Fallen

Chapter Twenty- Gabriel's POV

As the human woman led me to wherever it was, she was staying I couldn’t help but study her from the corner of my eye. Last I saw her when we were searching for Azrael, she seemed lighter. Now a heaviness was on her. Sadness encompassed her, and yet she was acting strong. As if the loss of the others wasn’t hurting her. They never would have left if they’d known the impact it would have on her. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the strength and resolve it took to leave her to begin with. Looking at her now, feeling what my brothers did, I knew I would never have the strength.

I guess the rumors were true though. All archangels would share a bonded. Only one woman for all of us, to bring us together make us stronger. After what’s happened though, I couldn’t see that happening. The war in heaven was widespread. Angels fought angels; many are dying. None seemed to care that our numbers were dwindling.

Then there was Raphael. The betraying bastard. After everything, all we’d been through, he turned on us. Hurting and throwing the others from heaven. Caging me as if I was some kind if animal. The torture though. I could still feel the razor tipped whip slashing through my skin, hear as my flesh shredded and it hit bone. I could still feel the sheer agony as they tore my wings from my back. Slowly, one at a time. They did that first, to weaken me. When they threw me from heaven all I could feel was the pain from their whips and steel. The burning of the flames as I spiraled towards earth. Then finally the pain of the impact.

I had begun to feel cold after that. My body losing its heat as I died. Slowly, painfully. It was seconds later I felt her. Her presence, her concern and fear. Her unwavering resolve. When what I know was her soul seeped into me, I could feel my body begin to repair itself. Slowly the pain ebbed, the sense of loss washed away. I had opened my eyes before she was finished. The tears in her eyes, and concentration on her face was fascinating. Her will to heal me, had me refreshed, and even gave me a new pair of wings. Larger, golden and strong. This human was created to be with us. Her soul was the only one powerful enough to help us. The only soul pure enough to be with an archangel.

She was truly a beautiful. Her looks that more of an angel or goddess than human. Her milky white skin was smooth and flawless, pulled tight against her high cheekbones. Her honey hair flowed down her back like a waterfall of silken gold. Her small heart shaped face holding almond shaped forest green eyes and a small button like nose. And he lips were plump and slightly upturned. She was small, even for a human. She looked fragile, like a rare and priceless piece of porcelain. Seeing her now I knew I could never leave her, not even for the battle in heaven. My brothers could handle that.

When we got to her small home on wheels, she led me in and into the back room. I could sense my brothers had been here. This must have been where she kept them as she healed them. The room was small, but large enough to hold myself and one of my brothers.

“Sit on the bed please. I will get what I need to help.” Her voice was small, tired. She expelled a lot of energy helping me, and yet she continues to try and help. Selfless. A little too selfless. If she keeps putting herself second, she would never rest. She needed to take care of herself, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to tell her no. So I sat, right where she asked me too. I wanted to object, but I could see I would only upset her. She wanted to do this, to heal me. I wonder if she was like this with the others, wondered if she put them above herself. I already knew the answer. There was no way this small human woman would put herself above them.

“You don’t look like you need stitches anymore.” She murmured. “I just need to stop the bleeding, then you should heal rather quickly. She sat in a small chair before me and started cleaning the blood from my chest, revealing the jagged scars both fresh and old. Anger flashed in her green eyes as she glared at my marred flesh. Was she repulsed? Surly not.

“I swear if Michael and the others don’t kill Raphael, I’ll do it myself.” Her words were whispered, I expected she didn’t think I would hear her. The thought made me smile, and made me angry at the same time. The thought of her anywhere near that traitor anywhere near her made my blood boil.

“Don’t worry.” She said a smile in her voice. “I know I stand no chance against him. The thought though is nice to imagine.” Her brow furrowed deeply. “But at the same time, the thought hurts, makes me angry. It shouldn’t, not after what all he’s done.” She drew in a ragged breath as she dried my now clean chest and applied some kind of paste to my wounds.

When she was done with my chest she moved around me, crawling behind me and doing the same to my beck. Her touch was soft, gentle, soothing. I found myself relaxing under her touch, the events of the past few days catching up to me. The memories of what happened flashed through my mind, making me wince. The human woman, Belle stalled. A gasp catching in her throat. I turned to her and saw her frozen in place a horrified look in her eyes.

“Belle?” My hands went up and cupped her face on their own. “Belle, what is it?”

“Is that wha….” She gulped; tears brimmed her eyes. What had happened to her? “Is that what they done to you?” Her eyes finally moved from their frozen position and rested on me.

“What do you mean?”

“I…I saw it.” She shook her head as if she wanted to shake the images from her mind. “I saw it through you somehow, felt it.” She shuddered, her face tightening. I understood now. The beloved of an archangel had gifts given to her, ones that are different depending on the angel. With me, she seemed to be able to read my mind. Regret filled me, despite me not knowing her gift.

“It is.” I admitted, my face contorting.

“I…I’m so sorry.” She breathed.

I smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “No need. It is in the past. I am here with you now. I am mended and away from him.”

She nodded on a yawn, her eyes drooping with her exhaustion. I felt her wariness, her trying to stay awake. I frowned at her, she needed rest as much as I did. “Come Belle.” I murmured, holding my arms out to her in invitation. She didn’t even hesitate as she curled herself into my side. My arms around her tightly, protectively. It was odd, how completely entrapped she was there. So small, and yet she somehow seemed to fit perfectly, feel as if she belonged.

I lay us both down on the bed and tucked her safely under my arm. She rested her head on my arm, her hand resting on my chest over my heart as if she wanted to be sure it was still beating. Slowly her heart matched mine, both beating in time with the other. It wasn’t until then I felt her body relax and her breathing even out. I looked down at her peaceful features as she slept, a small smiled curving the corner of her lips up. The completeness of her being here made my own eyes fall shut as my own exhaustion consumed me. I fell into the darkness of sleep easily with my one and only beloved in my arms.