How do you love Lucifer?

Not the one You are thinking of -- don't think I am one of those people....lol

Still, the name alone is spine chilling, is it not?  The most beautiful of all angels condemned for all time?  The legend of the one who could not bow to humans - or was It that he loved his Father too much and could show no greater love than to refuse to bow to anyone but him?  The ruler of hell?  The one who let pride bring about his fall?  So many stories to that name. 

The bringer of light.

Who could he be.  Tempter... Judge....a tortured soul?

Why would you hate your child and cause him to be feared and reviled among the humans.

What could the purpose be to that?

But we must remember that the ones who tell the story of him, do not know him.  What would he say of his work?  

My poor character has gone to hell.  She was in fear at first, yet the sad, hard eyes of Lucifer were not what she imagined.  

How to make him not a singular cliche' villain was what got me to really thinking.  Could he be feared because of duty?  Many people fear doctors.  What if Lucifer was a sort of Doctor, what if he had to issue pain to make a soul well.  What if the stories were true, but simply off.  Come with me little ones and let me take you on a tour of my hell, for it is so simple once you see the connections and find beauty in a job nobody wants.

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He bows and kisses my hand with grace, violet eyes intent to read  fear. 
"It has been so long since a living human has been brave enough to visit my realm.  Who was the last Sauriel?"
"Dante?" I smile watching him with equal curiosity and a false mask of courage.
"and she's funny, dear father she makes sport of me?  Sauriel, she is all I have heard.  I am honored child."

"Lucifer we have need of your advice, have you time to share light with us?" Sauriel asks his brother kindly.

"For the two of you, I will make the time, please let us take refreshment in my office." Lucifer, pleased to have company clasps Sauriel on the shoulder and they take off, leaving me to trail behind weaving among the endless tables of hell.


He hands me a blue liquid in tiny glasses with exaggerated flute.  I do not sip it, caught in some old legend of pomegranate seeds.  I stare out the window, thankful that the closed door has taken away the sound of screams.  A tear rolls down my cheek.

"Have you such pity for them?"  Lucifer asks standing by my side.
"Not for them.  For those they have left behind who believe they are at peace."
He nods.  "But they shall be at peace someday.  You do not believe hell is what folklore has made it, or you would not be here.  Do you believe what they say of me?"

"No, you proved that wrong the second I got here.  You bowed to me."

Lucifer smiles and I glimpse the beauty behind the sorrow that holds his face to such strict stillness.  "Would you like to know, could you brave my words sweet child?'

"If I condemn myself to serve in this place, it would be better to know." I admit.

"Few souls die without some light.  I am a cleanser of souls.  I return the light they manage to carry here, back to my Father to be reformed and born anew, to try again."

"You do that by torture?  You inflict pain and call it mercy?" I say with disdain.  They call him the father of lies as well.   This is a waste of my time.

"The procedure is painful, cutting the darkness from a soul, snipping the cancer before it consumes them, is not pleasant.  What hope could they find if I gave up on them and let them all fall to darkness.  Hell is not just a place of sorrow child.  It is a place of sorrows end."  Lucifer does not look at me as he explains, he does not expect me to see or be able to understand.

"You are the light bringer.  You bring the light back to heaven?  You save them?"  It is hard to fathom what he says.

He sighs and his pale eyes lock on mine.  "Standing before me, do you feel evil in me?  Am I truly the wretched horror they have painted?  Will you be fooled as well, by those that would control your thoughts?  I do not bring destruction. Imagine if I did not exist or simply gave up on you all.  Imagine the sin before you returned to the world."

"But we are all born in sin." I argue the ancient debate sure to trip him in his response.

"No you are not.  Each soul is born pure and perfect.  You pass sin on, fostering it and hiding it away for your children.  Generation to generation, you fuel it in hatred and lies.  Man breeds his own sin child.  I redeem those who are not so damaged there is nothing left.  I condemn myself to this ugly task out of love for you, though only fear and hatred is my reward.  Am I so unspeakable?  Would your world be a happier place if I did not exist?  If I did not love you, as my father ask of me, would it be better?"

I meet his eyes, knowing he has revealed himself to me.  Could anyone be more alone than he is?  The protective frost I dipped my heart in to survive this journey, moves with a silent groan of the beginning thaw.  "How do you stand it?" I whisper, no longer able to find power in my disgust of him.

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So, tell me what you think?  Is he an angel or a demon?  Could anyone in their right mind love him?  Is Lucifer beyond hope of anyone feeling any kindness toward him? 

Is the very subject so off limits that no man could pray to God for the soul of an Angel who has suffered for his sin?  If any of the religions are true and wish to press the get out of hell free card upon us, poorly made human souls, why would the soul of any angel be of less value?   Who prays for the fallen?

Your comments are eagerly awaited, but please don't bother telling me of my eternal future, all debate for that was long ago lost.