I threw myself into my studies. Metatron had gifted me access to anything and everything. I voraciously read as much as I could, going well beyond the acceptable limits of my physical well-being; or so I thought.

Since embracing my true angelic self, I found there were some mortal attributes I no longer had to adhere to. Sleep was one of them. I also found it easier for me to heal; a papercut would sting a moment, but then quickly vanish. More serious wounds would have to be concentrated on, or attended to by other angel's, but even so, severe injuries no longer put fear in me. So that was how I spent my days.

By the thirteen day, and I still had zero contact with Mikha'el, I began to pry. I asked anyone who would listen if they had seen him. It was generally a blanket 'no'. However, there were three instances where I was told they had seen him, but he had specifically told them if they saw me to not divulge his location to me.

So, in other words, he was not only actively avoiding me, but had dragged other angel's into it.

I was crushed. Truthfully I was desperate. So, after a month into him avoiding me I could no longer stand it. I gave into my desperation and did something to this day fret over if I should have done it or not.

I summoned Indrajala.

~

Throughout Heaven are religious stations. They are in tune with other deities, shrines that honestly work sort of like a celestial telephone. Go to a shrine, offer up a prayer and/or offering, and see what happens.

So, it was on the thirty-first day of Mikha'el's absence I found myself standing at the alter for Hinduism. It was lovely, a sort of hutch made from rounded rocks. White lilies dangled and draped over the entire mini-temple. At the back was a golden mirror. There was incense already there, which I lit. Ashes from previous sessions were left at the bottom of the shrine. I would make it a point to clean it and chide whomever had left it in a disgraceful dirtied state.

However, at that moment I clasped my hands together, bowed my head, and shut my eyes.

"Dearest Indrajala, I need to speak with you."

I internally panicked.

"Er, I mean, I would like to speak with you. I'm, I would be humbled by your presence. If it's not too much of a bother. That is, if you are too busy for me I understand. I mean, not that you have to explain your time to me-in fact, I wouldn't dream of having you answer to me."

I glared and felt myself flush.

"Oh bother. I've really mucked this up-"

There came a breeze, the sound of wind chimes, and Indrajala's unmistakable laugh. My head snapped up; there was her visage, staring right at me. That day she wore an outfit of emerald green, and I was once again memorized by her sheer beauty.

"How long have you been listening?"

"Long enough," she laughed.

I felt my ears turn pink.

"Please, dearest little one. Do not fret so much at our meetings. You truly have nothing to fear. I like you, Seraphin. There is next to nothing you could do to sway that into anything punishable."

I felt my eyes grow wide and my wings twitched. "You called me Seraphin."

She blinked, looking confused. "Is that not your name?"

"It is," I replied hastily, "It's just I hadn't told you-"

"And do you think," she said, sounding utterly bemused, "that I, the Goddess of Illusions, would need anyone to tell me anything?"

I blushed so deeply it was embarrassing.

She smiled sweetly. "What might I do for you, Sera?"

I faltered. "Oh. Erugh. Uh, I was wondering if we could talk? In private?"

Indrajala cocked an eyebrow. My shoulders slumped and I looked at the ground. "Truthfully I have a question for you-"

"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?" she asked, her voice right in front of me now, and I suddenly found myself in her grotto face to face with her.

I blinked.

She hooked her arm with mine. As we began to walk, she took a peek at my wings. When she looked back at me, her eyebrows were raised. "Impressive."

The twitched and I blushed. "Thank you."

"Now my beloved," Indrajala told me then, squeezing my hands as we sat on her lounge chair, "What is this question you speak of?"

It was embarrassing, but I immediately dissolved into tears. She looked alarmed and besides herself.

"Mikha'el and I had a falling out."

She was quiet for a long while. When I gave no further explanation, she said, "What does this have to do with me?"

I steeled myself, suddenly realizing maybe this wasn't a good idea. By that time, however, I knew Indrajala wouldn't let it rest until I told her what I came for. I also knew she wouldn't let me leave until I told her.

Literally.

So, I plunged ahead.

"You told me when I first met you can bend reality, right? That you're a plane walker?"

She held up her index finger. "The plane walker."

"Er, yes. Sorry."

She smirked and put her hand down.

"Well, I was wondering..." I wrung my hands. "I was wondering if that applied to time as well."

She features shifted and she became serious, a look of utmost seriousness. It was intimidating. For the first time I caught a glimpse of her absolute cosmic power, and I abruptly decided this was a stupid idea. I lurched to my feet.

"You know what? I'm sorry, nevermind, it was foolish of me-"

She grabbed my wrist. I looked down at her with trepidation. Once again, she wasn't angry at me. She clearly didn't hold contempt towards me. Indrajala just looked serious. Very solemnly serious as she contemplated.

"You want," she asked me slowly, "to bend time so you can do something that would repair the relationship between you and Mikha'el?"

"Yes?" I squeaked.

She blinked, not letting go of my wrist. "Is that a question, Ulcinin, or a statement?"

"Yes," I answered more assured.

A languid smile spread on her face. "Good recovery, Sera. Now-speak to me your thoughts, and I shall let you know if I am willing to partake in such foolery."

I swallowed thickly and sant back onto the long couch. "If it would get you in trouble-"

She cut me off with her wind-chime laugh. "Get in trouble? Sera, with whomst would I be in trouble with? I'm a Goddess. I do what I please and answer to none."

"Er, right. Nevermind."

More laughter.

I sighed wearily. "I just want to go back in time and change what I did wrong to make him so angry with me."

"Which is?"

"Shouldn't you know?" I asked. I realized at once how that could be taken, and I feared I had offended her. She understood my intent, thankfully, and replied calmly.

"To procure the best results I need to know what you would like to change-in your own words."

"Oh. Er, I want to tell Mikha'el before the naming ceremony what I intend on changing my name to."

"And he was angry over that?"

I waved my hand. "Long story."

The stormy look returned and she narrowed his eyes slightly. "Indulge me."

I swallowed hard. "Oh. Yes. Right. Well, there is a order of angels, starting with-"

"I know the tiers of angels."

"Am I going to tell you this or not?"

She looked amused and inclined her head. I tugged on my black uniform shirt, ruffled my wings, and then calmly folded them back up.

"Thank you. The highest rank of angel is seraphim -it's what all archangels are. When someone reaches the rank of seraphim, they must be renamed. However, it is forbidden to declare yourself Seraphim. So I..."

I trailed off when she began to laugh. In fact, she roared with laughter. She laughed until she had to wipe tears away. Once she calmed to giggles, she looked at me and waggled her finger at me.

"See, Sera? That is exactly why I like you. You refuse to obey. You refuse to follow rules. You simply cannot, and perhaps more to the point will not, fall in line. Even now! You come to me, seeking me to break the very fabric of time to quell your needs. You beseech me to cause the upheaval of a very fundamental rule of the cosmos."

I, admittedly, hadn't thought of it like that. I blushed. She smiled at me then, clasping me by both shoulders. "You did not even think through the full ramifications of what you ask, did you?"

Embarrassed, I looked to the side. "I did not."

"And that right there, dearest Seraphin (she had winked when she said that) is precisely why I am going to help you. You're-" she paused. "Fun."

"I am?"

Seemingly suddenly bored, she gave an exaggerated stretch, hands over her head. When she was done she shook herself like a cat, or a dog. Then she smiled at me.

"You will understand in time, but after existing for eons you get, well."

"Bored?"

"Precisely."

That made me grin.

"Now," she said excitedly, rubbing her hands together, "I can't-or shouldn't, rather-change things too drastically. You will not be able to remember anything that has happened after your naming ceremony. This exchange will be forgotten because to you it will have never happened."

I blinked.

"As such, you need to leave a message for yourself. Something that will allow you to grasp what it is you are trying to change."

I began to think earnestly.

"I shall give you a few days. Sera, this has to work. I refuse to break a multi-dimensional law if it is not going to work."

I swallowed and nodded.

"Do not look so rattled," she said, taking me by the shoulders once more. "I believe in you."

I couldn't help sounding incredulous. "You do?"

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I do not think you still fully grasp just how different and special you really are. When you scream the earth shakes. Your tears become rain. For everything that's good and holy, Sera, you survived the poison of a high-ranking Fallen! She was a menace, an abomination, mixing her own blood with that of a demon! It's a gross dismissal of how things should work. She was utterly unnatural!"

My eyes widened. "She was part demon?"

"The blood she drank gave her demonic abilities, yes."

I shuddered.

"The point I am making, my cumquat, is that you are insanely powerful. You are unique. Everyone knows of you. And, perhaps most importantly, everyone fears you."

That was a lot to take in. Had I not already been sitting I would have needed to. I still struggled with my self-worth and purpose. To have a primordial deity confirm that? It was very vindicating. Then I knew, right then and there, what would make me remember.

"I know what I have to do. I know the message."

She cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"With no waiver of uncertainty?"

"Correct."

"Alright. Then we shall do it now!"

"Now?"

"Yes. Why wait?"

She had a point.

"There is one final thing I must have you consider, Sera of the seraphim."

"What?"

She gave me a sly smile. "I am only willing to do this for you once. Are you sure this particular instance is what you want to spend this one-time luxury on?"

"Yes," I replied with utter determination.

"Are you sure? You do not know what the future holds. There might be something...more pressing."

I got the distinct impression she knew exactly what the situation was that would lead me wanting to manipulate time in the future. I was a fool to cast that aside.

"I'm sure."

"Alright then," she said pleasantly, patting her thighs once before getting to her feet. "Do what you must, make the key to unlock your memory of what it is you wish to change, and when it is in order pray to me."

I got to my feet and took her by both hands, giving them a squeeze. "I am eternally grateful to you, Indrajala."

She laughed. "Just try not to be too angry with me when the day of tragedy is upon us."

Before I could ask what she meant, she snapped her fingers and I was in my room. The sun was setting. Pushing out of my mind her final words, I set about doing what I had to do.