Pure Soul Book 2

16. Cassiel

We excitedly return to our home base. The last two areas are where we found the element. Zadkiel and Baraqiel both have special containers of the Astatine which they are taking to the heavens and Michael at this exact moment. I really thought we’d never find the stuff, that it was a myth. I am happy to be disproven and the four of us left are celebrating. Daniel ordered take out while Turiel pulled alcoholic beverages from out of the refrigerator. Ananliel and I are sitting at the island in the center of the kitchen while Turiel and Daniel lean against it. We’re drinking, cracking jokes, and teasing one another, however every time I look at Ana, I get the distinct feeling she wants to tell me something. At this point though I’m not drunk enough to care.

Just as the food arrives, I feel a buzzing in my back pocket. Since no one knows I have the phone, I excuse myself claiming to need to go to the restroom. As soon as I have the bathroom door shut, I whip out the device to see a message from Aza waiting to be read. Do you think you’ll be able to come over soon? I smile my soul humming at seeing his name. I write back quickly: yes, but it won’t be for a couple of hours. I’m drinking with a bunch of lightweights and within the next two hours they will probably pass out. I will send you a text as soon as I can leave.

Aza sends an okay and then I turn my focus back to the food, my teammates, and encouraging them to ‘drink up.’ An hour later we are all happily buzzed but the other three more so than me when suddenly purple-blue light comes shimmering to life and we see Baraqiel and Zadkiel stepping out of the portal they had created. “A-ten-tion!” Baraqiel barks out and drunkenly we scramble to stand at attention. “We are all to report back to Michael immediately,” he adds as we stand in a line facing him and Zad. Zad lets his eyes land on each of us as he assesses our current state of inebriation.

With a sigh Zad says, “all of you get your butts back to the heavens now! Once there take flight to sober yourselves up, understood?” We salute him with the typical response of ‘sir, yes sir!’ Before he dismisses us, he adds, “you can leave your things here as we will be returning to assist the extraction team in removing the Astatine. You are dismissed.”

Before I leave the kitchen, I grab four bottles of water from the fridge and then quickly make my way back upstairs. “Are we leaving from up here or on the first level?” Ananliel and Daniel are just coming out of their rooms as I hit the landing. They both say first floor which I figured because I didn’t see Turiel up here. I hand them their water and peek in my room to see if there is anything of importance, I should bring with me. There isn’t and we all make our way back down the steps where we find Turiel strolling out of his room. Tossing him a bottle of water I ask, “we ready to go?” As he nods, we turn and walk back into the living room.

“We will gather in the command center in one hour. Be sober or don’t worry about being part of the return mission. And... make sure you are in uniform before you enter the center.” When Baraqiel is finished speaking Zadkiel opens a portal and we walk through. Only when I’ve stepped into my room do I remember that I was going to meet up with Aza. Pulling my cell from my back pocket I click on his name and start to text him but when I get ready to send the message, I realize I don’t have service.

“Gah,” I respond as I stare at the phone, gripping it tight in my fist. Talking about something clearing your alcoholic mind, not being able to get a hold of him sobers me right up. On the plus side I don’t have to go fly it off. Pacing my studio apartment, I look about the large room to see if there is anything I could use to be able to assist me in being able to reach him. Knowing there isn’t anything I growl in frustration. Rolling my shoulders and ticking my head to the left and then right, I loosen up my muscles letting my wings free. “Ah,” I sigh not realizing my wings had been aching until they were released. Calling forth my armor, I look in my mirror to make sure I am presentable. For meetings such as this we don’t need to wear our helmets which I’m totally cool with because that thing makes me sweaty.

Taking flight, I fly the five miles to the command center landing at the base of the front steps leading into the building. Dashing up the stairs I fold my wings behind me before entering. “Shit!” I say under my breath having just remembered that I need have my hair pulled back. I fumble with a hair tie around my wrist. Quickly I lift all of my hair smoothing it down at the same time and then twist it until there is some semblance of a bun just above the nape of neck.

Seeing Turiel walk in I make my way over to him so that I don’t have to walk into the meeting room by myself. There are at least two dozen people crowded into the room excluding my unit. As I look around the room, I am stunned silent. We are standing among the most prestigious of commanders, generals, and of course Michael is at the forefront of the room. I’ve never seen him in person before and I feel like a schoolgirl as I stare at my crush from my grade school years. His wavy golden hair is slicked back with gel, and he stands decked out in his glorious gold armor. He is truly one of the most beautiful angels to have ever lived.

As he begins to speak his voice is deep and rich, and I can understand why he is God’s right-hand man. Even when he hadn’t been speaking, he held the attention of the entire room. “While we are in here our very talented swordsmiths and alchemists are hard at work wielding the element Astatine into pliable material to merge with our swords and other weapons. As they do this commander Zadkiel, and his team will return to the site with an extraction team to remove as much of the element as possible. For tonight though, we celebrate this accomplishment. There will be a formal dinner held with Zadkiel and team as the guests of honor. So, until 7p.m. tonight I bid thee all farewell.” Within seconds he has disappeared leaving us standing and chattering about.

I excuse myself and head back to my apartment. The most perfect dress had popped into my head, and I wanted to make sure I still had it in my closet. We only had a couple of hours before the dinner, so I began to get myself ready. Climbing into the shower I practically melt into the water as it falls from above. Showering in heaven is a completely different experience compared to the showers humans use. For one thing, our water doesn’t flow from metal pipes but from the sky. And well, the rest of how the shower feels is indescribable! Feeling refreshed, I dry off and then begin to work on getting my hair dry. After it is fairly dry, I scoop my raven locks into a French twist, pinning it with some sparkly jewelry. When I feel that my hair is securely in place, I step into my dress. From the moment I had first seen it I knew it was the one for me! The dress itself is silky satin white with crystals hand sewn over every inch of the fabric. When I move in the right light I look like a shimmering diamond, and I love it. Slipping my feet into a pair of one-inch strappy heels, I stand in front of my mirror to make sure that everything is in its proper place. Just before I exit my room, I pick up a pair of white satin gloves slipping them on as I make my way outside. I had intended to ‘glide’ to the command center but to my surprise a carriage awaits me.

The ‘party’ is in full swing by the time I arrive, and I stare in awe at the room, amazed by the room of white as though they have gathered all the clouds and stuffed them into the lobby of the command center. Some type of beautiful orchestra music drifts through the air and the wine of the Gods is flowing through ice sculptures. I’m enamored with the beauty; I could stand in the same spot all night and still feel like I haven’t taken in all the details of the place. A hand falls to my shoulder and I look to see who the hand belongs to. “B’, isn’t this place absolutely amazing,” I ask as I look at him.

“That it is,” Baraqiel says with a grin. “I have been told to gather the team as they wish everyone to take their seats and we will be sitting at the main table there,” he discreetly points to a very large table that is viewable by all the other tables. At the very center of this same table sits Michael! I want to shriek like a schoolgirl at a concert of some popular boy band. Silently I gush, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Once we sit Michael stands drawing the attention of the crowd and gives a lovely speech about our success and the outcome it will have in vanquishing further threats from the Fallen ones. Dining commences shortly after Michael sits once more.

I figured that after the dinner was over with that was the end of the evening, but I was wrong. Angels took to the floor and began dancing. Everyone looks so elegant as they sway and twirl around the room. All the guys from my team have a turn dancing with me and Ananliel. Turiel is the last from our group to dance with me and I feel relief as I think I won’t have to dance with anyone else. Stunned is a weak word for how I feel when Michael strides over to me and asks me to dance. WITH ME! We didn’t speak much as we moved in rhythm to the music, but I didn’t care in the slightest. I was dancing with Michael.

The next few to come and ask for a dance after, I respectfully declined. My feet were aching because of the strappy heels. Spotting Zadkiel chatting with a higher-ranking officer, I made my way over to him to let him know I was going to head out for the night. Only after I returned to my apartment did I remember I still needed to see Azael and I cursed myself for having forgotten but I had never been to a celebratory dinner before, and I let myself get wrapped up with the essence of it all.

I’m risking suspension drawing up a portal without express permission from a commanding officer, but I need to see Aza and not just because he had wanted to talk to me but because of this overwhelming feeling that a piece of my soul is missing and I can’t breathe properly until I am near him. So, draw up the portal I do. Stepping through I find myself on his back deck and raise my hand to knock on the sliding glass door. I stop myself from doing so as I see a shadow skirt by. It is NOT Aza’s shadow but that of a half-naked female wandering about his kitchen like she belongs there. Inching closer to the glass, I press my face against it to get a closer look at who the female is and am shocked to see it is his proclaimed ‘co-worker’ that is walking around topless! Gasping at the sight of her I turn to leave but she sees me. I freeze for a moment but when I see her walk away, probably going to tell Aza that I was standing on his back deck, I’m able to move and draw up the portal once more. As soon as I step into my apartment, I fall face first into my blankets on top of my bed and let the tears fall freely.