Chapter Five

Yerachmiel live among humans for already 6,000 years. The 10th century or the High Middle Ages was the last time Azrael ever saw him. Azrael may have visited the human world for a couple of times but Yerachmiel never showed himself until now. She’s one of her siblings who believed Yerach left because of how cluttered their family had become.

Azrael was fully aware that Rogziel and Ouriel flew from time to time at Yerach’s balcony to check if she’s still inside the room she’s been in. She ignored them completely, Ouriel must have been trying to make things right between the two of them. Azrael told Ouriel all of her plans, remove the killing part, before she left. He must have told it to someone and then they assumed that she might try to kill Bernael.

Well she won’t, they just gave her an idea. She doesn’t even know what Bernael looks like and where she would start looking, she just wanted to see him and finds something to stop what was about to happen, and eventually ask him if he know something about how to stop it.

Azrael closed her eyes fussily, she can’t describe what she feels, so she stood up and decided to change her clothes. She checks out her thigh that was wounded by Rogziel’s arrow, the blood has stopped pouring, the pain already stops but the wound was still there. It takes a day for it to completely heal.

It’s one of the reasons she didn’t fight with them last night. But apart from it, she knew she can’t win any verbal argument with her siblings, especially she knew she was the wrong one. When she opened the closet, it was empty. She checks if Yerach was still on his room before sneaking out a pair of shirt.

She went down and felt the silence inside the house. The interior was modern and bright, Yerach’s personality can be seen in the whole house. Greens and stuff, who loves the Earth more than its own protector?

The end of the stairs leads directly to the foyer and to the glass walled living room. When she reached the kitchen, she saw Remiel sat in a bar stool while eating what looks like a grilled cheese. Azrael just glances at her gobbling her food.

Celestials don’t eat because of hunger, they did because of the flavor. Azrael opened Yerach’s refrigerator and saw that she was right, no water, as it doesn’t have any flavor at all. They also don’t have to sleep, but they do so just to consume the boredom.

She pulls a can of beer and took a deep breath, “Look, I’m sorry.” Azrael blurted out while looking at Remiel. She puts down her food and stared back at Azrael, her eyes tell Azrael to continue, “I’m sorry for lying, for having you chase me and…” Azrael paused again while bottling up a snicker, “for smacking your head with a wine glass.”

Azrael moved to the other side of the kitchen counter and leaned on it, she reaches Remiel who said nothing and just watches her, “I’m sorry. I’m a huge dick.” Azrael added that made Remiel raise her eyebrow, “That’s a Shakespearean metaphor.” she added and she can see Remiel twitching her lips, containing herself from smiling. Azrael grinned, she pointed Remiel, “I love you, even I hit you hard.”

Remiel finally laughed, she stood up and advances to hug Azrael who smirked because she succeeded giving off her charms to her older sister, “God, I missed you.” Remiel whispered between their hug.

“Missed you too.” Azrael said when Remiel let her go, she opened the canned beer and drank from it.

“Does that mean we’re good too?” Ouriel said from the dining room, he beams happily at Azrael.

Remiel smiles but Azrael rolled her eyes and move on Remiel’s other side, “I hate you, you’re the worst.” she spat at Ouriel who moves out from the wall while pouting.

“Why? I only do that out of concern. I don’t want you to be a killer.” Ouriel reasoned out, he looks like a child asking for breakfast early in the morning since his hair was all over his face.

“I’m not gonna kill anyone until you showed up, Ouriel.” Azrael replied with full despise towards her brother.

“Azrael…” Remiel called to stop Azrael from saying shits towards Ouriel.

Ouriel snooted and said, “Wait, you’re not?”

Remiel and Azrael exchanged looks, Remiel herself wasn’t expecting what Azrael said, “No, asshole. Are you mad?” Azrael said while scowling back at Ouriel, he looks so confused.

Ouriel shrugged, “Well, you stabbed me and that’s an offense.” he argued back, now Remiel was the one who looks confuse, she glances at Azrael that asks a question.

Azrael leaned over and whispered, “We made an accord not to try to kill each other.” she glared at Ouriel again. Childish may be, but Azrael and Ouriel bond most of the time compared to their other siblings, “You’re an audacious backstabber, Ouriel. I can’t believe you would do that to me.”

“Fine, I’m sorry. But I only did that because I don’t want you to kill someone, and I don’t want you to face a fortune alone.” Ouriel said while mumbling the last words, he doesn’t know how to show care, especially to Azrael who seems not to need one.

Azrael looked away when she realizes Ouriel’s point. His reasons were also Azrael’s reason why she badly wants to find Bernael. Remiel nodded at Ouriel to assure him Azrael would be fine.

“Speaking of being alone…” Remiel looked at Azrael, “I’m anticipating you know that we’ll be staying until you decided to come home.”

Azrael made a face, she doesn’t want to but, “I honestly don’t like babysitters but…” she looks at Ouriel and gave him a pestering grin, “Since you and Rad loves to take the Mickey out of me, then I’m gonna do the same. You don’t like staying here? That’s what we’ll do.” Azrael announced.

She figured it out last night, a day or two would pissed the hell out of Rad and it would be a perfect win for her. Ouriel shrugged, “Well, it’s fine for us, right Remy? But it wasn’t for Rogziel and Rad, and probably for Yerach considering he want us out of his way.”

They paused when they heard steps from the stairs, it was Yerach. When he reached them, he looks directly at Azrael, “Come on, we need to talk.” he said with full authority and doesn’t look at anyone. Azrael shrugged before they all followed him.

In the living room sat Rogziel in one of the chairs while reading a book silently while Rad stood up beside the fireplace doing nothing. When Azrael walked passed him, she swirled and pointed him, “I’m not done with you, Radeuriel.”

Radeuriel holds the book that says something about Azrael’s fate, but he kept it a secret, because he knew this is exactly what Azrael would do, hunt down the poor Bernael. Azrael was keeping up with the rivalry she and Rad established a long time ago.

He smiled and said, “What happened to your conscience? Have your heart all rotten because of your ego?” he said while looking down at Azrael.

“Shut up or I’ll ripped your head off.” Azrael replied with gritted teeth. Rad just shrugged when Rogziel stood up and pulled Azrael from him. He made Azrael sat in the other chair beside him, Ouriel sat beside Remiel on the left side sofa and, Yerach and Rad on the other.

Azrael looked at Rogziel, even with his disarrayed hair he looks majestically gorgeous early in the morning, Azrael shrugged.

When all of them sat around, Azrael wasn’t used of having a sight of her siblings in human clothes round up together. She looks at herself and she’s the only one who haven’t change from last night. If she looks closely, it is noticeable that none of them shares a resemblance. All of them may have had the same features but none of them looks exactly the same like regular siblings.

Yerach checks out Azrael as if asking her to speak but she just glared at him. The only thing that changes about Yerach, is that he’s the one who looks completely human as if he shoved all of his celestial attributes aside. Since no one wanted to start the talking, Yerach cleared his throat before speaking, “It occurred to us…” he paused and studies Azrael’s possible reaction, “That…” he glances at his other siblings, “While you’re all here, we might start to look for Bernael.”

Azrael pay attention to him and give him a look of shocked, Rogziel quickly seconded Yerach by saying, “But we have conditions.” he closed his book right away.

Azrael let out a satiric scoff and said, “If you’re going to ask me to do some community service or a hospital visit, thanks but no thanks.” she said and crossed her legs and anticipated it’s going to be a longer conversation than she thought.

“See?” Rad snapped and gestured Azrael, “You shouldn’t have offered help. Look at how proud and ungrateful she is.” he howled at Azrael.

“Wow, you say it as if you actually sympathize and feel for me!” Azrael yelled back at him, “If it weren’t for your duties then you wouldn’t be here. Don’t act in actuality like you really care, because if you do you’d tell me about it earlier.”

“Oh come on!” Yerach blurted out being fed out of his siblings clashing against each other.

“Well, fine.” Rad replied with a calmer voice, “Build a wall around you, and experience your own damnation.”

Azrael knew that Rad wouldn’t stop until he won the argument. They’ve been rivals since the beginning of time but she was upset that he would kept a secret that big to her. He’s right, it’s Azrael’s damnation and he seems not to care about it at all.

Azrael may not like him that much, but she was disappointed at him. She stayed silent and rolled her eyes, she’s tired of trying to win everything against Rad.

“Can you please calm down and hear them first? Both of you.” Remiel butted in and pointed Azrael and Rad.

Rogziel leaned over to whisper on Azrael, “Can you ignore everything Rad said? That would be easier.” Azrael glances at him but did not dare to speak. To say the least, Rogziel can handle his wrath nowadays and doesn’t set them on fire when he’s so fed up. That’s nice and good for him, Azrael thought.

Their attention was caught when Yerach clapped loudly it resonates in the glass walls of the living room where they also argued last night, “As I was saying, I am willing to let you stay and find Bernael. If you’re willing to comply on my rules.” Yerach said, he emphasizes his words on Azrael who just looked at him without an expression on her face.

Yerach rolled his eyes when he realizes Azrael would not say she agrees but he continued while counting the numbers on his finger, “Rule number one; keep a low profile. No one should know who and what you are. Fake an identity, that’s given.” he said and shrugged. He continued while still counting and pointing them, he looks at Ouriel, “Number two; no using of powers. Don’t use your ability to be ahead of others when you wanted something.” then at Rad, “Or if your lazy and pissed off.” he looks at Rogziel, “No setting someone or something on fire.” then at Azrael, “And no inducing of crippling pain to anyone you started hating.”

“That’s unfair.” Ouriel butted in immediately after Yerach finishes, “How about Remy?”

All of them look at Remiel and then at Yerach, “Well, I trust her. She’s the reasonable one here.” Remiel flashes a triumphant smile when Azrael glances at her, they’re a total opposite, that’s obvious. Remiel may be the redhead but Azrael have the fire in her.

“And before the last one…” Yerach said, he twisted his head and looked behind him and called, “Namaah.”

Azrael widen her eyes when she heard the name of the newest addition to the creatures who betrayed her in a course of one day. She wasn’t surprise that Nae is working for Yerach though. Namaah went out from the left doorway.

Azrael was quick to grab a piece of artwork at the wooden coffee table in front of her and prepares to throw it at Nae but Yerach kicks her hand, slipping the ceramic statue and breaking it on the floor. Yerach stood up and insisted with emphasis, “That’s the rule number three and the most important one, no killing.”

Azrael stood up as well and leveled her eyes on Yerach, “If it’s the most important rule then why it’s not the rule number one?” she glances over at Rogziel who raises up too.

Rad let out a mocking laugh but he stays sat on the sofa, “For fucks sake, Azrael. You ask someone to help you kill their brother. That’s so cruel.”

Everyone was taken aback, including Nae. Azrael gritted her teeth, pointed Rad and yelled, “I’m not talking to you!” Azrael’s loud and rough voice made Remiel and Ouriel rose from their chairs too. The tension is flaring, “Do I look like I enjoy my own chastisement? I’m not going to kill Bernael.” Azrael declared, both of her expressions and voice started to calm and become softer as she uttered her last words. She let out a nervous and sarcastic laugh, “I’m not even sure how to start looking for him because I don’t know what he looks like.”

“What?” Yerach said in full incredulity. Even Rad was stunned when Azrael finally said her side.

“I know.” Nae said and looks at Azrael, “That’s why you took your chance when I found you because you cannot find him on your own.” Azrael smirked, she felt like she’s being played. She anticipated it and it happened, she knew Nae would betray her, but her siblings arriving in full force wasn’t part of her expectations.

Bernael was an Army of God that was on Lucifer’s side during the war in Heaven. After the fall, he resided in Hell. A few years ago, many believe he was killed and was sent to the Void, by Azrael. But the truth is, she hasn’t met him. Why and how she is connected to him remains a million-dollar question.

Rad stood and ask Azrael, he propped his hands on his waist, “How come you don’t know what he looks like? You haven’t met him?” Azrael glared at his obvious question but she answered him by shaking her head.

“That makes sense, Azrael had never fought in the rebellion.” Remiel intruded, “Hence, she never met any Army.” Azrael peered at Remiel saying she’s right, while the others started winding on the things.

The age of each celestials is confusing, but one things for sure, among the siblings, Lucifer is the oldest and Azrael is the youngest. Making Azrael too young and unable to fight during the rebellion.

And because they were part of a high ranking state of family and Azrael grows up in a different Gate, she never saw Bernael at Heaven at all. Angels and now Fallens are born right after the Big Bang while Demons were born when Lucifer was banished to Hell.

“Wow. The plot thickens.” Ouriel interrupted in his most dramatic voice, “If you haven’t met him, then what does he had to do with you?” Azrael shrugged and all of them turned to Rad as if he’s the one who can give them the right and precise answer.

“It wasn’t written in the book.” he replied then gazes at Azrael, “You know that.”

Because the tension subsides, Yerach asked everyone to sat, except for him, “Let’s clear things out first. Azrael, how did you find about that preordain matter, prophecy, whatsoever?” he asked while looking at Azrael.

Azrael ogled at Rad first, “Stole the book after having an argument with Radeuriel. Thought I would blackmail him before returning it, but decided it wasn’t that fun. Peered into the pages and viola, I found that.” she said it coolly like it’s not a big thing. Rad twitched his lips on Azrael’s confession.

The discussion continues and Rogziel asked Rad, “How long it has been there?”

Rad shrugged as if he condoned what Azrael did, “I don’t know. I’m not the one who wrote things there, I just keep it. Read it not long before Azrael does.” he replied while looking down on his shoes.

They fell into another silence as everyone tries to dig in and think about a better plan. When Azrael made a clanking noise of the metals on her hands and said, “Are we good? Can I ask some questions?”

Yerach, who crossed his arms on his chest and has his other hand place on his mouth replied and said, “Go on.”

Azrael gave a glimpse at Nae and look directly at Yerach, “Why is Namaah working for you?”

If Yerach haven’t use his powers on controlling Earth elements, then she’ll suspect he’s Lucifer mimicking the real Yerach. But he doesn’t. Everyone looks at him as he spoke, “I needed someone to run things for me. I can’t hire a human and I know you have your own things to do…” he looks at Ouriel, “I asked Ouriel to pick a Demon he can control for me.” Azrael frowned then looked at Ouriel and then to Nae. She finds it weird, but she shoved the thought. Yerach spoke again, “Now Azrael, I’m giving you a choice. Go home and forget this Bernael craze or stay and find him.”

Azrael looked at everyone in the room. Rad stays poker faced while waiting for her answer, Nae looks normal and not freak out, its unusual. Azrael caught Rogziel’s eyes staring at her, while Remiel and Ouriel was clinging to the anticipation. She looks at Yerach, “Wait, where are we again?”

Azrael left everyone hanging and she almost burst out laughing while watching them change their expressions. Yerach smirked and said, “Oh I forgot.” he stretched his arms upward, “Welcome to the City of Angels.”