There was a heavy silence. Finally my brain was unable to stand it any longer. I hated the fear in my voice, hated how weak I sounded.

"I'm sorry-Destroyer?"

"There are a multitude of realities," Auriel replied, for the first time speaking gently. I'd go so far as to say his voice was tender. "All are kept separate from one another."

"Realities?" I asked at a complete befuddled loss.

"Redundancies, really," Mikha'el spoke next.

"Ripples," Raphael said.

"Ripples?" Raguel snorted.

Raphael looked at him, completely unphased. "Yes, ripples. I think that is an apt description for the fabric of the multiple realities."

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," Raphael said.

"Meaning," Mikha'el said, "there are multiple outcomes of someone doing something, and there are multiple outcomes of those outcomes."

"Example," Auriel said. "There is a reality where you moved differently so that your life was spared in that final gladiator battle."

I blinked.

"There are realities where you were slain during your next fight. There are realities where you died earlier." Auriel waved his hand, with a slight roll of his eyes. "So on and so forth."

"There are realities where you don't even exist, were never born," Raguel said in icy tones, narrowing his eyes.

"There are realities where you don't exist," Gabriel growled, and I nearly laughed.

Raguel glared. "Correct, Gabe. And there are some where you don't, either."

Mikha'el cleared his throat loudly. "Let us move past discussing realities we sometimes wish were our own."

I nearly laughed once more.

"What we are trying to impart upon you, dear Ulcinin," Mikha'el continued, "is that there are realities where angels don't exist, where things are slightly different; where Lucifer is female instead of male. Where you might have, I don't know, blue hair or something."

I blinked.

"All these realities, all these various options, they are all kept separate from the others."

"Unbreakable wards, spells, and sigils are erected to ensure they remain untangled," Auriel said seriously.

"There are also realms within our own reality that are likewise protected," Raphael said.

"Yes yes, but let us not jump ahead," said Mikha'el.

"Agreed," Auriel interjected. He then turned his full attention back to me. "As you can imagine, reality is set up precariously. Any and all actions within one reality has the potential to affect numerous realities."

"Ripples," Raphael said with a small smile.

"It is for that very reason that it is largely unheard of that anything can enter different realities, much less function within them," Auriel continued.

"With the exception of a select few."

The chamber fell absolutely silent. I didn't want to be presumptuous, but at the same time, it was the only conclusion I could reach. Pressing a hand to my chest, I made sure there was no one behind me, nor anyone besides these archangels in the room. I turned back to them and spoke tentatively.

"Me?"

Mikha'el nodded once. I couldn't help it-my wings gave a convulsive twitch. It drew a chuckle from Raguel.

"Why me?"

"Only those with the utmost upstanding innate qualities are considered for this position," Mikha'el said.

"Your soul is so pure that the risk of you either Falling by occasionally subjecting yourself to traveling interdimensionally and being influenced by the rules of that reality, or being careless enough to interact with it more than a simple observer, are next to none," Gabriel told me, a soft smile on his face.

"It's really quite low," Auriel added, "a mere fraction of a fraction."

"I am sure you can see why those qualities are vital to those who are Destroyers," said Raguel, narrowing his eyes.

"Of course," I replied, giving my own slight glare.

Raguel rolled his eyes and turned his head. "Of course, he says..."

"That's enough, dearest brother," Mikha'el chided. It honestly surprised me. Mikha'el then turned his attention back to me. "I understand that Raphael brought you to one of the scrying pools. Have you been back since?"

I wasn't aware I was supposed to. Being worried I had misstepped, I shook my head. Raguel gave a snort of contempt. I clenched my hands into fists in my lap.

"Enough," Mikha'el snapped, looking directly at Raguel. "If so much as an eyelash is perceived as antagonistic behavior I will ask you to leave."

Raguel didn't reply directly, merely gave me a sweet smile.

Mikha'el looked at me. "That goes for you as well, Ulcinin."

"What? But I haven't done anything!" I protested immediately without thinking.

Gabriel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "May we all please move along? I would like to finish this up within the eon."

"Same," I heard Auriel grumble.

"Of course," Mikha'el said lightly. "Now, where was I...?"

"The pool?" Auriel replied to him in clear agitation.

"Ah yes." Mikha'el got to his feet. "It is time we show you the seventh pool. Come."

All the archangels got to their feet and walked down the steps towards me. I waited for them all to pass; Gabriel and Raphael strode in the front, talking and smiling merrily. Auriel walked with Raguel, who literally turned his nose up at me and closed his eyes. Mikha'el was last, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Come, Ulcinin."

We left the chamber. Not paying much attention, I nearly ran into Auriel. Had Mikha'el not gently pulled me back, causing me to stop, I would have collided. The reason we had stopped made me shiver and outright stare with my mouth open.

A huge beast with green hide was being led away by a garrison of angels. It was horrible, with black beady eyes, it's maw filled with sharp teeth that couldn't be contained by its mouth. Great dribbles of drool ran out, dripping down it's drooping bottom lip. It reminded me of a dog, where the skin becomes malformed by the constant flow of sputum. The beast walked on all fours, it's back hunched and curved.

It was bound by magic. Great beams of blueish-white wrapped around each ankle of the beast, with two massive ones wrapped around its neck like a leash. Two angels held each length of glowing ropes. Above the monster's head were glowing sigils; I didn't know exactly what they were, besides some sort of binding and protection.

As though seeing something so monstrous wasn't appalling enough, I was stunned when, leading the procession, was Raguel. I watched, dumbfounded, as Raguel continued on his way without so much as looking at us. It made no sense; Raguel was standing in front of me, and yet there he was, the garrison walking behind him and dragging along the great green beast.

We all watched the angels dressed in their warrior armor, which was not unlike the gladiator armor I was used to, in silence. The angel's at the front did not blow their herald horns, merely watched solemnly as the parade walked past. As soon as they were gone, and the doors shut behind them without the slightest sound, I immediately spoke.

"Raguel!"

He waved nonchalantly, glancing at me over his shoulder. "Yes, that was me. We are able to split ourselves and be several different places at once."

We began walking toward the front entrance, and as we did he continued to speak.

"It is less than ideal in certain situations, because the power is greatly reduced to not only the celestial vessel but the projection itself. In general, the rule of thumb is to not stretch yourself beyond three projections; I tend to only do one."

"Are you a projection, or the real Raguel?"

"It's me," Raguel said, stopping just a moment to grab my wrist.

I didn't appreciate him touching me. I tried to remain neutral, but I'm unsure how well I was able to keep my face impassive.

"Projections cannot interact physically with the world. It is merely a projection of my conscious. I am elsewhere, entirely, but the physical me in here."

"Can all angels project?" I asked.

Raguel yawned loudly as we walked back out into the courtyard. Making a show of it, he outstretched his arms and wings. When he was done, he looked at me. "Bored of you now. Pester the rest."

I stopped walking. His attitude infuriated me. Auriel grabbed Raguel and yanked him by the arm, hard. As the pair walked beside Gabriel and Raphael then, I heard Raphael chide Raguel scornfully.

I was utterly incensed. I wanted to attack the archangel. It was apparent he didn't like me, nor I him, but did he have to be so outwardly rude? The more I thought about it the more my temper flared, until I was utterly besides myself. I didn't know how to smite, but I knew I had it within me; I was ready to smite the bastard right then and there.

Mikha'el allowed me to hang back, standing at my side. When I was sure the other archangels were out of earshot, I spat quietly, "Stupid, insufferable, pretentious, prick-"

"Alright, enough of that," Mikha'el soothed, gently linking his arm in mine and urging me forward. As we continued to follow, our quiet conversation was drowned out by the others chatting.

"Going into this we all knew you and Raguel would...be abrasive toward one another."

I didn't say anything.

"We knew that since you are both similar, it had the potential to cause issues."

I stopped walking, offended. "I am nothing like him!"

Mikha'el continued to walk. "Yes you are."

"Hardly!"

Mikha'el looked over his shoulder at me, nodding. "You believe what you will believe, Ulcinin. Come, follow."

Glowering, I stalked off after them.

"It is true that not many like Raguel," Mikha'el said quietly.

"Oh, so am I unlikeable?"

"Stop acting childish," Mikha'el admonished before continuing at his softer tone. "Raguel has his reasons to be rough around the edges, and has more than proved himself since Falling and being redeemed." A warmth filled Mikha'el face then, and he smiled, looking at Raguel's back. "Plus, while we might balk at his less scrupulous ways, he is still our brother. His rank amongst us still stands."

I looked up at my ward. "I'm sorry-I could have sworn you said he Fell."

Mikha'el looked down at me seriously, giving a small nod. "I did, and he had."

I stopped walking once more. It took me a few moments to find my voice. "What?"

"Yes," Mikha'el replied, looking over his shoulder at me. "He Fell, he lost his grace, but he repented and salvation was found within him."

I slowly started walking again. "What did he do?"

"That is none of your business. Further, if you value your life, I suggest you never ask him."

Falling beside him, I snorted.

"You think I jest?"

I looked up at him as we ascended the stairs leading back to the main area of Heaven. My smile dropped off immediately. I cast my eyes downward. "Sorry."

I knew I'd want to find out. Eventually. Until then, I tucked my curiosity regarding Raguel's Falling under my hat for another time.

"The point I bear," Mikha'el continued as we were quickly gaining on the main group, our pace quickening, "is that you may not agree with Raguel, and he might rub you the wrong way, but I will issue to you the same warning we gave him; try to be as amicable toward him as conceivably possible, yes?"

I nodded, though I couldn't help frowning.

"Thank you, Ulcinin."

As I was led back through the main streets of Heaven, I lapsed into silence, chewing over everything I had just learned. Gnawing on my bottom lip, I quietly listened to the five archangels talk on front of me, for Mikha'el had joined their ranks now. I trailed behind, all my senses on edge.

Everyone around us seemed rather confounded by our presence. I quickly gathered that the archangels were not seen together very often. Then I wondered if they were ever seen together at all when an angel flat out fainted off to the side. (Gabriel rushed over and made sure the angel was alright; he was. Once he joined us again, we took off walking. The entire thing happened wordlessly-we stopped wordlessly, Gabriel attended the fallen wordlessly, and then we continued on wordlessly. During the entire thing the conversation didn't even break. It was...Strange.)

I was being led to a back corner of Heaven. As we walked the amount of angels thinned out. Furthermore, the buildings became less and less. Then something changed, a sort of extra sensory perception feeling I couldn't quite place, and it made me feel uncomfortable. I realized then there were no more plainly dressed angels walking about; the majority were soldiers dressed in the same fashion at the courthouse, with the occasional angel wearing a military dress uniform like Mikha'el's.

All at once it occurred to me why that area had scared me so. There appeared to have been some sort of magic upon it that muffled everything besides voices and our footsteps. So while this near-silence was different than the absolute silence of the courthouse, it was just as disturbing on account of the only beings talking were us. Our voices seemed gratingly intrusive, almost offensive to the silence.

I hadn't a clue where we were heading. When it became apparent we weren't going to reach our destination soon, I waited anxiously for a break in the conversation. I had a hunch regarding Raguel's wings, regarding his status and their color, but I would have to word it as innocently as possible.

My time finally came when the conversation came to a natural pause. I jumped on my opportunity.

"Raguel-might I ask you something?"

Raguel peered at me over his shoulder, looking genuinely caught off guard. "Me?"

"Yes, you."

Looking intrigued, he said, "Ask."

Trying not to grin, I replied. "I haven't seen another angel whose wings are any color besides white. Why are yours a dark blue that turn black at the tips?"

I silently watched everyone's reaction in my peripheral vision. Mikha'el smirked slightly before smearing the look into neutrality. Both Gabriel and Auriel looked anxious. Raphael seemed, unsurprisingly, unphased. Raguel himself allow himself a slow smile, a look that was barely more than the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Observant of you," he told me. "Simply, no two angels are made the same."

When nothing more was said, and I realized there wasn't going to be any more said, I felt my shoulders slump. I felt a little better when Mikha'el glanced over his shoulder, giving me a wink.

"We're almost there," Auriel told me rather abruptly. "When we arrive, do not be startled. We won't let anything bad happen to you. Trust us."

"It is imperative," Raphael added with a kind smile and a wink.

I soon found out what was meant by their warning. We came upon a group of three massive minotaurs, two wielding spears, the third two large simatars. The creatures were much larger than any of us, but still would have been able to fit inside the courthouses—barely. They were pacing back and forth. As we approached they slowed their pacing. To my alarm, they all pointed their weapons at me.

For the first time I was truly grateful for the seraphim's presence. The three minotaurs seemed on edge, talking with the angels in guttural squawks and grunts, something that must have been their language. The five angels before me all spoke in Enochian, and I was only able to pick up bits and pieces.

"Say your name," Auriel said at one point to me, over his shoulder, still facing the mythical beasts.

"Ulcinin," I said assured, masking how badly I was internally quaking.

After I said that, the three minotaur put their weapons at ease, got down on one knee and bowed to me, closing their eyes. I was stunned. Mikha'el was the first to walk past them and as he did, he patted one on its large snout. It gave a great wordless snort of appreciation, Mikha'el's hair and feathers being ruffled from the air pouring from its nose. Everyone else followed; I was the last, and was unnerved when the final minotaur opened one massive black eye to peak at me as I passed.

"The only reason they did not outright kill you was because you were with us," Raphael said. "But now they know you. You no longer have anything to fear."

"Oh. Well, thank you for that."

I was led to a small gathering of water much like the scrying pool. Unlike the scrying pool, however, it took merely a second before the water rippled and shifted; there was no breeze and yet the surface moved, mercurial. Stunned, I watched as images came and went. Some were normal and expected; verdant fields beneath azure skies. Mountains. Towns and cities. People.

There were many confusing things too, things I did not comprehend. Dark passageways that I couldn't tell what they were. Great frozen fjords. Billowing rivers of lava. I saw creatures that reminded me of the green beast from earlier, different but equally menacing.

There were times when I saw things at night. Times during the day. Occasionally I saw the exact same location back to back with different circumstances; raining, cloudy, clear with not a single cloud in the sky. It was all ever-shifting. There were times when I saw the same people over and over, with slight differences; their clothes, their eyes, their hair.

"Come now," Mikha'el said after awhile. "There is much more to show you."

It wasn't until I lifted my head and looked at everyone did I realize that I had been crying. They all looked upon me with smiling soft sincerity, a understanding.

Even Raguel.