Divine Destruction (The Return of Divinity Book 1) Read Free Page A

 He stepped forward before the feelings could permeate him and opened the door.  
    A small angel took two quick steps through the doorway and placed her left palm upon Gabriel's right chest muscle.  Her motion happened so fast, that to Gabriel, it seemed his opening the door had sucked her into his apartment.  When angels from different classes needed to communicate they could speak aloud, of course, but speaking conveyed far less than mental passage of thought. Touch conveyed in high fidelity. The closer one touched another near the heart the better the transfer; more emotion, more expression, more color, more sound, more depth of image. Male Angels touched with their right hands, females their left. That relic of gender distinction was more a social norm than a technical requirement. Most standard Angels appeared nearly gender neutral given the blanched garb that passed for clothing and total passionless expression of hair style. The smaller Angel nodded her head up to Gabriel and opened her eyes.  She was blind, her eyes were solid white orbs. This struck Gabriel as odd and unnecessary. Gabriel knew to question design was frowned upon, but what was the purpose of a blind Angel? Gabriel was drawn to her eyes, milk white against the brilliant natural colors of his apartment.  He noticed her hand trembled as she fought to complete her task. From the small gasp she made, Gabriel knew she was terrified.  And there were many things to be terrified of, in Heaven. 
    She continued to look up at Gabriel through those blinded eyes. Waiting, Gabriel witnessed only silence from the angel's mind. Are my thoughts blocking hers, Gabriel worried to himself.  "Why are you here?" Gabriel thought towards the frightened Angel.  She shuddered violently and was brought into the present.  "I am Sophrael—“ Before she could continue, Gabriel placed his hand over hers on his chest, as gently as a human child would hold a kitten.  She flinched as to break away and run, but did not. Though her thoughts of terror—that Gabriel was going to break off her arm—were alarming, Gabriel mentally spoke "Be at peace.” "Be at peace,” he repeated aloud.  
    Sophrael shivered at hearing another's voice. After another moment, she gained her composure and leveled her head to think directly into and through Gabriel's chest: "Master Gabriel, you are summoned before the Principles.  You will be under the Dome of the Principles within the afternoon."  She paused then raised her head towards his and returning the gift of audible voice said, "Metatron will be there!" Lowering her head and removing her hand from beneath Gabriel's, Sophrael turned, walked out of Gabriel's apartment and was silently gone.

Called Away
     
    Gabriel couldn't move.  A few moments ago he was on another planet with a warm Sun watching children play, and now a summons from the Principles. This could only mean he was going to be transplaced to another universe. Metatron was proof. Metatron often used lesser Angels of the Dominion to transplace Archangels when there were many messages going out, but Metatron himself meant more. Something important. He was going to be sent out again. "How long would I be away?" Gabriel thought. "Which message would I be taking?" He stared into the hall without seeing.  A few moments passed and Gabriel saw that he'd not let go of the door since he opened it.  He carefully closed the door and walked back to the comm panel.
    Placing his right hand again on the glossed area, Gabriel thought of Michael. Other than Urial, Archangel Michael was the only other friend he enjoyed within his own Angel class. Michael and Gabriel had many experiences in common, Michael knew humankind — having been to Earth himself. The two Archangels had many long conversations, in the past, and Gabriel welcomed the thought of having one now. Having no family, Michael was the closest bond Gabriel knew. "I need to see you,” Gabriel thought into the panel, adding a