It All Started with an Apple. Subtitled: Lucifer's forbidden fruit

Chapter 33 Gabriel and Micheal

Gabriel is on his knees as if he is praying, his golden wings tremble as he fights for breath and understanding. The vision he had was both confusing and disturbing. How could this have happened-why? It was not God their father that done this-not after Lucifer refused and defied him once again. He wonders if he should go to Micheal with this vison before presenting it to God. Or should he simply go straight to Lucifer and demand answers. He knows if he makes the later decision, he is risking everything. He could lose the eternal light of God and Heaven as Lucifer did eons ago. The turmoil inside of Gabriel is almost more than he can bare-with a sigh he forces himself from his knees. A soft breeze blows across his face-he shivers from the memories of another time that keep trying to creep into his mind. For what feels like eternity he stares out across the skies wishing he did not have to make a choice he may later regret.

Michael is watching Gabriel tentatively from across the horizon of heaven. He knows his younger brother has just experienced a vision - knows by his obvious distress this vision involves Lucifer. The fact that he seems reluctant to report this vision to their father worries him greatly. He feels torn due to this fact, should he go and report Gabriel's reluctance to follow their father's law or should he just confront him on his own and deal with him as a brother not an angel. It seems this battle over the race of man is beginning to take its toll on all of Heaven.

Gabriel closed his eyes using every last ounce of his powerful energy to search out the whereabouts of Lucifer. He thinks if he can find his wayward brother, he could go to him and demand answers. Regardless of Lucifer's constant rebellion and disdain for God- their father and his rules, he was still his brother. He will go to him as a brother not an Angel of heaven. Gabriel's mind focuses seeking Lucifer out but where it takes him catches him by surprise. He finds himself somewhere beneath the earth's very core- beneath the molten lava and fire of Hell's inferno. A place Gabriel never knew existed and when he tries to push further into this unknown place his mind hits a powerful barrier. A shield that nearly knocks him on to his knees. His eyes fill with tears of frustration as his mind continues to battle with this powerful barrier. He grows exhausted until a familiar touch of a hand grazes his trembling shoulders. He turns slowly with a look of defeat etched across his face; his troubled eyes locked with Michaels fierce ones. Gabriel knows his brother knew he was searching for Lucifer.

"Gabriel it is treason to withhold information from our father- God the creator of all. I already lost Lucifer to betrayal and secretiveness please I beg you do not make me lose you as well." The look of raw desperation and despair in Michaels eyes is nearly Gabriel's undoing.

"Please, Michael I... I have nothing to report to our father currently but know this brother I have no intentions of betraying our father or heaven. I just... I want to be alone," Gabriel rasps. Michael closes his eyes for what seems like a Millennium- then he grabs Gabriel, his strong hands bite into his shoulders as he begins to shake him almost violently.

"Gabriel you even sound like him! Stop this ridiculous yearning for something that is not possible- Lucifer is lost to us for eternity, except it. I beg you. I know you saw a vision of him, speak now!" Micheal shouts angrily.

"Ok yes, it's Lucifer, you're right. Aelia- she is alive in another's body," Gabriel whispers in a strange voice. Michael releases him- slowly regaining his self-control, both brothers fall to their knees in exhaustion and confusion.

"Is it possible? How? Why?" Michael whispers. Gabriel shakes his head also uncertain of the answer to these lingering questions. Both know that there is no way God would have done it but who or what else could have that much power. Michael does not have to speak for Gabriel to know he too wants to seek out Lucifer now and get the answers they both seek. Perhaps together they could break the barrier and find out where Lucifer was and who was protecting him and Aelia-and at what cost.