Chapter 23

"We need to bring her back."

The words echoed in the silent room around him. He could feel their gazes upon him.

"Metatron forbids it," Uriel stepped forward to his side. His eyes were trained on the vision before him.

His chest tightened at her pleas as she paced in anguish; yelling up to the skies begging to let her in.

"She needs us," he turned to look at the archangel at his side as he too watched Hannah pace and weep.

"Please answer me," she sunk to her knees and hugged herself.

"We can not intervene," Uriel insisted.

Raphael swirled around to face his brother. "In case you have not noticed or felt it, she is suffering."

Frustration ebbed on his senses as he saw that there was no persuading Uriel.

He had come to the throne room the moment her cries pierced his dreams. Unable to leave, he sat by helplessly watching her continue to fly past the realms entry. But the invisible blockade would not let her through.

He had never known an angel to be so stubborn and resilient but then again she was just not any Angel. He swallowed at the lump in his throat as her last attempt left her exhausted as she plummeted to the ground below.

He watched her lay there in tears on her back; wings spread, begging them to forgive her.

For what?

None of this was her doing.

Guilt swarmed through him as he realized that now. He shut his eyes and looked away but then noticed he wasn't alone when he turned to see Uriel and Gabriel behind him.

They watched her and exchanged silent gazes as she frantically began to ask questions.

"You said it was forbidden for us to be seen. Yet your statues are everywhere,"

She blurted out furiously.

"He tossed her out without a second thought," Raphael shook his head. His voice trembled with fury at what his oldest brother had done.

"He had to," Gabriel said.

"No! He only had to speak to her. Forbid her to go near the mortal."

"Do you believe she would have listened? By all that's holy there is not an obedient bone in her," Uriel scoffed shaking his head as he turned to face the veil that showed the images of her.

"So we just let her wallow in her pain and confusion is that it?" he confronted them.

They remained silent staring at each other.

"She disobeyed us. Now she must suffer the consequences of her actions." Michael's voice pierced the silence.

The crude truth rubbed Raphael the wrong way as he turned his head to watch Michael walk into the room. Nothing but power and confidence rolled off of his older brothers stride as he entered. Raphaels jaw clenched.

"Of course you would say such a thing. Being the prodical lap dog and all," he bit out sarcastically.

"Do not take that tone with me Rapha," Michael warned.

"I would not need to if you would set aside your damnable pride. Yes! We get it. You are Prince and Commander. But..," Raphael stopped.

He watched as the others stood silent with a mixture of worried and understanding eyes. They looked from Michael then to Raphael.

"Go on," Michael's strained voice urged him to continue.

"You have a heart in that vessel of yours," Raphael said. "Use it."

"The situation is out of my hands. The decision has been made by Metatron. We will not intervene," Michael dismissed them. He frowned and looked at them before turning on his heels to leave.

"You just choose not to get involved. Now that you have washed your hands of the trouble of course, Why should you?" Raphael bit out.

Michael stopped in his tracks.

"Wash my hands of the trouble?" Michael turned to face him.

Raphael stood to his full height as Michael slowly approached him.

Formiddable like nothing else that has graced the halls of their realm, he took careful steps towards the youngest of them all.

"I've done nothing but take ALL of you out of trouble. I had to step forward when Lucifer was cast out. And you, like a coward left, running away from your duty. I was made responsible for all of you. Including her," He pointed to the veil and he leaned close.

Uriel and Gabriel watched with frowns upon their faces as Micheal stood nose to nose with Raphael and noticed the growing tension in the room.

It did not pose well for them to fight. Not now.

"Michael is right, Raphael. He literally took her under his wing, we all did. There is nothing more we can do. She is in good hands regardless," Uriel tried to reason.

Raphael did not want to hear any of it.

"Besides she is just a fledgling why the sudden concern?" Gabriel added.

"She is not just a fledgling, she's..." Raphael bit out defensively then he paused. His face heated with anger and .....shame.

Michael's lips thinned as he saw the slight flicker of sadness in Raphaels gaze.

"Tread with care on this subject brother," Micheal warned.

His shoulders flexed as he struggled to maintain control over his emotions. Raphael drew in a ragged breath as those familiar eyes of his brother gleamed with understanding.

For the first time in a millenia he has let his heart feel. Contrary to belief, he did feel. At least that was the assumption when he dwelled on earth for over a century. It was his quickest outlet when Lucifer was cast out and the constant bickering amongst them bored him to death. So....he left.

Michael will never let him forget it.

The consequences of his actions resulted in a lot of things none of them knew of. He thought. But it was clear as day before him that...Michael did.

"You know?" Raphael gasped and stepped back.

"He knows what?" Gabriel's gaze narrowed. The air in the room stilled as Michael's back went rigid.

"Don't, Raphael." Michael warned.

"And you still let him toss her out?" Raphaels eyes slowly began to glow. His face contorted into anger.

"What is he going on about?" Uriel stepped forward with an impatient edge to his voice as he watched Raphael seeth with fury.

"I've stood by with not a say in anything; as penance for what I have done. And this is what I get in return? Was that my final punishment?" he pointed to the veil that showed Hannah still crying.

Michael averted his gaze. Uriel followed his fingers to the veil.

Slowly defeat formed in Raphael's shoulders. He walked to a nearby column and slid down the pilar on his back to the floor. All eyes fell on Michael as he turned to look at the veil. To watch her.

"She was not supposed to have been brought to our realm. But, Father felt it was best to keep her away from mortals for her protection, " he mumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Uriel asked. "Yeah, you two care to explain?" Gabriel stepped close.

"It was over a century ago." Raphael began. His voice low and filled with sadness.

"I met and fell in love with a mortal."

He whispered.

"What?" Uriel gasped.

"How did we not know this?" Gabriel frowned.

"It was forbidden. But when it came to her, I did not see reason. She was my everything," his lips trembled slowly as they curled into a smile.

"She and I had plans. But you see," he chuckled dashing away a tear. "None of those plans included eternity."

Uriel exchanged a glance with Gabriel and they slowly looked at Michael.

"But, the celestial elders and father found out and I was summoned. For my disobedience and punishment, I was never to see her again."

Silence fell over them.

"S..she bore me a child." he looked up at them.

They gasped in wonder.

"The birth, " he paused, shaking his head with the memory, "It took a toll on her and she did not make it."

"And the child?" Uriel took a labored step forward.

"She was placed in Haneal's care until we were sure she was an immortal like us," Michael said.

The severity of this news knocked them back a bit. An Angel and human child was nothing new amongst them and it was not unheard of. But an Archangel and human offspring was.... Impossible if not rare.

Gabriel dreaded the know all question as he turned to look at Hannah. Scratching his head and filled with so many questions and doubt.

"Is...that child...?" Uriel swallowed and cleared his throat and looked at Raphael that slowly stood to walk towards the image before them.

"That child is Hannah." he looked at her.

My daughter.

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Her we go my peeps...let me know what you think...I know it's shabby but it's a plot twist I have been worried about posting until I said screw it ...I'm writing it...and here you have it.