I, Devil (a love story)

Chapter Eighteen: Adramelech

"Sachiel," I said, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. The wind was at our back and the sun had already gone down. "Why don't you step into my office?"

He turned to me and there was stark fear in his eyes. They were still summer sky blue. 

Eventually, they will turn black, or something else. It all depends on how the low vibrations affect his inner being. I wonder what corrupted him. Did he get frustrated? Tempted by something? I hardly knew this second or third step-cousin. Though now, I could call him brother. Maybe he will change his name to something that reflects his true nature. Knowing my new brother was like unwrapping a present when it wasn't even my birthday.

"We're brothers now," I reminded him, though I knew he didn't want the words to roll off his tongue to make it true. "You weren't here for a visit, were you? We always wondered if it could happen... and here you are," I said smoothly, my arm tightening around his shoulders.

"Here I am," he agreed, swallowing in his throat. "Whatever shall I do?"

"First of all," I said brightly, turning in front of him with my hands on either side of his head. I gripped him, digging my fingers into his pretend Earthly costume. He, like most celestial angels, chose the avatar that reflected that of art history. He looked like a young Caucasian male with buttery blonde hair and blue eyes. Both young and athletic. Handsome, in a traditional way. It was what people had come to expect to see a good guy angel to look like-- though not necessarily one of truth. If Sachiel were so good, he wouldn't be in front of me.

"What happened?"

"What do you mean?" he blubbered.

"What did you do to get here? What made you Fall? What is the last thing you remember?"

"I—I don't know! I've been helping a woman and her family! I—I remember I was helping her farm. She's out in Guam. I—I miss her and her family. She's got three kids and two dogs, Sabin and Tenner. I'm not even sure where I am, where is here?!" Sachiel cried frantically, looking around him and seeing nothing he recognized. "Is this America?!"

"Yeah, Florida, Miami, specifically. Isn't it nice? Almost as good as Vagas. I couldn't decide where I wanted to go," I said, taking my hands off him and jingling the coins in my pocket. I felt the nice breeze in the curls in my red, human-like hair. I manifested black sunglasses while no humans were looking. "But nothing beats the beach." I wondered when his hair would start turning red, confirming that he was now our brother, really and truly. It happened to all of us, and now takes effort to mask the hair color. No one really knows why, but it seemed to be something the Lord himself did to mark us when we are in human form.

"No, I mean... yes, the beach is nice, but..." Sachiel seemed to calm from his panic attack. I could see him visibly shake as he tried to regain his stance. The water lapped at our feet as we stood on the shore. I knew what he was going to say next, and I was sort of tired of hearing it. I patted him again, this time a little harder. I could feel his aura vibrate beside me. I'm not as good at assessing fellow angels very deeply. I just size them up enough to see if they're consumable. I felt he was.

"Don't worry. We can get out of here. It can be rather jarring. I remember my first time. Step into my office and we will talk a little," I said, ushering him through a portal that cut open in the sky. It was something like an elevator I summoned, and we were going nowhere but down.

It was a smooth ride to a jarring place. I knew exactly where I was but Sachiel likely didn't. It had a similar feeling to Florida, but we were nowhere near there. The air was still tropical and the sea and sands were still right in front of us, except now the beach was several hundred feet below.