Archangel Michael stood in the Great Hall, in front of the window row, and looked outside. He had worked for months without a break. The demands became more intense, interruptions were common, and there was no privacy or a quiet place to hide anymore. The ‘open door policy’ he and his three brothers had practiced for a long time was maybe a good idea. But it got increasingly difficult to focus with people walking in and out of their homes like swarms of bees.
Michael could have sat down and cried. He felt old, exhausted, used up, and unmotivated, and his heart was no longer in his work and task.
Suddenly he heard a voice he knew pretty well. One he hadn’t heard for a very long time. “My son. You work too much.” Michael smiled a little. “Father. I haven’t heard you for a while. Where have you been?” The Father’s voice softly replied: “I have been here, by your side, all the time. But you were too distracted to hear me.”
Michael sat on the floor, his breathtaking snow-white wings spread out on the bottom of the Great Hall… “I’m afraid we will need help.” Michael sighed. He heard His voice chuckle. “I think you might be right. With all the evil growing, the world population growing… it’s time.”
Michael looked up. “You don’t mind?”
His voice laughed. “Of course not, son. I never created you five to rule the world. You are not destined to do all the work. You know, leadership means to know when to delegate, do you?” Michael smiled hesitantly. “But…” He was interrupted. “Oh, cockapoo. Stop being so negative. You’re overworked and exhausted. When did you sleep the last time?” Michael shrugged. “I don’t remember.” He mumbled.
His Father sternly ordered: “You will go and take some time off. I’ll take care of everything. You need to calm down and think about gathering help and how you’ll organize it best. I want you to think of the best and calmest place you know, then you’ll go there and won’t be approachable by anyone, do you understand that?”
Michael frowned. “But, Father, how can I…?” The voice laughed. “I could handle the world without your help before I created you, son. Do you doubt my abilities in my old days?” Quickly Michael replied: “Oh, no, Father, of course not. I’m just…” – “…worried that things aren’t done as you planned, I know.” His Father finishes his sentence.
Michael smiled. “You are so much wiser than I am, Father. Things will be done how you want them to, and I will obey.” The voice sounded satisfied when He answered: “My good boy. I knew you would see that I’m right.” Michael laughed. “Of course, I never doubted that.”
And so it came that Michael was ‘banned’ from Heaven for a four-week vacation and ended up in a hidden canyon he knew very well… He flew higher and higher before diving into the small tunnel that separated the breathtaking wide valley from the rocky mountain walls in the front… Michael laughed happily when he shot out of the tunnel into the blue sky that rained sunshine and warmth onto his wings. In a dangerous upturn spiral, Michael tested his speed even more and finally slowed down when he saw from afar what he had seen eons ago the last time. Hidden, behind a pile of rocks, was the entrance to an incomparable spot… inhabited by two unique humans, who he then had to ban from this place because they didn’t obey their Lord’s commands… The Garden Of Eden.
*****
After Michael had removed the pile of stones that hid the entrance, he was sweating and out of breath. With half a smile, he thought about getting old. He was the one who had sealed the portal to the Garden, and he was surprised he still knew exactly where the seal sat and how to manipulate it.
The old door squeaked when he pushed it open. Despite the time that had passed, the material didn’t take much damage, but there was some corrosion at the door that he could fix before returning to work… but there was still time. He wanted to go inside, snoop around the Garden, explore the plants, the springs, the trees… everything must have been overgrowing… and he was in for a surprise…
From the first step, he realized that nothing had changed. Everything was exactly the same as when he sealed the door, and it still was the magical peace of Heaven on Earth.
With a sad sigh, he sat down underneath a tree and started praying for help and support. He thought his Father would reply for a second, but instead, he heard a faint voice on his left side… “Bees in your bonnet, Michael”?
Michael looked up. And despite his current mood, he had to laugh… A beautiful albino python snake looked at him from one of the lower branches and whispered: “Why don’t you eat an apple, Mikey?”
Michael giggled. “You’re such an ass, Lucifer. Come on now. Move your butt here, so we can talk for a moment.” It took a mere two seconds, and a good-looking, dark-haired man let himself fall next to Michael onto the moss, and he giggled. “Sheesh, Mike. Your face was just priceless.”
Michael stared at him and said with a smirk. “I don’t remember you having such an exotic taste when it comes to snakes? Weren’t you a common garden snake the last time you showed up?”
Lucifer looked at his fingernails. “You mean when I told you afterward that this wasn’t me?” Michael sighed. “Really, Lu. Who’s going to believe that? From what I know, separating you and Satan won’t happen until the next or the following millennia… I forgot.” Lucifer shrugged. “That’s not exactly precise, but let’s leave it at that.” He looked at his former friend for a moment and shook his head. “Michael… you start looking old. The way you frown… these wrinkles will stay, ‘ya know.” Michael boxed Lucifer in the shoulder. “You’re such an idiot, really! Why is that of your concern?” Lucifer grinned. “Wow… please! Do I look like I want to be ashamed to be friends with you?”
Michael laughed. “Of course, it’s all about you – once again. What are you doing here, anyway?” Lucifer shrugged. “I wanted to talk to you for a moment.” Michael hardened his insides. “About what?” Lucifer sighed. “Don’t you think this has been going on long enough now?” Michael frowned. “What in Heaven’s name are you talking about?” Lucifer sighed. “…that exile-thing. Can’t you talk to the old man and tell him I’m sorry?” Michael got up. “Oh, no, Lu. If you think I’m going to play your messenger, you’re mistaken. You must tell him that you regret what you did.”
Lucifer lifted himself off the ground and stood there, barely an inch or two shorter than his former friend and brother, and desperately replied: “I tried, but He doesn’t answer. I know He hears me, but I cannot get Him to talk to me.” Michael shook his head. “Well, see it that way; if He decides to remain quiet, He must be under the impression that your apology isn’t sincere.”
Lucifer frowned. “On whose side are you on, Mike?” Michael chuckled. “On His side, you dummy… always on His. He created this world and us, and I believe He knows what’s best for all of us.” Lucifer shook his head. “You’ve always been a sheep, Mike. Just following directions without thinking for yourself.” Michael smiled. “I do think for myself, all right, Lucifer. Just, compared to you, I think in the right dimensions. Look, where has your way of thinking for yourself taken you?”
Lucifer nodded. His face got serious, almost disinterested in the topic. “I see…” He slowly replied. “Okay, smartass. Let’s leave it at that. I know now where I’m at and what to do next…. oh… and tell Eve I said Hello, will you?”
Michael nodded. “Sure… she’ll be delighted to hear from you.”
With an almost inaudible ‘popp,’ Lucifer vanished. Michael looked around the Garden Eden for another while, enjoyed the peace and quiet, and then decided to leave this breathtaking spot, replacing the seal, and covering the entrance, as he had found it.
He slowly walked towards the portal and discovered a beautiful young woman slowly wandering around the Garden…
With a slight frown, he approached her. “Madame.” The woman whirled around, her brown eyes got big in shock, her wide skirts flew around her long slender legs, and she shrieked.”
Michael peacefully held up his hands. “Please, Madame… I didn’t want to startle you.” She nodded, her full lips pressed together. Slowly she got a little color back into her face. Michael carefully asked: “How did you get in here?”
She slowly replied: “I saw the portal open. I didn’t know the entrance wasn’t hidden anymore, and I suspected intruders. I thought it was best to check who is here.”
Michael almost grinned. “Madame… who are you? How do you know about the place, the portal, and the fact that this is a hidden spot nobody has access to?” She smiled softly. “I’m a ‘Guardian of the Garden.’ Our sisterhood is watching over this portal since Archangel Michael has done his duty and sealed the door. We got our command directly from him.” She stretched her spine and stood proud on her ‘impressive’ height of about 5’1″.
This time Michael couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Sisterhood, hm? Now… I don’t remember ever having heard from you ladies, and you can believe me, I never gave any order to guard this place. The fact that it’s sealed and hidden is absolutely sufficient. There’s no need for additional protection.”
Her eyes widened again. “What… what are you saying?” Michael smiled. “Don’t pass out on me, all right? I am Archangel Michael. And no matter who you think you belong to, there was never an order to any guardians to protect this spot. Either you have been misinformed, or you’re lying to me.”
She stubbornly lifted her chin. “I don’t lie,” she replied proudly. Michael smiled. He could tell immediately if someone had lied to him or not. And this girl seemed honest. But he still wanted to know who had found out about the Garden. It was dangerous to know about it and even more difficult for anyone to wander in there. The tree of knowledge was still there, growing his incomparable branches over the beauty of the Garden… The world didn’t need any more sins…
“Please, take me to the head of your guardianship. I’d like to talk to her.” He politely asked her. She nodded. “What’s your name, lady?” – “Akandra, Sire.” Michael sighed. “It’s nice meeting you, Akandra. And please, don’t call me Sire.” She nodded but didn’t reply.
Michael carefully steered her towards the portal, softly shoved her through the door, and carefully closed and sealed the entrance to the Garden Eden before piling up the rocks again and turning them into a solid wall this time. Akandra’s eyes were full of fear and curiosity, which quickly turned into confusion when she turned around, and the solid rock had turned into a natural mountain covered in moss and ivy… it was as if she had never seen the door…
She turned to Michael with a question in her eyes, but he shook his head. “Please, don’t ask, and please, don’t go back and try to find the portal again. It’s not accessible and has moved.” She nodded… after a few miles of walking, they arrived at a small collection of huts, and Akandra knocked on the door of the closest one. “Madre Cassintha.?” The door opened. “Yes?”
The second ‘Madre Cassintha’s eyes fell on Michael, her eyes betrayed her. “You!” She hissed. He smiled. “I should have known… hello, Lillith.” Akandra was even more confused than before. “What is going on here?”
Michael smiled, then placed his hand on her head. “May God lead your thoughts, your path, and your future. He will keep his eyes on you, my child, and protect you from now on until the dawn of time.” She nodded. “Thank you, Sir.” Then she turned around and left, unaware that Michael had taken her memories of the Garden of Eden. He turned to Lillith.
“You always wanted to enter the Garden, you lowest of all female demons. And here you are, lurking in the shadows and waiting for your chance, trying to use women to follow your plans? I’m afraid I met your accursed husband today… and even he knows there is no chance of this place to open for your kind. You will go back to where you belong and leave it be. Take your influence off these humans and never enter this Earth again. Should I hear you have been disobeying my orders, you won’t be spared from punishment.”
Lillith sighed. With a loud stomp onto the ground, she turned her older self into the young, beautiful lady she always seemed to carry as a mask. “Michael. Of course. Why am I surprised? Fine. I’ll go back. But don’t you believe for one second I’m giving up?” Michael smiled. “You will.” With only a quick move of his hand, he made her ground open, and she fell with a scream… Michael could only see Lucifer, who held his laughing face upwards and his arms outstretched as he wanted to catch Lillith… Michael saw Lucifer stepping aside in the last fraction of a second, and the female demon landed crashing on the stone floor…
After Michael had adjusted the memories of the members of the so-called ‘guardians of the garden,’ he decided he had done enough on Earth for the time being.
He returned home and called his friends.
“Brothers… we need help.”
Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel nodded. “Of course we do.” Michael smiled. “I know how we can delegate some of our tasks and duties. But it needs careful thinking. And I don’t want to be the one deciding how things have to be done. I want you to consider it and return tomorrow with suggestions and ideas. We are brothers. We are a group; we are a team. And we all have the same rights and say in this.”
And that’s how the idea of ‘The Council of Twelve’ started…
Writer's Treasure Chest 
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