Lucifer

"Always the questions and tricks with you, eh, devil?" interrupted David.

But Lucifer did not leave Mark’s glance. There was a look of sorrow and contempt in the old devil’s eyes.

"He is a forgiving God," answered Mark.

David quickly stood upright.

"Is that why you are here? He has offered you salvation?" asked David.

Mark watched Lucifer carefully as the devil cracked a smile.

"Quite on the contrary, young David. Your God wants what he has forsaken me to."

And Lucifer walked away.

"Gabrielle, where is he?"

"He wanted to look around a bit first."

"How was your journey? You were long in your task."

"My Lord, I came to Lucifer on my second day of travel, but he would not leave immediately as you asked. He stalled and dallied and what was I to do? For did you not command me ’Bring me Lucifer’? And he had given me his word to leave two nights ago and I have known the angel Lucifer to keep his word."

"And what took your time on your return?"

"He...had to stop somewhere."

"Where?"

Gabrielle looked down in thought for a moment before answering.

"There is a place in his realm, Lord, and we visited there. It is a falls surrounded by a wide lake and a wider plain. We lay in the grass and listened to it as the breeze blew tiny droplets on our faces. It was a most... unknown feeling."

"Has he disillusioned you with these ‘human’ feelings, Gabrielle? You are my son. An Angel. You are above such trivialities."

"I said so."

"And he? What did Lucifer tell you?"

"He told me that in this place even angels could experience the emotions of men and that it would teach me value, particularly in myself."

"This is the heresy that got him expounded from my kingdom."

"My Lord, I said so."

"You are loyal and ever my messenger, Gabrielle. He has let you taste of unfamiliarity and this in itself can sometimes encourage curiosity. Even my disciples can sometimes sway, Gabrielle. Remember Lucifer’s role in my design and dismiss him. Go and study my word so that you will be refreshed in the morning."

Gabrielle turned and left.

There was a period of silence before the voice of God filled the chamber.

"Why must you torment me?"

Lucifer stepped out from nowhere with a smile.

"Forever you must taunt and corrupt my children. Better I had got you myself."

"I must be Lucifer. You must be God. And it seems my unique character has value to you."

God said nothing.

"Gabrielle told me at the falls. He understands now, I think. He loves you, but there are too many unanswered questions, too few reasons. What did you expect? Faith demands loss. It cannot survive without your influence."

"You have spoken to my children as only you could, Lucifer. Tell me, do the angels so want to be lacking?"

"They do not wish to lower their condition, Lord, but to better it. What good is their love of you when it is for nothing? How can they want it when they do not know what it is to want? And how can they value something until they have value for themselves as individuals?"

"Who is your father?"