Warring Angel

by Samantha L. Strong

  Room 676… Room 677… I was as nervous as I’d been when I was an Attendant. Maybe he was still in a coma. Maybe he’d regressed back to Chana and couldn’t remember who he was. Maybe—

  An Archangel appeared at my shoulder. “Good day, Cornerstone.” He saluted. “We have need of your counsel on what to do with the war prisoner.”

  “War prisoner—?” I wanted so badly to shove him out of the way and go into the room, but I turned from the door.

  “Fanush surrendered. She’s come with plans to help us break into the fortress, but she wants to speak to you. She’s very insistent.”

  Zaponsla snorted.

  I sighed. “Tell her I’ll see her when I have a free moment. Tell her she’d better hand over the plans and ready a hearty, sincere apology.”

  “Yes, Cornerstone.” He disappeared.

  I had no desire to ever see Fanush again, but I asked myself what the Source would do and came up with only, Forgive.

  We’ll see if she really wants forgiveness first or is just regretful for choosing the losing side.

  Before anyone else could interrupt me, I pushed open the door.

  Voctic sat in bed, writing in a silver-bound book. Harbinger was sitting in a chair next to his bed, quietly reading. As the door creaked open, Voctic threw down his pen, pushed back the book, and attempted to climb out of bed.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” I rushed to his side. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better.”

  I tried to ease him back onto his pillow, but he threw his arms around me and squeezed. “Thank the Source you’re all right! When I woke up, I tried to leave to help, but they’ve kept me practically chained to the bed!”

  I made a show of inspecting the bed for chains. “I don’t see any—”

  But he squeezed me even tighter. “We did what we could, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough.” His voice wavered.

  “No, you did more than enough.” Tears sprung to my eyes. “The Aleph is defeated. She’s gone back into the Source.”

  As I pulled from Voctic, Harbinger embraced me. “Good day, Enael.”

  “I’m glad you’re safe,” I whispered.

  “I heard all about how mightily brave you were,” said Voctic. “It’s the only thing anyone wants to talk about now that we’re back home. I’m so proud of you.”

  The absence of his previous moniker for me was bittersweet.

  Zaponsla came up beside us to press her hand to his. “It’s good to meet you, Voctic, finally.”

  He brushed away a tear. “Ah, look at me, weeping like a child again. Must be a side effect of the poison.”

  I laughed. “Of course.”

  “The Tenders found a way to stop the poison’s effects from that book you found in the Ancient Collection,” said Harbinger. “They’re creating an antidote now. And there’s lots more information no one ever dreamed about hidden down there.”

  “I’m glad some good came out of this.”

  Voctic leaned forward and kissed me. This time, I didn’t shy away. Instead, I kissed him back and reveled in the feeling that we were equals. Finally, after all this time, I didn’t need to be afraid or worried of what the future might hold for us. I’d never felt that way before, certainly not with Kaspen.

  I knew this was finally right.

  Harbinger stifled a giggle, and Zaponsla finally shouted, “Do I need to book you some time in the Joy Ward?”

  I pulled away, smiling. “Maybe later. Now that I know Voctic is well, we need to get to the Praetorium.”

  “I’ll join you soon.” Voctic smacked me playfully on the buttocks.

  “Hey!” My cheeks turned crimson but my smile widened. He might have been through an ordeal, but much of him was the same as before.

  And that was exactly how I wanted him.

  CHAPTER 56

  A few weeks later, Fanush glared at me from under a curtain of long, red bangs. We were standing over a pile of maps in the War Room, and the Archangels chattered around us as though we weren’t there. Her black wings were gone and she’d removed the swastika that had marred her pretty but petulant face.

  “Do you understand me?” I repeated.

  “But a century of being an Attendant is so long. And then another three centuries as a Guardian?”

  “You’re either serious about re-joining Heaven or you’re not.”

  She blew a breath upward. Her bangs jumped.

  “If you don’t like it, you can either join Asorat in the Source and have a few decades of cleansing that grumpy look off your face. Or you can go throw in your lot with your former Seraph friends. I hear they’re doing an excellent job hiding in three different corners of Hell, crying to anyone who will listen.”

  “No, no,” she said hastily. “They’re all incompetents. I don’t know why Asorat even wanted them. And I’m not going into the Source.”

  “Well, then. I guess that leaves one choice, and time is ticking away. I have somewhere to be. So decide. Here or on your own?”

  She shifted from foot to foot and then blew at her bangs again. “Fine. Attendant it is.”

  “Good. Then come along to the Nexus. We’re about to start the ceremony.”

  I grabbed onto her elbow before she could change her mind and envisioned the beam of light. As we faded in, I was shocked at the transformation it had undergone. The Muses had repaired the marble, smoothing out the cracks and ripples as though they had never existed. New cushions and chairs in brilliant colors surrounded the edges.

  By far the most surprising transformation, however, was the multitude of angels and humans that were packed into the tiny space, flying, hovering, and standing. Beyond the Nexus, the Orchestra had reassembled and Cherubim were playing a lively tune, but in the sky above it and stretching out into the Garden were thousands of angels of all ranks. Royal purple wings mixed with silver mixed with cobalt mixed with yellow, and the humans were standing shoulder-to-shoulder in rings around the beam.

  They were all talking amongst themselves, but when I appeared, a soft, “There she is,” rippled through the gathering, before the chatter picked up again.

  Even though only a fraction of Heaven and Earth was represented here, I was in awe at how many humans and angels had arrived.

  Harbinger and Zaponsla were standing next to the beam behind a table. Small pieces of paper with each of the re-acquired symbols sat on top.

  I leaned over the table. “I thought just a few Nephil and a handful of Archangels would be here.”

  Zaponsla laughed. “Oh, you!”

  Fanush joined a group of wingless demons waiting off to the side, and Harbinger moved to stand with the humans. Voctic approached and kissed me on the cheek. “Don’t be nervous,” he said.

  “Thanks a lot,” I huffed. “It never occurred to me to be nervous until you mentioned it.”

  He smiled his mischievous smile. “Of course it didn’t.”

  No time like the present to get things underway.

  “Ah,” I cleared my throat. I hadn’t prepared a speech, but with so many gathered, I felt that I needed to say something. “Thank you all for coming.”

  “Peace to you!” someone shouted way in the back, and the Nexus thundered with repeated, “Peace to you,” throughout.

  “Ah, yes. Exactly.” Poise, Enael. Have some poise. “A great tragedy befell us, and we’re now only beginning to right the many wrongs that were done. Today, we take another step in our journey toward healing.”

  I picked up the piece of paper on which a Keeper had carefully transcribed Rehniah’s symbol and cupped it in my hands. My power had grown, but not as quickly as I had expected. I could now feel the power of two Seraphim flowing through me, which would be plenty to complete the ritual. A Muse knelt on the Nexus floor, ready to etch it into the marble as a representation of what I was about to do.

  I stepped toward the beam. It’s me again, Source. I’m bringing you something to help us out. Lifting my hands, I held out the symbol into the beam.

  Tha
nk you for this offering, My child.

  The entire gathering held its breath. The paper grew brighter and brighter and then disappeared in a flash of light.

  Cheering erupted, and the Muse began etching furiously into the marble.

  I stepped toward the table and picked up a swastika. Several variations had been etched onto paper, and the Muse scooted over to begin carving it back into its rightful place on the Nexus floor.

  I returned to the beam and repeated my simple prayer, again and again, until all of them had been reabsorbed by the Source.

  More cheers echoed through Heaven. If anyone was left in the fifth circle, they would probably hear a delighted roar like none other before.

  Fanush stood with the group of demons off to the side, watching the entire proceeding. Some had clapped, but most looked forlorn.

  “If you’re ready,” I said.

  Fanush approached and turned her back. I grabbed two strands of power from the beam and attached one to her left shoulder blade and then one to her right. I’d practiced this maneuver in the weeks preceding, since I wanted to do it correctly. This was a sacred bond between being and its Maker.

  “Welcome back to Heaven,” I said as her wings sprouted and grew, rainbow shimmering. “The Source has missed you.” I didn’t have to check with It to know that was the truth.

  The restoration of the hundreds of wings took a long time, but not a single spectator grew restless or impatient enough to leave. Finally, when every last demon had a pair of glimmering rainbow wings on their backs, Heaven cheered again.

  Umiet landed next to me. “Now that this business is over, I must ask: what are we going to do about the Council? It’s fine for us not to have one, but are you prepared to name another eight Seraph?”

  I looked out at the gathered crowd, the colors mixed together, every rank represented except for gold. The humans were eager, anxious, leaning in to hear my response. I shook my head. “That’s not for me to say.”

  Umiet’s brow furrowed. “Who is to say, then?”

  “The Source, of course.” I grabbed Voctic’s hand first and then Zaponsla’s. “Let’s join hands and ask for guidance.”

  Umiet bowed her head in a show of respect and took Zaponsla’s free hand. “As you wish, Cornerstone.”

  “In fact,” I lifted my voice, “we need to start being better about asking the Source for guidance in all things. When we’re planning the course of human history, when we’re looking to build our Incarnation Plans, when we’re searching for meaning in the loss of a loved one or a betrayal we don’t understand,” I squeezed Voctic’s hand, “we need to seek out the Source’s guidance. It doesn’t always provide us answers, but It does provide comfort. Usually, if we listen hard enough, we’ll know whether we are making the right decisions or not.”

  “Yes,” murmured the crowd. “She’s right.”

  “Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes and speak with our Creator.”

  As they did, I took a deep breath.

  “O Source, we come to you today, this gathering of angels and humans, to seek your guidance on our future. We’ve defeated these terrible threats to our peace and harmony, and we’re lacking in the leadership you intended for us. Should we replace the Council? And with whom?”

  A heartbeat passed and then another, and then the Source’s voice spoke in my head.

  Wait and be patient and the Seraphim will be restored to you.

  From the small gasps around me, I knew the Source spoke in all of our minds.

  Though Asorat brought about their demise, it was as I had destined for them. They grew too distracted by the unimportant things, unfocused and worried too much about power and position. They need this time to remember who they are and the sacred trust I placed in them. Their fate is an embodiment of what I have decreed be writ upon every human Book of Life: there is no growth without pain.

  Before Asorat’s and Rehniah’s disruptions, the Seraphim and Engineers plotted history for the next couple centuries. You should follow this plan now.

  You don’t need leaders right now. Instead, each and every one of you has branded on your souls what your personal path should be. You have the ability to speak to me anytime and anywhere, and you should exercise this gift as much as you need to bring harmony within your own souls.

  Don’t listen to any who try to tear you down. Instead, love each other. Build each another up. Grow spiritually. Practice patience, kindness, and quietude.

  Work to break down barriers of class, race, gender, and spiritual belief on the Earth, so that you might usher in a new era of growth. Cast aside old hatreds. Restore the humans’ faith in themselves. Send out Muses to bring beauty to Earth. And learn to work beside those who fought against you, to be examples to one another and those who are incarnating now.

  Never forget: I created you each and I love you equally. If you work together, in turn, you can create something wondrous, something that transcends even the wildest hopes that I had for humanity.

  Peace and love to you all.

  When I opened my eyes, my cheeks were wet.

  “Oh, here I go again,” whispered Voctic. He dropped my hand to wipe at his eyes.

  “Well, you heard the Source.” I lifted my voice again. “Go forth and create something wondrous!”

  Cheering, the angels and humans scattered, some toward the Praetorium, some toward the Sanctuary, some toward the Archives, and some toward the Garden, perhaps to spend time in quiet reflection. My friends—Zaponsla, Harbinger, Voctic—circled me.

  “Thank you, Enael,” said Zaponsla. “This has been a… cleansing… experience.” She looked confused, then shocked, then amazed at the words she chose. “Perhaps that’s what the Source intended all along. For us all.”

  “Perhaps,” I said.

  “And what are you going to do now, Enael?” Harbinger asked.

  “I think I might be a Guardian again for a while.”

  “What?” Zaponsla’s wings flapped so hard with shock, she lifted herself a foot off the ground. “I thought you hated being a Guardian.”

  “It’s not so bad as all that. Besides, I’ve come to appreciate the humans. I like watching their lives, ensuring they’re safe.” I shrugged. “Then again, maybe I’ll be a Muse. Inspire some great works of literature. A critique of religious institutions disguised as popular fiction.”

  Voctic’s eyebrow raised. “Can I come along?”

  “Of course, my dear.” I leaned forward and kissed him. “The world is ours to experience. Did you want to embody again perhaps?”

  His expression wavered and for an instant, I could see Chana’s face behind his. “Maybe not for a while. But I wouldn’t mind being a Keeper. Jumping into some books.” His laugh, which seemed so wicked before, now was teasing. “Or maybe I shouldn’t.”

  “All right, enough talk,” I said. “I have one more thing to do before I get a break from all this.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Zaponsla. “Let’s get to the Praetorium. My platoon is probably waiting for us.”

  “Let me come with you,” said Harbinger. “I need to talk to someone about my next life.”

  “So soon?” asked Zaponsla.

  “There’s something I need to take care of. I probably won’t incarnate for a few years, but I need to talk to an Engineer sooner rather than later.”

  I linked my arm in hers, and Voctic took her other arm as we lifted into the air.

  “I certainly hope someone’s put the gun in Adolf’s room,” I said. “I really don’t want it to be a long, drawn-out ordeal.”

  “At least the European war’s almost over.” Zaponsla flew behind us. “It shouldn’t be too hard to convince him he needs to come back to us.”

  “And how are the plans coming to halt testing of the atomic bomb?”

  “To be honest, the other Archangels and I need to talk to you about that. The Fearlings and demons the Aleph let loose on Earth are still wreaking havoc. Now that the Orb of Seeing is becoming unclouded, we�
�re starting to see some concerning developments.”

  I sighed. “Well, it sounds like we’re going to be busy for a while. Those military men are certainly hard-headed about their weapons.”

  “Yes, well, if anyone is up to the challenge, it’s you,” said Voctic. “And then, after you get it all under control, a nice, long break.”

  “Yes, definitely,” I agreed. “After I fix all the problems left in the world, I’ll have a nice, long break.”

  Epilogue

  Hello, everyone. This is your author speaking. I’ve had some questions about where some of the previous characters in the Fallen Redemption series have ended up. After all, the books end in the 1940s, and we’ve had several decades pass between when Enael defeated the Aleph and now.

  Miriam-Harbinger-Bernadette

  Unfortunately, Harbinger has a problem.

  When Zaponsla was incapacitated, Osubatz forced Bernadette to cast a spell that linked him to her next life. Harbinger can feel it—and she must create an Incarnation Plan that frees herself from his clutches now, more than ever. He’s trapped in Hell with no way to leave, so he’s focusing all his energy upon her.

  My companion novel, The Impending Possession of Scarlet Wakebridge-Rose, explores how Harbinger, incarnated in present day, frees herself from the choice she never wanted to make, while growing closer to her family and helping a Catholic priest understand truths he never wanted to face.

  Cistena

  Enael’s Reaper partner from Book #2 and demon friend from Book #3, Cistena, still runs the brothel in Australia, although it’s hidden deep in the wilderness. If you go to just the precise location at just the right time, the door will open and allow you access. Otherwise, the door in Hell that leads up from the basement is open at all times.

  Franky

  Franky can be found in Cistena’s brothel, most days slumped over his drink. He has a girlfriend now, a lovely Fearmorph with six arms, twelve eyes, and coarse, insect-like hair. His favorite part about her is, as he says, “The way she looks at me with all those big hairs a-flutter.”