He was sent to the Heavenly City, to make Azazel return.

It was unprecedented. None had defied heaven-hallowed order before. Why not return to Heaven from the wretched, physical filth of the mortal world?

He arrived to a beautiful city in the desert. Gleaming white and gold. It was many times larger than it was supposed to be. Lively voices came from it that did not belong there.

He walked through marble paved avenues lined with bubbling fountains and lush green trees. The humans around him did not so much as spare him a glance.

Should they not know to fear his divine countenance?

Finally he arrived at the palace of the Watchers.

He entered and many other Watchers were there. They were not fulfilling any heavenly missions. They all reeked of the decay that set in when one stayed in the physical realm too long. They were running around, laughing and chattering, some of them with humans. None of them spared him as much as a glance.

He came to the stairs, and walked up to Azazel's throne.

Impudently, he had replaced it with a lounge. He was stretched across it with a human serving him a platter of fruit.

" SE12-008-93Æ," Semyaza said.

The sight of Azazel like this was repulsive to him. He had decayed. He was wrapped in fragile white cloth, tanned, and wore a human face. His wings and halo were nowhere to be seen.

" Oh? You look new here," Azazel said, savoring a date. " What's up?"

Being addressed informally made Semyaza something. Those of the Heavenly Host were not supposed to feel. Emotion was a sign of decay.

" I have come to make you return to Heaven," Semyaza said. " I am 44S3-018-67√, a terminal choir."

" Well, take your time," Azazel said, unaffected. " I'm not in any rush."

->