Free War of Wings Page A

us,” Saraquel said. “We are archangels too. Why wouldn’t God tell us or show us these things?”
    “Easy now. Michael is my best friend.” He felt a moment of irritation and stared at Saraquel. He tipped up another spiritapple shell to enjoy its juice, and the pleasant feelings returned. The sky looked oddly multicolored. He squinted to refocus. “I don’t know why He wouldn’t tell us though. That’s a good question. He did say God talked about me. Isn’t that a laugh?”
    “How many of those have you had, Gabriel?”
    Gabriel watched him counting the shells that littered the ground. “These aren’t all mine.” A moment later he realized they actually were.
    “I’ve never seen anyone have more than two before.”
    “I’m fine. So is Michael. Let’s talk about something else.” Saraquel began to glow brightly, and Gabriel squinted again. He wanted to touch him.
    “Gabriel, I know that Michael is your best friend.” Saraquel raised his hands as if backing off. “I am just telling you because Azrael and I have seen how Michael manipulates you into always following him, and we aren’t the only two who have noticed. I mean, he told you that God was talking to him about you. Wouldn’t God just come to you if there were something you needed to hear?”
    Gabriel stood up and put his hand on Saraquel’s glowing shoulder. He shook his head and the glow disappeared. “First of all, God does talk to me. Second, I know Michael better than anyone. Thanks for your concern, but Michael is not manipulating me.” He wasn’t so sure anymore after the comments Michael made about Arrayah, but Saraquel was the last one who needed that information.
    “We are just looking out for you and Michael.”
    “I’ll watch out. Thanks.”
    “No problem,” said Saraquel. “You know, Gabriel, I have always thought of you as the real leader of us seven archangels.”
    Gabriel smiled. Saraquel wasn’t so bad after all. “Well, thank you. I’m honored you say that, but I can’t say I agree with you. No one should ever follow someone like me.”
    “I disagree. In fact, I know another high angel that would disagree too.”
    Did he know Arrayah?
    Saraquel finally took a bite of the spiritapple and knelt beside him. “How would you like to be more than just an archangel?”
    “We would all love to be cherubs or seraphs, but it’s not going to happen. What high angel are you referring to?”
    “The highest angel. Lucifer thinks highly of you. He was asking me about the seven archangels. It seems as if he is choosing one for a very special project.”
    “Did you mention my name to Lucifer?”
    “I told him you were the one that brought all of us together. You get along well with everyone, and even Michael listens to you.”
    “What is the project?”
    “There is a revolution coming, Gabriel. A revolution of the minds of angels. The ranking system and orders of angels is going to change.”
    Gabriel’s stomach felt queasy. Had he heard right? Maybe the euphoria of fifteen spiritapples was turning into madness. Michael’s statement about his dream was too similar to Saraquel’s for comfort. He had to see God. He never saw God, but he would today. Maybe it was heightened boldness from the fruit, but he was going to march up those golden steps for answers, no matter what.
    “I have to go.”
    “Wait, I’m not finished. We have a place for you.”
    “We can finish this later.”
    “I need your support as a fellow archangel. I must please my new master.” Saraquel tried to hold Gabriel’s wing back. Gabriel ripped it out of his hand and spun to confront him.
    “Did you say new master?”
    “I just mean I need your support.”
    “Right. Yes, we are archangels. But don’t use that as the very manipulation you accuse Michael of. I have only one brother. Watch how you speak of him around me.”
    “I am sorry. But I’m not the only angel who feels he is trying to exalt himself. He could be in some major trouble if