Black Wings

Chapter 3

"Brother, we have come as you asked."

I glanced around nervously. In the pristine office, I was at my most uncomfortable. Usually, my standing in front of a desk lead to me obtaining new scars. They never stayed long, what with all the holyness and stuff.

"You look nervous, Blackwing."

"Of course, usually when I'm called in by superiors it's always fun. Oh, but you would know that, since you participated last time." I said, pulling down the left side of my shirt collar a little.

A thin line went from collarbone to my sternum. I had one or two others, but this one specifically pissed me off, it was Raphael's afterall. I noticed Michael's eyes widen slightly, but he didn't say a word. The satisfied look in Raphael's eyes pissed me off further. There was just something off about him.

"Now, to the matter at hand. Although I disagree with it, what I am about to tell you comes from the only person higher than me. Lucifer has decided, after your little dealing with those filth, he wants the two of stationed on earth."

"Yes, brother." Michael said, bowing slightly.

"But you, Blackwing, let me make myself very clear when I say I don't trust you, nor do I like you. If it were up to me, I'd have locked you up a long time ago, but my brother for some absurd reason, refuses to let me. If you so much a make one wrong move down there, I will have you charged as an enemy of Heaven. Frankly, I'd rather kill you, but once again my brother has stated that you are not allowed to die."

"Could have fooled me, considering all the times I was nearly killed just by your hand."

"And somehow you still manage to have such an attitude."

"It's what keeps me going."

"Get out."

*****

"How dare you talk to my brother like that. He could have killed you."

"No, he couldn't."

"And you know this how?"

I stopped, causing Michael to stop as well. He scowled at me, from either annoyance that I stopped or annoyance about his brother. Or both. It was most likely both.

"You heard the conversation, he can't kill me. Believe me if he could, he would have done it a long time ago. At least I finally know why they always stop before they get to my neck or I bleed out."

"What do you...?"

"You don't know? That every time I get in trouble and they call me in, I'm getting tortured basically? Seriously? They really keep you in the dark, don't they?"

Michael didn't say anything as we continued back to the barracks. I was a little worried by his silence. I had only been teasing him, but his silence lead me to believe I was right. Had they really told him so little? Archangels keeping secrets from archangels, how ironic. It wasn't until we were standing at the door when Michael spoke.

"We have ten minutes before they-"

"Beam us down, yeah, yeah, I get it. All we have to get is our weapons anyway."

*****

"Not what I expected." Michael commented, looking around.

"I'm finally in the human world! And I can finally wear something other than that bland uniform."

"What!? What am I wearing!?"

"Normal human clothes."

"Why are you wearing so much black?"

"It's one leather jacket and boots, it's not that much. Black down here isn't a bad thing. Look at all the humans, they all have black somewhere on them."

Michael frowned and looked at his clothes. Opposed to our usual pure white uniform, he was now outfitted in a grey long sleeve shirt, jeans, and black converse. I was now outfitted in a cherry red sweetheart tube top with a black leather jacket over it, ripped jeans, and black faux suede boots. I pulled a packet out of my jacket, the one that contained all of our information.

"Hey, Raphael gave that to me. How did you even get it?"

"I swiped it from you when you weren't paying attention." I said, looking over the first paper. "You learn stuff when you watch humans for years. That and when you're oppressed, you tend to act out in little ways."

"Where did we land anyway?"

I looked around, taking in our surroundings. We were in one of those little rectangular parks in the middle of cities. Like central park, but a lot smaller. This one was only about two blocks long. It was quiet and still except for us.

"Why is it so quiet? Where are all the humans?"

"It's almost noon, people will be moving about soon. Children are in school and adults are at work."

I stared at the clock tower on top of city hall at the other end of the little park. Something was familiar about it. But what? I took me a moment but it came to me.

"Rachel."

"What?"

"Rachel, one of my humans. She lives in this town."

"One of your humans?"

"What? I can't have favorites? Anyway, wait here, there's something I need to get."

Michael sighed and sat down on a nearby bench as I disappeared.

*****

With the soft rustle of wings, I returned as the town started to liven up. I sat next to Michael, plopping down a bag between us.

"What's this?" Michael asked, eyeing the bag.

"Lunch." I said, pulling a wrapped burger out if the bag.

"You do understand that we don't need to eat, right?"

"Doesn't mean we can't. Want one?"

"No thanks."

Michael watched me in disbelief as I shoved a french fry into my mouth.

"Wow, I never thought human food would be so amazing! And the burgers! Come on, just try one little fry. You don't have to eat anymore if you don't want to. Please."

"Fine, just so you'll shut up."

I smiled at him and he just rolled his eyes. He stared at the fry hesitantly. I waited, while still eating my burger. He glanced at me, probably hoping I wasn't looking so he could ditch the fry. I glared at him, forcing him to eat it. He didn't say anything or give any sign of what he thought.

"You liked it, didn't you?"

"Shut up!"

I reached into the bag to get the other one and held it out to him. He didn't move, but glanced at it then me. He frowned as he looked at me.

"If you want it, take it. I'm not going to judge, I'm not even in the position to do that."

Michael sighed and snatched the burger away.

"Not a word."

"Wasn't going to say a thing."

We sat in silence, watching the humans. It was different watching the humans from down here. Humans bustled around us, going to lunch or returning to work or school, walking pets in the park, or conversing with others. I felt proud of my little humans. I looked at the clock tower. Rachel would be in history class right now. I knew for certain when I could hear her praying for a good grade on her test. She had done well, missed number nine though.

"So, what do we do now?" Michael asked.

"Wait, look around, I don't know. The papers weren't exactly all that detailed."

"Are there any hunters in the area?"

"Not that I know of."

"We should go see Rachel."

"Why?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"I want to know what makes her so special."