Adryel wanted to laugh. "Your force of. . .of whom? Students? Thugs? Your force would go to battle with Lord Michael's army?"

"If we took them by surprise. . ."

"If you had surprise on your side, you could possibly get through the outside door." Adryel could not hold back her laughter any longer. "I say possibly. Most likely not. Lord Michael already expects trouble of some sort. His guards would take you out even if each one of them had a hand tied behind his back."

Beliel snickered. "You have a lot of faith in your pair's ability."

"I do. You should become better acquainted with his ability before you decide to make war on him." Adryel turned to Lucifer. "Surely this is not your idea."

Lucifer shook his head. "Not at all. I see the same ending to Beliel's plan as you do. . .Are there any other suggestions?"

"What would you think of a debate?" Uzi folded his hands across his stomach. "Someone who opposes this plan could issue a challenge to debate it. Make it a public discussion in Palace Square. We know the general public would not come to the Inst.i.tute, but in Palace Square? They would attend in droves. The square would be full. Those who did not attend would hear reports of what was said." Uzi's face lit up with excitement. "You might stand against the plan, Lucifer, and you might challenge another member of the council. Uriel, perhaps? Or even Michael."

"It might work." Lucifer ran his hand though his beard, as though contemplating.

Adryel smirked. A debate sounded exactly like something Lord Lucifer himself would suggest, two angels matching wits with each other. Lord Michael and Ramael were expecting him to adopt Beliel's suggestion of an insurrection, but a debate would be non-violent. An angel's ego might be bruised during a debate, but not his body. Besides, a spirited discourse might just sway the council.

Adryel decided to steer the discussion further in this direction. "What if you were able to excite the crowd, as you did the students yesterday? What if the council saw the faces, heard the voices of the angels in the city? Might that move them more than logic alone? If logic was all that was required, then the archangels would have agreed with you while we sat at the meeting, would they not?"

"It might. What are you thinking, Adryel?" Lucifer's eyes sparkled.

Even Lord Lucifer responds to flattery. . .

Adryel turned her head so he would not see her smile of satisfaction.

"The council will meet again four days from now to finalize its response. What if your debate occurred in Palace Square, as Uzi suggests, immediately prior to their meeting? What if we were to sit around the table with the shouts of the crowd ringing in our ears?"

"Now that idea has potential." Lucifer stared at the ceiling, as though considering the issue. "It just might work. . .Can a debate be arranged so quickly?"

Flattery was one thing, but Lord Lucifer was buying in too easily. It was clear that this was his idea. It had to be. And that meant Lord Michael and Ramael were mistaken. Lord Lucifer did not want violence. Unless, of course, he had ulterior motives. . .

There was one way to find out. She would word things in such a way as to gauge Lucifer's reaction. That would tell her all she needed to know about whether or not his motives were pure.

Beliel began to speak, but Adryel cut him off, eager to dangle her bait in front of Lord Lucifer.

"Why not? We can write the challenge now, this afternoon. It can be posted tonight. If no one is willing to debate, we can still set up for one. You can make your argument, and you can point to the empty lectern as evidence that the council is reluctant to even consider what is best for the ordinary angel. You can have the crowd calling for Lord Uriel's blood before you're finished."

"His blood?" Lucifer raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why, that sounds a little harsh, Adryel."

She smiled. He had confirmed for her that he had peaceful intentions. "Oh. I meant it figuratively, of course."

"Yes, yes. Of course."

"And if someone will debate, the result will be much the same. You will make the crowd see what will happen with hordes of humans a.s.saulting the city. The council will literally feel their fear. You will take part in the debate, won't you, Lord Lucifer? I'm a.s.suming you will want to speak against the plan."

Lucifer seemed to be studying his hands, rubbing his wooden disk between his thumb and forefinger. "If that's what the committee thinks best. . ."

"Well-" Adryel began.

"Of course we do." Ami interrupted, finally taking her eyes off Lord Lucifer and speaking up. "Who else could make the case as well as you? You must debate, Lord Lucifer." The others nodded.

Lucifer smiled. "Very well then. Let us compose the challenge."

"Adonai has presented a plan to the Council of Archangels proposing the creation of various heavenly bodies and a variety of creatures which will inhabit one of those bodies, a so-called planet. One of these creatures, to be called human, will be endowed with reason, emotion, and free will, like the angels of heaven. The plan proposes that these creatures be completely free to choose between good and evil, with no predisposition to do what is right. The proposal is flawed in this regard. It is ill conceived and dangerous to the humans themselves, to the creation that is being planned, and to the very heavens and all who live in them."

Lucifer paused as he reached for a pen. His hand hovered above the sheet of paper for a moment, then he shook his head and mumbled, "No, it's good. It's good."

He continued to read from the page.

"I, Lucifer, challenge any angel or archangel to publicly debate the advisability of the proposal with regard to the nature of the humans. I propose the debate to take place four days from now, at ten o'clock in the morning in Palace Square. Anyone willing to accept my challenge should call on me at the Inst.i.tute to agree on the particulars."

He nodded approvingly. "Good. Very good." He looked up, glancing at each of the others.

"Excuse me, Lord Lucifer." Adryel raised her hand. "Instead of saying like the angels of heaven, would it not be better to say like the host of heaven? And do you not want to challenge any member of the heavenly host, not only angels and archangels?"

Beliel snorted. "No one really cares-"

"No, she is correct," Lucifer interrupted. He crossed out the offending words and replaced them. "We are all affected by this plan. We should all oppose it. . .Anything else?"

No one spoke.

"Excellent. I have parchment in my bag. Who can make the official copy to post? Who has a good hand?"

Adryel covered her mouth to hide her smile. Who carried parchment around in a bag? To a tavern? Only someone who planned to pen an official doc.u.ment, that's who. More confirmation that Lord Lucifer planned this all along.

It wasn't a bad strategy, and her idea about linking the debate and the council meeting guaranteed it would receive a lot of attention. And since he clearly had good intentions. . .

After Ami made the final copy on Lucifer's parchment, he scanned it for errors and then signed at the bottom.

"There." He looked around, meeting each one's eye. "I've given it today's date, so it should be posted tonight. Adryel, can you help me with that?"

"I'll help you, Lord Lucifer." Ami jumped to her feet, speaking before Adryel could even open her mouth.

"Both of you can come with me to the palace." He chuckled as he turned to the others. "I'll see you later tonight. Spread the word. With only four days until the debate, posting might not be sufficient."

It was already dark, and Adryel felt sure Ramael would reach home long before she would. He would be worried about her.

She questioned what to tell him about the meeting. While she knew staging a debate was not wrong, she was taking Lord Lucifer's side, and Ramael would support Lord Michael. He might question Lord Lucifer's motives more than she. . .but she was there, she saw Lucifer's reaction to her mention of them calling for Uriel's blood.

Still, her stomach felt woozy. She and Ramael had never been at odds before.

The three walked toward the palace without speaking, Lucifer striding ahead of Ami and Adryel. Lost in her thoughts, Adryel spied the entrance to the garden off to her left, and she smiled, recalling her picnic with Ramael earlier in the week. A group of students pa.s.sed them now, moving in the opposite direction, and Adryel greeted them, stopping to talk for a moment while Lucifer and Ami continued toward the palace.