Interlude 1

An Interlude

It started out as little, minor things. Things that she wouldn't have even noticed or cared for if she didn't know that it wasn't the way She treated Her sons… Her first born. Still, she said nothing. The subtle scoffs and hidden looks of disdain directed at her didn't bother her. They were nothing in comparison to her Father's radiant smiles and proud nods.

Kemuel knew He was particularly fond of her due to her status as the first of His angels to be more associated with the female gender, caring for her with a special protective incentive as any father would have for their daughter. She knew He had been a little worried about how Michael and Samael and Amenadiel would take to having a sister, but her older brothers were kind and gave her no small amounts of attention.

While they didn't include her in some things, Kemuel could hold her ground against them in a quick sparring session. She could stun them with some of her more agile maneuvers executed in the open space of the sky on her swift wings, though she didn't hold a candle to Gabriel's speed. Kemuel could shower them with a concern that they, as brothers, couldn't give themselves without breaking their self-held masculine images. They appreciated it. They appreciated her.

When their Father made Zadkiel, Kemuel was ecstatic. Zadkiel was her first little brother, and she was to take care of him. God often complimented her on how she raised the ginger haired, green eyed angel. She had done well, He would say. Kemuel's older brothers would be more indifferent to Zadkiel than they were to her, but they were all still a family. Michael still taught Zadkiel basics of strategy; Samael gave him a few lessons on how to sing; Raphael made sure he knew how to patch up minor wounds; Gabriel helped with teaching Zadkiel how to fly; and Amenadiel showed their little brother how to fight.

Azrael and Leliel came next. Zadkiel was able to help Kemuel teach the twins the ropes and passed on what the two needed to know. They both grew up to be fine, talented young angels – Azrael would become one of Kemuel's closest friends, and Leliel one of Zadkiel's confidants.

God graced the family with another set of twins: Metatron and Sandalphon. Titles were beginning to be associated with each angel. The first born all had many titles, but Kemuel and her younger siblings' titles often pertained to their 'jobs' or simply where their talents lie. Not that the younger angels minded. They treated each other with respect, as they were taught by Kemuel and Zadkiel and Azrael and Leliel and the rest of their older siblings who passed the lessons down to a new generation.

It was as Cassiel, Raziel, Tzaphkiel, Barachiel, Uriel, Ariel and Haniel were teaching the whole next generation themselves (by insistence from Zadkiel and Azrael that Kemuel take a short break) that Kemuel began to notice an odd occurrence. Like those directed at herself, the snide sneers and hateful looks were nothing if no one saw. But then Netzach misplaced one of Father's time pieces. It was a small accident, and Netzach had found the time piece quickly with Kemuel's help. Somehow her brother had been injured during the week that followed.

When Kemuel asked about the bruised wrist, Netzach only shook his head and called it a clumsy mistake of his own doing. Kemuel, however, saw through the lie. She was the angel of authenticity after all. But nothing like Netzach's 'clumsy mistake' happened again. Not for a long while.

The next incident that would occur wasn't far enough away.

—o~O~o—

[Excerpt from Records on (Arch)Angels, as written by Metatron, the Scribe]

… family tree, if it had to be restricted to a singular tree. In all honesty, it would be far easier to describe the complexity of the Family in terms of a forest with each new generation as a different 'tree' and clusters of these trees grouped by specializations [see Chapter 92 of Records on the Silver City]. While the sizes of the trees would hardly mean anything in this metaphor (as the branches of the trees would exponentially increase with the new generations), the closeness of the trees to the center of the forest would – perhaps – have a better emphasis on the age and experience of the trees, as it would symbolize the angels' closeness to Our Father. The most notable exceptions to the generational groupings would be Amenadiel (the oldest of the angels, though he technically belongs with the archangels) and Kemuel (who, though she belongs in her own generation, is typically seen to be in the generation with Zadkiel, the oldest twin pairs). It should also be noted that the Heavenly Council (which includes myself) consists of the thirteen oldest angels (excluding Amenadiel, for the same reason he is included with the archangels), and...

… by the order in which they were created goes as follows:

God and Goddess:

Michael, Samael, Raphael, Gabriel

God:

Amenadiel

Kemuel

Zadkiel

Azrael & Leliel, Metatron & Sandalphon

Cassiel, Raziel, Tzaphkiel, Barachiel, Uriel, Ariel, Haniel

...

Camael

A/N: So (as you should infer from the title of the 'chapter') this was an interlude. I'm thinking about making these as we go to get a bit of like what happened (in reference to what lead to Kemuel finally ratting out the Goddess). This will also hopefully keep me from having to do some really long flashback later on when Lucifer finally finds out.

Last edited: [1/15/2020] I added a whole new scene - the family tree. Not a complete one, but it should help give a certain reference as to who's older than whom in this fic.

thatgirl221b: And I love your enthusiasm. I really will try to get another chapter out before the end of the month. Pinky promise.