The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

Lucifer had never killed before, not even for sustenance. He lived on fruits and vegetables but also derived an energy from the earth that allowed him to survive for months without food. Gabriel was the first being Lucifer had ever attacked. When he drove his sword into her back, the intention was to kill her. Whatever it was God thought he saw in Lucifer’s eyes, it wasn’t guilt. Lucifer would do anything to protect this realm and its inhabitants from God, his angels and any other beings that threatened it.

Lucifer braced himself for God’s attack. When it came, it was like the bright balls of fire he’d seen soaring across the night sky. It slammed into him with such force, Lucifer was certain his end was near. His feet flew off the ground as his body crashed into multiple trees. He flattened many before coming to rest on a large oak. His sword was still in hand, but his body was embedded with splintered wood.

God stood before him as if he had teleported the distance. “You’re still alive,” he commented. “That would have killed most.”

“I am the first,” Lucifer said defiantly. “I will not be gone so easily.”

God smiled. It was a beautiful and radiant smile. “That’s something we have in common. I was the first too in my realm. But I am stronger than you. I am a God. You are still human,” God said. He dug his fingers into Lucifer’s arm. “You are a creature of flesh.”

Dots of red appeared on Lucifer’s arm as God easily pierced his skin. It felt like being prodded with hot iron spokes. Lucifer gritted his teeth again to stop from screaming.

“You’re an enigma, Lucifer,” God said, his tone conversational. “It has been many years since I last came across an unknown entity.” God pulled his nails out of Lucifer’s flesh. “This was interesting. But it is time for you to die. Any last words?”

Lucifer managed to spread his lips into a smile. This God figure was much older than Lucifer, older even than the planets in this realm. He had a power that was something to behold. But Lucifer wasn’t without his own powers. The powers of this realm. Powers that had completely healed the wound in his arms where God had dug his nails in.

“This world is for humans,” Lucifer said. “You should leave while you still can.”

Lucifer kicked into the ground and shot up the oak tree. He somersaulted over God and landed on his knees behind the divine being. Sword in hand, he slammed it into God’s back with all his force. It failed to even cause a scratch.

“You can’t defeat me, Lucifer,” God said. “No one can.”

God was right. He couldn’t be defeated. Lucifer’s eyes fell on Gabriel. The angel lay on the ground in the foetal position, asleep, still recovering from his attack. “You’re right,” he said. “You can’t be defeated. But your angels aren’t as strong.”

Lucifer didn’t wait for God’s response. He turned and ran. God chased after him. Lucifer was quick, but God was quicker. It mattered not. This was Lucifer’s realm. He felt God creep up behind him and when the divine being reached out to grab Lucifer by the scruff of the neck, the ground opened up and swallowed only him. Lucifer disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

His sword planted firmly in the beast’s chest, Lucifer stood on the angel and waited until the body beneath him came to a standstill, waited until the wings stopped flapping and its aura faded completely.

Once dead, what remained of the angel was not that much different than a human. The body had the same arms and legs. This male angel had a cock. It was taller than a human and it had wings. But once dead, once the angel’s glow was gone, it looked to be created of flesh.

As Lucifer pulled out his sword, he wondered if angels had souls. He didn’t know this angel at all. Didn’t know if it was good or bad. Could angels even be good and bad like humans? Or were they a collective bunch of mindless slaves controlled by God?

Lucifer tried not to think of the angels as individuals. It made it easier to kill them. He’d killed hundreds so far. But it wasn’t enough. There were too many angels. He’d created huge chambers underground for the humans to hide in. They were safe hidden, but it was no way for the humans to live, cowering underground in the dark away from sunlight and fresh air.

Lucifer trudged away from the dead angel with heavy feet. He wanted to rest, but this was not the place nor the time. The dying cries of an angel always brought more angels to investigate. Soon, this spot would be swarming with the flapping pigeons. Part of him was tempted to stay put and fight the angels, go out in a blaze of glory. He was exhausted by all of this. The only end in sight came with Lucifer’s defeat. God was going to win. It was only a matter of time.

His eyes fell on a patch of pristine grass at the bottom of a large oak tree. It was a good spot to rest and wait for the angels. Lucifer plonked down and rested against the trunk.

Despite the destruction the angels had brought, the earth was still beautiful and green. The night sky was filled with stars. Lucifer felt a bitterness as he stared up at them. God and the angels had come from up there. He had spent many a night staring up at the sky, marvelling at its beauty. Never had he imagined such devastation coming from such beauty.

As Lucifer sat with his back resting against the tree trunk, the ground started to shake.