Fallen Crusades -- Lucifer's Fall

“Was it you?” The room was empty save for the lone man sitting behind the large mahogany desk. He stared at an old picture sealed behind metal and glass.

Michael reclined as much as he could in his chair, one elbow resting on the arm piece. He had placed his chin in his up-turned palm, brow creased in thought.

“It wasn’t Gabe. She said she saw him.” Leaning forward to gently take the picture, he brought it back to his seat.

Five men, each dressed in suits of the early 30's, stood side by side, hands in their pockets. Two looked like twins with their light hair and eyes. The only difference was one was smiling. The other three frowned at the picture taker as well, though not in a disgruntled way. It was more like a serious business photograph. Above them, the words “LONG CORPORATION” stretched along the front of a small office building.

Michael stared at the frowning, light haired man. There was a soft wisdom in that man’s eyes even as he looked at the camera. They were also sad, as though a burden greater than the world itself had been placed on his shoulders.

“Did you save her, Lucifer?” the dark haired man asked the picture.

“And if I did?” came a soft reply.

Micheal jumped, his head jerking up and green eyes searching the dusk-lit room. Cabinets of files lined the wall by the door. Two plush chairs sat before his desk, a potted plant in the corner. On the couch under the windows, sat the blonde haired man from the picture. He was staring out at the sunset.

Slowly, Micheal placed the photo back on his desk. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t supposed to come in contact with us for the next three centuries.”

“Not directly, no.” Lucifer turned his head and focused the same green eyes as Michael’s on him. “Did He ever tell you what he cursed me with?”

Michael remained silent.

Lucifer gave a faint laugh. “Didn’t think so.”

“Why did he curse you? We know what the mortals think, but not the truth, Luce.”

“Perhaps it is the truth?”

“Don’t do that,” snapped Michael.

Once again, Lucifer fixed that green gaze on his brother. A sadness lingered there. “I’m never allowed back, even when you and the rest of our siblings return at the end of the world. I was wrong.”

“But what did you do, brother?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? It’s not as though we could change it. He made certain time went only one way... or maybe it’s the something else that preordained everything?” Lucifer shrugged at his own thought.

“No, my brother,” the blonde continued, “What I did doesn’t matter. I’m being punished for it everyday when I watch as the mortals give in to temptation and fall further and further from our Father.”

“So that’s the curse, is it?” commented Michael quietly. “He made you the new tempter. The Misjudged. You must have done more than we knew.”

Raising a brow, Lucifer studied his brother. “If I could, I would never have done what I did. I would change the past, still be in His graces.”

Silence passed between them. Night had nearly settled on the office.

“Remember when we first started this business?” Lucifer asked, his voice dreamy.

“I do.” replied Michael. “It was the last time you were allowed to be known to us.”

“You did well with it. Long Corp is one of the top most successful businesses. Have your hands in everything legal without monopolizing the market. I wish I could have helped. Might have been nice to live like a normal mortal.”

Sighing, Lucifer stretched and yawned. “I get to be one of the Forsaken when the world ends. I used to be the left hand of God, but now... Look at me. I’m still an angel. I just can never go back to heaven.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t. It’s not your fault. You wouldn’t have been able to stop my stupidity if you had tried. And it’s over with. There isn’t a day I regret it though. Maybe that’s what Hell is like? Suppose I’ll find out when the world no long needs the angel who tempts.

“I don’t understand why mortals can’t get things right though. Why can’t they understand that I am different from the Demon King? I get blamed for his doings. All I do is test people, see if they’re worthy of God and His kingdom.”

Michael stared at his brother, a vise closing around his chest. Never would Lucifer get to be one among his own siblings again. He would have to stay with those God deemed unworthy and suffer like them. Their Father could be cruel. Then again, Lucifer had sinned.

Angels weren’t supposed to sin. Ever.

“Satan is God’s brother. I am God’s son,” Lucifer continued. “I serve God still. Is it because I tempt them? Do they loath and hate me for making sure they’re good enough for God? Or do they hate me for simply being Forsaken? I don’t think I’ll ever know.”

“It is hard to read a mortal’s mind. Father wanted it to be interesting to watch.”

The blonde stared at his brown haired brother, golden brows arched high. “You know of the game?”

Confusion distorted Michael’s face. “Game? What game?”

“Ah. Nevermind then. I’ve said too much.”

“Lucifer.”

“Goodbye, Michael. Remember: I’m the shadow at the edge of your vision.”

Casting his green eyes about the room, Michael searched for his brother. Lucifer was gone again, just a shadow that had disappeared in the corner of his eye, like the fallen angel had said. There probably wouldn’t be another chat between them for three hundred years, if Lucifer had not spent all his collected time already.

With a sigh, Michael glanced one last time at the old picture and left the office. Lucifer may have marked his daughter when he saved her. That might give him a clue as to this game his brother spoke of.