There was the light-haired figure, perched on a cloud, wings decorated by the fading rays of sunlight. A dark expression was displayed on the tanned creature's face as its equally light eyes stared down at the ground. Worry filling its senses and making its halo radiate an eerie grey glow, the figure sighed, interrupting what had seemed to be hours of thinking. Its torn robe's shards flowing with the wind, and its bare feet hanging down from the cloud, the miserable attires of this shadow of the light contrasted with its seemingly flawless skin. Throwing one last concerned glance in the direction of the ground, from which was emanating the smoke of hundreds of reaped souls, the figure nonchalantly jumped from its cloud, plunging and nearing the ground at an alarming speed. Feeling the adrenaline rush through its body, the figure closed its eyes, savoring every chill of thrill the jump was granting it. Hair flying messily and freely, and robes tearing even more than before, a grin appeared on the creature's pulpous pinkish lips, followed by a euphoric laugh. Just seconds before hitting the water of the Atlantic which was now a few feet under it, the peculiar thing deployed its large wings, revealing their blinding whiteness. Still laughing from the exhilarating experience, Saraquael proceeded to regain altitude, halo now diffusing a warm and happy yellowish glow. And just like that, with a couple flops of his wings, the angel was gone and was on his way to the family meeting that was being held in the garden of Eden -not knowing that he had come extremely close to what supernaturals consider to be their fatality.
"Saraquael, brother! How has your day been?" greeted Ariel, the angel of nature, her older brother, her similarily blonde hair reaching her waist.
"It has been great, thank y-"
"Saraq! What happened to your robes?! Are you hurt?", jumped in a little angel that didn't seem older than 9. Concern was plastered on the smaller replica of the siblings' face, making them both smile at him in a loving way.
"Hey there, Cupid," said Saraquael, kneeling to reach his brother's height. "Don't you worry about me, little one. I'm perfectly fine; the wind was just a little too strong. Have you been eating your veggies?"
"Saaaaarrrr... I'm not little anymore! And I don't need no veggies!" He pouted for a second, before smirking and opening his wings-which were still made of duvet feathers- and completing a full flying circle around the older angels. "See, I'm super strong now!"
"Woahh! How'd you do that! That was so cool!" excitedly said Micah, the angel of miracles,- who also happened to be Ariel's twin brother- joining his siblings and scooping up Cupid in his arms. "Will you teach me how to do that?!"
A proud expression illuminated the child's face, whose eyes and smile had expanded more than it should be possible."Y-you really mean that?" Micah nodded, a playful smile drawn on his lips. Cupid's eyes glowed in disbelief. "C-come on! I-I'll teach you!". And just like that, the two boys were gone, leaving a trail of laughter behind them. Saraquael grinned. Cupid always looked up to his older siblings, so Micah admiring his work and asking him to teach him should've made him really proud.
"He loves him a lot, does he not?" asked Ariel, eyes glue on her two brothers who were now racing each other- Micah purposely trailing off behind Cupid, allowing him to win.
Saraquael followed her gaze, the sight widening his smile. "Don't we all?"
Ariel chuckled, her halo giving off a pinkish shade, symbol of love and happiness. "Shall we meet the others?"
Glancing one last time at his beloved siblings, Saraquael nodded, before leading the march. "Let's."
"Good evening, everyone!" Cheerfully greeted Saraquael his 9 siblings- Micah and Cupids still being outside, playing. A warm wave of 'Hello's reached him. "I hope you all had a great day and are doing well! As much as I would love to chat, we must, unfortunately, move on to more serious matters." As he said that, his siblings fell silent, a white and grey light illuminating the room, coming from the 9 present halos.
"It has come to my attention that the number of souls reaped every day is rising drastically, while the percentage of those souls which are stepping into the Light is diminishing, meaning that the rate of sinners is becoming greater than that of the righteous and pure. Does anyone know why that is happening?"
As the room grew more and more grey, murmurs started to rise among the siblings, who were each wondering what the possible reason behind this tragedy might be.
"Could it be that people are not praying enough? Perhaps, we should ask Micah to cast another miracle in order to strengthen their faith?" proposed the angel of guidance, Sachiel.
"That's not a bad idea, Sacha," agreed the praying Zadkyiel. "But how many miracles is it going to take for them to stop sinning? We have used Micah's powers one too many times already; and remember that the more you use a thing, the less value it has."
Sacha nodded, plunging in his thoughts, looking for another alternative.
"I've got an idea!", jumped Urielle, the second youngest after Cupid. "We could contact the Church and help them organize an event in which we would raise awareness on the dangers and consequences of committing crimes. Once all those people are assembled, we could have Jophielle sprinkle them with some enlightenment and BAM! Fewer sinners!"
Saraquael clapped, impressed with Urielle's idea. She might have only been 13, but her creativity was beyond anything he'd ever seen- it was her specialty, after all. "That is not a bad idea at all! We could also turn it into a monthly fundraiser with live performances and storytellings! The money would be used to fund orphanages and grant more kids free education, which will eventually result in a generation of righteous non-sinners!"
"I really like where this is going," approved Paschar, the angel of vision. "We would be killing two birds with one stone, as well as ensuring a brighter future for the upcoming generation!"
"Sounds like a plan to me!", said Dina, the angel of learning.
"If that's your final choice, then I'll be on my way to inform the Church and help in any way I can", replied Gabriel, the angelic messenger.
"I'll accompany you, brother," announced Gavreel, the angel of peace.
"Count me in as well!" Cheerfully added Ariel.
Saraquel smiled. "Well, now that the gloomy stuff is over, shall we dine? I heard today's dinner is pizza!"
"Did someone say 'pizza'?" shouted Cupid, barging in, his cheeks red from the obvious effort, followed by a grinning Micah.
The siblings burst into laughter, Zadkyiel patting his youngest brother on the head and conversing with Micah, as the others asked each other about their days, filling the room with a soft pink glow.
And yet... if you looked well enough, you could see a faint shade of grey still lingering on Saraquael's halo, as well as what seemed like a red shade of... Lust?
YOU ARE READING
Lust: Reborn
Fantasy"Graves. That's all I've known, my whole life. Or rather, that's what my life has always been about. Watching lives come and go, cutting throats and breathing tubes. Ah! How lovely their pleads, screams and blood splattering sound, To the Grim Reape...
