"Father, we've been searching this snow-filled land for over a year now, do you truly believe who you seek to be somewhere here?" Mazikeen questioned Lucifer.
The Lightbringer after his travels across the world and arrival at these lands has found out that this is one of the few lands in this earth where yet no so-called gods have formed for the amount of mortals were too little that survived its harsh conditions.
Mazikeen had sought him out drawing his travels within it to relay to him the news that Lilith, her mother wished to remain in Hell for the forseeable future to recover, it seems the Old One had focused his attack on her as well, because of her status as the wife of the Morningstar.
She was fortunately not harmed physically thanks to Lucifer's feather always carried with her and his Mother's protection of her.
He had wanted to immediately go to her side as he heard the news from his daughter, but was told that Lilith did not wish for him to do so for the longer he remained on the earth, the more his story etched itself on its foundations and she did not wish to delay his quest for freedom more than it already was.
He had hesitated, but knowing his wife, and how upset she would be if she were a reason for his continued imprisonment by predestination, he moved forward, Mazikeen having chosen to accompany him, allowing Raguel who seemed to have recovered enough to assume the mantle of Regent of Hell until his subsequent return.
His Mother also having decided to remain to reconnect with another one of her fallen sons.
"He is here somewhere, I am sure of it. He may have kept himself hidden to the extent that even I can not sense him without causing him to flee, but I know him. He always liked the silence much like myself."
Lucifer responded as he continued to walk.
"Who is he, anyway? All you've stated till now is that he's one of the angels that chose neutrality during the Great War," Mazikeen questioned, though as she stated the word 'neutrality,' she did so with a tone of absurdity, akin to the very concept of it being nonsensical to her.
"I suppose we're close enough that it would be pointless for him to flee at sensing the utterance of his name." Lucifer mused out loud.
"His name is Meleos, he was an angel, one of the Thrones, but was not a fighter at heart. He was one of the angels I went to recruit to my side before the beginning of the Great War..."
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Flashback, Before the Great War,
"Meleos, I do not understand you. You say you agree with my stance on the matter of Free Will yet you wish to remain neutral." Lucifer stated as he looked down at Meleos, who was seated, painting.
"As I stated before Morningstar, I am no fighter. It is not within me to spill blood and I especially do not wish to harm our siblings."
"I am not asking you to Meleos. It is not my desire either to do so, but," Lucifer began as he circled the angel, "I need to know who is on my side, so brother, answer me clearly, on who's side are you truly?" Lucifer questioned as he loomed at the angel from behind,
His eyes slightly aflame, reflected through the mirror at the side of the room, the perfect image of the Destroyer Angel that he is.
Meleos trembled slightly, almost ruining his painting.
He knew he needed to choose his words carefully. Since the Great Defiance, their eldest brother has not been the same.
He's been terrifying.
The Host have been on their toes whenever he was around and attempted to avoid him as much as possible without arousing his suspicion and that is saying something when they did not avoid Michael, who was Fear itself incarnated.
"I am on your side of course, eldest brother. I may not aid you in the way a warrior would, but I am doing my part in other ways." Meleos explained, cold sweat rolling down his back.
"Do tell," Samael ordered, his tone gentle, as he put his hands on Meleos's shoulders who attempted not to flinch at the touch.
If his eldest brother willed it now, he would burst aflame, and since he's so little known because of his own desire for solitude, he would most likely not truly be missed.
Father and Mother would also easily forgive their Favorite son, these were the Throne's terrified thoughts as he opened his mouth to speak.
"I visited Destiny of the Aneuteloi recently. He was not cordial... But he allowed me to examine his Book." Meleos stated, Lucifer grip on his shoulders seemed to tighten slightly at his words.
The force of his hold was in itself not painful, but neither was it truly comfortable.
"Continue," ordered the Prince of the Heaven.
"I... I did not do it for power or authority. I did it because Destiny's Book is the ultimate chronicle of all we have thought, done and will do. As an artist, it- it fascinated me.
I- as you can see," Meleos gestured to the painting of Samael, titled 'Morningstar' under it, it being akin to a card, continued, "I have begun to create something with the same worksmanship.
Think of it Lightbringer, you might read your enemy's mind with this deck, or your own for that matter." The Throne explained, his last words tinted with excitement.
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"You need him for information," Stated Mazikeen in understanding.
Lucifer nodded, "The gift of Omniscience is my Father's. The Old Ones are out of my sight and hearing. I can not Will knowledge into my mind, for to Will something, I need to know what I truly want to exist or at least, that what I Will has the characteristic of bestowing upon me what I desire with its existence.
If I do not have this then it is impossible.
The gift of Omniscience is my Father's, and that Deck is connected to His Book.
It will allow me to access that well of knowledge." Lucifer explained, continuing his walk with Mazikeen right behind him.
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"He's coming Meleos," The skeleton said.
"He's hunting for truth. He wants to crack it between his teeth, suck out its marrow and spit out the bone." The Hunter stated.
"I know, but what will you have me do? Should I continue to run and hide? Besides, I do not truly fear Lucifer."
"He says this now? When he is the one who hid till there was no more place to hide, who ran till there was nowhere more to run?" The king scoffed.
"And why would you not? You are afraid of us and have till now kept us in a box of oak and iron. You have only released us temporarily to aid you in staying hidden from him." The upside down Joker stated.
"I am not afraid of you," Meleos countered.
"Then let us out to play, to fly, to fuck, to feed, all the things you yourself have forsaken in your quest to keep us away from Creation." The upside down Joker continued.
If only he had not been so arrogant to allow this thing to exist. If only he had been strong enough to not fear Lucifer as he did not now when he was young.
He was not afraid. That is the Eternal Truth. Lucifer has no power over him.
"Oh, Meleos, if only you understood the light that silences a thousand voices will soon descend upon you." The man hanged on a wheel stated.
"You should know Meleos, nothing created is eternal, your truth may soon become falsehood instead." The little girl stated.
"Be quiet! You have no say, no authority over me!" Meleos yelled furiously as lighting suddenly struck outside and the door flung open, the chilling winds and rain flowing inside.
"Hello, Meleos, it seems you have finally decided to stop running." Lucifer stated from behind the old looking angel, covered in the rain and snow.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please do comment and review, it makes me know you want me to continue what I am doing.
It motivates me, is all.
Well, I'll see you all later,
Bye!)