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Book One: A Fall From Grace Would Suit You Well

Prelude

It had been a quiet day so far at the shop, not many people had come in and Chloe was getting a bit bored. She was only half reading a book when the bell on the door chimed. She smiled politely at the two men that came in, but otherwise let them be to find whatever book it was they were looking for.
Half an eye on the two men, she watched as they went back towards the back racks for a few moments. They didn't seem to be finding anything, more like shuffling through.
She placed a marker in her book and went out from behind the counter.
"Can I help you find something in particular?" She asked.
The two men looked at her for a moment. "Not really" the one said and went back to looking at the shelf.
She smiled again and turned back to the counter when the bell chimed again and a dark haired man came in.
"Hello." She said with a smile as she passed by. The newcomer didn't answer at first.
"Hi." He finally said softly right as the sound of a book being dropped came from the back and echoed through the shop.
Chloe turned to see what happened. She saw the two men coming up the row towards this newcomer. She quickly went back behind the counter, she could tell something was up.
The dark haired man backed up a few paces, the two others increased their pace. Chloe held her breath.
"Not here!" Hissed the dark haired man backing for the door.
Chloe heard a strange noise, almost sounded like a scream, but a very distant one, one not quite in this world, but echoing through it. "Get out of the store." She ordered as calmly as possible. "I don't know what you are about to do, but take it outside or I call the
cops."
All three ignored her, one of the two men had already lept into
action, jumping towards the dark haired man. The dark haired man side stepped and his would be attacker skidded right past him. He pulled his coat open and took something out of it.
Chloe cringed and grabbed the phone.
"Both of you, stop." The dark haired man said calmly. "I command it." He said raising his hand, an old looking amulet was in it.
The two would be attackers stopped in their tracks.
"Now... be gone." The dark haired man said. The two, in unison, shrieked an inhuman sound and in a bright flash of light disappeared.
Chloe stared.
"Put down the phone, lady." The dark haired man said.
In shock, Chloe put the phone back down on the counter. The man turned to face her. She took a better look at him. He was Italian, definably Italian. Not very tall, maybe 5'8". He was dressed in black. Black Dockers, a black sweater, and a black wool coat.
"What on earth just happened?" Chloe asked. "Never mind, just please
get out of my store."
The man just sort of smiled at her. "I just saved you a whole lot of trouble, dear." he said. "I'll leave in a moment, don't worry."
"No, get out now." She ordered.
"I've got a few minutes here." He said. "Allow me to introduce myself, even though you will never remember, my name is Dante Rossi. And I am sorry for the chaos here, I was hoping to sneak up on those two demons, but they noticed me first."
"Demons? What the hell are you talking about?" Chloe asked but Dante seemed to ignore her and went over to a section near by that had the books about 'summoning'. They were mostly Wicca books and what not. He opened up one and flipped through the pages. He stopped at a page with a drawing and laid the amulet on it. "Who ever is closest, I command thee to come... through the door,
please." He said.
"What are you talking about?" Chloe asked as the bell chimed AGAIN. Nervously she looked at the door as a very tall, thin, dark haired man came in.
"Great." Dante said. "Had to be you, huh Gabe?"
The tall man stopped. Looked at Chloe then at Dante. "You said who ever was closest, should have been more specific." He said. His accent was strange, it sounded foreign, but Chloe couldn't place it. It wasn't a thick accent, just strange.
"Look, just do something simple for me and I owe you, Gabe, okay?" Dante asked. "The poor dear over there saw something she shouldn't have."
"Please, both of you leave or I will call the police." Chloe warned.
"No you won't." The tall man said.
"Just make her forget, Gabe, and we're done." Dante said.
The tall man turned and looked at her. Chloe began reaching for the phone again. "Chloe, get away from the phone." The tall man ordered.
Chloe slowly and unconsciously drew her hand back from the phone. The tall man stepped closer to her. "Humm... no Dante, not this time." He said.
"What!?!" Dante said irritated.
"Oh I thought about it, I was willing to, but I think I shouldn't. Not this one." The tall man said. "I think she needs to know what happened. I think you and her should get acquainted."
"Why?"
"She's special." The tall man said with a slight smile.
Chloe was panicking again, reaching for the phone again. The tall man frowned at her, took the phone, and yanked the cord from the wall. Chloe screamed.

"Gabe." Dante said with a sigh.
"I only warn once." The tall one said.
"Chloe?" Dante said looking at the tall man to confirm Chloe's name. The tall man nodded slightly. "Sorry about all this dear. However, if Gabriel won't make you forget what happened here, I'll have to explain it. Then he can explain why he is not doing what I asked him to."
"Explain what?" Chloe asked thourghly confused now.
"Explain what happened here." Dante answered. "You see, those two men, they were not men, they were demons. Evil spirits in the form of men. They were up to no good, when I happened to notice them, tried to send them back to hell, but they had other plans. They slipped off on me and came in here to hide and try to find a portal out. Demons usually have to find a portal to really get away. I tracked them here. See, it's my job to find demons, dispose of them, though really all disposing of them is means sending them off to hell."
"You expect me to believe that?" Chloe asked.
"Actually, yes, because it's the truth." Dante said matter of factly.
"And who is he?" Chloe asked pointing to the tall man.
"That's Gabriel." Dante answered. "Yes, as in the archangel. I summoned him, though I wasn't wanting him exactly, to erase the memory of this for you, though he won't. I am a discreet man, I don't like people remembering me when I'm working."
"I still don't buy it." Chloe said.
Gabriel sighed.
"What can we do to prove it to you?" Dante asked.
"I don't think you can." She answered.
Gabriel leaned over the counter a bit and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened a bit. "Believe him." He said softly, but loud enough for Dante to hear that.
Dante looked puzzled at Gabriel. Gabriel shrugged.
"All right, I believe you." Chloe said.
"Good." Dante said. "So what is it, Gabe? Why is she special, or is she a special kind of special?"
"She's just your average human with a particular amount of knowledge." Gabriel said. "She's going to get along very well with you. You will probably need her in the future. I think she can be a great aspect in helping you find the knowledge you need. A lady with
a bookstore at her disposal can be helpful when looking for hard to find books, too."
"Never thought of that." Dante said with a little bit of a grin.
"However, Chloe, you need to know something." Gabriel said. "Dante isn't an average human being. He's special. He has a powerful soul that possesses great abilities."
"I hunt demons." Dante said.
"Because of that soul of his he's very good at finding them." Gabriel said. "So in turn, he was granted the ability to live as long as he wants."
"That's what 'special kind of special' means." Dante said.
"Truly?" Chloe asked.
Dante nodded. "It's not something I like many people to know, so don't say a word to anyone." He said. "If you do, Gabe will get pissed off. The only thing Gabe respects me on is my desire to keep quiet about who I am."
"Most like him do." Gabriel added.
Chloe sighed. "That's a lot to take in." She said. "There's an angel and a demon hunter in my store... a couple of demons were hiding in here... what's next?"
Dante shrugged.
"Good question." Gabriel said.
Dante suddenly turned towards the door. "No shit... they're back..." He said softly.
Chloe looked to the door. She saw the two men from before coming up to the store. She groaned.
"Isn't this our lucky day." Gabriel said flatly, not happy at all to see them. "Chloe... duck."
"Huh?" Chloe asked as Gabriel gently pushed down on the top of her head. She didn't resist him, just dunk below the counter as the sound of the glass in the front door breaking deafened the room.

"Gabe! Who are these guys!" Dante yelled.
"Dunno." Gabriel said calmly as the demons came towards them. Chloe looked up over the counter.
Dante pulled the amulet back out of his coat. "I thought I sent you two home?" He said as the two demons stopped dead in their tracks right before Gabriel.
Gabriel was just looking at the two, his head cocked to the side. His face was emotionless as the two demons began a struggle against unseen forces. "You didn't get them to hell, Dante." He finally said. "They're a bit stronger than you think."
"We aren't going to hell." The one who had done all the talking before said.
"No, you aren't." Gabriel said.
Dante put his amulet away as the two suddenly began to make a chocking sound.
"What is he doing?" Chloe whispered to Dante.
"Killing them." Dante answered as the two demons dropped to the floor, caught on fire.
It seemed to be a sudden hot fire as just as quickly as it started it went out, only long enough for Chloe to let out a yelp. Gabriel drew in a breath and sighed, closing his eyes a moment. Once the fire had died, there was nothing left, not even a mark on the floor to show there had ever been anything there.
A tall man, with brown hair, wearing all black stepped through the broken door of the store casually. He looked at the three a brief moment before saying anything.
"Well." He said in a seductive tenured voice. "Nice work there, Gabe."
"Now who's this?" Chloe asked.
"I'm Lucifer, my dear." The newcomer said. "You know, prince of hell."
"Lucifer?" Chloe asked sounding exasperated.
"Lucifer." Gabriel said sounding annoyed.
"Is it really?" Chloe asked.
"Yes, it is." Dante answered her.
"What do you want, Lucifer?" Gabriel asked his voice still annoyed.
Lucifer pouted at Gabriel. "Aww, little brother, don't sound so upset." He said. "I'm only here with a warning."
Gabriel rolled his eyes, Lucifer didn't seem to notice.
Lucifer paused for a moment and looked at the three. A small smile
crept across his lips.
"Stay out of my business, Gabriel." Lucifer warned. "Dante mucking around with my minions is one thing, you, well until you have the right to, you keep out of it."
Gabriel didn't bother to answer him, just silently watched him.
He stepped past Dante and Gabriel and stopped in front of Chloe. He looked at her for a moment.
"I wouldn't get involved with these two, Miss Moore." He said to her. "They are nothing but trouble. And with Gabriel, you don't want the guilt by association." He paused a moment. "Put it away, Dante."
Dante slipped the amulet away that he had taken out of his pocket when Lucifer had put his back to him. He knew better than to mess with Lucifer.
"Get out, Luc." Gabriel finally said. "You don't want me mucking in your business, well you have no right in mine. I can still remove you by force if I need to."
Gabriel's dark eyes were intently locked on Lucifer.
Lucifer laughed. Not that it was funny. It wasn't at all, but he laughed. He watched Gabriel tense up a moment. He had known Gabriel for a very long time and he knew that Gabe didn't like to be laughed at.
"All right, all right, little brother." Lucifer said. "I'll leave. Just remember, you are in no state to be ordering me around."
Lucifer turned, slipped past Gabriel and Dante, and left the store the way he had come.
Gabriel watched as Lucifer left. After he had stepped through the door, he waived his hand and the glass was back the way it should be.
Chloe just kind of looked stunned at him.
It was all a bit much a bit too fast for her. It had been a strange day for her.
Dante sighed. "Great." He mumbled. "Now Chloe is going to need looking after."
"I don't need looking after." Chloe protested.
"I have to catch a flight to New York in a bit, so I can't do it." Dante said.
"I DON'T need looking after." Chloe repeated stressing her position.
"Actually, yes you do." Dante said. "Now that Luc has gotten involved, you aren't safe from hell's citizens."
"I'll watch over her." Gabriel said. "I've got nothing better to do."

"Gee... thanks." Chloe said flatly.
"That's not what I meant." Gabriel said with a sigh. "I meant I can do it rather than finding someone else to do it. I don't have many commitments at the moment."
Dante chuckled. "Well, see both of you later, if one of you doesn't try to kill the other." He said heading for the door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chloe yelled after him.
"Gabriel is... difficult to get along with." Dante said choosing his words carefully. "Most humans never want to see him again after spending an hour or so with him."
Dante left the store. Gabriel just shrugged.
"I think I'm easy to get along with." He mumbled and took a seat in an easy chair. He picked up a book on the table next to the chair and started leafing through it.

Chapter One: Bad Intentions: From A Brief Encounter

Lucifer walked out of the store still just as mad as he was when he went in. He never felt like he ever got anywhere with, ever. It was almost as if, from the dawn of time, Gabriel just disregarded everything Lucifer said.
But he was tired of Gabriel mucking about in his affairs. He had no business in it. Gabriel didn't have to answer Dante's summons, so why did he?
"Because, Luc, Gabe is bored." A voice from behind answered Lucifer's unspoken thoughts.
Lucifer spun around on his heel. "Dumah." He said. "What do you want, Silence?"
The tall; very thin; very pale angel behind him said nothing at first. "I don't want anything, Luc." He finally said. "However, you know how Gabriel is when he's bored. He's going to stir things up. You can't stop that. He doesn't care if you won't put up with it. He got what he wanted, you in a bad mood."
"Go to hell, Silence." Lucifer said.
"That's where I was heading, to be truthful." Dumah said.
"Good, cause you need to stay where you belong." Lucifer said. "What's the use of you being up here on earth?"
"Sometimes I have to leave the gates of hell to do my job." Dumah said with a bit of venom. "You don't have domain over me."
"I do so long as you are 'in' hell." Lucifer reminded him.
"Not really." Dumah said. "I'm still an angel out of grace so long as I am 'in' hell."
Lucifer growled softly and continued walking leaving Dumah behind.
"Lucifer." Dumah's cool voice said before Lucifer got too far away.
"What!?!" Lucifer yelled stopping and turning to look at him. His face was clouded over in anger.
"Why do you let Gabriel get to you so much?" Dumah asked.
"He doesn't get to me." Lucifer said though his face told a different story.
Dumah shrugged. "I've never seen you get so strung up over anyone else." He pointed out. "Hell, you never even lose your cool when Michael is tormenting you; even when Michael has no right to."
"I don't get strung up over him." Lucifer said and turned again disappearing down the street.
Dumah shrugged again.

Chloe looked at Gabriel for a moment. Quite a bit was going through her mind at the moment. Gabriel looked up at her after a moment.
"Just go ahead and say it." He said.
"Say what?" Chloe asked.
"What you're thinking." Gabriel answered. "The usual question is 'So you're an angel, huh?'. Normally followed by 'What's it like?'"
Chloe sort of smiled a bit. "Well, I was thinking the 'so you're an angel, huh' part." She said. "But the second part is more along the lines of what are you doing here?"
Gabriel closed his book and sighed. "That's a difficult one to answer." He said. "The most straight forward answer is because Dante asked for the closest angel to come aid him. But I doubt that's the answer you are looking for, since you know that already. The question you really want answered is why I stayed here rather than going about the countless other things I should be doing. The answer to that is because I don't have anything I can do right now."
"You can't do anything right now, why?" Chloe asked.
"I did something a few years back, because of that I've been removed from grace, no longer a member of the host of heaven, not a fallen angel." Gabriel answered. "I... I am being punished. For what is not something I care to discuss."
Chloe looked a bit confused. "So you're not an angel?"
"No, I am, I'm just not in residence of heaven at the moment." Gabriel answered. "My duties are restricted. I'm being punished for something I did severe enough to get in trouble, not so bad I was forced to fall. Until I repent and my punishment is over, I remain here, out of heaven."
Chloe nodded slightly. "I think I understand."
"You will." He said. "Maybe not completely right now, but over time, it makes more sense."
"Are there many angels like you?" She asked.
"A number, yes, some by choice as I am, some by circumstance." He said. "And if Dumah would come out of hiding, you'd meet one out of grace by circumstance." Gabriel smiled a little bit while looking towards the door.
Chloe's gaze followed Gabriel's. She tensed wondering what would happen next.
Dumah sighed and pushed open the door and entered the bookstore. He had tried to go unnoticed, but Gabriel never missed anything.
"Hello Chloe, I'm Dumah." He said stopping just by the counter.
Gabriel grinned a bit wickedly. "Tell her about you; why you are an angel out of grace."
"What is this? Show and tell?" Dumah asked. Gabriel gave him a stern look. "It's a long story, but the short of it is because I play double duty. I'm a prince in hell, but still an angel. I never fell, but because I actually have a legion in hell in my command, I can not reside in heaven. At the same time, I'm an angel of dreams, one of them, Gabriel is the other."
"So you see, Chloe?" Gabriel asked.
"Do you need me anymore?" Dumah asked. Gabriel shook his head. "I've got stuff to do." With that; Dumah turned and left.

Uzziel watched Dumah leave the store quietly and softly laughed to himself.
Dumah really should keep himself at a distance from Gabriel, Gabriel always got
him in trouble. Though that could be said for about any of them who kept contact
with Gabriel when he was in or without grace.
If it hadn't been for Gabriel, Uzziel would be a fallen angel. His unyielding
loyalty to his master kept him at his side, and Gabriel's defense of him ages
ago kept a wrong decision from sending him to hell permanently. For that, Uzziel
was ever grateful and took Gabriel's punishment, and a vow to always follow the
Archangel; to always be a breath away from him; as his own.
He may be now out of grace as well, but he preferred it sometimes. Sometimes it
was just good to be bad.


Misha stepped aside as the tall, creepy, pale guy pushed his way out of the bookstore. He followed the man with his eyes for a moment. A slight shrug and he decided to go into the store.
Chloe was in her usual place behind the counter. However, today there was a dark haired guy sitting in one of the chairs near the counter. This guy kind of gave him the chills; something strange about him. Misha slid up to the counter. Chloe smiled at him.
"Everything okay in here, Chloe?" He whispered.
Gabriel had gone back to looking at the book he had picked up earlier, paying no mind to the young, brown haired boy that had come in. He had accomplished what he wanted for the moment and his only concern was to make sure no demons walked in.
Chloe on the other hand was glad to see a familiar face. "Hey Misha." She said. "Oh everything is fine here." She smiled and looked at Gabriel. "That's Gabriel, Mish, a rather interesting new... friend, I guess, we only just met, so friend may be a bit premature."
"Acquaintance is a more appropriate word at the moment." Gabriel said without looking up. Gabriel noted how the boy looked at him with a bit of suspicion. He smiled slightly never raising his eyes from the book.
Chloe leaned closer to Misha. "Don't worry, Mish, he's all right."
Gabriel suddenly looked up. He seemed to be looking past the two. A small smirk on his lips. "Umm... I will be right back, Chloe." He said standing. "I'll only be outside."
Chloe and Misha watched Gabriel leave the store. He did only go right outside, and stopped slightly past the door.
Chloe straightened up a bit. "Seriously, Misha, he's okay, a bit strange, but nothing to worry about."
Gabriel stopped outside the door. "Uzziel." He said softly. "What did you see?"
Uzziel slipped from the shadows next to Gabriel.
"Not much. The boy was being followed though." He said. "It saw you and decided not to tempt fate."
Gabriel had a look on his face, as if mulling this over. He nodded slightly.
"Something's up." Gabriel said absently. "They identified the kid as a friend of Chloe's. We need to figure out what is with either Chloe or the store, and why it's attracting demons."
Gabriel turned back towards the store, motioning Uzziel to follow and the two entered the store.
"Uzziel." Gabriel said to Chloe's unspoken question of 'Who is that?' when the two entered.
"All right." Chloe said a bit hesitantly. "Well, anyhow, Misha, you want to crash at my place tonight? It's going to be cold tonight, I don't want you out on the streets."
"Check the back row." Gabriel said to Uzziel.
"What's wrong, Gabriel?" Chloe finally asked.
"Nothing is wrong, we're just making sure there's not something here that we missed earlier." Gabriel said going back to his chair and reading.
Chloe sighed, Misha was looking at her with concern. She wasn't sure what to tell Misha, what could she tell him?

Preludes, Epilogs, And Stuff

"Gabriel." Uzziel's voice calmly called from the back.
Gabriel looked up, then got up, and went to the back of the store. Misha watched him go then took Chloe's arm and pulled her back into the stockroom.
He shut the door behind them. "Look, Chloe, I'm concerned here." He said. "That guy has me worried. You don't know who he is, what's he and his friend doing here?"
"Trust me on this one, Mish." She said. "For one, he's not going to be here long; for two, he's not dangerous."
"How do you know?"
"I just know, okay." Chloe said but the look Misha was giving her said he wasn't convinced. "All right, look, don't think I'm crazy but they aren't just some guys. Gabriel's not exactly what you think. He's... umm... okay, he's an angel."
Misha rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Chloe, you expect me to believe that?" He asked. "Be honest with me, what's this guy got on you?"
"Nothing, Mish." Chloe said. "I am being honest with you."
Meanwhile, Gabriel looked at the open book Uzziel was holding. "So it's not the store." He said and Uzziel nodded. "It's her. But what is it exactly about her? She doesn't posses anything in her that would stand out."
Uzziel nodded. "I don't know, Gabriel." Uzziel confessed. He ran his finger over the unseeable to human eyes markings on the pages of the book. It stated that the ground was sanctified, hundreds of years ago. No activity could happen here. No demon could use it, no angel could use it, it was impossible to do anything there for them. demons couldn't benefit from the area, it was just dumb luck that the two wound up in there.
But not dumb luck they ended up coming back.
Both of them suddenly looked in unison at the stockroom door. Gabriel quirked a half smile and the two went up to the front.
Misha heard the door to the stockroom swing open with a soft squeak behind him. He turned, seeing Gabriel leaning against the doorframe, with Uzziel behind him a step.

mm its good, nice

We're here.

Proceed.

for some reason its not letting me post the next chapter................

Chapter Three: Mea Culpa?

Chloe's alarm clock pierced the silence of the apartment with a shrilling, screaming, constant, beeping; sending Misha bolting upright on the couch. It suddenly stopped with a thud as Chloe hit it to turn it off.
Misha took a deep breath he got up, hoping that last night was a nightmare and there were no angels in the kitchen. He could smell the coffee brewing though, he had a sinking feeling as that hope faded.
Pushing open the kitchen door, he was faced with the three angels. He sighed. "Morning..." He mumbled crossing over to the coffee maker, grabbing a mug and filling it up before going to the refrigerator.

"Good morning." Eloa's voice carried gently. As if to let his sleeping mind process what she just spoke. She only smiled softly before shifting a little in her seat again. Her hands moved slightly. Unclasping as she rubbed them together for a moment before locking them again. Before bring her arms down to rest upon the surface of the table. Her legs stretched out a little in a calm motion of relaxation. She could smell the scent of the coffee float slowly around her as the aroma feeled her. A rather good smell yet she rarely would touch it. She preferred water over all that was presented to her out of drinks.

"Sleep well?" Uzziel asked almost a bit sarcastically as Misha opened the fridge.

Misha glared at Uzziel for his comment. "Yes actually; it was the best sleep I've had in a long time, despite all of you being here." He said pouring some milk into his coffee.

They heard the sounds of Chloe stumbling out of her room, into the bathroom, then the shower started as the uneasy silence fell over the kitchen.
Gabriel, seeming a little more aware at the moment, cocked his head slightly to the left and seemed to half watch Misha getting his coffee. He said nothing, just watched.

Uzziel was watching Misha a little more intently than Gabriel was. Before Misha could even think of leaving the kitchen, Uzziel made sure he lingered a few more moments. "You don't trust us, do you, Misha?" He asked.

Misha paused for a second; taking in what Uzziel said. "No, I don't." He said. "I'm not a naturally trusting person. Besides, I am concerned for Chloe; you seem to create nothing but trouble. I don't want to see her hurt."

Gabriel stopped watching Misha a moment and looked sidelong at Uzziel, Uzziel paused a moment then looked back at Gabriel. Gabriel shook his head just the slightest bit. "Uzziel, coffee." He ordered as he turned his eyes back to Misha.
Uzziel obeyed, going over to the kitchen and getting a mug, filling it with coffee, then going back over to Gabriel. He set the mug down, stuck his hand in his pocket and fished out a little container of cream, pushing in the paper top with his index finger then dumping the cream into Gabriel's mug. He then slid quietly, without a word, behind Gabriel to return to and maintain an expressionless face, still watching Misha. Gabriel picked up the mug, carefully sipping the coffee, though his eyes never left Misha.
They heard Chloe turn off the shower, clatter around in the bathroom a bit, and then there was the sound of a hairdryer turning on.

Eloa's eyes raised up to the sound of the shower coming on. her eyes raised upwards, hearing the sound from some distance within the apartment before settling her eyes down. Apparent that the distrust appeared with the boy's actions and words. 'At least they stay together to protect one another.' She thought simply as she sat back. Her eyes looked to the other angels who seemed to watch the boy with a cautious eye. She wondered why. But no question passed her lips as she exhaled slowly. Closing her eyes as if slowly going in to a meditative state of mind. Whether it was to calm the thoughts that slowly cluttered her mind or just to relax a little more, one could see the state she slowly slipped in to. Her hands opened slightly as if releasing something, yet the meditation was the only thing over taking her mind. She would hold worries later if time called for such an occasion. She even ignored the sound of the blow dry as the slowly slipped away from reality.

Chloe finished drying her hair and hurried into the bedroom to get dressed. She hurried getting dressed as the apartment was a bit chilly and the smell of coffee in the kitchen was tempting her more and more.
She bounded out of the bedroom and through the kitchen door, stopping in her tracks. She was faced with Gabriel and Uzziel, who looked rather... overly watchful. Also there was someone new in the kitchen. Her eyes widened. This new person, a young woman, looking like she had just gotten off the streets, was quietly sitting at the table.
She turned to look at Misha, startled by all of this. He didn't look too comfortable himself.

Misha sort of shrugged at Chloe's confused look. He wasn't quite sure what to say. "We have a new visitor, I dunno her name." He said softly as he took a mug out of the cupboard for her.

Eloa's eyes opened slowly from meditation. She felt as if a dream state had grasped her thoughts as she heard the voice of another female in their presence. She moved slowly as if to close her eyes again before breathing out slowly to fully awaken her sense. Her eyes looked to the female that had entered. 'This must be Chloe.' She thought lightly.

"I'm Eloa." She spoke gently. She felt not need to be cautious of anything unless she felt it. Yet even then she stayed calm as ever. She smiled gently as she looked to the two angels that watched Misha still. Her head shook lightly before she glanced around the kitchen. Apparent that she was still trying to get use to the time period that she now was in.

"Ahh, she has a name; wonderful." Misha said as he set his now empty cup down on the counter. He looked about the room a moment. He really needed a shower, but hated to leave Chloe alone at this time. However, this sulking around in the kitchen needed to end. The sooner they got out of there the better. "Look, I'm going to take a quick shower then we can get this day going. Scream if you need me, Chloe."

Her eyes rested upon boy for his comment. Yet she said nothing. She held no right to. Nor did it bother her. She was just trying to understand the tone that was taken by it. She had a lot to learn by the looks of it. Especially in the sense of personal being in such a world and era as now. She was going to have to work hard on that or keep to herself. She only turned her sights away as she relaxed again in her seat. The aroma of coffee seemed welcoming. But she rose lightly looking to the girl.

"May I get a glass of water?" She asked lightly and softly. She wasn't looking to order or demand. Might as well mix in since she was here.

Chloe looked at this young woman, a bit confused by it all. "Uh, yeah, go ahead. There's some bottled water in the fridge." She said.

"Thank you." She spoke softly. Eloa moved slowly to help herself to a glass as she looked around a little before finding the glasses. Her steps slow as she moved to the fridge. Opening the door to help herself to some water. Her eyes looked over to Chloe.
She watched as Misha exited the room then looked over at Gabriel and Uzziel.
"Umm, Eloa, who are you exactly?"

"I'm an angel." She said gently. "But I'm not like them. Their higher in ranking then me." She reached in to the fridge as she pulled the water out. Walking back to the counter as she poured herself a glass before recapping the bottle and putting it in the fridge. She closed the door lightly before walking to go sit down at the table again. Glass in hand as she took a sip of the cold water. Feeling the refresh taste as it hit her dry mouth.

The corner of Gabriel's lips showed a slight smile as Misha left the room and Eloa explained her situation.

She awoke to the violent shock of music that blurred loudly from her stereo alarm system. Blindly her hands groped for the controller to turn the damn thing off before she turned over to pass out again. Yet again she forgot to set all her alarms off. Only holding the dreadful feelings of another one near by screeching to its arising minute. She nearly wanted to scream as she shot up from her bed. Her eyes looking around the darkness to shut that ear piercing sound off before she broke yet another alarm clock.

Her sleep body raised from the bed as she pulled the covers off to reveal a pair of baggy flannel pants and a baggy white shirt pulled over her body. The feel of the cold floor against Catylina's feet only caused a curse to pass her lips as she walked across the wood flooring to the other side of her room. Viciously she beat the clock in to submission before she found herself seating on the floor by it. She felt no want of walking back to her bed as she let herself fall over and curl up on the spot to go back to sleep. Amazing that she could manage to sleep anywhere she found it fit to be comfortable.

She groaned lightly as she just looked around her room before turning herself, stomach down on the floor. Stretching out on the ground as she looked over the wood paneling and the items that lay forgotten upon its surface. She closed her eyes for a moment before the sound of her door handle clicking made her realize that she was given no choice this morning but to wake up.

"Time to wake up Catylina. Remember we're going to the book store today." That sweet serene voice felled her eyes. Yet it was nothing like the voice of a mother as she laid there. She groaned again as her Aunt Haile only watched her lay there on the ground.

The woman was alright. Told to be only in her middle to late thirties. Yet she only claimed for the last five years of being thirty-two. She could only laugh. A bright woman who was working hard to support herself as well as Catylina. The only child that this single woman knew and loved. Yet Catylina really didn't know how to deal with her. Mother was a name of someone of well knowledge to her. Yet she was, and even blood at that. But here she laid, and there she stood, both knowing that Haile could never fell that void that Catylina had lost in her youth.

She found herself pushing herself up slowly as she rose up and turned to face her as she sat cross legged on her own floor. "I know." Left her lips slowly as she yawned a little to wake her senses up a little more. Her dark eyes falling upon the dark haired woman that came in close resemblance to her mother, yet held no liking personality to her. Her fingers brushed her bedded hair back from her eyes as she finally forced herself up to her feet to go and get ready. She moved grabbing a couple articles of clothing before leaving her room with the clothes one hand and her combat boots in the other. She walked to the bathroom as she started the shower up and got undressed. Stepping with in the warm confines, she found herself out in five minutes. Dried off and dressed she finished washing up and such before slowly heading down the stairs of the townhouse apartment that the two lived in with another life being. The little black and white cat her aunt held.

Catylina stepped in to the aroma filled kitchen as she looked down to see that olive green eyes of her aunt's cat staring up to her. Her body bend down lightly at the knees as she wrapped her arms lightly around the cat and picked it up. She walked over to the table silently taking a seat as her mind still tried to awaken from the dead like sleep she had been in only moments earlier.

Azazel watched the bookstore from across the street hoping those damned angels would get there soon. He hated waiting.
He shifted his weight as he leaned against the lam post, bored beyond belief, wishing that the night before would never had happened

Valefar strolled slowly in the early morning hours to the destination he was told to go to. Hands in pocket, he only smirked when Azazel came in to his line of view. By just standard observations, the guy looked impatient. That devilish smirk only stayed upon his lips as he walked closer.

"Is it just more or are you impatient about this job?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice as he drew closer to his fell fallen angel. He started coming to a slow stop as his eyes looked to the bookstore. The destination at heart, that would soon be under some sort of attack. His hand pulled from his pocket as he popped something in to his mouth. It was only then the true item that lay between his lips as he pulled a lighter from his pocket and light the cigarette up. The shimmering black metal looked old fashion. Even the metal spark wheel was old. Maybe of the 50's. But one couldn't place it. All he remember was stealing it off some guy before the mafia got a hold of him. And well, he knew the end that came to that man.

The aroma scent of clove leaves could be smelt from the thinly rolled cigarette as his fingers took grasp of it and pulled it from his mouth after the inhale. He slowly exhaled out with patience as he looked to Azazel.

"How are you this wondrous morning?" He spoke. But not in the terms of a question more then a motto. That smirk never seemed to leave his own lips unless in deep thought as he moved to the wall. Back up against it as he face Azazel.

Azazel snorted a bit at Valefar's question. "Kidnapping isn't my game." He grumbled. "And frankly, I could care less about Lucifer's little ambitions. I should have been the Prince of Hell, not him, I was the first to fall, but no, I got bound in a desert, he got the throne of hell." He snatched the clove from Valefar, took a drag and then handed it back. "I just want to get it over with and get my hands on that girl."

Valefar felt a niche of anger burn in him as Azazel took his cigarette away. For a moment he thought his cigarette was going to be tossed out but relaxed when Azazel only took a puff from the end. The cherry only seemed to burn slowly as the smoke and scent of clover slowly lingered around them.

"Well stop whining about the whole 'I should be the prince' bull crap. Look at it this way Azazel, there would be chaos among the ranks if no order was given. Somehow Lucifer manages to maintain that order. How he doesn't I don't know. I don't want to know." He answered simply to his statement. "As for kidnapping, not my thing either. But look there are only two of use. And Lucifer will only get his hands dirt if its something really big. Otherwise were his little puppets to please." Valefar spoke lightly and honestly. Yet loyalty was strong with him.

Catylina waited outside for her aunt. A hoodie resting around her for warm seemed to provide enough for now. A beanie lay resting upon her head for the day. She wasn't looking to impress anyone for today anyway. She moved lightly putting her hands over her ears to keep them warmed up as she sat on the edging. Eyes just looking to everything that lay around her. She wished she had a camera for the moments she saw in life that she favored the most. By she had broken the lens a while back so that seemed long from the picture. At least she had memories of them. She just need the skills to draw them out on paper. Not one of her many good talents.

"Lets get going." She heard her aunt tell her as she stepped from the town home. Her hands lay in her pockets as she rose up and starting walking towards her aunts car. Slipping inside she felt the air hit her hard before she turned the vent away and looked out the window. Placing the seat belt on she leaned back in her seat as she felt her mind try and fade back in to sleep. She could hear the engine start and feel the car roll yet the drive would stay silent. Especially at this hour in the morning. At least her aunt had the radio station on something tolerable.

Misha came back into the kitchen; showered; and looking considerably less dirty than before.
"Well, ready when you are." He mumbled as Chloe checked her watch.
"It is about time to head out, or I'll be late." Chloe said downing her coffee and heading out of the kitchen followed by Misha.

Gabriel carefully stood up, Uzziel stepping back a step to get out of his way. He took a quick glance over at Eloa as he headed for the door too, with Uzziel a step behind him.

Eloa finished her own glass of water as she rose up from her seat putting the glass near the sink as she looked back over to Gabriel who looked her way. She could only follow a few feet behind the too. Hands in pocket again as she started walking with them. The day looked beautiful so far. No matter how bad or good a day was, she always managed to find something in it that made it easy to deal with in life.

Chloe, a little freaked out by the line of creatures following her out the door, grabbed her jacket and opened the front door. She picked up Misha's too, throwing it to him.
Gabriel paused a moment before exiting, Uzziel went on past him through the door. Gabriel swung around a long black wool coat from out of no where. He looked at Eloa a moment, wearing that thin jacket and a couple of shirts. He knocked his head to the side, getting the bangs out of his eyes, then stopped Eloa and gently draped the coat over her shoulders.
"Chloe says it's a bit cold." He said as he carefully smoothed the coat over her.

Eyes wondering, she felt like a newborn child to this world. It looked the same. It felt the same. Yet so much had changed since her last time on earth. Gabriel was right about the things that appeared. Yes she had been there when the first hints of cars started to come in, but looking to the advancements that lay before her now on the streets just shocked her. The sights of different clothes were new as well. No beaded dresses. Different types of suits. She could help but become curious about such things. But the curiosity of thoughts were shattered as she felt some fall upon her shoulders. Her mind came spinning back to the hear and now as she looked to see Gabriel supplying a jacket for her. It was strange, yet only natural for them.

"Oh. Thank you." She had been caught of guard through. She had yet to notice the chill air until it was brought to mind by what he said. It was cold outside. She smiled lightly and nodded to the archangel. She pulled it around her a little more as she walked with them.

Azazel's attention was suddenly shifted back to the street where he noticed Gabriel as well as the human girl, along with Uzziel, an angel he did not recognize (must have been a newer one), and some homeless boy coming down the street. He smiled a bit an motioned to Valefar to step back out of the way, trying to get beyond Gabriel's notice.
Oh how smug Gabriel looked. That arrogance always got to him. An angel out of grace should not be so cocky. It was supposed to be a demeaning station, a time to feel sorry and repent for sins, but not Gabriel, he never seemed to show that, he almost seemed to relish in that renegade angel act.
"Don't let them notice us..." He said softly.

His eyes shifted to see the people. The girl, Gabriel, Uzziel, and some angel he had never seen before. Then the boy followed as well. All seemed to be watching over her as he judged each angel. He moved with Azazel, following his actions as he moved away from eyes view of any of the angels. He only laughed to himself and snickered lightly at the cocky attitude Gabriel seemed to present. Fallen it seemed. Something was missing from this angel, yet what it was, was with out a doubt there. But denied from all causes of life.

Chloe unlocked the door to the store, went around the counter and flipped on the lights. "I guess everyone can make themselves comfortable." She said as she went back to the backroom where the safe was to get the drawer out of it.
Coming back out, she opened the cash drawer, slid it in, then went over and turned the sign to open. She never bothered opening the store properly, as no one ever came in that early in the morning, so she showed up last minute, got out the drawer, and did the paperwork after she opened.
She involved herself in doing the busy work on the laptop on the counter as Misha curled himself up in the back room and turned on the little TV kept back there, volume low so he could hear everything else.
Gabriel and Uzziel amused themselves in the back of the store, rearranging the books. Gabriel was sitting on the floor, Uzziel standing and occasionally handing him books to put on the lower shelves.

(it was too big for one post lol thats why)

."That's the spirit old boy!" Valefar boasted out. A laughter pasted his lips as he regained his balance after the dirty little trick Gabriel pulled. They seemed to be matched perfectly for such a playing field. Valefar was never one to play fair with anything. The white of his teeth showed as he smirked. His legs moved slightly as his changed his stance and moved quickly without letting his eyes off Gabriel. He moved as he pulled his sword away to aim for Gabriel's leg. Yet something appeared in his other hand, as if he pulled it from his back. A spade appeared in hand as he raised it above his head to bring it down on Gabriel.

Gabriel dodged backwards, but was stopped from going to far by a demon right behind him. He noticed at that time the sense of Uzziel dropping off, cut off from the murmur of angels that created background noise in his head. He then knew it was a set up. They weren't after Chloe, they were after Uzziel... and him?
Gabriel dropped himself to the floor, not in enough time as Valefar's spade connected with him, stunning him.

He felt the spade come down on Gabriel. Contact was made and he could see the stunned appearance as Gabriel realized what they had been after. A smirk appeared across his face, pulling his spade back.

"Good fight, for an angel out of grace." He laughed as he disappeared off the plane of existence. Calling his demons with him. Only appearing outside on the street again with Azazel.

"Lets get him out of here before Gabriel comes." Valefar said as he moved closer to Azazel. His sword was stealth. But his arm moved back as he stealth the spade away.

Azazel nodded in agreement with Valefar, standing around here could be a bad thing, if Gabriel didn't come out after them, he was certain Gabriel would soon summon up an angel, more than likely Raphael, who could bring more trouble along.
He slung Uzziel over his shoulder. "Damn, he's heavier than he looks." He grumbled, then started laughing. "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to hell we go!" He sang out as he summoned up the energy to slip himself and Uzziel off of earth.

Valefar moved, turning back and looking to see if any angel had followed them out of the two that lay inside. He moved turning back as he moved up to join Azazel. The plan worked, and their key prize lay passed out over Azazel's shoulder. Valefar's eyes looked back to Azazel and only laughed.

"Interesting." Was all that left his lips. He found himself laughing when Azazel started to sing. His head turned from side to side lightly in disagreement with the song as he summoned the energy up to slip himself back to hell and from earth.

The store was suddenly devoid of all things demonic. Gabriel sat himself up and looked around.
They had Uzziel. But everyone else was fine.
He looked over at Eloa, she was fine.
"Raphael...." He called out softly. "I need you, it's a mess down here."

Eloa looked around, the demons had dispersed. Her breath heavy as she looked around. Her eyes looked back to the elder of the two humans. One was passed out, yet the girl sat upon the ground. Whether in shock just relaxing her emotions. Eloa moved resting the bottom of her staff on the ground as she leaned slightly against it. 'What was that all about?' She thought lightly as she looked around the shop. Something was missing. Uzziel wasn't there. Her eyes looked to Gabriel who looked defeated in some way. But it wasn't her place to tell as she slowly walked over to Gabriel.

"Are you alright?" She asked as she moved closer. She would let the other two humans settle in their shock. It wasn't her decision as of yet to have erase their minds unless Gabriel gave the word.

Catylina moved. Breathing heavy as her legs gave from under her. It felt like a dream. 'What just happened?' She looked around her as the thought came to mind before her eyes settled on her aunt who laid passed out. She moved slowly, crawling the last few inches towards the slumbering body as she let everything slowly sink in. She still couldn't find her voice. Whether stunned or in shock. She felt no need to explore either reason as she just realized what she saw. Her eyes looked back once she settled near her aunt. The windows were shattered. Broken. Gone. And so where the demons that had followed.

Gabriel looked up at Eloa." Well, my headache is worse now." He told her, trying hard to make it sound light, but failing. His hand inadvertently touched his head where Valefar had connected with him. He was bleeding, pretty sure his skull was cracked, but it didn't matter, he was an angel, that is of no consequence. His blood was matting into his hair, when he drew his hand back, his fingers were covered in blood. He sighed. "They took Uzziel..." His voice was soft, sad, with a touch of worry to it. "They must not have been after Chloe, it was Uzziel." He looked over at Haile and Catylina. "They'll be all right in a moment, but what of you?"
Before Eloa was able to answer, Gabriel's attention was suddenly turned to the door. Raphael came hurrying through the now broken door of the store, his bright blue eyes taking in the entire scene all at once. Those eyes widened as he comprehended the need for Gabriel calling him. He rushed over to Gabriel. "Oh Gabe..." He said dropping down on the floor next to him.

Eloa could see the wound that bled openly. Damage had been done as she understood his answer a bit more to her question. She moved to gain closer but was stopped when Gabriel spoke. 'Uzziel...gone.' She found herself thinking as she looked to all the damage that had been done. 'Was that the reason for the attack?' She looked around as her staff still stayed in hand. She moved to kneel down and help Gabriel with his wounds. Her eyes still appeared wide and aware of all that lay around her. She was about to answer his question when Raphael came in. Her head bowed softly in his honor as well as appearance. She moved lightly knowing that Raphael held the abilities to heal. She moved slowly as she looked back tot he two shaken humans.

Gabriel shook his head. "Check on the humans over there first and Eloa, Eloa, are you all right?" He repeated his question not remembering he had already asked her. "I'll be fine." He mumbled to Raphael.
Raphael looked at him a moment, then got up, heading for Haile and Catylina. He knew this wasn't the moment to argue with Gabriel, he was right, he'd be fine, the humans on the other hand were another story, they needed looked at first.

The order came clear and Eloa obeyed as she rose up to her feet to attend to the humans. Her body stopped as she looked back to Gabriel. A gently nodded came with her response, "I'm a little shaken up. But no damage was done." Her voice held a sincerity of peace yet a childish innocence at the moment as she turned to aid to the humans. She laid her staff down as she bend down behind one of the humans. The woman was out. The ability to clean her mind would be easy if word was given. Yet the teenager looked shaken up.

"I'll leave you to heal them, Raphael. I need to check with Gabriel on something dealing with them though." She spoke gently as she took her staff. Disassembling it as she walked closer to Gabriel. She put them criss-cross on her back before they seemed to disappear in to nothing.

Chloe and Misha pushed open the door to the back room, Misha peering out a moment, then both exited.
"What on earth happened?" Chloe asked.

Eloa kneeled down before Gabriel. Her eyes looked to Chloe as she questioned the archangel. She moved slowly as if reaching in to the back pocket of her jeans to pull out a pure white clothe for him to hold over the wound.

Gabriel mulled over her question a moment trying to come up with an answer. "It seems hell wanted to get a hold of Uzziel. I don't know why." He said. "But there has to be something behind it. It can't be just taking Uzziel, it can't be."
"God... it's a mess in here..." Chloe mumbled looking around the store.
"I'll fix it, don't worry." Gabriel said.

Raphael carefully went up to Haile and Catylina, trying not to startle the two shaken humans. Haile was unconscious, but he looked over at Catylina first. He brushed his wild blonde hair out of his eyes as he knelt down beside her. "Don't worry..." He said in a soft, sweet voice. "I'm a doctor." Mentally, he added 'Sort of...' to the statement. Sure he didn't have a human's medical training, he didn't need it, he was the one who taught the humans medicine originally. He knew more about the human body and how it worked than any person or angel.
For that matter, he knew more about the angelic essence than any angel as well.
He could detect the normal disbelief in Catylina's eyes. He looked far too young to have been a doctor, but that was just looks, and his style was far too unprofessional as well. He was wearing a pair of worn jeans and a casual, blue silk shirt, his hair was utterly unruly (it always had been), and it didn't help that he had a sapphire stud pierced into his right ear. He looked too young, too casual to be a doctor to humans, but he had more knowledge and more experience than any human doctor could.
He grimaced a bit noting all the cuts from the glass. Catylina didn't look to be hurt too badly, and she was in shock over what happened, so she probably wasn't really feeling any pain through the adrenaline at the moment. It seemed that both would be easy enough to fix over since they weren't caught in the brunt of the chaos.

Catylina seemed to out of it to notice the girl that slipped behind her aunt. Her mind was still spinning and her worries only held her. She feared for her aunt. Her body nearly jumped when she heard the words that left some new guys mouth. Everything seemed to gravitate together now as it all smashed together in her mind. Her breath gasped lightly as she moved away from her aunt and settled her back against the bookshelf. Memories flashed and life just seemed to ladel in the moment. She looked to the guy who claimed he was a doctor.

"Is she alright?" Came out softly and in a whisper. Her voice had returned after everything that happened. She could feel the tears of fear slowly slide down her cheeks as she tried to understand what could have happened if she hadn't reacted the way she did. She felt her head lay back as she closed her eyes for a moment.

Raphael frowned in sympathy at Catylina. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped the tear off her cheek. "She's going to be fine." He said. "Here now, give me your left arm, you've got a pretty bad cut there." Gently he took her arm and wrapped a bandage around it, never minding that the bandage came literally out of thin air. He tried to get her to not focus on the pain and the previous events, though it was difficult, humans tended to fix onto things.

"What where those things?" She looked to him as her mind finally settled down from the adrenaline that had surged only seconds before in her body. Her hands started to shake lightly as she fisted them up to stop the shaking. Then the stinging of the pain became present to her mind. 'So much for mind over matter.' She thought lightly as she felt the few cuts she had received from the glass. Her hands moved slowly looking over the visible cuts that she could see at the moment so far.

Catylina's eyes looked to Raphael as she felt the tear wipe away before looking to her aunt. She moved lightly giving her his arm. She felt helpless again. Like when she was five. The worse day of her life and she remembered it well. As if everything happened yesterday.

"Never you mind what those things were." He said. "Just apply pressure to that cut so you don't go all light headed or something." He smiled his trademarked sweet smile. No one could smile quite like Raphael, he had the most beautiful smile in all of creation.

It was a Saturday in late November. The excitement that filled her was shattered. She had been with her mother and father that day at the store. Christmas shopping had started and she was allowed to help shop for her cousins, even through she knew nothing of what she was doing. But she had seen a man talk to her father. Speaking of just regular thing and life. But an uncomforting feeling befell her that day as it did this one. She couldn't really place the man. But the ominous feeling hung in the air. That day a shooting took place. A disagreement that got far out of hand. No one saw it coming. No one expected it as her parents talked with the man a few more minutes before saying their good-byes. Only with in those precious seconds the rounds started flying. Her father moved to protect her mother who had gotten hit without his knowledge, and he only followed a few minutes later in a scuffle to get the gun out of the young guys hands.

She felt herself shutter slightly as if she work up finally from a nightmare that seemed to never leave her mind as she felt the wrap around her arm. Slowly it coved the wound, but the pain was starting up. She could feel the deepness of the wound that lay in her left arm.

"Ouch..." She let out softly. She looked to him. "But I can't forget...I've had this happen before..." She only spoke lightly. Her aunt called it a gift. She could feel things before they happened, they were always bad. Yet she couldn't look to it as a gift when that ominous feeling seemed to bother her and throw her days off. She nodded lightly as she listened to his instructions. Her other hand moved over the wound as she applied pressure to it. Her eyes raised up as that a sweet smile feel on his lips. For some reason that made her smile as she looked to him.

Raphael bit his lower lip. Usually the words were enough to push the memory from a humans mind, but this one was tough, she was resistant. It was a rare case that was able to resist Raphael. He looked her in the eyes. "Just don't think about it." He said ordering her, though it never sounded like an order. He frowned again. She was still resisting him. "Keep applying the pressure, Catylina, I have to look at your aunt." He moved over to Haile. He didn't wake her, not yet, not until Eloa had taking away the memory of what had happened. However, he did quickly healed over all her cuts and wounds.

"Gabriel?" She spoke his name softly and low. "I need to know if you want their," Her head inclined to the two humans, "memories of those few moments removed?" She looked to him as she reached lightly and placed the cloth gently against the bleeding wound.

Gabriel's eyes followed Eloa's indication to the humans for a moment, then brought his gaze back to her. He sucked in a sharp breath as she touched the cloth to his head. "Ouch..." He said softly, a bit surprised it hurt as much as it did, but he didn't fight against her. He chuckled a bit at himself. His normal reaction, even when Raphael, who was well versed in healing Gabriel as taking care of him, with all the scrapes he got into pretty much was a full time job for the angel of healing, was to not allow someone to touch him. He didn't like to show the weakness of pain, but he didn't draw back from Eloa.
Raphael's attention turned momentarily from the humans to Gabriel and Eloa, a slight smile played on his lips before he turned back to them.
"We're going to have to take the memory of this." Gabriel said to Eloa, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is not their fight, they should not have been involved. Apparently, this is between me and hell, I can't let innocents carry the burden of it, I just can't." He paused a moment cringing from the pain, feeling as if he was about to pass out, and fighting it at every moment. He focused himself on looking Eloa in the eyes.

Eloa didn't seemed bother by the sound of pain that passed through Gabriel's lips as she held the cloth there. The blood slowly soaking in to the cloth as she looked to him. Hearing the soft chuckle that came from him. She moved slowly only getting a little closer to adjust herself to a comfortable position as she held the cloth. Only lifting it softly to check the wound and the severity of its extents. It appeared deep, but she couldn't tell as the blood slowly felled in the dry air again. She slowly placed the cloth down.

"Alright." She nodded finally receiving the answer to her question. Her eyes looked over to Raphael and the two humans he aided then back to Gabriel as she nodded. She listened to him as he spoke. She could only concur with him on what he spoke of. Looking to hell, she saw that they held no right to destroy a precious life that God had given these humans. They didn't understand what had been given to them, but she knew God still loved them just as he loved his angels. Or that's how she was taught to believe. Her eyes looked down to Gabriel as she locked eyes with him. Concern and worry only plagued her for the wound he received.

"You know, sometimes it makes a warrior stronger to show his pain." She spoke gently. "Not the fact it makes a man weak. But the fact that it makes them alive and well." She spoke lightly as she moved slowly, diverting her eyes to look to his wound and check on it.

Gabriel looked down at the floor when Eloa spoke of showing pain. He was the worst of all of them about trying to hide it. "Archangels are like that." He said.
"No we aren't!" Raphael yelled from across the store. Amazingly the humans did not notice this.
Gabriel pursed his lips and shot a look at Raphael. Gently he tried to push her hand away from his head, his fingers trembling a bit.

Catylina heard his words. 'Don't think about it...huh.' She found her thoughts just replaying the old memories now along with a comparison of the new ones that had just formed from the events that took place only minutes ago. Her eyes shot to him instantly as he spoke her name.

"How did you know my name?" Now she questioned something new. Her mind came to a shocking focus on him. Most would still be spinning about such an event not to think about it. But through all this she specifically remembered never speaking her name to anybody within the store. Her aunt never even spoke her name through out the events. Her body moved slowly as her hand applied pressured like told. She stood up shaking her head to whatever answer he gave.

"I never spoke my name..." She said as her mind started to take its stubborn path as it started to straighten everything out. Her eyes looked over to Gabriel now. She had caught a glimpse of something that only made sense of everything. 'How can he be here?' She looked around as if looking for the face she barely caught a glimpse at in all the commotion.

Eloa looked to Gabriel as he spoke. A soft laugh passed her lips now as Raphael replied to Gabriel's opinion. She looked down to him as she watched his hand raise up.

"If you wish for me to stop helping you I will. Just say the word." She spoke lightly as her hand moved up slow. Slipping slightly between his hair to at least take his pain away. Something she rarely use, she wasn't even allowed to use most of the time. She would hear about it later from heaven. Her eyes closed slowly for a moment as her hand rested near the temple of his head. She breathed slowly as she felt the pain slip in to her. She pulled away slowly as she took his pain on to her so he wouldn't feel it. She reeled back away from him as she came to sit back on the ground. Eloa's head started to spin from the pain, yet she found some way to manage it and deal with it slowly after taking it from the archangel. She would certainly hear from heaven later on this. What punishment she would receive? She couldn't really tell, but would accept it for what she just did.

Raphael's head snapped over to the direction of Eloa and Gabriel, a horrified look on his face. "Eloa!" He yelled as she placed her hand on Gabriel's temple. "Don't!" He quickly turned back to Catylina. "I'll explain later, just stay right here, please." He jumped to his feet and ran over to the two angels as Eloa started reeling backwards. "Shit!" He hissed.
Gabriel sat staring at her, wide eyed in shock. "Damn... she survived that..." He muttered. "Eloa...?"
Raphael fell to his knees beside her. He gently turned her face to him and looked into her eyes. "That was not a wise move." He whispered. "You don't know exactly how much pain an archangel can handle, he could have killed you." He ran his fingers across her forehead, doing his best to take away the pain she took from Gabriel.
"Eloa, are you all right?" Gabriel asked leaning forward. He reached out as if to touch her, but stopped, just before reaching her, and gasped.
Something was happening.
Gabriel froze as he suddenly became aware of Uzziel again, knowing exactly where he was... and knowing exactly how much pain he was in. He screamed in intense pain, though it quickly subsided, he still sat frozen in place, his eyes held a terrorfide look.
Raphael was looking at him, torn between helping Eloa and helping Gabriel. "Uzziel...?" He asked.
Gabriel nodded slightly at his words. He shivered. "They took him to hell. Lucifer has him." He said softly. But rage grew in his face. "I'll kill him!" He yelled standing. "I will fucking kill him! How dare he do that! No one takes Uzziel, no one!"
Raphael stood as well, eyes on Gabriel. "Gabriel, calm down." He said.
"I will not calm down!" Gabriel yelled back.
"Yes, you will, because right now, we have to worry about these humans." Raphael said calmly. "And most importantly, at the moment, Eloa."
"I'm going to tear down hell." Gabriel growled turning away from Raphael.
"No you aren't."
Gabriel turned to face Raphael again, his eyes angry. He looked as if he was about to say something but didn't. "No..." He said suddenly softly, the anger draining from his face. "You're right, I can't. I'm not allowed to set foot in hell while I'm out of grace. Out of grace I have no protection down there, I'd never make it through hell." He sighed. "And I'll never get Uzziel back."
Raphael sighed too. "Look, Gabe, I really can't do this now." He said. "I've got a lot to attend to. All I can say at this moment is, in grace or out, Uzziel isn't supposed to be down there by force. One way or another, you'll get Uzziel back. You will find a way."
Gabriel just closed his eyes.
Raphael kneeled back down by Eloa. "Eloa, are you all right?"

Eloa's eyes closed tightly, she had learned so far to only concentrate on the pain at hand instead of all pain that a human held. Her head was pounding, yet she was only reeling back to herself again as Gabriel watched. Her hand moved to her head as her legs came crossed under her. Some how she was dealing with it, tears slowly feel from her as she held in the cries of pain. She had felt worse. That she did remember that, but where? She couldn't really tell. From time to time flashbacks came. Her body at the foot of a large shadow, a crowd lay around her as she looked up to the skies that had turn red that day. She remember how heaven raged when God's mortal son died. She was told of it. Yet memories never served her as fully being correct.

Her breath slightly ridged as found the strong hold to control the pain as it helped with Raphael's touch. "No but I do know how much a human can suffer." She spoke in a soft whisper to Raphael. She found her breath slowly coming to control as she moved slowly praying. Her finally opened to look to Raphael's eyes. The color of dark brown had shifted to a clear peaceful blue. Rather strange for an angel, yet they did that out of natural habit. She looked over a little to Gabriel as he asked the question, moving out to reach for her before he stopped. Still it seemed to a few minutes before the scream came. That she couldn't feel. She had only taken his human pain for the time being. She could do nothing to stop the intense pain he looked in. The violent pain that grasped him now. 'Was he that strongly connected with Uzziel?' She asked herself past the pain. Then hell came in to the picture. She had heard of Lucifer. Remembered something about him but couldn't really recall it at the moment. Her eyes watched the conflict that seemed to rise internally in Gabriel. Anger seemed to surface as Raphael tried to calm him down. She spoke no words for a couple more minutes as she let her mind settle and the vague memories subside.

"Yeah. I've held worse then this." She spoke softly with a gentle nodded of the head. Grateful that she had dealt with worse. She couldn't claim this to be bad at all. She moved slowly as she leaned her head down. Her eyes closed again as she breathed out slowly. A soft laugh came to her lips. "A side splitting headache, but it can be dealt with later. I need to get to clearing there minds." Her eyes opened as she nodded to the two humans.

"The aunt looks like she'll be easy to clear. But its the girl I'm worried on. How was she with you Raphael?" She asked lightly as she seemed to slip from the being aided to needing her job done.

Raphael turned to look to the humans as Eloa spoke of them. He decided not to push her with dealing with her pain, it seemed she could handle it now, and he never liked to force an angel. Besides, sometimes the best medicine was to let an angel get to the task at hand and focus on their work, rather than try to heal them himself.
"Well, the girl we might have to put out for a few minutes." Raphael said. "She is very resistant, and being conscious she may not be easy to work with. She resisted my words, I've never had a human resist my words before. There's something about that one. I hate to put her out, but it may be the only thing we can do."
He paused for a brief moment and moved closer to Eloa. "Eloa, you don't have to do this." He said. "I know you were ordered to aid Gabriel, but especially now, I'm afraid of what he might get you into. He is a handful, especially right now, I don't know where his mind is going to go at any given time, but he's been stuck out of heaven for 27 years and though that's not a long time, he's at the brink of insanity from having been out of His sight for so long." He paused a moment.

Eloa listened to Raphael as she looked to the girl. She pretty much seemed resistant to anything around her. Yet she watched them. Her eyes stared to all of them. She wondered what went through the girls mind. She could have a like but didn't like doing that. She always suffered later for it. She moved lightly as she felt her body comfort with the pain.

"Resistant...I wonder why?" She asked herself out loud. "She looks certain of something. And she keeps looking to us." She looked back to Raphael. She moved lightly and slowly. She felt no need to find herself on the ground again from the pain. "We're going to have to. If she's that resistant in being awake then it would appear easier to put her to sleep. I'll need the aid there. I don't want her body going back in to shock so soon. Will you help me Raphael?" She asked lightly.

Raphael nodded at the request for his help. He had to agree with her, Catylina's shock could make her take a turn.
"I wish I knew why she was resistant, there's something there, though, something, you're right in the way that she looks at us..."
"All you have to do is tell me and I'll have you taken off this. No consequences, no punishments." Raphael said. "In the end, if I say it's not a healthy situation for you, then no one will even consider holding it against you. After all, Raphael knows best." He smiled sweetly at her. "You were awfully close to seeing inside Gabriel's head, and that's something I don't know if it's right to risk. Just tell me, tell me if you want out of this, it's your choice."

She didn't expect to hear the next thing. Her eyes looked to Raphael in question as he spoke to her of getting out of the project at hand. She listened to him. Hanging on to every word he spoke as her hands slipped in to her pocket. The thought of getting out of it sounded nice but she had a job to do. She wasn't going to back out of it now. She only smiled gently to the sweet smile. A shake of her head only followed his offer.

"No. I was sent hear on his command to what the others told me. I'm not going to back out. Yes insanity seems to be appear present in him." She looked to Gabriel, " But its the fact that he feels left out. God doesn't favor the humans over us, but loves them equally as us. Its the fact of understanding how to live in existence with man with out feeling the lost of love. We serve God as they do. But even angels get lost sometimes." She spoke in truth. She returned her glance to Raphael. "He'll find his way back. The majority always do when they come to understand what God has created and given to us as well as man." She spoke softly. Her hand slightly slide the curls back from her line of sight for a second before her eyes turned to the girl.

He took a moment to watch Catylina as Eloa gave him his answer to leaving this mission behind. He slowly turned his head back to her as she said 'No'. He nodded. "Gabriel does always find his way back." He said softly. "Sometimes he just needs someone to lead him in the right direction. They always said I was the emotional archangel, but I'm not, not really, Gabe is, he just hides it well."

"Thank you." She spoke softly to the archangel before her as she looked back to the girl. Apparently her eyes still watched before turning away to attend to her aunt again. Trying to awake her. Her eyes turned back to Raphael as he spoke of Gabriel.

"That's anybody really. There is always that one stepping stone in life that helps start you on the right path again. No matter how small or big of an effect that person holds on a person. It will always change the decision a person holds in life, as well as their future paths." She spoke gently to Raphael. "Gabriel, are you alright?" She asked gently. She could see some sort of hurt in him. Maybe disappointment for losing the track of an angel. She could only ask.

Gabriel turned to look at Eloa when she asked if he was all right. He had been ignoring everything around him, thinking on how he could get Uzziel back, she had snapped him back to the here and now. "Yeah, yeah..." He said absently and then shook his head as if he was trying to clear something out of it. "Go on and help the humans." He said.

"Alright." She nodded gently. Her eyes looked back to Gabriel as he answered her question. He seemed a little out of it as she looked to him. Yet he seemed to snap back to reality as he spoke.

As he started to turn around again. He stopped. "Eloa, wait..." He suddenly said then stepped closer to her.

She was about to move to attend to her job before he called her name. She stopped in her spot again as she looked to Gabriel. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek in a brotherly sort of way. "Thank you." He whispered in her ear. "Thank you for what you did, I hope I didn't hurt you too much."

She didn't expect the brotherly kiss on her cheek. It was different as she smiled gently and nodded.

"Not at all." She whispered gently back to him. She pulled away from him and nodded her head again before moving away to attend to the humans. "How is she?" She asked softly as she moved to the elder first. She came from behind her to level the woman's head on her lap. She moved her hands slowly on the woman's forehead. Digging gently through her memories to find the one that had just occurred. Slowly she started to erase the memory and replace it with something new.

Catylina looked to the girl that came to check on them. She didn't know whether to trust her or not after what just happened. But the girl did help her to protect her aunt, so maybe she was alright. Her hand rested on her arm as it kept the pressure even and leveled.

"Alright. To what he said." She nodded her head to Raphael as she just watched the girl.

Raphael moved over to help Eloa with humans, trying hard not to break her concentration on Haile. He knelt down next to Catylina and gently moved her hand from the bandage. "Let me have a look at it." He said as she complied. "Good... doesn't seem to have any glass in it..." He trailed off a bit feeling something from the girl that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Something in the way she was looking at him. He looked into her eyes.
Gabriel was noticing it to, his attention turned from the thoughts of Uzziel and now to the girl. His head was tilted a bit to the left as he studied her. He took a few steps closer. "Raph..." He said trying not to interrupt Eloa either, so he spoke softly. "She can see our halos."
Raphael looked up at Gabriel. He was right, that is what it was that made her look at them as though she recognized them. "Gabriel, come here." He said waving his hand towards the girl.
Gabriel came over to them, kneeling down beside Raphael. He looked into Catylina's eyes. Raphael held his breath in anticipation. If Catylina truly had the gift to see an angel's halo, the one that she'd most recognize was Gabriel, because she had seen him once before. Every human had seen Gabriel once in their life, every baby met him just before they were born, though not one of them remembered it. That is, unless they possessed the gift to see the truth of the being that stood before them looking like an average human when it really wasn't an average human.
"Catylina...?" Gabriel asked softly. "Do you remember me?"

Catylina looked to Raphael as he kneeled next to her. Her eyes looked down to see his hands move her's away from the wound. Her dark eyes raised up to look to the guy before her. She could see a glow come from him. Something that seemed unnatural for a human to have, but she noticed it among a very few. She always thought it was just her and her eyes were messed up in some way. Yet these three people had it. Her eyes rose to see the glow a bit more strong around the male that was coming towards her. She seemed to study all them as well. She felt like some lab experiement as they looked to her. Her eyes seemed to focus on Gabriel as he came to the two. She remembered him. Where from, she couldn't really tell. But she knew him or met him at some point in her youth. She could feel the question of how they knew her name slip in to her mind as Gabriel asked her a question.

"Sort of..." She spoke with a little caution of word. "I remember your voice...and some features...but I don't know from where..." She seemed a bit preplexed as to how she knew him. She couldn't recall metting him. Yet she remembered him for some reason. "Have we met before?" She asked him as she raised her sights up to look to Gabriel.

Eloa moved slowly as she felt the memory completely erased and replaced with a new one. Her eyes looked down as she let a soft breath out. As if she had been holding it through out the process. She had managed to come in on part of Raphael and Gabriel's conversation. Something about seeing halos. She looked a little confused herself as she looked to Raphael who seemed excited by something and Gabriel who appeared curious. They looked to the girl with a general look of curiosity before she looked to her. Noticing just now how the girl was looking to all of the angels that stood in the store. She looked to her with a curiosity and questionable look as she realized what they were talking about. 'Can she see our halos?' She asked herself lightly as she kept her aunt's head on her lap. The ability to tell the truth from what lay naturally hidden from human eyes, a rare gift to receive indeed. Sometimes born to few, sometimes handed down in the bloodline. But no matter she held a gift if she answered the question that Gabriel proposed to her.

Eloa's eyes widened as she looked to the other two. Nobody really remembered meeting Gabriel before birth unless they possessed such a gift. And this girl seemed to as she answered Gabriel with some knowledge of remembrance. She felt excitement blossom in her as she looked to the girl.

Have we met before?'... the question brought a small smile to Gabriel's lips. "Do you believe in angels, Catylina?"
Raphael looked over to Gabriel with a bit of a frown. He always wished that Gabe would just answer a damn question with an answer, not another question, and not go around testing people's faith.
Gabriel didn't notice Raphael's frown, which was probably for the better.

Catylina looked to the smile that was brought to his lips. Was he mocking her? She shrugged lightly as she through on the question. Taking her time to understand it.

"I believe in them. But I don't know if they're really or not." She spoke gently as she looked to Gabriel again. "Why do you ask?" She really didn't see how that related to her question. Her eyes looked to Raphael and noticed the frown that crossed his face then looked to Gabriel again.

"I don't see how it relates to my question." She said lightly. A light shake came from her head as she watched Gabriel again.

"Stubborn..." Gabriel mumbled. "Every question I ask is related the question I was asked." Raphael smacked Gabriel's arm, Gabriel turned to him and glared a second before turning back to Catylina. "I asked because you have met me, before you were born. I told you the secrets of the universe, prepared your soul for what lay ahead outside your mother's womb, then I made you forget. I'm an angel, Catylina, so is Raphael and Eloa." He nodded slightly to Eloa. "So you're going to have to believe angels are real. We're sitting here right in front of you. Only you have the ability to see who we really are, you are one of the rare souls of humankind that possesses a gift from God that can see the halo of an angel. There has been very few like you..." He paused a moment. "You might think it's a curse, it's not, trust me, it's a blessing."

She moved lightly looking to Raphael as he hit Gabriel in the arm. Her eyes looked to him questioningly as she slowly looked back to Gabriel. She listened closely on what he had to say. And every word he said made him sound crazy and was trying to drag her into his world. Yet she couldn't argue since she held some faint recognition of him. Her eyes looked over to Raphael and then Eloa. Studying the two of them for a moment before coming back to Gabriel again.

"Why was I chosen for this?" She asked looking to him. Though she still didn't see it as a gift. She couldn't see how when she sensed some sort of end to her parents life and even now. "Wait...don't answer that. You might say God has some great plan for me." She moved slowly to think.

Gabriel was about to answer Catylina's question on why, but decided not to when she asked him not to. To be honest, he didn't know why, that's just the way it was. Was it random or by design, he didn't know, just accepted that it happened and he'd never be given a reason why. At least that got him out of telling her that he didn't know.
"Alright." She thought a bit more, "Have you heard of anybody named Malefar then?" The question only came with great thought. If they knew who he was, what he did maybe then she could trust them. But if they were all crazy then that would only prove it.

Eloa felt the excitement grow before she could feel the rhythmic breathing break. Her eyes looked down to the woman. "Um....Raphael. She's waking up." She spoke a little nervous as the woman's mind slowly started coming to. Her eyes looked to Catylina asked a question of why she was chosen, yet brushed it off like nothing before she asked another one. Her mind racked lightly at the question before she remembered something on it. "Is he a fallen angel?" She asked lightly.

"Malefar...?" Gabriel echoed the name when she asked it. "Umm... Malefar..." He had to think about it a moment before it clicked in his head. "Valefar, same creature. He was here earlier. Had you run across him before?"
"Of course she did." Raphael said. "Otherwise how would she know his name? Seeing him again must have brought up an old memory... oh...." He looked over at Gabriel, Gabriel looked back at him and frowned.
"Yeah, oh, she remembered something." He said with a sigh then looked back at Catylina. "I guess it all runs a bit deeper with you. How deep?" He stared into her eyes a moment. "You are a deep one..." He said after a moment. "We've seen that happen too, with ones like you. Latent psychic abilities, you felt that attack coming probably a moment after we did, before it happened."
Catylina looked to Eloa as she mentioned something about a fallen angel. That put her on the edge. 'Maybe they are nuts.' She felt herself think as she looked over to Gabriel who came up with a name that really didn't sound like the one give to her father. A light nod could only come from her. Her eyes looked to Raphael as he brought up the fact that she did. She rose an eyebrow to him in question. 'How did he know this?' She asked before hearing Raphael catch himself. She looked between the two males.

"What do you mean 'it all runs a bit deeper with you'?" She looked to Gabriel, as if he made some sort of insult towards her. Her eyes locked with his, yet she didn't know why. "What do you mean?" She found herself questioning him again. What made this all seem so strange was the fact of what they spoke of. She looked back and forth between the two. She felt anger burn in her. Yet she felt no need to ask anymore question.

Raphael sighed. "We can't make her forget what happened now." He said. "It'll hurt her more not having the memory of today than it will of having it. Damn. It's not fair to her to remember all this horrible events."
Gabriel patted his hand on Raphael's knee. "It just means she'll have to have a little more angelic intervention than other humans do." He said. "Get used to us, Catylina, you'll be seeing us a lot more."

"Is that a good thing?" She asked flatly as she looked to Gabriel.

Gabriel chuckled when Catylina asked if it was a good thing. "I don't know, some people say it is, some people say it isn't." He answered. Raphael smiled knowingly, agreeing with Gabriel's assessment. "But I think you're stuck with it. Better that heaven helps you through this rather than going through it alone. It's too big a burden to carry on your own..." He trailed off, hoping that Catylina would accept what he had to say.
Catylina's eyes crossed lightly as she heard something come from her aunt as the woman slowly woke up. She moved slowly to her aunt again.

"Catylina?" The woman questioned lightly as she looked around. "Catylina what happened?" She felt her aunt's awaking eyes looking to her and seeing a few of the cuts as she moved slowly getting up. She looked to all the people that lay around her and her niece.

Both Raphael and Gabriel's attention was suddenly turned to the waking Haile.
"Oh shit...." Raphael said softly realizing he had gotten so caught up in Catylina he had ignored Eloa when she pointed out that Haile was waking. The glass was still shattered around them and neither he nor Gabriel had thought to fix it. Thinking quickly, he turned his attention to Haile, a sympathetic look in his eyes.
"What happened is rather... interesting." He said to her. "A freak wind storm. A storm was blowing up, and the street and buildings outside acted like a giant wind tunnel, and caught up in here. You're fine, Catylina is a little cut up, but you seemed to only have been knocked over and hit your head, knocking you unconscious."
Gabriel sighed a bit. He looked directly at Catylina. "It would be best if your aunt doesn't know what happened here." He said softly as Raphael spoke to Haile. "Ignorance is bliss, and right now, the best way to keep your aunt from harm is for her to not know what we just told you."
"You might want to take it easy the rest of the day." Raphael was telling Haile.

Her eyes raised up to Gabriel as he chuckled. Yet the answer came honestly. She couldn't argue with it as she simply nodded. Catylina moved to her aunt as she looked at her. Ready to tell her what had just happened when she was quieted by a lie. Her eyes shot to the male angel's as he spoke of a wind storm. Her aunt only seemed to take it and agree with it. Yet she wanted to tell her the truth of what happened. She looked up to Gabriel as he spoke of it being best that Haile didn't know what happened. She moved lightly looking to her aunt.

"Are you okay Catylina?" She looked to her aunt with a bit of her lip and nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine." She spoke lightly. Holding back the truth. She moved slowly helping her aunt sit up. "I think its time we go home." She spoke softly as she looked to Gabriel again then helped her aunt to her feet.

Eloa watched for a moment as the lie came with easy to Gabriel. A nod came. "We're all pretty shaken up ourselves." Eloa added lightly as she looked to Haile. Her eyes looked to Catylina and then smiled when the girl went along with it. She moved slowly rising to her feet as well as she watched the girl leave with her aunt.

"Will we be taking shifts between the two humans then?" She asked Gabriel lightly. Mainly talking about Chloe and now Catylina. Her hands moved to slip in to her pockets. The pain was still present in her head but not like earlier. She managed to find some way to subside it thanks to the light touch of Raphael's healing.

"Uh... good question." Gabriel said about the shifts. "I don't know yet. Damn this is a confusing day."
Raphael stood, brushing the glass off his jeans. Now that the humans were gone, he was able to take care of Gabriel. He moved over to Gabriel, placing his hand gently on his head as a soft glow seemed to emanate from finger tips. The cut disappeared, the bones mending back into place. He lingered just a moment, touching Gabriel's head, a look of sadness in his face, then removed his hand. "Look, Gabe, Eloa, I have to go." He said. "As much as I'd like to stay and help, and well stay, I miss you Big Brother, but unfortunately, I'm not really supposed to be here, you know."
Gabriel nodded. "Thank you, Raph." He said softly.

Eloa's eyes looked to Gabriel, who really didn't know what to do at the moment. Her eyes slowly shifting to Raphael as he stood up. A nod and smile came to her face.

Raphael smiled a weak smile then headed out of the store. As he did, a gentle breeze seemed to kick up, the shards of glass that lay around the store got caught in it, swirling and shimmering as they caught the light they found their way back to the windows and doors, looking as if nothing had happened them.

"Take care, Raphael." She spoke gently as she nodded her head. Her eyes watched the shattered shard pieces slowly pick up in the wind. Shimmering and swirling like some kind of wind chime. It looked almost beautiful before it reached its rightful place. Piecing slowly back together to become whole again. Perfect as before. Eloa moved slowly to look around the store, and to fix what lay destroyed by the demons.

Catylina had managed to keep the lie up so far as her and her aunt headed back home. A little shaken up, she found the idea of angels to actually be true. 'Yet why are they on earth for?' She found herself asking. She thought God only sent his angels down for a message or some sort of protection. She really didn't understand why they were there. She crossed her arms lightly in the car as she looked down to the bandaged wound before they pulled up in the drive way.

"I'm gonna go lay down." She spoke to her aunt, even through that was a lie in itself. She moved lightly to get out of the car. Closing the door behind her, she pulled her house keys from her pocket as she moved towards the house door. Opening it up for both her and her aunt before she slipped inside. She moved slowly as she headed up the stairs into her room. She moved closing the door behind her as the sound of it slam only shook her walls lightly. She moved to find her aunt's cat in her room. She smiled only lightly as she walked to her bed and sat upon it looking to the cat as she petted it.

yes

Eloa moved picking up Gabriel's body as she looked to Misha who held hesitation before going in to action. She looked to him. "Its Uzziel. He can feel his pain that he's going through." She said simply a she nodded to the nearest table. Move to lay Gabriel's body upon the surface of the table. Her eyes looked to see the blood that came from his lip. The pain must have been sever. She looked up to Chloe as she came before looking down.

Moving quickly, Eloa took hold of the wash cloth and soaked it in the water. Moving lightly she placed it upon Gabriel's head. Her eyes looked down to him as the word was given. "I won't." She spoke softly. She could only try and sooth the pain as he suffered in it. She slowly started humming again to try and at least sooth the nervous of the two humans beside her. Moving again she soaked the wash cloth, ringing it out, she placed it upon his head again.

Gabriel lurched as Uzziel was lurching down in hell. He was trying so hard to push out Uzziel, his nose started bleeding. He could feel the heat of hell, the heat of Valefar's blade. But Eloa's touch was cooling, as was the water. He pressed his head to her hand unconsciously, looking to her to ease the pain.
Azazel's own contribution hit him hard as well. He could feel the two fallen angel's tearing away at Uzziel's mind, the darkness running through him. He lifted up his hand, his fingers still trembling, curled over slightly as he tried now, to fight for Uzziel. He shot open his eyes wide.

She tried her hardest to easy the pain that plagued Gabriel. He looked like he was trying hard to control it. Put it out of mind, yet he was suffering badly from where she stood. Her eyes worried and concerned as she moved to wet the wash clothe again. She looked down to him as she felt him press up against her hand and the clothe. Her eyes looked to him as she tried to easy the pain, but he ordered her not to take it. She wanted to with what he was suffering in but never did.

Eloa moved a little as she watched Gabriel lift his hand up. Trembling from pain she could only thing before his eyes opened wide. She felt worry grasp her mind as she continued to try and sooth Gabriel's pain.

"Chloe, get me more water." She said looking up to the girl. Before resting her sights on Gabriel who suffered in torture and pain.

It was something he was used to, but for some reason, hearing Lucifer's voice through Uzziel was a little strange. Maybe because he wasn't totally in Uzziel's head, Uzziel was resisting that. He made Uzziel open his eyes so he could see what was going on. He could see Lucifer staring at him, Lucifer's green eyes burning into him.
Gabriel bit his lower lip again. Pushing back a wave of pain. This hurt enough when there wasn't physical pain going on, right now, it was utterly unbearable. 'Give me just a moment, Uzziel, don't pass out yet...' He thought.
"Morningstar..." He said out loud, both his voice and Uzziel's voice could barely manage a whisper.

Uzziel's eyes suddenly shot open, the smirk left Lucifer's face. He connected his eyes with Uzziel's; staring into them; trying to find that hint of Gabriel. He found it. He knew it when he saw it; he had found Gabriel.
"Morningstar..." Uzziel whispered hoarsely.
"Oh, my Luna... Heaven's messenger..." Lucifer responded. "How wonderful for you to join us." He paused for just a moment listening to Azazel and Valefar seem to be cackling. "Do you want your precious Uzziel out of my clutches?"

'Gabriel...' Uzziel directed his thoughts at Gabriel, hoping the archangel wasn't ignoring him while he was caught up with Lucifer. 'Don't do this, he'll hurt you.'

Azazel's wicked grin grew as he watched the scene playing out before them. He could feel both angel's suffering at the pain he and Valefar had laid on Uzziel.

Whether in connection or not, Gabriel seemed distorted in some way. She moved again to replace the water again on the wash cloth. A soft nod following from Eloa's features. Her hand raised lightly as she pushed back the curls from her eyes. Concentrating on trying to submit the pain that held Gabriel at the moment. Her eyes shot down to him as he spoke out. 'He got a hold of Uzziel!' She felt excited but worried for the other angel that now resided in hell. What they had done to him? So could only guess was bad by the standers of looking to Gabriel. 'Is Lucifer there?' She questioned lightly as she moved to continue with what she had started earlier. Yet her touch seemed to become lighter as the seconds passed. She wished not to disturb the connection with Uzziel and Gabriel.

Gabriel drew in a shallow breath. "its okay, Eloa." He said softly. "It's not easy to disrupt me."
He turned his attention back to Lucifer. 'Good, he can hear us.' Gabriel thought. "Let him go Lucifer." Gabriel said out loud. "You want me, not him, so come and get me, don't send your little flunkies in to do your dirty work. Come get me, I dare you."
He knew that Lucifer never would go face to face with him. All he was wanting was to intimidate Lucifer into letting Uzziel go. It was the only way he could think of at the moment to get Uzziel back and not set foot in hell.

Eyes raised down lightly as Eloa's humming seemed never to cease with in the abrupt actions. Whether it was to keep him calm or her, one couldn't tell and from appearance of the moment, she wasn't going to speak on it. Eloa's features looked down to him and nodded. Apparently he had gotten a hold of Lucifer alright to be responding now. She moved to keep the cloth cold and to his forehead as she looked to the two humans that lay near. She would need to explain later. To tell now would only through her off focus and concentration of what was going on at hand.

A smirk spread across her lips as she heard Gabriel call Lucifer out of hell. Daring him to come for him up on earth. She could only laugh lightly as her hands worked. She would hate to see the feelings that were building up in Lucifer right about now after hearing that mere insulting comment.

Valefar pulled away for a second as the design started to come in to view. The swirls and lines creating a mirror image of something on his chest, yet past the blood it couldn't be seen. It would take a couple more minutes before the design was fully done. Shoulder to shoulder of his chest was covered in the delicately designed fleshed now. The blood flowed free from it as she sat back at watched him. A smile of amusement and pleasing enjoyment crossed his lips as a nod of approval came from it.

"Nothing more is needed." He said simply. The sight of the angel only made Valefar laugh as Uzziel tried to hold the pain that made his body cringe in violent pain. The numbing would slowly run over but the pain would return once the natural medication the body released dissipated in to nothingness after surging in his veins. He moved slowly looking down as he cleaned the blade off on the cloth.

"Oh just give it up, boy." He spoke with a cocky smirk now. "We could have done much worse. And I'm not lying either. Unless you want us?" He proposed a question that he wished to hear no answer to as he crossed his arms lightly.

"Hmmm...what to do now?" He looked over to Azazel for any other damage that could be done. Mentally he was getting corrupted, physically it was becoming destroyed. What else could they possible thing of doing? Valefar moved lightly as he circled around Uzziel's tortured body. He looked as if a scavenger of some sort looking down on weak prey.

"Yes, continue, Valefar..." Lucifer said. His tone was cool and even; his eyes never leaving the locked gaze with Uzziel.

Lucifer laughed softly at Gabriel's attempt to get him to come out of hell. "Dare all you want, Little Brother; I'm not stupid enough to set foot outside of hell right now." He said. "You may not be in good graces with heaven right now; but I know well enough to know Uriel will bring the wrath of heaven down on me should I try to directly harm you." He paused a moment letting his gaze sink in with the two angels. "How long are you going to keep letting me torture Uzziel in your name? How long are you going to keep torturing him yourself by watching me through his eyes? Do you care so little for him that you would keep this up?"
He broke his gaze with Uzziel only long enough to nod to Valefar to begin.

It seemed Lucifer wasn't going to take the bait. That was no issue, Gabriel knew him well enough to know how to rile him up easily.
"You're telling me the hordes of hell are afraid of Uriel?" He asked Lucifer, taunting him further. "My how the mighty have fallen. Afraid of Uriel..."
But to Lucifer's questions on how long he was going to let Uzziel be tortured, he wasn't sure to answer. Uzziel had pointed out they could torture him all they wanted as long as his master remained safe. He had only one answer he could give. "Uzziel is a good soldier, he will bear anything that he is required to." Gabriel hoped that Lucifer would buy what he had to say, it was true, to an extent.

Raphael stood outside the store, watching Eloa, Gabriel, and the humans. He knew what was going on, something this big did not go unnoticed, yet he could not interfere.
Why though? Why couldn't he interfere? Why was he not allowed? Why did they always forbid him from helping Gabriel when he needed it most. It just didn't seem fair.
There seemed no justice in it all. Gabriel's only crime against Lucifer was to protect a human. This is what heaven was supposed to do. But because Gabriel and Uzziel were out of grace, even after they had done the very thing heaven had wanted them to, heaven prevented him from helping. From helping get Uzziel out of hell, from easing Gabriel's pain.
Raphael turned his head slightly to the right when he heard Michael coming, however, his face didn't change from the hardened look he had.

"Don't look at me like that Little Brother." Michael said with a snort at Raphael's expression. As Raphael just glared at him. He sighed. "This is an unusual look for you. Normally you look so... flighty, not so sullen and moody."
A gust of wind kicked up and blew Raphael's hair into his face with little whisps, snapping Michael's coat as well.
"Pfft..." Michael said looking away from Raphael. "That's the thing about you and Gabriel, always so cold, always so dramatic."

Raphael turned his gaze away from Michael after the comment about being dramatic. He said nothing for a long time.
"It's not fair, Michael." He said flatly. "Why are we allowing Gabriel to be punished when he did exactly what we wanted him today? Why is it that I'm ordered to stay away from him? Did you ever think that maybe Gabriel's guide back to heaven may just be the angels he loves? Being banned from him is obviously not working."
He sighed letting the breeze blow his hair out of his eyes as he fixed them back on the bookstore.

Michael set his jaw. "It's just the way it is, Raphael." He said a bit of irritation in voice. "Stay away from him, Raphael. He'll pull you down with him. Your job is not to save him, that's something he has to do on his own." Michael turned his back to Raphael, risking his wrath, but knowing even pissed Raphael wouldn't do anything. "Come back to heaven with me."

"I'll be there in a few." He said. "I have to make a stop to see a human first." He said softly.
Michael didn't say anything, he just slipped off earth.
Raphael stood there a moment and sighed. He turned, walking down the street a bit until, once again, the wind kicked up, swirling the leaves in the street, and Raphael was gone.

Raphael quietly entered Catylina's bedroom as she slept, unnoticed, and not through the door. He watched her a moment, head tilted slightly, as she slept.
"So she's one." He said out loud softly. "She's one of the ones that come only every few thousand years." He leaned over her. "You have a long journey ahead of you, little soul." He softly kissed her on the forehead before straightening up and slipping out of her bedroom.
Though he wasn't ready to go back to heaven.

Catylina could feel something in her room. Yet couldn't feel the essence of what action had chosen to come in on its own. Raphael had appeared in her room without knowledge as she slept. The words he spoke barely seemed to phase the dreams that slowly cloaked her finally silencing thoughts as the day replayed through out her mind again. Just the beginning and, yet the want of rest was strong as she lay deep in sleep. Breath seemed rather in well rhythm in reminder of sleep as she moved only slightly at the sound of his words. She could feel the soft kiss on her forehead but only took it as her dreams. Sometimes dreams felt so real to her, yet they never were.

She took a deep breath in as her mind awake from the slipping light sleep that slowly turned heavy. Her eyes saw nothing as she looked around room for a moment. Exhaustion on her face hit the pillow again. Her mind slipped back in to deep sleep as she moved hugging an old teddy bear with in her hands.

A smirk bleed upon Valefar's lips as he looked to Uzziel. 'Handle me?' He laughed to himself as if insanity had entered his mind. Yet the cold glare never seemed to shift from its lusting enjoyment of cruel enjoyment. He stepped forward with blade in hand as his eyes glanced over to his lord. The nodded was given and the physical pain would be brought on again. His hand slithered on to Uzziel's shoulder as the blade came hard against the back of his neck. Not fully penetrating the skin, only to break past the second skin as he moved slowly down. The same process of carving took a different turn as symbols appeared within Uzziel's spine. He wish laid more in the destruction of Uzziel's wings. But he was unsure if Lucifer would enjoy such a thing.

His eyes remained focus on the new design that blossomed past the blood that slowly started to floor. The rubbing of satin black cleaned the new wounds that appeared on the thin layer of skin that lay wrapped naturally around the spine. A tight twist of the blade came in the middle between the set of wings. The image stood boldly out as the angelic writing took more of a violent turn then what heaven would naturally perceive it as being. He moved a little as Gabriel continued to take. Whether or not he felt the pain, they would soon find out as he jabbed the blade edging in to the spine.

Lucifer smiled wickedly at the Valefar's work.
"Don't hold back, Valefar." He said. "I want to see how much Gabriel actually loves Uzziel."
He shifted slightly; crossing his legs as he enjoyed the show.

Gabriel tensed in pain as Valefar continued his work. His teeth gritted. He let himself scream for Uzziel, so he wouldn't have to. However, the pain was so intense that he couldn't control Uzziel as Uzziel let his emotions out as well.
"Morningstar...." Gabriel growled through gritted teeth. "You are a spineless bastard. You can't even face me yourself, and you can't even do your own dirty work. Let others do it for you. No wonder you couldn't stay in heaven."

Uzziel shivered with the pain, Gabriel was trying to control it for him, but it was just too much. Once again he lurched forward, pain shooting through his wings, his mind slowly loosing it's grip as the pain and darkness overcame him.
He shadowed Gabriel's words, wondering when Lucifer's breaking point would come and he would stop. But Uzziel was prepared to go the full way, what ever Gabriel needed of him.

Eloa's eyes only barely managed to feel the essence of two other high beings. Her eyes rose up to turn slightly to the glass windows. There, outside, stood Raphael. But the essence grew stronger. To see who, was impossible as her attention shifted back to the angel that now lay in contact with Lucifer. Gabriel seemed to be rather deep in the concentration of connecting through Uzziel.

The word was given, Valefar smirked as he moved jabbing the blade deeper. A cruel laugh passed his lips as he watched his body jump forward. Pain apparent with in the body of this angel. He only moved as he continued with his artistic work. He moved slowly to kneel down on one knee as the worked continued. Working out around all the spine under his wings as he carved away at the precious human flesh. Only moving lightly as he moved back lightly. Certain spots lay untouched as he moved lightly.

"Breath in boy. And hold that breath." He laughed as he gave his warning and pierced sections with the sharp rings of barb wire. The ripping of the skin only made it taut to pull the ring fully around as he moved slowly. Torture was one thing he apparently found entertainment in. He moved pulling tightly on the rings to lock them up.

Uzziel shrieked, his scream echoed from the throne room walls. The chains ripped more and more into his wings as he unconsciously pushed forward.
Lucifer only laughed. Enjoying the scene.
Uzziel kept himself conscious, the pain unbearable as he tried to push Gabriel out of him.

Gabriel struggled against Uzziel, not willing to let him go through this alone. Lucifer and Valefar would not stop just because Uzziel had pushed him out, they would keep going knowing that Gabriel could still feel it.
"No Uzziel..." He said softly. "You need my help dealing with this."
He struggled against Uzziel, as the pain from the barbed wire sunk into Uzziel's flesh. Uzziel had thrown his head back and snapped his eyes shut, opening them back up quickly.
Like a flash Gabriel saw it. Somehow, Uzziel was able to pick up the impressions from the demons, now just faint whispers on the background of hell, that Gabriel had disposed of the day before. He saw few other angels could see, the faint memories of those demons.
He bolted upright, a shrill scream left his lips. He stared straight a head for a moment then turned to Eloa and Chloe, his eyes had a wild look in them as he tried to find the words he was looking. Uzziel had pushed him out at last moment, he was disoriented and confused, trying to find the words.
He shook his head slightly. "It wasn't you, Chloe, that they were after, it's Catylina." He said in a whisper. "They were too earlier to catch her, they had the day wrong, and they thought it was you."
Chloe looked stunned at him. "So I'm not in danger?"

Valefar moved lightly satisfied at the moment with the infliction he brought upon the angel. The scream only seemed to achieve something in him as he cleaned the blade of and walked back to join Azazel off on the side. He moved slowly, lowering his body to the ground as he seemed to stealth the blade in mid-air. The bloody cloth only dissipating as he rose up. A new one only appeared to clean off his other hand as he smirked rather cruelly. His eyes down for a moment as he raised them up. His head lowered and the shining lightly only cast the blacked shadows to cross his face.

"I think that's all for now. Maybe later. It seems I have an unexpected appointment to attend do. You lucked out this time angel." He smirked lightly as he moved to Lucifer. A half bow came from him as he looked to Lucifer. "Thank you lord for letting me have a little fun." He smirked slightly.

Lucifer smiled with approval. "Very good Valefar." he said. "You will be rewarded."
He watched as Uzziel finally passed out, Gabriel having left him; overcome by the pain.

"No need. I got my reward from this." He smirked as he bowed his head in thanks to Lucifer. He moved slowly as he tipped his head lightly to Azazel for the aid in the angel's little corruption before moving away to dissipate in the shadows. Another life was being called upon to be taken, and he was the one who would lead him to his death.

Lucifer nodded slightly to Valefar before he left; then turned his eyes to Azazel.
"You could have participated more." He said. "Sometimes, Azazel, I wonder if you don't have the stomach for being a fallen angel. Is it any wonder that you are in the position you are in and I am in the position you wished to be in?"

Eloa moved back as Gabriel rose up. Her hands moved away from him as if in some sort of shock as she moved slowly back as the angel screamed out. Her hands moved lightly as if to look for some source that may have caused it. Yet nothing. But it all lay with Uzziel. The connection was strong. Driving him as he looked bewildered at them and perplexed by something. Her gestures only came lightly as she looked to Gabriel in confusion of what she spoke of.

"Are you sure she's the one their after? And for what means?" She moved lightly only remembering the message she brought earlier. "She must have been the girl I spoke of last night." She looked to Gabriel. "The one they refused to tell me about."

The thought hit her hard. "Could it be because of her gift?" She looked to Gabriel now before looking to sweet Chloe who seemed rather stunned. Her hands moved slowly as she pushed the wash cloth aside and moved to lean against one of the bookshelves. Her eyes deep in through.

Gabriel looked over at Eloa. "Yes, I'm sure." He said. "Why I can't say for certain, but it was Catylina. No essence of a demon or an angel really ever truly leaves, even after they're dead. I saw those two from yesterday through Uzziel. I could feel their last thoughts. They thought it was Chloe, but the impression was distinctly Catylina."
He sighed still trying to collect himself. "Not yet, Chloe, you're not safe yet." He said. "I will tell Michael what I saw, but I can promise he won't want hell to know until we figure Catylina out."
Looking back over at Eloa as she asked if it related to Catylina's gifts, he could only slightly nod. "That would be my guess." He said. "We won't know until it we can spend some time with her though. There must be something about her, but that won't come clear until we've explored her a little bit."
He slid himself carefully off the table. "Uzziel passed out, the connection is severed now." He said trying to shake free the lingering pain. He steadied himself again the table a moment, then took a step forward, feeling out his strength. He turned for the door.
"I haven't finished my conversation with Lucifer." He said. "I didn't get the chance to tell him, Uzziel is done down there." He turned for the door, now walking with a purpose, a strong stride, full of determination.
"Where are you going?" Chloe asked.
"To hell." Gabriel said stopping and turning to her. "Don't worry, there's someone on the way to watch you." He resumed his way out the door.
Michael wasn't happy, but said that they would talk about it later. He did indicate that he would send someone to watch Chloe while Gabriel regained his strength. Michael knew that Gabriel wasn't going to go lay down or anything, he knew Gabriel was heading to hell, but wasn't about to stop him.

Eloa's eyes watched him slowly as her answer came. The thought of what made this girl important caught her attention. She crossed her arms slowly before slowly shifting out of her stance to aid Gabriel in getting down but moved away from him as he stood up. Her hands finding their way to her pockets as she watched Gabriel who seemed rather determined in getting Uzziel back.

"Where-" She was ready to ask the same question that already passed Chloe's lips. Her eyes turned to the girl before looking to Gabriel for the answer to the question. A rather crazy one passed his lips, but with the determination she saw she wouldn't put it past Gabriel to get Uzziel back. Yet he spoke nothing of her going. Lagging behind, she moved quickly.

Sophiel pushed his glasses further up his nose as he walked briskly towards the bookstore. He adjusted his backpack as he pushed open the door, and nearly ran into Gabriel.
His glasses slipped down again, he looked over the rims at Gabriel. "Sorry, Sir." He said quickly bowing his head before looking back at Gabriel. "I take it I found the place?"
Gabriel only nodded at him as he pushed passed him, stopping in the street. Sophiel entered the bookstore and surveyed the humans and Eloa.
"Good morning." He said curtly. "I'm Sophiel. Until time that Gabriel comes back, I will... be here."

Eloa's eyes looked to the new angel that stepped in. Her head bowed gently to Sophiel before stepping out after Gabriel as he walked out of the store. Her hands moved out of her pockets as she moved in a light jog.

"I'm going with you." She said as she finally caught up to an acceptable distance behind him. Her eyes not eager yet binding to aid in pulling this angel out. If she fell out of grace because of this, then so be it. But everything always happened for a well driven purpose and at the moment Gabriel was the only one who could command her unless higher word said otherwise.

Gabriel stopped when Eloa stated her intentions. "You're going to do what?" He asked tilting his head to the left, it wasn't clear by his tone if he was being sarcastic or really didn't understand.
It was sarcasm. "Eloa, why would you want to go to hell? It's awful down there." He said. "They've not cleaned up in... well forever, and it smells like sulfur." He shook his head. "I don't think it's a good idea." He paused and whistled. "No angel can just appear in hell, you have to go through from gate one, it's dangerous, you'd get hurt." A moment after he had whistled, a black horse came trotting up, seemingly from no where. It was no ordinary horse, the hooves were silver, not a color a natural horse could have, and it's eyes glowed, it had no eyes, just a soft, silver/blue light emanated from them. The horse stopped up next to him, he patted its neck. "Heya Haizum" He said softly. "How's my old boy doing?"

Eloa stopped walking when Gabriel stopped. Where he questioned her or not. She had already made her mind up. But even then he still didn't give an order as she looked to him. Her arms crossed lightly across her chest as she listened to him, eyebrow raising lightly as she shook her head lightly.

"You'll need the help. I saw you with Valefar. You could barely fight him off with the hoards of demons after you." She said. A determination could be seen in her eyes as she watched him. She wasn't going to back down. She may be soft, but a fighter she was. She smirked lightly. "Well that's their problem isn't it."

A sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "I won't get hurt. I didn't earlier and I won't now. You can't keep protecting me. If I'm hear to aid you then I'm gonna aid you. And two it wasn't an order. Just an opinion." Her eyes looked to him as he whistled. She smirked. "Well then I'll get hurt. At least it gets one of our own out of there."

Her eyes diverted to the black horse that appeared out of nowhere. Studying it for a fair moment before turning her sights back on to the archangel. She seemed fixed on going whether he said no or not. Yet if he did, then she wouldn't. An order was an order and she would follow what he ordered her to do.

Gabriel took Haizum's reigns and pulled himself up into the saddle on the horse. "Eloa, it's a long dangerous journey. I mean long.. really long, and dangerous." He said. "And long, I can't state that one enough. It once took me an hour and a half. Time sucks in hell, an hour and a half is but a blink of an eye, but it is really long in hell..."

Eloa watched him get up on the horse. Her eyes still watching him as she counted how many times he spoke of long and dangerous. "Then what are you afraid of. If another war breaks out between heaven and hell I won't know what to do. I hold the ability to fight. But the training for it will never be used if I'm not put through the experience Gabriel."

Her eyes looked to the horse again before slowly trailing back on him. "Your gonna need the help. And time isn't much of an issue with me. I don't seem to notice it that much. Its something man created and the devil enjoys to follow slaved to it. I see time as just that, a blink of an eye." She spoke out of natural habit now as she looked to him again. Eyebrow raised up in questioning him. Yet not enough that she wished to push the envelop of authority.

He looked at her a moment. "I know, no angel really counts time in minutes or hours, but Luc has done something down there..." He paused a moment, trying not to let her words get to him. Any other angel he'd probably wouldn't care much, but he just couldn't stand the thought of Eloa being caught in the cross fire and hurt.. "Tell me you have a horse, cause I'm not walking through hell." He grumbled.

She smirked when he finally gave in to her. A nod of Eloa's feature only answered his question. "That I do have."

She moved lightly as she brought her fingers to her lips. She moved as she whistled a high pitch whistle that only dissipated in the wind. From behind them a white stallion rode quickly. Wild, yet innocent in its majestic beauty as the young stallion moved slowly to a stop near Eloa. Her hand came slowly upon the muzzle of the horse. "How are you my love." She spoke gently showing a great care of affection for the stallion who only answered back to her with settled sounds and nods of its head. She moved taking hold of the reigns as she pulled herself up on the saddle.

Her hand moved down the mane as she settled in her saddle. "Keep me safe, Asolan." She spoke gently to the male stallion. Her horse moved back and forth a little. A bit excited it seemed to see its owner. She moved guiding the reigns to side up with Gabriel. "I'm ready when you are."

Gabriel nodded and summoned up the power to take himself, Eloa, and two horses to hell. It was funny no one on the street had paid any attention to them, let alone just disappearing.
When they appeared outside the first gate of hell, Gabriel had changed his appearance some on manifestation. He no longer was hiding his wings or his sword and dagger. He was still wearing a black dress shirt and black jeans, but had changed from his combat style boots to riding boots. Clasped onto his belt was a blackened silver crown, with onyx set into it. He refused to wear it, but he kept it visible.
Haizum danced a bit when the smell of hell hit the horse's nostrils, he was not fond of hell, but Gabriel pulled in the reigns tighter and patted the horses neck.
"Are you ready Eloa?" He asked.

Eloa could feel the excitement her horse took up as it's head moved back and forth. She felt no worry for the humans as they disappeared. A natural cloaking of the human mind was all that was needed and that was it. She looked around to Earth again before feel the power that Gabriel summoned up around her. Washing over her before the gates of hell appeared before her. Asolan danced behind Haizum. Yet stopping for a moment as it started to grind one hoof. Ready, as if to take charge past the gates. It wasn't pride it showed. But courage to be there.

Eloa's own style had changed as well. Her own wings appeared, laid folded behind her. Hiding away the two pieces that created one staff when put together. Her own clothes didn't seem to altar but her hair fell in long curls down her back as her eyes shifted to a soft gentle bright blue with a few strands falling before her eyes. Something lay hidden under the baggy clothing she wore. One couldn't see it well, but it appeared to be that of a crown of thorns. She had, had it for as long as she could remember. Never once was she seen with out it in heaven. But only one time she ever remember wearing it, even then she barely remembered the memory. A pair of leathered bands rested around her small wrists, almost similar to that of a gauntlet. No other weapons lay upon her as she fell her horse become disturbed by the smell of hell. Staggering a little before coming to a light dance as she comforted it slowly.

"We'll be alright old boy. I won't leave you behind. That's a promise." She whispered lightly in to the mane. She moved lightly sitting up as she looked up to Gabriel. "I'm ready."

The scent of sulfur flowing in around them. Almost palpable to all senses that an angel could hold. Yet she didn't fell sick to the scent that lay embedded in the air around them.

Gabriel nodded and turned his eyes from Eloa to the gate. "Here's hoping this works..." He mumbled. "I, Asmodues, prince of hell, command the gates of hell to open and allow safe passage to myself and the Angel Eloa, who, while in hell, is here under my care as a prince of hell, and shall not be harmed." He spoke to the gate firmly, without hesitation or doubt in his eyes, though he was seriously doubting the gate would open, even for him.
They waited but a moment, when the gate, rusted red, almost the color of dry blood opened.
"Well damn, it worked..." He said softly with a chuckle. "Come on, Eloa, before hell changes it's mind." He nudged Haizum into motion. "And keep close, I don't know if they are agreeing to all of my order."

Eloa looked down to Asolan as he kept moving. Nervous were getting to him. But she knew well. All animals could sense evil. Feel it crawl. Some humans could to, if they learned never to abandon it as a child. She moved lightly as she hummed lightly to keep her horse calm. She looked to him as he spoke out to the gate. Hands holding the reigns as the horse kicked again. She said nothing but patted him. Her eyes studying the gate of old rusted red.

"Here we go boy." She said lightly as she moved keeping close to Gabriel. Her eyes looking around as she stuck close. "Then lets get." She said lightly as she could feel her horse's urge to go in and get this over with.

Hell could be utterly nerve wracking to someone not used to it, or not able to handle it. Being hell, it was not a pretty place. It was utterly mutable, meaning anything could change at any moment, even the main path they were on, even though it was supposed to be fixed and constant, it too could change at any time. By force of will alone, the beings traveling it had to keep it constant, otherwise they would find themselves off the path, having changed, caught in the clutches of some demonic force, or forces, when the forces combined, it was a deadly creature, even for an angel.
Gabriel's eyes remained staring ahead, as they passed shadows and weak light. Dead trees and broken, burned out buildings. Fields of unimaginable size contained a misty yellow/orange smoke, somewhere in the smoke, creatures skittered and cackled. Burning eyes sometimes appearing and disappearing quickly.
Screams of tortured souls set the atmosphere of the horrible place, against the backdrop of a sky that appeared perpetually at sunset and slightly cloudy, but that was from the smoke. Every so often they heard the sound of chains dragging, or bells tolling, anything ominous and maybe a bit clich.
It seemed like a good distance had passed when Gabriel finally spoke. "How are you holding up, Eloa?" He asked. He turned his head slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye. "It's easy to let this place get you down."

"I have never once done anything out of the 'kindness of my heart'." Gabriel said lowly to Cornelius as his eyes set on the way Cornelius looked at Eloa. "Everything has it's price with me, sometimes, it's much too much to pay."
His mind was mulling over this one quite a bit. His first reaction was to make Cornelius declare total servitude to him, but that could present a number of problems down the road. He also didn't think it would be a price Cornelius would pay.
A little wicked smile slipped onto his lips. That, actually, just might work.
"I can't trust you, you know that, unless you are completely bound to me." He said. "The risk that it would be involved to enter into the very heart of hell with a fallen angel that hasn't sworn complete loyalty to me, complete loyalty to me..." He let himself trail off a moment thinking there would be no way that Cornelius would agree to this. "Call me your master, that is my price." He set his eyes on the fallen angel with the intensity only he could do, the intensity that instilled fear into every being the gaze fell upon.

Astonishment flooded through Cornelius. He was barely able to restrain his instinctual reaction of outrage. He managed however to remain relatively motionless. Only his eyes widened and he became ridged with anger. But he calmed and he composed himself. Cornelius felt the intensity of Gabriel's stare more than ever now. His nape began to burn, his cheeks flush, but he remained determined. Looking Gabriel straight in the eye, despite the fear it sparked in Cornelius' heart, he fought to remain stoic. His lips parted slowly to form a sneer.

Curses and damnations echoed through Cornelius' mind, "damn you Gabriel, you're the most arrogant prick of them all!"

Kneeling slowly on one knee, Cornelius bowed his head. "Master I shall follow you dutifully into the depths of Hell and back to free the angel Uzziel. How long master am I to serve you?"

'Well, holy shit.... he agreed...' Gabriel thought to himself but never let it show. He slipped off of Haizum and walked over to Cornelius. "How long, I can not say." He said coolly. "Until I feel you are no longer a risk to me. May it be until we leave hell safely or beyond, I can't say until we get there." He stopped in front of Cornelius and pressed his thumb against his forehead, marking Cornelius with an ancient sygil, a way to protect himself, and Cornelius should it come down to it.
He stood there a moment looking at him, then went back over to Haizum and slid back into the saddle. "You can keep up with us, yeah?"

Cornelius bit his lip when he felt Gabriel place his thumb on his head. He glared up as Gabriel placed the ancient sigil. Standing he turned his back toward Gabriel.

"Yeah I can keep up," Cornelius sneered. Black wings emerged on Cornelius' back, and a heavy broadsword appeared at his side. With a few massive flaps, Cornelius was lifted into the air. "Shall we be on our way master."

Gabriel smiled a bit at Cornelius' glaring and sneering. He knew the fallen angel would not be easy to control, would fight him at every turn, but that was half the fun.
He nodded slightly when Cornelius indicated he was ready, nudging Haizum into motion. It wasn't too long left on the journey, the moment of truth was getting closer. Could he pull this off, only time would tell.

Cornelius followed closely as the two riders galloped slightly ahead. He was not far above them, but high enough to gain some privacy from Gabriel.

"Damn him," he mumbled. "This is the last thing I wanted. Subservient to an Archangel of Heaven, nay, to Gabriel: messenger of God!"

Cornelius bit his lip hard. He needed to clear his mind. Needed to focus on the battle ahead. Only the thought of angering Lucifer, kept him from attempting to slap Gabriel, that and Gabriel's superior prowess. Cornelius would keep his word, despite his dislike for Gabriel and what he represented.

Asolan started dancing lightly as the agreement was made. Servitude to Gabriel. 'Such a high price to pay indeed.' Eloa thought lightly as she pulled lightly on the reigns again. But the sight in the fallen angel only appeared to be rather more in anger as he tried to hold it in and maintained the neutral mask that laid upon his features. He held them well. But she could only see a mere glimmer in his eyes. Nothing more then a glimmer that could have been read wrong. She spoke no word still as she let the angels conversed and now they would go on. Riding along side Gabriel as she held the reigns that guided him. She leasted her pace a little to stay besides Gabriel but not to get ahead of him as he lead the way through hell.

"I take it you hold plans in mine for this compromise you've made with him?" Eloa asked lightly after noticing how Cornelius gained some distances between him as he flew through hell.

Her horse finally relaxed as it started running again

Gabriel looked at Eloa as she spoke. "One must always have plans when it comes to bargaining with devils." He said. "If you don't, you find yourself on the short end of the stick. Don't think that I'm not manipulative, Eloa. Just because I've been called one of the most holy and high of angels doesn't mean I didn't stay where I am because I was upfront and honest. The echelons of angels are filled with a lot of political power plays. An archangel stays at the top only because they have no problem with using others and instilling fear into others. Believe me, there are many, many angels who would do anything to sit to the left side of God, but only I ever have."

Politics. Everything always dealt with politics, that she wouldn't lie about. Hollow promises and manipulation. That's what usually ran the system. Something she wasn't on to get in to. She listened to him. In truth it wasn't her thing. If she climbed to the top, it would be of her own will and honest to do so. Other wise manipulation seemed out of the question.

"I see." She nodded understanding what he spoke of. The fact of politics. She would leave that to anyone else's thoughts. At the moment she need to clear her mind. Clear her head up as for what would be coming soon.

Gabriel said nothing to Eloa's simple answer. She was lucky, most angels didn't have to worry about politics and such. The few that did have to, often wished they didn't, but would never give up what they had.
As they neared the palace, the mists began outlining the edifice's features, and what was once hidden in the murk was now becoming clearer. Lucifer had done well to make an imposing fortress out of his palace. It rose high to reach towards the top of hell, reaching up as a symbol of power and a reminder they once reached up to the heavens themselves.
The stone, blackened from centuries of fire and Lucifer's will loomed over them. it was more a tower than a palace, a fortress to keep back the hordes of hell and any angels that dared. Blackened iron gates stood open, leading through a desolate courtyard that they entered.
Here Gabriel slid off of Haizum, the horse could go no further, the steps inside far too narrow. He patted the horses neck. "Take care of Asolan." he said softly. "You know where to go if there's trouble, but don't go too far."
He paused, waiting on the others as the horse nodded to him.

Her eyes lay a rest to the palace that started to come in to view. Fear slightly crawled over her, but the darkness that burned around it only seemed to grasp at all her attention. A bit simple came to her lip. Yet no second thought came to mind as the fortress rose to what it seemed like the heavens. A rather intimidating thing to see. The stones of the palace seemed black from the soot of flames that burned with in hell. And there Lucifer would loom inside. It seemed he built this fortress with an idea of what would to come. Protection from the rest of hell and any angel from heaven.

Eloa's eyes raised up to the blackened iron gates that lay open. As if expecting them to enter the fortress. She wondered if Lucifer knew they were hear. As soon they entered, she slid down from the saddle. Her hand still on the reigns as she looked to the courtyard that lay around them. Asolan looked to her. "Stay with Haizum." She spoke lightly. "And stay safe Asolan." She patted his coat again as she looked to Gabriel.

"Where to now?" She asked lightly.

"Inside the palace." Gabriel said a bit offhandedly. "I know exactly where Uzziel is, Lucifer, though, can't be far behind. Knowing we're here, he would be close to Uzziel. He won't miss this opportunity." Gabriel looked back at the other two, checking their readiness, before starting forward.
They crossed the short walk to the palace doors, which also stood open. Flanking either side of the doors, cut out of the stonework was two large skeletons of angels, holding very imposing scythes. The scythes crossed above the door forming an arch.
Gabriel stopped just before reaching them and sized them up. "They're not actually statues." He said softly to Eloa. "So be careful. They're guardians, bound essences of long destroyed angels bound into stone, yet very able to move, at least enough to slice you in half. Can't kill you, but they will slow you down. And they're in a very bad mood, always."

Eloa's eyes studied the palace. Every nook and cranny that could be seen from where they stood. She moved slowly as she kept close to Gabriel. The steam that lay in the air was palpable enough to reach out and grabbed. Almost hold. Her hands lightly wristed the leather wrist bands that seemed forged together. She checked their tightness before she took a step forward. Her eyes looked to Gabriel as his looked to the Cornelius and herself. She was ready, but wouldn't be shocked if company showed up as well.

She moved walking a short distances behind Gabriel as they started their short walking journey inside the palace. Her eyes raised up to study the large angels that rested in the stone work. She looked to Gabriel before looking back to them as he spoke of the truth. They weren't part of the stonework but actual angels bound to the stone. She studied them to the point of where their scythes rested at. She was sure to stay cautious as she listened to Gabriel before looking ahead.

"Interesting." She was curious as to why they were bound in hell. Yet she would present the question of their history later to Gabriel as she turned her sights forth in to he open doors that they were soon to step in to.

Lucifer looked up from his musing and smiled at Azazel. "They're here." He said with a dark tone. He stood. There was a disadvantage to being in the room when Gabriel entered, as it was better to be watching from the shadows. "Took them damn long enough." He mutter as he waved his hand slightly for Azazel to follow.

Gabriel felt fairly confident that the guardians would let them past, after all, Lucifer wanted them in. He passed through first, entering without incident as did Eloa and Cornelius. The palace was pretty straight forward. There were hidden doorways, but only one set of accessible steps lead to the throne room, three floors above, and a dark hallway lead to those stairs.
To enter the stairs they had to pass another set of guardians, which allowed them to pass as well. Several more were positioned at the archways where the stairs turned left several times, their stone eyes in the bare skulls seemed almost to follow them.

Eloa kept fairly close as they past by the first set of guardians. She looked up to them on last time before looking forward. Thankful that she was with Gabriel. Or else she would have gotten lost. But something seemed familiar about the place. The ability to put her finger on it seemed unlikely yet she could remember something on it and voices. Maybe it was her mind being over active, but she could have sworn on it. The heels of her shoes seemed to tap only lightly on the black marble that lined the halls of hell. Her eyes looked onto the next set of guardians. 'He seems rather paranoid to hold so many guardians.' She thought lightly to herself. A question seemed to formulate in her mind, yet to speak. It would never pass her lips as she followed. her eyes only glaring from the corn of her eyes as she looked to the eyes that followed them to their soon to be final destination. Her hands moved lightly shoving themselves in her pockets as she walked with a smooth stroll. Unbothered by what lay around her.

The last set of guardians, as the stairs opened to an archway into the throne room. Gabriel stepped into the throne room. He stopped, his heart almost broke seeing Uzziel.
Uzziel was still strung up by the chains, hanging limply and unconscious.
"Morningstar!" Gabriel yelled once everyone was firmly into the room and seemed ready. "I've come to take back Uzziel."

Lucifer slipped out of the shadowy corridor; hidden off to the side of the throne room; a few moments after Gabriel announced himself. He had his sword casually held in his hand, the blackened blade seemed to almost absorb light around it.

"Well, well, here he is... the exiled prince of hell." He said. "Wise move to not enter hell under the name of Gabriel; it would have ripped you to shreds." He looked at Cornelius. "I always knew you'd turn traitor on me, Cornelius." He growled. "I hope you are ready to sacrifice your existence for this." He raised his sword. "Messenger, I'm not about to let you just leave with Mercy..."
Azazel slipped out from behind Lucifer, readying his weapon as well.

Her eyes wonder a moment long before the last set of guardians came up. The ones that protected the throne room. This must have been the palace. Apparent that Lucifer did expect them all. Allowance in to his throne room without a fight from an minions that guarded his devil raving palace. As soon as the they stepped in her, her eyes saw the damn angel. Unconscious, she wouldn't blame him. But he held on for long enough. That proved he held the ability. Her eyes shot back to the sound of a pair of boots on the floor.

Valefar stepped in. Eyes not even paying attention to the beings that had entered the throne room. Before looking up with a rather devilish smirk. Noticing Lucifer ready to fight.

Continue.

Yes.

"My presence may be threatening to you because of what I am, Catylina, but you have no need to fear me. Cry no more," he reached out a tentative hand, which hovered in the air before settling on her shoulder. "Cry no more. You are strong. I can see it in you. Yes in life we must make sacrifices, but from those sacrifices we gain strength. There is strength in vulnerability, and it is at those moments of sacrifice that we are most vulnerable. We can only be strong in vulnerability if we do not succumb to the overbearing suffering suffocating us all, we must sacrifice what must be sacrificed and press on. It is of course up to you. You choose what you must sacrifice, you have that ability. Know that . . ." Cornelius paused as he struggled with the words he was about to say, "heaven smiles upon you."
Catylina's eyes looked directly up to Cornelius as he grabbed her by the shoulders. Telling her not to cry and that his presence seemed as a threat. Yet for some reason with the aura she saw around him, she believed him truly. At least he was blunt and rash in his actions as he spoke to her of strength and vulnerability. And of sacrifice. The one word hit hard. She really couldn't handle if she lost her aunt. Especially if she was the one caught in the cross fire of this war. He seemed to pause from a bit. Before moving on. She believe in heaven and hell. But she believed that all human beings were just some pawns in a chess game. Making mores with in the world that God and Satan decided on. The words hit her hard with pure shock as she finally felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Retracting his hand he stood and turned. Walking past Gabriel he said softly, "I need some time alone . . ." Stopping in his tracks he looked into Gabriel's eyes, " please, just some time alone. I promise I won't be far, and you know there is no way I can run away."

Gabriel watched as Cornelius whirled around, then glaring at him. Half a smirk came across his lips, not out of spite, but it could certainly be construed that way. It was satisfaction in himself, that Cornelius had listened. He said nothing, though, just watched as Cornelius' anger to sadness. It always surprised him how other angels could feel so much emotion for others. He had often been standing behind Raphael, watching him as he cared for humans, being shooed away because he was just such an ominous presence. Raphael would always tease him afterwards about being such a dark shadow over him.
He roused himself out of his memories as Cornelius stood and walked over to him and asked him for some time alone. The two spent a moment staring at each other.

Watching him stand and turn away as Catylina closed her eyes at the tears came uncontrollable. She already accepted her fate. It was the worry of hope and strength that she feared to lose. She could feel Eloa's arms wrap around her again. Even when she pushed her away, the angel came back with such a gentle touch that Catylina could find her arms around the angel's as she cried. She found the ability and comfort to cry with in Eloa's arms as she released everything. She knew that the release would only case her in to a deep sleep later, but right now nothing really mattered.
"Hell knows now." He said softly. "They're here, just out of sight." He had a tendency to actually let Cornelius have his time, it was something that he did understand. "I'm not worried about you trying to get away from me, you know I could hunt you down easily. I just don't trust you." He paused, the anger still showing in Cornelius' eyes. He sighed. "Go..." He finally said. "Don't go far." His voice was strained with anger though, he was not happy. There was too much going on with all this, the last thing he wanted was Cornelius' attitude.
He looked back at Eloa and Catylina. What the hell was he supposed to do with a girl on the verge of crying?

Cornelius walked towards a park bench, not far from the group but far enough for his own privacy. He sat on the cold hard wood of the bench. For a moment he stared at his shoes on the white sidewalk. His chaotic emotions were on the verge of breaking through that calm mask he continuously struggled to control.
"I'm too emotional . . . I can't keep doing this . . . to empathetic . . . I'm killing myself," he brought his hands up to his face to hide pain breaking through his clam mask. "At the same time you know the answers to all the questions you ask, you fight them and don't know them . . . you're a fool Cornelius, you're a fool. The world is full of suffering so I revolt . . ." Cornelius sighed, ghostly tears pooled at the corners of his eyes. "I was bound to fall, perhaps when and how was my choice but I was bound to fall . . . you are the angel of chaos, the perpetuator of discord and anarchy . . . ironic that under the order of heaven I revolt because it is through chaos that I want to save humanity. Trapped by the suffering of life they cannot break free . . . I cannot break free . . ." Fires shot through Cornelius' heart, anger twisted his features, "I will not succumb to the darkness of this universe, I will not implode upon myself screaming 'woe is me!' I revolt because that is the only way to make good of what is wrong."

Gabriel watched as Cornelius went over and sat himself on the bench not too far. He could tell Cornelius was letting his emotions begin to overcome him. He looked back at Catylina, tears rolling down her face, then back to Cornelius, who was on the verge of tears. He stared at Cornelius for a bit.
"I don't get it..." He said softly. So much emotion just confused him. He always just destroyed something when he felt emotional and was done with it. He sighed.

Eloa's eyes looked to the confrontation that seemed to arise from the ashes of emotions. Gabriel really didn't seem to understand the emotions that lay forming in the air around them. And Cornelius was becoming too overwhelmed with his own emotions that a from of self pain for the girl seemed to appear in him. A situation she had not been face with before. She was at a lost for words now. Even the human girl seemed lost at the moment in emotions. Yet she found some sort of strength to look at Gabriel.

"For once in your life will you stop trying to understand the situation before you and look past fact that you can get over something through the use of blowing something up!" Her voice seemed to rise to a serious degree from the soft serene voice that she naturally held. She moved biting her tongue from yelling anymore at the archangel before her. Her eyes closed as her fingers clasped the bridge of her nose as she took a deep breath to relax herself. "Look...I didn't mean to get in such an uproar." She said lightly, "The only way to understand such things is to live with the emotions rather then displacing them in something else." A sigh passed her lips once her eyes opened and she set her sights upon Gabriel. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so flustered over such a thing." She finally apologized as she felt her mind return to her and she moved to the girl who started to slowly cry. She stopped as she looked to Cornelius who walked away from the girl after telling her of great good and such. She could understand him. But the blunt truth at the moment wasn't going to help this girl through with anything.

Gabriel's eyes widened a little at Eloa's scolding. He lifted his chin from his hand, looking as if he was about to say something, but Eloa cut him off, then apologizing.
He sighed. "I..." He paused trying to find the words. "Well, I don't know how Eloa..." He looked down at the ground a moment then looked back up, watching Eloa holding Catylina.

Was he being too hard on this girl? It had always been his job to wake up her type, but that didn't mean he was good at being gentle at it.
He stood up on the park bench, jumped down, carefully walking over to Catylina. He knelt down. "Look, I'm sorry if I'm upsetting you, I'm just not very… personable." He said. He looked over at Eloa. "There's more I have to do, though. I need to open your eyes, err, wake up that part of you that can understand what it is you are seeing and feeling. It will be a lot less frightening when I do this you'll be able to understand when you come across something whether it's benign or benevolent."

Eloa looked up to Gabriel as he spoke. She could only accept the answer. Most angels really didn't understand. That was one thing she couldn't seem to understand. But the way her mind was set, was to show emotion. Why she did? She couldn't really explain in. She would find herself crying for the humans when destruction came upon them. She could see their pain. "Shhhh." She spoke gently as she rocked the girl back and forth to calm her down.

Catylina looked up to angel as he knelt down before her. It wasn't he fact he scared her or the fact of not being able to understand. But it lay with in the reason of why she was chosen. Especially with everything going on in her life. She nodded to accept his sorry as she rubbed the back of her hands to clean the still falling tears from her eyes. "Do what you must." She spoke lightly. "I've already agree to this. I don't back out once an agreement is made." She felt her voice shake a little to hold back a cry.

Gabriel nodded. "Well, before I do…" He reached for her hand and dropped a small, sliver, coin like sygil in her hand. A silver chain was run through it. "That's my sygil, a symbol of sorts, that has special properties. Done properly, an angel's sygil is a very powerful thing. It's used to call the angel that owns it." He closed her hand around it. "Should you ever find yourself in trouble, of any kind, hold it in your hand, and call me. Tell me that you are in trouble and I will be right there." He leaned in closer to her, lowering his voice. "And if you ever just need an angel to talk to, call me. If I can't come, I will send someone who can."

Catylina looked to the object that lay in hand as she felt Eloa's hands rest on her shoulders. Her eyes set on the engraving of the coin. Beautiful it appeared as she ran her thumb slowly across the design. Eyes raised up to listen to him. A sygil. 'A calling card.' She could only managed to coherently think out. Her hand seemed to hold on to the coin for dear life as she listened to him. Her eyes glanced to the chain and coin. Her eyes looked up as she heard him. A soft nod came from her. "I shall." She spoke softly.
He paused for a moment, looking at her then up to Eloa. "Since you are ready, we should get this over with." He finally said. "This won't hurt, at all, in fact it's a really wonderful experience, I'm told." She nodded and he leaned towards her, placing his hands on either side of her head, he leaned his forehead on her head. He didn't think to warn her that he was a bit cold to the touch. Angels usually were quite warm, but a few, notably he and Raphael, were cold, but even Raphael seemed warmer than Gabriel, and could be much warmer when he wanted to be.

Catylina's eyes returned to the coin as she looked to the design itself before looking to Gabriel as he spoke of this 'awakening'. She felt his cold hands on sides of her head. Feeling his forehead against hers. She wondered if she should close her eyes as well or leave them open. She sighed gently to calm herself down as she closed her eyes. A chill ran through her just from his touch. Icy it almost felt like, yet she didn't pull away.

Eloa just listened and watched. Gabriel's attitude seemed to shift a little. Or to what she guessed had shifted from the misunderstanding to a compassion. She could only move back as she gave the two space to talk. She manage to slowly back away from Catylina and Gabriel as her hands finally lifted off the girl's shoulders to let Gabriel do his thing. Her hands moved to her pockets as she watch for the time being. Her eyes raised up to look to Cornelius. She moved lightly to let the job occur as she walked over to Cornelius. "Are you alright?" She asked softly as her serene returned to her voice.

Cornelius sighed, his head hung low and his elbows braced his weight on his knees. He had composed himself when he noticed Eloa approaching him. "I am fine. Sometimes I let my emotions get the better of me, they tend to be chaotic. I have a tendency to be overly empathetic. I am too emotional, and ironically too rational."

Eloa nodded gently with a certain grace. A soft smile came to her face. "That means you hold an understanding to the humans. Not many have that. It's rare to find among any angel. Yes we care, but to show emotion seems beyond certain angels." She only spoke in slight wisdom as she looked upon him with a gently peace. She smiled to him and nodded. "Alright." She said softly understanding him.

"Sorry…" Gabriel mumbled as Catylina closed her eyes, and Gabriel did also, concentrating on her. He began searching through her mind for that spark of her gift, laying asleep in her subconscious. Not even noticing, he let his wings show, it almost seemed like the shadows behind his back, forming the huge black wings.
Finally, he found it. He woke it up with a slight mental nudge. He allowed her to see him through her mind. His inner light, the one that created his halo, was all she could see at the moment. The light that fills a humans' heart with God's peace and love. An utterly beautiful, peaceful sensation.
Carefully, he pulled back out of her mind, letting the light subside, not to quickly. Now that she had touched the light, her ability to feel and distinguish between heaven and hell.
He opened his eyes, leaning back, the feathers of his wings lightly brushing up against Catylina's hand. The movement of the feathers attracted his attention, he looked over his shoulder out of the corner of his eye. "Oops…" He said softly not realizing he had done it.

"It's...alright." She felt her mind slowly calm to the cold as she felt nothing out of the ordinary just yet. Her eyes still closed. She felt something finally after what felt like forever. She felt something. A spark of something flicker in her before she felt a light wash over her. She couldn't even began to describe what it felt like. It was amazing as he said. And warm it gave off. She could feel herself gasp softly in amazement as she felt a hint of understanding come to mind. His halo seemed powerful in light and love. She could even feel God's love and peace as her own soul seemed to fall at rest with everything that happened. As if everything made sense now. Her eyes stayed closed after he pulled back. The light slowly subsiding. But her thoughts still lingering on it. She let a soft sigh out as her eyes finally opened. She could see more of a glow in his aura after this 'awakening'. Stronger it seemed then what it was last time. Even Eloa's. Yet as she looked to Cornelius she could see his and distinguish it quite well. Her eyes looked back to him as she felt the brush of something against her hand. Black feathers appeared at her hand as she saw his wings. "They're beautiful." She spoke softly to him.

Gabriel looked away a moment and almost seemed to nearly blush, but he hid it well. "There are very few creatures in the universe that have ever said that to me." He said softly. He looked back up at her. "No one likes me much." He sighed a bit. "Are you all right?" He asked as he stood.

Looking up at Eloa, Cornelius smiled. "I am ok." He stood. Gesturing toward the group he said, "shall we?"

Her eyes looked back, Gabriel seemed done with the process as she looked to Cornelius. "Lets." She said lightly with a nodded as she turned lightly to walk back to the group.

Gabriel looked away a moment and almost seemed to nearly blush, but he hid it well. "There are very few creatures in the universe that have ever said that to me." He said softly. He looked back up at her. "No one likes me much." He sighed a bit. "Are you all right?" He asked as he stood.

Her eyes watched his movements as his head turned away. She smiled lightly as she looked to him. "I like you..." She spoke lightly out of respect. Many for the fact she had known him before birth. That he was the one she first saw before she was given to her parents. She nodded. "Yeah." She spoke lightly as her eyes looked up to Eloa that started to approach that Cornelius.

Eloa smiled only softly to the girl now knowing that the girl could see her halo. Brighter then ever just like Gabriel's.

Gabriel smiled somewhat, having a hard time taking a compliment. "Well, unfortunately, that is all that I can do for you." He said changing the subject, trying to push away the memories creeping back at him. She reminded him a bit of Uriel, and that made him miss the archangel quite a bit. He unconsciously stretched out his wings, standing on tip toes, he ran his hand through his hair. The weight really bothering him today. He wished, really wished, that Uriel was there because he was the one angel who always was able to get the right spot when his back hurt... he sighed, realized what he was doing and took a step forward, hiding his wings in the shadows again. Now was not the time to be remembering.
He looked over to Fall and Enoch.
"Better take her and get her a bath and a good meal, Enoch." He said and sighed. "I wish I could do the same for you, Fall, but unfortunately, that part of you has already been awakened, by hell. I can't take it back, but Enoch can help you overcome it."
He looked back to Eloa and Cornelius. "We should get Catylina home, if she needs to..." He rubbed his eyes a moment trying to ignore the tension in back. "Shit... I need to go ethereal for awhile one of these days..." He mumbled. "Stupid wings are just too heavy."

Catylina nodded softly. From the experience, her tears stopped falling. Her face now stained from the running black eyeliner that she would clean up later. She moved lightly as she watched him in pure amazement. She was still feeling the awe that seemed to refuse to leave her now. Her eyes watched as he started to float a little from the ground with the aid of his wings.

Eloa's eyes looked to Gabriel as her hands rested in her pockets. A nod came to the suggestion he offered. "I'll take her back if you wish of it. Let her get some rest and such. She'll need it for things to come." She spoke softly as she looked to the girl with a soft smile.

Gabriel nodded a bit. "Before you do... Catylina, Valefar was the one who killed your parents, yeah? There's nothing that I can do to change that, however, I do want you to know, even though he would eventually get his in the end, I will make sure that he is brought up for what he did." Gabriel said. "As soon as possible."

"Yeah." Catylina nodded softly. She listened to Gabriel as she watched him. "Please do." She said softly.

Gabriel paused for a moment, then began again, his voice low and soft. "And I know you miss them, but your parents are in heaven, if that's any comfort to you."

She moved to slowly get up as he lowered his voice. She felt a smile fall upon her features. An actual smile that was hers. Not some smile she faked. "Thank you." She spoke the words softly back to him. She could feel a warm incentive when he spoke of them in heaven. That made her even more comfortable in the fact that they weren't in hell.
He smiled a bit, reached over and took her hand, pulling her gently closer to him.

She finally rose up as he smiled at her. Feel her hand rest in his as he pulled her closer.

"See that squirrel over there?" He asked in a whisper, pointing to a squirrel about 50 feet away

. She nodded lightly like an aimless child.

"This is just for you..." The squirrel looked up at them a moment, then suddenly exploded. He bit his lip trying not to smile. "See, I'm not totally uncaring."

Nearly jumping as the watched the squirrel explode. She looked to him and shook her head before a smile seemed to befall her lips.

Eloa looked go Gabriel. "Gabriel!" She let out and shock her head. A smirk lay upon her lips as she looked at the now shredded animal. She rolled her eyes lightly and laugh. "Alright then. Lets get you home Catylina." She spoke softly as she moved to take over Gabriel's place in getting her home. "Unless you want to come with, Gabriel." She offered him lightly as she slowly started walking down the pathway to get out of the park.

Gabriel looked at Eloa as she scolded him like a child caught misbehaving. "It's just a squirrel..." He mumbled as she offered him the oppertunity to join them in taking Catylina home. He seemed to weigh over her offer for a moment, thinking it would probably be best since hell now knew it was Catylina they were really after. He looked up at the darkening sky as dusk was falling, then over at Eloa and Catylina as they began down the path. He was still a bit uncomfortable, fearing that more emotion was going to happen. "I suppose..." He answered. "So long as I don't get yelled at anymore..."

Eloa turned around as she walked backwards. Finally hearing Gabriel's answer. A nod came from her. "Deal, then. Come on.'' She nodded her head lightly as she turned back around to walk with Catylina. "You'll learn to get use to the blowing up thing." She said lightly with a smirk.

Gabriel waved at Cornelius to follow and started into motion, slowly catching up to Eloa and Catylina. "Blowing things up is very therapeutic..." He remarked hearing Eloa's comment. "Besides, I can either resurrect or replace what ever it happens to be that I exploded." He chewed on his lower lip a moment. "Except for trees."

Catylina only nodded lightly as she looked over her shoulders before walking down the path again. A yawn passed her lips as the want of fatigue and slumber eluded her mind from all thoughts. Especially after the day she seemed to have. Her hand pulled her beanie off for a moment to brush back her hair a little before putting it back on as she walked on home.