-Raphael-
She was insane, an insanely amazing girl who is either really nieve or a complete lunitic. Normaly when one tells a woman that they are an angel of god gone wrong and that thier husband was possesed by the verry first demon in history they would run or call the police. What dose Annalisa do? She gets angry.
"Your a freakin angel, and you didnt do anything about this?" She motioned angrily at her legs. "I thought we were friends."
"Lisa," Drader cut in. "He's an angel of the lord. He has no friends." He nodded.
I glarred at him but other wise left him unharmed. Annie mirrored my expression.
"And you! I thought you went away to school, mom sent you for a higher education."
"Yea, well dad sent us for a better education. We were offered a spot at the best supernatural school in the world. We took it. We became Philomela." Drader took a step back and pointed at me. Trying to get the convorsation back to my failure. "How do you think i met this lug of bird."
Before she could say anything, i spoke. "Annie, technically im not an angel any more."
She looked at me like i was insane. Which im sure i deserved. "What are you talking about? You have wings!"
"Yes, but.. i shouldnt." I looked at the ceiling, i couldnt see her face anymore, she no longer looked angry, she was upset. She was concerned. "Almost a week ago, i was informed by a very good.. friend of mine that i would be relieved of my apendages."
She looked timid. "What do you mean?"
Drader stood up and shook his head. "I can't believe you Lisa, what this idiot is trying to say is this. It isnt our fault that you cant walk, blame that bastard you call a husband. Stop being so selfish, he saved your life. He's done alot for you, plus he's recently lost his halo. And if you cant accept things for what they are then -"
Its the eye of the tiger its the thrill of the fight
Drader paused but then just continued after a second. Ignoring his singing pocket. "-then its your loss, you used to be such a -"
stalks his prey in the night And he's watching us all with
Drader fumbled with his phone. "- good... girl."
Annie rolled her eyes. "Answer your phone Micheal."
Drader didnt need to be told twice, he sprinted to the kitchen.
The traitor left me alone with a hysterical woman. "I know i sound selfish, but seriously Raph, you havnt even tried to heal me?"
I lifted my hands up, trying to show they were tied. "I have tried Annalisa."
She crossed her arms over her chest and for the first time in my existance i had the slightest urge to shake her. "I dont believe you." That hurt. Why did that hurt so much?
It was quite for a minute and i listened to Drader in the other room talking on his phone. "I still pray. even though i've fallen, i've been casted out of heaven Annie, i cant go back. But i still pray, becuase i refuse to accept the angel's decision as God's."
"What are you-" I didnt let her finish. It was my turn to speak.
"Its not they're fault either. The other angels just do as they are told. They dont know any better than what the arc angels tell them -"
"They sound like slaves. Dont you believe in freedom?" She demanded.
I looked at her, Why was she so upset? What had i done that was so wrong? I was starting to miss Sabel. I needed to finish what i had to say. I put both hands on the side of her face and made her look me in the eye.
"Annalisa, every night i pray for you, every night i beg and try to heal you. Every. Single. Night. I rebel and show acts of freedom."
I pulled my wings back behind my shoulders and put my jacket on, i had to get out of here. I wasnt myself, i couldnt trust my decisions.
"Raphael, wait!" But i was already out the door. I needed to go home.
-Annalisa-
My chest hurt and my head was pounding in my ears. What was i thinking? Why did i do that? Was i really being that selfish? Was it so bad that i wanted to be happy?
"Where's Raphael?" I looked up to see a confused micheal standing in the doorway.
"He left."
"Well, where did he go?"
Shaking my head, looked anywhere but the door. "He didnt say."
The look on Micheal's face was strange, it was like he was shocked and trying to sneeze at the same time.
"Okay then, come on princess." I jumped. What was he talking about? Were we going back up stairs? He nodded to the kitchen. "That was Simeon, he's back in town and wants Raph and I to meet him."
"Rapheal isnt here though..."
He gave me a look like i was stupid. "Duh sherlock, thats why your comming with me."
I Pointed to my set of wheels. It earned me ugly look from my brother.
"Stop it Lisa, your comming. Besides it looks like you cant escape the family biz anyway."
After taking two buses and enduring the theft of a van. We were sitting outside of the theatre. Where i spent most of my life on the stage, dancing my heart away. Now we were waiting for my brother to show. Sure enough soon after we arrived a familiar face started sprinting toward us but quickly he come to a halt. He stared at me. Mouth agape.
"God Lisa... I knew i shouldnt of left the hospital early."
Micheal hit his shoulder and i thought for a moment he would go toppling into the snow. I looked at my brothers and smiled. We hadnt been together in a while. At least not on happy terms. MIcheal and Simeon almost looked exactly alike, if it wasnt for simeon's height advantage and Micheal's freckles you couldnt tell the two apart.
"Seriously Simeon, whats going on."
My brothers were all buisness now. "The guy you're looking for was seen in there." He pointed to the theatre. "There is some kind of play or dance or somthing like that tonight. That sidney girl is in it. He'll be looking for her."
"-Wait Sidney?" My voice was much higher than intended. "What dose she have to do with any of this?"
Both of my brothers turned on me. "You know her? How?"
I shrugged. "She was a little girl in my big recital... She played a flower i think."
The boys looked at each other. "Would you know her if you saw her?" Micheal asked.
I nodded. Simeon started swearing. "NO MIKE! NO! We are not sending her in there, look at her. She cant walk how would she defend herself if somthing happened?"
"She's the only one they might let backstage. we'll stay in the audiance, she'll be perfectly safe. No doubt her 'angel' will come to her rescue if anything really happened."
"Absolutely not. Dont worry Lisa we wont-"
"I'll do it. Send me in, please?"
The boys looked at each other, one in victory, the other in defeat. "Okay, but we're going in too. Dont do anything stupid, just watch her, if somthing happens get out, and give us a signal."
I nodded. Simeon handed me a long silver object and headed inside. Micheal grabbed my chair and pulled me up the stairs.
As i sat, i watched how the dancers moved. from the audience's point of view it was beautiful, a real show of quality artistic tallent. It looked as if they had purposley skattered the dancers by randomly placing them on the stage. It was a gorgeous array of tallents all blended together. I however, knew a hell of a lot better. After all this was once my troupe. I belonged with these girls, i knew them and their varrious styles.
The truth was, from the stage, the dancer's point of view, this was a complete disaster. For one, the music was obviously set for the audience's benifit, because none of them on stage were moving with the tempo. Being a profecional dancer myself, i knew every stumble, every bummble and miss-step they made. I saw the form they lacked and i recognized right away, that none of them were in sequence with each other. they were not ready for this 'show'. I wanted so badly to be out there, to guide them and lead thier hearts as i have in the past. But i was bound in this chair and they were bound for greater things. Besides at the moment my place was here watching the little blond fairy. There was somthing almost supper natural about how the child moved. Even in the chaos, she seemed more graceful than anyone on the set. It was abnormal.
Because my brothers' didnt trust that i could handle anything, they were sitting somwhere in the back, and i was in front, where the wheelchairs were. it took me a few minutes to figure out that the man next to me was watching sidney too. At first i thought he was a proud parent. That thaught was gone in moments,when i realized he was watching me watch him watch her.
"Beautiful daughter you have, talented dancer." I said thank you and looked at the girl.
I knew i've seen the guy before, but i couldnt place his face. Somting was wrong. I instinctively didnt like him. Though i only had to tollerate him for a few more minutes, by then he got up to leave.
The scenes changed and sidney had just gotten back on stage, she wasnt a fairy anymore, now she played the wind and her steps flowed as lightly as they should of, she was about to pull off a spin when the lights went out on stage. The whole audatorium was dark.
The acustics carried the dancers sceams to us. The audience hurried to the doors. I knew my brothers would be here as soon as they could, but i aslo knew they had to fight against the crowd. I felt useless. The front row seats were empty now, they were pushing past the third rows. Another scream ecoed past. I couldnt just sit here. The blade on the inside of my boot pressed cold against my skin. I wheeled my chair to the steps and i realized i was stuck. There was no possible way for me to get on stage. But the shuffleing on stage encouraged me further, so i took a deep breath and parked my chair.
over the past week Raphael has made me deal with the pain and just stand still. On a good day i can stand for almost eight minutes. When he makes me walk, we've counted twenty one steps. What i was attempting wa supposedly imposible.
As i tried to inch out of my chair a sharp pain flared in my low back and side. shoving to a stand caused what little light i had to dissapear and spots danced in my 'vision'. They cleared and i was slowly progressing up the steps, holding the rail for dear life. At the back's edge of the stage I saw a girl i instintively knew as sidney, shove a full grown man to the ground. She rushed to a bag she had apperently dropped. I continued foreward, gripping my knife. Trying hard to stay upright. I was watching the girl, I never saw the man get back up, but he must of. Before sidney could run toward the emergency exit he drew back and hit her so hard she collapsed. His body blocking her form my view. I was less then a couple feet away now. Complete pain embedded in my boddy.I couldnt stand any longer. There was no way.
But its not like i had much of a choice now, I held on to the wall, not allowing my body to drag me down. There was no way i oculd take another step. i gripped the blade and in the time it took him to pick sidney up and turn around, i threw myself off the wall and the butt of my knife connected with his head. We all went down. I struggled to pull myself up. The man started to stir. I was screwed. I couldnt get up. Queickly i shoved my blade in my boot. this was it. Defy all odds - or die. I guess my best option was to .... die. i glimpsed sydney's limp body, then i myselfself collapsed to the floor.
"Annalisa!" i heard my brothers yell.
"Lisa, get up, run. " run seriously?
I stayesd still, held my breathe. The pain in my back was so intense, that i almost really did black out. But if i stayed this way for a moment, my brothers would be here, and everything would be alright. Well thats what i was thinking. Too much commotion was going on than one guy could create.
My eyes flew open and i looked out toward the noise. Wahat i saw scared the living crap out of me. Three large winged men towerd over my brothers. Though i had to admit my boys were holding thier own. One man turned around and stared at me. His eyes were like white orbs, he was the most beautiful looking man i had ever seen. Then suddenly his features changed. He was no longer a man, he was a bull, then a lion with a golden mane. Now he was an eagle. As his face changed, his wings changed with him. The only constant fearture he had were his eyes. Was this what angels looked like? his face changed back to that of a man and everything was blacked out of the world asside from this amazing being. Nothing excisted aside fom the light in his eyes. I thought i heard my name, but i didnt care. I was set on watching him watch me. i was finally at peace.
Somthing touched my shoulder and i heard a horrific sound. I twas shrill and the sound of it made my blood run cold. It took me a moment but i figured out it was me. I was spun around and the verry man i hit in the head grippped the sides of my face. My body was washed in pain but i didnt protest when he pulled me to my feet.
"Dont look at them" He shouted over the noise. "Its not real." At first i thought he meant the angel, then it dawned on me that he was talking about the peace i felt.
I nodded and almost collapsed in the floor but he didnt let go of me. "I cant walk."
He looked at me in disbelief but still he picked me up and carried me back stage.
"I shouldnt of came back for you, but your screams were unnerving."
I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck. I couldnt be dropped, he couldnt leave me here. The man carried me to the womens bathroom, Sidney was there, leaning on the tiled wall. We were just over the thresh hold when , lo and behold - he dropped me. But i held strong to his arm. I was on my feet, leaning on the sink. It was the same angel that hypnotized me before. He had the man by the neck. I refused to look at his face. I yanked the knife from my book and shoved it in the angels's hand.
He didnt even freakin blink. Before i could register what i was doing, the creatures hand fell to the floor with a thud. Blood spatterd on my face and i gripped the sink with renewed vigor. I thought i saved his life but clearly he could take care of himself. The man morphed into some kind of thing, a wild animal. He lunged at the angel with vicious defiance so, i pannicked, they were all out of the bathroom, so i shoved the door shut and locked it. The noise osuside was crippling, my legs and back were killing me, but i was still holding the sink for dear life. I refused to die next to a toilet. I held the knife high, nothing was getting in here. Nothing.
-Raphael-
The stain glass windows were beautiful. But they only reminded me of Annalisa. I was on my knees in front of the pulpit. What was i doing here? What was happening to me? These feelings that made my insides burn, made them melt. The worst part was now those things inside me are joined by a new one. My insides felt dirty and my shoulders heavy. Why? What had i done? I defied god, this was his way of punishment.
"Lord, forgive me for i have sinned."
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of god."
I looked up to see a man sitting in a chior chair. HIs hair was neatly cut and his eyes were kind. "What can we do for you today Raphael?" I stumbled back. "Who are you?" He stood and came closer.
Making a face and shook his head. "Thats right, you dont remember anything."
"Remember what?" He sat down on a pew and patted the seat next to him.
"Sit with me Raphael, i will explain as much as i need to."
I sat beside the stranger and he took my hand. I tried to pull back, though he held firm.
"Relax Raphael, it is time you knew the truth."
I wasnt in the church anymore, i stood between worlds, right on the edge of virtue and sin. I was standing next to my brothers michael, gabriel, azrael and Israfil. we were one of the first four Angels in the front lines, our seperate armies behind us. We stared out at the legions staring back at us. When Angels were created, we were created with another half. They were our closest allies beside god himself, they were our twins created in the same second. It was unfortunate, that my older brother, micheal's twin was the cause of this problem. Lucifer stared back at us, Azazel by his side.
"Stand down Lucifer, it is time you kneel." Micheal was a being of few words but when he spoke, you listened.
"I can not believe you Micheal. How can you defend him?"
"He is God, our father."
"NO. He is nothing. Especially not father. He creathed those animals, his new favorites. And then asks us to love them? Protect them? Guide them? No, we refuse." He raised his hands and every angel behind him cheered. "I say, we need a new god. I say we take him out and his pets!" Again they cheered.
Micheal stepped forward and reached out to him. He didnt want to harm his brother, but God willed him to take out the threat, and if that threat became Lucifer, he wouldnt hesitate.
"Lucifer please, rethink this and bow. God loves you. Then we will go back to praising his name together."
"Do not call me that! I renounce your God and i renounce the name he has given me. My name will forever more be sataniel. You may call me Satan, i will be your new god, Kneel and i will spare you Micheal, resist and you too will be slain."
That was the first and last time, i had ever witnessed an Angel shed tears. Micheal cried, he had lost his brother.
But it wasnt Micheal's twin that started the fight, but my own. Israfil withrew his sword from his sheath and attempted to stab me in the back. Garbriel blocked the blow and we shoved him to the other side of the line. Chaos errupted and it became difficult to determine who was your true brother, and who was now a stranger.
The scene changed and i was now kneeling before the trinity.
"You did well Raphael, so to commend you, we are allowing you to walk among men."
My heart sank. "But father, then i would be farther from you."
"It will be fine. You are an arch angel, so the farther away you are the more you will feel the loss. But we have given you the power to heal, and so you are healed."
I understood. God has given me a purpose and so i shall fulfill it.
"Rapheal our plan for you is rough, but we shall never give you a task you cannot over come. We shall watch over you as if you were human, so long as you protect them. Go to the garden and protect the tree, keep them away from it. But do not eat of it. Understood?"
"Yes lord."
"Keep them healed and warn them of 'satan' when we are in need of you, you will be sent for."
"yes lord"
Once again i was somewhere else. In the garden, fighting a dragon, one that was once a brother. God had given man control over the earth, though now becuase man had placed blame on the serphent he had give control to satan. Fire encased me and i was confused.
Sabel was then at my side, he was not an arch angel, though he took me to god, but god would not see me. I was then took under his wing and known as Raphael the scout. Almost all angel's had forgoten who i was.
The light shined through the multi colored window and i rushed to my knees. For i was now standing on holy ground. The holy spirit in human form before me.
"Raphael rise, we are in need of you." i hurried to my feet. "Do you understand who you are?"
"I am Raphael, an angel of the lord."
"Is that all?" He demanded.
I bowed my head. "I am an Archangel, and i have fallen."