“Cadence,” Alessa began, “you can’t just write this off like-”
“Can you please shut up for once!” Cadence yelled out with his eyes toward the floor, his hands shooting up into the air. The sudden vibrations from his words rang throughout the building and kept us all on edge.
“Look…” he said calmly, “I know that we are uncomfortable with how powerful he is. But the bottom line is that he wants to be a part of our team. That should be enough. More than enough. It’s not like back on the island when we could barely find an angel to talk to us, let alone join our company. Vergil could have chosen any group in heaven. But he chose us, and he claims he needs us. We should never be an exclusive group where only those whose company we enjoy should be a part. Our whole purpose is to help one another, to better serve God and be what He wants us to be. Yes, there may be a time when Vergil outshines us all, and defeats an enemy far stronger than our combined strength, but so what? How is that any different than Marcus taking down someone with one hit? How is that any different than the power in Farah’s faith? Just think. She just beat Marcus in an arm wrestling match. What about Lysander’s tactical prowess? What about Alessa’s connection with God, who is able to defeat even those whom Vergil cannot? There will always be a time when one outshines another, but we will all get our moment in the spotlight. Instead of focusing on the bigger picture, we’re over here acting like a bunch of children. I say we put this aside and welcome Vergil into the group – no judgment, no strings attached. And Marcus? Next time you see Vergil, go ahead and fight him. I’ll tell him to not hold back, and whether you win or lose, we will be closer as a group. Because we acknowledge our strengths, and our weaknesses. We embrace them all, because we aim to do better, and none of us can move forward alone.”
His words moved us all to be better – to put our pride and fears aside for our fellow angel. I only wish Vergil had been there to hear it.
I also couldn’t help but notice one key aspect of his speech…that we should have let Marcus and Vergil fight each other all along. We were afraid of the outcome, when in actuality, it would’ve ended in solidarity and alleviation. Now we still had a relationship to mend. Alessa had been right after all, and I should never have suspected her of abusing her power.
“Alessa, I’m sorry,” I said, turning to face her. She raised an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut. Cadence’s reprimand was still fresh with her. “I suspected you of abusing your Glory status back there, but what you said was exactly what needed to happen.”
She gave a half-smile and nodded in acceptance.
“That’s why I talk so much,” she muttered. “No one listens to me.”
“I do,” Cadence replied, stepping forward. “I hear every word you say. And just because I get irritated easily, and I might say some hurtful things to you sometimes…I don’t want you to think I would ever jeopardize our friendship, Alessa. It means too much to me. I apologize for yelling at you earlier.”
“You were pretty rude.”
“I was.”
“You’re usually pretty rude.”
“I have to work on that.”
“You hate work.”
“Not as much as your voice,” Cadence said, flashing a warm smile her way. Alessa stared at him from her downcast eyes and wrinkled her nose.
“Well, I guess if you’re gonna work on your rudeness, I can try to put a leash on my words. But next time you yell at me like that, I’m going to petition the Lord for a special blessing to come your way.”
“I accept that decision,” he said. Marcus tapped him on the shoulder.
“Cadence,” he said. “Not a blessing…she mean…not a blessing.”
“Thank you, Marcus. I know,” Cadence burst out in laughter and Alessa gave him a warm hug.
“Let’s go to the Fellowship Hall and get our teammate back,” she said. We nodded in agreement. Marcus was the only one who didn’t make a notion to confirm our decision. But it didn’t matter. He would come around eventually.
CHAPTER 8: Mend
As we flew from Cadence’s mansion, I wondered if Vergil would really be at the Fellowship Hall. He could easily have had a change of heart and decided to go to his mansion instead. I wouldn’t blame him under the circumstances.
The flight was short, as we navigated the shooting stars like an asteroid field, instinctively dodging them like we had a map of the universe memorized. And even when we happened to encounter an angel speeding directly at us, we never collided. Somehow, traffic control was wired into us, and we could only crash if one of us really tried. We saw a glimpse of twenty angels doing this, playing a crazy game of “building tag” in which you literally made a building stretch out to hit another player who wasn’t “it”. A second group was flying back and forth in a straight line while one sole angel tried to get through it unscathed. It was all fun and games, but even I knew it couldn’t always be this way. Raphael had stressed the importance of holding on to our first memory, and Lucifer had expressed passionately how Heaven wasn’t all play. Someday, our memories - of God, the island, the lesson in pride…they would all become pillars to lean on. Anchors to help us weather the coming fallout.
We were said to have been made for a purpose, to have a mission to carry out, yet no orders had been given. No directives had been relayed, no meetings called, and yet the time had to come at some point in which our assignments would manifest into reality. As great as everything was, as much fun as I anticipated in exploring in the city - I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the calm before the storm.
“Is this it?” Farah asked as we followed Cadence’s lead to the 4th ring of Heaven, where the Fellowship Hall awaited. We descended to the lush floor that made up the street, right outside the place where Vergil was supposed to be. It looked like a gigantic stadium, the type basketball games were played in, but far more luxurious since this was not its function. The front portrayed the words “Fellowship Hall” in giant pop-up, golden letters that were accented underneath all of the light coming from Heaven’s stars. Other than that, the entrance was quite plain. Angels darted in and out of the three revolving doors in the front - each kept in a constant spin that showed no signs of slowing down.
“The food must be excellent here,” Cadence commented.
“God says that it was all made specifically for us,” Alessa relayed. I was attentive immediately.
“What did God say about when we can be in His presence again?” I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders.
“He said ‘be patient’ and that was all.”
“Well at least it’s not a no. Did He say when I got my tactical mind?”
“He said you had it on the island, but you were such a crybaby, all you did was whine about how you felt instead of taking the time to realize what you had.”
“Did He really say it like that?” I was devastated.
“I’m paraphrasing. Any other questions?”
“No. Thank you,” I said half-heartedly. She gave me a chipper smile with her eyes tightly shut.
“Just let me know!”
“If you two are done talking,” Farah said, flying between us, “I think we should make it a priority to try some of the delicious-smelling food inside…while looking for Vergil, of course.”
We timed our entrance, concentrating our efforts and making sure we didn’t run into any angels on the way in. When we sensed a split second reprieve in the revolving doors, we darted inside.
I didn’t know how we were going to find Vergil. There were just…far too many angels. All types, including Archangels, flew around the room like a swarm of flies, indistinguishable at first glance, moving in such harmony and precision that I was instantly in awe. But I stayed back despite my desire to join the dance, if for no other reason but to admire the flow.
The main floor of the room was surrounded by areas where you could sit and converse. Although these sections declined down to the center floor, they weren’t filled with stadium-style seats, but with rows upon
rows of food and tables. Angles darted from the bottom floor to the ceiling, picking up a croissant here and a honeycomb there, before lopping down into a conversing group of their contemporaries and inserting their own thoughts into the discussion. The vibe was one of wholesome fellowship and fun, and I could tell by the way the angels spoke, that this was a spot Heaven’s host visited frequently.
“This is soooooo much better than our patch of dying grass on the island,” Farah said, clapping her hands and trying to contain her excitement. “Now this is a meeting area!”
“I don’t see Vergil anywhere,” Alessa said. Six angels whizzed past her before she could continue her sentence.
“We can inquire about him, introduce ourselves and see what’s going on,” Cadence suggested. Marcus grunted something and headed over to one of the booths near us, which was toppling over with raspberries. He reached out and grabbed one casually, popping it into his mouth as he lazily searched the room for our missing comrade. He chewed twice when his eyes promptly widened, in what I interpreted to be horror. He spun around like he was the wind and lifted the whole table up from its legs. He tilted the table, directing the entire pile of raspberries into his mouth. The raspberry pile was too big to make it flawlessly into Marcus’s mouth - they burst onto his face and armor, leaving bright red marks. He didn’t care as he swallowed and chewed as fast as he could, and when he “finished,” he moved on to the next table with urgency.
“Gross,” Farah said, and we hovered behind him, following.
“Should we intervene?” I asked Cadence, but he kept his eyes closed while he pinched the bridge between them.
“I don’t know what to do anymore, Lysander,” he sighed. “Marcus is…I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
I was about to ask him if he wanted to try the stimulating raspberries when the swarm stopped its rhythmical flow and formed a type of ball in the air. The movement was so slow and deliberate, I couldn’t help but watch. Two angels were in the middle, engaged in a heated discussion.
“Yes, I remember Him. All of us do, but what about it? I was one of the first here and I haven’t been in His presence since. Do you know how long ago that was?”
I knew instantly the angel was talking about God, but what surprised me the most was that, due to his miniature stature, he had to be a Faithful. What was a Faithful doing having doubts about God?
“You can feel His presence everywhere, Lionel,” the angel addressing him said, a Glory, if I was not mistaken. “And besides, I was only two angels after you, so that excuse is meaningless. I mean really, we should be role models for the young and inexperienced ones, not bickering amongst ourselves. I thought you were supposed to be a Faithful!”
“Then you explain to me, Nathan, why isn’t God here anymore?”
“The thing about God is that if you don’t believe in Him, you won’t feel Him.”
“Ridiculous. Of course I believe in Him. That’s not up for debate. The argument is, where has He been? I have a couple memories, but that’s all I have left to fall back on. It’s been so long since I’ve seen God face-to-face, it’s like the memories were programmed into my database -along with a detailed account of what dishwashing liquid is made of and where I can eventually find some guy named Solomon. I’m telling you…there’s something wrong going on here.”
“What are you trying to say? That God is fabricated?”
“No, my friend. I can’t even begin to fathom such a thing. No, I’m saying that we’re thrown here with each other, forced to live together and make peace – left alone to figure out what to make of ourselves…and for what? What’s the point of it all? We have no guidance, no direction. We just fly around Heaven all day playing, as if we’re nothing more than a snow globe for God to place in His hand, and watch for His amusement. What the issue is…is why would He give us the opportunity to know Him, when He’s never around afterwards?”
“It could be a test, a lesson in learning how to have faith in Him, without Him constantly looming over our shoulder like a parent.”
“But even the concept of parents implies a presence that is periodically there. They’re not supposed to just disappear.”
“I think it’s a test of faith,” Nathan stated boldly and Lionel snickered.
“It’s all speculation. At least we have Lucifer.”
My attention perked up, and it was apparent by the murmuring in the crowd that Lucifer was a hot topic of conversation. Just by the looks on their faces, you could tell which angels had an undying allegiance to the powerful Archangel.
“What of Lucifer? What of him?” Nathan seethed, his voice increasing in volume and loathing.
“He is our day star. A light of lights. At least he is here for us. In spite of God’s absence he labors tirelessly, keeping us in one accord and one focus. He is a great angel worthy of the highest respect. Have you heard his voice in the heavenly choir or felt the magnitude of his angelic pressure? It’s simply beautiful.”
Many in the crowd whispered in awe. Others murmured disapprovingly.
“Lucifer is just like the rest of us,” Nathan stressed. “He’s not to be praised. Yes, he is a hard worker and helps many of us throughout the day, but that doesn’t mean he should be regarded as higher than us, higher than he is. We were all created equal, and I perceive that God is no respecter of angels.”
“Why shouldn’t he be held in high regard? Did not God create him that way? He could have easily made him the lowest of Heaven’s host, but he was given great power by God Himself, to use for our good.”
“Only God should get the glory and praise, Lionel.”
“Why? Surely Lucifer could do a better job.”
Cries rang throughout the Fellowship Hall. Angels that had been eating while listening on the sidelines stopped their gorging. Even Marcus gave an attentive ear. At least, I think it was Marcus. It looked more like a walking mound of mashed potatoes with a puree of diverse fruits strewn around his body for color.
“You speak heresy, Lionel,” Nathan replied in a voice full of pity, “heresy, mutiny and lies. God would never allow another to take His throne.”
“Why not? He isn’t here. Wouldn’t it be better to pass off the mantel to another?”
“Lucifer is not omnipotent. He doesn’t have the abilities to perform God’s job. Besides, no one in their right mind would want to take on such a daunting task. Even I must give Lucifer credit that he is not that foolish.”
“Are you calling me foolish, Nathan?”
“To defy God in Heaven…yes, you are foolish and quite confused,” Nathan seethed through grit teeth, getting ever closer to Lionel’s tightened brow. “You call yourself a Faithful when I have seen nothing to boast such a designation. You should be dubbed ‘the doubtful’ from here on out, or maybe, ‘the Lucifer lover’. That would suit you.”
I only saw a twitch of Lionel’s shoulder and they were gone, off to who knows where, settling their differences in the cosmos. The rest of the group murmured a bit but immediately went back to eating and talking as if nothing had happened. The ordeal had been too intense, and no one wanted to bring it back to the forefront. There was too much good food to enjoy. Anger didn’t add much spice.
“So Lucifer is that popular around here?” I asked the group. “I don’t understand why two angels would fight over him. No one can replace God. No one.”
“It’s like Lionel said, they haven’t seen God in a long time,” Cadence replied, “so maybe they have forgotten. Think about how easily our minds were distracted in such a short amount of time. I can’t even imagine how frustrated they must be.”
“It’s like being Absent, but on the opposite end of the spectrum. They’re willing to fight over their beliefs rather than shut down.”
“All the more reason to find Lucifer,” Cadence said. “We passed the test. So we’re definitely in.”
“He’s definitely not here. We would have noticed.”
“Not to mention that argument wouldn’t have
occurred.”
We hovered in silence as we watched Farah, Alessa and even Marcus mingle in the crowd, introducing themselves and learning more about Heaven and what it had to offer. Farah was discussing the variety of shapes a building could be turned into and was invited to an outing with a few others. Alessa was with some other Glories, speaking with God and each other in a huddled circle, asking questions and relaying the answers they received. Marcus was the only one who was doing a back-and-forth between eating and talking, stuffing his face and then with a mouth full of berries, he would explain in a way only Marcus could - how great it tasted.
“Vergil isn’t here,” Cadence said flatly. “Any clue where he might be?”
“I have a couple guesses…but I think I might try talking to him alone first. After seeing that argument, I figure the less the better right now. Would that be okay?”
“Of course. If you think that’s best. I’m probably going to stick around here and socialize. Maybe I can get more information on Lucifer’s whereabouts.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“GUYS!” Marcus appeared behind us suddenly, chipping into the conversation. “HAVE YOU HAD THESE?”
He was carrying a handful of grapes that were consistently failing at maintaining their integrity in his hand. Juices were flowing freely from his palm and Marcus started getting angrier with each grape that didn’t make the journey from the table. But he was adamant about having us try one for he flew back to the stand where they were laying and brought more back, flying up and down awkwardly like he was carrying a dozen eggs.
“What’s so great about these?” Cadence asked, taking a couple and popping them into his mouth.
“Amazing,” Marcus said, a little too chipper. His eyes were wide with admiration and fondness. He petted a grape lovingly as I tried one myself.
“They’re good,” I admitted. They really were, but maybe Marcus didn’t believe me because all he did was scowl.
The Works of Julius St. Clair - 2017 Edition (Includes 3 full novels and more) Page 71
