Page 125 of An Unexpected Ascension
“As you wish.”
I heal the wounds on my body, my face included.
“Couldn’t watch me go another second in pain?”
“No. I couldn’t watch you fail your friend. That was for him.” She points her thumb at Lucifer.
“Tell yourself that all you want.” I wink and she scowls.
“Thank you,” the Devil mutters to her before turning back to his seat.
“You two have fun while I’m gone.”
Lucifer stares at me like he’s watching a ghost and Briar heads for the door again. So, I leave her with my parting words.
“If this very moment is my last with you, Angel, I can’t complain. The view is amazing.”
And then I’m gone.
Not a soulthat’s continued to exist, other than the Devil and Briar, has ever seen the Gods’ stone palace in Primordialis – a world within a world. For the arrogant Gods could not exist on the same plane as the very peasants that worshipped them. No, they were above such a thing, so much so that they created a separate plane of existence for themselves within a small pocket of Heaven.
There they ruled. There they lived and laughed and went about their merry lives. All while judging and damning humans as if they were nothing but objects to be sorted.
And because Primordialis is not a place you can happen upon by accident or even on purpose, the way by getting there must be willed by the Gods. However, with Lucifer being created from the very fabric of said Gods, we have a way in. It was all hypothetical ofcourse. Lucifer hadn’t stepped foot in the world since he was summoned by the deities after his stunt with the sacred Tree of Knowledge, but we found it was worth a shot.
Late last night, the Devil gifted me with his memory of the world from centuries ago in hopes that I can simply borrow his magic to blink myself into a place I’ve never physically been before.
The risky part is now hoping that the Gods aren’t sitting upon their thrones right at this very moment.
Hence why we chose this day to exact our plan. Though time is irrelevant in the afterlife, the Gods have lived by the very concept: to hold humans accountable, to stamp historical events into existence, to celebrate their wins.
Today is the day Heaven was created. When the universe sprouted like a seed of a flower, blossoming, its very cells multiplying before it spread into a garden of worlds.
The Day of Genesis.
On this day, the Gods have been known to enjoy a gathering with other deities, welcoming lesser powers to join in drink, dance, and feast. Or so, the Tree of Knowledge has shared with the Devil as if the very universe was gifting Lucifer a single day to save his Ada.
Yes, while the Gods mingle, jest, and fuck, this measly demon would sneak into the stone palace unseen.
And that’s exactly what happens.
To my surprise, I appear in the center of the stone tower surrounded by vacant thrones. In the distance, merry music can be heard. The harp and violin playing in harmony, the rhythm upbeat and enough to drag any drunk God to his feet with a Goddess in tow.
At the edge of the tower, I can spot the temple below. Bright green vines wrap around immaculate white pillars, flowers blossoming and ripe provide a beautiful pop of color against clean, shiny stone. It’s as if the temple sits in the middle of a lush garden.
Slabs of glittering veined marble are adorned with every fruit to ever exist, rich cheese and aged meats, food only fit for worthy mouths. Decanters of wine made from iridescent crystal sit beside it,never seeing the end of that deep burgundy drink despite how many goblets it fills.
And then there are the partygoers and their hosts. I don’t think I’ve seen so much wealth worn on a person in one place. Gold and silver, glittering gems in every color, grandeur crowns created of both metal and jewels! I wouldn’t be shocked if they claimed the fabric draped across their bodies were stitched with the very souls they’ve condemned and eradicated.
Though the sight of all those Gods – beings that would easily end my very existence with a snap of their fingers – is a frightful view, it doesn’t stop me from admiring the sheer beauty that is this world.
Sparing only another heartbeat, I find the spiral staircase of the tower and descend. The Tree has given Lucifer many glimpses of the Gods’ Palace, but hardly anything close to blueprints. I would have to rely on memories of hallways and brief views of different rooms.
The first floor beneath the tower begins in a narrow corridor, bright with a light that rivals the warm sun. It shines down, sparkling against the marble floors and gold accents along the walls – little baby angels, their wings extended in flight.
Slowly, I open the door of the first room, finding a wall of windows overlooking the flourishing temple below and a long, glossy wooden table. I wonder if this is what they consider their war room or if it’s where their thrones are.
Either way, this room is nothing to me.
