Chapter Text
21ST OF OCTOBER,
4004 BC, 9:13 IN THE MORNING, 6000 YEARS AGO,
JUST AFTER THE BEGINNING
It starts, as it will end, with a garden. In this case, the Garden of Eden. And with an apple.
A gorgeous woman with black hair, naked and dark skin stood in the middle of a luscious green garden, with trees and leaves as green as... anything, at the moment. She was staring at an apple tree. The apple tree. The apple tree God had told them to leave alone, but... the apples did look lovely and juicy in this bright, gorgeous, yellow sunlight...
"You know..." Said a male voice, making her turn to see a tall, white man in a white robe, "if I wanted the apple, I would just take it..." He insisted with a nervous smile, nodding his head to the apple tree, "go on, Eve... this apple will give you..."
Eve needed no further temptation. She walked forward, a sway in her steps, not noticing the man leave with a sigh. She stared up at the apple tree, and reached her hand out, wrapping her long, slender fingers around a red apple, as red as as the first red to be invented... which it was. She plucked it from the green leaved branch with curious eyes, and took a big bite out of it, juice dribbling down her lip and chin. She grinned, and looked up to her romantic partner, Adam, and handed it over. With nothing but love, devotion and trust in his eyes, Adam took the apple, and took a bite out of the other end.
No sooner rather than later, the two found themselves with leaves covering their bodies were appropriate, and crawling through a hole in the Wall, stumbling out of The Garden of Eden into the hot, dusty sandy desert. Adam was holding a flaming something, it was hot with red, flickering flames, and Eve was holding her pregnant belly cautiously.
Adam lovingly helped Eve down from the small hill, and gave her comforting look, and she smiled nervously. He raised the fiery weapon, and walked forward, guarding Eve, who held her stomach, and followed.
It was a nice day.
All the days had been nice. There had been rather more than seven of them so far, and rain hadn't been invented yet. But the storm clouds gathering east of Eden suggested that the first thunderstorm was on its way. And it was going to be a big one.
The male from before, the one who had tempt-offered Eve the apple, stood on the Wall, overlooking the first two humans leave the garden. He wore a long white, clean robe, with a shiny golden trim that whipped against the picking up wind, and he had two, large and soft feathered wings, he was pale, tall, and eighty percent legs, with scraggly beard. His hair was brown, mixed with blond, and was long. His long, slender fingers twisted, and twirled strands of his hair nervously. His dark brown eyes scanned the area, as he rubbed his sloped nose, his golden bracelet glistening in the sun. He... has he done the Right thing? Tempt-offered Eve that apple? He was just testing her, them, right? He just... what was so curious...
A black scaled snake, with a red belly slithered up the Wall, around the angels feet, and phased upwards next to him. There next to him was another man, or at least male presenting like him. He was shorter than the angel, but had more muscle, more well built, with a lovely tan of sun kissed skin, and wet sandy browns. His hair was black as silk, and long, and straight, flapping in the wind, and his eyes were brown, nearing black, with two slit, vertical pupils. On the side of his face, near his side burn, was a tattoo of a snake and he was wearing a long, black cloak and dark black sash, that fluttered in the wind. Then he noticed the two, sharp, black feathered wings protruding, well groomed from his back... a Fallen angel, a demon...
"Well, that went down like a lead balloon." The demon said, staring out to the humans who were kicked out from The Garden.
The angel laughed nervously, feeling the roles of evil wash from the demon. He then frowned, realising he hadn't actually listened to what the demon had said, too overcome with the darkness washing from him and asked politely, "sorry, what was that?"
The demon looked to the angel, and repeated, rather amused, "I said, 'Well, that went down like a lead balloon.'"
The angel nodded, and looked forward again, "yeah, it did..."
"Bit of an overreaction, if you ask me." Hummed the demon, as the angel's eyes glanced over to him nervously. "First offence and everything." He looked the angel up and down, and waved a hand, an apple appearing in his hand and he took a bite, looking away from the angel again, it was like he was glowing. "Huh, nice robe." Offered the demon, with a snake-like, yet friendly smile, his sharp teeth glistening on show.
"Oh, uh... thanks." The angel tensed up, shoulders to his ears.
It fell silent between the two, as they watched the humans again. They were nervous of the other, afraid and tense of each other.
"Look, if I'm bein' honest..." Started the angel, and the demon looked to him. The angel leaned down, and shook his head with a confused face, "I can't see what's so bad about knowing the difference between Good and Evil anyway." His eyes held nothing but confusion, and curiosity.
"Well, it must be bad..." Started the demon, and paused as if waiting for a name.
"Shane." Smiled the angel, in tense friendliness.
"Shane." Repeated the demon, nodding his head, "otherwise, they wouldn't have been booted, hmm? Who did that anyway? I was gonna do that, thought it was a good idea... my lot told me, 'Get up there and make some trouble.'" He shrugged, "don't question, I just do..."
"Well, obviously..." Started Shane, trailing off as if waiting for a name.
The demon tensed up, a disgusted sneer on his face, "Rion." He nodded, a sneer on his face, nose scrunched up. He was now thinking about changing his name. Rion, he decided, was not him.
Shane nodded, "Rion, you are a demon. It's what you do."
"Who did that anyway?" Questioned Rion, eyes in confused interest, "I wanna congratulate the bastard." His eyes widened in though, a grin forming on his face, "oh! I could totally take credit it for this, probably get me a promotion! Did you see?" Asked Rion, looking to the demon in thought.
"I did that..." Whispered Shane, voice wavering.
Rion's face froze in a grin, his eyes wide, "you what?!"
"I did that!" Shane yelled, not loud enough for anyone Above to hear, but louder than before as he looked to the demon's gaze.
Rion's eyes went all starry, and amazed, as if he was entranced and in some sort of fantasy. His heart skipped a beat, and he lost an intake of air he didn't particularly need, his smile was still there, despite the fact his heart was threatening to escape, and he just stared, soft, awestruck.
"I-I just offered Eve the apple, it was me just testing!" Shane said, scratching the back of his head, "I... I didn't see the problem, and I... he... she... what's the issue with knowing Right from Wrong?" He questioned, terrified of what God would do to him if She found out. Would She make him Fall? He knew he almost Fell, but for some reason didn't... maybe, someone pushed him out the way?
Rion saw how Shane was working himself up into a frenzy, and said, "not very subtle of the Almighty." He said, with an at ease shrug. "Fruit tree in the middle of a garden with a 'Don't Touch' sign." He looked out again, stammering in thought, "ngk, I mean, why not put it on the top of a high mountain? Or on the moon?"
Shane subtly looked up, his eyes looking for the moon. It was a good question, wasn't it? Why not somewhere more safe? He frowned, and silently scolded himself. He almost Fell once, he doesn't need to give Her anymore reason to make him Fall.
"Makes you wonder what God's really planning." Offered Rion with a tempting smile, wiggling slightly were he stood. It was like he couldn't stand still.
"Learned not to question, and neither should you." Warned Shane, looking over the demon. His eyes landed on Rion's wings, and the demon folded the back slightly, looking forward again with a frown. "It's all part of the Great Plan." Reasoned Shane, "it's not for us to understand..." He paused, swallowing and gave a wary, and quiet disgusted look to the demon, but it wasn't aimed at him. "It's ineffable." He winced out, as if those weren't his words, as if they were someone else's.
Rion frowned, confused, "the Great Plan's ineffable?" He asked, with a disgusted sneer, full of doubt and utter disbelief.
"Yep." Shane looked to him, "it is beyond understanding and incapable of being put into words."
Rion just stared in disbelief and looked him up and down, annoyed. Maybe this angel wasn't so different from the angels he vaguely remembers from before The Fall? He did notice Shane look him over, and he smirked, with a coy smile, one full of lust, "yes, handsome?"
"Didn't you steal one of Heaven's flaming swords?" Questioned Shane. He had seen a snake slither into The Garden, he had seen a demon, which he now realised was Rion, and he had watched the demon pick up the Flaming Sword, and he had watched him swing it around with precision, and natural skill.
"Uh..." Rion paused, frowning.
"You did. It was flaming like anything." Shane said, shaking his head, "what happened to it?" It was then he realised he should probably be doing some form of smiting, getting rid of the demon, doing actual Principality angelic things, or something along those lines... but, he found himself not wanting to, not really. He didn't want to hurt the demon, he didn't even feel the twitch in his fingers like most angels do in close proximity with demons... he rather liked the demon.
"Uh..."
"Stashed it already, have you?" Question Shane with a weak glare, "give it back." He demanded - there! Him being an angel!
"Gave it away." Whispered Rion.
"You wot?!" Screamed Shane in horror, hands clasped around his mouth.
"I gave it away!" Rion admitted louder, nervously. He could see how horrified the angel was, and feared the angel would smite him, "look, I took it and got bored! It's not like I needed it, so I gave it away, figured it'd make things more interesting that way." He shrugged, backing away from the angel slightly.
Roaring sounded in the distance, and the two snapped their heads over to watch. It was true, Adam held a Flaming Sword. A lion was heading to the humans, and Adam rushed forward, using the Flaming Sword on the poor lion, slashing at it, and kept Eve back in the distance, who gasped in fear for her lover, hands over he mouth. She rushed over, hugging Adam with a smile, and he hugged back softly, a smile on his face.
Shane stared, and his eyes widened. He looked over to Rion, who's eyes were soft and gentle, a small smile on his face, watching the first couple of Humanity.
"You wanted to protect them..." Whispered Shane, his eyes sparkling, his heart beat was speeding slightly. He was floored, and filled with wonder, he was... captivated.
Rion's eyes widened, and he looked over to the angel in shock, surprised.
"You gave them the sword so they could defend themselves..." Shane said, amazed and practically glowing.
Rion's mouth opened, going to deny it, but he paused. Shane has shared a lot with him, and so he said, "there are vicious animals! It's going to be cold out there, and she's expecting already." He pointed to them. "And I said, 'Here you go. Flaming sword. Don't thank me. And don't let the sun go down on you here.'" He could see it now, as he ran up to the man and woman, handing it over and holding a hand to stop them from saying anything, physically stressing the 'don't thank me' rule. He had sent them on their way, and they seemed grateful.
"You care about them..." Shane said, amazed.
"No! It was mainly me... disposing of evidence!" Snapped Rion, scowling at the beaming angel, "stop glowing!" He looked away, scowling, "for Hell's sake!"
Shane looked forward, as it fell silent between the two again. Shane kept smiling, and Rion scowled. As the two watched the first humans, the quicker it began to settle what the two had done, and what it meant for them...
"I hope I didn't do the Wrong thing." Sighed Shane, as he gripped his robe and began to pull at the thread. If he hadn't offered Eve the apple, the humans would still be here, and he would have the Flaming Sword still, and the demon would have been smote. Or, Rion would have done the... tempting, it would be then, not offering, tempting, and Shane would be innocent.
Rion looked to Shane, and said softly and assuring him, "oh, you're an angel. I don't think you can do the wrong thing." Neither acknowledged the fact that angel's can do the wrong thing, Rion was living proof of that.
Shane visibly relaxed, "oh, thank you." He sighed out, looking to Rion in relief. He smiled, shyly admitting, "It's been bothering me."
"I've been worrying, too." Rion admitted, over looking the couple, who poked the lion to make sure it was well, and truly dead. "What if I did the Right thing with the whole 'give the sword' business?" He questioned, voice showing clear discomfort.
Shane tensed up, it is true... what if the demon did the Right thing? Then what? What would happen? I mean, sure the Flaming Sword is gone forever now, but it keeps the humans safe.
Rion looked to him, and it was then Shane noticed his eyes were all dark brown nearing black, no whites of his eyes. Though the demons eyes were full of fear and panic, "a demon can get into a lot of trouble for doing the Right thing."
Shane's face fell, but he shook his head, "you're a demon, I'm not sure it's possible for you to do the Right thing."
"It'd be funny if we both got it wrong, eh?" Rion questioned, nudging the angel, and Shane's head snapped to him. "If I did the good thing and you did the bad one." The demon laughed out, smiling.
Shane joined in, laughing as well, but his face turned to one of horror. "No!" He snapped, no longer laughing, as he glanced nervously out, "it wouldn't be funny at all."
"Well..." Shrugged Ryan, his small and laughter sobering up. "I suppose not."
It suddenly began raining with a loud boom and rumble, the thunderstorm starting. Droplets of water pattered down onto the Wall, the grey ground and onto the celestial beings.
Rion jumped, his eyes wide in a mad panic, unsure of what this water thing was coming from the sky, and if it would hurt him. Shane noticed, and automatically, either from being an angel, or because he was rather... fond of the demon, held up his white wing covering the demon, shielding him from as much water as possible, not bothered as his wing got wet and heavy, and he kept watching Eve and Adam stare at the lion.
Swallowing, Rion stared at Shane, his eyes soft, and he cursed Her, God must hate him if She's making him Fall all over again, for an angel, who would never, ever feel anything for a low level demon such as himself. He hates Her, how dare She torture him more? Is She getting a good laugh out of this?! He looked over Shane;s face, admiring the soft features, and sloped nose, that was dripping wet with water, the liquid wetting his long sandy hair, and wetting his gorgeous long lashes, that now glistened from the light.
Shane looked down to him with a kind smile, and Rion immediately shuffled over next to Shane, taking shelter under the white wing carefully, not needing to duck down to hide under them, and Shane's gentle smile grew, happy to have the well built, and rather nice looking demon stood so close to him.
The two looked out to the humans, over the Wall, as the rain thundered down on them.
It was going to be a dark and stormy night.
Unsolved Omens, being a narrative of certain events occurring in the last eleven years of human history, in strict accordance, as shall be shown, with The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Lim, Witch.