Realm of the Dead Read Online Free PDF

harrumphed, "A father who cannot stomach the rise of the son."
    Talus laughed, "El did not place me here, Satan. You did."
    Lucifer skimmed his hand inches from the fleshly wall of Hell. Parasitic worms moved within the beast's skin, burrowing ceaselessly within fallen angels and unrighteous men. "No, Talus, I did not bring you here. El is the Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. Above all creation. Only I have covered the mercy seat. Only I have seen a glimpse of what El sees, and His vision encompasses all possibilities, for there are no contingencies, surprises or changes of mind with El. He is the All-Existent One. Even this I know. Therefore, He must have always known what would befall thee. I am but a vessel created for destruction." Lucifer turned from the wall and looked at Talus. "You, however...it remains to be seen what plans El would have for thee."
    Talus weighed his words. "El is all knowing, yes, but He does not limit my will to serve. I choose to give my God worship and praise for He is worthy to be praised."
    "Worthy to be praised..." Lucifer nodded, then turned back towards the wall. He touched the locket of keys around his neck and reached to touch the skin of Hell. The parasitic and fiery membrane recoiled from his approaching touch. Lucifer then placed his hand firmly on the creature and his hand sizzled as smoke lifted at its touch. A moan echoed throughout the cavern, and both looked around as the interior of the creature spasmed.
    "Call-sit-sa-chu," Lucifer said in the ancient tongue of angels, which means "Open their minds."
    The walls of the creature immediately turned opaque and the interior of the bowel displayed all the kingdoms of the world as the beast played for its tamer, and the memories of past lives now swallowed in Hell's folds for eternity. Human and angelic prisoners now separated forever from the presence of God. Men and women of every tribe and nation, howling at the knowledge of this aching regret. Regret...a seasoning that fueled the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Images of defeat, war, and lust saturated the room as billions of thoughts from digested angels and men were now open for Lucifer and Talus to see.
    "This," Lucifer said, waving his hands, "is the legacy of El! Behold, the residue of our cause to rebel against him. Our failure to rule ourselves apart from him. Tell me, is such a thing so terrible, Talus, to be self-ruled? Is it not a creature's right to live in accordance with one's own desires and dictates?"
    Talus rubbed the wounds on his arms where he was shackled. "You are wise, Lucifer, but in thy wisdom, you have become foolish. El is as the air we breathe. He is the bread of life. There is no existence apart from Him. Thou canst no more extinguish His rule than thou canst sever the beating heart within thee.  To do so is to invite self-destruction, and what Father would stand idly by and watch His children destroy His own house?"
    Lucifer smiled, amused. "You truly love Him? After all that you have seen? All that you have witnessed?"
    Talus did not hesitant to reply. "In Him I live and move and have my being."
    Lucifer then raised his hands to the projected images that surrounded them in the very walls of Hell's flesh. "This is the result of your love. Behold the love of our Father! And this love that thou speak of...what kind of love doth not rescue a son from such distress as what befalls you now? What love, Talus?" Spittle slid down Lucifer's mouth and saliva spewed as he cursed.
    "Do you not see the suffering...the selfishness of our Father? I will fight Him, Talus. I will fight Him to my last breath. From the depths of the abyss, I will spit at Him. From the circuit of the universe and back will I bar Him. I will NEVER...ever forgive Him!" Lucifer looked at Talus through crazed eyes, then darted his eyes to the ground, ceasing his tirade, knowing perhaps he had said too much.
    Talus looked sadly upon his brother and shook his head. "So the spite of a