A/N The Cult of the Great Whore of Babylon rises to horrific heights. Asherah's "big bad" comes into full swing as she engages in ritualistic prostitution and child sacrifice. God is really pissed at his former wife now-but what and when will he do something about it. Baal aka Lucifer gets all of the blame/credit for the worst the cult has to offer. Lucifer tells Asherah to shove it. During some lighter moments, Lucifer and Gabriel engage in angel play and revisit how the universe was created. Any of your thoughts or questions would be greatly appreciated... I think there are only 2 more chapters left in the prequel until we start off in present day. Hope you enjoy this...

Prequel

Chapter 4: Cry for the children…

The Cult of The Great Whore of Babylon, with its' ritualized prostitution, and proclivity for wanton sexual behavior, was just the beginning of Asherah's new found warped perception of her deity. The goddess had succeeded in perverting one of her husband's greatest gifts to humanity—sexuality. The followers of her cult were routinely manipulated through ritualistic sex in order to secure her favors. This was in stark contrast to her former husband, who in addition to absolute loyalty, made ethical and moral demands of his worshipers. He as the Almighty—was to be obeyed, not manipulated.

The goddess had turned to the unthinkable in her quest to regain the power she once carried. Asherah had resorted to accepting human sacrifices to gain her favors. And as if that wasn't chilling enough, the former goddess of motherhood had come to accept children as sacrificial offerings: infants and young children in particular. For the price of a first born son or daughter offered up in sacrifice to the goddess, she would bestow such favors as improving crop yields, ending drought or pestilence and she would bring good fortune and prosperity to her devoted followers.

The temple at Babylon had very quickly become the profane center of ancient ritual horrors; the sacrifice of live children, burned to death on the stone altar. All in the name of the deities of the cult: Ba'al and his consort Asherah.

Never mind that Lucifer had not ever participated in any of the cult's rituals—sexual or sacrificial. He hadn't returned to the temple since Asherah had last violated him there. He wanted nothing more than to stay away from his former stepmother—forever—if possible. On that terrible day, when Lucifer had agreed to leave the worship aspect of the cult to Asherah, he had never expected her to resort to killing children.

Keeping a close watch over Asherah's cult, God's anger burned hotter with every new day; He had reached an ultimate decision regarding the goddess…

God in his infinite wisdom and patience had been pushed to the limit by his former wife. Her malevolence was totally out of hand and could no longer be tolerated. The sacrifice of innocent children was the abomination that finally put the Almighty over the edge. Yet, he would wait until the time was right to act.

Despite God's omniscience, the importance of timing in His plan was everything. He had foreseen Asherah's course to self-destruction and he knew exactly when it would all come to pass. Until that time however, God would have to remain on the sidelines until the cult played itself out. After all, what was a few hundred years, but the blink of an eye—a mere drop in the bucket of eternity.

The archangel Gabriel sitting at the foot of God's throne had watched alongside of his Father and witnessed actual child sacrifices at the temple: he was appalled at how the former goddess of motherhood could have turned into a murderer of children, all in the name of being worshiped.

"Father, we have to tell him what's really going on up there in his name."

"But there's nothing he can do to prevent it my son."

"Yes, Father, but still, he needs to know."

"I cannot interfere with this just yet, but soon enough, I will act very swiftly and permanently. In the meantime, Gabriel, why don't you pay your wayward brother a visit. Let's just call it an unsanctioned message from you instead of from me."

"Thanks, Father! I've been concerned about Lucifer as of late, he doesn't seem to be himself since he met with Asherah and agreed to be her consort in that terrible Babylonian cult."

Remembering the events of that day were still raw in God's mind, how could he forget his son pleading and crying for his help, while he stood by and watched Asherah defile him. Would he ever be able to make it up to him?

"Gabriel, go now, make haste, you are right, Lucifer does need to know what is happening in his name."

Down in hell, Lucifer and Maze, were spending the day creating new demons. On special days, Lucifer would gather the demons around and create more demons, large ones and small ones; from recycled body parts of the damned—along with a dash of brimstone.

The devil enjoyed creating demons, and today, he was in the midst of piecing together a small demon from a hand that had been frozen in the act of flipping off the bird. To the middle finger, he had added two tiny red beady eyes, a hole for a mouth and a floating wavy bottom at the wrist to get around. The little hand took on the appearance of a character out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting of hell. Finding his newest creation amusing, he was in the process of admiring his handiwork when he noticed the light descending down toward him.

Now what, he thought, letting his angel form's face screw into a scowl, I sure hope no more invitations to join cults are in the offing.

Gabriel lands on the soft ash lightly and gives Lucifer a bear hug.

"What did I do to deserve that?" The devil smirks

"Oh, nothing dear brother, I have missed you. Actually, I don't have a message from Father, I'm here on my own."

"Well then, it must be pretty important if you want to spend your valuable time down here with me."

"Yes, it is important, but you know how much I miss you dear brother, so don't be surprised when I make unsanctioned visits to you."

"Unsanctioned visits?" Feinting surprise while his eyebrows rose to the heavens, Lucifer snickers, "whatever is Father up to now? Allowing you to go rogue so you can come down here to talk to your brother, the devil."

Gabriel's golden hazel eyes crinkle when he chuckles, "Oh you know, he's always up to something—exactly what though; I have no idea."

"Good, good," the devil smiles brightly at his brother, "so what is so important that you need to come all the way down here to tell me?"

"Well, Luci, it's like this—I'm sorry this is not going to be good news, but since Father is not going to participate in this at present, I got his permission to tell you."

Turning serious, Lucifer narrows his suddenly darkened eyes and glares down at Gabriel, "permission to tell me what?" He snaps back.

Please Luci, "don't kill the messenger here", Gabriel squeezes out a nervous laugh

"Well that depends on exactly what the message is—doesn't it?" The devil teases, lightening the moment.

"Look, Luci, it's about the whole Asherah cult thing. I know you haven't actually participated in it, but it has really gotten out of hand—I fear Asherah is getting beyond control."

The mere thought of Asherah made Lucifer's temperature rise, beads of sweat form on his forehead, and the warm feeling of arousal radiates from his groin, "Hmmm, why am I not surprised." He muses.

"OK, I'm just going to come out and say it: Asherah is now accepting human sacrifices of small children for various favors. She's murdering babies and little children—and she's doing it under your name in the cult."

Lucifer's mouth falls agape upon hearing the news about Asherah. "She's gone stark raving mad. How does the goddess of motherhood, end up killing babies and young children?" Pulling his hair back on his head with both hands, the angel is disheartened by this extremely troubling information.

"Gabriel, dear little brother; you know, and Father knows, that I can't stop her: but I can tell her to take her infernal cult and shove it. I've not been up there once—not once. I am very sorry to hear about the children. Unfortunately, the only one who can stop her—is Father, and I don't know what he is waiting for. I suspect he's none too pleased about this whole cult thing."

Suddenly Lucifer is struck with a sense of dread at the prospect of having to see Asherah again, "Gabe, would you mind much if I asked you to accompany me when I sit down with Asherah to tell her I'm out—regardless of who gets the blame. I—um...I, don't trust the woman, and I don't want to face her alone so that she doesn't get the wrong idea."

"I would be happy to accompany you to speak with Asherah," the perky young angel enthuses, "why don't we drop in on her now?"

The two brothers share a laugh and fly up and out of hell on their way to speak to the goddess.

Hide and Seek

As soon as the angels are out of the dark of hell and are flying high above the earth, Gabriel turns to Lucifer with a twinkle in his eye; the grandest grin forms across his boyish face. Gleefully, the playful angel taunts his older brother: "catch me if you can" as he swoops up into sky.

It had been eons since the fallen angel had engaged in any sort of play with his brothers or anyone else—there's no playing in hell. Lucifer felt a bit hesitant at first, it had been such a long time since he'd really had a chance to stretch his wings and soar; he'd forgotten how wonderful it felt to feel the wind on his face and the beating of his wings through the air.

Fully unfurling his immense wings, as he hadn't in almost an eternity, the angel takes off after his brother.

Gabriel had disappeared from sight.

Oh, so he wants to play angel hide and seek does he? Lucifer laughs softly to himself, well, I know exactly where to find him—Ha!

Soaring up through the sky, where the velvety blue black carpet of the universe houses the planets and all of the stars, Lucifer stealthily slips behind the moon and noiselessly flies right up behind Gabriel who's hiding there.

Lucifer lets out a roaring "gotcha!" which startles the younger angel. He'd been found—but how?

Both angels were laughing so hard that they were out of breath. Breaking from the mirth, Gabriel asks, "Luci, how did you know where to find me in all of the universe?"

"That was simple little brother, your planet is the moon; am I not right?"

"How did you figure that out?" Gabriel wonders out loud.

"Trying to sound serious," Lucifer snorts, "that's what big brothers do! Besides, have you forgotten who hung the sun and the moon and all of the planets in the universe?"

"Oh yes, brother, that was you; wasn't it?" the younger angel grinned. "How did you do it?"

With a beaming smile across his face, Lucifer recalls that wondrous day, when he was all alone with his Father…

"Floating in the utter and complete blackness of the cosmos, we ordered the planets while playing a game of celestial catch. As Father created each planet, he would throw it out to me and I would then hang it in the universe. After we finished with the planets; He created the stars. With a wave of his hand, they streamed out from his fingers; spreading out like twinkling dust—and from them, I arranged the constellations."

Was that before he made heaven, Luci?

Still lost in the reverie of the fond memory of when he had been his Father's the first and only creation; he recalled it as being the only time he'd ever felt truly loved, he whispered, "yes, Gabe, it was at the beginning of all time."

Grabbing the older angel's hands, Gabriel entices Lucifer into some angelic feats of acrobatic flying.

Higher and higher the angels soar in play, until Lucifer goes too far and hits the invisible border realm of heaven, where he is immediately repelled with a force so strong it knocks the wind out of him and hurls him back down to earth.

Gabriel swoops down below his falling brother and catches him just before he hits the ground.

Gulping for air, Lucifer twists away from his brother, "what was I thinking?" He blurts out. Holding his head in his hands, the fallen angel cries softly, shedding tears for an eternity away from home and the love of his Father and brothers that he would never, ever regain.

In that moment, Gabriel hugs his brother tightly. Wordlessly, the two angels hold on to each other for comfort. Gabriel cannot imagine what Lucifer's loss is like; he feels the suffering and dark sadness emanating from him during their tight embrace.

Lucifer tries to hold on to the warm feeling of love from his little brother for as long as he can: he's starved for love.

Breaking away from Gabriel, Lucifer collects himself, "It's OK little brother—really. What were we doing out here in the first place, with all of the acrobatics, I forgot…"

Becoming serious again, his little brother reminds him, "you were going to give Asherah a piece of your mind regarding her cult—and well, you know—the sacrificing of children."

"Oh that, well then, let's get it over with," he says with a sense of finality.

The angels come upon Asherah who is strolling the temple gardens. Gabriel calls out: "Asherah, we wish to have a word with you."

Lost in thought, Asherah appears a bit startled to have been interrupted by the two handsome angels. She is attired in a sheer dress, that reveals her ample cleavage to advantage. Over the dress, she wears a robe of golden cloth with precious jewels imbedded on the neckline, sleeves and bottom hem. Her raven black hair, which flowed down her back, was adorned with a crown of pearls and moonstones. Turning her full attention to the angels, her sea gray eyes fix upon Lucifer. "And what do I owe the pleasure of your visit—sons."

He hadn't expected to be so unnerved by her beauty and charm, but Lucifer's mouth had gone dry, like some silly school boy with a crush. He was at once enthralled by her, and terrified of her, and of course, she knew it.

Lightly touching the small of Lucifer's back in an innocent act of guiding him towards some benches in the garden, had released tiny electric shocks out over his skin. Letting out a small gasp, the angel's eyes widened in fear; he wondered what was going on.

Fretting that she might be trying to beguile him, or even put him under a spell, he tries to resist her wiles.

Sensing Lucifer's dismay, Asherah sits down on the bench and motions the two angels to join her. Lucifer shoves Gabriel down on the bench right in between him and Asherah to deflect some of the electric energy coming off of her that was filling him with lustful thoughts.

Looking at the younger angel, the goddess addresses him sweetly, "I don't suppose you are bringing me a message from your father—are you?"

"Um, no mother, I am here with Lucifer on my own."

"And does your Father know where you are?"

"He probably does since He does know all things," Gabriel smiles back.

"Does He now? I suppose He does. So, you've come to speak with me about the cult," she gets right to the point, holding Lucifer's eyes in her gaze. "You see, I know a lot too and I was expecting you both."

Finally finding his tongue, Lucifer breaks in flatly, "then you already know why we are here."

"Listen Asherah, I once told you that I did not wish to be worshiped and left the worship aspect of this cult up to you. You've since made your cult a perverse abomination beyond even my apprehension as the devil. I've had nothing to do with what goes on here, even if it is done in my name as your consort. I know there's nothing I can do to stop you. So I guess I'm here to tell you that I don't want to have anything to do with your perverse cult, or with you—ever."

"Tsk, tsk, such strong words, son. Not joining me in my cult is your loss, but if that's your wish, who am I to refuse you? Unfortunately, you will be the one who bears most of the blame in the bible for the perverseness of the cult. But since you are the devil, you are probably quite used to getting blamed for all that is evil in the world—right son?"

Asherah's words had stabbed at the devil as sure as a demon blade forged in hell. She was right, he was always being blamed for all of the vile in the world—so he must be inherently evil.

Dejected, the fallen angel hung his head in shame, he was no match for her cunning. Asherah made him feel weak—especially weak in the knees. Lucifer feared her power—he dreaded her.

Watching his older brother become paler and more withdrawn by the minute, Gabriel was not going to let Asherah continue to tear him down. He sensed there was something between the two that had deeply hurt his brother, but he also sensed that he was madly enthralled by the goddess as well.

Smiling a bit nervously, Gabriel bows down on one knee before his mother to take her leave, "I believe that we are done here. Thank you mother for granting us an audience with you."

"You are both very welcome sons, seeming quite pleased with herself, the goddess bids them farewell and says: don't be strangers…"

For the first time ever, Gabriel senses the deep hurt and rejection from his older brother, he spies a glimpse of fragility; a crack, in his devil's bravado.

Gabriel follows Lucifer all the way back down to hell, because he wants to make sure that he is OK. As they both land in a small cloud of ash, Lucifer, looking completely worn out, cannot find it within himself to sass his little brother. He grabs him into a hug and thanks him for the game of hide and seek—even if he did overstep his boundaries it was still wondrous. And, in a disarming lapse into his own foibles, Lucifer thanks Gabriel for snatching him from the clutches of Asherah, "I am so glad you were there with me, for she might have cast a spell on me to keep me up there with her—forever!"

Gabriel takes his leave, unfurling his brilliant wings, he ascends back into heaven.

Lucifer heads straight to his bed chamber, where he flops down on his bed face first. On the brink of slumber, feelings of dread and anguish bubble up from deep within. His brief encounter with Asherah earlier in the day had confirmed his worst fears about giving her the free hand over the cult's worship practices. In the end, it would be him as Ba'al that would be blamed for defiling his own mother and for accepting the sacrifices of children. He imagined fervent followers presenting their children to the deities sitting on that horrific throne in the temple of Babylon—to Asherah and her consort, Ba'al.

As slumber slowly overtakes him, Lucifer foresees more harsh judgements being brought down upon himself in the bible, and that once again, Asherah was going to get away with it: he'd end up taking the entire blame.

Ruing the day, he'd met with Asherah at the temple of Babylon, he wishes that he had not shown up on that day when his Father had asked him to meet with her. The devil's eyelids, half closed, allow one more thought to cross his mind; I wonder why Father took it upon himself to arrange that meeting—why was he deliberately putting us in each other's path?

Finally overcome with exhaustion from his outing to earth and the skies beyond, the fallen angel fell asleep.

Maze, took up her position guarding her lord, she wondered what it was about earth that was always so exciting and yet so onerous to him. Having never been to earth, the demon couldn't understand why everyone thought it was so great.