Chapter 13

  Samael gathered every angel—warriors and non-combatants alike—within the grand auditorium of Heaven’s fifth layer. The vast hall centred around an elevated stage; its semi-circle of tiered seats packed with angels murmuring in anticipation. A separate raised chamber to the right was reserved for the archangels and their chosen warriors.

  Uriel sat at the far left, Castiel at his side. Ariel followed, flanked by Amenediel and Beelzibel. Raphael arrived with Eliel and Adramael, while Gabriel took his place beside Asmodiel and Haniel. Michael sat next to Leviel and Baniel. Lastly, Jophiel settled in with Darriel and Raguel.

  A hush fell as Samael stepped forward, his presence commanding.

  “It is with great honour that I introduce the newest angel generals—Adriel and Gabriele.” His voice carried through the hall. “They have conquered the most difficult trial in our history.”

  A triumphant melody erupted, filling the space with celebratory grandeur. Adriel and Gabriele stepped onto the stage, draped in pristine white robes, golden sandals glinting beneath the heavenly glow. On their wrists, shimmering bracelets marked their new rank. They smiled, waving at the audience, golden roses cascading from their hands in a show of reverence.

  “But-” Samael’s tone sharpened, slicing through the jubilation. “Neither of them will receive their archangel’s blessing—yet.”

  A stunned silence gripped the room before whispers erupted like a rising tide.

  “What’s going on?” Michael’s sharp voice cut through the noise.

  Gabriel frowned. “Am I not supposed to bless Gabriele?”

  Samael’s expression remained unreadable. “Both of them have expressed interest in joining my exclusive unit—Dead End.”

  Adriel’s breath hitched. Dead End? His pulse quickened. He had never dared to dream of such an honour. The names of past members flashed through his mind—warriors who had crushed their foes with ruthless precision. Living up to their legacy would be no easy feat.

  Gabriele smirked, leaning in. “This just got interesting, right, Adriel? Now I’m even more motivated to beat you.”

  He ignored her comment, pondering how he would live up to the past greats.

  A hushed murmur swept through the crowd.

  “Dead End?”

  “Heaven’s strongest unit?”

  “I thought you disbanded them.” Uriel’s gaze darkened. “Why revive them now?”

  “Because talent demands a place to thrive,” Samael answered simply.

  “Damn you, Samael.” Raphael clenched his fists. “You’re trying to steal Adriel from my squad.”

  Samael smirked. “I asked, and he accepted. Gabriele proposed a duel to decide who would join, and I agreed. Now, if I may continue…” He turned back to the crowd. “Adriel and Gabriele will fight for the right to stand beside Uriel in the new and improved Dead End.” His smirk widened. “Enjoy the ceremony.”

  Adriel is still shocked he is even considered to join the legendary team, while Gabriel revels in the prospect of proving herself to Samael.

  The hall buzzed with excitement, but before anyone could speak further, Samael felt a strange sensation before vanishing without a trace.

  Darkness pressed against him. The scent of damp earth filled his lungs.

  Samael’s eyes snapped open. He was surrounded by towering trees, their gnarled branches twisting above him. His soul felt weightless yet restrained. He reached for his power—nothing.

  Eden? His mind reeled. Who could—?

  A slow realisation crept over him.

  “Impressive, Lilith,” he muttered as a figure stepped from the shadows. “Didn’t think you had the strength to force me here.”

  Lilith leaned against a tree, arms folded. “Don’t make it sound so sinister. I’ve been trying to talk to you, but you kept rejecting my calls. I had to be… persuasive.”

  Samael exhaled, irritated. “It’s the middle of the night. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

  “Oh, please. Contacting you during the day is impossible—you enchanted the sun.” She gestured skyward, smirking.

  He clapped his hands slowly. “Humans never cease to surprise me.”

  “But that doesn’t answer my question,” he added, his patience thinning.

  Lilith tilted her head. “It’s been thousands of years since we last talked. I thought it was time.”

  He turned away. “If that’s all, I’m leaving.” He leapt skyward—only to find himself right where he started.

  “What the—?” He gritted his teeth. “What did you do?”

  Lilith smirked. “I thought you were leaving. Why are you still here?”

  His anger flared. He poured energy into his soul, prepared to break free—

  Pain exploded in his skull. Blood dripped from his nose. His vision blurred before darkness swallowed him whole.

  When he awoke, the air was thick with the scent of wet leaves. A crude tent shielded him from the elements. The ground beneath him was uneven, and cold.

  Lilith sat nearby, watching. “Finally awake, huh?”

  Samael groaned, his head pounding. “What do you want?”

  “To talk.”

  He exhaled sharply. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

  Lilith’s smile widened. “Why were angels created? I’ve asked your siblings, but none of them know the answer.”

  Samael’s gaze sharpened. “Hmm, that is forbidden knowledge. Are you sure you want to know?”

  She nodded. “If there were no angels, there wouldn’t be fallen ones. So, what were the angels originally fighting?”

  Samael hesitated before answering. “The first generation of angels was created to fight the ‘Evil Gods’—primordial forces of chaos drawn to Father’s order. There is no order without chaos, so they were necessary. But they were tasked with culling their numbers. It was a losing war. Angels could not kill them, but they could kill angels. It was a massacre.”

  Lilith’s expression darkened. “So how did the Angels win?”

  “By asking Father for help. The leader of the archangels begged Father for power. Unlike us, the Evil Gods were immortal. So, Father granted the leader the Caliburn—The Sword of Selection.”

  Lilith leaned forward. “And?”

  Samael’s voice grew quiet. “He lost himself to bloodlust. Instead of culling them, he wiped them out completely. But chaos cannot die. Their consciousness endured… and they cursed us.”

  His tone deepened, reciting ancient words:

  ‘For this deed you have done, angels shall kill angels, kin shall slay kin, and you will turn your backs on your creator. You will become our vessels.’

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Lilith stiffened. “Wait… vessels? That means fallen angels are—”

  “Possessed by Evil Gods,” Samael finished.

  She stared at him. “That’s… disturbing. Does that mean fallen angels are evil?”

  Samael shrugged. “Not really. When you mix good with evil, you get neutrality.”

  Lilith scoffed. “Are you saying all angels are good?”

  “Yes.”

  She laughed, dry and incredulous. “Then why do your siblings despise you?”

  Samael smirked. “I am good. I simply fall under ‘chaotic good.’ My methods may seem… unorthodox.”

  Lilith narrowed her eyes. “So, you’re saying good people can be mean?”

  Samael chuckled. “I push my siblings to their limits because our enemies won’t hold back. That’s why they survive.”

  Lilith crossed her arms. “You believe that?”

  His gaze didn’t waver. “Absolutely.”

  She rolled her eyes at his response. “Of course, you would take credit for survival.”

  “Because I am.” Samael frowned. “Huh. If I didn’t know you any better, I’d think you were angry with me.”

  “Why would I?” Lilith retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You act like you can be both good and mean at the same time.”

  Samael sighed. “Oh, so that’s what this is about. Let me be clear: my behaviour is simply me pushing my siblings to be their best.”

  Lilith hesitated before scoffing. “That’s a load of nonsense. If angels are truly good, why would they...” She trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

  Samael's eyes narrowed. “Do what?”

  Lilith looked away. “You’re the smart one. Figure it out.”

  Samael sighed, standing up. “If you’re just going to be difficult, I should leave.”

  Lilith immediately grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry. Please stay.”

  He hesitated for a moment before sitting back down. “Fine. What else do you want to know?”

  Lilith thought for a moment. “Why are you so confident in your beliefs?”

  Samael considered his answer before responding. “Because they have been tested and proven. Our actions are guided by our purpose—to serve and protect humanity. That is why we exist.”

  “But what about tough decisions?” Lilith pressed. “Ones that may not align with what others consider ‘good’?”

  Samael nodded. “It isn’t always easy, but as angels, we must have the strength to follow through on our convictions. That is what sets us apart.”

  “But don’t you think ‘good’ is subjective?” Lilith asked. “What if your ‘good’ isn’t someone else’s?”

  Samael chuckled. “You raise a valid point. But as long as we follow our hearts and stay true to our purpose, I believe we will always make the right decisions.”

  Lilith nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe being ‘good’ isn’t about following rules but about doing what feels right in your heart.”

  Samael smiled. “Exactly.”

  She returned his smile. “Thank you for sharing that. I understand your reasoning now, but try to be kinder to them. It doesn’t reflect well on you if they’re always complaining.”

  Samael chuckled. “I’ll try.”

  “Promise me.”

  “Fine. Happy now?”

  “Yes. What do you wish for most?”

  “That’s simple. I wish to fight an opponent strong enough to push me to my limit.” A grin crept onto his face. “Even after choosing angels with potential, I still can’t find one. Sometimes, I feel like my only true challenge would be an evil version of myself. I wish...”

  “Don’t wish for that,” Lilith interrupted. “An evil version of you would be too strong.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Because he would do anything to win, including fighting dirty. Something you won’t do.”

  Samael considered her words, then smirked. “Good point. But I can’t lose, so don’t worry.”

  Lilith shook her head, amused. “Tell me something. How are angels born?”

  Samael sighed. “Are you just going to quiz me on angel trivia now?”

  “You want to leave, don’t you? Then answer my questions.”

  He rolled his eyes but relented. “Fine. In the third layer of Heaven, there’s a place called the Hall of Creation—a vast cavern where angels are formed. The deeper within, the stronger the angel.”

  He glanced at her, expecting another question, but she remained silent, listening intently.

  “Fathers come first, then mothers, followed by their siblings, emerging from nearby regions. Children are formed in the middle, where their parents once stood. Father names us, and we tell our parents.

  Lilith raised an eyebrow, a glint of curiosity in her eyes. “Interesting. So, are you born as adults?”

  Samael chuckled. “No, we’re born as children, but not babies.”

  Lilith tilted her head. “Wait, what are babies?”

  Samael blinked, surprised. “The little humans you give birth to.”

  What sort of question is that? I sense millions of children scattered in the forest. Did she forget? Is something wrong? I doubt it. He calmed himself. If there was an issue, she would have told me. Better not press on.

  Lilith's eyes widened in realisation. “Oh, I see... so how was your childhood?” she asked.

  Samael frowned as the memories resurfaced. “Ask anything else,” he muttered, gripping his face as his calm demeanour twisted into anger and sorrow.

  But Lilith was undeterred. “Your siblings told me it was sad, but I still need to know how you pushed through it.” She clenched her fist.

  Samael clenched his jaw. “I said drop it.” His murderous glare made Lilith step back, stumbling.

  Realising his mistake, Samael reached out to help, but she recoiled in fear. Watching from the trees, Adam clenched his fists, ready to confront Samael—until he heard his next words.

  “I’m sorry,” Samael murmured, his eyes regretfully dark. “That was a dark time in my life.”

  Adam's fury wavered. It wasn't the words that soothed him but the sheer gravity of Samael's presence—the same presence that commanded both love and respect from his siblings, despite everything he had done.

  Lilith hesitated before nodding. “If you tell me, I’ll forgive you.”

  Samael hesitated before sighing. “If it will make you forgive me for my poor attitude, I'll tell you.”

  Lilith nodded, giving him her full attention.

  "You know what's funny?" Samael began, a wry smile touching his lips. "When you ask any angel what they want, they usually say, 'I want to be the strongest.' Well, I was the strongest. And it was miserable."

  He paused, drawing a deep breath. "When I was born, I emerged from the deepest part of the cave. My energy was so powerful that it killed anything that came too close. I was called a freak. Abandoned."

  Lilith's heart clenched. "That sounds awful."

  "It was," Samael admitted, his voice rough with emotion. "And to make matters worse, my wings were metallic—an anomaly. I hid away in the most secluded parts of Heaven, drowning in self-loathing. That was when Lord Metatron found me. He taught me to suppress my energy... so I wouldn't have to be alone."

  He clenched his fists. "For a time, I was naive. I thought I could make friends. But I was ridiculed. Hated. Every night, I cried myself to sleep. Until I met my only friend. Together, we formed a group called 'Dead End.' That was my only solace."

  Lilith reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I had no idea. I'm sorry for any pain you endured."

  Samael let out a deep sigh. "It's all right, Lilith. But the worst part wasn't even the bullying. I thought I deserved it. I believed I had killed so many. But later, I found out that angels can't die in Heaven. They bullied me simply because I was stronger."

  Lilith's eyes widened in shock. "That's... horrifying. I'm sorry for pushing you. I didn't realize how painful it was."

  Samael shook his head, a small smile forming. "It's all right. If not for those experiences, I wouldn’t have become the youngest archangel leader. I wouldn’t have formed 'Dead End.' In the end, it all worked out."

  Lilith smiled softly. "I'm glad to hear that. So, let's change the topic. I heard you're a great fighter. Is that true?"

  Samael chuckled, the tension easing. "I suppose I have a reputation. But I prefer not to rely on violence unless necessary. What about you? What interests you?"

  Lilith's eyes sparkled. "Fighting and magic. The thrill of combat, the power of magic... I've trained in martial arts since I was created and studied all kinds of magic."

  Samael raised an eyebrow. "A rare combination. What kind of magic?"

  "Elemental, divination... everything. The lore fascinates me."

  Samael nodded. "Magic is awe-inspiring. Infinite possibilities."

  Lilith grinned. "Exactly! With my skills, I feel like I could become a formidable force."

  Samael smirked. "I don’t doubt it."

  Lilith eyed him. "I've been meaning to ask... how do you always look so striking?"

  Samael raised a brow, amused. "You find me striking?"

  Lilith smiled. "You have a presence."

  His smirk deepened. "I do try to make an impression."

  "Don't let it get to your head."

  "Too late."

  As their conversation continued, Samael found himself drawn to her. Suddenly, Lilith surprised him by leaning in, pressing her lips to his. He hesitated, then responded, pulling her close. As they parted, his heart pounded. "I... didn't expect that."

  Lilith smiled. "Sometimes, the unexpected is the best."

  She leaned in again, but Samael gently pulled back. "We can't. You have a husband."

  "But I love you. Tell me you don't feel the same."

  Samael clenched his jaw. "I'm sorry... but I can't."

  Without another word, he vanished into the heavens.

  "Wait! Don’t go! Please, come back! Samael!" Lilith fell to her knees, begging.

  Hearing her cries, Samael faltered mid-flight. But he steeled himself and pressed on.

  Back in Heaven, Samael’s head spun. His soul ached, weakened from his ordeal. As he collapsed, the archangels rushed to his side. Jophiel lifted him, carrying him to his chamber and waiting for him to awaken.

  When his eyes finally opened, he turned to her. “I’m sorry.”

  Shock flickered across her face. “Damn you… Why now?”

  “I spoke with Lilith. I realized… I could be kinder.”

  Jophiel scoffed. “So, a human had to teach you that? Pathetic.”

  Samael chuckled. “Normally, I’d be offended. But I promised her I’d try.”

  Her gaze sharpened. “You smile when you talk about her. Do you love her?”

  Samael said nothing. As an angel, he could not lie.

  Jophiel exhaled, her voice softer. “She has a husband, Samael. We must protect them, not love them.”

  “You see why I didn’t want to answer? I knew you’d react like this. I didn’t choose this.”

  She hesitated, then nodded. “I get it. She reminds you of Father’s love. But you must fight it. You two can’t be together.”

  “I know. That’s why I won’t answer when she calls. Uriel will handle it. And don’t tell anyone.”

  Jophiel smirked. “Fine. On one condition—train me.”

  Samael sighed. “When I recover. I left most of my power on Earth when I fled, the temptation was too much.”

  Her smirk widened. “No wonder you blushed when you returned.”

  Samael groaned, covering his face. “I’ll never live this down.”

  Meanwhile, on Earth, Adam stormed out, rage twisting his features. “How dare you kiss him?”

  Lilith crossed her arms. “I love him. And we need his help.”

  “I’m your husband! You are mine!”

  Lilith’s eyes narrowed. “I never chose you. Why would I pick someone weak? You couldn’t even protect me.”

  “I’m training! I’ll get stronger!”

  She scoffed. “Weaklings talk. The strong act.”

  Turning away, she left him seething. Adam clenched his fists, fury igniting in his heart. “Damn you, angels… I will become strong enough to destroy you.”

  As she walked, she couldn’t shake Samael from her thoughts.

  Unbeknownst to her, he was trapped in the same longing, his mind consumed by her presence.

  We are destined to be together. So please… rescue me from this suffering and end my oppressors, Lilith prayed.