Chapter Text
You must be fully prepared to lose a great deal
in order to make a great deal.
-Traditional Proverb
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“We must decide what to do with Lucifer’s unborn child.”
The Council leader, Orphiel, addressed the other seven archangels seated at the table in the throne room of Heaven. He stared at each one of his siblings, his face severe as he studied them. They weren’t the strongest willed lot, but that was why it had been crippling when Yahweh went insane. Sighing sadly, he reflected that the strongest-willed brethren who would have been the most suitable for a leadership position were in Hell, or had Fallen. Now it was up to him to take up the heavy burden of rulership until a replacement for Father could be found.
He glanced at the far end of the table. One seat remained suspiciously empty at the end, which has the other angels muttering uneasily.
“You all know that the Nephilim’s birth is fast approaching. This puts the Earth in grave danger. The threat must be dealt with,” the archangel said.
“Raphael has said that he does not yet know if it truly is a Nephilim,” Ariel stated.
“He has ties to the Fallen One, and I believe he can no longer be trusted to be impartial,” Orphiel said. “That is why I have called you all here while he is away. We must come to an unbiased consensus as to what must be done with the Old God and the Nephilim.
“We all know that the child is a Nephilim. What else could it be? Since when have angel and human come together and not begotten a Nephilim? Never. It is not unreasonable to assume that Raphael is withholding information out of loyalty to the Fallen One and the Old God,” Orphiel stated dispassionately.
“We have made a deal with Lucifer,” another angel, Jegudiel, said. “The Old God saved Father’s life. We cannot go back on it.”
Orphiel sighed. “The Fallen One stated that he would dispose of the baby if it was a Nephilim, which we all know it to be. He has not done so -- instead he waits for it to be born. Our brother Barachiel may not have been entirely wrong in his concerns that Lucifer is planning to unleash it upon the Earth.
“We are custodians of the Earth,” he continued. “With Father in the state he is in, we cannot shirk our responsibility to the humans which he has entrusted to us. A Nephilim loose on the planet would wreak havoc. You all remember the last time Nephilim roamed the Earth.”
The other angels exchanged glances, muttering and nodding.
“You remember the devastation they caused, the lives lost -- and how hard they were to kill. Father had to order the Flood to kill them all.
“The Nephilim still sits in its mother’s womb. Once it leaves the womb, it will start to grow exponentially fast. It will be unstoppable. We must destroy it before it is born. Who is with me on this?”
Nervous muttering could be heard throughout the throne room as the other Council members looked at each other and discussed their options. Slowly, the hands of the seven archangels went up. Orphiel raised his hand, as well.
“Very good,” he said. “Eight to one, assuming Raphael would be opposed. We have a majority. Let us take care of the abomination.”
“But we cannot kill the Nephilim if Lucifer is with the Old God. He would fight us,” Raguel said. “How are we to destroy the blight if the Fallen One is there to protect his woman?”
“You raise a good point,” Orphiel said. “I will give the Fallen One one last chance to fulfill his duty. After that, we must take control of the situation ourselves, even if it means war with the Fallen One. Earth is at stake -- we cannot risk its destruction.” He nodded to everyone. “I shall keep you all informed of the progress. Dismissed.”