Chapter 4: Appolyon's new nemesis
A few months later… On a sunny June afternoon, two months before school was scheduled to end for the year.
"Hey hey! Hear the news?!" Whispered one girl to another excitedly, despite the dreary weather.
"What what? Is it about that new guy? I heard Mrs. Micah talking about him" whispered the girl back to her friend with equal excitement.
"So what do you think? Maybe he'll notice us instead of Seraphina" whispered the girls as they glared daggers at Seraphina, who was chatting amiably to Appolyon, giggling silently.
It had only been at 3 to 4 months since Tariel, Anpiel and Dalquiel had quit school, leaving only Uriel in their stead. But he himself seemed to be acting strange, as if he were waiting for someone to come.
Under these circumstances, Seraphina and Appolyon had grown closer and closer together until people no longer questioned the fact that they were a couple. While everyone was chattering excitedly about each others plans for the coming holidays, they were just happy to be idly by each other's sides, enjoying the sensation of being in love.
"Hellooooo everyone!" Sang Mrs. Micah as she danced into the room, "Please take your seats. We have a new student today, as you all know. His name is Michael. Michael Metatron Miniel Onch." She waved for the new boy to step forward, and was rewarded with a gasp from everyone in the room (mostly girls, of course).
"Hi guys, I'm Michael Metatron Muriel Och. I'm from Ohio. You can call me Michael if you like." He smiled a radiant smile, flashing teeth as white as the dewy feathers of an angel. His honey blond hair was long and wavy, eyes the colour of violets, the exact shade of Seraphina's eyes. "let's all get along, ok?" he glanced quickly at Seraphina, and was shocked to see that she wasn't even paying attention to him. The room grew silent as Seraphina realised that he was looking at her.
"Um… Hi?" Asked Seraphina mildly. As if not at all embarrassed by the fact a BOY had been staring at her, and she had not noticed. "I'm Seraphina. The class president. I will gladly help out with any questions you may have." She gave a tiny bow, and turned away, but not before Michael grabbed her arm, and the classroom exploded around her in a flash of gold light. "Ahhhhhhh", she cried as her mind twirled like the milky way.
"I wasn't sure, but have you seriously forgotten who I am?" said a voice far away. She looked around. A beautiful meadow full of fragrant violets and pomegranate trees, delicious smells of juniper and cinnamon floated amongst the most perfectly fluffy clouds. "Where are you looking? I'm right here." She turned around, and saw Michael standing at the base of a lovely Greek- styled fountain.
"That's the fountain of the Archangel Gabriel!" Seraphina cried, revelling in the beauty of one of the two sculptures that had caught her eye in her trip to Rome with her classmates a few years back.
"Indeed. This is a sacred fountain to our family." Murmured Michael. He started walking towards her, and when he was only a few meters away, he concentrated and spread great silvery wings the size of boat sails.
"Wha… WHAT THE HECK!" Screamed Seraphina, as realisation dawned on her face. "Where are we? Who are you" as she pointed towards him, her fingers shaking uncontrollably.
"I told you. We are family, however distant." He sighed, and resumed the form he had before the wings. "I told you. My name is Michael Metatron Muriel Och. My father's line comes from the line of Michael, the archangel, hence my name being Michael." He looked at her face and chuckled. "Don't be surprised. You are also a descend, but a very unusual one. Your father's line is from Gabriel, the archangel, and your mother's line is from the filthy demoness Gomory" he spat. It was a moment before he realised Seraphina was silent.
"You have to be kidding me. Me? I'm just a normal girl. Not some angle- demon hybrid." She scoffed, tossing her hair. Turning to leave, before Michael grabbed her arm again.
"You can scoff all you like, but just try. Right now, I can sense that you have the ability to at least show your wings. Try it. If it doesn't work, I'll leave you alone." He looked at her earnestly. His purple eyes excited. Seraphina looked way, defeated, and concentrated. She pulled deep into her soul, and in a flash of light, an explosive light burst from her back.
"Oh… Oh my goodness… They are beautiful!" She exclaimed, brushing the dewy white and silver feathers sprouting from her right side, and stroking the black- gold feathers on her left.
"I told you so. And now, I will deliver the mandate issued by the Lord himse…"
"By the Lord, you mean God, right? What does he want me to do? Choose to become all heaven? He does know I'm not a believer right?"
"Um… yeah, he does. and yes, exactly. He says you have until next year to make your choice. Being a hybrid means you have the ability to become either one whilst in your situation, that meaning you can use the powers that both angel and demon can use, but once you choose… well… it'll be one or the other." He turned away, then hesitated. "I hope to see you with the heavenly host soon, my sister." He winked, and the garden vanished. He took his hand from her wrist and went towards the crowd of adoring girls, back in the classroom.
"What just happened!? You just blanked out for like a second!" Asked Appolyon urgently, stroking the place where Michael had grabbed her.
"It was… you wouldn't believe it if I told you…" she whispered. Looking at him now seemed slightly different. She could see a dark… thing surrounding him. Not exactly solid, nor was it gaseous. Perhaps it was what people called an… aura? Just as she was about to open her mouth, Mrs. Micah sang
"let's get started class. Get out your Geometry textbooks! We're doing practice questions 1-6. To be handed in before class ends!" Everyone groaned, but got out their textbooks anyways and began to work.
Three amazingly (surprise surprise) boring hours later came the least boring part of the day. Lunchtime!
"Hey, Michael! MICHAEL" Shouted Seraphina, elbowing her way through the crowd. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" looking back, she saw Appolyon giving her a puzzled look. "I'll see you in five at the Oak?" she tilted her head, and upon seeing his small nod, turned towards Michael.
"What's up, hybrid? Looking for angelic advice?" smirked Michael mockingly.
"Nope. Just a question. Why can I suddenly see colours floating around people?" she looked genuinely puzzled, like the fact was driving her mad.
"Well duh. That's an aura. All angelic and… demonic beings can see them." He scoffed, and headed off, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Oh…" she sighed. Michael is such a biggot, she thought, as she walked towards the Oak tree and Appolyon's embrace.