The next day
Shilo opened a small locker, reaching in and pulling something out. In her hands, she held a neat set of mail. As it turned out, Shilo was inside a mailroom for workers like Shilo and Trixie. She had just finished grading her students' work and was about to head home for the weekend.
She went over her mail, groaning as she saw nothing but bills that needed to be paid and junk mail for charity and donations. She tossed the junk mail in a recycling box and headed out the mailroom with her bills.
Shilo left the school grounds, heading down the street to her place. She was exhausted from grading and an extended weekday of teaching. She was looking forward to a weekend of catching up with her reading and setting up a date for her and Michael; she just hoped he wasn't too busy from his duties as Heaven ambassador and working alongside the archangels.
While still in her thoughts, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. It caught her attention, turning around and finding no one but herself alone. She let out a shrug, continuing her way.
Another tap on the shoulder, and she whirls fast to catch the suspect. But she couldn't find a single being in her presence. She growled, annoyed. "If this is a prank, it's not very funny."
"No pranks." A voice answered from above.
She gasped, turning around and looking up. Floating upside down before her is an angel with soft skin, freckles on his cheeks, and light golden curly hair. He has a pale teal star on his forehead. His eyes are light teal, with a lighter teal halo over his head, and he is wearing a short robe of white and gold, teal pants, and golden sandals with wings on them. In truth, he could be mistaken for Hermes, the Greek god of messenger, if it wasn't for the six pairs of wings behind him in white and pale teal. And he was smiling down on her with a grin.
"Gabriel. You know how I feel about you sneaking up on me." Shilo told him, placing a hand on her hip while glaring at him.
"Oh, come on, snowflake." Gabriel grinned. "Nothing wrong with having a little fun." His wings flapped, levitating him upside down.
"Fun? Is that what you call it?" Shilo asked him. "I'm not buying it."
Gabriel pouted. "You are no fun."
She only rolled her eyes, clearly not being fooled. Gabriel does have a knack for pulling pranks on her and his brothers. She has gotten so used to it that she knows best to be wise around him. "You didn't come here to poke fun at me, did you?" She questioned him.
"Aw..you don't trust me?" Gabriel asked, giving her the puppy eyes he knew would captivate her. Only she raised an eyebrow, with her arms crossed against her breasts.
"fine.." He groaned, seeing his fun had been spoiled. "I liked you better when you were crushing on Lucifer." He turned his body around, pulling him right side up, and landed on the ground, facing her. He cleared his throat. "The archangels required your presence in the court of heaven." He informed her with a severe tone.
"Why?" she asked him.
"I can't say," he responded. "But I can promise you you are not in trouble," he added.
"Well, that's good news." She huffed out. "Thank you, Gabriel." She thanked him.
"Anytime, snowflake!!" His grin returned. His wings spread open, and he took off into the sky.
Shilo has her bills teleported to her place so she can deal with them later. She spread her wings, flew in the sky, and headed to the angelic court building.
She landed by the entrance with grace. She walked inside, finding angels were busy with their work, making appointments, and taking calls. She approached the front desk, where an angel with two wings, blue hair in a bun, and dressed in white with a silver halo on top.
"Ah! Shilo!" The angel Belle welcomed her with a smile. "Welcome! How can I help you?"
"Gabriel sent me his message," Shilo replied.
Belle nodded, knowing what she meant. "Oh! Right. He told me that." She responded. She took out a clipboard with a quill. "I just need you to sign here, and I'll let the archangels know you arrived."
Shilo signed her name on the clipboard. She could feel a smile on Belle's face and responded with a smile.
Then she headed to the waiting room, sat in an empty chair, crossed her leg over the other leg, and waited patiently for her name to be called. She watched several angels waiting like she was, most likely having an appointment with the seraphim angels. Shilo leaned against the chair and crossed her arms.
In the corner of her eye, she spotted a pale white angel with short white hair, a black halo over her hair, yellow eyes, black and white wings, and dressed in a short gray dress, white gloves, white boots, and black stockings. Her eyes widened in surprise and anxiety, and she recognized this angel.
"Oh no.." She whispered. She quickly grabs a magazine on a table by her side, opens it, and covers her face to avoid being spotted. She folds her wings back, trying to have that angel's sight off.
But sadly, the angel was approaching her. She stopped an inch from her, with her hands behind her back and glaring down at her with a cold glance. "Afternoon, Ms. Winterstone." She greeted her with a cold voice.
Shilo lowered the magazine, revealing a much colder glance than the angel before her. "Lute." She glared at her with an icy voice. It's much more icy than Lute.
Lute leans down, face to face. "I'm surprised to see you here. Shouldn't you teach little brats of Heaven's history in your school?" She asked.
Shilo put the magazine on the table, not taking her eyes off Lute's. "I was taking a good break until I got a requirement from my boyfriend," she replied, showing no weakness. Lute has a certain aura that Shilo was never fond of; she has hated her since she arrived in Heaven years ago.
"Probably to tell you you should be doing your job." Lute snarled.
Shilo stands up, glaring up at her. "I am doing my job, Lute!! Unlike you, I enjoy my job! I got a good pay! A good home! And a good love, too!" She shouted. "What about you!? What is it that you do that you work for a living?!!" She questioned her.
Lute remains still as a firm statue. "I'm a soldier for Michael." She answered an answer that didn't seem right.
"Funny." Shilo has her arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at her. "Cause he never told me he used to have soldiers back then in his time as heaven's former knight." She pointed it out. She had never, once in her life, ever heard about Michael having soldiers before.
"Perhaps he knew you were a nosy little rebel," Lute claimed.
That made Shilo mad. A third eye opened on her breasts, with crystal eyelashes and two pairs of eyes on her halo. "Hey! I was naive!! I was a fool too in love!!" She yelled at Lute, and a patch of frost formed between them. "So don't you dare tell me like you knew me!! I know better than you do, back when you were just a mortal!" she added.
Before Lute could argue back, Belle called out. "Shilo Winterstone. The archangels will see you now."
She glared at Lute, hinting that they were far from over. She left the waiting room and entered through the open door, waiting for her. The door slammed shut, making an echo that flinched her. Shilo straightened herself, dusted off her outfit, and perceived ahead.
She enters the courtroom, where six archangels sit in their respective places.
In the middle, Michael. His outfit changed to a suit of blue and white and a long trail coat. By his side are Uriel and Raphael. Raphael wears a blouse, a green vest, brown pants and black shoes. Gabriel is with them, sitting by Raphael and another angel with a golden tan, long golden wavy hair, light green eyes, a light pink star on their forehead, and a pale pink halo over their head. They are dressed in an open pink blouse, revealing their chest, white jeans, and white shoes. Their wings are white and pink in six. Jophiel is their name. By Uriel's side is another angel; his skin is gray-white, and he has dark brown hair, grayish teal eyes, a gray star on his forehead, and a gray halo over his head. He wears a black hooded robe over his dark teal suit, and behind him are his six wings in dark teal and white. He is Azrael.
All stare at her, keeping their eyes on her. She stands in the middle, hands behind her back, and her wings fold back.
"Afternoon. You require me?" Shilo asked.
Raphael nodded. "Yes. You are correct." He answered.
"Glad you can make time for us," Uriel exclaimed.
She smiled softly. "Well, you have been training me since I was made." She explained. "Made me who I am today. I always made time for you."
Jophiel grinned, placing their chins on their hands. "You are such a sweet little blue star."
Shilo smiles at their comment. She composes herself, remembering what she was called for. "So? What do you wish to talk to me about?" She questioned them. "Gabriel told me I am not in any trouble."
Michael huffed, cuffed his hands together, and leaned forward. "Emily came to us and told us your aura was... sad," he explained. He was staring at Shilo intensely. "Like she feels that you were unhappy about something." He added.
Shilo let out a groan. She realized her former student had gone to the Archangels out of concern. She knew her so well, but she should have taught her about respecting others's privacy issues. "I didn't want her to be so worried." She responded. "It's my issues that are mine to deal with. It's not her business to get involved." She added.
"But she was your student," Azrael spoke, quiet and raspy. "You know she always looks up to you about all the events you've been through."
Gabriel nodded, agreeing with him. "And she was only concerned about you. And... we are concerned as well." He implored. "We all care about you and have wanted to help you since Lucifer's banishment with Lilith."
Hearing the name 'Lilith,' Shilo felt a rush of rage and vengeance in her. She still hated her for taking Lucifer from her, and even after eons, her vengeful feelings towards Lilith have not been quelled. Her rage made her release the frost that started to cover the floor, and snow fell out of nowhere, making the room cold. She was snarling, and her eyes were farrowed.
"Ah! Shilo Winterstone!!" Uriel shouted.
She snapped out of her mind, blinking. She took a deep breath, calming down as the frost melted and the snow disappeared. She frowned at the six, ashamed of herself for acting like this.
"Sorry... I forgot how angry you get around... her." Gabriel apologized. He had nearly forgotten Shilo gets angry when someone mentions Lilith.
"It's fine." Shilo sighed, head bowed down. "Sorry.."
Uriel raised an eyebrow. "Is this about our talk yesterday?" She asked her.
Shilo grew silent and did not answer him, confirming his question. Her mind was still on her desire to leave heaven and perform her miracles on earth.
Michael glared dangerously at Shilo as she bowed her head down. They were so close to keeping her bound to heaven's ways, to blocking her curious nature. But her duties as a virtue still hold on to her like a snake coiling tightly on its prey. He placed his hands down before letting out a sigh. "Angel… Earth is filled with nothing but death and corruption. You are still innocent and still full of life." Michael reasoned with her. "If you go down there and see the bad in humankind, you would lose sight of what God gave you."
Shilo raises her head, staring at the six. "But I'm not naive; I'm wiser now and won't be easily misled again." She told them, a pleading look in her eyes. "All I wish for is one day on earth; see what happened there. I promise to return." She cuffed her hands together, almost begging them.
"The answer is still no." Raphael sternly told her. "Your place is in heaven, with us and the heavenborns." He added.
Shilo lowers her hands, feeling like all her dreams are gone with one harsh word. She frowned sadly. "Right…" She bowed her head, looking down, and her wings lowered in sadness.
Michael sighed, standing up from his seat. "I think that's it for today." He proclaimed. He is putting an end to their meeting.
The other five nodded, all flying away and out of the courtroom. All that is still in is Shilo and Michael.
He approached her, stood before her, and frowned. It hurt him to see her so crushed and lacking in motivation. He placed a hand on her chin, tilting her head up, and made her look at him. "Angel," he began.
Shilo just moved her head away from his glance. "I know. I am selfish thinking about leaving." She sadly lamented.
"No, no. Don't say that about yourself." Michael shook his head, then pulled her into a hug. "We are trying to protect you, to help you have a better life." He proclaimed, having her stare at him. "When you fell apart, it was painful to see you so vulnerable and helpless. To see you losing sight of yourself."
She sighed softly, staring into his eyes. "I would have been so empty without you." She responded. It was true in her mind; she would be so lost without him.
Michael nodded back, smiling down at her. "I would have, too, my angel." He leaned down and kissed Shilo on the lips. She kissed him back. He pulled away, placing a hand to stroke her cheek softly.
"Young child with dreams. Dreaming each dream on your own." Michael sings to her. He slowly lowers his hand, staring into her eyes. "When children play. Seems like you end up alone."
He took both her hands, holding them up. "Papa says he'd love to be with you if he had the time." He sings, opening his wings wide. "You turn on the only friend you can find. There in your mind."
He flew up the ceiling, and she followed. "Shilo when I was young. I used to call your name." He continued singing to her. "When no one else would come. Shilo, you always came. And we'd play."
The two floated in the air, circling as their wings held them up. "Young girl with fire. Something said she understood." Michael leans close to her and places his hand behind her hair. "I wanted to fly. She made me feel like I could."
The two started dancing together, with her hands on his shoulder and his hands placed on her waist. "Held my hand out, and I let her take me. Blind as a child." He put a kiss on her forehead. "All I saw was the way she made me smile. She made me smile."
He used his arms to pull her close to him till her breasts were pressed against his chest. "Shilo, when I was young. I used to call your name." He placed his forehead against hers. "When no one else would come. Shilo, you always came. And you'd stay."
He then released his arms around her, letting her go. He watched Shilo fly higher to the ceiling. She raised her hand, and a small cloud appeared. Soon, snow fell down softly. He smiled at how much Shilo had been improving herself with her powers.
"Had a dream, and it filled me with wonder. She had other plans." Michael sings as he watches her create snow clouds with gentle snow. "Got to go, and I know that you'll understand. I understand."
He frowned as the snow started falling on him. A wave of guilt enters his mind. "Shilo, when I was young. I used to call your name." He floated back down on the floor. "When no one else would come. Shilo, you always came. Come today."
In the ceiling, Shilo was smiling at the snow she had created. She was so proud of her work that her smile softened a bit. Too bad the mortals won't get to see her miracles.
"Shilo," Michel called to her. She looked down to see Michael already on the floor. The snow faded away, along with the clouds. She floated back down, landing by him.
Michael huffed. "I must go back to work." He told her. "Take care of yourself, my little angel."
"Will you be available for our date tomorrow?" Shilo asked.
"I'll see what I can do. I'll call you to let you know." He added. He smiles softly. "I love you."
"I love you too." Shilo smiled back. She kissed him on the lips, which kissed her back. Then she pulled away and left the courtroom, leaving Michael alone.
After a while, someone appears from the shadows, hands behind her back. "Does she know?" Michael sighed, hearing Lute's voice from behind. He turned around, facing her as he mirrored her position and put his hands behind his.
"No," Michael answered. "I am ordered to make sure she stays in the dark, even if it means lying to her." His voice softens.
"You've grown soft." Lute hissed.
"Said you, you've grown hard from all that extermination," Michael responded snarkily. He shot her a harsh glare. "We can't allow any more sinners, and keeping Lilith away only dims overpopulation." He approaches her, staring down at her. "Keep the extermination going for another year." He ordered her.
"Yes, Sir Michael." Lute nodded, understanding his orders. She left the courtroom.
Michael turns his focus to an empty floor; it doesn't seem much, but he can hear the memories of Lilith's voice echoing inside his head and seeing the blood on the floor. He glared, hateful. "You're wrong, you temptress. Hell will fall, along with you and your sinners." He spoke harshly, almost like talking to a ghost from long ago.
'Shilo' by Neil Diamond