They were escorted right into the Council Chambers. All of the Council members were in attendance, as were all the other Arch Angels- even Azrael. This would be no ordinary meeting.
Michael and Gabriel sat on their high thrones, their eyes slitted in disdain. Sitting below them on their own thrones, sat a confused looking Raphael, a resigned looking Azrael and a smirking Ariel. But then she was always smirking.
Uriel was the first to speak; he was incredibly annoyed. “What is the meaning of this? This morning the Council ordained Sariel’s trip into the Citadel as a means to snap her out of her current state. She has spent the whole day learning about her own culture which she is shockingly ignorant about.”
“The Council has changed its decision, Arch Angel Uriel, and you will comply with the majority. Sariel is not to leave the Palace under any condition. She is very academically minded; the library will provide her with all the knowledge she needs about her culture without the stress visiting the Citadel induces in her.” Gabriel’s imperial tone brokered no argument.”
But Uriel pressed on. “Stressed? Sariel was delighted by the Citadel. She mingled with the people and showed a remarkable level of concern for all the Angels. She has displayed a mature and conscientious mind that should be nourished not stifled. She is an Arch Angel and should be seen by the people. What kind of Arch Angel is confined to the Palace?”
Sariel was still trying to grasp what they meant about her condition and stress when she heard him say that. She along with everyone else in the room took a sharp intake of breath. Gabriel was not one to be spoken to that way unless you wanted to be all but banished.
But it was Michael that spoke while his wife’s eyes bored into Uriel. Sariel was surprised he didn’t spontaneously combust under that glare.
“The Council’s decision is final. You have been over-ruled. Sariel’s health is of the utmost, we cannot waste her potential by having her distressed in such a manner. She will not leave the palace without my permission. I am her Guardian, and the Council agrees with me. We cannot risk her.”
Uriel’s shoulders had slumped, but he wasn’t quite done “What does she need a guardian for? She’s 1800 years old, you’re only 700 years older than her. You were younger than her when you served in the Armies of the Gods and when you fought to overthrow them. The world is different, she is at no risk.”
Gabriel interjected, “Maybe if you thought with your head instead of your cock you might see what the rest of the Council sees, Uriel. Sariel is a fragile young girl in dire need of protection. She has so much potential, we cannot risk her!” Her scathing yell tore the last defence he had. He had nothing else to say in Sariel’s defence, but it was the most anyone had ever said.
She looked up at them all, studying each of the Council members. Old fools that had survived the War but were too scared to live. Instead, they hid behind the Arch Angels’ shadows. They had all condemned her to a life of imprisonment, it didn’t matter that it was in a palace. It was still only an ornate prison. It was so unfair of them to lock her up like this.
“If I may speak?” she asked.
“Denied! Escort her to her rooms, the Council has more important matters to attend to.”
Peter and his crew instantly fell instep around her, ready to lead her away when Azrael stood up, instantly drawing all eyes to him.
“I will escort her.”
No one argued as he descended the steps and approached her. He didn’t seem to walk so much as glide, and soundlessly. People shied away from him or averted their gaze. She saw flashes of pity directed at her as he escorted her out of the room.
After the doors had boomed shut behind them, the only sound was her sandals hitting the floor as she walked. Despite him wearing a long black cowl, there was no noise, no swishing, no footsteps. Nothing.
They walked in silence, it continued to draw out until Sariel had to speak.
“Uncle, why do so many people seem scared of you?”
“Because they are scared of me.”
When he didn’t add any more, she asked, “But why are they scared of you?”
His gaze flicked towards her then back to straight ahead.
“Even Immortals are scared of Death. Mortals have always feared it, though there are some who embrace it. Immortals may not be susceptible to the ravages of old age or disease, but we are not endless. Divine can kill Divine.
Death is always feared in some way or viewed with suspicion. Those who deal with it are feared as well.”
“But Michael and I are Angels of Death too, why do they not shy away from us?”
Azrael shook his head gently. “Michael does not embrace his power, it is but one of his gifts he uses as he needs them. He is the Flaming Warrior, one of the heroes of the War. He rarely reaps or guides the dead on their way. As for you, Sariel, you have been stripped of your potential. Denied your birthright and your right to be an adult.”
What did he mean by that? Stripped of her potential did not sound like being born with very little powers. Had something happened to her as a child?
“Of the Elder Angels, only your father understood what it was like to be feared for being who you are. But he was different from me, he thrived and challenged himself. He became feared for reasons other than being a son of Death.”
A son of Death? That sound familiar and yet the Angels never said it. It seemed an odd turn of phrase, almost like he hadn’t used it in a long time. Was it a term the Gods had used? Wait, her father had been feared? For things other than being an Angel of Death. What had he done?
“What reasons were those?” she asked.
He said nothing, seeming to ignore her question. She knew better than to press him, he would say what he wanted only when he wanted to. Not even Gabriel or Michael pressed him, nor did the Council. He was the most autonomous of all the Angel Factions. He dealt with death, he had his own Angels to assist, and that was that. Now that she thought about it perhaps fear had allowed him his independence.
He surprised her, however, once they were back at her rooms.
“There were many reasons why Samael was feared. His powers rivalled the Gods, he was a Son of Death, he had a cunning intelligence, was a brilliant general, a friend to many Monsters and Demons, mortals and immortals alike revered him, feared him, wanted him, wanted to be him. He was a law into himself, but he met his match in your mother.”
“They were both feared?” Why had she never been told any of this before?
“Yes, they both were, still are. Even mortals still fear and revere them. And they had two powerful Angelic Children, each with a unique combination of their powers.” He paused. “Michael and Gabriel are powerful Angels in their own right, but their powers exceed that granted to them by faith.”
He snatched her hand into his own, his were glowing black but what surprised her more was that hers had started to glow brown, no not just brown, there was a whole kaleidoscope of colours, mixing and flaring.
“Just as I thought, your powers are not minuscule at all. Whoever heard of a powerless Divine, and with your parents? The sins of our family only continue to grow, but against an innocent…” he trailed off lost in some memory.
He snapped back almost instantly, his eyes turning black. “Once I leave this room it will be magically locked. There is, however, an escape route through the secret tunnels. You need to escape, Sariel, run away as fast as you can.”
She stared at him as he left, too stunned to react. By the time she jerked forward after him, her door was covered in a black shield. She walked out onto the balcony, sure enough, she could see a black tinge to the air, but there was also the blue and pink of other Angels. She had been sealed in by the whole Council.
Sariel ran to her closet, closing the doors behind her. She pushed through her clothes, using her still glowing hand to find the catch in the panel.
It slid open to reveal the unblocked passage behind. She smiled in satisfaction before running down the corridor.
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