Free From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) by Sherrod Wall

knew God’s
mind either.”
    “How did you come to trust him?” Drean asked. “I don’t understand how any
of my brethren could trust him.”
    “He told us that God was being an irrational tyrant and that he had no
right to call Himself a God of love when he acted against what love stands
for,” Gerald said.
    “And Lucifer did?” Drean asked.
    “He seemed to have a good explanation for his feelings,” Gerald said, and
took another sip of his beer to avoid Drean’s judging eyes. “While many of us
lusted for our women, I can see after living on Earth that he loved Annarae.
That was his consort’s name. He was the only one that knew love.”
      “I thought you said you
regretted taking part in the war?” Drean asked. He did not like Gerald’s
respect for Lucifer.
    “I regret that we decided to start a war in Heaven, yes,” Gerald said.
    Drean nodded and drank more of his beer.
    “But I do not regret trying to make God understand his decision was
wrong. We could have started a petition or held a council or something.”
    “You’re saying that God made a mistake?” Drean asked. “That isn’t
possible.”
    “A petition? Why didn’t we think of that before?” Gerald asked and
chuckled.
    Drean shook his head. “He couldn’t have made a mistake. His foresight is
perfect.”
    “God didn’t foresee this did He?” Gerald asked, his words slurred
together. “I mean shit. He’s dying. You’re down here drinking beer, and
everyone is in an uproar about it! If He hadn’t banished all our women we would
be up in Heaven partying now! Now that’s harmony! Can you see it? The music,
the beer and the women? Now that’s my kind of Heaven.”
    Gerald saw his reflection in his beer mug: boils and pock marks caught in
a web of scarification and wrinkles. He drained his mug and pushed it aside
before it depressed him.
    God never intended us to live like humans, Drean thought. Or
did he? He looked at Gerald.
    “Hey, try not to worry about this stuff.” Gerald clapped him on the back.
“I’m sure God will be much more lenient after He gets His power back.”
    Drean nodded and stared at the bar.
    If Father knew what would happen He is jeopardizing Himself for some
reason that I cannot see. If He didn’t know, then maybe He was unfit to rule. Drean
felt dizzy with anxiety. He had never correlated his Lord with contradiction
before.
    I have to have faith. He gave me free will for a reason, and I cannot
be scared of my thoughts. Neither can I forget my duty. Drean drained his
glass in an effort to snuff out his growing concern.
    “You’re right; it does taste a little better in large amounts.”
    Gerald was astonished and finished his mug off too. He cupped his hands
around his mouth and yelled at the barkeep.
    “Hey, Greg, start bringing two at once!”
    Gerald’s throat constricted and he coughed to clear it. Blood spattered
on his hands. He felt hazy. His body tingled, and his legs numbed. He steadied
himself on the bar and coughed up more blood.
    He glanced at Drean as he cleaned himself and the bar up with a napkin.
Drean had not noticed. He coughed again.
    “Are you ok?” Drean asked.
    “Yeah. Just went down the wrong way.”
    “You’ve been doing that all evening.”
    “Coughing?”
    Drean nodded.
    “I’ll be fine.”
    Gerald breathed in and out. His fit passed.
    Greg gave them their drinks, walked to the end of the bar and spoke to a
man whose tan skin reflected no light. His eyes startled Drean. His irises were
as white as his well-kempt goatee: the only hair on his head.
    Drean’s gaze attached to the man, and his face tightened with concern.
    “What’s wrong?” He followed Drean’s eyes.
    “That man that Greg is talking to. His spirit doesn’t feel like that of a
normal human. He could be a half-breed.”
    “That’s just Keep! He’s a great guy.” Gerald lifted his mug in Keep’s
direction and frowned when he realized it was empty. “He owns this place and
bartends from time to