Angels Falling

by Harriet Carlton

  “Why are you wasting energy?”

  Imorean shifted his wings and banked as he heard Michael’s voice in his head. They hadn’t been properly connected for the last two days. It was nice to feel him back.

  “Having a bit of fun,” replied Imorean.

  “Well stop. And start your descent. I need you aware for the conversation we are about to have.”

  Imorean sighed. He pulled back. The world faded to color. The orange of life dropped away. He glanced down. The mountaintops dropped into a ravine. A ribbon of clear, blue water flowed in the bottom. He spun, twisting himself over and down, diving toward the river. Air currents changed as he dropped below the mountain plateau heights. He followed the river for only moments, before he felt Michael’s presence again. Stronger this time. He was close. Raphael was with him and two other presences that could only be Remiel and Raguel. Imorean tilted his wings and rounded a bend in the river, wide banks flanking each side of it now. Michael stood on a rocky riverbank, the forest dark at his back. Imorean pulled up and slowed as Michael locked eyes with him and flared his wings. White wings furled up as Imorean landed on the riverbank.

  “Long time no see. Get what you needed?” he asked, giving Michael a smile.

  “I did. Thanks to you,” replied Michael, raising a cardboard tube. “You were invaluable on that mission. I owe you a thanks, Imorean.”

  Raphael approached from the trees, shaking out his wings, and Imorean glanced up as Sariel soared overhead, swooping to land further in the forest.

  “I think that’s the most indebted I’ve ever heard you, Brother,” said Raphael, brushing wings with Michael.

  “You got me thrown in jail for a night, but yeah, happy to help,” replied Imorean. “Blood sacrifice next time?”

  Michael sighed and shook his head, but Imorean smiled. He could feel Michael’s amusement. His smile faded as he felt it dampen a moment later.

  “That’s the map?” asked Imorean.

  “It is. Written in old Enochian, to boot. Raphael will need some time to translate it, but it should not be hard. More syntactically challenging than anything else and I am sure that Colton will want to help him. Paititi will be found soon enough and the next part of our maneuver against Vortigern will be executed. Personally, I feel there is more to be discussed on that matter another day,” said Michael. “Raguel took the liberty of setting up a hammock for you.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Imorean. Something didn’t feel right. “Raphael said you had to ‘determine’ me.”

  “We do,” nodded Michael. “We have hit something of a snag in our plan to gather the artifacts. Come on.”

  Imorean followed Michael further into the forest. Hammocks were set up in a circle. A small fire burned in the center of them.

  “Hello, Imorean!”

  An arm slung around Imorean’s shoulders and he stumbled a step. As he looked up, he smiled, recognizing the presence. Dusky red, burgundy. Raguel. His hair was even more sun-bleached than Imorean remembered it, but his eyes were still as dark and warm as ever.

  “Hey, Raguel.”

  “How are you?” asked Raguel. “Great to see you again.”

  “Raguel,” snapped Michael. “Curb your enthusiasm. There will be time to catch up with one another after this.”

  “Takes all the fun out of everything, doesn’t he,” grinned Raguel, falling back and crossing to the other side of the hammock circle.

  “What he does best,” muttered Imorean.

  “I would appreciate it if you did not gang up on me,” said Michael. Something in his tone snapped Imorean back to seriousness. He glanced around the circle of Archangels as Remiel and Sariel drew closer.

  “Imorean,” said Remiel, his voice just as quiet as Imorean remembered it.

  “Hey, Remiel,” he replied. A rush of irritation rapped the side of his head. He turned to Michael and shot a thought toward him. “I’m just being polite.”

  Michael leaned on one of the trees and folded his arms. “I am sorry that our conditions are not more comfortable, but I decided it would be best if we remained on European turf as opposed to gathering at Felsenmeer.”

  Imorean blinked at Michael. They weren’t going back? He couldn’t help bristling. This was news to him.

  “First and foremost, this minimizes our movements. It keeps our location incognito and will let us be less traceable. Now, as you all know, Imorean, his squad, Gabriel, Raphael and I have been working on gathering ancient artifacts from around the world that will help give us the power to trap Vortigern back in hell with a sense of permanence. Getting rid of him is imperative. He is a figurehead and demons from all over the world rally behind him. The issue is that after the mission to Mexico, our actions were revealed to Vortigern by Bethany Voran.”

  A sense of horror took over Imorean as Michael looked around their circle. He looked down, trying to ignore the stares pressing in from all sides. But then Michael was speaking again. Imorean’s heart thudded uncomfortably in his chest. He dreaded what Michael would say. Foreboding took up residence in his veins. Something wasn’t right.

  “Vortigern is aware of our movements now. We have to accelerate. This means dividing ourselves for a short time to carry out the tasks that were allotted originally to only Imorean’s squad. This is a risky maneuver, as we will be spread across much of the globe. Until further notice, any major meetings will be held on the astral plane. It will take more effort for us all to connect, but we will make it work. Before I give out tasks, though, Imorean, we need to deal with you.”

  “Yeah?” Imorean’s heart was racing. But why?

  Michael’s aura shifted. “First, I have to say that according to Gabriel’s reports, your squad has been doing beautifully under Ryan’s leadership. He has been able to step up and fill your position in your absence. Perhaps better than anyone ever expected.”

  “Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” asked Imorean. “He can take my place if anything … happens to me.”

  “That depends entirely upon your own interpretation. With regards to this latest mission, I am impressed. You have taken to Archangel powers almost as naturally as if you had been born to us. Kerubiel sent me some footage of you inside the Vatican buildings. You remained in control of the release of your powers. You are a fine line away from retaining that control while using your powers and I know you will find a balance. I believe if you allow your instincts to guide you, and with a small amount of honing, your talents will be just as sharp as our own. Time in fine-tuning these skills will be your greatest ally. I will continue to work with you and teach you new powers, talents and abilities. You have my compliments. While full control is still necessary, your powers have a solid basis. This is the response you were hoping for from me, correct?”

  Imorean nodded. Why did he have such an unsettled feeling about this? There was another shift in Michael’s aura, and Imorean swallowed. “Yes. It is.”

  “Where would you prefer to go on your next mission? Peru, Houska or Egypt? Your choice.”

  “It’s always been Houska for me, Michael. You know that. That’s why I’ve been fighting so hard to try to get in touch with …” He gestured to himself and half-flared his wings. “This. My mom. Isaac and Rachel. Toddy. I can’t leave them. I won’t.”

  “I understand.” Michael blinked and Imorean felt a flare of regret in him. “Then, Imorean, I regret to inform you that you are fired from your position as squad leader.”

  Chapter 58

  “I’m what?” Imorean shook himself. Fired? He was fired?

  “Fired,” said Michael.

  Imorean swallowed, trying to ignore the uncomfortable coolness around the circle of Archangels. The air stretched thin with second-hand embarrassment. Only Sariel looked delighted.

  A breath. Imorean raised his gaze back to Michael. “Why?”

  “We have to accelerate. We have to split up. There is not time anymore for multiple missions. Not with Vortigern on our tail. You have made the choice to jo
in with Raguel and make the trip to Houska. You cannot expect to be able to run a squad on a mission in Peru while you are on one of your own in the Czech Republic. It is not going to happen, Imorean. You have made your choice. Ryan will take your place as squad leader. Permanently. He will lead the way to Peru.”

  Raguel shuffled his wings. “You sure he’s ready, Michael? Imorean I mean.”

  “I am. He is good and solid in action. I trust him to cover my back. So should you. I will need a private word with you later, Raguel. Regarding Houska. Please set aside some time for that.”

  “Will do. Michael, you’ve told me a lot about Imorean already. If you think he’s ready, then, welcome aboard, Imorean,” nodded Raguel.

  Imorean swallowed. He didn’t need Archangel senses to hear the skepticism in Raguel’s tone. He closed his eyes. Fired. He was fired. He took a breath. Fired from human contact. Another tie to his own humanity, sliced through with surgical precision.

  “Sariel,” said Michael. Imorean opened his eyes, Michael’s voice jolting him out of his thoughts. “I want you to go to Peru with Imorean’s former squad and Ryan.”

  “What? You want me running around with a bunch of hybrids?” asked Sariel.

  Imorean tensed. He could hear the disgust in Sariel’s voice, all delight washed out of it. His squad – his former squad – was more than just ‘a bunch of hybrids’. Mentally, a few green feathers brushed Imorean’s primaries and he looked at Michael.

  He heard Michael’s voice in his mind. “Let me.”

  “I do. I think it would be good for you. A training in patience and tolerance never goes amiss. And I think you and Ryan will get along. To give them a natural reader of the Enochian language will be helpful. It is syntactically complex and easy to misconstrue.”

  Sariel sighed. “If that’s what you want.”

  “It is. Raphael, stay at Felsenmeer. Keep the barriers up over the other students. Keep them safe. Be ready to meet us at a moment’s notice. Get Diniel ready, too.”

  Raphael nodded. “I will.”

  Imorean met his blue eyes for a moment. A smile flitted across his face and Imorean tried to return it. He couldn’t quite muster the full expression.

  “What about Uriel?” asked Raphael, turning back to Michael.

  “Uriel will be coming with me and Gabriel to Egypt. I cannot trust him to stand at the Pearly Gates yet, but I can trust him where I can keep my eyes on him.”

  Imorean looked up, words spilling out of his mouth before he could stop them. “You’re not going to Egypt alone?”

  “No. It will be me, Gabriel, Uriel and a team that I am going to choose from the Host. All our tasks must be carried out simultaneously. As I said, this will be more dangerous, but Vortigern will not know exactly where to strike and I am hoping that by the time he figures it out, we will have finished. Our missions should take, at the most, three days a piece.”

  “Three days is plenty of time for things to go wrong,” said Remiel.

  Imorean turned. It was one of the first full sentences he had ever heard Remiel speak.

  “Sorry, Remiel,” said Michael. “I forgot you were there.”

  “I’m so glad I’m valued,” replied Remiel, an amused smile on his face.

  Raguel elbowed him. “Oh, Remy. You know he meant to forget you with all the love in the world.”

  Imorean laughed softly, in spite of himself, and caught Michael’s eyes for a heartbeat. He thought he saw a small smile tug at one corner of Michael’s mouth.

  “Very funny, Raguel.” Michael shuffled his wings. “Remiel, I would like you to continue guarding the gates. The others up there are familiar with you. They trust you.”

  “Consider it done.”

  Green wings shuffled and refolded again. “Good. Gabriel, Uriel and I are going to Egypt. Remiel is going back to the gates. Imorean and Raguel are going to Houska. Raphael is going back to Felsenmeer. Sariel will be meeting up with Imorean’s – sorry – Ryan’s squad.”

  “On it, boss,” replied Raguel with a grin. Imorean stumbled a step as Raguel rested an elbow on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the little guy.”

  “I think you will find that Imorean can stand quite effectively on his own,” said Michael. “Frayneson, a word.”

  The use of his last name struck a chord Imorean and he turned sharply away from Raguel. More sharply than he might have done if Michael had used his first name. He stuffed his hands into his pockets. Why did they feel so shaky? Was it because the squad was no longer his? He had never been fired from anything before. He fell into step next to Michael, following him a short distance away from the others.

  “Were you surprised?” asked Michael.

  “About being fired?” snapped Imorean. The venom in his voice took him by surprise. “Yeah. I was. You didn’t have to blindside me.”

  “Do you understand my decision?”

  Imorean looked at Michael, noticing how guarded his eyes were. “I think so.”

  “I cannot risk the time that would be wasted if you were to be sent on two missions. And to do so would exhaust you.”

  “What happens to me afterward, though? You designed the squad because you thought I would be killed off as a soloist. Doesn’t make much sense to me.” Imorean pushed his hands further into his trouser pockets. He was no longer a squad leader. The life he had established at Felsenmeer felt shaken. Would he ever go back? Would he ever be going back to the place he considered a temporary home?

  “You will be joining us,” replied Michael.

  “What do you mean?”

  Michael flared one wing and gestured over his shoulder. Imorean turned. Raphael, Raguel, Remiel and Sariel were shuffling around the wood. Each seemed wrapped in their own world.

  “All of us. The Archangel Company. Inherently, you are part of us, just due to your nature. A few months ago, I thought you perhaps too young and too inexperienced to join, but I see now that this is the best placing for you. It always has been. I have been considering that your leadership of the squad may have been a selfish desire on my part to see you in a position of command – a curiosity to the closeness between your and my natures. It was the wrong position for you.”

  “I liked leading the squad, though.” Imorean nearly slapped himself. The words had tumbled out of his mouth without him realizing it. Arguing with Michael was never a good idea. It hadn’t been something he meant to say.

  There was a shift in Michael’s eyes. “That part of your life is over. You need to realize your potential and I intend to use your being part of the Archangel Company as a way for you to do that. We cannot afford to slow down. There is too much on the line.”

  Imorean swallowed. “Do you think Ryan will be a good leader for them?”

  Michael pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Gabriel sent me this.”

  Imorean took Michael’s phone and scanned the screen. A video. “Still baffles me that you guys like to communicate with phones.”

  “More common than you think. And easier than a mental connection for sending footage.”

  Imorean pressed play on the video. Taken from a short distance away, close enough that he could identify all his squad members by more than just their wings. They were flying. The day was clear. Imorean swallowed. Roxy, Colton, Kadia and Baxter were all blindfolded. Ryan was the only one with clear vision. Ryan shouted something, and as one being, the entire squad rolled in the air. Another command and they shifted into a new formation, each of their primaries touching each other. Imorean bit the inside of his cheek. Total trust. They had complete and utter trust in Ryan and, from what he could see, Ryan in them. Something he hadn’t had for a long time. If he had ever had it at all. The video finished and Imorean exited out of it. He caught a glimpse of texts between Gabriel and Michael.

  ‘Ryan’s a natural leader. Can’t deny it.’

  ‘Perhaps in this situation.’

  ‘They trust him. More than they do Imorean.’

  ‘I have a course
of action.’

  Imorean passed Michael’s phone back. “How long have you been planning on firing me?”

  “A few days. Like I said, leading a squad is no longer the place for you.”

  “What about numbers? Part of why we brought on Kadia is because we didn’t have enough to make a cohesive squad.”

  “I have some hybrids in mind that will join at a later date. Until then, Sariel can help fill in the gaps.”

  Imorean nodded, then swallowed. “Can I still live at Felsenmeer?”

  “Of course. You have nowhere else.”

  A flash of anger tore through Imorean’s chest. “You don’t have to rub it in, Michael.” He snorted and a small snarl fixed itself on his lips. “I’m homeless. I’m without a family. I need you and the angels as much as you need me. Don’t rub in what you’ve done to me.”

  Coldness washed over him and brown eyes turned up to meet green. “Prepare for your mission with Raguel. His command style is different from mine. Keep your powers and your temper under control.”

  “That would be easier if you wouldn’t keep hiding things from me and keep provoking me. My firing isn’t the only thing you’ve been sitting on.” Imorean raised his chin. Did he dare test his luck now? “What was it that Sariel wanted you to tell me? You said you were going to tell me after we left Italy – we’ve left Italy. Seeing as I’m part of your Archangel Company, I have no reason not to know. And it’s something that all of you seem to know. You, Sariel, Kerubiel, Diniel. Everyone. You all know something about the hybrids that none of us know. What is it?”

  Michael stiffened. “Nothing. Sariel was manipulating words to incite your distrust in me. Something I will be speaking with him about.”

  “No, he wasn’t. You’re hiding something, Michael. It’s not rocket science.”

  “It is something that needs to remain unsaid for your sake. Did you never imagine that I might be trying to protect you?”

  “I don’t like sins of omission, Michael.”

  “Drop the subject and I will not have to continue committing sins of omission.”