NOLA Down

Chapter 2. Heaven

          Heaven.

          Mortals have preconceived notions of it. Many of them, in fact. Golden or pearly gates, marble streets, clouds, God living among the dead. No grief, crying, or pain; a new Eden.

Some of these theories are correct. There were a great many clouds, gated areas (though they weren't made of gold or pearls), paved streets (though not of marble, but of stone and silver), and no grief, crying, or pain. But boredom?

          Boredom, for Adriel right now, was in ample supply. He was waiting rather impatiently for his boss, Azrael, the Angel of Death. She was meeting with Father and hopefully a new mission would come of it, something to alleviate this dull throbbing in his skull. Sighing, he looked up to the ceiling of what the dead had come to know as Central.

           No matter what religion you had followed, country you hailed from, or beliefs you held about the afterlife, Central was where all business took place. The buildings all came together in a starburst pattern, with the "towns" of the dead - sectioned off by religion with high, cloud white colored soundproof walls for privacy - as the "rays"; and Central was at the middle of it all.

However, no matter how perfect and spotless Central seemed to those who weren't privy to its inner workings, it was not without fault. It was like any mortal business on Earth. It had departments, floors, rules and regulations, along with a dress code and an owner/operator who is never wrong.

          As Adriel sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time, the double doors to his left opened, allowing entry to someone else. Smiling, Adriel greeted Rahmiel warmly. "Hey, brother."

           A bright, warm smile crossed Rahmiel's face. One of the Archangel Michael's most beloved of lieutenants, word had it that he had been an Angel to the Vikings back in the day.

It was an easy theory to believe since Rahmiel looked just like one. Standing at a mortal's six-feet-four-inches, his long blonde hair fell to his waist, and his bushy beard was nearly down to his chest, but neatly groomed. He preferred to wear his hair loose, but Michael was one for a clean look to his warriors. So, when Rahmiel was in his armor he wore it up in a ponytail with temple braids on both sides, signifying his position in the army of Heaven. Rahmiel's dark blue eyes shone down at Adriel with kindness, but also held a glitter of jest. "Still waiting on orders from Az, are we?"

Rahmiel and Azrael were in a relationship and had been for eons, but as there was no such thing as marriage among Angels, they chose to live together as mortal couples did, splitting their time together between both Angels' homes. Father knew and approved of the relationship, so they did nothing to hide it, though when among other Angels, they acted professionally and accordingly to their positions in the hierarchy.

Pulling a chair out, Rahmiel sat across from Adriel, and Adriel nodded, taking in his brother's attire. Rahmiel was currently in blue jeans, leather combat boots, and a black t-shirt emblazoned with the image of spread angel wings on the front. Rahmiel was denoted as an angel under Michael's command by the pendant he wore on a chain around his neck - the symbol of Michael upon a shield crossed by an unsheathed sword.

          Adriel however, was the polar opposite in most ways. Where Rahmiel cut an imposing figure, Adriel was a few inches shorter at a mortal's height of six feet. His dark brown shaggy hair and dark brows, taken directly from what was called the mortal's emo/goth style, and his physical frame was far less intimidating. Rahmiel often joked that Adriel's 'resting demon face' was enough to scare anyone off, but Adriel claimed he didn't know what Rahmiel was talking about.

Adriel's title was 'Angel of the Deceased'. What was sunny and positive about working for Death? Azrael was a gentle Angel unless pushed, but 'sunny' wasn't the first word that came to mind when he thought of his boss' disposition.