"Everybody is a hypocrite. You can't live on this planet without being a hypocrite." - Paul Watson


"What?"

It is the only word Lute uttered when Gabriel asked her his question. Why is the Archangel of Hope asked about Vaggie? Shouldn't it be the Sinner beside her?

"Let me revise what I said," Gabriel sternly repeated, "Why is a former Exorcist beside our niece during Extermination Day?"

From Gabriel's statement, Lute's eyes widened in surprise and horror.

"It seems that you are undoubtedly stressed, Lute," Raphael said in a concerned voice, "Would it be because my brothers and I know about last month's trial?"

Lute turned to the archangel, shocked that the archangel had found out about the trial. They thought they would do nothing of the matter to interfere with it!

"Yes, we know that fiasco of a trial," Raphael replied to the shocked Exorcist, "And don't get me started that it's Adam's fault for letting everyone in Heaven know about the Exterminations. You never even bothered to stop him."

"But… Before we go further in that matter," Raphael said as he turned his attention to Gabriel, "I apologize for changing the question. If you would continue, Brother Gabriel."

"Thank you, Raphael," Gabriel replied, "As I said, why is Ms. Vaggie beside our niece, Lute? Is there a reason why?"

Lute tensed that Gabriel had once again asked why he was asking for the traitor. A cold sweat trickled from her forehead as she was pressured by the angels who were waiting for her answer. Leaving no other choice, she went to the orb and placed her hand on it.

"Here is my reason," Lute said with determination, showing the archangels what happened.

From it, the orb revealed an Extermination from the past, showing what should have happened from last week. It showed Sinners running away from the Exorcists as the angels from Heaven stabbed and eviscerated their targets.

"It started three years ago where me and my sisters are doing our part in the Extermination," Lute said while showing the carnage the Exorcists have wrought unto Hell.

"It was there that I saw the traitor sparing a Sinner," Lute said, showing Vaggie hesitating to kill a Sinner. A child Sinner to be exact.

The orb then revealed Vaggie telling the child to leave, as the angels were surprised to see an Exorcist spare a Sinner. For Emily, she was glad that Vaggie spared a Sinner. Even though she participated in Extermination Days way back then.

"Then, she had the gall to let that Sinner go," Lute said as the orb began to change, "Because of her actions, I decided to punish her for granting mercy to a Sinner."

Suddenly, the courtroom revealed how Lute punished Vaggie. How do you ask? By gouging out her eye and tearing her wings apart.

Upon the reveal, every angel was aghast by what they saw. Even the archangels showed slight surprise that Lute herself had torn the ex-Exorcist apart, as golden blood spewed out of her wounds.

"Miss Vaggie…" Sir Pentious thought. It was one thing to know why his friend fell. But, it is another thing to see how it happened that it caused great pain to his heart.

Meanwhile, Emily is horrified at Lute's revelation, seeing that Lute showed no remorse nor mercy to Vaggie. She then turned to her sister who was also horrified by what Lute had done.

"Did you know about this?" Emily said to her older sister, "Did you know about this, Sera?"

Sera turned to see her sister who was demanding an answer from her.

"I….. I didn't know….." Sera said in shock, prompting the young Seraphim to respond, "Are you lying!?"

"I'm not lying!" Sera screamed at her sister until Michael banged his gavel repeatedly due to the chaos Lute's actions had caused.

"ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT! I WILL HAVE ORDER IN THIS COURT!" Michael shouted, forcing the angels to stop their bickering.

Michael sighed that Lute's actions again brought the court to disarray. Even Gabriel rubs his temples because of what Lute has said, even though she saw nothing wrong.

"So let me get this straight," Gabriel said with an annoying look, "You're telling me that you tore Vaggie apart all because she spared a child who is a sinner?"

"Yes," Lute confidently said, "If I were to go back in time, I'd do it again."

Gabriel scoffed at Lute's answer as the angels gasped at Lute's answer.

"Really?" Gabriel said in annoyance, "Have you no shame that you rendered judgment without our approval?"

Lute blinked in surprise, hearing how Gabriel was disappointed in her actions.

"What are you saying?" Lute said to Gabriel, "I am doing my duty to punish-"

"What I should be saying is that on whose authority did you do this?" Gabriel said with his arms crossed, "Is it from me? Michael? Sera?"

Lute tried to avert her eyes once again when Gabriel asked her that question until he replied, "I see now….. It was Adam, wasn't it."

"Fuck!" Lute thought as she looked at Gabriel who was very displeased with her.

"Why, Commander?" Gabriel coldly replied, "Why did you think Adam had the authority for this premeditated execution?"

"Because….." Lute said trying to think of a reason until Gabriel cut her off, "Because he leads the Exorcists? Because he stands beside the Seraphim and the Archangels?"

"Wrong, Commander," Gabriel replied, "Adam does not have the authority to punish an angel to fall. Even though he is the leader of the Exorcists."

"What you should've done is to bring her here and put her on trial. And let's not forget, the only ones who can authorize such punishment are either us Archangels or Sera herself," Gabriel said to the Commander.

While Lute was trying her best to not lose her cool, she then noticed her sisters who were whispering amongst themselves. Although she can't hear it, she will demand them to answer to her lest she would risk losing face.

Suddenly, Gabriel shifted his gaze towards the Seraphim and said, "Sera, did you know about this?"

The High Seraphim looked at the Archangel of Hope who was anticipating if she knew about what happened to Vaggie.

"No Lord Gabriel," Sera said steadfastly, "This is my first time hearing how Vaggie was punished."

"Is that true?" Gabriel asked, prompting Sera to nod in response.

"Yes. I do indeed know of Vaggie's identity during the aftermath of the trial. But, Adam has never said anything about the Exorcists. He always kept it to himself and has dodged numerous questions whenever I inquire about them," Sera said, explaining to the archangels what she knew about it.

After her explanation, Gabriel felt so satisfied with the seraphim's explanation that he said, "Thank you for your information, Sera."

Gabriel sighed in relief that Adam had not influenced Sera even further.

"Before we move on, I'd like to ask a question to you, Lute," Gabriel said to the Exorcist, "If I were to order you to kill a child Winner who broke the rules of Heaven, would you do it?"

Lute was so stunned by Gabriel's answer that she said, "Absolutely not! I would never kill a child Winner!"

Gabriel smirked at the Commander's answer he replied, "Then, if I were to order you to kill a child Sinner. Would you do it?"

As Lute heard the question, she was in shock. At first, she would say that she would kill the Sinner immediately. But, after seeing the angels in the courtroom here waiting for her answer, she tried to think of the next words that she'd say.

Unfortunately, she can't say anything, as the words that were supposed to be said are left trapped within herself.

"There it is. There's your answer, Commander," Gabriel said to Lute, "Silence."

"You're silent because if you answered yes, it would make you an executioner," Gabriel said to the commander, "And if you said no, then you're just lying to yourself that sinners deserve mercy."

Gabriel then stood up and said to the court, "I want to put on record that almost all of us here are hypocrites. Hypocrites that have approved the Extermination all for the sake of peace and security. And that we have forsaken the teachings that we preach on Earth!"

After Gabriel's rant, every angel in the courtroom was all silent. Silent that what Gabriel said was correct. They all knew that they allowed the Extermination to happen and it never occurred to them the last time Hell has ever rebelled against Heaven. Even some of the Exorcists begin to ponder if they're doing the right thing or not.

After his rant, Gabriel sighed and sat down, angry and disappointed that he had let his emotions get the best of him.

"Feeling better brother?" Michael said with a concerned look, "I hope you didn't rub off from me. I mean, I'm the only one who does this kind of thing, correct?"

Gabriel stifled a giggle, thankful that his elder brother was trying to bring a semblance of order into the room.

"Thanks, Brother. I needed that," Gabriel said with a sigh, "Anyway. Let's move on to our final topic Sir Pentious deserves to join our ranks in Heaven. Raphael, you may begin."

Raphael sighed tiredly as he spoke, "Of course, brother."

"When my brothers and I found out about Sir Pentious, we were surprised," Raphael said, "We never thought that he was able to enter Heaven as a redeemed soul."

"So, we decided to see if he has behaved himself within our realm," Raphael said as he shifted his gaze towards Emily, "Emily if you would share your testimony with the court."

Upon hearing her name, Emily replied, "Yes, Lord Raphael!"

While Emily walked towards the archangels' gaze with confidence, Sera on the other hand was nervous. She was nervous that Emily might say something out of line or the questions the archangels would give her.

As Emily is within the archangels' sight, she begins her testimony by showing her experience with Sir Pentious through the orb.

"When Sera instructed me to give Sir Pentious a tour of heaven, I was elated!" Emily explained, showing the court what they've done the past week.

It revealed many things such as showing Sir Pentious his new home, visiting the petting zoo, eating ice cream, and introducing Pentious to the inventors in Heaven.

"We've had so much fun that once Pentious met with Heaven's greatest minds, he was able to work with them and share his expertise!" Emily said as the orb showed to them the inventors who were happy working with the snake.

"Not only that, he has proven that he does not bear ill will towards Heaven!" Emily happily said with the archangels as the orb continued to show Sir Pentious having a good time with his newfound colleagues.

From the ors, the Seraphim showed signs of relief. They were all relieved that Heaven's unexpected arrival was in good behavior and he had not attempted anything that would undermine Heaven's peace and prosperity. Even the archangels are seen with a small smile.

"Thank you for your testimony, Emily," Michael said with a smile, "Now before we render judgment, we would like a few minutes with my brothers as we discuss amongst ourselves the first half of the trial."

After his declaration, Michael snapped his fingers as a magic barrier enveloped the archangels. The barrier blurred them and ensured that no sound was heard from it.

The courtroom was in complete silence as they awaited the archangels' decision.


Ten minutes later….

After ten minutes had passed, the barrier dissipated as it showed the archangels with their final verdict.

"After much discussion, we, the Archangels have made our final decision," Raphael declared as the courtroom waited with bated breath.

"We hereby declare that Sir Pentious…. Is in fact, a Winner!" Gabriel replied as the courtroom went in shock.

"Therefore, he is a citizen of Heaven and is part of our glorious kingdom!" Michael shouted triumphantly.

From the archangels' announcement, Emily jumped for joy and shouted, "Hurray!"

She then hugged Sir Pentious with a bone-crushing hug and said, "We did it, Pentious! You're part of Heaven!"

"I am?" Pentious said in shock until he too became happy and hugged Emily back, "Yes! Yes, I am! I'm part of Heaven!"

While the two were celebrating, Sera was at first, shocked. Shocked that the archangels have allowed Sir Pentious as part of Heaven. But, as she saw Emily and Pentious celebrating, her mood lightened that on the bright side, Emily had proven to the archangels that Pentious was not a threat.

Meanwhile, Lute was horrified. Horrified that the archangels have not seen reason and that they have allowed a Sinner to be part of their holy kingdom.

Outraged with this undeniable fact, Lute shouted to the whole courtroom with one, single word.

"WHY!?"