Dance of the Angels

Chapter 6

Michael leaned against the kitchen counter and raised his eyebrows at the teenager in front of him.
“You want to… what?”
“Invite Ryan over,” said Naomi. She let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s the third time I’ve told you, Michael. It’s just to revise, nothing else.”

“Do I have to meet him?” he asked, reminding Naomi of a child who didn’t want to do their chores.
“Well no.” Michael sensed the unsaid ‘but’. “But it would be weird if you just hid away.”
“So I have to meet and talk with him?” asked Michael to confirm what would happen to him.
“I believe that’s what meeting people involves,” said Naomi with a smile. “Just try to be normal… ish.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Michael, holding his hand over his heart as he dramatised his reaction. Shrugging, Naomi waited for a yes or no. “Fine, he can come over.”

“And he doesn’t know we’re angels,” said Naomi. “So make sure Azrael and Gabriel don’t show up, okay? I don’t think he would be able to cope with us being celestial beings.”
“That’s a good point,” said Michael. “I’ll tell them to keep away for a few hours unless something bad happens.”
“Thanks.”
“Whether they stay away or not is another matter,” he pointed out.
“Trying is better than nothing.”
“Most of the time,” muttered Michael. Noticing Naomi’s raised eyebrows, he realised he must have heard him and shrugged.

In awe at the neatness of the house, Ryan shut the door behind him.
“You have a nice house,” said Ryan.
“Thanks?” said Naomi. She began walking to the kitchen and Ryan followed her. “Want to get some food first? I don’t know if you’re hungry but I am.”
“Yeah, I am a little bit,” admitted Ryan.

They walked into the kitchen to see Michael leaning against the counter on his phone. Glancing up, he saw the two teens.
“Let me guess, food?” Naomi smiled and nodded as he moved out of the way so she could reach the cupboards.
“Oh, erm, Ryan this is Michael, my brother. Michael this is Ryan, my friend,” sher said while balancing a tub of Pringles and a packet of chocolate digestives in her hand.
“Nice to meet you,” said Michael awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you too,” replied Ryan with an awkward smile.

With junk food in Naomi’s arms, the two headed upstairs. Naomi kicked open the door to her bedroom and used her feet to hold the door open for her friend.
“You don’t look like your brother,” mused Ryan. “Are you half-brothers or something?”
“Proper siblings,” said Naomi with an amused smile. “We have the same parents.”

“What happened to them?” he asked. Naomi for quiet for a moment so Ryan then rushed to add: “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I realise I’m being really forward and invasive so… yeah.”
“I’ve been with Michael since I was born. I’ve never met them,” said Naomi with a shrug. “He’s almost twenty years older than me.”
“Oh,” said Ryan. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise,” she said with a smile. “Michael’s great, y’know? I mean, he’s a bit hopeless sometimes but he’s really great.”
“Yeah, he seems nice,” said Ryan as he didn’t know what else to say. Naomi hummed and nodded.
“Yeah, he is.”

“Which should we do first?” asked Ryan. “Geography or maths?”
“Maths, definitely maths,” said Naomi. “I’m so bad at it and it’s stupid.” Naomi pulled a new sheet on paper from the pile of printer paper on the floor and put on top of the English revision. Ryan flickered through the pages and found a topic he remembered Naomi struggled with. Staring at the pages of maths, Naomi let out a sigh. “Yay, maths.” Ryan laughed at her monotone voice.
“We’re never going to get anything done.” Naomi shook her head in agreement through the laughter.

Ryan stood near the front door while Naomi said goodbye to him.
“Thanks for making me dinner,” said Ryan. “It was really good.” Michael shrugged the compliment off.
“I told you he makes great stir fry,” she whispered to her ginger friend. Clearing his throat, Michael signalled that he had heard her. Naomi looked away from them both with red cheeks.
“It’ shaving you over,” said Michael. “If you’d like to come over again, feel free to. Just make sure we’re in first.”

“Fucking hell.”

Hearing the teen swear, Michael noticed he was staring behind him. Michael spun around, wondering what it was but he had an idea. Sighing, Michael smacked his younger brother upside the head.
“Gabriel! What are you doing here?” he hissed.
“I know I wasn’t supposed to but-”
“But?” asked Michael, raising his voice. Naomi flinched at the sudden change in his tone.
“Azrael told me not to but… oh,” said Gabriel. He pointed at Ryan/ “That’s why, isn’t it?”
“Yes!” exclaimed Michael. He pushed his dark hair out of his eyes as he let out an exasperated sigh.

“When you said your brother was called Michael,” started Ryan slowly. He took a deep breath before carrying on. “I didn’t realise you meant he was an archangel.”
“And  I am - Gabriel - an archangel too,” added Gabriel with a small wave.
“You’re not high, right?” asked Naomi, hoping they could pass it off as weird family names and hallucinogenic drugs.
“Once was too many,” said Ryan quietly. Groaning, Naomi realised they would have to explain the concept of celestial beings to her friend.
“Well done, Gabriel.”

“Erm, should I go?” asked Ryan as he grabbed the front door handle. It creaked slightly as he opened it a little bit.
“Stay!” Naomi blurted out. She then sheepishly added: “Please?” Awkwardly, Ryan shut the front door again but his hand still gripped it tightly, knuckles turning white. He was ready to to yank it open and sprint away if something (even more) weird happened.

“We’re archangels,” said Michael as he gestured to himself and his brother to his left. “I’m the first, Gabriel is the fourth. Naomi is just an angel but she is the youngest in existence.”
“At the moment,” Gabriel added.
“At the moment?” asked Ryan, glancing at Naomi.
“More angels are created over time,” explained Gabriel. “There’s a… what? About 2,500 years between these two?” Smirking, Gabriel watched Ryan’s eyebrows raise as he heard Michael clear his throat.

“How many are there?” asked Ryan. “Angels, I mean, how many angels?”
“Eight archangels and-”
“Lucifer doesn’t count,” insisted Gabriel.
“Seven without Lucifer and a few hundred or so angels,” said Michael. “Some have fallen from Grace, however, and a few have even lost their Grace.”
“Like Lucifer?” asked Ryan.
“Lucifer has fallen but he still has his Grace, as far as we know,” replied Michael.

Ryan looked at the three celestial beings and felt his thoughts become overwhelmed. He pulled opened the door.
“This is insane, I need to go home.” Naomi nodded in understanding as he left and shut the door behind him.

Gabriel winced as his head collided with the wall. Michael pinned him there and Gabriel’s eyes widened.
“Do you know what you've done?” Slowly, Naomi took a step away from her two brothers.
“No, I don't,” Gabriel replied sarcastically. “If course I know what I've done, Mike. I'm not going to do it again, okay?”
“No. It's not okay. This could cost us. You just gave him another target.”

“Can you stop arguing? Please?” Naomi let out a sigh, realising the two rowing siblings were oblivious to the world around them. She turned and decided to head upstairs, leaving them to argue.

Around ten minutes later, their bickering caused. They had noticed Naomi - or her absence.