Fallen: The Beginning

Prologue

          RaiNell is reading through ancient texts when a messenger finds her and tells her Gabriel has sent for her immediately. As the messenger flies away, Rai puts away the texts and quickly navigates her way through Heaven to the location Gabriel had told her to meet at. When she arrives Gabriel is standing silently, hands clasped behind his back with his eyes closed.

          "Sir." She says the required greeting of a superior and kneels when she touches down, wings lowering behind her so as not to seem challenging.

          Without turning to face her, Gabriel says, "You may stand." RaiNell does so and stands at attention awaiting orders or instruction. After a moment's pause, he turns to address her.

          "I am giving you a very important mission, RaiNell. You know of the Original Fallen, yes?" RaiNell nods her head shortly in affirmation. "Good. I need you to track one of them down for me and retrieve an important item.

           "Your target is one of the Origin: Ijric." Gabriel stares RaiNell down with bright blue eyes. "Do you understand?" She nods, her superior's orders loud and clear in her mind. "Locate and kill the target," Gabriel says a beat later. "They will have a key. Retrieve it and bring it to me."

           "Sir." RaiNell inclines her chin in understanding as Gabriel moves closer. "Should I go get the official documents?" Gabriel stops just before her and shakes his head.

          "You will not need them."

          "But-"

          "Shh." Gabriel presses a hand over RaiNell's eyes, effectively silencing her. "You are such an excellent soldier, never questioning orders and always accomplishing the task given." When RaiNell doesn't respond, Gabriel continues: "Do not take this personally, but there are things bigger in this world than a piteously low angel such as yourself." She senses something wrong then and nearly jerks back when there's a blade against her spine, tearing into her flesh first vertically then horizontally through the initial laceration."To remind you of your duty to me."

          Suddenly, there is a bright light and RaiNell screams as it sears into her eyes. She grips Gabriel's arm, though doesn't dare harm the archangel. As he wipes her memory, he suffocates her against his chest to muffle her slowly fading screams. Not a moment later she is completely limp against him, held up only by his harsh grip on her armour. He lies her on the ground on her back, adjusting her so that she lies in the same position of the Lord's son when he was on the cross, then leans down to whisper close to her, bright blue eyes fogging over briefly with a black haze:

         "Do not fail me."

          Gabriel's wings are open and he's high above Heaven in an instant before he's rocketing back down towards the surface. He draws his sword and points it towards RaiNell's prone body, diving with alarming speed.The moment the blade passes through her thin chest and into the ground, all of Gabriel's grace bursts out in an explosion. Coupled with his impact landing, RaiNell's - weak in comparison – being resists for just a second before erupting through Heaven's barrier towards the middle plain.

          Standing, Gabriel stares at the slowly dissolving, ashen imprint of grace that had erupted from RaiNell's body. Without another thought he walks away to attend other matters.