Angel of Inferno (sample chapters)

Gabriel's Request

As the doors swung open, Ayda glanced back at the hall behind her. Maybe if she timed it correctly, she could make a break for it. She already had a bad feeling. Gabriel never spoke to her. Ever. Why now? What could he want now after all this time? She took a deep breath. Amitiel dragged her inside, casting her one more warning glance.

"Don't forget what I said."

Ayda took a quick look at the room full of angels scowling down at her from their large stadium-like seats.

"I don't think it'll make much of a difference."

Amitiel scoffed, releasing her arm and taking her spot in the seats. For a split second, Ayda wanted Amitiel to stay. Despite her dislike for the woman, the prospect of having to face the big three Archangels alone filled her with a cold dread. Ayda chewed her lower lip. A few angels lining the floor shoved her towards the star painted on the floor. Her stomach did summersaults inside of her. She felt drops of sweat sliding down her neck. One question clawed at her mind over and over: what did Gabriel want? Why call her here in front of everyone? She kept eyeing the elevated floor in front of her.

Maybe Gabriel had finally decided he'd had enough of her miserable existence and planned to smite her on the spot. If it weren't for the commandment Thou shall not kill, he probably would do so without hesitation. Ayda tensed. She felt hundreds of pairs of hateful eyes on her back. Angry whispers filled the room. The guards on the floor looked at her like they would a pile of shit they stepped on. She had no friends here. The only one she had was still missing, missing for so long she couldn't even paint his picture. She took a deep breath in and out her nose. Would he ever come home? What would he think of all this?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the room starting to shake. The unpleasant murmuring of the angels died down. Three huge circular lines of light materialized above the elevated floor. They twisted and warped, growing brighter and brighter. Ayda lifted a hand to shield her eyes. The shapes of light formed into massive wings. Then three Archangels emerged from the circles. Archangel Gabriel took the head, glorious wings folding behind him. His cold, silver eyes pierced the crowd before him. Radiance emanated from his brown skin, showering the room in heavenly light. He folded his hands behind him while he raised his head. All the angels folded their hands and bowed their heads. For the first time in her life, Ayda felt compelled to do the same.

Standing near him were Archangels Michael and Raphael. They held the same power Gabriel did, but not quite the same presence. The two of them folded their hands in front of them, keeping their eyes staring straightforward as if they were Gabriel's personal bodyguards. Ayda took a deep, shaky breath. Well, if she wasn't terrified before. Gabriel lowered his head, staring directly at Ayda. He had no particular expression on his face, yet she knew right away he wanted her full attention. Ayda folded her hands and bowed again.

"You wanted to see me, Archangel Gabriel?"

"If I didn't, I would not have called you here, Ayda, the unholy angel."

If Ayda got a copper coin for every new name for her they came up with—she took another breath. No sense in getting herself riled up.

"I have called this meeting to deliver urgent news."

"Archangel Gabriel, my lord!"

An angel rose from his seat with a hand up. Ayda braced herself for some kind of comment about her. At the same time, she was thankful since Gabriel had moved his gaze away from her.

"You may speak Remiel."

"If this is indeed to deliver news, why did you feel the need to call in this hell spawn? She has no business hearing the affairs of angels! We shouldn't taint our holy name any further by having her here."