Falling for an Angel

Chapter One- Azreal's Punishment

Chapter One

Azreal's Punishment

Azreal sits on Daniel's bed as the boy changes clothes. "Azreal, are you gonna get in trouble?" The boy's question catches the angel off guard and he gazes at the boy. "Why do you ask?" Daniel pauses in putting his clean shirt on saying, "I just have this feeling you're gonna get in trouble 'cause you showed yourself to me when I was crying." Azreal smiles a little and dips his head hiding his reddish orange eyes. 'For a three year old he's quite intelligent.' The angel thinks to himself.

Daniel finishes getting dressed and climbs onto his bed and sits by Azreal. The angel doesn't look at him and Daniel feels saddened by it so he does something that shocks the angel. Daniel crawls onto Azreal's lap and hugs him. "I hope you don't get hurt for this." Daniel's words touched Azreal's heart and he wraps his arms loosely around the child on his lap still somewhat shocked the boy is there and hugging him.

Azreal vanishes as Daniel's bedroom door suddenly opens causing Daniel to yelp in surprise. Then the child got mad for the intruder started to laugh which told Daniel his big brother Gabriel decided to pester him. "You should've seen the look on your face Danny. It was priceless." Gabriel said in between laughter spurts. Daniel ignored his brother for a moment to look around for Azreal. The boy became a little frightened that the angel was gone for good until a warm aura hugged him.

Comforted that his angel was still there Daniel looked at his brother and asked, "What do you want?" Gabriel had stopped laughing when he noticed his little brother looking around as if searching for something. "Mom said it's dinner time so wash up and come down stairs to eat." With that Gabriel turned around and walked out the door glancing over his shoulder when he heard his little brother talking to someone behind him. "Azreal you gonna stay up here or come down and eat too?" Gabriel didn't hear any reply but he saw his brother nod as though he did hear something.

Daniel walked into the bathroom and climbed onto the stool in front of the sink. 'I hate being short.' He complained to himself as he wet a rag and washed his face and hands. As he was climbing off he slipped and almost hit his head on the floor. Azreal sensing his little friend was in danger sped to the bathroom in time to catch him. "Perhaps I should help you wash up next time." Azreal said gently setting Daniel onto his feet. The boy smiled shyly. 'I hope Azreal's always here when I need him.' Daniel thought to himself as he hugged Azreal for saving him from a big headache.

As Daniel left the bathroom to go downstairs to eat Azreal felt himself be jerked back to heaven. Azreal looked up at Zephyre his commander. "You know why you are before me?" Zephyre asked in a melodic voice common for angel's of his rank. Azreal nodded and replied, "I revealed myself to a human." Zephyre gazed into Azreal's eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know the punishment for this." Azreal again nods saying, "I will accept it without complaint."

"So be it." Zephyre looked over to the two cloaked angels and nodded for confirmation. The two angels came forward and each took one of Azreal's wings at the back joint and broke them causing Azreal to wince in pain. The two angels stepped away as Zephyre sent Azreal back to Earth. 'Try not to let yourself be corrupted by Lucifer's breed.' Zephyre's words echoed in Azreal's head as he lay where he landed waiting for the rest of his punishment to take effect. Azreal felt his wings heal and he got to his feet. His wings stretched out before draping over him in a protective gesture and he saw his wings were no longer the pure white of heaven. Now his wings were black streaked with the red of the Fallen.

'I suppose I can not call myself an angel now.' Azreal mused to himself as he stretched out his wings and took flight. Azreal flew until he saw Daniel on his balcony looking skyward. Azreal let his wings fold inward and he dived toward the boy unfolding his wings as he landed silently by Daniel. The boy looked at Azreal's wings. "How'd your wings go black?" His innocent voice was filled with confusion as well as worry.

Azreal draped his wings over him to form a cloak and replied, "This is my punishment for revealing myself to you. I am now Fallen. I can never return to heaven. I have no where to go." Daniel took Azreal's hand and pulled him into his room. "You can live with me wherever I am." Those simple words made Azreal smile.