Original Sin

Chapter 1

In a single moment, reality can become fantasy. 

She was frozen in time and space, existing but not really alive. The library they sat in suddenly felt claustrophobic. One minute felt like an eternity slowly closing in on her. As much as she willed it, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Those dark eyes were pulling her in again, and she had an insatiable urge to tangle her fingers in that dark hair that now touched his shoulders and flowed around his face, very angelic. The feelings hadn't gone away, not in all the lifetimes they'd shared, both together and apart.

Now her supervisor was ushering him in her direction, inching her personal kryptonite closer and closer. 

"Miss Porter!" Principal D. spoke in hurried tones. The familiar figure trailed quietly behind him. "Meet our newest teacher, Alex Smith. He'll be working in 9th grade as well. He's teaching World History, right next door to your classroom. Mr. Smith, this is Miss Hailey Porter, one of our very best faculty in the building. She teaches 9th grade English. Any questions you have, you can refer to her."

The principal went on and on about her numerous accomplishments and the vast improvements made to school culture since she came onboard. Hailey ignored his remarks. The rambling voice quickly faded into the background. She already knew the man standing in front of her, always knew him, no matter what era it was or what name he assumed. Alex stared right back at her. His dark eyes...How they tortured her so much.

Hailey politely excused herself from the conversation and walked right past Alex, no eye contact, no acknowledgment. She could feel those eyes boring holes into her back. Her footsteps were rushed, and she was trying her best to keep the building panic contained. Reality was setting-in, and she could only mutter quietly, "How many are going to die this time?"

Because they were Lucifer and Dinah, the cursed couple, and they brought disaster wherever they went.

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Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis chapter 19

She wasn't sure how long they'd slept. Hours? Days? It seemed like every time Dinah woke, Lucifer was there, waiting so patiently for her. Just when she thought she was too exhausted, his touch gave her a renewed energy. It was more than sex- It was love in its purest form. Thus, the cycle of love, sleep, love kept spinning.

"You look so beautiful this morning." Lucifer stroked her cheek, letting his finger tangle in her mess of blond hair. His eyes were shining. They reflected the sunlight pouring in. Maybe that's why his name meant the "bearer of light"?

"You say that every morning."

"And I mean it every time."

Dinah rolled to face the window, letting the light shine on her face and the thin blanket fall from her naked body. Faintly, she heard the streets outside coming to life, more lively than usual. "We need to get up. I don't have any water left, and the well will be so busy by midday." Lucifer agreed, but couldn't help staring at her body. She didn't mind. Truthfully, she enjoyed the fact she could satisfy her husband like no one and nothing else in the universe could. There wasn't another woman in the world who could tout that fact.

Dinah was still getting used to the idea of being Lucifer's wife. Some days, it was all so surreal. They were immortal. They had forever together. What could possibly make her happier? A smile crept across her face. She kissed him deeply before walking to the other side of the room to retrieve her tunic and sash.

The day was bright. People were jubilant. A group of children ran past her as she walked through the streets. She stared after them momentarily, a small pang of longing in the back of her mind. But she was too happy with her life right now to dwell on that missing piece for long.

Dinah's jug dipped into the well, bubbling, full. Then a sound perked her interest, a commotion at the city gates. Every citizen was shouting and running to see who had interrupted their peace. Dinah, too, was curious. She left her water jug beside the well and quietly approached the crowd. She heard the voices of Lot and his family, worried voices. "Quickly, sirs! Inside my house!" Dinah knew well to be cautious if Lot was fearful. His religious family clawed their way to two strangers and roughly dragged them into the hut. 

Someone in the crowd responded, "Bring them out! Let them enjoy our pleasures!"

A feeling in her stomach started to churn, a feeling of guilt. Dinah had been so lost in her blissfulness, she hadn't noticed the changes in the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, strange changes. To her left, men kissed other men and women enjoyed the company of other women. On her right, sex was made to be a public spectacle. Only a year before, this was not so...

Before she and Lucifer arrived.

Oh, how ignorant she had been!

Dinah felt her world spinning. There was a deep rumbling in the distance that strangely resonated through her chest, a sound that reminded her of she and Lucifer's punishment in the Garden, a sound that could only be made by a Divine force encroaching upon the city gates.

God. He was coming back. He did not sound pleased.

She wondered just how much she and Lucifer had contributed to this scene on the street. Was this part of their curse? Did their passion feed this frenzy?

"Dinah!" Lucifer grabbed her arm. His force almost knocked her off balance. They swept past the crowd, people still rushing to stand outside Lot's home and scream words and expressions Dinah wished she could unhear. Lucifer ushered them into an alley away from prying eyes.

"Are you okay?" Lucifer held her face in his hands, eyes full of concern. She couldn't respond. Her throat felt dry and every part of her screamed, Guilty! This is your fault! 

Dinah was not okay.

"Did we do this, Lucifer?" she asked, though the answer was already obvious.

Lucifer hung his head. Dinah had never seen this look before. He was in pain, not physically but emotionally. She could not find the right words for what was about to happen- Lucifer's duty was now coming to fruition. God would be rolling through the city soon, and Lucifer was there to clean up the mess. This part of the curse was his burden to bear. 

They were to be separated, but for how long?

"Dinah," he tilted her chin up to look him in the eyes, "Sodom and Gomorrah will burn tomorrow. I have to stay here. You can get out with Lot and his wife and daughters. They are the only ones who will be spared this punishment."

"How did it get this bad without us noticing?"

"We were so caught up... Everything just faded-in on itself. Maybe that's what the curse really does. I don't know what I'd do though if..." Lucifer couldn't finish his sentences. Dinah could see that his pain equaled her own.

"Don't think like that." Dinah was now doing her best to console an angel whose love for a human being outweighed whatever loyalty he once had to the one and only God of the universe.

"We're together. We always will be together, no matter what." She held back tears. There was no one else to blame but herself for the chaos that was about to unfold. It rested heavy on her shoulders. "Go. Do what you must do. I'll be waiting."

Lucifer didn't smile. His eyes were dull. She wished he would kiss her, but this was not a passionate moment. No, this was a moment of punishment. Reluctantly, he stepped back, spread his white and orange wings, and disappeared into the dust.

Somehow, Dinah understood that after this nothing would be as it once was.

They were destined to be together, but at what cost to the rest of the world?