The Order of Saint Michael

Realms of the Eternal Conflict

The Order of Saint Michael

Blake Harper

ISBN (Print Edition): 978-1-09832-508-4

ISBN (eBook Edition): 978-1-09832-509-1

© 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Contents

Chapter One

Beginning of the End

Chapter Two

Answering the Call

Chapter Three

A New Purpose

Chapter Four

Sanctuary

Chapter Five

The Cohort

Chapter Six

The Fallen

Chapter Seven

A Grasp of Reality

Chapter Eight

A Different Lesson

Chapter Nine

Belial

Chapter Ten

An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter Eleven

The Rosary

Chapter Twelve

A Brave Gamble

Chapter Thirteen

Altered Allegiance

Chapter Fourteen

Never Alone

Chapter Fifteen

Castle, Hematite, Answers

Chapter Sixteen

Donum Vitae

Chapter Seventeen

The Coming Storm

Chapter One

Beginning of the End

Dark clouds were fast approaching in the distance and despite their efforts, the gate to the other side slowly began to open. They stood in place with outstretched hands, sweating in their white robes against the desert heat, and reciting the chant with all their might. It was to no avail.

The gate was steadily increasing in size, winning the fight. It was becoming clear to the monks, chanting in harmonious tune, that they would be hard pressed to keep it from opening. It was a doorway, a black portal which would bring the horrors of Hell into the world.

Brother Thomas stood a few yards back in disbelief as he watched his fellow clergymen lose the battle. He couldn’t help but wonder, in this moment, how this came to pass. Why was this happening now? But most importantly, how was this happening? This gate was being opened from the other side, conjured in the large open courtyard of an abandoned and ruined castle in the middle of the desert. He didn’t linger on it much longer, for action had to be taken. There was a good chance that the gate would soon be open.

Brother Thomas turned to his counterpart standing nearby and said, We must inform the Vatican at once. They need to know what’s happening. Get yourself there now and in front of his Holiness. Do not let anyone deter you. Go!

The monk nodded and took a few steps away from Brother Thomas. He brought his hands in front of him and bowed his head as if in prayer. Brother Thomas watched as the monk was engulfed by rays of blue light before suddenly disappearing. He now turned his attention back towards the portal, satisfied that his instructions were being carried out.

There were six other members of his monastic order standing in a semi-circle around the portal. All the men were deep in chant, singing aloud the holy song in unison that was required to combat the evil magic used to conjure the gateway. As they sang, rays of blue and golden light shot forth from the monks and when the rays reached the portal, they engulfed it.

Brother Thomas dared not interfere. He remained steadfast in the hope that this might work, looking at his brothers to his left and right with no small matter of anxiety. There was little he could do now except pray and keep faith in God.

The portal began to waver, caused by the pressure of the chant. It was decreasing in size and becoming more transparent. Joy soared within Brother Thomas’s heart at the thought of success, and more so at the thought of averting a global crisis. It had been many years since such an incident happened.

But his joy was short lived.

Just then, as the portal was near collapse, there was the sound of an explosion, accompanied with a shockwave that erupted from the gate, knocking over everyone in the vicinity and disrupting their holy chant.

Brother Thomas immediately got up, wiping away the sand and dust from his face and robes. There in front of him and in full view stood the completed gate they had tried so hard to prevent from opening. The large black swirling hole stood there upright and suspended slightly off the ground. The outline of the portal glowed as if on fire, with spurts of red lightning shooting from it. Nothing came from it, no noise or sound. It just stood there, waiting patiently. The rest of the monks got themselves up, immediately on alert for whatever was to happen next. Each man had their gaze set on the portal, looking all around it for the slightest hint of movement.

A dark, sinister laugh erupted in the air as if coming from all around them. The monks looked around to locate the source, only to realize that it was coming from the portal. It struck fear in their hearts and the emotion could be seen on the face of every man. Brother Thomas composed himself and marched over to be closer to his brothers, all of whom soon had their eyes fixed on the black hole. Then he realized why.

Coming from the gate was a pair of deep red eyes peering down at them. Brother Thomas knew who this was, knew what the history books said about this demon. Whatever hope he had left that was stirring in his heart was soon gone. Each monk took a cautious step back as they all looked death in the eye.

God save us, Brother Thomas said under his breath.

Another sinister laugh rang out, the clergymen grasped their ears to the sound.

Not even He can, monk, the deep, dark voice cried out, The damned will consume this world. It has only just begun!

Brother Thomas tried to steady himself as his heart pounded in his chest. A few of his brothers to his left and right began to breath heavily. A horrid smell of sulfur hit his nostrils and at the same time, movement at the base of the dark portal caught his eye.

It was a large paw. This paw was hairless and red. Soon, the leg was revealed as the creature came through, followed by the rest of the body. It was a body like that of a wolf, except much larger and with no eyes. Its large snout sniffed the air as its spiked tail lashed back and forth.

Brother Thomas! one of the monks shouted.

Brother Thomas looked behind, up on the hill where he had been earlier. A hooded black and green robed figure emerged. Next to the hooded figure, another came forth, followed by more until the entire area was surrounded. The smell of sulfur intensified and as Brother Thomas looked back towards the dark portal, more of these creatures emerged from it. He and his group were surrounded. He thought about giving the order for them all to teleport to a safe location, but they wouldn’t get the chant off in time.

May God’s grace be with us, Brother Thomas began as he looked at his brothers, May He deliver the world from this evil.

The surrounded monks were converged on from all sides as they fought for their lives, holy chants clashing with the forces of Hell. The demon’s red eyes from within the dark portal looked on with pleasure as one monk began to fall after the other. His plans were now set in motion and this time there would be a different outcome. There was a bitterness that set in with their last defeat many years ago. This bitterness gave way to hate and revenge and for a demon in his position in Hell, defeat only made him look weak.

I will succeed, and I will ascend, the demon said to himself when only one monk of the Order of Saint Michael remained, They are not prepared.

***

Amaymon strode across the scorched grounds of Hell, stretching his great red leathery wings. After seeing what happened to the monks of the Order of Saint Michael, he couldn’t help but grin to himself. He couldn’t help but be amused at their failure and his small victory. This was just the initial step that would eventually lead to his legions of demons invading Earth.

The demon stopped and looked ahead at his destination. It was a lone plateau that stood high in the red sky. One dark speck dotted the top. The Cardinal King of the South, Asmodai, was waiting for him. Off in the distance, fire spewed from volcanoes as rivers of lava came forth, snaking their way across the dark landscape. The ground trembled for a moment as these forces of nature wreaked havoc on the land. It was chaos, but Amaymon didn’t even seem to notice or care. To him, this was home.

Amaymon took in a deep breath, stretching his wings one final time with a great flap before proceeding.

You’re late, Asmodai said smacking his long-spiked tail on the ground as Amaymon reached the top of the plateau.

Amaymon ignored the remark, taking his place in front of Asmodai. Amaymon towered over his companion, but Asmodai was much wider as he stooped on six crab-like legs. The shorter demon’s tail moved back and forth behind him as he cracked the knuckles on his thick, clawed hands.

I assume you were successful in opening the dark portal? Asmodai said, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth as he grinned.

Quite so, Amaymon replied.

The others aren’t aware, are they? Asmodai asked, Your brother and Beleth.

Eventually they will discover what we’re up to, Amaymon said, But by then it will be too late. Once word reaches their kingdoms in the North and East of what we’ve accomplished, their legions will become ours.

"And what happens when he finds out too?" Asmodai asked, looking off into the distance.

We’ll gain his favor, Amaymon replied confidently, and open his eyes to new possibilities.

The dark one is not easily impressed, Asmodai retorted, looking back to Amaymon.

No, Amaymon said, scratching around his large horns, He is not.

And if we should fail, Asmodai said, but stopped short, thinking.

Amaymon, the Cardinal King of the West, knew this was a gamble. To act on Earth without the blessing of the one ruler of Hell was a great crime. However, he recalled the distant history that surrounded his master.

You were there when we rebelled against Heaven and lost the war, Amaymon said.

Yes, Asmodai replied, recalling the battles, It all started when God created mankind. That act divided us.

You remember how our master was during that time. When he called for us all, his fellow angels, to rise up.

Yes, Asmodai said again, There was vigor there. He had fire within him.

We’ve grown stagnant, Asmodai, Amaymon said, looking at his companion, I will help to show him the path.

"We," Asmodai said through dark eyes.

Yes, Amaymon replied, "We... will show him the way. Earth is but a stepping stone to the gates of Heaven. Our master knows this. Our past attempts to claim Earth as our own have failed. We’ve tried before, all of us, together. Many times we’ve failed and with those failures we’ve become lost and divided with no direction."

Amaymon looked off towards the direction he came, another smile coming across his face.

Now, Amaymon began, "We wait no more. You and I will claim it for him and crush my brother and Beleth in the process. We will reunite all of Hell. We will sit by his side."

Chapter Two

Answering the Call

William Bourgeois woke up in a fit of excitement this morning on the twentieth day of June at his home outside New Orleans, Louisiana. Today he turned twenty-one. It was a day when he was finally able to start down the path towards a new beginning. For several years he had been eager to enter the monastic life at Saint Joseph Abbey. With graduating college just the month prior, he’d held up his end of the bargain. He was at last able to get his parent’s blessing. This was something he held to heart, for his family meant the world to him. He felt he couldn’t succeed at this pivotal moment in his life without their support.

William could hear his mother and grandmother already up and making breakfast downstairs, the smell of bacon filling the whole house. With a large smile on his face, he jumped out of bed and ran down to meet them. As he rounded the corner that led into the kitchen, his bare feet hardly making a sound as he entered the room, his grandmother was the first to notice him. The voluminous hairstyle she’d kept since the days of her youth was already up in hot rollers and being prepared. It was no wonder where William got his own thick head of hair.

The small woman smiled and was about to say something, but William brought a finger to his mouth, bidding her to be quiet as he returned her smile. She knew what her grandson intended to do as he quietly stalked her daughter, his mother, as she was turning over the bacon in the skillet.

William! his mother shouted in surprise as he snuck in a hug from behind, causing her to drop a piece of bacon onto the floor.

Morning mom, he laughed in unison with his grandmother.

Lord, she said laughing as well when she composed herself, I almost lost the breakfast to the floor. Happy birthday dear.

Ah, come now, William replied as he bent down to pick up the bacon from the floor with a napkin, Five second rule and thank you. I don’t feel quite twenty-one though.

You and your father’s five second rule, she said, shaking her head and adjusting her apron. Speaking of, he should be up by now, and your brother. It’s almost nine.

It’s his day off mom, let him sleep.

You’re not going to eat that are you? she asked, staring at her son who took a seat at the kitchen table.

Of course he is, his grandmother said, chiming in, Birthday boy can do what he likes.

Five second rule, William chuckled just before biting into the bacon and smiling at his grandmother.

Just as the words left William’s mouth, into the kitchen walked his sleepy-eyed little brother, followed by their father who was rubbing his face and yawning. Both of them almost ran into each other upon walking in. William always found the morning version of his father quite amusing, with his brown wavy hair all out of sorts.

John Bourgeois wasn’t a large man by any means, but working manual labor kept him tough and at the same time, occasionally tired due to the work hours. His profession didn’t keep down his spirits though. People tended to adore him and his good nature. A devout Catholic, he believed in honest, hard work and treating people with respect. This was evident in the way he raised both of his sons.

William’s little brother, Luke, on the other hand, was a spit and image of their mother. At the age of eleven, he was turning out to be just like William in mannerism. One difference between the brothers what that William’s hair was dark, while Luke’s was sandy blonde.

Both were boys of conviction. As William had always wanted to join monastic life, Luke loved working with his hands. Every chance he got he would shape anything he could into a work of art. Lately, Luke spent a good portion of his free time creating necklaces.

Good morning dear, William’s mom said, noticing her husband, I’m sorry, did we wake you?

No, breakfast did, he said sitting down at the table across from his son, smiling at him and saying, Happy Birthday.

Thanks dad, William replied.

Happy Birthday William, Luke chimed in with William playfully rustling his brother’s hair.

Coffee, John? she asked, already reaching for the half empty pot knowing well his answer.

You bet, he replied, grabbing the newspaper on the table and opening it, Need to get some before your mother drinks it all.

John peered from the side of the newspaper, throwing Abigail a wink.

I don’t hold back when it comes to my coffee, Abigail said with a smile before taking a drink from her mug then turning to William, "Pater tuus ut sciam."

He does, grandmother, William chuckled with Luke laughing as well.

Hey now, John said, again peering from behind the newspaper in good humor, Play fair.

You could have learned it as well when I was giving lessons to my grandsons, Abigail replied taking another sip.

He missed out, William said smiling to the woman whom he admired so much, Latin is fun.

If you say so, John replied with a chuckle.

With his father preoccupied with the news and his mother finishing up breakfast, William forced himself to wait patiently for the right moment to bring up the topic of attending the abbey. Even in his excitement and with their blessing, he knew the conversation would be sensitive and more than a bit emotional for everyone. It had been a prime topic of discussion for them all throughout the year and the last thing he wanted to do was burden them with it this early in the day.

Sarah, John Bourgeois called out to his wife from behind the paper, Have you heard about this thing called the World Wide Web?

No, I haven’t, she said as she began setting the table.

Apparently we need a computer to use it, John replied.

What’s it used for dad? Luke asked eagerly.

Finding information, talking to one another, all kinds of things, John replied, But I don’t know. Seems like a waste of money to me. Going with my gut on this one.

William, will you be coming to Mass tomorrow? Sarah said, seating herself down with her family.

No ma’am, William replied, I’m going to Mass today at four.

Very well, Sarah replied.

William, John said, folding the paper and putting it away, Will you say grace?

Sure thing, William replied, lowering his head and leading the family in prayer before enjoying the morning meal.

The Bourgeois family ate merrily this Saturday morning. William listened in as his mother and grandmother talked about small matters happening around town, nothing too important. Every now and then his father would chime in but mostly remained somewhat to himself. This struck an odd note to William especially knowing his father enjoyed his mornings and was a relatively lively person. When William wasn’t looking and out the corner of his eye, he would catch his father looking at him from time to time. Finally, when William met his father’s gaze, he wasn’t received with the greeting he expected. John threw his son a smile, but it was different.

To William the smile didn’t feel warm and inviting, it felt sad. William had an idea why his father was feeling the way he was and at the same time, the young man understood. It’s not an easy thing letting your child go. With his plate half empty, John put down his utensils and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

We need to talk, John said to the family, looking at each of them, his gaze lingering on William for a moment and then to his wife.

Sarah nodded, appearing to know well what her husband was hinting at. Luke only looked around, lost as to what his parents meant. The air around them was quiet. William looked over to his grandmother who reached out, grasping his hand with a smile. With his other hand, William began nervously messing with his hair until his father spoke.

Today is your birthday son, John said, looking at William, I’ve been counting the days until this very moment, cherishing the time until you left to go out into the world. You’ve made us all proud, your grandmother, mother, and me. We all know the significance of today and what you’ve been planning to do for a while. I woke up this morning with the very thought of you leaving and I’ll be honest with you son, it saddens me. I believe it’s safe to say it saddens us all. It’s a selfish thing and should in no way impact your decision. Ever since you’ve first visited Saint Joseph Abbey, your heart has been set on a very specific course. Your mother and I did our best to show you different paths to take in life, but each time you’ve always found yourself to that particular one. We understand you’re a grown man and can make your own decisions. Nevertheless, we thank you for showing us the respect by waiting until you were twenty-one and had graduated college.

It’s finally happening, William thought as he reached for his hair again but quickly restrained himself from the habit. It’s all I’ve ever wanted since I was sixteen. To serve God and to serve others.

Sweetheart, Sarah began to say, clearing her throat as the emotions were slowly coming to the surface, "What your father is trying to say is, we wanted you to experience some life outside of religious vocation. That way, you’d be absolutely certain with what you wanted to do with your future. Are you certain you still wish to join