Chapter Text
It was a rare occasion for the Morningstar to visit heaven.
Of course, it was obvious. For he was the devil. The lost cause of heaven who have made his grudge against heaven reknown even more recently due to that wretched battle which took place in hell. It was still unclear of which happened, the denizens of heaven were distraught from Adam, their beloved rockstar had to die.
Though there has had been some rumors of massacre, questions unanswered. Oraphims and the high cherubs distressed for a reason which they could not slip, most of the winners decided that it was above their status to pry. Though they were considered winners for their pure heart, they were humans who have all undergone a life of endeavor. It was not of cowardly intentions but of wisdom that Pei, a winner who was currently working at the bakery residing within the embassy to remain silent. She had seen much due to her post than other winners for her place was literally a meeting place which the cherubs would thrive.
It has helped her in several cases, preparing orders for various celebrations.
The higher ups seemed not to care for she was just a timid winner who usually remained silent. Thus, that the seraphim preferred desserts from her shop whilst meetings was not a secret.
So on that faithful morning, in which she knew several hours beforehand that an important conference with the devil himself was to happen, Pei was baking some tarts in her shop. Wondering if adding berry jams would loosen up the tense atmosphere which she had sneaked peeked several times when carrying the tea tray.
All of the conference rooms were pristine white. The faces of the angels within, not much different.
It was a shame how all tuned down with every word they say. Even Saint Peter, the embodiment of jolly hospitality seemed to shrivel up every time he announced angels into the white halls.
No doubt it would be far more stressful today with the devil in the room.
So the baker was motivated to do her best. Assisting the higher line in the way which she could do was a job she took up gladly with pride. Hopefully the bread she was baking would turn out to be enticing enough for the devil to cut their high seraph some slack. Miss Sera did not need more on her plate. Ever since last year, she seemed distraught. The winners assisting her literally on tiptoes.
And as she added some dark chocolate, bitter sweet the exact scale which she knew how the matriarch of the council would prefer, the door bell rang.
An angel quite short, who seemed to be in his youth stepped in.
Pei clicked her tongue. 'Poor thing.'
Assuming that winners usually took the form of the date they died, he must have died early.
The lad seemed to be in his thirties. He had a mask on his face. Ones which humans on earth lately seemed to use during the so called pandemic. It effectively covered up his facial, but failed to hide those red eyes which glittered like rubies, faintly gleaming under his luscious golden bangs.
Though the baker could sense that he was a charmer even with his face half covered, the shadows under his eyes made her wonder if he was one of those winners who took up the post of assisting the holy council.
"... Um, well. Hm."
"Welcome. What do you want, young man?"
The man was quite awkward as he first spoke. His voice breaking on the edge but still quite good to hear. Which made Pei smile even wider.
"I am afraid I cannot offer you much for all those trays on the front are for the great meeting that the embassy is hosting. But I still have saved scones and tarts. Also some pastries with jams. More will come out after lunch too. Which would you prefer?"
"Oh, oh. The meeting. Yes, yes."
The man scratched his head with awkward laughter. He averted his eyes. Wringing his hands.
Pei, who considered herself to be quite the mother hen of the young winners now took it as her job to find and hand this fledgling whatever he was looking for.
Nobody escapes mama Pei's bakery without a snack in his or her hand. That was her rule.
"It seems like you are quite new here. I have not seen you before."
"Well, I."
The lad slipped a soft cough.
"I usually don't. ... Well I was busy. Especially last year. With everything happening and all - "
"Oh, yes."
The angel probably was a winner who joined heaven last year. Nothing has ever been the same since.
Pei nodded and grimaced.
Then it probably explained why he seemed to be so on edge. She handed him a lemon tart which the angel carefully refused with an another wave of awkward laughter. Maybe he did not like sour. Then, it was time for sweets. And while she rummaged the cupboard for some macaroons which she had baked yesterday, the lad would crane his neck. Admiring over what Pei had prepared for the embassy.
"You surely did an excellent job in baking those."
"Well, I told you it was for the conference, love. The higher angels will be there. And I do not intend to make any of our guides to be disappointed."
'They also say the lost Seraphim would be there too. And the devil himself.'
The woman regretted the moment right after she slipped for those were confined information. But more than half of the angels already were whispering about it. She concluded that it would not do much harm.
The lad seemed to be cool with it anyways. So, she concluded that hopefully he already knew about it. Or may even be a part of their entourages.
The last part proved to be a miss however, as the angel questioned.
"But, what do you mean by the lost Seraphim? Are you talking about Lucifer?"
"Hush, dear. You do not speak the name out loud."
She waved her hand warningly. Making the angel step half a foot back.
She sighed.
"Mr. Morningstar, ... is not really welcomed here. You know the stories. How he, ... he committed the ultimate sin. You have read it in the bible yes? Or do I need to tell you hun?"
There were chapel classes which were open to anyone. So maybe she could recommend the lad one.
She took a few when she first came up here as a winner to. It was great activity to fill in the vacant hours she had back then.
The lad nodded. Though somehow his face seemed to fell.
He hastily changed the subject. Maybe ashamed? Pei wondered if she had said something rather pushy. Maybe she should not have implied that he is ignorant of the bible?
"So by the 'lost' Seraphim. If you do not mean Mr. Morningstar - "
"Almost all of the Seraphim which is above in order than Miss Sera, love."
That clearly seemed to catch his interest. The angel's eyes somehow seemed to glitter in deeper hues of red.
"Above Sera? So you mean, like. Mike -. No, pardon. Sir Michael, and Gabriel? Her brothers? Raphael? They are all gone?"
"Not technically gone, but yes."
The baker's tone took a sorrowful turn which was almost akin to a mourning. She clasped her hands.
By the fall of Lucifer Morningstar, Heaven had not only lost a Seraph to evil. But also lost a family.
Brotherhood torn apart would never be healed. And even after eons, the hurt was still latching on to some. Making the Seraphim to be more and more secluded.
Pei remember seeing Gabriel, the messenger of god just two years after her second life in heaven.
It was a century ago.
The seraph resembled the silky waves of clouds and winds, light weight and freedom which gushed through their feathers when flying. She had never been mesmerized more ever since. Next to him was a black haired one. Who had the visage of a night sky. The winner assumed he might be Azrael. And though they both looked ethereal, breathtaking. They somehow looked terribly sad.
The reason why the winners detested the devil which they did not even know of. They have hurt their keepers in a way which none could heal.
Though sometimes Pei wondered was the Morningstar hurt all the same. It was her angelic nature which tends to extend her boundaries even when not needed.
"It has all been falling apart."
"..."
"I will have to return to work so you mark my words dear. The devil only leaves destruction in his path. He broke apart humanity. He broke apart his own family. I heard he has hurt his brothers. Especially Sir Michael in his eye."
It was rare for Pei to bring up her stern manner. It was a habit she had long lost since she no longer had kids to look after. But, seemingly this young one seemed to be ignorant of Heaven's past. And she was not going to tolerate him in saying anything stupid for both his own good and others. Especially when it was such an important day.
Being gullible was not a sin. But it could be so when it hurt the ones whom heaven cares for. Which included the young fledgling, himself.
"We are not authorized enough to know more. I believe it would be for our own sake. But just remember one thing.
Don't ever talk with the devil.
Don't touch him.
Don't get associated with him.
You know what happened to the first man and woman who did so?"
"..."
"The woman met a fate worse than death. And the first man was banished from Eden. He became a saint thanks to grace, but he was killed by the devil just a year before."
The lad flinched. And Pei, who was content that she has made her point, handed him a package of strawberry macaroons before she started to prepare some tea.
"Remember, love."
She breathed deep. Casting a one long glance at the fledgling who seemed to be lost of words.
"Do not trust the tongue of a serpent. The only thing he managed to do was to break everyone apart. Gambling the ones who loved him in his cheap thrill which landed him in hell."
"..."
"I also heard that his daughter was the one who led the war. ... Shame it is. For is he really loves his child, he would not let her to commit such a monstrosity."
***
Vile climbed up his throat.
Lucifer Morningstar gave a fleeting smile as he almost ran away from the Aunt Pei's bakery.
The best he could was to mumble a few words of farewell. Also that Gabriel would prefer that lemon pie which she handed him, and the Mikey actually liked green apples.
The good natured looking woman did not seemed to buy the last part.
But he could not care less. For as soon as the bells rang and the doors slammed shut, the monarch of hell was barely standing. He traced his hand on the wall. Feeling the cool marble surface.
It was his luck that not many were here since it was the crack of dawn.
The meeting between heaven and hell was scheduled after five hours.
The fallen angel was brave enough to set off earlier to a realm which he had once fled before. Only to be proven that he was stupid.
He sensed some worried glances from the few winners who passed.
Some even pondering if they should approach and lend a hand.
The soft friendliness which flew the air of the blessed land which he was so accustomed to.
And it did not even take a second for the Morningstar to straighten his posture. He smiled, handing a small wave for the kindness he recieved.
Soft laughter like the wind chimes washing the woes away.
And as soon as he acknowledged what he had done, Lucifer struggled. Got up on both his feet. And bolted out of the embassy.
The warm air which was once pleasant was now suffocating.
All of his six wings, trembling wild in his pocket dimension in which he kept them hidden. They were itching to be freed, to glide away, tearing across the sky and to throw himself down to oblivion once more.
The only difference was that there was no way he could survive such a strain again. Both his body and his soul.
He wretched as he found a familiar alleyway which he was sure none would dare reach. Legs buckling, kneeling on the ground.
Oh what a delightful sight it would be for his family according to whichever they taught the young this days. The devil himself on the floor, not being able to move a muscle. Diminished by the great power that heaven itself had.
A manic laughter escaped his lips. His mouth was full of the bitter sweet stench of apples and burnt wood. His own blood which now held the sweet, sweet yearning of knowledge and hell fire.
Thankfully it did not take long for him to reach the pond. Still the same as he remembered. To tidy himself back into order.
Gods, he had somehow manages to claw his neck enough to graze the flesh. And now blood was on his white pristine suit.
The Morningstar sighed and plucked a feather. It was his usual method of healing. Quite convenient since his wings were barely kept in shape due to overgrown feathers since he neglected preening out of annoyance of reaching his own back.
But the simple movement was soon rendered pointless as soft rain started falling from the sky.
Cool droplets carrying grace dripping, soaking his hair, his body.
Flowing.
Flooding and cooling his burning senses.
In hell, whilst hell fire rained death, in heaven every shower would brim the grounds with heavenly grace. It healed every wound. Or as they say.
Lucifer slumped down. This time, his back on the ground. Looking up at the pelting sky.
It started to rain as if it was flooding. Water glistening with golden hues which were beautiful together with the sun which started to emerge.
Amongst the faintly clouded sky, he could see the traces of his stars, twinkling their hellos to their creator.
The world was so beautifully, vividly full of life.
The pondside he was currently lying was a gift he had created for the Seraphim back in the old days when they were all busy.
Frogs and crickets were heard.
Birds nestling in their small refuge of twigs.
Fishes bouncing the surface, rejoicing of the refreshment.
Even when the benches were empty, he knew.
The place would not have survived if none had taken care of it. He even saw new flowers from the corners of his eyes.
Yellow daffodils which he always cherished with some other, the favorites of his brothers and sisters.
And in the midst of the mingling sensations and thoughts, the Morningstar closed his eyes. Letting the rain wash his face.
A short stay in his homeland had completely wasted his senses. His mouth throbbing from the strained smile he drew ever since.
Maybe when he stepped over the pearly gates.
Heaven rejoiced to have the joy bringer once more in its arms.
Vigor flooded the ground.
And though it was the love that he deserved. It took quite a long time for the joy bringer to get back to his feet once more. Brush off his shoulders, use some magic to clean him up after the skies cleared.
For though it was fulfilling, being adored by the world itself was sometimes quite taxing. Though he was okay, still. Yet.
His smile barely concealed the blue which threatened to overflow after eons of exhaustion.
And as he headed back to the streets like nothing had happened, for a moment Lucifer considered himself.
Still lying near that pond unmoving.
Free of all woes as grace drowned him silently from the inside.