by L. M. Brown
‘You will do anything I tell you to, and we both know it.’
Deciding to give them what time he could, Michael turned back to the archangels. “While they’re discussing their options, how about we focus on the issue of the fallen angels?”
“They need to be killed,” Raguel said. “If they walk the earth, their presence will have a similar effect to that of Lucifer. Humans will be drawn to them, and demon recruitment will be boosted. The sooner they die, the better.”
“Violence shouldn’t be the first choice,” Gabriel replied. “It should be a last resort, and only when all other avenues have been exhausted.”
“Are you forgetting what happened the last time angels fell?” Raguel asked. “It was a long and bloody war.”
“Not all the angels who fell were killed,” Azrael pointed out.
“None came back to the light,” Raguel reminded them. “Those who weren’t killed remain imprisoned to this day. They have no more wish to be saved than Lucifer does.”
“Has anyone spoken to them recently?” Metatron asked. “Besides their guards, that is.”
Michael frowned. He hadn’t been to the cells since he had helped escort the last of the captured fallen angels there. That had been long before the final battle of the war.
Around the circle, each of the other archangels shook their heads. Michael felt a pang of shame at how they had neglected to try to bring the previous former angels back to the light. They should have been working on healing them from the start, and if they had, maybe by now some or all of those would have been saved.
“Perhaps some of them might wish to come back to the light by now,” Gabriel suggested.
Michael wanted to agree with Gabriel, but he couldn’t. They had tasted the same power Lucifer enjoyed. He didn’t doubt they wanted out of their confinement, but they didn’t crave the return of their wings, only the freedom and power they had as demons.
“You disagree?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes. If they are as like-minded as Lucifer, they won’t want their wings back, only power.”
Gabriel stared at him thoughtfully. “I think a short adjournment might be in order.”
“Why?” Raguel questioned. “Now Michael is finally talking some sense after all these years, we might actually make some progress.”
“I wish to speak to Michael privately,” Gabriel replied, and without waiting for a response he stalked across the room, took Michael by the arm, and escorted him into one of the antechambers.
From the corner of his eye, Michael saw Raphael move toward them, but a glare from Gabriel halted him in his tracks.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Gabriel rounded on Michael. “What’s going on? What happened in the Underworld?”
Michael shrugged. He didn’t want to talk about it. “I realized something I should have figured out a long time ago.”
“And what’s that?”
“Lucifer doesn’t want to be saved. He wants to corrupt me. He’s been biding his time, waiting for me to fall. He’s told me what I wanted to hear and I was foolish enough to believe him. I made a mistake when I accepted the mission to bring him back to the light.”
“But you were making progress with him. Look how he is with your daughter. Or even how he is with you. He loves you.”
“Does he?” Michael asked. “I’m not so sure anymore.”
“What’s changed? What did he say to you when you went to the Underworld?”
Michael sat on one of the stone seats and dropped his head into his hands. “It doesn’t matter what he said. I saw him for what he truly is tonight and I didn’t like it.”
Gabriel took a seat beside him. “Talk to me, Michael, so we can try to figure out where to go from here?”
“Lucifer was drunk on power. That’s why he didn’t report back to us. He was celebrating with the rest of the demons and reveling in the boost to his powers the fallen angels have given him.”
“Perhaps you should speak to him when he’s more himself again.”
Michael snorted. “He’s a demon. Tonight I finally accepted that.”
“You aren’t going to tell me what happened in the Underworld, are you?”
“I can’t,” Michael admitted. “I…”
Gabriel patted his arm. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything until you’re ready.”
Michael took Gabriel’s hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“Do you truly believe Lucifer can’t be saved?”
Michael nodded. “No one can be forced into the light.”
“The cells here won’t be able to hold him.”
“I know.” Michael sat back and stared at the ceiling. “Capturing Lucifer was never an option.”
“No.”
“I can’t kill him.”
“I’d never ask you to.”
“What do you think I should do?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know. Why did you vote for the ban, Michael?”
“Because it was the right thing to do,” Michael replied. “We can’t risk another war if more angels should fall.”
“No, we can’t, but are you sure you didn’t vote for the ban because of whatever Lucifer said to you in the Underworld?”
“Perhaps that’s part of the reason. I always thought one day I’d be able to bring him back. Now I know I was wrong.”
“You’ve given up on him.”
It wasn’t a question, but Michael nodded miserably. He felt Gabriel probing into his mind, trying to make sense of his thoughts. Michael pushed him out, desperate to stop him seeing what he had done. The presence retreated and Michael let Gabriel take him in his arms.
“Just hold on a little longer. This meeting will soon be over. Then we’ll talk about what you’re going to do.”
Michael nodded and they embraced another minute or two, before he followed Gabriel back into the main chamber.
“Well?” Raguel asked.
“Well what?” Gabriel replied as he took his seat. “I said I wanted to speak to Michael privately.”
“And what did he have to say?”
“Nothing I wish to share with the rest of the room,” Gabriel snapped. “I wanted privacy for a reason. Now, where were we?”
Metatron gestured to the angels in the gallery. “We were waiting for you to return to hear the decisions of the angels.”
Michael noted that the angels had stopped talking and appeared to have come to their decisions. He wished his own choice had been made, but things were not quite as simple for him. If he should live a mortal life on Earth, he would be a target for demons, just as he would have been had he chosen to raise his daughter personally.
One by one, the angels stepped forward and voiced their decisions. When the final one had spoken he noted there was almost an even number of angels giving up their demon lovers and those surrendering their wings. Of those choosing a life on Earth, none wished to be reborn.
“And what about you, Michael?” Raguel asked. “Have you decided yet?”
“I have,” Michael said.
Gabriel stared at him with wide eyes.
“And?” Raguel pressed.
“We all know I wouldn’t survive more than a few months on Earth if I gave up my wings. I would be targeted by every demon in the Underworld from the moment I’m spotted. Without my powers, I’d be a walking target.”
“Then you intend to give up Lucifer?” Raguel asked. “I don’t believe you’ll be able to stay away from him. You’ll deceive us, yet again, as you crawl back into his bed the moment he snaps his fingers.”
“That’s uncalled for,” Gabriel said.
“No,” Michael interrupted. “Raguel has a point, and I accept his criticism. I also agree with him. I don’t think I have the willpower to stay away from Lucifer, which is why I intend to be reborn.”
Chapter Seventeen
Michael stood on his beach, facing the cliff wall where the tunnel was concealed. He raised his hand to the stone and focused on the
crack Lucifer and he had created all those years ago. Inch by inch, Michael sealed the entrance. Only he and Lucifer had ever been able to open the passage to the Underworld—now Michael had locked it at his end. He wondered how long it would be before Lucifer even noticed what he had done.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him before you do this?” Gabriel asked.
“The others didn’t have the opportunity to speak to their lovers,” Michael reminded him.
“They haven’t been in their relationships since time immemorial.”
“I don’t need to speak to him,” Michael said. “He’ll try to talk me out of it, and I’m afraid I’ll let him.”
“What do you think he’d want you to choose?” Gabriel asked. “I know he won’t want you to put yourself in danger.”
“Won’t he?” Michael gave him a smile. “If I were to simply give up my wings and powers, leaving myself vulnerable to demons, and choose him, he would see it as a victory. By cutting my ties with the angels, he would believe I’m taking a step closer to him, and what he ultimately wants.”
“You at his side.”
“Yes. Though he might be angry at the loss of power my falling would have given him.”
“Is that why you’re doing this?” Gabriel asked. “Are you afraid you might fall?”
Michael whispered his answer. “Yes.”
“You think this is your only choice, don’t you?”
“It is. I can’t live on Earth in this form, and I can’t trust myself to stay away from him if I keep my wings. If I should fall, the consequences would be disastrous. Being reborn solves everything.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Or you’re running away from your problems. Giving up your memories and everything you’ve ever known is such a drastic step to take. I’m not sure you’ve thought this through.”
“Maybe I am running away, but right now I don’t see any other option.”
“Don’t do this, Michael. You can change your mind. Keep your wings, but end things with Lucifer. Maybe he’ll respect your decision.”
Michael laughed, the first real one since the recent fall of angels. “Your opinion of Lucifer is far higher than mine. Even with the tunnel closed, he’ll find a way. He’ll stalk me on Earth whenever I’m there, and he’ll wear me down until I give in. Knowing me, it probably won’t take him too long either.”
“He knows he’s not allowed on Earth unless he’s accompanied by an archangel.”
“Do you really believe he’s going to stick to the rules?” Michael asked.
“You think he’ll leave the Underworld?”
“We might refer to him as a prisoner there, but it’s only because he agrees to it. If he wants to leave, he can do so any time he likes. We’ve all known that for centuries.”
“Have you considered what he might do when he finds out what you’ve done?” Gabriel asked. “He’ll be furious.”
“What can he do?” Michael replied. “I’ll be living a new life, with no memory of him or what we shared. I’ll be one man among billions.”
“We can try to shield you from him,” Gabriel suggested. “Between us, I’m pretty sure the archangels can at least keep him from viewing you from the Underworld while you’re growing up.”
“Thank you,” Michael said.
“Of course, it will be harder to hide you, the older you become,” Gabriel pointed out. “And if he searched hard enough, he might find you anyway. You know whenever an angel is reborn they still retain their aura. If he has the entire Underworld hunting for you—and I think we both know that’s a distinct possibility—it’s only a matter of time before he tracks you down. He may not know it’s you at first, but as you mature, he will. While you won’t be identical in appearance, there’ll be enough similarities to make you recognizable.”
“I doubt he’ll waste that much time and resources. By the time I’m old enough to be interesting to him, he’ll have moved on.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do.”
Michael couldn’t meet Gabriel’s knowing gaze.
‘One of you is going to suck me, Michael. It’s him or you, so make your choice.’
“He’ll find someone else,” Michael whispered, even though the thought almost killed him.
“I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I?” Gabriel said.
Michael shook his head and began the walk to the archway of reincarnation. “No.”
Gabriel matched him pace for pace as Michael strolled along the concourse. Raphael joined them partway.
“He’s really going to go through with this?” Raphael asked Gabriel.
“Unless he bolts at the last moment, yes.”
“I’m not going to bolt,” Michael said.
“Lucifer is going to be furious,” Raphael said.
“I’ve already pointed that out to him.”
“And he’s still going to go through with this madness?”
Michael glared at Raphael over his shoulder. His friend raised his hands in surrender. He wasn’t going to argue with him.
“You do know he’ll track you down as soon as he realizes what you’ve done?” Raphael commented. “He can’t stay away from you, any more than you can remain apart from him.”
“Even if he does find me, without my memories he’ll soon lose interest. I’ll be just another mortal.”
“I think you underestimate his feelings for you.”
Michael turned to face Raphael and shook his head. “The one thing I have never done is underestimate him.”
A crowd had gathered by the time Michael arrived at the archway of reincarnation. The rest of the archangels waited for him, along with a large number of lesser angels. All those who had been present in the chamber had gathered, including those who would shortly be going to Earth as mortals. Everyone wanted to see the unprecedented event of an archangel giving up everything to be reborn.
One person Michael hadn’t expected, but was delighted to see, was his daughter. He took a few moments to speak with her out of earshot of the others, and she told him she understood what he was doing and why. Each time he saw her, he found himself surprised and pleased by her continuing good nature. She had grown into a fine young woman, and would one day be a great angel herself. Losing his memories of her would be his deepest regret. Unfortunately, it had to be done, and after they had spoken and said their goodbyes, Michael let her walk him back to the archway.
Raguel stepped between Michael and the archway. “I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I think you’re making the right choice.”
Michael nodded. “I hope you’re right.”
“Gabriel has told us of his plan to shield you from demonic monitoring, and I just want you to know I’ll do my part to help.”
“Thank you.”
Raguel patted him on the shoulder before stepping aside so Michael could move forward a couple of steps.
Gabriel’s hand on his arm stopped him from stepping into the archway. “Don’t you at least want to see him one last time before you do this?”
“No.” Michael shook his head. “I won’t let him talk me out of this.”
“I don’t mean in person, but you could always check in on him in the pool of visions.”
“To what purpose? Torturing myself with my failure? No, it’s better this way.”
Gabriel sighed and pulled Michael into his arms. Michael hugged him back, then Raphael, and other archangels and angels. He suspected his fellow angels might miss him even more than Lucifer would.
Finally, everyone had wished him well, all words of advice had been offered, and Michael could put off his journey no longer.
Gabriel, who had barely left his side since they had left the archangels’ chamber, stayed close to him. So close, in fact, that Michael had to remind him to step back or he might find himself being reborn too.
There was one last thing he had to do before he stepped through the archway. Michael removed his necklace, the gift from Lucifer he had worn
for so long, and placed it in Gabriel’s hand. “Keep this safe for me.”
Gabriel nodded. “Live a good life,” he said, and he pulled Michael back into his arms again, this time kissing him deeply on the lips.
Michael’s shock at Gabriel’s kiss lasted only as long as the kiss itself. As soon as he stepped back, he was through the archway and his new life had begun.
Chapter Eighteen
Michael stirred his coffee, his attention focused on the tech article on his tablet he had been engrossed in for the last fifteen minutes. He didn’t notice the man sitting opposite him until he heard a pointed cough.
“You certainly took some tracking down,” the stranger said.
Michael frowned. “Do I know you?”
“Very amusing, Michael.” The strange man gave him a dazzling smile, revealing straight white teeth.
“How do you know my name?”
The smile slipped from the man’s face and was replaced by a frown.
Michael shifted uncomfortably under the sudden scrutiny. “I need to get back to work,” he said as he grabbed his coffee and tablet and made a hasty exit from the café.
He had no idea who the strange man had been, but for the rest of the day his mind kept drifting back to him, and to the piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through him.
When he left the office, late as usual, he thought he saw the blond man watching him from across the street, but on taking a closer look, no one was there.
Still, the feeling of being watched didn’t leave him, not even after he’d arrived home. He put it down to nerves and tried to pull himself together.
* * * *
The next day Michael saw the stranger again. The man approached him in the same café, once again taking the seat opposite him.
“So, how long do you intend to keep this up?” he asked.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Michael said.
“You might be going by Michael Smith these days—not the most original of names—but I know it’s you. Do you realize it’s taken me twenty years to track you down?”
