The Fall

Azazel marched at Lucifer’s side followed by a number of angels so large that the stamp of their feet and the beating of their wings drowned out all other noise, and his confidence had steadily been growing. Their rebellion might actually succeed. But once he saw what waited for them in the city of heaven, his confidence wavered. Angels crowded every street and hovered in the air so that the city itself could not be seen. The soft glow of the golden streets and the glint of the diamond and pearl buildings were replaced by a shimmering light emanating from the weapons and armor of thousands upon thousands of angels ready for war. Their number easily doubled the size of Lucifer’s own army.

As Azazel drew closer to the city he spotted an unmistakable form standing guard in front of its gates. Michael the archangel was significantly larger than the other angels, and his beauty was rivaled only by Lucifer. He wielded a sword so large that it could split the very ground. He stood unmoved by the looming army. Lucifer held out his hand to halt his followers, and he approached Michael alone. Lucifer walked with confidence. He had a slight grin on his face, and his curved blade hung at his side as he made his way towards the daunting archangel. They stood before each other for a moment before Michael spoke with enough power that both armies could hear every word.

“Brother, it is not too late to stop this madness. Beg forgiveness now and Father may show you mercy.”

Lucifer laughed.

“You have been lied to Michael, God is not as powerful as he would have us believe. If he was, why does he not stop me here and now?”

Michael paused for a moment before carefully choosing how to answer.

“We cannot understand the mind of our Lord, but perhaps he has waited to give you one last chance to stop this rebellion.”

Azazel watched as Michael looked past Lucifer at the army he had gathered. Sadness morphed his pristine features as he looked at all of the brothers who had turned their backs on their father. Lucifer soon broke the silence.

“Why won’t you join me brother?”

Michael turned his attention back to Lucifer.

“You know I can’t do that.”

“So be it.”

As the last word left Lucifer’s lips, there was a thunderous crash as his sword met Michael’s with enough force to cause a shockwave. Lucifer had struck so fast that no eye could have seen his movement, but somehow Michael deflected the blow. Lucifer let out a ferocious yell as he leaped at Michael. As the two engaged in combat, a roar erupted from both armies as every angel began to charge forward. Azazel immediately took flight and looked for an opponent. He saw an enemy angel flying directly towards him, and he braced for a fight. The two collided and fell briefly before separating. They hovered, and for a moment neither of them attacked until the enemy angel lunged towards him swinging his sword over his head. Azazel tucked in his wings and dove below the strike and then turned upwards to soar above his opponent to launch a counter attack. The angel blocked, and the two continued in this dance for a length of time before a single blow was ever landed.

Azazel had seen the blade aimed for his chest, he turned in an attempt to dive out of the way, but the sword struck too quickly. It tore into his side leaving behind a gaping wound. Azazel let loose a cry of agony. This was the first time he had ever felt pain. It wracked his body, and the searing pain blinded his vision and muddled his mind. The pain turned to anger and he struck at his attacker with more force than before. The angel was unable to defend, and Azazel drove his sword deep into his chest. As he wrenched his sword free from his opponent’s body, he realized that something was wrong. The angel had not even flinched. Azazel watched in horror as the wound he had just inflicted began to emit a golden light and immediately closed. There was no hint that the angel had ever even been struck. He glanced at his own side. The flesh was rent and inside the wound was only darkness. He quickly realized that this cause was hopeless. The grace of God stopped his angels from being injured or even feeling pain, but he had removed his grace from those that fought against him.

Azazel continued his fight with the angel despite his feeling of despair. Every blow he landed was futile, and every one he received sent him into deeper agony. He knew that fighting directly was pointless, so he retreated from his opponent who gave chase before being ambushed by a new enemy. Azazel flew through the battle field, weaving between groups of fighting angels, in search of Lucifer. He returned to the gates where he had last seen him, but he was no longer there. Azazel gained altitude to see more clearly and eventually spotted Lucifer fighting off two other angels on top of an emerald archway. He dove toward Lucifer’s attackers and knocked one of them to the ground, and began attacking the other. As he fought he glanced towards Lucifer and was stunned at the sight. His face, which had once been the most beautiful in heaven, was now disfigured. A wound made a ravine down his right cheek all the way to his chest and his nose had been completely cut off. In its place were two dark pits. His eyes which had once been the color of sapphires were now black and rimmed with red circles.

“I have this under control Azazel, you’re needed elsewhere.”

“Lucifer, this fight is hopeless, we need to retreat and think of a better way to—“

Lucifer slammed a fist into Azazel’s chin and sent him reeling.

“We will not retreat!”

Lucifer spat the words with an unnerving hatred.

“This is my moment! I will destroy Him! I will be God!”

The strike from Lucifer hurt Azazel more than any of his previous wounds. Lucifer had convinced him to turn against his creator and join his cause, but now he had abandoned him along with his reason. It was foolish, but Azazel could think of only one way he could hope to win this war. Destroy the source of the enemy’s power. He beat his wings and soared into the air. He gained altitude and kept climbing until the City of Heaven and the battle were so far beneath him that he could no longer hear the clanging of swords or the cries of anger and anguish. He tucked his wings against his body and dove directly into the center of the city towards the throne room. Azazel allowed himself one moment to enjoy the feeling of his body cutting through the air before he opened his eyes and focused on his target. He gained such velocity that no angel could even attempt to stop him. Just before reaching the throne room he opened his wings and slowed his descent just enough so he would not crumple on impact. He was at the door to the throne room before anyone could notice what was happening. As soon as Azazel placed his hand on the door, the world erupted around him.

“Enough.”

The word spoken by God shook the very foundation of heaven. Azazel’s vision turned to pure light as the word filled his mind.

“The fighting is at an end. My children, why have you forsaken your father?”

God spoke with such sadness, and his emotion was shared with every angel in Heaven. It was too much for Azazel to bear. He fell to his knees and began to sob. He was filled with so much sorrow that he wished he would cease to exist.

“I have loved you, but you betrayed my love.”

Again God shared a portion of his pain with the angels. It was similar to the pain that Azazel felt earlier when struck by Lucifer, but greater beyond comparison. He was now on his back and he convulsed as the emotions coursed through his body.

“As you have abandoned your father, so too must I abandon you.”

With those final words, Azazel’s world changed to darkness. At first he was relieved that God’s sorrow no longer tortured him, but that was soon forgotten as he became aware of his situation. The ground beneath him was no longer there and he could feel himself falling, but something else wasn’t right. A part of him was missing. When he realized what it was he did not want to believe it. His wings were gone. God had stripped him of the one thing that had always brought him joy. During the fall, all other emotions within Azazel were replaced with hatred. He cursed God, He cursed Heaven, and he cursed Lucifer for taking away his home and the thing he held most dear. He vowed that if the darkness ever ended, he would do everything in his power to make God suffer like he did.