Chapter 7
Uriel arrived in the celestial realm, the sniveling doctor at his feet.
He dropped the wounded human in the center court of the realm, staining all their white brightness with thick red blood.
A dozen seraphim gasped in horror. Their white perfection blemished by the dark seeping stain of coming death for the human.
“Who gave him power?” Uriel demanded, spreading his wings, the navy, purple, and maroon feathers lined in silver cast a thousand shadows of color over everything. He traced the doctor’s power back to this pocket of the realm. Someone here betrayed everything he’d meant for his creation.
The seraphim stared at him, shocked, but not afraid.
They hadn’t Fallen yet, their touch of mortal emotions was minimal.
Uriel decided to change that. He thought to be benevolent like the catalyst and give his creation the choice, but he wasn’t that kind.
Raphael hadn’t come with him. His lover stayed behind to tend the bodies of the Fallen and give them proper rest. Lucian and Morningstar transferred the few survivors remaining after Uriel destroyed the entire encampment of structures and anyone related to the hospital or guarding, to another human settlement.
No one answered him.
“Who gave this worm power?” Uriel demanded again.
“Your kind doesn’t belong here,” one of the seraphim said, turning away to offer his back to Uriel. “Take your filth away.”
Uriel stared at him another half second then grabbed the seraph, opened a portal, and hurled him into the human realm, ripping his celestial light from him.
The magic Uriel took from the human doctor and a handful of his assistants gave him the strength to peel the light from the seraph and force him to Fall.
He vanished from the celestial realm, cast into another unknown space, and Uriel didn’t care.
“Anyone else?”
They stared at him annoyed, some turning back to books of blank pages or staring into the light.
Uriel snarled and flipped the table, scattering the blank pretense of goodness they represented.
One by one he plucked the light from all of them, sending them into a Fall and another plane of existence, taking more magic until he felt like he’d burst from all the rage.
He caught a few dozen seraphim. The doctor died at their feet, blood spreading through the realm as if it would stain the source of light.
Raphael appeared, stepping free of a portal and wrapped his arms around Uriel. “Enough,” Raphael begged.
Uriel hesitated. The celestial realm looked like a war zone, filled with ruin, scattered white feathers, and blood, but Uriel had barely touched it. Lucian and Morningstar appeared a moment later out of a portal, Morningstar flushed, lips swollen.
“Fuck, you’re like a super battery boost,” Lucian muttered then gaped at the mess. “Okay, Uriel rage is reminiscent of biblical stories of Jesus. Duly noted. Don’t piss off the guardian seraph.”
“Don’t take more,” Raphael begged. He ran his fingers over Uriel’s face. “Let’s pick a space here, and create a sanctuary for the Fallen.”
“This whole world was meant to be for the evolved,” Uriel growled, the monster inside near the surface.
Raphael cupped his face, forcing Uriel to look at him. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Please.”
Uriel’s racing heart slowed as he stared at Raphael, sinking into his lover’s touch much as Morningstar had with the Onari Prince. The magic made him rage. He had to redistribute it. “Okay. Guide me,” Uriel requested. He needed the healing touch rather than protective rage.
Raphael nodded and gripped his hand, determination on his face. Wade wanted flowers with a thousand colors to refract light, and Uriel decided that was exactly what he’d create for his chosen ones.