Free Fall of Lucifer by Wendy Alec Page B

retorted.
    Michael gazed strangely at Lucifer.
    Gabriel frowned. ‘It looks angelic, Lucifer.’
    ‘You insult us.’ A dark, fleeting fury crossed Lucifer’s countenance. ‘Brother.’
    Gabriel stepped back from Lucifer, perplexed.
    ‘Lucifer,’ Jether said, placing his hand gently on Lucifer’s arm, ‘you forget yourself.’
    Lucifer stared grimly ahead, his fist clenching the balustrade in front of him.
    Jether bowed his head a moment in reverence. Slowly he opened his eyes. ‘My revered angelic princes, I have mentored and served you throughout the aeons, but I tell you that never in the annals of the First Heaven has there been such a day as this.’
    ‘A new race . . . ’ Charsoc said in wonder, ‘created in His own likeness . . . ’
    ‘The race of men are not fashioned as we, the angelic,’ Xacheriel explained, his face shining with rapture. ‘We, the angelic race, are each individually created by Yehovah. Fearfully and wonderfully fashioned. Yet we hold no ability to replicate ourselves.’
    ‘Yehovah has endowed the race of men with the capacity to create after its own kind.’ Jether turned to Lucifer. ‘As does Yehovah.’
    Lucifer averted his gaze from Jether’s.
    ‘In His image,’ Charsoc whispered.
    Lucifer, overcome by sheer fascination, moved nearer towards the prototype. He stared at the features of the man, studying intently the high cheekbones, the strong jaw line, the chestnut hair. ‘It is strangely familiar . . . ’
    Charsoc stared at him intently for a long moment. ‘Have you not yet guessed, Lucifer?’
    Lucifer frowned.
    Charsoc raised his gaze to the prototype, then back down to Lucifer. ‘His image is that of Christos.’
    Gabriel stared at the prototype, incredulous.
    Michael was rapt in worship, exultant, his face shining. Slowly he turned his head to Lucifer, who was staring blindly at the prototype and trembling, his senses reeling with a terrible, searing, violent jealousy.
    And it was then, as Michael watched, that Lucifer lifted his head from the prototype. His eyes glittered hard and black, filled with loathing.
    He was staring up through the crystal cupola directly towards Yehovah’s throne.
    And all the while Charsoc was observing Lucifer.

Chapter Eight
    Treason
    Lucifer strode down the imposing marble corridors, his imperial figure wrapped in a hooded crimson robe that billowed out behind him. He stopped outside the two huge onyx doors of his palace library. Eight Luciferean guards bowed prostrate in reverence. ‘Zadkiel!’
    Zadkiel stepped out, as though from nowhere, and bowed deeply.
    ‘You have it?’ Lucifer inquired.
    Zadkiel spoke in his usual refined tones. ‘From the inner sanctum of the Tower of Winds itself, Your Excellency.’
    Lucifer grasped Zadkiel’s arm, drawing him down the library corridors and past the magnificent frescos. ‘You have been discreet?’ Lucifer’s eyes were searching.
    ‘The curators will not miss the codices, Your Excellency, and by dawn they will be returned.’
    Lucifer stopped in mid-stride. He nodded. ‘Of course . . . ’ He hesitated. ‘You know . . . that Yehovah would have given me access . . . ’
    Zadkiel nodded, his gaze troubled. ‘Of course, sire. You are Yehovah’s prince of the highest order.’
    ‘Nothing is withheld from me by my Father.’
    ‘Of course, Your Excellency. Your throne is second only to His.’
    Lucifer continued again through the corridors without breaking his stride.
    ‘It is more expedient this way, Zadkiel.’
    Zadkiel nodded. ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’
    Lucifer stopped in front of eight large columns. ‘There will be no disturbances, no interruptions, until my investigations are complete.’
    ‘The Holy Watchers shall ensure you are uninterrupted till dawn, Your Excellency.’
    ‘Good. Summon my high command – my thousand generals – to the Chamber of Congregation at six bells.’
    ‘I will give your command, Your Excellency.’
    Lucifer stalked past