Free War of Wings Page B

he keeps it up.”
    Gabriel looked through Saraquel’s strong, dark eyes. He wasn’t backing down the way he used to. The entire experience felt surreal. “You should go now.”
    “All right, Gabriel.”
    Saraquel drifted away, but Gabriel’s discomfort lingered. Saraquel was troubled and acting strangely. What was going on in Heaven? Gabriel picked himself up and waited a few minutes for his head to clear a bit. Then he flew up the twelve layers of the Great Mountain.
    He entered the pearl gates on the southwest side, and one of the dominions opened the gates for him. Once near the ramp, he slowed to a walk. He passed all the way up and crossed over the bridge above the River of Life. Then he began the long journey up the staircase. He thought about how inconvenient accessing God was. He was right to never visit Him. After all, when had God ever cared about Gabriel? Maybe it was the lingering effects of the fruit, but it was difficult to focus his thoughts, and they seemed bold and daring, even to him. He eventually got to the thrones, who greeted him less pleasantly than he would have imagined.
    “I’m sorry, but you can go no further,” said Kaldeczar. He was the leader of the thrones and was decorated accordingly. He wore a tall hat decadent with jewels and boasted golden armor. He looked way too tense.
    This only added to Gabriel’s disquiet. Why was the leader of the thrones on staircase duty? “I would like to speak with God.”
    “I regret to inform you that that is not possible. He will see no one right now, not even the seraphim.” Kaldeczar stood firmly and without expression in front of Gabriel, as if using his body language to suggest Gabriel would have to go through him physically.
    Gabriel was unimpressed. “Why? What is happening?”
    “I have told you everything we know. Maybe He is busy with something we don’t know about yet or don’t need to know about at all.”
    “That is absurd. I need to see God, and I think I have a little idea of what is going on. Michael the archangel said He spoke of me. Do you know Michael? Is he up here?”
    “I do not know Michael, and I haven’t seen an archangel up here in a while. I’m sorry, but I will not let you pass.”
    “Please get out of my way.”
    “No.” Although Kaldeczar was much shorter, he moved squarely in front of Gabriel and tensed up as if ready to strike.
    Gabriel didn’t have time for this. “Move, tiny angel!”
    “How dare you?” Kaldeczar drew his golden blade.
    “I am going to see God, so put that little stick away before I take it from you.”
    “I dare you to try!”
    “I don’t have to try anything!” A group of thrones began to encircle them. Gabriel wasn’t intimidated, but in the back of his mind he knew Michael would hear about this. Michael heard about everything.
    When Gabriel refused to budge, Kaldezcar attempted to drive him backward with a swing of his sword. As soon as the throne attacked, Gabriel dodged the blow and stepped quickly in, grabbing Kaldezcar by his armpits. Before he could attack again, Gabriel lifted him up and launched him into three other thrones standing to the side. His sword went flying. Gabriel prepared to be swarmed by angry thrones, but they allowed Kaldezcar to rise and have the first go. He drew a dagger and charged, and Gabriel blocked a blow with his forearm guard just before he heard a new voice. It was exactly the voice he didn’t want to hear during another fiasco like this. At least this time it wasn’t his name being yelled.
    “Kaldezcar!” A virtue came running over from the other side of the platform. It was Arrayah. “Stop it, both of you.” She was beneath the thrones in rank, but her voice could command any angel. Kaldezcar backed down, his head lowering in embarrassment.
    Arrayah turned to Gabriel. “What are you doing here?”
    Kaldezcar grunted. “You know this angel? He is trying to defy the hierarchs and barge in to God’s throne.”
    “Yes, I know him.