Samael sat with Michael in his quarters. His older brother was teaching him about humans. He'd been teaching him about the different things that were created for a while now. "Why aren't humans like us? Why don't they have wings? Why do they have to die?"

Michael cringed a little. He'd been teaching his brother about humans for a few weeks now, and he knew that Samael was going to eventually ask some tough questions, like why humans had to die. They'd just come to that part of Samael's lessons, and the boy was finding it hard to understand. "Because Dad made them different than us."

"But why?" Samael asked.

Michael went over and sat next to his brother. "The first thing you need to understand is that humans are not like us in Dad's eyes. He cares about them a lot, but they're different than us. We're his children. They are something he made."

"I don't understand how it's different," Samael said.

"Well, think of it like drawing a picture or building a house," Michael said. He probably shouldn't be comparing humanity to inanimate objects, but he needed to find a way for his brother to understand what he was saying. "It's not the same as having children."

"Is that why Dad said that it was Trixie's mum's job to punish her and not his?" Samael asked. His father had also told him that he didn't tell humans what to do. That they took care of themselves."

"Yes, that's right. Humans take care of each other. Dad created a couple of them and they created others of their race, their children. They teach each other how to live and behave," Michael explained.

"How did they create other humans though? How does it work?" Samael asked.

"You're going to have to ask Dad that," Michael said. He was not explaining sex to his little brother. He simply refused. Their father could have that conversation with him.

"I still don't understand why they have to die," Samael said.

"Because their forms weren't meant to survive forever. Death isn't so terrible for humans, Samael. Many of them come here when they die. They live in peace with their loved ones. They don't have to suffer anymore," Michael explained.

"Okay, but you said they don't all come here? Where do they go?" Samael asked curiously.

Michael took a deep breath. He would have to be careful in how he answered this. He didn't want to upset his brother. "There are some people who do very bad things, things that they aren't punished enough for when they're alive."

"Like the man who hurt my wing?" Samael asked. It just occurred to him that that man would die someday, and Samael did not want that man to come to his home.

"Yes, like him. People like him go somewhere to be punished instead.

"So, he won't ever come here?" Samael asked hopefully.

"No. You will never have to see him. He will never step foot in this place," Michael promised. His father had told him that that man was already dead and suffering in Hell where he belonged.

"Good. This means that people like Chloe and Trixie will come here one day, right?" Samael asked.

Michael stiffened. He'd been told that Chloe Decker was involved with hurting his brother, and that she would be granted access to the Silver City. He'd been angry when he learned that. He believed her soul should be condemned to Hell for what she did, but his father assured him that the punishment she would receive here would be worse. "Yes, most likely they will both come here one day.

"What about Uriel? He's not here. Does that mean he's being punished?" Samael asked. His dad had told him that Uriel died. That was the first time he'd heard about what death was. It had really upset him. He found Uriel annoying most of the time, but he was still his brother. He didn't like that he was gone.

"No. Uriel's death was unique. He can't be here, but he's not being punished either. I promise, Uriel isn't in any pain," Michael said sadly. While Uriel wasn't in pain, he wasn't sure whether Uriel's fate was better or worse than that. He was just gone. He just no longer existed. Michael wasn't sure that was better. What was worse was that Uriel didn't need to die. If he'd just heeded their father's warnings, he'd still be alive.

"Dad won't say why he died?" Samael said.

"It was an accident. That's all that matters," Michael said. He didn't like lying, but Samael did not need to know what really happened. While it wasn't exactly an accident, it also wasn't Samael's fault, not now or when it happened. "What do you say we take a break from your lessons for a while? How about we go for a fly?"

Samael smiled. "Okay."

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Michael got up and answered it. It was Raphael. "Hello, Raphael. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, but I need your assistance with some work I'm doing. It should only take a few minutes.

"Alright, hold on," Michael said before turning back to Samael. "Samael, I have to help Raphael quickly. Can you entertain yourself here for a few minutes? I promise we'll go flying as soon as I get back."

"Okay," Samael said just slightly disappointed that their plans were set back.

Michael walked off with Raphael seconds later.

Samael sat on the couch waiting for a good five minutes before he heard the door open again. He thought it was Michael and got excited again, but it turned out to be Gabriel.

Gabriel scowled at his little brother. "What are you doing here? You don't belong in other people's rooms."

"Michael told me to wait here. He was giving me lessons. He's going to take me flying. These aren't your rooms either," Samael pointed out. He didn't know why, but Gabriel had gotten really mean. It was like he swapped places with Michael. Michael was mean before, but now he was nice.

"Flying? What makes you think Michael wants to take you flying? You don't think he has more important things to do?" Gabriel asked hatefully.

"Why are you so mean? I didn't do anything to you. You were my friend," Samael said. It wasn't fair. He hadn't done anything to make Gabriel hate him, at least that was what his father told him.

"Yeah, well, I grew up and realized what a brat you are. You're nothing but a little Devil, Samael. You never should've been allowed to come back here!" Gabriel yelled at the boy.

"Stop it! You're being a bastard!" Samael said. He'd heard the word 'bastard' used by one of his siblings, and he'd been told he wasn't allowed to say it. He didn't know what it meant, but it must be something bad, and he wanted to say something bad to Gabriel right now.

"Spoken from the Devil himself. Everyone else might look at you know and see some innocent kid, but I know better," Gabriel said. Many of his siblings had eased up on the boy, many even growing to like him. Gabriel would not be one of them. He knew the truth about the little brat. "You're an evil little monster!"

Samael flinched and tears began to stream down his face. That had been what that man that hurt him had said about him. He called him evil. "Stop! Leave me alone!"

"No. You're gonna hear the truth. You're nothing but a monster! You're the reason Uriel is dead. You killed him!"

Just then, Michael came into the room. He saw his little brother with tears in his eyes. "What's going on?"

Samael got up and ran into his brother's arms.

Michael put an arm around him while glaring at Gabriel. "What did you say to him?"

Gabriel looked nervous for the first time. He knew he'd taken it a step too far. His father was going to be pissed when he found this out, and he would. At the same time, he wasn't sorry. He wanted to hurt the kid.

"Answer me, Gabriel," Michael said angrily.

"He said I killed Uriel," Samael cried almost incoherently.

Gabriel fled the suite after getting a dangerously cold look from his older brother.

Michael turned his attention to the young boy crying in his arms. He picked him up into his arms. "It's okay, little brother. Come on. I'm gonna take you to Dad."

Samael buried his face into his brother's shoulder and cried as he was carried from the room.