The Grigori

It had been Hamaliel’s favorite place because it overlooked the home of Chet and Rhue, who were two of the first humans under Hamaliel’s charge. Hamaliel also found them interesting as they were both exceptionally fair - nearly pale and a sharp contrast to his own rich skin tone.

At six foot tall, Hamaliel was much shorter than most of his Grigori brethren. His skin was a soft bronze and his hair was set in shoulder length tight ebon locks. Sumak sat beside him in the form of a woman that could have easily been his sister. She often assumed that form when she came to visit him and she visited him often. She was particularly proud to be his mentor because he was one of the most well known Grigori.

"You seem preoccupied," Sumak stated as she shifted a rain cloud further north with one of her celestial element keys that she called an ankh. Hamaliel often marveled at its beauty and power and loved to see the loop and cross glow as Sumak wielded it with grace.

"Rhue is with child," Hamaliel stated dryly as he watched Sumak move the cloud further and form it in the shape of a fish.

"And that should make you happy," Sumak responded.

"It would if it were the child of Chet, but she has betrayed him with a vagabond traveler and I fear that her suitors darker skin tone will betray her secret," Hamaliel said.

"Well, you know that you can not interfere," Sumak added. "Only provide opportunities for them to learn."

"Yes, I know, but it is certain to end their relationship. I feel like my urgings on virtue have failed them."

"They are only human. They must make their own mistakes. You are only a watcher, Hamaliel. I must ask you though, why do you think it happened?"

"Chet has been busy preparing the garden and building their new home and Rhue has always been who sought attention. His intentions were honorable, but it appears that her attempts to communicate her loneliness only annoyed Chet. It amazes me how familiarity breeds a certain level of contempt amongst humans." Hamaliel stated.

"So true and I fear things will only get worse, my friend," Sumak stated.

"What do you mean?" Hamaliel asked.

"We Virtues are planning for torrential fall rains and a very harsh winter," Sumak revealed.

"Why? Things have been so hard already," Hamaliel challenged.

"We have our reasons dear Hamaliel. The least of which is to kill the new bastion of germs that seem to be growing in this earth at an alarming rate," Sumak responded.

Hamaliel looked off at the fish shaped cloud that Sumak had created and as if on cue it turned as grey and ominous as the mood of their conversation.

"But that is not why I came to visit you today, dear Hamaliel. It is because we have been hearing things." Sumak paused to look into Hamaliel’s face for answers but found none. "We are hearing that several of the Grigori are involving themselves with humans. Even starting to mate. Do you know anything about it?"

Hamaliel was genuinely surprised at the news and even more surprised that Sumak was asking him if he knew anything about it. Even amongst the Grigori, Hamaliel was often not included in secret conversations as he took his duties much more serious than most.

Sumak continued, "As they were never meant to mate, several of the offspring are horrendously mutated.