Those eyes opened, locking with Gabriel’s. They were familiar and alien at the same time, still blue, though darker than earlier, more intense. More inviting.
“Will you join me?” Jaoel said in a pleading voice that was hoarser than usual, the sound of it raising goosebumps all over Gabriel’s neck.
The bird had been right in its fear, it seemed. Gabriel and Jaoel’s latest visit to the human realm had lasted longer than anticipated, depriving Jaoel of a few of the cleansing rituals meant to repair his injured soul. Three, if Gabriel’s count wasn’t wrong.
Had the damage started reverting?
“My body… it’sburning…” Jaoel rasped as if to confirm the latter, both of his hands reaching up and gripping Gabriel’s wrists hard enough to make him flinch. “It hurts, Gabriel.”
“Your wounds are flaring up. Perhaps we spent too long on Earth. I’ll call for the servants and have them prepare a cleansing bath.” Gabriel tried to shake the angel’s death grip off, but couldn’t. “Uriel will oversee it.”
“Not you?” Jaoel licked his lips, his breaths shallow.
“No. I have matters to attend to.” Gabriel forced a thought unto one bird to relay his instructions for the cleansing, this yet another application these creatures had here in Heaven.
“Don’t go,” Jaoel whined, tightening his grip.
“Jaoel, let go,” Gabriel ground out, an order more so than a request.
The angel squeezed harder. “Stay.”
Gabrielhad heard rumors of it, but this was the first time he was witnessing what demon corruption could do to a heavenly being. How it could weave its way through the soul and defile it. He’d overestimated the injury’s severity it seemed, the toll even one missed treatment could have on Jaoel.
He wouldn’t do it again.
“Fine,” Gabriel clipped, stepping in closer.
Jaoel relaxed, just enough so that Gabriel could move his hand, place it over Jaoel’s eyes and coax his mind into deep slumber.
“Gabriel, I told you not to strain him too far. He is weak, even if he might not look it,” Uriel chastised the moment he appeared with three servants. His aides moved Jaoel’s slouched body onto a feathery stretcher and carried him away.
“He is not to miss any cleansings from now on,” Gabriel instructed the other Archangel.
“Should I send him down to you when he wakes up?”
“No. Let him rest.”
Uriel crossed his arms, stretching the material of his white robe. “Are you not in the middle of training him for his new position?” His hair was a reddish blond and he was twice Gabriel’s size, a behemoth compared to most angels.
“Agent initiation falls outside of that,” Gabriel elaborated, taking out the unblessed cross. “I am to recruit a new one for our Lord.”
“Oh? We haven’t had that happen in quite a while. They must be quite accomplished.”
Gabriel massaged his wrist, staring in the direction where the three aides had gone. “They have been helping the Cardinal for a long time.” He eyed Uriel, who was looking at Gabriel’s hand, likely wondering about the redmarks marring his pale skin. “More hands-on than him, too. I have high expectations.”
“Then I hope they don’t disappoint you,” Uriel said, not bothering with parting words as he started toward the healing pools to oversee Jaoel’s treatment.
Gabriel stood by the fountain and watched the other Archangel, then the skies with the birds, and then he headed toward the Blessed Woods so the cross necklace could find its power.
30
The great bone doors to Lucifer’s chambers opened and Barbatos walked in, his eyes landing on Belial first.
Belial found it unsurprising, expected even, shooting his apprentice an ear-wide grin. Barbatos frowned, but it was hard to say whether it was because of the greeting or because Belial was perched atop the Demon King’s ivory desk, swinging his legs like a bored kid. Right next to the strange jar with the severed head.The trophy itself could be yet another reason for that distasteful scowl too, since the image of Belial’s very much alive and intact body sitting next tothatwas certainly quite the disturbing kind of contrast.
Typically.
There was a third option thrown in the mix as well, one that Belial would bet souls was the reason behind Barbatos’ flustered state. After all, the last time Barbatos had visited the demon realm, Belial had been away, running an errand for Lucifer.
