One by one each of the angels took their leave. Gabriel was first, followed by Raphael. They left in a very mortal way, walking to their residence and biding everyone else a good night.

It should not have surprised me, but Raguel parted ways on anything but a pleasant note.

"Might I see your book?" he asked me rather innocently.

I hesitated, my palm itching. I didn't want to give it to him. I wasn't entirely sure why, but I really, really did not want to give it to him. For the entire time I held it in my possession, the only one who I allowed to see it was Mikha'el. But that was because I trusted him explicitly.

I argued with myself. A archangel, a fucking seraphim, was asking to see it. A celestial being created by God himself. Forgiven, evidently, by God. If I couldn't trust one of the seven heavenly leaders of Heaven, who could I?

Steeling myself, I reached into my satchel and pulled out my book. Carefully and slowly I held it out to him. Raguel took it, looked at it for the briefest moment, and then laughed at me bitterly.

"You fool!" he spat. "Have you learned nothing from your teachings?! Metatron does not lend his books out freely. More so, Metatron does not let anyone leave with one of his books, much less for an extended period of time!"

Roughly Raguel shoved the book into my chest and glared. "Do not trust anyone, anyone, Ulcinin! Not with something as important as this! Have you forgotten there are shape shifters?"

My anger rose within me. "That's preposterous—I've been with you the entire day—"

"What's ridiculous is for you to trust me to be whom I claim to be just because Mikha'el said so!"

"He wouldn't lie to me!" I snapped, raising my voice.

"You're an ignorant fool, nothing more than a child! I don't know what makes you so special," he snarled at me, looming over me to the point where Mikha'el felt the need to intervene, slotting his body between us, "but I swear to God and everything that is Holy, Ulcinin, if you mistreat this book—"

"That's enough, Raguel," Mikha'el said.

"—or let it fall into the wrong hands—"

"Raguel, I said that's enough."

"—you will understand the true meaning of my duty, and I shall reign judgment upon you swiftly and unmercifully!"

"ENOUGH!" Mikha'el roared.

Raguel shoved me away from him. I clutched the book protectively to my chest, hoping my seething hatred came through the glare I leveled at him. Auriel was at his side in a moment, and he quickly ushered Raguel into his home. When Auriel was done he came out, slamming the wooden door behind himself.

"I'm sorry," Auriel said to me, walking quickly away from the abode and looking beyond pissed. "That maniac doesn't know when to leave well enough alone."

"Do not call our brother a maniac."

"Well he is!"

Mikha'el crossed his arms.

"He is."

Mikha'el raised his eyebrow.

"He is," Auriel simpered a final time, though it was quiet and sounded unsure.

"Come, we will walk you to Metatron."

The three of us walked in silence for a bit. Then I became curious.

"Auriel; do you live in Metatron?"

"Yes. There is a loft on the uppermost floor which holds a room." He shrugged. "It is meager, but it is all I need."

I couldn't help the coy smile that formed. "Doesn't it bother you that you're sleeping inside one of your brothers?"

Auriel turned pale and abruptly stopped walking. Mikha'el guffawed immediately, slapping his knee. I grinned at Auriel.

"Well when you put it like that..." Auriel grumbled, and even in the dim light from the torches I could see him turn pink.

Auriel fell in step with Mikha'el and I once more.

"Ulcinin," Auriel said carefully, roughly a block away from Metatron. "I have been meaning to apologize."

I didn't understand. "For?"

Auriel glanced at me, and he looked terribly embarrassed. Then his eyes dropped to the ground. "I worry that I...well, haven't been as courteous to you as I should have been. Truthfully I..."

"Yes?"

Auriel rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't get out very much."

I didn't reply.

Auriel looked off to the side. "Erm, at all, really. My social skills are lacking."

I was caught off-guard and didn't know what to say. "Oh."

"And I don't really enjoy the company of others," he muttered quickly. "Books are better."

"When was the last time you left Metatron, Auriel?" Mikha'el prodded gently, and I didn't miss the concerned undertone.

We came to stop at the steps of Metatron. Auriel was lost in thought for a good long while. Angels passed occasionally, and Auriel muttered hello to them. Finally, Auriel looked at us. I was taken aback; Auriel looked sad.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "I think it was the coronation of Christ's return to Heaven."

"Oh dear," Mikha'el said, crossing his arms and putting his right fist beneath his chin. "It's been years then."

Auriel had become quiet, oh so quiet.

"Why don't you get out more?" I asked, making sure to come off not as rude or condescending, but genuinely curious.

"I can't," Auriel said, lifting both eyebrows and still looking at the ground. "My position doesn't allow me to. I am the protector of God's work. I have to protect Metatron."

I frowned. Auriel looked so deeply miserable I had to do something. He looked at me in surprise when I stepped forward and put my hand on his shoulder. I smiled.

"Thank you for explaining this to me, Auriel. I thought you just didn't like me."

"I like you quite a lot," Auriel admitted, his eyes wide. "I mean, that's not to say that I'm not slightly jealous of you."

I furrowed my brow. "Jealous? How? There's nothing to me."

Auriel rolled his eyes. "Surely you jest?"

I blinked, which caused yet another eyeroll.

"God told us we were to expect a very powerful Destroyer; that we were to teach him to the best of our abilities; that we show him courtesy and kindness. We were to make him feel welcome."

Auriel looked at the ground again, but this time it was in anger. "God threatened us, that should we fail this new Destroyer, should we not get him up to speed quick enough, or don't impart our knowledge to the best of our abilities, we would be punished."

I stepped away from Auriel, horrified. He looked at me seriously.

"I guarantee it's why Raguel dislikes you so. Up until now, us archangel's have been top tier, the most important. So for someone so new to be introduced, and to have it flaunted in his face that this newcomer is more important than he is, then any of us are–"

Now I was horrified. "But I'm not!"

Auriel looked away, so I looked at Mikha'el. "I'm not!"

"God seems to think you are," Mikha'el replied quietly.

I was utterly mortified.

"Worse," Auriel said, "God is refusing to tell us what He has in store for you, why exactly you're so special."

"I'm sorry," I said, suddenly feeling near tears. I looked desperately between the pair. "I am so, so sorry, I didn't ask for this, for any of this–"

Auriel smiled and drew me into his arms. I stiffened at the unexpected warm gesture.

"We know," Auriel told me after his quick embrace. "It's why I try not to hold it against you, and I keep any fragmented jealousy to myself."

I nodded, swallowing away the lump in my throat. "Well, I thank you for that."

I didn't like how rough my voice sounded, deep and strained. As such, Auriel smiled kindly and ruffled my hair.

"Have a good night, Ulcinin." Auriel walked up a few steps, then turned back around and gave Mikha'el a crossed-armed bow. "Goodnight, Mikha'el."

"Come," Mikha'el told me no sooner than Auriel shut the door behind himself, "let us return home."

I rarely had a reason to be out in the streets as late as it was. Everyone was inside now, the only other angels I saw were soldiers on patrol. Even they seemed relaxed, walking two by two and talking, only pausing to greet us.

"Might I ask you something?" Mikha'el asked me abruptly.

"Of course."

"I noticed Fate whispered something to you. What did he say?"

I opened my mouth to speak but...couldn't. I tried again; no words came out. My tongue, my lips, wouldn't move to form the words I wanted. It was the strangest sensation ever. I whet my lips, gave it a final shot.

"I can't."

"What?"

"I can't," I said, the headache that had been growing all day pounding now. I rubbed my temples. "I want to, but I physically can't! You have to believe me, it's not that I don't want to, or am keeping secrets from you, or—"

We were in our abode. Mikha'el shut the door softly, then turned to me and took me by the shoulders. He smiled softly.

"It's okay, I believe you."

"You do?"

I suddenly wanted to weep. Mikha'el looked sympathetic and patted my shoulder.

"It's been a long day, Ulcinin. Your nerves are shot. You should get some sleep."

It was stupid, but I was absolutely beside myself suddenly, unable to control myself as I burst into tears. "I'm not lying to you. I wouldn't lie to you, Mikha'el, you know that, yes?"

I was so relieved when Mikha'el drew me into his arms. "Of course I believe you. Fate clearly did not want what he told you to be shared."

I nodded and sniffed. Smiling, Mikha'el held me at arms' length. "Go to sleep."