On The Narrow Way

Part 2

"Let us have her." The demon pressed his face to the dirt before the Great Throne as it descended into the forest before him. Beside him, Dep and Vani also knelt with their heads to the ground. Dep growled, clenching his fists in the grass. Vani whimpered, barely audible in the wind breezing through the clearing.

Silence reigned in the clearing for a long while. Then a voice, quiet yet stern, said, "Why should you have her, Satan?"

"She's a pitiful mess... Why should I not?"

"She is my pitiful mess. I've allowed you to torment her thus far because there is a purpose. But I will not let you take this any further."

"She isn't yours yet," Satan said, his voice rising in pitch. "Why not let me do what I want to with her?"

"She isn't fighting us." Vani glanced up then returned to cowering. "If she won't even stand up for herself, who cares what happens to her?"

The Almighty's voice clapped like thunder through the clearing. "Silence!"

The three demons glanced up just enough to look at each other. Dep swallowed hard, stilling. Vani wrapped her arms around herself, whimpering. Only Satan ignored the command. "Their reasoning is sound. She isn't interested in your ways."

Lightning cracked across the sky as it darkened. "She is mine. I paid her price. In case you hadn't noticed, you've already lost. You have lost her and everything else."

"I'll take her yet!" He sneered, looking up for a moment.

Brilliant emerald-like rainbows surrounded the throne, and the light seared into him. The cherubim surrounding the throne glared at him with their many eyes. The one with a man's face pressed its lips together. The other three only kept their animal-like eyes trained on him. He hissed, covering his eyes and returning his face to the ground, eyes burning.

A voice like a trumpet boomed from the Great Throne. "You will not. You will do no more to Maggie Macleon. You could hurl every minion you possessed against her, but she will not fall. Her name is written in my Book of Life, and I have paid her price. No more will be be said on the matter." He nodded to the cherubim surrounding His throne.

The winged, four-faced creatures picked up the throne with clawed feet and lifted Him into the air.

"Begone, demon. Her time has not yet come. And when it does, she will be welcomed home with all rejoicing."

Satan hissed, flapping his wings and launching a few feet into the sky, shaking a fist toward the sky. "I will destroy her! If You weren't protecting her, she'd already be mine. Maggie is a walking train wreck. And that's all she'll ever be!"

Silence met his words. Satan's dark eyes flashed, his pale skin flushing as heat burned in his stomach. I deserve to be listened to, he thought, unfurling and shaking his silver wings. A few feathers fluttered to the ground as the Prince of Demons glared up into the sky. You'll see, he swore. You'll see. I swear by the depths of hell, I will destroy her.

***

From His throne, the Almighty watched His creation storm off into the clouds. He shook His head with a weary sigh. "I gave him everything... He was the most beautiful of my angels, but instead of being content, he tried to exalt himself to a position he could not have... And so it always goes with him, his followers, and the people I created..."

The Son stepped forward at the Almighty's right hand. "That is why I went after the ones you gave me." A faint smile twitched on his lips. "Satan may do what he has been allowed to do. We won't lose Maggie."