Excerpt: This Kingdom Come

Andreas had left Raphael with Metatron early that morning. It wasn’t something that he had wanted to do, but it was necessary. He knew full well that it was his duty to take care or Raphael. Gabriel would understand though. He did not doubt it in the least. He just could not say though that he particularly looked forward to the time when he would have to inform his superior of his wayward actions. Andreas was no fool after all, he knew well that it was not considered right to abandon one’s duties. It never had been. It never would be. But there were things that he desired answers to. The only way to gain such answers was to return to Heaven. The first thing he had had to do was have Raphael and Metatron seal the human shell he inhabited so that it would not wither while he was forced to leave it. He would, after all, need the shell again when he returned to Earth. The humans knew this form and so it was essential that he return to it.

There was no way to describe Heaven. Humans had been trying to for centuries and there was no way to put into words what it was. Andreas would never consider trying to either. Instead, he accepted it for what it was. At the moment though, only one area concerned him. It was the chamber that he stood outside of. His arrival had been announced some time before and he had been waiting every since to be granted entrance. Instance that had not been allowed at the moment. Andreas stood with his hands clasped behind his back and his back stiff. If he had been a soldier, he would have been considered as standing at attention. There was a difference between the human soldiers and himself though. The biggest difference being that while human soldiers had a weapon or a uniform, such a thing was not required for Andreas. Instead, he stood wearing a white robe that marked his current status as a guardian. His six wings were various shades of gray with a golden sheen. It was his wings that distinguished him as a cherub. Each of the five classes of angels had different sets of wings that, no matter what robe they wore, showed them for what they were. One could never hide their identity in that matter.

He was growing impatient. It was odd to say that he would grow impatient. That wasn’t something that was in his nature. He was a warrior. Patience was essential for who and what he was. Yet he felt it now. He felt the extreme urge to barge through the doors before him and demand the questions that he had come to ask. It wasn’t like him. He was not a human. He should not be feeling or thinking such things. He was to, at all times, be a model of a warrior and a cherub. Always calm and collected, ready for whatever was before him. It didn’t seem to be that case now. It was only his usual caution that made him hesitate. He wasn’t human. He was a cherub. He had to prove that, apparently to himself. It was not a comforting thought.

Andreas eyed the door. What were they saying? Could it have to do with him? Had they forgotten him in their need for what they would consider more urgent business? Did he care if their business really was more important or not? It was all very aggravating. That thought caught him off guard. Since when did he knew of the emotions of humans? He could not feel them and yet…how else did he explain his thoughts now. It was not a thing that pleased him.

His patience left him. He didn’t even realize that it was gone. Instead, he acted as any warrior would in such a case. He moved forward and pushed open the doors to the Chamber of the Council of the Archangels. Few of the Archangels were actually in attendance. After all, two of them were on Earth even at that moment. “Metatron will just tell him when he falls. Aindréas is in the most danger of us all and he needs to know,” Uriel urged.

Azrael was looking directly at him smirking. Even in Heaven, she took her currently preferred form: a preppy teenage girl. Her sister, Raziel, sat next to her oblivious to the arguments around her as always. That didn’t surprise him in the least. It was the fact that the others did not seem to notice his presence that was surprising. Even more so than his odd actions. He had never seen any of the Archangels argue and though they had not raised their voices, they were indeed arguing. It could be mistaken for nothing else. Of that he was certain.

“God has forbid it. Would you Fall only to tell him? Even when you would obtain redemption, well you know that you would never be the same. It cannot be. He must remember. God has decreed it and who are we to desire to abstain for him rule?”

The other archangels inclined their heads in agreement. They knew they could not speak what they desired to. “Still,” Chamuel said looking distant. “It would be much easier if he would just remember who he was. That-”

“You wished to speak with us Aindréas?” Gabriel cut off his brother as his eyes turned to Andreas.