Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 10

“Fire! Fire!”

People are scrambling around. They were running to and fro and were in chaos and in panic. It was already twelve in the afternoon when a fire broke out in one of the compounds of *Manila. It quickly grew and it burned three houses in a span of thirty minutes.

“Call a firetruck! Quickly!” An older woman shouted as she exited her own house.

“We already did. Where did the fire start? In this broad daylight, I'm sure somebody must’ve seen something.” Said the man who was only wearing boxer shorts and a white *sando. He was taking his afternoon *siesta when he heard the commotion outside.

“Althea! The fire started at your house, right? What happened?”

All eyes turned to Althea when one of the neighbors called out to her. They were taken aback by her expression. She was crying, just standing there and crying. But she had this weird broad smile on her face.

+++

“Aaah!!”

The scream echoed in the huge garden. Everyone was crowding something and Janus and I did our best to catch up to the angels.

“What happened?” I asked someone when we finally reached the crowd.

“A nekros, her body was covered with fire.” Tronus was the one who answered my question.

Raphael walked towards the middle of the crowd. Everyone stepped back a little to give the archangel some room. I tried to squeeze myself to have a clear view of what was happening. When I finally reached the front, I was greeted by a woman who was wearing a white dress and that said dress was really covered with fire. It was a weird fire too; it did not look like the woman’s body was being burned but she was in pain. Also, the fire looked like it was in static mode, not moving and not growing.

What is happening? The pain was clear on her face but her body was visible unscathed. She was a nekros, whatever that is.

“She can’t fully cross the Cosmos. There's a part of her soul left on the Earth and some is still on the other dimension,” Janus quickly said as he stood by my side. When did he get there? I briefly looked at him before I returned my attention to the woman.

Raphael lowered himself down near the woman. He was whispering something inaudible as he did. Whatever that is, I can’t understand a thing. I scooted a little closer and listened intently to hear what Raphael was saying.

“°Domine, auxilium pauperum animam tuam. Remove animam tuam ignis catena, ut ignes in abyssum irent. Auxilium eius transire ponte, mortis. Rursus amans rursusque manu tua blandientur animam tuam.”

Raphael’s hand glowed as well as the insignia on his neck. He held the hands of the troubled person. Her hands and whole body soon glowed as if Raphael was transferring everything to her. We watched in awe as we waited for what would happen next. When the glow subsided, the woman’s face became peaceful. The fire was no longer there and her dress looked normal. There were no traces of burn or burn marks even on her body. Raphael assisted the woman to get up.

“Mary Ann Macatunao, twenty-eight years of age,” Tornus said.

“It’s only minutes since we saw her name on the list and then she arrived. But we have no idea about how she died. It’s not written there.” Said the oldest of the group.

“I think you’re right, Tornus. Demons are invading that dimension. Nolasco, I'll leave the nekros to you.”

Raphael gave his orders. So, Nolasco was his name. I took note of that. There's still something bugging my mind right now and I voiced it out.

“Can the demons enter this place?”

Everyone looked at me as soon as I finished saying those words. They all had a grim look on their faces that sent a shiver down my spine. Did I say something wrong? Before I could even take back what I said, Gabriel answered me with a serious tone.

“No. The dimension was not limited to the demons and the former angels. However, they don’t have any privilege to enter the Cosmos.” Gabriel explained.

“Xandriel, I think it’s time for you to learn the plan that was given to both of us.”

Gabriel looked at me straight in the eyes for a moment. He stepped towards me and smiled gently. He reached for my hands; I was disappointed when I did not feel the warmth the other archangels had.

“I’m not going to tell you the plan if you’re not ready yet.”

My eyes grew wide at what he said. I totally forgot about that. My mission. I was just staring into nothing as I weighed my decisions. Then I came to a conclusion.

“Do I have any other choice? I’m already here. I might as well go for it.” I tried to smile; I wish I had shown them a sincere smile.

“You may feel as though you don’t have any choice. But you are given something, a gift. Your will. You can decide for yourself and on your own.” Zadkiel offered me his warm smile. But I have already made my decision.

“I’m ready.”

Everyone looked at me. I puffed my chest and raised my chin. If my Mamang did believe in Him and put her whole trust in Him. Maybe I can do this too. Can I really do this? Can I back out anytime? No, Xandriel, you can do that. I can surpass my Mamang and then I’ll make her proud.

+++

“So, basically, I just need to bear a child? One that has the blood of an angel and the blood of a human. But I have demon blood, is that even applicable?” I curiously asked.

“You need to undergo a ritual. The anointing of the holy oil.” Raphael answered ns.

“For the second time, Xandriel. I’m going to ask you, are you ready?”

Zadkiel walked up to me. He did not put his hands on my shoulder or even touch me. I think he was letting me decide on my own without any influence from their end.

“I’m ready,” I firmly said.

I know, I'm ready. My decision is final and I'm going to go through this.

Gabriel nodded his head when he saw the finality in me. Raphael crossed the room and retrieved something from the cabinet, between the row of books. When he turned around to face us, he was holding a jar. He walked back to us just when Janus voiced his concern.

“How will Xandriel carry out her mission? She needed to get pregnant and that was taboo on Earth. Getting pregnant without a father, I mean.”

“That is where you will involve yourself, Janus. You will be the father of the child that Xandriel needs to bear.”

Janus and I looked at each other, wide-eyed as we listened to what Gabriel had just said. We both avoided others' gaze as the word sunk into our heads. Calm down, Xandy. Janus is not a stranger. Surely those things are normal. Or do we have to do... that? No! No! Calm down!

“Don’t think about it too much, Xandriel. In time. Everything has its own perfect time.” Tronus gave out a small laugh at me.

He can read my mind. He can read my mind! How did he do that? I looked at Tronus, bewildered, but he only offered me a small smile and a shrug. I shook my head and returned my gaze to Gabriel, totally forgetting Tornus’ comment and the searing heat at the tip of my ears.

“So, what will happen now? How can I start my mission?”

Raphael stood in front of me, the jar still in his hand. He motioned for me to listen to him, so I did.

“After this ceremony, you will be traveling back to the Earth. You will live again.”

“I will live again?” Something inside me was stirred at the thought of being able to see Mamang and my friends again. I'm getting excited but it ends so soon.

“Not on your own body. You'll wake up in a new body and a new identity. It was about a woman who got into an accident with her husband.” Tornus caused my happiness to dissipate by that.