“Hmm,” Alessa said, and Marcus nodded to her. Cadence and Farah studied their faces carefully and smiled a little when they came to the same epiphany. Apparently I was out of the loop, and even my deductive reasoning refused to give me a clue. Meanwhile, Vergil was staring at me like I had eaten the last slice of cake and it had been labeled with his name on it. He was starting to creep me out with his bugged-out eyes and round face. He really did resemble a butterfly in a lot of ways.
“Vergil arrived just seconds before you did, so it’s not like I’m giving you a babysitter,” Raphael continued. “Actually, he has expressed to me a desire to join a group here in Heaven because he feels like he may be lacking in the social department. As soon as I saw how your group performed against Rufus, I knew he would be a great fit.”
“We understand,” Cadence said, extending a hand toward Vergil who greeted him properly this time. Vergil followed this gesture by shaking each of our hands eagerly as a goofy smile crossed his face. I began to tell him my name when he cut me off.
“I already know who you all are,” he smiled. “I watched that fight intensely. The way you planned everything out was incredible. Especially you, Farah – I was sure you were going to knock him out in one hit.”
“Thank you,” she beamed as Alessa half-coughed, half-snickered.
“I know Raphael let me decide which team to join,” Vergil continued, “but honestly, I couldn’t bear being where I’m not wanted. I want each of you to decide whether I can join you or not.”
“It’s no big-” Cadence was beginning to say, but Vergil cut him off.
“No really, I’m serious – you all have such chemistry. I’m being honest when I say that I need all of you to help me grow as an angel, but I also don’t want to interfere with the good things you already have in motion.”
“You want honesty?” Marcus asked him but Cadence grabbed Vergil’s shoulders and turned him back toward the rest of us.
“I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say, ‘welcome to the group.’ If any of us were in your shoes, we wouldn’t want to be left out either. Isn’t that right, team?”
No one said a word of opposition to Cadence’s decision (not counting Marcus’s attempt) because we all had experience in the loneliness department, but there was still a cloud of apprehension in the room and I couldn’t help wondering why. Vergil didn’t come off as an overbearing, variant, or unpleasant person. Actually, he was quite polite and, besides his incessant interruptions, he was a gentleman. It was obvious he wasn’t to be our team leader or a dictator of some kind, so what was the problem? Where was the love in excluding others? I sensed Cadence wasn’t fond of Vergil for some reason, but at least he had the fortitude to behave properly and treat him like one of us, even if he didn’t outright say we wanted him on the team. Cadence had chosen his words precisely, explaining to Vergil that we only understood how we would feel if we were in his shoes. That was all.
But Vergil didn’t seem to notice, or care, and thus our team of five became six.
“Thank you for accepting me,” Vergil said meekly as he gave a standing bow. I couldn’t help letting out a snicker at the funny gesture. Vergil snapped back up to attention, alarmed, while the rest of our team stared at me like I was insane.
“Did I offend you?” Vergil asked sheepishly but I just shoved him backward playfully with my right hand.
“Of course not, you’re just funny,” I said honestly and he didn’t mind the explanation. Alessa muttered something about how they shouldn’t have let me shove Vergil while Raphael cleared his throat for us to listen up.
“Enough small talk,” he said happily. “It’s time to check out your new home.”
“You mean we can’t stay here with you forever?” Farah asked playfully.
“Unfortunately, no,” he smiled, “but you’ll get over me soon enough. Go outside and enjoy your break. You earned it.”
Raphael didn’t offer up any more surprises or explanations but a plant of his hands on our backs and a shove out the door. In no time at all, we forgot about Vergil, and each other, taking in the breathtaking wonder before us. We had been so involved in Raphael and Lucifer’s test that no one had thought of walking over to the entrance and taking a peek. Now, I didn’t think I could ever look away. It was like I was back in God’s ubiquity. I forgot all my worries in one sudden swoop.
From a purely cataloguing point of view, the moment I had landed in Raphael’s hall, I had known of Heaven – my database downloading new information on where to go, what places we could visit, what buildings were ours – how magnificent it all was. But Raphael was right. Knowing about something, reading about it or seeing a picture - is nothing like experiencing it. Words could not do Heaven justice, and no prior knowledge prepared me for its majestic boldness.
We walked out of Raphael’s hall to see a literal paradise. Angels darted through the air, so quick it was as if they were shooting stars. The sky was an ethereal masterpiece. Nebulae formed and faded instantly before our eyes. A black hole laid down its foundation only a few light years from our location, welcoming new worlds into our abode. Stars sped past us like schools of fish and yet, with a little bit of concentration, you could slow it all down. The chaos becoming order and dancing around us like an orchestra. A symphony of colors with no names, and unknown phenomenon exploded into being and then disappeared after we assessed its beauty. Music was being made visually and existence itself was the notes.
Heaven was a prototype, a blank canvas to be played with, an interactive preview of greater things to come. The world was fast, and almost crowded, but like the creatures of the ocean, each angel knew how to navigate it with ease. In one instant, I caught my eye on Cadence’s mansion, planted on an acre of land, already fashioned and waiting for him. And in the next moment, it was gone, doing another lap around our sanctuary.
From Raphael’s hall, one could surf through a small galaxy to Heaven’s core, swimming with the stars or racing against asteroids. Or, if one desired, take a ride on the spacial/time current that took you directly there in a second.
My database told me that a royal city awaited at Heaven’s core, circular in structure like a planet, but possessing no form or foundation on which its buildings rested. They just floated in space, maintaining perfect balance and symmetry to their neighboring architectures. There were four major sections to Heaven: the royal city and the three rings that encircled it. All together, they showcased an incredible display, turning in continuous motion at a slow but touristic pace.
Expansive plains and impressive mountains made up the outer ring, a sneak peek at the wonders of Earth God would create later on. Inside the outer ring, which was dubbed the 1st ring, was the 2nd ring, where the homes of the angels lay, all buildings of various sizes, shapes and creative styles. Each house started out crafted by God to reflect its owner, but if an angel chose, he could literally imagine into existence a new design, transforming the furniture, walls or house itself, and it would change entirely, shape-shifting before one’s very eyes. These were never-ending possibilities that ensured one’s house would never get boring or stale.
The third ring, past the angels’ homes, were vacant buildings that anyone could play with, shaping them back and forth as they saw fit. Angels were able to manifest their visions artistically and temporarily, showcasing their creativity before they inevitably changed back into God’s original blueprint.
There was no darkness here, and all of the surfaces glistened in warm light. The cozy, homely light inhabited every space and boasted God’s fingerprints. Royal garments and colors pampered the streets, providing a soft material to walk on - though no angel would choose walking over flying. Food and drink were in abundance, though unnecessary for survival, and gold was commonly found – the substance being mixed in with krillic to define most of the architecture.
The center of the three rings boasted the royal city itself, and it had all of the amenities you could think of: possessing places to congregat
e, Symphony Halls to sing in, theaters, Fellowship Halls, and even archives to learn about God’s past accomplishments and future endeavors – a place filled with information in and outside our mental database.
The city was understandably a bustling center in which angels spent most of their time, because somehow all the senses were enhanced a hundredfold there. All you had to do was breathe to be enraptured in joy, to open your eyes and let them dance in delight, to touch a wall and leave your signature, to smell a meal coming from the Fellowship Hall, to taste one of Gabriel’s homemade cinnamon buns or make your own! Because every ingredient imaginable was available and in no finite supply. And yet even all of this, wasn’t even the best part.
The best part of the city? Without question, it was God’s Throne Room. Secured in the absolute center of Heaven itself, it stayed there as a reminder that God was omnipresent, and if it was anything like it sounded, I was determined to become a frequent visitor.
Before we could make a move, a nebula suddenly burst onto the scene and almost instantly, it expanded into a colossal white dwarf star, making all of Heaven’s surfaces explode with a dazzling array of twinkling lights and majestic shine. Our very own fireworks display. Angels from all over shot up into the air like eagles and soared toward the star – a new toy to explore and enjoy. We were the only ones to remain, watching as the black hole near our invincible world began to tug on the white dwarf with its preliminary clutches.
With a panoramic view of everything around us: the spacial/time current in the front yard, the four rings of Heaven, the black hole in the back and the universe rounding out the sides, there was no question that this was God’s handiwork.
“It’s beautiful,” Alessa mused. Even Marcus nodded in agreement.
“I wonder what they’re all going to do in that star,” Farah wondered.
“Probably race each other, or explore. Maybe they’ll fight each other.”
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” I said, “but I’m done fighting. I didn’t really enjoy it.”
“You fought?” Marcus asked me, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t you remember? I was running in front of you when we attacked Rufus.”
“Oh…you mean…you ran away.”
“I didn’t run away. I was a decoy so you could get a hit in later.”
“I understand. You ran away. I get it.”
“It doesn’t look like you’re ‘getting’ anything at all.”
“Marcus,” Cadence began, always the peacemaker. “The bottom line is that without Lysander’s contribution, we probably would have lost. Although he didn’t contribute physically, he still gave us the strategy and played his role to perfection. He did his job. You did yours. Honestly, if we asked you to contribute tactically and provide psychological analysis…would you be able to do that?”
“Too many words,” Marcus groaned again, and we all had to laugh at that. I forgave Marcus for his accusation. He was, after all, pure brute strength. His muscles and power were all he needed in most situations. What was the point of sitting down and playing mental chess? But I appreciated Cadence’s words. I had never heard this kind of praise on the island, and I was enjoying this new sense of belonging.
“Does anyone want to check out the Fellowship Hall?” Farah piped up as Vergil leaned over her to see it in the distance.
“I think it’s a great idea, but maybe we should see what the white dwarf is all about. All those angels must be going there for a reason.”
Farah looked at Vergil with a disappointed look but he quickly chimed in.
“Of course, that can wait.”
“Why do you want to go to the star?” I asked him curiously. To be honest, I wasn’t in the mood to socialize with the other angels yet. We were the new kids on the block and that meant one of two things. Either we would be accepted with loving arms and given the special welcoming treatment, or we would be looked down upon for our lack of experience. God forbid someone should challenge us. By going to the Fellowship Hall now, with all of the angels distracted by the white dwarf, we could at least check out the buffet before they all came back. My mind got lost analyzing the possibilities.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I said, coming back to the present. “Why did you want to go to the star again?”
“Oh, no particular reason,” Vergil replied. “It’s just awesome.”
“Can you see things differently than we can?” Cadence asked curiously. Vergil gave him a pained look.
“Why would I see anything differently?” he replied, irritated.
“Because you’re an Archangel. You have more power than the rest of us.”
“That doesn’t matter. You know we’re all created for specific purposes. Division isn’t one of them.”
“Okay,” Cadence backed off. “Sorry for the interrogation.”
“Your angelic pressure is strong,” Alessa commented, keeping a noticeable distance from him.
“Uncomfortable,” Marcus said flatly.
I chuckled again as Vergil tried to tone down his spirit. Anyone that could make Marcus squirm was okay in my book.
“Sorry. I can’t help it sometimes.”
“I’m sure Marcus is fine,” Cadence said. “Alright everyone, how about we come to a compromise since we can’t agree. It’s obvious that no one is in the mood to socialize just yet, so how about we all meet at my place. It’s about to come back around in a second anyways.”
“He’s going to fall asleep,” Farah said to Alessa whose eyes widened in revelation.
“That’s right! Why should we go to your mansion when you’re never going to leave? Getting all comfortable…”
“Well I have you to wake me up now, don’t I?” Cadence said in a condescending tone. “My little alarm clock.”
“Are you trying to say I’m loud?”
“You’re the one that said it!” he yelled at her as his house swung by us, well into its second rotation.
Farah released a sudden war cry that shook us all.
“RAAAAAAACE!!!!!”
She rocketed forward as we all followed in pursuit, but Cadence grabbed my leg midflight and held me back, stopping me completely. I watched as Vergil took the lead and arrived at the mansion doorstep before everyone else. He was laughing hysterically and jumping up and down excitedly. I shook my head in amusement and floated down to Cadence, who was obviously concerned about something. Standing on a passing asteroid, his head was low and his face sunken, his contemplation weighing down his very physique.
“Lysander, sorry I took you away from your fun but I have to talk to you.”
“You sound so serious. What’s on your mind?”
“It’s Vergil – what do you think of him?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“You’re a Messenger. You have that mind of yours. I just want to know what you think.”
“I don’t think my mind works like that. It’s more of a situation type of thing. Puzzles.”
I cringed at the word.
“Well, what’s your opinion?”
What was my opinion indeed? Vergil felt like an outsider at times but I had no right to view him that way. We had only known him for a short time while the five of us had some history to fall back on. He had a knack for interrupting people, his behavior was eerie and his face was abnormal, but he made me laugh, and distracted me from myself. And the longer I didn’t have to second guess my decisions, and fear the unknown, the happier I was. In retrospect, if I hadn’t already known Cadence and the others, I might have been more of an outsider than he was.
“I like him.” I finally decided on. “He’s a little awkward to the rest of the them but he’s fine to me. He has a good heart. He just wants to fit in so he tries too hard at times and it backfires. Why? Is there a problem?”
“It was some of the things Raphael implicated about him earlier.”
“I only remember introductions.”
“Raphael’s very diplomatic, so he knows
how to pick and choose his words. It wasn’t necessarily what he said, but what he didn’t say.”
“You can be diplomatic yourself, I noticed. I can tell you’re not fond of Vergil.”
“If you’ve noticed it,” he said sadly, “then I’m sure he has too…Lysander, it’s not his personality. You know how I used to sit with the new angels on the island until they either joined us or went Absent. I’m not the type to judge and move on.”
“Then why the apprehension? Did Raphael tell you a secret about Vergil?”
“It’s not about Raphael…it’s just – I don’t know if I’m making this into a big deal...”
“What did Raphael say that made you so nervous?”
“Well, two things: the first was when he left Vergil out of the fight. How he purposely told Vergil to stay back. Now, I understand his explanation – teamwork, collaboration, how to harness our abilities. But if Vergil was to join us from the start, why leave him on the sidelines?”
“Maybe he wasn’t paired up with us at that time. It’s possible he was asked to watch several different groups of angels, but he liked the way we meshed so he chose us.”
“But he came to Heaven seconds before us. That would mean we were the first group he saw.”
“Maybe he liked us that much.”
“No, I think the answer’s simpler than that. I think Raphael left him out – because he would’ve ended it.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Vergil would’ve stopped the fight as soon as he entered the fray. Think about it. Rufus wasn’t an Archangel. He wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“What are you trying to say? That Vergil is stronger than all of us combined?”
“In a sense – yes. Imagine how we would have felt. We’ve grown up a lot in a short amount of time, but that doesn’t change the fact that we were unsure of our teamwork in battle, our collective strength. With the exception of Farah, we might have all lacked in faith – believing we were unfit for the task at hand. If Vergil had finished it from the start, we would feel even more useless. Obviously I can’t just tell this to the others. I don’t want to break their spirits.”
The Works of Julius St. Clair - 2017 Edition (Includes 3 full novels and more) Page 69
