ANGEL FALL I

"There she goes again," whispered the crowd, their voices as soft as the gentle breeze that rustled through the heavenly gardens. As she walked past them, she tried to keep her head high. She tried to drown their voices in the sea of her steps echoing on the gleaming, pearl-white walkways that traversed the celestial realm. But despite her efforts, she couldn't escape the weight of their collective judgment. "She shouldn't be here!" another harsh whisper from the crowd cut through the serenity. The very air seemed to hold its breath in disapproval, and mocking words wafting from them and unto her. Her journey was a familiar one, a pilgrimage to seek solace in the most sacred of temples. The architecture of heaven was unlike anything on Earth, where the structures seemed to meld seamlessly with the ethereal surroundings. Marble pillars adorned with intricate golden filigree supported canopies of radiant crystal that filtered the light of countless stars, creating an otherworldly glow. As she entered the temple, the atmosphere changed. It was as if she had stepped into an oasis of tranquility, where the fragrant scent of celestial incense filled the air, and soft, melodious hymns resonated from unseen choirs. Her footsteps barely made a sound on the marble floor, which was adorned with celestial patterns that seemed to shift and swirl like constellations. At the heart of the temple, seated upon a magnificent throne that seemed to shimmer with its own inner light, was the All Father Himself. His presence radiated wisdom and boundless power, casting a warm, golden hue over the entire chamber. His eyes, deep pools of cosmic knowledge, regarded her with a kindness that reached into her very soul. She approached the All-father with a sense of reverence, her voice barely more than a whisper as she asked, "Greetings, Father” He nodded, then in a deep rumbling voice he asked, “You have come to ask the same question, child?” “Y-yes father”, she replied. “Might as well get it over with” he said with a sigh of resignation. First, she hesitated. Then with a bow she began; “Father, will I only ever be known by anything other than being the daughter of…of that woman? Am I destined to be like her?" The All Father's voice was calm and steady as he replied, "Child, listen. As I have told you countless times, the only person you're destined to be is the one you decide to be. So your fate lies in your hands, and so does your power." He leaned back in his throne, an unreadable expression playing at the corners of his lips. "Now the question is, what will you do about it?" "But my ancestor—" she started, but He gently interrupted her. "Eve sinned," He said solemnly, His gaze filled with a sadness that seemed to transcend time and space. "And even till this day, it hurts me. But you're not Eve. You are not defined by your ancestors' mistakes, neither should you be forced to atone for them. Now go, you're bothering me—the mortals are doing one of their Olympics today, and I'm missing out." With an unsatisfied sigh, she excused herself and left the temple. She slowed her steps, trying to delay the chaos that would unfold outside. But she could only delay for so long before she was met with their harsh words again. “What makes her so special, huh?” another voice cried. “Yes! What gives her the right to see the All father while we wait here like commoners” The temple courtyard continued to buzz with chaotic energy. And just when she thought they’d surge forward to harm her — which wouldn’t be the first time — a horn through the commotion. As they all looked up to the source, they saw a group of winged angels in gleaming golden armor descending from above, drawing the attention of the entire assembly. Their leader, came to land in front of Her. His expression was smug and his piercing blue eyes were self assured as they looked down on Her condescendingly. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Daughter of Sin herself," he remarked, his voice dripping with malice. His words were met with a chorus of concord and applause from the gathered crowd, who seemed eager to join in. The woman squared her shoulders, her eyes meeting his defiantly. "I have as much right to be here as any of you," she retorted, her voice steady despite the mounting pressure. The crowd gasped dramatically, their angelic faces reflecting shock at her audacity. The winged man continued, "And yet you're nothing more than a stain on the purity of this place." “Nothing is impure in the sight of the heavens” she declared. “And yes, I said it. I have every right to be here”. The angel's smug grin only widened at her response. "Of course, dear descendant of Eve," he replied with exaggerated politeness. "No one is arguing about your rights to be here. It's just that you bring a certain, shall we say, blemish to this sacred gathering. You see, some of us are trying to bask in the divine presence of the All Father without being reminded of past mistakes." The crowd erupted in cries of approval, their consent egging on the angel's cruel taunting. The woman felt the weight of their judgment like a crushing burden, but she refused to back down. "I didn't choose my lineage," she asserted, her voice laced with frustration. "None of us did. We are born into our families, our histories, without any say in the matter." The angel's mocking laughter echoed through the courtyard. "Oh, how noble of you to defend your wretched ancestry," he quipped, his words met with more jeers from the crowd. "But the stain of Original sin runs deep, and it seems you're determined to carry on the tradition." Behind him the other angels chuckled. Tears welled in the woman's eyes, but she fought to hold them back. She knew that showing weakness in front of them would only fuel their attacks. “Enough, Gabriel”, she said. “How dare you call me by name?” he spat. “That name is divine and should not be uttered by the likes of you.” Then he spread his wings to their full length and whispered, “Am light to your darkness, beauty to your ugliness. You have no right!” "You may mock me now" the woman retorted, her voice trembling slightly, "but mark my words, even if it be a thousand years later, I will make you — I will make all of you pay." The angel's expression shifted from smugness to annoyance, as her words seemed to strike a chord within him. However, he quickly regained his composure, realizing that the crowd was still firmly on his side. "Bravo!" he exclaimed mockingly, applauding her with exaggerated gestures. "Such admirable grit in the face of adversity. But remember, dear child of Sin, your lineage will always mark you. It’s so easy to proclaim your innocence, but it's far more challenging to wash away the stain of the past." As the angel's condescending words reverberated through the courtyard, the woman felt a surge of anger and frustration. She knew that she could not change the minds of those who were so eager to judge her, but she refused to be defeated. “You all are so high and mighty, aren’t you?” she whispered, power and rage blooming in her chest. And within her a pure, terrifying energy began to build crackling with the very essence of heaven itself. “W-what are you doing?” Gabriel asked, his voice rising with urgency. By now the crowd had began to draw back cautiously. Then with a deep breath and a renewed sense of purpose, the woman screamed, "Let's see if mortality will teach you all a lesson!” The crowd could only watch as their celestial surroundings became a blur as the power pulsed from within her. And then, in a blinding flash of divine light, the world around them exploded in white.