Samantha had come back into his life. Her first look at him told her that he needed her more than anything, so she would not return to her own universe until he was back on his feet. Something that would take time, for he had been through something worse than hell.
Michael and twelve of his angels stood in the square in front of the new palace. They had seen it transformed before their eyes. A sense of peace had come over them as they saw the drab monstrosity disappear and this white palace appear, almost glowing with light and seeming to reflect warmth. The Goddess and her entourage were about to appear where they stood, and everyone was quite nervous. Not because they expected trouble. No, because they wanted to do their best for the arrival of a god and goddess from another universe. Especially when they were so damn important. Well, one in the party that was about to arrive was particularly very special to their new god. At the appointed time, five figures appeared in a golden glow. Michael, as head of the honor guard, stepped up to the five. Even if Alexander had not described the Goddess, he would have known immediately who was who in the company. He knelt before the Goddess and the God and said:
"Mi Lady, My Lord, we are at your service."
His twelve angels knelt before the Gods as he did so. Michael continued to speak:
"Our Lord regrets that we cannot offer you a greater and better reception, but we have not exactly had time to prepare anything. He awaits you in the throne room."
The Goddess, in her beautiful white robe and a small, discreet tiara set with tiny white diamonds in her hair, came to stand directly in front of Michael. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek, smiled, and said:
"I know what you've been through these past few hours, my child, and I'm sorry. Personally, I don't care much for elaborate ceremonies, so this is not a bad thing. Please stand, all of you."
Michael and his guard of honor stood. For the twelve in his company, the emotions of the day and the many changes were beginning to take their toll. First their own new god, so different from their father. And now the goddess from another universe, who made them feel a way they had never felt before. Was this the feeling of being in the presence of a Divine Mother? The youngest in the group, not caring about protocol, stepped forward and asked anxiously:
"Is Alex okay?"
Smiles appeared on the mouths of the Goddess and the God. One of the two brothers was clearly a little less pleased with the breach in protocol, while the other brother's broad chest seemed to grow even wider. Michael knew exactly who she was. More importantly, he knew what she was and what she meant to Alexander. He knelt before her, unable to look her straight in the eye at that moment, after the horror he had experienced, and just said:
"Lord Alexander is well, My Princess. He is only tired, otherwise he would have been here to greet you himself."
The fact that this hardened warrior was kneeling before her so he wouldn't have to look her in the eye told her that something terrible must have happened. Before she could say anything else, Michael spoke to the goddess:
"May I escort you to the throne room, My Lady?"
He gestured to the entrance of the palace. Everyone in the group of five was expecting bad news. The goddess nodded and the group made their way.
As they entered the throne room, their eyes were immediately drawn to the eleven tables. Had they suffered casualties? They arrived at the large table Alexander had placed near the throne. With difficulty, he stood and spoke:
"Lady Salome, Lord Robert, Samael, Michael..."
The last one he addressed was Samantha, his Samantha. A deep warm glow appeared in his eyes. She had changed, grown, and matured in these three years for her, two thousand for him, that they had not seen each other, but she would always be his Samantha.
"Princess Samantha. Welcome to our heaven, well, heaven 2.0 you might call it. I would have liked to welcome you personally with all the bells and whistles, but I guess our angels aren't up to that right now. Neither am I. May I ask you to sit down before I fall face down on the table?"
Without waiting, Alexander fell back into his chair. His five guests had stared at him in horror. The dried blood on his face and body did not exactly make him the epitome of perfection. Her Samael and Michael instinctively tightened the grip on their swords. This was their little brother and he looked like shit. They were ready to doll out some punishment to whomever caused this! Samantha regained her voice and instead of sitting down, she practically flew around the table, cupping his head in her hands and searching his face for an injury.
"What happened here? Why are you covered in blood? Are you hurt? What are those tables doing there? How many people did you lose? Let me see your arms now!"
She shot the questions at him in rapid succession. He seemed to have no choice but to place his only clean hand on her lips:
"No, I'm not hurt. Please sit down Red, I get a pain in my neck looking up at you."
She said sternly:
"Your arms now Alex!"
The angels of his universe looked confused. The others knew only too well what Samantha was looking for. With no choice, he rolled up his sleeves. When she saw the scars and burn marks, she knew enough. She knew what she had to do later. He rolled down his sleeves again. With an uncertain smile, she let go of his face. It hadn't escaped anyone's notice that Celine had risen from her seat. She did so under the guise of providing drinks for the attendees. The real reason was to give up her seat to Samantha. From his own universe, it was Michael, Gabriel and Azrael who looked worried. How was their new god suddenly scarred? From her universe, it was Samael, Michael and her father. A discreet movement of the Goddess' hand caused everyone at this table from both universes to quickly put aside their concerns. Alexander lit another cigarette before beginning to speak:
"Everything went exactly as we had planned. No significant injuries, nothing that Raphael and his people could not get rid of in no time. The way I look is the result of what happened after I took my seat on the throne."
He swallowed deeply:
"I would love to show you, but..."
He looked at Samantha with both concern and love:
"These pictures are harsh and the whole scene seems to have escaped from a nightmare."
He took her hand and said quietly:
"Sam, please, this is not for you. You should never see anything like this. Please look away."
She looked at him, uncomprehending, and then at her mother, who was also looking deathly pale as if expecting the absolute worst. Her brothers and father had a steely look in their eyes.
"No..."
She said.
"If I am ever to become the Goddess of my universe, then I must know, I must know everything to be prepared. I want to see it. He looked deep into her blue eyes and then said in a dejected voice:
"Okay, Samantha, okay."
With a wave of his hand, the projection screen appeared. The image froze at the moment he would take his seat on the throne for the first time. He closed his eyes, not needing to see these images again, they would be burned into his retinas for all eternity anyway. The others of his universe also averted their eyes, including Celine, and that told the newcomers everything. What would follow would be terrible. A small movement from Alexander and everyone could follow step by step what had happened. Alexander takes his seat and a second later shoots up from the throne, the building, the murder of the last child, the corpses in a bloody heap, and Alexander who executed the murderer without pity. Again he heard the horror, the anger, the sadness that he had heard from his own people when they saw the pictures. But suddenly there was also Samantha, lying in his arms, oblivious to the blood, her head on his chest, crying. He opened his eyes to see that the Goddess had also sought comfort in the arms of her God. The latter drilled his gaze into Alex's:
"Swear to me! If there is even a chance that you will use it, let his head roll!"
Alexander nodded and spoke quietly:
"I swear! Even if one day I have to dig a way into his universe, no one will be able to stop me. He and his head are mine!"
A few voices rose around the table. Not in defense of the old God, but in agreement, and among them were two voices he had not expected. Samael and Micky, whose voice was the loudest and clearest:
"If you think you can, will, or may do this alone, you are sorely mistaken, little Brother! Leave us out of this and your Raphael and Fuzzie will have all the trouble in the world to put you back together after we are done with you!"
It was a little uncomfortable to feel both Michaels and Samael's eyes on him, and they didn't look particularly friendly.
"Okay, okay, I promise I won't do it alone. Now good?"
An agreeing growl came from both sides of the table. Samantha, who had recovered somewhat, suddenly grabbed his face:
"I'm sorry Alex, I'm so sorry that you, that you all had to go through this."
She suddenly planted a kiss on his mouth before he could say anything. The Goddess, still looking for support in her husband's arms, felt his hand squeeze hers as their daughter kissed Alexander. Understanding very well what he meant, she squeezed back invisibly and reassuringly. That was the moment Lucifer entered the throne room with Ella. Of course, she had heard through Lucifer what had happened. But hearing is different from seeing the eleven tables with her own eyes. Taking advantage of the moment, everyone at the table slid back into a more or less normal position, but Samantha remained undiminished at Alexander's left side. He tried to be cheerful as he staggered to his feet:
"Miss Lopez, welcome to heaven, even if it is a little premature for you, I might add."
She saw him stagger to his feet and she flew around the table:
"Shut up Alex!"
Her hands flew over his face, his head, his chest as if she were a paramedic searching for an injury:
"Are you okay? Has Raphael checked you yet? Has anyone checked you?"
And again he had to put his clean hand on a rattling mouth.
"I'm fine Ella. Just tired and need a shower."
He said with a smile and kissed her on the cheek before falling back into his seat. Lucifer almost had to pull a suspicious looking Ella with him to sit down. For the first time since everyone had entered and Celine had made drinks appear on the table, a subdued calm descended. After taking a sip, the Goddess asked:
"If I may ask, My Lord..."
But she was interrupted by Alexander:
"Please My Lady, I think we are past the stage of formal titles and protocol bla bla bla, although it has not really begun yet. Besides, I could never allow you to address me as My Lord, you and Robert never!"
A playful smile appeared around her mouth:
"So you expect us to call you by your name and you continue to call me My Lady? Where's the equality in that?"
A blush appeared on Alexander's face and he had a little trouble finding his words:
"Well, you see, I've always been Alex. It has only been a little over an hour or so since I got the new title of Dei and you, well, you have always been the goddess, the mother in your universe. I wouldn't dare call you anything but My Lady or Ma'am."
She looked at her husband, who now had that mischievous, playful look in his eyes that Alexander had so clearly described. Who said:
"Okay, young man, this is unacceptable. How long have you been calling Salome Mom? I don't think that should change now that you're here on the throne."
Alexander replied with a sigh:
"You are right Robert. I obviously haven't recovered from the last two thousand years and what happened here today. I'm sorry, Mom."
He said as he lowered his gaze to the table. He hadn't seen the look Samantha shared with her mother. They didn't have to say anything, they knew that Alex would need time to become the Alex they knew again.
The goddess asked:
"What is your next step, Alexander?"
He rubbed a bloodied hand for a moment through his curls, which looked as dirty as the rest of his appearance:
"Raphael will bring the children here soon so we can have them laid out in honor. Tomorrow night, when the sun sets, we will lay them to rest in a new monument I have built in the garden. Tomorrow is their day. No one but their..."
He searched for an appropriate word and when he couldn't find one, he just said:
"Executioners, yes, executioners. No one but their executioners knew them during their all too short existence. I want no one to ever forget them."
He closed his eyes and bowed his head:
"I have since learned through the throne that they were not the only ones."
Around the table, sounds of horror could be heard again, and he felt Samantha's hand clasping his.
"Because of everything that followed in such quick succession, I didn't get a chance to tell you."
Suddenly, two thick tears streamed down his cheeks:
"Before those eleven, fourteen if we count the three who survived, there were one hundred and thirty more children."
He opened his eyes and saw that almost all of them had tears in their eyes or were shedding tears. The rest had a look of vengeance.
"I am sorry, but I am not in a position to tell their story now, but I will certainly do so when the time is right."
There was silence around the table, everyone trying to process the news in their own way.
Gabriel spoke softly:
"It's time, Alex. Raphael is coming with the kids."
He nodded and stood up with difficulty. He would be damned if he couldn't stay upright as a show of respect in front of these children. The others followed his lead. The great doors of the throne room flew open, not only clearing the way to the throne room but also allowing everyone to see what was happening outside. And this was something Alexander had not expected. He hadn't had time to make clear what he wanted, other than what he had told his father. But this, this was so much more, and he fought back tears. In the darkness, a procession approached the palace. Angels with torches lit the way. Raphael walked at the head of the procession, holding a large candle and bowing his head. Behind him were eleven bearers, each carried by four angels, surrounded by four more Angels, each with a candle. The entire group was flanked by Angels in full battle dress as an honor guard. The first to enter were the Angels carrying the banners of the various Archangels, and as promised, Lucifer's was among them. Silently they entered the hall and stood between the throne and the tables facing where the children would lie. Then Raphael followed, quietly giving instructions to his healers. A few of his angels moved the tables Alexander had set up. Ten in a row and one in the center above them, closer to the throne. One by one the children were placed in their positions. They were quickly surrounded, each with four candles and a guard of honor by each candle. Only the bed closest to the throne had eight candles and eight guards. This was what Alexander had wished for the children, but the Angels, his Angels, were apparently not finished yet. Those who had lit the way outside with torches came in two by two and silently split up, one group to the right, the other to the left, standing against the walls. Their torches illuminated the entire throne room. Alexander stepped forward to look at the children, to offer his final greeting. He paused before each table to look at the unfamiliar face, to etch it into his memory. To silently apologize for not being able to save them. When he arrived at the eleventh body, the most central with the double guard, he looked at Raphael in confusion because the body was obviously still under a blanket. The healer whispered softly and together with one of his people they removed the blanket. What Alexander saw took his breath away and broke him. He did not care that his Angels saw him in his weakness. He sank to his knees. There was silence in the throne room and everyone could clearly hear him pleading:
"Oh, please no, please no!"
He looked over the body of a boy who clearly could not have been more than two years old.
The scream that escaped him was heard throughout the city:
"Be damned, be damned to Hell for all eternity!!!"
Samantha had fallen to her knees beside him and they held each other tightly. For a moment they did nothing but cry softly, head to head. The others were not much better. Ella needed Lucifer's support or her legs would have gone through just as much. The Goddess cried on the shoulders of her God. Michael, with a weeping Celine and a crying Rae Rae in his arms, could not hold back his tears either. The Angels who formed the honor guard were in a similar mood, but none of them thought their new God was weak. If their God could show so much compassion, so much sorrow for them and for the innocent, they would follow him anywhere without question. It was Samantha's Samael and Michael who helped them get back on their feet. Samael whispered in his ear:
"Alex, you need to get out of this room, if only for a little while. Is there somewhere more private?"
He nodded and said in a cracked voice:
"Third floor, but I don't know if I can make it up the stairs."
"Don't worry about that. Will you make it to the door on your own?"
He nodded. Hand in hand with Samantha, he walked towards the door that concealed the stairs leading to the upper floors. The rest of the group followed. He had barely climbed three steps when his legs gave out. Out of nowhere, Lucifer appeared, took his son in his arms, and carried him upstairs. He wanted to carry him into the suite directly to his bedroom, but Alexander said quietly:
"It's okay, Dad. Just put me down, it was just the stairs that were too much."
He plopped down on a couch and in no time Samantha was sitting very close to him, almost on his lap. The rest of the group sat down in hushed silence. A few minutes later the Goddess said:
"Alex, we must return. Both thrones cannot remain unoccupied for very long if we don't take extra measures. If only we had known. Whatever you want, whatever you need from us, it's yours!"
Four of the five visitors stood up, but Samantha did not move:
"Mom, Dad, I'm staying for now! These children deserve to have someone from our universe present tomorrow. And Alexander needs me now."
The Goddess and her husband, who understood very well that there was more to it than that, looked at each other for a moment and the God turned to Alexander and asked played sternly:
"Your word that nothing will happen to my little girl in this universe?"
"I would rather die, Robert."
The playfulness left his eyes and he said softly:
"Yes, I believe you, Alexander, that you would rather die because that's who you are..."