The More to The Story Spam Dungeon

"Why would I get hurt in Heaven? Is that even possible?"

"I..." She trailed off. "Well, no. It really shouldn't be possible, I suppose. But things are kind of crazy right now and I am not taking any risks with my brother's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Adam's voice cracked. They hadn't really discussed titles or anything along those lines. But in Lucifer's defense it wasn't like they had much time. Everything seemed to be crashing down around them in the past forty-eight hours. But hearing the word was kind of... nice? Like a small flicker of light in Adam's otherwise darkened thoughts. Though, a part of him wondered after everything he did, if he even deserved that little light. But he could dwell on that later. He needed Syn to play Despisito if he was going to wallow in self-hatred and she was back at the mansion doing only God knows what. "I mean- Muppcifer is a really competent dude, probably more so than the real Lucifer." Adam wished Lucifer had been around to hear that burn. It was clever, and it would have definitely gotten Lucifer to snap at him. "So, I'm sure he wouldn't mind holding down the fort a little longer."

"You're a Sinner, Adam." Uriel bit her lower lip.

"But I was a Winner."

"I mean... yes... that's true-"

"I just want to check on my kids."

"Adam, I really appreciate you helping me get here but I need you to go back home." Uriel squeezed his shoulders gently. "If Michael is calling us here for an urgent meeting, then there has to be some kind of big event or something happening and I don't think having you running amok in Heaven will lighten my family's emotional load."

"I wouldn't be running amok."

"Get back in the mirror, Adam." Uriel guides him gently back toward the mirror that they had exited from. It was a lovely, full-length mirror with golden carvings of owls in various poses along the top and sides. She pushed him gently against the glass. "Go back in."

"Come on, just a few minutes."

"No."

"It's my kids, Uriel."

"I will check on them personally." She smiled, but Adam wasn't particularly satisfied with the compromise. When was the next time he would be in Heaven?

"But-"

"I am afraid I must insist..." she pushed him gently against the mirror, careful not to be too rough with the First Man, but she was definitely emphasizing her point. "I promise you I'll find time to speak with Seth and Abel. But for now, it is vital that you return home."

"Are you trying to physically put me back in the mirror?"

"Is it working?"

"Not really."

"Adam, please." Uriel's eyes were filled with something Adam would almost call unease. But why would an Archangel be unsettled in Heaven? Sera was Corrupted, sure. She'd been Corrupted longer than he had been. But if she hadn't burned their home to the ground yet, it was logical to assume that today would not be that day. "We just got an upper hand with C'toggha. I can't be the one to put our advantage at risk. You being here, it's just not safe. We don't know how far the Corruption spread in Heaven. It's safer for you in Hell."

"Right." Adam let out a sigh. Uriel was right. They had no idea how far the Corruption had spread, and they would be horrified to learn exactly what it had made Souls like Adam do. Uriel would hate to discover the full extent of the crimes committed by those wearing the mark of God over their heads. "Okay."

"You'll go back?"

"I'll go back." He closed his eyes and let himself move through the solid glass into the reflection. Uriel looked visibly relieved as his eyes reopened.

"Sorry to do this, Adam, but when Big Blue calls an urgent meeting, that isn't really the time to let you run around an explore." For what it was worth, Uriel really did look apologetic. Adam supposed he understood. She was right; he shouldn't be in Heaven. After what he had done under Corruption's influence, he doubted he would ever make it back home. The First Man shrugged, trying not to wallow until he got back to Syn.

"It's fine."

"I promise we'll make it up to you."

"I think I'll prefer if Lucifer is the one who makes it up to me." He made a small attempt at a lighthearted joke. Uriel smiled, but he could tell neither of them were really in the mood for any sort of humor.

"Fair enough."

"Hurry back. I hate third-wheeling Muppcifer and Neo."

"What about Quackers?"

"True. I can go hang out with Quackers. He'll probably find that whole Elder God in the bedroom story pretty funny." Adam had to get his best bud caught up on all of the chaos that had overtaken his life as of late.

"Thank you for understanding."

"I'm nothing if not understanding." Adam turned away from the glass, surveying the inside of the mirror, trying to figure out his best path out of Heaven. (The last thing he needed was for Sera to find him. She was pissed off at him enough after his whole: The Archangels aren't in Heaven confession. He didn't want to know how pissed she would be if she knew everything else he had been doing as of late).

"Bye Adam! Thank you!"

"See ya." Adam moved to the next Reflection. The thing with Heaven was that everything was relatively reflective. Uriel had helped him navigate to wherever it was that they had just been, but now she had work to do. And Adam could ask her for a way out. But at the same time, a part of him was hoping if he tried to find it himself, he might be able to catch just a glimpse of one of his children. Just seeing them felt like it would be enough. Then, he would know that they were at least okay.

He jumped from reflection to reflection, recognizing several of his old favorite locations in Heaven. The restaurant with the amazing ribs, the milkshake place, Promise Land (though, Lu Lu World was growing on him, as theme parks went), the zoo- no sign of Abel there, the Market, the Theater, the skating rink, the bowling alley- had Lu ever figured out about the one Lysander built? Usually, he had to figure it out at some point.

The park.

The community center.

The Concert Hall.

Nope.

Nothing.

Adam was a little taken aback by just how normal everything seemed to be. It was as if life continued despite everything else going on. Lucifer had an Elder God tied up in the basement like something out of one of those romance novels Adam read (ironically, of course) and yet here in Heaven it was all sunshine and rainbows.

Sera really had not put a damper in the smiles and goodwill. They had no idea. The other Winners, the angels- they went about their afterlives without being weighed down knowing that some of the angels walking amongst them were not supposed to be up and moving at all. Adam looked again at his hands; the faint burns still visible on his fingers.

A reminder of what he had done.

He almost missed the Corruption's memory loss. He'd rather not relive that moment. He didn't want to live through it a first time. Still, it was better than he knew. He was going to have to tell the archangels- he knew that- but he almost felt it was more important to tell the Exorcists first. He... owed it to them.

Especially Vagie- or, well Vaggie.

Adam had all but given up on finding his kids, and was starting to genuinely look for an exit, when a familiar pop of bright blue caught his eye. He saw Seth in his long, flowing robe, a helmet tucked under his arm. He was hurrying through the crowded streets walking away from the City Hall. He looked... distraught.

"Seth!" Adam couldn't help himself. He called to his son from the reflection of a shop window. Seth stopped dead in his tracks.

"D... dad?"

"Y-yes." It occurred to Adam that he probably should not draw attention to himself in a crowded area. Seth was looking all over with visible confusion.

"Dad, where are you?"

"I'm... um... I'm close by. But can we talk in private?"

"Private?"

"At my house, I mean."

"Oh... kay...? I mean, Abel might not let me in, but I guess if I explain that I'm hallucinating my father's voice he might take pity on me."

"I'm not a hallucination." Adam moved from the shop window to Seth's halo. "And of course Abel will let you in. He's your brother."

"He's a pain in my ass."

"Seth!"

"Sorry, hallucination of my dad. I'm sorry." Seth took a deep breath. He looked... not himself. There were bags under his eyes. He seemed visibly on edge. Adam's heart sank. He recognized the expression, the jumpiness, the quick anger, the feeling of constant irritation- he prayed inwardly that he was wrong, but he feared Seth might be Corrupted. Had he done this to his youngest son? He idea that he had somehow made Seth sick was causing his stomach to churn. "But like, Abel is really frustrating."

"I'm not a hallucination." Adam swallowed his feelings of distress. He had one chance to make things right with his kids. He wasn't going to waste it debating whether or not he even deserved the opportunity. It was here. He was going to use it.

"That sounds like something a hallucination would say."

"So, if I wasn't a hallucination, would I be telling you I was?"

"I..." Seth paused. "You know, that's an excellent point."

"Put your helmet on. It'll help you think more clearly."

"I dunno about that. Gabriel seemed really weirded out by the fact that I had this helmet." Seth looked at the helmet in his arms as he walked. It reminded Adam of his own. Though, the horns were different, more forward facing.

"Just trust me."

"Yep, because of I can't trust a hallucination of my father, who can I trust?"

"Still not a hallucination."

"Sure." Seth may not believe that Adam was there, but in his son's defense, he was heading toward Adam's house. Maybe a part of him realized Adam was real. Or maybe the Corruption had just made Seth ambivalent. Adam had gone through that phase; nothing seemed to matter, and every day was just a series of meaningless actions the repeated over and over again. Hopefully, Seth was just listening because he was that desperate to see his father again, and Adam wasn't going to have to worry as much about his kid.

They reached the house. Seth pulled on the doorknob, but it was locked. Adam's stomach sank more. There wasn't really a need to lock the doors in Heaven. No one was going to come in uninvited. No one was going to touch your shit. But Adam had started locking up after he started thinking that even the Winners and angels couldn't be trusted. Now he knew that those were symptoms of the disease eating him from the inside out, but at the time he had rationalized it at all. He wasn't paranoid he was careful. He wasn't cruel others just didn't get his humor. He wasn't irritable Abel was just really annoying. Ugh. Thinking back on it, he had been nothing but a parade of red flags waving in the wind, and no one had helped him. Not a soul. Sera had convinced him that he was Falling- and when he actually did Fall, all it did was confirm her lies. Adam had to wonder if he had gone to one of Raphael's angels for help instead, if things would have gone differently. But Hippolyta and Florence were missing, and Jenna seemed so far up Sera's ass she could give her a colonoscopy.

"Try knocking." Adam spoke up as Seth wiggled the doorknob a few more times to no avail. Seth looked around again for Adam but couldn't see him.

"I'll try, but if he sees me, he'll only lock himself in more." Seth raised a hand, knocking loudly on the door.

No answer.

"Abel loves you."

"Abel loves you." Seth tried knocking again. But again, nothing in the house seemed to stir. "He and I only met post-mortem. And do you know how weird it is for me to act like he's my older brother when I look like twice his age?"

"Does it matter who's older?"

"It does when we're trying to agree on how to train the Exorcists." Seth grumbled. "Do you know he tried to pull the age card on me? I have a beard-"

"The exorcists?" Adam tensed. "They have you two training the Exorcists?" It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over him.

"Um... yeah. I... don't think I was supposed to tell you that, in retrospect." Seth put his hands on his hips looking a little sheepish, but overall unbothered. "Oops. Oh well. You're not going to tell on me. You're not even real."

"I am real-" Adam shook himself. "Hang on. I'll let you in." And just like that, things had become more serious. Adam moved from the halo, into the window's reflection. He focused his energy, pushing through toward the interior of the house. The curtains were closed, so, as Adam pulled himself free, he was able to use those for stability. He still fell on his face, but far more gracefully. He stood up. The interior of the house was completely dark. The television was on, but it was just playing static. "Abel?" He hurried toward the bedrooms. Abel's door was closed. Adam opened it, but his son wasn't in there. In fact, it didn't look like it had been used for some time. He went to his own bedroom. It looked similar to how he left it, but the bed had been used far more recently. He saw one of his guitars; it looked like it had been broken, the pieces were laying across Adam's desk. Who the fuck had broken his guitar? "Abel?" Still no sign of his middle child. Well, that sucked. He poked his head in the kitchen. He saw his helmet had been repaired, and it was sitting in front of a plate of semi-rotten food set in front of his seat at the table. Fuck. Maybe he needed to worry more about Abel...?

"Hey, Hallucination dad, I'm hungry. So, I think I'm going to leave and go get like a doughnut or something-"

"Seth! Wait!" Adam threw the rotten food in the trash before rushing to the door. He saw several locks, more than the ones he had installed himself. He unlocked them and came face to face with his youngest. Seth's eyes widened.

"D... dad?"

"Hey Seth." Adam felt his own eyes start to sting. He grabbed his taller son, dragging him inside, closing the door and just hugging Seth tightly to his chest. He could feel him, truly feel him. It was Seth, his baby. It was the first bit of happiness he had felt since the day he lost Abel. And once again, even though he was grown, holding Seth made Adam's world just a little brighter "Ben Yekiri..." Warmth dripped down his cheek as he felt himself starting to cry. "It's you... it' really you... I missed you so much."

"This is... definitely the most realistic hallucination I've ever had." Seth seemed mostly in shock. "But you look like a printer ran out of ink."

"It's my Sinner form."

"Why does it look like that?"

"I have no fucking idea." Adam made a noise that was half laugh and half sob as he held Seth tightly. "Take it up with Lucifer." He pulled back enough to look at Seth, his son's gold eyes filling with tears of their own.

"It can't really be you... you're in Hell."

"I am, but it's okay. I'm visiting." Adam put a hand to his son's cheek. He promised Uriel he would go, and he would, but he just had to see his baby. "I gave Uriel a lift."

"Do you have a car?"

"I... no. Lu might? I never asked. But no. I have this really bitching Sinner power."

"The height changing thing?"

"No, that was my Winner Gift. My Sinner Power is this whole thing with mirrors. I'll show you at some point. But this isn't about me. It's about you."

"Did you call the Devil Lu?"

"I mean... yeah?" Adam blinked.

"So... you're like on a nickname basis with him? I thought you hated him more than anything and that he was a... how did you put it?" Seth looked thoughtful for a moment. "A bitch-ass, piss-baby, who couldn't rule over a dollhouse nevertheless-"

"We don't have to go into all of that." Adam cut his son off. "My relationship with Lu- with Lucifer- is complicated. But he's not... I mean... he's not that bad of a guy. He saved my life." He felt his cheeks starting to heat up. "But this isn't about him. It's about you?"

"Me? I didn't save anyone's life."

"Seth," Adam grabbed his face with both hands, looking into his son's eyes. "Did Sera make you take my old job?"

"Oh... uh... yeah. Abel and I are supposed to share it. But between you and me, Abel is kinda half-assing his part of the work."

"Did you have to make Exorcists?"

"Wh-what?" Seth blinked.

"Did Sera take you to make more Exorcists?"

"N-no?" Seth took a step away, visibly confused. "Make Exorcists? What does that even mean? We can't make angels. We're human." Relief washed over Adam for the first time since he had arrived past the pearly gates. They had not forced his son to do the horrible task of creating more of the warrior angels. He hoped they weren't that desperate yet. They didn't even have enough viable parts to make the second batch. He and Sera had been grasping at straws with them. They never seemed as well put together as the first group.

Well, that's Liza's head. So, I suppose we can just assume she's Liza. She'll need new eyes though. And you know... an entire body. But I have a good third of a torso already dug up so, it won't be hard to finish her.

Adam shivered at the memory, breaking through his mind, as loud and clear as a scream. He wanted to throw up, but instead, took a deep breath, swallowing hard. "That's good." Adam breathed, letting his chest slowly exhale. "That's really good. Never let her take you to make more, Seth, promise me that."

"I..." Seth looked down at him. Something in Adam's expression seemed to soften his son's gaze. "Okay, yeah... I promise." Seth put a hand on Adam's shoulder. "Dad... it's not really you, is it? I mean... it can't be... right?"

"It's me. I swear on my life that it's me." Adam reached up, grabbing the hand Seth had resting on him, squeezing it tightly. "It's me. I love you so fucking much. But I need you to trust me. Do not listen to Sera."

"That... seems like a suspicious request-"

"No, Seth, you can trust the Archangels, the Metatron- in fact, I urge you to go to one of them if you need something. But Sera? Sera can NOT be trusted."

"But Sera is Gabriel's right hand-"

"Then go to Gabriel." Adam's voice quivered. He could feel his own desperation. "Seth, please, listen to me, I am begging you. Sera cannot be trusted. She did this to me. She broke me." Seth started to take a step back.

"Dad... I dunno-"

"No, listen to me!" Adam grabbed his hand. "She has a book, right?" She calls it a sacred tome?" Seth froze. "I know, I know it's there because she showed it to me, and that was how she got me to go along with the exterminations." That and threatening Cain- but that point wouldn't hold up for Seth or Abel. "So, she must have showed it to you too. She says it will change your mind and it does. It changes it- it destroys it-"

"Okay, dad, you're acting a little-"

"Crazy? Fuck, Seth, I've lost my entire goddamn mind. I'm only just starting to get it back because the Lu-" He stopped himself. It probably wasn't going to win him any points by bringing up Lucifer in this argument. "The Archangels have been helping me to get better." He breathed in, slowly, trying to steady his racing mind. "Seth, Sera is sick. She made me sick, and she is making you and Abel sick too. You have to get away from her."

"Uh... huh..." Seth tried again to step back but Adam was holding to him tightly, his fingers digging into Seth's shoulder. If this had not been Heaven, the tight grip may have caused his son some sort of pain. But thankfully, it didn't. (Adam would never forgive himself for hurting Seth, even if it was only an accident).

"The first time I saw that book, I had nightmares for over a week." Adam kept his tone as calm as he could. He still felt like he needed to emphasize the real danger Seth was in, but he realized he was coming across as unhinged. (He had gotten a little too accustomed to Hell where acting insane was just a part of the culture. Heaven was more about politeness. That seemed to give Seth pause. "You had nightmares too, huh?"

"I never said-"

"I see it in your eyes, in your face. I can feel how tired you are." Adam smiled but there was not even a flicker of joy in it. "I've been there before, Seth. The fatigue is only going to get worse, and worse, and worse. And you just keep feeling more and more numb. Until eventually, the only reason you get up every morning is because some negative emotion- hate, anger, blood lust- something will be the only driving force you have left."

"I..." Seth looked... sacred? Concerned? It was hard to tell. Adam had no traces of angelic empathy left. And from what he knew, Corrupted Souls were hard to read anyway. And he knew Seth was Corrupted. He could almost smell it on him. "I should go."

"They bleed black!" Adam's grip on his son tightened more.

"W-what?"

"When you're infected, your blood turns black."

"Oooooh kay. Well, that is such a fun fact. I just... have to go to the doctor and I don't want to be late or any-AH!"

"Come here." Adam pulled Seth into the kitchen. By his arm. The First man opened the drawer, pulling out a simple steak knife. Seth's wings burst from his back, feathers flaring out as he put them defensively around himself. "Seth, no, I would never hurt you." Adam felt... crushed. Did his son really think he would ever turn a blade on him? "I love you. You're my child." He let go of Seth's arm. "Which is why I have to prove to you that I'm telling the truth. I have to save you!" Adam put the sharp end of the blade over his palm, slicing at the skin. "Look!" Adam held out his hand. "Wait."

"Yeah... I don't... I don't think you can cut yourself in Heaven." Seth peaked out from his wings at Adam's perfectly-in-tact palm.

"This is bullshit."

"I dunno, I always assumed it was kind of a benefit. Some of those woodworking tools are pretty dangerous now a day."

"Let me do a good deed then."

"Um... you want me to wait around for you to... do a good deed?"

"Yes!" Adam clapped his hands together loudly. "Because THEN I'll throw up!" Seth stared at him blankly.

"Uh... huh."

"No, no. You don't understand. The vomit is like this... really gross black gunk. It's not just normal vomit. That would be weird."

"I think it's a pretty weird request regardless."

"It is, but it makes sense when you see it!" Adam looked around the kitchen for something that might qualify him for a good deed. He could clean it. But since the was technically his home, would that really count? Maybe he could pack Seth a nice lunch? Was that really a good deed? Most of the ones he did in Hell seemed to be Lucifer-related. So, there was the distinct possibility that it only counted when Adam didn't really like the person in question. (Though he supposed he liked Lucifer plenty now, but that wasn't the point). "Maybe I can clean your helmet?" Adam reached for Seth's helmet, but his son pulled it away.

"I have to go. The barber isn't going to wait all day."

"I thought you were seeing the doctor?"

"It's... both."

"Both?"

"Not really. I just lied because you're clearly having some sort of mental breakdown and I wanted to not be a part of it."

"I'm not having a mental breakdown."

"Just a small one. And that's okay! You've been in Hell, so I'm sure that's pretty traumatic for you. And I still love you. But watching you fall apart like this-"

"I'm not falling apart! I'm trying to warn you!"

"And I am plenty warned. So, thank you." Seth was inching toward the exit. Adam's heart sunk. This had not gone how he wanted it to at all. He did sound batshit, in Seth's defense. If the roles were reversed, he probably wouldn't listen either.

"Just... be careful." Adam didn't move to stop him. He remembered how Corruption worked. He was still dealing with it. Pushing Seth was only going to turn him off more. "Please, I love you so much. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you." He felt his eyes starting to sting again.

"It..." Seth stopped. "It's good to see you dad." For a moment, Adam saw his son's expression soften to one he recognized: love. Seth still cared about him. "I really have missed you. We... we both have. It's been hard without you."

"I'll be home." Adam had no idea if this was true, but he wanted for it to be. Seth walked over, hugging him tightly. Adam hugged him back. "Just... promise me if Sera asks you to make more Exorcists, you'll go to the Arcs."

"I can do that."

"Thank you, Ben Yekiri."

"I do need to go through." Seth pulled away. "I'm helping Michael set up for some big event thing this afternoon to welcome the new Archangel, Luke."

"Luke?" Adam repeated the name back. (Also, wasn't Michael supposed to be super injured and on bed rest? While it wasn't shocking that the leader of the arcs would ignore instructions to care for himself, Adam had to wonder how he had snuck away from Raphael to get any shit done. Because that man was like a hawk when it came to spotting people trying to ignore their strict and important medical instructions.)

"Yeah! I think you've met him, right? He gives me updates on you when he visits." Seth smiled. "He's a pretty nice guy, not really surprising as far as Archangels are concerned. But he had this really approachable feeling to him."

"Oh, yeah, Luke." Adam assumed that was Lucifer but hearing him described as approachable gave Adam some doubts. "All the Arcs are nice. They come in and out of Hell a lot lately. Angela, too. So, like I said, if you have any concerns, just take it up with one of them. Especially Raphael. He knows a lot about this."

"It's funny, Luke and Gabriel said the same thing. But when I went to talk to Raphael, he said everything was perfectly fine."

"He... did?" That didn't sound right. Adam knew the signs of Corruption pretty well by now. But he didn't think Seth was lying either.

"Yeah, but I promised I would ask again." Seth sighed. "I'll do it after Luke's welcoming Parade. I can't bring myself to miss a big celebration. Plus, I'm pretty sure Raphael is going to be at the parade, so, maybe I'll catch him after."

"Please do that." Adam took his son's hands in his own, squeezing them gently. "I know I've come across strong, but I just... I love you so much, Seth. You're my baby boy, no matter how old you've gotten."

"It's... it's nice to hear that." Seth laughed softly. He sounded relieved. "I was... starting to think you loved Abel more than me. You know, since I was basically just the replacement after he got murdered-"

"You are not a replacement. You are Seth, my youngest son. You loved fishing more than watching the flocks. You were the best woodworker in the family, and you definitely got your mother's painting skills."

"You are shit with a paint brush."

"But I'm good with a quill and ink. So, figure that out."

"I love you dad."

"I love you too." Adam pulled him back in for a hug. "You have no idea how happy just seeing you has made me."

KNOCK.

KNOCK.

KNOCK.

"Abel are you home? Is Seth with you?" A voice called to them from outside. Adam tensed. Seth pulled away from the hug, going toward the door, but not before putting a finger to his lips and gesturing to Adam to head back into the kitchen. The First Man nodded, hurrying away as Seth opened the door.

"Oh! Hey, Viola, what's going on?"

"Is your brother with you?" Viola did not have her helmet on, but Adam could see she had her halberd. Seeing her, hearing her voice... he felt dizzy. The guilt, the weight of knowing what he had done to her, how he had dragged her from the earth and forced her back to some shell of a life- it was crushing him.

"Um, no. Abel's off doing Abel things, I guess." Seth was keeping it perfectly cool. Adam was glad he had not burdened Seth with the truth of why he should never follow Sera when she said it was time to make an army. Viola folded her arms over her chest, looking vaguely annoyed by the answer as she looked Seth up and down.

"But you're in his house?"

"Yes." Seth looked around as if surprised by his own location. "Why, it appears that is exactly where I am."

"But Abel's not with you?" Viola looked thoroughly unimpressed. Adam tried to keep his emotions in check, but he could hear the sound of static in his ears again; his head felt a little fuzzy. He was stressing out. The memory was playing in high definition, on repeat in his mind. He could still feel the pain on his fingers, on his tongue as if he had just finished reading from the cursed fucking book Sera kept like a treasure.

"I mean, clearly not." Seth waved his hand behind him. Viola peaked behind him to see the empty Livingroom.

"So... then why are you in his house?"

"Because I'm looking for him too." Seth replied as-a-matter-of-factly. "But, looks like he's not here. And I do not want to be late for Luke's welcome party." Adam's legs were shaking. He braced himself on the table, grabbing for his helmet with trembling hands.

"Right. Well, I'm not paid enough to ask questions." Viola shrugged. Adam gripped the helmet with sweaty palms. It slipped from his hands, crashing to the floor. He froze in place as he heard Seth quickly calling out to Viola.

"Wait here."

"What's going on?" Viola's voice was closer now. Adam fell to his knees, fumbling as he tried to get his helmet on. Maybe that could help numb the rising feeling of anxiety that was driven by the overwhelming guilt in his mind.

"I said to wait!" Seth rounded the corner, seeing Adam on his knees, the helmet over his head. Seth knelt down instantly, a hand on his father's back. He lowered his voice. "Dad, are you hurt? Did something happen?"

"I'm fine." Adam's breath was shaky, but the helmet was helping. He could feel his heart rate starting to slow down. The face of the mask lit up, synching perfectly with his expression as he gave a (hopefully) reassuring smile.

"What happened?"

"I just dropped the helmet."

"Don't break it. Abel worked hard to get that thing fixed." Seth made a face. "He's kind of obsessed with it-"

"Boss?" Viola's voice cut their conversation short. Adam and Seth both turned to see Viola standing behind them in the kitchen; her halberd raised.

"I said to wait." Seth made a face. He moved to purposefully position himself between Adam and the blade of angelic steel.

"I heard the boss's voice- not you." She gestured for Seth to move, but he stood firm. "The real boss." Her eyes were locked on Adam as he felt his heart start to race again. Viola- one of his Exorcists... He knew the next time he saw them, it would be on the business end of a blade, but he had not expected that confrontation to happen in the kitchen where Abel could find his corpse. (He had no desire to be brought back as an Exorcist. Did that even work on Winners? Or was that just for Angels? Sera was desperate enough to try either way).

"Viola." Adam slowly got to his feet. He put a hand on Seth's shoulder. If he was going to get stabbed, he would rather his son not get hurt in the process. "Good to see you again, bitch." He gave his best, smug smirk, trying to fall back into his old persona. Though, it didn't really feel right anymore. Like an ill-fitting suit of skin. Viola's eyes narrowed.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I thought you were dead?"

"News of my death had been greatly exaggerated." Adam gave a shrug. "But I'm sure you're busy, so, I'll just be on my w-"

"I'm kinda in the middle of something."

"Oh! Are those the shortbread with the rainbow sprinkles!? I love those!" Abel's eyes fell on the freshest batch of indulgent sweets. "I mean, I like all your cooking, tataleh, obviously but the baking-"

"Have at it, kiddo." Adam made a vague gesture toward his mountain of fresh baked goods. "I made a few of your favorites." Abel's face lit up and Adam felt a little of that heaviness that had been settling in his chest lift for just a moment. Abel grabbed a cookie from the tray.

"You're the best dad in the universe!"

"Damn straight." He reached over, putting a hand on his son's curls, moving his hat slightly as his thumb traced the section of his hair where it turned to gold. For a moment his mind flashed to the same spot; the gold replaced with crimson spilling down his son's face, over his off-colored eye, as he gurgled his last breath.

"You... okay?" And just like that, the image was gone. Abel was fine (if not somewhat confused). Adam shook himself, staring at his fingers, now clean.

"Yeah, just dreading whatever Sera wants."

"Maybe she hopes you'll cook for the next Merry Everything Holiday Extravaganza!"

"Maybe." Adam's jaw clenched to stop his face from twisting into a look of disgust. Sera's last ask of him had been too much. It was weighing on him like a heavy blanket, trying to squeeze out every last bit of air he had. He grabbed Abel, wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Tataleh?" Abel accepted his fate, letting Adam squeeze him like a rag doll as he managed to worm one arm free so he could continue eating his cookie. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine." Adam breathed the word, holding tight "Just happy you're here is all." He buried his face in Abel's hair, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I missed you."

"I was just at the zoo for a few hours."

"I know. I'm glad you had fun."

"Yeah, Noah and I were just taking care of all the animals. One of the sheep really likes me, I think. Or maybe it's just my Winner Gift, but I-" Abel stopped talking, turning his head slightly. "Dad... are you crying?" Adam released his son, bringing his own hand up to his face. His cheeks were damp. Funny, he hadn't even realized he was crying.

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Adam pushed his son back, gently. Everything was wrong. Sera had him doing something terrible in exchange for the safety of the same man who killed that smiling face before him. But Adam could never admit that. Admit what he agreed to do. Abel deserved better than his father's burden.

"Are you sure? I could-"

"I need to talk to Sera." Adam turned his back on Abel who stood, staring blankly after him; half-finished cookie still in hand. He didn't have it in him to face his son while actively defending his killer. But... Cain was also his child. And the First Man could never fully let go of his love for him (as much as it tore him up to do so).

"Dad I-"

"I'll be back soon." He headed from the kitchen into the living room. Sera stood in the doorway; her eyes watched him like a hawk as he entered.

"There you are." Her voice was cool and collected. She was smiling, though Adam saw no reason to smile if things were as dire as she claimed.

"Yes. I'm here. In my fucking house. Who would have thought."

"You seem upset."

"You think?"

"There should be no reason to be upset in Heaven. You are a good man, Adam. You spent your life in service of our message, and you have been blessed with an eternity devoid of pain, fear, doubt. Everything you could need catered-"

"Except you need me to help you fi-"

"Shh." All of her eyes opened for a moment as she brought a finger to her lips. Her gaze was like burning ice, boring into his skin. "This is not the place to discuss business."

"Is that what we're calling it? Business?"

"I thought we were past this."

"Well, excuse me for having a few moral hang-up. I had enough of an issue hunting after Eden. But that was necessary to my family's survival-"

"And this is necessary to the survival of reality as we know it." Sera's voice was firm, decisive. Her mind was made up. "Think about Seth, about Abel. Here they are happy, all their wants and needs are catered to, they are safe." She glanced toward the kitchen. "Do you want that to change? Do you want Heaven to collapse under Hell's rule?"

"Well, obviously not. But we've been safe for thousands of years so I'm just having a little trouble processing why now we have to resort to something so... so violent."

"Because Hell made their first move, Adam."

"W-what?"

"Come with me." She held her hand out. Adam hesitated. Something about this still just felt... off. He knew Lucifer was an awful angel and an even worse friend. He knew he was ambitious. But that had been some time ago. After he got Adam's first wife and eldest son, he seemed content to stop ruining his life in particular. Still, Sera was the face of Heaven (outside of Gabriel, but Adam hadn't seen the Archangels in a while, now that he was thinking about it.)

"Abel, I have to go. I'll be home for dinner." Adam called back toward his son who poked his head out if the kitchen, another cookie in his mouth. "You'll ruin your appetite."

"Not possible in Heaven. But point taken." Abel gave him a thumbs up. "Have fun at work! Sera, tell Emily hi for me!" Sera's expression softened.

"Yes, Abel."

"If you need anything, you have my number." Adam mostly had a phone because Abel liked to send him cat videos. But it did have other functions.

"Yep! Dad, I appreciate all the concern, but I feel obligated to remind you that I'm thousands of years old." Abel looked more amused than anything else. Adam sighed.

"Yeah, but you're still my baby."

"And Heaven reunited you both." Sera smiled. "Even after the atrocities committed against you on Earth, you still can be with your family."

"You mean the murder?" Abel blinked. "Honestly, I don't remember it too well. But I hear it was a bash." He flipped the golden locks of his otherwise black hair. "Get it? Because my head... got... bashed in? It- it was a pun-"

"I got it." Adam felt his heart starting to sink again.

"You should not make so light of your murder, Abel." Sera's voice was calm, but her eyes had a harsh intensity to them. "The transgressions of your brother were unforgivable, now you pay the price."

"I mean... I'm in Heaven, with dad- and Seth too, I guess- but Cain is stuck in Hell, away from all of us." Abel shrugged. "If anything, he's the one paying the price."

"And well he should." Sera put a hand on Adam's shoulder, but she was staring directly at Abel. "He knew the consequences, and still chose to do what he did."

"Yeah, it sucked for sure." Abel glanced up at where his halo was bent, right above that section of gold hair, on the same side as the pale eye- constant physical reminders of Adam's worst day. "But I forgive him. I forgave him a long time ago. I like to think he felt bad about it after the fact." Adam felt his breath quicken; his chest was tightening, making each inhale almost a struggle. His face felt hot. "Dad, you okay? You don't look so good."

"He's fine." Sera's hand tightened on Adam's shoulder. "But you must realize, Abel, that while you are over your death, it still weighs heavily on your father. His own shortcomings caused you to pay the ultimate price. It's difficult for him to make light of his worst moment."

"Ah, geeze... sorry dad." Abel's apologetic little smile made Adam's heart sink faster. "I was just trying to cheer you up." Adam took a slow breath in, the air forcing itself into his lungs despite the feeling as if his chest had just collapsed.

"It's fine." His voice cracked. "But I do have work to do with Sera. So, I'll be back later. I love you." He wanted to grab his son, tightly holding him to his chest- but then Abel might realize how badly Adam's hands were shaking. So, Adam settled for a small wave before turning to leave the house.

"Love you too, dad! I'll be here when you get back!" Abel called after him. Adam turned, but Sera ushered him onto the street, closing the door.

"You'll be back." Her voice was gentle, but firm. At the end of the day, Sera was a Seraphim and Adam was just a man. She outranked him. So, he followed along behind her despite the way his actions made his skin crawl. He wanted to go back inside, lock the door, put on a movie with Abel, and spend the rest of the afternoon listening to his son trying to explain the plot while Adam asked the stupidest questions.

"Yes, Sera." But instead, Adam was tailing Gabriel's head Seraphim across the divine streets. Winners waved and greeted as they passed, smiling. They were completely unaware of what Adam had been asked to do in order to secure that peace they felt. He loved the other Winners. Hell, many of them were descendants of his. However, he couldn't help but feel a bitterness inside him as he saw those warm, loving smiles. Envy was a sin.

He knew that.

So there had to be some other name for the feeling that washed over him when he gazed at his fellow Winners, blissful and ignorant of the price that their happiness truly cost. If he had known- if he had been told-

No.

He still had to think of Abel, of Seth. His younger sons had worked hard, had devoted themselves to a good life. They deserved an eternity of peace.

And Sera was right...

If Adam hadn't agreed, she would have just used a different Winner. And Cain's safety would no longer be a guarantee. He knew Cain had done wrong. The day Abel died was the worst in Adam's life. He'd rather get kicked from the gardens a thousand times than relive a second of the death of his middle child. But Cain was still his child too.

Adam had not stopped thinking about his eldest. Where he had gone wrong as a parent. Letting Cain's rage build up to the point where he thought killing Abel was the only option to move forward. It was fucked up.

And now Sera was tasking Adam with purging the afterlife that Cain had called his home. Adam couldn't imagine his son would be super happy to see him.

"Adam? Adam."

"What?" Adam blinked. Sera was staring at him. They had come to a stop in front of the old entrance to Heaven. With the increase in population, the old gates had become too narrow, thus new ones were constructed elsewhere for easier access. The building was still as beautiful and pristine as ever, but it no longer served a purpose. Adam had not been here in quite some time. Really not since he greeted Seth at the pearly gates. He had no need.

"Were you listening to anything I said?" Sera opened the door for him, and Adam made his way inside. It was... darker than he expected. A look around showed the beautiful stain glass windows glimmering in the divine sunlight. But the golden rays almost seemed to attenuate as they entered the room, making the dimness feel particularly cold... stale.

"Yeah. You were saying something about... I dunno..." Adam had not been listening. "Revenge or some shit?"

"Revenge is an act of retaliation. It is wrathful. Angels are not wrathful." Sera scoffed, acting as if the word tasted foul on her tongue. It seemed like a pretty big moral flex from a woman who was proposing genocide.

"Yeah. You just want me to fly down to Hell once a year and start mercilessly slaughtering Sinners- human souls." Adam emphasized the words in case Sera had forgotten that the only thing separating those whose blood she was spilling from those she strived to protect- were just the choices they made on Earth. "I can see how that's not wrathful. It seems like a perfectly reasonable response. I'm just an idiot."

"You're not being cute or clever right now. I want you to know that." Sera's lips were drawn into a thin line as she glared down at him.

"It's not angelic to lie. We both know I'm always cute."

"Adam, I'm not happy about this either." Sera put her hand against the wall. Adam saw her fingers leaving a faint trail against the shining stone. (Though that ethereal shine did seem dampened). Was there dust? Adam was under the impression that dust didn't really exist in Heaven. If it did, he had more than neglected his house.

"Then why are we doing it?"

"Hell murdered Azrael." Her words cut like a blade. Adam stumbled as if he had been hit by a physical force.

"Azrael's... dead?"

"The Arcs don't want the Winners to know just yet. Not until this had all been solved." Sera's eyes glistened, for the first time, Adam understood what she was feeling. Pain. Azrael, despite who she was, what she represented... she was quite beloved by the other angels. Adam liked her, too. She had a way with the dead; it made things seem less terrifying.

"I... fuck... Sera I had no idea."

"I know you didn't."

"What... um..." Adam faltered for a moment, the silence making him uneasy. "What happens to the souls then... after they die?"

"Karen's the new death."

"Karen who?"

"I doubt you knew her too well. She was an Angel from Rochele's Palace of Souls. But she came here once in a while to enjoy our many activities." Sera's hands continued to trail along the wall. "She's taken the name Charon."

"That... sounds almost identical."

"No, it doesn't."

"I kinda does. Like you're just saying Karen twice." Adam could feel the air around him like a wet blanket, the stillness lacking its usual serenity leaving him feeling as if he was being stifled. "But... how do you know Hell killed her."

"Who else would have done it?"

"I..." Adam tried to think of an answer. He knew Lucifer and Azrael were friends. At least, that was the impression he got from Syriel, and from the few times the Devil had come up in conversation when he and Azrael talked. "I just don't think Lucifer would do that?"

"Lucifer killed numerous Angels during the Fall. Why would Azrael be any different?" Sera's words were colder than the winter winds. Adam bit his tongue. He had seen part of the Fall. And as far as he knew, no angels had actually died. But he couldn't speak on what happened after he left. Lucifer had done terrible things. And he knew from experience that the Devil was no stranger to hurting those he called friend. He was all smiles to your face, then his claws were in your back. So long as it benefited him, who cared?

"It just... seems weird, I guess."

"Is it any different than lying with your wife while you two played together in the garden as so-called friends?"

"..." Adam was quiet. That hurt. Still, he shook himself. "Fucking my wife is bad, but it's not really on the same level as murder." And he and Lilith were a bit on the outs at the time. Adam was confident that the relationship would have deteriorated with or without Lucifer's interference. And he got Eve out of it. If Lucifer had not given in to Lilith, inspired her to go down her path. Then Eve never would have been Adam's wife.

"You're a good man, Adam." Sera said the words again, but they didn't feel true. "That is why this is difficult for you. But we are often tested; our faith is tested. But I promise you that you have not been given anything you can't handle."

"I feel like that's objectively wrong."

"God is never wrong." Sera seemed to find what she was looking for. She removed a brick from the wall, and all at once Adam was hit with a feeling he could describe as dread. It felt like something crawling over his skin. His heart quickened; his breath became shallow. There was a ringing in his ears that sounded almost like music. "Here it is, Adam. The most sacred text we have." Sera reached into the hole in the wall, bringing out what looked to be some sort of cloth. She unfolded the cloth and inside was a book.

"W-where did you get that?" Adam's voice shook. He felt lightheaded. Sera held the book as gently as if it were her own child.

"Purgatory. Lucifer stole it from our archives before the Fall and hid it. Gabriel guided me to find it, to bring it home."

"Gabriel?"

"Yes, the Archangels have chosen us. It is our responsibility to protect Heaven. It's a lot to ask, but it's truly an honor.

"Can I talk to Gabriel?"

"No." Sera put the cloth back and closed the hole in the wall. "I'll let you in on a secret Adam." She gestured for him to follow her as she headed toward the exit. Adam followed, despite his hesitations. It felt like his body was on a string, being pulled by the book in Sera's hand. That tome shone more brightly than anything else in the room. It stung his eyes. "The Archangels are not here. They are off doing their own mission, hunting down ways to kill Lucifer for good. Which is why Heave has been entrusted to us."

"To you."

"No, to us. I need you." Sera led him through the gates. Adam felt a sudden change in temperatures as suddenly the perfectly temperate climate of Heaven was replaced by a cool wind. It was too cold for Heaven, stinging his cheek. He tried to use his wings to shield his face but to his surprise they did not respond.

"My wings-"

"You're in Purgatory, Adam." Sera smiled back at him, hearing the panic in his voice. "It reverts you back into your human form. Your abilities are still there of course, but you simply do not have wings."

"But I can still... fly?"

"Yes."

"Why are we here?"

"We need to do something." Sera offered her hand toward him. Adam hesitated but grabbed on. She took to the air. She still had her wings, Adam noted. However, as they rose into the air, above the treetops, light spilled over them. Adam noticed Sera looked... tired. It was odd. She had looked fine in Heaven. Maybe it was just the golden light of the setting sun. "Try gliding." As they flew, Sera lessened her grip.

"Without my wings!?"

"I told you, you can still fly."

"I don't believe you."

"Suit yourself. But you'll need to learn eventually. This is the best path to Hell."

"I thought the path to Hell was paved with good intentions."

"You're not funny, Adam." Sera's words lingered as silence fell again, filled with only the whistling of the wind as Adam watched an untouched landscape flowing underneath him. There were many trees, the ground, when he could see it, was rich with vegetation. He didn't hear much in the way of animal chatter. Coming from a garden, this was a bit unexpected. Even this high up, he expected to at least see some birds, or hear their chirping.

There were also a number of rivers that snaked their way through the overgrowth. They varied in size, in intensity. The water looked clean, clear, refreshing, even from this far above. "Do you think we could get some water?"

"You're not thirsty, you don't get thirsty."

"You don't know that; I could be thirsty."

"No. You're dead." Sera could have phrased that a little more gently. "And the water here is no good. It's filled with the souls who did not make the trip on the Ferry."

"The water is what now?"

"There is more to the Afterlife than just Heaven and Hell." Sera sighed. She lowered them down into a clearing on a riverbank. "Purgatory is the link of every plane. Heaven, Hell, the Living World... and other, less desirable locations." She released Adam's hand going to a nearby tree. "Every soul in existence will pass through here, regardless of the destination. But not every soul has what it takes to make the journey." Sera broke off a large branch that looked as if it had to weigh a ton. She walked to the water's edge, holding the branch, so the leaves dipped below the surface. "And those that get lost, or choose not to reach their final destinations," as she spoke, Adam saw the branch start to shake. He moved a little closer to Sera. He could see bits of white on the leaves, on the wood. The white seemed to be... moving. He squinted, realizing he was looking at hands. Unnatural pale, dripping wet hands were clinging to the branch for dear life. "Are forced to remain in Purgatory for all eternity, now a part of this very domain." Sera pulled back just slightly on the branch and Adam saw them. Their faces were stretched, elongated as if their skin were melting off their bones. Their eyes and mouths were hollow. Their hair like wisps of smoke, floating in the air, even when above the water. He heard them screaming.

"I̶̠͑ ̸͍̔w̷̭̌å̴̲̔ǹ̷͇̺ṱ̸̓ ̸̢̞̚t̵̛͉̤̀o̸̹͈͠ ̴̜̬͑͐g̸̤̖̊̚ǫ̶̠̀ ̶̺͈̽̉h̴̡̳͌͛o̴̖̼͊̄m̸̨͇͛̀ḙ̷̢̈́.̵͈̈͠"

"T̴͇̆a̶̭̰̚k̵͖̒͋e̸̻͛ ̵͓̘̀m̶͓̦̍̕e̸͙̓ ̴͍͐͝ẘ̵̙̮i̴̧̨̍ṱ̶̃h̸̻̞̽͂ ̸̯̰̆̋y̷̧̺͘o̸̱̼͋͆u̸̡͝ͅ.̴̘̽̏"

"I̴̛̾ͅ'̷̱̪̈́m̸͙͖̿ ̷̧͍͠l̸̡̲͐ọ̵̙̾s̵̯̬͊t̶̗͗̕!̷̯̈́"

"H̸̭̙͆ē̶̙̞l̴̟̏́p̸̡̬͋!̷̧̝̋̈́"

Each of their voices was like a pickax to the brain. Sera released the branch and all the pallid; shells of humanity plummeted back into the running water. Adam watched as the massive limb seemed to completely disintegrate. Once back below the water, he couldn't even see a trace of the souls he had seen before. The water looked perfectly serene, clear and beautiful right to the river floor. The massive limb no longer in sight.

"Okay, so, no water then." Adam took an involuntary step back.

"No water." Sera took his hand again. "You must never go in the water."

"I got that." Adam allowed himself to be pulled into the air again. "Where are we going, anyway? I told Abel I'd be back for dinner."

"Then you best let me stay on task."

"Sorry that I was thirsty. I didn't realize the very drinkable looking water here was filled with screaming ghosts."

"You weren't thirsty." Sera retorted. "And the water only looks tantalizing so the souls can draw you in. They think that pulling more innocent victims in will fill the emptiness inside them. But it won't. Like with Lucifer, nothing will ever be able to satisfy them. All they can do is cause more suffering, so they won't have to suffer alone."

"Did Lucifer make the murdering water-ghosts?"

"No. Though I'm certain he would love to take credit for their existence. The Drowned Ones are a natural part of Purgatory. As I said, this realm is unique. It is the only pathway between any and all planes of existence. It predates his rule in Hell." Sera kept going. She had a destination in mind, though Adam had no idea how she managed to navigate. Each twist and turn of the river's bed looked indistinguishable from the one before it.

"How are you not getting lost?"

"I was taught the way to navigate Purgatory. And in time I will teach you. That way you never get lost."

"If I get lost, will I become a water-ghost?"

"Only if you go in the water. There are many other fates that could befall you here. None of them are good. So, it's best to stick close and do as you're told." Sera did not seem like she was in the mood to explain more. "Just know to steer clear of the water and the wildlife. Other than that, once you learn to navigate, you'll be perfectly fine."

"This does not seem safe, Sera, I'm going to be honest with you."

"It's not. But I will tell you from experience, that the correct course of action is rarely easy or safe." Sera's tone was stern. Adam still had some doubts about the use of the word correct in that sentence, but he did not feel like it was a good idea to keep pushing. Sera was already not in the best of moods. "The important thing is, that this is necessary. And I will do what is required to ensure Heaven's safety. And so will you."

"Y... yeah." Adam was not assured of himself in that aspect. But he supposed he no longer had much of a choice. He let Sera pull him along through the colorful sky, bathed in reds, pinks, oranges, and golds as the sun tried to set behind the tops of the trees. Despite the cool, refreshing air, Adam still felt almost suffocated. His eyes kept going to the book tucked under Sera's arm. Every time he looked at it, tried to describe it to himself he just...

... couldn't.

It was like the words to encompass the text, the way it looked the way it made the air around it come alive with some sort of energy, had yet to be invented by the human race. And the human race as a whole had invented a LOT of words in many different languages (thanks tower of Babble). But right when he thought he had the right descriptor in his brain, the book would look completely different. Even the emotions it caused to well up inside him seemed to vary from fear, to disgust, to unease, to even euphoria.

Adam had not felt so many ups and downs since Abel had dragged him onto the Desert Coaster at Promise Land.

"We're here." Sera finally came to a stop after what felt like an eternity in the air. Adam blinked. The ground beneath them looked... different. There were not as many trees. Those that were growing looked younger. The grass covering the ground had an almost sun-kissed glow to it despite the fact that the sun was plunging out of view. The water was not close, from what Adam could tell, but he could still hear it rushing in the distance. But the most unusual aspect to this place was that there was a building. It was old, worn down... but it looked like a church. He could see the golden roof even through the vines that covered it.

"Where is here, exactly?"

"The old outpost." Sera landed on the ground. The earth felt... soft underfoot. The grass looked rather damp. Adam saw little, floating lights, littered over the ground, giving it the golden glow he had seen. "I haven't been here in years."

"It feels... sad." Adam looked behind him at the building, overtaken with plant life. He could see divine architecture; the door had a faint green paint that seemed to be symbolic of Raphael. But the faded sigil over the door resembled Michael's.

"It is a very sad place." Sera walked to the building. She pulled at the vines and flowers, tearing them away so she could get to the door. She put her hand to the wood. For a moment, Michael's seal appeared over the house before it seemed to completely dissolve away.

"What was that?" Adam blinked.

"An old protective ward. It's been so warn down with time that it can't distinguish friend from foe." Sera sighed. "It's sad, in retrospect. Even the most powerful magic can be eaten away by the passing of millennia- especially when exposed to a place like this." She pushed the door open. Adam heard the wood crack and creak with protest as Sera made her way inside. Adam hesitated. He looked at the door, at the sigil overtop. It looked even worse than before, almost like the fading had quickened. Or maybe... it was melting? Adam squinted. Some sort of black substance seemed to be dripping down the solid door. It might have been coming from the sigil. It was hard to tell. Maybe it was residue from the plants. But... Adam knew his flora well; he recognized a few of the blooms Sera had removed, and none of them ever excreted a black substance when plucked. But then again, he didn't recognize every flower.

"Hey, Sera? There's black stuff dripping down the door. Is that... is that normal?" He might as well ask.

"Probably just runoff. It rains a lot here. Always has, even before the war." Sera didn't sound concerned, so, Adam had to assume this wasn't concerning information. He made his way further into the building.

"No ghosts are going to burst out of that water then, right?"

"Is that supposed to be a joke?"

"I think it's a valid question."

"The Drowned Ones are specific to the rivers. Not all the water here is cursed." As Sera moved through the building, the rooms only seemed to get darker. There didn't seem to be any internal lighting, not that Adam could see, and the sun was almost gone from overhead. The light that filled the room came from either Sera herself, or the lights that illuminated the ground outside. But as they got further inside, that light became more faint, so Adam just had to rely on Sera, and her white glow cast the room in an unsettling, almost stale light.

"Look at all the beds..." Adam had followed Sera into a massive room that seemed almost bigger than the entire building had looked from the outside.

"Hospital beds."

"Why are we in a hospital?"

"This isn't a hospital. But it did serve that purpose, briefly. Just do me a favor and don't touch anything." Sera continued deeper. Adam may already have been dead, but he was not ready to be alone, in a hospital, after dark. So, he followed Sera as she continued. They passed a number of rooms, none of which seemed to interest her.

"What are we looking for?"

"This." Sera's expression brightened. As did her light. Adam saw, briefly, a door that was different from the others. It looked thicker, heavier. As Sera's hand trailed over it, bathing it in light, the door had a look more akin to steel rather than wood. The symbol from the entrance blazed to life again, before flickering and disappearing. Sera pushed the door open and stepped inside. Adam's eyes widened as he saw the glint of angelic metal reflecting in her light. He followed her into the room as he realized where they were.

"An armory?"

"Yes. If you're going to lead an army, you'll need plenty of weapons." Sera smiled as she started picking weapons from the walls.

"We... didn't have any that were closer?"

"No."

"Well, shouldn't the angels you recruit for this already have their own weapons?" Adam wasn't sure about loading up on what seemed to be weapons left behind as part of some, long past battle. The entire aura of this place made it feel wrong to be here. Adam had this uneasy feeling, like he was trespassing on sacred ground. If they started taking shit too, it was going to feel almost like grave robbing.

"These are their weapons." Sera handed a pile to Adam who stumbled under the weight of the metal. "Come along. We don't have all night. Especially if you're planning to get back to Abel before dinner."

"What, a bunch of angels just decided to leave all their shit in this incredibly inconvenient location?"

"They didn't have much choice in the matter." Sera's voice was so... sad. She stopped walking for a moment. Adam saw a silver tear dripping down her cheek. She hugged the weapons a little more closely.

"It feels wrong to take these..."

"It is going to be all right." Sera's head turned on her neck, so it was staring at Adam from over her back. It was something he knew angels could do, but it always looked so fucking uncanny. It made him shiver. Sera's eyes were wide, but the tears were flowing freely. "It is all going to be just fine, my little one."

"Sera, are you-" Adam didn't get to finish asking his question as her head snapped back. She started hurrying toward the front room again. She gently placed each of the weapons, propped up along the wall, before taking the book from under her arm and holding it to her chest. Adam stood behind her, struggling under the weight of the weapons in his arm as Sera fell to her knees, holding the book close. He could hear her sobbing. The First Man hesitated, before gently putting his weapons down. He walked forward, putting a hand on Sera's shoulder. At his touch, she froze. "Hey... we don't have to do this-"

"We must always do what is required." Her head snapped backward to look at him again and Adam jumped. "My sisters, my friends... they all knew that. Everything happens for a reason, my little one. And now I know the reason." She got to her feet her head righting itself again as she brushed herself off. "Remember, we are never given more than we can handle."

"I dunno, Sera. I think you might need a fucking break." Adam knew from Luciael that Angels were capable of having rather intense emotions. And that was the closest he had ever seen to what he thought was an angelic mental breakdown. "Maybe Rochele-"

"No!" Sera's voice was so loud it shook the room. "Rochele doesn't have what it takes. That's why I was chosen."

"I thought you and Rochele were like... really close."

"Rochele is almost never in Heaven." Sera sounded almost bitter. "Which is why I had to be the one to carry this out. Plus, she's too soft." Her expression softened. She held the book more lightly as she stepped back out into the glowing field under a brilliant star-filled sky. Adam swore if he kept staring, he could see the end of the cosmos the night was so clear. "She could never let go of Luciael and our Fallen brethren..."

"I hate Lucifer too, but I also have concerns about this."

"You must have faith, Adam." Sera's gaze shifted upward toward the sky. "If the Archangels knew of any other options, they would not ask us to do this." She pulled her gaze away, turning to Adam who had joined her on the grass. She clutched the book close to her with one arm as she used her other one to reach out, taking Adam's chin in her hand. "I never wanted to come back here. The air is still so heavy with grief that I can feel it trying to crush me. It's been millions of years, but it might as well just be yesterday, as far as we're concerned. All the way out here, it's like not even a day has passed. I can still hear them screaming."

"W-what?" Adam's stomach churned at that last comment. Sera's smile didn't change; it was just as warm and inviting as the day they met.

"I think they're lonely out here." Sera let go of Adam's face, only to take his arm. She pulled him along behind her into the field. As Adam walked, the little lights would move aside, returning to their place as he passed. The First Man felt something wet strike the top of his head. He looked up, another drop hit his cheek. He couldn't see a single cloud; above him stretched eternity sprinkled with lights of every color.

"H- how is it raining?" Adam thought maybe a mundane question could snap Sera back to some semblance of reality.

"I told you, it rains here a lot." Sera finally let Adam go. She used her free hand to scoop up one of the golden lights into her palm. "I like to think even the sky is grieving." She kissed the light with such affection; Adam was taken aback.

"A-are we in a graveyard?"

"Yes." Sera spun around, the orbs of light spinning around her. "Each of these is a tombstone, a memorial for an angel we lost in the War against the Elder Gods" Muriel, Sekani, Safya, Leotie, Agatha, Sun, Liza- the list goes on and on because the bodies just kept piling up. Every day, more faces I would never see again..."

"Are these their souls?" Adam backed away from the lights. The idea of messing with the soul of a dead angel made him nauseous.

"No. These are just like I said, memorials. The Arcs made them so we could never forget our sisters. Azzie has one too, but her body isn't out here. It's in Heaven."

"O... okay. That is a really interesting fact." Adam was going to add it to the list of things he had no desire to know. "We got the weapons, Sera, maybe we should head home. I think the grief is getting to you."

"Grief hits harder without Heaven's warm embrace, it's true." Sera did one more spin before falling backward, onto the soft ground, the small golden orbs floating above her like her own personal stars. Adam thought about making a run for it, but he was still unsure about flight here, and he had no idea how to get back home, He was trapped. "But it's all going to be okay Adam." From the sound of her voice, it seemed like Sera was crying, "we're going to make sure it's all okay!" But as Adam inched closer... she was smiling.

"By going home?"

"We can't go home! Not without out army."

"What army?"

"For the Exterminations!"

"Don't you handle that in Heaven?" Adam would admit, he didn't know much about how angels were made. But he assumed the process involved a lot more Heaven and a lot less breaking and entering.

"Actually, it's done at the Palace of Souls." Sera sat up.

"Well, I may not be an expert of Angel-ology." Adam took a step back, gesturing toward the old building. "But this does not look like the Palace of Souls to me."

"Because it's not The Palace is on Earth."

"Should we... maybe... go there?"

"Rochele would never let us make more soldiers. Even with Michael's orders. She would make him tell her in person." Sera made a face. Adam couldn't help but feel there were some unresolved issues between the two highest Seraphim. "And Michael is far too busy to humor some self-important errand girl."

"So then... where are we getting the army? Winners?"

"No. Winners are not strong enough. No offense."

"I'm not offended I'm confused. Why am I here then?"

"I need one Winner. One with a powerful enough soul. You and your direct descendants have a little more magic in your blood than most." Sera sighed, looking out over the field as the rain started pouring down a little harder. Adam had not felt cold, wet, and miserable since he was alive. But as the rain continued, his celestial robes began to cling to his skin. "All our other soldiers, will have to be angels that we recruit."

"Then let's get home so we can recruit those angels..."

"No need." Sera took a step forward and Adam took an involuntary step back. "We are exactly where we need to be."

"What the fuck?" Adam backed up more. "Sera, we're in a cemetery!"

"Yes, it's not ideal. But we should have enough mostly whole angels to do what we must do." Sera's eyes were wide again.

"Mostly whole!? Do you hear yourself!?"

"Well, there should be more than enough spare parts around to fill in the gaps. It's all here in the book." She held the tome toward Adam, who continued backing away. "And the best part is! I'll get to see all my friends again! Sure, they won't be the same, but with enough time and love, we can fix that too!"

"You're fucking insane!" Adam made the split-second decision to run. Where?" He had no idea. But anything- maybe even the water ghosts- had to be better than being here. However, Sera was an angel of Gabriel. In an instant, she was in front of Adam. She took him in her arms. "LET ME GO! LET ME FUCKING GO!"

"Shhh, shhhh." Sera stroked his hair, holding him against her as he thrashed and beat his hands against her in an attempt to get free. "I know it's scary, my little one, I know. But these are orders from God."

"It's an abomination-"

"No, it is an opportunity. My friends, my loved ones... they have another chance at life. It's quite beautiful." Adam could feel her tears falling over his hair as he struggled for freedom. "They won't be the same, but even if they are different isn't that better than being gone? If you could have had Abel back while you were still on Earth, wouldn't you have done anything for that?" Adam felt his own eyes starting to sting. He tried to block her words out. This was wrong. He knew this was wrong.

"No- Sera- no-"

"It's not like that for angels. I don't have a perfect afterlife filled with those I lost waiting for me. There is no tear-stained reunion waiting for us past death. I thought it was all over for them. I accepted it. But it's not! It's not over." Her voice was sweeter than honey, filled with such love and devotion it was making Adam sicker than the freezing rain.

"Don't make me do this..."

"Please don't cry. It's an amazing thing you'll do."

"Piece them back together?" Adam repeated her words back. "Sera, this- it's fucked up. It's so fucked up-"

"No more fucked up than making angels just to die on the front lines in an unwinnable, eternal war." Sera's grip tightened. "But finally, after an eternity of waiting, we have been gifted this blessing. We can make something good out of something so sad." She waved her hand and the book, which she had rested in the grass, floated over. She placed it against Adam's chest as she hugged him. The moment it touched him; Adam's mind cleared of all the racing thoughts. In an instant, everything became coherent.

"I mean... so long as they're mostly whole, right?" Adam looked at the lights on the ground; the sadness no longer seemed to reach him. Instead, he felt... hope? Sera was right. He would have done anything to hold Abel against him one last time, to kiss his forehead, to watch him drift off to sleep. Maybe... maybe God understood that.

"We'll have to do our best to find the perfect subjects." Sera finally let him go, handing him the book. She opened it while it was in Adam's hands. "Study this spell. You'll need it." Adam felt his eyes burning, tears pouring down his cheeks.

"Sera... it hurts."

"It's a very sacred text, Adam. It is written in an ancient angelic language. It's not usually meant for human eyes." She squeezed his hands. "But you're special." She kissed his forehead. "I'm going to find us only the best." She pulled away. Adam watched in awe as Sera began using her magic to dig through the soft, wet ground. The rain poured down harder, but somehow the book stayed dry. Adam tried to study, but it hurt.

Really, he was just enthralled by Sera as she searched through the dirt, piles moving in all directions. Angels, as it seemed, did not decay. Adam watched her pulling out bits and pieces of bodies. Arms, legs, wings-

He turned his gaze to the book, but that only made his nausea worse.

He closed his eyes. There was a soft, melodic ringing in his head. It was music, the most beautiful song he had never heard before. He could listen to it forever. There was something so peaceful about the melody.

"Adam."

He almost felt like his body was floating.

"Adam."

But his hands were burning.

"Adam!"

"Wh-what?" Adam blinked as he felt himself being shaken. His eyes refocused and he was standing in front of the upturned cemetery. Sera was mostly clean, though the bottom of her skirt was stained with mud. Adam himself was soaked all the way through, but it didn't bother him as much as the stinging from his hands.

"I did it!" Sera cupped his face in her hands. "I found five of them with only small parts missing." She pulled Adam along behind her. The first Man stumbled as he tried to keep up. Sera took him back into the building, to the hospital area. He saw five bodies laid out the beds, all of them angels, wings of varying colors (though some had mismatched wings that Sera had pieced together for him). They looked almost like they were sleeping if it weren't for the holes in their bodies. Some almost looked like they had been bitten.

"They look... so peaceful..."

"They look ready to come home." Sera went to the bodies in the bed. There was genuine love in her expression as she caressed the soft, emerald hair of the first one. "This is Hazel. And this," she moved to the next one. This angel had crimson hair. "Lora." She moved to the next two. "Vivianne and Agatha are sisters. It seemed wrong to separate them." She went to the last one. "And finally, we have Freja."

"Right." Adam felt that bit in his stomach again. Like a part of him was screaming that this was wrong. But his mind was too numb to listen to much of anything. Sera made her way back to him. She brushed the soaking hair from his face.

"Start the spell, my little one. I'll be back. Hopefully with more friends to wake up."

"Hurry back." Adam's mouth felt dry. Sera was right. These angels were just sleeping. And he had the best way to wake them up. He looked at the book again, his eyes burning. The language shouldn't have made sense to him, but it did. Each word that tumbled from his mouth felt like fire, his eyes were watering worse than ever as he read a language so beautiful it was making his ears ring with a chorus of angels.

The bodies on the bed started to... change. The hair lost its color; the skin took on a more... grey undertone- as if someone had covered them with a film. The wings drained of the color as well, the wounds starting to close up with some sort of black, viscous, oily substance. It must have stained the wings as well, as it seemed all five angels had black striping across the wings. Adam saw their fingers twitch. Halos started forming above their head, but rather than the illustrious gold Adam was accustomed to seeing, these halos were... well... black. They still had a divine glow around them, but the surface was dark, smooth, an almost mirror-like substance that Adam had never seen before making the familiar shape.

It was working.

Oh fuck it was working!

He finished the spell, stumbling forward. He dropped to his knees, vomiting something thick and black onto the floor. He blinked as flecks of gold joined the ooze on the ground. Adam reached up, wiping his eyes. What he thought was tears, seemed to be blood.

He was snapped back to reality as he heard an earth-shattering scream. Adam stumbled as he tried getting to his feet. One of the angels was sitting upright in her bed, chest rising and falling wildly, her eyes were wild. "WHO ARE YOU!"

"Adam! I'm- I'm Adam."

"Adam! Where am I?"

"You're in Purgatory, in an old outpost."

"That... that means nothing." The angel caught her breath. She took a look around, staring long and hard at her hands. "Adam... who... who am I?"

"Who screamed?" Another angel was sitting upright. "Did I scream?"

"I feel like I could be the one who screamed. I feel very much like screaming." A third angel pulled herself into a sitting position.

"This place... seems familiar..." Angel number four was also starting to sit up. "We've been here before, right?"

"Maybe..." And there was number five. Awake. They were all awake. Adam had done it. He had raised a army- or well, he had raised five angels. So, the beginnings of an army. "I don't... actually remember much of anything."

"I know we're angels, right Adam?" The first angel looked at him. Adam nodded, wiping his mouth, there was more blood on his sleeve.

"That's right! You're angels!" His voice sounded hoarse, his tongue hurt with every word. "You're warrior angels brought into existence to help us fight in a noble war." He smiled, trying to stand confidently.

"Okay, but what are our names?" The second angel pressed.

"Oh, right, You're names." Sera had told him this. "You're Harper." He pointed at the first angel who blinked, but nodded. "And you," he pointed to the next Angel in line, "you're- uh- Lyre! And, you're Viola."

"Do we all have music names?" Harper blinked.

"No, that would be silly." It wasn't Adam's fault that Sera had given him all angels with music based names. "Her name's not music based. It's Vagie." He pointed to the fourth angel who mostly looked confused.

"Vagie? Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Adam was fairly confident that was the name Sera had given him. "It's a super good name in Heaven."

"What about me?" The last angel asked.

"Oh! Yes! You! That's easy!" Adam's phone started buzzing. He fished it out of his pocket. That was odd. He didn't think he got service in purgatory. Was Abel calling? No. It was just an alarm he must have set and forgot all about it. "Pick up the dry cleaning?" He mumbled to himself. Fuck. He had forgotten all about that. Abel needed his formal robes for his band performance this weekend! Adam would have to go tomorrow.

"Pick Up the Dry Cleaning is my name? Are you sure?" Fuck. The Angel had definitely overheard him muttering. Welp. He was in too deep now.

"Yep. That's your name. You're the fierce warriors of Heaven! Harper, Lyre, Viola, Vagie, and Pick Up the Dry Cleaning!" He clapped his hands together decisively as the angels looked at him with visible confusion. "Again," He put a hand on his hip, "it's a super important name in angelic culture. I would pick nothing less."

"If you insist." Pick Up the Dry Cleaning made a face.

"I do." Adam held his hand up. "Now, stay here." He wiped more blood from his face as he turned toward the door.

"Should you be bleeding like that?" Vagie called after him.

"Yes. It's part of the process." Adam assured her as he tucked his book under his arm and headed back into the hall to see more corpses laud out, this time on the floor. Sera was in the middle of making sure the newest in line to be brought back had all of her fingers- it looked as if Sera had to borrow from a few other bodies as the three fingers laying beside the hand were all different colors. "Sera! Sera it worked! They don't have memories, but they're alive. They're sitting up! They're talking!" Sera turned around, grabbing Adam, lifting him in the air spinning him around. "That is wonderful, my little one! You did it! You really did it." He could see the tears spilling from her halos, her face, even the eyes in her hair were crying. "They're home. You brought them all back home." She put him down. "Here are more. Can you do it again?"

"I... I think so." Adam looked at the sleeping angels on the ground- no. They weren't sleeping. He knew that. He KNEW that-

"I believe in you." Sera kissed his forehead. "This is what you were made for." She put him down, hurrying down the hall.

Adam read the words again. Just like last time it hurt. But that was how he knew it was working. Adam was on his knees throwing up more black onto the ground, blood pouring from his face. And just like before, the angels became discolored. The same white and back wings, the black halos- but they were awake!

There were more this time. There were ten.

"Flute, Piccolo, Aria, Harmony, Melody," Adam was the first Man. Naming all of God's creatures was kind of his claim to fame. "Cadence, Piper," he pulled out his phone. Maybe he could come up with something better if he had the right inspiration. He saw a picture of himself with Abel and Seth. "Belle!" He pointed to the next angel. "Sethia..." Ugh. He was not a girl dad; despite how much he would have enjoyed that. He and Eve had only been blessed with sons. Three beautiful Sons that he wouldn't have traded for anything. He loved them all. Even after what happened, he couldn't stop loving Cain. He should. Sera had made that clear. But Cain was still his baby. Adam still remembered holding him as a child. He remembered taking him out in the garden. Watching him grow his first plants-

"Um... Sir-"

"CAIN STILL LOVES ME!" Adam did not mean to shout, but he was startled by the voice interrupting his downward spiral. He blinked, breathing hard. The new angels were all staring at him with uncertainty.

"M... my name is Cain Still Loves Me?" The angel who had spoken looked rather unsure of her question even as she said it. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck FUCK! Adam needed to stop dissociating in the middle of work. But it felt like his mind was shattering to bits the harder he tried to hold it together. Ah well, he had to roll with it now.

"Yep. That's your name." Adam gestured vaguely toward the girls. "Now, if you'll come with me, you can meet the others. I'm sorry we don't have any refreshments for this welcome party. It was a bit last second. Usually, we'd have snacks. I love cooking." Adam brought them into the old hospital ward as Sera's face lit up.

"You're all so beautiful." She cupped each angel's face. Looking them up and down. "Look at you all, so bright, so full of life."

"Should Adam be bleeding?" Vagie brought the point up again.

"It's part of the process." Sera smiled, running a hand over the newly risen Angel's head. "You girls stay here, rest. We have a long journey ahead. Adam, come along." Sera pulled him gently by the arm. They left the room. Sera locked the door behind her. "How many more do you think you can do, my precious soul?"

"I... I don't know." Adam felt like shit. He wasn't going to lie.

"Just a few more, how does that sound?"

"Sera- I-"

"Shh," She put a finger to his lips. "Just try. For me? Just until we run out of suitable..." She hesitated as she searched for a word more pleasant than corpses, "candidates. Fifteen Angels isn't much of an army."

"It's a lot, Sera."

"And you're so, so strong." She smiled at him, putting her hand on his cheek again. "Remember, this is for your family's safety. For all of Heaven."

"I... I know." Adam looked down at his fingers; they looked almost burned. He looked back up at Sera. She was right. He was strong. He had to be. Once they left Eden, he was the only thing that could protect his family. "Okay."

"Perfect." Sera hurried away as Adam sat on the floor of that front room, watching her dig around in the dirt, bringing him one body after another. Maybe... Maybe it would be easier if he tried doing this one at a time?

"Lyric."

It didn't feel much easier.

"Cello."

Adam felt sick, even after just one resurrection.

"Rhythm."

And the naming thing was hard. All this magic, walking the girls to the room and back again. He was getting exhausted. Maybe he and Abel should go out to dinner after this. It could be like a celebration. (A part of Adam thought these actions did not deserve to be celebrated. A voice deep in his head was s̸c̴r̶e̸a̷m̶i̴n̸g̶ in horror as each of these corpses pieced themselves back together before his very eyes. It wasn't beautiful. It was a fucking nightmare.) He had reunited a bunch of angels that had been sleeping for who knows how long (no sleeping. NOT FUCKING SLEEPING! DEAD!) He deserved something nice. Ribs maybe? His rib place had a good bargain going on last time. Which was funny because most things in Heaven were free, but you could still use money if you wanted. It made things more fun. What was that deal?

"Fifty Percent off Ribs, Code D50!"

"That's... a long name." The angel blinked.

"It sure is." Adam patted her on the cheek before bringing her to the others. She and Pick Up the Dry Cleaning could hang out.

And he was back at it. Another candidate (c̸o̸r̶p̷s̷e̷) waiting for him.

"Shoko."

The pain was getting worse.

"Maraca."

He was on his hands and knees, shaking.

"Kalimba."

He almost couldn't speak anymore.

"Uh... Sugar Tits."

"Is that a good name?" The Angel was almost on her hands and knees looking at him. Adam nodded as best he could.

"Great one. Very... fashion forward." He puked on the ground between them. Sugar Tits looked at the vomit and back to Adam.

"You look sick."

"I'm supposed to look this way. If I look too sexy, there is an incredibly high risk that you'll fall in love with me."

"Oh! Okay."

"Stay... stay right here." Adam held up a hand, crawling on the ground he made his way back toward the outside. He could see Sera; she was using her magic to move the dirt around in masses. Adam could see limbs sticking out from piles she had sorted. For some reason the sight made him throw up again. He forced himself to crawl his way over to her, grabbing the hem of her skirt with his hand. Sera jumped.

"Adam!"

"Sera... I can't... no more." His voice was almost inaudible over the sound of the rain. Mud caked his usually pristine robes and his charred hands. "It hurts... So much. So fucking much." He had no idea if the liquid he felt pouring from his eyes was rain, tears, or blood. "Please." His face leaned against her leg staining her dress with blood.

"One more?"

"No." Adam let out a choked sob. "No more."

"I think you can do it."

"I can't. I really can't."

"You sell yourself short my wonderful, beautiful soul."

"Sera..." Adam's throat was on fire. "I think I'm dying."

"You're already dead, my child." She knelt down, stroking his hair, trying to sooth him as he cried against her. Sera's gaze was predominantly focused on her work, though one sympathetic eye in her hair was watching him. Time passed and Adam felt himself fading in and out of consciousness. The pain was excruciating. He wished he could just pass out. "Okay, Adam. We're done." Sera knelt down, picking him up from the ground. "I don't see any other strong candidates." She waved her arm and the dirt, limbs, and everything else folded itself neatly back into place. The golden orbs all floated back to their original locations. Though... the light seemed dimmer. Still, if Adam didn't know any better, he wouldn't think anything wonderful (h̸o̷r̸r̷i̷b̸l̵e̷) had occurred here at all. "Look at you, you poor thing. You're all a mess."

"It hurts..."

"I know, but you're strong." Sera started to wipe the blood from his face. "This will do for now. You did an amazing job, Adam. I'm so, so proud of you."

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

Adam jumped.

He stared hard at the door, trying to get his head put back on. That whole... fiasco with C'toggha had lifted a haze from his brain. For the first time, Adam could remember things. Things he had done- unforgivable things he had done-

Oh god.

How was he supposed to explain his to Lu-

Fuck.

How was he going to tell Vaggie?

"Adam? It's Uriel, can I come in?"

"Yeah, it's fine." Adam steadied his heart. Maybe he just kept this information to himself for the moment. He stared at his hands, one black, one white, little cracks on the fingertips acting as reminders of what he had touched.

"I hate to bother you," Uriel opened the door and Adam put his hands in his lap as if somehow, she could see exactly what he had done. "But I have a message from Michael. It seems he wishes for me to return to Heaven at once."

"Sounds urgent."

"I am afraid it must be." She paused, looking him up and down. "Are you... all right? You seem shaken."

"I'm fine. Just... hope Lu hasn't done anything stupid. That's all."

"It's sweet that you're worried about him." She smiled. She closed the door behind her, making her way toward Adam. "He'll be fine. He's strong. Probably the strongest of us." She put her hand on his shoulder. Adam instinctively winced as he thought of Sera. Uriel immediately pulled back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"You're fine. I'm just... still skittish from C'toggha, I guess."

"Oh." Her face faltered. "Well, I was going to ask if you could use your power to help me get to Heaven. But if you don't feel up to it-"

"I'll do it."

"Adam, I don't think-"

"Please." Adam cut her off, the desperation worming its way into his voice. Now that he knew the truth, he couldn't just sit here with it. He had to do something. Even if it meant turning himself in and letting Michael do what needed to be done. "I want to do this."

"I... if you're sure."

"Yeah." Adam got to his feet. He gave Uriel a practiced smile. He knew from Lucifer's own confession that his Corruption made it difficult for the Arcs to read his emotions. Which was exactly what he needed. "I'm positive."

"Wh…" Gabriel looked like he was in shock. But he moved in an instant. Not to stop Lucifer but to pick Michael up off the ground. "Fakes... Sera… look at the blood." Gabriel spoke calmly as Uriel started trying to safely disperse the crowd. He sat beside Sera who was holding the Metatron, tears streaming down her cheeks as the toxic black goo stained her dress. "It's black. These are not our loved ones." Lucifer's heart was pounding. He stared at the lifeless body of his brother in Gabriel's arms. Even as he watched, Michael's body was disintegrating into a black ooze. A copy. A good one physically. But missing everything that made Michael Michael. He knew his brother. The memories had been clouded by his own grief and self-loathing in the beginning. But he was better now. He knew his brother. He had not made the wrong choice.

"It's gold!" Sera looked at Gabriel horrified, as the black oozed over her hands while she cradled the false Metatron against her. "What are you talking about!?"

"No, Sera. It's not." Gabriel took her cheek in his hand. Warm, loving, and affectionate. Even now, he was trying to console her. "Ser-bear, you are sick. Your mind is playing tricks on you. And right now, it's scary and confusing. I'm scared and confused too." He looked down as the body of Michael turned to goop in his arms, rotting away into black sludge. "I don't know where Mikey and Raph are. I don't know where mom is."

"Lucifer KILLED them!" Sera looked like an animal, backed into a corner, her eyes were wide, but Lucifer couldn't' fathom the world she saw. Gabriel moved his hand to her hair, pulling her toward him. Stroking her hair gently.

"He didn't, Sera. That wasn't our family. Those were imposters."

"Heaven is full of imposters, my dear Seraphim." Gabriel's voice continued, but Gabriel wasn't talking. Lucifer looked up. A second Gabriel had appeared in the middle of the city. He had a calm, serene expression. He clapped his hands, slowly, with purpose, emphasizing his words. "Just as I warned you."

"GABRIEL!" Sera's head snapped to the newcomer. Lucifer instantly pointed his bow at him. Uriel rejoined him on the stage, scroll in her hand as she made a shield around the group. Gabriel was standing on the solid ground, but the Exorcists were in the air around him. Their weapons pointed toward Lucifer.

"Gabriel! Thank fuck! Your asshole brother murdered Michael!" One of the Exorcists that Lucifer recognized from the attack at the Hotel landed beside the false idol.

"I warned you Heaven was under attack." This fake Gabriel was not like the fake Michael or the fake Raphael. His expression remained constant. He felt different. It was hard to put his finger on why but even the black goo that had coalesced on the ground seemed to react to his presence, shimmering as if invigorated with new life. "I only wish I had arrived soon enough to save my family…"

"Gabriel…" Sera sobbed trying to wriggle free of the real Gabriel's consoling embrace. "I didn't- I couldn't save them! He KILLED THEM!"

"I know, my sweet angel." The imposter's voice didn't waver. There was something about him, the way the eyes in the halos looked as if they could bore straight through Lucifer's flesh and into his soul but still see nothing.

"Sera that's NOT me." The Real Gabriel tried to talk over the fake one. He grabbed Sera gently, holding her face in both hands. "Look at me, little dove. You know me." His voice was desperate. Gabriel always had a soft spot for Sera the way Lucifer had for Azrael, or Michael for Rochele. The head Seraphim held a special place in the hearts of the Arcs they served. "That isn't me. That wasn't Michael, Or Raph, or even the Metatron." The bodies looked as if they were degrading more quickly, sprawled out on gilded steps. Gabriel held Sera softly. "We are under attack but your mind is trying to trick you. Trust me, Sera, I would never trick you." The Messenger was trying his best to reason with his Seraphim as Lucifer pointed his bow at the creature wearing his brother's face like a bad Halloween costume, standing in the square below the stage.

"He's right. I would never trick you." The fake Gabriel smiled just a little wider, and Lucifer couldn't help but feel that he was the one being stared at. "It's as I have been telling you, over and over again: You have to save Heaven."

"Where is Michael!?" Lucifer summoned up his helmet. There was more than enough reason to believe the air was toxic here. The fake Gabriel remained unfazed by the arrow with all the power of a star currently pointed at his face.

"Dead by your hand." He gestured to the bodies with their black blood splattered across the stone, staining Sera's dress. "I should think you could see that."

"Bullshit!" Lucifer fired the arrow, aimed straight at the chest of the monster wearing Gabriel's face. However, the deceiver was able to dodge at the last second. The arrow exploded into flame as it connected with the cloud below. There were pained cries as it seemed some of the Exorcists had been caught in the blast. Lucifer winced at the sound. Exorcists were still angels. It had not been his intent to harm any of them. The sound of that slow, purposeful clap broke through the sizzling, hiss of the flame as the fake Gabriel walked through the fire almost completely unfazed by the holy light.

"Luckily for all of us, I'm the fast one."

"GABRIEL!" Sera screamed out for him as the real Gabriel held her back, embracing her tightly, trying to calm her down. The flames dwindled, and Lucifer could see some of the Exorcists had been hurt. Abel and Seth flew down to check on them.

"I'm here Ser-bear. I'm right here. You're okay." The real Gabriel had his hands full with Sera who was torn between two angels with the same face.

"Sera! FUCKING DO SOMETHING!" The lead Exorcist screamed for her. Lucifer could see she had not been one of those injured in his explosion. Though, as he looked her up and down, he felt she should have gotten caught in the blast. How she escaped was anyone's guess. "Come the fuck on! HE ATTACKED GABRIEL!" The Exorcist raised her sword, flying toward the shield.

"But..." Abel spoke up, the expression on his helmet looking conflicted. "But there are two Gabriel's." He looked at Seth for any kind of support.

"Lute! Stand down!" Seth raised his hand.

"Stand down!?" The Exorcist called Lute did stop, but only so she could turn and face the sons of Adam. "He just murdered our leaders!"

"And injured several Exorcists..." Abel looked a little uneasy as he helped one of the Exorcists stand back on her feet. "It-it's not a good look."

"Even if that is the case, what are you going to do against an Arc?" Seth maintained some air of calm despite the chaos unfolding around him.

"I'm gonna cut his fucking wings off. They did it once before, can't be that hard." She raised her sword in defiance.

"What about Uriel?" Abel looked at the crimson shield that surrounded the three Archangels, the Seraphim, and the corpses of creatures that dared to pose as Lucifer's family. "And the second Gabriel? And Luke-" Lute whirled around, sword pointed in Abel's direction.

"Luke is Lucifer!"

"Yeah, I... I got that." Abel hesitated, "but he's still stronger than us."

"We don't want anyone else to be hurt. Let's just calm down and think about this rationally." Uriel kept her arm extended, her shield strong and shining in Heaven's divine light.

"True strength is knowing what must be done and doing it despite what difficulties you may face." The fake Gabriel was watching with an unreadable expression.

"Gabriel..." Sera's whole expression looked hollow as she was cradled in the arms of the real Gabriel. "I... I never meant for anyone to get hurt."

"I know, Ser-bear." Gabriel kept her face in his hands as he knelt forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead in assurance. "But we are going to get you help." Lucifer raised his bow again.

"It's okay Sera." The Fake Gabriel made no move to help or hinder. He just stood tall, arms folded behind his back, eyes of white watching, or staring right through them. "Things are difficult at the moment, but we are never given more than we can handle. And I trust you. When it comes down to it, I know you'll make the right choice." Lucifer drew his bow again; the arrow materialized between his fingers blazing with holy light.

"Brother!" Uriel grabbed his arm as Lucifer fired at the phony Gabriel once again. His aim was thrown off and once more the fire exploded from his arrow with all the intensity of a burning sun. Abel had to jump back; tips of his golden wings blackened. Lucifer felt his heart sink for a moment.

"Abel! Are you-"

"You fucking attacked our general!" Lute didn't really check on Abel who was examining the damage to his golden feathers.

"I'm... I'm okay."

"More Exorcists are injured. Maybe we need to consider a retreat." Another Exorcist joined Abel, looking him over.

"This is what we were made for, Harper! If we don't defend Heaven, then we might as well give the keys to the fucking Devil!" Lute pulled her sword out and pointed it toward her fellow Exorcist. Harper's wings flared out as the eyes on her mask narrowed.

"I was talking to Abel."

"I-I don't-" Abel fumbled for words as he looked below him. Lucifer had downed more Exorcists with his last arrow. They were alive, but the injuries were severe. Even the ground below had been scorched. Lucifer's stomach churned.

"This has to stop!" The Devil lowered his bow for just a moment, knowing they were still safely behind Uriel's shield. "Abel, Seth, Exorcists..." he only knew two of their names. Well, he knew a few more; Adam had mentioned several in passing, but there was no way an Exorcist was really named: Pick Up the Dry Cleaning or Fifty Percent off Ribs Code D50. "Look for yourself! The blood spilling on the ground is black. You know yourselves that Angels bleed in gold."

"I... I didn't think Angels bled at all..." Abel's voice trembled as he stared at the scene before him. Lucifer recognized the expression, fear. He couldn't even blame Adam's son for being terrified, from an outward view; he was still the villain. He had done the unforgivable, slaughtered his own family publicly. And Heaven believed the illusion because it was so much more logical to assume he was the monster they had built up, capable of this blood bath on his own flesh and blood, than it was to admit that maybe, maybe the Devil was trying to change, trying to help.

"The blood looks gold to me, brother." The fake Gabriel had been watching, completely calm, quiet, arms behind his back like a quiet observer. He spoke with such authority and confidence that Lucifer had to look at the ground behind him for himself. The blood on the ground still looked as black as night to him. "Maybe you're being deceived... I want to trust you. I want to believe you would do the right thing, but change was never in the cards for you. And now you trust an Elder's trick over me, your brother." The anger

"YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER!" Lucifer's wings extended; his halos ignited with radiant fire. "AND I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO WEAR HIS FACE AND TARNISH HIS NAME!" He felt Uriel's hand on his shoulder again, but as he looked over, he saw she was focused on the visage of their brother smirking as he floated above the charred ground.

"You are not welcome here." Uriel's mask had its eyes narrowed. "Seraphim! Angels! Sons of Adam, please know that Luciael only killed imposters! He saw through their disguises! He is trying to save us! Please, if you do not trust him, trust me." Her voice was warmer, more gentle. "Let me guide you."

"You are just another imposter." The fake Gabriel remarked as-a-matter-of-factly. "I know my sister. And she would never defend a known liar and a murderer."

"Stop acting like you're me!" Gabriel was still holding Sera, who almost looked to be in shock. Her eyes were wide; tears stained her cheeks. She looked pallid, lying limp like a doll in his arms, staring at the blood that was shimmering under the crimson light of Uriel's barrier. "It's going to be okay, Sera. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." He hugged her gently. "I won't let anything happen to any of you! Heaven is under our protection."

"That's right." The fake Gabriel moved forward smoothly through the air as if there was no resistance even from the wind. "Heaven is under our protection. So, why would I assist the same Angel who just tortured and scarred our soldiers?" His arms extended out as he gestured to the Exorcists bleeding and burned on the ground below.

"Gabriel?" Sera spoke again, her voice hoarse, desperate. She looked up at the loving, gentle face of the real Gabriel above her. "He's killing them... you have to do something-"

"He's protecting Heaven." Gabriel pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We'll be okay, little dove. I promise you that we are going to do everything we can to heal you. Right now, your mind is sick, but we'll find the real Raphael, we'll get you treatment-"

"RAPHAEL IS DEAD!" Sera looked toward the degrading corpse laid out on the stage as Gabriel tried to tilt her head away, shielding her from the gruesome sight. "HE'S DEAD AND LUCIFER KILLED HIM AND YOU JUST STOOD BY AND WATCHED!" She pointed past Gabriel to Uriel. "BOTH OF YOU!"

"And would the real Gabriel and Uriel sit idly by and watch their siblings get massacred?" The fake Gabriel called out to Sera. "And watch their armies burn in the Devil's flame?"

"Those were not our siblings! And I am no longer the Devil." Lucifer's grip tightened on his bow. He could hear Sera's sobs, Gabriel's soothing words as he tried consoling her. Uriel put her hand on Lucifer's shoulder again. She opened her mouth to speak but before the words left her lips, there was a horrible, pained scream. Lucifer turned to see golden blood pouring from his brother who slumped over as Sera pushed him off of her. In her hand was a dagger, covered with gold that steadily dripped onto the stage, mingling with the black

"GABRIEL!" Uriel dropped the shield for a moment out of shock as she ran toward Gabriel. The Messenger gasped, face contorted in pain, his wings laying on the ground beside him as blood gushed down his back, staining his clothing.

"GET THE IMPOSTERS!" Lute saw an opening. She drove toward the Archangels and as she moved through the sky, Lucifer saw a second set of wings tear through her back with such force they left flecks of blood flying through the air in her wake. As Lucifer raised his bow to fire, he was distracted as an Exorcist came from behind him, her weapon appeared to be a halberd. He ducked, but she continued straight over him, her halberd clashing with Lute's sword.

"Lute! Stop!" The Exorcist called out as Lute overpowered her, four wings overwhelming her two as she slammed the Exorcist onto the charred ground, pinning her down.

"Viola!" Lute's armored boot came down on the Exorcist with the halberd's chest. And another Exorcist, this one with a spear, cried out breaking formation to fly down to reach her pinned comrade, struggling under Lute's foot.

"Viola!"

"You're hurting her, Lute! Stop!" Yet another Exorcist broke formation joining the one with the spear that hovered above the ground. Viola's body seemed to sizzle where it touched the charred sidewalk. She looked like she was suffering.

"She tried to protect the traitor." Even Lute's boots seemed to crackle when they made contact with the ground rather than Viola's body.

"He-he's telling..." Viola tried to speak but her voice was choked. Was... was this Exorcist really defending Lucifer? The Devil had to admit; he had assumed she was just really bad at attacking and had just missed him. "The... truth."

"Lute! Lay off!" Seth flew down, touching Lute's arm to pull her away from Viola but Lute swung, throwing him back. Abel quickly tried to catch his brother but they both flew toward the opposing building. Lute's grip tightened on her blade.

"What kind of fucking leaders are you! We need to kill this asshole before all of Heaven goes up in fucking flames! He murdered Michael! He-"

"Danger tits," a familiar voice spoke and Lucifer immediately felt his heart drop. He turned his head to see Abel and Seth caught by arms reaching from the reflective window of the building beside them. The Exorcists all froze as Abel and Seth darted in opposite directions. The arm clad in a familiar white and gold sleeve braced itself on the solid glass as Adam pulled himself from the reflection, helmet and all. "You gotta stop this. People are going to die."

"Adam?" Lute froze. Adam turned his focus away from her. Remaining with his lower half still trapped in the glass.

"Abel, Seth, are you two okay?"

"Dad?" Seth's voice cracked.

"DAD!" Abel flew toward him. Adam opened his arms but Lute charged forward, grabbing Abel by his collar before he could reach his father, pulling him back.

"How do I know you're the real Adam?"

"C'mon bitch, could a fake Adam look this hot?" Adam's eyes flickered onto his kids for a moment before focusing on Lute. Lucifer's halos watched Adam carefully as he turned to look at Uriel who was desperately trying to bandage Gabriel back up. He knelt down beside them. Sera had run to join the face Gabriel who remained in front of the stage, his gaze currently watching Lucifer's every move.

"I thought you said Adam went home!" Lucifer hissed, his voice trembling as he made sure he had a few eyes on the First Man.

"He was supposed to!" Uriel's hands were shaking as Lucifer took them, trying to steady her. He put his other arm around Gabriel. "He said he would go back!"

"Well, he fucking lied." Lucifer's mind was racing as everyone he cared about most was in danger simultaneously. This was why he hated caring so damn much. It hurt. He was dizzy with what he could only describe as panic. He only had the hope that Charlie was safe at home, grounding him in the moment. "Gabe, are you going to be okay?" The feeling of warm blood washed over his sleeve as he braced his younger brother made him queasy.

"Wh... why?" Gabriel choked the word out through pained gasps. "Why would Sera- I trusted her... how could she-"

"She's Corrupted, Gabe. She wasn't herself." Lucifer was careful of his back. He knew the pain of having his wings hacked to bits. But Michael had the courtesy of cauterizing the wounds with the same maiming swipe.

"Lute, Abel, Seth- listen to me!" Adam pulled himself the rest of the way through the window. Immediately Viola pulled herself off the ground, catching him. (Right, Lucifer forgot to Adam couldn't fly. He was a Sinner now, grounded by his transgressions.) "Girls!" He addressed the Exorcists. "You are all in terrible danger. And it's partially my fault."

"TRAITOR!" Sera's voice boomed. Her wings flared out as the dagger gleamed in her hand, pointed at Adam. "YOU GAVE OUR SECRETS TO THE DEVIL!"

"You made me agree to the Exterminations!" Adam pointed his golden guitar toward Sera as Harper joined Viola in holding Adam up.

"YOU KNEW WHAT YOU HAD TO DO!"

"YOU MADE ME SICK!" Adam's wings flared out, one black, one white, almost making Harper and Viola drop him. "Abel! Seth! Girls! Winners! Angels! Listen to me! Corruption is real. I have it! And for years, you made me think I was Falling-"

"You were Falling!" Sera spat back. "And for evidence of that look no further than how your body has mutated under Hell's fires!"

"Lucifer saved me!" Adam was lowered onto the ground, but Harper and Viola were careful not to let him touch the hallowed ground where Lucifer's arrows had struck. "He was the only one who realized something was wrong!"

"You can't be serious, Sir!" Lute's mask contorted into an expression of disgust. "You said yourself Hell was nothing but a cesspit. They're better off dead."

"My mind was the fucking cesspit." Adam turned to look at Lute, the golden eyes of his helmet scanning the other Exorcists who were still hovering in the air. "I was... in such a terrible place. And you all paid the price. My sons," Adam extended the hand not holding the guitar toward Seth and Abel. "I was struggling and I took it out on both of you. My actions are the reason I haven't been able to see you until this moment. And for that, I am so sorry."

"Adam has gone painfully soft, it seems." The fake Gabriel examined his fingernails as he spoke, his other hand on his hip.

"Sir, the Devil has brainwashed you." Lute spoke up, her sword still clutched in her hand. "This isn't the real you."

"This is the real me, Danger tits." Adam laughed at the nickname, an air of nostalgia in his voice. "This is the closest to me I have felt since that bitch made me touch that... that thing." Adam put his head to his helmet. "That... book."

"Those were holy scrolls! I was trying to save you!" Sera's eyes all opened, her voice louder as her halo brightened. "And this is how you repay me!?"

"By saving your fucking life!? It's more than you deserve." Adam scoffed. Lucifer could see the anger radiating around him. "Gabriel tried to help you and look what you did to him!"

"That wasn't Gabriel!" Sera's voice was booming now. Lucifer knelt closer to Uriel. He lowered his voice, as quietly as he could.

"Don't let her hurt him."

"That was Gabriel you dumb ass bitch!" Some of Adam's Corrupted personality was breaking through, but somehow, he seemed to be holding to his sanity. Lucifer was surprised with Sera, with the fake Gabriel, with the bloodied corpses of fake angels that Adam was able to hold himself together if even for a moment. "You cut his wings off!"

"I punished the false idol! I Felled a traitor! Just as the Archangels did so long ago." Sera's voice pierced through the air as sharp as her blade.

"No. You acted against the Archangels! You're so fucking convinced that you're right, you acted against Heaven." Adam pushed the two Exorcists away from him. "You hate Lucifer so fucking much but you are way worse than he ever was! At least Lucifer had the balls to accept his fate!"

"YOU KNOW NOT OF WHAT YOU SPEAK, HUMAN!"

"Adam, for fuck's sake, what is wrong with you!?" Lute seemed torn, her sword was directed at him, but Lucifer could see her hesitation. "Lucifer is a pussy ass bitch with terrible taste in outfits who eats babies and shit!"

"I was wrong about him." Adam looked apologetically at Lute. "I led all my girls astray because I couldn't remember all of who Lucifer is. Is he a pussy ass bitch? Sometimes. Does he have terrible taste in outfits? I mean, that kinda speaks for itself-"

"Hey!" Lucifer mostly interrupted to try and break the tension. He saw Uriel scanning through her scroll with six eyes as the rest of hers were used to survey the battlefield and Gabriel.

"BUT," Adam continued, his voice strong. "Lucifer also cares. He hides it, but he doesn't want the fucking world to end. His whole Rebellion was trying to give humans a chance. He believed we could be strong. He wanted more for the angels too- he wanted choice! So why would a man who lost everything to give humanity a chance, let the Elders have their way with us?"

"Because the Elders gave him his only chance to overthrow Heaven." The fake Gabriel finally spoke again. "I thought that was obvious."

"Overthrow Heaven? Up until this shit went down, all Lucifer wanted to do was make ducks and listen to Despisito." Adam scoffed. "You are giving him way too much credit." He took a deep breath. "Abel, Seth, Lute, Harper, Sugar, Fiddle, Piccolo, Pick up the Dry Cleaning- all of you. I have been leading you down a dark path, dragging you down with me. But I am begging you to listen. As your leader, I appeal to you as individuals, not as Exorcists but as angels. Lucifer is telling the truth."

Silence fell and for a moment, no one moved. All Lucifer could hear were the agonized gasps of Gabriel beside him.

"Sir..." Lute finally spoke. "What has he done to you?" Her heart sounded as if it had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Kill him." Sera's jaw was clenched tightly, her eyes blazed.

"Wait!" Abel cried out trying to fly toward his dad, but Sera grabbed him. Seth managed to make his way to Adam's side. "Dad!"

"Let him go Sera!" Adam put one arm around Seth protectively as Lucifer drew his bow, getting to his feet to hurry to Adam's side.

"Abel, I promised Emily I would take care of you specifically." Sera pulled Abel so he was behind her. "Seth, if you stand with your father, you choose your fate."

"Sera! Stop!" Abel struggled to free himself.

"Let him go Sera!" Adam demanded.

"They must be purged." Sera looked to Gabriel for confirmation. He nodded. "THE HERETICS MUST BE CLEANSED!" Sera screamed, her voice booming through the square.

"I will try to make you see reason, Sir." Lute's wings folded in. "EXORCISTS! SPARE ADAM IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. BUT THE OTHERS CAN BE KILLED."

"Oh no you don't!" Lucifer wrapped his arms around Adam as Exorcists began to dive in. The Devil pulled him back, freeing up one hand to grab Seth as well. Uriel raised her arms and the barrier started to reform. Lute zoomed at full speed toward it, but Harper and Viola intercepted her. Lucifer watched as a small number of Exorcists hesitated, looking back at Sera before turning on the rest of the swarm.

He almost couldn't believe it. Some of the very same angels that tore through Hell were now trying to protect them. Adam hugged Seth tightly. Grabbing either side of his face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, dad." Seth put his hands over Adam's. "If that even is you- I-" he pulled away. "I think it's you? It sounds like you-"

"It's me. I'm here." Adam's winds folded back in. "I told you that I was going to be close by if you needed me. I promised."

"You should have gone the fuck home." Lucifer put a hand on Adam's shoulder. "But you're here now, so, get in a shiny object and get your ass back to Hell."

"I'm not leaving you-"

"Lucifer, we have more pressing problems." Uriel interjected as she was knelt back down by Gabriel. "He needs help."

"We don't know where the real Raphael is..." Lucifer frowned. "But I bet you that fake ass Gabriel does." He held out his bow. "Adam, Seth, stay with Gabriel. Uri, we gotta get to the big guy."

"Try not to kill my girls, Lu." Adam looked at the battle around him. The Exorcists who had taken Adam's side were outnumbered by the ones who had not.

"I'll do my best." Lucifer definitely didn't want more blood on his hands, but he needed to get to his brothers before they were down yet another Arc. "Uriel, can we do anything to protect the Exorcists that were helping us?"

"I can try to treat them superficially until we get Raphael back." Uriel nodded. It did seem like they were getting overwhelmed. But even outnumbered, the Exorcists stood no chance against an Archangel. Lucifer looked at Adam.

"Stay here. Stay safe."

"Get my son. Save in Heaven. And fuck up that bitch." Adam leaned down and Lucifer took the briefest moment to kiss the golden mouth on the mask. (He had never kissed Adam through the helmets before. It was a really weird feeling.)

"Well, that... happened." Seth was staring at them. The glowing mouth on his mask drawn into a thin line.

"Seth, I-" Adam started to fumble some sort of explanation (though Lucifer wasn't sure what the appropriate way to say: I'm getting dicked down by the Devil would be in this scenario). But Seth held up his hand.

"Souls are dying."

"Right!" Lucifer grabbed his sister's hand, pushing through the safety of the barrier. They started gathering the downed Exorcists who had taken Adam's side. There weren't many, just a handful. But they still deserved protection.

"Sera, tell the Exorcists to attack the barrier." The fake Gabriel watched with interest. "You and I can handle these Archangels. But perhaps you should call the other Seraphim." Lucifer began firing at the false Gabriel who dodged with ease as Sera created a bright light in the sky. A beacon. Uriel quickly dampened the light as she summoned chains to try and bind Sera and the monster wearing Gabriel's face.

It was a back and forth. Lucifer had to be careful as Abel was still very much in the crossfire. But to Sera's credit, it did not seem like she wanted him to get hurt. "Gabriel" didn't seem to care. He had yet to summon any actual weapon. He simply danced around the attacks, toying with Lucifer as if he were a simple plaything.

The only reason Sera wasn't on the business end of an arrow was that the Gabriel kept helping her along. This was not some copy. Lucifer was confident in that now. The way he moved, the way he watched. He recognized it.

"Cthulhu," he said the name with as much malice as he could muster through the mask. "Take off my brother's face."

"I have no idea what you mean." The response just assured him more. That soft-spoken, teasing, almost playful tone. The Elder Gods all sucked, that was a fact of life. But they were also all very unique in their personalities. Nyarlathotep was diva. Yog Sothoth always seemed bored. C'toggha was apparently just an asshole. But Cthulhu... Cthulhu was the unpredictable one. He never seemed to take even the Apocalypse seriously.

"Cthulhu could NEVER get in Heaven!" Sera was panting hard, even at her full power she had to be dragged along like a puppet to avoid the Archangels' onslaught.

"Well, the who the fuck do you think the other Gabriel is?" Lucifer looked back at Gabriel for a moment still on the ground, Adam and Seth beside him. He saw the Exorcists trying their damndest to get through Uriel's barrier, slamming weapons down relentlessly to no avail. With each blow the barrier would pulse with holy light that seemed to hurt them.

"That is a falsehood created by you to infiltrate Heaven! It worked! You killed your brother! But I will NOT let this Kingdom fall!" Sera's voice drew Lucifer's focus back to the fight at hand. He fired his arrows as Uriel tried to bind the false Gabriel to his spot.

"I did NOT kill my brother. Mikey isn't dead."

"I know what murder looks like!" Sera summoned a ray of light, directing it toward Lucifer. "I had to destroy the false Metatron with my own hands to save us!"

"You... what?" It was Uriel who spoke. Lightning streaked across the sky, making the Devil jump as electricity sizzled in the air. He... had forgotten what it was like to see his sister get mad. "What did you just say!?"

"I took the holy blade and struck down your false Metatron just as I did with the Gabriel Lucifer made to trick us!" Sera still had the blade in her hand, raised up, illuminated by another crack of lightning too close for Sera's comfort.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MOM!?"

"Uri! Calm down! You'll kill the Exorcists!" Lucifer knew rage would make his sister sloppy. And he loved her too much to let her burden herself with blood on her hands. If Uri even accidentally killed an angel that could be saved, she's tear herself up.

"It's a little too late to be caring about them." The fake Gabriel glanced down at the ground below. Lucifer's halos glanced down. Exorcists were on the ground, some burned, some stabbed, some bleeding and still trying to break a barrier that kept knocking them away, bloodying them.

"Then call them off!" Lucifer tried to reason with what was left of Sera. "They're your army. You hate me for what I did to the angels that followed me, then why are you any different! They'll die if they keep going!" It didn't shock Lucifer that the Exorcists might be contaminated by Corruption. That would explain why the holy magic hurt them so much. But he couldn't risk Adam or Gabriel.

"To assure Heaven's safety..." Sera glanced below her, then back at the smiling face of Gabriel won over a monster like an ill-fitting costume. "To assure Heaven's safety, sacrifices must be made." She took a deep breath. "And we have our human now. So... we'll recover." Her eyes fell on Abel who was constantly looking like he was ready to bolt but Sera and Gabriel kept pulling him back in at every opportunity. (Lucifer couldn't let them get Abel. Adam loved his kids. And if Abel got seriously hurt, Cain might also get pissed.)

"Our human? The fuck does that mean?" Lucifer started to question, but Uriel zoomed past him, her halos blazing.

"YOU'RE KILLING THEM!"

"Sir!" Sera cried out as Uriel moved at the last second, where she had looked like she was aiming to tackle Sera; she swerved and hit the fake Gabriel instead. As she held him, red chains began forming around his body.

"They are dying, Sera." The fake Archangel seemed more surprised than anything else. He glanced down at the ground. Lucifer let a few eyes look; his stomach churned. The Exorcists were... dead. They had burned themselves out, relentlessly attacking a barrier they couldn't destroy. Adam was hunched over, hand pressed to the barrier beside the one called Lute. "You should probably fix that." Sera nodded, flying toward Abel.

"This is your moment. This is why we need a human soul." She summoned a box, Lucifer readied his bow to destroy what came out, but the sound of chains breaking turned him so, he could fire at the fake Gabriel instead.

The next bit happened so fast it was hard to tell exactly what was going on. The fake Gabriel broke free but took a direct hit from Lucifer's bow. Uriel got knocked backward. Lucifer went to help his sister. And all the while Sera was showing something to Abel.

They were... reading? (Or well Sera seemed to be doing most of it. Abel looked more as if he were in a daze.)

Lucifer's blood chilled even through the protective magic of the helmet as he realized they weren't just reading.

They were chanting.

He saw the smallest hint of the cursed book in Sera's hands. Those words- that text. For a moment he had the clearest memory of Adam arriving in Hell. The burns on his fingertips, on his tongue and on his lips.

You touched something you shouldn't have. You said something you shouldn't have.

It was a fucking spell from the GODDAMN NECRONOMICON!

He heard his sister scream. But it wasn't just Uriel. All around Lucifer was surrounded by agonized shrieks. The Exorcists began convulsing. As the spell went on, black liquid spread over their wounds, forcing their bodies back together with sickening cracks and crunches.

"YOU'RE HURTING THEM!" Adam was hunched over in pain. Seth was trying his best to console his father but even he was looking sick through the mask. The angel called Lute pulled her helmet off, gasping for air as her body slowly mended itself. Her skin was pale, hair white, her eyes a soft gold though they seemed clouded over. She looked... familiar?

He heard Uriel scream. He saw his sister had frozen in the sky, all her eyes on the scene below her. He had never before seen her look so close to vomiting. There were tears in her halos. "Liza...?" Uriel's voice trembled.

Liza...?

Lucifer felt sick.

That Exorcist... sans her helmet... was almost the spitting image of Liza. Not entirely. The eyes were wrong, the hair... but...

Liza had died in the Elder War.

"See? You have divinity on your side. Reunited with your friends just as promised." The fake Gabriel spoke and Lucifer realized he had taken his eyes off him for too long. He hurried back to Uriel's side trying to pull her toward the barrier.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THEM!?" Uriel was almost hysterical. "THEY WERE OUR FRIENDS! OUR FAMILY!" Chains burst out of the ground binding Sera, pulling her away from Abel. Sera struggled against the bindings.

"I brought them home!"

"YOU DESECRATED OUR DEAD!"

"URI!" Lucifer tried to fly to his sister, but the lightning in the air almost struck him down. He looked back down; the barrier was blazing so brightly Adam, Seth, and the Exorcists they saved were starting to get hurt by it.

"I SAVED THEM!" Sera was starting to get crushed by the chains. Fuck. Lucifer didn't want to kill her, but he had to do something. He drew his bow.

"You know," Gabriel's voice was suddenly in his ear. He whipped around to see that smiling face an inch from his own. Lucifer fired. The arrow hit, but Gabriel took the blow without much of a reaction. Lucifer had damaged him; he could see the blood, but it wasn't in his face. "The good thing about coming here to fight. Is that we were really running out of corpses."

"Shut your fucking mouth-"

"Lucky for us." In the blink of an eye, Gabriel had his hand on Lucifer's shoulder, spinning him around. "We had an extra body here."

"What are you talking about!?" Lucifer fired at him again. He missed and the Exorcists below him paid the price. Lucifer felt a hand under his chin breath washing over his ear as Cthulhu finally spoke in his true voice.

"W̶h̶y̷ ̸a̴r̸e̸ ̷y̵o̶u̶ ̸m̷a̷d̴?̴ ̸I̴ ̴b̵e̴t̵ ̷y̴o̷u̵'̵l̴l̷ ̵l̵o̴v̷e̷ ̸s̷e̶e̵i̸n̸g̶ ̶y̵o̴u̴r̵ ̸o̴l̵d̴ ̷f̸r̷i̷e̵n̷d̴ ̷D̴e̴a̵t̴h̴,̶ ̴a̴g̷a̷i̶n̴.̵"

Azrael

No.

FUCK.

NO!

Lucifer searched the Exorcists with the eyes in his halos, but he couldn't tell one from the other with the helmets on.

"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" Lucifer whirled around just to find himself doubled over in pain. He looked down. The fake Gabriel had a familiar looking sword in his hand, the blade of which was in Lucifer's stomach.

"You know, it doesn't glow for me, it's a little disappointing." Cthulhu pulled him closer, so the blade oved deeper. "But I thought your brother's sword was the most poetic." Lucifer coughed up blood as the sword began to twist.

At that moment, something burst from the face plate of Lucifer's helmet. Something angry, screaming, that looked like an unfinished coloring book.

"A... dam?" Lucifer fell from the sky as he saw Adam clawing at Cthulhu's face like a feral animal. As Cthulhu swung the blade, Adam vanished inside it, popping out again like a pop-up from Hell. The ground hit his back, knocking what little breath he had out of him.

"LU!" Uriel was over him in an instant. "No! No! No! I messed up! I wasn't acting like a team- I without Michael-" Lucifer opened his mouth to warn her as he saw the glint of something metal in the air, but all the came out was blood.

"We need to get out of here." Seth grabbed Lucifer under the arm, pulling him back. He saw his sister with her wings sliced, kicking a deranged Sera from her body.

His eyes blurred. He reached his hand up, looking at the image of Adam clawing at Gabriel's face like a wild animal trying to rip the skin off and reveal the monster underneath. "Help... Adam..." He mumbled; more warmth spilling from his lips, his mask cracked open.

The sky went very bright.

Then very dark.