Book V: The Book of Baal
Chapter 2: Lucifer’s Palace
I always knew there would be hell to pay with Lucifer for the situation that occurred with Eve, so luckily I’d been preparing for this event for some time. Before I left I managed to smuggle a few things with me — to include a handful of tortured souls and the woman Lilith [whom I’d pulled from her prison beneath the Crystal Towers of Lemuria where I’d been keeping her on ice for just this occasion – hey does that make me the world’s first prepper?].
When I arrived in Illusia, I had but one choice on where to go – Lucifer’s Palace.
Nestled within the heart of Illusia, the sprawling citadel stood as a testament to both divine grandeur and infernal decadence. Carved from the very essence of shadow and obsidian, its towering spires reached towards the vaulted heavens of this celestial realm, their tips adorned with ethereal flames that flickered with an unnatural, cold brilliance. The palace’s architecture defied mortal comprehension, with sinuous arches and spiraling minarets that seemed to shift and warp with the ebb and flow of dark energies that permeated Illusia.
As I forged ahead to meet my destiny, I dragged Lilith behind, her hands and feet in shackles. I could sense that she was trying to walk with confidence, yet it was obvious that her once proud demeanor was now subdued by the weight of captivity and the knowledge of the power surrounding her. [Of course the way I’d tortured her prior to coming here probably had something to do with that too].
Following Lilith came a grotesque group of little demons – born from the agony of tortured stellarones – their forms twisted and contorted into monstrous visages. They shuffled forward on clawed feet, their eyes glowing with a malevolent intelligence that bespoke of my unmatched creativity.
As we approached the palace, we met with an imposing facade—an intricate lattice of blackened stone adorned with runes of The Tongues of the Abyss, glowing with a sinister luminescence. The entrance, a colossal gate wrought from the bones of murdered celestial beings, loomed ominously before us, guarded by towering statues of twisted fallen angels frozen in expressions of eternal torment – murdered by Lucifer and his father. But the gates were open for us and all the magic was neutered – for we were expected.
Inside, the halls of Lucifer’s Palace unfolded in a labyrinthine maze of opulent chambers and dimly lit corridors. Shadowy tapestries depicting scenes of cosmic warfare draped the walls, their threads woven from strands of starlight and the whispers of the vanquished lumearcs that died in The Time Before. The air was thick with the scent of incense and brimstone, mingling with the distant echoes of unearthly melodies that emanated from hidden chambers where lumenarcs and demons alike conspired – for every corner of the palace whispered of secrets and schemes, of alliances forged and betrayals plotted, all in service to the insatiable hunger for dominion that drove the fallen prince of light.
I led my prisoners past all of these distractions and towards our singular goal – Lucifer’s Throne Room – where I knew the Dark Lord would be waiting for me. When we arrived at the heart of the palace, we came into a cavernous chamber adorned with obsidian pillars that reached towards a vaulted ceiling adorned with constellations of dark jewels. At its center, high above, sat Lucifer’s throne, a twisted monolith of blackened bone and molten gold – it commanded the attention of all. For there was Lucifer himself – in all his glory – having called to court leagues of lumenarcs to pay him homage. My former colleagues were lined up by the thousands and all of them appeared to be in on the joke – since it was obvious that the closer I got to Lucifer the more he began salivating at the thought of destroying me.
I made a note of my former friends in the crowd – so many were envious of me – harboring long held grudges against me, perhaps feeling I’d gotten away with too much trickery at their expense. I could hear their whispers about me – eager to see my downfall so they could advance their own. They screamed for my blood and it was clear Lucifer was eager to give it to them.
The Apocrypha of Azazel 