Chapter 1
Job had just completed his burnt offerings to God, a ritual he performed regularly in case his sons had sinned. Anubis, his guardian angel, watched over him as always, keeping a close yet discreet distance. Job turned away from the solitude of the desert, heading back toward the town. Anubis followed, his presence hidden from mortal eyes.
Suddenly, two figures in gray hooded robes appeared behind Job. Their movements were swift, their intentions clear. They drew their weapons, preparing to strike. Anubis reacted without hesitation. In an instant, he appeared before them, blocking their blows with his twin axes. The two attackers staggered back in surprise.
“I don’t know who you are,” Anubis said, his voice steady, “but your intentions are clear.”
The attackers faltered, their footing unstable. Anubis seized the opportunity. He charged forward, his right axe cleaving through the arm of the attacker to his left. Without pausing, he spun, delivering a deep slash across the chest of the second assailant, blood spilling from the wound. As the man bent forward in pain, Anubis placed his axe beneath his chin and swung upward, splitting the man’s head in two. His body dissolved into light.
The first attacker tried to flee, but Anubis threw his axe, the blade striking true. The man’s head split open, and his body also dissolved into light. Anubis exhaled, thinking the danger had passed, but his senses alerted him to another presence.
A figure in red robes approached, her movements calm, deliberate. She removed her hood, revealing a light-skinned Black woman with a commanding presence.
“You are Anubis, guardian of Job, correct?” she asked, her voice sweet yet serious.
Anubis recognized her. “Sekhmet, chief of the Grigori,” he said, bowing his head in respect. “To what do I owe this visit? Have I done something wrong?”
“No, you’ve done nothing wrong,” Sekhmet replied. “But God has taken precautions for Job. Have you noticed anything unusual?”
Anubis nodded. “Yes. There’s been another figure, a man in black robes. He’s been watching Job for some time now, though he hasn’t made any moves. I can’t tell if he’s friend or foe, but he’s skilled—so much so that I almost didn’t sense him.”
Sekhmet’s expression hardened. “He is a foe.”
She gestured toward Job, and four more figures in robes, dressed similarly to Sekhmet, walked past him, their presence hidden from Job’s senses. They removed their hoods, revealing their identities.
“Anubis, once one of the greatest army commanders, now reduced to mere guard duty,” a tall, dark-skinned man said with a smirk. “But perhaps this is fitting, after your affair with the daughters of men.”
Anubis met his gaze, unfazed. “So says an angel of power. Khonshu, the greatest warrior should guard the most sacred of individuals,” Anubis replied, bowing slightly. “And who is this man with you?”
The fat Black man at Khonshu’s side raised his head. Sekhmet answered for him. “This is Thoth, an angel of the Cherubim.”
“A record keeper,” Anubis noted. “Here, now? Sekhmet, is the Lord coming?”
Sekhmet didn’t answer immediately, her attention now focused on the cloaked figure in black. The figure stepped closer, but even now, Anubis couldn’t fully sense his intentions. It unnerved him—very few beings could hide their presence from him like this.
“Heqet, Thoth, and I reported this to the Lord,” Sekhmet said, her voice tense. “The Lord decided to make an appearance.”
Anubis felt the shift in the air before he saw it. The light breeze transformed into a funnel, stirring the desert sand. The heat burst into flames, and together they swirled, forming into a smaller, human-like figure. The wind calmed, revealing a figure draped in a white robe, his face hidden beneath a hood. The brilliance of his presence made them all bow in reverence.
The Lord had arrived.
The figure in black moved closer but did not approach the Lord directly. Behind him, more hooded figures appeared, their robes identical but trimmed in different colors.
The Lord spoke, his voice resonating in their spirits. “Whence comest thou?”
The black-robed figure pulled down his hood, revealing a pale, paste-like face. Anubis understood now why the figure had been so difficult to sense—this was no ordinary being. This was Satan, the fallen angel.
“From going to and fro in the Earth, and from walking up and down in it,” Satan replied, his voice low and empty. His presence sent a chill through Anubis, a stark contrast to the warmth of the Lord’s words.
The Lord gestured toward Job, still visible in the distance. “Hast thou considered my servant Job? There is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.”
Satan’s crooked smile deepened. “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you made a hedge around him and his house, and blessed all that he has? But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
The ground shook as the Lord stepped forward. “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only upon his person put not forth your hand.”
Anubis felt a surge of anger. “Did the Lord just give Satan power over Job?” he whispered to Khonshu.
Khonshu’s jaw tightened. “He did,” he replied, stunned. “It’s as though this is some kind of test. A game.”
Anubis clenched his fists. “I can’t allow this. I’m Job’s guardian.”
Khonshu’s eyes narrowed. “I agree.”
“You two need to calm yourselves,” Sekhmet said, her voice firm. The Lord’s presence reached out to Anubis, a silent command. He felt the words in his soul: He was relieved of his duty to Job. The message was clear. Anubis and Khonshu were to return to Heaven.
Satan smiled, and his army faded into the shadows. The Lord turned to the five angels, His voice carrying a weight that made the air burn around them.
“You five do not agree with my decision.”
The angels stood in silence. To question the Lord was to tread the same path that had led Satan to his fall.
Heqet broke the silence, bowing deeply. “Lord, we apologize for our transgressions. Even if we do not understand your will, we know you are glorious forever.”
The Lord’s voice thundered. “You have already committed offenses. You masqueraded as gods for the Egyptians, leading them astray.”
Anubis remained silent, the weight of the Lord’s words crushing him. It was true—they had allowed the people to worship them as gods, believing it would help protect the nation. They had never sought power for themselves, but the Lord saw it differently.
“You have made them believe in false gods,” the Lord continued. “Their sins are on your hands. You question me now, as Satan once did.”
Khonshu and Anubis exchanged a glance but said nothing. They had done what they thought was right, but now, standing before the Lord, they realized the depth of their error.
“Lord, we meant no harm,” Thoth pleaded, bowing alongside Heqet. “We are grateful for the mercy you’ve shown us.”
The Lord’s presence grew cold, the fire of his anger surrounding them. “You are no longer welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The words struck them like a blow, and though the Lord’s presence faded, his final message echoed in their spirits. They had fallen from grace, and there would be no return.
