Chapter 24

“Non Serviam!” ~I Will Not Serve~

When Lucifer declared to god, “Non-Serviam!” it was his own assertion of power and for this, he was ‘cast’ to the earth along with all of the other demons, devils, and gods into Pandemonium, the land beneath the earth, and otherwise known as hell. From there he gathered his armies and with Satan and Belial at his side he declared independence for all who would follow his example.

Lucifer is a guiding force in our Church. His presence creates a balance between the dark and the light. There are many reasons why Luciferians identify with this fallen angel. Some believe that he offers wisdom, knowledge, and enlightenment. I, personally find the strength of Lucifer to be an inspiration, a motivational spark from which many great things can be achieved.

So, what does Lucifer mean to YOU? Is He a bringer of enlightenment, A God, A Fallen Angel? How do you relate to HIM?

LVX

Patrick Gaffiero - C.O.L Tribunal 2018

***

"It feels strange..." Mick mumbled under his mustache. "So early and outside of the safety barrier..." The buff guardian had his senses all messed up. They were called at the brink of dawn to get to a location outside the barrier shield to meet up the Gods and someone by the edge of the forest...

"I am sure the Gods have their reason. I heard that a tall powerful creature was spotted around. Maybe they want to investigate that," Paolo yawned getting ready to leave.

"We go ahead, Mick. Go back to your angel and come after us," Jim added strangely fully awake and aware of everything. His skills and super curious kind got the best of him and he was very eager to get going and find out what it was all about.

"Hmm... Okay. I think your pair can keep you safe. I hurry after you," Mick frowned but spread his wings and took off anyway to fetch his angel.

"Yeah... Thanks, all-mighty electric demon..." Paolo snorted, rolling his eyes.

"He is just careful," Jim laughed hugging the short angel and pecked his lips.

"Yeah... Youngsters..." Paolo scoffed kissing his pair back. It was a good feeling to have his pair... And to have that fulfilling balance between them.

Stepping through the barrier was always a special feeling. The world outside was chilling cold, barely alive and gray from the toxic clouds hanging on the dawning light, making the horizon look gloomy with doom.

Jim was there first. Paolo was called to the Gods and told the tall guy to stay put and wait. But the Nephilim curiosity made Jim walk outside, holding his sword ready as he looked around.

There were some ruins of a once tavern at the edge of the woods. Some stone tables and benches were still standing and as the sunrays slowly brought more light to the world, he spotted a man standing near some columns.

Would that be the stranger they have to meet? He was surly non-human. And Jim was also very sure that the stranger hid his powers well.

 
Behemoth: Ben Sahar

The man raised his head and looked at Jim from the distance. He was wearing a hat and black clothes with a long robe and leather booths. Jim wouldn't call him tall... But the powers he felt from the other man made his runes pulse and shine, and his eyes change even if it was clear the force was very much suppressed.

"Here we go…" the biker grumbled to himself and walked to the old restaurant.

Samael smiled. The great breed of Nephilims. What an honor to meet the reincarnation face-to-face after such a long time...

After their... very satisfying mating with his pair Lucifer, Samael contacted the Ancient Ones for the meeting. Ever since he had heard The Call, he was debating on how to act about it. He wasn't very fond of wars... He was a simple being and liked things to be clean... pure... Cleansed by fire... so to say. Living complex beings always ruined that. But with time and the bond to such a devil that held the gift of creation and love for life and humans, Samael accepted that it all had some... beauty... and purpose. And he found a new joy and goal to observe it all.

The thought made him scoff. Witnessing the world and humans from afar, like his once master... Crating a terrarium and watching the ants work, live, reproduce and die...

But really, taking sides and getting involved in wars was not his way. But times change. He had to choose what to do with the knowledge...

The man in the hat and robe took a step toward Jim and smiled. Not like he could fool the skilled Nephilim... Jim knew well what he was dealing with. At least he believed that. And what we believe, we become…

"Hi there! Haven't seen you around here... Who are you and what's your business at this place?" Jim asked sounding very... professional...

"I'm just a traveler to you, Nephilim. This is common ground. I am waiting for the Gods," Samael smiled wider and raised his hat respectfully.

Jim's eyes stayed on the man, sizing him up some more with his mismatched eyes. He was both curious and careful. Not because the stranger seemed to be quite friendly and kind in his behavior, but because of the fact that he was hiding a big chunk of his powers. But no matter how hard the being tried to do that, Jim could feel it...

He was very old and powerful and obviously had a connection with the Gods as he felt like he knew them for a long time. The longer the slightly glowing eyes of the tall biker were looking at the wanderer picking up a staff that ended in a goat skull, the warmer Jim felt the suppressed energies. And true to his instincts, soon he seemed to start seeing the faint "shadows" of flames around the darkly dressed figure. In reality there were no such flames around him, but Jim's Nephilim sight granted him the power to see behind things and disguises.

"We both know that you are much more than just a traveler..." Jim's lips pulled into a small lopsided smile, not taking off his eyes of the seemingly calmly waiting man. Of course, he was trying to guess who he really was and why his energy was faintly familiar to Jim.

"Tall, handsome and smart. What a package," Samael grinned flashing his gray eyes to turn red and let his fiery aura be more sensible around him. "My husband was right about you. But let's wait for the others," he leaned on his staff a bit, giving off kind of a seductive feel with the way he moved his eyes all over Jim's being.

The Nephilim's eyes widened for a few seconds from feeling his looser powers more and seeing the red eyes of demons...

"Hmm..." Jim simply hummed to that, not commenting on the compliment, maybe only some color appeared on his cheeks.

Then all of a sudden, his senses got somewhat distracted as he felt his own pair coming closer along with the Gods. And his pair was pissed at him for some reason... Damn. What a good start of their mated life, huh?

True to what he was feeling, the Gods and Paolo soon walked through the barrier and Jim could tell that Mick and Kerim were not far behind either.

He and the stranger both turned their heads towards the newcomers. And Jim's previous confidence seemed to bleed out of his being a bit as he looked at his pissed mate. Ah, yes... he didn't stay put. That must be the reason for Paolo's anger, right?

"Hmmmm?" Samael raised a brow and flashed a charming grin at Jim just before the group appeared. He was just about to comment on the arrivals when with a flash of light Robb appeared too...

Similarly pissed he stood next to Samael huffing. "We will talk about your wandering off habits after this," Robb told his pair and for now he just stood and waited for everyone to come close.

The second Robb appeared and Jim caught that sentence, he finally put the puzzle pieces together and it dawned on him that the traveler had to be his mate. Satan himself. Even if he preferred to be called Samael, as far as Jim knew. And with that he just realized another thing. Satan was flirting with him in that coy way of leaning on his staff and a bit pushing out his hips to the side.

Well, that was something Jim's mind got blown away by but he tried to keep back the freaking out and rather re-focused on Paolo, who just got next to him.

"I'm sorry. Couldn't help myself," he murmured to his pair as an apology for stepping through the barrier on his own.

The Trinity stopped a few steps away on the other side of a stone table. Brent stayed close to Chris, of course, and Vega and Mick joined them on Seth's side too. It seemed finally everyone was there, all waiting to find out why they were called there...

"RaHoorKhuit," Samael picked his hat off and bowed "others…" he added smiling.

"Samael... We are here as you asked. The sentinels reported about a tall wanderer... But I would have never thought that you were going to come to the surface," Christos spoke in all of their name, eyeing the pair opposite them.

"He's short as Robb though..." Sotiris glimpsed at Chris and the others, finding it funny in his usual alien way.

"Yeah... I love my husband. He always cares so much for me and worries. I like to be at... his level…" Samael winked hugging Robb's shoulder "of height…" he added but even with the witty correction he earned a slap against his stomach from his pair.

"Let's sit down and talk then," Seth waved to the benches and all started to take a place, having the pair of Samael and Robb and the Trinity in the middle.

Jim sat down near the Gods and the other pair, Paolo staying close to him. The Nephilim had no idea what this meeting was about, but figured it would turn out soon enough. His brows pulled a bit together as he kept his shimmering mismatched eyes on the higher beings and noticed some subtle signs that maybe were important.

Like how Robb refrained from his usual little jokes and kept quiet, time after time giving a searching and maybe a bit worried look at his husband. Or at least that's what Jim saw behind the slowly dissolving "anger" towards Samael for straying off.

"What is this all about? It must be important if you asked for an audience with us..." Christos narrowed his dark eyes at the pair, cutting right to the chase.

"Yes, sir," Samael looked over the Trinity and inhaled deeply. "I did come up here a night ago. And the reason for that was... that I heard The Call."

"The Call is an old ritual," Christos sighed and looked up and back to the others as he explained. "It's a battle call. It is meant to wake up all the war gods and demons and creatures. Samael is in that as once he used to be the weapon of Elohim, or Yahweh..."

"Elohim is the oldest Judean name of the last God some of you may know as your ‘Father’, and is also considered as a war god…" Seth added with a frown. "But no one tried to call just him back as the ritual contains all the other war gods and demons outside of his reign too."

"Yes. And as you know, I don't take sides. My dear devil is too young to be included in that group that was called, so I and Robb could stay out of this," Samael spoke again. "But he kind of chose a side with the light and by standing with you all. I am strong enough to refuse The Call. But you have to know about it. Many will respond and hurry to the twins’ aid."

"Yes. It is a war now. The twins learned that Vega is alive and it don't take much to figure out we kept him hidden till now," Christos said to the pair. "Thank you for telling this to us. And for choosing us..."

To being mentioned, Kerim straightened his back next to Mick and his expression turned even more serious as he slightly nodded, his cheeks somewhat coloring in shame as he still felt guilty about causing additional problems.

The Angel of Light's dark eyes were otherwise very curious as during his long life he has never seen Samael in the flesh, just heard stories about him. Mostly from Robb and Seth. And seeing the pair together was fascinating to the still knowledge-thirsty angel. After all, once these two counted as his Elders in Heaven. And he also knew if he had Fallen and lost his Light, he would have probably gotten a completely different form too – like the one Lucifer and Samael had under their human forms... And perhaps would have joined the mated pair instead of the Gods...

It was a bit scary but also fascinating to Kerim. To see what could have been... and what could still happen to him now that the secret of his existence was out. That darkened his thoughts some more.

"Everything is changing again. I might as well pick a side and stand with it," Samael shrugged a bit. "Would it be enough to end my ban from this dimension? As I learned, it's a lot of fire and death already going around," Samael looked over all the others questioningly.

"We will decide," Sotiris said nodding and a minute of silence fell on them all. "Your powers will interfere very much with our Sanctuary. But here outside if you don't destroy what's left alive, you can move freely around on Earth."

To that some quiet murmurs went around among those who knew the weight of this decision. Of course, it didn't include Jim, but sensing the mixed feelings and reactions from it – probably a perk of being fully mated to Paolo who had a talent to feel the emotions of others – he knew this was big. Not just the fact that Satan himself would want to side with them, but that he would be roaming the Earthly dimension once again...

Seeing how Robb tensed and his dark-brown eyes widened a bit to that too, only reassured Jim that he was right.

True to that, Lucifer glimpsed at his pair for a long moment, trying to size up how this decision was affecting him. There was a reason why he was banned a long time ago. Now truly everything seemed to be changing. And it made Robb worried too.

"That's a... Hmm... Thank you for the trust, ancient ones," Samael grinned and bowed. "You won't regret it. May we bring also our home through? The stronghold still has your sign and control on it..."

"We suppose you both will be better close to our Sanctuary. So, we will allow it," Christos said in the joined voice of the three of them. "Make it happen. We all gonna have to inform the younger ones," the Trinity nodded, looked back at their group and made them all vanish back in their caves.

"Well... we’re coming home, babe…" Samael pulled Robb closer by hugging his shoulder.

Robb let him do that and grunted a "yeah" under his nose, a bit still lost in his thoughts. "You seem happy about it..." he added as he stepped out from under that half-hug and walked to the rocky edge of the small hill the once-tavern was situated on.

Taking a deep breath, he suddenly turned around and walked back to his pair, lightly hitting him in the chest with both palms. "You ass! Why haven't you told me about hearing The Call?! You don't think I should know of such things before anyone else?" he huffed. "Sneaking around my back nowadays entertain you?" Robb added with an upset expression, fisting his hands in the dark clothes of his pair. "I'm worried about you..."

Samael just blinked wide with his gray eyes. "I... I wanted to tell you but was hungering your being more... And... you love this place... the humans..." he sighed wrapping his pair in his arms and pulled him to his body.

"You have to leave this all because of me. Because you followed me. I want you to be happy AND with me. I miss you so much when you are away... I... I'm sorry... I don't want to be alone and left behind. You gave up all for me. So, I can choose to stand with you, like you chose to stand with me."

Yes, deep down, behind that upset and pouting facade, Robb was melting from these words as they touched his very core. He did sacrifice a lot before because of love, but never held it against his pair. He was driven by the love he felt for Samael and was (and is still) ready to give his life for him, if needed.

"This... means so much to me... I want to be with you more too. I want to show you so much in this world... or what's left of it, anyway. Living things through together with you was always what made me the happiest, you jerk..." Robb smiled at his pair. "I love humans, but I love you more. And stop hiding shit from me!" he warned while hugging his pair back.

"But... I have to ask... You know that... Will you be able to... hold back? For real?" he pulled back enough to look into the grey eyes with his serious nearly black ones. Of course, he meant the going berserk thing. "Because let's face it... in this dimension there will be more stuff happening that could trigger it...."

Samael sighed and rubbed his man's face with his thumbs as he held it between his hands.

"I didn't tell you at once because I had to think about it. I never heard The Call and felt… literally nothing. It did not trigger anything in me and I did not have to obey. And it is because of you freeing me from that spell. And after all that time I really felt free the first time ever in my existence. I came up here and looked at how all you loved has died. Not as much as I could have done it though..." he tried to be smug in his honest speech, but Robb poked his side. "I never really had the power of making decisions. And realizing that I'm really free now gave me that. And had to like… digest it... And if half of those in the ritual answers and come and stand with the twin angels then I have to face them and you would need me and the warriors I can summon."

Closing his eyes for a moment to enjoy the touch, Robb forced himself not to give in to that feeling and instead open his eyes and listen to what his pair was saying. Finally, he nodded as a sign of understanding that Samael had to digest these things too.

"Alright, I forgive you then," Robb sighed and smirked at the other man. "And you will be a great help if things get down to that. I'm at least sure about that. You are strong. And we are both stronger together," he said, stating the facts with a little smug smile. "I guess everything has it's time. If you have to go berserk to save everyone and this world, I'll be the proudest. And most turned on," he quickly added, stealing a peck from his man's lips. "Alright, let's pick a place and bring our home up here. I feel like you already have a mysterious and dramatic place in mind," he chuckled.

Samael laughed, held Robb's hand and stepped back. Like some hall dance routine, he bowed and raised their hands up high.

"Oh my, oh my... So beautiful and kinky and knows me oh so well... I'm such a lucky creature," he sighed content and pulling Robb with him, he took a few waltzing moves before vanishing.

*** 

Meanwhile behind the protective barrier of the Sanctuary, the others gathered in the Gods' library for some further talks as many had questions and stirred up emotions about all this and the growing tension they could all feel in the outside world.

Kerim's silly and often joking and kinky self was nowhere to be found as he more or less hid behind Mick and stayed more in the background than usual. His face was closed off as he just stood there, eyes fixed on the huge world map on the opposite wall, but he didn't see it as he was too lost in his thoughts while listening to the others.

On the other hand, Jim could barely contain his curiosity and many questions this little meeting with Samael himself brought up in him. Like a hyper-active school boy, he kept fidgeting in his chair and each time he noticed that, he forced some calmness and patience on himself.

It only took an amused nod from Seth as permission and the first question was already out of his mouth.

"He called you RaHoorKhuit... What does that mean?"

"Well…" Seth smirked stroking down his mustache with his thumb and index of his right hand. "Ra is mostly known by now as the God of the Sun and all creations from Egypt. Back before that we’ve been trying to tell humans we’ve been caring for them and were teaching about what we are... or how we know what we are. That we are three but one. The clearest explanation is the literal meaning of the words. The Sun," here Seth pointed at Sotiris "the Warrior," here at himself "and the Teacher" and last at Christos. "They believed we are connected to Mars, as we told them we came from another world and the red planet always fascinated humans. Also, that we all are the forms of Ra himself, the baby sun, the grown warrior and the elder scholar of wisdom. Samael showed respect by calling us on such an ancient title."

"Can I ask too?" Paolo raised his hand like a good school boy. "What if many will answer The Call. And... what if Elohim too?" he asked what was on the mind of Vega and the Angel of Light pressed his lips together some more.

"Fascinating..." Jim murmured while his mind was quickly storing away all the new information then he looked at his pair next to him, finding him cute and hot as fuck, but he stomped down on those feelings. This wasn't the time... Especially because of the seriousness of Paolo's question.

All eyes went back to the sitting gods while waiting for an answer – except for Vega, who looked aside, crossing his arms in front of his chest, his fingers digging into his own flesh.

Of course, Mick has noticed the signs of distress on his lover and knew he would have to figure out a way to pull out some answers from Kerim, who seemed to be off ever since they came back from the desert. And frankly, even if this conversation was important, Mick would have just grabbed his angel to fly off with him and make him feel better.

The gods felt too how messed up and closed up Vega was. Seth tried to connect with the angel but he was distant even to the Dark God.

"They know we have the Nephilim on our side, and know about Vega. They don't know that Jim has mated with a special being and…" Sotiris spoke and winked at Paolo at that point before continuing "started to evolve with him. They don't know that Vega, the once Angel of Knowledge is now a trained fighter... Okay that they may suspect a little. But we have a strong ally with Samael and Lucifer and their created beings. Also, other creatures are in connection with us all over the world and they would stand with us in this. The process of bringing back our army is already in motion," he nodded towards Christos. "And we have Matt and King getting ready too. We are organized. And will call the high shamans too…"

Jim hummed and glimpsed at his pair again. Yes, he was special, he could tell and feel, but still didn't know the exact reason why. Oh well, it would give them something to talk about the next time they would be alone.

"It's good to know that the wheels were set into motion and that we can talk about an army now, not just a handful of creatures trying to protect this world," Jim said to Sotiris and nodded with respect and gratefulness. After all, a big chunk of winning this war rested on Jim's wide shoulders too and he was grateful for all the additional help they could get.

"I also have a few more questions, though... About the previous topic. You were talking about some stronghold of Samael and Lucifer... What does that mean? And what kind of sign is on it? And why is that important?" he quickly asked.

"The stronghold was our home once," Christos started to answer. "You may have heard the 'As above, so below' line. It's more ancient and those old humans used it. Many deities gave knowledge to only a selected group, like priests. We always taught all the people. Our sign is a downward red triangle, often doubled with the all-seeing eye of truth," he said turning to Seth who huffed but took off his jacket and pulled up his sleeve showing the symbol on his skin. "When we helped Samael cross the worlds, he was still very unstable. With Lucifer they stayed inside the walls of that building that held our powers and contained Samael. And we put it to Pandemonium's sub-dimension to keep this world safe. Now if they bring that back it will be another good strategy point for us all."

Seeing that symbol finally triggered Jim's memories from the time he has spent hours in the library to learn about the untold and forgotten parts of history.

"Yes, now I remember reading about the downward triangle and the 'as above, so below' line. It refers exactly to what you were trying to do. Make humans be like gods on their own with the help of knowledge... As the potential is in every one of them..." Jim nodded, keeping his hazel eyes on the tattoo. He saw it before there and knew it had much more meaning.

"You say them being on Earth will be beneficial... But I'm guessing also dangerous to some degree, no? You say Samael was unstable... I assume we can use his help to our advantage. But it also sounds dangerous. I've read about the destruction he was capable of. I just hope he won't become the next problem we will have to deal with..." Jim mused, stroking down on his beard as he thought forward.

"I have the feeling from him that he sees things now differently. And we have faith in his husband. Lucifer would do everything to keep Samael safe. And he only will be safe if he holds himself back. You will like him Jim… He has been flirty and witty ever since he had found his own self thanks to Lucifer," Sotiris smiled wide as he spoke. "Anyone have any more questions?"

"Any news about the twins and their activities?" That was Mick who broke the silence that otherwise fell on the small gathering. Even if he already wanted to leave with Kerim to close him in his arms and guide him back from the abyss of his thoughts where he seemed to be quite lost.

"They had butchered a whole hidden village of survivors. Now we know it was for the ritual. They are now probably waiting for the results of The Call. We still have time. Not much but still have time," Chris said. "Let all of us rest and continue the preparations," he added as the others nodded too in agreement.

Next chapter