War of Wings Page A

about to happen in Heaven that will change everything.”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know exactly.”
    “Well, that is strange. Is that all he said about it?”
    “Pretty much.” He was surprised she was so interested in their conversation.
    “It’s odd that he would just disappear now.”
    “You’re right. I think he will meet with God soon if he hasn’t already, so I’ll come back early tomorrow.”
    “I could come with you if you wanted me to.” She looked over at him with soft eyes.
    Gabriel stopped next to her on the stair. “Really?”
    She nodded, and he realized she was serious.
    “I would love for you to.”
    “Then I will,” she said. “It will all be better soon I am sure. Things may be changing, but sometimes change is needed. To fix things that may be out of order, or just to better things.”
    Gabriel had never been very close to a female angel. He never felt he had much in common with them, so he really didn’t even try. Arrayah was different. He didn’t care what they did or didn’t have in common. It didn’t matter that everything seemed to be coming unraveled. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time.
    “If you’re not busy,” he said, “I’d love to take you to my favorite place in all of Heaven.”
    “I would love to see it. I just can’t today. I’m sorry.”
    “No problem. We’ll see it another time.” He tried to not show his disappointment.
    “Consider it done. Let me guess where it is though.” She flipped her hair over her shoulders playfully.
    “Go for it.”
    “Is it the Crystal Cave of the Iris Fall?”
    “No.”
    “It must be the Mountain Wall Estates of the Canyon Reef where I found you,” she said with confidence.
    “I’ve become much fonder of the estates since you found me there, but no, that is not it. It’s not one of the popular places. In fact, that’s why I like it. It’s kind of my own little spot.”
    “Oh, so there is more to Gabriel than this tough exterior.” Arrayah had a playful smirk and one raised eyebrow.
    “Not much more.” He smiled back. “I’m definitely not as deep as a virtue angel.”
    “Humility. I like it. That is my virtue.”
    “I know. I saw your necklace.”
    “And he pays attention to detail. Very nice.”
    “Tell me about yourself. What is Arrayah passionate about?”
    “For starters, I am very curious. I want to know why things are the way they are and how they came to be in the first place. Have you ever thought of anything like that?”
    “Sure. All the time.”
    “Really?”
    “Actually, not often.” They both had a short laugh. “I like to live in the moment, trying to be as happy as I can. For example, I am doing exactly what I would most enjoy doing in all of Heaven right now—talking to you.”
    He looked in her eyes. She turned away.
    “We’ll see what you say after how long it takes to get down. You’ll be tired of me by then.” She started jogging down the steps.
    As they went on, Gabriel tried to walk more slowly to make their time together longer, but she repeatedly picked up the pace and he had to follow. He would have walked and talked with her forever if she would have allowed it. Arrayah did most of the talking because he mostly just had questions for her. She was fascinating to him. He found he loved to watch her laugh. He asked her about her favorite things, and she was open and warm with her responses. She had no guard up. She trusted him.
    She was passionate and expressive in her speech, revealing how she longed to know more and to teach others. But the truth was it didn’t matter what she had to say. Gabriel felt something stirring inside, and he could not tear his eyes from her. She was a spark of light in a dim existence.
    By the time they had reached the bottom of the stairs near the glistening sheen of the pearly gates, Arrayah had brought up the question of where God came from. “I mean, what came before God? How could He possibly be both the Alpha and the