War of Wings (11 page)

T
he next day Gabriel met Arrayah by the flowing green grass of the Provender. He wasn’t as ecstatic as the day before. The sky had darkened, and an ominous, hollowed-out feeling was overtaking him.

“God’s light has certainly dimmed,” he said by way of greeting.

“Maybe God is abandoning us,” she said.

“It’s possible, but it feels more like we are abandoning Him.”

“How have you been since yesterday?”

“Come with me.” He took her by the wrist and leaped up, wings unfurling. She barely had time to extend her own and flap them in time with his. He let go after a few seconds, and they drifted apart to soar, wingtips almost touching. They flew over the grounds where the Paradise Games were held. The fields and arenas took up over five hundred miles. He loved it here, taking in the sweet air, and he started to feel better. For a moment, his troubling thoughts went away completely.

They didn’t say a word—only looked at each other every now and then. Gabriel finally started descending near an opening hidden in an enormous grove of trees. From above, they could see miles of trees laden with fruit, and beyond these were rows of vegetables and giant patches of flowers all neatly separated into their own areas across the ravine. Their arrangement was impeccable. Unlike the imperfections of Terra, everything here was orderly and pristine.

“Have you ever noticed the order of all of these?”

“I have never really thought about it, but now that you say it, they are perfect,” she said.

“Isn’t it amazing? They are all grown in their own specific place for a purpose—all the pears next to pears, all the spiritapples next to spiritapples. Everything is meant to be exactly where it is.”

“It’s pretty spectacular to look at.”

They hovered close to the ground next to a gap between trees.

“Follow me,” said Gabriel.

As they landed, he walked her through a path that was not easily spotted from the air. They were amidst orange trees and were near the place where Michael had first spoken of his dream.

“These are my favorite of all the foods and fruits of Heaven. Would you like one?” As he said it, two white rabbits hopped away from his regular tree.

“Oh, cute. Sure, I’ll try one,” she said. “Why do you like oranges so much?”

He grabbed two, peeled them, and handed her one. He walked slowly, and she followed through the grove. The sharp, sweet scent of citrus was thick in the air, and the branches created a canopy overhead.

“Well, they are delicious, first of all. And they are juicy, sweet, and easy to eat.”

“Nice. Did you come up with that yourself?” She was smiling.

“Certainly.” He tried to sound playful in return, but it was not coming easily today.

“Is that it? I mean, I agree they are really good.” She bit out a juicy chunk. “But there are many amazing fruits in Heaven.”

“There’s another reason too. Come here.”

He led her to an iron bench situated in the middle of the grove. The bench was simple and unadorned, a rarity in Heaven. He had put it here, in his favorite place, a long time ago. He spent more time here than in his own home.

They sat there on the bench for a little while eating their oranges and smiling back and forth. She laughed when he bit into his orange and juice squirted into his eye. After he wiped his eye, he looked at her and knew his grin said it all. He couldn’t help enjoying himself around her.

“Come over here. I want to show you the other reason I love oranges.” He walked her even farther down the path, which was becoming narrower. It was still surrounded by perfectly symmetrical trees heavily laden with fruit.

“You have noticed the layout of this grove, with the fruits, flowers, and vegetables all being in their places, right?” said Gabriel.

“Right.”

“I’ve spent much time in all of these fields and orchards. Each of these trees or plants is in its designated spot and none are mixed with other kinds. Just like with the angels and how our order of things has always been until recently.”

“I’m sure it was that way for a reason at one time. Hopefully, things are changing.”

“Well, the oranges are much like you and me.” Gabriel stepped to the side and revealed something unique.

That little, remote corner of the grove yielded a small bush with three flowers. One was red, one pink, and one white. It was completely encircled by orange trees. Arrayah gasped when she saw it. No other flowers were even on that side of the ravine, much less in the middle of an orange grove. It shouldn’t be there. It was an imperfection in Heaven.

“They are absolutely beautiful!” exclaimed Arrayah, almost breathless.

“I think everything is meant to have its place. Some are just meant to be different. I don’t believe it is a mistake like some would think.”

She stood there taking in the remarkable flowers. “I agree with you. What are they?”

“I don’t know. In a place full of the most magnificent fruit in Heaven, a lowly type of flower found its way to grow in their company. It is nowhere else in Heaven to my knowledge.”

“I have never seen or heard of it either.” Arrayah stooped down to smell one. She breathed in, and her eyes closed.

“The oranges took these flowers in, and that is why I love them. They exist to be themselves and grow where they have been planted though it seems an unlikely home.” He smiled. “I come here all the time to remind myself that maybe I have a place too. Maybe I’m an imperfect type of flower.”

He picked one of the flowers and accidentally pricked his finger on one of the thorns. He grimaced and handed it to her carefully. “These are the only ones I know of in Heaven. Do you want to give them a name?”

She peered at the odd thorns and then poked one, reacting the same way as Gabriel and jerking her finger back. “Yes.”

“What will you name them?”

She reached for Gabriel and slid an arm around his waist. “Well, I see it like this. I think the flower needs to get more credit. The flower found a way to thrive away from its natural place, to be with the oranges when others couldn’t. It rose up by itself to be something different. Something amazing.”

Gabriel hoped she was talking about him as well as the flower, but in the back of his mind, he thought she might be referring to Lucifer. He couldn’t get the wink out of his head. He was getting lost in unpleasant thoughts when she spoke again.

“I will name it rose,” she said, touching one softly. “Just like you rose up from the lowest tier to become a leader in our new ranks. These are roses just like you.” She tapped his nose with her finger. “What do you think?”

He couldn’t help but smile. “I think it’s a beautiful name.”

“You know what else I noticed?”

Gabriel moved his hands slowly down her sides. She was so delicate underneath that silky dress. Blood was racing through his veins and his heart sped up, but he did his best to keep his voice level. “What?”

“This rose has thorns to protect itself because it’s fragile, so one must be careful with it.”

He was sure she was talking about more than the rose at this point. “Not everything needs to protect itself. Sometimes others are meant to protect.” She was shaking slightly, and he could feel it. He wondered if she felt him tremble too. “Just as I will always protect you.” Her guard was down, it was clear in her eyes, and she was as lost in the moment as he was. Her eyes drifted shut, and the rose slipped from her fingers as she leaned toward him. They kissed. They kissed for a long time. This was the best moment of his existence. Better than his first victory in the games. Even better than the first time he met his best friend.

“Gabriel! Gabriel, are you in there?”

Ironically, that same friend’s voice ended this moment. Arrayah and Gabriel separated, and Arrayah stood there in a stupor as his arms withdrew. She really did care for him. It was obvious from the way she looked up at him. She had to know he would always be there for her, and the wink from Lucifer must have meant nothing. She felt what they were building between them too.

“Gabriel, can you hear me?”

“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said quietly to Arrayah.

“Don’t be,” she whispered.

“Maybe we should ignore him.”

“Yes, maybe we should. Do you know who it is?”

“It’s Michael.”

“Oh.” She perked up with a more serious look. The moment was gone. “You should answer him.”

Gabriel turned from her with a little disappointment. He knew she was right although he thought it odd she changed her mind so quickly. “I am over here, Michael.”

After a few more shouts back and forth, Michael found them.

“There you are,” Michael said. He saw Gabriel was with someone. “Excuse me; I am sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

“No problem. I wanted you two to meet properly anyway.” As Michael got closer, Gabriel said, “Michael, meet Arrayah again. Arrayah, this is Michael. Maybe we can get along this time and not drive her away.” Gabriel laughed, hoping to cut the tension.

Michael and Arrayah walked toward each other, and he reached out for her hand to shake it. When they locked eyes again, Michael froze just as he had done by the reef. He seemed almost petrified all over again.

“Are you all right?” she asked. Gabriel was sure she was used to angels staring at her because of her beauty, but Michael’s stare was so intense that it rapidly became awkward. He turned away from her but had yet to look Gabriel in the eyes.

“Excuse me. Yes, it is an honor to see you again,” Michael mustered.

“Michael, is something the matter? You acted like this the last time you met Arrayah.”

“Oh, no. I’m fine and all is well.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it is no problem. I mean there is no problem.” It wasn’t like Michael to stumble over his words. Gabriel didn’t believe it. Michael had become nervous.

“Well, I have heard a lot about you, Michael. Gabriel tells me you are his best friend, and I’m glad we can talk peacefully this time.”

Michael had been looking at the ground, the orange trees, the newly named rose, anything and everything except Arrayah or Gabriel. Gabriel looked back at her to see if she had noticed.

“I would say Gabriel and I are more like brothers than just best friends. I will always look after his best interest.” Then, finally looking at Gabriel, Michael said, “I am the older, wiser one.”

Arrayah returned his smile, and Gabriel shook his head. “Older and more boring, you mean.” They all laughed, and the awkwardness of the moment was gone.

“I’ll give you that,” Michael said.

“So what are you doing out here, Michael?” Arrayah asked.

“I hate to interrupt you two, but there is something I would actually like to speak with Gabriel about in private. Would you mind?”

“Oh, no, go ahead. I don’t mind at all.”

“Are you sure?” Gabriel asked.

“Positive.”

Gabriel and Michael walked down the path toward the gap in the trees where he had entered. They stopped just before exiting by one of the hedge arches that served as entrances to the many miles of crops. Michael pulled Gabriel aside by his collar. His body language changed instantly.

“Gabriel, the time is upon us. God’s light has dimmed, and there is a great separation amongst all of the angels of Heaven.” Michael pointed up to the Great Mountain. The light of God was so altered. It was as if God was now gone and the afterglow was all that remained to light Heaven.

Arrayah’s words came out of Gabriel. “Maybe God has left us.”

“Gabriel, He would never leave us. He will be with us for eternity no matter what.”

Gabriel wasn’t so sure anymore. He wished he still felt Michael’s confidence.

“I need your help, Gabriel.”

“With what?”

“I’m starting a resistance group of angels for God. Something bad is happening in Heaven, and we need to do something about it now. God is going to need his loyal followers united.”

“We are just archangels, Michael. We are the second lowest of the nine orders in case your big head has forgotten. What could we possibly do?”

“I know what we are. We are still angels just like all of the hierarchs that you praise more than your own Father.”

“I don’t praise them! I respect them. There’s a big difference.”

“You have always wanted to be like them. You want to be something important, Gabriel? You already are; the only one who doesn’t know that is you. Well, here’s your chance to finally prove it to yourself. Join me, and let’s lead Heaven back to God.”

“I can’t right now, Michael.”

“You have something more important?” He frowned and lowered his voice. “You are my brother no matter how much we argue. You know this, don’t you?”

“I love you, Michael, but I can’t join you right now.”

“You won’t is what you mean.”

“You couldn’t possibly understand.” Gabriel couldn’t abandon Arrayah or ignore Lucifer. His mind was all twisted up about what was right and wrong. He simply didn’t know anymore.

“Gabriel, God told me to find you. I am here to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Well, I need yours, Gabriel. There’s something else I have to tell you too, but I need you to stay calm.”

“I’m calm. Go on.”