An Unholy Redemption Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Whilst Lucifer and the brotherhood were contemplating what had just happened, thousands of miles away in the East, General Silas and his captain were talking about their own momentous events. They were sitting on the General’s balcony watching people walk by below them. On either side of the General and the Captain stood two bodyguards.

“Well my friend, the time is close,” the General said. “I have called you here because I have just had another visit from the Archangel Michael. So now I can tell you God’s plan, which is to bring as much destruction on the Western world as possible.” The captain sat forward eagerly.

“At twelve noon tomorrow we will strike. All of Europe will be obliterated. They will feel God’s wrath burning down on them from heaven. We will meet at eight in the morning and will be driven to the Defence Ministry. At midday, we will launch the missiles.”

“Can you be sure they will strike back at us?”

“As soon as their rulers are aware of the impending strike, they will retaliate and launch their own in defence. Why do you ask?”

“I am eager to die and see my family again. I miss them so much.”

“I admire your bravery and your fidelity to God, especially your faith in the afterlife. I’m sure they are just as keen to see you. As for myself, I’m not concerned about seeing any of my family. I just want to sit at the right hand of God. I feel privileged and honoured that the Most High would bestow this on me.”

“Yes General, and I feel honoured that you find the confidence in me to be at your side when the end comes.”

“Here take this and keep it on you, keep it safe until tomorrow afternoon.” The General bent down under the table and pulled out a black briefcase and entered the digital combination. It clicked open and inside the captain could see two keys, one red and one blue. They were both attached to a chain and next to these keys was a black envelope.

“This key,” he handed him the blue one, “and envelope are yours. Inside the envelope is one half of the death code serial number. My envelope contains the other half. You must not open it until tomorrow just before we launch, is that clear?”

“Yes, General.” The Captain took the key, then wrapped the chain around his neck. He took the envelope very carefully and placed it in his shirt pocket. “I will put the envelope in my personal safe when I returned to my quarters.”

“Very good. As an extra precaution, I will be stationing two guards outside your room along with one bodyguard in your room for the entire evening. I will have the same, just in case anybody hears of our intentions.” He looked at the two guards standing behind him and leant forward to whisper to the Captain.

“I think I can trust them. Anyway they have full knowledge that they will lose their heads if they ever repeat what is said in privacy.”

“I think all your men are loyal to you, even to death. We are all sickened by the corrupt ways of Westerners and would all love to see them wiped off the face of the earth.”

They both sat back and reclined in their chairs, watching the sun gently go down behind the horizon. The warm evening breeze flowed in from the desert and caressed their faces as they sat back looking at the sun.

“It’s a strange feeling, knowing you going to die tomorrow. It gives you some perspective on life.”

“What do you mean, Captain?”

“The sun rises every day and we take for granted that it will rise again tomorrow. It is only tonight that as I’m watching it go down for the last time, I am realising what a beautiful sight of nature it is. Such a beautiful creation from God given to us. I will certainly miss it.”

“Yes, it is beautiful. But my dear friend, tomorrow when your spirit enters paradise you’ll see a light brighter than any sun known to man. Now have a drink with me as we watch the sun hide its beautiful light for the last time. ”

“Thank you, I will have just one. I want a clear head tomorrow. I don’t want to make any mistakes.”

“Me too, my friend, me too.”

 

 

As the sun was going down in the eastern sky, it was still shining through the bedroom curtains of Mary and John’s house.

“Mary, have you seen my red tie? The one with the gold stripes,” John called into the kitchen to his sister.

“I think you left it on top of the sofa next to the television, that’s where I saw it last.”

“I’ve tried there already. Oh, why do things go missing when you need them the most?”

“You men are all the same. You always expect things to leap out in front of you. Have you checked behind the sofa? It might have fallen behind.”

“No I haven’t. Could you look please? I’m having trouble with these cufflinks. Damn, I hope we won’t be late for this interview. The car will be here in half an hour to pick us up.”

“Stop worrying, here it is,” Mary said. John turned from looking in the mirror to see his favourite tie dangling from her finger.

“Thank you Mary. I still don’t know what I would do without you.”

“What do you mean? I think we will be together until one of us dies or if the world should ever come to an end.”

“Maybe you’re a prophet too, Mary. You might be closer to the truth than you realise,” John murmured to himself.

John had turned to face the mirror to put on his tie.

“What was that?” Mary asked.

“Nothing, I was just talking to my favourite tie and saying how much I had missed wearing it because of my illness.”

“I must say, it certainly does look good on you.” Mary was looking over his shoulder at their reflection in a mirror. She pulled his collar down to cover the tie at the back.

“Are you really sure you want to do this interview John?” John looked at his sister in the reflection.

“If you ask me that one more time, I will put you over my knee,” he said and quickly turned and started tickling his sister.

“Stop it John, you know I find it hard to breathe when you’re tickling me.”

“Are you going to ask me again?” He continued tickling her.

“No, I promise, John please! I can’t breathe.”

“Okay, now go and get my suit jacket.”

“Sorry John, can you? I have to change into my dress.”

“Anyone would think that you were the one having the interview. Hurry up!” He shouted to her as she ran upstairs. He walked into the corridor and saw his jacket all neatly pressed hanging on the banister. Next to it was Lucifer’s coat all clean and neatly pressed.

“Mary, whose coat is this?”

“It’s Luther’s. I thought it needed a good clean. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes very nice,” he said gently stroking his hand across it. His thoughts were disturbed by the telephone ringing next to him on the hallway table.

“Hello David, how did the meeting go?” There was a long pause while David explained as much as he could about the secret and what had gone on.

“Really! So now he finally knows his name? And what did the scriptures say? You can’t tell me. Okay, I understand, but you say he could not read the final part? Maybe we will, sooner than we think. I’m sorry David, but Mary and I are getting ready for my interview. Will you, Ruth and Luther meet us later at the studio? Okay, see you later then.” He replaced the receiver and put on his suit jacket as Mary came down the stairs.

“Wow, look at you,” he said. She was wearing a beautiful sky blue dress.

“Who was that on the phone?”

“It was David, they’d just finished the meeting.”

“How did it go? Did David and the brotherhood get what they wanted?”

“David was very cautious not to tell me too much about what had gone on, but he did tell me that Luther had rediscovered his name.”

“Really, what is it?”

“I don’t know. David would not tell me that either. He did say though that he, Ruth and Luther would meet us at the television studios later tonight. Come on, here put this on.” He held out Mary’s coat for her to slip her arms through.

“Thank you, always a gentleman aren’t you?”

“Yes of course. Oh, my God. That’s the car.”

He glanced out of the hallway window to see a black limousine. The chauffeur was standing by the door patiently waiting for them.

“Do I look all right, is my tie straight?”

“Yes stop worrying, now come on John, or should I say, miracle man, the world awaits.”

 

 

In Daniel’s front room, Lucifer had now recovered his strength and was talking to Jeremiah and the other brethren. David had returned from the hall, having made his phone call.

“It’s all coming back to me,” Lucifer said. “Everything from being in the presence of the Most High where I was loved so much to loving my people in the east. I also remember the treachery which followed at the hands of the Master from the West which caused my evil transformation. I distinctly remember the battle I thought I’d won, then being told by the Most High that this wasn’t true.”

“So it is all true what the scriptures say?” Peter had stepped forward to pose his question.

“Yes, God told me only a half-truth. I was told that I left heaven because I was jealous of the Most High’s light and I didn’t understand why men could not receive this light. But I wasn’t cast out of heaven, I chose to leave for the benefit of mankind and because I love the Most High so much. And now it would seem I have to face what awaits me. ”

“‘What awaits you Lucifer? Is it all right to call you that now?”

“Yes you can call me Lucifer. Only the Most High knows what awaits me now, but I’m sure we will know soon.”

“Yes Lucifer, I am sure the Most High does know. Now I think all of us here present are unanimous in believing that you are the one that our ritual and scriptures talk about,” Jeremiah looked around the room as they all nodded in agreement. “It just puzzles me that, you being the one, why were you unable to read the final part of the prophecy? Why would Joshua write an incomplete prophecy and why does it not mention what awaits you?” Lucifer again felt Jeremiah’s eyes suspiciously looking at him.

“Jeremiah, can I have a few moments alone with you please?”

“Certainly Lucifer, please gentlemen, if you don’t mind.” He motioned with his hand for them to leave. All of them stood and retired to the kitchen. When the door was shut, Lucifer turned to Jeremiah.

“I have noticed your suspicious looks and they are well-founded. I feel that I am able to tell you now what I read in the final part of the scroll.”

“Are you sure? If the scroll tells you that you cannot divulge …”

“It’s okay, thank you for your concern. But you remember where I left off from the reading?”

“Yes, you started to say it is up to you.”

“That’s right, it went on to say it is up to me if I want to tell anyone about my death, which is dated tomorrow.”

“What, no!” Jeremiah was shaking his head in disbelief, he trembled as he spoke. “That can’t happen, I won’t let it happen. The scriptures have no mention of this. They only talk about the One returning. You can’t arrive and then die so quickly.”

“Jeremiah, you know I can read the scriptures; I’ve proved that. But it does regrettably say at the bottom on the fourth part of the scroll that the prophecy will only be fulfilled after my death tomorrow.”

“I still don’t understand why God would allow this to happen.”

“Jeremiah, were you not the one who was telling me that the Most High knows everything? God’s word must not be questioned. I should know, as this is something I have been doing nearly all my existence.”

“Yes, I understand. Perhaps you will give us our final answer on life before you die. How you are going to die?”

“That is not written there. All it says is that I will die tomorrow and only then will man know God again and the prophecy will be fulfilled.”

“Then Lucifer, I will pray for you in your time of need. I thank you for sharing this confidence with me.”

“It feels right that I should be telling you, as you are Joshua’s only surviving relative. I hope you won’t tell anyone of my fate. I feel it is not the right time to divulge it to anyone else. I don’t want anyone trying to stop me or try to persuade otherwise.”

“It goes without saying Lucifer,” Jeremiah replied and began to weep.

“Why do you weep?”

“All my life I have waited for the prophecy to come true and to meet you. Now it has, only to be taken away so quickly. It seems such a travesty, but the Most High is all-seeing and all-knowing. We have to let God’s word come true.”

“Who knows, we may even see each other again in another existence. After all, I have lived three times before haven’t I? Shall we call the others back in?” Lucifer stood up and walked over to the kitchen door. Jeremiah watched him, as it began to sink in that Lucifer would be only alive for one more day.

“It is okay you can come back in now,” Lucifer told the others, “all that has to be said has been said and will stay between me and Jeremiah.” Without hesitation they all agreed that the communication between Lucifer and Jeremiah would stay a secret between them and even Daniel put his book to one side.

“So Jeremiah, where do we go from here?” Peter asked.

“Lucifer, you will remain with David, it only seems right. The rest of us will remain here with Daniel until after tomorrow’s events. Daniel, do you mind if we will stay here this evening? The brotherhood is going to need each other more than ever.”

“Of course you can Jeremiah, you can have my bedroom. Peter and Timothy can share the spare bedroom and Mark can have the other. I’ll sleep on the sofa; I often rest on it in the afternoons, it’s better for my back.”

“Okay, that’s settled then.”

“Sorry Lucifer we have to go,” David turned to Lucifer. “John and Mary are expecting us later on, but first we have to go and eat. Ruth is preparing a great dinner for us, then we will leave for the television studio and watch John address the whole world.”

“Okay gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure meeting you all.” Lucifer stood up and shook all their hands. “I would also like to thank you for your fidelity to the cause and the sacrifices you have made to bring the scroll to my attention. I hope I will be able to fulfil your expectations.”

David turned to Timothy, Peter and Mark. “It has been an honour to meet you, men of such a stature. As a young brother, I could have only dreamt of meeting the likes of you.”

“Not at all,” Peter replied, “if it hadn’t been for you and your perseverance, your faith would not have led you to discover Lucifer. Take care, and David, look after him.”

“Goodbye Jeremiah,” David looked back at Jeremiah who had sat on a chair in the corner of the room with a sad and pensive look on his face. “Jeremiah,” David called again.

“Oh yes, sorry David, take care and see you soon.”

“Come on, I’ll open a door for you.” Daniel was on his feet and walking into the corridor.

“Thank you, Daniel.” David was the first to step out the door. Lucifer stopped to shake Daniel’s hand.

“Please tell them all in their how much they all mean to me. If it hadn’t been for them I wouldn’t have remembered who I was. Tell them I will miss you all very much, but we will see each other again.”

He walked out the door but before closing it he turned to Daniel,

“Daniel, don’t forget to have your book and pen ready tomorrow to record that is what is to come.”

“Thank you Lucifer. God be with you the Master who was lost but is now found.” In the car Lucifer could tell David was aching to ask him about what Jeremiah and he had spoken about in private. “David my friend, do not worry about what Jeremiah and I spoke about. I just told him about a great thing that is going to happen tomorrow, a special event which you will see yourself tomorrow.”

“Okay, thank you, it was just that Jeremiah looked so sad as we left.”

“It must be the fact that he was tired more than he admitted. It’s been a very exhausting afternoon for all of us and I’m starving. Did you mention that Ruth is doing us dinner?”

“Yes, it should be about ready by now. I’m famished also, though I am very excited about seeing John on television this evening. I don’t know if I will be able to eat.” The other brethren watched from Daniel’s living room window as David drove off. “Jeremiah,” Mark said, “is it just me or do we all feel that the whole prophecy has not been told or fulfilled?”

“You’re right, Mark,” they all turned to Jeremiah as he spoke. “What I and Lucifer spoke about in private will remain in private, but what I can tell you is that after tomorrow we will know the prophecy in its entirety. That is why I wanted you all here together tonight and tomorrow, for when the time comes we have to unite and be strong and send our thoughts out to Lucifer in his time of need.”

“But −” Timothy put his hand on Peter’s shoulder to stop him asking his question.

“I think we all should get some rest now don’t you think?” said Timothy.

“What a splendid idea. I’ll make some tea and afterwards I’ll prepare dinner for us,” Daniel said making his way to the kitchen.