Sera's fingers drummed on the table, her conversation with Lucifer still weighing heavily on her mind. The Devil had done so much wrong... and it was constantly on Heaven to bear the burden of those mistakes. When would he stop causing the suffering of human souls? He had been so good at one time, he had made the very stars in the sky, helped sculpt the beautiful life on earth. Had he been plotting his misdeeds even then? Had every single smile been concealing his true intent? Had ever kind word been part of his deceit? He had done so very much wrong... but to allow the spread of Corruption... she would have thought even Lucifer would have understood the dangers.

No. This was a trick, part of some sort of plan.

Perhaps, Lucifer had finally grown malcontent with his punishment down below and had decided to take his revenge on those who banished him. If he was Corrupted by Adam's bite, then it was only a matter of time till Hell fell to that horror. There was nothing she could do for him. Even if she had wanted to, she could not put Heaven at risk to save the damned. The Winners had been good their whole lives to be spared an afterlife of suffering and fear. She had to think about them. She had to think about her angels that she was supposed to be protecting.

No.

This was the only way.

"Sera? You look a little... stressed..." Emily was staring at her from over her pile of training books. Poor sweet Emily. She was so good, so full of love and hope. She would be such a wonderful Seraphim one day but as of now, she still had so much to learn. Being an angel came with a lifetime of dedication, to your job, to your leader. Gabriel would soon return and help teach Emily in ways Sera could not.

"I'm fine, my little one." Sera hated to lie, but at the same time, Emily was far too young, too innocent to be weighed down with the realities of their situation. Sera was keeping her safe, as was her job since the day she was created: Protection. Heaven and all those within its pearly gates were her responsibility.

"Are you sure?" Emily reached across the table, putting a hand over Sera's tapping fingers. "I could make you a soothing tea!"

"Oh, that would be lovely, but I promise you it is quite unnecessary." Sera could use a bit of a calming tea and it would be good practice for Emily. Her magic was still being refined; her skills needed a bit more guidance. She was going to do such great things one day; Sera was sure of it. But for now, she was too pure, too innocent to understand the reality of their situation.

With Lucifer corrupted, it would only be a matter of time before Michael would have to finish what he started. With a smile the guardian of Heaven would slay the Devil, and all the souls trapped in the burning inferno. He was the true leader of the Exorcists after all. Adam was always meant to be temporary. As soon as he was home, Michael would return to the front, sword at the ready. Though... Adam really was supposed to last longer than this. He would still need a replacement. And that was most likely what her day was going to be spent doing.

"Here!" Emily put tea down on the table in front of Sera. It was steaming hot, but not too hot. The perfect heavenly temperature. "Why don't you tell me what's got you so worried lately! We can talk about our feelings!"

"I told you." Sera took a sip from the tea; she did feel better. However, as much as she would love to discuss her current plight, Emily wasn't ready. "Everything is fine. I'm just so sorry I've been busy. I know all these books and things aren't your favorite activity, but I know Gabriel will be very pleased with your progress." She reached across the table, taking Emily's hand, giving it a loving squeeze. This was the reason she had to do such things, thought it weighed heavy on her heart, she had to secure the future of Heaven, Emily's future.

"When's he coming back?" Emily held her hand gently.

"Soon, my little one. Soon we'll all be reunited once again."

"When he does come back, we should invite him over for a big meal! I want to hear all about what he's been doing!" Emily released her hand. She picked up her dishes and put them in the sink where they instantly became clean again. "And I want to talk to him about Sir Pentious! I have some great-"

"Emily." Sera's voice was cold. They had been having such a nice moment too. "Everything I have been doing in regards to... that Sinner..." the words still tasted foul on her tongue, "have been at Gabriel's behest."

"R-really?" Emily blinked. Her naivety was both her strength and her greatest weakness. It kept her spirits high and helped her uplift the souls of the Winners even while reality was on the verge of collapsing.

"Of course. He is not suffering. He is content in his cell. But he cannot be allowed to wander while Michael is away. If he attacks the Winners, then what? Then who will protect them?" Sera hated breaking Emily's heart, but sometimes the truth was necessary, even if it would burden her the way it did Sera.

"I know he's not suffering and the cell is really just a hotel room-"

"We do not have prisons here in Heaven, Emily. That is what Hell is for."

"Right, but I just don't think he's going to do-"

"But what if he does Emily? Thanks to that disaster of a trial there is unrest in Heaven for the first time. We allow this Sinner to run free and then he hurts a Winner, or a Cherub, then what? Then the Winners will feel unsafe they will lose the trust they have in us in the system that has been working for millions of years. I could stop him, yes, but such a display of violence on our own grounds... it would be traumatic for the Winners, the angels, for you." Sera reached across the table and cupped both Emily's cheeks in her hands. "I know you want to do good things, but the path to Hell is paved with good intentions my darling little Seraph."

"H-hell!?" Emily seemed scared. Oh, it hurt Sera's heart to see that fear in her face, to know her own words had caused it. Yet... better for Sera to teach her here, in this safe environment, then have Emily learn the error of her ways at the burning end of Michael's sword. "I was just sug-"

"I know, I know." Sera brought Emily forward, kissing her forehead. "You have such a pure heart. I know that. But you don't understand what is at stake here."

"Then explain it to me!"

"I will, Emily, once you are a little more trained. I don't want you taking on more than you are ready for. Angels aren't immune to overworking and stress. And I know you haven't read all your texts yet."

"I really don't think: Advanced Holy Harp Hymns is going to explain why Pentious has to stay locked in a hotel room." Emily was upset. Sera hated that she was the cause of such sadness from her precious seraphim. She knew Emily's heart was in the right place, but her actions were wrong.

"I know it all seems confusing. But I promise you will understand it one day. The way that I do. Until then, enjoy your studies. You are the joy of Heaven, my darling; you are the light for our people. Be that light, my little one, and guide them to happiness once again."

"Sera..." Emily was looking at her, expecting more, expecting an explanation that Sera was not prepared to give.

"Forgive me, my dear seraphim. I am afraid we will need to resume this talk later. I have much to do still. But I'll be home tonight." Sera gave Emily one more gentle kiss, this time on the cheek. "Why don't you focus on studying, and when I get home, you can show me the newest song you've perfected on your harp! Perhaps we'll even sing it together! Won't that be lovely?"

"I... guess..." Emily sounded so sad; it broke Sera's heart to see her that way. But she knew that it was for the best. At least for now. She did not long for the day when Emily would share in her burden, but she knew it was coming.

"Wonderful." Sera stood, picking up her tea in its cute little cloud mug. "I can bring this with me. It would be a shame to waste it." She smiled as she took a sip. "Still a perfect temperature! Expertly brewed my little one. Compliments to the barista~" She gave a playful wink to lighten the heavy mood. Emily did seem to ease up, a smile broke through her saddened expression.

"Thank you. I've been practicing."

"I can tell. And practice has paid off." She walked beside Emily, resting a hand on her shoulder as the younger Seraphim sat at the table. "You are so amazing, my child. You make me proud every day." She squeezed her shoulder. "I'll be home tonight, my dear."

"Yes Sera, I'll look forward to it." Emily looked up at her.

"Thank you for being so patient and understanding. Patience is a virtue, you know." She said the words almost teasingly. Emily laughed.

"I know. It's Raphael, right?"

"It is! Very good. Though I'd be questioning your studies if you missed that one." Sera chuckled giving Emily's shoulder another little squeeze.

"That was an easy question. Ask me something harder."

"The hard questions will be from the Metatron when the time is right." Sera smiled, reflecting on her own training days. They had been so long ago that Gabriel had trained her himself- back when he still took orders from the Traitor who damned all of humanity thanks to his own selfish actions. And here he was, doing it again all because he was incapable of understanding the fact that his actions hurt those around him. Heaven had bailed him out way too many times because of his rank. They could no longer afford to keep pulling Lucifer out of his cesspit. Eventually, he would just need to face the consequences of his actions. "Be good while I'm away." Sera looked back down at Emily who gave her the sweetest smile, the eyes in her halo seemed to be smiling too.

"I always am."

"I know you are." And with that, Sera took her leave. She had to get started if she was going to have everything in perfect shape for the next Extermination. Without Adam at the head, things would be more difficult than ever before. Hell had learned of a way to fight back, and now Lucifer was even refusing to uphold their current contract. Perhaps... perhaps the Corruption had already begun to eat away at his mind. They always said the sanity was the first thing to go. Paranoia, confusion, memory loss, delusions of grandeur... they were all symptoms of what Adam had spread. They were just fortunate he hadn't been so careless as to spread anything to Heaven. It would be a nightmare finding angels or Winners that were contaminated due to Heaven's masking nature. The warm, healing light tried to fix all ailments. Though, at times, the attempt to heal could result in only fixing symptoms but allowing the cause to fester. Fortunately, Adam was in Hell. He was Hell's problem, and if he damned them all, then nothing was lost that wasn't already destined to be destroyed. There was no Redemption. No way back in Heaven.

Pentious had been a fluke, or perhaps... a sign.

A warning sign.

He was not proof of redemption, but rather, proof that the barriers between Heaven and Hell were becoming weak. Sera had been too lenient allowing Lucifer's spawn to traverse all around without a guard. How could she have been so foolish? Michael would be upset for certain.

"There you are." A voice called out to the head Seraphim as she entered the beautiful, gilded building in which she had been working. She had not even put her hand on her office door when Lute stepped out of the shadows, arms crossed looking rather annoyed- though that did seem to be her default expression in Sera's experience. The Exorcists were really their own unique breed of angel, they lacked the amazement and starlight that filled the eyes of the youth and kept that innocent wonder in Heaven.

"Lute, good afternoon." Sera was glad that she had dragged herself out this way; it saved her the trouble of locating Lute on her own.

"You're late."

"I had a hold up. But we can discuss it in my office." Sera opened the door and gestured for Lute to go ahead. Adam's second in command, Lute had all the drive and bloodlust to fuel her sisters to victory. Sera closed the door and took a seat at her desk. "Please, sit. Chat. Tell me what is on your mind."

"What is on my... are you fucking kidding me? We lost Exorcists in that last absolute shit-show in Hell. And you," she pointed directly at Sera as she took her seat, "haven't replenished our numbers. We have to train the newbies, get their weapons crafted, there's a whole bunch of bullshit that goes into my job and not having our reinforcements is kinda putting me behind schedule."

"I do understand your concerns." Sera nodded. "However, there is no need for vulgarity. We can talk like civilized adults."

"You can shove that holier-than-thou bullshit right up your ass, Sera. I'm not in the mood." Lute made a show of rolling her eyes.

"I have not exactly had a great morning, Lute." Sera kept her tone level, but stern. "Now you are upset, I know you miss Adam. He was a strong leader; he was a beacon to you in the darkness of Hell. But he is gone now... not just gone but..." Sera took a deep breath. Lute knew the truth. She was one of the few. Sera had to tell her. She had no choice in the matter. It was better to tell Lute straight out, than have Adam try to temp her in the heat of battle.

"A traitor." Lute cast her eyes downward, her body language went stiff. She almost spat the last word.

"Despite all the good he has done for you, for our beautiful Exorcists, for the very realm of Heaven... he broke a contract with the Devil and his soul has become bound to that beast below. He is no longer the Adam who guided you, he is one of them. A Sinner. It pains me to see him that way. But it is out of our hands."

"He was better off dead." Lute was quieter now. Her annoyance had been replaced with a deep-seated, passionate loathing. That was better.

"I talked to Lucifer this morning. He is trying to argue against the returning Extermination which is completely ridiculous."

"He has Adam, what the fuck else could he want!?" Lute was seething at this point. "We held up our end of his shitty fucking deal!"

"I know, I know." Sera held up a hand trying to get Lute to calm herself. Righteous fury was one thing, but she was walking the thin line toward wrath.

"I have half a mind to talk to you-know-who and get this fucker put in his place." Lute had the right idea, but she was far too brash.

"Now, that won't be necessary, my child" Sera's tone became more soothing, gentle. "I have things quite under control. Lucifer is in no state to be making demands of us. He needs us more than we need him. I am certain, if things continue along their current path, you will free to carry out the next Exterminations unopposed." Lucifer had looked so sickly when they had last talked; it broke Sera's heart to see one so strong, so proud, in such a weakened state. Lucifer had been an angel once, a leader, a pillar of Heaven. To see how far he had Fallen, could break even the strongest of angels. Sera did not want to see him suffer, but there was nothing she could do.

"So, then we're back to my current point about getting new Exorcists. I mean, I'm not really sure what the protocol is here because we don't usually die, but we need to replenish our numbers before this next Extermination Day."

"I'm aware, Lute." Sera was pleased to see Lute had returned to a more professional tone. The problem she was bringing up, was one Sera, herself, had been pondering in her time between other tasks. They would need more Exorcists than ever before if Corruption was spreading through Hell. "However, things are not that simple. To create an angel- or rather- an Exorcist, as you are a very particular type of angel, is a nuanced process. It requires something we don't have, currently." She took a deep breath. "We need a human soul. That is why Adam was so very, very important to your legion. Without him, we don't have everything we need. As the first man he had a very powerful soul, very old. In order to find someone to replace him our best bet is to try and follow his family tree."

"Oh god, not fucking Abel." Lute made a face of obvious disgust.

"You dislike Abel?" He had not been Sera's first choice either, due to his young age when he died, (and for the fact that his claim to fame was being defeated by one of Hell's own residents). However, she had not expected such a strong reaction from Lute on the matter. Still, she valued her opinion.

"You're shitting me, right?" Lute raised an eyebrow at Sera from across her desk. "Have you ever talked to Abel?"

"On occasion. Emily is quite fond of him." Sera had found him hanging around many times, along with that Molly who had come about far more recently. Emily really had let herself get too close to the Winners. She was a seraphim, one day she might need to give these Winners commands. But that was an argument for another time, Emily had been through enough today.

"He's such a fucking buzzkill." Lute let out an exasperated sigh. "Like holy fucking shit, dude, you're in Heaven of all goddamn places and you sit there moping? Like? What the fuck is wrong with him."

"He had a hard death. Be gentle with him."

"You sound like Adam. Though, by the end even he could admit Abel was a fucking downer."

"I see, well," Sera shuffled the papers on her desk, "I shall make note of your feelings. I was looking toward Seth anyway since he has considerably more life experience while on Earth than his brother."

"I mean Seth's kinda fucking stupid, but he's a better choice than Abel." Lute kicked her feet onto Sera's desk, making the Seraphim have to move her name plate out of the way to avoid it being stepped on. "Either way, they're just a figure head. I'm the one who's been doing this since we started. I'm the one who is really in charge."

"Of course." Sera took Lute's foot between her thumb and index finger and slowly moved it off her desk. "You are more experienced; you were made for combat. Adam was weak at first too, he required a lot of convincing and time. You must remember that. Please, be gentle with Seth."

"Can't we use... literally anyone other than them?"

"You'll have to trust that these are our best options. When the Metatron returns, perhaps she can explain all the nuances of making an angel. But for now, you will have to trust my experience in this matter." Sera kept a calm smile on her face. Lute was right to question Seth's capabilities. Sera also had concerns, however, having faith that all would work out in the end was a valued part of angelic culture. Seth would rise to the occasion as Adam had before him.

"Whatever." Lute rolled her eyes. "When I finally meet the Metatron, I'm going to have bigger fucking questions than just: where do angels come from. I want to know about how to climb the ranks."

"An excellent inquiry." Sera applauded softly. "And when she returns, I will gladly set you up an appointment to meet with her. Of course, I'll have to get all this unrest settled before she gets out. The Exterminations have been... divisive, to say the least." She didn't want to think of what the heads of Heaven would do if they found their beautiful paradise in turmoil thanks to Adam's big fucking mouth. Sera was lucky the First Man hadn't decided to parade their absence all across the pearly gates.

"That's because Winners are fucking stupid. Good, but stupid. They don't understand the situation. They want to sit up in Heaven enjoying all the fucking perks, but they don't want to know the cost."

"Lute." Sera spoke more sternly. "Why don't you go and fetch Seth for me?" Sera did not have the time or mental capacity to debate with Lute about the Winners. Her opinion would not be changed in the time Sera had allotted into her day for small talk. Fortunately, despite her attitude, Lute was obedient when it mattered.

"Yeah, yeah." Lute got back to her feet. "I can't believe we're going to be stuck with fucking Seth."

"Quickly, Lute." Sera reiterated her point, and Lute took her leave. That was all for the best. The sooner Sera found the new leader for the Exorcists, the sooner he could be trained into position. The sooner they could refill their dwindling ranks. It was a shame they were down this many, had Adam been a more capable leader, he could have utilized the Exorcists to their full potential. But alas, the past was in the past. Sera could do nothing now but learn from it.

She organized her paperwork, and began to write up Lucifer's request for assistance- as she was certain he would be returning on hand and knee, pleading for aid. He would be a lot more reasonable once the Corruption put his ego in check. She would be more than happy to work out something with him once he understood the gravity of his situation. He had no reason to act so haughty, and yet, he still mocked and derided her in the same, very call where he had begged for her mercy.

Clearly, he wasn't desperate enough.

That was something time could fix. And that it would. However, until then, Sera needed to prepare herself and her angels for when they would need to return to a more toxic, Corrupted Hell. The Sinners would be stronger, more dangerous than ever before. Her Exorcists needed more training. Would Seth be up for the task?

Knock, knock, knock*.

Speak of the Winner...

"Come in." Sera straightened her posture as she heard a gentle knock at her office door. There was a soft click, as it swung open. Seth timidly poked his head of curly, black hair inside. His golden eyes peered around till they saw Sera. He gave a friendly sort of wave as he hesitantly stepped inside.

"Hey-o." Like with Abel before him, Seth kept his clothing more traditional, long robes that were befitting of his time. Though he wore a necklace of shells around his neck. Seth, like Adam, had a bit of well-groomed facial hair. Though he did still resemble his mother, he looked far more like Adam than Abel did. "I heard you were-uh- looking for me?" He seemed to be looking around the room as if expecting someone to jump out of hiding and surprise him.

"I was. Greetings, Seth, Son of Adam." Sera gestured to the chair in front of her. "Have a seat."

"Nah, I'm good." Seth wasn't moving any further into the room. Like Adam's other son, Seth was... lacking in the social department. Though he had as wife and children, so how Seth was able to charm his way into that, Sera wasn't entire sure. Then again, someone had married Cain so there was no accounting for taste in the human world. "Thanks though."

"I insist."

"No, I think I wanna stand."

"Why?" Sera raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm um... gonna do some swimming later and I wanna make sure my hammies are all stretched. You know how it is."

"No. I really don't."

"I'm just fine standing. I like standing, it's good for you."

"Seth, you're acting... uncomfortable." Sera snapped and a chair appeared behind Seth, sweeping him into a sitting position and pulling him so he was directly in front of her desk. Seth's wings fluttered and he very quickly got to his feet in front of the chair before looking back at Sera and quietly sitting back down. "See?" Her voice was gentle as she looked at the smaller form of the human soul sitting before her. Even with Adam's size changing abilities, the human had never quite made it to a size where he could look her in the eyes. Seth did not have such a gift, so she dwarfed him as he sat, swinging his feet as the chair was sized for seraphim, not for humans.

"I'm not uncomfortable. I just have a lot going on right now and this wasn't on my schedule."

"I assure you; this is more important."

"Right, but like, I read the book for the book club this time and I think I have some great contributions to the topic."

"Seth." Sera's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah?"

"It's not polite to lie."

"Okay. So, I only read half the book, but David kinda steals the conversation away every time. So as long as I get a few words in-"

"I'm sure you are wondering why I have brought you here today." Sera cut him off. If Seth was anything like his father, the pointless prattling could go on for hours and Sera may have the patience of a Seraphim, but even she had her limits. Seth looked up at her, as if puzzled, hands folded in his lap.

"I assumed it was to give me some kind of apology? Maybe like a bereavement wreath? Look, I'm not here to tell you how to do your job but Abel really likes soft things, so maybe a blanket or a stuffed sheep if you're taking requests. He has a bunch of sheep-themed stuff. Dad thought he'd grow out of it but you know, he got murdered before he could, I guess."

"Apology?" Sera had to find the key words in Seth's rant. For a Winner, he liked to hear himself talk quite a bit. (He had gotten all of Adam's worst traits, from the looks of it. Sera was starting to remember why she rarely interacted with the Winners outside of necessary business.)

"Yeah. You know, 'cause you got my dad killed." Seth's smile faded in an instant. "And you let him slaughter innocent souls."

"Seth, please." Oh, this was not going well already. Sera took a deep breath, grabbing the sides of her desk as she tried to find her center. "What your father was doing... it was not just out of cruelty."

"I figured that. Dad had his... flaws..." Seth was choosing his words carefully, "but he wasn't a monster. You did something to him. He wasn't acting right for a while before he actually died. An awfully convenient death, if you ask me. Heaven is upset about the discovery of these Exterminations, as you call them, and all of the sudden the leader gets killed? Yeah. That seems really likely."

"Seth." Sera raised her voice a bit. "You are questioning the words of angels?" A few more of her eyes opened.

"I am just pointing out some observations."

"You are walking a dangerous path, is what you're doing. I would watch that tongue of yours before you end up with your other brother, rotting in the fires below. Hasn't Abel lost enough family?" Sera wasn't sure if Seth and Abel were all that close, in fact, the impression she had gotten from Emily is that they weren't. However, empathy was a strong emotion for the Winners.

"Sorry, Sera." Seth quieted down. "Grief has been hard. Adam was still my father, despite his actions... I loved him."

"I know, I know, my poor little one." The eyes in Sera's hair slowly closed as she vanished from her desk, reappearing behind Seth, putting both hands on his shoulders, trying to console him. Despite Seth's constant push-back, he was still a human soul, the very thing Sera was sworn to protect. It hurt to see him torn up by grief, but oh, how much more anguished he would be to learn of Adam's true fate.

"I still don't understand why he did that..."

"He was protecting you, your brother, all of Heaven..." Sera wasn't happy to see Seth was already so avidly against the Exterminations. He just didn't understand their necessity. They were not for fun. They were a horrible act that had to be carried out for the good of all those above and below.

"He was killing innocent souls!"

"Those souls down below are many things, Seth, but they are not innocent." Sera's voice was calm, but stern. "And they are plotting to destroy us, even now. They have far greater numbers than we do, and if they clawed their way to our gates, we are ill prepared to hold them off."

"Plotting? That sounds ridiculous."

"Ridiculous!?" More of her eyes opened. "Do you hear yourself, Seth? These Exterminations were approved by the Archangel Michael to assure the safety of those in Heaven and you dare call his plan: ridiculous?"

"I- I just-"

"You just what?"

"I don't like the idea of killing Sinners. Cain is one of them, you know... and I grew up with him."

"Cain murdered Abel in cold blood by beating him to death."

"I... yeah... I heard the story."

"Did they also tell you he tried to bury the body so no one would ever know and we had to get directly involved?"

"I mean... no. I wasn't born yet and Dad and mom really didn't like to talk about what happened due to all the trauma-"

"Seth, you are a good man." Sera hated to harp on the story of Cain and Abel as Seth had not even been born yet. But it was the tale that hit the closest to home for him. While he had not witnessed the tragedy itself, he had seen the effect it had on Adam and Eve who were never the same after such a loss. "And I know this all sounds so... cruel... but cruelty is murder, cruelty is deception, cruelty is climbing to the top on the backs of those below you suffering underfoot. That is what Hell is. That is all Hell is." She still had her hands on his shoulders.

"Y... yes Sera." He was strangely tense in her grip.

"And if they rise up against Heaven, they will bring all that here."

"Yeah but-"

"I have seen the Four Horsemen prepping. I know Hell is plotting our downfall even as we speak. And that is why your father had to slay the Sinners. He had to thin their numbers, to stop Hell from reaching its full capacity. Once it does, that's it. For Heaven, for Earth, it will be the end of the world."

"Wow." Seth blinked. "That... that's a lot."

"I know." Sera leaned down, taking Seth into a gentle hug. He was still tense, rigid, he seemed more afraid than anything else. Had she... perhaps taken things too far? "But I only tell you all of this to give you background for all your father was doing. It was a job that still needs to be done."

"That... that sounds tough." Seth was trying to slide his way out of her grip. How odd... why was he struggling?

"It is quite the predicament."

"Well, I hope you can find someone."

"I have."

"Oh. Fantastic. Give them my regards, tell them not to get stabbed. That's what happened to my dad, you see. And I hear that can be fatal." Seth managed to free himself of Sera's arm and was getting to his feet.

"Y... yes Seth. I am aware of that."

"Well, this has been just... a great chat, but I actually am running late for that book club and if I don't get there soon my wife is going to ask a lot of questions! And I definitely told her I was going to be here, so you know, she would probably look here first if anything happened to me."

"Why are you speaking so strangely?" Sera looked down at him, he seemed to be putting some distance in between himself and the Seraphim. "Seth, I am here to ask you to take your father's position. Finish what he started." She held her hand out toward him. "Be Heaven's hero."

"That is... such a nice offer but actually, I can't take you up on it." Seth's voice sounded a bit strained. "I'm busy that week."

"I didn't tell you when you would be needed. And it is more than just a week, Seth. This will require training. You'll have to learn things about combat. I am not certain you have had any combat experience but neither did Adam. So don't worry, you'll learn it all eventually."

"Oh yeah. No. I actually have a dentist appointment that I just can't miss. It's scheduled for Extermination Day, so," Seth sucked in air through his teeth, "that's just poor timing, you know?"

"Dentist... what?" There were no dentists when Seth had been alive, and there was certainly no need for them in Heaven. The fact that he was lying was bad enough, but the sheer absurdity of it, caused Sera to falter. She blinked and Seth was already almost back toward the door. "Seth! Wait!" He was far less receptive than she had hoped. But she still had a trump card. "I can show you something, show you what made your dad change his mind-"

"Oh, what's that honey?" Seth pulled out his phone and held it to his ear. Sera wasn't stupid, she could tell there was no one on the other line. "You want me to stop by Heavenly Delights on my way to the book club? Doughnuts! Oh yeah! I think that is a great idea." He covered the mouthpiece of his phone. "Sorry Sera, the wife needs some things. And you know how much we are supposed to love and honor our spouse. Been a fun conversation though. We can talk about this again later. I'm busy for the next few years, but after that, hit me up." And with that he was out the door.

Sera watched him go, feeling her fist clench in anger. Why was he acting like a moron? Running from his responsibility? She could chase him down the hall, she was far faster than any Winner, or even any angel. (It was a trait of Gabriel's angels to be the fastest). However, that would make a scene. There were many angels and cherubim in this building and she didn't need Seth to have a fit. She would need to be a little more forceful, it seemed. But that was fine. She could come back to Seth if her next choice fell through. Which was...

Abel.

Hmm. Perhaps she should just try Seth again.

No, Abel, if anyone, would have a reason to fight against the Sinners. He had been wronged in a way Seth had not. Seth had grown up knowing Cain, but being distant from his crimes. Clearly, she needed someone with a more personal connection. That was fine. She could get Abel easily. Emily always seemed to know where he was. All she had to do was run back home and check. Emily should still be around, studying diligently to learn about her angelic duties. Sera wouldn't even need to be specific about her reason for talking to Abel. (Emily would hate it if she knew.)

Sera put her papers back in order and quickly returned to her home. The kitchen was empty. Well, that was annoying. Perhaps Emily had taken her things to her room to study. "Emily?" Sera began looking through the house. She walked into her own room. The Heaven phone was still where she had left it, though the glass did look a little... dingy. Well, that was no surprise. Lucifer had called her while Corrupted. That had been so careless of him, endangering Heaven like it meant nothing to him.

There had been a way to clean Corruption off of objects. Raphael had figured it out. There was a book in the Archive that discussed it. She could pick that up while she searched for Abel. Best stop this Corruption at the source before it started to crawl its way through Heaven. But first, she really did need to find where Emily had wander off to, it wasn't like her to just disappear.

"Emily, dear? Where have you gone?" Sera searched the house all over, but couldn't find her. How odd. She pulled out her phone and simply sent a quick text message. Best to be sure she was safe.

Sera [Sent- 3:25 PM]: Emily? Where are you?

There was an almost instant reply.

Emily [Received-3:25PM]: AH! Sorry! I was out getting snacks!

The message was complete with a sad little emoji.

Sera [Sent- 3:26 PM]: Is Abel with you?

Emily [Received-3:26 PM]: No? Should he be?

Sera [Sent-3:27 PM]: No. But if you see him, tell him I wish to speak with him. Tell him to meet me in my office within the hour. Do add that he isn't in trouble, I know how he always jumps to the worst-case scenario.

Emily simply replied with a thumbs up. Well, that would make things easier for Sera. Emily had some sort of internal tracker on Abel and Molly. She could pinpoint them in any crowd no matter the size. But this would give Sera time to get the Heaven phone purified and get back to her office. All she needed to do was find Raphael's old research on cleansing Corruption. It was somewhere in the Archive. It shouldn't have been too difficult to find. She only needed to refresh herself on how to handle this ancient threat. It hadn't affected Heaven in... ages.

Sera hurried to the Archive. One of Uriel's angels was staffing it. Not a Seraphim, but just a low-level angel. She waved as Sera came in. "Greetings Sera! What can I do for you this fine day?" She was a pink angel whose head was a simple ring of eyes, all of which were wearing almost comical little glasses. The rest of her was practically human in shape, wearing a pink turtle neck sweater that matched her pink wings, and a long flowing blue skirt, that covered whether or not she actually had feet. Her halo was normal, just a simple glowing ring, though it sat a bit higher as the wheal that made her head did seem to rotate around as she moved.

"Oh, thank goodness you're here." Sera smiled, looking down at the Archivist. She couldn't for the life of her remember this angel's name. They didn't serve the same Archangel, and they rarely had need to interact.

"I mean... I pretty much always am." The Archivist laughed.

"Yes, you are." Sera smiled, her eyes searching in vain for some sort of nametag. They really should make those more commonplace in Heaven. "Yes, well, I have need of a research journal Raphael wrote. It was on the Elders and the Corruption they caused. I think it might have been in one of his medical journals."

"Oh dear, is something wrong?" The Archivist began typing on her tablet, giving Sera a worried look over her shoulder.

"No, I'm working on some research for Gabriel. It's top-secret." She didn't like to lie. It did not feel great to do so, but when it was for the greater good, she found it didn't bother her quite as much. She had no desire to panic this poor angel with the true severity of the situation. Especially not when Sera had it under control.

"Top-secret? Exciting! I would love a top-secret mission from Uriel!" The happiness returned to her voice, and the Archivist looked from Sera back to her screen. "Well, you're in luck! Raphael hasn't written too many books or scrolls on the topic, so I've isolated all your best options to aisle 3-A." She gestured down one of the long, winding halls of books and a light from the ceiling shown down on a particular section. "Can I assist with anything else?"

"Oh, goodness no." Sera smiled, and hurried to the section in question. Each of the books the Archivist had found were illuminated in a glowing white light. Things were quite easy to find, despite the overwhelming size of the Archive. It was important to be able to find things quickly, and Uriel understood that. So, all her Archive staff were highly equipped to navigate the literary labyrinth.

Sera looked through the books in question. It was true, there really weren't many options. She found one, an old journal where Raphael seemed to be making notes about the spread of Corruption. THIS was the book she had remembered. She flipped through the pages until she saw it: Low-level Corruption can be purged with holy water. Perfect. That was all she needed. She put the book down on top of a stack of books that had been left on the convenient little table that had materialized beside her. She looked through the other books just to be sure there wasn't any more, leaving them in the stack as well. There wasn't much else to learn.

That was a remarkably simple solution.

She had everything she needed. So, now it was time to-

Sera stopped. She wasn't alone. There was another angel who had just fluttered his way into the exact same aisle as she was in. What were the odds?

"Can I help you?" She looked the angel up and down. He had the curly red hair, big glasses, multiple eyes on his cheeks speckled about like freckles. His wings were a much deeper red than the Archivist's.

"S-Sorry. Just looking." He did not make eye contact with any of his eyes as he tried to scoot past her, stepping between Sera and the table.

"I know you." Sera's eyes narrowed as she looked him over. "You're the boat captain... Ja...Jazeerael, right?"

"Well, the humans call me Jayce because my angelic name is a little obvious and hard to pronounce without a properly shaped tongue, which, fun fact: most humans do not have." He gave an awkward laugh.

"What are you doing here?" Sera did not have time to toy with the Ferry Boat Captain. He always seemed to be trying to get her to look at one inane chart or another. But he clearly wasn't here to see her as he looked surprised, maybe even... intimidated by her presence.

"Oh, you know, I haven't seen Phoebe in a while, and since the boats are automated, I thought it might be nice to stop by."

"Phoebe?" Sera blinked. Jazeerael looked back at her as if equally confused. He looked at Sera, then back at the Archivist, then back at Sera before slowly gesturing back toward the Archivist in the far distance, sitting at her desk. (She was always visible from any point in the Archive. It stopped people from getting lost.)

"Phoebe."

"Oh right!" That was the Archivist's name! Sera clapped her hands together, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. "Phoebe!"

"That's... what I said."

"Right, I knew that. But you still haven't given me a reason why you are here this deep in the Archive. Phoebe," Sera gestured back toward the front of the Archive, "is sitting over there."

"Well, yes." Jazeerael looked a tad flustered. "But also, I thought, maybe I could get some new books for the Archive in Port Gatory! You know, because I've read all the ones we have since you decided to bench me."

"Port G- oh right." Sera's face fell a bit. "The name change. I had almost forgotten. Whose idea was that anyway?"

"Look, I just work there." Jazeerael held up both his hands as if he was under some sort of interrogation. His behavior was... unusual. But if Sera's memory served her correctly, he had always been a bit odd due to his constant exposure to that Hellborn he was forced to call a coworker.

"Jazeerael..." she put her hand on his shoulder and, like with Seth, physically felt him tense. "You were not benched. You still serve a great deal of purpose in Purga-" She stopped herself, heaving a big sigh. "In Port Gatory. But if you need any sort of new reading material, you must request it through the proper channels. You can't just come here and force poor Penny-"

"Phoebe."

"Right, Phoebe, to give you new books. That isn't a very proper way to do things. You could get both you and she in trouble." Sera didn't miss a beat. The Archivist really didn't look like a Phoebe, in Sera's defense.

"So... no new books?" Jazeerael looked rather worried by the answer. Sera shook her head, releasing his shoulder.

"No, and even if you were getting anything new, they would certainly not be books from over here."

"Well, darn."

"Yes. Darn indeed. Now, why don't you head back to your post. I know those boats don't drive themselves." Sera gently started to turn Jazeerael around toward the exit. She wanted him out of this aisle.

"Well, actually, they do and that's part of the issue I have tried to bring up multiple times if I'm being honest right now." Jazeerael reached into his jacket pulling out the tablet Heaven had issued to him to help him run things as smoothly as possible while being forced from the pearly gates. He grabbed the table in such a wide, sweeping gesture he knocked the stack of books Sera had carefully stacked all over. "Oh shoot!" He immediately knelt down to gather what he dropped. "I am so sorry Sera. I just wanted you to look at some charts."

"I really don't have time right now. If you want to discuss things like this, you'll need to set up an appointment."

"Right. Well, I've actually been trying to do just that, but I keep getting pushed back? It's really frustrating."

"I'm sorry you feel that way." She stood over him until he had put the stack of books back in the table. "But I am afraid Heaven's needs do come before that of Port Gatory. What you do is so very important Jazeerael and you do such a fantastic job. I know you can handle things until I'm able to take a proper look."

"I... I suppose so." Jazeerael got back to his feet and instantly Sera put her hands on his back.

"Perfect, now why don't you head back home?" She could feel him instantly tense at her touch, almost shaking. "Next time you head to the Archive, be sure to submit proper requests first."

"Yes, Sera. Of course, Sera."

"It was so good seeing you. Don't be a stranger, all right?" She steered him toward the Archive exit. "And I promise I am going to look over those charts you've been sending." She reached the door, opening it for Jazeerael and gently nudging him outside onto the stone steps. "Phoebe, darling, lovely seeing you. I left a few books out; I hope that isn't an issue."

"Not at all..." the Archivist was watching the interaction looking confused.

"Perfect! Well, you best get back to work, Captain." It was best to remind Jazeerael of his true duty. He cleared his throat straightening his uniform jacket which was bulging on one side. He needed to have that pressed.

"Will do. Thank you for your time." And he turned on his heel and hurried away rather quickly. Sera made sure he was on his way to the exit. He was an angel; he should listen to his superior. However, he had constant exposure to a bad influence. She had to be sure. But he did go right for the gates, giving a wave to Peter before vanishing back to his domain.

Now. This whole fiasco had put her behind schedule. Abel had most likely been waiting on her for quite some time. And she still hadn't cleaned the Heaven phone. Well, it had waited this long, it could wait for her to appeal to her second choice. Abel had been in Heaven the longest, perhaps, despite his young age when he died, the experience in the afterlife would make him more reasonable. Sera hurried back to her office; she threw the door open and...

No one.

Abel wasn't there.

She checked her phone to see one missed message.

Emily [Received- 4:22PM]: Hey, I haven't seen Abel yet. Not sure where he is today.

Fantastic.

Abel usually hovered around Emily like some sort of fly, but the one time Sera actually needed him to be around and he was missing in action. Heaven was quite large, but typically you would always see who you were looking for if you simply wandered aimlessly. Things just had a way of working out when you were in the sky above. However, Sera didn't have the patience to try and wander around until she serendipitously stumbled upon Adam's middle child. She had other ways to find people, ways that were privy only to Heaven's highest-ranking officials.

She left her own office, heading to the end of the hall where a pair of golden doors towered over even Sera. The angelic carvings that lined the doorway were pulsing with their own glimmering light. Sera hesitated. Standing in front of this office was humbling. No matter how many times she had seen the room behind, it could still feel so overwhelming, even if the owner of the office was currently away.

But the Metatron had left Sera access to her things in case of emergency. And this was certainly an emergency.

The doors slowly swung open. The room looked completely empty. Without the Metatron around to manipulate things, the room was barely more than an empty storage unit. But when the Metatron was here, the room could be anything and everything Heaven needed. Sera stood on the center of the room; her hands clasped together. She closed her eyes, breathing in slowly, and envisioning the item she wanted. "This is Sera, I need to find Abel."

She cracked an eye open.

Nothing seemed to be happening.

"This is Sera, Seraphim of Gabriel, head of Heaven. I must locate Abel, Son of Adam. Please." She closed her eyes again. She had to maintain faith that things would work out. That is how the magic of Heaven functioned.

Still nothing.

That was fine. She could bypass this. Sometimes traditional means could be less reliable when the Metatron was away. That was why Sera had been given a key card that would give her direct access to the Metatron's magical arsenal. She walked back toward the door, sliding the key card through a slot on the side. Immediately the blank room came alive with swirling lights and clouds. Sera extended her wings and the ground vanished, the clouds tore apart, morphing into stars as the light disappeared and Sera found herself floating in the middle of a galaxy. She felt amazing seeing all the twinkling lights of space around her, looking so small in comparison. The beauty of life spread far beyond that of just Earth. It only strengthened Sera's resolve. She was finally seeing things from the Metatron' perspective.

"This is Sera, head Seraphim, leader of Heaven. I need to locate Abel, Son of Adam." She kept one hand to the side of the door, wings gently fluttering as the room shifted again. Now she was in a large, ornate room. There was a stone table in the center, above which, a holographic map of Heaven had been created. Sera stepped forward, her wings going still as the ground returned, now made of shining marble. Above her head were glittering ropes of red and gold hovering in the air like a beautiful wrapped halo. Sera slowly approached the map. She could see all of Heaven in beautiful, intricate detail. She could see the image of Winners dancing, frolicking, enjoying the luxuries of their hard-earned afterlife.

One shone more brightly than any other image. There was Abel, sitting in one of the restaurants, reading a book.

Perfect.

Sera walked back to the door, removing the key card and putting it back in her desk. She knew exactly where he was.

She hurried to the restaurant in question and found Abel just as the map had foretold. He was sitting at a table, reading. He didn't look up as she approached, seemingly invested in the book before him.

"Abel."

"Yes?" He looked up, upon seeing Sera he seemed to look unsettled.

"I need you to come with me. It's important."

"I can't right now. I'm out with Seth." Abel gestured at the empty chair in front of him. "He... uh... he just stepped away for a second." Sera narrowed her eyes.

"Lying is a sin, Abel."

"I'm not lying! He just stepped away for a second to look at the desserts!"

"Come along." Sera held out her hand. Abel looked down at it, unmoving. "This won't take long. But it is very important." Abel and Seth were not close. Sera had to really think back on it. On her interactions with Adam. He had complained about it several times when he was supposed to be briefing her on his progress with the Exterminations. So, it was incredibly unlikely Abel was telling the truth. Seth was at the same restaurant, sure, but so was Seth's wife.

"Sera, I don't think-" Abel pulled his hand back, but Sera grabbed it.

"Come on, dear. This will be quick." She hated to use her powers on him, but she didn't want to risk Abel making some kind of scene and upsetting the other patrons. So, with his hand in hers, she moved so quickly, the room seemed to shift, and suddenly they were in her office. "Have a seat, Abel, I am glad we were able to find this time to chat."

"I think I just got kidnapped..." Abel did as he was told, sitting in the chair in front of Sera's desk. He looked even smaller than Seth had. It was easy to forget how small and fragile the Winners could look compared to the angels who ruled above them, protected then.

"Don't be so dramatic." Sera sighed, looking down at him. "This was just an impromptu meeting."

"You literally just stole me away from Seth."

"You're fine." Sera shuffled the papers on her desk before folding her hands, clearing her throat. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I have called you here today." Unless, of course, Seth had stepped in to give Abel a heads up. She really needed to find a way to make certain Seth kept the confidential information to himself. Abel shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

"I mean, Seth said you might come looking for me."

"Did he tell you why?"

"No." Abel wasn't looking at Sera, but rather staring at the floor. His wings were arched around him as if he were trying to hide. At least Seth hadn't gone about spreading the information across Heaven. That was a relief. "I don't suppose you have any news about dad..."

"Your dad is dead, Abel. He died in the service of Heaven." Sera's heart ached. She hated to lie to a grieving son. However, Abel was so much better off not knowing what his father had become. And if she wanted him to slay the Sinners, it would be simpler if he didn't know his father might be among the bodies at the end. She didn't have to worry about him recognizing Adam. The Exorcist's helmets had a way of hiding what the wearer didn't want to see. "He fought so hard to keep you and your brother safe from the horrors below."

"I know... I was just hoping he would... I dunno... come back?"

"I am so, very sorry for your loss." Sera felt her eyes water. Breaking the heart of a human soul never got any easier. Whether it was telling them of loss or explaining that a loved one would not end up in Heaven alongside them. "You know, if there is anything we can do for you and your brother, you just need to ask."

"I mean, you could let me get back to my dinner." Abel looked up timidly through the golden strands of hair that had been dyed permanently by the blood his brother had spilled.

"Abel, my dear child, I am afraid we need to discuss something important before that." Sera took a deep breath; she looked down at the Winner in question. "Your father was doing important work. While I know it was a difficult, painful job, his Exterminations were keeping Heaven safe. And with him gone, there is a need for someone else to step in and take the mantle. The Exorcists need their commander."

"Sera I'm literally a teenager." Abel met her gaze, but he didn't look to be at all moved by her speech.

"You died as a teenager. But you have far more experience in the afterlife than even your father."

"Because I was murdered."

"Exactly!" Sera's eyes in her halo and hair opened and there was a fire inside them. "And now I am giving you the chance to make things right. You can stand up for yourself against the monster who put you here. You could lead an army that assures no one will have to suffer the way you did."

"I don't... understand how that world work. Hurting Sinners doesn't bring me back to life. It's not making any point at all. And I mean, would I really be the best to lead a fight against Hell when my one and only claim to fame is that I lost to a man who is down there? I mean... probably down there. I think Cain's still... well I don't want to say alive because that seems a bit misleading, but... around."

"Abel," Sera watched him carefully from across the desk. How could he be concerned about Cain? After everything that happened, Abel should be eager to avenge those who had ended up like himself. "There is a reason we preform the Exterminations. It's not just because your father had a deep-seated hatred for the man in charge. Adam was not acting out of a sense of petty revenge, but rather he was trying to protect everyone who was important to him." Even Cain. That murderer had been Adam's stipulation. They had to promise Cain would be unharmed.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Because you don't understand what's coming, what's at stake."

"Yeah, I'm not sure that's going to make much of a difference."

"Abel, this is your right, your chance to finish your father's work-"

"Mom said no."

"Wh... what?" Sera blinked. She looked at Abel who stared back wide eyed like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

"My mom once said no leading armies until I'm at least thirty."

"Your mother," Sera tried to hide the distaste in her voice, "isn't here." Eve, the one who took the first bite. Her foolish actions had caused all of this, and for that, she would never know Heaven. But it seemed Abel still had a soft spot for the woman. He was more like his mother than either of the other boys.

"Yeah, but you know what they say: Honor they father and thy mother. So, I feel like going against her very clear wishes would be in poor taste. Ya know?"

"Your mother never said that." All of Sera's eyes narrowed as she looked down at Abel sitting before her.

"She did, though."

"Abel, you are being given a gift." She reached under her desk. "Let me show you what made your dad see reason."

"I have to go. I'm going to be late for Seth's book club."

"You are acting so strangely..." Sera looked him over, he was getting to his feet, nearly falling out of the chair, had it not been for his wings he'd have face planted right on the ground. "Be not afraid, my child, I am just going to help you see reason. If you would just listen to what I'm-"

"Sera my answer's no."

"You are allowed to say no, however, you have to fully hear me out."

"I want to leave."

"I'm not keeping you here. I just want to finish our conversation." Sera shuffled through the old relics in her desk drawer.

"I feel a bit like I'm being kept."

"You're fine, Abel."

"ABEL!" There was a loud knock at Sera's door that drew all her attention. She snapped and the door cracked open. Seth poked his head through. "Heya little-big bro! I was looking for you everywhere! You just kind of vanished from our dinner while I was looking at all the desserts."

"Oh. You were with Seth." Sera was mildly surprised. She truly had assumed Abel was just trying to avoid her.

"I told you that." Instantly Abel was at Seth's side.

"Hey you can't just run off like that, we're going to be late for the book club." Seth put an arm around Abel's shoulders. "Myrna is going to be livid if we show up after they've started." He laughed looking at Sera. "You know how my wife is. If you're not early, you're late."

"I got abducted." Abel explained. Sera felt herself tense. She quickly cleared her throat, getting to her feet.

"He wasn't abducted. I just needed to meet with him."

"But like... you took him out of the middle of dinner. That's kind of intense Sera. It reads desperate." Seth was giving her a suspicious look.

"If both of you would give me a chance to explain-"

"I'm gonna stop you there." Seth pulled Abel through the door. "We are going to be late for our book club. And then we have some other family stuff planned. You know, we have to plan some memorial services for dad. We should get started on his unveiling. Abel hasn't had the opportunity to attend one before so we should really go over the prayers involved. And then he has to go with me to the dentist."

"Seth there is no dentist." Sera's expression went from surprised to annoyed. "I am only giving you both-"

"Myrna! Baby! We are heading right to you." Seth turned his head toward the hallway outside. "You won't believe it! Abel was here the whole time! Crazy right?" Sera squinted. She wasn't sure if Seth was bluffing or not. She didn't want this information to spread more than it already had. If Seth's wife was really lurking in the hallway, she would need to keep her mouth shut.

"Well let's hurry! Jonah already beat us there." The distinct sound of Myrna's voice carried into Sera's office. Seth really had brought her along. Well, that was... vexing. She would just have to approach them later. Perhaps she should refocus on Seth, as he seemed to be defending Abel. That was fine. Sera really didn't want Abel. That had been an act of desperation on her part. Seth was right. "I hope you read the book this time." She appeared beside Seth. "Oh, hi Sera."

"Greeting Myrna." Sera smiled politely. "Forgive my intrusion on your plans. I was just checking up on Abel."

"That's so kind of you." Myrna smiled, before turning to Abel. "Now since this is your first one, you don't need to feel obligated to contribute. I know the invite was a little last minute so if you haven't finished, that's fine."

"Oh, I finished it. I love a good murder mystery." Abel replied cheerfully as Seth started steering him back into the hallways.

"See? Abel finished the book." Myrna gave Seth an annoyed look.

"I ran out of time, okay?" Seth gave a dramatic shrug as they took their leave. "But no spoilers. I'm not sure who the killer is."

"It's literally a book club to discuss the book. There are going to be spoilers." Myrna's comment was the last Sera heard before they were out of sight. Sera took a seat back at her desk, putting her face in her hands. This was a disaster. The information about how Sera had failed to recruit Seth and Abel would be spread all throughout Heaven and Michael would have her wings for sure.

Failure wasn't an option.

Heaven needed to be protected.

But this was supposed to be a secret. Adam had ruined that. But Sera was supposed to be able to keep Adam in check. Her failure to do that would be what got her into trouble. He was now sitting below at Lucifer's side, Corrupted from some unknown source in Port Gatory. Adam couldn't even keep his hands to himself on the perilous road to Hell. How could Sera have trusted him to keep his mouth shut about any of Heaven's secrets? Everything was falling apart...

Incoming call.

Sera blinked. She looked at her tablet still on her desk. It was blinking. There was a bright message on the front of the screen.

Incoming call.

The phone to Hell was trying to make contact.

Sera hurried back to her room in the house. She placed her hand to the mirror still sitting in her room. She had yet to clean it; she would just need to wash her hands in holy water after the call was over. She straightened her back, taking a seat in the chair facing the phone as the glass illuminated with a deep red. At least Lucifer would succumb to Heaven's demands. One thing could still go right for her today.

"Sera, darling!" The boisterous voice of the Devil was about the last thing Sera expected to hear. But her surprise only intensified as the red light faded to reveal Lucifer, his horns and tail out, looking a little better than before. He had a giant jug of water behind him and a martini glass filled with water in his hand. "There you are!"

"Lucifer?" Sera almost had to rub her eyes to make sure she was seeing things correctly. He still did not look like his old self, but there was definitely more energy in his movements.

"HAHA! WE FUCKING GOT YOU, BITCH!" Adam popped up behind Lucifer, leaning over the Devil's shoulder from behind him and making a rather crude gesture in Sera's direction. "Problem solved! No fucking thanks to you!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Sera was completely taken aback. Lucifer held out his hand, pushing Adam out of view of the mirror.

"Apologies, Sera. You know he's got a big mouth." Lucifer took a sip from the glass and shuddered. "Oh, that is quite potent. But you know, holy water doesn't feel as good on the way down as it used to."

"Holy water!?" Sera looked closer, and sure enough she could see the shine of holy magic glistening in the glass and in the jug behind him. "How- why!?" Lucifer smirked, his tail flicking back and forth.

"Funny story, hilarious, even. Did you know Holy Water can help cure early-stage Corruption? Because I sure as fuck didn't!"

"Where would you have heard th-" Sera didn't get a chance to even finish her thought as Lucifer's eyes narrowed dangerously at her. He swallowed the rest of the water in the glass, visibly shivering as it went down.

"I'm thinking you knew, Sera. You and Raph knew but you didn't want to share that information with me because you wanted to fucking extort me. Is that one of the new virtues? Humility, Diligence, Temperance, Extortion, Patience, Chasity, and Kindness? I feel it's a little off-brand, I won't lie to you, even though you'll clearly lie to me. I just respect you far too much."

"Holy water is dangerous for you. It could hurt you." Sera tried to reason with him. "Especially anything strong enough to stand a chance against Corruption. You're powerful, Lucifer, but you're infernal." Lucifer met her gaze as he slowly grabbed the jug behind him, lifting it with his tail. He brought the top to his lips and started to drink from it deeply. Sera could see the droplets burning his lips as he drank. "Lucifer what are you-" She was cut off as Lucifer held up his middle finger at her, maintain eye contact and continuing to drink. Adam started cheering behind him like some overly enthusiastic frat boy, pumping his fists in the air with every gulp.

"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!"

"Whew!" Lucifer had ingested quite a bit of the jug. His lips were scalded, but in a moment, they slowly started to heal. The water was... somehow... working. "So, now that I have your attention: no Exterminations. Ever. Your Exorcists may be strong against Sinners, but I'm the fucking King."

"You don't understand. We had a deal-" Sera started to protest, but Lucifer wasn't hearing any of it.

"No deal. The deal got fucking broken when you dropped this asshole," Lucifer lifted Adam by the collar of his robes as if he were weightless, "on my doorstep and refused to help me deal with him."

"Hey." Adam gave him an annoyed look.

"Shh, I'm making a point to Heaven." Lucifer shooed him away, or at least attempted, but Adam didn't really move.

"Then maybe I won't send Exorcists." Sera stood. She had reached her breaking point. She had put up with enough of Lucifer's egotistical threats. He was not the one holding the cards in this conversation. "Maybe we will break our end of the deal. We'll send the Seraphim, hundreds of them." Seraphim, especially those trained by Michael, were far more deadly than Exorcists who were only slightly higher ranking than a typical angel. If the Sinners thought the Exorcists were unkillable, then they would know true fear when the real warriors descended upon them like a well-trained swarm. That seemed to get Lucifer to falter. Sera could see him looking her over, trying to call her bluff. She had to push further. She had to bring the one thing the Devil feared. "Or maybe we will send the Archangels themselves. You are strong, your majesty, but even with you there it would be a slaughter."

"I... I see." Lucifer had started to back down, his bravado and confidence visibly shaken by Sera's threat.

"So then, we'll discuss the new terms of the contract civilly, and with no more of this showboating." Sera took a deep breath. Crisis avoided. The devil had tried to best her, but once again, she had stood her ground. Good would prevail.

"The Archangels aren't in Heaven." There was a quiet voice from Lucifer's side. And then there was a dead silence. The Devil slowly turned his head. At the same time Sera could feel all her eyes opening, fire consuming her halo as the realization of what she had just witnessed, hit her like a brick.

"What!?" Lucifer and Sera spoke in unison. Adam took one look at Sera and started to back away, hiding behind Lucifer. His wings drooped; he knew he had betrayed his own people in every last way he could.

"ADAM!" Sera's voice was booming. "You dare speak such words! You would endanger your own children for your selfish desire to protect your damned soul!? Has the Corruption destroyed you that much!?"

"They're not THERE!?" Lucifer straightened his back, his wings flared out, protecting Adam from view. "OH HO HO!" His mouth twisted into a sickening grin. "Now THAT is some fucking interesting information, huh, bitch."

"Here or not, their orders still stand-" Sera's voice was like ice; if looks could Kill Adam would be dead for the third time on Lucifer's dingy, little floor. She was so angry she was trembling.

"Nope. New rules. No Extermination until Michael comes here and fucking tells me to my face that he's back in town." Lucifer stood firm. "And I swear to you if I see so much as a feather from one of your Exorcists in my territory, I will rip them limb from fucking limb." Flames were flickering from the Devil's mouth; his eyes were blazing an unholy crimson as his gloved nails raked against the glass.

"Michael will hear of this." Sera didn't flinch. She was addressing Adam just as much as Lucifer, but the First Man was cowering behind his monstrous master. Traitor. Who knew Adam was so weak willed he would sell out his own family, his home, to try and save his own Corrupted skin.

But it was far too late for Adam.

"Good." Lucifer's voice was barely more than a hiss. "You were supposed to tell him to go fuck himself for me anyway. You can add all this as an addendum." He picked up the jug again. "Eat shit." And with that he started to chugging as he ended the call, leaving Sera sitting alone in her room, shaking from the intensity of her own feelings. She could feel her eyes welling up with water.

How could things have gotten so out of hand?

She sat in silence, staring at the mirror. She needed to clean it now more than ever. After that conversation with Lucifer, she felt as if her whole room had become tainted. She materialized buckets and buckets of water, muttering her blessing and waving her hand so that rags started to scrub every surface of her room.

She kept cleaning until she could breathe again.

Things had spiraled so quickly. Sera needed to try and grasp at any semblance of control that she still had.

She took a moment, breathing in.

Holding her breath.

Breathing out.

Over and over again until the pounding in her chest started to ease. If she was going to fix the problems at hand, she would need a clear head. She had been chosen to carry out the archangels' wishes for a reason.

Ring.

Sera frowned.

Ring.

She turned her head to see her work phone tucked away behind some papers on her desk. That line was older, more out-of-date than her cellphone, but some of the higher-ranking angels preferred using it as they felt the line was more secure. It was a more traditional line of thinking, even by Sera's standards. But she kept one line in her office and one line in her room, in case of emergencies.

Ring.

"Hello?" Sera walked over to the white and gold phone, picking up the old-fashioned receiver, holding it against her head.

"Sera! Hey! It's Rochele!" The voice on the other end was surprising to say the least. Despite both working (at least partially, in Rochele's case) under Gabriel, Sera had little to do with the Angel of Souls. Rochele had a very unique and specific purpose. She helped bring life to the humans on Earth. It was a beautiful, wonderful job and she performed it well enough. (Though Rochele was a little... spacy for Sera's taste. Her sense of wonder could make her careless.)

"Rochele, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Sorry to bother you, I know you're busy. I am too, trust me. But... I saw Adam today. The First man."

"You... what?" Sera's blood turned to ice inside her. The Holy water... Lucifer had tricked Rochele into doing his bidding. That was how he had gotten a hold of it, that explained why it was so potent.

"Sera, I was told by Abel that Adam was no longer with us. But I saw him. He Fell. He's not destroyed."

"Rochele, Adam is Corrupted. He is as good as gone. You and I both know there is no freeing yourself from the late stages of that wretched magic. And even if he did, he is in Hell. He might as well be gone forever."

"But he isn't."

"He will be soon enough. When the Corruption takes him, he will be slain or he will suffer a far worse fate."

"But his children should still be told the truth-"

"With all due respect, Rochele, it is not your place to critique me on how I choose to protect the Winners under my charge." Sera's voice got a little snippy. It was not her intention, but she had been having quite the day, and Rochele's phone call was just another disaster piled onto her already overflowing plate. "I am the head Seraphim in Heaven, and I will do my duties whether you approve or not."

"With all due respect," Rochele parroted the words back, "you do not outrank me, Sera, and I do not appreciate you talking to me that way." Sera took a deep breath. The last thing she needed was Rochele breathing down her neck while she tried to smooth over the disaster unfolding in Heaven.

"This is not the sort of conversation we should have over the phone. We'll set up a meeting and discuss this face to face."

"I think you should tell-"

Click.

Sera hung up the phone. She felt terrible doing it. She knew it was rude. But Rochele was not as much in the inner circle as she believed. She was so rarely in Heaven that it was more of a waste to loop her in. Plus, she was a bleeding heart. She struggled to navigate scenarios that were not simply black and white. And when souls were involved, Rochele could not be convinced to do what needed to be done. That was one of the many reasons Sera had gotten her position over the other Seraphim.

Sera closed her eyes.

She would be hearing about this when she and Rochele did meet face-to-face. Luckily, Rochele was so busy, the likely scenario was that Sera wouldn't need to worry about this confrontation for several more months.

Ring.

Or not.

Ring.

Sera picked up the phone, already annoyed. Apparently, Rochele was too dense to take a hint. "I told you we would talk later."

"Excuse me?" The voice on the other line was definitely not Rochele. Sera's breath caught in her throat and she felt a wave of cold wash over her as the man's voice registered and her mouth went completely dry.

"Michael! I am so sorry!" Sera stammered quickly. As an angel, she wasn't a fan of profanity. However, at that moment, a single word resonated in her head: Fuck. "I thought you were someone else."

"Sera," Michael's voice was stern. "I have some... concerns." The word made Sera shiver. "It seems to me you are struggling in your current position."

"No, no, no, I assure you, I am doing quite well!" Sera's hand tightened on the receiver in an attempt to stop it from shaking. "Everything is completely under control."

"Is it?"

"Yes. Of course. I am taking care of everything." Sera's voice struggled not to tremble as she spoke.

"So then, you won't mind if I come by and check for myself?"

"I feel that is quite unnecessary, sir." Sera's entire body stiffened. "I know you and the others are busy with important work. I would hate for you to go through all the trouble-"

"It's no trouble at all. Raphael and Uriel wanted to head back soon for supplies. Why not make it a big trip? Bring everyone. I know Gabriel would love to see the fruits of all your hard work."

"You're all coming?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No! Of course not!" It very much was. Sera had completely lost control of the situation and Michael was going to be royally pissed. "It will be great to see you again!"

"Wonderful! We are already on our way. We'll see you real soon, Sera." And with that, the line went dead. Sera stumbled back sitting on her bed her wings folder around herself. All her eyes were open, looking wildly around as she covered her face with her hands.

This was bad.

Terrible.

Something had to be done, and quickly before the Archangels returned. They couldn't know of Sera's failings.

She stood grabbing her cell phone and quickly dialing. (The good thing about Heaven is that the phones knew who you wanted to call, so mis-dialing was a thing of the past.) "Lute " She didn't even wait for the polite greetings.

"Well hello to you too, bitch." Lute sounded annoyed.

"Change of plan." Sera's voice was no longer shaking, but determined. "Talk to our friend, something needs to be done about Lucifer. Now." Holy water or not, he wasn't back to full power yet.

Now was the time to strike.


A/N: ON TIME TONIGHT! Eyo! We are still going strong. Like I said these next few chapters are all going to be big for the plot! So I hope you guys are ready! I hope I'M ready lol. Also: We got to finally meet Seth! The brother Cain DIDN'T murder. Too bad about his dentist appointment, he's have been a great Head Exorcist.