Page 93 of Caelum
EPILOGUE
Adam
Forty years later
As I opened my eyes, I looked into a face I had not seen for millennia.
Instantly, tears poured free and my throat felt thick with emotion.
“Lord Almighty?”
God stared at me, and His eyes were narrowed as though He were displeased with me. Though my heart skipped a beat, it was a sight I wasn’t unused to seeing. But, while millennia might have passed since last I’d beheld it, it didn’t take away my nerves.
Upon His throne of pure gold, I stared upon my Maker’s face, feeling overwhelmed with joy and love even though He did not appear to share the sentiments.
“I’m disappointed, Adam. You know that.”
I gulped. “I know, Lord. I know.”
“I doubt it.” His mouth tightened. “Do you know why you’re here today?”
Because I didn’t, inwardly, I cringed. “To be punished again?”
“No. To be forgiven.”
My eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“To be forgiven. The final Jannah , do you know what her last request was?” He didn’t wait for an answer, instead said, “When I gave her a boon, she requested I forgive you and Eve. My first children. The most disappointing of them all.”
Despite myself, despite His words, I had to smile. “She is a good child.”
“Hardly a child now, not with six grandchildren of her own,” God retorted.
I shrugged. “She is an infant to me, and still looking as though barely thirty years have passed.”
God narrowed His eyes at me. “I can give boons as and where I choose.”
Hiding a smile, I murmured, “Of course, your Grace.”
He huffed then drummed His fingers against the armrest of His throne once more. “Eve didn’t realize what she set in motion when she made that request of me. Do you? Do you know what she did?”
“When no more Ghouls were created, when only majnūn were born without the warring of their souls? I thought your hand was at play, but I didn’t know it was related to Eve.”
“Well, it was. She sacrificed her happiness for your forgiveness, and in doing so, I removed Lucifer’s taint from your line.” He grunted. “A selfless child but even she doubted…”
Swallowing back the nerves, I whispered, “Sire, no matter the gifts you have granted us, we are only human. We were born to make mistakes.”
“You think I don’t know that?” God demanded, His eyes snapping with annoyance.
“O-Of course, my Lord, but?—”
“But nothing. This is a pointless conversation. I did as the last Jannah requested. Only my forgiving you and Eve broke the taint in the line.” He grunted. “Lucifer certainly knows how to twist my intentions and use them against me.” Another drum of His fingers against the throne. “It is time, Adam.”
His words were boomed out, surprising me after His pensive ones of moments before. “It is, my Lord? For what?”
“For you and Eve to be welcomed back into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
I blinked back the tears that welled in my eyes. “Truly?”
“Aye. Truly.”
“Where is Eve?”
He flicked His fingers, and suddenly, behind His throne, I saw the large golden gates of home. She was there, my Eve, waiting for me. My heart lit up at the sight of her, as it always had and always would.
When God saw my joy, He sighed. “I did something right.”
“My Lord? ”
“Love… before you fell, you did not love her. You loved only me.”
“Love was born of sin?” I questioned, my voice shaking for I hadn’t known that.
God grunted. “Aye. You were born to help her, to protect her and shelter her, but instead, you gave her what I didn’t even know she needed.” His jaw clenched. “Now, go along before I change my mind.”
Heart full, I dropped to my knees in thanks, but before I could leave, I dared ask after the children I’d never be close to, but who were born of my love for Eve: “Nicholas? My other sons…”
“When it is their time to pass, they will be welcomed here for their services to this Kingdom,” He intoned.
And with that, I could do no more than smile joyfully at Him, bow deeply once more in thanks after I’d jumped to my feet, and scurry over to the woman whom I had loved since the earliest days of humanity.
This feeling for her may have been born of sin, but forgiven by God, love had become the holiest of emotions, and as grateful as I was to be back in His Kingdom, nothing made me happier than the sight of the love in Eve’s eyes as she opened her arms and welcomed me home.
Forever.
THE END