“I don’t trust you,” said Madeline, her eyes watching the angel named Raphael who had told her that he had come here to take her to meet someone. The only people she knew here were the archangels who had greeted her when she had arrived in Heaven, and she trusted them.
Raphael pursed his lips, he knew this would happen, but he had hoped the lady would oblige to his words and would follow him. He knew his action of hurting Uriel would cost him later, but he believed that things would only worsen if Madeline was not taken to the front part of Heaven in time. The last thing he needed was people killing each other and dying in Heaven, which was considered a haven.
Raphael didn’t take any offence to Madeline’s words. He nodded his head as if he agreed to her words.
“The reason why I am asking you to follow me is that it is important,” Raphael let Madeline know. “With the vibrations that I feel in the air, I can only assume that the fight between the angels and demons has begun. Right now, you are someone who will be able to stop that.”
“I don’t understand,” replied Madeline with a small frown on her face.
“Long ago, God sent an archangel from Heaven to bring peace in the living world, because the innocent souls were turning corrupt. The angel fell in love and bore a child that I believe is a good sign. You are like a bridge Madeline, but you are only half of that bridge while the other half waits for you at the front place of Heaven,” explained Raphael to her. “I understand that everything I am speaking is sounding strange to you, and it would have been easier with your memories still intact. But when you meet him, you will find your answers. I am Raphael, and we have met each other in the living world.”
“Why did you hurt him then?” questioned Madeline, her eyes looking at the archangel whose wings had disappeared from his back for the time being.
“Some of my brothers are too rigid in their thinking, looking at things only as black and white. They are unable to see what is in front of their eyes, and I am hoping they will. We need to leave from here rather than wasting our time talking. You are the daughter of an angel, Lady Madeline,” said Raphael before glancing at Uriel as the archangel could wake up any minute.
Madeline pursed her lips, not knowing what to do. Though initially, she was suspicious, the man in front of her was an archangel and angels never hurt anyone. They never meant any harm, and she finally nodded her head.
They heard another loud collision, and Madeline couldn’t help but look far in the direction where they were now heading.
“What is happening out there?” she asked Raphael, her heart starting to feel anxious.
“A fight between the angel and the demon. Come this way, milady,” he ushered her into a passage in the garden where the creepers crawled from one side to the top before they crawled down on the other side. There were little flowers that decorated the creepers, leaving a sweet fragrance in the air.
Madeline noticed small creatures who had wings on their back. They hid behind the leaves and flowers, when they saw Madeline and Raphael walk by them. She wondered if they were fairies.
Their feet were quick, and before they could reach the end of the long passageway of the garden, Paschar came into view as he stood there, blocking their way.
“What are you trying to do, Raphael? Did one punishment not suffice that you are looking for another one?” questioned Paschar with a deep frown and his lips setting itself in a thin line.
Madeline looked back and forth between the two archangels. Seeing Raphael not stop walking, she followed him.
“I am doing what I believe to be right, Paschar,” answered Raphael, his feet finally coming to a halt, keeping five steps distance from Paschar.
Paschar asked, “Do you think what you believe to be right is right? The orders were clear, and you heard it too. Innocent souls are not supposed to leave Heaven, and until now we have done everything to save them. It is the will of God, and you are going against him. Did spending your time in the living world make you forget who you are? Don’t do this Raphael. You are an angel and not someone who works for the Devil.”
Madeline couldn’t help but wonder what was going on as from what she heard from the words between these two angels, it seemed that the angel who was leading her outside the garden of Owe was going against the rules.
“Madeline, come with me. I will take you to a safer place,” offered Paschar.
“Don’t tell me you want her here because you can keep her closer and watch over her. Would your actions be the same if you were allowed to go and meet her in the living world?” questioned Raphael.
Unlike the humans and other creatures who belonged to the living world, Paschar’s expression barely changed, and he continued to stare at Raphael, who was younger than him.
“Madeline is my daughter, and she is under the protection of Heaven, which means we are here to protect her from evil that has stepped into Heaven,” stated Paschar. “Maybe I wasn’t able to protect her before, but I am going to make it up to her and her mother by looking after her here.”
Raphael’s eyes softened, “You don’t mean it, do you? I heard that she refused to come to Heaven. Doesn’t that mean that she has already made her decision? She doesn’t mind going to Hell if it means she gets to stay next to him-“
“Guiding the souls is our responsibility,” interrupted Paschar.
Paschar was one of the mellowest angels, who often kept to himself. He had once defied Heaven, and it had cost his daughter to go through many difficulties. He didn’t want to burden her more because of his mistakes.
