Chapter 8: True Colors Never Leave

Samuel looked at himself in the mirror, his reflection mirroring the turmoil within.

The accusations hurled at him by his brother Michael echoed in his mind, stirring up a mix of emotions. Michael's words cut deep, exposing the truth Samuel had been reluctant to acknowledge.

"Look at yourself! Still caring about Julia! SHE BETRAYED YOUR TRUST! She cursed your son using your powers! You are the reason everything is a mess! By marrying that witch, you destroyed the peaceful life we could have had," Michael's voice reverberated in Samuel's thoughts.

Samuel's grip tightened on the edge of the vanity, his knuckles turning white. Michael's words pierced his heart, each syllable dripping with resentment and disappointment.

The weight of his decisions pressed upon him, the consequences of his choices becoming unbearable.

"You destroyed Lucifer. You destroyed Heaven. You destroyed your son!" Michael's voice trembled with anger and frustration. "I was a fool to take your side and banish Lucifer. You and Julia are the reason Heaven has been in chaos all these years. You couldn't even protect your own son! Wake up, brother! You will never be able to restore Julia to the loving wife she was in the beginning. You know what? I'm done being part of your filthy game! Play alone because you are alone!"

The room seemed to close in on Samuel as Michael stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Samuel stood there, frozen in a moment of realization. He couldn't believe that, even after all they had been through, even after witnessing the sorrow and anguish that had consumed his son due to the curse, he still held onto a lingering attachment to Julia.

The truth stung, and Samuel could no longer deny the validity of Michael's accusations, though the details in their minds were different.

He had allowed his love for Julia to blind him, to cloud his judgment and lead to catastrophic consequences.

The once unbreakable bond between brothers had been strained to its breaking point.

Samuel's hands shook as he reached for a glass of water on the vanity. He took a deep breath, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

The weight of his failures bore down on him, and in that moment, he vowed to make amends, to get back his son and restore order to Heaven and his Universe.

With a resolute determination, Samuel set the glass down and straightened his posture. He would confront the mistakes of his past and strive to become the leader his realm needed. Julia and the memories of their ill-fated love would no longer hold power over him.

In the depths of his troubled heart, Samuel found a flicker of hope. He would mend the broken pieces of Heaven and rebuild the trust he had lost with his brother. It would be a long and arduous journey, but he was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Michael had stormed out of the room, leaving behind an atmosphere of tension and unresolved emotions. He couldn't believe that even after all they had been through, all the sorrow and pain caused by Samuel's son's curse, his brother was still clinging to the memory of Julia.

Samuel had remained silent, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He knew deep down that Michael was wrong, that his actions had brought about destruction and chaos. However, he couldn't bring himself to accept it fully.

He had made a promise to himself, a promise he couldn't easily let go of.

As his brother's footsteps faded, Samuel stayed rooted in place, wrestling with his thoughts.

He couldn't bear to lose Julia, even if it meant defying logic and causing turmoil in Heaven.

He was trapped between the love he once felt for Julia and the success of his more than thousand-year-old plans.

Meanwhile, in his own room, Michael sat deep in contemplation. He had known for a long time that Samuel was walking a dangerous path, but he had chosen to remain silent, hoping that his brother would find his way back to the right path.

However, the situation had only worsened, and Michael felt overwhelmed by the burden of his knowledge.

His mind drifted back to the day when it all began—the day of the Blood Fight, as the angels called it.

* * *

"Come on, Michael! If someone sees this, we're all doomed, you know?" Samuel's fear was palpable as he urged his brother to proceed with caution.

"You know we can't do this! We might cause falls!" Michael's voice reflected his apprehension. He had always been the more responsible and sensible of the two brothers.

"Don't worry! We won't fall." Samuel's expression was a mix of excitement and curiosity. "We won't be the fallen angels. I promise."

"Samuel!" Michael's voice rose in concern. "What do you have in mind? Why are we even here?"

They stood in front of the imposing gate that led to the forbidden side of Heaven—an area accessible only with the permission of the head counselor, Lucifer.

"I just want to look!" Samuel's eyes sparkled with mischief. He was still young, a teenager in angel years, and his curiosity often led him into trouble. "Haven't you ever wondered what lies behind these doors? Maybe the punisher is hiding something!"

Michael looked at his brother with a mix of worry and disapproval. How could Samuel speak ill of the head counselor?

"Come on, brother! You are the most important person after the punisher! Please, open the gate?" Samuel pleaded, trying to persuade his older brother with an innocent smile. "I promise it will be just a quick look!"

"I'm sorry, brother…" Michael hesitated, becoming increasingly suspicious of Samuel's intentions, but the younger angel's acting skills were convincing.

"Does that mean you won't open the gate?" Samuel's innocent façade wavered, and his eyes darkened with emotions no angel should feel—unholy emotions, emotions they were forbidden to experience.

Banned emotions.

"What do you―" Michael began to defend himself, but before he could react, a bright light emanated from Samuel's palm, rendering him unconscious.

"I have to find her soul…" were the last words Michael heard before succumbing to the darkness.