SAMAEL

My father's eyes never left mine, daring me to speak while yet encouraging me. As I stood there, I scowled. While they were all watching me, some of them grimaced slightly whenever I moved, as if being just a little bit closer to me would protect them from something. 

"You're giving the agency to imperfect beings?", I asked father, "that just sounds like a bad idea"

The hall was reverberating with murmurs, and I saw that even Lucifer was staring at me with a hint of concern. My dad didn't have any "bad ideas." Simply put, it was impossible. He always planned since he knew how it would turn out. And I was aware of this.

"I can't control them the same way I cannot control you", father said, "all beings are deserving of the ability to make their own decisions", he added, his eyes sweeping the hall briefly before they moved back to me, "or do you think taking away choice would be better for everyone? For you?"

I shrugged, "is it really a made choice if you know what I'll decide in the end?", I asked, "What happens when the humans make a decision that isn't in line with your ministry? Mind you, a decision you anticipated they would make even before you made them. Will you punish them too? Lock them up in a specially designed hell?"

"Samael", Michael hissed, "do us all a favor and sit down. You've only just returned and you're already acting-"

"Every angel has the right to share their opinions about this", Lucifer rose in defense, "and Samael is an angel"

Michael glared at him in response.

I glanced at my father as the angels continued to converse with one another. He messed with his beard while smiling at me. It was a gentle smile which I hated.

I heard a fresh voice say, "Please, be silent," and as I turned to find Uriel standing, I sighed sadly. Out of all of us, he was the tallest and the skinniest. His skin was a pale copper hue, and he had fairly short hair. As the commotion in the hallway quiet down and Lucifer and Michael seated, his grey eyes turned to me. 

"It's lovely to see you again, Samael, after all this time," he added. 

I couldn't help but notice the scar on his neck as he brushed his long fingers along his lips. He could have healed that a long time ago, but it seemed that even he was unable to move past that particular day.

"Uriel...", I mumbled, not knowing what else to say.

I didn't realize how much I missed him until I heard his voice.

"You've been gone for quite a while so perhaps you need a lecture on how things are done around here", his tone was condescending and it made Raphael snicker.

"Your viewpoint has been properly acknowledged. Although the praise event is not the appropriate venue for such discussions," he said, "I can see that some other angels share your concerns, so with Father's permission...", he turned to our father, "...perhaps we could schedule a debate."

A debate.

I bit my bottom lip.

Father grinned and extended his hand to tenderly touch Uriel's head "of course. Make the necessary preparations," he declared. 

Uriel's eyes lit up and he beamed before turning back to me, "prepare your defense for the debate Samael"

Then, standing, Lucifer asked, "Does this mean..."

"It means he'll be going against father", Uriel cut him off, "we'll see you then", he said to me.

As he and my father walked back to their seats, I cast an apologetic look over to Lucifer but he stared at me like he couldn't understand what just happened.

***

Later, while the angels were leaving the hall, I stood in a corner and watched Lucifer speak to the band. As they went, some authorities regarded me with suspicion, possibly waiting for me to do something wrong so they could imprison me while the virtues muttered among themselves. I knew what everyone was thinking. In a debate, how would I respond to my father? 

Heavenly debates resembled court proceedings. We resolved disputes by debating in front of my father, who served as the judge and jury because we weren't allowed to fight or harm each other. The last debate I attended was the one that decided my fate after the incident with Michael. I wasn't exactly eager about a new one.

However, there was something different about this. Since my father was the one who was against me, I had to be very persuasive. Granting humanity free agency was only a ruse. He intended to set up several regulations for them, allow them the option to break those rules, and perhaps even present them with temptations before punishing them. 

I knew the game well. I had played it and I had lost.

I was aware that the majority of the angels believed I was crazy to dare question my father's motivations. I didn't care what any of them thought. As Lucifer left the band and walked over to me, I wondered only what he thought.

I tried to say, "Lucifer, i-," but he pushed his finger to my lips and silenced me. 

"Not here, let's go to my music room", he said, taking my hand and drawing me out of the hall.

As we ran outside, I felt a little relieved. He wasn't upset with me, and the fact that he held my hand as we walked showed that he wasn't embarrassed to be seen with me either. We returned to the music room where I had first seen him, and he released me, cast a quick glance outside, and locked the door. 

"First of all," he leaned against the door, "you seemed so scared when we got to the hall, I didn't think you would get involved in anything."

"Are you mad at me?", I asked.

He appeared astonished, but he quickly shook his head and said, "No, I'm just puzzled." 

"Why?"

"Because father brought this news, and you're now debating it with him," 

"You weren't aware of the humans?"

He shook his head and smiled regretfully. 

I frowned. It was strange. Everyone was aware that Father's favorite was Lucifer. He frequently had firsthand knowledge of everything. 

"What's on your mind?", I asked as he made his way over to the couch in the corner of the room.

"I'm concerned. He sat, saying, "I don't think the humans are necessary, but they also don't pose a threat. I'm more worried because father is making odd decisions." 

"So you concur that granting the agency to creatures who are nowhere near as perfect as we are is-"

"Strange yes", Lucifer looked up at me, "but we have to trust father."

"Forget father", I said, "what do you think?"

He lowered his head and focused on his feet, "I think you need that debate", he said, "because father will love the humans and with how they will be, they may not love him the same. Samael, do you have any idea what that would be like? if they don't feel the same way about him?" 

I couldn't help but feel that we were two quite different angels as I sat next to him. While Lucifer was more concerned that my father would not be liked by some of the creatures he had made, I wanted to expose him for the being that he really was.

"We should go", he said, "to earth, study them, find out what they think."

His suggestion astounded me; I asked, "what?"

"How else are you going to prove that it's a bad idea?", he asked, "if we find that even one of the humans doesn't love father then that's all we need."

I thought as I pursed my lips. Going to Earth required me to move covertly, which I could manage, but it seemed risky still. Without first getting father's permission, angels were presumably not permitted to interact with people, and if we were discovered, the authorities would undoubtedly punish me. 

I nodded my head, "let's do it."

"Okay, we'll go to earth after we eat some manna for strength," Lucifer said, fidgeting with his fingers. 

He got up and made his way over to the door. As I watched him, I had some reservations. I tried to recall any instance where I might have forced him to bring up the subject or perhaps I had unintentionally enticed him to say or do something, but I couldn't find any evidence of my involvement. I noticed that skip in his gait and the glum expression on the side of his face. 

All of it was Lucifer.