The Genesis of Seven

by Sara M Schaller

  “What do you think it means?”

  “I am not sure. But it must be serious.”

  “Right.” I carefully placed my violin in its case and stowed it away in my designated cabinet. “We must go.”

  Raphael and I strode out of the Sanctuary of Music, passing by the other six sanctuaries containing each circle of vocation. All angels in the Third Choir were gifted certain skills that determined which circle they would be placed into. The circles were grouped into seven categories: healing, home, teaching, nature, art, power, and music.

  I was placed as an angel of music, but this was unusual for an archangel as many of our rank were placed into the other circles.

  The sanctuaries were spread out next to each other in a half-arc shape along the valley. Above the entrance of each sanctuary was a symbol representative of the vocation housed in each. There was a caduceus, a flame, a scroll, a tree, an artist’s palette, a helmet, and a music note.

  In the distance, the sanctuaries were overlooked by two cathedrals on the hills and by three towers on the edge of Low Heaven. The cathedrals housed the Council of Principalities and the Council of Angels, but Raphael and I were headed for the three towers—the middle of which held the Council of Archangels. It was flanked on either side by the Watch Towers, where two archangels stood on duty throughout day and night, watching over the world.

  We flew immediately to the middle tower. These structures, unlike the sanctuaries and cathedrals, looked more like circular observatories, with wide-open entranceways permitting us to fly directly into them. Once we landed, Raphael rushed forward to a large wooden door that held thirteen different keyholes. All of them but two were lit, indicating the owners of the keys were already inside. Raphael and I were the last two remaining.

  We inserted our keys in the proper places, and the door creaked open.

  Sitting around a large circular table, upon which the sky and all of its stars were reflected, were the eleven other archangels who had been appointed by Father to sit on the council. We did not know why He had chosen the thirteen of us in particular, but we all suspected He saw favorable qualities in each of us. Father had based our appointments on the astrological constellations He founded when creating the sky and all of its stars.

  Raphael and I walked into the room, headed to our respective seats, as the door slammed behind us. Everyone heard the locks click, shutting us in and preventing anyone on the outside from disturbing us. I sat down in my chair with my wings comfortably situated. The backs of all the seats were tall and slender, allowing them to run up the middle of our backs so our wings were not affected or confined. Each seat had a symbol inscribed on the slim back relating to the astrological constellation we represented. To my right sat Chamuel, and to my left was Tzaphkiel.

  Immediately, Metatron began to speak. “Thank you all for answering the summons and arriving so quickly. I appreciate your swiftness and welcome your presence to this council meeting.”

  “And we welcome yours, Metatron. I do not wish to speak for everyone, but I think our swiftness was due to the summons coming from the Cherubim. Usually, most messages are carried to us from the Second Choir, not the First,” Raziel replied.

  “You are right, Raziel, and because of this, I am sure you all suspect the summons involves something serious.”

  I glanced at Raphael. He had warned me about the same.

  “Unfortunately, your suspicions are correct,” Metatron continued. “I received notice that another object has gone missing.”

  A hum of voices filled the room as my comrades began to speak all at once, concern furrowing their brows.

  Uriel could be heard above the noise as he asked, “What was taken this time?”

  We turned to Metatron, all of us on the edge of our seats awaiting his answer.

  “The Castle Key.”

  “What would anyone want with that?” Tzaphkiel said.

  “To unlock the castle tower,” Ariel offered.

  “Yes, but why?” I asked, glancing back at Metatron.

  He returned my gaze. “Unfortunately, the Cherubim have divulged no more detail than that. What they have asked is for us to be vigilant and increase our watches in order to possibly discover who…”—he hesitated—“or what is stealing these items.”

  At the mention of thievery, concern deepened on my comrades’ faces. Some even let out gasps of disbelief. Samael was the only one who remained resolute. He neither contributed to the conversation nor expressed his emotions. When he caught me looking, I averted my eyes.

  Raziel demanded, “How can this be? First, a book was taken from the Sanctuary of Teaching, and now, the Castle Key has been stolen, presumably from the Hall of Law. There is obviously a pattern occurring here, and I am afraid High Heaven is the next target, especially with the Seventh Day Gathering coming up.”

  “Raziel, please calm down,” Metatron cautioned.

  “No, I will not calm down. Thievery goes against everything Heaven was created for. It goes against everything we were created for, and I am afraid to admit it, but one of us angels must be the perpetrator.”

  A hush fell over the room. Samael looked at all of us with a bemused expression, letting out a little chuckle.

  “Is our distress amusing to you, Samael?” Raphael said.

  “No, I just cannot believe Raziel is repulsed by the idea of thievery when he himself is a liar.”

  “What?” Raziel shouted.

  “All right, everyone, we need to relax,” Chamuel offered, eyeing Raziel, who stood from his chair in defense.

  Samael ignored him. “You are going to act innocent, as if you do not know what these objects mean? What they signify?” Samael asked Raziel.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know what I am talking about!” he yelled, rising from his seat.

  “Samael…” Michael warned.

  “No! I will not relent. He knows.”

  “I do not understand what he is accusing me of,” Raziel pleaded to no one in particular.

  Samael shook his head in frustration.

  “If you think you know something, Samael, would you please care to enlighten us?” Jophiel interjected.

  At first, Samael hesitated. When he finally spoke, he chose his words carefully. “There is a great power in our world that Father has created…a great potential for someone to possess that power if they know how to discover it. The only way to do so is to read the book that was taken. I have heard it contains information about things beyond our knowing…that it divulges all the necessary components to wield this immense power.”

  “Enough!” Metatron bellowed, his voice reverberating through the room. I flinched in my chair, not expecting such a passionate outburst. “I suggest you sit down and no longer discuss this foolishness.”

  “Why?” Samael asked.

  “Because you do not fully understand what you are talking about.”

  “So, it is true? The book? Have you been lying to us?”

  “Stop this nonsense! I have not been lying to you.” Metatron was frustrated, his jaw clenched.

  “Why are you so upset with me mentioning it?”

  “Because you are causing dissention!”

  “They have a right to know. Unless you do not want them to…”

  “That is not the reason,” Metatron was quick to answer. “The book that was stolen is off-limits to everyone except angels of teaching, and even at that, we are not supposed to access it. The fact you know so much about what it holds raises my suspicions that you took it.”

  Samael glared at him, opening his mouth to retaliate, but Ariel spoke before he could.

  “Why can we not know about it?” Ariel asked.

  “Please tell us,” Tzaphkiel coaxed.

  Metatron took a moment to compose himself. “The reason you are not supposed to know about it is because Father forbids it.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because the book contains principles beyond our knowing, and
for that reason, Father wishes for it to be kept secret. There are things mentioned in this book no angel understands—myself included. As an angel of teaching, I might have the ability to devise their meaning, but Father will not sanction it. I suspect the only one who truly knows what is in that book is Father, but He is not likely to reveal that to anyone. Not even to me. While what Samael was saying is true, there is a side to this power that leans toward darkness. In the wrong hands, this book could be disastrous to many.”

  “Like who?” Ariel asked.

  “To us, to Father, to humanity. The possibilities of danger are endless. As an angel of teaching, it is my job to protect this knowledge, not use it. I am sorry I was not straightforward from the beginning, but the promise of power can pollute the mind of any being, which is why Father does not make it known. If I were you, I would never speak of this again.” He resumed his seat.

  “Zadkiel and Raziel are angels of teaching too,” I pointed out. “Do either of you know about this book?”

  “I know where it resides within the sanctuary, and I have seen the pages of it once, along with Metatron and Raziel. But beyond that, I have little awareness of its meaning,” Zadkiel explained.

  “I knew it existed, but I never paid attention to it either. I knew it was there, but I also understood that it needed to be ignored,” Raziel said.

  Fanatical, Samael spoke up. “None of you care that they withheld this information from us? That they lied?”

  “Why would we? You heard what Metatron said,” I replied.

  “I know. He warned us it is dangerous. But the power…”

  “Please, let this rest,” Metatron pleaded.

  “Why? Would you not want that power?”

  “Stop! Why are you so obsessed with this?” I asked Samael.

  “Because we have an immense potential for power, yet we never use it. All our energy goes into serving Father rather than ourselves. We were given the ability of free will but no one expresses it. Order and stability are so ingrained in us that none of us can decide for ourselves or create our own destiny. We have the capacity to choose for ourselves, to act for ourselves, yet our choice is always second to Father’s agenda.”

  “Samael, tread lightly on the accusations you are raising,” Sandalphon warned.

  Everyone seemed to take notice. Sandalphon was usually the quiet one. For him to speak out meant Samael’s words were a concern.

  “Why? I am merely stating, we are creatures with free will and we should not be subjugated to Father. Just because He made us and the divine order of things does not mean we have to follow His every command. I do not understand why He would not want us to possess the power in that book when He already has the same. Unless He prefers to make us feel like inferior servants who should consistently do His bidding.”

  “End it!” Michael roared, rising from his chair.

  Samael was surprised by his emotion. “Why?”

  “Because what you are saying is treasonous.”

  “You mean true,” Samael contested.

  Chamuel interjected before Michael could react, standing up from his seat and raising his arms out in a manner to resolve the tension. “We must all remain calm.”

  “How can you dismiss this? Do you agree with him?” I asked.

  Samael looked toward the angel expectantly.

  “No, of course not. I merely think we all need to settle down. Fighting or arguing, or whatever you call this disagreement, will not help us. We must maintain a united front. Because of this, Samael, I suggest you eradicate these thoughts from your mind.”

  Samael curled his hands into fists and clenched his jaw. “None of you understand. He would not have made us this way if He did not want us to express our thoughts.”

  “Samael, please,” Jophiel tried. “Father allows us to voice our opinions, our thoughts as you say, but to a certain extent. The ideas you are speaking of are too rebellious and, quite frankly, should not be declared so liberally.”

  “That is exactly my point! We can only do things to a certain extent. There are always limitations put on us. Meanwhile, Father can just summon us and command us to do anything. None of you see the error in this rationale.”

  There was complete stillness in the room. The majority of us stood out of our chairs in defense against Samael. The few who remained seated stared in bewilderment.

  “Father is not here, the First and Second Choirs are not here. We can communicate freely and truthfully without being judged. This is the time to speak if you feel subservient,” Samael persuaded.

  “If you are trying to insinuate we are thinking the same but are simply too fearful to say anything, then you are wrong,” Zadkiel replied. “However, I cannot speak for everyone.”

  “No, you cannot. But you are absolutely right, Zadkiel. None of us are having these seditious thoughts,” I interjected.

  “Gabriel, your words are making it impossible for me to see how everyone else feels. By attempting to control the conversation, you are preventing others from voicing their true opinions,” Samael admonished.

  “Fine. But judging by the tension, the unease, and the worry you are inflicting upon every one of us in this room, you clearly cannot see we are all frightened by your words, not inspired,” I said.

  Samael gazed around the room. “None of you agree with me? None of you feel the same?”

  “No, we do not. Now, if you would please give this up, we may all be able to salvage ourselves from the treachery we have been exposed to,” Metatron concluded. He stood and exited the room with the rest of us close on his heels.

  6

  Gabriel

  Heaven, In the Beginning

  After leaving the council room, I flew to the Watch Tower, where I took my place upon the parapet and marveled at the world below. Although time passed in mornings and evenings down there, no such measure of time was relevant in Heaven. The home of Father’s celestial beings was always full of light, and night and darkness never penetrated here. The view was remarkable, just as Father had created this new world to be, but the moment was tarnished by Samael’s outlandish ideas. I did not agree with him in the slightest, and I knew somehow, deep down, he was planning on doing something foolish. Something that would change the very nature of our world.

  Because of my concerns, I decided to write Father a note about what had occurred. Once Chamuel released me from watch duty, I flew to my room, which was located in one of the other towers. When I landed in the circular entranceway, I descended several flights of stairs until I was on the correct floor. Inside, Zadkiel sat at his desk, rubbing his forehead as he analyzed some scrolls. He looked up when I entered.

  “Do you need the room?”

  “No. Just need some parchment,” I told him. We shared the room, and we were always mindful to give each other peace when needed. Right now, it seemed Zadkiel needed some, so I collected parchment, ink, and a quill, and then left.

  I flew outside and landed in the valley. Taking a seat on the ground, out of the way of passersby, I began composing my message, telling Father of the events and accusations that occurred at the meeting. When the task was complete, I looked up. Sending this note was a betrayal and a necessary loyalty all at once. I did not want to make Samael feel like he could not confide in me, but these inner instincts were raising warning bells I had to address.

  Putting my lips together, I whistled. A small brown sparrow came flying through the air and landed upon my outstretched finger. I admired its beauty, then transferred the bird to my shoulder and rolled the small bit of parchment into a scroll. The bird flew to my bent knee, anticipating I was going to attach something to its leg. I fastened the note securely, and it flew off, already knowing the intended recipient.

  For a long while afterward, I sat thinking about what I had done and all its implications. My thoughts led me to ponder Samael’s words. Is Father really controlling our ability to choose for ourselves? Do I feel subservient? Is the book as dangerous as Metatron warned? I shoo
k my head, trying to expel the thoughts. Samael’s ideas were like a plague spreading through my mind. I would not succumb to his false assertions.

  I touched the band of letters that wrapped around my upper arm and was reassured by its presence. Father had marked all of us with emblems. By touching mine, I knew who I was and what purpose I served. This emblem was my name spelled out in angelic script. All angels had one scrolled around their left arm. I mused at the other symbol imprinted on my body, the astrological sign of Gemini. It graced my left wrist. Only the archangels on the council had these marks.

  I was so absorbed in my thoughts I did not register Samael in the trees to my right. Standing, because I did not wish for him to see me, I saw Michael approaching and sat down again fast to ensure neither comrade detected me. I tried to occupy myself by admiring my surroundings, but this did not keep my attention for long.

  Michael walked up to Samael, holding a piece of parchment in his hands and looking upset.

  “Ah, Michael,” Samael said upon seeing him. “I am glad you got my letter. Well, what do you think?”

  “I do not know what to think, Samael. I thought I expressed my dissent during council. All I can say is, these principles you have written down go strongly against what we have been taught. We were made to be good.” Michael gestured to the letter.

  “What do you mean? You think I am something else…something bad?”

  “I do not mean that. As your brother, I am only trying to advise you to stop this nonsense.”

  “You do not agree with me then?” Samael’s stance changed. “Michael, I trust you more than any of the others. I wrote to you thinking it would be a better form of communication because I thought you did not want to voice your opinions in front of the council.”

  “I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, Samael, but no, I do not agree with you. Now, listen. I need you to come with—”