As the being broke into our world, there was a loud thunderclap. Its many wings unfurled to fill the entire sanctuary of the old stone church and its body was wrapped with golden light. On its shoulders was a head with four faces, each equally majestic and terrifying: an ageless, genderless human face with sharp features and brazen eyes; the face of an ox with rippling muscles and curling horns; the face of an eagle with a peircing stare and a razor sharp beak; and the face of a lion with a wild, golden mane and long, ivory teeth.
The parishioners were filled to their bones wth fear, and fell on the ground covering their eyes.
It's head among the rafters, the angelic beast spoke with a voice that sounded like a chorus of mighty trumpets. "Be still!" Its voice rang out, and upon hearing these words, the people gathered there began to raise their eyes to meet his many faces.
Slowly, it knelt down on one knee and leaned toward the priest; who began shaking again and took several steps back. His thin, gray hair rustled in the wind that now swept through the church, and his face dripped with sweat.
Again, the angel spoke.
"You have received the favor of the Most Holy One who sits on the thrown of Heaven. I have been sent with a message for you and the faithful among your flock. So says the Lord your God:
'I have sent my angel to rule over your church, but he has come a long way and you must give yourselves as an offering to build his strength in this form. Choose 50 men from among yourselves to feed to my angel. Bake for him bread with your flesh and make him wine from your blood. Give over to him as servants all of the women and young girls of your church; giving them careful instructions to satisfy his new earthly flesh. Melt all of your gold and precious metals and bring them before him along with all of your rare stones and monetary wealth. Follow these commands and I will appoint for you a special place before my throne in heaven.'
Thus says the Lord."
A scream escaped from one of the faithful. A man fainted and fell to the flagstone floor. Most again looked away and cowed low to the ground. The priest wore a look of horror but continued to meet the being's gaze.
Slowly, he gathered a small shred of confidence and cleared his throat. "Oh mighty angel of the Lord, I am unworthy to speak with you."
The faces answered, "Speak freely, my child."
The priest took another step back and mindlessly attempted to smooth down his garments. "Why has the Lord commanded this? It does not seem like him. I cannot understand why he would ask something so abominable of us."
The angel frowned and his wings sank. "Do you not remember the story of Abraham? Did not the Lord command him to sacrifice his own son on a flaming altar?"
The priest looked somewhat relieved, "He means to test our faith."
The faces nodded solemnly.
For a few seconds, the priest looked around the chapel, gazing over the people he knew so well. "So be it. We will answer the call of the Lord."
When he finished saying this, several people tried to flee down the aisle away from the angel. The heavy wooden doors at the end closed themselves with a loud BANG, and, try as they might they could not open them to escape.
The angel stood again, the wind at his feet rushing ferociously. His golden light cast black shadows between the pews and behind the pillars along the walls. He turned and climbed the stairs, sitting on and crushing the alter into a splintered wooden throne.
WIP
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