… solipsubmissive …

This is a continuation.  You might want to begin here:  one

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

***

“So you see, back in the day, if you want to go all Old Testament, the men could do pretty much anything they wanted and it wouldn’t be considered adultery, but the women … ” Sera whistled and shook her head.  “They didn’t stand a chance, if they cheated on their husbands.”

Oliva stared at the four empty seats on the dais, her face troubled.  She hadn’t said a word in the fifteen minutes they’d been seated, waiting on the Angelic Host to arrive. 

Sera grasped her shoulder and shook her.  “Hey, you.  Are you listening?” 

Olivia turned her head slowly and gave the Junior Life Defense Counselor a blank look.  “What’s taking them so long?  We’ve never waited before.”

Sera waved a hand and looked unconcerned.  “They have no concept of time, since they existed before the beginning of it.  Besides, I’d imagine they’re going to try to squeeze Jason in here, too, since you’re on the same commandment, and neither of you were married.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t they waive this one as they did for the Fifth?”

“Because of the ambiguity.  The definition of adultery has been in flux forever.  The Big Guy should seriously have laid down the meaning of this one before tossing it on the tablet and handing it to Moses.  Even God, Jr had trouble with it when the New Testament rolled around.”

Olivia frowned.  “Don’t they take offense to the way you talk about them?  ‘God, Jr’ and ‘The Big Guy?’  How can you defend someone when your own irreverence is so patently obvious?”

Sera looked at Olivia oddly, surprised at the irritation dripping from her tone.  “I’ve never really thought about it.”  She tilted her head.  “Are you okay?”

Olivia was spared the necessity of answering by the arrival of the Host.  The murmuring of the spectators behind them began to die down as everyone found a seat.  Sera stood up and faced the Host, preparing to begin, when one of the Angels held up a hand.  “Where is Micah?”

Sera looked around and shrugged.  “I’m not sure.”  Olivia turned and peered up into the gallery, but didn’t see the LIfe Defense Counselor or Jason.  Her eyes did, however, settle on a pair of dark familiar ones. 

Lucifer.  He nodded slightly and raised his brows.

Olivia gave him a scoffing look and returned her attention to the Host, who were huddled together and speaking in whispers.  “Can’t they just do ours?” she hissed at Sera.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” said Sera.  “They’re acting weird, you’re acting weird.  And I can’t believe Micah isn’t here if he was supposed to be.”

Just then, the crowd began whispering behind them.  Olivia didn’t even bother looking around, just bit her lip and sank down in her chair.  For once, Jason was the last person she wanted to see.  She watched the Host carefully as they all sat back in their chairs.  “You’re late,” said one of the Angels as Micah stepped into view. 

“My apologies,” he stated.  “The summons did not arrive until just a moment ago.”

Olivia turned to look at Lucifer, suddenly sure he’d had something to do with the misdirected summons.  Anything to annoy the Host and help secure the last remaining guilty verdict he needed to obtain the rights to Jason’s soul.  Her eyes never found those of the fallen angel.

Instead, she found herself caught in Jason’s gaze.  He stood on the last step with his arms crossed, looking for all the world as though he had been gravely inconvenienced by the summons to appear at his own trial.  His eyes bored into hers, held her captive until she began fidgeting.

It was almost like he knew.

“I bring the case of Jason, a human soul requesting entry into Heaven.  The Commandment in question today is Seven, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  We would like to enter a plea of not guilty and present no evidence, as Jason has never been married.”

“Very well, then.  If nobody has evidence of guilt, we will find in favor of the human Jason.”  They waited a moment, then the Angel spoke again.  “Excellent.  The human, Jason, has been found not guilty of breaking the Seventh Commandment.  Sera?”

Sera sat with her chin propped in one hand, staring at Micah in rapt adoration.  She didn’t even hear her name.  Someone in the crowd laughed quietly.

“Sera!” 

The Angel said her name more loudly, and she jumped, startled back to the present.  “Oh!  Right.”  She stood.  “I bring the case of Olivia …”

“Right, we know the drill,” another of the Angels interrupted.  “How do you plead?”

“Not guilty, of course,” she said, and the Host waited again to see if anyone would offer evidence to the contrary.  Olivia held her breath.

“Well, then.  If nobody can offer evidence to the contrary, then we also find the human Olivia –”

“Mm.  I’m afraid I’ll have to interrupt you there, Gabe … or is it David?”  Lucifer stood, stepped out of the row of seats.  “You’re all starting to look alike to me.”  He sauntered down the steps, clapping a hand on Jason’s shoulder as he passed.  He stopped in front of Olivia.  “You never told him, did you?”

Olivia said nothing, just stared at Lucifer, two bright spots of color on her cheeks. 

“Well, this is going to be even more delicious than I’d imagined.”  Lucifer smiled widely and turned to face the Host.  “Our little paragon here, the one you all assumed would simply sail right through the Commandments without a hiccup, has a secret.”

“Get to the point, Lucifer,” said the Angel he’d addressed as Gabriel.  “And present your evidence, if you have it.  We don’t need theatrics or grandstanding.”

Lucifer waved a hand and an evidence panel opened in midair, showing a bride and groom from behind as they stood before a priest.  As everyone watched, the camera panned forward, the couple looming larger and larger, and the priest’s voice becoming more audible.  “And do you, O –.”

“Stop.”  Olivia stood up, trembling and turned to face Jason.  “I was married.  I didn’t tell you.”

“I know,” he said quietly.  The courtroom was silent.  “I did a background check when I met you, pet.  I always do with people who will be close to me.”

Olivia looked down.  “We were never … intimate.  He didn’t want that from me.”

“I know that, too.”  Jason looked at the Host.  “Is this necessary?”

“Unless Sera has evidence to present contradicting Lucifer’s evidence, we’re going to have to find her guilty of breaking the Seventh Commandment.”

Sera shook her head.  “I’m sorry, Olivia.”

“All right then.  We find the human, Olivia, guilty of committing adultery.”  As always, the Angels abruptly disappeared and the crowd began to filter out of he room. 

Micah and Sera stood off to one side, watching as Olivia sank again to her knees before Jason and bowed her head.  Jason didn’t even look at her.  Instead he addressed Lucifer directly.  “Why?”

Lucifer shrugged.  “Entertainment?  A lesson?  Your little girlfriend should learn some respect.”

“For you?”  Jason stepped down to the floor of the courtroom and walked slowly toward Lucifer.  The stared at each other, so similar in coloring and build.  “She respects me, demon, and she respects herself.  You know the circumstances of that marriage just as well as I do.  Rest assured I’ll not forget you took this step.”

Lucifer laughed shortly.  “And what do you intend to do?  Punish me?  I’ll have your soul to do with as I wish.”

Jason smiled, a slow, cold smile that did not reach his eyes.  “You don’t have it yet.  Leave her alone.”  He turned and nodded to Micah, then looked at Sera.  “Take care of her,”  he said, and left the room.

eight