young woman had understood her. “The technical details of the mingling have long been an object of
intense scrutiny. For centuries the church denied that reproduction had occurred at all. The passage in
Genesis is an embarrassment to those who believe that angels have no physical attributes. To explain
the phenomenon, the church asserted that the reproductive process between angels and humans had
been asexual, a mixing of spirits that left women with child, a kind of inverse Virgin Birth where the
offspring were evil rather than holy. My teacher, the same Dr. Seraphina I spoke of earlier, believed
this to be utter nonsense. By reproducing with women, she asserted, the angels proved that they were
physical beings, capable of sexual intercourse. She believed that the angelic body is closer to the
human body than one might expect. During the course of our work, we documented the genitalia of an
angel, taking photographs meant to prove once and for all that angelic beings are—how shall I say it?
—endowed with the same equipment as humans.”
“You have photographs of an angel?” Evangeline asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“Photographs of an angel killed in the tenth century, a male. The angels that fell in love with human
women were, by all accounts, male. But this does not preclude the possibility of female members of
the heavenly host. It has been said that one-third of the Watchers did not fall in love. These obedient
creatures returned to heaven, to their celestial home, where they remain to this day. I suspect they
were the female angels, who were not tempted in the same manner as the male angels.”
Celestine took a deep, labored breath and adjusted herself in bed before continuing.
“The angels who remained on earth were extraordinary in many respects. It has always struck me
as wondrous how human they seem. Their disobedience was an act of free will—a very human
quality reminiscent of Adam and Eve’s ill-conceived choice in the Garden. The disobedient angels
were also capable of a uniquely human variety of love—they loved wholly, blindly, recklessly.
Indeed, they traded heaven for passion, a trade that is difficult to fully comprehend, especially
because you and I have given up all hope of such love.”
Celestine smiled at Evangeline, as if in sympathy for the loveless life that lay ahead of her.
“They are fascinating in this respect, wouldn’t you say? Their ability to feel and suffer for love
allows one to feel empathy for their misguided actions. Heaven, however, did not demonstrate such
empathy. The Watchers were punished without mercy. The offspring of the union s between the angels
and women were monstrous creatures who brought great suffering to the world.”
“And you believe they are still among us,” Evangeline said.
“I know they are still among us,” Celestine replied. “But they have evolved over the centuries. In
modern times these creatures have taken cover under new and different names. They hide under the
auspices of ancient families, extreme wealth, and untraceable corporations. It is hard for one to
imagine that they live in our world among us, but I promise you: Once you open your eyes to their
presence, you find that they are everywhere.”
Celestine looked carefully at Evangeline, as if to gauge her reception of the information.
“If we were in Paris, it would be possible to present you with concrete and insurmountable proof
—you would read testimonies from witnesses, perhaps even see the photographs from the expedition.
I would explain the vast and wonderful contributions angelological thinkers have made over the
centuries—St. Augustine, Aquinas, Milton, Dante—until our cause would appear clear and sparkling
before you. I would lead you through the marble halls to a room where the historical records are
preserved. We kept the most elaborate, intricately drawn schemas called angelologies that placed
each and every angel exactly in its place. Such works give the universe order. The French mind is
extremely tidy—Descartes’ work is evidence of this, not the origin—and something about these
systems was extremely soothing to me. I wonder if you, too, would find them so?”
Evangeline did not know how to respond, and so she waited for further explanation.
“But of course times have changed,” Celestine said. “Once angelology was one of the greatest
branches of theology. Once kings and popes sanctioned the work of theologians and paid great artists
to paint the angels. Once the orders and purposes of the heavenly host were debated among the most
brilliant scholars of Europe. Now angels have no place in our universe.”
Celestine leaned close to Evangeline, as if relaying the information gave her new strength.