Gabriel's Army

Episode 2: What now?

“What do you mean ‘hunting innocence’? The ‘Fallen’....are they angels? Help me understand what is going on and how can I get my niece back to my sister.”

“You may not want to hear this, but without going into a lot of details, you are now here with us forever, but on a good note, your niece has not crossed over yet. Which in layman's terms, she is still alive. We will send out a group of Angels to see if they can locate her, but I speak from experience that it is nearly impossible to find her. There are currently almost one hundred innocents missing that have been abducted in the past year alone.”

Gabriel had lost her within the first sentence. “So I am dead..” Katelyn whispered, starring at her hands.

“No… not technically. To keep you from crossing over, you were chosen to join us, and by the looks of your wings, we have chosen appropriately. Once you have been trained and educated, we can release you back to your life on a limited time basis. The more time you spend away from us, you will age appropriately. However, we have given you a gift with the expectation that you will use it wisely.”

“Use it how? What kind of gift? What if I just want to go back”

“We are in need of your help. You are expected to join our ranks and help us find these stolen innocents and return who we can back to their lives. The number of abductions has been increasing these past couple of weeks. We will need all the help we can get to save them and maintain the balance.”

At that point, a loud boom shook the garden. A tiny clay pot that was placed on a shelf wobbled slightly and fell to the ground, shattering to pieces and then disappearing completely.

Jehoel stepped out onto the path. “Michael. It seems we have a guest. I will check on him and return shortly.” He bowed gracefully and turned to leave. Katelyn couldn’t help but admire his chiseled chest, deep tanned skin, and the definition of his muscles. Did they not own appropriately fitted shirts here.

Michael spoke and drew her attention to him. “I must apologize for the interruption. At least there will be two of you going through training together. It is not every day we are blessed with two cherubs on the same day. Monika will show you to your quarters, and we will introduce the two of you after we've had a moment to speak.”

A tall dark-skinned woman appeared on the north side of the gardens and motioned for Katelyn to follow her. She wore a piercing white gown that flittered just above her ankle with a pale pink ribbon tied around her waist. She had short dark brown hair that seemed to stick out any which way, but she still managed to look feminine with a small crown of white baby's breadth. Monika led her through a doorway that Katelyn had not noticed before, as it was hidden by a huge topiary. They continued down a long corridor and at the end turned left. They had left the white marble and now ventured to a part of the building that was gray blocks and cold.

“Is this common treatment for guests? I feel like I am being led to a dungeon.” Monika glanced behind her at Katelyn. “These are only temporary quarters. Once training is complete, you will be assigned a room with the others.”

“and how long is training?”

“Depends on how fast you learn.” As Monika led her down the hall she noticed that all of the doors were shut, the walls were bare with an unlit sconce a foot or two apart. They stopped at the fourth door on the right. “This will be your room. Dinner will be served in your room tonight, and someone will come and get you in the morning for breakfast and to start your training. Everything you will need is in your room already.” Monika rang a little bell that hung from the wall just inside the room and left Katelyn standing in the doorway…. confused…. heartbroken… angry… she was having a hard time deciphering exactly what mood she was in.

She stood in the doorway for several minutes before resigning herself into the room. She softly shut the door in a slow reflective manner. Her eyes scanned the four walls of the room. The walls were made up of dark gray concrete with no decorations. A bed was pushed up against the wall to her left and a small desk on the opposite wall. A table was on the wall facing her. It was made of a rich orange maple with a crystal basin and water pitcher resting on it. A tall wardrobe stood along the back wall of the room next to the table. The bed was not made but had what looked like fresh linen sitting neatly folded at the end of the bed. “Well, isn’t this quaint and 18th century modern” she had said to no one in particular.

Katelyn walked over to the wardrobe letting her hand glide over the linens on the bed. They were warm to touch and soft as silk. The wardrobe stood almost 7 feet tall. The front was adorned with a mirror set into the carved door. It was a beautiful piece of furniture. She wrapped her fingers around the brass handle and opened up the wardrobe. It was filled with clothing. Definitely not your department store clothes. The bottom of the wardrobe held cubbies full of shoes. All of them, ironically, her size...7. There was a beautiful set of nude heels at least 3 inches tall. Sandals similar to the ones she had admired Monika wearing along with a pair of navy running shoes and black thick-soled boots. She wondered to herself if they were steel-toed. Folded neatly on top of the cubbies were a couple pairs of jeans, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. Hanging from a rod hung beautiful gowns, white robes, black rompers, and a long red coat that would likely go past her knees. She touched the fabric and found it soft but rigged. Wool maybe? She was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps. She quickly walked to the door and pulled it open. She eyed the little bell that Monika had rung. Wondering what it was for. She peered out and saw Jeohel walking with a man already past her door. He looked to be younger, mid-30s, if she had to guess. Mahogany brown tousled hair. It was his wings that had made her catch her breath. They were a dark navy that seemed to sparkle like a clear night sky. They must not have heard her open the door over their conversation. They looked like they knew each other like old college friends. She stared at them as they stopped 4 doors down from her on the opposite side of the hall. She shrank back into the door worried that they would see her, but before she could close the door, a girl maybe 13 years old, was there holding a tray of food. “Here is your dinner ma’am” she spoke in a soft singing voice as she placed it ever so gently on the desk. “Is there anything else I can get you?” the young girl glanced around the room “Would you like me to make your bed for you?” She asked tilting her head slightly looking pointedly at her untouched linens laying on the bare bed mattress.

“Um, no I know how to make a bed. I just wanted to take some time to get to know my surroundings.” Katelyn gestured by waving her hand around the room.

The girl looked suddenly stricken. “You are to stay in your room, ma’am, until the morning. You will find comfortable clothes in the wardrobe. I will be back to get you tomorrow and take you to the training hall. You will need to wear comfortable shoes. Now, before I go, is there anything else I can get you?”

Katelyn looked awkwardly at the girl, trying to figure out if she was being reprimanded or reminded. “No, I think I am fine.” As the girl went to leave the room, Katelyn touched her briefly on the upper arm. Heat flared through her body and she stared open-mouthed at the girl. The girl stepped out of reach, her face flushed. She apologized profusely. “I am sorry ma’am. You startled me. I am normally not touched.” Katelyn, counting her breathing as the heat subsided. “I am not sure what just happened but I am very sorry I startled you. I was just wondering what your name was.”

The girl looked to the floor as she started backing out of the room. Clearly looking like she was in trouble. “My name is Pasha.” She nodded and flitted out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Katelyn turned towards the food as the door clicked closed. She pulled back a bronze metal chair and looked at her dinner. Bread, cheese, grapes and slices of apple, slices of what looked to be ham, and two glasses. One looked to be water, the other looked to be wine. She didn’t exactly feel hungry and this was no Chicago-style deep dish pizza. She sighed a small sigh and started picking at the bread and cheese. She picked up the wine glass, smelling the tart aroma. Sweetness with a little hint of woodsy drifted towards her. She swirled it in the glass, checking the thickness of the wine and letting some air flow through the liquid. Katelyn couldn’t help thinking of herself as a wine snob. Smiling it reminded her of her sister and their trip to Napa. They took a train through the valley and stopped at 7 beautiful wineries before somehow making it back to their little bed and breakfast. Her heart ached for her sister. She took the smallest sip and the flavors of the wine erupted in her mouth. It was delightful and for one moment she could relish in the multitude of flavors instead of clinging to sorrowful memories. She set the wine glass down. As much as that sip was life changing, she just couldn’t. The bread was light and airy with a slight buttery taste that complemented the sharpness of the cheese. She grabbed a couple of apple slices and wandered back over to the wardrobe. This time, she stopped in front of the mirror and actually looked at herself. Her skin had a pearlescent glow to it. She could just see the tops of her white wings. That seemed to be every color she could think of and none at all. She took the last slice of apple in her hand and chewed it slowly in her mouth. She felt like running, but knew in the pit of her stomach that she couldn’t. She still wore the white robe. Not caring if she ruined the robe and realizing that there were no pajama-type articles of clothing available, she made the semi-conscious decision not to change her clothes. She grabbed a crisp white folded blanket and went to lay down on the floor in the corner of the room.

She awoke to hearing someone rummaging around in the room. Pasha was there picking up her tray of barely eaten food. Noticing that Katelyn was awake, she gave her a quick smile. “I would have opted out of the wine if I were you. Not eating enough and drinking our wine has a heightened effect on people.” Katelyn brought herself up to lean against the bed. She still felt exhausted. “Also...if I could suggest the use of the bed...They will go easy on you today, but the future not so much. It is quite comfortable.” Katelyn just looked at the girl and hugged herself. She took note of her amethyst eyes and her hair, her youthful tight skin. Katelyn thought to herself that she couldn’t be more than fifteen, but she had this strange air around her of maturity.