Dear readers, tonight we have a special guest with us. Introducing the Light-bringer, the former King of Hell, the morally grey Archangel Lucifer. He’s here to tell us about his past and how it feels to be in Heaven after several centuries of ruling Hell.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I’m one of Almighty Father’s (‘God’s’) first creations. I emerged as a fully grown adult angel so I never really had a childhood. I was one of the eight “First Born”, the original seraphs, the Archangels. Three females and four males. Almighty Father created me and my brother Michael at the same time. Our home was Heaven, a massive golden palace in the sky. We all had our own chambers in the first sphere, the closest to our maker’s throne-room. He called us “his children” and gave us thrones so we could sit by his side. I felt special to be there. We witnessed the creation of various classes of angels and the universe.

Did you have any cherished memories?

Yes. For example, some of my early duties as a watcher. I’ll never forget my first sunrise. It was marvellous. The day I learned to fly. Spreading my wings for the first time and flying into the night sky for a closer look at the moon and the stars. They were absolutely stunning. Then there’s the day I discovered my ability to shape-shift. I was keen to show off my new skills to Michael. I transformed myself into the animals that would annoy him the most just to see his reaction. I took the forms of noisy birds, buzzing insects, pesky little rodents, monkeys etc. Needless to say that Michael wasn’t impressed or amused. I still recall the look on his face… A mixture of shock, confusion and rage. So funny. (He smiles.) Sadly, Almighty Father didn’t find it amusing. He forced me to apologize.

You mentioned watcher duties. What does a watcher do exactly?

Well, as the name suggests, a watcher observes. Our duty is to keep an eye on the humans but we are forbidden from interfering with their lives. The mortals must make their own decisions. Almighty Father decides their fate when they die. The righteous souls are taken to Heaven by their cherubim guardians. The sinners are sentenced to Hell. The demons there open their portals for the new arrivals.

What can you tell us about how you ended up back in Heaven after centuries of ruling Hell?

What happened was that Almighty Father offered me forgiveness and invited me back to Heaven after the final battle of the Apocalypse. I had no choice but to accept. I ascended to the celestial realm. My descendants fought each other for the throne. There was a Purge and the realm was divided.

Almighty Father created a new Earth and populated it with humans. Now, two thousand years later, I’m still here. I can’t say it’s been easy but I’m relieved now that Hell is finally at peace.

What is the scariest thing about being back in Heaven?

The scariest thing is that my fate lies in the hands of Almighty Father. There’s limits to what I can and cannot do. Back in Hell, I was the king and I did as I pleased. Now I have to obey Almighty Father’s commands and I must follow the rules of Heaven. Even when I’m away from the throne-room, he is watching my every move. It’s been difficult at times.

I have no influence on what happens in Hell. I was powerless to stop the war. I couldn’t do anything to prevent the Purge or the division of the realm. And all I could do was watch. I cried for days afterwards.

That sounds awful. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

It was one of the most horrific scenes I’ve ever witnessed. It still haunts my dreams.

What is the worst thing about being an Archangel again?

The worst thing is the loneliness. My social life is limited. Gabriel and Raphael are usually busy with their duties. Raphael’s sister Arielle is dead. I talk to Michael occasionally but he’s rather dull. Metatron spends most of his spare time with his gorgeous wife Jophiel. They’re a sweet couple, but seeing them together makes me miserable. Jophiel’s sister Zadkiel mainly talks about herbs and ointments. I miss my family in Hell. Sadly, demons are forbidden from entering Heaven. And obviously I can’t do any of the activities I used do when I was a demon such as drinking blood, eating human flesh, participating in orgies and S&M.

What is the best thing about being back in Heaven?

The best thing is spending time with Almighty Father again. We’ve had several fights and disagreements in the past, but he’s still my father and I love him. Despite everything I’ve done, he welcomed me back with open arms.

What did you think when you saw humans for the first time?

The first time I saw humans in the Garden of Eden, my initial thought was how strikingly different they looked compared to angels. First of all they had no wings. Secondly, their skin lacked the radiant glow that celestials emit and their eyes looked plain. I thought little of the man. Yet there was something about the woman that caught my attention. She wasn’t perfect by any means. Yet she had a certain alluring beauty and a bright spark in her eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Was it love at first sight?

Hmm… I wouldn’t call it love. It was more like lust, a deep fascination. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I wanted to meet her and to get to know her.

Can you tell us a little a bit about your friends.

I don’t really have many friends to be honest. I was never particularly close with any of the Archangels. I’m the black sheep of the Firstborn. The prodigal son, the trouble-maker, the one who dared to challenge Almighty Father’s authority. The only one I got on well with was Arielle. Sadly she’s gone. She… She was kidnapped and murdered after the Purge. (He stops suddenly and looks visibly upset).

How awful. Can you tell us who killed her and why?

Arielle…. She…(Lucifer hangs his head, avoiding eye contact.)  I…  I’m sorry… I can’t talk about her murder. It’s too painful. I still have nightmares about it. Can we change the subject?

Yes, of course. How about a happier topic?

(Silence while Lucifer takes a few deep breaths to compose himself). Yes. That sounds good. I’m ready. You may continue…

Do you have any romantic involvement at the moment?

No. I’m single again. There’s been no one since the death of my beloved wife Lilith.

What about angel women? Has there been anyone who has caught your attention?

Not really. None of them are my type. They’re pretty, beautiful even, but they lack the type of personality I consider attractive. They’re too perfect. Too nice. Boring. Also they seem to be weary of me for some reason. Perhaps it’s due to my reputation as the fallen angel, the “evil one”, the former King of Hell.

Whom (or what) do you really hate?

Adam. The way he treated his first wife was despicable. This ridiculous belief that he’s somehow superior and must be obeyed just because he’s a man. Women shouldn’t be forced to obey their husbands blindly. Respect should be earned. And women should have the right to make their own decisions. I’m a firm believer in free will. That’s why in my old realm, demons tend to use the term ‘mate’ instead of ‘husband’, ‘wife’ or ‘spouse’. Mate is a neutral term that signifies an eternal bond but no ownership.

And do your descendants still respect the same values and laws that you established during your reign?

Yes, they do. My descendants rule the nine circles in co-operation with their mates and families. Our laws are different than those of Heaven. Some of our customs may seem immoral or evil to mortals but they have worked well for my kin.

Time for a more general topic…. What’s your favourite drink, colour, and relaxing pastime?

My favourite colour is crimson red. As an angel, I only drink nectar. I drank sinner’s blood when I was a demon. No preferences. Oh and angel blood was a favourite too. It works like a drug for netherworld creatures. It’s delicious, intoxicating and super addictive. (He grins wickedly). It’s also deadly. Drinking large amounts will kill a celestial. We’ve already talked about my pastimes when I was in Hell. Here in Heaven, I enjoy swimming in The Pool of Eternal Youth and gazing at the stars. It relaxes me.

We have talked a lot about your past, what does the future hold for you?

I don’t know to be honest. I’m an Archangel again, a servant of Almighty Father and no longer King of Hell. I’m sure the demons will be fine with my grandson in charge. As for me, I must remain by Almighty Father’s side. What happens to me now is up to him. I will no doubt resume my duties as a watcher, observing humans from my throne.

Finally, can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

None of my descendants are aware of my masochistic tendencies. I’m both a sadist and a masochist. They know I can be cruel and violent when required. I was the undisputed King of Hell and nothing  happened without my knowledge. But when it came to pleasures of the flesh, I let my queen dominate me. The fact I enjoyed it with she bit and lacerated me is something that I’ve never admitted in public. I hid the wounds. I didn’t want them to see me as weak for submitting to the will of my mate. What happens in my bedroom, stays in my bedroom. (Lucifer chuckles.)

Izabela “Iza” Raittila was born in Poland, but raised in the United Kingdom. She’s been a fan of fantasy, mythology and folklore ever since she was a child. She read J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Silmarillion’ during the coronavirus pandemic, which inspired her to write her debut book, the short stories anthology ‘The Stories They Told Their Children’. This and her the fantasy romance novella ‘Tiriyanin’s Riddles’ are set in a continent known as the Gragiyan Empire, a mystical land similar to ancient Rome where humans live among gods, elves and other mythical creatures. She is currently editing her first Gothic horror novel ‘Reign in Hell: A Gothic Romance’ inspired by various myths, Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’ and the TV show ‘Hazbin Hotel.’ In addition to writing and reading, she enjoys cycling, listening to heavy metal music and spending time with her husband and children. She lives in Finland.

You can find Lucifer on the freely-available The Fall, a short story on Izabela’s website.

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