The Angel of Frost

II.

"You didn't," Glaucus answered satirically as he stood before the Throne of Heaven once more, wearing a white toga with snowflakes the color of icebergs embroidered onto the silky fabric.

"I did. Angels never neglect their duties, Glaucus. And besides, preparations have been made."

Glaucus could taste the bitterness in his voice, coming from countless centuries of waiting for the King, and he often wondered whether Gabriel doubted his coming return. He did too. He missed him like a child would miss his father who was out sailing in the sea. And sometimes, like the child, he wondered whether his father was caught in a shipwreck, or in this case, a cosmic disaster.

"Glaucus! Do you know how many times I have to bend time to avoid it being wasted by spaced-out angels?"

"Sorry," he said, but he wasn't. "I was just thinking about..."

"The King. Yes, he will return, and he will defeat that Lucifer once and for all. Now, as I was saying, you have to go on this mission. Only you can do it, given your knowledge about water and its elusive nature."

"Why can't the nymph go?" he asked, and Gabriel twirled a ball of flame in his palm.

"Because I can't explain things to someone who can't understand how important this is." The flame glowed brighter as he spoke. "And maybe a certain someone in front of me right now wants to be burned for all eternity."

Glaucus sighed. This was another reason why he missed the King. He had been a better boss than Gabriel. "Right, I see that gate of Hell you're making inside your hand. I accept."

Gabriel smiled, and the flame sputtered out. "Very well. Now, about the nymph--"

"I'll go too!" The said nymph ran towards Glaucus and panted loudly as she reached his side, out of breath. It was like taking a swim across the entire length of Namanta, only that the river was instead replaced by a golden floor. She limped slightly, obviously new to the art of walking bestowed upon her by Heaven's healers in the form of a pair of legs. "I owe my life to him. I know, I'm not an angel, but I can help. I can manipulate water with my bare hands. A-and I can heal him when he's injured!"

Gabriel was fuming silently by the time Hasuma had finished. He turned to Glaucus and said, "I can't be held responsible for her inevitable death. Your choice, Glaucus."

Glaucus considered this. He was powerful, but he was unable to heal himself quickly with his own skill alone. The nymph might prove to be a valuable ally. And besides, he hated to admit it, but she looked a bit nice.

"Well, I guess there's no harm in doing so, right?" He said, knowing that the said harm would probably come to the nymph, sooner or later.

*

"I'm ready," Glaucus said.

"Very well." Gabriel approached him and formed a gate to Hell. "Stay safe. Getting angels reborn is tiring."

Glaucus fought back the urge to flinch, an instinctive urge planted into his mind by the King. Hell was not a place for angels. It changed all who resided within it.

Then he peered through the fiery edge of the portal. Was that...a palm tree? A tree in Hell? The ancient texts must have forgotten to mention that.

"Well," the horribly tense voice of a sleep-deprived nymph quirked. "I'm kind of ready, so..." She peered into the portal. "Wow, is that a palm tree? My mother used to talk about them when returning from holiday. Why is there one in Hell?" She peered closer, putting her newfound and fragile balance in jeopardy.

Gabriel sighed in exasperation. "There's no need for you to know why. At least not now. Glaucus will fill you in. Goodbye."

And then, in a burst of tired annoyance, he flung them into Hell with a strong gust. Hasuma screamed, while Glaucus just rolled his eyes, perfectly calm.