(Hazbin Hotel) Book 2: The Radio Family, Welcome to Hell!

Chapter 246: "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Eons ago...

Azrael first felt death when he accidentally killed the dinosaurs back when he was a knee high little tyke. He knew then what his third epithet was all about, but his purpose behind needing such an epithet was a haunting enigma that he didn't quite understand? He was cautious about his role within a Creation that didn't seem to need his "touch of death".

When his little brother Hakim was slaughtered in cold blood by the claws of a Tyrannical Teenager he was quickly reminded of his purpose...and it scared him.

When their little Lulu was banished to Hell Azrael felt the agonizing pain his little brother was in during the fight for the throne against Draegan Dread, and—it was a horrific reminder of Hakim.

The fourth time Azrael's felt death...

Was caused by Cain.

Azrael remembers the moment of Cain's birth, he remembers sleeping peacefully on a pillar in the Arena while Jophiel teaches the little Heathens how to maintain that silky soft feeling in their feathers, when his eyes suddenly opened the moment he heard the first shrill cry of a human child birthed by the first man and his wife Eve.

The child Eve named Cain was a loud, and stubborn child. His little brother Abel was born not long after him and was a polite, and compassionate child.

Their dispositions were reflective of their occupations. Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. It was hard labor for both. Cain was still loud and stubborn as he grew into his own with his calloused hands and broad shoulders built up from all the hard manual labor within the fields.

His little brother Abel was strong in his back with a lean muscular build, strong legs for running after his flock while throwing rocks at the beasts that would dare to threaten his sheep. He'd vanquish them with a rather impressive aim of a stone spear or blowing on a rams horn to frighten the beasts and alert his father and brother to his aid...as well as the other humans God created to help populate the Great Creation.

In the course of time when the boys were grown men they brought forth their offerings before the Almighty God.

Cain brought forth only a portion of the fruits taken up of the soil as an offering to God.

His little brother Abel also brought forth his offering before God—the fat portions from the weaned and unblemished firstborn of his flock.

The Archangel's watched as their Father looked with favor onto Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering their Father did not look on with favor in his eyes.

Azrael watched how Cain's face went from shock to disbelief then to a jealous anger as his face was downcast.

God—being God—immediately noticed how sullen Cain's mood became and he spoke unto Cain, "𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓻𝔂?"

God gently tilted Cain's chin up with the tip of his index finger beneath Cain's chin so he looked God in the eyes. Cain stared God down with the pouting narrow eyed glare of an adolescent youth instead of an adult man.

"𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓬𝓪𝓼𝓽?"

Instead of replying Cain said nothing and God's eyes dimmed over the knowledge of Cain's lack of faith. He gently removed his fingertip from underneath Cain's chin and spoke softly.

"𝓘𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓭? 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓭𝓸 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝓼𝓲𝓷 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓸𝓸𝓻; 𝓲𝓽 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓾𝓵𝓮 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓽."