Black Wings

Chapter 13

We were heading towards Gabriel's barracks, when I was attacked. A flurry of dark red hair came at me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Oh my goodness, you're okay!"

"Anna!?"

"Joshua told me you had been turned into a fledgling. I was on patrol at the time, but here you are, back to normal."

I noticed Joshua standing behind Anna, giving me an apologetic smile.

"I didn't think you cared." I said.

"Well, don't humans have a saying? You don't know what you have until you almost lose it?"

"Not the exact words, but close enough."

"The whole garrison was so worried. Actually, a lot of garrisons were. And- Oh! Archangel Michael, please forgive me for not addressing you first."

Joshua and Anna went to kneel, but Michael shook his head and smiled.

"No, it's okay. You're excited to see Rina, I understand. And you don't have to call me archangel, just Michael."

Anna looked me straight in the eyes.

"What did you do to him?"

"What?"

"He's different."

"Yeah, little strange isn't." I teased.

"Watch it you, I'm still an archangel."

"Joints."

Michael flinched.

Anna and Joshua looked between the two of us, shocked by our interaction. I turned to Joshua.

"I saw Emanuel. He's doing well. A nice farm, wonderful farm, two boys in college, he's happy."

"I'm glad for my brother. He's my older brother, if he's happy, then I'm happy for him."

"Rina, we should go. Unlike you, we're not stationed and still have to attend meetings." Anna said.

"Alright, we'll see you another time."

So, Anna and Joshua left to attend a garrison meeting. And Michael and I continued on to Gabriel's garrison barracks. Many members of Gabriel's garrison were watching us closely, reminding me once again that it was almost mating season.

"Michael, Rina."

"Gabriel, we just came to say goodbye. We're heading back to Earth." I told him.

"Wait, you're leaving? Already? You just got back to being yourself."

"I know, but duty calls and I feel fine. I'm worried about Rachel too, the last time we left her alone is when the demons attacked."

"Yeah, I get it. But you will be back for mating season, won't you?"

"Don't know. It'll be fine though, we'll come back soon enough."

I hugged Gabriel and kissed his forehead. Michael ruffled his hair and we were off.

*****
"So, the Blackwing is back to normal." Raphael said to his brother.

"Yes, that's good. And she and Michael are getting along well." Lucifer said.

"I still don't see why you insist on letting her live. She's dangerous and could turn on Heaven at a moments notice. And she'll drag Michael and Gabriel down with her."

"You want to kill her?"

"I've made that a point the day you brought her through those gates. And for some stupid reason that you refuse to tell me, you won't kill her."

"Kill her?" Lucifer gave a short but dark laugh. "Raphael, let me make something very clear. Right now, and since the day I brought her through those gates, Rina has been far more important and valuable to me. And Michael is not joking when he threatens war. The second you go after her, Michael and Gabriel will declare war and you will be a disadvantage. Not only are they stronger individually, but most of Heaven will side with them. Rina herself is stronger than you. And I will kill you. So I advise you against harming her, brother."

Raphael gaped at his brother's words. Lucifer was normal very passive, but he had just threatened to kill him if he laid a finger on Rina. The thought of all three of his brothers wanting to kill him terrified Raphael. He knew he was weak compared to his brothers, that he stood no chance. But it oddly frightened him more that Rina was stronger than he was. She strong, that was obvious, but he didn't realize just how strong she was. He could die at her hand. It occurred to him, she could be stronger than Lucifer if she tried. And yet, she sat through all of his torturing without fighting back. The thought made him want to run and hide from her. Michael and Rina finished talking to Gabriel and disappeared, off to Earth. Lucifer walked off as well, leaving Raphael with his fear.

*****
"Oh, you're back! You're not three anymore!" Rachel said excitedly, hugging (more like crushing) me.

"Yeah, I'm back. Can you, I don't know, stop trying to break me?"

"Oh, sorry. I was just happy to have you back to normal. Though, you were pretty adorable and Michael was super possessive. I think he only put you down a few time and was always, always watching over you."

I chuckled, while Michael grunted indignantly.

"Don't lie Mikey, I saw the way you looked at Rina. And believe me, I noticed how you looked displeased when I was near her. Oh, and you looked downright livid when Gabriel showed up. And don't even get me started on when your older brothers showed up."

"Okay, okay, I get it, I was acting strange." Michael said, walking towards the kitchen area of the motel room.

"Aww, how sweet." I teased him.

But Michael didn't have a witty reply like usual. In fact, he didn't say anything back or even acknowledged my words. Rachel cleared her throat and looked back to me.

"So, we should head home soon. We're long past return time, mom's already left a few messages and dad's threatened to come and drag us all home."

"Uh, yeah, right, let's pack up and get on the road."

*****
"So, what's the story this time?" Amy, Rachel's mother, asked, sipping her coffee.

"Well, it started off like any other witch hunt. These three teens had no idea what they were dealing with, total idiots. So, of course they were using magic wildly. And so Rina and I tricked them." Rachel said, finishing by shoving a bite of French Toast in her mouth.

"And we cornered them and they obviously paniced, shooting off spells in all directions." I continued, picking up the story. "I got hit, turning into a three year old. It was horrible, my emotions were all over the place. Thankfully, Michael was there which oddly settled me down. But we went to Heaven and some stuff went down there. Then, we found a way to fix it and here we are."

"Well, it's good that you're alright. It's too bad your father had to leave before you got back, but I did call him to let him know."

I looked over my shoulder. Michael stared out the window, a cup of coffee in his hand. It was really the only human food he ate or drank. I wondered why when I knew he hated the feeling of eating. He had been off since yesterday, but I couldn't figure out why. So, I came up with an idea that might cheer him up.

"Amy, do you happen to have paint anywhere?"

"There's a big box in the garage from when Rachel gave up trying to paint. Why?"

"Just a little project. The room is off limits today." I said over my shoulder as I hurried out of the dining room.