Chapter 15: Flight and Fury

The biting wind was searing through Noma as she tried to remain in the air on their harried flight out of the aerie. The Chosen One was lax in her arms and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep him safe. They just needed to get out of the mountainous area and lower down where the wind was less erratic. Noma's wings felt the biting cold slowly seeping in.

Her vision cleared for a moment as the flurries lessened and she could see a long ledge jutting out of the sheer mountain they had been flying over. Her inability to gain altitude made the flight exhausting and treacherous. Aiming for the outcrop, Noma tightened her grip on him and pulled her wings in a little to direct her course. Holding her breath, she hoped to not overshoot the landing and slam into the grey rock wall. With great difficulty, she slid onto the outcrop and quickly closed her wings, tightening them against her back before the wind yanked her back off the ledge. Instead of gaining a steady foothold, her legs tangled with Alex's and they both ended up prone on the snow-covered ledge.

Noma's arms felt as if they were cramping from clutching Alex's body so close to hers, yet she couldn't loosen her grip, holding him even closer as they lay in the snow. She was exhausted. Closing her eyes briefly, she leaned her forehead against Alex's. Where was she supposed to go? She knew they couldn't stay there long. They were out in the open and the elements were against them. The mountains went on for many miles and she knew she needed to fly to lower altitudes where it was warmer. And safer.

Her wings stayed close to her body, feathers ruffling in the wind. They were aching, and she wished she could stretch them out and rest longer. Curving one wing out a little, she sheltered Alex's body from the weather's onslaught for few moments. Looking down at him, she loosened her grip and checked his pulse. His body was getting colder to the touch, with his face pale and his breathing shallow and uneven. Whatever he had done, he had over-exerted himself. It frightened her and she didn't like it.

"Alex?" her voice got lost in the howling of the wind. She patted his face lightly, hoping that he would wake. His eyes were stirring under his closed lids, as if he was trying to reach the surface of consciousness. "Alex…"

His eyes opened a little and his hand moved, weakly touching her. He tried to speak but nothing came out as she caressed his cheek. And then he slipped away again, leaving her alone with her worries.

"Damn it." she said to herself and then pulled him closer, sharing some of her body warmth momentarily. Leaning her head against his, she whispered to him, "Hang on, Alex. Stay with me."

Gathering strength, she sat up, pulling the Chosen One's body into a better grip. And then with one last-ditch effort, she launched the two of them directly off the ledge, tumbling out into the air with her wings stretched wide. As planned, the wind immediately yanked them upwards, lifting them higher. Within moments they were flying through clouds and Noma pushed higher and higher. Hoping to get above the cloud line, she knew the risk that she was taking. Alex's condition might worsen, but getting to safer ground without crashing took precedent over her fears.

"Just hang on, Alex. Hang on." Noma's voice got lost in the wind.

~~*D*~~

An ornate chair flew through the air and smashed into the rock wall in the Feasting Room of Gabriel's aerie. The wood splintered and practically shattered to pieces as it fell into a heap on the floor. A glass plate followed it, causing shards of glass to also decorate the floor. A goblet of wine clattered to the floor and wine splattered over everything.

"HOW?" Gabriel's voice boomed and echoed throughout the aerie.

He was standing next to a table with clenched fists and a furious sneer on his face. He was seething and practically rabid with spittle escaping his lips.

Furiad stood a good distance from him, wearing the helmet that he had been contemplating earlier. He stood there watching the archangel in silence with his hands clasped in front of him and his wings put away. But he was at the ready, in case he needed to defend himself. He kept waiting for the archangel to finally turn on him, to place blame on him.

Gabriel had been raging for quite a while. Crumpled on the floor, the almighty archangel Gabriel had been a sight to see. Furiad had tried to help him up, but the archangel was adamant that he could do it himself. And once he got his bearings, the fury began.

"That dumb fool," Gabriel growled. He tried to rein in his anger, but he felt stupid for being bested by the damn Chosen One. The archangel slammed his fists onto the table, which shuddered with the weight of it. Leaning forward onto his fists, Gabriel asked again, "How? How did he get that strong? When did that happen?"

Furiad didn't bother answering. He had already learned that Gabriel was angry with himself for not noticing the Chosen One's progress.

With another cry of frustration, Gabriel lifted the table and smashed it against the wall. Furiad stepped back another step, but otherwise didn't flinch. He was the only one who wouldn't. The others had fled a while ago. The 8-balls knew better than to be in the same room as Gabriel at the moment. Two unlucky ones had strayed into Gabriel's warpath in the beginning and he had crushed their windpipes before throwing them across the room. He was in no mood to deal with the lesser angels. And Roan was out on a mission. Conveniently. Leaving Furiad to deal with this…wrath.

Gabriel stood in the middle of the room, still breathing heavily, hands clenched into fists. He turned to Furiad and walked up to him, grabbing the warrior angel by his helmet. It took every effort not to pull away or slam his wing into Gabriel's neck. Furiad had long since regretted his decision to side with Gabriel. And yet he remained here, still paying the price for his decision. Not that he quite understood Father's love for the humans. Their existence was still a blatant reminder of His disappearance. But Gabriel's strategy to bring Him back was failing so far. At least Noma was able to leave, Furiad thought. At least there was that.

"You will go to Vega and you will find Claire and bring her here," Gabriel spat. "And then we will start Phase Two."

Furiad almost didn't answer, wanting to jerk away from the crazed archangel, but it would be easier to leave unscathed without antagonizing him.

"Do you hear me?" Gabriel was waiting for an acknowledgement, shaking Furiad out of his thoughts.

"Yes. Claire," he said quietly, trying to step away, but Gabriel continued to hold fast to his helmet.

"Furiad, without Claire, we have no leverage. Without that, the damn Chosen One will do whatever he wants. And now we know that does not bode well for any of us!" Gabriel said, haughtily, practically spitting while saying it through half-clenched teeth.

"I understand." Patiently, Furiad waited for Gabriel to let go of his helmet. And when the archangel did, he was immediately in motion, trying to get as much distance from him as possible.

He would go to Vega. He would do what he was told, begrudgingly. But first, he had to take care of something else.

It was going to be a long flight.