Realm of the Dead by Donovan Neal Read Free Book Online Page A

obtained from Camael, and added them to his own.  When he opened his mouth to sing, none could resist the majestic sounds that sprung forth from his body. His light was as the stars that move across the golden ceiling of Heaven, and rainbows and hues of every color skipped about his body. As he played, his song enraptured even the Seraphim, for he was privy to their own instruments of worship, and the light from his skin and the tabrets and harps made everyone sway. All were bedazzled by the brightness of his glory, and his melody was sweet to every ear.  Thus, when Lucifer was done, he had won all of Heaven over. Eladrin reluctantly named him the victor.
    "The Seraphim were wroth for Camael had betrayed their cause and trafficked sound for light and trinkets for his birthright.  Thus, Nephanos ordered his people away from the realm of Jerusalem, as agreed, forever hidden behind the veil of sound. The king then appointed four to never leave the temple they had carved for El and to forever pronounce his holiness.  They would serve forever as a reminder that the Seraphim sang honorably, yet angel-kind had trafficked in collusion to obtain gain, so the whole of the Seraphim then disappeared beneath the mountain and have not since been seen.
    "Therefore, those four roar HOLY, HOLY, HOLY as a reminder that one may never enter the presence of God with duplicity nor guile. To honor one's word and a reminder to all of El's majesty.
    "And when the Godhead had completed their work on the second day, El returned to see that one of His creations was not present to celebrate and He asked His sons what was it that they talked about whilst he was away. All held their peace, knowing they had contested over who would be the greatest and that Lucifer had caused strife among his brethren over who might be first.
    "Therefore, the Lord took the seven trumpets Lucifer had received in trade and cursed them. He returned them to the Seraphim and honored their wish to remain behind the veil until offense had been forgiven, with warning that on the day that they and the trumpets next entered His sight, He would, with the seven trumpets merchandised, unleash His wrath upon the works of His son.
    "El then lifted the Ophanim above the skies and marked them to control the times and seasons, and to come when bidden.  Giving them order to guard the mountain that the Seraphim gifted Him, and forbade angel-kind to ascend to the upper reaches of Heaven, nor could any, save the Lumazi, enter the mountain of God unless summoned that He might keep the way to the door of the Seraphim's land.  Thus, God separated the three, and marked their boundaries, and set us as Grigori to watch our brethren until the end.  For it is written in the annals of our people, that when Jerusalem falls from Heaven, there shall be no more schism between the Heavens, and El will have all worship at His feet as one."
    "And the stone of fire?" Enoch said.
    "El let Nephanos keep the stone as a reminder that to traffic in wisdom apart from El brings consequence.  A memorial to understand what doth it profit to gain the whole of Heaven, yet lose one's purpose, and to never acquire in the flesh what should only be attempted at the Lord's will.  God then made Nephanos a crown and attached the stone to it as a diadem. He withdrew from it all power so that it became nothing more than a glittering trinket, a reminder to never sacrifice one's birthright."
    Enoch fell into a chair stunned, his eyes repeatedly blinking as he rubbed his forehead, attempting to take in all that was told him.
    Argoth looked at him as the seconds passed. "Of a surety, Michael would not be pleased if he knew I shared our past with thee."
    Enoch looked at Argoth and replied, "I have learned that thy people have a saying...'There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be made known.'  I perceive that God would have me journey.  Now I realize there is little that thy people can