The Devil Within

Anger is One Way to Get the Plot Moving

"We have all the evidence we need," you argued, your stomach churning in anger. "We know where Gabriel is and who has him!"

"It's too risky," Chuck sighed, shaking his head. "We have potential cells narrowed down to four and they're almost completely separated from each other. Not to mention, Lucifer is currently conducting business in Hell, you could be seen."

"It's Hell, we both know I would have been seen," you said, throwing your hands up. "Me, a living human, would naturally attract attention."

"Yes, but," Chuck said, trying to keep his patience with you, "Lucifer being there was a factor you and I didn't consider. In case you forgot, Gabriel faked his death because of Lucifer. You won't be going down until Lucifer leaves Hell."

"He's said he's probably going to be down there for three Earth months," you exclaimed. "That's thirty more years in Hell, Chuck. Thirty." You were almost getting into Chuck's face as you tried to convince him to let you go to Hell and save Gabriel. "Asmodeus tortures Gabriel every day, that's 10,950 days of relentless torture and stealing his Grace. Not only are we enabling Gabriel's torture, but we're letting Asmodeus slowly get stronger and become more of a problem for everyone."

Chuck said your name as he glared at you, his eyes white as light in a warning. "Imagine how pissed Lucifer will be if he finds you searching for his supposedly dead brother in Hell. How mad will he be when it turned out Gabriel was alive the whole time? He might actually kill Gabriel if not eased into the situation."

"Do you really not see Lucifer's improvement?" you shouted, glaring right back at Chuck. "Not only has he mellowed out enough to be present in a room full of humans he wants to dismember alive, but he also cares for his brothers more than anything!" You started to pace around, heated up over the conversation. "While Lucifer would be shocked that Gabriel is alive, he would also be overjoyed that he didn't actually kill his brother! Do you have any idea how regretful and distressed he was over the whole situation? I swear on my dead sister's soul, Lucifer was so close to crying the moment it happened. Not to mention, if Lucifer were to find out about Asmodeus's role in this- and let's face it, he will -Lucifer would go ballistic on him, not Gabriel."

"I can't risk it," Chuck said, waving you off. An invisible force started to push you to the door, clearly showing that Chuck wanted you gone and the discussion was over. "You will wait until Lucifer leaves Hell and that's final. I'm not providing any help until that risk is gone." With that last word, you were pushed completely out of Chuck's office and into the Hallways of Heaven, the door behind you audibly locking.

You wanted to do nothing more than scream and kick something at Chuck's dismissiveness but you were in Heaven and had a high status. With Raphael's sigil on your hand, you were considered one of Heaven's most elite and you had to carry yourself that way while in the Halls of Heaven. Taking a deep breath, you decided you would scream and hit the punching bag in your room when you got back to the House of the Blessed. You rolled your shoulders back and composed yourself as you walked down the Hallway you passed through so many times in the last month. 

Angels passed you, greeting you with politeness only they could have. You greeted them the same, though, you couldn't remember most of their names. The only one you could remember was Jophiel, the Seraph who Blessed Alexander back when the Declaration of Independence was signed. He typically had duties in Heaven with only a few being on Earth, usually checking on humans in their personal Heavens. You made a suggestion a while back about letting souls visit each other instead of just reliving the glory days, Jophiel oversaw that process and was in charge of keeping track of all the souls along with his Garrison who were very lovely toward you.