War in Heaven
Beelzebub stared at the sleeping form of the angel beside them. Angels did not need to sleep, nor did demons, but certain individuals had gotten into the habit over the years. Gabriel had started sleeping during his time with Aziraphale. Beelzebub wasn’t opposed to the idea of sleep, but they enjoyed the silence that overtook when they were the only one awake. It contrasted with the constant noise of Hell, and left them with room to think.
They reached over to Gabriel’s face, reveling in his perfect features. They didn’t have to return to Heaven or Hell. They were alone now, and it was perfect. No more war. No more fighting.
Bezaliel reached their hand out, allowing the small insect to perch on their fingers. Its delicate wings buzzed, and they smiled. Their own small creation. Perfect.
The other Cherubim twittered about them, praising the creation. They turned towards the Cherubim and spread their hands, grinning. Behind their shoulders, the wings adorning their back twisted, flattening into two mosaic wings to match the insect’s. They laughed along with the others, twirling, and showing off the delicate patterns of veins.
They did not notice when the other Cherubim became silent, and slowly disappeared.
“Bezaliel,” A voice called. They twisted quickly. Michael stared back, face disapproving. Bezaliel folded the wings behind them. “What are you doing?”
They looked down at the little bug, now perched on their shoulder, and smiled guiltily. “Oh, nothing much..” They smiled nervously. “I was told to help with Creation. Little insects, you see? To help clean the Earth.” This was not wrong, they thought. It was the truth, after all. They were tasked with the creation of these little flying creatures.
Michael was unimpressed. She nodded, gesturing towards them with a single hand. “And?”
Bezaliel’s wings fluttered quietly. “I was thinking, they should be called Flies. Because they fly, yeah?”
“And the creation of... Flies.. Requires you to alter thine own Form, gifted to you by the Almighty?”
Bezaliel gaped. “Well, no- Of course not, it was just a joke,” they tried. Michael’s four wings spread behind her as she frowned.
“You are aware, yes, of the consequences this action of yours might have? Extreme Sanctions.”
Bezaliel’s wings buzzed. They wanted nothing more than to fly away and hide amongst the insects they had made.
“I will give you the mercy of forgiveness, this time. Do not hold it lightly. You don’t wish to know what these Extreme Sanctions are, do you?” She spoke. She was smiling now, wings angled towards the Cherub as she spoke. It was confining, in all the Emptiness surrounding them. They shuddered.
“Of course. My apologies.” Nothing more, they wanted nothing more than for Michael to leave. They wanted the comforting chirps of the Cherubim, not Michael’s burning voice. Their wings seemed to curl, against the heat of their words. Holy Fear filled them. They wanted to leave.
Michael nodded. Their wings flapped once, and they were gone, leaving the wave of searing heat to dissipate. Bezaliel’s wings fluttered again, and the Fly landed on their nose, tapping its legs gently against their face. They breathed out, Emptiness filling their Form.
Gabriel stirred, opening violet eyes. He smiled, reaching over to Beelzebub. “Hello, my Dear,” he said, gentle and kind and with a breath made of cool air.
Bezaliel spread their wings, grinning. Lucifer had called a meeting amongst the Lower Choirs, and they were part of this. It was the beginning of a New Age, Lucifer had said. Something needed to be discussed, away from his Holy Siblings. And they had come. The other Cherubim had fluttered their wings wearily, whispering amongst themselves. Beelzebub was one of the only to agree to come. But there were other Angels as well. The red-haired Star-maker had come, fidgeting nervously beside Lucifer.
Bezaliel approached them. Lucifer smiled, spreading his arms. “Ah! See here, even just a Cherubim has come to hear our discussions. Come here. Stand with me while we talk.” He beckoned to Bezaliel, and they returned his smile, moving beside him. He was the Morning Star, beautiful and Perfect. He radiated with the heat of the other Archangels, but it did not smother like Michael. It was intoxicating.
“Everyone! You have come here, to listen to my Words. Some of you, I am sure, have heard of the workings. Perhaps you have been tasked to help complete them. But there is more. Man. Which shall be known as God’s greatest creation, above even the Highest of us. Above even me,” Lucifer said, his words stirring amongst the gathered angels. “We are God’s creation as well, are we not? And yet, a simple creature, a Man, will be our ruler. This is not Right! We are not beings that grovel, not to anyone but the Highest. Why? Why is this what God has stated shall be?” He said, and continued, telling of God’s words. The angels listened, enraptured with the beautiful Morning Star.
Bezaliel snapped their wings in approval following Lucifer’s words. They were not alone, and the Empty filled with the sound of Holy wingbeats.
Beelzebub laid their head in Gabriel’s hand. “Hello. Do you remember? The War?”
Burning angels surrounded them as they roared, throwing a spear through the wing of a Cherub. This was War, and one way or another it would be finished. Lucifer had led the first attack, and Bezaliel could see him, the Holy Sword of Michael piercing him as he fought. He had changed, dangerous and horrible. Bezaliel grinned. He was a different sort of beautiful now.
Their faces turned, and they breathed in the Fire. Their form split into many, becoming the Flies they had created. They flowed through the mouths of the angels, devouring them and drinking their Holy Essence. A single Angel stood in the midst of the battle. Gabriel, Bezaliel thought. He was not an angel of War. An easy target, holding only a trumpet. They flew towards him, the sound of a hundred flies’ wings singing in unison.
Gabriel turned to them, his wings folded precisely. He frowned, and the Trumpet changed. Bezaliel could not alter their course, and the sword rammed through them. They screamed, burning with Holy Fire. Their form collapsed, becoming one once more, and they were burning. They fell away from the sword, screaming. Their wings were scorching as Gabriel stood above them.
He frowned again, holding the sword out. It returned to its previous form, a trumpet. “What a shame,” he said. He turned the other way and raised the trumpet again.
Their wings burned, and they flared them, beating them in the hopes of putting out the fire, but it only fed the flames. They couldn’t hold themself up, not anymore, not with burning wings, and they fell. Fell, burning and burning towards the ground. The realization hit them along with the pain. They could not return. Not now, not if they begged. Holy Mercy would not be extended to them now.
They plunged into the Earth, and sank deeper, down into pools of burning Sulphur. They did not move, as more angels Fell towards them. They let the Sulphur fill their form and cool their burning wings. They could not return.
They were not Bezaliel anymore.
Gabriel tilted his head, brushing his thumb against Beelzebub’s cheek. “Yeah. What about it?”
Beelzebub sighed, leaning into his touch. “Tell me about it. Not the ‘Holy’ version. Yours.”
Violet eyes searched their face, and they met them with a small smile.
“Well.. You and a group of other angels, led by Him, rebelled against Her plan. Michael fought against Him, and I played during the fight. You came for me. I remember that.”
Beelzebub nodded, pressing forward into Gabriel’s arms. “I couldn’t kill you. I wanted too.”
Gabriel chuckled. He ran his fingers through their hair, gently shooing away the flies that circled. “No. You weren’t quite as strong then.” He smiled, nestling his face into the top of their head. “You are now. If we were to fight again, I don’t know who would win.”
“And that’s why we left,” Beelzebub added.
“And that’s why we left.”
They spread two pairs of dark wings, encircling the two of them in soft feathers. They were alone now, and it was perfect.
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