Chapter 1
The meeting was to commence promptly, when the sun touched the earth in farewell to make way for the coolness of evening. The fading sunlight painted the sky varying shades of orange, red, and yellow and highlighted the archangels' wings as they touched down. Gabriel was first to arrive, which made sense seeing as he was the most obedient and disciplined of the Seven. His black-gray wings flared to slow his descent; he touched down in front of the council room and then walked through the door-sized opening, sparing no look around to the other approaching shadows. Next Raphael came on wings of the softest white feathers. Uriel followed with russet wings shot through with the orange-red shade of flames, her feathers seemed to glow in the sunset. Suryan and Jophiel arrived at the same time, touching down and releasing hands as they did so. Their wings brushed together for a moment—a flash of deep chocolate brown and vibrant gold-yellow respectively—before they too walked through their own seats of the council room. The five archangels glanced at the two empty seats between Gabriel and Uriel and then looked to each other.
Uriel was the first to break the silence. Her voice ringing with wisdom and a small amount of exasperation, "Michael and Camiel are always the last to arrive." Raphael nodded his head in agreement. His green eyes bright with intelligence, "One might almost wonder what it is they are doing alone with each other all the time." A brilliant Light flashed brightly before dissipating—a warning to His Archangels.
Raphael stopped nodding the instant Uriel spoke her second sentence and his white wings twitched and then were still, "Uriel, as you embody the wisdom to my knowledge I would have thought you would know better."
Uriel arched an eyebrow in reply; her gray eyes calm, "Do we not all suspect it? I am not in the wrong if I'm voicing everyone's opinions."
Suryan moved to speak but was beaten by Jophiel whose wings ruffled slightly in agitation but remained soft as dove's feathers. It was only in fights that their wings grew hard and sharp to protect them from harm. She spoke quietly, "Uriel, you know that Michael will do nothing that breaks honor with anyone. Camiel is nearly as stalwart in any relationship she has. He holds honor above all else and she, love. What you are suggesting is out of the question and does both of them great dishonor. You know they would not do what you are suggesting. Camiel, the archangel of love if you've forgotten, could never enter into any relationship without the strong ties that she alone is able to sense between the souls. Michael would not enter into a relationship that brought into question the purity of one of his own. She is his second in command in all but title. They are companions, nothing more." She heaved a sigh at the end of her long winded speech but refused to move her hazel gaze from Uriel.
Eventually the older angel looked away while flipping blonde hair behind her shoulders, "You are right of course. I meant no disrespect."
Suryan spoke next—his voice placating his peers, as that was his job—and his dark brown eyes met all of the gathered archangels, "We know you didn't, Uriel. To be fair, it would be the epitome of blindness for us to assume that nothing will happen though. I believe they are soul mates, but of course only Camiel and Father will know for sure when the time comes." The others nodded.
Gabriel spoke now, "Not the epitome, brother. That has already happened." He pointed to a tapestry that was the only decoration in the marble council room apart from the mahogany table and chairs. It showed gray storm clouds and lightning flashing. A single Bright star fell from the clouds, where small angels were pictured, one with blue-black wings outspread and holding a shining sword aloft shadowed by a figure with emerald wings folded while she held a shining dagger, emphasized with silver light surrounding them as they stood on the clouds watching the Fall of one of their own—Lucifer. The Five sobered instantly.
Way up above the small council room a female archangel was pacing the marble veranda; her jade green eyes troubled, her brown hair cascading down her back, her dark emerald wings folded to her back, the ends just sweeping the floor. A male stood leaning against a pillar his blue-black wings also folded neatly. Camiel stopped her pacing, "We'll have to go, Michael. We can argue for mercy towards the humans." Her eyes moved to meet those of her greatest friend and companion—the leader of the Cadre.
Michael's blue eyes were a sea of emotion, but only to those who knew him well. Camiel counted herself as one of those few. To any other angel or seraphim, Michael betrayed no emotion; his face was always filled with a calm acceptance: no matter the situation. That was why he was General of His armies. Today though, his eyes were filled with resolve, Camiel saw it and strengthened her own resolve even as her heart plummeted in despair. "They will not see our way, will they Michael?"
"Camiel, you know the answer to that. The order has already been given; He wills it to be done. We can do nothing to stop it." Michael's voice was calm—a façade she was sure—and he gently reached out a hand. Camiel grasped it firmly and they both flared their wings.
Before stepping off into the abyss she turned to him, "I will argue my case anyway, I cannot sit by and do nothing while the order for the humans' destruction is decreed." Michael nodded his head; he had expected nothing less of Camiel. She, as archangel of love, understood more than the rest of the Cadre ever could at the ties that the humans had on their heavenly protectors. Camiel and he had been the first to bow down to His creation after all.
"When the time comes, I will do what needs to be done, Camiel."
"No, Michael, we will do it together."
The meeting seemed to drag on. As decreed they talked about what each of them were in charge of; Michael of the defenses of the mortals against sin and despair, Gabriel of the discipline and protection he had offered the humans, Raphael of healing, Uriel of wisdom, imparted, Jophiel of enlightenment reached, and Suryan of justice dealt. Camiel was lost in her thoughts as she listened to the others. All that they were talking about had connections in some way to humans. Couldn't they see that? For so long, their lives had revolved around loving, protecting, and guiding His most beloved creation. However, even she could admit that the meeting was dark indeed, her own responsibility over love for instance had very little hope in it—it seemed everything was dark and filled with shadows and hate down on earth. Looks could be deceiving though, Camiel thought.
"Camiel… Camiel, will you give your report?" Michael's soft voice brought her back out of her musings and she glanced at the Six around her.
"Of course I will, Michael. However, my report is much the same as all of yours. Very few humans have the true strength of a connection worked hard for; even fewer have found the cords needed to bind each other to the other in nothing but true love. The world seems dark."
Gabriel was first to nod, "His order will see to the change of that."
Camiel met her brother's eyes stubbornly, "Mercy is the answer, and they are simply lost. They need help, guidance, to find their way back onto the path."
Gabriel's wings clicked dangerously, "Do you question Him, Camiel, your own Father?"
She shook her head and her own wings rustled and clinked together in carefully contained outrage, "I question myself as you well know, Gabriel. Sisters, Brothers…don't do this. Hope is not completely lost for them, with the birth of the chi—"
A few of the gathered archangels' gasped at her presumption. Gabriel quickly cut her off, "That child will never be born, Camiel. There is no hope. There will be no change in the humans. That is final."
Camiel blinked back angry tears but then her feathers smoothed to softness again, she was surprised that the dark emotion had crept up on her. She glanced at Michael but then roved over the other gathered faces, "Their light isn't completely gone! This is wrong." She stood up violently from her chair which skidded back with a rough screech. She ignored the winces from those gathered and plowed on, "I can see the soul connections between everything. You all know this, Father gave me these gifts as He gave you all yours, I see the light still glowing." She looked pointedly between Suryan and Jophiel, they exchanged a glance.
Camiel now looked at Michael again. He met her eyes—a flash of blue and jade meeting in perfect harmony, "I love the humans. Our Father taught us to love them, even all their imperfections, because He loves them."
Gabriel spoke again his wings still clinking together with the overzealousness of his gestures, "You Camiel," He pointed at her savagely, "you attempt to beg for mercy for the humans by using our Father as a bargaining chip." She opened her mouth to reply, jade flashing dangerously, but Gabriel moved a hand to silence her. The rest of the Cadre was silent although Michael refused to glance away from Camiel. She met his eyes and he inclined his head a fraction and her face returned to being emotionless, "Even if that wasn't your intention, it is what it is, Camiel. You dare question His judgment? When has He gone wrong? Has He not always saved everyone from evil?" Now he pointed at the tapestry which stirred in the breeze.
Camiel stood silent as she perused the thread-bare tapestry telling one of their oldest stories. Michael and she were pictured there she knew. The pain of betrayal that Lucifer had speared deep into all their hearts was still fresh in her long memory. She saw his falling star shine and in an instant realized what must happen. Glancing at Michael she saw a similar understanding light his features.
Gabriel's face softened and he placed his hands on the table as he met Camiel's eyes. She bowed her head and returned to her seat her emerald wings once again resting along her back. Gabriel allowed his own wings to lose their sharpness. One gray-black feather floated to the ground, "We are all called to obedience, Camiel. The order has been given. Michael and you were set the task; the rest of the Seven will gather the forces needed." Camiel bowed her head, seemingly in defeat and acceptance, and the others all relaxed. It was so rare for there to be disputes within the Seven. Their strength was in each other.
"I understand, Gabriel. If that is all I believe I will go and…prepare." Camiel spoke quietly and at Gabriel's nod (for he had seemingly taken control of this meeting) she rose and walked through the window door. Her emerald wings spread, hard to see against the now fallen darkness, and then she once again stepped into nothingness before reappearing circling the Aerie and returning to her chambers. She laid down, her wings spread across the vast expanse of bed and thought to herself. She now had the beginnings of a plan. She would wait for the rest of the Seven to adjourn before she went to find Michael. Camiel sighed; her jade eyes troubled, there was hope for mankind after all, but she wasn't sure of how high the price would be that came with it.