True Confessions of the Angel of Death

Arrival of the Holy Hosts

A/N: The story and characters belong to Alexandra Adornetto. I only own Azrael. This is a fanfiction for her Halo trilogy but CAN BE READ SEPARATELY

I watched my siblings descend to earth, the water from the clouds collecting in their hair and on their wings. It was almost dawn but the streetlights were still on. Most sane people were asleep at this hour but a boy who was delivering news papers saw them and feel off of his bike. A dog had barked at them, making the boy look up in surprise. Getting up, the boy ran off, leaving his bike behind. I sighed and wrapped my navy blue sweater tighter around my body. It was late summer but the chill of fall was beginning to set it.

Gabriel-yes, the archangel, and my brother, propped the bike up on a wooden fence and looked toward me, his expression slightly questioning at my choice of attire. I was wearing a purple butterfly tank top, the navy sweater to cover my wings, torn jeans, and brown booties. hidden in my wavy brown hair were silver dream catcher earrings. A black choker hung around my throat and my violet eyes were accented by dark eye makeup. In short, not your typical choice of clothing for an angel.

He and my sisters, Ivy and Bethany, began to make their way over to me, their natural angelic light softly illuminating the mist around them. Ivy was a seraphim. She, Gabriel, and I were ancient. You think I'm kidding. We were around before man. Believe me now? Bethany is much younger. She takes care of the souls of children in the Kingdom. Notice a difference? They came from Heaven. I don't have the light that they have.

Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Passover, Pompeii, the black plague...I was there for it all. A lot of it was my work. I was the angel of death. It was my job. Never said I was proud of it. After Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden, they could die. It was decided that someone had to take care of the souls of those passed. With every soul I reaped, my once silvery wings got darker and darker. Since thousands of years have passed, you can pretty easily guess, now they're black. I didn't reside in Heaven anymore. I spent most of my time here on earth where I'm needed (And most souls don't exactly want to see me again). If it weren't for me, earth would be terribly crowded.

"Azrael." Gabriel nodded to me in acknowledgment.

"Gabriel." I crossed my arms, mildly bored.

I'd been in sleepy, little, Venus Cove, Georgia for the past few weeks, learning what I could from the town and people in preparation for my siblings' arrival. They were here to spread good will, peace, and faith. I wasn't Holy enough for that. Taking the lives of or Lord's favorite creation is against an angel's nature. Like I said, it had quickly taken it's toll on me. I wasn't fallen, but I wasn't about to be singing with the Heavenly choir either. Mind you, there were other angels who helped me. Grim reapers. They were chosen when they were created to help me so reaping was all they knew. I'd trained them all myself so they were deadly efficent and always got the soul they were after. They report to me, but I report to Him. Anyway, I was mainly with them to look after Bethany. This was her first visit to earth. I didn't mind playing babysitter, but I still had a job to do.

"You must be Bethany." I said holding out my hand to the yung angel, "I'm Azrael."
"It's nice to meet you..." She said timidly, letting her long chestnut hair fall in her face.

I smiled knowingly, "Now none of that. I get enough fear from dying mortals."

"Sorry." She relaxed and shook my hand.

I turned from them and began walking down the street, "Come on, you three, unless you want to find your own way to headquarters."

They briskly followed me, not wanting to be left behind.