“I was harsh with Chase, but I do not wish to see you unhappy,” he said, and I stared at him. “I feel I want to protect you from pain of any kind, and I cannot understand why.” He regarded me with a curious expression, surprised at himself. I could only stare back, unsure of what to say. He let out a breath and walked forward back the way we had come in.
“Let us go, I must have words with the Council,” he said.
We came back to the hall, and I looked around for Chase. Not seeing him there, I felt sorry for him and his apparent embarrassment. I knew he was only trying to help, and I knew I could use all the friends I could get in the days to come. I mentally noted to seek him out later and see how he was doing.
Uriel looked up as we entered, noticing Michael beside me, and a look of displeasure flashed across his face. He still regarded me with the same air of disdain as he had in our first meeting, and I wondered why. If I was truly the Herald, would he not be happy? Isn’t the return of his beloved seraphim something he would welcome with open arms? I frowned unhappily, not knowing what to do, but knowing there was nothing for it now.
“Wait here,” Michael said, and I nodded absently, wondering what would happen next.
Michael rejoined his brothers, and they conferred quietly for a moment. The hall was filled to capacity now with other vessels, all appearing to have learned the dark news of what befell Gideon. There was nervous chatter all around, and the anxiety in the room was palpable.
The Council took their places before the four thrones on the lower pedestals, the three behind left empty but waiting with hope for the return of the seraphim. Gabriel raised a hand, and the chatter stopped immediately, all faces in the room turned towards the archangels.
Once there was silence, the four archangels took their seats, their white wings astonishingly bright against the subdued gilded gold they sat upon.
“By now, you will all have heard of Gideon’s arrival back at the Citadel, and his unfortunate circumstances,” Michael began, speaking for the Council. His voice was pure and true, and I realized I had goosebumps as it reverberated around the hall. The acoustics of the place were perfect for his voice, and I fought the urge to close my eyes as though listening to a beautiful melody. I remembered the solemnity of the occasion, feeling terrible again for Gideon, and swallowed.
“You will also be aware of the considerable influx of the newly-awakened, and have questions about what this means for us.” There were nods around the room, and the chatter started up again, quietly.
Michael continued. “For those of you who have been vessels longer than others, you will understand by now what your purpose is. What goals we seek to achieve by virtue of our abilities, our existence as creatures built from the hand of the Divine Creator. We protect life, no matter the form it takes. We protect humanity, and we seek the destruction of evil by its very roots. It is the most noble and worthy endeavor any one of you can undertake, but as you know, it is not without risks.” There were more nods, but the room stayed quiet.
“Gideon knew the risk, has known it for many years. He fought bravely, and his life will still have a purpose, and a use to us. I look to all of you, my brothers and sisters, to see that the difficult days ahead for Gideon are full of fellowship and friendship. He will require your strength. In terms of what all these awakenings mean, we can only postulate at the moment. We believe Azrael has found the means to awaken a legion, to make one last great stand against the world of man.”
There were gasps around the room, though it was clear that others suspected. The newly awakened were obvious, those standing around awkwardly, still not having command of their wings or their bodies. Some still had traces of the fever and looked on fearfully, trying to come to terms with what has happened to them. The others looked ahead stoically, likely having seen a great many terrible things in their long lives. I could see in the faces of some there were few surprises left to them that would shake them.
I myself, however, was shaking.
Michael met my eyes, and I noted his mouth twitch.
He continued. “For obvious reasons, we cannot allow this to happen. It remains all the more imperative that we find the newly awakened before Azrael discovers them first. Every soldier we lose is a soldier lost to his army, to his evil.”
“But what of Lucifer?” said one voice, and the chattering started again in earnest. Wings fluttered and shuddered around the room, and other voices asked the same question.
“Yes, Michael!” said one, “What of Lucifer?” Then another. “Is it true? Has he returned?” Michael stood up, attempting to regain control. He held up his hands.
“We have it on very good authority that this is not the case, and that Lucifer remains cast from this world in a place of exile,” he said, shaking his head against other questions. “Listen!” he finally snapped, and silence fell again throughout the hall. When he was satisfied he had every ear, he sat back down.
“If ever there comes a time when you need to know something of such great import, rest assured it will be shared with you,” he said. “For now, that will have to be enough.”
“What of the Herald?” asked one rogue voice from across the room, and every eye in the room turned to look in my direction. I swallowed uncomfortably.
“Ah yes, the Herald,” Raphael smiled in my direction. “What of the Herald, Brother?” I could sense Michael’s desire to resist rolling his eyes at his brother.
“We have reason to believe it is possible that Larin is the Herald, yes.”
Now the room erupted in voices, all shouting. Vessels approached me, some shaking my hands to make hasty introductions, others barking questions at me I couldn’t hear over the noise. I resisted the urge to put my hand over my ears, suddenly feeling claustrophobic and afraid. The weight of the potential responsibility fell again upon my shoulders, and as the beings amassed around me, I became overwhelmed. Spots danced before my eyes and I blinked rapidly, praying I didn’t faint from fear.
There was a sudden whoosh of wings and Michael slammed down beside me, holding me back behind his arm and his hand out to the others who surrounded me.
“FALL BACK AND BE SILENT!” he roared.
You could have heard a pin drop after that, if you couldn’t hear my heart slamming against my chest. I looked at the thrones and saw the other three archangels on their feet. Gabriel and Raphael had curious, bemused expressions, and Uriel’s was one of open hostility.
“Brother,” I heard Gabriel say, and I looked back at Michael. He had a firm line to his mouth, and I saw his stress there. Just as quickly, I saw him regain himself. He strode forward, but not before stopping and beckoning me to join him. I opened my eyes at him widely, not wanting to draw further attention, though at this point there was no avoiding it.
“Larin, come,” he said firmly. I followed.
I walked up the pedestal and stood beside the thrones awkwardly, my face flaming. Uriel looked at Michael in shock and anger but said nothing.
“Behold, your potential Herald,” Michael declared, but with a note of sarcasm. “See her now, satisfy your curiosity, but know that she is not to be assaulted with any undue questioning at this time. As you are aware, she is only newly awakened herself. There is no confirmation she is, in fact, the Herald. She is not to be accosted on the subject further.” There was a note of finality to his voice, and not another word was said.
Michael continued.
“I continue without interruption I expect,” he warned. None interrupted. “Continue on your courses, go about your business. But in light of developments of late, it falls upon all of you to be highly vigilant in the days to come. The lives of your brothers and sisters, and in fact, all of humanity, may depend on your ability to stay the course.”
Gabriel rose now, scanning the room.
“I join my brother in welcoming Larin to the fold,” he said, smiling warmly at me. Raphael too looked at me with a kind smile on his face. “I expect great things from not only her but from all o
f you. As we have always done, and will always do, we endure.”
Raphael made a few rallying comments, and Uriel too, and I was surprised at how motivational he was despite his apparent proclivity towards unpleasantness. At the end of these speeches, the room had erupted in cheers and the names of the Council were called over and over. I took that opportunity to bid a hasty retreat to my living quarters, slamming the door behind me and sinking down to the ground at the foot of my bed, wrapping my arms around my body.
I felt quite. . .angry.
There was a soft knock a few minutes later, and I was unsurprised to see Michael enter the room.
“That was really unfair of you,” I said, feeling the fire in my face burning my skin from
within.
“It was?” Michael looked suddenly surprised. “How so?”
“Putting me up on display like a damned prized pig!” I shouted, suddenly furious. “I’m so scared and confused, and you parade me around as the Herald before I’ve even figured out my head from my ass?” It was crass, but I didn’t care. I was livid and shaking.
Michael sighed, walking into the room.
“I didn’t say you could come in,” I snapped, despite knowing he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
“I’m sorry, Larin, I did not mean to. . .”
“Just like Chase didn’t mean. . .?” I said harshly, not bothering to finish the sentence.
Michael flinched, then nodded his head. He took a deep breath, then eyed me meaningfully.
“I do not answer to Chase,” he said simply.
“Everyone answers to you, though, right?” I retorted, shaking my head.
Michael’s eyes flashed briefly, before he suddenly closed them, bowing his head. “For a long time, I have only ever addressed my Council brothers as equals.” He was speaking softly, now, looking down at his hands. “I have taken to addressing you and treating you similarly. I apologize if it has caused you discomfort, Larin, that is not my intention.”
I watched him while he spoke, still angry, then sighed. I knew though I had no reason to belabor the point, and that he spoke the truth of his intentions.
I took a breath, calming myself. “It’s alright, Michael. Forget it.”
We were quiet for a moment. Michael turned, about to leave. “I suspect you would like to rest now,” he said, and I was aware again of the now-usual exhaustion. Part of me wanted him to stay – to keep talking to me. I wanted to keep hearing his voice, despite my anger mere moments before.
“I’m tired,” I agreed. “But I don’t know what I should do next.”
“You rest,” Michael said simply and smiled. “I shall. . .send Chase to collect you, soon. I think he would like to show you the barracks and the common areas where the other vessels gather.”
I opened my eyes wide, realizing this was a peace offering both to me and potentially to Chase.
“Sure,” I found myself smiling in return. Michael was certainly mysterious.
He left me in peace, and I did as he suggested and rested.
Chase found me, quietly knocking and uttering apologies the minute his foot crossed the threshold to my room.
“Chase, you have nothing to be sorry for,” I said as reassuringly as I could. “What have you got in store for me today?” I added, turning the subject to more pleasant matters. Chase smiled, relieved, his cheerful persona eager to shine through.
“Let’s go check out the dorms, huh?” he suggested. I found his cheer contagious, feeling much happier to be in the presence of someone who knew how to be in a good mood all the time. We walked back out to the mountainside, picking our way along another path. Chase chatted contentedly about this and that, how the structure and order worked. The Council obviously ruled all, but various hierarchies had to be observed. Tristan, for instance, was the highest commander of the vessel army under the Council. Below him were his lieutenants, including among them, Iris.
“Do you think Iris will ever forgive me?” I asked, interrupting Chase as he sprouted off names and ranks I didn’t recognize.
“For what?” Chased looked at me, confused.
“For . . .you know, Patrick,” I said uneasily.
“Oh, that,” Chase responded in subdued tones. That was really a shame. Patrick was a good guy. But it wasn’t your fault, Larin, he did what any of us would have done if asked – to protect the others. For the greater good and all that.” I believed he meant what he said, and I tried to feel better, but found I couldn’t.
“She’s prickly to begin with if I’m being honest,” he continued, “but there’s no denying she’s a great fighter – and good at her job.” I nodded, imagining her on the battlefield, and shuddered at the thought of being on the wrong end of her sword.
“What about the. . .archangels?” I asked, testing. Chase turned and looked at me, frowning.
“What about them?” he asked cautiously. The memory of being chastised by Michael was clearly still fresh in his mind.
“Tell me about them,” I asked, trying not to seem too eager. I wanted to know about them all, but obviously, Michael dominated my thoughts.
“Well, I don’t really know what to say.” Chase scratched his head. “You’ve already met them. They pretty much keep to themselves, unless they are giving orders about something - or unless it’s Michael, and it has something to do with you.” There was an edge to his voice, and Chase’s step picked up.
“Well just tell me the basics,” I pushed, “Raphael, for instance. He seems pretty easy-going. . .”
“He’s got the best sense of humor, that’s for sure,” Chase replied, “and he’s a pretty decent guy. Gabriel is very smart, but also kind. Always has a nice word for you if you pass him, he isn’t too important to say hi.”
I sensed a tone and thought it best to drop it. But then Chase continued.
“Uriel is just. . . Uriel. He doesn’t seem to care much for dealing with the rabble. He isn’t the kind of guy you’d want to cross. Pretty deadly with a sword, too.” I bit my lip, not wanting to imagine.
“What about Michael?” I asked casually. Chase turned and looked at me, narrowing his eyes.
“He’s the leader, we do what he says,” he said, signifying what I thought was an end to the conversation. I supposed he was still sore from the day before. Suddenly though, he continued. “The archangels have had a long life, and they’ve seen a lot of war, a lot of bad things. They’ve witnessed history unfold, and I guess it’s made them all . . .who they are.” I was silent, listening. “We would be lost without them, I can tell you that. I can only imagine what it would be like when the seraphim come back.”
“When?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “Are we even certain that will happen?”
“You tell me, ‘Herald,’” he smirked, winking at me and chucking my shoulder. I didn’t smile.
“Chase, they have no idea if I’m this supposed Herald. For all they know, I’m just a random mutation. The only thing remarkable about me that I can see is that I didn’t get sick. I don’t know why that’s so special, but maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s nothing.”
Chase looked at me meaningfully. “There’s definitely more to you than that.”
I flushed suddenly at what he was implying. He was clearly taken with me, but I had been attributing this to my novelty. I hastily changed the subject.
“Why did you say that thing about the seraphim coming back? What do you mean about what it would be like for them?”
“I dunno,” he laughed. “I guess it may be hard to adjust to taking orders again when you’ve given them for so long. But I think. . .” he paused, considering his words, “No, I know the world would change. For the better. I think they would know what to do. They’d be able to get rid of Azrael fast. Without Lucifer, he’s just a loose gun with a grudge.”
“I suspect he’s a bit more than that,” I said darkly, imaging his legions and the dark magic he must have commanded to be able to start the sudden mass awakenings. “And what if he
finds Lucifer?” I nearly whispered, dreading the answer.
“You don’t even want to know.” Chase looked at me, a dark expression in his eyes. “Trust me, Larin. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time here, it’s that there are some things you don’t ever want to have to imagine.”
I fully agreed with that statement. I didn’t want to imagine a world with Lucifer unleased upon it. I shuddered, my wings instinctively pulling towards me. Chase noticed and grinned.
“Deep stuff, huh? Look, we’re here!” He pointed at an enormous, ancient looking building, carved out of the hard granite contained in the mountainside. Massive pillars majestically lined the well-trodden path to the entrance where two large winged-statues stood, facing each other from across the threshold.
“Wow,” I whistled, “so beautiful.”
“It’s the dorm! Come on!” Chase had already begun striding toward the entrance, his wings cocked in what came across to me as a confident fashion. I realized that each vessel had their own unique way of holding themselves. It seemed to represent their character. I thought briefly to Tristan, his wings held in an ever-vigilant stance of readiness. Michael. . .Michael’s wings. . .
I felt my mind wander to the lustrous whiteness of Michael’s wings. He held himself differently. Everything about his makeup was different. He was built to lead, built to be. I thought back to the tips of his feathers as they gracefully touched the ground as he walked, as though his wing was a fingertip, gently tracing the way. The thought gave me a strange warmth in my chest, and I smiled a little, finding myself looking forward to our next encounter.
“Larin? Larin!” called Chase, and I realized I had nearly stopped walking, caught up in my reverie.
“Coming!” I called, quickening my step.
We entered the large building, and I again noted the ornate carvings wrought by ancient stoneworkers. Beautiful displays of vessels and angels spanned the place from wall to ceiling. Some were holding flowers, others pouring pitchers into goblets held by the hands of peaceful-faced winged creatures. It was breathtaking. The enchantment was captivating. It seemed everywhere in the Citadel I had witnessed great beauty.
Herald Page 13