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was like a billowing red sheet waving in front of a speared bull. He shoved Mitch out of the way and stormed down the gilded passageway.
• • •
Jackson hadn’t gotten far before a beautiful female assistant of the Council’s dressed in a luminous modern robe stopped him.
“Jackson,” she said calmly.
“What?” Jacks spun around angrily on the woman.
“You’re wanted in the solarium.”
• • •
Gabriel was unmistakable as he sat on a bench near the tree in the solarium, with his mass of lustrous white hair and seemingly ageless face illuminated by the artificial light. The sanctuary solarium had been built many years ago as one of its first features. Situated on the edge of the sanctuary, near the passage to the Council chambers, it was reserved exclusively for the Council and its closest circle. Jackson had never been inside.
Gabriel wore his normal golden robe, which seemed almost to glow as it touched his skin. Jackson’s stepfather, Mark Godspeed, was there as well, standing just off to the side of the bench alongside a few advisers to the Council. Behind them, a small stone bridge crossed an indoor stream that ran through the solarium. All around, lush green and flowering plants were flourishing, making a small path circling the entire area. A butterfly flitted past. Above, a span of domed, frosted glass covered the whole scene. Behind the glass, huge electric bulbs shone with the warmth and light of the sun.
Gabriel, chief True Immortal of the Council of Twelve, leader of the Angels in the Great Awakening, founder of the NAS, looked at Jackson Godspeed and smiled.
“I know I’ve said it before, but the armor of the Battle Angel suits you well,” Gabriel said, observing the young Angel in front of him. “Rest assured, Jackson, we will not forget your loyalty, your willingness to stand by us on the brink of the human-Angel war. Even though, thankfully, it did not come to pass.”
“I would think of doing nothing else,” Jackson said.
Once again Gabriel gave his ancient smile. Throughout the recent dramatic events, Jackson had found a kind of shelter with Gabriel. Far from being simply a figurehead, he was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Angels on a daily basis, and it showed. He could have delegated everything, but he didn’t. He felt he had a duty, and Jackson admired him for that.
“There is a reason we wanted to see you, Guardian Godspeed,” Gabriel said. “Jackson, we’ve been discussing the possibility of helping the humans.”
Jacks struggled to mask the shock that ran across his face.
Gabriel continued. “It is obviously quite difficult for us just to stand idly by. Even if the humans were planning to turn on us with the Immortals Bill. After all, we have ancient ties and lines of duty to humanity, stretching back far, far before we ever left Home and made ourselves known on Earth.”
Mark nodded silently at Gabriel’s side.
A flood of emotion crashed across Jackson’s face, coloring it, as he thought of what might happen between him and Maddy if the Angels could rejoin the humans. It might not be too late after all. But the painful image of her in the arms of that . . . pilot chased away his fresh-born hopes. Gabriel looked at Jackson and smiled once again.
“I can see you have some feelings on the subject, Jacks,” Gabriel said. “Do you mind sharing them?”
Jacks hesitated a moment, looking to both Gabriel and Mark. He wondered what the right answer was. What did he really feel?
“It’s hard to say, sir,” Jacks said uncertainly.
“That’s why we’ve been discussing this for so long here in the solarium. There’s no easy answer. You’re right to see that. Prudence in these matters is vital,” Gabriel said. “That said, Jacks, after our debate, I still think we have no choice but to leave the humans to their own devices. Even if we’d not had problems with them and Linden, there is just too much at stake for us to compromise everything by entering the battle against the demons.” Gabriel paused as if to let this monumental fact sink in.
“The fact of the matter is,” he went on, “we did leave Home when I decided to bring us out of hiding. And for a good reason: We have a destiny here on Earth. We need always to keep our thoughts focused upon preserving the Angel line. We have no idea how large the force of the Dark Ones will be. It is quite doubtful, even with our highest standard of training and loyalty among the Battle Angel corps, that Angelkind could realistically weather an attack from a large number of demons. Too many would be lost. Too much blood would be spilled. While, if we stay here in the sanctuary, we will remain safe, and in the end Angel City will ultimately remain under our control. Just as it was meant to be. The demons are here for the humans, Jackson. Not us.”
Mark cleared his throat and spoke up. “We’ve debated this a lot, Jacks. Even in the face of the anti-Angel Immortals Bill we have thought of helping the humans.” The worry lines written in his forehead grew more pronounced as he spoke. “But there’s nothing we can do.”
“And the Book of Angels has spoken clearly on this matter,” Gabriel said. “For centuries our scholars have deemed this to be a prophecy about humanity, not Angels. We just did not think it would come so soon for our human brothers and sisters.” As he said this, Gabriel’s ageless face took on a sad, faraway look, his mind likely drifting to thoughts of the countless human beings he’d protected and served throughout his epic lifetime.
“I as much as anyone know that there may be . . . temptations to help the humans in the coming conflict with the demons.” Gabriel cast his kindly, Immortal gaze on Jackson.
“Archangel Godspeed has informed us of certain feelings you probably still have for the Madison Godright girl. This, too, is understandable, my son.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Jacks said, unblinkingly and without pause. “I promise.”
“You needn’t put up a front for us, Jackson. We know you are prepared to do your duty. But we are not hard. We have loved, as well. Our entire order is, in fact, based on love. A love of righteousness and for the Protections we have sworn to save.”
Gabriel turned partially and looked out past the foliage into the pathways of the solarium. “It is difficult, of course, to see all those Protections we have spent our lives Protecting now be put in such grave danger. But endangering ourselves just to help those who would have rendered illegal our one true purpose is worse than insane. It is against our principles. Our homes can be rebuilt. Communities will be reconstructed. All these things would pass on their own accord, as part of history, no matter how sweeping the destruction. But we Angels must endure,” he said. “There is no other way.”
