Testament of An Archangel

Chap 7 Part 2

I wasn't relieved however that I had been somehow thrust into the middle of the situation, again. I chose to postpone thinking about that while gathering the rest of my strength back. Unfortunately that couldn't last forever, I heard approaching footsteps and forced myself to open my eyes. Lillith was timidly approaching me, I wasn't sure where Lucifer was.

“Remiel?” She whispered, obviously afraid that I may attack her next.

I sat up, she froze in place, the fear in her features and posture struck me. I've never wanted anything to fear me, I'm no hunter of prey. In that moment I realized just how wrong Elohim's wish was that this new creation worship him. The concept of worship is inherently out of balance, predator and prey are all part of a cycle. The prey respects the danger a predator presents but they do not worship the strength of the predator because the predator needs the prey to survive. They serve each other whereas worship is one sided.

“Lillith, I apologize. Please do not fear me. I will not harm you. My actions towards Lucifer were wrong.” She seemed about to run away from me but chose to stand her ground, even if she was shaking as she did so.

“I do not understand,” she said, tears starting to run down her face, “Why did you take him away? He said that you hurt each other. What does that mean? He is very upset.”

I wasn't sure how to explain, the poor child had become such a point of contention through no fault of her own. How was I to go about telling her that her existence threatened the universal balance? “My dear child, it is very complicated to explain and to be honest I am not quite sure how to even go about telling you. I can promise you that I, at least, will not be doing that again. Hurting a brother of mine, it is not right.”

She took a few tentative steps towards me and sat down just out of arm's reach. “Are you better now?”

“Yes, much. Thank you. Where is he?”

“He did not tell me where he went.” She relaxed a bit more, “All he said was he needed to be alone and that I should return to you, make sure you were recovered and stay with you until he came back.”

I debated reaching out to Lucifer and telling him that I was better but I did not want to intrude upon his thoughts. Especially since I had dismissed him so thoroughly when he last spoke to me but an apology and an explanation was owed, I had attacked him completely unprovoked. If I was going to make one more attempt at bringing about some form of peace I had to make sure that Lucifer still trusted me.

I reached out, “Lucifer?” Silence. I waited. The sun continued it's course, the shadows lengthened. Lillith stayed with me although we didn't speak then, finally, he replied.

“Yes?”

“I am sorry. I could explain what happened before I came for you but there's no excuse for what I did.”

“Uriel informed me.” He appeared next to Lillith, head bowed, aura almost invisible. All traces of his usual self were gone. He refused to look at me seemingly caught between shock, horror and guilt.

“What happened was not your fault,” I tried to comfort him.

His eyes moved towards Lillith, then to me, “Was it not? I have driven the wedge into our family as much as Elohim has. I can understand why you would be angry with me. That power we used, the net you made, the fire I hurled at you. We have never done that before. I have no idea how I knew to create such things. It just happened.” His gold eyes were filled with confusion. “I harmed you Remiel, I...,” he paused, his voice dropping into a horrified whisper, “I killed you.” Tremors ran along his arms and chest, “I killed you.”

Lillith reached out towards him, “Lucifer?”

He backed away from her hand and turned away, “Please leave us,” he said.

“Where am I to go?” She asked, red tinted flickers started to appear around him but he said nothing.

“Lucifer, I will return shortly. Come with me, Lillith.” I took her hand and walked through the knee high, amber tinted grass that surrounded us. We eventually reached a small stand of stubby trees and I sat her down. “Stay here.” I created various foodstuffs and a small pond for her so she would have some sustenance while Lucifer and I spoke. I had a feeling it would be a long conversation.

She sunk slowly to the ground, pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, looking for all the world like a lost soul. “Remiel? Is he upset at me?”

“No, he isn't. I assure you. We just have things to discuss. He will be back for you soon.”

She looked up at me, I could see that she was trying to understand what was happening. “You are not going to hurt each other again are you?” Such concern was in her voice. They had definitely managed to install compassion into her when they created her.

“No, we will just talk.” That seemed to make her feel slightly better and she started to eat what I had provided for her. For some reason I had the oddest compulsion to brush my hand over her hair to try to reassure her farther. She leaned into my hand and then returned to eating. I think that was the moment when I truly started to care for her as a unique being, not just as a creation. It bothered me to see her upset and scared for Lucifer and I, I did not like seeing her worried or fearful.

I sent myself back to where Lucifer was. It took more effort than it should have which unnerved me. Perhaps when I had been returned from nothingness something of me had been left behind. I chose to hide that from Lucifer for the time being, he was upset enough as it was.