War of Wings (12 page)

“It’s Arrayah.”

“What about her?” Gabriel could feel the hairs on his forearm stand on end.

“You are in danger. She is not to be trusted.”

“You don’t know anything about her. Don’t start this again.” Gabriel unsuccessfully tried to clear a lump in his throat.

“You have to trust me, Gabriel. I’m telling you the truth. God sent me here to protect you; I know that now.”

“From Arrayah? You have to be kidding.”

“Just listen to me. We need to leave.”

“No, you need to leave. I knew you would act like this because you have no one. Even Lucifer knows that you have no one but me, and he has never even met you! You are just jealous of me, and I’m telling you to stop acting like this!” He immediately regretted talking about Lucifer. However, it actually felt good to reveal that he met the highest angel in all of Heaven. For once, he felt more important than Michael.

“Lucifer? What does he have to do with this?” Michael straightened and backed a step away from Gabriel.

“Yes, Lucifer. I have met the great cherub. He has some interesting things to say, and they aren’t just some made up warnings about what God has shown him. Have you ever thought that God may be lying to us, Michael?”

“Is that what the highest cherub of all the angels told you? Does the betrayal go that high?” Michael’s shoulders and hands dropped to his sides. He closed his eyes and began to pace and rub his temples.

“I’m not going to talk about it right now, but let’s just say I have the chance to be far more than an archangel if things are to change.”

“This is so much worse than I thought.” Michael walked right up to Gabriel and grabbed his arms. “Gabriel, you need to be wise and listen to your heart. You know what is right. God is our Creator, and He has set rules for the angels—just, fair rules for the best for all of us. There will be consequences for this betrayal. Don’t you see? You have to see that!”

Gabriel jerked away from Michael’s grip. “Maybe I’m sick of rules! Maybe I don’t want to be controlled!”

“Gabriel, they are there for our own good as well as everyone else’s. You know this!”

“No. I think they may be there to hold us back. I’m starting to think that Lucifer may be right about God being a liar.” Gabriel was surprised to hear himself say that and part of him wanted to take the words back, but they were already out. He hated being pulled in two directions.

Michael was shaking his head in disbelief. “Don’t say that. Gabriel, please. Do you hear yourself? God knows what is best for us even when we don’t.”

“If God is saying that Arrayah is not what is best for me, then He is wrong. I have never been happier in all the years I’ve been here than I have with her the past two days. She is sweeter than anything Heaven has to offer me anymore. I can’t leave with you.” With that declaration, Gabriel stared at Michael with all the conviction he could muster.

Michael looked back with compassionate eyes. “I can see how much you care for her. She is the first to capture your heart. I understand. But this is dangerous, and I need you to listen to me. I know something about Arrayah.”

“What do you know?”

“Gabriel, I am your brother and I love you.” His voice was kind but firm. “I have always only had your best interest at heart and you know that. You’ve always been able to trust me, and nothing is different now. I need to get you away from her, just for a while, and you need to stay away from Lucifer entirely. She is making you too blind to see the treachery that is going on around you and all over Heaven. She can’t be trusted.”

Gabriel felt like he was going to burst through his clothes. “Save the concerned brother speech! What do you think you know that I don’t?”

“Will you just trust me, please?”

“All I see is that you’re trying to be better than everyone, and I think you’re jealous of us. How dare you say she can’t be trusted? You don’t even know her! Now get out of here.” Gabriel turned to walk away.

“Gabriel, stop. Stop!” Gabriel stopped but kept his back to Michael. Michael took in a deep breath and continued. “You are right. I don’t know her. But I’ll tell you what I know about her. I know that God sent me here to help you. I had no idea you would even be here. I was just told to find you. I have never met Arrayah, that is correct, but Gabriel, hear me now: I have seen her before. I wanted to tell you this at the Canyon Reef, but I hoped you would stop seeing her without it.”

Gabriel slowly turned around and looked Michael dead in the eyes. Gabriel had no words, but his heart was filled with curiosity and fright. Michael was acting far too gentle for his comfort. Something was very wrong.

“Gabriel,” Michael said, “she is the only female from my dream. She is the one that burned.”

Gabriel remembered Michael’s description of the formerly beautiful angel, charred and crying in a fuming landscape of ash and darkness. He felt as if his knees would buckle, but he managed to keep his stance.

“I could never forget those eyes,” Michael continued, “or that face because I watched her transform. She screams in agony and her skin turns black, Gabriel. She loses her beauty and turns into something I’ve never seen before. Something not of Heaven. It was the worst thing I have ever witnessed. I’m telling you that whatever she does or is doing, she is on the wrong side and I have seen the consequences. And they are severe! She will fall from the grace of God.”

Gabriel stood with that same silent stare, taking in everything Michael had said. The cold had taken him over as he pictured Arrayah suffering. He couldn’t bear the thought of pain coming to her. He knew who she was, and there was nothing she could do to make her deserve what Michael described. It had to be wrong. Either God was wrong or Michael.

“Go, Michael. Just go.”

“Gabriel—”

“No! Leave now before I make you leave!” Gabriel shouted with every last bit of air in his body.

“Gabriel, I only want to help you before it is too late.” Michael held an outstretched hand toward Gabriel.

“Help yourself and get out of here while you can!”

Michael sighed and put his hand down. “You must let her go. Only she can save herself, and I won’t let her drag you down with her.”

“I’m not your responsibility!”

“You are my brother! Arrayah is not your responsibility. If Lucifer is the one in charge of all of this, then she belongs with him and not with you!”

Gabriel lunged forward with fury surging through him. He grabbed Michael’s chest armor and with a mighty heave threw him as hard as he could. The strength his anger gave him was greater than anything he had felt. Michael flew straight back and crashed through the trunk of an orange tree, splintering it into kindling. The impact uprooted it and sent the top of the tree spinning sideways even as Michael continued into the next tree. He smashed through seven trunks before flying through a hedge arch and sliding through the grass some two hundred yards from Gabriel. He very nearly fell off the side of the ravine, but his fingers clawed into the ground and he slid to a halt with his boots dangling off the edge. Gabriel started walking back over to Arrayah before Michael had even come to a stop.

He found her sitting on the bench, hands in her lap and a look of disbelief on her face. “What was that? Are you two fighting again?”

“Sorry. Michael crossed the line.” Gabriel was breathing heavily and trying to calm down but didn’t know how. He felt tension all over his body. He craved a spiritapple.

“I thought he was your best friend.”

“Not anymore.”

He leaned over to breathe, hands on his thighs, and Arrayah grabbed him by the shoulders. She gently massaged his neck. “I am sorry, Gabriel. Is there anything I can do?”

Her touch was so soothing. “Yes. Take me to Lucifer. I have made my decision. I’m joining you both.”

“I am so happy, Gabriel! I will take you.”

“Thank you.” Gabriel stared up at the dim throne of God. He wished then that its light would burst forth even if it meant he had chosen wrongly, even if he would face punishment. The light stayed dim. No help was coming.

“Gabriel, I wanted to tell you how much I love this place. I will never forget this day no matter what happens.” She grabbed his chin and looked at him. “Are you hearing me, Gabriel?”

“I hear you.”

“Thank you so much for the flowers. They will always make me think of you. I want to spread them all over Heaven.” She held his face and kissed him again. He loved her soft hands on his skin. She pulled away with a sad smile.

“I will think of you all the time, Arrayah, roses or not. And I will never let anyone hurt you.”

“You are a great friend, Gabriel.”

“You are more than that to me.”

The corner of her mouth twitched, and she peered down before she met his eyes again. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know how to say it. I want you to know how much I care for you, but—”

“I have an idea,” Gabriel interrupted. He didn’t like where this was going, and more stress was the last thing he needed right now. He wanted to focus on the good and forget about Michael, God, and Heaven. He had noticed the rose in her hand. She was holding it close to her heart.

“What is it?”

“Let’s meet here after everything changes in Heaven. Let’s spread the seeds of these roses as a symbol for everyone to be who they are no matter the circumstances. Let this flower be a symbol of our relationship. Let this bond us together forever.”

Arrayah looked at him with a small tear in her eye. “Of course. I would love it.”

“Good. I can’t wait.” At least that was settled. They had a plan for the future—more importantly, they had a future together. Whatever else she had to say, this was decided now. “What did you need to tell me?”

“Oh, I was going to say,” she said, then drifted off. Her eyes closed, and she brought the rose to brush against her lips. A soft sigh escaped her. Her eyes opened, and a steely resolve was in them now. “I was just going to say that I’m really proud of you for standing up to Michael like that. I’m glad you considered Lucifer’s offer. I’m happy you are joining us.”

Something didn’t feel right. “Are you sure that’s it?”

“Yes. For now.” She offered a slight smile and grabbed his hand.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“I really care about you, Gabriel. Do you know that?”

“I do.”

They walked out of the orange trees, and Gabriel looked for Michael. He was gone. He must have left upset, and he must have left quickly because he left the seven uprooted trees on the ground in a heaping mess. That wasn’t like Michael. Although Gabriel created the mess, Michael would have still cleaned it up if circumstances were normal.

Gabriel studied the fallen trees with a heart that felt more burdened by the minute, weighted down by every choice he made. Despair welled up from somewhere deep inside. He felt regret and still suspicion too, but he had made his decision. Arrayah squeezed his hand.

“Gabriel,” she said, “it’s time to stand up for what we believe in.”

He didn’t know what that was anymore.

G
abriel and Arrayah spread their wings and headed over the fields back toward the Marble Falls. They were going to meet Lucifer on Terra. By the time they had made their journey back to the green-and-blue planet, the number of angels gathered there had exponentially increased from the last time. Lucifer’s message was spreading like a swift wind in the darkness. It was happening faster than Gabriel had expected. A large factor was the undeniable fact that God’s light had dimmed and was continuing to dim with each passing hour. Angels throughout Heaven were seeking answers just like he was. Lucifer’s ideas were popular, and what he said seemed to make sense.

Gabriel would have never found Lucifer by himself had Arrayah not known exactly where to go. She led him to a small mountain surrounded on all sides by thousands upon thousands of angels. On the top stood Lucifer, an ominous seraph, and a petite angel who appeared to be a virtue. She was dressed similarly to Arrayah only her gown was a soft pink. As they drew close, Gabriel saw light reflected by the necklace she wore inscribed with her virtue. He should have known her name because the virtues were well known in Heaven, but he didn’t.

“Who are those angels with Lucifer?”

Arrayah flapped her wings to slow down and Gabriel caught the gust.

“Those are two of the most influential angels involved with us. They really are inspiring. Abbeus is the seraph in the middle. He is the only seraph God never considered a single year to be one of the four to guard His throne, yet he stayed loyal all this time. It wasn’t until he met Lucifer that he even knew how mistreated he was. Lucifer had the giant seraph in tears when he explained why God never used him to represent His throne. Have you ever heard a seraph cry? It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard.”

Gabriel thought back to the seraph’s voice in his head at the orange grove. She had said her words would soon be forgotten.

“Actually, I have. A seraph spoke to me in my head recently.”

“Come on, Gabriel. That doesn’t make sense.” She looked at him with a questioning stare. “What did it sound like?”

Gabriel closed his eyes and pictured being right back there under his tree. He could smell the citrus in the air and feel the pulp on his forearm. It was like being right back at home, something he longed for right now. “It sounded like a beautiful but sad song.”

He opened his eyes to see Arrayah close her mouth. She had heard the exact same from Abbeus. It was written all over her face. She leaned forward and glided toward Terra’s rocky surface at the back of the crowd. Gabriel followed her and touched down close, brushing a feather from her right wing.

“Do you know what that voice told me? It was a seraph saying that soon the glory of God will be forgotten. Look around us. What if she was right?”

“Stop it, Gabriel.” She turned to walk through the crowd.

“Wait, talk to me. I’m just asking what if!” Gabriel tried to grab her arm, but she whipped around and slapped his hand away before he could register the motion. He was unprepared for the fierce reaction or her speed. He recoiled at the slap and the look on her face, but she turned back toward Lucifer, unfazed.

“Don’t grab me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Do you see the other angel up there next to Abbeus?”

Gabriel backed away. His heart sank further thinking she referred to Lucifer. “There are two. Which one?”

“Her name is Delia. She is the virtue angel of chastity.”

Gabriel looked up at Delia’s pink gown. “What about her?”

“She is my sister. As close as you think you and Michael have ever been, it is nothing compared to what I have with her. I will stand next to her. She and I are on Lucifer’s side to the end. Are you with us or not?”

Gabriel didn’t know what to say. He wanted to stand up for his friendship with Michael but realized the only two times Arrayah had met him they fought. He simply nodded and let her believe what she wanted.

She was right though, Gabriel thought, as she led him toward the mountain. He had forsaken his brother for someone he had just met. Michael had taught him everything he knew. The first time he ever crossed swords was with Michael. The very blade Gabriel used against him Michael had given him as a gift. Most of the things he owned and cared for were either because Michael had given it to him or Michael liked it first.

As young archangels, they had climbed trees on the far western rim and then glided down, seeing who could float the longest. Michael was always better at it, mainly because Gabriel weighed more, but he let Gabriel win sometimes. It was no secret Michael was the most important angel in his life. Yes, they fought, but he couldn’t think of a single time Michael didn’t have his best interest at heart. What was he doing here?

As Gabriel and Arrayah approached, Delia was finishing her speech.

“Don’t be left in the dark with the One whose light has burned out from the breath of His own lies! His light has dimmed for a reason. He knows His end is near. It is the time of the angels! It is the time of the new angelic order! It is our time, and I give you our leader. He’s God’s own chosen one, the highest guardian cherub, a wonderful inspiration, and a true friend to us all: Lucifer!” Her silky dress flapped in the wind behind her, outlining an exquisite physique, but she still didn’t compare to Arrayah.

The crowd of angels shouted praises with a thunderous outpouring of emotion for their champion. They cheered for him as they did at his concerts. Gabriel was astonished to see crowds of seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, principalities, and even three of the seven archangels—Azrael, Azazel, and Saraquel. With Gabriel present, the majority of his class was apparently on board with Lucifer’s plan to oppose God. If every class became that way, God would no longer be in charge. He suddenly became light-headed.

Lucifer walked up with seeming grace and humility, and when he finally held his hand up, the audience quieted quickly. His effervescent wings were outstretched behind him. His face looked different from last time Gabriel saw him, darker somehow, but was no less perfect. What an attractive angel, Gabriel thought. Why would Arrayah be interested in a lowly archangel instead?

“We are not here to convince you one way or the other as to what you should believe or who you should follow. Forgive my dear Delia. She speaks with such passion from her own conviction.” He glanced at Delia with a loving smile. “Look at her. How can you resist her? You are a truly splendid creature, and I thank you for your wonderful heart.” She curtsied, and the crowd laughed at her charm.

Delia looked so much like Arrayah from a distance. Gabriel began to wonder if she could be the female from Michael’s dream. The two could easily be mistaken. If Michael’s premonition was true, then he hoped she was that angel. Arrayah turned and smiled at Gabriel as Delia curtsied, and a flush of guilt ran over him for wanting her sister to burn rather than her.

Lucifer continued, “We simply want every angel to hear the facts. God wants us to worship Him for eternity, serving Him and handling our appointed duties forever. Unfortunately for God, the truth has been revealed, and we know now that He is no longer who He says He is. We have become too smart and are no longer His children to manipulate and control!”

The crowd erupted. Lucifer clearly had the angels in the palm of his hand, and Gabriel wondered how far it would go. How many would stay loyal to God? Lucifer continued his speech, and as it went on, Gabriel watched as thousands more were converted before his eyes. It seemed to be effortless for Lucifer.

“I don’t want to make this about Him however,” Lucifer said. “This is about us! This is a celebration of what is to come!” The crowd roared even louder.

“Isn’t Lucifer incredible?” Arrayah turned and batted her eyes at Gabriel. He felt the lump in his throat still there from his confrontation with Michael. He finally cleared it.

“He is.”

Gabriel had so many questions. Normally he would turn to Michael. He couldn’t get his brother out of his head or shake the look on Michael’s face as Gabriel hurled him through the trees. He remembered their very first fight as young angels; he could still feel Michael’s knuckles against his cheekbone. It was what inspired him to take up sparring. He would have never won the arms spar in the Ludus Paradisus if he hadn’t been so determined to beat Michael. From even their worst moments came positive outcomes. What if Michael was right? He wanted to protect Arrayah, and Lucifer’s words were like honey. But what if this was the wrong side? Either way, he was bound to lose someone he could never replace.

He looked at Arrayah’s flawless features. She was listening to Lucifer, apparently captivated, but there were lines of worry around her eyes. He knew he was only there because of her. Before any of this happened, the seraph had told him to follow his heart and only listen to Michael. It was only Arrayah keeping him from leaving at that very second.

The source of light here on Terra was a glowing yellow sphere in the cosmos, but it was slowly fading away over the horizon now. Darkness was creeping across the sky. Soon all would be black and void of light. Gabriel’s troubled heart felt the same way; a darkness was growing inside. Looking at the shadows sweeping across the mountain and beginning to engulf the gathered angels, a sense of horror and finality struck him. It was as if he were approaching a point from which he could not return. He didn’t know how to stop it, but he had to try.

“Arrayah, what if Lucifer is wrong about all of this? What if God truly is the Creator and the Ruler of all things, just as we have always believed? Then what? What if Lucifer is the liar here?”

She did a double take. “Have you not heard anything? Even some of God’s own seraph angels believe He is lying. If He’s not lying, then why flee in the midst of this revolution? Heaven is dimmed because His light is gone! Why wouldn’t He clear up the rumors and stand up for Himself?”

“Well—”

“No, Lucifer is right.”

Lucifer shouted and then paused for effect, and the cheers from the crowd almost drowned him out.

“Maybe God is allowing this to happen to see who is truly faithful to Him,” Gabriel said. “What if He is allowing all angels to make their own decisions, just like Lucifer speaks of, before He comes back and reveals the truth? What then, Arrayah?”

She gazed harshly at him and then turned away before whispering, “You can’t possibly understand, but I am too deep into this now.” Gabriel stepped in closer to hear her. “I know things you can’t imagine. I know you can’t understand what it’s like to have someone as close to you as Delia is to me, but even if I thought Lucifer was wrong, I wouldn’t leave her. Ever.”

“I do understand that. The only difference is I feel that way for two people. One I barely know but I know is already a part of me.” She looked down, understanding him perfectly. “The other has always been a part of me. I know what you saw between Michael and me was terrible, but he is my most beloved friend and my greatest rival. Most of all, he is my equal. I know in my heart when he is telling the truth, and I can’t leave him just like you can’t leave Delia.” He placed a hand on her arm, and this time she did not slap it away. “Arrayah, come with me. Please. We can come back for Delia when we are stronger.”

She winced. She looked up at Delia with loving eyes, but then her focus shifted to Lucifer. Her face hardened, and her back stiffened. “It is your decision about what you will believe. I cannot make you choose either way. But I will tell you this: I have made up my mind, so don’t try to convince me otherwise if you are suddenly back on God’s side!”

Lucifer still spoke behind their conversation, and the crowd roared every few seconds. Gabriel just wanted to go somewhere quieter. “You aren’t as sure as you would have me believe. You didn’t think it would go this far when all of it first started, did you? It’s not too late to get out you know.”

“I believe Lucifer!” Arrayah shouted. After a moment, she looked down. She wasn’t sure. “And yes, it is too late to turn back now even if I wanted to.”

Gabriel shook his head and became silent when he heard more cheers from the crowd. He turned his focus back on Lucifer’s speech.

“I will lead you to our new order,” Lucifer stated. His voice was smooth and bold. “We will be raised above the Lord God soon, and we will unmask ourselves when He tries to make a stand against us.”

“That is only if He ever shows back up!” yelled an angel from the crowd. Other angels chimed in remarks, but Lucifer’s voice was still easily heard.

“Oh, He will show back up, and when He does, He will have no idea how many are with us. I will confront Him about all of His many lies! Any angel who opposes us until then will be crushed along with Him.”

After Gabriel heard that, he could no longer take it. His heart was telling him to fly away as quickly as possible and get to Michael, but there was one problem. The other portion of his heart was standing right next to him. He wouldn’t leave Arrayah in the hands of Lucifer. There had to be a way to protect them both.

“Don’t you see, Arrayah? Michael and a seraph warned me of what would happen before any of this started. I realize now they were right. Listening to Lucifer now, everything makes sense. He is not trying to make everyone equal or uncover lies. He is trying to exalt himself, and he is using his own lies to accomplish his agenda!”