Chapter One

You say you have faith in them. You say they’re righteous, yet you don’t believe your own words,” Vyco snarled. Josiah simply smiled at his enemy. Even though the demon’s words were piercing him, he refused to give Vyco the satisfaction of knowing it.

“You won’t get me to fight you, Vyco. You wouldn’t win, anyway,” Josiah told him.

“I may have believed that ages ago, but you’re growing weaker the longer we exist. You aren’t so strong in your convictions. If you were, you’d have more faith in your children,” Vyco said, taunting Josiah.

“I have complete faith in my children, which is why I give them free will,” Josiah said calmly.

“You call it free will, but is it really that, indeed? You still protect them from me. You still won’t let them make up their minds. Each time I’ve stepped in, you’re right there to block me. How is that free will?” Vyco objected.

Josiah thought about his enemy’s words. The demon was the epitome of evil, but he hadn’t always been that way. They were brothers and had once been closer than any other two beings. They’d battled – neither of them backing down from their beliefs. That’s when they’d fallen on opposite sides. Josiah had chosen the light, while Vyco chose the darkness. Vyco liked having the freedom to do whatever pleased him. Josiah chose to still be held accountable to a higher power than even himself.

“I give my children free will, though it hurts me at times to do so,” Josiah said, his heart clenching at the thought of those he’d lost.

“To truly give them free will, you can’t interfere. You must let them choose their own path, even if that path takes them from you,” Vyco said, drilling home his point. Josiah knew where the conversation was leading. He could’ve stopped it, but he realized Vyco had a valid point. How much free will was he really giving his children?

He’d created the planet Earth, giving it what it needed in order to thrive. Then, he’d plucked different creatures from many worlds, placing them together on one planet. He’d needed to prove the universe was inherently good and all the worlds could come together as one.

His children, as he considered them to be, had disappointed him many times over, but he’d never once given up on them. Or had he? Was he giving up by not having faith they’d resist Vyco’s evil temptations?

Vyco boasted a triumphant grin as he watched Josiah struggle within himself to find answers. Josiah’s internal battle was vexing, as he knew he was giving Vyco exactly what he wanted.

“Why do you feel you need to be here, Vyco? There are so many other worlds and universes where you could go. You could create your own galaxy where you’d have free rein,” Josiah said. He was surprised he’d never asked the question before.

“Because, my dear brother, I can’t leave until I’ve proven you wrong,” Vyco said with another snarl. Josiah looked at the demon he’d once trusted beyond any other being.

“You sadden me, Vyco. You’ve turned into something unimaginable. Why not leave and let us both get on with our existences?” Josiah asked.

“I will make a deal with you, Josiah. I’ve grown quite fond of Earth. Many of your children are quite susceptible to my wishes, even though others have been saved by you, one too many times. If you agree to this deal, the winner will get this precious planet,” Vyco bargained.

“There’s no deal I’d ever make with you,” Josiah said, sounding more like the true god he was. Vyco cringed from Josiah’s controlled wrath, but continued relentlessly.

“If you relinquish free will in its entirety, refusing to interfere with their decisions, and they still choose goodness, then I will leave forever,” Vyco said temptingly. “But if they fall because they don’t have you whispering in their ear, they become mine and you will continue your existence elsewhere, starting anew,” Vyco said, salivating at the thought.

“How would it be fair for you to have free rein, wreaking havoc among my children, without releasing my angels to help?” Josiah questioned.

“I didn’t say your angels couldn’t assist. I said you couldn’t,” Vyco said. Josiah pondered Vyco’s proposal.

“If I am refused the possibility of interceding, the same pertains to you,” Josiah said. Vyco’s facial features cringed and his brow furrowed. Josiah could see the wheels turning in the demon’s head. He was thinking of a way around the stipulation.

“I could agree to that, but to make this more fair, only one from each side will know what’s truly going on. You may pick one of your most trusted angels and I’ll choose one of my dark angels to consult with. They won’t get to run interference with the others but they’ll keep an eye on things, making sure you don’t cheat. My demons will direct in one ear, while your angels whisper in the other. I guarantee if you aren’t there to guide your people, they’ll choose my way every time,” Vyco bantered with a depraved blitheness.

“Vyco, you have such little faith. You imply all humans will take the easy way out. You believe they’ll steal instead of pay, or hate instead of love. You’re wrong. If they have the choice to choose love or hate, they’ll embrace love,” Josiah said.

“I disagree, Josiah, but if you’re so convinced, bind this agreement and we’ll see what happens to your planet,” Vyco said eagerly, pulling out the golden rope, what the heavens used to solidify a vow. If they bound the agreement, it was done and neither could break the indenture or a spiritual death would occur; they’d cease to eternally exist. They would be pulled before the high council and whatever decision the council made would be final. There was no such thing as an appeal in that realm.

“I see you’re hesitating, my brother,” Vyco said with wicked pleasure. Josiah did have faith in his people, but to hear their heartfelt cries while he was fully restrained would all but shatter his powerful fluorescent soul. On the other hand, to have Vyco out of their lives for good would mean a whole new world.

“We must have a time commitment, Vyco. Should there be a draw at the end, you will still depart,” Josiah said. He wouldn’t bend from that condition. Vyco hesitated. He knew the stipulation of time could end up winning Josiah everything but then, he really had nothing to lose. He’d seen what was in the human heart. There was far more evil than good.

“Ten years, Josiah, and you’ll watch the fall of your humans – though I’m sure it will take far less time,” Vyco said viciously. Josiah again hesitated. He closed his eyes, praying for wisdom. Would it be the right thing to do? Would he be damning his children, or setting them free? He felt warmth spread throughout his entire body, filling him with even more light, and knew he had his answer.

When Josiah’s eyes opened, Vyco took a step back from the virtue and beauty shining through him. Josiah knew Vyco was rethinking his plan in the face of Josiah’s power. He also knew the demon would never back down, for fear of seeming cowardly.

Josiah extended his arm and waited. The decision was now up to Vyco. He could back down and shy away, or step up and bind their agreement. Josiah withdrew his own binding rope from his pocket, shining brighter than the earth’s sun.

Vyco finally stepped forward and grasped Josiah’s hand. He withered a bit from the pure brilliance of Josiah’s luminous glow. He couldn’t pull free now, as the binding had begun. They both wrapped the cords around their joined hands.

“It is bound,” Josiah said with all the authority of the heavens. Vyco nodded his acknowledgment. The ropes tightened, shooting off gleaming rays of light before they fell slack once more. Vyco gave one more spiteful roar before he disappeared in a ring of fire and dark smoke.

Josiah called his most trusted angel, Chastity, and told her what he had done. She asked him how he could make an agreement with such severe consequences.

“This planet has always been a test for me, Chastity. I needed to see if people from many worlds could live together as one. My desire was to see if they’d be able to get along. It seems as if the test has failed because there are brothers against brothers. Family means nothing to them. They watch as a stranger dies on the street from cold or hunger, or a child starves. I’ve tested them in many ways and yet they reject me; because my love for them is perfect and I desire for each of them to grow in their earthly experience, my only option is to let them decide the answer. I’ll see what becomes of this planet. I won’t step in and stop it,” Josiah told her in his awe-inspiring voice, full of warmth.

She knelt before him, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew it was going to be a challenge like no one on Earth had ever seen before, but she also believed it had to be done. She honored him by weeping at his feet. Josiah honored his children when he wept with her.

“If this is your plan, I pray you’ll let me stay on the planet and help them,” she pleaded.

“If you choose this for yourself, you will be on your own. I vowed not to step in and I cannot send other angels to help you,” he told her.

“I understand, and I know the choice I’m making,” she said. It caused her heart great sorrow to leave her home of Truth and Light, but she couldn’t stand by and watch the children on Earth be slaughtered. She knew if Josiah wasn’t stepping in, Vyco would create all manner of chaos.

“I will leave right away,” she said. The decision to leave weighed heavily as she saw the pain in Josiah’s eyes. She knew how transcendent his love was for her was. His love for his children on Earth was unparalleled – even when they disappointed him – and this was why she had to go. She knew Josiah’s greatest happiness depended on it.

“Go safely then, my child. Please don’t lose sight of what you’re doing. Return home to me, with honor,” he pleaded. She nodded at him and turned to survey her home where peace, tranquility and eternal love flourished. Her body fought her heart’s desire to save those on Earth. With steadying breaths, Chastity weakly rose to her feet, looking behind her one last time before casting her hands from her sides and falling. Her time of unconsciousness would be unknown to her when she woke again.

Josiah watched his bravest and most loyal angel fall to Earth. Of all his angels, he knew Chastity wouldn’t be able to watch the mayhem and suffering without interfering and standing up for mankind. His absolute trust was safe with her, more than any other.

He bowed his head and with eyes closed, whispered a blessing upon Chastity that her powers would continue as she performed her service on Earth and her memory of home would be illuminated in her mind, always a beacon in the darkness that would soon surround her continually. She just might be the savior of the world.

“Please don’t lose your way; I am with you, my daughter. Return to me when your work is finished,” Josiah prayed and then descended to his knees and freely wept.

There was a very real chance Chastity could get lost in the human world. Chastity wasn’t fully aware of the dark power Vyco held on the fragile planet. His whisper could escalate to a scream in your ear, purging your soul, urging you to adapt to his immoral corruption. If any angel was up for the task of defeating Vyco, it was Chastity.

While Josiah knelt, watching the fall, he felt a hand on his shoulder. With wordless communication, he felt the faith and strength of his angels gathered around him, filling his soul with more light. As much as he controlled, even he didn’t know what would happen next, but having unwavering faith in good overcoming evil was how he became who he was today. He hadn’t been challenged with such a heavy load for many, many millennia, but he would endure the same way he taught all his children.

With faith, patience and unwavering love.