To Reign in Hell: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

and—never mind. I guess I’ll be leaving now.”
    He stood up, but Uriel held out a hand to stop him. “Please,” said Uriel. “I overreacted.”
    Mephistopheles paused, half-turned toward the door. Uriel touched his arm, and Mephistopheles nodded and sat.
    “You have little cause to be jealous, believe me,” Uriel continued. “Yes, I live here, but Yaweh spends his time with Asmodai of late, and Lucifer and Abdiel, as well as those others you mentioned.”
    Mephistopheles studied him. “Do you feel left out, Uriel? I doubt that you should. I’m sure it’s just that his plans require—”
    “Oh, I know that. No, I’m not hurt. And yes, there are good reasons for it. Lucifer understands more about cacoastrum than anyoneelse; Asmodai will be planning the construction of the globe itself. And Abdiel is helping to organize it.”
    Mephistopheles appeared uninterested in these details. “You have your role, though, do you not?”
    “Oh, yes. I am content. I’ll be working with Satan.”
    “Ah! That will be good. I’m told that he’s pleasant to work with.”
    “I expect it will be well. Although, to be honest, Satan has been worrying of late. His task, and mine, is to make sure that everyone involved in the work does his job, and Satan worries that we may have to coerce some of the younger angels.”
    “Oh, but that’s foolishness, isn’t it?”
    “I think so,” said Uriel. “Who could fail to want this? A safe, Per-
manent
haven from the flux? A place large enough for, literally, hundreds of
billions
of angels? But come, this isn’t what you came for, Mephistopheles. What can I do for you?”
    Mephistopheles shook his head. “I really only came to see how you were. I had no particular errand.”
    “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?”
    “Yes. But thank you, Uriel.”
    Uriel stood. “Certainly. And, about our problems before—”
    “I’m sorry. It was my fault. Don’t think on it.”
    “Thank you. I’ll walk you out.”
    “That won’t be necessary. I’ll see you soon.”
    “And I, you.”
    “Fare well.”
    “Fare well.”
    Mephistopheles strode evenly out of Yaweh’s Palace. As he left to report to his friend, Leviathan, a small, cynical smile came over his lips; a dry chuckle escaped his throat.
     
     
    “Ah! Kyriel! What is this I hear of you and Bath Kol?”
    “I don’t know, Sith. What is it?”
    “Be that way, then. Where are you going?”
    “I’m helping out the Lord Michael, around his home. You know, keeping the fires going, and all.”
    “He’s away, then?”
    “Not gone on a trip, if that’s what you mean, but he’s spending most of his time at the Lord Yaweh’s palace. I hear there’s something big going on.”
    “I have heard that somebody is planning something. I haven’t heard what, though.”
    “Neither have I. How are things with Raphael?”
    “Slow. Just as well, though. I’m glad to see the illiaster wear down—not so many getting hurt.”
    “I suppose. Well, Sith, duty calls.”
    “A pleasant day to you, Kyriel.”
    “And to you. And if you hear any more about the big doings, let me know, will you?”
    “Sure.”
    “Fare you well, then.”
    “Fare well.”
     
     
    Satan and Beelzebub met Lucifer and Lilith in a small, wooded area amid the grasslands near the southern border of Lucifer’s dominion. For a while they walked in silence along a shallow stream, or through thick woods. Satan strode next to Lucifer, the former’s long easy gait matching the athletic stride of the latter. Lilith held Lucifer’s arm as Beelzebub trotted along beside her.
    Lucifer was tall and strong and bronzed, and most of the mysteries of Heaven and creation that were known, were known because of his work.
    He had explained how the angelic bodies had formed in response to the conditions of their creation, how illiaster had a tendency to become stagnant and thus rob them of their powers, and why it required two eyes in a single direction to see