You get two chapters today because they're both short. I'm going to do my best to stick with a MWF update schedule until the whole thing is posted. There are 59 chapters and 5 interludes in total! I may put the interludes up on off-update days, as special treats. I think the interludes are my favorite bits!

ENTER THE MESSENGER

The Axis Mundi ran through Heaven, simultaneously a straight road and a complicated knot, connecting every section of the celestial realm to the center: the Garden. Gabriel leapt from Earth, through the Borderlands ringing the different planes, to his tower before winging his way along the road toward the center. It was impossible to get lost on the Axis Mundi. All paths led to the middle.

The Garden varied appearance based on necessity. Most of the time, it was a garden, a place of peace and tranquility. Sometimes it was a massive throne room, made from gleaming stone with polished thrones for God and His Archangels. Once, Gabriel visited the Garden and found it as a weird jungle of metal and lights, with screaming noises that could only nominally be called music, huge serpents roaring above on metal tracks. God had been present that time, and Gabriel had fled before his Father approached.

God's presence infused the Garden, but their Father Himself was rarely actually present. All angels visited to feel His love up close, but only the four Archangels actually experienced His direct voice. Gabriel had never felt his Father without the filter of Michael and Sammael's wings in front of him. All his grace was vibrating around his spirit as he landed in front of the Garden's gate. Through the delicately wrought iron, Gabriel could see a world of life and light. The Garden was a garden today. Gabriel pulled his wings up, tucking them neatly behind his back, and pushed the gates open. Today, he would meet his Father alone. He prayed he did not embarrass himself, and then prayed an apology for the prayer, since all prayers were heard by God.

Laughter echoed through the Garden, making Gabriel's wings shiver. The Archangel fought the compulsion to fling himself to his face, prostrate before his Father. He was no fledgling, no Seraph to collapse in the face of a greater power! He was an Archangel, and he had more composure than that!

My son, Gabriel.

God's voice filled Gabriel's spirit, making him swell with overwhelming warmth and pleasure. His name, spoken by his Father, was like a loving embrace, wrapping around him and pushing out all his fears. Gabriel closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around himself, trying to mimic that feeling. "Father… Michael said you wanted to speak with me?"

Come into the middle, Gabriel.

Gabriel couldn't resist the gentle order, flitting toward the center of the Garden. There! Towering above the trees was a column of blue flame, of bright shadow, of energy and life and goodness. "Father!" Gabriel's knees bent automatically, his wings spreading in a deeply reverent bow. Five hundred and eighty of his wings stretched out to the side, spanning over a thousand feet, while his last two wings lifted to cover his head, shielding himself from the brilliance of his Father.

You were scared to come before Me.

Father knew everything. No secrets were hidden from Him, especially not in His direct presence. There was no point lying to Him, not even in an attempt to preserve Gabriel's own face. "I have never been alone with You, Father. I was afraid I had disappointed You."

Have you done anything worthy of disappointment?

Father did love to test his children, to see how they grew, and this was clearly a test. Gabriel hadn't broken any laws of Heaven, so any answer he gave would be purely subjective. The Archangel ducked his head under his wings. "I have been remiss in my duties here. I let my brothers handle my responsibilities, while I stayed on Earth." If his Father was disappointed in him for any reason, surely it would be that one. Gabriel closed his eyes and waited for his Father's judgment.

You have been tasked with watching over My Earth, and you have attended to your duties admirably. Delegation is not a sin, and your Seraphim have reveled and matured in the trust you have placed in them. They love you, as you love Me.

I am not disappointed.

A silvery wash of relief flooded through Gabriel, and his wings lifted slightly in pleasure. "Thank you, Father. Your approval means everything."

Not everything, and was that a chuckle Gabriel heard? The Archangel almost risked glancing up at his Father. You also value the approval of your brothers, Michael and Sammael. You have not visited them lately. Sammael has been requesting I summon you back here, for he misses you.

Sammael had been asking things of their Father? Gabriel's eyes shot open in surprise. How did he even have the nerve!? It had taken all of Gabriel's own willpower to stand before Him, much less to ask for something for himself!

God definitely chuckled now, and Gabriel could feel his Father's warm love settling over his outstretched wings in a loving caress. I cannot clip your wings any more than I can stop fire from burning, My little angel. However, I can offer you new responsibilities.

If God wanted, He absolutely could stop fire from burning. It would be something unnatural and unsettling, but it would be possible. Confining Gabriel to one plane would be much the same—possible, but against the natural order of things. Gabriel was made to move. He could feel his calling in his grace as surely as he could feel the flames that made up the core of his spirit.

His Father was silent, apparently waiting for Gabriel to acknowledge His statement. Gabriel raised his head a little, though he kept it covered by his wings. "New responsibilities, Father?"

I could use a Messenger. An angel I can trust to fly between all the planes, to deliver My Word, or any other message to or from Heaven. An angel who could go from My presence to the lowest of his brothers' without any loss of respect for the one he addressed.

"Michael can be trusted," Gabriel began weakly, soon overwhelmed by his Father's joyful laughter.

Gabriel, I would have you be my Messenger.

His name again. Gabriel thrilled at the sound of his Father's voice shaping his name, filling him with love and pride and trust. His wings unconsciously stretched toward his Father, and he could feel his Father wrapping him in His grace. Gabriel couldn't even consider refusal when he felt so connected to his Father. "I—yes. Yes, I would love to be Your Messenger!"

Let it be done. Gabriel felt his Father's heavy hand pressing through his wings, resting against the back of his head, searing him with His power. Gabriel, My Archangel, you are now Messenger of Heaven, Herald of the Heavenly Host, Carrier of My Word. When I have need for you, I will call your name.

"And I will answer," Gabriel whispered, squeezing his eyes shut again. Hesitantly, he reached up, his hand brushing against his Father's, dwarfed by God's size. "Thank you, Father. I will not let You down."

For a moment, Gabriel felt his hand sandwiched between his Father's, but as quick as it was there, the pressure was gone. His Father was gone too, having left the Garden to attend to whatever new distraction had come His way. Father wasn't much for good-byes.

Gabriel remained kneeling in the Garden, his grace humming, as charged up as it could possibly be from his Father's presence. Eventually, he pushed himself to his feet and shook out his wings.

His wings! The feathers, once a glorious white that could shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, were now edged in gold. Gabriel pulled his wings forward, staring at the new decoration. Every individual feather had a distinct golden trim, no matter what angle he held them at. No other angel had two-toned feathers like this, not even Sammael! His Father had marked him, written his new titles on his wings for all to see. Messenger of Heaven. Herald of the Heavenly Host. Carrier of the Word.

"I am so out of my depth."