Chapter 13: The Concerns of Samael and Lily

“Wh… What do you mean?” Amiel blinked in stupefaction.

Samael’s gaze was frozen. Sad remembrances had struck him – a young woman with long brown hair and brown eyes had taken over his memory… Her tender smile looked so kind and neat… Voices came along – his own one, and more importantly, a soft, sweet voice of a tiny bird which knew no sadness:

“Holy Samael, why do you always come to this river?”

“I have my job”.

“Holy Samael, how come you are the only angel with black hair and wings?”

“I’m the only damned one”.

“Holy Samael, what does ‘damned one’ mean?”

He remembered how he halted, for he didn’t know how to explain to that serene face the sorrow he saw in the eyes of each of his prey every time he executed his job.

“It’s like… when animals die”.

“Oh, but isn’t that blessing? Don’t they go return to the High Forces?”

“No, Lilith. It is only for you and Adam to return to the High Forces, as you have received their light energy in the form of your souls. Animals are completely terrestrial, not heavenly. Once they die, they shall return to nature”.

“Oh, but that’s unfair…” the serene face turned sulky, “That means when you take me… Zeev won’t come?”

“Yes. He won’t come”.

“That’s not fair! Zeev and I are best friends!” The tender palms grabbed his hands, and the pleading eyes pierced his own: “Say, Holy Samael, can you make Zeev live longer than the other wolves, so you would take us both together? At least we’d live together until the end…”

“No. Zeev has his time. You have yours”.

“But…”

Tears streamed down the sorrowful face of the young woman.

“The laws of the High Forces are absolute. You and Adam rule upon everything, but not everything shall have the same lifespan, especially the completely terrestrial creatures when they have no heavenly light energy shed upon them. I am sorry, Lilith. Zeev shall leave this world before you”.

He swung his wings and flew up in the skies, leaving the tearful woman down in the green garden. He could do nothing to soothe her, yet his heart was heavy with pity. The woman’s heart was too fixated on her pet wolf. He knew such fixation on any being other than Adam, her kin, would bring serious problems. That woman… was too kind-hearted.

“Hey, Samael, we’ve just asked you what you meant by ‘my heart was stolen’ phrase. Have you not been listening?” Lily’s words awoke him from the thoughts.

“Um, well… That’s none of your business”.

“Ugh, you’re always so mean!”

Samael watched her, with his heart sunken heavy:

You never change…

After having fun in the restaurant, Johan and Amiel thanked Lily and Samael once again and went on their way. Lily waved a hand at them, and then turned to Samael:

“Well, now what do we do?”

“I don’t know about you, but I have my work to do,” Samael furrowed his brow and prepared his black smoke to vanish in it.

“Huh? Wait!” Lily cried.

Samael vanished.

“Ugh! You meanie!” Lily grunted and walked off.

What’s with this grumpy guy? And yet, he’s still kind… I wouldn’t imagine the devil to be so soft-hearted... But he’s clearly hiding something. His past is way too mysterious…

After a short promenade, Lily returned home. She walked into the dining room to have her supper. Her father, sister, and mother were already at the table, smiling and having fun. Their guardian angels were with them.

“Oh, Lily, you’ve returned!” the mother smiled, “Come, sit with us!”

“Okay…” Lily dropped onto a chair and stared at her empty plate.

“How was your day, little one?” Her father asked.

“Like usual…”

“Oh… Anyway, tomorrow is the admission test at the Angel Host Academy,” Robert Black smiled. “We all are invited to attend!”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Mrs. Black brightened.

“Surely, mother! I’m really excited!” Linda was joyful as well, “It is my first time supervising the admission test and judging the candidates!”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll make it excellent, dear!” Robert said.

“Yeah… Good luck…” Lily muttered and took a sip of the lemonade from her glass.

“Lily, cheer up a little! It is a big day for your sister!” the mother frowned.

“Whatever…”

“Hmph, you’re just jealous!” Linda puckered.

“Yeah, sure…”

“Lily, mind your manners!”

Robert got angry – how she dared talk like that to her elder sister?! Linda was a member of the city government, after all, as well as his heiress and Archangel Michael’s Hostess!

“Ugh, I’m going off to bed…” Lily left the dining room at once, ascended the stairs, and slammed the door of her room behind.

“Goodness, such a difficult child!” Mrs. Black heaved a sigh.

Lily fell upon her bed and looked out of the window in sorrow. Her sister had even become a judge of the candidates for the upcoming admission test in the Angel Host Academy! Meanwhile, here she was, lounging around, with nothing to do…

But wait, she did actually have a chance now! The admission test was tomorrow, so, the registration would end today. And now, unlike last year, she had an angel to compete with! Her heart was about to jump out.

She dashed at her computer and sent off an application to the academy. In five minutes, she received an automated response:

“You are registered for tomorrow’s test. Bring your angel with you. Please be sure to stay in shape for the test”.

She grinned with triumph:

Angel Host Academy, here I come!