Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 7

“Tita, let’s go.” Rabia looked up to see her daughter’s friend, Kate.

A week had passed since the day she learned that Xandriel was no longer at her side. She didn’t know what to do and how to accept that fact. If it were not for Janus, Kate and Jake, she would not have been able to proceed with Xandriel’s wake.

“Don’t worry too much, Tita. I know Xandy is in a good place now.” Kate comforted her.

Rabia answered her with only a nod and a prayer. She believes in the Almighty, she believes in God. But still, she can’t understand her feelings.

“Are you both ready to go?” The two women looked back to see Janus walking towards them. There was a taxi waiting for them at the gate that Janus hailed.

As they walked out of the cemetery and away from Xandriel’s tomb, every one of them gave out a promise to Xandriel to continue living.

+++

“I have already died. A long time ago.”

Those words that Janus said, kept replaying through my head.

He said he'd been long dead. He died a long time ago. When did that happen? If it’s true or not, or how that happens, I don’t know. I can’t even ask Janus that. I couldn’t possibly ask that to him, not when he was standing before me as if those words were facts and that shouldn’t confuse me, but it did. I can’t speak or even open my mouth.

“Are you okay?” Janus waved his hand in front of me.

Minutes passed and I was still staring at him. My mind still refused to accept what he said. No, it will never come to terms with it. I refuse. I would accept it if he would say that this, everything, was all just a dream. But this? I don’t think so.

“D-dead? For a long time? How did that even happen? We were together just a few days ago. A few weeks before that, and a few years too. When did you die at that time?” I confessed. My heart was pounding because of fear. Out of fear or I'm just being uneasy, I can’t say for sure.

“Don’t tell me that the Janus that I was with all those times was not real? But... but you two look exactly alike! And, and Mamang, Kate, Jake and Aling Martha. They know you. How... how did that happen?” The fact that I might be crazy about thinking that the Janus I was with for a long time didn’t exist gnawed on my mind.

Questions keep popping out of my mind, it’s a mess. More and more keeps popping out and not a single one of them is getting answered. Everything just got me confused. This place, me being here and even Janus.

“What are you talking about? I have been dead for at least ten years now. I was six when I died.” Janus answered me.

“Six years old?” I asked in shock.

“Let me explain everything to you, Xandriel.”

Janus and I's little exchange was cut off by a voice behind me. When I look back, I saw the most gorgeous being that I had seen in my entire life.

“Archangel,” Janus curtly said.

There standing before us was another angel. But he was different from the one I saw earlier. He was wearing a purple satin that was hung from his right shoulder down to cover his waist and it flowed to his thigh. His body was framed by his huge wings that also had a tint of purple. Even though I knew it was folded behind him, it still looked big.

He also had a strange smile on his lips. His eyes were black and matched the blackness of his long hair that was now being swept away by the wind. Who is he?

“I’m Archangel Zadkiel. I can answer every question you had in mind if you come with me.” He offered his hands for me to reach. That is when I saw it.

On his wrist, there was some sort of insignia. It was a star with seven edges inside a circle. On every edge there was some sort of symbol and some writings that were new to me.

Should I take his hand? I kept replaying that question in my mind while still staring at the angel’s extended hands.

I don’t think there will be danger here in this place. He looked harmless and Janus even called him with respect. With confidence, I accepted his outstretched arms. As soon as our palms collided, a warm sensation crawled from the base of my palm to my arms until it ran through my whole body and I felt relaxed. Like I have never been before. What was that?

“You too, nekros. You can also come with us. I know you also had some questions on your mind.” His voice was calm and reassuring as he talked to the both of us. It was as if he was talking to a child or more likely singing a lullaby. It felt good.

Janus abruptly looked at the angel upon hearing his invitation. Shock registered on Janus’ face. Maybe he was not really expecting that. So, do I. Because things have been happening since I got here, I don’t really know what to expect from here on. This place is a strange one.

My hand was still being held by an angel named Zadkiel as we ventured back to where the castle was. Janus was quietly followed behind us. Neither do I choose to keep quiet. We are now standing in front of the door and, just like what happened to Marian earlier, it automatically opened and the light engulfed us. When I stepped inside, the first thing I saw was two huge stairs that led to different directions, left and right. Wow! I can’t help but be amazed by it.

My jaw almost dropped when I scanned the whole place. This castle was enormous and beautiful. Huge columns framed the wide walls that were full of paintings of different stories. Just like what was mostly placed in the church. There’s also a number of doors lined up from left to right. We were walking along the hallway until we stopped in front of a huge door that was at the end.

This must be our destination. I watched as Zadkiel knocked on the door. Shock was evident on my face. We waited. After a few seconds, a voice called out from the inside. The person’s voice was also soft, just like a doctor's. Zadkiel opened the door.

Who could that be? An archangel or maybe God? I looked at Janus to get some idea but when I turned to him it looked like we were both confused.

“You may come in.” I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard Zadkiel’s voice. Janus was quick to enter the room while I stayed rooted on the spot. Zadkiel once again reached out for my hand and gently guided me inside.

My jaw dropped upon seeing the tall cabinet that was stacked with big and thick boos. There was no window but the lighting inside the room was good. There was also a big chair on the side that was facing a table with some books, a quill, a bottle of ink, and papers atop of it. There was also a couch that I think is for the visitors.

And beside that table, another angel was standing. Just like Zadkiel, he was wearing a satin that covered half of his upper body and a skirt like that flowed down to his thigh. The only difference is their color. While Zadkiel had purple, this angel was wearing a green one. Not as green as lush grass, but more like lime green.

He was reading something on the paper as we entered. All the while, his black hair was now covering the side of his face. His huge wings were also noticeable, there was a green tint to it too, just like Zadkiel’s. To be honest, when take a good look at you both of them, you’ll see that aside from the different colors of satin they’re wearing and their wings, there’s not much of a difference in their physical features. My attention was also caught by the insignia, the same as Zadkiel’s, on his left neck. I was really curious as to who he was.

“I was expecting you, Zadkiel. However, not this early.” He greeted us, most likely, Zadkiel.

“I have been told by Miniel. He informed me that the girl was already there, but he didn’t trust the nekros who greeted her. I was not sure of what was running on that guardian’s mind,” Zadkiel explained.

I felt familiar with his story except for some few words that I didn’t understand. Like that nekros, who I have been hearing since earlier, and the word guardian, and even the name Miniel. They are all unfamiliar.

“You knew very well what he was thinking, Zadkiel. You don’t even need Samuel for that.” The other angel set down the paper he was holding and looked at me straight in the eye.

“It was an honor meeting you, Xandriel.” I was surprised at myself that I was actually expecting this.

I had come to the conclusion that all of the angels here knew my name. Except for Janus and the group of people outside earlier, everyone seems to know who I really am. Well, they don’t even count as angels.

“I’m Raphael, the keeper of Cosmos. The place in between life and death, or what you humans call, purgatory.” He extended his hands towards me. While Zadkiel was still holding my other hand, I reached with the other and then I felt it again. Just like when Zadkiel first held my hand. The surge of warmth and relaxing sensation rushed through my palms and into my body.

Wait! No, this is not like the first. It's different. It's much more powerful. There was a weird black thread that appeared in my vision. It was swimming. My head was getting fuzzy and there was a ringing in my ears. I tried to retrieve my hand but Raphael’s hold was firm and he was reluctant to let go. Then the ringing stopped. Silence took over, I heard nothing more as my vision was engulfed in darkness once again and I lost consciousness.