Book III: Eden
Chapter 6: The Eye of Seraphiel
Before I tell you about the further consequences of sin for Adam and Eve, I should probably also let you in on a little secret. Although I told Lucifer I’d destroyed Eden, that wasn’t exactly true.
”Let El and the humans believe Eden has been destroyed.” I said to myself as my mind calculated all the possibilities at my disposal. “This landscape may prove useful to me in the future.” And so rather than destroy it, I instead carefully concealed the gardens with a bit of magic – using my spell The Veil of Shrouded Splendor to hide it in a different dimension within The Middle Plane.
Once Lucifer had been cast down to Hell by Michael, I took the opportunity to return to Eden – for there was something there which called to me. It wasn’t anything living – at least not in the sense that you think of that word – for when I took Eden away from its immediate connection to Terra in your dimension, I subsequently destroyed its living creatures in the process. Yet that doesn’t mean everything in Eden died.
Standing on the edge of The Garden, I could feel my enchanted veil shimmering faintly. With a muttered incantation, I slipped through the barrier, my eyes scanning the familiar yet now desolate landscape. The beauty of Eden, though now devoid of its inhabitants, still held an ethereal allure – even for me.
Venturing deeper into the garden, my senses prickled with anticipation. I allowed myself to follow an instinctive pull, a whisper in my dark heart guiding me toward a secluded grove that I’d always known was there but had never bothered to visit – until now.
There, nestled inside the roots of an ancient tree, something was calling me —a relic of immense power. It was a crystalline orb and it pulsated with a faint, otherworldly light.
I recognized it immediately—the Eye of Seraphiel – a long-lost relic that granted the bearer an incredibly valuable ability. A skill that would fit in perfectly with my designs!
At this point I should probably tell you who Seraphiel was, right? After all I haven’t mentioned him to you before, have I?
Well if you must know, Seraphiel was once a majestic Lumenarc who’d been blessed with a gift from A’H called Fateweaving – a special ability that allowed him to see the intricate web of facts connected to all beings and events. By plucking at these threads of destiny, Seraphiel could thus subtly alter outcomes and influence the future. [Was I jealous of his skill? You better believe it!]
The fact that Lucifer was able to turn Seraphiel to the dark side in the war of the heavens was a giant coup for our rebellion. His power made him invaluable to our leadership group during the War of the Heavens and there was a time that Zebub and Lucifer were sure they’d defeat Michael’s Angelic Army because of it [perhaps too sure].
For a time, it did indeed appear that we rebels were going to win the war, and during that final cataclysmic battle, with Seraphiel guiding our every move, I’ll admit that I too believed we couldn’t lose. We knew everything Michael and his minions were going to do and we countered his every move. Unfortunately for us, we learned only too late that Seraphiel’s Fateweaving ability had its limits – he couldn’t see or modify that Grand Destiny that applied to A’H Itself – The Great Creator. When the Archangel Michael thus used <The Power of A’H> we rebels were completely caught off guard – so devastating was the blow that we were defeated in an instant.
Cast out of the heavens and into The Void. [For more on this story go back to Chapter 1.1 In the Beginning]
Seraphiel was cast out with the rest of us into the celestial soup that was the new universe of the Middle Plane. In the desolate expanse of The Void, Seraphiel’s angelic wings, once radaint with light, now bore the scars of battle like the rest of us fallen angels. Yet Seraphiel’s wings also bore the ‘dimming’ caused by his failure. It marked him.
Now you’ll recall that the Evil One Zebub also followed us into the Void. I knew that was going to be a problem – especially for Seraphiel. It was easy to see that Zebub was going to blame that lumenarc for our failures and that his time in existence was about to expire. I knew it, Lucifer knew it, everyone knew it – including Seraphiel. It was just a matter of when Zebub would come for him.
Then it was that I secretly approached Seraphiel with an offer to help him. Well, perhaps I should clarify – I wasn’t stupid enough to risk my neck trying to save him [that was a lost cause and we both knew it], but I didn’t want to lose his gift [and quite frankly I saw an opportunity to take it for myself].
In the darkness of The Void, amidst the eerie silence, then it was that I whispered on the winds of despair, “Seraphiel, Zebub is coming.”
I could sense Seraphiel’s fear. “It’s wrath will be merciless. I am doomed.”
“Your gift, Seraphiel. It cannot be lost. We must preserve it.”
“But how?” A flicker of hope ignited in Seraphiel’s heart – and that was all I needed to persuade him.
“Evil is near, but there is still time for us to create something,” I suggested, my command low and urgent. “An artifact, to carry your essence. We’ll call it something clever – how about The Eye of Seraphiel.“
For a moment I thought I might have gone too far, and I sensed Seraphiel hesitate – perhaps knowing I was using him. “It could be done. But it will not save me.”
“No,” I decided to go for broke. Working hard to keep the ambition out of my words I admitted. “The time for words is over. Zebub is coming. You are about to be destroyed. Nothing can save you. But if we create The Eye, your legacy will live on and your gift will transcend even Zebub’s wrath.”
Under the shadow of his impending destruction, I helped Seraphiel summon the last vestiges of his power. I used the matter of the cosmic soup and shaped it with Seraphiel’s divine energy – using it without mercy – to craft The Eye of Seraphiel —a crystalline orb that shimmered with the threads of fate, bound together by Seraphiel’s will and sacrifice.
As the artifact took form, and Seraphiel’s lifeforce rapidly drained, he whispered, “May it serve its purpose.”
“Oh don’t worry about that, my friend.” My spirit smiled as I took possession of the artifact and prepared to get as far away from Seraphiel as possible. “Wish I could stay longer, but something tells me your next guest is soon to arrive.”
I left Seraphiel to his fate – and you don’t want to know what Zebub did to him — Yikes! — so let’s focus on something positive. Like the fact that I had this cool new toy in my possession!
At the time there was too much heat on anything related to Seraphiel for me to even think about using the orb – in fact I didn’t even want the thing near me. So I hid it in the cosmic soup in a location only I knew.
Over the eons that followed other things filled my mind and I’ll admit I kinda forgot about Seraphiel and his Eye. [In my defense, who wants to remember losers, right?] As luck would have it [or maybe the threads of destiny?], The Eye of Seraphiel came to be hidden in the very matter and energy that Lucifer and I used to create The Garden of Eden. What luck, eh?
So now, as stood once more in the hidden Garden of Eden, the Eye of Seraphiel pulsed with a comforting glow. At first I dared not toucch it – for I could feel Seraphiel’s presence within it, a remnant of the fallen angel’s power and wisdom.
Was I maybe feeling a bit guilty for what happened to him? Not a chance! Instead I couldn’t believe my good fortune in finding that which I thought was lost.
The air around the Eye of Seraphiel was thick with potential, the very essence of fate humming in its crystalline depths. Then it was that I reached out and, as my fingers brushed against the cool surface, a surge of power coursed through me. The orb glowed brighter, reacting to my touch, and I felt the ancient magic intertwine with my own.
As I lifted the Eye of Seraphiel from its resting place, visions began to flood my mind.
I saw the countless possibilities, the myriad paths that the future could take. Each thread of fate was laid bare before me, and I realized that with this artifact, I could control not just the destiny of mankind, but perhaps the very fabric of reality itself – and that’s Reality with a Capital R!
“This is beyond perfect,” I whispered to myself, a wicked grin spreading across my face. “With this power, I can mold the world to my desires and ensure my dominion over every plane of the universe!”
Yet, even as I reveled in my newfound power, I remained cautious. I knew that Lucifer’s fall had not gone unnoticed by my fellow lumenarcs, and I needed to keep my plans hidden. Clutching the Eye of Seraphiel, I began to weave a new layer of magic around Eden, fortifying its concealment in it’s alternate dimension and ensuring that no prying eyes would discover my secret haven or the powerful artifact within.
Returning to the Veil of Shrouded Splendor, I cast additional wards and enchantments, making it nearly impossible for anyone to breach the garden’s sanctum without my knowledge. Satisfied with my work, I stepped back and admired the invisible fortress I had created.
Now, with the Eye of Seraphiel in my possession, I could begin to manipulate the fates of Adam and Eve, and their descendants, steering them towards a future that would secure my ultimate victory. The first step was to ensure that they remained ignorant of the true nature of their existence and the power that lay hidden within them.
As I left Eden, I felt a surge of confidence. The stage was set, and the players were in place. With the Eye of Seraphiel, I could control the narrative, bending the threads of fate to serve my will.
Adam and Eve would unknowingly become the progenitors of a race that I would shape and control, paving the way for my ascension.
The game was far from over, but I held the winning hand. The future of Terra, and the fate of all who dwelled within it, now rested in my hands. And I, Azazel, would stop at nothing to achieve my ultimate goal!
The Apocrypha of Azazel 