The library was as silent as it had the night before. Kye took a deep breath and walked to the double doors leading into Michael's office. She leaned against the doors, the echo of that haunting voice still lingering in her mind, sending a cold ripple across her skin.
It had been so close.
A small sound beyond the wooden surface made her heart stop. Kye edged away from the door, glancing back at the wall she had just emerged from. Her hand grabbed the nearest object — an intricate copper globe, heavy as it looked, its sharp decorative needle poised like a weapon—and held it to her chest. She knew it was most likely useless against whoever stood behind the door, but she could try her best.
Taking another deep breath, Kye jumped into the office, ready to stab or club anyone in her way with the copper globe—before the sight in front of her made her drop it to the ground.
The office was filled with people. Angels. They were in different positions but all wore the same gloomy expressions. Their heads and shoulders hung low. From head to toe, they were covered in dust and God-knows-what substance. A small group gathered around the desk with their backs to her.
None of them seemed to notice Kye, who had just entered the room in a ridiculous posture. They whispered to each other in a language she didn't understand but was very familiar with. It gave her ears a good ringing. The volume was low enough that her ears didn't bleed—a small mercy.
"Excuse me." She cleared her throat to announce her presence.
The angels uniformly turned around with half-annoyed, half-surprised looks. That was when Kye saw him.
Sitting on his leather chair with his head leaning back, Michael was unconscious. He was battered and bloody—like nothing she had ever seen before. Even when his life had been threatened with Alastair's bullet, he hadn't looked half this bad.
"What happened?"
Kye wanted to scream the question, but what came out was barely a whisper. All her strength drained away, replaced by the cold, iron grip of paralyzing fear.
"It's none of your business."
An angel with a young, brown-haired vessel came forward and spoke to her in the most condescending tone Kye had ever heard. Before she could snap back, another one, who had been kneeling next to Michael, stood up.
This angel looked as dirty and disheveled as the rest of them, with her hands, face, and blond hair covered in ash, but her eyes were gentle. Kye recognized her. It was Naomi from the camp. Kye couldn't say that she was surprised. She had never spoken to Naomi, but the woman had always been there—offering a hand, steadying the weak, teaching the lost. She needed little introduction. Maybe Kye could get an answer out of her.
Naomi walked over and tapped the young angel on the shoulder. With one stern look, she made him drop his eyes and move to the back of the group.
"I'm sorry for Kalaziel's behavior," Naomi sighed. "We have all been frustrated. Worried... hurt. We've tried everything, but Brother Michael hasn't woken up. All we can do now is wait for him to do so on his own. Archangels are resilient and powerful beings. He will pull through. We just don't know when. He has taken a big hit. We have lost many, but we would've lost much more if it wasn't for him." Naomi glanced back at Michael before turning to Kye. "He is still with us but stuck...."
"What do you mean by that? Are you sure there is nothing we can do? Nothing at all? Can I... do something?"
Naomi gave Kye a sympathetic look. The girl was desperate. Of course, they had done everything. What could a human do for an archangel?
YOU ARE READING
Until The End Of Time
Fanfiction-REWRITING- Twenty years ago, the angels descended and revealed themselves to the world, delivering what they called God's Judgment Day. The war that followed reshaped the earth and shattered the balance between species. When the dust finally settle...
