When we discovered that we could
make larger things, we decided all at once to create more than these tiny
pinpoints of light with which to fill our sky.
We could create an entire cosmos, huge even to us, made up of larger,
brighter lights and perhaps even something living. Something tangible, not just light. If that was even possible.
But the light had to come first.
Lucifer slaved for what seemed
like a very long time, before he managed to create what you call a sun, a huge
version of our starts, thousands of times larger than any of us. For the first time, we knew true warmth and
light in our darkness. It was wonderful
to simply be bathed in it. But we
didn�t linger for long. We set about
making planets, moons, and other things.
Never mind exactly how. If it
was common knowledge, then everyone would go around creating planets, wouldn�t
they? � No, perhaps not. Either
way, the specifics are not truly pertinent to the story, and I doubt anyone
would be able to comprehend it in any case.
We set them in motion to see how
they arranged themselves, and found the results highly entertaining. Watching it was rather like those magnetic
contraptions humans create for amusement, all moving in a measured
pattern. We had created what you call
�space.�
Of course, understand that at
this point these planets were no more than wastelands, uninhabitable
deserts. So next, we began somewhere
invisible, quite a feat for our inexperience.
This was to be what you call Heaven, but we soon discovered that it
would have been too large for us to look after, had it been large enough to
keep all of us. So we divided it into
seven pieces, and set an angel in charge of each piece. In order of seventh to first, the names we
gave these divisions and their masters are as follows�Arabot, Michael; Makon,
Gabriel; Maon, Satqi�el; Zebul, Sahaqi�el; Sehaqim, Baradi�el; Raquia,
Barakiel; and the First Heaven, Wilon, was ruled by Sidri�el.
I know exactly what you�re thinking at this
point. ��What?� It�s understandable. You�ve heard of Seventh Heaven, haven�t you? Supposedly associated with Paradise? Well did you ever wonder what happened to
the other six? Surprise. However, there is no real difference between
the different �sections� of Heaven. We
simply had to deal with them separately in the beginning, for our sanity�s
sake.
We made Heaven much like we planned to make the
surface of at least one of the planets.
We created grass. Trees, rolling hillsides, clouds, and even a few
buildings with which to shelter ourselves from the sun if we wished. Al of it was built on nothing, which
exhausted even our combined powers, so we though that doing the same on a planet
would be simple. However, when we
decided on the one we named Earth, we found that there had somehow grown a kind
of life to the planet. It was as though
it was doing well without us, and didn�t want our help. But it got our help, however reluctantly. We tried and tried, but we were only able to
make a small portion of it like our Heaven.
And it certainly didn�t take just six days, let me tell you that. Thus, the garden we named Eden was
created. We made animals; deer, birds,
reptiles�but nothing truly harmful. All
this was just an experiment to begin with�but when we saw the creatures we had
willed into existence�we were simply enchanted.
Has a doe ever let you close to her? Have you ever looked into her eyes, and seen
that there is no doubt that she has a soul?
Do you hear me, a soul!
We had done more than created simply a living collection of cells�we had
somehow given it a spirit�we had made a crude version of ourselves. And we had done so without realizing it.
Then, we began to think of something grander. We though of making something like us�with a
spirit like us. Then came the phrase
that you people believe to be spoken by God, actually spoken by Michael. �Let us make man in our own image.� So we did.
We already knew about genders�a concept which
shocked us in the beginning, to say the least.
You should have seen the look on Gabriel�s face when one of the does had
a fawn. The word �gape� does not even begin
to describe his expression. I believe
he thought the poor creature was dying.
In any case, we understood the basics, it was just a matter of planning
them out , since the idea had never applied to us, only the animals. Michael and Gabriel had the major plan for
that women would look like�surprising, and mildly amusing, if you know what
Michael and Gabriel are like now.
Highly homosexual.
Disturbing. I drift again,
forgive me. We had to have something to
start with to make a man, or so we thought.
It was believed that if this being was to be any level of intelligent,
it would have to be created out of something more than nothingness and
willpower.
We proved ourselves right, when we tried to create
one just like us�wings and all. It was
disastrous. He was simple-minded to say
the least, and his wings were useless.
He couldn�t fly. He couldn�t
even glide. He ended up dying young,
and there was no spirit in him. It was
all very depressing, really. We decided
that if we were to be successful, the wings would have to go. Hence, wingless you. This was a much greater success, once we
figured it out, as I�m sure you realize.
Michael asked for some earth with which to mold this
new man, and he send Gabriel to gather it.
But the Earth did not, apparently, wish to give up its precious
soil. Gabriel was unable to return successfully,
but before Michael grew irritated enough to go himself, Azrael appeared with
the required element. As a reward,
Azrael was granted the title of the angel of death.
This actually worked out quite well for our slit-eyed friend, as others
had been belittling him since the beginning, because of his�abnormality. Yes, I am afraid that prejudice due to
difference existed even in Heaven�and it still does show its head occasionally,
but only by a select few who refuse to see past their own noses. Azrael was beaten, and abused mentally as
well as physically. He was put down,
scorned, ignored�he was made to be the cynical, unsure-of-himself being that he
is today. That is one of the reasons
that I tolerate him. I know that his
attitude is not his fault. He was told
from the moment he appeared that he was deformed, a freak amongst perfection,
and that he should simply hide himself from all sight. It would have gotten to me, too. And I believe it would have torn Azrael
apart, had Michael not been kind to him.
Michael was the one always telling Azrael that he was not a freak,
simply different, and beautiful in his own way. I thought it was all rather too sweet for my tastes.
Once we were able to make a man, we found that he
was as lost and confused as we had once been.
We named him Adam. We made sure
he was happy, and almost immediately began to make plans for a woman for
him. He was not beautiful, no matter
how dear Michael had tried, but he was nice to look at simply because he was
alive, he had a soul, and we had given that to him. His short, shaggy hair was a tan brown, nearly blonde, and his
eyes a pale, bright blue. He had a nice
face, but unremarkable. Nothing to
really call beautiful. We settled him
in Eden, taught him which plants and fruits to eat, and where the spring was
from which he could drink. The part
about the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life is true�another thing we all
seemingly agreed on, but didn�t really know why. We warned him of the forbidden fruit, and he seemed to
understand. Adam was a simple creature,
but not simple-minded. He was satisfied
with his lot. He understood that we
were his makers, but did not question why or how. I suppose he knew that we wouldn�t have told him.
Soon we had made our sweet Adam
a wife, whom we named Lilith. She, with
her long black hair and her dark brown eyes, was unremarkable in features as
well, but still pleasant in the same way as Adam.
They lived in Eden, and quite happily for
awhile. Then something completely
unexpected happened. Lucifer grew
resentful of Adam and Lilith. He
wondered why we spent so much time attending to them. He feared that we were becoming servants, servants of these
obviously inferior creatures. He became
angry with all of us when we called his notions ridiculous, so angry that he
was willing to fight, and hundreds of us flocked to his banner. As much as it pained me, I could not help
him. I had to stay true to what I believed,
and I did not believe that we had become servants.
It was the first time we had
required weapons. We chose long, sharp
blades of metal, with a special place to hold it. Then we added a special touch�flames that burned only when we
wanted them to. Other times they were
there, but cool to the touch. Oddly
enough, it was Lucifer who made them.
He made enough for everyone in heaven, not just those under him. He knew that it would come to a fight, and
he wanted it to be fair. Atuniel, the
angel of fire, was the one who put the flames to our blades.
I will always remember what was
said before we went to battle. Lucifer
stood on a pedestal, his minions behind him, addressing us all.
�Brothers!� he called, his
normally gentle voice forceful and loud, its lovely deep tones sounding harsh
to my ears. �Will you allow yourselves
to become servants�nay, to be enslaved�by your own creations?!�
�We are not servants!� called
Cafiel, who stood near me.
�Do you not run to their every
beck and call?!� cried Azazel, standing just by the pedestal from which Lucifer
preached. �Do you not grant their every
wish?! Nothing is forbidden from them!�
�It is our love which provides
for them! They have given us no reason
to forbid them anything!� Achaiah yelled in answer.
Now Lucifer spoke. �They should never have been created to
begin with! What sense does it make to
create a being so close to yourself that it can give you orders?!�
�What sense does it make to sit
in nothingness?!� Gabriel shouted.
Michael stood beside him, leaning against a pillar with his arms folded
over his chest, eyes closed. Apparently
he was only listening, as I was. I
refused to speak out against my sweet morning Star, who seemed more and more
the aggressor, but I simply couldn�t speak for him. I did love Adam and Lilith.
�Have you not been happy,
Gabriel?!� Lucifer retorted. �Have you
not had many good times here with us?!
Why should we need humans to entertain us?!�
�Enough!� Michael suddenly
shouted out, and a hush passed over the congregation. �There has been enough argument about this! I do not wish us to be divided!� He leaped up onto a pedestal near Lucifer,
facing him. �But I will not order the
destruction of Adam and Lilith. They
are living beings, and too many of us love them too dearly. If that displeases you, Lucifer, then I am
sorry. But we all must sometimes go
along with what others do, regardless of whether or not you agree with it. Now this is the end of this.�
�No it isn�t!� Lucifer answered
forcefully, his eyes narrowed in what seemed like hatred at our �leader.� �This is only just beginning, Michael. Those two will die.�
The ones behind him cheered in agreement, and I
averted my eyes. I knew my Morning Star
would fall, one way or another.
In secret, Michael ordered the creation of another
world, invisible as our Heaven was. However,
this world was to be the opposite of our home, and Adam�s home. It was to be a terrible, fiery place, full
of a feeling of sorrow and utter despair, made up of jagged rocks and boiling
rivers. A place where no being could be
comfortable, where no one could relax for any moment for fear of his sorrow
enveloping him. We managed to create
such a place, much to my disgust, deep within the planet, and this place was
eventually to be called Hell.