Previously: The aborted Apocalypse has ravaged the Earth. The Garrison resurrected the Humans in one year, but couldn't bring them all back. Camael is in solitary confinement awaiting his punishment, and Balthazar is now officially part of the Garrison.
oOo
Yaël
"Five centuries have passed since the Apocalypse."
Our General's voice sounds more solemn than usual in the meeting room, and his gaze more piercing.
"I have an announcement of the utmost importance to make. But first, I would like to congratulate all of you for your excellent work. Your resurrections were successful, even though some of their memories remained anchored into their subconscious, which explains why they're now developing some kind of cult around us and an inaccurate idea of God. They seem to think of us as human-shaped, with long hair, a halo and white dresses. They couldn't possibly be farther from the truth, but at least they got the wings part right."
Anael doesn't hide his amusement when Uriel laughs out loud.
I did notice a turning point in the Humans' beliefs and superstitions. They used to worship the sun, the moon, the rain and earth. But the Apocalypse carved the fear of a superior being into their collective unconscious, even if we erased it from their memories.
"The Sisters managed to adapt their projects to the inconvenient disappearance of Adam and Eve." Anael crosses his arms. "Cain's bloodline will take the destiny of Seth's since he was never born. Everything is planned for the next millennia, the reproduction process and births are closely monitored by Balthazar and the Cherubs. Nothing is left to chance." His eyes narrow into green slits. "Anyway. As you know, the Mother of Monster – or the Mother of All like some of us call her – is still running free and sowing her poisoned creatures all around. We have not been able to locate her yet, her creations are multiplying and turning Humans into monsters at an alarming rate. In a few hundred years there won't be any Human left on Earth if this goes on. Moreover, the souls of monsters escape Reapers when they die and get sucked into Purgatory. With each monster created the Mother of All becomes stronger."
"Well," Siosp quipped, "there's none in my sector."
The General's wings tighten behind his back.
"I've told you a thousand times, Siosp, there are no sectors anymore. And something tells me that you've got a lot to do with this absence of monsters. That's a bad habit of yours. We can't act like we did in time of war, we're back on our observation mission now. Have you forgotten?"
Siosp tilts his head innocently and Levanael throws a concerned glance at him.
"I didn't act directly. I killed no monster, even though I do think these orders are nonsense. I simply dissuaded them to step into my sector. I don't like my work to be ruined."
A hint of annoyance flashes through Anael's eyes, promptly replaced with pity.
"Then you won't like what I'm going to say." He stays silent for a moment, Grace glowing bright with cold resolve. "God commands a Flood in order to get rid of all degenerate creatures. Earth will be drowned in a mighty downpour that will wipe out all life forms. Our mission is to save only those who have been chosen: Cain's descendants, the lineages for our future vessels, and a significant number of ordinary Humans selected for their physical and mental qualities to avoid incest when repopulation begins. All in all, this represents approximately three thousand Humans."
"Another Apocalypse?" Balthazar rolls his eyes. "Nobody's interested in a rehash. At this rate, we'll end up throwing an Apocalypse every time a Human sneezes."
"Yes, but it was about time the hierarchy took the decision to act!" Uriel says excitedly. "I was itching to smite the vermin swarming about before our eyes!"
Siosp slams a hand on the table and springs to his feet, pushing back Levanael who's trying to hold him down.
"This is ridiculous! I've been requesting for the last centuries to be given free hand to get rid of these creatures by our own means! And now, a Flood?"
"Siosp, sit down. Immediately."
The General's voice is ice-cold, but Siosp raises his voice louder still, Grace flaring up. "We resurrected them one by one barely five hundred years ago! Why would we let our hard work be wasted when we could fix the problem without destroying the Earth again? Ask for a year's extension! Just one year, and we will smite every last one of those monsters and find their Mother! Please, Anael!"
"Shut up and sit down, Siosp! That's a direct order!"
Ephra spreads a wing out, brushing against Siosp's back with the tip of his feathers. "Don't make a fuss, Siosp. I know how much you care about your sector, but orders are orders. The chosen Humans will soon repopulate the Earth, there's no reason to-"
Siosp's wings snap open so violently Ephra is thrown back and almost knocked over.
"No... I won't let that happen." His eyes are narrowed into dark angry slits. "I won't allow all we've done, all we've worked for, to be drown under water. And for what? This won't solve the issue with the Mother and her monsters! That order is absurd and you know it!"
"Seize him," the General orders in a flat tone.
Siosp freezes when we all rise to our feet and move to surround him, holding our blade threateningly.
"Our Father did NOT give that order!" Siosp's voice breaks. "He would never do something so cruel and inconsistent, never! This Flood is not the will of God, brothers!"
"Silence," Htmorda snarls. "You're making it worse for yourself."
We move as one, taking hold of the rebel despite of his cries of protest. Once he's held down on the ground by four of us, Anael steps closer and kneels, looking down at him with sad eyes, fingertips brushing against the chiselled curve of his face.
"I figured you might react that way, Siosp," he says in a soft voice. "I hoped you'd prove me wrong. Rehabilitation will help you get rid of these tendencies."
Siosp's eyes widen with pure, unadulterated fear as Anael spreads his wings and takes him away in a rustle of feathers.
We all share a few silent looks, except for Levanael who keeps his hand flat on the ground where he had been pining Siosp's arm down. He closes his eyes and wraps himself with his own wings, building a cocoon of feathers.
Ephra shakes his head while his blade melts back into his Grace. "What an idiot," he mutters. "Why couldn't he just keep quiet for once?"
"Well," Balthazar says, leaning back on his seat, "the Garrison's meetings are wild, I'll give you that!"
oOo
"Let's get started with the basics, shall we?"
Anael nods in agreement, crossing his four arms. With a graceful motion of his hand, Balthazar sprinkles trickles of his Grace in the air, twisting and shaping them into bright diagrams, charts and the long list of chosen Humans. Ephra squints and leans forward to read the standard formulation glorifying the name of God in every line.
"Oh Lord." Zedekiel rolls his clear blue eyes. "I'm getting bored already."
"We don't have much time, Balthazar," Anael says. "Just stick to the minimum required to accomplish the mission."
Balthazar's Grace stops drawing endless glowing equations and statistics tables and the liquid light merges back into his body.
"I'm so disappointed in your lack of curiosity. So be it. First of all, I'd like to reassure our beloved General: the minor inconvenience Michael suffered through won't happen again with my flock. Anael, I selected for you a free-range livestock of 100% human vessels, all healthy, quite open to the idea of a higher power and rather good looking too, which doesn't hurt."
"Physical appearance is irrelevant," Rachel objects. "They're just vessels."
"Oh really? Do you want Humans to think that Angels are unattractive when we make our first official contact? And then have this negative image associated with us for centuries? Especially since Humans are shallow and have a tendency to distrust ugly people, in case you were unaware."
"True," Htmorda nods. "But to be honest, as far as I'm concerned, they all look just the same to me. I couldn't tell an attractive Human from an unattractive one if I tried."
"My thoughts exactly." Uriel huffs. "Viscous fish that have evolved into hairless sweaty apes wading about in the mud. There's nothing beautiful about that."
"Trust me brothers, I have great taste," Balthazar waves them off. "The Humans will sing the praises of our beauty for the rest of eternity, you'll see."
Uriel groans.
"Our purpose isn't to sexually arouse monkeys. Humans should fear and respect us, not be attracted to us."
"Now is not the time to debate over whether or not Humans are beautiful," Anael says exasperatedly. "For our current mission, only I need to use a vessel to talk to Cain's descendant – Noah – and to hundreds of other chosen Humans all around the world. This is part of my task as a General. Balthazar, carry on. And the rest of you, stop interrupting him."
"Well," Balthazar starts again, "you've all seen Michael take control of Cain, so you already know that getting the vessel's consent is imperative. I did half the work for you for this first time, Anael, since we're a bit on a rush here. They're all willing to say yes, so eager to prove their faith and earn our favor, it's adorable. The poor things would be ready to kill each other to win the competition and get a special place in Heaven after they die. Their life is so short, and yet they manage to get bored somehow. Quite amusing, isn't it? Next time, every Angel will have to convince his own vessel personally, so remember this: Humans love to think they're special and unique, and would be ready to do anything for this."
Htmorda tilts his head, wings twitching like he's restraining himself to comment.
"You have several options to approach them. Dreams are efficient, talking directly to them works too – even though it could slightly tickle their eardrums at first – but the rational part of their brain might lead them to believe this isn't real, and you know better than anyone how quickly Humans start to panic. I have a few ones who thought they were losing their mind and ended up committing suicide or being murdered by their kin. Such a waste. But I'll teach you how to « seduce » your own vessel during a training session when the time comes."
"You want us to talk to them directly?" Ephra huffs, his Grace glowing bright. "Our voice won't just slightly tickle their eardrums, they will die on the spot!"
"Don't worry dear, I thought of everything. You see, the blood of these vessels is special, it allows them to hear us to some extent without enduring the pain. Not as well as Adam, Eve and their children could, but still, it's not insignificant." He starts rubbing his hands together, wings stretching wide. "Enough chattering, my pretties! Follow me so I can show you my livestock!"
The General gives the go ahead with a nod, and we all fly up in the sky after Balthazar. Two seconds later we make a smooth landing in front of a seaside city bursting with life.
"Siosp's sector…" Levanael breathes out as he folds back his wings.
With a fluid hand gesture, Balthazar points out the city.
"Many generations ago, I placed one or two special bloodlines in every area so they wouldn't be all gathered in the same spot. This family over there represents twenty livestock units. If there's one you like, Anael, they're here for the taking. Don't pick a child, though, it would be a shame if something happened before they had a chance to reproduce and provide us with the next generation of organic weapons."
Anael takes a step forward and looks down with narrowing eyes at these Humans Balthazar has been going on about for so long. Inside the house there is a woman breast-feeding a baby, all the while sweeping the floor with a broom. In the courtyard, surrounded by chickens, a man is sharpening his ax. A child chasing a bird stumbles and falls on the ground crying. A young man, probably his older brother, walks closer and picks him up.
"Look at the exceptional quality of this bloodline. I'm quite proud of the result, so Samandriel increased the entire family's fertility at my request. Health, strength, beauty and purity are written in their blood, every drop of which could contain a great amount of energy. What do you think, Anael? Is there anyone you fancy riding?"
Anael doesn't look convinced. I'm not quite sure myself what's so exceptional about that couple and their many children. Plain, ordinary Humans like any others. They don't look different at all.
"All the children they had seem to be male," our General points out.
"Oh but of course. I specifically instructed Samandriel so, given the way we intend to use them."
Anael snaps his face up, green eyes locking with Balthazar's.
"What do you mean? Why would a male vessel be better qualified than a female one?"
Balthazar holds his gaze for a few seconds, before bursting with laughter.
"What's so funny, Balthazar?"
He stops laughing and stares bemusedly at the General.
"Please tell me you're joking."
Anael's sole response is to glare at him.
"Oh. You're not joking. Have you really been watching Humans all this time? Possessing a woman would be a very bad idea. Oh of course, they're much more pleasant to look at than men, I'll give you that! But the reason you need a vessel in the first place is to deliver a message to Humans, and none of them will listen to you if you present as a woman!"
"He's not wrong," Ephra says pointedly. "With a few exceptions, female Humans are treated like cattle. They belong to their father, husband or sons, and they're not allowed to speak out without a male's agreement. Humans won't listen to the Word of God if it comes out of a woman's mouth."
"Exactly," Balthazar spreads his arms. "They all value penis so highly! To be honest, I won't be surprised if they ever start worshiping penises at some point…"
Anael's Grace is swirling and his eyes are darkening.
"Women can bear and give life, they love their children the same way God loves everything He created. They deserve awe and respect, for they're carrying on the Lord's work!"
Levanael nods fervently. Balthazar merely rolls his eyes.
"Certainly, my dear, but I'm afraid their males disagree. And we do need them to build the ships. Therefore a male vessel would be much more convenient to get them to listen to you."
Anael narrows his eyes.
"Oh but they will listen. I will make them listen. I've decided now: I want a female vessel. That's an order, Balthazar."
oOo
"Honestly I don't even care that you want a female vessel. What bothers me, though, is that, of all the available vessels you'd set your sights on this one... Let me say, Anael, your taste level is questionable."
At our feet, the young woman is struggling and panting to draw water from the well. She pours it into her jug, then wipes the sweat from her forehead. Her long brown hair is all tangled, and her linen dress covers her pale and clearly malnourished body. Her eyes are sad as she looks up to the sky.
"I can't believe you'd choose this sickly creature with barely any meat on her bones over the gorgeous women with perfect curves and silky hair I'm offering you. She looks just like a drowned rat. You won't impress Noah with that."
"Yaël will do just fine," Anael says drily. "And I won't use her body more than a few weeks anyway."
"… Are you there?"
The Human spoke in a wisp of a voice. Still invisible to mortal eyes like all of us, Anael leans forward, towering over the young woman nibbling her lower lip and fidgeting. Her eyes are red and puffy as though she has been crying.
"I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even here, but... I... I would like to..." Her voice breaks and she closes her eyes, putting her hands together as a prayer. "You did not say how I could serve you, but I want... I want to help..."
"Aw." Balthazar's voice is laced with sarcasm. "Isn't she cute."
"What should I do now?" Anael asks. "Reveal myself to her eyes?"
Balthazar shakes his head.
"We're too close to the city, and I can't guarantee that her eyes won't burn out of her head. These little things are so fragile. Just try to talk to her by whispering softly into her reality plane. It's all in the dosing."
The General gives a short nod and starts murmuring to her in the human language that is commonly used in Siosp's sector.
"Yaël... I am an Angel of the Lord. My name is Anael and I need to borrow your body for a few weeks."
Her eyes widen upon hearing Anael's voice, and she starts looking around frantically.
"Good work on the flow and volume, but the content is too formal. You have to sugarcoat it, make it sound appealing! I usually dangle rewards, remind them how important the mission is, how the world's fate is at stake, etc. What they need is something to fantasize about, or else they would all decline."
Anael gives him a skeptical look out of the corner of his eye, but carries on:
"There is no point in searching for me, Yaël, for I am invisible. If you agree to let me take control of your body, you will be rewarded in the afterlife beyond your imagination. God will welcome you in His eternal realm."
Yaël leans back again the well with her lips pressed together into a thin line, face darkening.
"And will I be rewarded in this life?"
Her eyes dart up to the sky, both scared and brave, and a lone tear rolls down her pale and hollow face.
"My parents want to marry me off to a man in exchange for two goats. Promise me you won't let that happen, and I will do anything you want."
"She's got a nerve!" Uriel spits.
"Two goats for a scrawny Human?" Rachel laughs. "Obviously the man is losing out on this one!"
Some snickering arise.
"She's a brave one, we have to give her that," Levanael says pointedly.
"And she's not stupid," Ephra nods. "Why do something for free when you can ask for a favor in exchange?"
"Oh come on, Anael, the scrawny Human is playing hard to get now. Forget about her and just pick another one."
But our General plainly and simply ignores Balthazar's advice.
"Granted. You have my word, Yaël."
"Then yes."
The young Human takes a hesitant step away from the well, shaking from head to toe. She throws her head back and opens her arms wide.
"Let the spectacle begin! Anael, take a good look at her eyes and her mouth, that's where you'll enter. Focus on the blood running through her veins, and let go, it is that simple."
Anael's green eyes zero in on her face as he leans down. And just like it happened for Michael, the outline of his body blurs and his face dissolves into a waterfall of blinding light pouring right into the frail vessel meant to contain him.
The light fades out at last, entirely absorbed into the human body whose eyes flash brightly before receding back to their brown shade. Despite the weak appearance of his vessel, the calm and confident posture is clearly all our General's. Two white wings sprout out of the back and spread wide without casting any shadow. The young Human's face brightens with a hint of a smile, partially concealed behind Anael's face floating like a translucent mask.
"Are you comfortable in there?" Balthazar asks in a velvety voice. "Not too tight?"
The General lifts both his forearms and stares in fascination as he opens and closes his hands.
"I can feel the internal organs, the liquid power of her blood, the soft sensation of wind on the skin..." There is awe in Anael's voice as he spreads out his fingers. "Having only two arms and talking with a mouth is a bit strange, but this body is more than adequate. I can tell I'm both lighter and more powerful."
He runs a hand through his hair to push it back from his face, takes a fistful of locks to squint at them inquisitively, then lets it fall on his shoulder.
"I have a promise to keep. Stay here, I'll be back in a short moment."
And with a rustling of feathers, he's gone. Balthazar's annoyance is showing in the way his Grace is swirling.
"The Flood is scheduled to happen in a few weeks, so why bother cancelling a wedding when the vast majority of Humankind will soon be drowned anyway?"
"It is a matter of principle," I say. "A promise is a sacred covenant, whether or not a Flood is scheduled."
"They're all about to die, the outcome is the same, so why would he go to the trouble at all? Or should I say... why would she go to the trouble... Is Anael to be referred as a she or as a he, now? She looks more like a Anna in this body, you know? It's confusing. See? One more reason why choosing a male vessel is more convenient. The pronouns are closer to our Enochian genderless equivalent."
"I agree with Anael," Rachel says. "We should grant this honor only to women. Unlike men, they don't butcher their kin or torture animals, and they understand the value of life."
"I have to say, I am astonished by your naivety," Balthazar says with a patronizing air. "I'm aware you're the youngest Angels in Heaven after Samandriel, but honestly you're bordering on stupidity."
"Balthazar is right." Uriel snarls, staring at the nearby city at the lakeshore. From up here, the boats look like insects floating on the water. There is a hard as steel look in his purple eyes. "There is nothing good or pure about them, what they are is weak. Females are no better than males. If they weren't oppressed by men and disadvantaged by their physical inferiority, they would be just as cruel as they are. Perhaps even worse." He slowly turns to face us. "All Humans are prone to commit selfish atrocities when they have the power to do so and when they fear no punishment. And then they whine for mercy when faced with stronger opponent."
Levanael narrows his eyes.
"I guess we haven't been watching over the same species for all these millions of years, Uriel. There is good and there is bad in the Humans, and some of them show courage, wisdom, genuine and selfless kindness…"
Miz crosses his arms with a slow blink of eyes as he listens to our brothers argue.
"That's weakness, brother, nothing but weakness. Merely a defense mechanism, a survival strategy set up by powerless beings that need to gain pity and protection, and a way for some powerful ones to ease their guilt or stroke their own ego. That's all it is. Angels are the only sentient beings who don't use their power for selfish purposes."
"Really?" Htmorda snaps. "What about Lucifer, Camael and all the traitors who fell? Were their purposes not selfish?"
"We're not allowed to talk about Camael!" Zedekiel blurts out, throwing nervous glances all around.
Glowering at Htmorda, Uriel aggressively snaps his wings open.
"Lucifer was in the wrong, his actions were misguided, but he didn't act selfishly, he did it for our Father and for us all! As for Camael, he was manipulated by the Mother of All!"
I painstakingly hold back from disagreeing on this point. The Archangel Michael explicitly told me not to tell the truth about Camael's true motivations.
"You sure became more radical since you've been hanging out with Virgil..." Ephra points out grimly. "Camael is-"
"Will you shut up?!" Zedekiel hisses angrily. "We're all going to end up in rehabilitation because of your pointless debate!"
"Especially since she could come back any moment now." Balthazar chuckles. "If you do end up in rehabilitation, be a dear and tell me what it looks like. I've never been able to get any information about what really happens behind that door..."
"Keep it up and you might take a look inside yourself."
All eyes turn to Balthazar whose shoulder our General is now perched on. Anael is staring us down and folding her wings to her back. It seems like she only just arrived. She probably didn't hear us talking about Camael.
Balthazar remains unfazed and just glances at her cheerfully. "Oh, sweet Anna, you look just lovely in your meat suit!"
I have to admit, even though the young Human had seemed so weak at first sight, now that Anael is inside she radiates raw power and has quite an imposing presence, with her raven hair and her white dress blowing in the wind.
For a split second, Anael looks disconcerted by the shortened and feminized version of her name.
"Anna?"
"You don't like it? I think it suits you, dear. I figured that you should as well refer to feminine pronouns while you're riding a woman's body."
Anael just blinks, staring at him bemusedly.
"What a strange idea." A smile curls up the corner of her mouth. "I like it. But pleasantries aside, the wedding is cancelled and now we have work to do. Let's pay Noah and his sons a visit."
oOo
In the next chapter
"Kill them, Castiel. That's an order."