Chapter Text
When Phanes awoke he was alone. Not a soul, but the soothing whispers of the creator was around. Not a voice as some humans would suspect, but a soft ghost of the presence that seeped through his being. It told him to create .
So he did.
Phanes spent his first moments, walking throughout Eden, exploring the vast domain given to him. It took him a while to fully understand his role, his function , given to him by the presence; They told him to tend to all those who enter through his gate. He learned that his guests were mortal beings called humans and came from another realm where they lived upon a deity called Gaia. While he did not fully understand, Phanes decided he would take his function to the utmost importance in honor of the being who made him.
He made a garden to welcome the arrival of his guests. Lush greenery and vibrant colors bloomed from every inch of his domain.
So his guest could properly see the array of colors, he made sunlight shine ribbons across Eden from the sky.
To memorialize the presence who created him, he created wind. Phanes could almost imagine the soothing whispers ghosting by him everytime the wind blew.
As not to scare his guests he made a mortal body of his own -not unlike theirs; A friendly face, long dark locks, and familiar green eyes like the natural color of Gaia’s earth.
Everything was perfect; Phanes was alone but he knew it did not matter. Because soon he would be fulfilling his role and no longer would he be alone within Eden. Now that all preparations were set, all Phanes could do was wait..
He once again found himself walking throughout Eden. But unlike before, his goal was not to uncover his home, but instead to bide time. Sharp moss eyes looked for any imperfections or mistakes that required correction within his land. The deity could not see anything amiss. To him everything looked perfect.
Looking down into the garden’s cristal clear lake, Phanes could not help but wonder: perhaps he needed an outsider's perspective. But who? There was none but him in Eden. The wind blew gently across the grass. His curls fluttered around the curve of his face and a whisper of the wind rolled by him. An idea hit him. Just as he created the wind and blades of grass between his toes, he could create another set of eyes.
Like he made his own vessel, he started with the basic mold of a mortal; a head, two arms, a pair of legs, ten fingers and toes and a pointy nose. Next was to mold them. If he wanted another’s opinion they would have to be different than himself- so Phanes gave them bright blue eyes like the skies that hung above the garden and ringlets of platinum blond as if the sun kissed her scalp. The girl was long-limbed, with the ability to reach much higher than himself. She had the dreams, dispares and desires of a mortal human.
“Wake up, sister.” Bright blue eyes fluttered open.
She was the new pair of eyes Eden needed.
He decided to name her Samael.
____
Samael acted a lot like what he imagined mortals might act; Curious, excited, adventurous, she was determined to fully chart the never ending land of Eden. It was -of course- impossible but he found no reason to tell her so. Phanes told her about his function and her own function. She seemed to understand well enough and took the time to voice her opinion on everything within his domain, which the deity appreciated.
She asked many questions, from the reason for the color of each flower to the sun plastered in the sky. He tried to answer all his sister's inquiries but some did not have any rhyme or reason to tell:
Samael was crouched down in front of the garden’s flowers, gently caressing their petals. “Am I a guest, brother?” They had spent their time exploring the vast land when the newly born seemingly gave up finding its end. She glanced up to Phanes who was knee deep in the garden lake, his long white gown soaked at the tips. “No, this is your home just as it is mine.” Looking around, Samael frowned; she had yet to see anyone else. “Where are the guests then?” He looked over to the gates, who had yet to open. “They are not here yet.”
“Oh.. Where are they now?” The girl had long since abandoned the patch of flowers and was instead sprawled out on the bed of grass at the edge of the water. She stared up into the sky, her eyes almost a reflection of the world above. Phanes followed his sister’s gaze up. “In the mortal world walking Gaia’s land. My job is to tend to them when they make it to my gates.” The younger one sat up abruptly. “And my job is to help keep Eden perfect?”
He chuckled. “Yes.”
____
The two siblings were happy. Samael was the addition he and his domain needed. She saw things as a mortal that he could not, she could tell what was missing from Eden, whereas Phanes could not. More life , she told him one day as they enjoyed fruit from the apple orchard. She told him the garden was missing more life, so he created a vast array of woodland creatures -not unlike the ones that walk upon Gaia: Swans to master the skies and wind, fish to populate the empty lakes, rabbits to hide in between the gardens flora and fireflies to watch over his future guests during the night.
Samael was especially fond of the creation of the swans. Several times he caught her feeding their young fruit they spent the morning picking. She seemed obsessed with the animals, watching them closely as they spread out their long feathered wings before taking off into the air.
One day as he found Samael watching the young Swans learn to fly, Phanes had an idea of a gift for his sister. A perfect way to show his thankfulness for all her help with the preparations. He quickly left for an empty part of Eden.
It did not take him long to find Samael -afterall Eden was simply an extension of himself; He could feel anyone or anything that walked on the grass below his feet. She was resting, curled up under a tree. Light that shone from between the leaves left patches of light in her shadowed figure. “Samael, I have a present for you!” She gave him a confused expression. Standing up to her full height she gave Phanes her full attention. “Oh? What is it, brother?” In a dramatic spin, he turned to show his back to her. Phanes heard her take a sharp breath.
Folded up against his backside, two cloud white wings were attached to him. He stretched them out to their full size and was delighted when he could feel a slight breeze flowing through his feathers. At a loss for words, she circled around him, her eyes never moving from his back.
“Are you able to lift off the ground with them like the swan by the lake?” The deity paused for a second. His wings were based on a swan’s. “I can not see why I would be unable to.” Copying the running start the swans took, Phanes stretched out his wings to their full length and let the wind take them. While compared to the swans’ his start was less elegant, but soon enough he too was gliding through the sky without any trouble.
Samael watched in amazement. Her brother’s power always surprised her, Phanes could create lands, beings, animals, there were no limitations, just his imagination. Sometimes she was jealous. Samael had no shame in admitting it. She was made by her brother to feel like a mortal. What mortal would not feel envy towards such power?
The landing was less than perfect but Phanes promised his sister he could practice. “Turn around, sister, I will make you a pair as well!” Following her brother’s instructions, she felt two cold hands touch her back. A sudden surge of energy was concentrated on her skin and two wings sprouted from her back.
As Samael looked over her shoulder to the pair of feathered masses, she promised herself to not get blinded by her brother's powers and to protect his innocence from men.
____
When the first mortal entered Eden, Phanes felt it as a jolt.
He and his sister were in the garden. Samael was playing with the younger rabbits, while he was tending to the flowers. They were getting used to the heavy weights on their backs using them as if they were simply another pair of arms.
He knew the second when the human entered. Without even warning to his sister -who was oblivious to the momentous event- Phanes disappeared. He always assumed the golden gates would open to greet his guest, instead he found them in a world within Eden cut off from the garden -a canvas; it seems the mortal’s truest desire found itself in a field of grass.
As to not scare the man he hid his wings. Wind rolled from over the hill, sliding down its curves. They were surrounded by a herd of sheep and the man was holding a long wooden stick curved at the end with a bell. He was a shepherd and this was his herd.
Once close enough, he turned to Phanes. His long rags draped across him. The man did not seem surprised in the least to be in the presence of the deity. His face held a look of nostalgia as if seeing his younger life through the wistful scene. If the deity squinted at the figure he would agree, the mortal looked younger, at peace.
“Death brought me here.” A simple statement. “Yes, she has judged you to be a guest in my domain.” “Are you God?” Who was God? “No, my name is Phanes.” The man offered a small curve of the lips. “Mine is Eijorl.”
“Welcome to Eden, Eijorl.” He said grandly with a smile.
____
“Where did you leave to?!” Samael was furious, how could her brother leave with no warning or sign? Did Phanes not realize how anxious he left her?
“I’m sorry, sister. My first guest arrived and I was too excited to wait.” She paused, her wings closing up as they did when she was confused or sad. “You mean a mortal is here?” Blue eyes scanned the area around them looking for any hint of a human being nearby. “He is not within the garden. I found him within a canvas.” Samael was at a loss for words, there was still so much she did not know about her brother.
“Canvas?” She asked curiously as the creases in her eyebrows soften. “They take the truest desire of a mortal and make a world for them.” “What was his world?” “A grass field with a herd of sheep living inside.” “Oh, that’s boring.” Phanes smiled. “I quite like it.” “You're weird.” She abruptly switched topics. “I do not want to discuss mortals anymore. Can we play in the lake?” “Of course, sister.”
____
Phanes visited Eijorl often. The man told him stories about his life in the mortal world. While he claimed his life was quite mundane compared to others, the deity did not agree; He heard about his childhood days spent on farmland, the meeting between him and his future wife -Lina- at his local church, stories about his young girl -Eva- and Eijorl’s dream to be a shepherd. In return, Phanes showed the man his wings and told him about his sister.
It was not long until more humans entered Eden. Each of them appeared in a canvas of their own or in pairs. Phanes made sure to welcome each one of them, but as to not worry Samael -who had grown spiteful from his constant disappearances, he split his conscience. This way he would never have to leave Samael’s side. As for the mortals, while most had similar reactions to Phanes as Eijorl, their canvas were anything but similar; some desired to stare from the mountains to the land below, other's desire came from a life of fishing, many simply rejoined their loved one’s truest desire. He believed thoses were the happiest.
While his sister listened to stories about the new mortals, she did not seem interested in meeting any of them. Samael claimed that they were all boring and she rather spent her time within the garden. Her opinion did not deter Phanes from telling her rants about the different humans or new things he learned about the mortal world.
“If you are interested in the mortal world, why not visit?" Samael said botheredly, interrupting one of his many rants. He paused considering her question. “My role is here in Eden not in the mortal world.” He looked longingly to the gate. “You are a deity, you can be in two places at once. I know you can, you welcome new mortals every moment without leaving my side.” Phanes did not respond. “You are scared.”, his sister said in realization.
“Yes I am.”, the deity admitted. It was in these moments, Samael realized how little his brother knew about the world. Even with his powers Phanes was still young, innocent to the sins of the mortals he tended to. She knew the evil within them, after all she was created to be mortal in every way but blood. The promise she made to herself rang in her head.
Standing up his sister whipped her dress and took his hand in her’s. “I could join you.” Phanes looked surprised. “Really?” She shrugged. “Sure.”
Not wasting another moment, he tugged his sister to the gate. Animals from the garden followed them. While the creatures tolerated Samael, sometimes willing to play with her -like the swans or rabbits, they seem to have a soft spot for their creator; the fish would nibble and tickle his skin, the rabbit would rub their heads on his legs, the swans would rest near him and the fireflies would always float close by.
He turned around to wave a goodbye to the animals. “We will return soon!” With that, the golden gates swung open for Phanes and his sister.
____
It was a smooth descent from Eden with their wings. They did not land in any specific spot, just somewhere Phanes could sense mortal presence nearby.
While Samael felt no change in the blades of grass from that of their garden, Phanes could. Unlike in Eden, where his domain was a part of him, Gaia felt different. He could not feel those who walk on this grass, breathing this air. Instead he could sense the presence of the beings on Gaia. It was like a connection was formed between the gods who made up this realm and himself.
“Do you know how to find humans?” Samael said, her hand still holding onto her brother’s. “I do.” Pulling Samael along they walked through the forest. The woodling creatures seemed curious of them, coming over to watch as the siblings made their way. Soon they were out of the woods. Looking down the hill, they saw a village on the coast of a flowing river.
“Are we to fly down?” “Yes, I made sure we are hidden to the human eye.” Gliding downwards, they dropped down outside the small groupement of houses. It was odd. Phanes always assumed mortals would be louder but he could not hear anything come from the settlement. “I thought you said you could lead us to humans? This place is empty.”
The deity was about to answer when he felt a sudden appearance. “He did.” He knew who she was before she even muttered a word. A woman around Phanes’ height came out of a house nearby. Long black hair and dark skin, blended into the shadows. A gold ankh glittered under the sun being the only hint of her appearance.
“Who are you?” Samael was agitated by the new presence. Her hand clenched around her brother’s. How could she see us, she bares human eyes. Unless the woman before them was not mortal? This did not quell her fear in the least.
“Death.” Phanes answered his sister’s question who raised an eyebrow. “She brings the guests to Eden.” Death smiled. “I am honored to have the ruler of light know my name.” “The mortals always speak highly of you.”
“Where are the humans?” Samael asks cautiously. Without answering his sister, Death walked further into the village. Him and his sister followed, Phanes closer than Samael. They turn the corner to only see red. Mutilated bodies of mortals and horses are spread out across the center of the settlement. In the middle of the conflict men can be seen, fighting one another with spears and swords.
The clashes continue. “Why are they attacking one another?” Phanes could not understand. “They come to kill the chief.” “Why kill him?” Death opened her mouth to answer, but his sister responded instead. “He hurt others.” “Oh..” He pointedly spoke to Death, “Will any of them become guests of Eden?”
“No. They all have hurt someone.”
Soon only one man stood victorious. With a loud cry he stabbed a knife through his own chest. The war was over.
____
Since their visit to Gaia’s domain, Phanes changed. Samael could see it, the animals within could feel, even the guests within Eden could tell. He seemed unfocused and confused. His routine stayed the same: play with Samael and the animals, talk and greet new guests, and retell the same stories back to his sister. But he was more quiet and his smile reached his eyes a little less.
Samael knew how much his brother admired mortals. How could mortals throw away virtue, her brother, for sin? So one day she came up with a brilliant idea.
“Why not take away human agency, brother?” Phanes stared at her in confusion. “What do you mean?” “Take away their choice so none sin!” The pride and excitement on her face completely opposed her brother’s who looked shocked and offended. “No.” Now it was her turn to be confused. “No?” “We have no right to take another’s will while keeping our own.”
She frowned. “Why should flawed creatures as themselves have the right of choice!?” “What makes them so flawed?” “They hurt others!” “If we took away human agency we would be hurting others.” “No, we would be saving humans from themselves! Why can you not see? Why do you protect them so?!” “It is my function.” “What am I then to you? A tool for your function?” “You are my sister.”
“I was made by you, to be your depiction of a mortal human. My function is to keep Eden perfect and I tell you humans are flawed. So humans are flawed.” “Why should flaws matter?” “Perfect means flawless.” “Perfect means as good as possible.” “Then I am nothing more than a flawed aide to your function!” “You are more than that.” “What am I then?!” Phanes looked around confused as if stating the obvious, “You are my sister.” Without thinking she pushes Phanes, who trips onto the grass. “No, I am just a fake mortal you made because you were lonely!” Samael was about to tackle Phanes when the deity lifted up his hands out of instinct.
A huge gust of wind rolls and the ground of the garden suddenly cracks open. With no ground to stand on Samael fell through. Phanes watches in horror as his sister falls further and further. Before he can even attempt to help her, the crack repairs itself as if nothing happened. The deity let out a profoundly confused sob. A sudden surge of power passes through the garden like the wind. Phanes pupils disappear and the ground where Samael fell is ripped upwards. But as he was hoping to find where Samael fell through, all he can find is dirt. More and more dirt is ripped from the ground, but nothing comes from it.
The deity is reduced to a broken mess. His mortal body left to crumble as he returns to his conscious state to weep. The mortal world feels his sadness through the rain.
____
She tries to slow her fall with her wings but the temperature skyrockets and her feathers catch on fire. In an agonizing pain she curls up into a ball. Like a meteor, Lucifer crashes into hades’ wasteland. Looking up she cannot see the calming light of Eden. While flames of sin burn across her skin, she cannot help but feel cold without her brother.