Enos said nothing, only shook his head as Abel carefully approached a small couch off to the side of the main desk, sitting down and placing the basket beside him." Aurora is with Mother right now. They'll be free in… " Enos cast a quick glance at the wall clock, wincing at how the tall stained-glass window let in too much sunlight, drying the ink on his quill far too quickly. " Ten, fifteen minutes. You've got time to prepare. " His voice was even, detached, as he sank back into his work." I wouldn't call it preparation. " Abel smiled, making Enos roll his eyes. " Just another meeting with our beloved Mother. " Abel exhaled, shoulders dropping as he leaned back against the couch." Of course. Because it won't be you dealing with her displeasure or sitting in the office for the next three days. " Enos frowned, shooting a sideways look at Abel, whose answering smile had already lost its sincerity.
No, Enos loved his grandmother. He remembered her from Earth, remembered Adam's lessons. It's just… he had endured a difficult—several difficult days, judging from the archangel's weary tone and appearance, even dissolving his wings, which Abel was certain must have gotten stained for one reason or another.
Abel wisely stayed silent, letting his younger kin return to his work, while he himself adjusted his coat and hat, discreetly brushing at the couch so Enos wouldn't notice.
…But his nephew's sharp gaze fell upon the black-gloved hand of Abel, lips curling into a crooked smile that wordlessly asked a question." …Sandwich? " Abel forced out the new word, his accent jerky and flat, but Enos didn't comment, only nodded. Both knew Enos hated when anyone touched his "nest," his "den." He'd defend even a scrap of paper on the floor, let alone someone trying to clean away stains that were, no doubt, important to his work." My thanks, Elder. " Enos exhaled heavily, as a golden glow gracefully presented him with one of Abel's many pieces of bread layered with reworked meat. He took it with his left hand and, without pausing from signing documents, began biting into it in small portions.
That's how they spent those minutes. Enos worked, occasionally grumbling under his breath, while Abel politely tried to start a conversation. But all he got was a gruff murmur, something between " not now " and " mmph, " which Abel politely took as clear and courteous. A simple hint to " shut up, " as Father would have said.
A few more minutes passed. The office was filled with the scratching of a quill on parchment, sometimes newer paper, while Abel's mind drifted…
"…then we could also buy groceries from the Takimura district, if I remember the name right, and maybe suggest to Mother that we cook something. But then we'd need a kitchen, and without Father at home it's best not to show up there, because he'll be angry, which, well…" Abel kept mulling over the future, trying not to repeat past mistakes that had cost him several hours of Father's "lectures," or those of the High Seraph or her servants.
Their Mother Eve couldn't be brought near the "places of glory" tied to the recently fallen Archangel Vergil, who had sacrificed himself stopping the Serpent's attempt to reach Earth again. Father and the High Seraph had made that very clear—something Abel would never think to question.
Mother had to be kept away from possible "triggers," as the modern Righteous of Raphael's Wing called them, things that could painfully remind her of the past. Lord Raphael insisted Abel must never expose her to such places—but Father, whom Abel trusted more, said the Third Man should slowly let her face some of it.
Just recently, Abel and Sif had taken Mother to a water park…
" Enos! " A loud, warm female voice rang out, instantly recognizable to both men, who raised their eyes at the same time to see the woman entering with open arms and a wide smile, nearly bursting into Enos's office." First Mother. " Enos bowed his head respectfully, throwing Abel a quick glance and a small nod before rising, stepping from behind his desk, only to be swept up halfway by the strong embrace of the First Woman, a swirl of black, white, and pink wrapping around Sif's son. Enos let out a rasping grunt, trying to slip free without using an ounce of force.
" Mom. " Abel smiled as he rose from the half-straightened couch, picking up the basket and receiving a nod from Eve before moving back to…" Enos, how many times do I have to tell you—call me Mom. " Eve's voice was gentle yet firm as she rubbed her cheek against his, forcing Enos's perfectly calm, stern face to twist with embarrassment he tried hard to hide, much to the amusement of the other two archangels. " And Abel, darling! " she exclaimed, pulling her grandson into a hug, while he squirmed in playful attempts to break free." Hi, Mom… " Abel exhaled, glancing sideways to double-check the basket's contents while Enos spoke with their Mother. The bread and meat were there, the pastries, the sweet rolls, chocolate, bananas, apples…
Abel's hands jerked, eyes widening. Golden light immediately enveloped the fruit, while Enos swiftly distracted Eve with a question, buying a few seconds before the fruit vanished from the basket into their family home." Hm…? " Eve raised a brow, first at Enos—likely catching his tone—then at Abel, who was grinning far too widely at her. " What is it? " she asked in a peculiar mix of suspicion, curiosity, and pressing concern softened with care. Abel's shoulders twitched on their own, in either fear or unease—he couldn't even tell which.
Enos only rolled his eyes as he finally slipped free of the First Mother's tight embrace. Sif's son straightened himself, adjusting his clothes in his own manner, casting a quick glance at Abel and giving him a small nod while standing just behind Eve." The Elder was only sharing some provisions with the Younger, nothing more, First Mother… " Enos said, his tone almost dry, struggling not to meet Eve's piercing gaze. He was trying very hard, Abel noted. A whole ten seconds—that was a record for Adam's descendants. " …And please, spare me the… childish affections… Mom… " He all but forced the word out, exhaling deeply under Eve's approving nod and smile." But I've missed so much, Enos… " Eve's voice grew softer and more serious as she stroked the golden hair of the stern man, carefully avoiding his halo. " Your mother just wants to— "" Show how much she missed you and longs to prove it, yes… " Enos cut her off with a sigh, pressing his gaze firmly onto Abel, who stood silent. " But, as I recall, for this hour you were planning a walk with the Elder. " His brows arched meaningfully, never breaking eye contact with Abel, who grew visibly nervous under the look. The Third Man might have said something, but…" Yes, Mom, today we were going to… " Abel gently raised his voice, making his Mother finally turn her eyes from Enos to him." A walk through the Golden City! " Eve exclaimed, clenching her hands into fists and in an instant flying toward Abel, much to Enos's relieved sigh. " Just you and me, darling—mother and son, just like back then on Earth, on our walks…! " Her words spilled out like long-gone memories more for herself than for Abel or Enos. She stared intently at Abel, who gave small nods whenever she paused, as if confirming whether her recollections were real.
Abel honestly noticed that once or twice Mother made mistakes in her tale of their "family" outing into the woods. They hadn't exactly "strolled" through the wild, dangerous forests of Earth, filled with far deadlier creatures than today's. Instead, he and Cain had been learning from her—how to gather, how to survive.
Mother called it a "walk," glossing over those parts, and Abel gently corrected her, pain stabbing his heart each time her face twitched for a fleeting second of hurt. Enos, though unborn at the time, joined in as well, sharing bits of his own childhood, when the "First Mother" had taught him too…
What mattered was that Abel and Mother finally left Enos's dwelling. His heavy sigh must have been heard across his entire Department, but thankfully Abel had managed to distract her with talk of "those" and "the new" Earth berries—even if he didn't understand half of it, having last properly set foot on Earth before the Great Flood…
What mattered was that Abel and Mother began "their day." He could breathe easier now, knowing his Younger was "free," but at the same time…
Now he had to make sure Father and the High Seraph Sera wouldn't scold Mother again.
…Sometimes Abel regretted his heart being too open, too sensitive. One day he might simply lock himself away in a room for a decade, shutting himself off from the rest of the world.
What could a simple soul expect from a walk shared by the "Second Man and the First Mother"? Abel honestly couldn't answer that himself, but judging by the way others "stared" and "cast glances" as the two of them walked through the crowd, he couldn't help but wonder.
Did they think the Second Man and the First Mother were enduring another trial from God? "For the umpteenth fucking time," as some ancient soul might've put it, for the Lord could once again send misfortunes upon their family, testing them to harden them even more.
Or maybe the watching souls believed that Archangel Abel and the Mother of Humanity were on some "top-secret assignment" from one of the Council? Abel had indeed often helped Sera with paperwork, carrying files from one department to another, while his Mother, he'd heard, had done the same—only in reverse.
Or could it simply be that a shepherd, Abel, and a kind woman, Eve… were doing nothing more than spending time together, mother and son, with Eve loudly and openly expressing her joy?
Abel sighed as his Mother, like an excited child, gazed upon the grand bazaar. A massive building, filled with stalls across multiple levels, with countless diversions—among them a swimming pool they had avoided by taking a wide detour, Eve hurling loud "curses" at the owner as they passed. And that was just one part.
Now, in the clothing section, Mother loudly "spoke" with a Righteous One—bird-like, multicolored, many-eyed, adorned with silver and gold, gazing at them with all seven—no, eight—eyes. The issue was simple: the Righteous had no clothing fit for their "forms." It wasn't the soul's fault. There just weren't options for Old Souls—aside from Adam and now Mother and Abel—who occasionally stepped into the light.
Abel tried to explain this quietly to his Mother, not wishing to further irritate the poor soul just doing its job, but…
" …No, how can that be, you're a craftsman, a creator, and you never even thought that your miserable…! " Eve's voice rose—not quite a scream, but loud enough—while Abel held her by the elbow, gently guiding her away, covering his mouth only to stifle a yawn that had been tugging at him for the last hour. Nothing more.
" Mom, we should head over there. They serve excellent meat and soups. " Abel exhaled, still carefully, firmly steering his Mother through the bustling "center" of trade.
" Oh, of course, my son. " Eve replied, her tone overly calm, almost theatrical. The Righteous—the silver-golden, many-eyed owl—rolled all eight of its eyes and crossed its winged arms over its feathery chest, making the Third Man bow his head apologetically under the soul's sigh and dismissive wave.
That incident was the most vivid, though there had been others. Always Eve—never Abel—"involved herself" in similar clashes, sometimes intentionally, sometimes out of true ignorance of the new order of earthly souls since the Great Flood. It was as if her mind carried not "confusion," but a strange blend of old and new… Just as Lord Raphael once warned could happen.
" Only a dozen incidents in the past hour… " Abel sighed again, watching his Mother "move on" from the quarrel as she examined the sights with him. " Sometimes, it feels like she isn't my m— "
He cut himself short, failing to restrain his emotions in the moment.
No, he didn't truly believe that the one who called herself Eve, the one who had somehow ascended to Heaven after so many centuries, could be anyone other than the woman he remembered. Abel would never think that. He was better than that.
…And yet, there were the complaints, the constant reports, his Mother's frequent disappearances into libraries or time spent only with Father…
" Is something wrong, dear? " His Mother's voice pierced his thoughts, filled with genuine concern, with both question and plea. Words so full of maternal care that Abel felt ashamed for his doubts—yet he couldn't help himself.
Should he confess what he'd been thinking? Wouldn't that be the beginning of the end of their fragile bond, planting discord where love was only just beginning to bloom again? Abel… Abel couldn't bear the thought of losing his Mother's affection, even if—
" Abel. " Her voice grew firmer, pulling him back, like in his childhood when she caught him doing something shameful during lessons. " What's wrong? " she asked again, softer this time, her eyes fixed on her younger son with such…
Abel's face twisted with shame, fear, and unease. His gloved hand curled into a fist, the fabric straining faintly as turmoil tore through his mind.
" I… Mom, you… Today, and really in general… " Abel fumbled, searching for words, avoiding her gaze, until—she sighed?
" You're worried I've been misbehaving? " Mother said, her voice calm—strangely calm for her—as her eyes lingered on Abel. He couldn't name what he saw in them. So much… he couldn't describe.
Blue eyes, brimming with… age, time, pain? All of it at once, focused on Abel. As if Eve had finally stopped…
" …Wearing the mask? Just like Father… " Abel thought involuntarily, holding on under the weight of that heavy gaze. It was nearly identical to his Father's, the look Adam bore during the First Rebellion, the Second, the Third, even the Fourth. When grief overwhelmed him most.
Abel had rarely seen it. Usually only when even his Father's humor failed to release the bitterness bottled within. Those were the times he drank.
" …Yes. " Abel whispered at last, reluctantly, his voice barely audible. " Just… " He still struggled to find softer words for her but couldn't summon any. " You… I don't know, you've been acting differently…? Not as I remember… " The words slipped out, his voice little more than a whisper, but his Mother heard.
Eve stepped closer to her son, her calm eyes fixed on his troubled golden ones. Strange—so unlike her old self the whole day. She now seemed more like Father, a "younger version" of Father, who on rare occasions shared his burdens with his closest son. Those moments had been few and fleeting, but Abel remembered each.
" I know that I… " Eve began, but faltered, lowering her eyes with a long sigh. " …Only burden our family now. And yes, Abel, I know I cause many troubles. " Her voice rose, quieting her son's instinct to defend her. " It's just… Your father makes it seem so easy, that one can just… " she exhaled, shoulders falling as her long black hair slid down her back. Eve's pink halo dimmed, shifting toward deep, shadowed blues.
" Mom, you don't— " Abel began, but fell silent the moment Eve pressed him with her gaze. Her blue eyes bore into him with intensity, sternness—was that guilt, too? Abel shook his shoulders, nodding slightly and letting his Mother continue." I… don't really understand these 'modern'… souls. " Eve spread her arms, glancing around the green, earthly park—one of those meant for the newly arrived, not yet accustomed to Heaven's beauty. " I… want to act as if this were our old settlement, or one of the… 'past' places I stayed on Earth. " She nearly spat out the last words, face twisting as if from rotten food. Abel nodded in understanding, allowing her to pull him down onto the grass, where they laid out the blanket for their 'picnic,' basket already waiting with what he'd prepared.
Abel… Abel needed nothing more to understand his Mother.Lord Raphael, Father—even Lieutenant Luth—all said their Mother had… issues with memory, if not her very mind. Abel didn't know the full details; the Ban kept them hidden. But what little he did know helped him not to resent her, unlike some of his less-informed siblings.
Their Mother, Eve, had endured much in her ten thousand years on Earth. If Father was to be believed—and from Eve's own fragmented recollections—she had gone through many 'bodies' across the centuries. Each one brought pain, forced her to change, again and again.Fetus, child, girl, maiden, woman. Then elder, death—and the cycle began anew.
Abel couldn't imagine how many times she had lost, how many times she'd had to change her 'mask,' how often she was forced to lose and regain family, or mingle with simple mortals…And now, in Heaven—where souls stayed constant, where nearly all the 'old ones' knew each other—their Mother could easily lose herself in the tangle of roles.
Father could also have set a poor example, Abel grudgingly admitted, watching Eve silently gaze at the trees, the few falling leaves, letting birdsong fill their silence.
" …It's just that I… " Eve finally spoke after a few moments, turning her head toward him. " I'm still not used to it. " She smiled faintly. Abel only sighed and waved a hand." I understand, Mom, but Father's example— " Abel began, his Mother's gaze finally easing, while he set out the sweets he'd prepared—until a loud shout behind them cut him off.
" Absolutely correct and the only damn way! " their Father roared, under Abel's long-suffering sigh. He was dressed in his usual robe, but without the holo-mask that had become almost part of him. Adam didn't just walk—he practically flew to them, so fast he was at their side in an instant. " Because it's the only way to get through to those idiots with anything more complicated than Gabriel's bedtime stories about the Good. "
Abel sighed again, stretching out the still-hot food, while Eve, smiling wide, opened her arms for a hug, turning slightly toward Adam as he swooped down on golden wings, wrapping her with arms and feathers alike, earning a delighted squeal from Mother.
"Father… Such behavior has been forbidden and punished for eight or nine centuries already, not to mention it disturbs nearby souls…" said Abel, fully aware his words were useless, knowing Father would dismiss them as always, yet unable to stay silent. "Especially when it forces the High Seraphim to pay even closer attention to us," Abel added, faintly smiling as he noticed Father's shoulders twitch in irritation while Mother quietly chuckled.
"You really know how to ruin the mood…" muttered Adam, briefly grimacing before instantly forgetting the offense and focusing on the food neatly laid out on the firm cloth. "You'd be better off noticing how the Valkyries settle their asses next to you in the Department with the same attention." Adam smirked, spreading his wings as Eve began picking from the meal as well. Abel groaned deeply.
"Da-a-a-ad!" Abel stretched out, half childlike, half with adult irritation, as Adam burst into laughter, immediately wrapping an arm around his son's neck. Eve, her eyes glinting with surprise mixed with curiosity, also leaned closer to Abel, taking some sugar-filled pastry from the basket.
"Really? I didn't know my sweet one already had a chosen! Why didn't you tell me before?" Eve said, somewhat rushed, biting into a pastry and washing it down with juice, speaking between Adam's satisfied chuckles as Abel reluctantly tried to free himself from Father's hold. "I always said you need to choose a wife, and you…"
"M-mom!" Abel burst out, adding a frustrated effort as he broke free from his laughing Father's grip. "You've been here less than a century and never once mentioned that I should—" Abel rolled his eyes, taking the 'sandwiches' made with Azura's recipe, which he had been eager to try at the family picnic.
"It's long overdue to understand that when several sexual Powers rub against you at work, that's a sign for s—" Adam raised a finger instructively, but a sharp poke in the side from Mother cut off his laugh, for which Abel was endlessly grateful. "I mean, you need to at least notice the hints," Adam corrected himself, rubbing the bruised spot more for show than pain, with Eve nodding approvingly. Adam grabbed a small plate of fried meat in sauce, crumbling the lid and biting off a generous piece.
"My dear, have you finished with work… at the Department?" Mother said somewhat hesitantly, recalling the modern term for her husband's occupation, trying to change the subject. "But where are Luth and your women?" Eve glanced around demonstratively, folding her legs beneath her, adjusting her white-gold dress, taking a plate with salad of meat, cucumbers, cabbage… Did Abel even make this?
"Mhm, Luth showed great courage, taking on the remaining work," Adam said calmly, leaning back against the tree trunk where they sat. Eve nodded eagerly as Abel poured them peach juice.
"So you left her to do all the work while you flew here yourself?" Abel asked, imitating Sif's tone, earning a quiet laugh from Mother and a grunt from Father, who tossed an empty plate at his son, immediately lifted by golden light, cleansed, and returned to their house by Abel.
"Only cowards who fear living for themselves say such things," Adam replied, to which Abel just rolled his eyes, while Eve silently reached for her cold drink, taking a few sips. "By the way, Valvi and Renzi send their regards, inviting you for a walk later." Father's smile turned into a grin, golden eyes fixed on Abel, who looked away. He spoke of the Valkyries who 'pester' Abel in the First Department.
"Oh, really? That's just wonderful!" Mother clapped her hands, a wide smile on her face, a glint in her eyes that terrified Abel. Adam's grin grew wider. "Darling, please, tell me more about…!" Eve said, breathlessly leaning toward her husband, who simply wrapped her with his wing. Eve's pink-golden wing slipped under his larger one, "embracing" him in return.
"Oh, it all started a couple of weeks ago, when Valvi and Wendi decided to take on the role of 'teaching' Abel, who had just started working in my Department…" Adam began, while Eve listened with bated breath… Abel sighed heavily, fully ignored by Father. "And don't bleat, better grab your courage and shove it to someone… By God, sometimes I feel you're a—"
After that, Abel deliberately stopped listening, ignoring Father's words, jokes, and anything Mother asked or clarified. He drank juice loudly, perhaps exaggeratedly, constantly refilling his glass, eating either sandwiches or fruits.
Abel wasn't uninterested in women, just… he never had the time. On Earth, there were none, except his Mother; he simply hadn't lived long enough. Later, in the Lost Paradise, when the Serpent descended upon him, arms open in a welcoming gesture, declaring his freedom from Sin… Abel was not himself. Not to mention the uncertain moments when Sif and his children entered the Garden, where he and his younger watched over Father's descendants… And when Father brought them to Heaven with the Demiurge…
"No, the Valkyrie women aren't bad, but they all have some… strangeness," he reluctantly forced himself to consider Father's words, while Mother occasionally cast quick glances at the turned-away Third, then returned to Father, telling some story—probably embarrassing for Abel, or a joke about him. Abel still didn't listen.
Attention from so many women of the First Department flattered him, even more, but their behavior… Each seemed to have… "something from Luth," Abel couldn't describe otherwise. He saw and heard how the Senior Valkyrie, head of the Shield Sisters, acted when it came to demons, Sinners, or Hell itself… The Valkyries shared a similar type of behavior, which was somewhat unpleasant for Abel, so…
"…and then Abel screamed like a girl, though Rae just approached from behind and placed her hands on his shoulders," Adam shook his head, Eve giggling quietly, while Abel had simply chosen the worst moment to start listening to Father. His face twisted in irritation, shoulders slumping, eyes tiredly on Father.
"And how would you react if a woman you've never seen before startled you?" Abel said wearily, rubbing his face, while Father waved, biting into a pear.
"I'd twist her neck, trap her in my hands, or just turn and begin the 'process'," Adam nodded importantly as Abel exhaled, while Eve hid a smile behind her full glass of juice. "Depends on the woman and how pissed off I am," Adam shrugged, drinking his fruit juice in one gulp, immediately pouring a new glass for himself and his wife.
Abel… Abel, in his own way, enjoyed this long-forgotten but pleasant scene. A conversation with his parents, Mother and Father, together, in nature, as if they were back on Earth at a time when nothing yet existed, when there were only the four of them…
"How was Lucifer's abode called then?" Mother asked innocently, interrupting Father's story, her voice sincere but tinged with disgust. Abel and Father exchanged heavy sighs.
"The Serpent called his home the 'Lost Paradise,' a vast place of nature and beauty, with flowers and plants in all forms, variations, and colors. A great place to explore the unknown forever…" Abel whispered softly, as if afraid someone would hear, gazing into Mother's blue, knowledge-thirsty eyes. Father just snorted.
"The ass-end of Creation, that's what it was, is, and always will be," Adam said, arms crossed, head tilted back, eyes through the green canopy. "A latrine that no descendant, except the absolute dumbest, avoided—a place where humans turn into demons." His voice carried experience beneath the joking tone.
"So… it didn't immediately become… like the angels describe?" Mother asked hesitantly, lowering her eyes in thought. Adam merely nodded. Abel wanted to explain the details of his 'confinement' back then, but Father spoke first.
"Honestly, our smart ones have argued since day one, but all the real shit started as soon as the Sins appeared, or rather, their incarnations… Right in that bastard's cloaca," Adam smirked, leaning closer, pressing his wing over the attentive Eve.
"Really…?" Eve breathed out, reminding Abel of the time Father spun some story by the campfire so captivating even Mother was enthralled.
"Oh yes, kids, ordinary fools must find me in a good mood, feed me some meat, and maybe I'll answer their stupid questions, but for family…" Adam nodded generously, grinning at wife and son. Abel interjected.
"You also have to feed him and catch him when he's not overloaded with work. Exactly the same, just simpler," Abel said with a faint smile, eliciting a quiet laugh from Mother, while Father rolled his eyes.
"So, the Sins…" Father began, ignoring Abel's triumphant expression, while Abel leaned closer to catch his words. It wasn't just textbook info or gossip from a Cherub; it came from the oldest human soul, Father of Abel himself. "Bastards, liars, perverts, cannibals, idiots… Call them whatever, you'll end up in one of them," Adam's tone hardened, humor almost gone, though his eyes still told Eve and Abel more than his words.
Father didn't allow any descendant into the 'war' lightly—the first war in Creation, when the First Fallen and First Sinful rebelled. Abel didn't know all the details, having only recently ascended to Heaven by those standards. Back then, Father still reminded Abel of the 'old' Father from Earth, possibly known to Mother in Eden. After the Rebellions, he began becoming the Father all of Heaven knows today.
"The bastards come with Leviathan, incarnations of Envy, what the Greeks called Scylla, the Vikings Jörmungandr. Either way, that creature rules sea monsters, deep-sea demons, commands the Abyss… I think it has two heads, or that… how is it… 'split persona,' maybe," Adam shrugged, biting a banana as Eve poured him juice. Abel straightened his back, listening intently.
Eve and Abel exchanged glances while Adam stared off at the sky, lost in thought. In his Mother's blue eyes, Abel saw a growing curiosity, though he himself was pensive.
Next is… Belphigor, or Belphegor, basically a many-eyed goat with a candle on its head, – Adam waved his hand, slightly grimacing at the memory. – The creature embodies Sloth, so it either sleeps or works for all seven of them. – Adam smirked at Abel. – Though I still tease ours, honestly it's unclear who actually invented this "accounting," her or Heaven. Curses pour on Hell, but truthfully, it's either from Earth or Belphigor "optimized" it to sleep more. – Adam paused briefly, staring into the distance, then added sarcastically. – Ironically, she never gets enough sleep… Anyway, she spawned all the goats… No, Abel, not me, – Adam quickly noted, seeing Abel ready to joke. – She manages most of the work in that Shithole… Quite weak among the Sins, but still a dangerous creature you'd better not meet.
Adam fell silent, taking several deep sips from a glass sized for him, while Abel… It wasn't that he didn't believe his Father, who in recent centuries liked to "embellish" certain things… Mother would certainly believe—Abel could see her eyes gleam, her halo almost vibrating with curiosity—but Abel… He'd heard something from the Seraphim about the Sin of Sloth, yet he couldn't be completely sure.
"Next is this fly-bee-wolf-goddess creature Beelzebub, a woman, not a man as the name might suggest," – Adam's voice carried irritation mixed with disgust. – "Gluttony, who loved sending all sorts of filth later called "diseases" by humans, working alongside the Goat. They often went together, constantly annoying Raphael, forced to work to exhaustion, learning new things in Creation in the most unpleasant ways…" – Adam even stopped eating, giving himself a moment to breathe out, as if dispelling the image in his mind. – "She constantly changes form and personality, so right now she's either a fly, a bee, or some form of demon she feeds to slaughter."
Abel nodded to his Father while Eve's hands gently moved over her husband's body, trying to offer relief and care, prompting Adam to sigh gratefully. Abel… increasingly believed that this time Father wasn't joking and was actually giving full, as complete as he could under his Oaths, information. Abel hadn't read anything like this even in the Cherubim libraries.
"And next?" – Eve whispered softly, pressing herself to Adam, who was pausing, more to linger with his wife than truly suffering from the memories.
"Mammon, the Great Fool, a Bullshitter almost equal to the Louse. A trickster, a bastard, and just a funny guy." – Adam smirked at the questioning looks of his wife and son, but didn't think to explain further. – "Greed, who is capable of little himself, but oh, how cleverly he steals what's not his… Talent, voice, skill, money… If there's something that interests this creature, he'll inevitably steal it. I've given this giant spider a thrashing more than once, so you can take him down—hardly that jerk increased his combat power." – Adam simply shrugged, resting his face on a fist wrapped in a dark glove.
"But… Greed won't want revenge?" – Eve asked hesitantly, glancing at the quieted Abel, then returning her gaze to the calm—perhaps too calm—Adam. He just waved her off.
"N-no… I'd be surprised if that bastard even remembers our past encounters… Asmodeus certainly doesn't." – Adam's voice dripped with clear dislike and disgust as he spoke of the next Sin. – "Lust always hovered in its fantasies, debauchery, and God knows what else. No clue whether it's male or female, never could figure out what it actually does besides screwing with its succubi and incubi… By the way, don't even get close to those creatures; they only crave to consume human soul essence." – Adam's eyes filled with… old anger, rage? Abel couldn't decipher the unusual mixture in his Father, so rarely seen. – "The creature's destroyed more than one angel, even touched a Seraph… You can't say much about it, but that bastard knows how to get to a soul, disgusting as it is. Luckily, Lust keeps repeating the same pattern." – Adam grimaced, waving off the words as if shooing an annoying fly.
Abel… recalled seeing that angel-nun from the Sin Department mention Lust more than once, seemingly making this Sin her "focus"… That would explain the enthusiasm with which she tried to "invite" the Third Man to her office.
"Next up, we have the eternally second asshole, often mistaken for the Bastard… Satan, Wrath in the flesh." – Adam's voice grew dry, unusually serious; he even set aside the food his wife had offered. – "'Second after God,' runs that whole shitshow while Lucipidor whines at home… Still, he can make old Michael tense up and send the other Six-Wings into a panic. The scariest Sin, both in battle and… in 'negotiations.'" – Adam deliberately emphasized the last part, while Eve, puzzled, exchanged glances between the men.
Abel also knew how… uncooperative, quick-tempered, and terrifyingly dangerous the Sin of Wrath was… He remembered the brothers and sisters, the Old Souls, who helped Heaven during every "settlement" between the Rebellions.
"And everyone already knows about the Big Asshole, the Bastard, and just the Filth." – Adam said, venom in every word, with Eve nodding confidently, while Abel… – "He lies like he breathes, easier to find scraps of truth in the oceans of the Prince of Lies… He'll cheat, swallow, shit, and demand thanks… Not one of my good friends got away clean, and on top of that…" – Adam started listing, as if briefly recalling each of the Serpent's misdeeds, while Eve occasionally added her own comments…
Abel remembered differently.Back then, after the First Murder, a lonely, lost, almost sobbing soul—unable to find its parents—found itself in a beautiful place, almost a copy of the Eden descriptions his parents used to tell.
Abel was terrified. Fear, cold, blood that seemed to flow like a river from his head, while a sharp ringing echoed through his mind from a dull stone strike… All of it seemed to vanish.
He was still himself, still looked and felt like himself… but something was off.
Around him were greens… Beauties, otherwise Abel couldn't describe it. Tall trees with strange yet somehow perfectly edible fruits in wide and diverse canopies.
The grass seemed even greener than Abel knew; everywhere were strange yet familiar flowers, giving the most pleasant scent he had ever smelled. Berries, fruits, even the birds' songs were strange, unusual, yet somehow familiar to what the youngest son of First Adam had known, felt, and seen.
"Oh, soul!" – suddenly came a soft, pleasant voice from behind, making Abel whirl around at full speed, to…
"A soul from Earth, landed straight here…"
It wasn't quite human, nor quite a puppet, like the ones their Mother or Father would make. The first, to play or entertain; the second, to teach, pointing at animal "dummies" to show where to strike for quick food.
Abel… Abel looked at what Father described, rarely Mother… Elahim, only with dark palms, sharp claws, long sharp teeth peeking from beneath his lips—a strange Elahim.
"Do not be afraid, everything is alright." – the strange Elahim continued gently, red dots, seemingly from berries, on his fully white cheeks. He wore a robe far more intricate than Mother or Father could make, and his six wings bore a crimson tint in the feathers. – "You are safe, finally free from your heavy burden."
The voice soothed not to deceive, as Mother or Father always insisted, but to carry away the early fears and anxieties… Abel truly allowed himself to lower his tense fists, relaxing his ready-to-leap stance.
"Let me show you your new home… There's so much here that even Earth and He could never offer… Oh, come on, come on!" – the red-cheeked Elahim, with strange enthusiasm, almost lifted the gasping Abel, beginning…
…to first show the green forests, filled with the most diverse and beautifully crafted trees, from enormous ones making Earth's tallest trees look tiny, to barely noticeable ones, perceived only by the guidance of… their Creator, the red-cheeked Elahim, so polite and kind to Abel.
The greenery shifted to purple, a color Abel had never seen in nature, yet it existed here… in this Garden. Elahim's kind eyes kept showing and explaining, never pausing for a moment, making Abel involuntarily begin to understand their Father, somehow comparing himself to Father and Elahim to… Abel himself, when he was just a child.
Purple shifted to blue, blue to orange, orange to yellow, with countless blended hues… There were always the strangest animals, birds, plants, and flowers, even mushrooms sometimes larger than trees, while some stones resembled trees—"stone trees," as Elahim called his creations.
Abel did not know how long he was guided through this Garden, but eventually, Elahim stopped, ceasing the endless description of every blade of grass, turning to Abel.
"…and all of this is yours, O son of Eve." – Elahim's gentle smile concealed a sharp grin, a gaze free from the lies and evil Father had once described. Abel didn't know what to say; he couldn't even utter a word, so fast and insistent was the red-cheeked being's speech.
Abel didn't feel Lies, didn't feel Deception… Only sincere intent.What exactly, Abel still couldn't understand. Lucifer never gave a direct answer, even when Abel asked; he simply wrapped his words in a way Abel, whose memory had not yet been reforged by Heaven, couldn't grasp, causing most details of those conversations to fade.
And even though Abel had seen The One, the true First Woman, he still couldn't… couldn't simply agree with Father's words about Lucifer.Maybe he had become what Father and Mother described, but Abel… once, Abel had seen another Lucifer—the one even Lord Commander Michael sometimes remembered, cursed by Gabriel, and longed for by Jophiel.
"…and then that bastard even had the nerve to claim he wanted to 'help people reach Heaven.' Yeah, after the chaos and slaughter under that damn tower, where about a quarter of all humans on Earth died, and that scum…" – Adam spoke and spoke, falling into a rhythm where he could go on for hours, if not a day, recounting the past. Mother listened intently, as if deliberately refilling the almost-empty juice and handing her husband morsels to keep the story flowing, yet Father still noticed Abel's thoughts.
"Why are you frozen, little one? Don't tell me it's too much blood—I warned you, yet you stayed silent…" – Adam muttered sarcastically, though ready to tone down the harshness at his son's request. Abel shook his head, faintly smiling.
"Nothing, Father. Just…" – Abel exhaled, staring into the clear apple juice he poured only for himself. – "I'm remembering the Serpent."
At Abel's words, both parents paused, turning to him. A flicker of sympathy crossed both their eyes, but Adam reacted faster than Mother.
"Don't go remembering that Serpent-bastard for nothing, you'll just ruin your nerves." – Adam said irritably, drawing Abel closer with his golden wing while Eve gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, dear, if you want…" – Mother began to say something, but Abel barely listened, replying just enough for Father to continue the far more interesting tale than Abel's old memories.
"…And yet… What about Lucifer? Father said he had a child, but still…" Abel exhaled, gazing at the sky, following the sun with his eyes, watching clouds of all shapes drifting above.
…Shapes that never quite reached what had been in that Lost Paradise, as Abel had often admitted to himself.
Even though Lucifer was the Prince of Lies, the Sin of Pride, the Fallen who birthed Sin…Abel genuinely pitied that soul.
Abel had lived in that place, the "Lost Paradise," as the Serpent called his stronghold, in peace and abundance. The Serpent always said it was better than God's Heaven because the system wasn't so "strict," accepting all souls, and if Abel heard correctly, even the Elder…
"By the way, Little One…" – Father's sharp voice, combined with a barely perceptible nudge from his golden wing, brought Abel back to the present. – "You keep going to those 'young parties' or whatever this crap the new generation calls them…" – Adam said with a strange mixture of hesitation, disgust, and request, watching Abel nod uncertainly while Eve gathered the leftover food into a basket.
"Not that I go to such gatherings often, but yeah…" – Abel replied weakly, glancing at his rather pensive, perhaps even embarrassed Father. He blinked, checking the reality of the moment, and Heaven didn't give him any relief.
"What's that music, 'metal' or 'rock,' or whatever that crap was called?" – Adam rubbed his chin, as if trying to recall something trivial. – "Lute recently brought some disks to the Department with 'creations' of young punks, called it something, and…" – with each word, Father's voice softened, almost pleading, though he tried to maintain his usual style. Abel heard Mother's pleasant chuckle, her blue eyes sparkling strangely as she looked at both.
"It's a music genre that some direction of Righteous musicians drew inspiration from on Earth, from the few who experiment with the style…" – as he spoke, Abel watched Adam's face "fade," almost yawning at his son's tone. Abel didn't mind, continuing the explanation for Father and Mother, who strangely remained silently attentive. – "The tone itself… heavy, harsh… I don't know how else to describe it." – Abel shrugged, wincing at the memory. Those souls had simply decided to "surprise" the others with something "Earthly" that they had "borrowed" from Earth… Abel didn't like it much.
"Yeah, yeah, leave that nonsense to your old man, I've got ears, I'll try myself…" – Adam said, waving his hand and somehow pulling out a strange device with "wires," a new technology from the R&D Department, inserting the wire tips into his ears.
"Darling?" – Eve asked hesitantly, a mix of curiosity and worry, eyeing the new device suspiciously. She tilted her head, her expression as pensive as her husband's, who pressed buttons, seemingly searching for something.
"Dad, I don't think this is the right time to look for that music…" – Abel, realizing almost immediately what Father was doing, sighed, taking the gathered basket onto his forearm, helping Mother up, a polite gesture of care, glancing at the thoughtful Father who merely waved him off.
"Sweetheart, you know, if your father wants something…" – Mother said uncertainly, looking at Abel with a faint smile, apparently wanting to hear the "new genre" herself. Abel just covered his face with his hand, rubbing it to ease a strange itch inside, nodding at Mother.
"Yes, I understand, but…" – Abel was about to ask Mother about her possible behavior, maybe even an attempt to apologize to those she might have "bothered" with past misdeeds, but then the sound…
The loud sound of a strange guitar, the beat of drums, a distorted low voice, erupted across the clearing.
Abel's shoulders twitched slightly in fright, while Mother watched with genuine interest as Father boldly blasted the music at FULL volume, so much that even through the "wires," it could be heard perfectly.
Abel wanted to say something to the strangely quiet Father but couldn't.
He noticed his golden eyes widen, and a smile slowly crept across his face.
Abel swallowed, seeing a fire ignite deep inside Father.