A hazy, white light was shining endlessly throughout the never-ending sky. It was not the sky entirely but a place in heaven. The ground, or what seemed to be the ground, was filled with cloud-like cotton and the place was cool. The sun, an eternal light, would shine in its brilliance and yet you will not feel its heat.
He was moving now, the angel in his illuminated golden overall and as he walked, the clouds smoked but in a way undisturbed. His hair was silver-white atop a young face of pure glee.
Angels, male and female, were standing orderly on either side of him as if he was on a runway. He was holding something small and light.
A soul.
He could hear the whispers of his fellow angels, "He is pure," one said followed by another, "A gentle heart he has," "What a beautiful aroma," and all the angel could do was smile because he knew what he held in his hands.
"An extraordinary one you are," he said to the soul, peacefully, "You are a weapon forged from the heart of heaven and you shine like heaven's sun. Your smile will break the darkest hearts and your soul" He paused and his eyes glistened with tears, "A gracious river of light."
The voices of the other angels were rising now and the happiness they felt toward this soul was heartwarming. Other angels were moving around in the distance. Some were holding illuminated souls while others were holding darkened souls but the crowd was not fascinated with them.
"It's time for you to live a human life." Angels rarely cried but today, this one did, "And it saddens me to know that it is not a nice one. Make the best of it because a soul directly from heaven's light is brilliant no matter the darkness that surrounds it."
A small incubator-like vessel was balanced on a stand and the Angel gently and slowly moved his hand but before he could put the soul to rest, it flicked to a higher beam of light and shot right out, falling into the vessel. A rumbling noise echoed throughout the grand room, increasing as the intensity of the light also increased and in the split of a second, the rumbling and light ceased, leaving everyone with a buzzing in their ear as an after-effect.
Without looking at the crowd, the angel said, "We all believe in God and that everything happens under his command. This courageous soul is one of us but first, a human life he must live. A will power stronger than anything will consume and a heart that bleeds even after death." He turned to face the sea of angels that were looking on and some of their faces flushed with horror.
"Fear not, my fellow angels," he was looking at them stoically, "We are-" and he saw what they were looking at. Fear gripped his throat, his body went still and then everything around him was hazy as his eyes only saw what was out of heaven's ordinary.
Another angel was moving toward the crowd but he was different. His wings were white but streaked with black and his body was all muscles. Burning scars were lashed across his chest and a small fire emanated from his skin.
"Solomon," it was all the scarred angel could say while everyone else remained silent, "How did you-"
"Just because I was banished from this peaceful paradise does not mean that I cannot visit," Solomon grinned, his voice husky. "Did you miss me, Aranal?"
Everyone looked from Aranal to Solomon and a white haired angel broke away from the crowd but no one seemed to notice.
"What do you want Solomon?" Aranal's voice went deep with courage, "Heaven's gate may be open but you were banished for a reason. Your incompetence and betrayal dragged you to where you are now so do not blame us for your disgrace."
"Disgrace," he spat as if the word was cursed, "You make me seem like Lucifer, Aranal. I am not." The fire around his body raged. "Lucifer is the one you should be angry with. I was once your friend; do you not remember that? I was there to embrace your pitiful soul when your human life came to an end. I was the one who taught you the ways of Heaven and now you've made it your home," Solomon paused and then he smiled wickedly; he knew Aranal good enough to know that he too, remembered. "But I am not here for a reunion."
"Then why are you here?" Aranal asked and then a scream broke out and all eyes moved from Solomon to the white haired angel. He was standing a few meters away from the crowd and horror was splashed across his face.
Solomon's laugh echoed within the walls of heaven. It was sadistic yet charming, but evil had its way of sounding lovely.
