Eleven Months Before Extermination Day, 1936
"Emily."
The young Seraphim suddenly stopped the soft and comforting song she had been manifesting around her wings, looking at the First Man in surprise. They were on top of a large tower in heaven, Adam sitting on the edge.
"Ask me anything," he instructed.
She tilted her head, coming up to sit by him. She didn't speak, but her blue eyes asked him why.
Adam sighed. "You're the first new Seraphim we've had a long ass time and one of the only ones that came out as a damn baby instead of grown up. But brats like you can't learn shit if old fucks like me and Sera aren't willing to talk about shit. So, ask away."
Emily looked down at the street below in thought. "Why do you wear that mask?"
Adam frowned, rubbing the object idly. "There was...another reason I use to tell fuckers, a long time ago. But these days I tell them it just makes me stand the fuck out while looking cool as shit," Adam answered, smirking briefly before it vanished. "The honest shit is something only a few dozen angels know about."
"Saint Peter knows, doesn't he?" Emily guessed, getting a raised eyebrow. "I asked him, but I didn't know it was personal at the time. He said that was something for you to tell me. If you wanted."
Adam shook his head. "The Apostles. You know, those fucks are one of the last assholes I told the entire story of my life to? Especially Simon."
Emily leaned in with a respectful but deep interest.
"The Apple."
Souls didn't need to breathe in Heaven. But Emily believed she knew what it felt like for the air to escape her long. The way Adam said those two simple words. He spoke them as if to give them another, fouler definition and somehow succeeded.
"When I died and came Heaven? My soul was healed and cleansed, but I was never the same as before the Fall from Eden. Like it left a mark. Or kept a piece of me," Adam said with a narrowed, bitter gaze. "Don't get me wrong, I'm hot as fuck under this all."
Emily smiled a bit at his momentary return to his usual self.
"But I don't feel right with my damn skin out where people see it. The fuckers on Earth think it's just dignity or decency or shit like that, but it's fucking not!" Adam said hotly, his voice just short of rising. "I felt...wrong. Like...Like I lost something that I couldn't get back, even if I had all the broken pieces," he stopped to let out a breath.
Emily allowed the silence to grow until she was sure Adam was done. "That sounds horrible," she said in sympathy, eyes wide with dismay. "I can't imagine what that must have felt like. Did...Sera and the others, they helped you heal, right?"
"They tried their damn wings off. Especially Raph, the man was always the doctorly type. Everything was a lot...busier back then, Fluffcake. They were still trying to salvage the mess the Fall had made of Creation," Adam explained with a headshake. "Sera made me the robes. I did the mask myself, with some help. Took me a long ass time to feel right in my own soul again. And by that point, I was so fucking used to the robes I didn't feel like changing my style. Granted, the mask was a lot fucking different back then."
Emily listened intently, carefully. "But...you don't feel like that anymore, right?" she asked hopefully.
"Not usually. Trauma isn't a thing up here, thank fuck. But every now and again, I think about it too much, how it felt. And I can still feel that damn part of me that isn't the fucking same as before I left Eden. It doesn't hurt. I just know it's not there," Adam answered, looking off into the distance. "Head home, Em, I'm sure Sera is wondering where you're at."
Emily blinked at the soft dismissal but didn't argue the point. "Thank you for telling me," Emily said, pausing. "And Adam?"
"Hmm?" he turned his head partially in her direction.
"I'm glad you feel better," Emily said with a smile, gently flying away.
"So am I, Fluffcake, so am I," Adam said as she left. "You coming out or just going to keep watching?"
With a flash, he was seated on a couch in Sera's office. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she assured honestly. "I was merely...surprised to hear to speak of that."
"Someone has to tell her the shit that happened, and how it all got fucked," Adam said with a grunt.
Sera looked to the side, a hint of shame on her face.
"I'm not insulting you, Sera," Adam said flatly without looking at her. "I don't blame any of us fuck-fossils that don't like talking about The Old World."
Sera smiled now, just a bit. "I was actually looking for you, Adam."
Adam looked at her now curiously. "Why?"
"Adam, we are 'fuck-fossils' as you put it," Sera reminded in jest. "Two decades is not that long to us, but I notice you've been acting a bit different lately. Emily, I can understand, but when was the last time you forced the Archangels all to sit down and play a game together?"
"After the first Bubonic Plague. Too fuck long, obviously," Adam mused. "Your ass better be there or I'll get Raphael to force you into a vacation."
Sera chuckled at his words before frowning. "As much as I'm enjoying some of your old behaviors, Adam, I am concerned about the cause."
Adam tilted his head for a moment. "Let me take a wild guess. You're worried the Hellflake's parents are using her to manipulate me in the long term?"
"You've spoken of her enough for me to doubt her awareness of any plot, and I trust your judgment on that," she said grimly. "But Those Two?"
Adam looked to the roof and glared. "Yeah, been wondering that. I don't give Lilith the time of day. Her fuckboy? I put up with him when I have to."
"Such as calling him to help save a room of Hellbron children?" Sera asked carefully.
Adam shrugged. "I liked the idea of dumping freaked-out kids on him to deal with."
Sera hummed. "And you just happened to be hunting for the Overlord that wanted to capture his daughter."
"Bathory has been on my shitlist since day one. And you've seen my shitlist," Adam reminded.
"Your Kill List, yes. I look at that sometimes just to remind myself of why the Exterminations are still necessary," Sera said with a head shake. "The thought of someone like Elizabeth Bathory during the Era of the Archfiends fills me with dread."
"Lot of fuckers did the child sacrifice thing," Adam remarked darkly. "She'd had made a fucking religion out of it."
"I just ask that you be careful, Adam," Sera said, firm but concerned. "None of us want to see you suffer again, least of all by those two."
August 6, 1936
Charlie rushed to her room as fast her legs could take her, Razzle and Dazzle flying behind her. She all but through the door opened and grinned. "Adam!"
To her disappointment, the Angel was well and gone, her bedroom empty save for a single present left on her bed.
"Oh, we missed him," she said with a pout as she went over to her bed. Nonetheless, she retrieved the present and began unwrapping it with interest.
It was smaller this time, and definitely not a box. She pulled the paper away to reveal a strange oval thing made of dark wood. It was full of holes and hollow, with a small handle part.
"...What is it?" Charlie asked, tilting her head as Razzle and Dazzle hovered over her shoulder's curiously.
She found that there was paper wrapped around the handle. She removed it and was grateful to find a letter.
"Hellflake,
Congrats on your thirteenth decade.
By the way, it's an Ocarina. Kind of like a flute.
Don't know if you like wind instruments, but thought you might want to give it a try.
See you E-Day, Adam"
Charlie giggled. She was pretty sure the only reason the letter wasn't filled with curses was because Adam had made the letter too small to waste space.
Still, a new instrument? Her parents had mused about getting her a flute or something to try now that she was trying other instruments.
Extermination Day, 1936
"Mom took my ocarina away," Charlie informed, unbothered by this fact.
"How many damn windows did you crack?" Adam asked expectantly.
"I didn't try to keep count," Charlie admitted with a wince. "She says I can have it back after I have some lessons."
Adam grunted. "So, was I imagining it, or did it sound like you had more kids in the house that day?"
"Some of the kids you saved from Bathory and I really got along," Charlie explained with an uncertain look on her face.
Razzle huffed from Adam's back, clearly aware of the topic.
"Razzle doesn't like some of them. Dazzle likes chasing Deska. She's a hellhound," Charlie explained.
"Let me guess, they keep trying to pet them and Raz hates it," Adam mused.
"How do you know that?" Charlie asked in surprise.
"I can tell what kind of personality an animal has after a while, even fucking demonic shits like these two," Adam explained. "Raz is a cautious and aggressive ass that doesn't like strangers being too friendly with him at first. Daz doesn't mind, little fuck is a people pleaser, he's just having fun with the mini-bitch."
Razzle and Dazzle both bah'd at the assessment, as if agreeing with the angel.
Charlie hummed at that, letting the silence linger. ""Adam? About my friends and the other children? I'm glad you helped them-"
"Don't fucking look too deep at it, Hellflake," Adam interrupted flatly. "Honestly, my first plan was to let their asses free and let them finish Bathory off. But I decided not to play around with a bitch that slippery. So I settled for giving them a pass for a year and letting your parents deal with that fucking headache."
Charlie was a bit disappointed but knew Adam wouldn't accept any argument that he did it in any way to help the Hellborn, children or not.
"They, um, are still scared of you. A lot," Charlie informed cautiously.
"I fucking hope so," Adam said bluntly. To his surprise, Charlie didn't respond.
She fidgeted a bit under his stare. "I didn't...know this, but the Hellborn tell stories about you."
Adam wasn't surprised by that in the slightest.
"Hellborn parents tell their children to never come to Pride, especially on Extermination Day. That they'll be...ripped to pieces if mistaken for a Sinner," Charlie explained morbidly. "And they make you sound so scary. They don't even know your name. They just have these names for you. Leader of the Raiders. King of Locusts. Lord Exorcist."
"You didn't know I'm the damn Boogeyman to the rest of Hell, did you?" Adam asked, almost amused by how sheltered she was now.
Charlie shook her head. "Do you...do you LIKE how terrified they are of you?" Charlie asked with a frown.
Adam turned to look at her over his shoulder and kept her gaze. "Yeah, yeah I really do. Hellborn or Sinners, fear and power is the only fucking language Hell understands. Don't be upset I learned to speak it so clearly."
Charlie looked down. "The treaty says you can't kill Hellborn. But if it didn't-"
"Probably have just blown up the whole room with them in it, yeah," Adam answered instantly.
Charlie smiled, if only a little. "Thank you for saving them, even if it doesn't mean anything to you."
Adam chose not to respond to that and let that topic end. "So, your folks tell you anything new about the past?"
Charlie kept quiet for a moment. "Daddy doesn't want to. Not really. I can tell. Mommy does though."
"...Lilith does," Adam said with distaste.
Charlie nodded. "She told me...the story wasn't everything, but it was how she felt."
Adam hummed, and it didn't sound happy.
"But, umm, they did explain to me more stuff about the angels," Charlie informed. "Seraphims, Cherubs, Malakhims. Though, Daddy said you should explain what the difference is between the archangels and The Archangels. He said he wasn't sure what happened there?"
"Yeah, that shit. That's just modern language bullshit messing the fuck up mixing in with some fuckers misunderstanding shit," Adam explained. "Okay, the regular archangels are actually called the Roshim. They're important because they can do or help any other angel with their fucking job. Basically, they can take on a weaker version of the power any other class of angel has. They're basically the handifucks of Heaven. The actual "Archangels" you're thinking of? Those guys are the Sarim, the Chiefs of the Angels. It's not actually a class so much as a status."
"Status?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Any kind of angel can become a Sarim, an Archangel. Any fucker with that title can use all the powers of the other classes of angels, at the same time and in full. There are only ever seven of them. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are three in that group for eternity. Other angels have filled the other four spots. Sera wore that hat for a while, still does, but she is mainly focusing now on being the Governor of Heaven."
"Huh. And why don't you just call them Sarim and Roshim? "Charlie asked curiously.
"Hellflake, when a fucker goes to Heaven or Hell, they understand every language as their own native one from Earth. We know what the shit they mean when they say Archangel or archangel, I can literally feel the fucking capitalization. Shit gets explained if they ask, but most don't and figure it out from context or don't care to think on it."
Charlie hummed. "Hellhounds and Imps don't have it...very good, compared to other Hellborn. Do the classes affect how angels are treated?"
"Oh, fuck no. Class just means what the fuck you can do as a cosmic job. My girls do shit the rest of the year, Hellflake. Some of them make fucking furniture, others help with the heavenly landscaping. Lute tried racing, but she got banned for a whole ass century. Don't ask. I just chill the fuck out unless I'm needed for other shit," Adam explained.
"...What ARE the exorcists, exactly?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Same as every bitch and fuck in the heavenly host; my girls are of the Erelim, the Valiant Ones," Adam explained with a smirk.
"Wait, so, if they do other stuff too, can angels change class?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Kind of? Every angel is ranked by their sphere. First, second, third. For most of us, this manifest in how many fucking wings we have," Adam informed bluntly.
Charlie's eyes immediately went to Adam's own wings.
"Yeah, I'm one of the weird cases. Probably the Fall fucking up my soul still," Adam remarked venomously. "Instead of more wings, my wings just get bigger and more holy. I'm considered among the second sphere. Also, technically an Erelim, but my girls are all of the first sphere."
"Oh. So, spheres don't control what job you can do?" Charlie asked curiously.
"They do. A Third Sphere Angel can take on any role, but you need to be of the third tier to handle doing shit like the Seraphim do," Adam explained. "Trust me, Hellflake? This isn't a caste thing, this is 'You must be this powerful to work this shit' kind of deal."
Charlie nodded in thought as they reached her home. "Adam?"
"Hmm?" Adam cocked his head as Charlie didn't slide down.
"...Do you...want me to hate my parents?" Charlie asked softly.
"I want you to decide on your own who to hate, if anyone," Adam answered bluntly.
"...If anyone?" Charlie repeated in surprise, in hope. "S-so, that means, when I know...everything? You won't...hate me if I don't hate them?"
"..." Adam looked over his shoulder. "Charlie, my hatred is not that petty. You'll get my hate if you earn it, and not a day sooner."
Something was comforting yet ominous in that statement. She slid down and somehow she knew that Adam would not linger this year.
"Adam?" Charlie called out to his backside. "I...one day? I want you to tell me a story. I want...I want to hear your story of Eden."
Adam didn't say anything for a long moment. "Been a long while since I told a bedtime story, Hellflake. Might be a few years before I figure that one out."
Charlie smiled. "Thank you, Adam."
With that, Adam took off to the sky.
He grinned as he came upon a rather slippery worm demon that was trying to flee across rooftops from his girls.
"Surprise, cock head!" Adam exclaimed, dropping down with a kick strong enough to send him and the demon down through the roof, and the floor below it.
Knowing the trip about worms, Adam used his wing to cut the worm down the middle, long way. The sinner thrashed and screamed before succumbing to their final death.
"Hmm, hunting light this year?"
Adam glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "The fuck you doing, Fucko?" he asked curiously
Alastor motioned to the stove that had something...or rather, someone cooking on it. "Oh, I found this goat demon hiding in here. I never had goat, so I could not let the opportunity pass me by!" he explained with a grin. "Sorry to say, but hunting Overlords right now is a bit on the low side. There are many around, be assured, but all too cautious for either of us to find so easily."
"Yeah, well, just keep your head down," Adam informed. "You're off the hunt list for four more years, but it's your own fucking fault if you get caught in the collateral."
"So I see," Alastair said, glancing up at the hole in the ceiling. "Did you know I was in here, by chance?"
"Knew some asshole was. I was hoping it was Overlord. And it was, just not a fucker I can kill right now," Adam explained with a shrug. "Add anyone interesting to your tunes?"
"No one important. A rapist, a scam artist, and a soldier," Alastair said with a chuckle.
Adam chuckled. "I might actually miss this when I get around to killing you."
"If, my good hunter. If you get around to killing me," Alastor countered with a wider grin.
"Keep telling yourself that, Fucko."
August 6, 1937
'Adam. Got the sulfur cold. Hellflake.'
Sick on her birthday. Well, that sucked all the dick and shit.
Adam made sure to keep his steps quiet as he entered the room. Razzle and Dazzle were on the foot of the bed but paid him no mind. Charlie was covered up, sniffling, and sounding miserable as she slept.
"Guess even Hell Princesses get sick down here," Adam murmured softly to himself, setting a gift down for Charlie on her nightstand. It was a copy of a new comic from Earth, called Dandy. Not much, but he thought she might get a laugh out of it.
His eyes lingered as he saw a book on the stand, titled "The History of Hell."
Careful to not disturb Charlie, he sat down on the side of the bed. One arm and wing over her headboard as he opened the book and began reading.
If anyone watched, they would have seen no reaction from Adam's mask as his eyes ran over the script.
And then he stopped.
He read a single line, a single word over and over again again.
His wings glowed brighter as rage quivered within him.
The door opened and his gaze snapped up to see Lucifer's crimson eyes fixed on him.
Neither spoke, neither moved.
Adam almost saw red, but he was acutely aware that Lucifer wasn't looking at Adam's face or the book in his hand.
No, he was looking at the hand and wing hanging above Charlie.
Adam could see the Devil's mind spinning, thinking how fast he would have to move to save Charlie if Adam tried to kill her.
And Adam shamelessly enjoyed when Lucifer realized that he was too far away, that Adam was too close, and that his daughter was alive entirely because Adam didn't feel inclined to kill her.
"Adam-"
Adam closed the book quietly. "Shush. She's sleeping," he reminded with a dead tone as his fingers moved back and forth in a deliberate manner, wings ruffling just enough to make the Sin of Pride stiffen.
So, Lilith trusted him around Charlie, and Lucifer didn't. Not entirely at least. Interesting.
Then again, that just meant that one of the people he hated most did understand him on some level, and the other did not.
He put the book down and let Lucifer squirm for a moment longer before rising. Slowly, deliberately he removed his arm and wing from the headboard.
Lucifer relaxed as Adam put some distance between himself and Charlie as he approached Lucifer. The Devil glared as Adam stopped beside him.
"How's it feel?" Adam asked flatly. "Knowing your kid can be killed in an instant, by a whim, and there is nothing you can do to save her?"
Lucifer bristled, something vile flashing across his face. "If you hurt Charlie, I will end your soul in the slowest and most painful way I can."
Adam snorted. "Funny. You almost sound human."
Lucifer's eyes went wide, as if stricken by that.
"You know, that fucking story you tell her? Only one word of it pissed me off," Adam informed, giving Lucifer a revolted look. "'Gladly.' You really are a disgusting piece of shit, the both of you."
"You-"
"I will do whatever the fuck I want," Adam interrupted firmly. 'You want this to stop? Go ahead, keep Charlie from seeing me. Tell her whatever fucking lies you want to make yourself feel better. But she is NEVER going to accept what you say at face value now if you do."
"...Get the fuck out of my house," Lucifer ordered coldly.
Adam turned to leave but had one last parting shot. "As you wish, O Breaker of Light."
Lucifer recoiled as if wounded, glaring at Adam's back as his demonic visage took over. His clawed hands curled and popped, his wings emerged, and his unholy halo blazed.
Adam never once looked back as he went to the balcony.
Lucifer breathed hard and deep, dark flames curling in his raised hand. "You arrogant prick...!" he breathed with a voice of brimstone and soot.
"Daddy...?"
Lucifer's head snapped to Charlie, who was now seated up on the bed. Her voice was cracked and her eyes were blinking sleepily. Lucifer hastily dismissed his demonic features before Charlie could come too fully. "CharChar! You're awake! Are you feeling better?" he asked in concern.
He was pointedly aware of Adam leaving via a portal on the balcony.
Charlie nodded, yawning. "Can I have some soup, please? No apple please, I can't keep it down," she pleaded with a sniffle.
"Of course, princess," Lucifer assured. "Anything else?"
Charlie hummed, still drowsily. "Daddy? What happened five thousand years ago?"
Lucifer froze. "What do you mean, Sweetie?"
"Dunno. Adam said the Extermination started around then, but he never said why," Charlie answered with a yawn. "Said others raided hell too."
Lucifer sighed. "Charlie, you're much too sick to hear an answer to this."
Charlie nodded in agreement. She wasn't sure she expected an answer. She just couldn't keep it in her head with the headache too. "Soup, please?"
"Coming right up, Princess."
Two Days before E-Day
Adam sat on top of the pearly gate, watching a very...very busy line of souls coming forth. Many souls were lingering or stopping entirely on the bridge, letting out screams and wails of anguish.
"Sir."
Adam tilted his head as Lute landed behind where he was seated. "Yeah, Lute?"
"Lady Sera is aware of the situation. She is keeping Emily at the tower, but hopes you keep her away if she slips away," Lute relayed.
Adam nodded. "Some of the exorcists are down there, helping talk to some of the grieving souls."
Lute nodded, already aware of that. "Emily means well, but she's not prepared to help souls like this."
Adam silently agreed with that. it was true that Heaven cleansed everyone of their trauma and problems from Earth, but certain souls needed...time. Time to process and come to terms with their terrible death, to let out their frustration and sadness at the sheer injustice they had suffered.
Like people murdered after being violently and brutally raped.
And there were a lot of victims of that right now.
Emily, bless her heart, was not ready to face this, to help with this.
"Something horrible happened on Earth, "Lute summarized. "Was it that war between Japan and China?"
Adam nodded. "We're going to be busy this year, Lute."
Lute said nothing. "We might have some new exorcists soon, Sir."
Adam nodded knowingly. With a word, he unfolded his massive wings as wide as they could. They glowed brightly, poised to move.
Lute smiled as she knew what was coming.
With a slow but powerful flap of his mighty wings, Adam covered the virtuous souls in a wave of shining, divine mist. All at once, the mob of souls became more alive yet more calm, relief and joy in the eyes of many. The wailing calmed as the holy, golden dust brought comfort and peace to all souls about to enter Heaven. The wear and tear of life lifted and blown away by those angelic wings.
Saint Peter looked up with a relieved smile, waving at the First Man, who gave him a thumbs-up gesture in return.
"It's been a couple centuries since you did that, Sir," Lute remarked fondly.
"Peter, the others, and you girls can normally help the victims of a pillaging get through their shit just fine. But this is different. This isn't stopping anytime soon," Adam remarked, gazing off to the side. "I get the feeling this is barely the start of the shitstorm on Earth."
Lute frowned and nodded. She made a mental note to prepare her sister for the possibility of having quotas again.
Extermination Day, 1937
Something was different about Adam this year. Like he was tired in some way, yet happy to see her.
"Glad to see you're feeling better, Hellflake," Adam greeted as the rest of the exorcists flew off.
Two of them actually waved back at her when she waved at them!
"Hi, Adam! Thanks for the comic!" Charlie said with a smile. "Miss Lute, can we bake again next year?"
"Perhaps," Lute answered neutrally.
"That means yes~" Charlie said knowingly.
"It does not," Lute refuted with her arms crossed.
"It means yes unless something fucking comes up and plans go to shit," Adam supplied, which Lute didn't refute. "Lute, you hanging around this year?"
"Unless you'd like me not to, Sir," Lute said bluntly.
This, of course, was all just posturing for Charlie. Lute had already spoken with Adam about this before arriving. She had no intention of leaving Adam alone this year, since it was possible Lucifer might try something after what happened on Charlie's birthday.
"Miss Lute is coming along?" Charlie asked, mildly excited.
"Why is that something you enjoy?" Lute asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I like spending time with you, Miss Lute," Charlie informed with a smile.
Lute looked to Adam, who sighed and waved her some reluctant permission. "You do realize I consider you a whorespawn of hell, right?"
Charlie winced at the wording but then looked thoughtful. "I don't think my mother is a whore, but...there's nothing wrong with being the child of a whore, is there?"
Lute cocked her head. "No, I suppose there isn't?"
Charlie nodded. "Can you please just call me Hellspawn then? I don't like it, but...my mother isn't a whore," Charlie said firmly. "She loves Daddy. I know you all think they're evil and liars and more, but that part isn't wrong."
"I have no intention of calling you either, or arguing the feelings of your parents," Lute answered solemnly. "I just don't want you to get the wrong idea about me, Princess."
"I won't. You like me, but you think I'll turn evil one day. Adam hopes I won't but doubt I'll stay good," Charlie said softly. "But...I think you like me a bit more now than you did the first time I stayed with you. You seemed like you had fun baking with me."
Lute didn't refute that, "If you are somehow unlike other Hellborn, I will be happy to see you every year, Princess."
Charlie smiled wider at the admission. It was progress. Slowly but surely.
"If you two are down pussyfeeling around, let's get flying," Adam said as he let Charlie climb on his back, Dazzle joining her after he shrunk down. "And where is Raz?"
"He didn't feel like coming," Charlie answered with a shrug. "Raz and Daz don't worry about me that much when I'm with you."
Neither angel said anything to that, but Adam swore Lute's face was almost amused.
"Well, since she's here, why don't you try asking Lute some questions?" Adam suggested.
Lute deadpanned at that while Charlie looked excited. "Oh! I know! Do you need to preen your wings?"
Lute furrowed her brow. "Why ask me and not him that?"
"Because Adam's wings are golden, glowy and look like they are made of magic," Charlie asked bluntly.
Adam cackled, flapping his wings harder for emphasis, just once.
"No, Angels don't need to preen. We can though, it can be pleasing," Lute admitted.
Charlie suddenly blushed a bit. "is...is that an angel-couple thing? Wait, what is dating even like for angels?"
"Uhhhhh," Lute suddenly looked very lost and uncertain and embarrassed. "Princess, I'm not...the norm for angel dating."
"Oh, now I really want to know," Charlie said with a pout.
Adam hummed. "Well, Haniel runs the Third Heaven, and she helps angels find a match or make a lover."
"I'm sorry, THIRD Heaven?" Charlie asked in shock. "Are...are there seven heavens!?"
Adam opened and closed his mouth. "You know, I genuinely do not know if your folks got thrown down here before or after the angels set up the exact layouts of Heaven," he realized. "But, yeah, there are seven heavens. There were GOING to be seven earths too."
Charlie was pulled out of her shock by the ire in Adam's voice. "So, umm, Third Heaven. Haniel. You said she MAKES lovers?"
"Kind of," Adam answered, looking to Lute.
She sighed. "Are you familiar with the Houri?"
Charlie tilted her head. "No?"
Lute sighed. "There are certain people on earth that think when they die, they are "attended" by virgin angels called Houri, up to seventy-two of them."
"That's...a lot of virgins," Charlie said with a blush. "Adam, did you cause that with the Exorcists?"
"I...can't say it's not a distinct fucking possibility!?" Adam said with surprised amusement. "Haha!"
"It's also not exactly false," Lute said with a sigh. "The Houri, and we do use that term, are Angels that come into existence to help sooth a void in the heart of another angel, be they earthborn or heavenborn."
"They...they are literally born, creating themselves to love someone...?" Charlie said in amazement. "That sounds so romantic."
"Not always," Lute continued. "Houri aren't always lovers. Some of them are companions, for people seeking a deep friendship. But yes, most are born to be lovers. And many have more than one Houri. However, that is never by choice or design. I can't say why dozens of houri will spawn for one person and another will have only one, but none are ever disappointed with their result."
"Oh. Heaven really is a paradise, trying to fulfill everyone entirely," Charlie mused, with a bit of awe and interest. "So...are the Houri a class of angels?"
"Not exactly. It's more like a distinct of how they fucking came into being," Adam answered honestly. "It's basically saying they are Love-born."
"Lute?" Charlie asked slowly as she looked suspiciously at Lute. "How many of the Exorcists are Houri?"
Lute didn't react at all to the question and didn't hesitate to answer.
"Just one."
End of Chapter
Okay. Lot of heavy shit happened without it being really tense. Adam shared some personal stuff with Emily. And yeah, I'm sorry, if you'd going to design Adam to be constantly covered the way he is in canon, I'm going to assume that is left over issues from the "Shame" caused by the apple.
And yes, Sera is worried that Lilith and Lucifer are trying to mess with Adam again.
I'll freely admit, Charlie being friends with the Bathory victims wasn't my plan until fans requested it.
But, yeah, Adam is a whole boogeyman to most Hellborn, the reason they tell their kids to never go to Pride, especially on E-Day. The Leader of the Raiders, The King of Locusts, The Lord Exorcist.
I hope the explanations about Angel Classes and Spheres was clear enough. I'm tired of the dysfunctional/dystopia takes on Heaven. They genuinely are doing their best to provide paradise for the virtuous souls, and doing a great job.
And than...oh boy, the scene with Lucifer. I will just let that scene speak for itself. But we also learned another title, one for Lucifer, and a sore one at that: The Breaker of Light.
But yeah, Adam can sooth the souls of the newly departed. The little reminder that in this story, he created Saint Peter's job and has plenty of tricks to help people embrace Heaven and let go of their pain.
And the Houri are a thing. Not always lovers, but always companions of some sorts. Some people gets harems, others get one. But it's always what you want, even if you didn't know it. And there is just one among the Exorcists.
