"Reality is ours to manipulate. Rather, manipulation is too harsh of a word. Think of our relationship like that of a loom. God is the loom itself, the taught fibers are reality, and we are the threads which weave in and out of existence."

I was bored. So very, very bored. Mikha'el's teachings for at least thirty days after I had awakened my celestial power were as such. A lot of poetic drivel that didn't amount to much. Waxing poetic about Being. About how things Work. Blah blah blah blah.

I stifled a yawn. Suddenly, Mikha'el was before me, and he slammed both hands on my desk. Startled, I jerked fully upright in my chair. Mikha'el's right hand closed slowly, and with it he crimped some parchment I had been taking notes on. I glanced at the parchment, and then looked frightfully back into his crystal clear eyes.

"Am I boring you?" he seethed.

"I-"

I wanted to say no.

"I-"

Mikha'el dug his nails into my desk with a horrible scratching sound. I felt my eyes pop.

"Yes?" I was unable to keep myself from squeaking.

Mikha'el sighed heavily, released my (now ruined) parchment, and covered his face with one hand. He moaned and shook his head, tendrils of sun-kissed curls poking through his fingers.

"I'm sorry," I moaned in exasperated frustration, "It's just there's so much talking, and not much doing -"

"Fine." Mikha'el grabbed me by the collar and hoisted me to my feet. "You want the doing?"

I was bewildered when we were suddenly in a field. I hadn't the faintest clue where we were. We certainly weren't in Heaven. How exactly I knew that, I didn't know. But I knew, just like you come to know the intimate details of your lover's body. However, instead of being learned, this was just an innate feeling.

Mikha'el released me and took a step back.

I looked around. The sky was blue, clouds high overhead. The sun was out, yet it wasn't hot; there was a strange dampness that clung to the air, making it feel much colder than it actually was. Beneath our feet was lush green grass, a greenery that immediately reminded me of emeralds.

To say it was breathtakingly beautiful would be a vile understatement.

"Where are we?" I breathed so quietly the wind nearly stole my words.

"The Surface. Hibernia, to be exact."

I blinked. Mikha'el rose his right hand, fingers pressed together. "You wanted doing? I'll see you in Heaven."

He snapped and disappeared. My mouth dropped open immediately. I spun around.

"Mikha'el?"

For as far as the eye could see, there was nothing more than the grass and blue sky.

"Mikha'el?!" I cried out again, the beginning tendrils of panic starting to ensnare me.

I felt he wasn't in my vicinity. This wasn't some joke; he really had left me, in the middle of nowhere, on The Surface. When that heavy weight of reality hit me I fully panicked.

How could he do this? I hadn't been on The Surface since I was living. Was this some joke? Would he come back and look for me if I never made it back? How long would that take? Minutes? Hours? A day? A week? Longer?

As all these thoughts of abandonment ran through my head, I spun around and around, screaming out his name. He never answered though, never let his presence be known. I screamed myself raw, screamed until my voice cracked and there was little sound left.

I had to get a grip. Clutching at my hair, I looked around a final time before dropping to my knees. First order of business, getting my breathing under control. I had been taught how to conquer panic, how to breath in, hold it, and breath out. I did that several times until I was no longer gasping.

Then I took in my surroundings. As I wondered if there were a town or other signs of humans that I might seek out, the strangest thing happened. I knew. It was as though I was the earth, the air around me. I could feel my conscience sprawl out, moving along the ground rapidly. Fifty miles, one hundred miles. I was very much alone.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, fighting off another wave of panic. I had found through my studies and growth there was something to using nervousness to your advantage. It was a fount of energy you could harness into productivity. So, I breathed until the panic lessened into anxiety, and then into a mild nervousness.

I took account of the facts: Mikha'el wouldn't let anything happen to me. If I were in mortal danger, I knew he would be at my side instantaneously. I knew I was alone in [what is now known modern day as] Ireland. I closed my eyes, concentrating. I further knew, through poking and prodding, there weren't any animals that might harm me; the closest was a bear, and that was seven miles away.

I opened my eyes, thinking all this was absurd. Certainly I hadn't really had an out-of-body experience that allowed me to know my surroundings like the back of my hand. Surely there wasn't actually a bear seven miles away. It was impossible.

Right?

But then the wind blew, a cool fluttering against my wings.

Oh. Right. I was a fucking angel. My keen senses were most certainly possible.

With that realization came another one. So, I closed my eyes and thought about Metatron. I thought about what the inside looked like, with its cavernous miles of bookshelves. I thought on what the tables looked like, imagined angels sitting there. I immersed myself with sensations-what it smelled like, what noises I heard.

"Ulcinin."

I opened my eyes. Mikha'el stood before me, and we were standing inside at the front of Metatron. A big grin spread across my face. I was absolutely ecstatic, my wings twitching damn near convulsively. I glanced over Mikha'el shoulder. Auriel was looking at us, smiling slightly. As soon as our eyes met, he dropped them and pretended he hadn't been looking at all, face twisted into forced neutrality. I was much too happy to give a shit over the fact he was still ignoring me.

"You came back surprisingly quickly," Mikha'el said, drawing my eyes back to him. "I'm impressed. Wonderful job. Excellent."

My wings outspread and I fluttered them, unable to control myself, causing Mikha'el to chuckle. Then he cocked his head toward the studying area, and we began to walk towards it.

"Is it really that easy?" I asked excitedly. "I just think of somewhere and I'm there?"

Mikha'el smiled at me. "Yes, it really is that simple. I should give you more credit and not be so surprised, but it takes most mortal angels awhile to gain and perfect that ability. You weren't gone more more than a tenth of an hour."

We sat down at a table. Mikha'el waved his hand, muttering "Reveal", and our books appeared.

"It wasn't my imagination then that I could feel my surroundings?"

"How so?"

"I wanted to make sure I wasn't I'm immediate danger. I could feel, almost sort of see, kind of like a shadow in my brain, of the general area I was in."

Mikha'el cocked an eyebrow.

I frowned and looked off to the side. "Actually, I'm not sure how to explain it. It was like...sort of like something reverberated in my head, and I could catch chunks of my surroundings. Weird, shadowy images that were shades of purple and black."

Mikha'el gave a non-commental sound.

I looked at him. "I could also sense a bear seven miles away from me. Is that normal?"

Mikha'el nodded. "Once again, not surprising, but I just underestimated how quickly you would come into your celestial gifts. I...apologize."

I laughed, which earned me a quizzical look. "Apologize? For what?"

He slid his eyes to the side, unable to look at me. "You are very-"

"What?"

He looked back at me. "Skittish."

Now I raised an eyebrow. "Skittish?"

Mikha'el sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with both hands for a moment. He then looked at me seriously.

"You think too much like a mortal still. You don't trust yourself as an angel. Your answer to everything is complaints, and 'I can't'. An example, last year. I was prompting you to fly faster, but you kept saying you couldn't."

He leaned forward and steepled his hands on the table. He viewed me with such utter seriousness it was actually disturbing. "But you could have. Yes, you hadn't unleashed your latent abilities yet, but even so I knew you could do it. I knew it was holding you back because you were thinking in the physical sense of the task. I told you to go faster so you flapped your wings harder, when in reality all you had to do was think about going faster. "

A flip switched and I was suddenly pissed.

"Why didn't you tell me that?!" I cried out.

"Would you have believed me?" When I didn't reply, he said, "In case you haven't noticed, my approach for teaching you is more hands off; I want you to discover things in a agrestal way."

I clenched my fists under the table but didn't say anything.

Mikha'el scoffed. "Come now. I know you know everyone thinks I'm wrong for not teaching you in conventional ways. But surely you understand this is the best way? Immersive learning is more practical in this instance."

I glared.

"Ulcinin; you know for a fact had I told you how to come back home you would have balked. You would have protested-'that's not possible!' 'I can't do that!' 'Surely you jest!'."

I felt myself blush deeply. Mikha'el smirked, handing me a book. Reluctantly I took it, feeling downright foolish.

"Good. Now that's out of the way, I need you to read this book. In it's entirety."

"Alright."

Mikha'el crossed his arms and viewed me evenly.

"Oh. Now?"

Mikha'el nodded.

"Oh." I opened it.

Mikha'el got more comfortable, putting his feet up on the table and crossing them at the ankle. He clasped his hands behind his head, looking at me with lidded eyes. "That's all you'll be doing today."

"Get your feet off the table, Mikha'el."

I twisted in my seat. Auriel was glaring at us. I turned back around to catch Mikha'el make an obscene gesture. He then looked back at me and jutted his chin out.

"Read," he told me.

His eyes unfocused, and I knew that meant he was doing other things, elsewhere. So, I dropped my eyes and began to read.

~

It wasn't a long book, but it wasn't exactly short, either. Mikha'el checked in with me periodically to see how it was going, only to go back to doing whatever business he was doing, staring at nothing. By the time I was done, night had fallen and the table candles had been lit. With a sigh I shut the book and rubbed my eyes.

"Mikha'el."

He blinked, eyes coming back into focus. "Yes?"

I tapped the book. "Done."

Mikha'el stretched, unfurling all six wings. He gave a shudder, and then relaxed once more, tucking his wings back behind himself. "And? What did you learn?"

When he asked me this question, he never strictly meant what the material was about. It wasn't an exam, I wasn't expected to regurgitate information. That is, I was to an extent, and if I missed something crucial (I rarely did, especially not a year on into our studies) he would fill me in. No; when he asked me what I learned, he always wanted my thoughts and feelings.

"Was that some sort of cautionary tale?" I rubbed my eyes again warily. "That was awful. I feel so bad for Malael, being dragged off to Hell against her will, giving birth alone, shackled. But if it's a tale of warning, or some sort of allegory for something, it's utterly lost on me. Unless she was some sort of sacrificial lamb, so to speak; a simile for how beauty can spring from terrible circumstances? Hmm, or perhaps-"

As I spoke, Mikha'el was looking at me, his eyes intense. It was a look I had come to know well. It was a look of impatience, a look he gave me when I was missing something obvious. As such, I trailed off. He blinked at me, and a icy shiver coursed through me.

"This isn't a work of fiction, is it?"

Mikha'el solemnly shook his head.

I was absolutely horrified. "What?! Why?! How?! What purpose does kidnapping a pregnant angel serve?!"

"We've been trying to muddle through those questions for years now."

"That's outrageous! How dare they?!"

Mikha'el simply shrugged.

"Has she and the child been brought back?"

"No, not yet."

"That's damn irre-wait. Yet?"

Mikha'el returned to his stormy-eyed look, the one that told me he thought I was being stupid.

I wanted to die on the spot. Turn to stone. Evaporate. Something.

"We leave tomorrow at noon."

I gripped the table edge. "I think I may pass out."

Mikha'el rolled his eyes. "You will do no such thing."

"I think I really might."

"You won't."

"I'm not ready Mikha'el!"

He sighed impatiently. "You're doing that thing again, where you doubt yourself frivolously."

I stood up so quickly my chair toppled over. There were just a smattering of angels within Metatron now, most going in for the night hours ago. Those left glared. "You're talking about me accompanying you to Hell!"

Mikha'el waved a dismissive hand. "I am bringing my garrison. All the archangels will be there as well-save Metatron, of course."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?!" I practically shrieked.

Mikha'el was starting to look angry. "You're not required, or even expected, to do anything. This will be a learning excursion for you."

I laughed bitterly. "Oh. Right. Just popping into Hell for a friendly visit, eh?"

Mikha'el glowered and slowly got to his feet. He looked menacing. I took a step back, hating when he looked like this.

"There is a uniform in your room you are expected to wear. I will collect you when we are ready for departure."

"But-"

Mikha'el slammed his fist down. "This is your first official excursion, and I swear to everything that's Holy it had better go more smoothly than this ridiculous conversation has with your inner turmoil." He stood to his full height then and glared. "At the very least trust me to know what you are capable of handling, Ulcinin."

That last sentence punched me in the gut. But he was gone already, so I couldn't apologize.

~

There was a knock on my door. Reluctantly I opened it. Gabriel, Raphael, Raguel, Auriel, and Mikha'el stood before me. They all wore the same uniforms, the black ones with colored piping. I wore my own, my piping deep yellow, the color of sunflowers. I was shocked when Raguel held out a sword. When I didn't move, his eyebrows lifted up. Hesitantly, I took it from him. He nodded.

"We are to go over the plan in the courthouse," Raphael said. "Follow us."

I was mildly surprised we didn't just teleport there. Idly I wondered if, perhaps, they were looking forward to this rescue mission as much as I was.

Which meant not at all.

I had barely gotten any sleep. I knew I needed it. I hadn't the faintest clue what to expect. Even with the knowledge I needed to be at peak performance, it wasn't enough to quell my anxiety for me to sleep in any meaningful way.

As we walked, I noticed something. Raguel's wings were the lightest I had ever seen them. They were a light grey, really almost white. I wondered why, what had changed.

I didn't dare ask though. I didn't want to break the silence we walked in.

When we arrived, and the double doors were pushed open, and the horns blared our arrival, I felt downright sick. Everything was forgotten momentarily the second we entered the chamber proper. It was the same room I met all the archangels in originally. The difference between then and now was the room was filled with angels.

I gaped, walking in behind Raguel. Every single seat of every single stone bench was occupied. Female and male alike. I noticed just a smattering of angels who had tainted wings. They were all dressed as we were, their uniforms having various colors of piping.

"We are to arrive in the middle of the dungeons," Mikha'el said loudly, stepping away from us so he stood in front. "As discussed, we are to spread out. I understand your trepidation at splitting up, but I assure you our numbers are strong enough that we will be able to deal with the attack should it arise."

"And as discussed," Auriel said just as loudly, looking about the room, "do not hesitate to beacon for help."

"We are looking for minimal casualties," Mikha'el said. "So please, set aside pride and err on the side of caution."

"Are there any further questions?" Raguel asked, taking a step forward, but still falling behind Mikha'el.

When no one replied, Mikha'el rose his hands. "Let us pray."

We put our heads down and clasped our hands at our chests. Mikha'el led us. We sang in Enochian, songs of devotion, love, and asking for protection. It was beautiful, and I found myself tearing up as the wondrous harmony. It was sublime, and I prayed I would live to participate in more choirs.

I lifted my head when we were done. Angels had already started to disappear. I didn't know where we were going. As such, Gabriel put his hand on my shoulder. A dread filled my gut, and I broke out into an anticipatory sweat.

"Ready?" Gabriel asked.

Unable to speak, trying to keep my face stony, I nodded.

"Stay behind us."

Before I could even respond, Gabriel and I were suddenly in a long, narrow, dimly lit hallway. It was made from stone. A dampness clung to the air, making it chilly. The walls were slick, rivulets dripping in some places. I noticed some parts were smeared with blood. That put me on high alert and, even though I wasn't in the front, nor the back, but surrounded by sure-footed soldiers, I pulled out my sword.

As we crept along the way, I heard things I had come to expect; moaning, screaming. Insane gibberish. Wailing, sobbing. All these came from behind shut wooden doors with bars. I looked inside one as I passed and wished I hadn't.

There was what appeared to be a human in it. They were rocking back and forth. Absolutely dirty, the woman herself as well as her cell. I was surprised when there were excrements even. I didn't think damned souls would need to evacuate their bodies. I was wrong, evidently.

It explained the smell.

I shuddered.

The woman lunged suddenly, thrusting her emancipated arm through the bar slates. Had I jerked away a second later, she would have clawed my face with her overgrown, filthy blackened nails. She hissed at me, shrieked. Through my numbness of the shock I vaguely wondered if she could even speak a human language anymore. I could tell by the look in her eye she had been here for a very, very, long time. She looked more feral than human, and my heart broke.

Someone tapped me on my shoulder and I jumped. It was only Raguel. He looked at me seriously. Wordlessly, he pointed at the woman, then down the hall, and shook his head. I nodded.

As we walked I realized we were flanked by angels robed in white. They were hooded, large, and I could only make out their chins. Periodically they would reach out and pause a moment, laying their palm against the slick wall. With a brief flash of light, a glowing blue sigil would appear for a moment, and then disappear from sight.

I took note that no one was speaking. As such, I licked my lips nervously. I had been practicing on and off with Mikha'el with speaking telepathically, but he was the only one. And it had been with mixed results.

What are they doing? I called out to anyone who would listen.

A couple of angels turned around and silently glared at me. Another hand was on my shoulder, and this time it was Gabriel.

Warding, to conceal our presence, Gabriel told me. Also markers so we don't get lost.

As the minutes crept on, I understood what he meant. It wasn't a straightforward hallway. Lots of twists and turns, many intersections where several halls met at a junction. As we walked I wondered if we actually had a specific direction, or if we were stumbling around until we hopefully found what we were looking for.

Occasionally we had to pause for demonic guards. Sometimes our group of twenty would simply shuffle back into some shadows and wait for them to pass. Other times we simply stopped abruptly. In those instances, the robed angels as well as the archangels would mutter quietly under their breath. I never could catch what they were saying, no more than bits of Enochian here and there. Once a demon looked straight at us, and I thought we were had. However, after a moment where the demon appeared dazed, they simply turned around and walked away.

We finally found what we had come for the third hour into our excursion.

"Malael!" Mikha'el said suddenly, rushing forward a few feet before grabbing the bars of a door on the left. "Malael! It's me, Mikha'el!"

There was a bustling of sounds. Mikha'el grabbed the iron knob, but pulled his hand back quickly.

"It's warded," he growled out.

"Of course it's warded," Raguel said, and while my line of sight was blocked, I could tell he was rolling his eyes.

Mikha'el moved off to the side, some of the robed angels coming forward to look at the door.

"It's okay, Malael, we shall get you out-"

I had to squint when there was a sudden burst of golden light over our heads. With it, came a message-

Whatever you did, they know. Get out.

"Angels!" Mikha'el cried, drawing his sword. Anyone who didn't have theirs out already pulled them out. "Prepare!"

Somewhere in the far off distance, we could hear angels screaming punctuated by snarling. Half of the angels turned around so there were ten facing one way, ten the other. All six robed angels had shoved their way through, and were chanting at the door.

"Any time now," Mikha'el urged the robed angels in a low voice at the front, holding his sword out at the ready.

Moments later, fighting broke out. The shock of seeing my first enemy rocked me to my core. It wasn't because of how beastly they looked, it was how human they looked. I expected a legion of hellion, snarling, snapping things with claws. Instead they were all Fallen, with wings of black, brandishing their own swords.

Unfortunately we were outnumbered. We had been fine until more Fallen appeared, flanking our other side. I grew frustrated, honestly shocked that Mikha'el had allowed things to get so bad so quickly.

I should have known better. Angels popped into existence from both sides of the hallway. They immediately joined in the fray. Had I not been so scared, I would have laughed when angels even appeared over our heads, crashing down on top of the Fallen's heads.

I was still more or less in the middle. It was maddening, being jostled roughly. It wasn't an ideal situation, fighting with swords in a narrow hallway with more bodies pouring in by the second.

"Move!" I suddenly heard Mikha'el call out.

I looked over. He was shoving his way through the robed beings, and the cell door was wide open. I wanted to go to him, but I knew now was not the ideal time for curiosity.

Suddenly, several angels were calling for retreat. Confused, I watched as some did exactly that. My confusion was answered when there was a sonic boom, and everyone was thrown back. Once I was able to untangle myself from the mess of limbs and wings, I scrambled up off the floor. I was one of the first on my feet, and what I saw shocked me.