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Celestial Duty
Riella
“Holdstill,mywarrior.I need you to see what I see. It is time.” Adriel stands in front of me, raising his fingers to my temples. “This will be uncomfortable, but I know you’re strong enough. Let me in.”
I hold onto my superior’s gaze, bringing my hands up to cover his. Light sparkles in his gold eyes, the color warm compared to the coolness of my violet irises. I’ve only seen my reflection a handful of times since my accession from the human plane, and now I see myself as Adriel sees me, light platinum blond hair, gemstone-like, purply-blue eyes, smooth, unblemished skin, and silver light glowing from my brilliant white wings. I don’t remember anything from before, except I always intended to join Heaven’s Army. I’ve been training ever since, watching and waiting for the call that will return me to Earth.
Fire flickers in Adriel’s gaze, startling me. The world blurs around us, the pure white of nothing along the veiled plane now clouded with billowing darkness. The shadows steal the light, chilling me to my core. I can’t move or scream or anything, trapped in a realm of everything dark and evil in our universe.
“Don’t be afraid, Riella. This is only a vision. You are safe.” Adriel’s voice swirls through my mind. “I needed you to see what will become of humanity if we remain in our sanctuary. The powers of Hell grow stronger, even as we speak, and I must ask you to make the sacrifice to join the fight on Earth.” Adriel drops his hands from my temples, stepping away.
I heave, my stomach twisting. I can’t recall ever being sick until this moment. Whatever Adriel showed me not only crossed my mind, but touched my soul.
And now it lingers.
A cool hand rubs between my shoulder blades and smooths the downy feathers of my wings. “It’ll get easier once you make the choice.”
The choice.
He doesn’t have to remind me that the one thing I have free will over is whether or not I will join Heaven’s Army back on Earth. The problem? With the decision comes a sacrifice I’m still not sure I’m prepared for. Heaven is my home. My purpose is to protect it and guide the souls worthy of such joyous paradise into the light of our kingdom. If I return to Earth...I don’t think I’m ready.
“I need more time, Adriel. Something doesn’t feel right. The light doesn’t guide me toward the veil between planes. It tries to keep me here.” I lick my lips, staring past him at the rainbow glow radiating from the highest point in Heaven. Only from there can I access the mortal world...but in doing so, I can never return.
“My warrior, we are running out of time. And you saw the same as I did. You felt it. Humanity is in jeopardy. And if Hell threatens humanity, you know that will come to us.” Adriel reaches out and tucks strands of my flowing hair behind my ear.
I break my stare, still feeling the darkness he shared with me lingering in his gaze, his golden eyes flickering every couple of seconds with darkness and fire. It makes me uneasy, even though I know he had his reason for showing me.
I shudder and tighten my hands into fists. “Please, Adriel. I know it is my duty. But like I said, the light keeps me here. I don’t think it is my time to join the army on Earth.”
Adriel shifts his jaw, his cheeks twitching. His eyes narrow for a second, his features hardening, but as quickly as his annoyance peeks through, he relaxes and calms down, bathing himself in the light shining from all around us.
He flaps his wings, sending a gust of floral-scented wind around us. It lifts my hair and cools my neck, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.
Lacing his fingers to mine, he pulls my hands to his chest, letting me feel his heart beating. It’s such a human thing, the thrums resonating against my palm, and I know it is him creating it because we aren’t corporeal. We aren’t solid anymore, just energy binding tightly together by the light of this plane.
“You will not be alone, Riella. You will have me by your side. I will join you as the fight on Earth is also my fight. I wouldn’t leave you, yet I can’t go without you either. That’s why I must ask you to make such a sacrifice. You only feel as you do, because you are afraid of leaving our home. But it’s the only way we can save it. You have to trust me, my strong warrior. Together, we can join the heavenly army on Earth and protect what is ours. We will protect those who need us.” Adriel tightens his fingers around mine, pulling me closer and capturing my gaze again.
My heart jumps, fluttering in my chest. The sudden pulses shock me because it’s the first time I have felt it that I can remember. The only other time my heart would’ve beat like this was when I was alive. When my soul was bound in a human body. But it has been long since I’ve left that shell, leaving it to replenish the Earth once more.
“You see? Don’t you feel it? It is not the light keeping you here. It is you. You must let it go. You must trust me.” Adriel turns me, facing me toward the glittering haze overlooking the veil between realms.
I automatically step forward to the edge, staring down into the light and dark, the shadows and rainbow fractals of color. And past it, I know lies the place that was once my home, the place that I know I have been preparing to fight for.
But why doesn’t it feel the same?
Why does every nerve awaken in my body only to scream to step back? To pull away.
I shake my head. “I can’t, Adriel. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m not ready.”
He grips my shoulders, not allowing me to put any more space between me and the edge of the cliff that’ll take me down.
“You can, Riella. And you will. I promise, I will be by your side. You just have to let go.” His warm breath tickles my ear, and he nudges me forward. “Now, don’t be afraid. The pain won’t last forever.”
I open my mouth to argue, a new fear rolling through me. “Adriel—”
His hot hand slams into my back, shoving me forward. “Be brave. You will be an amazing asset on Earth. I will see you soon, my warrior. I will never leave you.”
