Page 28 of Under His Wings
“Then I will do it. I will get my memories back. And if I fall... so be it. Finally hitting the earth is better than being suspended in the air for eternity, always waiting for the crash.”
“If you are sure,” I squeezed Zach’s hands. “There is also a matter of this being an equivalent to a nuke for angel-demon relations. I think we need to reach pretty high to get this resolved.”
“I think I need to summon Gabriel for this. Who can you get for your side?”
“Abaddon,” I grinned. “Well, I can probably get to him. I have a standing invitation to his mansion.” Zachariel’s eyes darkened, and I gave him a quick kiss to distract him, even if I did like him being jealous. “I know his ward, Auriolus, you know, the tailor I mentioned.”
There was a knock on the door. Just in time. I opened the door to see the demon owner of the club, Kreshadon. He scanned me up and down.
“You fine now? I wouldn’t press you, but the shit Leonius is talking about is disturbing,” he said.
“We left a guard with him before you ask!” a cheerful voice pipped from behind, and the demon shifted to reveal the taller form of his angelic partner, Nathaniel. “But yeah, we would like to know what the fuck is going on, haha.”
“We are ready to talk,” I said. “But we need two more people for this.”
“Who?”
“Oh, just Gabriel and Abaddon.”
The look on Kreshadon's face clearly said he considered murdering us here and there just to not have to deal with this.
Chapter 18
Abaddon and Gabriel stared at each other. If they could have thunderbolts flying from their eyes they would.
“Zachariel, what is the meaning of this? Why did you summon me to this place?” Gabriel asked.
“We need to talk about matters that concern both sides,” Zach replied, from where he was seated on the couch next to me.
“And this couldn’t be dealt via official channels?” Gabriel’s voice was incredulous.
“I wish,” Kreshadon muttered under his breath.
“This matter also concerns me personally. And you, as my Guide,” Zach said.
A flash of concern appeared on Gabriel’s face. I learned a Guide was the word angels used for those who guided the newly Ascended into their new life, and from what Zach told me the Archangel was even more than that to him; he was a friend.
“What is it? Did something happen?”
“First, I need you to tell me something,” Zachariel said. “Why did you become my Guide?”
“Because I wanted to,” Gabriel splayed his arms, his expression confused. Seeing the explanation wasn’t enough he continued. “Tirael should have been your guide but he thought you would be more suited to my guidance.”
“Why?”
“He said...” the Archangel looked around, scrunching his brows. “Look, we can talk about this privately.”
“No. You need to tell me. Now. Here. There can be no more secrets, Gabriel. If you really are my friend you will answer all my questions.”
“Zach, what is going on... Alright, I will talk. even if I think it’s inadvisable. I have... a private project of sorts. I have taken it upon myself to prevent as many angels from falling as I can. I believe a timely intervention when angels are at their lowest or are plagued by doubts can help, and so I strive to offer support where I can. I want to use my higher position for something good, not just to lord it over other denizens of Heaven. When Tirael submitted a request to be reassigned because he feared he wouldn’t be able to help you enough I volunteered to be your Guide.”
“I need details,” Zach pressed.
“He said in his report... that you had a hard life on Earth, and you were so traumatized by it you lost your memories upon ascending. He didn’t know which side you would choose to the last moment and he feared you barely made it into Heaven and were at risk of falling.”
Zach barked an unamused laugh.
“Is that what he told you? I suppose he was truthful. He omitted an important factor though. He didn’t mention how he was the one who took my memories from me with his angelic power.”