War of Wings (16 page)

Lucifer led Gabriel out of Terra’s atmosphere. “Try to stay close,” he said as he pierced through deep space. Gabriel could barely keep up. Terra grew tiny behind them and then almost disappeared. He felt the temperature drop more and more as they traveled away. After a while, Lucifer slowed down, but they had covered much distance in a short amount of time. They were approaching another planet, which hung in space like a dusky red ball.

“Everything you see around you belongs to me, Gabriel. What is visible is barely a speck of what is around us. The vastness is past your comprehension. Billions upon billions of stars, and I know everything there is to know about each and every type here. I would like to give you this red planet as a symbol of what I can offer you as a leader in my ranks. Red is symbolic of the passion our new Heaven will need. It is symbolic of the new life I can give you. Is there anything you would like to know about all of this?”

Gabriel realized he no longer needed to stay calm. It was finally just the two of them. “I know all I need to know. I know none of these planets are yours to give. I know you will pay for all you have done.”

“When I saw your sword, I feared you didn’t really want to speak in private about my offer. It is a mistake to challenge me, Gabriel. I can take away life just as quickly as I can give it.” Lucifer’s tone was new and different. It was something beyond threatening.

Gabriel didn’t know what he meant, but he didn’t care. “You are the one making the mistake. God will not let you get away with this.”

Lucifer stiffened his shoulders. “Oh, really? Where is your mighty God? I don’t see Him. Does that sound like a God who cares? Does that sound like He is even in charge? He has left, and you have no idea where He has gone!”

“I am not here to discuss God. I have come here for Arrayah, not for you or anyone else.” Gabriel’s flapping wings felt three times heavier than normal. “I won’t let you take her down with you.”

“Arrayah came to me before she even met you. She had questions your feeble mind could not even form, let alone answer. I merely gave her the information she yearned for. Something you could never give her.”

They were very near the red planet, and Gabriel stopped following him. “You filled her head full of lies, Lucifer!”

“Your God is the one who is full of lies! Anyone who worships Him is a fool, and I will bow to no one, nor will she.”

“Leave her alone, or I will make you, you worthless cherub!” exploded Gabriel.

“How dare you threaten me, lowly archangel? I have been exceedingly generous with my offer to you, but my kindness has its limits. You have no idea the power I possess,” growled Lucifer, his face darkening and his hair curling back from his forehead.

“For the last time, tell Arrayah of your deception and let her go!” His body wouldn’t allow a louder yell. His voice cracked.

“If it weren’t for me, Arrayah would have never even spoken to you. You met her because of me, you ignorant fool. You actually thought a virtue would care for you? She will never leave me for a pitiful archangel!” Lucifer laughed and faced Gabriel with his arms spread, daring the archangel to come at him.

Gabriel didn’t hesitate one second.

G
abriel unsheathed his sword from his hip, and the blade sparked on its metal scabbard. He rushed Lucifer at full speed and swung with all his strength, putting his entire weight into the blow. Lucifer lifted his armored forearm and, impossibly, stopped the blade’s advance as it crashed down. It was like striking one of the seraphim statues—there was no give whatsoever. As the metals clashed, more sparks lit up space like a heavenly fireworks display.

Gabriel was in shock that Lucifer could block such a blow, and it slowed his reflexes. Lucifer grabbed him by his chest plate and started to spin him around. After one full revolution, Gabriel head butted him in the nose and tried to struggle free, but it only infuriated Lucifer further. He launched Gabriel toward the red planet with such force that the sheer velocity and pressure prevented him from opening his wings as he pierced the atmosphere. He plunged through space like a stone through water.

He hit the ground with enough power to cause a massive crack. A huge cloud of red dirt flew up, blinding him, and he could hear the fissure ripping through the surface of the planet, slowly at first and then faster and farther away. Though he could barely breathe, Gabriel forced himself to roll to the side in case the crack opened up beneath him. Lucifer torpedoed down to land no more than ten feet away from Gabriel. Another dust cloud blew up around him, and a second crack leaped along the ground, but Lucifer kept his feet. His tall, lean body loomed over Gabriel’s face, blocking the light behind him, and his armor sparkled even through the dust cloud. Gabriel’s wings felt broken though he knew they couldn’t be.

“You give this message to Michael. If he dares to oppose me, I will destroy him. The same is now true for you. Arrayah will be right next to me when I overthrow God. I will make her my highest angel, and she will forget you ever existed if she hasn’t already, you pathetic worm. She is probably laughing at you right now.” Lucifer turned his back to fly away, snapping his wings back out.

Gabriel pushed himself shakily to his feet and charged at Lucifer with all his remaining strength. Lucifer spun at the last second, his wings whipping around, but it was too late. He turned to meet Gabriel’s thick shoulder right in his stomach. They shot into the air with the blow, but Gabriel couldn’t believe the resistance that was still coming from the lean angel. He had never dealt with such strength in all of his thousands of matches.

Lucifer stopped their movement in midair and again took hold of Gabriel. He dashed forward with a loud downward flap of his massive wings and threw him with a vicious grunt. Gabriel hit the ground with such force that an enormous quake split the surface where the first fissure had started. He split through the planet’s initial wound and kept going, the throw sending him deep into the ground. He could feel rock breaking against every inch of his body as he plunged. He could hear the crack ripping through the ground off into the distance. It kept going like nothing would stop it. Gabriel tried to hold to consciousness, but as he felt his body slowing its descent, rock now wedged tightly all around him, and everything went black.

Awareness came back gradually and painfully. He slowly opened one eye at a time and had to jar his arm free to wipe the dust from his eyes. His whole body felt devoid of moisture. An eerie silence surrounded him, and his whole body was lodged in rock except for his free arm. Not the best situation, he thought. An intense soreness made him realize he may have been there for some time. He began to fight his way up and out of the crevice, using his free arm to drag himself and knock the rock loose around him until he could scramble upward.

When Gabriel emerged, he was covered in rubble and dirt. As he licked his dry lips, he found his entire face was blanketed with a layer of dust. He had never been so uncomfortably hot or beat up in his long existence. He peered over at the extensive crack his body had made and could not see where it ended. Lucifer was nowhere to be seen.

Gabriel decided to head back toward Terra but did so slowly and stiffly. His legs felt like boulders, and he thought they had the worst of it until he opened his battered wings. Even short flaps felt like someone was pushing down on a handful of bruises with each motion. The feathers that covered them pointed in different directions now. Though he wouldn’t normally care, he couldn’t help reaching back to brush them into place when he realized he would see Arrayah shortly. At least he hoped he would. Lucifer could have taken her far away by now.

He shook the red dust out of his hair and beat it off of his palms, wondering how he could have let Lucifer get the best of him. How could he be that powerful? It was unbelievable. That type of strength was not angelic.

As Gabriel moved through space, he heard a faint whistle. Someone was near. It was the sound angels made when they were in distress or simply needed to summon someone. He calmed his nerves, flew toward the sound, and tried to return the signal but found his lungs could scarcely draw enough breath. A few minutes later, he saw Michael flying his way.

“Gabriel!”

“I’m so glad to see you,” Gabriel said with all the energy he could muster, which hardly amounted to a whisper. “I need you to fly me back to Terra. I have to get back.”

“You look terrible, brother. No chance. I need to get you back to Heaven as soon as possible. There will be another time to finish this, I promise.” Michael started to put his arm around Gabriel, but Gabriel attempted to pull back. It was a feeble effort.

“It may be too late! I need to get her. I can handle him. I just need another shot.”

“I know, and you will have your chance. But not today. Right now we must get home so you can heal.” He put his arm around Gabriel more firmly but not enough to hurt him and started to help the battered angel fly. After a few hundred miles, Gabriel was finally able to fly on his own as his body healed itself. With much convincing from Michael, he realized he was in no shape to challenge Lucifer again. Not right now. It was a long way home from the red planet, and at the pace they were going, it seemed to take an eternity. It gave both of them plenty of time to think. When they arrived back in Heaven, they aimed straight for Gabriel’s home so he could recuperate.

“I guess I should have had a better plan, huh?” Gabriel gave a painful chuckle as they walked through the gate of the Great Mountain.

“You are the only angel I know who would make jokes after something like this.” Michael tried to keep a straight face but had to laugh.

“What’s Heaven without laughter?”

“Laughter heals everything. We’ll talk later,” said Michael in a gentle voice. “Get some rest, Gabriel.”

“I will, brother. Thank you.”

“Of course. I’m the boring one. If I didn’t look after you, where would I get my fill of excitement?”

Gabriel chuckled and labored up to the door. At the top step, he turned around.

“We have to do something. If we don’t, who will?”

“I know. Get some rest.”

Gabriel stumbled into his home and heard Michael let out a soft sigh just as he closed the door. Peering out the window, he found that Michael was already in intense prayer that looked a lot like pleading. Maybe God would answer Michael, but from the knot in his gut, he feared they were on their own. Maybe they deserved to be. Either way, it was time to fight for God and start His army. Gabriel was certain of one thing—Heaven would never be the same.

G
abriel and Michael began traveling throughout Heaven, searching for angels to rally for God’s army. They started with their own street. They knew that stopping Lucifer would require an all-out war in Heaven, for Lucifer’s army was massive and would be difficult to overcome. They canvassed one street after another for hours seeking out comrades and true believers. Gabriel had far less success than Michael. He could not get other angels to even stop and listen to him.

“You’re just prettier, Michael. That’s all.”

After a number of angels heard Michael out but gave no firm commitments, they decided to go to God’s throne. It was time to raise the stakes.

God’s light was so dim that there was a permanent dusk blanketing Heaven. It was impossible to ignore. Gabriel found it heartbreaking. Nonetheless he managed to stay focused as he followed Michael up the long staircase to the platforms of the thrones and seraphim.

The laws that prohibited flying in the city were insignificant in the face of the current crisis, and none of the angels who would have enforced them were even at their posts. Angels were flying all around the city. Chaos had taken over Heaven. Most of the seraphim, cherubim, and thrones were gone, but they approached the ones who remained on the upper platform before the throne of God.

“Are you ready for this, Gabriel?”

Gabriel thumbed the inscription on his armor. “I’m the messenger angel, remember?”

“Oh, now you are? Not too long ago you were all about fighting.”

“Watch how it’s done. I was made for this.”

Gabriel outstretched his hands and shouted, “Join us, hierarchs!”

A few of the angels turned his way with awkward glances, others with looks of resentment before they all continued about their business. Michael’s crossed arms suggested he was unimpressed.

“Like I said, you’re prettier. Go for it.” Gabriel bowed and swept to the side.

“Who here is still loyal to God?” Michael demanded with a raised voice. He sounded so authoritative that even Gabriel straightened up. Almost everyone looked in his direction, and a few even stepped forward. “I know that many are confused about what is going on.”

“We’re not confused,” a cherub said. “The only thing we are confused about is who you are.”

“I am a loyal follower of our true God. I am Michael.” He gestured toward Gabriel with confidence. “And this is my brother Gabriel. What is your name, mighty cherub?”

“I am Lustar. What we also know is that Lucifer has rallied many of our kind to join him in a powerful revolt against God.” He was a robust figure decked out in cherubim armor, complete with a chest plate of solid gold. His head and body seemed oversized. His hair was dark blond with thick bangs that covered his forehead like the columns covered the wall estates.

“Yes, he has, which is exactly why I am here. I am looking to gather those loyal to God to march on His behalf and stand up against Lucifer,” said Michael.

“Do you even know who Lucifer is, archangel?” Lustar looked Michael up and down. Gabriel was impressed by the size of his forearms more than anything. He must be great at the arms spar. “Do you know what he is capable of?”

“Yes, I do. I know that he is more powerful than any angel in Heaven.” Michael finally tucked in his wings.

“So what is it you think you can do? What can your army accomplish? He has most of the angels in Heaven behind him already,” said Lustar. Lucifer had made this a common misconception, and now most angels believed it. Gabriel found himself wondering if it was true—if Lucifer already had more angels out there in the cosmos than were left in all of Heaven.

“I know Lucifer is powerful, but I also know that God is more powerful. Right now, Lucifer is making it seem like God has no following. There are so many angels who are unaccounted for. Now, who will join me? We need everyone, including leaders. Right now,” Michael announced. The nearby angels hesitated, looking around at each other. No one responded. Their fear of Lucifer was apparent. The silence was almost painful.

Finally, Lustar spoke. “Why would any of us follow you?’

“I am not asking you to follow me. I am asking you to follow God. I am asking you to stand up for our Creator.”

The angels’ expressions showed shame, fear, confusion, and even anger. Lustar appeared unmoved. “Since you think you are so close to God, tell me why He has abandoned us in this time of crisis.”

“I cannot answer that. But I know there is a good reason.”

“That’s what I thought,” said Lustar. He turned to walk away. The crowd was starting to talk, some of them looking away. If he lost Lustar, he would lose everyone.

“What do you think, Lustar?” Michael asked.

Lustar turned around. “I think you know nothing.”

“I think the same thing. We have something in common. No one knows anything, for that matter. I’m not the smartest angel here among these brilliant minds of the first tier. I do however choose to believe in something bigger than myself. I also don’t think it is abandonment. I think we simply don’t understand what He is doing. That’s all.” Michael had a way with words. It was very different from Lucifer; not as elegant perhaps, but effective nonetheless.

Lustar paused, considering. Then he said, “Why would a perfect God allow us to feel such heartache?”

“He has a plan that we cannot understand.”

Lustar stood straight and seemed to have grown ten inches. “No. Why would He allow things to go wrong? If He were truly who He is supposed to be, then He would confront Lucifer now and not allow all the rest of us to feel this way.”

“I choose to believe He has His reasons. Maybe it is for us to learn. Maybe it is for us to prove our loyalty so He can see who truly believes in Him. I don’t know. All I know is that I am going to fight for Him. Are you with me or not? Are you with God?” Michael raised his voice again and made eye contact with as many of the angels as he could.

The crowd was still divided and hesitant. They moved around and spoke to each other quietly. At least this time they were all engaged.

“What is the point of this existence if we have an Almighty God who causes suffering?” Lustar asked. “Why would He allow us to suffer? No, He is backing down and abandoning us, and Lucifer has exposed Him. It is too hard to believe in Him anymore. That is why—”

“I will join you,” a throne interrupted as he moved forward from the crowd. Gabriel recognized him as Anistar, an angel who had never been a leader but was known for his deep loyalty to God. He was frail with pale skin, and he looked older than most angels. His armor was bedecked with purple velvet, gold embellishments, and red rubies. After he stepped forward, two more thrones joined him, and then a seraph named Grandathos said, “I will also fight for our God with you.”

Gabriel couldn’t believe it. It was a start.

Grandathos’s middle wings covered his face like the other seraphs’, so it was disconcerting to see him walk forward toward Michael without bumping into anyone. Seraphs were tall and intimidating, and Grandathos was no exception. He had massive wings, and his presence alone demanded attention. Thirteen others followed suit immediately after him, and Gabriel’s wings quivered in excitement.

Thus Michael started their army. Lustar stayed behind with many others, but they now had seventeen on their side. The new troop marched up the steps together before Grandathos stopped Michael.

“God is not up there anymore.”

“Did God say anything before leaving?” Michael asked.

“No. Nothing.”

Michael said a prayer to God. As he prayed, Grandathos drew Gabriel to the side and spoke with a lowered voice. “Your calling is undeniable. I am following your friend who spoke, but I came because I saw you.”

Gabriel couldn’t fathom why Grandathos was so impressed with him. The fact he couldn’t even see the seraphim’s face didn’t help Gabriel feel any less awkward.

Michael finished praying, and they began to descend the stairs. Michael explained in detail what he felt was happening, which sparked debates between the other angels. Michael seemed to have more answers than any of the angels above him, and they all felt it was odd that he knew so much as an archangel. Grandathos didn’t have much to say; he just followed Gabriel, a little closer than he would have liked.

Gabriel realized from their questions that many were simply confused and scared. They didn’t understand why God couldn’t be reached. Had he abandoned them? Michael assured them that God would soon return and those loyal to Him would not suffer the consequences of the division. Gabriel wasn’t so sure. All he could do was hold onto hope. He talked with Anistar, the pale angel who had first volunteered; he spoke of his belief that not one single angel from the class of the powers had left God’s side for Lucifer. This was astonishing considering every other class had half or more who had strayed. The powers class was large—over two hundred thousand angels. Many felt their persistent loyalty was a rumor, but Gabriel wanted to find out. He told Michael of Anistar’s faith in the powers, and a plan was set.

The powers were a very quiet class of angels. They were warriors as their given duty, and they worked directly with the principalities. The principalities reported to the powers, and the lead powers kept records of every significant event that took place in Heaven. Gabriel was surprised to hear from Anistar about all that they had allegedly documented already throughout this time of tribulation. They were much more informed than he would have thought on what had taken place.

According to Anistar, Michael and Gabriel needed to seek out the powerful leader, Rametheus, who had played a large role in the powers’ unity. His strong loyalty had served as a guide to others in his class. Through a small circle of friends, Anistar kept in contact with the powers, and he felt that Rametheus would be willing to see them.

They led their newly formed group outside of the inner island and east of the Great Canyon. From there, they flew toward the Endless Highlands. Anistar had heard a rumor that the main group of the powers had settled in the highlands in one of several secret dwellings they had throughout Heaven. No one in the company knew how many they actually had.

They traveled along a small creek that ran between two large hills covered in soft, cloth-like grass. The creek emptied into a small body of calm, murky water with another huge hill on the opposite side. A fifty-foot-tall gate had been constructed in the base of the hill and led directly within; the hill itself was the size of a small town. Some of their party flew across the pond while others walked around, and they regrouped by the gate. It was much quieter here than in most of Heaven. In fact, Gabriel realized there was no noise at all. There was not a breath of wind, and not even the water moved. With all the chaos going on, the tranquility of the place felt haunting.

Michael, Gabriel, and the seventeen angels approached the door, and Michael rapped it with his knuckles. Not one second after the knock, the door opened with a creak of its hinges. One of the powers stood there to greet them. He was large, at least five feet taller than Michael, and metal shards of armor adorned his muscular shoulders, one bronze and the other silver. Behind him, Gabriel saw an entire community within the hill, its structures made entirely of wood—wooden floors, buildings, and countless pillars and columns for support.

“We would like to speak with Rametheus,” Michael said.

“I’ll take you to him,” the power replied without a second of hesitation. It was like he knew they were coming. With a clank from his armored feet, the angel turned to lead the way within.

Gabriel found the powers to be an odd class of angel. They all looked very similar, sharing the same physical characteristics. The powers themselves were the only ones who could name each other based on face and voice alone. They were also quite muscular compared to the average angel. The male powers were usually bare chested, with shards of metal that covered various body parts, depending upon their ranks. The higher they ranked, the more armor they had and the more elaborate its designs. Gabriel had known a few and always felt they had no personality.

The female powers were similar except they had solid metal covering their upper torsos and usually some portion of their arms. As Raphael had once put it, they were “exciting to look at.” Gabriel had to admit that the entire class had amazing bodies even if he was fonder of the daintiness of the virtues.

They followed the power into the hill and began to see others going about their business in this hidden community. Several hundred torches with endless blue flames dimly lit the entirety of the underground city. Gabriel savored the smell of hickory smoke that seemed to envelop the place. It was a short escape from the nerves, and a sense of hope built inside him with each step. They needed these angels on their side.

The group walked on amber-stained flooring about eighty yards and then up three steps to an amphitheater that looked designed for large gatherings. A strange gazebo in the far-left corner looked out of place. Gabriel and the others crossed an arched bridge that took them over a thin, neon-blue stream that split the city in two and then up a flight of stairs that led to the largest building in sight. The hillside’s entire city seemed built around this wooden nucleus. Four flaming torches shone on each side of the doorway. A few of the powers stood in dark shadows nearby, but their role was uncertain.