He nestled in next to me, under the quilt, and placed his sturdy arms around my body, nudging his nose into the dip of my neck. Pushing my tangled hair from my face, he grazed his fingers over the lacerations scratched into my cheeks. I curled in embarrassment; I was a mess. He was so perfect, and I was a fool to think he would want me.
“Don’t worry. The way your body works, I’m sure they’ll be gone by tomorrow,” he whispered lightly.
He confirmed my fears: I was a mess. I struggled to keep my tears from falling and closed my eyes self-consciously.
Intertwining my bare feet with his own, he bound them together, expelling waves of heat, bringing them back to life. I was grateful to him for that.
The image of Gabriel glowing in light swept through me. I wasn’t sure if what I had seen was real; though deep down I knew it was.
You ended Thomas. I saw you.
He didn’t reply, but he was listening.
I didn’t think Angels were killers, especially for their own gain. I tried again, hoping to provoke a reaction. Although I was sure that I was misplacing my anger, it was his rejection that truly upset me.
I granted Thomas an ending he would never have received otherwise. His last moments were filled with light. I did what was asked of me.
I left it at that and, warmed by the heat that radiated from Gabriel, I fell asleep in his arms.
He had rejected me only minutes ago, yet lying here, he locked me in as if I were the most precious and expensive jewel in the world. I didn’t realize it yet, but I had, and would continue, to cost him everything to keep me safe.
And he didn’t yet know what I truly was and who I would become.
THIRTEEN
I SAT UP TO FIND THE DOOR to the cottage ajar and a chilly breeze seeping through. Gabriel wasn’t next to me anymore. Wrapping the duvet around my body, I made my way to the door. I was taken aback by what I saw. The silhouette of Gabriel was positioned in the stream of light that was rising from the horizon. His body was illuminated and flashing gold, while twinkling star-shaped crystals exuded from his skin. He floated above the grass, absorbing the waking morning. As the sun rose higher in the sky and night gave way to day, his glow changed and his full form came back into focus, but he hesitated before he turned around to greet me.
“I was created and born from light; on Earth the sun fuels me.”
It was a straightforward answer to a question I couldn’t recall asking.
He paced the length of the slated path and met me at the entrance. He peered down at me and placed his thumb and index finger under my chin, tilting my face upward to meet his eyes. He ran his gaze over me, finally touching the corner of my eyebrow softly, and I flinched a little.
“All gone, but that cut might take a little longer,” he said.
I scratched my head, tousling my blond hair, which added to my messy appearance.
“You are especially striking in the sunlight,” he said, observing me as several rays of light warmed my face.
The winter sun was blinding and I squinted to watch Gabriel’s expression as the light rose above his form and cascaded over me.
He pulled my body, still wrapped in the thick duvet, in to him and leaned down, resting his chin delicately against my temple. Running his nose down my cheek, I felt his breath against my skin, soaking up the fragrance of my hair. “Citrus,” he murmured.
“Sorry?” I whispered against his cheek.
“Your scent. It’s never changed.”
I almost laughed, for I was sure he must have smelled himself; his essence had reminded me of the same.
“Gabriel,” I started with a serious tone, “tell me where you come from.”
He thought about my request before replying, “Okay, Lailah.”
Squeezing my hand, he led me back through the building to the sitting room.
Helping me to the floor, he lifted the sheet from over the new fireplace and stoked some logs on the fire, allowing it to blaze warmly. Once he was sure the room was comfortable, he knelt down beside me.
“Our world has many names. Mortals on Earth call it Heaven; some call it the first dimension; but its real name is Styclar-Plena.” He paused as I took in the information.
Styclar-Plena. Its name alone sounded extraordinary.
“Existence of our kind evolved from a large crystal sphere that floated at the center of what became our civilization.”
I looked at Gabriel, confused. He answered my unspoken question.
“How it got there, we don’t know. Some speculate that it was a star that fell, but no one really knows for sure. But beautiful, stunning creatures grew and flourished in its light, the beings existing in pure splendor. Life for our kind first began tens of thousands of years ago, by your understanding of time. It was in the peak of my ancestors’ history that the silvers and golds exuding from the crystal began to dull and weaken. The crystal seemed to be running out of energy.”
His brow creased as he continued the story. “The light began to recede, and creatures and beings began to vanish where the darkness took its place. Our kind were not just born from the light, but needed it to survive. Not many still existed when the great leader Orifiel, who had begun to fade and wither, saw a silver sparkle forming just on the edge of the brightness.”
I was captivated. “What did he do?”
“He watched it flutter; he had never seen any such thing before. From the fading crystal, he carved a small piece and held it in his hand for comfort. He started moving toward the silver cracks that were forming in the air. It is told that when he reached them, they mesmerized him, willing him nearer. The crystal carving in his hand began to glow once more, and resonated heat. He stepped into the swelling air and passed through to another dimension; we know it as the second, and you know it as Earth.”
Listening intently as Gabriel relived the beginnings of his world, I felt completely honored to be the chosen audience. “How come they had never seen it before?”
“How do you see light against light?” he replied, seemingly impressed with my question. “It was only as the darkness crept forward that for a few moments in time, the faint crack of a bright, shimmering silver contrasted against the void. He explored the new world and found landscapes, rivers, and animals. He glowed as the sun that penetrated the Earth’s atmosphere warmed his face, and he realized that he could exist in this new world. Humankind was very young then; they hadn’t even begun to make a mark on their world. Orifiel traveled as fast as he could, trying to find something, anything, that might help keep our dimension living.”