Chapter Text
Sarafiel and Sadriel tip-toed through the halls quietly, the west wing was dusty and the old unused lights flickered dangerously, they always flickered, even when she frequented the place, but never like this. She heard crying from one of the many rooms, the door cracked open just a bit, “God, why do I do this to myself?” A familiar voice cried out, “I would have them any day but now!” It called again, “As, I know you’re in emotional distress, but it’s really fucking annoying.” Another said in a flatter tone, more feminine and familiar. She peeked in, “Asmodeus, are you alright?” Sarafiel knew she shouldn’t have said it, but her tongue was loose and careless, Sadriel looked at her in shock, their mouth gaping,
“Oh, my, Sara, dearest, how good it is to see you!” He exclaimed cheerfully, his voice still thick and raspy as he wiped tears away from his face, and stood to embrace her. She accepted it, the hug was squeezy, a hug between old friends, but to be fair, every hug he gave was squeezy. “I could say the same thing, it has been too long.” She stated, she did feel as such, but she would not publicly admit it, nor even privacy of her own head. “Cecelia, my first counselor, you have met, have you?” Cecelia stood gracefully, Sarafiel could see Asmodeus in her, just by the way she had just talked, she had that apathy that most Lust natives had. “How could I forget?” Sarafiel said, taking the hand that Cecelia had extended. “Sister to Azrael and Leviathan, It truly is odd how different siblings can be.“ Cecelia smiled, “I think you’re forgetting someone.” Cecelia said, nudging Sarafiel with her shoulder, “Mm, how is Alice, anyways?”
“Living deliciously, I wish you would join us, Satan would be quite pleased to hear it.”
“No, I don’t think they would.” Sarafiel muttered to the ground. She had felt isolated in the past few decades, Heaven was not a friendly for socialites, though she was not to be considered such, not on Earth. “Well— uhm— I have a friend with me,” She waved towards the door, “We have urgent business—”
“Sara, you can not expect us to help you right now, we have business of our own!” Asmodeus said, his eyes dewy.
“It isn’t much, we just need to locate another angel, she is within Sotiría.” Cecelia nodded, “We saw her with Lucifer and Azrael.” Sadriel said, peeking their head in, Asmodeus perked up. “Oh… A new angel!” He said giddily, “We— I can help.” He glanced, almost accusatory, at Cecelia, who shrugged noncommittally.
“Oh, great, Thank you, Asmodeus.” Cecelia said, raising her glass in a sarcastic salute.
“You can always trust me, dear.” He said, standing, his dark hair stuck to his face, his overly puffy coat reaching his ankles. He strutted gracefully out of the room, Sadriel and Sarafiel following him unsurely.
---
Arkady watched intently as Satan rambled about such and such to Murmur, Shamriel looked resigned and uncomfortable, drifting away from his usual spot at Murmur’s side. There was a twinge of pain, and a flash of understanding that she could not quite grasp in time for it to be coherent. She poked Murmur, and retreated behind Jacob who was staring off into whatever he found shiniest, Murmur looked back at Shamriel, and smiled a tooth-rotting smile, grabbing his wrist and pulling him forward. Arkady squeaked, “Good job, Cupid. Do you mind not making guinea pig sounds in my ear?”
“No, I don’t mind.” She said, happily, “It’s a nice way to pass the time, they need it, anyways.” Jacob shrugged, humming mildly. “I mean, they won’t die if they—”
“Are you sure?” She asked, redirecting his face to look at them, Jacob was silent for a moment. “”
“They would get nowhere.”
“They would end up flailing around like fish.”
“They would’ve gotten lost like a dementia patient.”
“Would’ve died from a papercut.”
“From eating a rock, thinking it was rock candy.”
“Crying too hard.”
“The rock was lead.”
“Hey, that’s cheating!”
“There are rules?”
“Probably!”
---
The Metatron sat amongst the clouds, they had been meditating over a prayer for a very long time, finally, they had received an answer. “Metatron,” Ever a voice called out from the not too far stars. They looked up, “Oh, Y— Lord, my God, how long has it been?” They asked, standing to a height that seemed unreal for the Most High of Angels. “Erm— Let us not concern ourselves with the past, you have received an answer, at long last.” It said, stepping back into their Heavenly domain, “I didn't mean to be away so long, dear. Time flies, I shall have to consult Elorkhaios about that.”
“Great, most high, why were you away so long?”
“I can only attend to so much, I must have neglected the Earth awhile, I hope I do not have to resort to… doing that again.”
“Oh, we hope you will not. We have been working hard to maintain the Earth and Humanity, very hard.”
A hum, It shrank down to Its fine form, almost human like in Its way. The place hadn’t changed, and It voiced that much. “Oh, but it has. Remember the nursery? We’ve made it more Earthly; it has pillows and blankets, now, the kids like it more.” They smiled at the thought, it quickly soured into a frown
“Something is wrong… My creations are—” It’s voice broke off into a sob, Metatron coming to lift It up, “They are, almost all of them, unhappy!” Tears spilled out Its inconceivable eyes, sobs breaking through even worse speech, “What— Even now— Oh, fire and flame, have I forsaken it— Ashera!” The great inevitable moving of stars came sooner than it should’ve, or, at least, what The Metatron expected. “Love, dear one,” The inky darkness reached out to be and found Herself sinking through existence, before grabbing onto It for balance, and setting Herself into the universe, “We have only been apart for a second, what is wrong?”
“They are unhappy.”
“Dear… I—” She sighed, only smiling, “Dear, help them, then. They are going to be unhappy until you do something about it!” She said, taking It from The Metatron arms, flopping into Hers. “I have so much to attend to here, it will take a matter of… I’m not Quite sure…” Its mind wandered someplace else, “I’ll take care of everything here for a bit, if you want.”
“Oh, no, the angels are greatly competent, they can mostly manage themselves, it’s just that Earth…”
“Oh, Great one, you should see for yourself.”
The Metatron spoke, both of the beings turning to them, Ashera smiled, “Oh… How long has it been?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself, I’m not sure what the date is.” The Metatron swept their hand through their hair. It was short, though still white, it was short. They gasped, grasping at what little of it was left, their eyes burned, and they did this… odd motion, almost as if about to vomit. They were breathing too fast, even for what their lungs could handle, all of them.
This was new, they had lost something, and they knew it. Their hair used to be as long as to touch the souls of their feet, now it barely reached their neck. They looked up when Ashera caught their face in Her hands. “You will regain what you have lost. You have just awoken to a whole new reality. Your tears will only help your eyes to see clearer.” Ashera said, ushering them into a hug. The hug felt familiar, as if they were remembering a memory from when they were young, perhaps being created, or soon after that. “It will be fine.”
“My hair—” They rasped desperately, stiffening in the embrace, they had no reason to believe it, yet they did. They were just words of comfort, nothing more, nothing less, they wished them to be true, but it was not. “It seems you both have things to get to—”
“What of Earth?” It asked, wiping a tear from Its face.
“Er… it is yours, I suppose you will do whatever you please with it.”
It looked as It was in deep thought, and smiled, “What do you suppose, Halwaya?” It asked, “You have been diligent since I have been gone, I trust you are more than qualified to make the decision.”
The Metatron thought for a moment, “They have grown to resent you, Lord. We have tried to reach them, they will no longer listen. It is true, we all may have slighted humanity, we apologize for this, but I think…”
The Metatron looked up to face both of them, in all their glory.
“It is time for a new age.”
---
She was nervous. She hadn’t felt nervous since Her wedding day, which was already odd enough, since only Her parents were in attendance. Ashera watched as The Son awake from slumber, a newly promoted Metatron, now Halwaya, shook him gently. He yawned, then groaned, “I think you should wake now, Holy One.” Halwaya said, snapping their fingers. “Where is she?” He asked, Ashera raised a slightly demeaning brow at Halwaya, who looked down to be embarrassed in private. “Who is this she you mention, child?” Ashera asked. Slowly, he opened his tragically wet eyes, his features still red, angry, tired, and mourning, the site only reminded them both of their mistakes and crimes.
“Her hair was as yellow as the sun, and her eyes greener than gethsemane. Even then, with her beauty, she led innocent souls into darkness, she had been begat there, it was only her born duty.” He said, his voice echoing in his tomb, “How poetic,” Ashera murmured, “Yes, yes, how beautiful that darling devil was. We had better get going.”
---
The room was stale, pale, and overly sanitized. The air was stiff, and somehow overly sanitized. It really didn’t like it here, Nēmequ used to be full of knowledge loving angels, now it was sterile and Sarafiel was nowhere to be seen, “Halwaya, where is Sara?” It asked, Halwaya had looked everywhere, “I'm not sure, she loves it here, she barely goes out of the premises, it’s highly unusual for her to disappear like this.” It wasn't odd, not when it came to Hell. “Is there any place or person she would go to in a time of need?” Halwaya shook their head, and knew where she would be. It wasn’t that she was in need, though she was, it was something else. Halwaya checked her personal calendar, not the one that she reported, the trip was unplanned, Sarafiel did almost nothing unplanned. “Where is Sadriel?” They called into the hallway to Sandalphon and his son, Semengelaf. Sandalphon had a look written across his face, Halwaya glared at him, as was their habit. “I'm not sure, sir. They went to talk to Sarafiel, last I heard.” Semengelaf said, perking up, then lowering himself as his father nearly snarled at him. Halwaya softened their gaze, barely. “Is there anything else, Semengelaf?” It asked, to the surprise of Sandalphon, who bowed deeply at Its feet, It picked him up off the ground in Its ever gracious way. “I barely heard them muttering, I apologize, Inef. Os.” Semengelaf bowed at the waist respectfully.
“Well, do you know where Samael is?”
Halwaya looked up at It, Semengelaf shivered at the name, Sandalphon cringed visibly. Halwaya looked towards Sandalphon with a raised brow, also curious of what he was going to say, despite knowing themself. “Banished, Inef Os.” Sandalphon said. Its eyes flashed dangerously, “What of her family?”
“Loki and Eris have not been banished, but decided to leave of their own whims. I’m not sure how you are to find them.”
“And of Satan?”
“She is gone. Banished with her mother.”
“You saw fit to banish her line, to banish one of, if not several, of Ashera’s children; tell me, What prompted this?”
“Rebellion, they would not heed to The Plan.”
“The Plan?”
“The Great Plan, Inef. Os.” Semengelaf said, bowing deeply, “Did you not know of it? Had you not created it?” It peered into Semengelaf’s face, he looked severely nervous to even be there, and speaking, nonetheless.
It looked to Halwaya, expecting to elicit some small reaction, “Halwaya, have you heard of this plan?” It asked, “Inef. Os, I have heard of it, though I did not execute it.” Halwaya said confidently, avoiding any eye contact whatsoever. It looked down at Halwaya, brows furrowed at the lie made clear by the facial expressions of the nearby angels. Sandalphon stared forward at Halwaya, looking like a cat that just drank vinegar, and Semengelaf looked like a skittish stray, shocked at the erroneous claim, and cautiously awaiting punishment.
“Met. Hal, I cannot stand for this.” Semengelaf said, as nervous as a dog, it nearly came out a whimper. Halwaya gave him a sharp look, one that promised later fulfillment of his anxieties. “Halwaya, what does he mean by this?” It asked, Halwaya stood up straight, “I did not execute them from Heaven myself.” They said, looking forward. The air shifted from mere unpleasant and forced conversation to a gut wrenching silence.
“You are an angel of both wartime and peace, you could not negotiate with them?” It asked, “They would not listen.” They said, keeping their voice steady and even. “Then you should’ve listened to them first.” It looked back down to the angels.
“Have you forgotten your role?”
Halwaya shook their head, and bowed toward The Creator, “It was foolish…” they paused, thinking of an acceptable excuse, “You must understand, they were set in their wicked ways. They set themselves to ruin humanity.”
“If I may, Ineffable Lord,” Semengelaf began with some what more confidence since he last spoke, “the great Metatron is correct. You-know-who did set up Hell and the legions thereof to destroy the great goodness of Heaven, and its deeds among humanity.” Semengelaf announced with pride in his voice, though the sentence sounded practiced and stiff.
“Very well, I trust your words. Though I am still concerned for Ashera, I’m not sure how She is going to accept this.” It said, sighing as It nodded to Halwaya. Semengelaf beamed at Sandalphon, who wore something between relief, found exasperation.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Lucifer spread ashes across Lelahel, Sarafiel and Sadriel looked through the mirror. “Huh, one-way mirror. Why was this installed in the first place?” Sarafiel asked, looking up at Asmodeus, “Don’t worry a pretty blonde hair about it, dear. The ways of Hell are not ways an angel would understand.” He said sweetly, and Sarafiel did what she was told.
Sadriel stood beside them, looking about as well as a wild silk moth. Their face sat with a horrid expression upon it. “What is Lucifer doing to her?”
“Her damned best, and don’t you doubt it.” Asmodeus said authoritatively, sounding almost offended at the question. He knocked on the glass, and the human, reaper, and the very Devil turned their heads toward the gilt mirror.
“Asmodeus, please,” Lucifer began, hands beckoning. Asmodeus reached for their hands, and fell through the mirror head first. Sarafiel stood from the floor, her head still spinning from the sudden fall, and she beheld the wall, and there was no mirror, simply the gaudy walls of the Manor of Pandemonium. Sadriel sat dazed upon the floor, Asmodeus rose much too smoothly for Sarafiel’s liking.
“Asmodeus, you did not tell me we had guests. Hello, dear, I was not expecting you until soft spring. Good day to you, also, Sadriel.” Lucifer said, bowing to pick them up from the floor.
“You’ll have to excuse me, Lucifer, but I do have some unexpected business. I do plan to catch her before she gets here.”
“Who?”
The human shook her frizzy head, touching a finger to her lips.
“Uhm, well, I saw Lelahel descending, and I heard nothing of it, you know my work.” Sarafiel said, she did not need to lie, but she could not help herself, Hell was lawless, the eyes of Heaven were not upon her; she thought it a nice revenge. The human sighed with relief, her shoulders relaxing; Azrael had gone at some point. Lucifer stepped aside to allow Sarafiel to see her.
“I am sure she will tell you truthfully.” Lucifer said, running a hand over Lelahel’s head. Her eyes opened sharply, but she did not stir from her place on the bed.
“Is she…?” Sarafiel’s words escaped her throat before the could be pronounced by her tongue and teeth.
“No, it’s just my illusions; Both of us would prefer her eyes not to be dry when she wakes up.”
“Well, I could not imagine it would be a welcome sensation, especially when in Hell. Fire and brimstone, you know.” Sarafiel stepped forward to touch where she could not see the eyelid, even though Lucifer assured her was there. She recoiled as her fingertips collided with the wetness of her eye. Lucifer snorted at the action as Lelahel’s eyes flew shut, “You certainly know how to entertain yourself.” Sarafiel remarked, shaking her hand from side to side.
“I certainly do. I’m going to go get something. Rai, watch over them.” Lucifer said, exiting the room, walking as if floating.
“He’s been quite bothersome lately,” The human began, looking down at Lelahel, “Lucifer, I mean.”
“Why do you refer to her in Hebrew?” Sadriel spoke up for the first time
“What do you mean? Oh, I’m not. I call Lucifer ‘he’ since almost all humans do. It’s just a habit I can’t break; he doesn’t seem to mind.” She said, looking away from them. After along silence, Rai began again, “What’s it like, Heaven, angels, holiness?” she looked down at Lelahel, her hand hovering above her forehead. Rai muttered something to herself.
“Angelic duties bear a forgiving weight,” Sarafiel lied, “they give you a sense of wellbeing.” again.
“What of Heaven?”
“Very cloudy, though it never rains.”
“I have you ever wandered?”
Sarafiel paused, and shook her head, “I’m not sure we are aloud to. Halwaya always said that work was more important. They said we could do it when our work was done.”
“Have you ever wandered in your own mind?”
“I—” Sarafiel paused, she huffed a sigh, “I do not know if I could. All those years…” her words were stolen from her. She let out another sigh.
“Would you?”
“If I had time. Not today, not now.”
“I think you’ll find that you have much more time than you think. Tea?” The human said, motioning towards the small pot on the end table near the window. Sarafiel raised a hand and shook her head.