Wingless Bones: The Life of Sauriel, Former Angel

Bargaining

The whispers had started when orders had come down asserting that man would be created in Their image, better than even the archangels. Though they kept their thoughts private, everyone could feel the unease spreading throughout heaven. In preparation for their evolution, Sauriel, Asa, Abiah, and Marcin had been diligently working on the design of paradise—Eden, as Michael proclaimed—while further tuning their clay shells.

    Asa ran his hands over a blossom, compelling it to open into a dazzling display of orange and yellow petals. He smiled as it attracted several butterflies, his newest creation. Birds flew around the treetops, the descendents of Sauriel's original feathered beast; they landed on her shoulder, their genetic echoes recognizing her as their matriarch. Abiah sat on the ground, still as her newest creation laid its head in her lap. It was a curious thing, warm-blooded with fur, sharp teeth, and pointed ears. Though objectively a predator, it was kind, a good boy that smiled when scratched behind the ears.

    Marcin stretched out his hand compelled fruit to grow on the trees. "Am I the only one who grows uneasy," Marcin bluntly called out their inner thoughts.

    "Keep your speech tactful," Abiah warned. "We do not wish to question Their plan."

    "I do not question," Marcin scoffed. "I mean only to state the obvious. There is unease, and I am affected by it. What is so wrong with stating so?"

    Abiah was taken aback, "I suppose nothing, my apologies." She brought the leg that wasn't supporting her creation's head to her chest and leaned her chin on her knee. "I suppose I too am affected by the unease."

    "There is no shame in fear," Asa said. "Though, in our hearts we know this should be a joyous occasion. Soon, we will not be alone in cognition. We will live to see beings as glorious as us with the ability to communicate and change the landscape of Earth free from our influence." With a flick of his wrist, he compelled all the flowers in their vicinity into bloom.

    "I propose a pact," Sauriel said, raising a bird resting on her hand to eye level and fixing some of its ruffled feathers. "To stay positive in the face of unease. To celebrate this new era of creation."

    The air around the group grew lighter as the oppressive weight of dread lifted. With a chorus of affirmations, they returned to their respective creative endeavors, unaware of their serpent-brother watching them from the trees.

***

    Sauriel came slowly back into awareness. Through half-open eyes, she saw plants, green all around her. The filtered lights warmed her otherwise cool body, and her mind assigned the location to a memory.

    "Eden?" She murmured. She opened her eyes all the way and recognized her error. She sat in an unfamiliar apartment on an unfamiliar, if comfortable, couch. She looked around at the multitude of plants, the cause of her mixup, and the basket of rolled up prayer rugs in the corner. She lifted herself off of the couch and startled as a voice greeted her.

    "You're awake, Alhamdulillah," Anisa said, rushing to her side from the chair next to the couch. "How are you feeling?"

    "I'm fine, thank you," she replied. "What happened?"

    "You fainted in the cafe. We were going to call an ambulance, but your brother said you suffer from occasional low blood sugar and just had to sleep it off." Anisa grabbed a water bottle and snack from the coffee table. "Here, eat." Sauriel took the food gratefully despite not technically needing it.

    "I'm sorry, I hope you didn't have to close the shop on my account," she said.

    "No apologies, and no, Layla is still running the floor with some of our part-timers. Your brother and his kids are still in the cafe waiting for you. Is everything alright between you two?" Anisa's eyes narrowed critically, and Sauriel had the sneaking suspicion that any negative answer would result in a quick text to Layla and the wrath of an angry cafe owner brought down upon Marcin. She considered it for more than a moment.