Previously: After Lucifer has been cast away and Adam and Eve chased out of the Garden of Eden, Heaven is being reorganized with new rules. Gabriel asks Cain and Abel for offerings to God, but only Abel's is sufficient. The Archangel also advices Castiel not to ask questions about God.

oOo

Eve's tears

I have been watching a Human making a weapon for a few hours when Anael's voice commands me to come immediately. I fly away as fast as I can and find him in a wheat field a couple of seconds later.

I look at him, waiting for orders, and he gestures at the ground impatiently.

Down there, Cain is striding through the field with his younger brother at his heels. There is something unusual about his attitude. All it takes is a glance at his soul to figure out anger and blood lust are fueling him. He's holding a sharpened stone in his hand.

"Cain is about to commit fratricide," says Anael with a worried edge in his voice.

"Then we have to warn Gabriel or Raphael."

He shakes his head, his Grace brewing with frustration.

"The Garrison needs to wait for permission to intervene."

Uriel and Siosp land next to me, and Uriel holds out a stone tablet to Anael.

"We carved our Grace's signature onto the application form."

Anael nods and takes the tablet only to shove it in my hands.

"Sign. Quickly. We can't transmit our request to the hierarchy without this form signed by at least three of my subordinates."

I obey and put a hand over the tablet to carve my signature in the stone with my Grace. Anael snatches it back and flies off with a rustling of feathers. I look at my brothers in arms in confusion.

"It's the new procedure," Siosp explains. "We can no longer contact Archangels directly. A council has to consider our request and decide whether or not it falls within the ambit of God's Plan, Destiny or free will, and then only an Archangel will be informed."

As we speak, down on the ground, Cain comes to a grind halt in the middle of the field whose golden wheat waves under the soft breeze.

"Cain, what did you want to show me?"

Cain turns to his brother and grabs his shoulder in a firm grip, probably to prevent him from escaping.

"You always were the favorite, Abel... Our parents, the Angels and God all like you better."

This is not true.

I have no preference for any of them, and I'm quite certain my brothers in the Garrison don't care either.

Abel stills when his brother raises his hand holding the sharp stone his tunic had been hiding until now.

"And you are my favorite too, little brother... So God wants me to sacrifice the dearest thing in the world to me? This is you, Abel. I have to sacrifice you."

"Hairless apes and logic..."

I stay silent but can't help stiffening at Uriel using that derogatory term. If God really made them in His image, then this is close to blasphemy.

Abel puts his hand on his brother's. Unlike Cain, his soul is calm.

"If God wants me dead, I can only accept my fate. If you are wrong, I know He will stop your hand. Go on, strike, I have no fear," Abel says as he closes his eyes.

"… Yeah well, that's only if our hierarchy grants us permission to intervene," Uriel comments, smoothing down his feathers.

"Uriel..." I say as a warning.

"We have the power to disintegrate that arrogant monkey before he commits fratricide, but we just stand around idle for administrative reasons. Come on, Castiel, you've got to admit it's kind of funny, isn't it?"

Cain's face is contorted when he lifts his arm, tightening his grasp on the stone, and hits his brother's head so hard I can hear the skull splitting open. Blood is soaking his hair and streaming down his face, Abel stumbles back, raising his arms in an attempt to protect himself. Probably instinct. Cain grabs his brother's tunic made of sheepskin and hits again, and again, and again. The blows he strikes are messy, not very effective. He strikes the skull at different spots, which prolongs the agony for Abel who yells in pain. Blood splatters the arms and grimacing face of his elder brother. The skull breaks at last and the sharp edge of the stone rams into the bloodied brain.

The young Human's body collapses, and earth greedily absorbs his blood.

We remain silent as Cain starts sobbing and laughing hysterically at the same time. Abel's soul, pure and bright, rises from his lifeless body. A Reaper appears and takes it away.

I can't help thinking that if the other human species that went extinct had survived, this would never have happened at all.

oOo

So this is what it looks like. Given the fact that I have not been summoned for the extensive training, this is the first time I get to visit a human Paradise. It looks like Earth. I have to admit, I am a bit disappointed. Joshua said Humans generate their own happiness, though. Could it be that Abel's happiness is only just an echo of his life? If his mind is able to create a whole new kind of happiness with no limits but his imagination, why would he live the same thing again?

Abel's eyes are shut and he's starting to doze off, his head resting on Eve's knees. She is stroking his dark hair while humming a song. In his Paradise, he's a child again. Cain is here too, helping Adam to start the fire in the hearth, his hair glowing in the warm light. His presence is surprising. Why would Abel wish to be close to his murderer in Paradise for all eternity?

The Garrison is summoned for a crisis meeting, room 3609, immediately, the voice echoes through my head.

I spread my wings and leave Abel's tiny Paradise.

oOo

"I suggest that one of my soldiers turns back in time to stop Cain's arm before he spills blood," Anael declares right at the beginning of the meeting.

"Abel's death was written, I checked myself with the Sisters of Fate. Destiny cannot be changed, Anael," objects Raphael who presides over the meeting.

"It could have been if only we had been allowed to act. A single snap of fingers from our part would have saved Abel. That bloated bureaucracy is ridiculing the Garrison! What are we here for exactly? What is even the purpose of our mission?"

On this point, all my brothers nod in agreement.

"Humans don't wait for us to consult our hierarchy to commit errors," I say to support our General.

Raphael's sharp gaze turns to me.

"Are you questioning authority, Castiel?"

My eyes widen. I can't believe anyone would dare accuse me of such blasphemy.

"Of course not!"

"What Cas means is, we would be much more efficient if we could bypass paperwork in case of emergency," Uriel shrugs.

I look at Uriel in confusion.

Who is he talking about? Who is Cas?

It takes me a few seconds to realize it's a shortened version of my name.

Raphael stares at us with narrowed eyes.

"You should know that paperwork, as you say, is essential for Heaven's organization. It would be chaos otherwise. We are about a million soldiers under the orders of God, and that requires coordination. All you have to do is fulfill your mission and follow procedure, nothing else matters. Do not forget, your mission is not to save Humans, but only to observe them and wait for orders. I should all send you to rehabilitation to remind you of your place, like I did to Anael!"

"Uriel and Castiel are not saying we should suppress the organization that is of course essential," says Camael, the Angel of Joy, "they're only suggesting being able to ask an Archangel directly for advice in an unusual situation. Of course, additional reports and forms will be filled retrospectively to justify the decision taken by our superior officer."

Raphael calms down and seems to consider the proposal. Camael winks at me, his Grace swirling playfully inside his body.

"Great. Avoid paperwork by adding more paperwork... Remind me, is he the Angel of Joy or the Angel of Masochism?" Uriel whispers to me.

"Of Joy, Uriel."

oOo

Kneeling on the soggy ground, Eve lays white flowers on Abel's grave. From where I am standing, I can't see her face, her ash blond hair is veiling it. Her shoulders are trembling as she cries silently with no care for the pouring rain hitting her back.

Since Abel passed away, Eve comes every day to mourn at his graveside. She has stopped praying to God and Angels. As for Adam, he remains prostrate with grief in his silent house all day long. And Cain...

Hands covered with his brother's blood, Cain departed these lands never to return. He is currently heading North under Camael's close surveillance who has become his designated Guardian Angel.

"You took my sons from me..." Eve murmurs. She's talking to us like she used to. But this is not a prayer. She snaps her face up to the sky, her gaze sharpening right at me. I know she cannot see me, though. Rain and tears are streaming down her face, and her soaking wet hair is slithering on her neck and shoulders like dark honey.

"I will never forgive you."

Her blue eyes are filled with ice-cold rage. Her soul is still as pure and bright as the day she was born, but tormented. I see despair. Hatred. And one last glimmer of hope… one last single hope that we will bring back her children to her. A silent supplication.

I wish I could appease her mind by telling her Abel is waiting for her in Paradise, and that after she dies her sorrows will be over and she will find peace, eternal happiness and forgiveness. But orders are orders, so I stay silent and watch as she steps away from the grave to go back home. I station myself near her house, my eyes seeing through the roof. Adam is sitting before the dying embers of the fire in the hearth. His head is lowered and he is motionless.

I sense something is not right and I can't rationalize this strange impression. Eve walks in and wearily closes the door behind her.

"Hello, Eve," says Adam with a voice that doesn't quite sound like his own. When he looks up at Eve, I catch glimpse of a monstrous face with yellow eyes. Adam's soul is inside his body, but there is some kind of dark fog wrapped around it.

Azazel.

He's holding a knife, and his other hand is dripping with blood. Eve stands frozen as Azazel rises to his feet. I can sense her fear.

Does he intend to harm Eve using Adam's body?

I act like a soldier and plunge my hand toward the house in order to neutralize the enemy first and then give the alarm. Azazel slams his bloodied hand against the wall where a sigil has been drawn with blood.

"Oh no no no, my dear Castiel... You are not invited. Be a good dog and go play outside!"

Before I can reach him, I feel my Grace being set ablaze inside my body. Sounds are dissolving, everything is blurring.

I feel my wings spreading wide.

Then everything goes black.

oOo

Screaming.

I hear Humans screaming.

I crack my eyes open. My vision is blurred and the world is spinning around me. I am lying on the ground and my wings are widely spread, casting a huge shadow over the screaming Humans who are trying to cover their eyes.

My body is radiating light on the human habitations made of stone and clay.

Disoriented, I find myself scrambling to my feet, stumbling once or twice before I manage to stand up with my claws digging into the ground. I feel heavy and slow.

"Anael..." I say in a whisper to give the alarm. We need to stop Azazel at all cost and inform the Archangels.

At the sound of my voice, the screams become even louder, and I remember that ordinary Humans can't see me or hear my voice without dying or being severely hurt. They are now writhing in pain, their hands clasped on their ears.

"Anael!" I call louder. Didn't he hear me?

I can't stay here. This area is swarming with Humans. Not only I am unable to turn invisible to mortal eyes, but also I can no longer locate my position on Earth. Where am I?

I need to go back to Eve.

I try to fly, but my wings are paralyzed. I can't even move them or fold them back. Did Azazel's seal deprive me of my abilities? Did I become useless and powerless forever, unable to fulfill my mission?

"ANAEL!" I scream my voice raw, blasting a few souls out of their bodies.

I feel dizzy. I stagger, moving my foot to find my balance back. Which makes me unintentionally crush to the ground a few dozens Humans.

Don't step on that fish, Castiel...

I need to get away from human sight to work things out and think about what the procedure would be for such an unusual situation. I focus and try again to move my numb wings. After several unsuccessful attempts I finally manage to flap them sluggishly, but with enough force to bend all trees around and destroy the houses' brittle rooftops. I arduously rise up to the sky. The searing pain is tearing my wings apart and I nearly fall a couple of times.

From up here, I realize I've been standing in the middle of a city whose center is now devastated and swarming with wandering souls. With a few wing beats I fly away from any human activity, and when the pain gets unbearable I hover in the air to begin my descent.

After a rough landing I stay prostrated for a while to let my wings rest, spread out to the ground. I must be far away from Adam and Eve's home. There is no rain here and the earth is dry.

My vision is starting to clear, and even if I still feel disorientated and dizzy, I am quite certain this condition is not permanent. I look down at my hands. Usually so fluid and bright, my Grace is like congealed inside my bones. It barely moves and looks gelatinous, almost solid.

"ANAEL!" I shout again, now that no Human will suffer from hearing my voice.

No answer.

I can't even hear the voices of my brothers that have been a constant humming inside my head since the day I was created and given my mission. This silence is oppressive. For the first time in my existence, I am alone.

"RAPHAEL!" I scream myself hoarse, hoping that maybe the Archangel will hear my call.

Silence.

Is Azazel killing Adam and Eve? Does he intend to harm Cain too? I have no way of warning Camael, Anael, or any of my brothers.

All I can do is wait in silence, seething with helpless rage, eyes riveted to my frozen Grace.

I listen to the trees rustling and watch shadows moving with the sun in the sky. A few birds come flying and perch on my fingers to stare at me with curiosity, head tilted. I tilt my head too and stare back. My Father's creations are fascinating.

Time passes. The sun ends its path through the sky and plunges into the horizon when my Grace starts boiling and flowing freely inside my body, as bright as before. The low humming of my brothers' voices rushes into my head again, sharing information and notices of meetings.

I rise to my feet, the sudden move scaring away hundreds of birds perched on me, and I fly to the sky, screaming Anael's name to give the alarm.

oOo

In the next chapter

"I vouch for Castiel completely. I know him to be incapable of lying and deceiving. I am willing to share his punishment if it turns out that I am wrong."