When Angels Fall

by Stephanie Jackson

“That’s amazing,” she said. “Why doesn’t your sword cut through the floor when you put it down?”

  “Because I don’t will it to,” he said. “My sword obeys my command. It does only what I want it to do.”

  “Did you also build the Great Pyramids of Giza?”

  “No,” he laughed. “That would be the Egyptians. Not every wonder of the Earth was created by divine power.”

  He held out his sword again and carved symbols into the stone. Dani had no idea what the carvings meant, but found the inscribing very interesting. It almost looked like sand script:

  ۼڵ ۼڞ ۼ ط ق۳ ٿ ك

  “What is that?”

  “The written language of angels,” he said.

  “What does it mean?”

  “Here shall no mere man tread,” he said. “It was carved into one of the stones at Pumapunku to keep out the unworthy.”

  “They knew how to read the written language of angels?”

  “No, of course not,” he said. “The words have power of their own. To be around them and not be worthy of the word of God would make a human feel unclean.”

  “What happened if the words didn’t ward them off and they crossed into Pumapunku anyway?”

  “I would smite them and send them to Tartarus.”

  “You’ve killed a lot of people in your life, haven’t you?”

  “More than you could ever imagine,” he said. “Some of them by choice, some by order, but all equally dead.”

  “And it doesn’t bother you that you’ve taken so many human lives?”

  “No,” he confirmed. “I have never smote anyone that was undeserving of my wrath.”

  Dani giggled, “Unless they vexed you.”

  “If someone vexed me, and I smite them it is because they have drawn my unwanted attention to the state of their soul,” he smiled. “I have never felt any guilt for what I do. I am what I was created to be.”

  Dani yawned again.

  “Back to bed with you,” he said. “It’s time for you to rest.”

  3.

  Gabriel was not in the bedroom with her when Dani woke up the next morning. She went downstairs to look for him, but only found Michael. He was standing in the living room staring out the window into the front yard.

  “What are you doing?”

  Michael looked over his shoulder at her, “Looking at Gabriel.”

  She walked over and looked out of the window. Gabriel was on his knees in the yard with his face raised to the sky.

  “What is he doing?”

  “If I had to hazard a guess?” he asked. “I would say that he’s praying.”

  “If that’s all he’s doing then why do you look so worried? Surely you’ve seen him pray before.”

  “No, never,” Michael said. “For him to be praying now tells me that Gabriel’s worried.”

  “You can’t know that for sure,” she said. “Maybe he’s just praying to pray. He is still an angel.”

  “Gabriel hasn’t spoken to our Father since he was banished from Heaven,” Michael said. “He’s never even made an attempt to seek an audience with God since then. For him to try to talk to our Father now…I’m telling you, he’s worried.”

  “Will God talk to Gabriel?”

  “No, and Gabriel knows that. He’s not trying to get our Father to talk to him; just to listen to him.”

  “Listen to him about what?”

  Michael looked back out of the window at Gabriel, “I wish I knew.”

  “Can I talk to you a minute, Michael?”

  “Sure.”

  “Without you telling Gabriel?”

  Michael gave her a suspicious look, but said, “Alright.”

  “I just have a couple of questions,” she said. “What would happen if I take my own life before Lucifer has the chance to rise?”

  “Dani!” Michael said shocked. “Don’t even think…”

  “What would happen?”

  “Lucifer would win by default and collect your soul. Humanity would die off completely in less than a hundred years; pain filled, terrifying years, and demons would take over the Earth.”

  Dani nodded, “But Gabriel would live, right?”

  “Yes, he would live, but he wouldn’t want to,” Michaels said. “He would’ve failed in the mission that God had given him, cost humanity its rein on Earth, suffer the loss of the woman he loves, and still not be able to return to Heaven. He wouldn’t want to live anymore, Dani. Life would only be a punishment after that.”

  “But…”

  “No, Dani,” Michael ordered. “Don’t even think about it. I know you’re thinking you can save Gabriel by taking your own life, but try having a little faith in Gabriel instead. He will defeat Lucifer.”

  “Okay, I won’t do that,” she promised. “The next thing isn’t really question, it’s more of a favor; one I want you to do for me.”

  “Okay,” Michael said, looking relieved. “What is it?”

  “Will you be at the battle when Gabriel and Lucifer come face to face?”

  “I’ll be there,” he said. “Why? What do you want me to do?”

  “If it looks like; even for a second, that Gabriel is going to lose, I want you to kill me.”

  Michael turned his head away, “No.”

  “Please, Michael,” she begged.

  “No, it would serve no purpose,” Michael said firmly. “If Gabriel loses then Lucifer will get your soul whether I kill you or not.”

  “But he wouldn’t get my body,” she said. “I don’t want to go through anymore pain than I absolutely have to. I know that sounds cowardly, but I don’t care.”

  Michael shook his head, “The amount of pain you would suffer at Lucifer’s hands while here on Earth would be minuscule compared to what would await you in Hell.”

  “I don’t want any pain, Michael. I don’t deserve it,” she pleaded. “Like you said, it wouldn’t matter if you killed me or not at that point, so please do it.”

  Michael stared at her but finally nodded his head, “If that’s what you want, then I’ll do it, But do not tell Gabriel about our agreement or I won’t be alive to help you.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Michael,” she said and they both looked back out the window at Gabriel.

  4.

  Gabriel couldn’t believe he was doing this. He had never prayed before in his life; he’d never had a need to, but he was willing to give it a shot now:

  Father, please here my words. I know You’re angry at me, but I beg of You, please don’t take out Your anger at me on Dani. Let her live after the coming battle. I know I have wronged You and I accept what has to now be; I accept my death as the price that must be paid for my love of her, but Dani is good. She didn’t do anything to deserve Your punishment.

  Please let me survive long enough to defeat Lucifer and ensure Dani the long life that she so truly deserves. Oh Father, I beg this in Your name. Amen.

  Gabriel repeated the prayer over and over in his head; hoping desperately that God was listening, and then rose to his feet. He wasn’t surprised to see both Michael and Dani staring at him.

  “Did it work?” Michael asked him when Gabriel stepped through the door.

  Gabriel shrugged and walked over to give Dani a kiss, “Good morning. I was expecting you to sleep longer than this.”

  She put her arms around his waist, “I’ve slept enough.”

  Gabriel wrenched his head around and looked toward the front of the house. Michael turned his head at the same time to look out of the window.

  “Did you summon an angel?’ Michael asked Gabriel.

  Gabriel shook his head, “No, I didn’t.”

  “Well you got one anyway.”

  Gabriel had had enough of angel interference. He threw open the front door and strolled out onto the porch.

  He was surprised by which angel waiting in the grass, “Jehoel, to what do we owe the honor of your presence?”

  “You know what I’m here to do, Gabriel,” Jehoel said. “Let me do
my job.”

  “Walk away while you still can, Jehoel,” Gabriel warned.

  Jehoel shook his head. “I have my orders.”

  “Orders from whom, exactly?” Gabriel asked.

  Jehoel laughed “Are you afraid, Gabriel? Surely everything before you is real. Surely she’s not just infatuated. Surely you’re not.”

  Gabriel glared at Jehoel, “Do your worst, but know that when all of this is over, I will be coming to deal with you.”

  Jehoel sneered at Gabriel, “I think we all know that what happens after Lucifer rises is a non-issue for you, because you won’t be around to deal with anyone.”

  “He won’t have to be, because I’m going to kill you long before that. You can believe that, Jehoel,” Michael snapped.

  “It’s not your place, Michael,” Jehoel said.

  “I’m fresh out of fucks to give about where my place is, Jehoel,” Michael said. “That ended the moment Heaven made a move against Gabriel. Now do what you came here to do, or be gone. Either way, I’ll see you in a minute.”

  Jehoel turned and flung his hand toward Gabriel and Dani. Gabriel felt as if he’d been doused with warm water, but nothing more. He felt Dani jerk beside him and worried that Jehoel may have been right.

  He turned her to face him and looked into her eyes, “Dani, do you love me?”

  Dani stared at him in confusion, “What?”

  “Do you love me?” he repeated a bit nervously.

  “Of course I love you,” she said, sardonically. “I thought that had already been established.”

  Gabriel turned back to Jehoel, “I guess you were wrong.”

  “This can’t be,” Jehoel said in fear.

  Gabriel smiled, “And yet it is.”

  “Hey, Jehoel,” Michael called out, making Jehoel look at him. “Run.”

  At Michael’s words, Jehoel disappeared.

  5.

  “What the in the hell was that all about?” Dani said after Michael had vanished to follow Jehoel. “What was that angel trying to do?”

  “Jehoel is the Angel of Presence. He removes false love from the hearts of others.”

  “False love?” she asked. “You thought my love for you wasn’t real?”

  The thought that he hadn’t believed that she really loved him kind of offended her.

  “I thought Jehoel may have had a point about infatuation,” Gabriel admitted. “I am an Archangel; one of the most powerful creatures in the universe under God. It’s not unthinkable that you would be infatuated with me. Being around any angel can be overwhelming for a human.”

  “I’m glad you think that I have the emotional restraint of a twelve year old girl,” Dani said snidely. “And your love for me, Gabriel? Is it still intact or where you just infatuated, because I have an idea that that wave of energy Jehoel threw out was aimed at both of us.”

  “Dani, my love for you is real,” he said, laying his hand on her cheek. “Of that I never I had a moments doubt.”

  “Glad to hear it,” she said, taking his hand. “Now let’s go find out if there’s any food in this house. I could eat an angel.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  1.

  Dani was halfway through a fried egg sandwich when she saw Gabriel’s eyes narrow as he pulled his sword from its sheath.

  “Really?” Dani said in frustration, and laid her half eaten sandwich on the kitchen table. “Something else already?”

  Gabriel nodded, “Another angel,” he said and rose from the table.

  Dani was shocked when they stepped into the living room. This angel hadn’t waited outside for Gabriel; this one had come right into the house. And he was the biggest son of a bitch she’d ever seen in her life!

  She’d thought the vampire hunters, Damon and Gunner, were huge, but this angel would tower over them by almost a foot. His head nearly brushed the living room ceiling.

  “At this rate, Lucifer won’t get the chance to kill me,” Dani said to Gabriel. “I’ll starve to death before he ever gets here. First no lunch yesterday, and then no dinner last night. Now this big bastard has ruined my breakfast.”

  The huge angel glared at her, “You should fear me, child.”

  “Why should I do that?” she asked, feeling completely safe. “I’m standing behind Gabriel.”

  “SHUT UP!” the angel roared at her, and Dani felt a familiar tightness in her throat. Apparently Gabriel and Michael weren’t the only angels able to take away a persons ability to speak. The sensation was gone almost immediately.

  “No, Rashnu,” Gabriel said. “You don’t get to control my wife.”

  “Give me the last Daughter of God, Gabriel,” Rashnu said. “If you do, then I won’t have to hurt you. You can still walk away from this unharmed.”

  “Umm…do they smoke crack in Heaven?” Dani asked Gabriel. “He does know you’re an Archangel, doesn’t he?”

  “Gabriel is nothing. He is an outcast of Heaven that God cares nothing for anymore,” Rashnu said venomously. “If God wanted Gabriel to live and the last Daughter of God to survive, He could have stopped me from coming down here; He did not.”

  “You’re right, Rashnu,” Gabriel said calmly. “My Father could’ve stopped you from falling to Earth. Don’t you think it’s odd that He didn’t?”

  Rashnu smiled an evil smile, “Maybe it’s because he wants me to kill the last Daughter of God and finally end this experiment.”

  “That’s one theory,” Gabriel agreed, nodding his head. “Or maybe my Father just expects me to kill you. If that’s the case, then He’s not wrong. You take one little step towards my wife and I will end you, Rashnu.”

  Dani didn’t know about Rashnu, but she believed Gabriel, no matter how calm he appeared to be.

  “You were too weak to kill Lucifer,” Rashnu said. “You barely had the eggs to kill Sraosha last night. I’m willing to bet that you won’t even try to kill me.”

  “Last chance, Rashnu,” Gabriel warned.

  Rashnu smiled at Gabriel and lunged at Dani. Gabriel swung his sword with a lightning quickness and removed Rashnu’s head.

  2.

  “I killed Jehoel,” Michael said, walking through the front door a few moments after Gabriel had taken Rashnu’s head. “I found him in the…Holy shit!” he exclaimed when he saw the headless body lying on the living room carpet.

  “I killed Rashnu,” Gabriel said, laughing. “But thanks for getting Jehoel for me. It was very sweet of you.”

  “What… how did he…shit,” Michael stammered.

  “I take it Rashnu was somebody in Heaven?” Dani asked.

  “Yes,” Michael said, watching Rashnu’s body as it turned into a mist and evaporated. “Rashnu is…” he said and then corrected himself. “Rashnu was an Angel of Judgment.”

  “And what exactly is an Angel of Judgment?”

  “He decided what level of Heaven a human soul belongs in,” Gabriel said. “And he was a direct superior to Sraosha.”

  “I guess that takes care of the angel Sraosha was obedient to,” she said to Michael.

  Michael nodded, “I guess so.”

  “Maybe that will be the end of the angel interference in this mess,” she said.

  “We can only hope,” Michael said, walking into the kitchen. “Excellent, leftovers,” he said, snagging Dani’s leftover breakfast sandwich from the table and taking a big bite of it.

  “Michael!” Gabriel snapped.

  “What?” Michael mumbled through another big bite of the sandwich.

  Dani laughed, “Never mind, seeing someone get their head chopped off kind of ruined my appetite anyway. Maybe I’ll have better luck with my next meal.”

  3.

  They had three peaceful days after Rashnu made his appearance. Three days that Dani’s life was not endangered. It was so peaceful that Dani nearly forgot what they were doing staying in Woodlawn, living in the empty house of strangers.

  Michael had left on the day that Gabriel had killed Rashnu and they had been alon
e together every since. On their third day alone they were sitting in a swing under an old shade tree in the side yard.

  Dani had her legs curled up on the swing and her head on Gabriel’s shoulder, “What’s it like to die?”

  “I don’t know, I’ve never died,” Gabriel said. “But I would have to assume that the moment of a human’s death is scary. So scary in fact, that some of them have decided to avoid it altogether.”

  “How can they do that?”

  “Man has created the Rapture. The belief that when the Hour the Apocalypse comes, God will pull the Righteous into the Heavens; body and all. It’s only a myth. Believe me when I tell you that no one is getting off of this world alive.

  “The Apocalypse will happen. The day will come when my Father will cleanse the Earth with fire. All the volcanoes on Earth will erupt simultaneously and the waters will boil.

  “Lava will cover the Earth and all it its inhabitants will choke to death on black ash or burn in pools of fire; even the Righteous. Only then will God proceed with the last Day of Judgment.”

  “When will the Apocalypse happen?”

  “There is no set day, as humans seem to think,” Gabriel said. “It will happen on the day that God’s disappointment in humanity outweighs His love for it.”

  “Are you afraid to die?”

  “I’ve never been confronted with the possibility of my own death before now,” he said. “But no, Dani. I have no fear of dying. I only fear for your life, not my own.”

  “But if you die, we both die.” she said.

  “I told you not to worry about that,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “You’re not going…”

  Before he could finish his words, several angels; all moving with the speed of small comets, smashed into the land with enough force to cause the front porch of the house to crumble and crash to the ground.

  Seven angels were now in the yard in front of them; all of them bearing swords of their own.

  4.

  “You have got to be joking,” Gabriel said to the angels. “I distinctly remember binding each of you and sending you all to Tartarus.”

  “I guess someone with more power than you decided in was time to set us free,” Abaddon said.