Alexo

Chapter 32: Looking Towards The Future

The Seraphs all stood together on top of the peaceful, clean water.

Above them, a bright blue sky full of peaceful and soft white clouds.

"Has anybody seen Hermes?" Raguel asked, her arms crossed.

Raguel and Michael were both adorned in their golden armor that brightly reflected the sunlight.

Making them both appear as if they were made of light themselves.

"I have not heard from him in weeks. Or days. I'm not entirely sure." Raphael said.

He was adorned in a white toga, extra fabric acrpss his arms to keep it above the ground. He looked very well groomed and maintained, his facial hair all even and perfectly hanging off of his chin while the hair atop his head was slicked back.

"I invited him to a feast, but he did not attend." Gabriel said.

He was dressed in a feather head dress and skirt while paint was covering his skin in elaborate designs and artwork. His gut had grown quite significantly, full of a life of eating and drinking with very little other activity.

Somebody seemed to appear from the Heavens above, flying down while covered in flowers and vines.

"Remiel, what took you so long?" Michael asked.

Remiel smiled bright and innocent, holding her arms out. Vines and roots loosley wrapped around her arms with flowers blooming and sprouting all throughout them.

"I apologize my dear Brothers and Sister. I was helping collect a very sizeable harvest." She said.

Michael sighed, looking at his siblings.

"I believe that Father was right. We have become distracted by our commitments to Humanity, that we have lost sight of our Holy duties." Michael said.
Raguel moved closer to him, softly grabbing his arm and looking up with soft, loving eyes.

Gabriel, Raphael, and Remiel all shared unsure glances amongst themselves.

"My love. We have all found ways to enjoy our eternal lives. To give them purpose and meaning. Each of us have our own things that bring us joy and happiness. Please, allow our Brothers and Sisters to do as they wish." Raguel said.
Michael had a cold and stern look on his face. But the moment he looked into Raguel's eyes, it began to soften and melt away.

Michael's face shifted though as he could hear movements approaching them.

He lifted his gaze towards the sky.

But he saw nothing.

"Where are the others?" Ash-Shaytān asked.

He was standing on the surface, as if having risen from the water itself.

All of the Seraphs turned to stare at him.

"There are no others." Michael said, his voice once again full of determination.

"Well, that sure is a shame. I was invited under the pretense that all of our dear Brothers and Sisters would be here to vote on who would take our Father's place." Ash-Shaytān said.

"Our Brothers and Sisters in the Pantheon are...occupied. It will only be us casting our votes." Michael said.

Ash-Shaytān laughed and shrugged, lifting up a black mug that appeared out of thin air.

"So be it. How will the voting work?" Ash-Shaytān asked.

"Before I tell you...have you seen our Son Hermes?" Michael asked, his eyes squinting as if in a judgemental and accusatory way.