Chronicles of the

Children of Destiny

Redux

by

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

Copyright 6179 SC

Stories:

Redux

The Ruling Power

Daniel’s Last Laugh

Morning Stars of Glory: Melanie

Melanie and Daniel 4

Ruth VIII

Ruth IX

Ruth X

Ruth XI

Ruth XII

Ruth XIII

Ruth XIV

Melanie and Daniel 5

Ruth XV

Ruth XVI

Ruth XVII

Ruth XVIII

Ruth XIX

Ruth XX

Ruth XXI

Saruviel the Dreaded Antichrist

4 O'Clock 5

A Glimpse of Hope and Unity

Essential

Melanie and Daniel 6

Melanie and Daniel 7

The Divine Mystery

Melanie and Daniel 8

Melanie and Daniel 9

The Vengeance of Daniel's True Truth Saga

The Eternya Contract

The 16 Tribes of Israel

Michael 4

The Ministrations of Lady Jane Gilliamham

Michael 5

Chronicles of the

Children of Destiny

Redux

And so 7 orders of existence have come, and 7 orders of existence have gone. And each time, at the culmination of Glory, at the culminations of death, the end has come, and there has been rest.

But God's plans of 7 orders of realms were complete, for now, and an 8th realm - a more lasting, eternal realm, was now to be born. And what was first would again be last, yet all now united as one. All 7 realms now united as one.

And memories were to be restored, and fulfilments of desires long on hold would reawaken, and eternal destinies would be more suitably crafted out in the very hearts of those treading down upon them. For a return, to a new beginning, a new day, a new week, and a whole, brand new, adventure. A whole, brand new, adventure.

The End

The Ruling Power

'Now, you two,' said the Theophany of God.

Valandriel and Daniel looked guiltily at God, who was seated on his throne in Zaphon.

'I have had my eye on the both of you. Arch Regent and Prime Minister of the Realm of Eternity you both may be, but I haven't completely ticked you off as approved. There are still some quirks in both of you I want a good long hard look at. So while I am sure you have had your fun, it will be your grandfather Cherubim Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly that you are responsible to now Daniel, in your royal duties, and I place him as your head pastor and authority, from his base as founder and Universal Superintendent of the Advancing Noah Movement. Valandriel, you are part of Haven Noahide Fellowship, so you will answer to Cherubim Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly as well. He is my first Authority, for the time being, in the Realm of Eternity. If you progress in regular ways and show improvement, you will win your positions officially. I hope that is understood.'

'Yes God,' sighed Daniel.

'Yes Father,' replied Valandriel.

'You may go,' said God, and waved them away.

Sitting in the cafeteria of Zaphon.

'Your gramps isn't too bad a guy. A little strict but it should be ok. We'll get our jobs officially in the end,' said Valandriel.

'Patience kemosabe. As I tell you often.'

'Patience,' agreed Valandriel. And they would likely need it.

The End

'Daniel’s Last Laugh’

by

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

Prologue

Now how are Adam and Eve going to get out of this one? Mmmm.

Chapter One

Satan was back to his best. His most evil, malevolent, and darkest best. The Lord of Misrule – rebellious as ever.

7 orders of existence had come, and 7 orders of existence had gone, and they had rested each time, refreshed, learning, supposedly, the lessons they were supposed to learn. Supposedly.

And then they had been the children of God for a long time but now, again, the Children of Destiny. The Children of Destiny. The Children of Destiny.

* * * * *

‘The door won’t open, Adam,’ said Eve.

‘Fuck Satan. I hate his fucking guts. The bastard never means it when he says he has finally repented.’

‘I don’t think he ever will,’ said Eve. ‘But how the fuck do we get out of this mess? We are 3 kilometres under ground, with no food or water, and he has probably locked every fucking door up to the surface.’

Adam nodded. ‘We could be fucked, babe. We could be fucked.’

‘So, death, again,’ said Eve. ‘I suppose we will end up back in heaven. I guess we shouldn’t complain.’

‘We could finally do it,’ responded Adam. ‘Kill Satan, I mean. Like we always planned. Teach the bastard a lesson.’

Eve looked at the father of mankind. ‘I don’t think so. We are the good guys. They are the bad guys. Some things are just eternal in the end, Man. Some things are just eternal.’

‘I guess so.’

He looked at the door, and noticed it had an electronic lock. He looked around the room, and noticed a bookcase with a bunch of electronic gizmos he had not noticed when they were first put into the room by the 7 Saruvim. ‘Could be something here,’ said Adam.

‘What?’ said Eve, coming over to look at the bookcase. ‘You think you can find something to open the door.’

‘You never know,’ he responded. ‘The Dralikon probably had a way to get out of this room. They are resourceful like that.’

‘I suppose,’ said Eve, looking at the bookcase. ‘What about this?’ she asked, picking up a rod with numbers and a thing which looked like a key on the end.’

‘That might be it,’ said Adam. He looked at the gizmo. ‘There is an on switch.’

‘Try it,’ she said.

He pushed the button, but no response. He looked at the end of the gizmo, found the battery compartment, and opened it to find no batteries. ‘Fuck’ he said. ‘I have some of these.’ He opened his backpack, took out a fresh pack of batteries, and put them into the gizmo. He prayed a silent prayer, turned on the on switch, and lights started flickering on it.’

‘Right,’ said Eve. ‘Now lets hope it opens the fucking door.’

‘Let’s hope so,’ responded the Father of mankind.

* * * * *

Archangel Michael was, relatively speaking, an experienced angel at the ‘Ultra-Risk tournaments’. Ultra-Risk was a boardgame with a difference – it took place in a giant circular room, sealed all around with glass window looking panes, a different competitor in each of the sealed rooms behind each glass compartment. In the large central circular room was the map of the world – planet earth – broken down into the traditional provincial structure of the original ‘Risk’ boardgame and then, to make matters more interesting, a further regional substructure within the provinces, ranging from 20 to 30 regions per province. Technically the number of players in ‘Ultra-Risk’ could range from a minimum of a dozen or so players, to quite a large number, but 45 players was the standard number devised by the Seraphim Daniel for the playing of the ‘Ultra-Risk’ competition. The map itself was a real life model of earth-like structures, and little robotic pieces made up all the relevant attacking forces in the game. In essence, a larger than life equivalent of the basic board game, with greatly expanded rules which, really, could get quite complicated. There were about 7 major ways of playing the ‘Ultra-Risk’ tournament, from standard turn-by-turn variations to a variety of approaches. But, naturally, Michael had mastered them all by now. Daniel was great at the game also, as well as Gabriel and Saruviel and Ambriel. They all competed regularly, a major hobby of their eternal lives, and were happy enough doing so. And of course, in world rankings, Saruviel was still number one – and had been for quite a while.

Which was why, today, Michael was grinding it out in a standard competition to earn some ranking points – he would catch his Satanic adversary – he would catch him, and regain his former glory.

Daniel, seated on the other side of Michael in the ‘Ultra-Risk’ centre in Zaphora, not far from Danielphon, looked across the chamber at Michael, who was concentrating on his monitor stats screen. ‘So are we going to get him today, Vally Boy?’

Valandriel said nothing, but Ariel spoke up. ‘Dream on, Danny. You have slipped, brother dearest. Right down to your standard 45^th mentality. Even Loquiel can kick your arse these days.’

‘Oh well. I guess the theophany is having his way in the end. Telling me to relax – not try so hard – live in my natural place.’

‘Probably,’ said Valandriel. ‘Look, Danny. We all know to well your capabilities when you really compete – when you really work your arse off – and they are glorious, bro. But 45 is your spot on the list, and God is happiest when you are just yourself. So as Farouk Bulsara sings to you, don’t try so hard mate. And it is better for all of us.’

‘Kapiche,’ said the Arch-Regent of the Realm of Eternity to its Prime Minister.

He stared across over at Michael, and thought he would show his older brother some natural respect, and concentrate on another opponent. Best not to push Mikey too hard – best not to compete with him so savagely in the end – in a natural way, he was in truth about 45^th, because he naturally did not normally compete that hard in the end. So best to be himself. Best to be himself.

Cosadriel, sitting next to Azrael, watching Kwintakel at the controls, was happy. Kwinty had been kicking Michael’s arse for the last 7 rounds. But Saddy was still cautious. Michael was a cunning old fox, and wanted his points pretty badly in his long competition with Saruviel. Perhaps they should go easy – let the old fox have his day. Perhaps. And then Saddy whispered into the Kwintakel’s ear that, as she held the Middle-East province and the region with ‘Megiddo’ in it, and had 5 full risk cards, she should have a go and announce ‘Armageddon’. Kwinty smiled at the idea but said ‘I don’t think so, Saddy. I don’t think so.’

‘Pity,’ said Cosadriel. ‘The end of the world could have been interesting,’ which made Azrael smile.

Totambimberiel examined the board. He looked at the Middle East, and his strength in Asia. He was the second strongest on the board, but with an alliance with Kwintakel and a quick ‘offer Armageddon’ move, perhaps they could hold on and overcome all adversaries if they were lucky. Sure. May as well have a go, thought the Cherubim to himself.

Kwintakel received the ‘Offer Armageddon’ signal, looked over at Totambimberiel who was waving at her, and nodded.

‘So you are going to accept it?’ asked Cosadriel.

‘May as well, now,’ said Kwintakel. ‘With Toties help we should hold on and claim the points.’

‘Good luck,’ said Azrael who was thoughtfully looking at the board.

The game was on – Armageddon was declared – and the final victor over the middle east – the last man standing – would claim the most points.

The battles were ferocious, no quarter was given, and Michael, finishing second, was relieved. Major points – major points. But well done Kwintakel and Totambimberiel – a decisive victory.

Out in the canteen later, after the match, the 100 or so people gathered, competitors and friends, were all having a friendly chat, going over the match, eating their coffee and tea and bikkies, happy with life, happy with everything.

Michael chatted with Kwintakel for a while, discussing the strategies she had used in the game, and all in all it was a wonderful afternoon.

* * * * *

It took 7 hours of fiddling with numbers when Eve pointed to a little sign above the doorway with the number 7859 on it. Adam shrugged, punched in the number, put the key in the lock, pressed the trigger, and laughed as the door lurched open.

‘We will probably need the device,’ said Eve. ‘Do you have more batteries?’

‘It was a double pack. Hopefully we won’t run out.’

‘Then up we go,’ said Eve.

* * * * *

Satan, with the 6 other Saruvim, up on the surface of the planet ‘Enigma 48’ in the heart of Dralikon territory, laughed. He was monitoring the ‘Hive’ as it was called from a control panel on board the ‘Iron Storm’, the space cruiser which was sitting stationary on the large meadow, a way off from the abandoned city of ‘Zhabadar’. Of course, ‘Enigma 48’ had no residents anymore – Satan had purchased the planet from the Dralikon from a hefty sum for his fun and games – and locking up Adam and Eve down in the hive was his and the Saruvim’s idea of a fun practical joke to play.

‘They have figured it out,’ said Satan to the other Saruvim.

‘What now?’ asked Samaen.

‘We go home. Let them escape. We have had our fun. God will only fuck with us big time if we hinder them too much. You know him.’

‘Don’t I,’ said Samaen.

‘We’ll leave one of the ‘Cubs’,’ said Satan,’ about one of the little podships the Iron Storm housed. ‘That should get them back to heaven.’

‘Right on,’ said Lucifer.

Samaen punched in a few keys on the control panel and, shortly, one of the cubs emerged from the docking bay, landed on the surface, opened its doors, and sat there.

‘Now lets get the fuck out of here,’ said Satan, and as the Iron Storm took off, he gave the parents of mankind one last look, satisfied they would escape the hive alright, and flicked off the screen.

* * * * *

Daniel was back home at Danielphon, with Ariel, looking at the PC screen. He had gotten good points from the battle and had risen about 700 Quintillion places in rankings, which was not surprising – there were a hell of a lot of competitors in Ultra-Risk realm wide – but, as he watched on, hitting refresh on his screen occasionally, every single time his ranking dropped a humungous number of places. But that was life in the Realm of Eternity with a population that was practically just that – eternal.

‘Well done,’ said Ariel.

‘I am well entrenched in the top 1% you know,’ he said a little smugly. ‘It would probably take a billion years or so before I dropped out of it, if then, if I didn’t play in all that time.’

‘Don’t be cocky,’ she said. ‘Remember, Saruviel plays quite a bit. And wins at the big competitions with the big bonus points on offer.’

‘I know. I don’t care, sweetie. Top 1% will do in the end. I might even strive eventually for the top 1% of the top 1%.’

‘That will take some getting,’ she said.

‘Probably. But its worth the effort. Bragging rights.’

‘Smug bastard,’ she said, and walked away to get dinner started.

Daniel looked at his ranking for a little while longer, turned off the computer screen, and wandered out to the dining room and flicked on the TV screen.

‘Anything on TV?’ he asked.

A computer voice spoke up. ‘Some of your favourites are currently showing, Daniel. Would you like me to choose something?’

‘Go ahead,’ responded the Seraphim, and the TV selected an episode of ‘The Goodies’ which had just started.

Daniel smiled, settled in for a while, as Ariel steadily prepared the stir fry and rice and buzzed away to herself, in her own little world of Ariel.

* * * * *

George Lucas smiled at Steven’s suggestion. ‘Look, Mr Spielberg, while I appreciate the notion that a Star Wars episode 10,001 would be a good money earner, the saga is finished forever. 10,000 episodes – the perfect number – nothing more, nothing less.’

Spielberg nodded. ‘I thought that also about Close Encounters 1 million. That it would be the end of the saga, but new ideas inevitably beckon George. And, lo and behold, the ten millionth in that series is approaching.’

‘I would want good money,’ said George. ‘And it is only because we are good friends.’

‘I think I can promise you a hell of an advance. Quite a bit these days.’

George nodded. ‘Do you want to direct?’

‘Love to,’ responded Mr Spielberg.

George nodded. ‘Can I borrow your laptop?’

Steven handed it over, and George flicked it on, pulled a USB out of his pocket, and after some typing handed it back to Steven. ‘I have uploaded episode 10,001 to 20,000 to your laptop. There are more written, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise.’

‘You old fox,’ said Steven. ‘How many of them have you done then?’

‘Wouldn’t you like to know,’ said the master of the force.

* * * * *

Adam looked at the cub. ‘I guess Satan has left it for us. I suppose he is not that evil in the end after all.’

‘I don’t trust it,’ said Eve. ‘Its too fucking easy. His games last ages – he wouldn’t make it this simple.’

‘Perhaps he is finally getting older,’ responded Adam. ‘Growing up. Getting over it.’

‘Its been long enough,’ said Eve. ‘He probably should by now.’

‘You can never tell with some people,’ responded Adam. ‘It takes them an eternity to work things out properly.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Eve. ‘Well, we’ll check out the ship anyway. Either that, or you and I may end up breeding here and building up a new humanity.’

‘We’ve done it before,’ said Adam, which made Eve smile.

* * * * *

Daniel was out the back of Danielphon, looking at his comic collection. Ariel was with him. ‘Action comics number 1, huh,’ she said, looking at the comic in the mylar sleeve he had handed her.

‘It is fucking old,’ Ariel. ‘God preserved it perfectly in between the rests. Danielphon slumbered in perfect peace. It is the Realm’s original copy.’

‘So how much is it worth then?’ she asked him.

‘Fuck,’ he said. ‘Don’t really know. But a hell of a lot. With the right purchaser, and I mean that. But with the right purchaser we could almost afford a room in Zaphon tower.’

She looked at him incredulously. ‘THAT must be a hell of an expensive comic. A room in Zaphon – well – that is quite a number of galaxy’s in value, isn’t it?’

‘Probably that much,’ he agreed. ‘Possibly more. But with that kind of room for your future seed to live in, well even selling a place in Zaphon might kind of become attractive.’

‘I suppose,’ she responded. ‘Amazing. Just one comic.’

‘That is why I keep them,’ said Daniel proudly. ‘Because they inevitably rise in value. They inevitably rise.’

With that said she came and hugged her man, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was a wise angel in the end, was Daniel. A wise angel indeed.

* * * * *

Michael smiled at the latest ‘Ultra-Risk’ ratings. 17^th on the list. His ranking unchanged. But old Dramlock, 16^th on the list – well his lead was not as much anymore. He was catching him. Dramlock played the big realm tournaments – only the big ones. Michael had studied him carefully for a few thousand years. He was a sensible Cherubim, always had been, and crafted his way through the Ultra-Risk community with style and aplomb, always complementing his opponents, always encouraging them, always giving them a friendly smile. Yes, he was deadly. Perhaps a challenge – should he? Should he? But, no. Not yet. Challenges were reserved for the deadliest player on the list – dread Saruviel. The Satanic master of Ultra-Risk. That was the one he would wait upon. His challenges would be reserved for him alone. For dread Saruviel alone.

Elenniel brought in a painting, of Michael, with a Rainbow above his head.

‘Why a rainbow?’

‘Because you are such a colourful personality, Michael.’

He smiled at that. ‘Wouldn’t Daniel be a better subject for a rainbow? He is the eternal Noahide Warrior after all. Not me.’

‘But you are my special colourful one,’ she said, kissing him on the cheek. He smiled as she left the room and looked at the painting. It seemed, no matter how many she had done of him, there was always a new surprise.

* * * * *

‘There are 3 ways for you to die, Devil. 3 ways to die, and 1 way to live.’

Satan, handcuffed, being held over the edge of a large cliff by Eve, Adam standing by with a shotgun which was in fact loaded, smiled at the bitch.

‘Yeh. But a pussy like you will only kill me with herpes.’

‘Really,’ she said and, grinning, spat on his face. ‘Then that should take care of that,’ said Eve, and Adam smiled.

‘So what are the 3 ways?’ queried the Lord of Darkness.

Eve looked at him. ‘Well, 1. I can let you go.’ Satan turned his head, looked down at the roaring ocean below and the very jagged looking cliffs.

‘Option 2?’ he asked.

‘I can blow your head off,’ said Adam, brandishing the shotgun.

‘Mmm, I think I’ll pass,’ responded the Lord of Evil. ‘Option 3?’

Eve looked at Adam. ‘What was option 3 again, sweetie?’

‘Fucked if I know,’ responded Adam. ‘It was your list.’

‘Right,’ she nodded, and turned back to her adversary. ‘Well lets just say, Satan. It will be unpleasant. Very, very unpleasant.’

‘Right,’ said Satan. ‘Ok. Fuck it. Call me a wimp, but what is the one way to live option?’

Eve brought him upright, and Adam came over, with an extensive looking contract.

‘What is that?’ asked Satan.

‘Oh, good news for us, and potentially you as well. Heh heh heh. If you play by the rules, that is.’

‘What do I have to do?’ he asked.

‘Basically, just leave us be. Mostly just that. No more games. Oh, there are certain requirements, but I am sure you will manage them. But, we aren’t screwing with you too much – leave us alone, and everything will work out fine for you.’

‘Or else what?’

‘Shark fodder,’ said Eve with a smile.

He looked at her, looked into her eyes, really thought she wouldn’t go through with it in the end, but decided it would be best not to risk it. He had tormented her enough over the aeons after all anyway.

‘Were do I sign?’ he asked.

Eve unlocked the handcuffs while Adam pointed the shotgun at him, and Eve showed him the page for his signature, produced a pen, and Satan, looking at Adam, realizing he would probably have to in the end anyway, signed his life away.

Adam looked at the signature, smiled to himself, and lowered his gun. ‘Right. We all know your kind always keep their contracts.’

‘Hey, its what we do,’ responded Satan.

‘You will have a copy of the contract for you at email address satan@realmofeternity.com . I know that is your biggie for everyone, so you will have to fish out our names in the search terms. But I am sure you will find the email – eventually.’

Satan almost swore, but thought better of it. ‘I’ll read the contract, Adam. I’ll read it. But I am the master of the loophole.’

‘You had better be,’ said Eve. ‘We have been studying law for a while, Sat, and this one is pretty watertight. So scram, freak.’

The dark lord looked at his adversaries, rubbed his wrists, and walked off. For now he would leave them be, look at his contract, and see what was what. Whatever they had over him, well he was sure he could wrangle his way out of it. He was sure.

* * * * *

Spielberg worked overtime for 3 months straight, consulted with George heavily, and had Star Wars Episode 10,001 in the theatre with the previews of the movie scaring the hell out of the audience. ‘You must be kidding,’ was the common reaction. ‘Wasn’t Lucas finished?’

Of course, the day of release, the cue went back several hundred metres for each session, and despite most theatres devoting their entire cinemas to the film, it took a long while to satisfy demand – 3 and a half years, to be precise, in most places, before high demand started slacking off. The film was a shocker to most, picking up on an unexpected tangent from the blockbuster conclusion to episode 10,000 but, really, looking the goods. And with a title like ‘Star Wars Episode 10,0000: The Return of Darth Vader’, you would expect it to be popular.

George Lucas never saw any of the filming – he left that all to Steven – he wanted to be surprised. And as he sat there watching ‘A Long Time ago in a Galaxy Far, Far away’, ready for the sudden burst of the title theme, he escaped into his own little world of the force, munching on his popcorn, drinking his coca cola, his wife next to him, happy as he could possibly be.

* * * * *

The Theophany sat with Metatron, looking at the computer screen.

‘Give it a sec,’ said Metatron. ‘I am 100% sure this is the key game.’

The theophany watched on nervously. And than up spun the statistics. God – 50% / Metatron 50%. They were finally equal on number of overall games won. Metatron had caught up.

‘You little devil,’ said God to his son with a grin.

‘Gotcha old man,’ responded Metatron.

Memra spoke up. ‘But what does the future hold?’

‘I guess only time will tell,’ finished Logos, and they all said Amen.

Chapter Two

‘So,’ said the theophany to Daniel the Seraphim, ‘The evil recently surpassed the legal amount I required for fulfilment of the death penalty. Adam and Eve now have a contract with him, and they can really mess with him if he violates it. But, technically, if somebody wanted to go off and kill the host of the Saruvim, there would be no callback. They have committed several murders as a group over the years, several individual murders, and a whole host of other evils. They have always been careful, though, claiming the innocence of Cain, but the wickedness is now technically enough that I won’t object to somebody executing them.’

Daniel stared at the theophany, and Ariel asked a question. ‘There won’t be any drawbacks?’

‘None,’ said God.

* * * * *

3 weeks later, Daniel and Ariel armed with handguns, wandered into the Saruvim’s usual hangout bar. All 7 were there.

Satan spoke up. ‘Hey, dudes. Check it out. Lord of the wusses.’ The Saruvim laughed.

Daniel pulled out his guns and so did Ariel. They came forward to the group who didn’t move.

Daniel spoke.

‘Satan. Lord of Evil, fowl, and misdeed. For time beyond reckoning angelicdom, humanity and animal kind have suffered the torments of your evil deeds. So many have suffered, felt sorrow and pain, because you have defiantly and wilfully, time and time again, done your own perverted will, not and never succumbing to the mercies of God to bring you to repentance and the ways of righteousness. God has declared to us that now, in the finality of things, your wickedness has become severe enough. It is judgement day. You have been found guilty. The penalty is death.’

The Saruvim came forward, glaring at Daniel.

Slowly, carefully, Daniel and Ariel raised their guns, pointed them at the Saruvim and said ‘You are guilty. The penalty is death. Judgement has come.’ And then they blazed away.

* * * * *

First, God brought the final spirit essences of the killed Saruvim into a place in Sheol which was reserved for God. There was not much life spirit left in them, and God placed them into a vat of specially designed chemicals which caused enough agonizing pain for the last few hours, that Satan went out in the way so many wished him to – totally fucked, and feeling every last bit of the agony his enemies had wished upon him. And then it was over, done, and complete. The Saruvim – destroyed forever – the death of evil and wickedness.

* * * * *

Samael, in heaven, found about it a few weeks later. The Child of Heaven, who had chosen the role of the Devil, sat in a quiet place in the dark of his abode and felt, in his heart, as if a part of evil that had long lingered there was now gone, dead, and put away eternally. As if the core of wickedness in his heart had finally been dealt with.

He sat there for many a day, many a week, and finally, purchasing a ticket, took himself away on a sabbatical to a monotheistic retreat, and sought out the spirit of God in a spirit of true repentance, and found the peace he had been missing for so long.

* * * * *

Ariel sat with Daniel on their bed in Danielphon. It was over. The torment was over. The agony was over. Evil was finally, irreversibly, irrevocably, eternally, dealt with. Praise God for that. Praise God. Alleluia.

* * * * *

‘So Satan is completely, utterly, eternally dead?’ asked Meludiel, looking squarely at the Theophany of God. ‘Eternally?’

The theophany, sitting in a café stall in one of the greater outer discs of the Realm of Eternity, were Meludiel and Ambriel were living for about 1000 years, munched down on a corned beef sandwich with mustard and tomatoes, chewed away at it, and had a number of mouthfuls. Then he sipped on some Coca Cola, and continued staring at Meludiel.

‘Eternally?’ he finally asked her?’

‘Yes, eternally,’ she responded.

God came clean. ‘Were Satan is, he is learning his lesson. As the Saruvim are. Let me assure you of that. You won’t be bothered by them again for a very, very long time.’

‘Great,’ she said. ‘Well, how long? How much grace do we have?’

‘You know the time you have been alive?’

‘Yes, pretty much. The calendar is pretty accurate in that respect.’

‘Well, pretty much that much time again before you will here from the Saruvim again. By then I expect the fundamental issues to have been dealt with. Oh, they will still likely choose bad boy ways, but they will be more tolerant by then. A bit more understanding about the effect of the things they do. Just a bit more concerned about it all.’

‘You’re sanctifying them?’

‘Only so much. Only as much as I deem necessary for universal harmony. Satan likes his freedom, and I want him to be as happy as he can be, but I understand the impact he can also have on others. It is a juggling act. But when I am finished with him, he will be reasonable enough. He will be a bad boy, but the kind of bad boy which the girls will still like reasonably enough. He won’t be too much for people.’

‘He will be manageable?’ she queried.

‘Yes. He will have to be. You have a personal stake in the issue after all.’

‘How so?’ she queried him.

‘Well. You marry him for a while. He always has fancied you.’

She was almost beside herself. ‘The Devil? Marry the devil? You are kidding aren’t you?’

‘It’s a long eternity, Meludiel. A very, very, very long eternity.’

Meludiel stared at God, and for the first time in a very long time, almost cussed, but thought better of it. Married to Satan. Good grief.

* * * * *

‘So, life just goes on, does it Daniel? It just goes on?’

Daniel stared at Ariel, a little confused. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’

‘Satan. He and the Saruvim. They are dead.’

‘You should know that as well as me.’

‘And will God ever bring them back?’

He picked up the remote, switched off the TV set, and looked at her. ‘Probably. Eventually. He doesn’t destroy eternally, no matter what people might think. Satan is learning his lesson, wherever he is, ok. He is learning his lesson.’

She looked at him squarely, and then acquiesced. In the end, probably. Daniel was probably right. Satan would be back in time, after his repentance was complete – or complete enough. She softened, got up and came and sat down next to her twin, and cuddled him.

‘I do love you, you know, Hakham Daly. I do love you.’

‘Bloody hell. Hakham? I haven’t been a practicing Hakham since – well, it has been a bloody long time, sweetie.’

‘You still have a heart of gold to me,’ she said.

He put his hand in hers, kissed her cheek, and turned on the TV to the Romance channel, and spent the afternoon watching a number of romantic movies.

* * * * *

Talzudiel sat on a bridge corner, on a disc of eternity he had forgotten the name of, in a little world of his own, escaped from the fellowship in many ways, out here, far away from Zaphon, being nothing but Talzudiel. Nothing but himself.

He had fortunes beyond counting, naturally, the sum of a long life with asset investments in various companies, various very successful companies, and his bank account he was currently using, which had regular deposits into it, would naturally last forever. He didn’t have any financial concerns in other words.

His twin, Winoniel, was back in the centre somewhere, possibly waiting for his return, but possibly not. They weren’t currently together or married, from memory, and he was his own man – his free man. And, in finding the life he needed to find at this point in eternity, he lived in a small bed-sitter, with his food delivered from Woolworths delivery service, an automatic delivery every 3 days, and a maid who came in every second day to clean up and sometimes cook for him and take care of his household chores.

People in general knew who he was – people, in general, didn’t really mind.

It was an English speaking city, for the most part, but Spanish was popular in places, which was good news for him personally. And it was vast, so he had been told. At least 400 Trillion residents of this particular metropolis, from recent census figures. A pretty bloody big place.

At the moment, he was about 10 miles from home, down near the local river, the name of which he couldn’t remember, but didn’t care anyway. It was late in the afternoon, the sky had various reddening clouds in the west, a mock of sunset in many ways, and he stared at them, occasionally taking a sip from his Apple Jack, and slowly finishing his burger and chips.

He stared at the sun, and let his mind wander over recent thoughts. Life. The meaning of life. But, for the most part, his experiment with life – finding those routines, those lifestyles, those living patterns, which would work for him. Which would give him meaning. Which would make him happy. And while he craved companionship and company often, at times, he felt, he just needed to be alone. Alone with himself, and whatever higher power wanted to take an interest.

He stared down at the river, thought again about buying that fishing rod and coming down here to have a go, as there were apparently plenty of fish in the thing, and let his mind relax. It was a simple time, a quiet time, and there had been a lot of it for the past million years or so, living here in this city, the name of which he couldn’t even remember most of the time, wandering the local streets of his flat, looking at the houses, the buildings, the everyday life that they were all chasing, and being merry with. Were there others going through the things he was going through? Finding themselves? Working it all out? He guessed, in truth, there probably was. Life was not the exclusive domain of Talzudiel the angel, despite perhaps in his youth thinking it all revolved around him.

A wind blew, and he felt it in his legs, and so stood, finished off his burger and apple jack, and gave the sky a last look.

He turned, found the garbage bin he was used to, for this pattern was well established now, and started making the way back to the main road, perhaps ready to hail a taxi, but he thought on the hotel just down the road a little. If it had a room, perhaps a nice night to get away from the flat.

He walked along, found the ‘Empire Glory’ hotel, came to the pretty receptionist, who took his card, gave him a key, and showed him to the elevator.

The room was swish. It should be, being the presidential one, but hell, he could afford it.

He turned on the television set, and spent half an hour watching Oprah Winfrey. She was amazingly popular still, but the show was almost definitely an old repeat.

And then, after room service of fried chicken and soft drink, he stared at the phone. What the hell – he may as well.

He picked it up, dialled in the necessary connecting numbers, and for the central discs they had priority, and waiting for about 10 rings was about to put it down, when the phone was picked up.

‘Yes,’ said a female voice.

‘It’s me,’ said Talzudiel. ‘I guess, really, I have done enough. I have sort of worked through a lot of what I needed out here. It’s been good. Great, really. But time to come home.’

‘Oh, Tally. That is so good. When do you think you will be here?’

‘Next month some time, Winoniel. I have a few things to take care of, a few friends to say bye to. And then I will be back.’

‘Thank God, dear brother,’ and Winoniel started crying over the phone.

Later on, enjoying some hot chocolate, Talzudiel was suddenly happy. He had served a sentence, in a way – a self imposed sentence, but now it was time to go home. Now it was time to get back to the regular life he had crafted out for himself.

* * * * *

Winoniel, for the past million years, had gotten into something of a routine. She lived in Zaphora currently, near Danielphon of all places, and visited Ariel for the most part, of all her regular visitations, apart from Elenniel, who she made a habit of visiting at least once a year at Pellersphon, the place Elenniel now rarely left.

She sat with Ariel, knitting quite a lot, as well as felting, and playing euchre, which the two ladies enjoyed. They didn’t always talk a lot – at there age, most issues had been discussed, and it was usually simple talk of how have you been, what you and your twin has been up to, if anything, and any current plans for new children, which was a very common and usual topic. Children, for children of the Realm of Eternity, and the other realms of God, were a preoccupation in the sense that you could always have them if you wished. Woman’s eggs would run a course and, not naturally reproduce themselves unless you specifically prayed to God for a replenishment, which would lead to a new supply of eggs being produced within a few years of your prayers. Yet they would only be replenished if you asked him – otherwise you could enjoy your sexual relations without having to worry about such things. This made perfect practical sense to everyone. After a certain point, children became far less a priority, but you would still like them available if you could or desired to at a certain point. But, naturally, full enjoyment of your sexuality was desired by most, and with no eggs to worry about for the majority of the time for most angel and human female, you could enjoy your sexual pleasures with no concerns.

Winoniel, sitting with Ariel that morning, having received a phone call from Talzudiel the night before announcing his return, was discussing with Ariel the idea of a new child to signify the blessing of Talzudiel’s return. Ariel agreed that it was a good idea in principal, but reminded the happy Winoniel that Talzudiel would have to be taken into consideration. Perhaps he had met someone – perhaps he had other ideas – perhaps he didn’t want anymore. But, apart from those concerns, she was happy for her sister’s happiness.

Ariel looked at the felting Winoniel had been working on for the past week, finally noticing what it was. ‘Oh, it’s Noah’s Ark!’ she exclaimed.

‘Yes. Daniel’s design. His original one. I have done it a few times before. He doesn’t mind, as he sought of has copyrights on their production still, but he has welcome me selling them on his website if I want to.’

‘You have financial concerns?’ Ariel asked quickly, but then said ‘Oh, what am I saying. You couldn’t possibly.’

‘Oh, nothing to do with the money, Ariel. You should know that. More of finding a job to give my contribution to the life of eternity. I know, with all the new children replacing all of us on a regular basis, they are understood to do the work for us all, and that has always been the case – till they find themselves and their fortune. But, in the end, I still need something to do – an occupation of sorts, don’t I? I have to fill my eternity somehow.’

‘I would have thought that would have been an issue a long time ago.’

‘It was,’ she responded. ‘But it was Talzudiel. When he left. Working again on his life routines – his preoccupation. Finding out HOW to live. So that is what I have been doing with my felting since he left. Finding out how to live. Finding out routines which work, pastimes which bring blessing and happiness, something useful which people appreciate from me.’

‘And you find that in felting?’ queried Ariel.

‘Very much so.’

Suddenly Daniel, who was listening at the door, just having walked in, spoke. ‘It is what I do also, Ariel. With my felting. I do that Noah’s Ark design a lot, out the back, in the shed. I sell them on the website. Sometimes I auction them, and there are souls in eternity who will pay a very pretty penny for an original Daniel the Seraphim felting I can tell you.’

Ariel laughed. Daniel had said such things about a lot of his works before – how much people were prepared to pay for his name, his products.

‘Which is why I do it,’ responded Winoniel.

Daniel came in, picked up a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet, and poured himself a little glass.

Ariel raised her eyebrow. ‘Alcohol, Daniel? Is this some special celebration?’

‘Uh, Talzudiel coming home. Let’s have a drink to his return. It actually has been quite a while – a million years. Not ages, I know, but a fair whack.’

Ariel shrugged, and as Daniel handed her and Winoniel glasses of grog, they raised them and Daniel said ‘To Talzudiel. May our brother return home with promise and blessing,’ and the other two said ‘Amen.’

* * * * *

Meludiel sat in the café, were God had sat with her a few days earlier, looking at the menu. What to order, what to order. Ambriel appeared shortly, sat down next to her, and picked up one of the other menus. He found the hamburger he liked, with fries, and looked at her. ‘Have you chosen?’

‘A double cheeseburger. And a sprite.’

He went off and ordered them, paid the price, and returned with the drinks. They sat there for a while, in silence, drinking their drinks, not saying much. But it was like that now, at times, not saying much. And it wasn’t an Ambriel thing for Meludiel, nor was it a Meludiel thing for Ambriel – it was the same for both of them, and they had discussed it a lot between them anyway. In a universe of conversations, as strange as it may seem to some, in time, eventually, you sort of ran out of things to say. Things to discuss. Things to show concern about. And, after that point had been reached, it was mostly. ‘Hi. How are you feeling? What did you have for dinner? What was the score in that football match?’ and a host of basic questions on the things which did the very simple thing of being easy enough for conversation, repetitive enough but unique each time, such as a sports score, to make it a suitable thing to talk about, and safe enough to talk freely about. And that, for Meludiel and Ambriel, had been what it had gotten down to. They weren’t bored, though – not exactly. Nor were Elenniel or Michael with there similar relationship. Not boredom – there were always plenty of things to do which made you happy enough in your life routine, as it had come to be called. But it was, just a little, predictable in many ways. There was no great spark for a lot of them anymore – it had all been said, it had all been done. Now they just went with the flow, and lived their life. The great adventure had peaked, and the mundane beckoned them each day now, going through its simple, but tedious, routine.

But, in truth, Ambriel had a lot of things which brought him ample happiness, and Meludiel did not complain in the end either. Life was good enough, when it all came down to it, and she would not really want it any other way.

They sat there, eating their meal, looking at the sports match – a twenty-twenty cricket match between two local countries of the disc they were on – and did not much else.

‘Well, Meludiel. This is our life. Isn’t it. The simple life. The basic life.’

‘It's what we want, isn’t it?’ she responded, sipping on her sprite.

‘I guess so,’ he said, looking up at the match. ‘You know,’ he began. ‘Why don’t we do something with cricket? We are both pretty good at it. Why don’t we dedicate a few million years to this nation – play in their local competitions.’

‘How about indoor cricket,’ she responded positively.

‘Why indoor?’ he asked her curiously.

‘I like it more. To play. It is more fun to play. I was disappointed when we moved because I was involved with a woman’s team which had had a lot of success for a while.’

‘Oh, sorry,’ he responded. ‘Ok. Indoor cricket. Perhaps we form our own team, here in this city. Some of our friends here.’

She stared at the match, and an idea just came to her. ‘Well, why don’t we form our own league, then? Form our own competition. Have a number of new stadiums built, devise our own particular regulations, and run the thing. And we can also play in one of the teams.’

‘Hey, that’s a good idea. Yes, we can definitely afford to launch our own. Money is not a concern.’

‘So let’s do that. I don’t really think we have done that kind of thing much before – launched our own sporting competition. Something new for us. It could prove very grounding for us – something to focus on.’

For the first time, in quite a while, Ambriel was suddenly happy. He had something – something new – something to dig his teeth into, and concentrate on, and find new meaning. And, more than that, the idea appealed to him also.

‘Then let us have some ice cream to celebrate,’ and when Meludiel nodded, he ordered two banana splits with extra cream, and they got a little fatter that day, both somewhat excited by Meludiel’s new idea.

* * * * *

Talzudiel picked up the scrappy looking paperback, stuffed into the back of the seat in front of him, on his flight back to Zaphora. Ironic. It was one of Daniel’s Angels books. But he was popular, still, wasn’t he.

He didn’t recognize the title instantly, but presumed he had read the text when Daniel first wrote out his stories, many a long aeon ago. But, with nothing better to do, and a series of connecting flights which would take a good week to reach Zaphora, he opened it up at the first page, smiled at the opening joke, and settled in for a good read.

* * * * *

‘They are about to launch a new competition. Were they are – a new indoor cricket competition. They are in the process of acquiring land to build stadiums, and advertise for players.’

‘Why?’ Daniel asked Ariel, bemused.

‘She doesn’t say directly. Just sort of hints that they were looking for something useful to do again.’

‘They’re bored,’ Daniel stated flatly. ‘The genius has run out of imagination.’

‘Don’t be like that, Danny. Ambriel is very intelligent.’

‘Ha,’ said Daniel, smiling. ‘He is bored. The messiah of God’s glory, and he is bored shitless.’

‘Well it HAS been a long eternity, brother. Give the guy a break.’

‘Ha,’ said Daniel again, and went off to celebrate his intellectual victory over his brother.

* * * * *

Ambriel looked at the enormous field, on the edge of the city they were currently living in. It housed a small number of fruit trees, being an orchard of sorts, as well as some buzzing bees floating around everywhere. But the owner was happy enough to sell for the right price, and Ambriel and Meludiel were able to offer him the right price.

It was to be the central headquarters of their project – the main place were it was all organized, and finals to be held in. Meludiel had done some web-surfing, found it a few days ago, and yesterday they had purchased. There didn’t really seem to be any point in wasting time about it.

‘Do you want to do the design yourself?’ Meludiel asked him. ‘I know you have several old architecture degrees under your belt, so perhaps you could have a go.’

‘Mmm. No. Maybe not,’ he responded. ‘Skills like that always slip away after a while. You sort of have to stay current, practicing, or it just disappears from your mind. Its how we are made, after all.’

‘Yes. I know,’ she responded. ‘But if you used your instincts, you would get a good job of it done.’

He looked over the field and nodded to her. ‘I will do some basics. On drafting paper. And then we’ll find a suitable architect and let him or her run with the project.’

‘Suits me,’ she responded.

Bees buzzed around them momentarily, perhaps suspicious of the newcomers, and Meludiel turned to Ambriel. ‘Now. Do we have a team name?’

‘How about ‘Magnetic’ responded Ambriel.’

Meludiel smiled. ‘An interesting choice. Because of our magnetic personalities, I take it?’

‘What else could it possibly be,’ he responded smiling.

‘Then ‘Magnetic’ it is. Now we just need team members.’

‘All things in their time and place, dear Melly. All things in their time and place.’

They stared at the fields for a while longer and, satisfied, made their way back to the car, started for home, and dreamed about their new occupations for the foreseeable future. Something old in many ways, but something new in its own way. And at least they wouldn’t be bored – not for a while, anyway.

* * * * *

The book had been a good read – all 474 pages of it – and the ending was different to what he had thought it would be, but a good thriller in the end and the demon ‘Hex’ really was a chilling invention of Daniel’s.

Talzudiel opened the window cover on his seat and looked outwards. It was dark, but looking downwards he could see lights flicker here and there. That was only to be expected – he was halfway home, and the further inwards you went the more congested life was, unlike out at the distant rim areas, were life was still and ever sparse. But that was par for the course as the rim continued expanding with new population.

Talzudiel sat there, looking into space. He wasn’t really tired – not really, but dinner had been a couple of hours ago, and he had finished his book, not taking much with him for the flight home. His mind wandered. Routines – that was the name of the game he had been on – filling his life with routines, and finding out what worked for him. The solitary life – solo time – gave him strength. When he was away, and putting up with a lack of his closest friends, it made him stronger in the end, more capable of handling real life, more capable of sorting things out by himself. But that was probably a truth of human nature, and nothing unique to the Seraphim Talzudiel. Yet, he could not go on with his solo lifestyle forever – who could? It was a very brave soul who was the true hermit, and Talzudiel doubted the authenticity of any eternal claimants to such a role. Any he knew of anyway. Except God, perhaps. Perhaps God had put up with that, before everyone else had come to be. But that was a deep mystery and, besides, God had companions now. Even he needed to love, and to be loved.

Perhaps that was, still, the greatest of all mysteries. Perhaps it all came down to that – love. To find people to connect to and to show the respect, kindness and affection – to love them. And in the loving of them and being loved, happiness and true solace of the soul was found – that much was obvious to him now – and in these loves of life, true peace and joy of the eternal could be found. So why the fascination with solo time? Perhaps, it was a time to sort him out – perhaps it was a time to escape from other pressures in life – or perhaps it was just a time for self reflection and, that other quality of love – self love. A time to learn about oneself and fully appreciate the wonderful child of God that the heavenly father had fashioned, and what it was to be alive, knowing oneself intimately, amongst a universal community.

His mind wandered over these ideas and, honestly, he couldn’t really say if he’d thought these things, perhaps, a thousand times before anyway. But, as a steward came forward, asked if he wanted a late supper of an orange juice and an apple pie, he nodded and, starting to consume his meal, a little happier with something to do for a while, he put on his earphones, listened to the in flight entertainment, and returned to the world of Talzudiel, child, angel and loved one of God the Almighty Father.

* * * * *

Daniel twirled the cricket ball again and again over his fingers, spinning it, and ready to give it a whirl in the back yard of Danielphon on the back cricket pitch. He had been here for about 20 minutes and Ariel had just wandered out and was looking at him.

‘Cricket, Daniel? Has Ambriel and Meludiel’s decision sparked an interest?’

Daniel said nothing, but ran in to the pitch, let the ball go, and it spun in the air, hitting the ground, and rebounding right into the stumps.

‘I still have it,’ he said confidently to himself.

Ariel watched him for a while, sitting down on the grass, and he had a number of yellow balls which he spun time and time again, nearly always hitting the stump. He really was quite accurate, as testimony to his former glory days in the sport.

Ariel looked at the balls and suddenly made a connection. ‘Those are yellow balls.’

‘Your point?’ he responded.

‘Those are the ones used in indoor cricket. Not the outdoor kind.’

‘Your observations are impeccable,’ responded the 45^th of the male Seraphim.

Ariel nodded. ‘Well, I have a conclusion of such. You are getting ready to enter their competition, aren’t you?’

He continued on with the next ball, which again hit the stumps, and turned to look at her. ‘Ariel, Ariel, Ariel. We have been through so many adventures together, haven’t we?’

‘Right. You want me on your team. To compete with Ambriel and Meludiel. I see right through you, Daniel Daly. Right through you.’

Daniel smiled, and ran in again, again hitting the stumps.

‘So you’ll play?’ he asked, turning to her.

She almost said no, quite used to Daniel’s pride, but decided, once again, to suffer the beast. ‘Oh, alright. Have it your way. But don’t go on bragging if you beat him. How about a little humility, Angel Daniel.’

‘Humility, right. Yeah, gotya,’ said Daniel, waltzing in, releasing the ball, which again spun right into the stumps.

Ariel smiled, looked at him in his own little world and going back inside said to herself. ‘He is incorrigible, isn’t he?’

And perhaps a little birdie agreed.

* * * * *

The theophany sat in the café were Meludiel and Ambriel frequented a lot for their meals, thinking on life. Talzudiel was on his mind, at the moment. A good lad, working through routines. How to live. How to be happy with it all. A very wise lad to still concentrate on those ideas at his age, as it would rekindle the basics and give him strength. He was, still, growing up. Learning about eternal life.

But, there was another thing on his mind, an upcoming confrontation, a confrontation of quite supreme egos, with a rivalry as ancient as days. Daniel and Ambriel – ego vs ego – Arch-Regent Vs Messiah – the contest of glory, over which they would each wager a full bloody half of their wealth. The theophany rarely thought in swear words, but for the fact of wagering half their wealth, over the aeons of time in which they had accumulated it, they were brave men indeed, which warranted a little swear.

Indoor cricket – a game they both cherished and loved – a game of pride for Daniel and his English ways, a game of joy for Ambriel who loved the close contests. Picking a winner out of these two could be a great challenge indeed. Who would win? Who would triumph? Who would overcome, well, funnily enough, only time would tell – as it had always, in fact, done so.

Chapter Three

‘Caught in a hazy world of unbelief. Caught in a hazy world of drunken madness, soul destroying malevolence – almost evil – but pretending to be paragons of virtue. Caught in a world of Antichrists and False Prophets and devils and delusion – and false saints, and carnal sinners. Caught in hell itself, beyond the most divine powers redemptive capabilities.’

The audience hushed, waiting for the next lines in the play.

‘Yet, in this malevolent darkness of the soul – the darkness of my own creation – lost in the depression of the dark heart of hatred, I found a light. A little, faint light, of hope – the hope of promise that, in the end, no matter how far you stray from the light, no matter how much you reject goodness, no matter how much you let the appeal of sin dominate your very being – goodness remains.

And so I found that light, and in the dim afternoons of my soul’s discontent, I nurtured her, day after day, week after week, until I found the salvation she promised, and once again returned to the land of the living.’

The soliloquy ended, and the audience rose to its feet, clapping wildly. The acting had been dramatic, to say the least.

Later on, Talzudiel sat with Winoniel at one of the downstairs cafeteria seats, after the play, sipping on coffees, eating cake, discussing their son’s accomplishments. The Seraphim Charles, Talzudiel and Winoniel’s son of only a few million years of age, who had turned to acting, had been the lead actor in the play, and they were both very, very proud of him.

‘He has improved something shocking,’ said Talzudiel.

‘He has kept at it for quite a while, and this play he has been concentrating on. It was written by himself a number of other actors and screenplay writers. A few of them were in the play. It is a standard, at the moment. The Zaphoran community have been eating it up for the last few hundred thousand years, and ticket sales show no sign of diminishing yet. They are always performing to a sold out audience.’

‘Is he investing wisely? I have always insisted that our children earn their keep, Winoniel – you know that. They get an inheritance of shares, but can work for our companies if they need to.’

‘But you always like to see if they can make it on their own,’ she responded.

‘That is exactly the case. To get along eternally you need to learn how to be self sufficient. It is just the way of things.’

‘But you will always be there for Charles. And our others. Don’t be so hard, Tally. Be a loving father, like God is for you.’

Talzudiel nodded, and responded softly. ‘Yes. That is true.’

They finished their coffees, and Charles waved to them from a little way off were he was seated with some of his friends.

‘I can only hope he perseveres with his trade,’ responded Talzudiel. ‘Every year he will gain a good reputation for his work. It will help him no end in the long term.’

‘Charles is a sensible lad. He is just like his father,’ she responded, gazing at Charles, putting her hand in Talzudiel’s.

They both stared at their son affectionately, pleased with his success. It was good to know your children could make it on their own, and didn’t always need to rely on you. It gave you a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment – that you had taught them properly. And for someone like Talzudiel, eternally focused on success, such things were of prime importance. That was how life worked in the end after all, wasn’t it.

* * * * *

Ambriel picked up the bat and looked at it. A ‘Daniel the Seraphim Special Mark 12.’ One of 45 in his special series – very typical for Daniel. Ambriel liked the ‘12’ the most. It had the balance he personally preferred of all the ‘Special’ series, perhaps even more than the exuberant ‘45’ which was one of the most highly prized cricket bats in existence. But, as a son of Israel, father of the 12 tribes, Ambriel used the special series ‘12’ bat, usually, and jibed Daniel that the ’12’ was the one which kicked arse. Apparently Daniel used all 45 of them from time to time, as well as the various others in his ‘45’ series of cricket equipment, such as balls, pads, helmets and so on. But that was Daniel – he loved his ‘45’s’.

Naturally, there was a heck of a lot of competition in the cricketing world for supplies – a literal googol of suppliers were likely out there these days, especially from the various Asian Indian empires, who were specialists in affordable production of such stuff. ‘Arjuna’, which was an Indian word for ‘Dragon’ was an incredibly popular supplier, and seemed to dominate everywhere from what Ambriel had seen, yet ‘Tendulkar’ was also an enormous brand, founded by ‘Sachin Tendulkar’, the famous Indian cricket player from earth from the 20^th and 21^st centuries. There were still traditional giants in the game like ‘Kookaburra’ and ‘Slazenger’ and ‘Nike’ and so on, which never went away, but there were a bevy of other competitors who had been in the business for literally aeons and, so it seemed in cricketing circles, everyone had a particular favourite bat or helmet or other item.

Ambriel mostly used his Seraphim brother Daniel’s products, as Daniel was the main Seraphim angel who took an interest in the game amongst the original 70 Seraphim, although Sariel also was a keen player as well. Daniel, though, had a company which produced various cricketing items, and while they had been designed a long time ago, he never changed the way he produced the item, and funnily enough they had lasted, despite improvements in products from his competitors. Some believed and taught in cricketing circles that Daniel’s technology had been so advanced that he had gotten the job done, possibly perfectly, the first time, and that now there was nowhere really left to go for him, apart from settling on his standard 45 designs, and sticking with them. Ambriel admired Daniel for his stability and endurance in this sense, and used the ‘12’ bat religiously.

Of course, in Indoor cricket he used the special variant for the indoor game, which was the current bat he had in his hands, the ‘12’ also.

It had been a patient year and a half for Ambriel and Meludiel, as they had secured land around the city, and had there stadiums built. Today, the main stadium and headquarters for the competition, had been finished for a little over 2 weeks, and most of the fittings and equipment was now in place. Finishing touches remained.

They had already employed a crew of just over 1000 around the city for their work, and with 60 established centres, Ambriel deciding to follow Daniel’s traditional ways and utilizing his own Seraphim birth number amongst the males, things were starting to look promising. They had advertised last month in various media outlets, and had a good response so far – certainly enough to found 2 grades, and probably 3 at this stage. Meludiel had been the driving force behind the rules for the games, and while they followed the standard conventions for the way the game was to be played, there were still certain modifications here and there, things which Meludiel deemed proper for the way and attitude they wished to bring to their own particular competition.

He went through the mesh gate, going down to the batting end, and standing in front of the wickets, started practicing his batting thrusts. He’d been there for about 5 minutes, working on his technique, when Meludiel appeared, came into the nets with a piece of paper, and handed to him.

‘What’s this?’ he asked.

She smiled. ‘You’ll never believe it. It’s an email from someone we know.’

Ambriel nodded, opened the paper, and started reading.

‘Hello Schmuk. I hear you are looking for players for your kindergarten league. I have some free time at the moment, so don’t worry about begging me to join – I will be there in a few weeks. Don’t start the competition without me – but you wouldn’t do that, would you. Your bro, Daniel.’

Ambriel smiled, handed the paper back to Meludiel and, as she walked away he said ‘Will life ever be the same again with that devil in the competition.’

Meludiel smiled, but said nothing, and as she walked away, Ambriel returning to his stroke-play, he just shook his head, smiled, and wondered just what destiny had in store for him.

* * * * *

Daniel was out the back of Danielphon, at the north-west quadrant of the place. Danielphon was quite a big place in comparison to his neighbours, the size of a few standard bungalow blocks in the sector of Zaphora were he mostly resided. It was true, Daniel did have a number of places in Zaphon tower which he owned, yet he usually rented these out, apart from one place which he and Ariel would stay in when they were visiting. But Danielphon had been founded a long time ago for the purposes of his own space and place within Zaphora, and now, for the most part, this was where he resided.

As Arch-Regent of the Realm of Eternity there were duties which he could get to, if he desired, but for the most of the last several millions of years those duties had been delegated to various authorities. Danielphora was the seat of the Arch-Regency, but Daniel now, even despite his early ambitions of youth to make a name for himself, along with the travails of Valandriel, was mostly over such ambitions. Sure, he never regretted the claiming of such glory when it finally arrived, but life for Daniel the Seraphim was mainly about simple things, here in Danielphon, and, funnily enough, despite early meanderings to this and that lass, primarily Sharlamane and Meludiel, he mostly stuck with Ariel now – simply because she mostly stuck with him. He’d had numerous love affairs with many of the female Seraphim and Cherubim, when they were apart from their twin or others at times, but they were the lustings of youth, he now felt. He was horribly stable these days, grounded on Torah for his morals, and not really looking to change anymore. Not really looking for anything else, in fact, and content with spending most of eternity with Ariel, despite a part of him which still suggested, on rare occasions, something different to spice up life a little. But only on rare occasions.

Ariel’s, his sister, whose human name was Keri-Anne Noble, had stuck with Daniel for a long, long time now, and expressed no desire for things to change. They were together, an item, and he found his necessary peace and partnership desires happily enough in his twin. Meludiel always beckoned to his heart, for he found her constantly attractive, and others of the female Seraphim, like Aquariel and Nimorel, as well as Luladiel and others, he still remained friendly with and knew he would never really stop loving or desiring to be around. But Ariel satisfied him, and that is were he left it.

Today, in the back north-west section, were he had his sports shed, he was looking through his collection of cricket bats. He was deciding, of all of them, which one to take with him on his soon journey to Ambriel’s city. The 45 always beckoned, but now he wanted to do something new, and was looking at the 13 and the 15. Picking up the 15 indoor special, he did some batting practice, and nodded to himself. Yep, this was the one. This one should do perfectly. The bats were replaced regularly, as long as they in fact lasted without being played, as he didn’t play cricket a great deal in the last while, but, while they would generally stay the same when left untouched, even for a very long time, damp and mist inevitably wore them down, unless they had been specifically stored for archival purposes, which he didn’t bother with for his current equipment.

The current shed had all be refitted with new items just last week, as he had ordered his local company to restock him with the standard order, and thrusting the 15 in front of him he thought on something which had just entered his mind. An offer – a wager – a bet. A very simple thing. But this one of incredible proportions – half their wealth. If Ambriel was willing, then Daniel would wager half his own wealth versus half of Ambriel’s – an incredible amount given his vast age and accumulation of assets over such a long time – but what was life without a bit of interest and a bit of risk. Boring, in the end. So he nodded to the idea, very knowledgeable of the fact that he could lose, and continued with his batting practice, ready for a new challenge.

* * * * *

Talzudiel sat in his study, looking over his emails. Naturally, as par for the course, he had a standard ‘Everybody Email Account’ which was a public email account reserved for anyone who wanted to contact him. It had been made available aeons ago, in fact back in the first phase of their existence, before all the rests, when the Realm of Eternity had been new. And, in point of very fact, the emails he was currently answering were still from that era – with the vast population that the realm had risen to, you could hardly expect a figure as popular as Talzudiel to be able to answer emails any time soon, but that was naturally par for the course. Mostly, he had a routine of getting to a few emails every week or so as part of his standard routines, and what was interesting is that in front of him he had just opened a standard email from Seraphim Daniel, of all people, who had occasionally sent emails to a bulk list which had included Talzudiel’s general email address. It was advertising his new cricket bat – the Daniel the Seraphim Special Mark 4. Boy, this was an old email.

Of course, Winoniel had mentioned to him recently how Daniel and Ariel were about to travel to were Ambriel and Meludiel currently resided for Daniel to take part in an Indoor cricketing competition, apparently run by Ambriel and Meludiel. Talzudiel thought on this. His sport, traditionally, was soccer. But he loved cricket as well. Perhaps, with nothing particular to hold him here in Zaphora at the moment, perhaps he could do it. Travel out, enjoy some indoor cricket for a while. He looked at the email, put it into one of his thousands of folders, and went off to chat with Winoniel about a change of current plans. Yes, he had made up his mind. Time for some competition – time to once again engage in a serious way with his brothers in a game of life. After all, that was a big part of life, wasn’t it – the competition.

Winoniel agreed, and coming back to the PC he opened ‘Air Eternity’ airlines, which was the standard airline he used, made his booking for a month from that day, and smiled to himself as he envisaged defeating his two dear brothers in the competition they both prided themselves in.

* * *

Ambriel addressed his team. ‘Teamwork, buddies. Stick together. Be there for each other. Pull together. Daniel’s team look great, but with a little faith, hope and love, I know you will all pull through. And praise God.’ And the team all gave each other a big group hug.

Over on the other side of the pitch Daniel addressed his teammates, his moustache done up in a very ‘English Major’ fashion, and the accent quite obvious. ‘You are all scum,’ he said with obvious wrath. ‘The lot of you. Scum. My dear old mother, with one arm tied behind her back, would still outscore you all. In fact, with no arms she would bowl better.’

There was a chuckle from the group, but Daniel quickly yelled ‘Silence.’

‘Now, before we go out there and you embarrass me, and there is no greater crime under all the heavens than embarrassing the grand and great Arch-Regent of Eternity, remember, despite your status as scum, which you all are, you are my nephews. Brother Matthews recent spate of bastards. And indeed, I know full well your bastardly state. Matt never was a man of honour.’ Again smirks.

‘Now, scum bags. I know you are not actually idiots – Matt was always a finicky bastard with his facts – so go out, and bowl out these drab and pathetic Ambriel worshippers, Kapiche.’

Later on, after the match, a tight result, with Ambriel’s Heroes defeating Daniel’s Dastards by 1 run, there was happiness in the bar anyway. Matt’s kids were chatting with there dad Matthew, Daniel’s brother, and although they were all under 21, the team of 6 boys and 1 girl were a happy enough lot, and far from being actual scum. 1 win to Ambriel. 6 matches to go.

* * *

‘Ok, Tally. We’ll cut you in. But remember, HALF your kingdom if you lose, to the winner. HALF. Your whole life earnings till this point.’ Talzudiel nodded. It was worth it.

* * *

Matches came and went, and Ambriel’s team got to a 3 nil lead over Daniel’s before Daniel finally got down and gave some serious training points to Matts kids on some of their deficiencies. The improvements were obvious. They won the next three. Talzudiel, despite his brave effort, last all but one match, and that to Ambriel’s team, and he ended up sighing over his soon potential lost earnings. He would have to put his hope on a miraculous draw.

Daniel looked at Ambriel. His brother was going to spin this one, and had already indicated as such. He needed a six to win, a four to tie. The final ball. It came down to this.

‘No, no, no Talzudiel. Ambriel and I have agreed – we get half of your kingdom divided equally between us. We drew.’

‘But the agreement, verbally, was only to the winner. I have a clear case.’

Daniel shook his head, but Ambriel spoke up. ‘Look, Dan. Do we want to do that to Talzudiel anyway? We don’t need his money. We never did. It is just a rivalry between us. It is just for fun, bro.’

Daniel sighed. ‘Point taken, Amby Wamby. I don’t care about the cash. I’ve got plenty. It is a matter of honour. I just want the right judgement.’ He looked at Talzudiel. ‘I think I know, though, that after all my troubles in my long life. After all the shit I have been through, and all the debates. After all the judgements, and all the trials and tribulations, that without some grace, we just won’t get along. Neither of us is really right, tally. Neither of us is really wrong. So I’ll let it go. You’re my bro.’

And Ambriel smiled.

*

The soft wind blew over home. Michael and Saruviel were chatting, playing chess. Metatron was out in the fields, sitting there, drinking applejack, talking with the theophany. Ambriel and Daniel and Meludiel and Ariel were playing touch footie against Samael and Aphrayel and Sandalphon and Gemrayel. Cosadriel and Azrael were arguing. Nobody minded.

Britney and Justin had worked things out. Gabriel and Aquariel were sitting on a swing. Logos was inside with Memra and Paul and Jesus, playing scrabble.

Cheryl and William were in the barn, making passionate love together.

Wormdog was looking at God’s coin collection in the living room.

Lucy, Shelandragh, Darren and Madalene and Jayden and Georgia were playing videogames in the main room.

Voldemort was arguing with Harry.

Raphael and Nimorel were chatting over by the wishing well. A number of Seraphim were with them.

Jan Kolby and Chance Kibb’Starr were with Dak Bluddhook, not far from Metatron and God, sitting there, chatting, watching the aurora.

Adam and Eve were sitting beneath the tree of life.

Satan finally ate a piece of the apple.

A soft wind blew over home. All was well. All was well.

The End

‘Morning Stars of Glory:  Melanie’

Chapter One

‘The Morning Stars of Glory,’ said the angel Melanie, a cherubim angel of the Realm of Eternity.  ‘That is what we all are Melaniel.  The Morning Stars of Glory.’

Scary Spice looked at Sporty Spice and smiled.  ‘Really?  The Morning Stars of Glory?’

‘Yes.  That sounds right said Geri ‘Gloryel’ Halliwell,’ not taking her eyes off the T20 cricket match on the television set.

‘A Great title,’ said Hugh ‘Sariel’ Grant, seated next to his beloved Geri Girl, the angel of his dreams, and twin angel amongst the Seraphim of the Realm of Eternity.

The Apostle Paul, the Seraphim Angel Yomiel, came and sat down next to his twin Melaniel, and hugged her.  ‘I love you babe,’ he said.

‘You just like me coz I’m hot,’ she said, disinterestedly.  ‘All men are like that.  Even you.’

‘Oh, Paul is alright,’ said Victoria, the Cherubim Victoria, of the Realm of Eternity.  ‘He is a loving guy, deep down.’

‘Probably,’ said Emma, chiming in on the conversation, over in the corner with her twin Jovius, playing on the Sega Megadrive, the game being Sonic the Hedgehog 312.

Daniel walked in the room with his twin Ariel.

‘Here comes the devil,’ said Gloryel.  ‘The master of hearts, in his own vain imagination.’

‘Oooh, so harsh Glory girl,’ responded Daniel.

‘The fidelity of a slug,’ said Melanie, not looking at her man directly.

‘Oh.  I am faithful,’ responded Daniel.  ‘But I am well aware of your twins, and the affairs of the heart are always complicated on such an issue.’

Tom Starr didn’t say anything, seated at the desk.  Laquenta was like that, usually.  Quiet.  It is what Melanie valued in her man.  It is why she loved him so.

Ariel sat down next to Meludiel on the other couch, who was knitting a scarf, blue and white, for Daniel.  He needed his bulldog’s scarves.  ‘For Daniel?’ she queried.  Meludiel nodded.

Ambriel entered the room, and Gloryel stood, came over and kissed him on the cheek, and said ‘Hello handsome.  You’re early.  The party doesn’t start until 8.’

‘I thought I’d come now.  Finished with the things I was doing at home.  Is Mega Risk on for later in the night.’

‘It better be,’ said David Beckham, coming into the room.  ‘I am going to kick your arse Amby Wamby after all.’

Victoria smiled.  David always got competitive with David.

Later on that evening, about 40 or so guests had arrived at Danielphon, were the party was being held.  Ariel, the current owner of the establishment, having purchased it from Meludiel for several Googleplexianites of Realm Credits, was in good spirits.  Her oldest friends – most of them – her most treasured brothers and sisters, were present.  The spirit was good.  The feeling was good.  Good times, which never did end in the end, full of life, love and fresh wit.  Full of good things.  Full of happy things.

And then Satan walked in the door, with Saruviel following, and the other Saruvim one by one, and their chicks.  And they had beer.  And Ariel was pissed off.  And Satan said ‘Lighten up babe.  The party has arrived.  Now let us put on Metallica and get shitfaced.’  And Ariel almost swore.

*   *   *   *   *

‘I love you.  I love you not.’

‘Oh, Jovius,’ responded Emma.  ‘Will you ever make up your mind?’

‘Probably not babe,’ he said, lighting another cigarette.

‘You know, this realm of eternity is pretty swish, all things considered.  Different from our heaven, but I don’t mind it.’

‘You don’t remember, do you?’ asked Emma to her twin.

He looked at her strangely.  ‘Remember what?’ he asked her.

‘You and I.  We were from here.  A long, long time ago.  Back in the beginning of all things.  It is were our journey began.  Were it all began.’

He looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face, but nodded after a while.  ‘Sure babe, I believe you.’

‘Oh, Jovius,’ she responded.

Jovius scratched his head, and looked out over the city of Zaphona.  The two of them were on an upper level of Zaphon tower, up quite high, looking out over the realm of eternity.  They had been here, now, quite a while, since the resurrection to new life of their realm of heaven, were Emma and Jovius had been resting, way up high above them, up far above the Realm of Infinity, up far above the 7 Heavens of the Children of Heaven, and above home, and further still.  Of course, above home was another heaven, were Gabriel was firstborn.  And then up further still the Eternal Realm of Glory, as it was called, were Raphael was firstborn.  Further still lay another Realm of Splendour, very similar to the one down below paradise, but different as well – unique.  And above that, the Infinite Realm of Majesty, were Melaniel and Yomiel had been resurrected from.  And then, finally, Jovius and Emma’s heaven, were Phanuel was firstborn, up above the Realm of Majesty, which Raguel had been firstborn of.  That, so he understood, was the apparent limit, but last weekend, when the party had been on, he had been chatting with the Saruviel fellow, and he talked of a series of connected universes – a Megaverse – even further up still, were his glory was apparent.  The highest of the 7 – right at the top.

But here they were again, apparently, from what Emma had said.  The Children of Destiny – in the First of the True 7 Heavens.  Were Michael was firstborn – sort of – apart from that fellow Metatron, who Jovius had taken an instant liking to.  A fellow who knew how to smoke cigarettes, and drink beer, and not give him a bloody lecture like that Daniel fellow.

Jovius blew on his cigarette, said ‘Fuck Daniel,’ to the wind, and turned to his twin.

‘You’re a babe, Em.’

And she smiled.

*   *   *   *   *

‘What is the 45^th realm then, oh wise one,’ said Ariel to her twin Daniel, in a slight mocking tone.

‘Pagan central, babe – but the Realm of Understanding rules even them.  Were the Earth Mother thinks she is a bloody goddess.’

‘Really,,’ replied Ariel, a curious look on her face.

‘Yep.  Really, babe,’ responded Daniel, and stared out at Zaphon, a level above Jovius and Emma who were down one level, and a few levels higher than the main group, who were still partying on the sabbath afternoon party which Satan had arranged.

‘And when did this 45^th realm come to be?’  Ariel asked him, not sure about the look on his face, still doubting.

‘In the heart and plans, and perhaps even the reality of God,’ dear, dear twin of mine.  But that would be telling if I told you any more.’

‘Indeed,’ she responded, giving her twin an even Curiouser look.

*   *   *   *   *

Satan, in his long years, had mastered the fine art of – well – putting it bluntly, evil.  Yet, even the dark lord, when coming up against the persistent throb of life of the eternal one, a life which rebuked evil so that it would learn its lesson and repent of its carnal ways, had no real chance of long term success.  The party would only go on for so long, in other words.  For only so young.

‘But fuck it,’ Satan thought to himself.  ‘He was still young – in eternal years – so would have some fun.  There was chick – his adversary, the Rothchild’s – chick.  She looked ok.  In fact, in truth, he liked her somewhat.  He would score her.  He would steal the Messiah’s glory.  He would do the wild thing with miss up her butt on Jesus fucking Christ.  He would score his babe.

Rebecca St James – the angel Meludiel – was currently married to her first husband, Jacob Fink.  But a divorce had just about been ready for signature, when she came to her front door, found the devil standing there, smiling at her, and asking if she wanted to go out on a date.  ‘I’m married,’ she instantly replied.

‘So divorce him,’ said the Devil.

She looked at him, and nodded.  God had warned her about this.  A long time ago.  That she would marry the devil.  And even now, after an age long fight to keep faith in holiness, a battle she was losing, the devil was finally starting to look attractive.  How far she had fallen indeed.

4 months later Satan and Meludiel were dating – Ambriel didn’t mind, Daniel laughed and nobody else seemed to give the slightest.  Such was life.  They were older now, they’d seen it all, nothing surprised people much anymore.  Nothing, really.

Chapter Two

‘They are roses,’ said Satan.

‘Oh, they’re lovely,’ said Meludiel.

‘Can I come in,’ he said, very respectfully.

‘Sure,’ she said.

They sat in the living room, quiet for some time, and he was starting to look over her, aroused at her good looks.

‘You are thinking of sex, are you not?’ she queried him.

He didn’t reply.

‘Well, I must let you know that I am a good girl, Lord of the Dark.  I don’t fornicate.  Only in marriage.  Only in the wedding bed.’

‘Then marry me,’ he replied.

She didn’t say anything.

‘Go on.  Marry me.  I’m older now.  The rebellion was something of my youth.  I’m a changed guy.  I’m different.’

‘How can I trust you?’ she asked him.

‘You probably can’t.  But what is life without a risk, huh?  What is life without a risk?’

She thought on that, and replied honestly.  ‘A lot safer, a lot more stable, a lot more predictable.’

‘And a lot more fucking boring,’ he replied with the traditional brutal honesty of the Devil.

‘True,’ she said softly, not looking at him.

‘Then what do you say?’ he asked her.

‘Give me time to think about it.’

‘Ok,’ he replied.

For the next few hours they watched some gardening shows, and out the back of her current abode they did some gardening, while listening to some Salieri classical music.  Satan, surprisingly, was the perfect gentleman.  He was quite a man.

14 months later they were married.  It was a small wedding.  Michael, Elenniel, Gabriel and Aquariel were present, as well as the Saruvim.  Nobody else came.  Nobody else bothered.  Daniel, though, did show at the reception, kissed her, wished her luck, and gave them some lovely presents.  She was thankful that he showed then.  Ambriel found them both later on outside, when they were going off on their honeymoon, and he shook Satan’s hand, and wished them good luck.  Meludiel smiled at him.  ‘Here goes,’ she said to him.  He smiled back at her.

*   *   *   *   *

Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bored.  Bloody bored.

To put it mildly, Daniel was bored.

The spark had gone out of his life.  Meludiel had married the devil.  Ariel was currently engaged in theology which taught that the twin was a support, a tower a strength, a sibling as a rocky foundation in troubled times, anything at all except the most obvious – a lover and a partner.  The Torah of Israel, so she claimed, made it abundantly clear – brothers didn’t go with sisters.  ‘Then who the hell did Cain and Abel fuck?’ was his proud retort.  Ariel didn’t comment.

So off she had gone on her crusade, kicked Daniel out of his own home Danielphon, where he was apparently guaranteed a right to live in their verbal codes of honour – which then put within Daniel the notion ‘Get the bitch on legal contracts, and make sure they are fucking watertight, or you are up the duff.  And time to start considering those fucking prenuptials.’  He mentioned this, in spiteful tones, to Ariel.  She was not impressed.

But, for now, Daniel was bored shitless.  In his abode, in Zaphon tower, right up near the top, in a penthouse suite he had paid for untold aeons ago, with all his stuff shoved in the 7 large bedrooms, cramming in the riches of Danielphon – just – he was well and suitably ready for anything, because Mel was gone, life had no current direction in his mind or plans, and Ariel was snubbing him.

And then the name ‘Sharlamane’ entered his head, and he smiled, and looked for his little black book and his old, faithful, squeeze.

*   *   *   *   *

Sharlamane, engaged in belly-dancing, with her current Egyptian boyfriend watching intently (possibly with his pants down and doing the obvious things with his manhood), went to the door, screamed a scream of sheer delight, and told her new boyfriend, quite quickly, the affair had reached its climax – literally – and it was time to move on.  He noticed Daniel.  Mr Sharaf did not complain.

4 hours later, Daniel enjoying the movements of Sharlamane’s currently quite trim physique in her erotic Mizraimite movements, Daniel had urges in his nether regions.  And, for the next while, the boredom had disappeared, in the arms of a faithful cherubim, girlfriend, and the spite towards Ariel, and the jealousies of the devil were, for the moment, forgotten.  And the sex was bloody good.

*   *   *   *   *

Satan looked at his woman’s vagina.  It was looking good.  Time to dive in.  He tongued away, and soon, the moaning became very apparent, and the horn of the devil engaged in a thrusting of magnificent delight, and the ecstasy of darkness thrust away, climaxed in power, and a little seed found its way to its eternal mate, and a child began forming in the halls of Kalphon, a firstborn child, who would one day rise up, challenge the authority of Saruviel himself, and let the world know that a ‘REAL’ firstborn son of Kalphon had truly arrived.

The romance was good after that.  The old devil had finally, after aeons of aggravation, borne the seed of his works in the form of the growing lump of Mel’s belly, and he finally was tasting some of the more normal things in life which for so long he had absconded from.  And even the bible now looked interesting.

Meludiel was the first to notice the change in her man.  The old Devil – had – died.  He no longer paid her the flattering types of comments she had been used to for a while.  Not at all.  Instead he hung around her, kissed her shoulder, kissed her cheek, and brought her flowers.  And his soft, gentle words, were filled with a passion that Ambriel did not know, and that Daniel had only hinted at.

She was soon in very love, and her fathers promise was fulfilled.

And then young Saruviel Satan Semyaza Luciferious was born, and the dark one had triumphed.

*   *   *   *   *

The angel poked its head in, the tiny little faerie angel, who was wont to visit all sorts of people on God’s business, found Sharlamane breathing heavily on the table, noticed Daniel holding her hand as faithfully as possible, and wandered up to her ear.  ‘Tis a grand child in your womb, ready to be borne, dear, dear Sharlamane.  His name shall be magnificente and truly wonderful, and he shall rule faire Zaphon with wisdom and justice from now unto eternity.  But the firstborn of Kalphon shall be adversarial eternally so,’ the angel finished, the last sentence in softer, softer tones, for Sharlamane to just barely, possibly, grasp.  And then the labour pains came, and the angels words were forgotten.

*   *   *   *   *

Callodyn Gabriel Daniel Daly was born, to the Joys of Sharlamane, a proud mother, and Daniel the Seraphim, a proud father, a child of great vision, and true passion.

Yet his adversary was already 2 years old, currently arguing in true hostility with his mother Meludiel, about every fucking thing Meludiel once exasperated to her man, to which the Devil would only shrug, ask for another bloody beer, and continue watching the baseball.

Meludiel was not impressed.

As the children grew over the next 18 years, they grew in popularity, sex appeal with the ladies, and growing fame for certain particular attributes – namely sarcasm.  Extreme bloody sarcasm, as the theophany was wont to note in his conversations with Metatron on the subject.

But such was life – they were children of Destiny – and life would never be the same again – literally.

Chapter Three

The Morning Stars of Glory – Melanie and Melaniel, otherwise known as Melanie C and Mel B respectively, of Spice Girls fame – were in the studies, working on a new album, funnily enough titled ‘The Morning Stars of Glory’.  Under the band name Melanie², the two Mel’s new album was 10 tracks down, with a planned 5 more in the works.  And then at least 20 odd remixes for the CD singles and the Remix Album.

These two Spice Girls were hardworking lasses, like all Spice Girls were, and they had desired on their new album to bring a spirit of professionalism and attention to detail to their work.  A work which would, hopefully, be critically received, yet with a pop groove fascination, for which they were still quite famous, which would fill the dance floors and get people a rocking and a bopping.  They had high hopes.

Tom hung around for most of the recording.  He never left Melanie C much these days.  There several children together, and the fact they had divorced rarely, were strong indicators to each other that they were eternally destined to each others arms and company.  Laquenta, with his Spanish fascinations, was particularly drawn to Gloryel, who had a penchant for Spanish things as well, and through that he had gradually become close and intimate with all the Spice Girls and was a recognized ‘Spice Boy’ at heart.  ‘Just like David’, Victoria commented to Melanie from time to time.

Of course, the big Love guru, Yomiel, the Apostle Paul of Christian foundations, was Mel B’s twin, and he was never far from his woman.  Saul of Tarsus ministries was a growing phenomenon these days, and his wealth, through the acceptance of freewill offerings and tithes, grew in leaps and bounds every nanosecond.  He was incredibly bloody rich, and challenged the other messiahs, and even the likes of Callodyn and Daniel, whose special investment companies had a perpetual objective of purchasing as many new shares in new companies as literally possible.  Of course, people floated at exorbitant demands, way beyond rationale reason, but the big players of the world still seemed to find the finances.  Money, usually, was no object.

As the album neared completion, Yomiel had agreed that with the title, which had been reserved aeons ago by the Spice Girls, but given to Mel and Mel as a Christmas present upon the foundation of Melanie^2, being a very suitable and potentially profitable title and album, that he would pump in several Googleplexianites of realm credit into the advertising and promotion of the album and, hopefully, produce a legend for the girls.  Mel B was suitably impressed, and the lovemaking was something to write home to for a while for Yomiel.

‘The album rocks, girls,’ said Yomiel.

‘Thanks hon,’ said Mel B.

‘It will sell a literal tonne,’ commented Tom.  Melanie C kissed him.

Jesus, who was sitting in the corner, headphones on, listening to the final seconds of track 15, was smiling,  It was ultrapop – done extraordinarily well, with the aeons of experience quite noticeable.

‘You’ll sell a Googol the opening day,’ he said, putting down the earphones.

The girls smiled.  Everything was good.

No, everything was great.

*   *   *   *   *

‘Waves crashing over me.  My soul it slips down underneath.  Into the deep, deep love of God.  Into the deep, deep love of peace.  But the water swells, the typhoon blows, and suddenly I am in the storm.  In the eye of the Maelstrom I find inside – the peace eternity.’

The music swayed and swam through a river of oceanic bliss, and the audience were waving hands, like the ocean, at peace, yet full of the eternal storm of life, the eternal storm of love.

The girls were singing the 15^th track of ‘Morning Stars of Glory’ titled ‘Lost in the Sea of Love’, which Melanie C had written, based on ideas from one of her very earliest albums ‘The Sea.’

All over the showgrounds before them, people dressed in the aquamarine t-shirts which the album cover had been based on, with the glowing sun in the centre of the t-shirt.  Literally hundreds of thousands of these t-shirts were out there, in the sea of love before them, all the people grooving along to the musical workings of Melanie², in a world of their own, the sea of God’s eternal peace and love – even in the eye of the Maelstrom – all around them, reminding them of his love, yet placing them on the throne of self, if you know what I mean, in the eye of the Maelstrom, in the eye of the Maelstrom.

And then they started playing, the song list complete, ‘The Sea’ from Melanie C’s album, and the crowed roared.

*   *   *   *   *

Yomiel held Mel B’s hand.  ‘You are my sea of love,’ he said, as they walked through a field of daisies.

‘Is that what you brought me hear to say, you cheeky bugger,’ responded Mel, a spirited laugh on her lips.

Apostle Paul undid the shirt buttons of his glorious cream shirt, and his chest hair beckoned her attention.  ‘Not just to hear my words, fair maiden.’  And then he ravished her, and she complained not for a while,

*   *   *   *   *

Ambriel was sitting at his miniatures table.  17 war troops for ‘Mega Risk:  The Ambriel Campaigns’, a special risk variant designed by Daniel, the objective of which was to conquer the King Ambriel in his Citadel of Peace, were before him, and he had already painted about 500 of them that year.  But things take time, and Ambriel was in a happy little world of his own, painting his miniatures, finding the peace and joy of serving God, when Saruviel, Satan Semyaza Luciferious walked in, called him a wanker, and Ambriel knew he would have no end of trouble for the rest of the afternoon as the 18 year old poked around his flat, with Meludiel and Satan arguing most of the time on the couch, a bewildered Ambriel doing his best to ignore them, painting his miniatures, his eye on the bloody young Saruviel.

*   *   *   *   *

Melanie C smiled at the email from Ambriel.

‘It was hell, Mel.  Young Saruviel insisted on painting one of my miniatures, and did a disastrous job, typical of youth, as a result.  I know I must forgive him, but I will now have to buy another set, and there goes a years effort, as you know how I hate even minor impurities in my painting efforts, and a fly in the ointment always requires a fresh sanding at the very least.

Yet, I know I am complaining.  I know I should have grace.  I know I should show patience.

I have been listening to ‘Morning Stars of Glory’ dear angel Melanie.  It is – wonderful.  I gave a copy to Meludiel, and she wrote me expressing thanks.

It is a cut above.

Well done.

Your brother Ambriel.’

Melanie C smiled at the email from Ambriel.  It had made her day.

*   *   *   *   *

Ambriel looked at the new set.  777 risk troops – 7 sets of 111 different types.  The last set he had carefully finished off, paying close attention to the one done by young Saruviel, stripped away, repainted, and done with as much attention to love, detail and purity which Ambriel was capable of.  And then he had put it on his ebay.hev page, sold for a hefty sum, and purchased a new set.  This time he would be far more cautious and no Saruviel Satan Semyaza would get his little mitts on it, the Lord bless him.

‘Morning Stars of Glory’ track 7 was playing, ‘Love in the X-Treme’, a funky, playful and fun track, very traditionally spice girls oriented, and it was the get up and go track on the album, which always made Ambriel happy.  And when the funky sounding Mel B ‘Xs’ started bopping out of her lips, through the digital data bytes of the CD, cross the speakers, down the soundwaves, into Ambriel’s ears, mind and heart, he was on cloud 9 – literally.

‘You are soldier X’, he said to the soldier he was currently painting.  ‘And your destiny is to vanquish Daniel San the Horrible one,’ he said, and then laughed ‘Harrgh hargh hargh,’ in true Danielic fashion.

Later on that week, Daniel had come around, and had picked up ‘Daniel San the Horrible one’ from the TV, were it was sitting, Ambriel having been casting slurs and curses at it constantly in true Messianic vengeful style.

‘Hey, this figurine rocks,’ said Daniel.  ‘Can I make an offer?’ he had a grin on his face, and Ambriel suspected divine interference.

‘Half your kingdom,’ responded Ambriel, slyly, getting some cans of Coke and cold pizza from the fridge, throwing a can at Danny boy.

‘Half, hey,’ he said, looking at his younger brother.  He surveyed Daniel San the Horrible One and considered.  ‘Tis a hefty fee, for one miserly soldier.  Yet I think the glory with which I could fashion for him could truly be magnificent.  But, nay.  The price is too high.  How about, though, a copy of Action Comics 2 Googol.  I have several spare New Mint copies, and I am sure you would like one.’

Ambriel’s ears cocked up, and he smiled.  ‘Um, you sure,’ he said, suddenly very happy with his brother, Daniel, and his accumulating abilities.

‘I Love my little brother Amby Wamby, and I know your fascination with master Kal from the house of El.  Say the word and the swap is a done deal.’

Ambriel handed him the pizza, hugged him, and said ‘Thanks bro.’

And three weeks later, finally getting an original copy of Action Comics 2 Googol, one of Superman’s finest adventures, Ambriel was no longer so cross with Daniel San the Horrible one.  Not for the moment, anyway.

Chapter Four

‘Holiday’ by Greg and Christie came on the radio, the original version, and Daniel almost swore.  ‘You are kidding me,’ he said out loud.  ‘The rarest track from Greg and Christie, the original recording, never released, and here it was on ‘Realm One Radio’.  When the track was finished ‘El Hombre’ the radio host commented, ‘Greg and Christie.  Their very first recording.  We have played it before, a few times, over the aeons, and there it was people.  Greg, by the way, is Seraphim Daniel’s brother, and Christie is Greg’s wife.   A rarity from time immemorial, and if we have any requests for a replay, we’ll play it through the week.’

Daniel smiled to himself.  Well done, Greggo.  A hit.

*   *   *   *   *

Father and Son.  Satan and young Saruviel, sitting on the court seats of a Kalphon Tennis court, watching Saruviel and Krystabel play a friendly match, Daraqel and Kantriel not far away from the two of them, drinking Pineapple juice of all things, with cold ice.

‘Conquer the world, dad?  Conquer the world?’  queried young Saruviel to his father.

‘It is your destiny Luke,’ responded Satan.

‘Huh?’ queried young Skywalker.

‘Nothing,’ said Satan.  ‘The plans of the ages take much time to come to fruition, and our adversaries have gone soft – taken the bait – they are fools, I tell you.  But the Lord of the Dark shall triumph.’

‘Whatever you say dad,’ said young Saruviel, picking up his Nintendo and starting ‘Crazy Rage 489’ for the 17^th time that morning.

As his daredevil character bopped along, screen after screen, young Saruviel was oblivious to his dark father staring at the screen, trying to figure out what the fuck was the fascination to these little idiot boxes anyway.  And then young Saruviel lost a live, Satan laughed, and said ‘I saw that coming.’  Young Saruviel handed the console to his father, said ‘You figure out the end of level challenge, then.  It’s too hard for me.’

And thus an addiction to video games, which had been a heck of a long time coming, began, and Satan temporarily forgot his dreams of conquest and dark glory, as Krystabel served for the set.

*   *   *   *   *

Satan had finished Crazy Rage 489, looked up the game online, found there were 12,456 games in Crazy Rage series, said ‘May as well,’ to himself, and forked over the cash to order the lot, plus a few dozen additional of the Nintendo play cubes which they were played on, and had, for the last year, been addicted to games.

Meludiel, whose life these days consisted of washing dishes, ironing shirts, concentrating on young Saruviel’s education, as his father had no concern for such things apart from his own pearls of wisdom, was content enough with her matriarchal duties.

Satan still loved her – so he claimed from time to time – but, perhaps the most extraordinary thing of all about the Lord of Evil, in the end, was that he was just like the rest of the male population, an ordinary bloke – just one of the boys.

And then, gradually, she noted that the fascination from him of bedding the twin of the Messiah had just about been complete, that he had settled back into a life of mundanity for the time being, and that she was simply expected to do as she was told and keep the beers coming, leading her to a regular Meludielesque decision – divorce the bastard and look up Daniel or David.

Satan said ‘Sure, sweetcheeks,’ signed the papers, and young Saruviel bid his mommy farewell, as she took her suitcase, arrived at Danielphon and unpacked, with Ariel sighing and saying ‘Nothing lasts forever, sweetie.  You know.’  And Meludiel nodded.

*   *   *   *   *

It was Ambriel who showed up first, kissed her on the cheek, and offered her a place at his current abode.  She thought it over, was going to agree, when Daniel showed up, dressed in a cowboy suit, and said ‘Come with me to Free America, and we will ride the wild horses for a while.’  She had been a few times, Melanie had raved about the place, and so she consented, and they were off, to one of the upper heavens, away from it all, a new beginning for a time, and a spirit on Daniel which changed and adapted to his new surroundings, adopting his ‘Free America’ style of doing things as he put it.

Life was good – again – and she found, then, in the eternal aeons she had been alive, and in the joy she found in her heart at this time with this particular angel Daniel – the one who had developed a crush from the earliest of moments in the life of the Realm of Eternity – that after many, many, marriages, it was Daniel usually, and sometimes Ambriel, who lit her fire, loved her the most and the deepest, and gave her joy at his stupidities for which he was well and truly famous.

And of course – as always – the sex was quite, quite good.

*   *   *   *   *

Noah had an ego.  A very, very, big ego.  But the father of Haven Noahide Fellowship, a spiritual assembly which was, these days, starting to gain quite fugging large numbers, had every reason to be a little bit proud.  He was Noah – and the continuous tithe from the head fellowship to Noah himself was making him mind bogglingly wealthy.  He could build cities, nations, empires – with his cash – and had been thinking about such things recently.

Noah lived in the valley of ‘Titea’s Dream’, on the planet ‘Zanadra’, an Andorran planet.  He had lived, and died, many times, going off to rests, each time going through his destiny once more, playing his role time and time again.  But that was over with now – no more new lives, he was fit for the eternal.  The 8^th generation was the final generation, and Noah was alive, now, forever – his memories restored – living with Titea his wife in the valley named after her, living forever.

Of course, though, Zanadra had a number of Haven Noahide Fellowships, and others of the 7 Divine Fellowships which Callodyn and Daniel had formed.  And, slowly, throughout the universe, the numbers had grown, and continued to grow, apparently, endlessly so.  Apparently.

His wealth, universally, was extreme – so much so, that over 130,00 planets, now, had been purchased by himself with his funds, and he had seed beyond counting, usually those of a Noahide fellowship, on planets out in the heavenlies, names only vaguely known to himself, each of them pursuing their life, each of them pursuing their destiny.

The Children of Noah – the children of the Rainbow.

And, while he did indeed have a big ego, he was reminded time and time again to stay humble about his glory, as it had been God who had given him life, it had been God who had given him his blessing, and his own efforts?  Well the Torah talked much of the vanity of man’s imaginations when based on pride.

Noah was – really – happy.  And he had developed routines in his circle of life – favourite things which he did, favourite words and sayings which he said.  Like a glorified goldfish which swam around the fishbowl, apparently forgetting everything every few seconds, life was, for Noah, always new.  He assumed, probably, that he had said the same old words to Titea time and time again, and done the same old things time and time again – the same routines, the same ways of life, the same old circle of life, walking with God through the eternal endlessly so.  And he had, fortunately, mastered the worry of repetition through finding the peace of heart and mind in the best of things, his favourite things, and the circle remained pure and true, peaceful and good, and he never worried much anymore about lack of originality.  A good night with Titea on the town, and a bed of pleasure for a while afterwards usually allayed even the darkest of depressing thoughts about the simplicity of it all.

Yet, still, there were new things.  Still.  In fact, video games from Ambriel, continuing various number sequences in some of his titles, some up to millions in their numbering, kept him going, and there always seemed to be a new twist here, or a new twist there, no matter how familiar he became with Ambriel’s style.

Yes, life still kept new and original, and then there arrived a CD in the mail from the Realm, from his daughters Melanie and Melanie, and the Morning Stars of Glory CD became his favourite album for quite some time.

Chapter Five

Noah put on the CD ‘Morning Stars of Glory’, and turned it to track 3 ‘Firey Lover’.  It was his favourite track on the album, and sexy number, and he and Titea had sweated on the bed, the track playing, grinding away at each other, the atmosphere electric.

Titea, as a lady, with her blonde hair, and good looks, was mainly known for one outstanding feature – her rather firm and large tits – her breasts.  She was the kind of woman every man fantasized about, with her wonderful bust, her moist vagina, and with the ecstasy of oral fascination matched by no other of Noah’s lovers.  And that was saying something over his many long years.

Noah was heterosexual in orientation, but in former years there had been – encounters – for want of a better word, which had resulted in some unkind, yet true, chuckles over the Rainbow flag in honour of Noah’s covenant.  He was not quite as innocent as many had been led to believe in this respect.

But these days his calling and orientation in life was most definitely one of heterosexuality, and firm commitment to the marriage covenant, and that is the way God liked it, and Noah was happy enough to comply.

Noah and Titea enjoyed country music, especially the Australian brand, and his favourite album was ‘Driver’s Seat’ by Aussie female artist Tracy Killeen.  He had met Tracy a number of times, and she had even visited ‘Titea’s Dream’ a number of times, performing some acoustic numbers for them on some memorable late summer rainy nights, the thunder and lightning crashing, and the world alive with passion in Noah’s heart.  Noah was a sensitive man in many ways, like many of his children, and ‘Driver’s Seat’ had a song called ‘Brave’ which was his favourite song of all time.  It motivated him, encouraged him, and spoke to his heart.  And when Tracy was around, and pulled out her guitar and sang it for him, he was happier in life at that moment than any other thing, even sex, that he could think of.  It made it all – complete.  He sang country music, himself, as well, and had a number of albums on the Noahide Music label which Callodyn and Daniel ran, which he had gotten to at the resurrection, and worked hard on his dreams.  They sold well, these days, especially in Noahide communities, and every now and then he would pull out the acoustic, only with plastic strings, as he hated toughening his fingers for the steel stringed ones, and strummed away, sang his songs for Titea and occasionally Naamah, and crooned his country heart away, as the coyotes they’d had imported howled in the distance, and the night crickets hummed their business.  He would tour, eventually, again, one day – eventually.  But mostly his music was for his own world, the world of Noah, the world of ‘Titea’s Dream’, and in that dream it was one of the virtues his life was graced with which gave it a sense of completion.  He did play piano as well, and composed basic pieces, yet never wrote them down, for he was sure, after all this time, they’d been written to death by countless composers before him.  Thus, in this musical life he was also happy to celebrate in his endless days, he found the fascination and love of heart and soul which countless others also did, all the more inspired by the new album of Melanie² which, after a few weeks, had led him out to the porch with his guitar, strumming away, thinking thoughts, thinking on the level of complexities in their album, and thinking he may as well have another go at it.  There was nothing to lose, after all, and only a world to gain.  Only a world to gain.

*   *   *   *   *

Saruviel Satan Semyaza Luciferious picked up the guitar his father had bought him, put on the CD ‘Morning Stars of Glory’ which he had purchased that morning, which was still currently number one on the charts after 7 years in the slot, and smiled as the now familiar single of the opening track played from the speakers, and he strummed along, thinking over the glory which awaited him.

‘The Devil’s Angels’ he thought to himself – a restricted band name his father owned, which ole Nick had said he could use if he wanted to.  And young Saruviel had not refused him, purchased a guitar, and was starting to learn it.  He would be ready to rock, as they put it, one day – ready to roll – and when the Devil’s Angels had conquered all, life would never be the same again – literally.

*   *   *   *   *

Callodyn Gabriel Daniel Daly looked at the keyboard his father, Daniel, had purchased for him a week ago.  ‘Music,’ he thought to himself.  ‘Should he really pursue it?’  He had been listening to ‘Morning Stars of Glory’ for the last 2 years constantly, as it had gradually risen to the top of his playlist, and its absolute excellence had become very noticeable on the music critic charts.  He loved the album, now, and was ready to pursue a new dream in life, or rather, any dream, as nothing had inspired him very much anyway.  So music – a band – perhaps the most normal of careers in many ways, but an exciting one none the less.  He sat down at the keyboard, turned it on, put it on electric organ, and started hitting the keys, and dabbling away.  He couldn’t play yet, and it was vain sounds emanating, but little steps led to great glories, so his father Daniel had taught him a number of times, and you had to start somewhere.

He listened to the CD playing in the background, tinkered away, and did not notice Daniel standing at the doorway of the apartment in Zaphon tower, watching his son, quite proud of an ambition finally being pursued.

*   *   *   *   *

Alf Lambert, for the most part, was over it.  Over, finally, being a perverted, poofy, bumfucker.  His wife, Haylie, or Haylee, or Hayley, or one of the endless variants she used, as she couldn’t quite remember the original spelling, was a faithful wife, good for him, pleasant in the bedroom, and blonde and delicious – the way he liked them.  As a symbologist, Alf Lambert had cracked many mysteries over his long life, even had a go at Death’s ultimate challenge which Daniel had solved, and felt he had started to work it out somewhat before eventually losing interest.  And then, like the others, he had died, and lived again, time and time again.  And then it had been the 7^th life which had seemed the most real, the most passionate, the most which spoke to the heart of Alf Lambert, and that too had ended.  And now, living in Zaphora, a most expensive place, afforded a long time ago through diligent savings, wise investments, and hard bloody work, Alf was a happy symbologist, getting good royalties for his non-fiction works on the subject, occasionally hired in Zaphora for this and that responsibility, but for the most part going through his regular routine with Hales and living the life.

He was still a member of the Church of Catholic Glory, the Lord Fletcher’s church, yet the doctrine of Quaternity had long since disappeared, and Pete mainly kept it somewhat low key, encouraged the flock to specialise in basketball in its contribution to universal society and culture, and keep on keeping on in true Fletch style.  And life was good enough at that, Alf Lambert had generally concluded.

An album, though, had been on Hales playlist for ages now and while Alf, not usually much of a musical man, had not taken any real interest in it to start with, its quality was starting to become known to it through Haylies constant playing of the CD.

And then, in the newspaper, tickets to Melanie2 at the Zaphoran ‘Ultra Dome’ and, inspired, a quick purchase of the incredibly expensive items, and he knew Hales would give him good head for ages.  At least he hoped so.

*   *   *   *   *

Haylie Lambert smiled at Callodyn.  And then she smiled at young Saruviel.  And then, saying ‘Dream on dudes.  I’m married,’ she didn’t give either of them what they were after, but picked up the bass guitar, started riffing for 15 minutes, as ‘The Devil’s Angels’ did their second official Jam, hoping against hope that their famous connections would get them the slot at the ‘Ultra Dome’ opening for Melanie², despite their obvious lack of experience.  But Haylie kicked ass at the bass, and they were hoping – truly – against hope for that lucky break.

‘Your dad.  The Rapper.  Eminem.  He’s fucking huge,’ said young Saruviel.

‘Yeh,’ said Haylie, doing her best to get along with her new band and acting cool.  ‘He’s a bastard, you know, deep, deep down.  But even deeper than that, there is this guy who does act responsibly when he has to.  I couldn’t choose another.’

‘Cool,’ said Callodyn.

They jammed for a while, Haylie noticing that the two of them were somewhat competent at their instruments despite their inexperience, and she thought long and hard about using her influence with her dad to try and secure a slot with Melanie², hopefully opening for them.  They had about 3 months before the main show, just enough time to go from fucking raw to fucking ‘Maybe’, and that was the clincher in her heart in the end.  ‘Maybe’.  She called her dad on the mobile later that afternoon, sweet talked him as much as possible, and a week later, Melanie and Melanie saying what the hell, the good news came through, and one bass player, one keyboard player and one guitarist who doubled as the vocalist for the most part, were looking for a ‘Bloody good drummer’ in Hales own words.  And then ‘Joy Gaskill’, the son of a famed Kings X drummer, a drummer himself, showed up, and the ‘Devil’s Angels’ were formed, one of the more legendary Rock and Fucking Roll outfits that ever graced the Realm of Eternity.

*   *   *   *   *

‘Dark soldiers, dressed in black.  Dark soldiers, ready for the attack.  Dark soldiers, ready for the kill.  Dark soldiers, just for the thrill.’

The ‘Devil’s Angels’ lead singer, Saruviel Satan Semyaza Luciferious belted out the song in their live performance in front of a handful of people who had shown up to the early preview ahead of next months Melanie² live show at the Ultra Dome.  They rocked, they fucking rolled, they were better than crap, but not quite cool.  They were raw hard rock, and the crowd in the small park of a dozen or so people clapped along a bit, and the band felt they were hot shit by the end of their set.

‘We kick ass,’ said Callodyn.

‘Me and Joy kick ass,’ responded Haylie.  ‘You guys were crap.’

‘We kicked ass,’ said young Saruviel, making the Dio devil’s symbol with his hand.  ‘And you guys fucking know it.’

‘Maybe,’ said Joy.  ‘But we aren’t ready yet.  More fine tuning, and we’ll be ready for our first major show.’

‘And then we kick ass,’ said Callodyn, with unbridled passion, and Joy and Haylie almost smiled.

*   *   *   *   *

The crowds had gathered, and a whole host of God’s little children were at the Ultra-Dome, on the central disc of the Realm of Eternity, known as Zaphora, in the city of Zaphona which filled most of the disc, not far from Zaphon tower which occupied a central position in the Realm of Eternity, the highest monolith, now, in the universe.

Noah and Titea were there, with their Melanie² T-shirts proudly worn, ready to rock.

Daniel and Ariel were in the front row, were the noise was deafening.

Meludiel and Ambriel were back further a little, in a less noisy section, and anticipating the time of their lives.

And then the other spice girls and their partners, with Yomiel and Laquenta, were over by the side in a reserved area, chatting about this and that, waiting for the show to begin.

Backstage.

‘Fuck.  Has anyone seen my sticks?’ yelled Joy.

Haylie plucked away wildly at her bass strings, keeping her eye on young Saruviel, who was drinking water, playing around with his throat, and looking fucking nervous.

Callodyn was cracking his knuckles constantly, and while she didn’t mind him warming up, she didn’t want them going to shit on her.

They looked nervous.

They’d been up all night partying.

They were partially wasted.

Young Saruviel still had a hangover.

Callodyn had not washed himself, and smelt fucking awful.

Even Joy looked fucked.

They had still only managed a half-arsed stage rehearsal.

They were ready.

‘Ladies and Gentleman.  The Legend is born – the ‘Devil’s Angels.’  Are you ready to fucking Rock?’ yelled the presenter.  The crowd went wild.

And the music began.

And the kids kicked ass.

*   *   *   *   *

Of course, Melanie² were the anticipated highlight of the night, but it was, in the press, the Devil’s Angels and their raw energy which got all the attention.  A legend, indeed, had apparently been born.  ‘A new band of monumental potential proportions’, said a Rolling Stone Review, ‘finally graced us with their presence last night.  And they kicked ass.’

*   *   *   *   *

‘Upstaged by the kids,’ said Melanie C.

‘Yep,’ responded Mel B.

‘Kind of puts you off, don’t it,’ said Melanie C.

‘Yep,’ responded Mel B.

‘We wouldn’t want that to become a habit, would we,’ said Melanie C.

‘Yep,’ responded Mel B.

‘So we better start kicking ass again,’ said Melanie C.

And Melanie Brown stood up, came over to her bandsister, looked into her eyes dramatically, and said ‘Yep.’

And that was that.

*   *   *   *   *

Morning Stars of Glory had been number one for a fair long hike.  But the self-titled debut live ep from the Devil’s Angels live performance at the Ultra-Dome, miraculously, broke through, and hit the top slot realm wide.  The baddest ass band of the lot had arrived.

Melanie and Melanie eventually got over the embarrassment, and continued on with their tour around the major central hotspots of the Realm, becoming increasingly popular, with ‘Morning Stars of Glory’ continuing to sell like blazers.  But they were no longer number one, and while the ‘Devil’s Angel’s’ miraculous breakthrough only claimed the top slot for 7 weeks, when a new entry crashed in, the legend had indeed been born.

And life – perhaps – would never be the same again.

Perhaps.

The End

Melanie and Daniel 4

By

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

Chapter One

‘Bwah ha ha harrggh.  Bwah ha ha harrggh.  Bwah ha ha harrggh.’

Melanie looked at Daniel with a confused look on her face.  ‘What is your problem, Daniel?’

‘Bugger,’ he responded.  ‘They have found my secret stash of hidden angel stories.  They have searched, and now they have found them on my hidden online places.’

‘Oh,’ said Melanie, and returned to her issue of Vogue.  But, after a while, curiousity got the better of her, and she walked into the den, finding Daniel playing ‘Trip over Traps’ and stared at him.  ‘You are my sweetheart, you know,’ she said, with genuine love in her voice.

He said nothing, but looked at her.  ‘Oh, really,’ he responded.

‘Yes,’ she said, with complete honesty.  And then the little minx began her work.

‘Daniel,’ she moaned, coming over to him, kneeling at his feet, caressing his knees.  ‘You know I like fucking you.  Well, I might even give you head tonight.  How would you like that?’

‘You don’t give me that, that much anymore.’

‘Oh.  Only on special occasions,’ she responded, looking up into the eyes of her man.

‘Right,’ he nodded.  ‘Figures.  What is the special occasion?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ she responded, feigning perfect innocence.   Nothing at all, really.  Nothing major, anyway.’

‘Out with it,’ he said.

‘Look, the truth is,’ she began,’ and then looked right into his eyes.  ‘The truth is, I love your stories.’  There – she had said it.  She had finally confessed she liked his stuff.

‘Oh,’ he said, a little shocked.

‘I’m not going to fall apart in my life just to get your stories, Danny.  I love you, but I am a woman.  I have my pride.’

‘You want my stash?’ he said, bluntly.

She stood, undressed, and opened his trousers.  For 5 minutes she sucked wildly and he blew heavily into her mouth.  She swallowed, and said ‘I’ll fuck your brains out every night, if you tell me what you’ve got?’

Daniel gulped, turned to his PC, and brought up a page.  ‘This has links to some stories.  Not everything.  But stuff I will show you.’

She smiled, sat down at the PC, and looked at the Story Titles and Links.

They were

Chronicles of the Eternal Realm of Glory

Melanie and Daniel 5

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan5.html

Melanie and Daniel 6

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan6.html

Melanie and Daniel 7

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan7.html

Melanie and Daniel 8

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan8.html

Melanie and Daniel 9

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan9.html

Melanie and Daniel 10

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan10.html

Melanie and Daniel 11

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan11.html

Melanie and Daniel 12

https://www.angelfire.com/universalfaithassembly/melforeverwithdan12.html

Angels of Hope

Gloryel and Daniel 2

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan2.html

Gloryel and Daniel 3

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan3.html

Gloryel and Daniel 4

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan4.html

Gloryel and Daniel 5

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan5.html

Gloryel and Daniel 6

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan6.html

Gloryel and Daniel 7

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan7.html

Gloryel and Daniel 8

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan8.html

Gloryel and Daniel 9

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan9.html

Gloryel and Daniel 10

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan10.html

Gloryel and Daniel 11

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan11.html

Gloryel and Daniel 12

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthedivinecreator/gerianddan12.html

Angels of Faith

Victoria and Daniel

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny.html

Victoria and Daniel 2

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny2.html

Victoria and Daniel 3

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny3.html

Victoria and Daniel 4

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny4.html

Victoria and Daniel 5

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny5.html

Victoria and Daniel 6

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny6.html

Victoria and Daniel 7

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny7.html

Victoria and Daniel 8

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny8.html

Victoria and Daniel 9

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny9.html

Victoria and Daniel 10

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny10.html

Victoria and Daniel 11

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny11.html

Victoria and Daniel 12

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthelivinggod/vickyanddanny12.html

Angels of Love

Emma and Daniel

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan.html

Emma and Daniel 2

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan2.html

Emma and Daniel 3

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan3.html

Emma and Daniel 4

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan4.html

Emma and Daniel 5

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan5.html

Emma and Daniel 6

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan6.html

Emma and Daniel 7

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan7.html

Emma and Daniel 8

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan8.html

Emma and Daniel 9

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan9.html

Emma and Daniel 10

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan10.html

Emma and Daniel 11

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan11.html

Emma and Daniel 12

https://www.angelfire.com/assemblyofthemosthigh/emanddan12.html

Chronicles of the Infinite Realm of Majesty

Mel and Dan

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan.html

Mel and Dan 2

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan2.html

Mel and Dan 3

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan3.html

Mel and Dan 4

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan4.html

Mel and Dan 5

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan5.html

Mel and Dan 6

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan6.html

Mel and Dan 7

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan7.html

Mel and Dan 8

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan8.html

Mel and Dan 9

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan9.html

Mel and Dan 10

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan10.html

Mel and Dan 11

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan11.html

Mel and Dan 12

https://www.angelfire.com/theequinoxparadigm/melanddan12.html

‘Is that all?’ she asked him.

‘Like I said,’ there is more.

‘And were do I find THOSE ones?’

‘Well, I guess,’ he said, then went silent.

‘Out with it,’ she demanded it.

‘I guess the sex will have to be pretty good,’ he said quietly, not looking at her.  She took the hint, got down on her knees, revived his member, and for the second time in a few minutes, sucked wildly, running her hands up and down his phallus, stroking it, stroking his legs, and then she looked up at him and said ‘Fuck my mouth you hot bastard,’ and he erupted creamy cum at a furious rate down her throat.

‘Fuck,’ he said.

‘Tonight,’ she responded.

And they did.

Chapter Two

Melanie was tinkering around their home in Joniquay.  Here they were, together again, back in the Eternal Realm of Glory, the third heaven, were Raphael’s authority was eternally in place.  Like it was also called in Heaven below, the second heaven, were Gabriel was firstborn and his authority absolute, they lived in the major capital of the Eternal Realm of Glory, known as Joniquay, were they had always been for the most part.  They visited a nearby city, named Citydale, quite often, were Melanie had a ministry job taking care of people in the ‘House of Broken Hearts.’  Melanie had an annual income of quite a large sum, mainly because her fame, now, was very great, and she could afford huge sums from people for her personal ministerings.  Daniel didn’t object – extra cash was never objected to.

For the most part, now, in the United Universes as they were called, both Daniel and Melanie usually resided in the Realm of Eternity, which was part of the Universal structure of the 7 Heavens.  The Realm of Eternity was part of the first heaven, the foundational one down below.  In the first heaven, funnily enough, were the structures of Home, were the theophany of God resided, below that the traditional and original 7 heavens, were the children of Heaven resided, then the Realm of Infinity further down, then the Realm of Eternity, and then the Realm of Paradise and the original Realm of Splendour, known as ‘Majestika’.  Above the first heaven was the second heaven, were Gabriel was firstborn, and it had simply been known as ‘Heaven’.  Then the third heaven, which was ‘The Eternal Realm of Glory’ were they currently resided, in which Raphael was firstborn.  Above them in the third heaven was the fourth heaven, which was the official Realm of Splendour for discussion purposes.  In that fourth heaven, the Realm of Splendour, Uriel was firstborn.  And then the fifth heaven, the Infinite Realm of Majesty, were Raguel was firstborn.  And then the 6^th Heaven, simply called ‘Heaven’, were Phanuel was firstborn, and then the 7^th heaven above that, the ‘Megaverse’ of spiritual realms, where Saruviel was firstborn.

And then, the eighth heaven?  Were Sariel was firstborn?  And, apparently, so far anyway, that was the eternal domain, but it was simply all 7 heavens united, they had found so far – Apparently the end of God’s creative spiritual designs.  From Michael to Saruviel.  Apparently.  But Melanie, chatting with Daniel from time to time, had occasionally heard him remark on ideas about the supposed 45^th Heaven, the ‘Realm of Understanding’ as he called it.  Were ‘The Earthmother’ challenged all, and the Seraphim of God were held in hostility.  It was the triumph of the ‘Pagan’ world, so Daniel called it.  Melanie found all such talk, to put it bluntly, amusing.  Was he making this all up?  Was it fancies from the mind of Daniel?  Who knew for sure.  Who really knew.

And then he had shown her this link:

https://www.angelfire.com/cotcodpaganversion/index.html

And said that should explain things he had dreamed on and had visions on and had understandings on.  And she had read the stories, and contemplated such things more seriously after that.

But, for most intents and purposes, and when dealing with reality, there were but 7 heavens, and that was reality, wasn’t it?  That was reality.

So, for now, having resided in the Realm of Eternity for quite some time since the rebirth of themselves after the end of the 7^th great rest, Melanie had found Daniel, had whispered in his ear that she loved him, for he was currently single, and she was likewise, and he had proposed, she had accepted, and they had drifted up to their natural dominion together, claimed their old abode which was still quite legally theirs, moved in together, and resumed the life of the Eternal Realm of Glory, happy together again, all things now understood in life, all mysteries solved, ready for living the eternal dream.  Ready for anything.  Apparently.

*   *   *   *   *

Gloryel looked at Jovius.  ‘You sure about this?’ she asked him.

‘Don’t you wanna live, baby?’ Jovius said, ready to slam down the accelerator on the Lightmobile.

‘Probably just that.  I want to LIVE,’ she responded sarcastically.

‘Then hold on, babe,’ and he slammed down the pedal, and the vehicle burst through heaven, upwards, throttling along at an incredible rate, found the jump gate, burst through far to quickly, and suddenly they were sailing through the Eternal Realm of Glory, far above the cityscape far down below, on cloud 9 – literally.

‘Well, here we are babe,’ said Jovius, taking out a cigarette, lighting it, and doing his best to look cool behind the wheel of the car.

Geri turned her head, looked down at the city, and turned to him.  ‘Freak.  We are up high a bit much, don’t you think.’

‘What, you scared?’ he asked her.

‘Not on your life,’ responded Ginger.

‘Good.  Then you won’t mind this,’ he said, and the car suddenly lunged straight up, before  turning downwards at a fucking huge velocity.

Geri’s face was in torment, and she turned it to look at Jovius, who had a mad look of glee on his face, but she wouldn’t say anything.  She wouldn’t show herself afraid.

And then the city got closer and closer and closer, and she finally, scared shitless, said ‘I’m not quite ready for death, Jovius,’ to which he glanced at her, nodded, and pulled up, just a few hundred metres before their death.

‘What a rush, babe,’ he said, the cigarette still, amazingly, burning from his mouth.

Geri shook her head and said, silently, ‘never again.’

They flew along for a few minutes, over the city of Joniquay, and Jovius finally turned to her.  ‘Right.  Were do the shmucks live?’

Geri looked down, and then looked ahead at the air crossroads they were suddenly approaching.  She looked at the sign, remembered were she was, and then giving instructions they flew along for the next half an hour before, finding their suburb, disappearing down through the air alleyway, onto the main road, and hovering along they drove, found the place, and Jovius parked the Lightmobile out the front.

‘We’re here,’ she said.

‘Ready for anything?’ asked Jovius.

‘Ready for anything,’ responded Gloryel.

Chapter Three

Jovius held his cue stick, observed Daniel’s shot, and turned to Glory.  ‘Your shot.’

She took her aim, plunged her stick, and sank the shot.  The final black fell.  Daniel looked at the final score.  ‘We won.  By 1 point.  Good game, kids.’

‘Lucky,’ said Jovius.

‘Perhaps,’ said Melanie.  ‘But we have been practicing for a while.’

The four of them were in the back room of Daniel and Melanie’s place, playing snooker, relaxing after having been out for lunch for most of the afternoon.  Jovius and Gloryel had been with them a few days, and the atmosphere was good.  Happy.

Daniel picked up his beer, motioned for Jovius to come over and chat at the Gauntlet II machine, while Melanie sat down next to Geri.

‘So, you want to work,’ said Melanie.

‘Mmm.  Yes,’ responded Geri, sipping on her gin and cola.

‘Why?  You have plenty of cash.’

Geri Halliwell looked at her bandmate seriously.  ‘I’m not as young as I used to be, Melanie C.  Perhaps, after all these millions of years, it’s about time I took dad’s advice.’

‘Which is?’ asked Melanie C.

‘Get a real job.’

Mel nodded.  Geri had grown up.

Jovius was manoeuvring his blue wizard around the screen, about to capture some food, when Daniel shot the food.

‘Green Valkyrie shot the food,’ said the game.

‘Bastard,’ said Jovius.  Daniel laughed.

‘What type of Job?’ asked Melanie C.

‘I don’t know.  A real one, I guess,’ responded Geri.  ‘I’ve done real work before.  Ages ago.  I’m not totally useless, you know.  There is more to Geraldine Esthelle Halliwell than being a Spice Girl.’

‘I believe you,’ responded Melanie C.

‘You’re nearly out of food,’ said Daniel.

‘You steal it all,’ said Jovius.

‘Hey.  I’ve practiced.  But, I’ll give you a break,’ and Daniel pumped in about twenty 20 cent coins into the machine for Blue Wizard, whose health went up extraordinarily.

‘Thanks,’ said Jovius.

‘Think nothing of it,’ responded Daniel.

‘So you are saying a Spice Girl isn’t real work?  We worked bloody hard.’

‘Spice is fantasy,’ said Geri.  ‘Not reality.  Real people work a regular job, get regular money, and do regular things.  There is more to say for that lifestyle than perhaps girls like us ever really learnt to appreciate.’

‘Vicky runs lots of businesses,’ responded Melanie.

‘Which is my point,’ said Geri.  ‘She runs them.  We girls don’t do the grind for the universe.  Others do that for us.  It’s our luxuries.  It comes down to something simple, in the end.  Something very simple.’

‘Which is?’ asked Melanie C honestly.

Geri stood, looked at the boys, started walking to them, and turned back to Mel.  ‘Paying dues, sporty.  Paying dues.’

Melanie Chisholm understood her point.  Something to now consider.

*   *   *   *   *

‘OK!  I fucking admit it.  I fucking, bloody, admit it, bitch.  I wasn’t the fucking messiah.’  The hostility in that statement was as big as a galaxy.

7 days later, when the agony of aeons of boasting had dissipated somewhat, Jesus of Nazareth walked into the main living room, having been boiling in fury in his bedroom, only drinking water, saying Jenna, his twin, could go to hell, and looked at his wife, sat down next to her, and said bluntly.  ‘But Orthodox Judaism just fucking sucks.’

‘You’ll come round,’ she responded confidently.

‘I’ll probably join Daniel and Callodyn.  They have brains.  Karaism is for me.’

She turned to him, nervously.  ‘Uhh, you don’t want to do that,’ she said, suddenly in a very cute voice – a very cute, but distressingly worried voice.

‘Oh.  1 Samuel 8, right?  And Amby fucking Wambies and King David’s extreme concerns over such theologies.’

‘Shut up.  Bastard!’ she said, turning to magma.  ‘Pot calling the fucking kettle black.  Hypocrite.’

Jesus smiled.  He had her.

‘Oh.  Really Jen?  Mmm.  Mmm.  Mmmm.  Mmm.  Yeh.  Yeh, fuckit.  Karaite will do.  And I think I will form that spiritual ministry Daniel has constantly suggested.  The Gospel Messages of the beautiful Jesus of Nazareth – Son of Judaism.  All the kosher bits of the gospel, Daniel’s variants.’

‘You suck,’ she said.

‘Why is that?  Oh, let me guess, 14 trillion years of soul-winning down the drain.’

‘Oh, come on Yesh.  Everyone knows orthodoxy is the way to go.’

‘Yep.  Yep.  Yep.’ He responded nodding.  ‘Right.  Where’s my phone book.  I’ll have to ring Danny boy.  Form an alliance.’

‘You suck,’ she said.

He almost laughed.

In the heavenlies the Almighty sighed.  ‘Oh well, I guess he always was a Karaite in the end, anyway.’

Chapter Four

‘There could be some INTERESTING ideas.  For starters, trying to convert them to Judaism through circumcision.  Well.  Well it is not going to work for a lot of them, Yesh.  Trying to make your new Gospel followers Jews.  Yeh, it will work for some of them.  For some of the more devoted ones.  But men like there penis left intact, for the most part.  Just the way we are as humans.’

Jesus nodded, and looked at the snooker table.  It was his shot.  He sunk a red, and missed the colour.  1 more point.

‘So you allow the Noahide faith to prosper in ‘The Church of Jesus of Nazareth of the Kosher Karaite Gospel of God’, and you categorize people to the official covenants of the Tanakh.  You know, Adamide faith for your Adamides, Noahide faith for your Noahides, Abrahamide faith for your Abrahamides and Israelide faith for your Israelides, plus all the other significant family traditions and tribal faiths which have developed out there.  If you want your own church keep them within their OWN traditional group within their faith covenant.  It will work then.’

Jesus agreed.  That sounded wise.

‘People don’t really care if you are Jew or Gentile in the end.  If they have a decent attitude towards mankind and speak well enough, they will give you a break in the end.  Even the harder ones.  But be careful.  Trying to convert all mankind will only bite you in the bum in the end.  There are – humans – who have their own new agendas.  New agendas which they intend to NEVER let go of.’

‘Kapiche Kemosabe,’ responded the former Christ Child.’

And Daniel smiled.

*   *   *   *   *

Jesus handed Daniel the document.  ‘The concise version, Dan.  It will take me a few years, but there will be an expanded version – carefully going through your objections that you pointed out.’

‘All Christ claims removed?’ asked Daniel the Seraphim.

‘Jesus nodded.’

‘Then you will get God’s approval.  Cease the lies and he will bless you.  He doesn’t mind people having their own spiritual thoughts.  Just promote them within HIS kingdom, and it will work.’

Daniel looked at the document:

THE CONCISE GOSPEL OF JESUS OF NAZARETH

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down.  His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

‘God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted the same way.

And you must pray like this:  Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.  May your Kingdom come soon.  May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.  And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from all evil.  For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, world without end, Amen.’

Jesus continued his teaching.  ‘Judge not, less you are likewise judged.  For the standard you use in your judgement may very well be applied to yourself in the way God decides to judge you.  So what if there is a problem with your brother, like a little speck in his eye.  You probably have a log in your own eye, so at least remove the log before you try getting the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.’

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate.  He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’

Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Shema Israel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Achud.’  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  Secondly, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.  These are the prime commandments.’

The teacher replied ‘Well said Jesus of Nazareth.  To love God with all of your being is the summation of our faith, so much more than just the sacrificial aspects.’

‘You are not far from heaven,’ Jesus responded to the teacher.

Jesus spoke to his disciples.  ‘There was a man, walking along a road, and he saw a man who had apparently been robbed, lying on the road, bleeding.  He was a Pharisee this man, and looked at the bleeding man, but was too busy to help him so walked on.  Later on a scribe came by, but was also just a little too busy to get involved, and passed on as well.  Later that day, when it was starting to get cold and dark, a Samaritan came along, who the Pharisees and Scribes really don’t approve of, looked at the man, and despite it being late and cold, troubled himself to put the man carefully on his donkey, take him to an inn, and pay for his healing.  Now tell me, was it the Pharisee, scribe or Samaritan who did the right thing?’

Jesus spoke to his disciples.  ‘The younger son of a farmer wanted the good life, sick to death of work.  He’d had enough, demanded his inheritance right there and then, and because the farmer loved his son, he gave him his share.  The son went off, partied for quite a while, but ended up broke.  He was working for a man, feeding the pigs, and eating very poorly, when he came to his senses.  ‘At home I’ll get a better feed.  I will ask for forgiveness.  I have been an idiot, but hopefully dad will forgive me.’  The son went home, and his father killed the fatted lamb in his son’s honour.  But the older brother, who had worked hard and not left, remaining faithful, complained.  And then the father said to the older brother, ‘I would have done so much for you as well, and more besides.  But rejoice, for your brother was lost to the family, but is now found again.’

A while later, after Jesus had been taken up to heaven, Saul converted and became Paul.  And writing to the Corinthian Church, he wrote:

‘If I spoke with the tongues of an Angel, in all his glory, and thought myself splendid, what would it matter if I didn’t really love people very much.  If I was the ultimate prophetical voice, and expounded the word of God with so much wisdom that people were amazed at me, but didn’t practice love towards my friends and fellows, what kind of person am I really?  If I had 7 university degrees, with PhD’s, but lacked intelligence in how I showed love to people, perhaps not even loving them at all, is my life really worth living?  Love suffers long and is kind and patient.  It is not arrogant or rude or unforgiving.  And it does not think highly of itself, puffing itself up in pride.  Love is the true voice of prophecy, it is the true word of God.  And love, knowledge of love itself, is what is eternal.  You see, prophetical preachers come and go, but love will last forever.  All that knowledge was part of our learning, but love is the completion of our journey, giving us a fulfilment in life which makes it all worth while.  When I was younger I behaved in childish ways, but growing up and growing in love I have learned to put these ways behind me.  While I am young and naïve what I know is not complete, but when I love completely my knowledge will be perfect.  Faith will last forever, and is a great virtue.  Hope will endure for all time, and is a wonderful truth.  But love is special, greater than even faith and hope, yes love is the greatest of all.’

‘Brilliant,’ said Daniel.

‘Lets hope it works,’ responded the son of Joseph and Mary.

‘And I’ll drink to that,’ finished Daniel the Seraphim.

 'Oh, and here is the link. The Glorious Church of Hope in the Beautiful Jesus of Nazareth.'

'Cool,' responded Daniel.

Chapter Five

 Geri looked at the fries. ‘Here we go again,’ she said to herself, picked up the bag, put it over her shoulder, closed the large fridge door, walked back to her ‘Fries’ station, opened the bag, dumped the fries into the large container, and put on yet another bunch of fries that day, in her new job in ‘Captain Jack’s Pizza and Fries’ universal fast food restaurant. She was – completely – stuffed.

20 minutes later, her second 4 hour for the shift that day over, the second week of grind of her new job complete, she was about ready to go to Melanie, say she was full of pride, and nothing more. But then she remembered ‘Somebody has to do this shit, and not everyone has the luxury of being a Spicie.’ And so she steeled herself, changed back into her regular clothing in the change room, logged off, collected her second paycheck, and, ironically, walked out to the front of the shop, found Daniel patiently waiting, who said ‘Do you mind if I grab some fries and a coke?’ She almost hit him.

That night the 5 of them dined at ‘Fabio’s’, not far from were Mel and Dan lived, Jesus offering to pay for the meal. Jovius was next to Geri, who he was sort of currently dating in a way, sort of, as Emma had stormed off a few years back saying ‘It was over forever.’ Jovius found Geri, who said ‘Sure, we can hang for a while,’ and that is what they had been doing since.

Melanie looked at Jesus. ‘Concise Gospel? I didn’t think you would ever go for it.’

‘Times change. Jenna is a stubborn wife.’

Melanie nodded.

‘I was a Catholic, once,’ said Geri.

‘Mmmm,’ said Daniel. ‘I started off as one, actually, as well.’

Jesus smiled softly. ‘Well, perhaps you would make ideal members of the Glorious Church of Hope in the Beautiful Jesus of Nazareth.’

Daniel looked at Jesus, and Geri, quietly, under the table, took his hand. Here it was. The offer had come.

‘Look. J. It is an interesting offer. Very. I – remember, you know. There was this time, in my youth, when the Church was home. When it was taken for granted. But then an OLDER spirit showed up, and an Ark of Salvation, and a funny fella called Noah eventually dropped in to say hello, and that was that. And that, well, that was the END of that. Ok. Sorry.’

Jesus took a sip of his ginger beer. ‘Too bad. Dan. We could have used a man with your talent.’

Geri sighed. Daniel had made her final, ultimate, decision. Such was life.

‘It sounds interesting,’ said Jovius. They all turned to look at Mr Glinka.

‘Interesting?’ queried Jesus.

‘Interesting,’ responded the angel.

‘Mmmm,’ said Yeshua, and said not much more that night.

* * * * *

Geri and Jovius were in the kitchen. Jovius had a can of Sprite in his hand, a cigarette on the bench which he hadn’t yet lit up, and Geri was seated at the table, drinking orange juice, a vacant look on her face.

‘What’s up, babe?’ he asked her.

She said nothing initially, staring into space, her mind nowhere at all really, before she came to herself and looked at him. ‘Sorry, what was that hon?’

‘What’s up’ he asked again, sipping on his sprite.

She looked at him, seriously. ‘I don’t think he’ll change his mind, now. I think it is made up.’

‘Whose’ Jovius queried.

‘Daniel’s’ she responded.

‘About what?’

‘Church.’

Jovius nodded.

The silence resumed for about 5 minutes, and Jovius started another can of Sprite.

‘So what?’ he asked her.

‘We didn’t like to let go. That wasn’t our way. We were the church of God. We were meant to last forever.’

‘I suppose it probably will,’ he responded.

‘In some form, yes. But not now. Not what was planned.’

‘What do you mean?’ he asked her.

‘Each generation, in heaven, we knew those who were supposed to be ours, and those who belonged to the world or elsewhere. Daniel was one of us. We thought it was meant to be.’

‘I guess it wasn’t,’ he responded.

‘No,’ she said flatly.

‘He found his own destiny,’ he said after a while.

‘I know,’ she responded.

‘So why do you worry about it?’

‘Because I will follow him. Forever,’ she responded.

‘That’s very faithful of you,’ he said, sipping on his sprite, but there was a concerned look on her face.

‘What’s the problem, then?’

‘I won’t be in the church in the end. I have to leave it in my heart.’

‘That’s the problem, is it?’

Geri looked at him, seriously. ‘Daniel has spoken to me. Told me of God’s plans. The church, now, has a destiny. To drift – forever – to the stars. Forever to the stars. FOREVER – to the stars.’

‘Nomads?’ he queried.

She nodded.

‘And the problem with that?’

‘I’ll still be here. In a billion, billion, billion, billion years. And beyond that. FOREVER. I will still be here. But the Church – gone. Forgotten. Drifting. I will never know her again.’

‘But you will be home,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘I will be home.’

‘Then that is what I will choose,’ said Jovius, making his decision. ‘To stay at home.’

She looked at him, and a heart full of fear overcame her and said ‘So don’t worry about that anymore.’

She stood, came over to Jovius, kissed him on the cheek, and said ‘Thank you.’

Later on Daniel and Melanie came in, arguing, and Jesus soon followed them. He looked at Geri, winked at her, and said ‘Churches come and go Geri Halliwell. You didn’t think I would leave me home in the end, did you?’

And she said nothing, but stared at him, and he started laughing. And Daniel said ‘A Jew, in the end, is a fucking Jew. Even Jesus of fucking Nazareth.’

And Jesus laughed.

Chapter Six

‘Let’s go,’ said Yeshua. ‘Fucking fast, Jovius. Fucking fast.’

Daniel, in the back seat, next to Melanie and Geri said ‘Not too fucking fast, mate. I have some sensitive ladies back here.’

Yeshua looked at Jovius and winked. ‘Hit it Jo.’

Jovius smiled, pushed the Lightmobile’s pedal to the pedal, and it burst up into the heavens, a firey phoenix of glory.

Soon they were at ‘Scarlets’. A café, floating in space, powered by light solar power for hovering purposes.

‘Mind the step,’ said Daniel. ‘It’s a long way down.’

Inside they drank beer, Canadian stuff, and found the Daytona driving game. Yeshua won, comprehensively, but Daniel didn’t compete. Just watched the Christ Child. Just watched him.

On the way back home Geri stood, as the Lightmobile ran fast downwards at an angle, ripped of her top, and the wind rushed through her hair, as her tits flashed to the world, Jovius giving her a good gawk, Yeshua too embarrassed to comment. ‘I can be spontaneous as well,’ she said to Jovius. He smiled. ‘Thank God for that, babe. Thank God for that.’

The rest of the day they played strip poker, and when Jesus was in his underwear Jovius naked, Daniel fully clothed, and both Melanie and Geri down to their knickers, Daniel smiled. ‘Heh, heh, heh Yesh. Do you want to quit now, and save what is left of your dignity. I don’t think I could stomach seeing the what will be the obviously tiny phallus of the beautiful Jesus of Nazareth.’