Falling For You

Chapter 2: The Beginning of The Fall

When I landed at the next assignment, I found Cassiel already there. He had begun to set up some of the foundation work for my creation. I stopped to watch him momentarily, admiring his attentiveness to detail. He would frown every so often when something didn’t turn out the way he expected and try again. He was always too attentive to every detail, which made his work slow and tedious, but I always loved his dedication to his work.

I was very proud of the idea of my waterfall being beautiful enough to be placed in many spots all over the world. I was even happier when Cassiel approved of it. We had settled on the name waterfall to describe its beauty. Plain and simple but elegant. I knew our Father would get all the credit for my work, but I didn’t mind, as I knew the admiration of my works would be credit enough. Eventually, I pulled myself out of my thoughts and walked toward Cassiel.

“Would you like some help?” I asked as I approached him.

“Yes, that would be much appreciated. How is Seraphina?” he replied, still engrossed in his monotonous process.

“I don’t want to talk about it. She just wants to stir up trouble. But don’t worry about her, she won’t cause any issues with our projects,” I said as I brushed past him.

I couldn’t ignore the sparks that spread up my arm as I touched his. He was oblivious to the sensation but all my nerve endings came to life on the spot. I felt heat come into my cheeks as I realized I was staring at his figure. He was too gorgeous for words, but at the same time I wanted to create new ones to define him and to define us.

Cassiel continued talking, unaffected by my gaze, “I should hope not. We have a tight enough schedule as it is down here, and don’t get me started on the plans Father has for the future. It’s enough to send me into a spiral for a millennia,” he said as he began to turn the base of the waterfall into a hill and then eventually a small mountain.

“I wish Father would let me back into the planning room. I begged multiple times, but each time he turned me down. ‘Azrael, I have something far bigger planned for you. Don’t rush perfection. Eventually, all will be revealed.’” I mocked, ending in a pouty face that Cassiel ignored.

“You will be fine. I have helped see to it,” he replied casually, as if I wouldn’t care about my next job.

“What?!” I gasped, “You know what will happen when all the preparations are complete?”

“Yes, Father says that eventually the humans will want to venture out of The Garden. When that happens, the next phase of planning will be set in motion.”

“Please, brother, you must tell me! I am dying to know!” I cried as we completed the mountain and the path for water to flow through.

He chuckled at my response, “Your willingness will pay off sooner than you think, sister. Now, come help me redirect some of the water into the island and up this mountain.”

We made our way to the beach slowly through the foliage. Without thinking, Cassiel grabbed my hand and held it firmly. This caused my heart to nearly beat out of my chest. What was I feeling? Is he feeling the same things as me? Does he want to feel more things like I do? Am I crazy for wanting more?

“Cassiel?” I murmured.

“Yes, Azrael?” he whispered back.

It was then that we stopped by the water’s edge. I turned to look at him and found his face mere inches from mine. There were so many things I wanted to say to him, so many things I wished he would say to me.

The only thing that would come out of my mouth was, “You can’t give me the littlest hint about what comes next for me?”

Try as I might, I could not force myself across the line Father had set for us. I wanted to so badly, but I knew there would be hell to pay. The place was not great, but it was definitely not paradise. It was cold and it felt lonely. A place where future sinners would be sent; apparently, this was part of Father’s plan in order to ensure humans would get the full experience of punishment when they didn’t obey. A punishment I had a feeling Father could instill upon his children should he deem the punishment fit for the crime committed.

As much as I probed him, Cassiel never let any of the details about my next assignment slip. I wanted so badly to know what was next and whether we would still be working together, but he wouldn’t give me even the tiniest bit of a detail. I was defeated and disappointed, but this only fueled me in my resolve to find the answers I was so desperately searching for.