And there they are. Weak little things, no wings and a whole bunch of questions Father didn't want answered. They just stand out there, the desert that covered most of the earth, and what us angels could survive without difficulty. They were dying of dehydration and starvation. Father makes his speeches about the human-things that stare off blindly into space, killing eachother over stones and sticks and other humans. Not knowing all the things in heaven above them. No notion of us superior beings.
And yet. There was one that looked straight up at us, their eyes piercing one of my brothers or sisters' eyes every day. Every day they looked away, course it was guilt, fear or disgust. Or anger. Father hadn't been very persuasive as of yet. Today, the human's eyes pierced mine. Blue eyes. With the other angels it was usual, but these eyes were different. And not just because they were in a human skull. I stared back, and for the first time since I noticed them, the human looked away.
Two humans that differed slightly in appearance walked towards us and away from their mindless little group, as if puppets manipulated on strings with glassy eyes and limp limbs.
"My children, I command you." Father yelled in his booming voice. "Kneel to your masters, my creation." His hand gestured to the human on the right that stood before us. "The human female." He gestured to the left. "The human male."
One by one, my siblings knelt. Father knew their hearts, and knew if they truly meant their devotion. The ones that didn't, I had to watch them cast from heaven with screams, broken feathers and sickening noises. To live with the things, to understand them better. Michael bowed. Gabriel bowed. Amenadiel bowed.
There was only a handful of us left standing. By us I mean ones who would not bow. Those wingless pink worms were tearing our family apart. Father looked at my brothers and sisters still standing calmly, and showed he was saddened by his decision. Then cast them out. Juniel put up a fight, though. That's when father had Gabriel spear our brother and throw him through the clouds. Then Father came to me.
"Samael, why do you not bow?" He asked me desperately.
"These…things are not worth such high admiration, Father. We should be making them our servants, we should be known as the divine to them." I protested. Father shook his head.
"No, my son. You do not see. I have seen the future. The path you describe leaves heaven in tatters, a ghost town. And the desert teeming with evil things, horrible deeds."
"Evil things are already down there, and I think maybe this time you're wrong." I replied with a gulp. Father stared me down. Instead of that look frightening me like it did for my siblings, I stood taller, my open hands turning to fists and my jaw clenching. I could feel my eyes darkening as I challenged him. Challenged him to do to me what he did to my rebellious siblings.
"You will continue to disobey me." Father asked. I stepped back, breathed deep, and readied myself.
"I do." I replied. "I will not bow to them." I said.
"Maybe your mind will change, dear son." Father reached out and touched my forehead. The clouds about us, making up our walls, floors, ceilings, fell away. I was falling. My wings would not work. His voice came in a murmur, as if he was still beside me.
"You shall be with my creation on earth, Samael. Your name shall change to Samuel, temporarily, as your brothers and sisters have. You will not be alone, I will be with you. Give them a chance, my son."