Selfish Beings. J Morris L

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СКАЧАТЬ crystal-clear waters were just visible in the distance. Unseen from their viewpoint, beyond the ocean, walls of what was best described as crystal kept the noise of Perdition at bay and provided the chamber with a panoramic view of the Light Bearer’s domain. As soon as Mastema and Kaarl had crossed the threshold the doors closed and Lucifer himself appeared before them, without the accompanying theatrics, Mastema noticed gratefully. Kaarl was surprised when Lucifer first spoke. The Light Bearer’s voice was soft, almost a honeyed whisper, which was unnerving coming from a being of such tremendous size and obvious power.

      ‘Mastema, Tempter of Men and Cursed Accuser, I thank you for bringing your son to me; you may go now.’

      Mastema obeyed immediately but the confused look on his face as he turned to leave was not lost on Lucifer.

      ‘I know your reasons for the plan I received and Kaarl’s involvement in it, but fear not,’ he told Mastema. ‘You can still brandish your achievement over your fellow Board members as it was you who brought it before me and your offspring that devised it. You must agree, though, it is pointless for you to remain here. You did nothing more than proof-read it.’

      ‘Of course, Master. I am honoured to help our cause in any way I can,’ replied Mastema.

      ‘The fact that this was all the fruit of your laziness and unwillingness to go to Earth yourself is irrelevant. As always, I care only about the ends; the means matter not. Your self-serving nature has once again proven useful. Leave us and enjoy the accolades and envy of your peers.’

      ‘I most certainly will, Master,’ Mastema said as he left the chamber, ‘especially the envy.’

      As the great golden doors closed behind him, Kaarl was again in awe of his situation. Only five hundred years old, barely into what would be considered his early twenties in human terms, and he was in the presence of Lucifer himself. As the Light Bearer appraised him with piercing purple eyes, Kaarl stared at Lucifer’s feet. After a short and uncomfortable silence the Master of Perdition spoke.

      ‘It was refreshing to get a younger Demon’s assessment of the situation and how to change it,’ he said. ‘The Board is so entrenched in the old world and its ways I was certain I would be destroying them today. They have become exactly what the Mortals view all of us as. Pointless evil, malice and wanton destruction may have their uses but, as always, those times and places are few and far between. The world is changing and Perdition needs to change with it. You represent that change, child.’

      Bolstered by Lucifer’s compliments, Kaarl found the nerve to look the Light Bearer in the eye.

      ‘I did not understand many of the terms and ideas in your plan,’ Lucifer continued. ‘Much like your father and the rest of the Board, I regrettably am too far detached from the modern Mortal to comprehend most of it. What I do understand is your method and I must say I am impressed.’

      ‘Thank you, Master,’ Kaarl said, remembering the title his father had used in Lucifer’s presence.

      ‘Temptation and doubts to erode the defences of the less corruptible. Dreams and desires for the masses, if only they are willing to step a little out of light to reach for it. A slow pervasion instead of brute force and blatant attempts at encouraging vice and sin. You have even included the children,’ Lucifer said with a smile. ‘Fun for the whole family. It reminds me a lot of my earlier work. None of the abrupt descents into damnation favoured by those fools on the Board, rather a smooth slide down; like taking a warm bath and then drowning in it.’

      Lucifer closed the report and sat cross-legged on the soft grass beneath them. He motioned for Kaarl to join him.

      ‘Do you know why we play this game?’ he asked.

      ‘I had come to believe it was to prove a point, Master.’

      ‘Yes and no,’ Lucifer replied. ‘It did begin that way. Before we left Heaven, I and some of the other Fallen were furious. We were going to be, in effect, second to the Hated One’s newest creations. We were made perfect and then it was decided that a flawed creation that had to strive for perfection would in essence be superior. God already had ideal children but decided to make inferior ones, to see if they could rise to the same heights. The best areas of Paradise were reserved for them and we were relegated to being messengers and lackeys.’

      Lucifer seemed almost sad at the recollection. Such feelings were obviously beneath the Light Bearer so Kaarl dismissed the idea. The resemblance to sadness was remarkable, though.

      ‘At first I admit it was jealousy that started the Rift and the wager but it was not until I realised the truth that it widened. Angels and Mortals were just playthings to God. The Hated One set humans up to fall, and laughed and clapped when they didn’t like an omnipotent child with a block set. God sent the Angels to tidy up messes and provide hints and clues, all the while marvelling at the little toys in action.’

      No one really talked about the reason behind Perdition’s existence. Kaarl had read things from the Mortals’ perspective but knew their views would have been coloured heavily by their religious texts and teachings. To hear its history from Lucifer himself was a privilege.

      ‘My like-minded brothers, sisters and I were cast out because we saw the truth. Our Creator, the Alpha and the Omega, did not have some divine plan. God was messing around with cosmic clay and seeing what happened. We and the Mortals were nothing but an experiment, a fad, a mild curiosity. We told the Hated One as much before we were banished from Heaven. We refer to ourselves as the Fallen but make no mistake, Kaarl; we were pushed down by the uncaring hand of an abusive parent.’

      Lucifer sighed and put his hand gently on Kaarl’s shoulder.

      ‘That is how the wager started but Perdition is not just about proving God wrong. It is a place for all of the Hated One’s flawed creations to call home for eternity. If we had not left, only Limbo would have awaited those who did not meet God’s expectations. The idea of making something imperfect then punishing it for being so is ridiculous. We use words like “Damned” and “Sin” because they already existed. To us they mean different things than to the Mortals but once something has a name it is pointless to assign another. I know you are not very well travelled in this realm and you have your own misgivings about it, but I believe you have seen enough and spoken to a sufficient number of Mortal souls to answer me this: are they unhappy here?’

      ‘I would have to say no,’ replied Kaarl without hesitation. ‘Some of them miss certain family members or friends but generally the alcohol, sex, violence and depravity keep them busy and content.’

      Lucifer grinned. ‘God gave them the capacity for these things; why should they be punished for embracing their nature? Why give something complete freedom then reprimand it for stealing, or lying, or killing? God gave them nothing but an illusion, a lie, yet I am considered the sadistic one. The Mortals live in the shadow of God’s wrath and have done so since their creation. They fear to embrace their true selves because they believe the penalties to be severe. Sin is as much a part of them as love, compassion or hope. With us they have a home, Kaarl, a place they can relish in all aspects of their nature without fear of reprisal or judgement. It is your job to guide them to us, the willing and the ignorant. You will be doing them a great service, freeing them from the bonds of worry and leading them to a place more suited to their true selves.’

      Lucifer rose, and embraced Kaarl.

      ‘I see great potential in you, child. Cold and calculating is a refreshing change from the usual malevolent fanaticism in our ranks. I understood enough of your plan to realise you need to sort a minor detail here before you depart. СКАЧАТЬ