“You’re not Father’s favorite anymore,Brother. Rumors of your depraved misdeeds have spread all throughout Paradise like a cancer, and it puts our family to shame.”
“My misdeeds?” I blinked.
“Don’t you dare play the innocent miracle card, Lucifer. Your cock didn’t accidentally fall into your ward. You seduced her. You defiled her. You were charged with protecting her innocence, and you defiled it. You know what they are calling you now? The Prince of Darkness. You are the poster child for sin, and you shame us. You shame Father.”
I stared at him blankly, unable to garner a response.
His lip curled into a cruel sneer. “What, no witty comeback? Where is the sly and cunning Lucifer now?”
The gates opened, and all the familiar faces in the grandstands made my heart plummet to the bottom of my stomach. Every single seat was filled. I’d never seen the Hall of Trials this packed, with faces I recognized and some I didn’t. In the jury seats were the rest of my siblings. At least there was some relief in that. I hadn’t been nervous about this trial until Michael had said the things he had. It would be just like him to blow this whole thing out of proportion. I’d been “in trouble” before, but his words had packed a particular punch, striking me deep, invoking an emotion I had no previous acquaintance with. Still, I knew it all the same.
Fear.
My wings pulled tight around my body as if my beast was trying to comfort me. Right now, I would give anything to be able to read my siblings’ minds. What were they thinking?
I was probably psyching myself out. I’d get a minor scolding from Father and then be sent on my way. Still, it was comforting to see my other siblings on the jury. Amenadiel, Raziel, and Uriel didn’t hate me like my own twin brother did.
Michael pushed me inside, and I hissed at him, pushing him away with a wing. He shot me one last, sour look before taking his seat with the rest of my siblings in the jury booth, leaving me to stand in the center of the stadium of seats with all their eyes on me.
Maybe I couldn’t glean their thoughts, but somehow I didn’t have to. The judgment radiating from all of them was palpable in the air.
Turning my attention to the empty throne that towered over everyone, I waited with bated breath for it to be filled.
It seemed like an eternity had stretched by before there was a blinding flash of light. Everyone squeezed their eye’s shut to avoid losing their vision. Then, when I looked again, He was there.
Father.
The Almighty.
Lord and Master of the entire universe.
He was a handsome old man, I had to give him that. His white hair seemed to fall perfectly into place. His facial hair was nicely trimmed and never grew. He had bright, beautiful blue eyes with many wrinkles in their corners from an eon worth of smiles. He wore simple, white clothes. He never was one for show unless it came to the things He specifically created. And I had never, ever seen him shift.
Ever.
He preferred to stroll around his kingdom, looking like a normal man. There was speculation, of course, as to what his true form looked like. But we could only guess.
“Father, what in the world is going on—”
“How dare you speak before the Almighty has spoken!” Michael hissed from the jury table.
I rolled my eyes at my twin. “Would you like me to help you down from that high horse, Brother? We wouldn’t want you to stumble and fall flat on your face.”
“Quiet, both of you,” Father muttered, his face carved with irritation.
The entire courtroom fell silent.
“Lucifer,” my father sighed. “My eldest son. You’ve brought shame and disappointment upon our family this day.”
“Yes, Michael was kind enough to fill me in on that part,” I said through a terse smirk. “Though I’m not really sure what my crime is.”
This caused a ripple of murmurs to burst out over the crowd. My siblings turned to each other, shaking their heads and whispering among themselves.
Father plucked up a bushy white brow. “Surely I don’t need to recount your crimes to the court, Son.”
“Go ahead.” I shrugged. “Seems like it will make for wicked good gossip later. Slather my name about, start your rumors. I can just read the papers now. ‘Former Favored Son of God, Fallen to New Depths of Depravity, Who Has Now Pulled His Innocent Ward Into a Web of Carnal Filth.’”
“That’s enough, Lucifer. When I selected you as the first guardian among all my celestials, I expected you to serve as an example for others to follow in your suit. You’re supposed to keep your ward safe, protect her.”
