All characters & plots are credited to Becca Fitzpatrick. Major shoutout to ITea88 for her excellent storytelling in Patch's Pov.
Ding. The meeting of the Center has commenced.
All of the Angels of various ranks and roles cease their conversations and face toward the elevated middle of the Center. Several high-ranking Archangels stood firm and allowed Archangel Gabriel to read aloud from his scroll:
"Fellow brethren, We are to rejoice in the forthcoming gathering of the Dance of the Summer Solstice, The longest day on Earth's northernmost hemisphere. Let us gather and praise Him for the light of the Sun, and all things of which are good."
With a great bow, All Angels tilted their heads forward in respect.
Well, almost all.
Dabrianda completed her bow and risked a peek at Jev, who was looking away, lost in his thoughts.
She never took lightly the mannerisms and etiquette of being an Angel of Heaven, and she couldn't understand why he seemed not to hold those values equally. The lack of attention during the announcement irked her being.
"Is something of the matter?" She asked carefully, attempting to rid of the annoyance in her voice.
Her question seemed to have eased him out of his head. "I have been thinking about some of the stories you have shared regarding your short periods on Earth. The Humans must be ushering in the Summertime just as excitingly. Through the Glass, I have glimpsed at some of the village celebrations. Could you offer some assistance with the information I am seeking?" Jev asked, going for nonchalance.
Dabria hid her approaching reaction of disappointment. She could not escape his hunger for details of the lives of Humans. But wanting to appear friendly, she accepted his request.
"Certainly. Shall we proceed to the Looking Glass?"
They came to a slow stop in front of the Looking Glass that Archangel Jev was assigned to, where he spent most of his days. He waved his hand over the reflection and slowly appeared a glimpse of a small village from above.
He smiled gently and explained the image, "I view this village at each peak of high noon. Sometimes men brawl in corners, and sometimes crowds gather around a great bonfire and dance wildly. I am only permitted to glimpse moments of their activities. Have you traveled here?"
She looked at him curiously and hesitantly stepped closer to the Looking glass. Up close, she finds stretches of lakes and wide valleys of vegetation. She couldn't identify the exact location, but could definitely identify the behaviors aforementioned.
"I have not. But Jev…Humans are mostly uncivil and reckless. I complete my tasks in an incredible hurry to avoid encountering such behaviors. Please tell me: What gives thee such immense interest? Are any of them in any danger of adversary to their faith?" She asked concerned.
Jev looked away again with anxious disappointment and began to pace. He knew his interest didn't lie with concern for the Human's faith or good practices. He wanted to know them, their livelihoods, and their engagements. They had Free Will, and he wanted to know just how free they could be.
"My interest does not rest solely on their wellbeing, Dabrianda. In truth, my interest knows no bounds. I wish to learn more, and I'll continue to figure out just how." Jev stopped pacing and looked far off into the expanse of Heaven, lost again to his running thoughts.
Dabria found her thoughts troubling. She knew the dangers of such ideas, they both did. She could not offer him appeasement because she could not agree. What incentive could such ideas blossom from? Nothing seemed worth the severe consequences of actions taken if an Angel so strayed to those temptations. And for the first time, Dabria feared where his thoughts could lead him. Quick to change the subject and mood of the conversation, Dabria grasped his hand.
"Nonsense, there is nothing to envy when we have been granted the gifts He has bestowed upon us. Heaven has given us duties and security that Humans could only dream of themselves. Now, have Nehemiah and Ezra heard of your unfortunate curiosities?" She asked with humor laced in her tone.
Jev looked at her for several beats and contemplated his answer briefly. He cracked a half grin, "They think I have lost the basic functions of my head," He chuckled, and attempted to shake his previous contemplations.
He led her away from the Looking Glass and began a stroll to the Meadow of Artemisia.
"Which goes to remind me before I lose all cognitive function, would you be of interest in accompanying me to the Dance of the Summer Solstice?" He asked lightly.
Nerves began to flutter in her middle, and she mentally cursed Lucianna for being the clairvoyant that she was.
"It would be of honor to accompany you, Jev. But I could benefit from lessons in the art of dance." She smiled shyly and glanced at him, surprised to see he was already gazing right back at her. Dabrianda rarely attended the small gatherings of celebration in the Center of Heaven and blamed her stoicism for her lack of easygoingness. But Jev's character was beginning to ease her into a newfound relaxed comfortability.
"Nonsense, once we have graced the attendees with our presence, we cannot be ignored." He smirked and heat blossomed in her face.
Jev felt his growing bond with Dabria could be of great distraction to his desire to learn more about the Human's lives. He decided to focus on his attentiveness to her, instead of the beautiful Human woman with strawberry blonde locks he longingly gazed at through the Looking Glass in secret….
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Thanks for your patience! So grateful for the wonderful messages and reviews I received thus far, can't wait to see where this story goes lol. Until next time!
P.S.: Totally messed up on that 'Equinox'/ 'Solstice' idea lol