No One's POV
Erin and Gabriel sat together in the private courtyard garden attached to the room Cassiel, Michael, and Lucifer once shared, talking and laughing; among the things Gabriel and Erin talked about were the memories Erin had of Heaven and the Archangels.
It seemed being in Heaven and even more so in the Holy City, that the memories of Cassiel had only become more real to Erin, no longer just shadows that flickered in the depths of Erin's soul or mind, but rather they were becoming more tangible and whole, settling in as a part of Erin.
It was nice, Erin reflected, she didn't feel like she was changing into someone different, or like Cassiel was taking over. Rather, it was a feeling of coming home, or finding a piece or a part of her that she hadn't realize she had missed, it was peaceful and joyful.
Then again, Erin always enjoyed her time spent with Gabriel no matter what they talked about.
Gabriel also had Erin meet Aasim, his tiger who he had taken from Heaven when he had left all those years ago and had helped watch over Erin for years. He finally felt like Erin knew all of him.
Meanwhile, as Erin and Gabriel chatted of fonder times and laughed together, Michael and Lucifer stood before the gathered Heavenly Host.
"Archangel Raphael's betrayal and death may come as a shock to many of you who do not share the same history and reminders of millenniums before, but I see it as closure and understanding for Heaven, for a horror never fully put in the past. We have much to look forward to with the return of my brothers, Archangel Lucifer and Archangel Gabriel, and a new beginning awaits us-" Michael speaks when suddenly a blast rocks the southwestern walls of the main citadel.
Having been previously preoccupied with thoughts about Erin when the Host had gathered before them, Michael had not notice that several of Raphael's garrisons were not present, and Lucifer, having been absent in Heaven for so long did not know the current numbers of the Heavenly Host.
Michael halted his speech, immediately looking the direction of the blast. It was the direction of the personal Heavens.
Irrational panic threatened to consume Michael. What if Erin had still been there? Michael didn't want to think about it. It was the exact reason he and Lucifer had moved her.
The sooner he and his brother could bond Erin's soul to their grace the better. She would forever be connected to them, and they were much more difficult to kill than her fragile soul. And then, once they could return her soul to her body on Earth the easier it would be to hide her among the billions of humans their Father had created.
"Lieutenant Genesis-" Michael begins to command, his voice basically a bark. "Take a flight squadron to the-"
The doors to the Great Hall blast open, effectively drowning out Michael's command and focus.
Michael and Lucifer both bristle, preparing to meet whoever was leading the charge and annihilate them.
"Metatron." Lucifer snarls, spotting the annoying little scribe.
"Hello there!" Metatron announces with a flourish, looking irritatingly gleeful.
As if things could get any worse.
"What do you want, Metatron?" Michael growls, as the current assembled Heavenly Host give Metatron a wide berth, too stunned to really react and awaiting Michael's command. "What do you possibly hope to accomplish? You are here, in front of all of the Host. And you are no match for me or Lucifer."
"I want quite a bit actually. I heard something quite interesting recently. You found your mate, Erin Cartworth was it? Father made Cassiel human, I mean it took a few millenniums. Didn't her soul just enter Heaven? You know, as Father's scribe I'm in charge of the books. I thought I'd seen her name in there." Metatron taunts.
"I'll flail you! I will slice off your non-existent wings and toss you in Hell myself! You don't touch her!" Lucifer growls, feeling irrationally hysterical at Metatron's threat towards his mate, already advancing threateningly, his blade humming to life in his hand.
"Still Raphael's bitch, I see." Michael retorts dryly, giving his brother a warning look; Metatron, ever since his demotion, had a close bond with Raphael, and apparently decided to follow in Raphael's footsteps.
Metatron was looking dangerously deranged, and honestly Michael was worried, more than worried.
"Archangel Raphael is dead now thanks to you. So I've declared myself the new Commander over his garrisons." Metatron announces.
Michael was wrong, things had just gotten worse.
"And you think they'll follow you?" Lucifer snorts.
"They already have. That little explosion you heard earlier? Did you think that was just for show?" Metatron snorts.
"Lieutenant Genesis." Michael snaps out, Lieutenant Genesis already complying with his command without his need to actually ask, a flight squadron immediately exiting the Great Hall.
"This will be your one chance, Metatron. Comply and face judgement or deal with the consequences." Michael offers.
"Let me think about it for a second. I think I'll take my chances." Metatron snarks.
And honestly, Lucifer thought Gabriel's snark was bad enough. This little shit.
"I'm okay with that." Lucifer growls, lunging at Metatron.
But before Lucifer could strike a flash of blinding light surrounds Metatron, shielding Metatron and throwing Lucifer while teleporting Metatron away.
"Brother are you-"
"I'm fine." Lucifer snarls, thoroughly pissed off at the smaller Seraph.
There was little time to take fully register what had happened, though both Lucifer and Michael acknowledged the full gravity of what Metatron had done or rather what had given him the power to escape Lucifer's attack; he had collected souls, Heaven's pure souls, bastardized them to gain power, a high crime in Heaven's laws, set by Father himself.
For though Metatron may have left, disappearing in a flash of cowardice, amidst another reeling stunned silence in the Great Hall a garrison of Raphael's loyalist would attack.
A Civil War had begun.
Edited 2/18/19
