Chapter 27: Paradise Lost

Elijah!

I almost shouted in my thoughts and turned to the direction where the scream had come from. I could already see shining lights – the celestial angels – gather around that place. I knew such a commotion would only mean really bad news.

Adam and Eve got frightened too, but for a different reason – they got scared they might be caught in the crime they had committed. Furthermore, as they had already tasted the fruit of Knowledge, they came to know how shame felt and flushed up when saw each other’s bare bodies.

“Ugh, put something on! You look like a savage beast!” Eve was disgusted.

“You look rather… beautiful…” Adam’s cheeks grew red as he contemplated Eve’s breasts.

“What?!” Eve flared up and quickly covered her chest with her red hair, “Look away! How shameless!”

“More importantly, how can we evade the angels’ and the High Forces’ rage when they find out what we’ve done?” Adam asked, now feeling shame for their deed.

“Well, we’ll just blame it all on the snake, I guess.” Eve shrugged. “After all, it was he who offered me to eat the apple. He told me all about its power.”

I sighed – there was no hope left. They had already fallen low. They felt shame for little things. What was more, they were ready to blame everything on third parties when they had made decisions on their own. It couldn’t be helped – they were already beyond salvation. I shape-shifted back into my original form: the black-winged angel of destruction and death, holding the deadly scythe.

“You’re sure you want to blame it all on me?” I asked.

Hearing my freezing voice, both Eve and Adam looked up at the tree branch just to get assured it was I talking with them all along, and gasped in shock and dread.

“You!” Adam exclaimed.

“Wh… Why did you do this?” Eve got angry – so it had been an angel tricking them all along?

“I tested you to see if you were really worthy of living in the Garden of Eden.” I shot my cold gaze at them. “You failed. Feel shame for what you’ve done.”

“You cheated! You tricked us!” Adam grew no less incensed, “You must feel shame, not we! How could you deny the command of the High Forces and fall so low as to trick humans?”

“Hush, worthless mortal! You are not to judge, especially now when you’ve fallen below heavenly level. I tested you, humans, to see if you could be trusted. It seems you could not. That is why Elijah felt pain – you are no longer innocent. You never were truly innocent from the beginning!”

They were going to object when three celestial archangels, my brothers – Michael, Gabriel and Raphael – flew down and seized all the three of us with their light powers.

“Huh? What’s going on?” Adam and Eve got frightened – the angels had already found out about their crime?!

“How’s Elijah?” I asked Michael, the one to have subdued me as I could not be overpowered by any other angel.

Michael puckered:

“He’s dead.”

“No!”

It couldn’t be! The angel of innocence – this kind young man – was really dead, all because of my wanting to test these two worthless mortals? All because I intended to help them find their true selves? All was my fault?!

I hung my head, feeling guilty and desperate. Tears gushed from my eyes:

“I’m a wretch…”

“You cannot judge such a matter all by yourself. It includes an angel’s death, so the only true judge can be the High Forces.” Michael told me. “Follow us.”

I swung my wings. All of us – Michael, I, Gabriel, Adam, Raphael, and Eve – flew up to the high heavens to meet up with the High Forces, who had already been informed of everything that happened.

The three angels led us to a giant light energy sphere – the High Forces (the form they preferred to appear in) – and put us to our knees before it.

“Father, we’ve brought the sinners!” Michael reported to them.

I stared at the floor, still sad and concerned about Elijah’s fate.

“Samael, stand up.” I heard the heavenly voice ring in my ears.

“But… Elijah died because of me.”

“We’ll discuss that later.”

I was confused, but nevertheless, I stood up, for so I was ordered by the High Forces, whose word was always absolute.

“Adam, Eve…” the divine voice now addressed the two humans, who trembled, feeling shame. “Why did you eat the fruit of Knowledge when we asked you not to?”

“It’s… It’s the snake’s fault!” Sweat poured off Eve’s forehead.

“It’s Eve’s fault! She told me to!” Adam accused Eve.

I was astonished – seriously, how low could they fall?!

“You two are not yet ready to live in the Garden of Eden. We see that Samael was right to be prudent, after all. You two are to be banished from heaven to live on Earth and share the punishment of Lilith. Eve, for being so selfish as to consume the fruit of Knowledge, neglecting our request, and listening to demonic voices of talking animals, just to satisfy your thirst for superior power – the power which you were blind to see you already had – your eyes are to be opened: you shall feel superior power as you shall be the one to bear children and thus be able to prolong the life of the mankind, however, you shall feel utmost pain in doing so, and each of your female successors will share this kind of pain.” they paused for a minute, and continued: “As for you, Adam, who gave in to his wife in committing a sin, instead of scolding her and showing her the bright path, just to satisfy the ambitions you held deep at heart, you shall continue fighting for your ambitions down on Earth, however, it will take all of your efforts and life forces, and yet it shall never be satisfied. That shall be our punishment for you two.” they spoke, and then ordered to Gabriel and Raphael: “Take them down to Earth.”

While Adam and Eve were screaming, they were grabbed by my celestial brothers and taken down to Earth. As the four of them left, Michael and I remained in heavens.

“Samael…” I heard the divine voice again. I looked up at the light sphere.

“Yes?” I asked.

Now it was my turn. However, unlike Adam and Eve, I had taken the whole responsibility for my actions.

“Samael, why did you do this? Please, be frank.”

I sighed and looked down.

“Why… did you have to banish Lilith?”

“You know the answer very well – she had sinned. She was not ready to live here. But you… held a grudge, didn’t you?”

“Not exactly a grudge…” I averted my eyes from them. “I always knew Lilith was influenced by her feelings more, and it would turn out bad in the end, but I also knew Adam was more influenced by his thoughts, and neither Eve was perfect. So, unlike in Lilith’s case, I decided I wouldn’t be waiting anymore for bad occasions to arise but instead create one on my own, to see if they were really worthy of living in the Garden of Eden.”

“So, you didn’t quite trust us?”

“It’s not that I didn’t trust you… I didn’t trust myself, more like it…” I shrugged. “Do whatever you want with me. I’ll take on the punishment for what I’ve done.”

“Samael,” the divine voice spoke to me with the fondness of that of a father (they had created me so they truly were my parent), “you are an angel. You never make mistakes. Why did you not trust yourself?”

“Because I also know that I, unlike all the other angels, am made of not just your pure light energy, but the evil black energy as well… Only my core is made of your light energy. I doubt darkness wouldn’t sneak into my conscience from time to time.”

“Well then, we should come up with an idea on how to counter the black energy inside you which bothers you so much.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a part of who I am, father, so I cannot really counter it but accept it instead, and move on.” I shrugged. “I propose this: send me to the Black Energy realm, and I’ll fight them right in their den. I will alter the demons’ dwelling and make my stay there, and I’ll name it Hell – the home of the only dark angel that will be I. This way, the poor souls of humans, who have suffered so much and are yet to suffer, will have a place to dwell in before we come up with a plan on how to purify them down on Earth.”

“You really want to sacrifice your position of the highest celestial angel, one of my hereditary creations, in order to save human souls?”

“Yes. After all, I made up that dangerous test and it is because of me Elijah died. I must ensure a new angel of innocence is able to be born.”

“We never doubted your kind heart, Samael. From now on, you are released from our command. Do as you please. You’ve proven you are worthy to make decisions on your own. If you ever need to consult with us, your twin Michael will be able to descend into hell, as you’ve named your new dwelling, and speak with you.”

“Thank you.” I deeply bowed to them. “One more request – please set the history so that humans think of me as the main king of demons and their enemy.”

“Why?”

“I… I must continue testing humans to see how they progress. I don’t want them to know my true intentions. Let them turn their hatred on me so that they can love each other.”

“You’re too generous even for an angel.” Michael cut in.

“I have no other choice. After all, death, destruction, and all calamity – it is never a good thing and lovable stuff, is it?” I laughed and unfolded my black wings.

“Your wish is granted.” the divine voice said.

“Farewell, brother. Good luck with your further goals!” Michael smiled at me.

“Remember, Michael,” I beamed, “I’m leaving our brothers and sisters in your hands now. Look after them and supervise humans, while I fight demons.”

I flew down, pierced the fiery core of the world, and descended into the hellfire and freezing ice of the underworld – the dwelling of the demonic Black Energy I was destined to fight.”