Chapter Text
I stood in front of the council, my heart racing as my wings folded to my back. I heard the thud of the big golden doors behind me closed, ensuring me that I was indeed meant to be here. But why? My head lowered in respect as I fell to my knee despite myself. An act all angels were made to do while in front of the Holy Council. The council it's self was made of highly respected and renown Arc Angels, so bowing and showing your overall inferiority was more than necessary.
I looked up to see the white teethed smiles of the angels. Gaberiel, in the middle, then lifted her chin ever so slightly. An act of mock superiority to my inferior standing. "You may stand, Mr. Ramsey."
I nodded as I clambered up to my feet, brushing off the all white suit before putting my hands behind me, intertwining my fingers with my other hand.
"And no need to torture your wings, let them free." She demanded with a grin. My eyebrows furrowed for a moment. It was an usually taken as an insult or a challenge when one fans their wings in a work area like this. I lifted my chin to look at her, showing my confusion.
"Excuse me? I think I heard you wrong ma'am." I inquired. She only giggled softly, though I knew not what was so humorous.
"I said, fan out your wings. Let them rest. So therefore, you do it. Got me?" Her tone was a bit hostile at this, showing she was not happy with my reluctance. I nodded submissively to her as I let my white wings fan out and relax, per her instructions. They were aching to be honest, from the day of having to fold them in, and fanning them refreshed me more than a little.
"Thank you Ms. Gaberiel, I appreciate the kind thought." I responded with a lower of my head.
"Well," she started her speech, explaining why a normal everyday angel like me was in the presence of the grand council. "We called you here on business. We have been watching you for a while, Geoff. Mind if I call you Geoff?"
"No, of course not ma'am."
"Well good, because I was going to anyways." She retorted with a snigger. I snorted a soft laugh as I nodded to this, before lifting my head once more to look at the woman addressing me. "How would you feel, Geoff, about joining the arc angels?" She asked, a dastardly smile plastered to her features. My eyes widened as I was taken aback by this.
"E-Excuse me ma'am? I must be mistaken-.."
"No you are not Geoff. We need another arc angel and you fit the bill just well. You have been loyal to the laws, you have reproduced only after marriage, which is perfect, and you have been working in heaven for many years now, ever since your.. Tragic.. Death."
"Thank you ma'am." My eyebrows then furrowed as I shifted my feet. "I don't remember dying ma'am.."
"Ah yes, that's because when you become a full fledged angel you forget your previous life. We can show you, if you would like. Mr. Ramsey." She inquired. I nodded in response.
"I would like to s--." But before I could finish a mental image came in, covering my retinas. Showing me my death in the form of a human.
It was dark out, the stars twinkling, the moon shining, and the street lights blinking. I was walking back home, with my wife, Griffon after a nice night out. We were laughing and leaning on each other, a sight to see alright. A sight of pure joy and love. But then there was a screech of tires, a swerving car, heading straight to us.
"Stop! Please stop!" And with those helpless cries the video ceased. I hunched over, falling to my hands and knees on the white floor, staring at my reflection, my eyes full of pure horror.
"You and your wife died on that day Geoff, then you both willingly became angels of the lord. You married before death, so you were married up here as well. You then had a kid. Millicent. A cute angel to add to the family." She informed, as if I didn't know this already.
"I-I.."
"I know it's a lot to take in, but we must be punctual right now. One missing arc angel could be the end of heaven as we know. Do you wish to join?"
"I can't.. I can't leave Millie's side.."
"Mr. Ramsey! Do a selfless act for all of heaven! Or do you wish to go to hell yourself for denying the council of this grand offer!?" She yelled as she stood from her seat, a look of rage on her face.
"N-No.. I can't go to hell.."
"THEN ACCEPT." She demanded as she slammed her fist onto the counter.
I knew this was an important offer, for as she said, one lacking Arc Angel could lead to Lucifer taking the upper hand he always dreamed of. But.. even if I hadn't seen my death, my answer would have been the same. I have a wife and kid to take care of.. To protect..
"I accept.." I replied as my fists clenched and tears stung at my eyes.
"Good," She then sat down on the seat, calming significantly. "We start tomorrow, go say your goodbyes." And with that, guards picked me up by my arms and drug me out of the office, the only thing I could focus on, was the doors to the council room closing behind me, and that dastardly smile.
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"Welcome back Geoff. All ready to go?" She asked. My eyes were reddened from the days abuse and goodbyes, the only thing I could really hear was Millie's soft smile and giggles, with her question of, 'Where are you going Dad? Can I go with you? Will you be home soon?'
"Y-Yes ma'am." I didn't exactly know who I was saying yes to.. Her, or Millie..
"Good. Now you must complete this task to become an arc angel."
Another vision popped up infront of my retinas.
Fire, death, destruction. Hell. I was being sent down to hell. A voice then started. 'You know the 7 deadly sins? Well you aren't completing all seven, but five you are. You must find each man from these catagories: Wrath or Anger, Pride or Vanity, Envy, Lust, and finally Greed. The men you are looking for are the to-be-crowned kings of these categories. You must absolve them of their sins and guide them up to heaven. Now you must bring them up all at once, no collecting one king and bring him up and going back down to hell, for we can only give you one pass down and one pass back up. If you come up early, you will be punished to getting your holy wings.. repossessed. And if you give into a deadly sin in anyway, you are left in hell to rot.' The picture showed every category now as men in silhouette form. A man murdering another, a man smiling as he sat atop a throne and stroking his cheek, a man fretting and ripping off someone's face to stick over his own, a man and a woman having sex, and finally, the last sin, a man laying in a pile of gold with a grin to match. 'Good luck Mr. Ramsey, you'll need it.'
The video then cut out. I had to blink a couple of times before my vision went back to normal.
"We are equipping you with armor and an angel blade, do not be afraid to use the blade, but do not use the blade, on the kings or you will fail. You will have all of this when you arrive in Hell. We are modifying the order of the sins you will visit, first one will be less dangerous, but even more persuasive. Good luck Mr. Ramsey."
Everything then went black as my body buckled and fell to the white flooring, the last thing I remember seeing, that dastardly smile.