The Fifth Archangel

18: Family of the Deceased

I stared at Gail's lifeless body lying in her bed at the bunker. She looked so peaceful. A single tear dripped down my cheek. What had this little girl ever done to deserve death so soon?

Someone quietly opened the door. I didn't bother turning around, assuming it was one of the boys.

"She looks so peaceful," A deep voice said, mirroring my thoughts. I turned around. It was Cas.

We sat in companionable silence until I said, "I think we'll give her a hunter's funeral."

He nodded in approval, "Are we going to invite her human family?"

I thought for a while, "No, I don't want to. They left her. But feel free to invite the angels."

"I think we should invite her mom. She deserves to know what happened to her daughter."

"And what are we supposed to tell her? That Gail's heart was stopped by her long-lost uncle, who just happens to be the most powerful archangel?"

"We should tell her the truth. She deserves to know what she's gotten herself into."

"If you think that's right, go ahead. I'm just saying, I don't think it's a good idea."

Cas disappeared with a flutter of his wings. I draped the sheet back over Gail's body and left the room. I walked down the long hallway and stopped at my room. Pushing open the door, I found my things neatly put on top of my bed. My extra things were nicely folded, and the bed was made. My books were stacked meticulously at the foot of the bed.

I sat down on the duvet, looking around. The star maps no longer held stories and destinies to me. That was gone now. The books written in Enochian were meaningless hieroglyphics to me.

I finally noticed the silence in my head. I didn't hear the angel radio anymore. I felt more cut off than ever. What if someone was praying to me, right now, and I couldn't hear it? What if they were in trouble, and I couldn't hear their distress?

Of course, that probably wasn't actually happening. I mean, since when did people pray to archangels that the Bible doesn't even mention? But still, I couldn't help thinking: what if?

I don't know how long I sat in that room, but it must have been a while, because I woke up with my head on the pillow. I didn't remember falling asleep.

I got up, my throat dry, and went to find a glass of water. The hallway was silent, but the library's light was on. I poked my head in. Sam was sitting at a table, staring at his laptop.

I turned around without disturbing him, and went to the kitchen. I quickly filled up a glass with water, and downed it.

Then Cas popped in, with cargo. It took me a second to realize that he had brought the entire Harwin family, all six of them.

"Where- where are we?" One of the kids asked.

"You said we were going to a funeral!" Another kid, this time a girl, said.

"And who are you?" The first kid asked.

Cas looked at me with a look of 'help'. I rolled my eyes and looked back with a 'your problem, not mine' look. He sighed, "We're in Lebanon, Kansas, Richard. And we are going to a funeral, Sarah. And this is- well, I'll let her introduce herself." Cas and the Harwins looked at me.

"Well, hi. I'm Keistelle, ex-archangel of the lord," They stared at me like I was speaking Russian. "Gail's aunt," I explained. More blank stares. "Well, say something!"

The littlest kid spoke, "I'm Lacy. Are you really an archangel? Like Micheal and Gabriel?"

I nodded, "Micheal and Gabriel are my brothers."

The tallest kid then said, "I'm Marcus Harwin. Is he an angel too?" Marcus pointed at Castiel.

"Yes." Cas said, "I am a Seraph."

Richard and Sarah, the two middle kids, smiled. "Cool," Sarah said.

Mr. and Mrs. Harwin looked at each other. "You never told us who's funeral we're going to." Mrs. Harwin said, "Who's is it?"

"Gail's" Cas and I said in unison.

"Gale? Who's that?" Lacy asked.

"Ah, can my husband and I talk to you two in private?" Mrs. Harwin asked.

"Of course," Cas said.

We walked Mr. and Mrs. Harwin to the library. "Sam?" I asked, "Can you supervise the Harwin children for a minute?"

"The Harwin children? Gail's family?" Sam asked. I nodded and pointed in the direction of the kitchen. He left quickly.

We all stared at each other for a while until Mr. Harwin said, "I never knew any Gails. Why are we here for her funeral?"

I looked at Mrs. Harwin, "Care to explain who Gail is?"

She looked at the floor, "She was a mistake-" Mrs. Harwin was cut off when I punched her in the jaw.

"Don't you say that!" I yelled. Mr. Harwin leaped in, to protect his wife, swinging his fists. I easily caught them, "Don't spar with a hunter, you idiot." I twisted his arm, and he yelled out in pain.

Cas pulled me away from Mr. Harwin before I could do anything else to Mr. Harwin. "Be civil." He whispered in my ear. Then, Cas placed two fingers on Mr. Harwins arm and Mrs. Harwin's cheek, healing them. I don't think they realized that Cas had done anything. "Now, please explain who Gail is, Mrs. Harwin."

She looked at the ground, ashamed, "After my first husband left me with 4 children, I had a little one-night-stand with a guy I met on the streets. Nine months later, I had Gail. She was my little secret. Only the two oldest kids, Sarah and Marcus, knew about her. Her bedroom was in the basement, where the kids weren't allowed to go.

She paused, then continued her story, "Then I met you, Greg, a little bit after Gail's 13th birthday, and I realized that Gail couldn't live in the house any more. When she turned 14, I emancipated and evicted her. I think she got a job at the local IHOP."

I think we were all in shock. None of us, save for Mrs. Harwin, knew the the true story of Gail's past.

"How did she die?" Mrs. Harwin asked me suddenly.

"Before we tell you that, you need to belive us when we say that we're angels." Cas explained.

"Why should we believe you?"

The lights flickered, and Cas showed the reflection of his wings on the wall. He glared at the Harwins, "Enough proof for you?" They nodded.

"Now, Mrs. Harwin," I began, "The one-night-stand guy you got it on with, was an archangel. His name was Rapheal, you may have heard of him. He's dead now, but that's irrelevant. Gail was a half-angel, or a niphilium. Now, having a child with a human is highly illegal in Heaven, and when you did, well, there was a price on Gail's head. And it was one hefty price, at that. Fortunately, I found Gail and rescued her. I took her under my wing, figuratively of course, for a while, until ultimately her time ran out and the archangel Micheal caught up with us. Micheal simply stopped her heart while I watched, helpless to do anything."

It was in that moment that I realized I was crying, and that I realized that I loved Gail more than anything.

I think my writing's just going downhill at this point. I don't know, what do you guys think? Tell me.

Also, I finally posted! Yay for that! Thanks so much for reading! If you could, please vote and comment; it would mean the world to me.