Free Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 by D. Brian Shafer Page B

moment Pellecus emerged from Abel’s body.
    “Well?” purred Lucifer. “What did you learn, teacher?”
    “Death is cold and dark,” said Pellecus, a bit shaken but exhilarated at the same time. “It is void and empty. And it transforms quickly.” He indicated Abel’s body and assumed the role of a teacher giving a lesson in class. “Notice how quickly these humans begin returning to dust. Already Abel is changing in appearance. While inside his form, I could sense the decay already beginning. His physical makeup was breaking down rapidly. And there was nothing of the spirit in him at all. What inferior creatures are these humans!” Pellecus looked back at Lucifer and said in a matter-of-fact way, “Well, back to the dust with him!”
    “And with all humans!” agreed Lucifer. “But let me demonstrate something even more remarkable—and useful to us in the future, I believe.”
    Lucifer vanished and left the others wondering at his behavior. They continued in quiet chatter, commenting upon Abel’s murder and drawing a variety of conclusions as to its ultimate effect on the war. Kara was about to make further comment when an astonished look overcame him. He pointed across the field at a figure ambling toward them—the figure of Abel.
    The angels looked at the body on the ground. It had not moved. The figure continued toward them and came to stop just at the edge of the meadow where they stood. The figure was semitransparent, a spirit-like replica of the real Abel but with a bluish-white aura streaking about him. Pellecus smiled, realizing what was happening. The puzzled angels looked at each other in amazement as the pseudo-Abel transformed before their eyes back into Lucifer.
    “Ah Kara,” Lucifer said. “The look on your face betrayed your surprise.”
    “Naturally,” admitted Kara. “I was not expecting to see Abel again—not alive anyway.”
    “And you didn’t see him alive,” said Lucifer. “You saw him dead…so to speak.”
    “I don’t really understand,” said Kara, feeling flustered for having been taken in by the specter of Abel. “Why should we encourage humans after such a loss by creating an illusion of a visitation from death?”
    “Really Kara, you disappoint me,” said Pellecus, exasperated. “We shall use anything to get the human mind off the Most High. That is the point!”
    “Precisely,” said Lucifer, who noticed the other angels listening to their conversation. He led Kara and Pellecus away from them and continued talking. “It occurs to me that despite the material nature of the battlefield, the war itself will be fought and won on a spiritual plane. Thus whatever spiritual deceptions we devise will ultimately be decisive.”
    “Why so?” asked Kara. “These creatures are incited through material passion. I should think that we would exploit their material tendencies.”
    “Humans are spiritual creatures, Kara,” said Lucifer. He casually plucked a ripened piece of fruit that hung low on a branch. “They are spiritual creatures with a weakness for a good argument.” He held the fruit in front of them and smiled. “Just as in Eden.” He smirked and tossed it away.
    “Remember that,” he continued. “Of course we shall exploit every carnal desire that we can arouse in these filthy creatures. And though we can inflame human passion through physical senses, as you and Berenius did with Cain, nevertheless it is through the godlike freedom to choose that the battle shall be won. Choosing is a very spiritual discipline born out of the image of God given to men. A very tarnished image indeed.”
    Pellecus continued the dialogue. “Therefore, whatever we can do to distract humans from looking to the Most High will be useful. We shall have them looking everywhere but upward for their deliverance!” He laughed at the thought of it.
    “Imagine,” Pellecus continued, “the confusion we will be able to create by having humans believe they can be comforted from