is not needed to give an answer as I only need know the one who makes the request. El hast personally lifted you on high and hast brought you into His presence. I have been told that you have withstood Death face to face, and that you have traveled without fear to the top of the Mountain of God and witnessed Michael's trials to become Chief Prince. But most of all, Candle of God, you are the friend of God, and thus a friend to me. How may the house of Malakim serve thee?"
Enoch paused, somewhat stunned at the accolade. "You give me great honor, High Prince. Are you aware that a second man resides in the realm of Heaven?"
Gabriel looked at him with surprise. "Really? No, the chief prince hath not made this thing known. Who...how didst you come to such knowledge?"
"The Lord, Himself, revealed it. The second man does not reside in the city."
"Where then does the man lay his head?"
Enoch paused, then replied, "The word of the Lord hast come to me, and I am to embark through Limbo and travel to the land of Aesir. I would ask that you travel with me."
Gabriel's eyes widened, and his face quickly sobered. "There is little in the universe that would cause an angel fear. Limbo is such a place." Gabriel paused, and Enoch waited. Gabriel's eyes followed his strokes as he brushed the gryphon. "Nevertheless, if my companionship is needful, then I shall see thee safe to the shores of Aesir."
Enoch bowed. "You hast my thanks, Gabriel. There is yet another I must ask to make the journey with us."
Gabriel nodded. "That is wise. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Who will you ask to make the journey with us?"
"Metatron of house Draco. I intend to move in the ministry of reconciliation between the house of Lucifer and the Seraphim. Perhaps with Metatron as head of his house, the Burning Ones will accept us?"
Gabriel stroked his chin. "Perhaps...or they might remember the house that was responsible for the Schism and destroy us, and this mission could be for naught."
"Are you always this positive?" Enoch replied.
Gabriel laughed. "Nay, but I must admit Jerahmeel has perhaps rubbed off on me."
Enoch smiled. "I think he has, but before I leave thee, I have yet another question."
"Say on."
"The Lord hath made mention that the Withering comes. What is it?"
Gabriel dropped the grooming brush and grabbed Enoch by his shoulders. "Are you sure that the Lord mentioned this?"
"Aye," said Enoch.
Gabriel frowned and his face turned hard. He turned from Enoch and strode away in long steps.
"Wait!" Enoch said. "What is wrong? What is it? What is the Withering?"
Gabriel stopped and turned to face him. "It is the plague, and it is Death."
Chapter Four
The Withering
Asb'el loved the freedom to destroy. For five years now he had made his home within a human host named Jabin, and seeing that mankind was rife with sin, the laws of Heaven opened Jabin to the evil of the Horde. So Asb'el invited others to take up residence within the house. And the daemon became great in the country of the Gadarenes and made his host live amongst the tombs.
Asb'el reveled in the sensations he could experience through Jabin and continuously tormented him.
Jabin knew something alien lived within. Wishing to rid himself from the presence that spoke to his mind, he cut himself with stones in vain attempts that he might silence the voices and block the images in his head that the creatures gave him. Jabin beheld visions of Heaven and Hell, and great battles between creatures of power. All screamed for relief, for their kilnstones were taken away and they lamented over their bodiless forms, always hungry, always lusting for expression in the earth.
They showed him the centuries of human sacrifice and debauchery in continual bombardment. For years did they do this thing, until Jabin was finally driven mad. In vain, he tried to tell family and friends and reached out in an attempt to make them understand. With ink and
Enoch paused, somewhat stunned at the accolade. "You give me great honor, High Prince. Are you aware that a second man resides in the realm of Heaven?"
Gabriel looked at him with surprise. "Really? No, the chief prince hath not made this thing known. Who...how didst you come to such knowledge?"
"The Lord, Himself, revealed it. The second man does not reside in the city."
"Where then does the man lay his head?"
Enoch paused, then replied, "The word of the Lord hast come to me, and I am to embark through Limbo and travel to the land of Aesir. I would ask that you travel with me."
Gabriel's eyes widened, and his face quickly sobered. "There is little in the universe that would cause an angel fear. Limbo is such a place." Gabriel paused, and Enoch waited. Gabriel's eyes followed his strokes as he brushed the gryphon. "Nevertheless, if my companionship is needful, then I shall see thee safe to the shores of Aesir."
Enoch bowed. "You hast my thanks, Gabriel. There is yet another I must ask to make the journey with us."
Gabriel nodded. "That is wise. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Who will you ask to make the journey with us?"
"Metatron of house Draco. I intend to move in the ministry of reconciliation between the house of Lucifer and the Seraphim. Perhaps with Metatron as head of his house, the Burning Ones will accept us?"
Gabriel stroked his chin. "Perhaps...or they might remember the house that was responsible for the Schism and destroy us, and this mission could be for naught."
"Are you always this positive?" Enoch replied.
Gabriel laughed. "Nay, but I must admit Jerahmeel has perhaps rubbed off on me."
Enoch smiled. "I think he has, but before I leave thee, I have yet another question."
"Say on."
"The Lord hath made mention that the Withering comes. What is it?"
Gabriel dropped the grooming brush and grabbed Enoch by his shoulders. "Are you sure that the Lord mentioned this?"
"Aye," said Enoch.
Gabriel frowned and his face turned hard. He turned from Enoch and strode away in long steps.
"Wait!" Enoch said. "What is wrong? What is it? What is the Withering?"
Gabriel stopped and turned to face him. "It is the plague, and it is Death."
Chapter Four
The Withering
Asb'el loved the freedom to destroy. For five years now he had made his home within a human host named Jabin, and seeing that mankind was rife with sin, the laws of Heaven opened Jabin to the evil of the Horde. So Asb'el invited others to take up residence within the house. And the daemon became great in the country of the Gadarenes and made his host live amongst the tombs.
Asb'el reveled in the sensations he could experience through Jabin and continuously tormented him.
Jabin knew something alien lived within. Wishing to rid himself from the presence that spoke to his mind, he cut himself with stones in vain attempts that he might silence the voices and block the images in his head that the creatures gave him. Jabin beheld visions of Heaven and Hell, and great battles between creatures of power. All screamed for relief, for their kilnstones were taken away and they lamented over their bodiless forms, always hungry, always lusting for expression in the earth.
They showed him the centuries of human sacrifice and debauchery in continual bombardment. For years did they do this thing, until Jabin was finally driven mad. In vain, he tried to tell family and friends and reached out in an attempt to make them understand. With ink and
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