The Chamber of Sins
Chapter 9.1 "The Book of Sins"

Salatiel’s scavenger hunt had become more exciting and motivating when Derek had lost the heavenly key, and the Elders had got unsettled about it. He had hoped Derek would ignore the little insignificant things about to happen as being preoccupied with the upcoming demon’s attack and replaceing the key and will give him time to fulfil his desires.

Salatiel wanted badly to see his brother’s face, the face of a winner so close to being defeated, so came to see him. The day before everything started, Derek was seated at his desk, Ramiel beside him, waiting for his boss to give him errands.

“Hi, brother,” Salatiel said, the shadow of a smile looming on his face.

Derek didn’t respond, and Salatiel knew he was treated with open disdain. Again, that bossy attitude. I will shovel it into your...

“Just came to say hi,” Salatiel said out loud.

Derek kept reading or pretending to do so. Salatiel left the room, decided to risk it all and proceed with his plan. Derek will regret being such a dunce.

Back in the present, Derek’s face was immobile as he listened to Salatiel’s story. He stopped the urge to dispel his body on the entire Earth.

“You are so weak,” he said. “Gabriel’s daughter is dead, and you killed mortals for nothing. You could not replace her from the beginning because you didn’t get all the information. The girl died the next day after you had entered the Data Chamber, and as a result, you killed two humans for nothing. She is not in the human realm anymore. You heard about her because the angels saw her death.” Derek scratched his forehead.

“The question is, why did you do it? Why did you want to replace her?” Derek said as glaring at his brother.

“I thought she knew where her father is, but I replace out she was abandoned and nobody knew where she was, not even her grandmother. I am so unlucky.”

“I know you, Salatiel. You had a previous motive. Anyway, I have a new job for you. You just got promoted tartar of hell. You can let Lucifer take his well-deserved holiday and take care of his children.”

Salatiel gawked at his brother in disbelief.

“You can’t do that,” he yelled. “It was an accident. I didn’t want to kill those humans.”

“You are a lier. Unless you tell the truth, you can start your new job straight away.”

“I demand to speak with Him,” Salatiel said.

“He knows everything, and He let me handle your problem.” Derek lifted his hand and waved discreetly. Two flames appeared from nowhere. They transformed as they reached the floor - two human shapes shrouded in trembling flames. Salatiel panicked. His brother was telling the truth - he is going to rot in hell. There is no coming back from there, and I can’t even die. Ever.

The two burning entities grabbed his arms. Salatiel wrenched, but their grasp began burning through his skin. His arms ignited, and his body set on fire. They were taking him to hell.

“I will tell you everything,” he cried, his eyes squeezed shut.

Derek made no move; he just stared Salatiel down. The two entities started disappearing into the floor, taking Salatiel with them.

“Please,” Salatiel said, staring at his feet as they disappeared into the shiny marble floor.

Derek lifted his hand and put a stop to their descending. As being trapped in the flooring, Salatiel thought about what to say. Everything was about jealousy and betrayal. Better to keep lying. Derek might be more likely to forgive a lying brother than betrayal.

It was like flipping the coin. But Salatiel felt today it wasn’t his lucky day and concluded that he had to tell the veiled truth, the sweet true.

“I had always been in your shadow - Azrael’s brother, no name, no identity, just your brother. I had received only minor jobs, no promotions, no motivation. This was my chance to be noticed, to be Salatiel - the HERO. After so many years of waiting, this was finally my chance. I could have found Gabriel’s daughter and, maybe, with a little luck, Gabriel. I would have come back as a winner and could have gained my place. I asked for Lionette’s file and the other lady. The information was so frugal and helpless, so I had to replace all the facts from them. The first one denied knowing anything about the girl and tried to hit me hit a knife. I acted in self-defence. I didn’t want to kill her. The second one swore to God that she didn’t know a thing and tried to knock me down with a hammer. Again self-defence. The last one said something about her husband taking the girl when she was a baby and that he got killed after, all the information being lost with his death. But I didn’t kill her.”

Derek was practising his self-control.

“What about Lionette’s friend?”

“She tried to kill me, too. With a gun. I had to eliminate her.”

“So you wanted to be a hero,” Derek smirked. “You wanted your identity back by killing two women and hurting another two. Innocent women.”

“Yes, that is all,” Salatiel said, avoiding eye contact with his brother.

Derek stood there and lowering his head, and he shook it slowly.

He was opening his mouth to say something when Ramiel entered the room.

“The Book of Sins disappeared!”

Derek’s mouth remained open, his eyes darting from Ramiel to Salatiel.

“What did you just say?” he said.

“The book is gone,” Ramiel confirmed.

“How is that possible?” Derek said as jumping to his feet. “What about the Archangels?”

Ramiel shrugged.

“The Heaven is closed. Nobody enters or leaves,” Ramiel announced.