Description

As the adversary drew near, the light faded, and the unwanted advances of obscurity took hold in Christopher’s mind. The space around Christopher turned still and cold. With the change in temperature Chris noticed that an acrid smell of burnt sulfur and bitter citrus had filled the air. The unwelcomed visitor, Lucifer, spoke again, calling Chris by name. His penetrating voice was glib and unequivocally commanding. Christopher fought the need to run. He tried hard not to succumb to the dread of the situation. And though his knees went weak, Christopher tried hard not to show it.

Lucifer’s leering grin was nefarious and masked only by the shadow’s which concealed him. He knew that Christopher was shaken, and he relished it. Closer, the adversary inched toward Christopher, but ever so lightly. He stayed within Christopher’s peripheral vision, always just out of sight, and whispered his lies. Leaning in close Lucifer said “They called for you by name Chris. They were so beautiful, your daughters and your wife. It was a pity that you could not be there. Their deaths were so…pointless.”

Satan’s words filled Christopher’s mind with graphic images of Rachel, Madison, and Emily. He closed his eyes as if to shut them out, but the venomous imagery seeped like poison into his consciousness. Christopher tried to respond but could not. His words, weak and fragile, betrayed him as they dissipated in empty breath. Lucifer, anticipating Christopher’s response, replied “Oh Christopher. Do you think that I wished this? That I caused this? No. I cannot rule over the agency of others Chris. That is against the will of the Father. It was not I who killed your family. It was another.”

The false empathy in Satan’s voice was evident, but the doublespeak and twisted truth’s bewildered Christopher’s mind. “I do not relish in the pain of others” Lucifer continued, “It is my obligation to command over sin. It is my calling. This responsibility was bestowed upon me by the Father and it is my duty to serve mankind in this way.” Christopher’s fear gave way to anger. He drew strength from the vengeance inside him and looked to the adversary. “Cut to the chase serpent” Chris said. Then Lucifer, eager to oblige, squared up to Chris until the two were face to face and looked Chris in the eyes.

“I know what you seek brother” Lucifer replied, “I know who it is you look for. You seek the man who murdered your family. Of course you do. And has the Father given him to you Chris? After all your begging and pleading, has the Father granted you this one small wish?” Chris hesitated, but Satan persisted undeterred. “No. He hasn’t. Has He Chris? And why do you think the Father, who is capable of any and everything, ignores you so? I’ll tell you why brother. Because He does not love you as I do.”

Chris became angry at Lucifer’s attempts to confuse him. He started as if to rebuke Lucifer saying “Go to…” but stopped short, realizing the absurdity of his command. Lucifer laughed. “Go where Christopher? To hell? Perhaps, but before I depart allow me to give you this small gift.”

Lucifer showed Christopher a dark vision of strange man. In the vision Chris saw the man from behind the coffee shop. The same man whom Chris had searched for earlier that day. “His name is Benjamin,” Lucifer said, “And when you find him Chris you must kill him. You must kill him before he murders again. Before he slaughters another family as he did yours.” Christopher turned from the vision, pained by the implication of it. Then he looked out over the city with tears in his eyes and said to Lucifer “You lie”.

“Oh really?” Lucifer replied. “Well. Perhaps you are right Chris. Perhaps it’s not worth going after the criminal who killed your family. Perchance it would even be foolhardy for you to seek after the villain, the man, who did this…” With a wave of his hand Lucifer cast another dark vision. This one was of Rachel and Christopher’s daughters. They were covered in blood, calling Christopher’s name, and burning in a great fire. Angry, Christopher decided that Satan’s charade was at an end. He summoned what strength remained inside of him, and crossed over into the spirit world.

The Saynt passed through the veil and stepped into a raging tornado of dark fire. The flames spread skyward above him and their dark shadows traced the lines in his golden armor. The Saynt steadied himself before the fearsome and dark angel that rose before him. He reached for his sword only to find it missing. Stunned, he looked back to the dark lord who was Lucifer and whose countenance was terrible, but stunning.

Lucifer looked down at Christopher with cold eyes. The expression upon his dark face was wrought with scorn and disdain. “Stand not against me oh favored champion of our Lord!” Satan cried. His words, though tainted with sarcasm, boasted with false authority. “I am a son of the morning glory. I am star of the Heavens. I am the light bearer, the shining one. You have no power in my domain Chris Saynt!”

Lucifer practically spit Christopher’s name as he stood tall and began to advance through blackened fire. The Saynt retreated backward, looked again for his sword, the Word of God. Lucifer pressed closer, still shouting. “Now it is I, your Dark Lord, whom you will serve!” Then the ground beneath Chris hardened and cracked. Lucifer raised his hand, and called into existence a blade of shadow. The Saynt, still bearing his shield, raised it in defense, and from his armor burned a white fire.

Being aware of his perilous situation the Saynt cried out to his Savior Jesus Christ. As the dark angel smiled it seemed as though Christopher’s cry would go unanswered. But then, blotted against the dark sky, a small white dove descended from the heavens. It passed into the tornado, resolute and unafraid, and flew toward them. Following it, flowing from behind like a large white ribbon, came a bright light that cut through the storm and melted through the dark flame.

Lucifer cried out in anger as the dove drew close. Then, with a leer, he sank into the shadows. The Saynt watched as the fire diminished and the dark flames followed their master. Above him, the white dove continued to draw near. As it spiraled from the heavens the space around it became increasingly bright. The Saynt tried to shield his eyes but the light from the dove penetrated everything. It touched his face and sank deep into his skin. Then the light pried open The Saynt’s heart. The Saynt screamed but the light numbed his pain, washed away his tears, and put him into a deep and peaceful sleep.