Chapter 12

Revelations

Uriel's expression bade him to hold his tongue. He did, for now. Jillian introduced him to his sister, "Michael, this is my teacher, martial arts master, mentor, associate and dearest friend, Holy Priestess of Helena, Laurel. Holy Priestess, may I present the Archangel Michael." Michael crossed his hands behind his back, in a 'what the hell are you up to Uriel' kind of way but properly and courteously addressed her, " Holy Priestess Laurel, it is my distinct honor to make your acquaintance." So this is where you have been for the past 25 years, sister, he thought considering the implications of this information.

Uriel smiled reservedly and nodded her acknowledgement of his address, but in keeping with her Priestly station in service to the Divine Feminine, did not return his salutation. "Laurel was also my contact in Helena when I was at the Lab." Jillian continued. "Truly," Michael deadpanned with annoyed interest at the revelation while scrutinizing Uriel's every move.

He was not yet aware of her part in his salvation. He thought she had not responded to his summons. Now he thought she had not responded to help even at Jillian's request. He considered just waylaying her, but there could be house damage. He liked this house. Instead, he just glared at her with an expression that could melt empyrean steel.

Jillian thought she heard thunder… indoors. She glanced at Michael as it felt to her as though he were the source. The room fairly sizzled with ill will. Michael thought he guarded his thoughts in time. He had not.

"Sister!" Jillian exclaimed rising from her chair.

"Damn," Uriel said. "Really, Michael? That's the best you could manage?" Uriel spit her words at him.

"At least I manage to make a timely appearance when summoned," Michael jabbed.

"Please, one of you tell me something pertinent now or heads will roll," Jillian, threatened.

The sibling archangels glared at each other. First to look away lost and had to tell the telling. Uriel began, "Jillian, my dear, I am the Archangel Uriel, Michael's sister."

"I thought you looked familiar when you healed Michael and returned his life," Jillian admitted .

"What!" exclaimed Michael.

"Thank you for your help. Thank you for your gifts," Jillian said to Uriel, punctuating each gratitude with a kiss to each of Uriel's glowing cheeks.

"You came? You were present at… my death?" Michael asked his sister.

"She was, Michael and your brother, Gabriel. He was bereft to see you in death," Jillian told him. Michael was surprised and pleased and needed to know more. "Tell me all of it," Michael requested of her.

Jillian had not told him of that day's events. He had not asked. He needed time. She needed time. Now, it was time. She told him everything that transpired. Uriel confirmed it. Michael walked to his sister and embraced her. "Thank you, sister. I am indebted to you. I believed you hadn't come to my request." He turned from her, crossed his hands behind him and thoughtfully admitted, "And I was certain Gabriel had ordered my capture. Apparently Furiad acted alone." Michael wheeled to face Uriel and said with fuming intensity, "He must be held accountable. "

"I have it on good authority that Gabriel is handling that," Uriel reported. She thought back on her visit to Gabriel's aerie. Gabriel wanted to kill them all. Furiad, the rebellious high guard who had followed him in the assault on his brother, but Uriel convinced him to reconsider.

Since Furiad had not killed Michael with his own hands, Gabriel would not execute him. Instead he imprisoned the errant angel indefinitely, in a stone cell deep inside the mountain …where he could only stand facing one direction…in the dark. Gabriel wanted him to feel something similar to his experience at losing Michael…until, Gabriel had said, "I get bored of hearing Furiad beg for his freedom and he pledged on pain of slow, painful death to serve truly."

The entire High Guard that followed Furiad had their wings publically clipped and so could not fly again and had to serve doing menial duties until Gabriel could be assured they no longer followed Furiad. Uriel thought that was well done by her brother.

"And," Uriel added with genuine admiration, "congratulations on receiving your redemption, Michael. You are to be commended for persevering." She touched his face and bowed her head in a quick moment of loving respect.

Michael slightly raised his chin a bit surprised at her compliment then considering how to respond and thinking there was no verbal response suitable, he gave a nod of acceptance. Then was caught in a retrospective which shown in the seriously contemplative expression the exchange left him wearing momentarily. "And now sister, tell us of your Priestly avocation. How did you come to be in Helena these many years," asked Michael?

"She is why," said Uriel indicating Jillian. Now Uriel would complete the telling she had begun. "Father called to me one day, long before he left, and said, when it was time that I was to teach her and watch over her and one day set her in place at a facility called Simonfeld, Madison, Huddle. It would be universally and personally important. So it was.

Jillian has many gifts which Father provided, as you are well aware, brother...and some of which you are not." Turning now to the other woman in the room, Uriel said, "It has been a pleasure to teach you, to know you, to call you friend, Jillian. Father would be very pleased with you, as am I."

"But I didn't save him. I didn't keep him from dying. "Said Jillian. " I don't think I did much at all."

Uriel said, "You weren't there to stop his death. You were there for all of the other things. To remind him out of his darkness how special Father's children can be, to be an island of comfort for him, to alert me when his time was at hand, to be able to survive Gabriel's reaction as he faced the consequences of his wasteful war, to be all that you are in this epic of Father's." Michael let this settle on his mind. Looking at Jillian, he said with wonder, "Father brought you forth …for my sake."

"For your sake, for all of us. Father is… well, He is…Father," Uriel stated with love, respect and awe. She smiled at Michael, then at Jillian and left.