Chapter 7

Distinct Colors

"Where have you been?" Camael cried, staring at her older sister for a long moment. Before the angel of authenticity could answer, the angel of joy got up and quickly closed the gap between then, wrapping her arms around Kemuel's waist.

"I was in John Decker's heaven, and then I paid a visit to Earth," Kemuel finally answered after she returned the embrace. While it wasn't the whole truth, it wasn't like she was lying outright… just omitting bits and pieces. Her little sister didn't need to know about the book she'd retrieved from Aziraphale.

Camael frowned at Kemuel's answer but accepted it nonetheless. Already a very trusting angel, the angel of joy had no reason to not trust the angel of authenticity. "You know, Zad was looking all over for you— he even took a bunch of others who weren't working to find you…"

Kemuel sat down with her sister as Camael went on a tangent about all of the places Zadkiel went looking for Kemuel. Apparently he hadn't bothered to check the Garden for himself, as Camael had reported no findings of their older sister and had yet to inform anyone of the angel of authenticity's current presence in the Garden. Kemuel supposed that it wouldn't hurt to stay a little longer, and if anyone else asked, she could honestly say that she had been in the Garden.

With Zadkiel's expedition out of the way, the angel of joy moved on to other topics to talk about with her sister (read as: gossip). Namely that Metatron had been complaining again about something or other, and then the Scribe was subsequently shut up when his twin whispered something in his ear – Camael had bets that Sandalphon had threatened to reveal that Metatron had a fluffy stuffed animal he liked to cuddle with when no one else was around.

There was also the matter of Barachiel messing with Uriel again; those two never really got along – mainly because Uriel was a firm believer in the patterns throughout the universe and creation while Barachiel was more of a spur of the moment kind of angel, which went well with his lightning attributes but often sparked fights with Uriel.

And then Camael told Kemuel about how Azrael was probably going to be out and about for a while since their sister had lost a bet with some reaper and now had to cover soul escorting duties while the reaper was on a short vacation. Somehow the angel of death had managed to drag the angel of night along for the ride, and Leliel was helping Azrael out – probably just giving her twin some company. Camael also mentioned that Azrael had left sometime around noon yesterday. Usually it didn't take the angel of death more than a day to do her rounds and the added escorting wouldn't really affect her schedule.

Eventually, Camael moved on to a more... personal topic. The angel of joy had been excited to tell Kemuel all about God visiting the Garden and what He had offered to return with as a present for the younger angel. Kemuel thought the middlemist red flower would be a nice addition to Camael's little garden. Resembling a rose (though lighter in color, larger and more fanned out, concerning the petals), the middlemist reminded Kemuel of Camael's wings.

The angel of joy's wings consisted in shades of the pink and red hues. Along the very tips of her wings, a dark magenta slowly faded into an oriental fuchsia as it went up her pinions and then into a blush pink, nearing the base of her wings where they met her back. The red came in splashes of droplets that coated the tips of her wings and the light colored area where her wings met her back. The red hadn't always been there, Kemuel solemnly remembered, but it did give Camael's wings a certain quality that made them their own.

Each style and color of an angel's wings were unique to that angel – except the twins, whose partners shared the exact same variation of wings. While two different angels might share the same coloring of the feathers, there would always be something else that made their wings distinct. White had always been glorified as the perfect color, though whether that was because of a certain favored archangel, no one really knew.

The more metallic or neutral one's wings were in color, the more likely it was that one was meant for work outside of Heaven. It was just easier to move about on Earth when one's wings weren't neon pink. And it wasn't just Earth that one was sent to. Gabriel was usually anywhere and everywhere, constantly flying to places away from Heaven on his dazzling golden wings for his Messenger duties. Of course, the neutral wing color didn't always mean one had to work outside of Heaven. Uriel's wings were beige in color, but he rarely left Heaven if he didn't have to.

A darker wing color symbolized one's calling for battle – this was something that could actually change over time as the darker the color, the more experience one has. Lucifer was the most glaring exception to this trend while Amenadiel would be a prime example of it. Gabriel – with his shining gold wings – and Michael – whose wings were sterling silver, each feather not unlike a mirror in certain lightings – were also exceptions to this but not as much as Lucifer was.

And then there were the dual colored wings. While the colors of such wings followed the trends that went with the single colored wings, the dual colors often broke the rules too. Of the original family, Raphael was the obvious example to use. The dark bronze base color of the Healer's wings showed his right to go anywhere if need be, but the green flecks that painted patterns along his primaries and secondaries reflected his adamancy to stay in Heaven as the Healer.

Kemuel's own wings were the next primary candidates to be used as an example of dual colored wings. However, her wings' base color of white created an exception – white always created an exception. White never got any darker, no matter how much battle experience one had. And the purple accents that trailed up along her primaries never kept her from Earth.

The colors were simply indicators. Wing color didn't mean everything nor did it dictate in absolutes. There were always exceptions.

A small hand was suddenly waved in front of her face. "Hello— Heaven to Kemuel," Camael called to her sister.

Kemuel leaned back, away from the offending hand, giving it a slight glare before softening on the sight of Camael's expecting look. "I'm sorry. You were saying?"

"I said, Azrael is going to want to know how her baby is doing," the angel of joy repeated.

"Uh…" Kemuel started, trailing off when she didn't have a legitimate answer. It wasn't exactly like she had needed to go check up on Azrael's blade. Besides, she'd been busywith both the Deckers and Aziraphale. "I didn't exactly have time to visit Uriel's fake grave."

"Yeah, tell that to Azr—" Camael stopped suddenly, looking at something behind Kemuel.

"Tell me what?" a disapproving voice sounded from the same direction Camael was staring.

Kemuel gave her little sister a pleading look, but Cammie just responded with a 'good luck' smile and quickly flew off. The angel of authenticity let out a groan before turning to face her other little sister. She was in so much trouble.

o~O~o

Several papers fluttered innocently to the ground as Lucifer violently swept everything off of the table, sending a few books crashing elsewhere on the floor.

Where the hell could it have gone?!

If someone followed those directions on that stupid map (like he had when he found it), they'd find that blasted grave out in the middle of nowhere. And if it happened to be a human that found the grave, who knew what would happen. Nothing good because Azrael's blade just happened to be in the 'grave' along with a fake body. Somehow it was Kemuel's doing. It had to be.

Lucifer wasn't sure why he still hadn't told Mum or Amenadiel (or anyone else for that matter) that Uriel wasn't actually dead. They no doubt thought that he had killed Uriel – Mum had seen him stumble back into the penthouse with blood all over him after all. Knowing her, she'd probably told Amenadiel about it at some point or another.

But that wasn't as concerning at the moment as how he couldn't find one thrice-damned map! Dark eyes scoured the surface of the next table he was tearing apart in his search. Where had it gotten to? It's not like it could have just grown legs and walked away— unless someone picked it up and walked away.

Blasted mothers and nosing about in things they weren't supposed to. It wasn't any of her business.

Lucifer collapsed onto his couch with a frustrated groan. It wasn't even seven in the morning yet, and he could tell it was going to be a long day.

o~O~o

"If you're going to up and disappear like that, give someone a warning first."

Kemuel turned to face her brother as he landed beside her, folding his honey brown wings back – the orange splashes shimmering in the light to look like fire licking his primaries. "And if I recall, I did tell someone. Either way, it's not your job to keep track of me and certainly not to gather everyone on an angel hunt—"

"In my defense, it wasn't everyone."

"—to come look for me when you could have just asked Uriel to see where I was," she continued over him, looking Zadkiel in the eyes as she finished. "You shouldn't worry about me so much."

"We can't help it with Her still out there," he admitted casually, bumping shoulders with her and gaining a smile.

His green eyes were drawn down to the book that rested on the balcony ledge. Just looking at it sent shivers down his spine. He pitied the being that ever had to read from the book. At the very least, the being would have nightmares for the rest of his or her life.

To think that it wasn't even the book's fault. It was what was written inside the book that caused such horrors. Every malicious thing that She had ever done to them – the angels, Her playthings, Her prey. And to think that Kemuel was the one to write it all down. Then again, they had all made the book – all of the angels had helped created the thing in one way or another, often without even realizing their involvement.

The book had been made to make the reader remember, to not let him or her forget. It wasn't exactly good to hold on to some of the things the book made one remember, but it wasn't good to just forget what had happened. After all, some things could not be forgiven. There were lines that were not supposed to be crossed.

Zadkiel glanced back up to his sister. Kemuel was looking out over the Silver City, watching their younger brothers and sisters go about their business. Perhaps they didn't— couldn't see past her façade of normalcy, of strength, or her larger-than-life status, but he had grown up with her.

She had practically raised him. He could see the weight that pulled her down when they weren't looking. He could hear the weariness that creeped into her voice when she thought they weren't listening. The ancient sadness in the casting of her gaze, the melancholy cries in the background of her laugh.

Something was coming. Something big. Something she had known about this whole time. Something she wasn't going to reveal to any of them – all to keep them safe. Because that was just who she was. She watched over them, protected them. Even if that meant she was the one paying the price.

"I can hear you worrying," her collected voice broke through his brooding. "If it's really that bad, I'm sure you can talk to Jophiel or Sariel or Raziel. You could even go to Camael to cheer you up—"

"I don't need their help, Kem," he interrupted her, grabbing her by the shoulders to make sure she was looking at him. "I need you to promise me that whenever this is over – whatever it isthat when the dust settles and the air clears, you will still be here— you'll be okay."

"You know I can't do that."

"Then promise me— promise me that you'll try… Please," he begged her, searching her face for anything to latch onto for hope.

"I swear to Father and everything that is, I will try," Kemuel promised. And then she pulled him into a close embrace, both hugging the other and holding on in fear of letting go.

When honey brown and orange wings moved to wrap around them, white and purple wings moved to meet the other pair. The two contrasting colors were put in juxtaposition against one another yet blending to create a holy union of being. The emotion and support that flowed between them was the love of a familial bond created and grown throughout the long millennia that had past since the dawn of time.

"Do you have to leave for Earth again soon?" Zadkiel quietly asked after what felt like an eternity, not moving to break from the hug.

"Only to get Azrael's blade back after the test," Kemuel murmured back. "It won't even take an hour if there aren't any interruptions."

Green eyes rolled in their sockets. "And now there will be because you just jinxed it."

Kemuel chuckled softly. Light violet colored irises looked up at the forest green orbs. "I'll still be back before you know it," she told him.

"Right, because you're so spritely for your age," he teased.

Kemuel let out a mock scoff. "How dare you accuse me of being old— You're not even five centuries younger than I am!"

In the distance, a few angels who were passing by glanced in the older two's direction at the exclamation. Such playful teasing was common, and the younger angels continued on their way to complete their given tasks, knowing that all was well within Heaven.

o~O~o

Lucifer glanced over at the forensic scientist as he guided her to the site of certain hole in the middle of nowhere. Ella had gone along with it all rather well, accepting the favor without much persuasion – though Lucifer partially resented his part in what she wanted in return.

Somehow, he had managed to convince Maze and Amenadiel to move the fake body (for some reason still, without letting it slip that it was fake) and help him with finding Azrael's blade. Lucifer really shouldn't have been surprised that Amenadiel hadn't been surprised about the grave and what was in it. Lucifer had already figured that Mum had told Amenadiel all about the 'grave' site.

He was going to have to tell them the truth eventually. But how exactly did you correct someone's misinformed thinking without giving away the fact that you had let them think that way for over a month? Especially when he should have just told Mum what happened the moment he entered his penthouse, covered in blood, to find her waiting for him. Lucifer had also had the chance to metaphorically spill his guts about Kemuel to Amenadiel while standing beside the fake grave.

For that matter, it would have been nice if someone had explained to him why the bloody hell there was a fake body of Uriel in a grave with Azrael's blade in the damn hole. And now that thing was out and about somewhere in the hands of a humanLucifer was getting a headache just thinking about it.

But – by his luck – the blade was only the most recent of his troubles, not the worst. There was still the matter of Kemuel. Lucifer just didn't know how to feel about his sister anymore. It wasn't like she'd just left him for thousands of years in Hell because she was 'done with her mission of helping him be himself' or some nonsense. No, no, nothing like that.

Lucifer shot another glance at Ella Lopez. "Do you have siblings, Ms. Lopez?" he asked on a whim, his mouth spouting out the words before his brain was able to stop the action.

"Yeah, I got five brothers," she answered from where she was following slightly behind him, eyes flicking back and forth from the ground to the forest around her. "Why?"

"Just curious," he replied quickly. They should be close to the grave site by now – another ten minutes at least.

"So it's got nothing to do with that lady from the other week? The one that was with Chloe when Joe Fields was murdered— she's your sister, isn't she?"

Lucifer almost stopped walking. He was suddenly reminded that it was her job to put things together, but she had said it so casually, like it wasn't a big deal. "How did you know?"

Ella gave him an 'I'm not stupid' look before turning her gaze back to the trees in front of them. "Like I said, I have five brothers. I know the look she gave you. It was because you two had a fight or something and she doesn't want to start another one until you've had time to cool off," she explained.

"That disagreement was two weeks ago," he muttered.

Ms. Lopez must have heard him because she let out a huff of laughter, looking off to the side. "Oh yeah, she was definitely smart to avoid a major confrontation."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucifer asked the question with a slight frown. And he was affronted – most certainly not pouting.

"I'm just sayin'… Look—" Ella stopped in her walking to level with him while looking him in the eyes. "—if you really want my advice on this, then when your sister does try to talk to you again, give her a chance to talk and listen to her. She might actually have a legitimate reason for whatever it was you two were fighting over."

Lucifer pursed his lips in thought. The forensic analyst did have a point, and from what he could tell, it was a decent bit of advice… "Come along, Ms. Lopez! We're nearly there," he said suddenly, pushing them back onto the path they had started on earlier.

A breeze brushed over the leaves of the trees throughout the forest. Leaves and branches swayed in earthly tones of green and brown. The blue sky stretched above, reaching beyond view and touching the heavens, with soft white clouds littering the open air. The sun, shining and bright, cast its rays upon the surface of the Earth and gave light to the small planet.

Despite whatever horrors might befall the people that day, the future was bright for the human race. Whether it was up to a plan made by God Himself or a course continually altered by the fleeting decisions of humans, the fate of God's most magnificent creation would not be clouded simply because of the meddling of His Wife. But perhaps the fate of another was not so clear. Only time will tell.


A/N: I will have you know that it was 9:30-ish pm of March 31 where I am when I posted this chapter – I made my deadline! I keep my promises, but what a great procrastinator I am! *sigh* I have no idea when I'm going to get inspiration to get out my next chapter. With luck, you'll have another interlude soon, but no promises there. No God chat, but I guess you could take that authorial comment at the end to be it. Meh.

Last edited: [March 23, 2018]


shipwreck321: Why, thank you. That was a very nice review.