The Impact (Book II)

Reprimand

William

A flock of geese startled me after I had glided into some clouds and I veered to the right to avoid them. I opened to the portal to Heaven and flew through it.

The gleaming white palace loomed into view. Once I landed at the golden gate, I walked past the guards and into the palace. Several angels greeted me cordially and I nodded in return at them.

"Hello, Life."

I paused at the rough voice and looked over my shoulder to where the Angel of War, Amir, leaned against one of the alabaster pillars.

Amir was a brawny Archangel an inch or two shorter than me. He was clad in his usual armor with his great axe holstered to his back, only his silver eyes visible. Even at times of peace, he was ready for war. He reveled in it.

"War," I replied stiffly, inclining my head in his direction.

"How is the wife?"

The other angels didn't know that I was married to a demon, Joel thinking it would be best they never found out. So, he, Luke, and I were sworn to secrecy to never mention the nature of my children or wife. They didn't even know I had children, not even my parents. The angels who were aware I was married assumed I wedded a faceless Lesser Angel, or a human, which wasn't taboo but wasn't going to win me any points in a popularity contest.

Amir was curious about Mel, to say the least. I was sure there were a few Angels who were curious about her, but he had made his curiosity known to me. He was one of the few angels who still exalted the previous God. Pater had told me about her and that she was as much a bully as Amir was. And, one of her rules was that Lesser Angels and Archangels were not to marry, and that went especially for humans and Archangels. The fact that I never eluded to what my wife was irked Amir.

"She's well, thank you for asking. Have you seen God? I have some business with him." I asked.

He gave a noncommittal shrug. "Maybe in the gardens with your brother. Come to think of it, I haven't seen you and Death interact much in a long while. Sariel and Christopher were as thick as thieves when they were Death and Life."

My relationship with Luke was strained after he learned about my marriage to Mel. He was consumed with hatred for demons and would never accept she was different. I tried not to mention her too much around him, but his manner towards me seldom changed. He would treat me slightly better than an acquaintance, but not as a brother. Not like before.

The fact Amir noticed something different in my relationship with Luke was saying something. And, maybe that was why it rubbed me the wrong way.

"Yeah, well, I've been busier than him, what with humans giving birth to more and more children and so few have been dying as quickly as before. I'm sure you must be bored, given that there hasn't been a war in a few centuries. Perhaps you should find something else to do rather than to gossip like an old wife."

His eyes narrowed at me. I bowed my head at him and walked away.

I checked the throne room first, though I didn't expect to see Joel there. He preferred being outside. Then, I checked the garden and found him seated beneath his favorite tree. He had a book in his lap, his head bent over it. He didn't look up immediately as I approached, though I knew he was aware of my presence.

"Hello, William. What brings you here?" He asked serenely, looking up from his book.

I sat across from him. He studied my somber expression and added, "We are alone."

"Zane made an appearance at Mel's job. Lucifer has created some type of device that allowed him to not only see our home but go through the barrier. He interrupted Zach and Keith's training."

He closed the book after dog-earing the page he was on and turned his attention to me. The last two thousand years had been kind to him. His hair had a healthy shine to it and his cerulean eyes were bright and clear.

"That is serious. I will have to strengthen the barrier. Did he say what he wanted?" Joel inquired, his eyes somber.

I nearly smacked my forehead; I didn't think to ask Mel what Zane had said to her. Embarrassed, I mumbled, "I forgot to ask Mel what he told her."

Joel nodded in understanding, the corners of his mouth downturned. "Well, one can infer he was there on Lucifer's orders...perhaps he was issuing some sort of warning?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. Whatever he said to her, it made the color drain out of her face. I don't think I've ever seen her that frightened before."

"You mentioned to me last week she had been having nightmares. Has she agreed to talk about it?"

"No," I sighed, "at least, not with me. She snapped at me when I brought it up. I figured I would wait until she comes to me about them."

He tapped his fingers on his knee in thought. "Yes, perhaps that would be best. By the way..."

I flinched when he fixed me with a rather stern look. "I saw the fight between Zachary and Keith this morning. Zachary is on a far higher level than Keith. It was not fair."

I ducked my head. Something told me that I would probably hear it from Mel as well. She didn't believe I loved Keith the way I loved our other children. It wasn't true; it was just there was something darker about him. Something even darker than Melanie's aura.

I mumbled, "If Keith faces an opponent the size and strength of Zach, it wouldn't be fair."

"This was a spar, William. I understand you want to help him get stronger, but allowing his oldest brother to smack him around is not the way to go about it. I think you should let Melanie take over Keith's training."

"She doesn't even fight! It was never her strong suit and it still isn't." I argued, hopping to my feet.

Had this been in the past, I would have quailed at the manner of how I was speaking to my Lord. However, Joel insisted that he and I were brothers so I could speak to him more informally.

He shook his head in exasperation. "You still underestimate her. Yes, fighting has never been her strong suit, but she is observant and powerful in her own right. Even now her strength has grown, but she fears it. Besides, she has always been good at evasive action. Perhaps that would suit Keith better."

I grumbled my acquiescence, recalling the last time we sparred and I could barely touch her, her speed and agility had increased so much. And that had been a year ago.

"On a lighter note, how are Emily and Cole? Did Emily get the dress I sent?" He asked, his tone lightening.

Smiling when I recollected Emily's joyful face when she saw the shimmering dress, I said, "She adores it; she plans on wearing it on the next holiday. As for Cole, I'm not too sure. I think he's alright, but he rarely talks and I can't tell what the kid's thinking."

Cole had always been different than his siblings. Quieter, withdrawn. Even as a baby he didn't cry, but he sought Mel's comfort the way a normal baby would. He adored Joel at first sight. His uncle was the only one he really opened up to.

"Perhaps I will drop by this evening to see them?" he lilted.

I chuckled, "You can come over whenever you want. You know that."

He smiled and his eyes flicked to his book in quiet longing. I said, "I should get going. Mel's probably kept the children home from school and you know how out of hand they can get."

He smiled fondly. "Oh, I know all too well. Tell Melanie to set an extra plate at dinner for me."

"Will do. See you later."