The Flaming Sword Of Michael

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

-Mathew 25:41, King James Bible

“And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hateful bird.”

-Revelation 18:2, Old Testament, Christian Bible

Lilith stood more than a full head taller than Michael in her true form. Everything about her appearance indicated that she was a demon. Michael kept engaging her in conversation just to put the voice of the little round cat he'd known for years into the body he now saw standing next to him.

"Is this it? I mean, are they in there? Your sisters?"

"Yes. They are not alone, as I'd hoped. They are also aware of us. They are most definitely aware of me." said Lilith in an almost distant voice.

"More Cambion?" asked Michael.

Lilith came back from wherever her mind had been to look at Michael. Her concern was as obvious as a cannonball.

"Human" she said with more worry and intensity than she'd ever shown before, "This is going to be a difficult, perhaps impossible, fight. These beings are powerful immortals. Follow me slowly. Knowing my sisters, they'll want to babble and gloat at us first. That will be our chance."

"Chance for what? I still don't know what I'm supposed to do!" Michael whisper-yelled in a nervous panic.

Lilith rested a creepy reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Calm your mind Michael. One of my sisters will be wearing a large ring. It will be too large for her hand, so I’d guess she’s wearing it on a chain around her neck. When I know for sure which one has it, I will say her name followed by a compliment. I'll keep talking and trying to get us as close as possible. Don't bring up your sword until the moment you strike."

"How will I know when that is?" Michael asked, calmer now.

"When I attack, it won't be the wearer of the ring. I'll attempt to create a diversion away from whomever that is. That's when you'll attack whomever is wearing Solomon's Ring." She began to get excited. Battle was imminent, and battle always gave Lilith a tingle. "The one who wears the ring, and wields the sword, commands all demons. Your sword gives you command over whatever demon you strike. Strike the wearer of the ring, and command them to give you the ring. Once yours you’ll command everyone in that room."

"Everyone?" Michael asked with a smirk.

"Yes, even me clever boy. So, do be careful. Are you ready?"

He let the breath he'd been holding out slowly, as if it were the last unlabored breath he'd ever take. "Ready."

Lilith squared her shoulders to the citadel and walked inside with a steady, confident stride. Michael walked in her wake, trying to seem as timid and unthreatening as possible. They walked through the layers of broken cloud-walls in moving shadows. The two entered the great hall, and Michael did well to hide his thoughts and awe.

For an uncomfortable moment no one said a thing. The seven seated monsters sat in smug, arrogant, silence. Lilith and Michael walked slowly forward. Every step closer meant a slight improvement to their odds for success. Michael could feel the mental probing like a deep-sea submarine’s hull keeping all the weight of the ocean at bay. There was no countering to be done. He simply tucked his mind into a dark ball and held them out with everything he had.

He was just aware of his physical surroundings enough to be surprised by how close he and his succubus ally were getting to the dais. Not one word had been spoken. The battle of wills was so intense, the silence of it filled the room near to bursting. Finally, a handsome demon to the right, seated next to what looked like a winged column of water, spoke.

"Impressive Lilith. Your ward has withstood us better than I would have thought possible. You prepared him well against such attacks." He sighed, "I'm glad. I was much more looking forward to physically flaying the two of you."

"Ba'al Zbl" Lilith nodded in his direction. "The impression is all yours. I expected more from the conquerors of The Kingdom."

Then came a melted, dark chocolate, feminine chuckle from the far-left side of the room. "Oh yes, let us have as much courtly protocol as possible! I do so miss it!"

"Ge'ez Malkat Sh'va." Lilith bowed toward her with a grin. "You were once the queen of a mighty realm now turned to desert ruin. A courtier's etiquette is the least I can I do for you on your last day alive."

Ge'ez Malkat Sh'va gave a "hmph" through a dark, sneering lip.

Then from the central and most impressive throne, Michael saw a perfect negative of Lilith raise her obsidian hand. What verbal repartee had been building was swept out of the room by a chill breeze. She dropped her hand heavily back onto her throne's armrest. She sat as though a laden yolk rested atop her shoulders.

"You were never one for idle threats Lilith. It doesn't become you." The two smaller succubae on either side of her chuckled quietly. "You did well in making it this far, and I understand why you feel you must try further, but you must know this is a fool's errand."

"Perhaps." Said Lilith flatly. "You would know. You wear a fool's ring Agrat Bat. And while you seem tired from the effort, you look lovelier than ever."

The compliment! The name! Agrat Bat! Michael saw the thick chain with the heavy ring hanging like a aircraft carrier’s anchor between the impressive demon’s breasts. He hid his rising anxiety from the still constant mental pressure. He'd been trained well. He and Lilith were still edging closer. Every nod and bow she gave, they inched forward. They were getting close enough now that Michael began to believe he could get to Lilith's ebony, white-haired sister before the others got to him.

"That's far enough." Agrat Bat said in a commanding voice, with her fist clenched around the ring. Lilith stopped so suddenly that Michael actually bumped into her. "I hold the foolish king's ring. You are at my command. Your little weapon behind you can't do anything to the wearer either. I don't know what your plan was, but it failed." She brought the ring slowly, and with great effort, up to her mouth. "I command you both to stand still with your hands at your side."

Lilith stiffened. So did Michael, though his was from surprise. There was nothing compelling him to stand still other than something in his gut telling him not to attack yet. Lilith began to laugh a little. Then she started laughing harder.

"What?" Lilith asked through gasping sobs of air. "Who do you think this is here with me?"

"It doesn't matter." said Agrat Bat, growing angry. "If it's Mahasura's broken trident, Arachne's potions or nets, or even the Spear of Destiny, I rule over all those imbued with the power of Tartarus!"

Lilith's laughter became uncontrollable. "You fool! All of you, fools! Ha! You really didn't know what I was bringer here? You aren't prepared!" The incredulity in her voice was making all seven lords uncomfortable. "This child is mortal, and hasn't been given any gift of demon-spawn. His name is Michael!"

The dais reacted as if they'd all been slapped simultaneously. Agrat Bat composed herself quickly. She glanced to either side of her, forcing her companions to do so as well. She grinned at Lilith.

"A good bluff sister, but even if you had the ability to give a mortal a gift of the old Kingdom, you know he could use it on you as well. None of us would be so foolish. It wouldn’t matter anyway. You’d never find a human worthy of the Flaming Sword of Michael." Agrat Bat settled into her throne even more comfortably. "Besides, if he was blessed rather than possessed, why does he obey the one who wears Solomon's Ring?"

Lilith closed her eyes, and took a steadying breath. "Because I haven't asked him to kill you yet. Michael?"

"Yes Lilith?"

"Would you step around in front of me so my sisters and their guests can get a better look at you?"

"Sure." He stepped slowly around and to the front of his succubus mentor. With each step the demons sank deeper into their thrones. Hearts that hadn’t made their voices heard in millennia pounded. Some of the complacent demons shook their heads in denial. Others dug their claws into their elaborate chair arms, not knowing what else to do. Agrat Bat glared at him, dumbfounded.

“Stay where you are!” She screamed into the ring.

"Michael?" Purred Lilith.

"Yes Lilith."

"I want you to show them the gift I gave you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Lilith shook her head in disbelief. "They haven't even considered that I might try this. They're horribly unprepared. They have no more ability to stop you than the Cambion did."

"Okay." Michael said, then his right hand erupted in a sword of flame.

Lilith spoke directly to her sisters. "Your conquest is over before it ever truly began. The longest thread remains uncut. Your hold on the Kingdom is over." She closed her eyes and smiled. "Michael, I want you to strike Agrat Bat with your sword, and if anything gets in your way, I want you to strike it as well."

Michael stepped forward. The demons rolled, slid, and flew off of their thrones in retreat. All except Agrat Bat. She tried to rise, but as Michael stepped closer the weight of Solomon’s Ring held her fast. She sat, bowed and transfixed on the flaming sword as it neared. The others flitted about the hall in crazed and erratic patterns. Their inhuman screams echoed weakly in the open, porous, hall.

Michael climbed the stairs of the dais. He raised his flaming sword. Agrat Bat drooped under the weight of ring. She ducked her head, and let the chain slip off her head, and fall to the ground with the sound of a smith's hammer hitting a well worn anvil. Too late. Michael struck true. The succubus arched her back and twisted her shoulders so hard it was a wonder her spine stayed together.

"Pick up the ring Michael." Lilith said calmly.

He did, easily.

"Command them all to be still."

He lifted the large ring to his mouth and in a soft voice said, "Be still."

They all settled, turned, and or, fell slowly to the ground, then turned to face him. Even Lilith and Agrat Bat stood awaiting his command.

"Now what do I do?" Michael turned and asked Lilith.

"You now possess the ring, and are the wielder of the flame. There are none left of our kind to oppose you. You are now the protector of Earth and The Kingdom. Your will is the command of the immortals of Tartarus. What would you will us?"

"I just want everyone to be safe back home. If I hold all this power, then we did it. We won. They can't do anything I don't want them to. I don't have to kill these creatures."

"No. You don't." said Lilith, now looking at the floor, still wearing a slight smirk. "I wouldn't even think to leave them alive, but then I'm not pure of heart, and cannot wield the flaming sword. It is your decision to make."

"Fool." spat a terrified Agrat Bat, "To give such a weakling this power. He will not kill us! This isn't over!"

"It is." said Michael calmly. "I order you to forget everything you know."

The look on Agrat Bat's face went placid like a freshly changed infant. She stood stupidly looking around at the grand entrance hall in amazement and wonder. Michael looked each of the horrified immortals in the face as he said his last words to them.

"Go from this place. Go back to wherever it is you call home. You are banished from Earth and The Kingdom. If I ever see another one of you again, I'll wipe your ancient minds clean, as I did hers. Now be gone."

He watched them all leave, compelled by ancient power, through different holes in the wall of the great building. Agrat Bat did so slowly, numb. He turned to speak to Lilith who was walking out through the hole they had entered.

"Lilith wait!"

She stopped as ordered. "Please Michael, let me leave as well. You ordered it, and so I must."

"No, not you."

"I am one of them."

"How will I get home?"

"You have but to order me, and I must take you." She smiled. He could hardly bear it. Before he could speak, she said, "The threat to your world is ended, but Tartarus will be in chaos. The Kingdom will need time to recover. Please allow me to go home after I've taken you back. I have much work to do."

"So that's it?"

"If you will it."

He sighed, "I do, I guess."

She walked to him, took his hand, and in a fuzzy, prickly instant, they were back in front of the house he had lived in when they first met. It looked almost the same, but smaller. The two companions smiled at each other. Lilith the succubus nodded to the mortal she had come to love, whispered in his ear, and vanished. With tears streaming down his cheeks Michael walked toward the house his parents still lived in, ready to deal with the shock and emotion of his return. His stride was steady, and his heart beat softly as he walked home with her last words still humming warmly in his ear.

"Thank you, human. I love you. Until we meet again..."

The End.