Chapter 12: The Backstories

Lily, Samael, Johan, and Amiel were sitting in a restaurant at a table at the window. The restaurant had an average luxury – comfortable armchairs and sofas instead of chairs, but an easy-going atmosphere. It was mostly filled with young people. Samael and Amiel, like many other guardian angels who showed themselves in the restaurant, had hidden their wings and looked like normal humans. Only sharp eyes could detect the especially bright aura around them (except for Samael, whose aura was especially dark instead). Johan studied Samael with great curiosity. He felt uneasy, his hands clutched together, as if ashamed to stare at a person like that, but he couldn’t help himself. Amiel, on her part, was gently smiling. An awkward silence was around.

A waiter came up to them and placed the menus on the table. Samael only nodded at him and glanced at the others:

“Well, choose”.

Lily and Johan looked into the menus, while Amiel and Samael sat in silence. Johan felt uneasy once beheld all the expensive prices of the dishes. He bit his lip and his eyes set on Amiel. This latter got surprised at first, but then beamed:

“Is there anything wrong, Johan?”

“It’s just…” Johan’s cheeks went red as he looked up at Samael, “Say, um… Mr. Samael, we can take whatever we want?”

“Yes”.

“Oh, okay…” Johan reddened even more from embarrassment and awe, and looked up at the waiter: “I want this big steak, then…”

“Alright! What about the others?”

“I think I’ll just have a salad, thanks,” Lily smiled, and turned to Samael and Amiel: “Um, is there anything angels eat?”

“I’d like some divine nectar, if you have it,” Amiel beamed at the waiter.

“Yes, my lady!” the waiter bowed. He turned to Samael, only to receive shivers down his spine – this man had an unusually dark aura! Who was he? He braced himself and asked: “And you, sir?”

“I pass”.

“Um, alright… Your orders are taken!” the waiter smiled at the other three and quickly walked off.

“You… You’re an angel… You don’t drink divine nectar?” Amiel was surprised.

“You’re a new one, I see…” Samael muttered in response. “I haven’t seen you in the first celestial angels’ rows. When were you created?”

“Um, recently… I’m still a beginner”.

Lily and Johan contemplated them with curiosity.

“That is why you don’t know, I guess… I’m not a celestial angel, little one. I do not drink nectar”.

“Oh, sorry…”

“Say, what type of angel are you? I mean… What do you rule upon?”

“Oh… I’m the angel of innocence”.

“Ah, I get it. So, the High Forces finally decided to create a new one, eh?” Samael faintly smiled, “The first angel of innocence died too early, right after Eve fell for my trick”.

Amiel widened her eyes:

“So, you really are… the devil?”

“What else you thought? Surely there’s no other angel to perform such a dirty job as life-taking. That’s what I’ve told you – I’m not a celestial angel”.

“Yes, but… there are some angels who are terrestrial, like the angels of nature, or medicine, but you are…”

“True, little one – I’m the only infernal angel that exists,” Samael chuckled, “I’m not really surprised you shiver before me. Each of my tests which humans fail to pass, weaken you greatly”.

Johan gasped:

“So it is you who hurts Amiel?!”

“It is neither my fault nor hers. It is our jobs. Amiel must learn to stand strong against me, or she shall perish like her predecessor before her,” he grinned, “It was not easy for him, I admit. He felt such bitter pain in his heart, and then that heart finally stopped… I felt sorry for him. He was a great man, always kind to us… all of us. But innocence is the feeblest thing of all, so, the angels of innocence are the feeblest too”.

Johan looked at his angel, who had begun to shed tears. He hugged her:

“Ah! Please, Amiel, do not cry! Don’t listen to him, you will live…”

“Amiel, don’t cry…” Samael placed a hand on her cheek, and she felt the unusual warmth come from it. “You must believe in yourself and your strength. Once you make humans pass my tests, their innocence will grow stronger, and you will grow stronger too as a result. So, try to stand your ground. Michael has assigned you as a human soul’s guardian now, so you could learn more about them, and guard them with your powers – guard them not against me, but against the Black Energy that is our mortal enemy since the beginnings. Have faith in yourself and humans, and you shall live”.

Amiel gasped in astonishment, hearing such encouraging words from the devil, whom she thought to be her primal enemy. She wiped off her tears.

“Look after Johan,” Samael said, “He seems a nice guy. If you manage to lead him through the life leaving him innocent, your strength will greatly grow. Innocence is one of the most vulnerable gifts for an angel, but it is also one of the greatest strengths. You are gifted. Keep that in mind. Do not lose your gift”.

Amiel now shed tears of joy, hugged Johan tightly, and gave Samael a grateful smile:

“Thank you…”

Soon, the dishes were brought. Johan dived into the delicious food he had never tasted since he remembered. Amiel gently sipped her divine nectar, and Lily ate her salad. Then, Amiel broke the silence:

“Anyway, Big Brother Samael… How come such a soft-hearted person as you ended up an infernal angel?”

Lily glanced at Samael too – now that was surely interesting! Samael, on his part, flinched and looked away with a frown:

“It is because… my heart was stolen”.