He was caught off guard by the high and unusual number of supernatural beings along with his kind that were present for his audience with the Celestial Council. The factions sat in clusters of their own entity around the large throne room.

Fairies, Spirits, Deities such as Gaia and The...Moriai..the Three fates., sat huddled in miniature circles whispering amongst themselves. The Archangel sensed there was more to this meeting than he thought.

He slowly looked around aware of all those from the different realms of light and only noticing two emissaries from the dark realm.

The whispers all around him lowered to soft murmurs as the focal point of the throne room grew bright. Slowly before them all, on the dais appeared three celestial beings.

Metatron, Zadkiel and Raguel... The highest of the Archangels put in place to oversee, keep order and maintain the peace amongst his kind.

Metatron, the highest of the Archangels left in charge of them all in the creators absense, slowly raised his hands for silence as the vast room slowly grew quiet.

His voice, filled with authority rumbled off the dais towards him.
"Come forward Michael," he beckoned.

Michaels jaw tightened some. Although, Metatron was one of the powerful Archangels, he was still his brother ....his much older brother....by a century and he needed to remember that. Because Metatron will never let him forget it.

"Michael, you have called an audience with the high council in regards to the strange behavior in one of the fledglings."

He nodded.

"Please explain," Metatron urged.

"It has come to my knowledge a few days ago, that a fledgling...a Seraph in training has been experiencing strange behavior after somehow breaching the wards that seperate our realms."

That started a storm of whispers from the observers, their voices combining in a hysterical chatter that swept through the hall.

"How can that be possible? No fledgling much less angels of the lower ranks can pass through the wards." Metatron sat forward.

Michael as baffled with the answer remained silent as Metatron exchanged gazes with Raguel then Zadkiel only to place an acusing gaze on one of the Sentries by the door. The ones that were suppose to guard the gates.

"As you can see..." Michael began.

"She has breached the wards on a couple occasions and has inadvertently crossed paths with one of my own." the soft harmonious voice of a female interrupted.

More murmurs spread far towards the ends of the court. Michael turned and watched Gaia, The moon Goddess slowly approach.

All eyes were on her as she slowly made her to the dais where the Archangels sat.

"What do you mean?" Micheal questioned with a frown.

"I mean...she has developed a fondness for a mortal of the realm." she gazed at Michael carefully.

"You mean...your animals," Michael's jaw clenched.

"A Shapeshifter!" she corrected heatedly.

"An Abomination," he added stepping forward flexing his shoulders and tightening his fists.

"They are no different than you or I, Archangel," she tilted her chin.

The tension between the two thickened by the second.

He snorted with disdain.

"I'm a celestial being of high order, do not compare me to your volatile dogs or whatever they are."

"They are of our creators design." she argued defensively.

" Ones of his mistakes he failed to iradicate amongst others," his gaze fell suggestively over her. "And one you failed to keep a leash on," he added.

The insult had her eyes slowly glowing blue. Stepping close, her immaculate beauty failed to hide the fury she felt for the pompous Archangel that for a millennia rubbed her the wrong way.

"Careful Archangel, an expression of that magnitude did not go well with your brother. Such rebelliousness in your kind is frowned upon," she teased glorifying in how the muscles in his jaw worked furiously.

"I am nothing like my brother," he hissed.

"So you say, but even the most obedient fell," She brushed off his anger.

Menacingly, one taunted the other in silence. She marveled at the Amber fire slowly burning in the depths of his eyes. His muscles rippled and his wings extended as his hands curled around the hilt of his sword. Taking on the challenge, she squared her shoulders to face him with blue orbs forming in her hands.

"That is enough!!!" Metatrons voice boomed from the dais sending a rush of wind in their direction.

"We will have order here," he warned.

All quieted down. Slowly Gaia and Michael backed away from one another then turned to face him.

Settled in his chair, his gaze landed on Gaia then on Micahel. "Explain to me how is it that a fledgling, a Seraph at that! Could have breeched the wards or crossed into the mortals realm?
It is strictly forbidden," he leaned forward his eyes falling accusingly on Michael.

"I have nothing to do with it. Had I known I would have put an end to it immediately." Michael assured him.

"Not soon enough. You all were lacking in your duties. You have a task. And that's one task only to maintain a balance, keep infernal forces out of our realm and oversee the teachings of lesser and higher angels," Raguel interrupted.

"Where is the fledgling now?" Zadkiel slowly stood then, taking over the conversation.

"In her quarters..." Michael answered.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that?" the familiar voice of Raphael pierced the hall. Slowly all eyes fell on him as he casually approached them.

"What are you saying?" Michael turned to face him. His own face burned angrily in disbelief that she disobeyed him. How was it possible that she did? Angels simply were not disobedient. Seraphs at least. They were incapable of it.

He watched his brother with a non chalant shrug of his shoulder repeat the obvious. She is in the human realm.

"Her presence there poses a threat to us all. You must summon her here at once," Metatron slowly stood.

It felt as if ice slithered down his spine hearing Metatron's voice.

It was a direct order.

With that, Michael watched as Raphael stepped back as he stormed out of the hall.
"Be easy on her," Raphael insisted.

He paused then turn to face his brother. His jaw clenched with Raphael's plea. He said nothing as Raphaels eyes softened some. Then he turned away and left with two guardians at his sides.

******

She had countless reasons not to remain where she was, and needed to return before they noticed she was gone. Again.
But she couldn't bring herself to listen to those reasons or her mind where he was concerned.
Therefore, for the last hour or so, she has found herself perched on a branch in the distance watching him submerge his body in water.

She had shimmered into his realm and immediately traced him towards the woods.

She understood the consequences of being seen again so she put up all her strength in her veils. He most definitely will not see her now. She was sure of it.

Satisfied, she sat and relaxed on the large branch and continued looking at the lake. The human male stood waist deep in the water scrubbing his bare chest.
His muscles rippled with every movement and suddenly her face felt warm as she remembered how he pressed that very vessel of sinewy muscled flesh against hers.

The memory tightened her insides and a surge of heat plummeted to her core, hard and fast that she squeezed her thighs tightly together. Her nails dug deep in to the tree as her mind felt fuzzy and the impulse to go to him became stronger.

Considering it, made her heart race and at that moment she watched as he tilted his head back and he glanced up at the sky. Leaning into the corner of the tree just to get a closer look at him she paused as he suddenly froze where he stood.

For a heart stopping moment she watched as his nostrils flare, he tilted his nose up and slowly his eyes began to glow.

Mesmerized by those eyes she did not move as he slowly looked around.

Then he spoke.

"I know you're here," the rumble of his voice was decievingly calm.

She pressed further into the shadow of the tree.

"I can feel you," he said. "I can smell you," he clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.

She could hear the dangerous undertone in his words, it sent a sensation through her that her relaxed wings fluttered and her toes curled tightly even as the bark beneath her feet pricked into her soles.

As if in predator mode, he slowly stepped out of the water. Seeking her out.

Her heart raced in her chest. Not from fear but from anticipation. The strange sensation was drawing her out of hiding because she wanted to go to him. As much as she tried to hold back, she couldn't.

With each cautious step he took, the alluring pull on her increased until she shimmered further away into another tree. Then another. She could not be seen for as much as she wanted to. It was forbidden.

Left with the decision to leave for now, she slowly floated a good distance away; straining against the anguish in her chest to leave.

On a clearing ready for clear lift off, she stopped. Caught in the glorious wind of the night and the biting cool freshness gliding over her warm skin, she was distracted slightly by it and did not notice Michael's descent until the thud of his boots landed before her followed by two guardians.

Quickly her eyes shot open and she watched with devastating fear as he stood to his full height and stepped forward. She swallowed nervously at the enormity of his wings when they gracefully flexed and then retracted.

His intense gaze held her in place as her own wings out of fright could not expand to quickly fly away. It would be no use either way because he would catch her.

The brief silence of his presence was cut short the moment he spoke.

"Have you any idea the trouble you have caused, Hannah?" His ominous height and gleaming eyes pinned her to the spot.

She shivered and nervously shifted on her feet averting her gaze. Tears slowly filled her eyes now that she remembered the terrifying knowledge that the archangel that stood before her was not only her protector and mentor but was also a battle honed warrior formidable in more ways than one that could kill anything and anyone without a modicum of effort.

Including her...

"Look at me Hanna," he ordered.

Innocent fearful eyes lifted to peer into the depths of burning embers filled with disappointment and anger.

"I will not remind you that what you are doing is strictly forbidden. But I will remind you that your disobedience is costing you far more trouble than I can save you from."

She lowered her gaze.

He stepped closer. She focused through the haze of her tears on his boots.

"Hannah," he sighed. "I can not begin to understand your fascination for this world that does not even hold a match to our own."

Nothing but the silence and the breeze around them settled then.

"I still can not understand why a Seraph is drawn to a mortal," he grumbled.

She gasped looking up to him in shock.

The edge of his lips curved up.
"I know. We all know. And the celestial elders are not too happy," he pointed out.

"I..." she stammered. Not able to explain it herself.

How could she explain how or why this mortal male made her feel things she has never felt before.

"You must forget about him, Hannah," he intoned.

She shook her head. "But.." she began to protest.

"It is for the best, Hannah," he insisted.

"Why?" inaudible and barely able to get the words out.

"Humans, Hannah," he began. "Mortals...do not have the mental strength equipped to handle the notion of otherworldly beings such as you and I," he explained.

She remained silent. Confused. And filled with the need to ask more questions. But the moment she looked at him again, into those glowing eyes full of secrets, she knew he would not answer everything. It would take an eternity to unravel the mystery of her existence, all the untold truths of her kind that they kept tightly guarded.

But that did not change the fact that she felt as she belonged here on this plane with the male human.

Lost in her thoughts and the uncertainty of these emotions she was feeling, she did not notice him stepping closer until he gently tilted her chin up to look at him.

"Time will pass and you will forget all of this." he assured her. Watching the way she scrunched her nose and shook her head to herself, he could see her struggling with his decision.

"I do not want to forget. I do not want to forget ...him," she gasped holding her chest realizing she blurted the words out. The idea alone pulled at her heart. Then that dull ache settled in her chest again.

"You must," he insisted. "Or Metatron and the others will dole out a punishment for you far worse than forgetting him." He warned her.

"And I will not move a finger to help when the duty falls on one of the Angels to eliminate this distraction that is keeping you from your divine order." he warned.

She recoiled with a sob from his harsh words. She lowered her gaze once more. The idea of them harming the human male, horrified her.

The archangel felt slightly guilty with way he spoke to her. The defeat in her small shoulders and the way her luminous gaze dimmed with sadness tightened his chest. But it was for her own good. Nothing could come of this intrigue she felt for the mortal.

But he just as quick he shook off the unease.

"Come. Metatron is waiting for you." He extended his hand.

He watched her struggle with what to do. A slight sense of amazement in this show of willfulness washed over him. Her pleading gaze disappeared with his insistence. And relief like a calming balm swept over him the moment she obeyed him and placed her small hand in his.

He turned to his side and issued the ordered for the guardians to ascend first.

He looked down at her then. Never has he ever dealt with a fledgling like her. Eyes cast down; she refused to look at him as he watched the stream of tears glide down her cheeks.

The gentle squeeze of his finger forced her to look up at him.
"Are you ready?" he asked.

The hurt in her eyes was like blades to his soul. It made his chest ache to see her so distressed.

The thought of never seeing the mortal again was too much for her that she could barely speak. But she did anyway.

"No," she whispered softly but truthfully.

He did not press the issue as his lips thinned, and he cast the veils for their return. With a last glance of their surrounding, his wings extended and He watched as she followed suit with less flare and still eyes downcast.

Shaking his head at her standoffish ways, he lifted off and pulled her along, and they shimmered in the darkened sky and left.

*******

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I am back from Lousiana after a 16-hour drive to central Florida in the wake of Irma, and I tell you I am thankful everything is ok we have lights back on. No damage what so ever just downed trees, leaves and branch's EVERYWHERE...

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Misplaced Angel
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