Free Demonic Designs (To Absolve the Fallen) by Aaron Babbitt Page B

occasion to foil an assassination attempt.   We never had to kill a mortal.   In fact, usually our presence alone was enough to dissuade the terrified sheep.  
    “Rumors spread of the prophets’ strange powers and that they consorted with Lucifer, but none of it amounted to anything.   Eventually, the prophets did control Eden, whether they had wanted to or not.   They did so, despite the dull hatred simmering beneath the superficial acquiescence of Eden’s population.   People have always feared what they don’t understand.   It seems to be a flaw that Michael didn’t work out of your programming, as it were.”
    “So what happened?” Alex asked impatiently.
    “Lucifer, himself, walked in one day.”
    “You allowed him to do that?”
    “It wasn’t a part of our directive to stop him.   It appeared to us that he came with no intention of harming anyone.   All he wanted to do was talk to the people of Eden, and it was the prophets who agreed to the meeting.   We could feel the darkness follow him in.   He had something in mind, but it was so devious that it escaped our scrutiny and, evidently, that of the prophets.   Either that, or they didn’t care.  
    “The entire town was summoned; that was what he’d asked for.   He spoke for a while about peace between them and prosperity for the land.   Everyone seemed a little hesitant because they were trying to compare this compassionate, concerned Lucifer to the one they had heard about—the one parents would tell stories of to scare children into behaving.   None of these people had ever seen him, but legends were strong.   He caught them off guard by being so likable.
    “We were watching the crowd for signs of acceptance.   We knew what Lucifer was doing, and we knew that it didn’t take much to impress this budding species.   The prophets were also paying attention to the people.   And the people paid attention to them.   Ultimately, when the prophets didn’t move, the people didn’t accept.   Distrust won out, and the prophets sensed it.   They told Lucifer that he could leave because it didn’t look like he was going to make any progress, and that was when he revealed his plan to us.
    “He turned on the prophets.   He accused them of hoarding the gifts they had.   He claimed that all people had that power—the power to be gods.   He informed the crowd that the prophets knew of this, and that they were keeping the knowledge to themselves in an attempt at tyranny.   Technically, we couldn’t interfere; he had not yet chosen to make any kind of aggressive act against the people.   He continued to tell the people that he could teach them to do what the prophets did.   Feelings of anger and betrayal swept the crowd.   Their emotions were almost tangible to the angels.   They bought it.   Predictably, they turned on the prophets.”
    “What did you do?”
    “The only thing we could.   We stood between the mob and our oracles.   It’s sad that, in trying to subtly teach people what’s right and wrong, doing so in such a manner as to not frighten or confuse them, our methods often blow up in our faces.   We hope that they will see that our system is for their own good.   When subtlety doesn’t work, we just have to be more proactive, and then they get it.  
    “I suppose I’m no longer a part of that system, but I’m sure they still work by the same logic: Let humans try it until they approach the point of no return.   Then, gently pull them back.   We allowed Eden to have fun with their free will, but when it came time to protect those whom we had put there to teach them, we were quick to respond.
    “Lucifer had riled up the mob, and the prophets were just assessing the situation, calmly.   It didn’t look like they were in the least bit concerned by the fact that hundreds of people wanted to kill them for denying their neighbors knowledge, health, and now godhood.   The Morning Star stepped back and held out his