9 The origin of Love

"Gabriel, Gabriella. You two have been together since your creation, But there are secrets even Archangels haven't been made aware of. In fact once banished, Azazel retained parts of his memory. With each reincarnation he became more hated. Man would use his name to escape their own sin, thus damaging his immortal essence. This also brought about a mutation to his curse. He would be haunted by the shadow of his own memories. With those memories he created mortal weapons of stone, iron, copper, then steel. He taught women of beauty, creating vanity. He is by no means innocent, yet he is still undeserving of his fate. For man to place their sins on his back... This has only caused him to fall further. Now you know the truth, and that is why we must help him regain his own self. My Brother's original sin, was only love." Michael finished with tears.

Gabriel clenched his fists my his side, taking in what he had just heard. "Had our father allowed one of his Archangels to live in suffering for so long? Why? Even after the sacrifice of his own son, he still suffered."

Lillie fell to her knees with tears streaming down her face. "Aza..."

"What can we do?" Spoke Gabriel. Now that he knew the truth he could not sit idly and watch.

"He must cultivate. His body appears to have retained its strength all this time. It is but his spiritual energy that is lacking." Michael spoke.

"Which technique should we teach him?" Gabriel asked. "Which one would even suit him?"

"We will have to test his soul. Our records do not carry the answer. I'm sure as well that his soul has evolved due to the curse." Michael answered looking puzzled.

Lillie wiped her tears with her sleeve. "I feel drawn to him. Why is that? It's not something I can control, nor something I can understand."

Michaels face fell. He looked at Lillie with great sorrow. "Gabriella... Azazel, was originally..." Michael paused, not knowing how to phrase this. "He was your other half. Thats the reason our father never paired you with another Angel. After the war in heaven he ceased creation of new beings. That included those of Primordial nature as well."

Lillie's face grew ashen. She and Gabriel had been created together. They shared everything. Rank, responsibilities, title, powers, even their name! Scholars had even claimed they were the same being!

Having come to earth and been allowed to recreate herself, she took on her new name, Lillie. Many had believed that they were made as a pair to be a pair, but nothing could be further from the truth. What man could understand the emotions of a woman? This is the reason for there being two angels with the same purpose. Or so she had been told.

Knowing this, Lillie couldn't begin to fathom the feeling of being hated, blamed, cursed, or to have unspeakable acts done in her name. The weight of impact that must have on ones soul should be momentous. Even Lucifer, the Archangel who waged war in heaven just to Take his fathers throne suffered less. At least his burden allowed him to be a King until the end.

"Micheal..."

"Yes dear sister?" Michael asked. "Why would father punish Azazel this severely? He only fell in love right?"

"It's not so simple as that you see..." Michael began timidly.

"Then explain!" shouted Lillie.

"Control yourself! I shall explain, but it will be hard to take in. Can you be so sure you will remain the same after you hear this?" spoke Michael.

Lillie calmed herself and looked intently at Michael. "Yes I can handle it."

"Alright then. In the beginning there was only Gabriella. Gabriel was not of existence."

Lillie and Gabriel looked at eachother in shock."There's no way!" Lillie spoke. "I can't remember there being a time before Gabriel was with me."

"Originally, Azazel was your other half. You two were given the task of showing man their destiny while still in the womb, then before birth you were to make them forget, this leaves a crease on the upper lip of mortals.

As I'm sure you already know."

"Azazel was my Partner?" lillie choked out.

"Azazel was also the bearer of the Silver sword. Anything our father deemed evil, it would be his duty to hunt it down and present it before the heavens. He was the most glorious among all Angels. Even lucifer could do little but cower before him."

"He was that powerful?" Gabriel was stunned.

"Azazels power at one time was comparable only to fathers. Our father would create to his hearts content, and Azazel would hunt that which was found unsuitable. That is also why he became a scapegoat for mans sins. He destroyed all evil, so why not sin? When making sacrifices, Man would make one for our father, and one for Azazel."

"..." Both lillie and Gabriel were speechless. Did this mean that Azazel could contest God on equal terms?

"The two beings created Harmony. Yin and Yang as it has come to be known. Until his fall, that is."

"What happened?" asked lillie in a quiet voice.

"Azazel felt something for another Angel. He believed man should have that feeling instead of just finding someone to have children with. So Azazel gifted this feeling to man. This came to be known as love. Our father grew furious with Azazel for tampering with his creation, so he created your brother Gabriel to destroy him and replace him.

" Gabriel fought Azazel?" lillie asked with tears.

Gabriel stood silently taking it in. He knew he'd been created as a warrior, but never truly understood his purpose like other angels. though he had no memory of such a battle.

"Yes though in the end Azazel was too strong. Our father had to curse the soul which he had created, because even he himself couldnt destroy Azazel."

The room fell silent. Those last words echoing.

"So why must we find him? If even our father couldnt handle him why must we bring him back?" spoke Gabriel angrily through cleched teeth.

"Because dear brother. The Grigori have found something our father never told anyone, not even Azazel about. His Siblings." Michael spoke carefully.

"Siblings?" Lillie almost fainted.

"Yes and their creations are unholy Beasts. They grow stronger as they devour everything, they are primordial beings known as Titans."

"So we need Azazel to fight them?" asked Gabriel trying to calm his thoughts.

"We need Azazel to regain his strength and raise an army to defend heaven and earth." said Michael bluntly.

"So one question remains." said Gabriel, now calmed. "Why must it be us?"

Michael walked over to a bookcase and looked at the spines of countless journals hed written through eons. "Because Gabriel, You were created to Banish him, so you must help him return."

"Then I can understand my involvement, but why you and lillie as well?" Gabriel spoke.

Lillies heart clenched up as she already suspected the answer.

"Because im the one who Trained you and forged your weapon. As for Lillie, she is the key to his return. The reason he Fell, is because he had already fallen for her."

"..." Tears now fell freely from Lillies eyes. Her body shook violently. She felt as if she couldnt breath. The Only word she could think of to describe this pain was "Agony."

"I had no clue." Gabriel spoke placing his hand on Lillies shoulder.

"Why dont I remember this? I didn't even know that he existed!" she cried.

"Our father changed your memories, So that you wouldn't attempt to help him. Only two angels knew of this, including Lucifer and myself. With the silver sword falling into the hands of Lucifer he knew that he could split the heavens with it. This is the true story of the Fallen, and the reason that none but I, remember. Beleive it or not, We need to lead Aza to the path of cultivation."

"So where do we begin?" asked Lillie, wiping her tears.

"Here, give him this." Michael spoke whilst handing a bracelet to Lillie.

"What is this?" Gabriel asked.

"This is a special item. It will read his Spiritual roots and create a weapon with the attributes that will suit him the best in the future, as well as tell us this information remotely. We will be able to see which cultivation technique suits him best using this."

"This kind of item exists?" Gabriel said in shock.

"A gift from father" Michael answered. "You two go rest. You must give this to him no matter what. The sooner we begin, the better.

"Yes Michael" They spoke in unison.

Holding the bracelet Lillie walked to her room and placed it in her bag. She would give it to him on Friday during their date.

"Date?!" Lillies eyes grew wide as her face blushed. "Oh no I had almost forgotten!"

She began hurriedly making plans to be prepared for Friday. In her heart she had just lived a new Eternity seperate from her own. That feeling of Anguish still heavy on her heart. How long had he suffered? She had made up her mind. She would make Aza happy. No matter what.

Outside of the door Gabriel heard her shouts and chuckled to himself. He had come to console her, but luckily she wasin high spirits Friday.

"The heart of a Maiden..." he laughed as he returned to his own room for the night.