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The judge of hell shall be dealt with.
That was Gabriel's intentions as he glid downwards towards the cityscape, wings outstretched in iridescent gold. White buildings glistened in the dark blue light of this layer, and the ground beneath his feet was polished and cold, sanded down and swept beneath the heavy winds which still battered the form of heaven's rightful angel.
The lust layer was familiar territory to Gabriel, but in its present form, it was a stranger to him. Lusterless valleys of buffeted, aimless souls, left in everlasting gales of darkness, were replaced with a gleaming metropolis of rising citadels and refuge. Over rolling, calm hills, lay stone apartments, buildings, places of rest and recreation. Across thoroughfares and canals were chiseled art, murals, tiny carvings in the brickwork that could be mistaken for things of a phallic nature. One could imagine it was built in the image of an ancient Greek city. It was a civilization in mockery of the kingdom of heaven.
Glowing, radiant, Gabriel was left to walk forward in eerie silence. The roads were empty - the sinners could not bear to stare down God's will. From houses and street lamps hung colorful streamers and flags; It was the remains of a sort of festival, though what could be the cause of celebration down here was beyond him.
The archangel moved slowly down the many streets, till finally his destination was laid before him: A large, stone gazebo amidst what might have been a park, its domed structure carved with unfamiliar, detailed patterns.
There, sitting upon a stone bench with his back turned, was King Minos, ruler of the Lust layer, reformer of hell, adversary of the righteous hand of the Father. His body was poised lightly, cream colored robes cascading over pale thighs, as he gently gazed upon his work, looking at some faraway point further into his massive empire.
As Gabriel approached with a slow clinking of metal against stone, the king spoke.
"I've been expecting thy presence." His head turned just slightly, the black void sunk in the hollow white core of his head revealing nothing but sticky, black tar. "Come, join me." He gestured towards his seat. "Let thyself rest, before our discussion."
Gabriel ignored the appeal, stopping in the middle of the circular platform. His hand clasped the weapon at his side, ready and steadfast in divine assurance of his current duty. He lifted up his head and proclaimed, "Your rule defies God's will. As His loyal follower, this shall not go unpunished. I will strike you down, and cleanse this realm of your profane dominion. Let this be your last moments spewing sacrilege!"
… The angel waited for Minos to move, to appear frightened, to do anything, really. But this did not seem to surprise, nor concern, this layer's ruler. Instead, he responded as easily as one might in a trivial debate, "Does my rule 'defy His will'? Then He should come smite me, and remind His children of His all encompassing extant."
What mockery was this? Gabriel scoffed, frustrated at the lack of any emotional acknowledgement. The gall, the arrogance of this man, to not cower in the face of an angel. Haughtily, he replied, "His absence will not sway the hand of God, for the light still guides me to rend this land of your gross impertinence." Gabriel's fury led him one step forward. "You, as judgment's keeper, should have known better than to resist retribution."
Gabriel removed his weapon from its sheath, and pointed it at Minos. "Your punishment, and those of your residents, is eternal!" This statement lent itself to a finality Gabriel was satisfied with.
… Again, Minos remained undisturbed. He merely turned his head back to face the rest of his kingdom, looking thoughtful. "Does thou truly believe punishment is necessary for those whose only sin was the love of one another?" His hand grazed the stone balcony, fingers gently brushing against its smooth surface.
Gabriel was unfazed with this. "It is God's will that the unchaste, tainted masses be not led through heaven's doors."
"But is it deserving enough of everlasting misery?"
Their punishment is inconsiderable compared to their wickedness in life."
"Does thou not preach to 'love thy neighbor'?"
Gabriel was growing increasingly more frustrated; He did not come here for a debate, only to rid hell of a parasite that had latched itself onto its infernal walls. He stepped forward and quickly brought his spear to the still sitting king's neck. "Enough! I tire of this charade. You die here, and now!" The end of the blade left a pricking, pale mark of blood; Another step forward, and justice would be served. "Say your last words, sinner!"
There was a moment while Minos remained motionless and silent. Then, finally, he turned his head to fully meet Gabriel's gaze, matching the angel's helmeted stare with an unreadable one of his own. "Thou ought to think carefully," Minos finally stood, stepping forward and placing a hand on the spear to bring it away from his neck. Gabriel, surprised, took a step back, almost overwhelmed as Minos reared to his full height and continued, "Of enacting comeuppance when one does not truly know the range of His divine plan. Does thou truly believe in thy complete understanding of His providence?"
Minos' implication insulted Gabriel, and he glowered, angry that he was even permitting this discussion. The king raised a hand as if to calm him. "Prithee, Gabriel, I have no quarrel with thee. But I ask: Who commands thee?"
"God doe-"
"No, Gabriel. God is gone." Minos' voice was deep and assertive, imposing a presence Gabriel couldn't help adhering to - despite the blasphemous statement - as Minos continued to step forward into his space. "Thou might make decisions in His stead, but that does not make them His own. For if thou was so certain," And Minos glanced at the spear, "Why hast thou not disposed of me yet?"
Gabriel faltered. His grip loosened on his weapon. Evenly, Minos restated, "So I ask again: was it the other angels that led thee here? Divine council? Or…"
Gabriel was speechless. Something about Minos' tone kept him on the back foot - No one dared speak to him like this. And yet suddenly he felt guilty, and wary. And perhaps correctly so, did a tiny part of him think.
"I… It was me." He swallowed. It was a half truth, but he refused to say the hidden context: That no one else in heaven cared. They had left hell to its own devices, to rot and wither in its sin. Gabriel, heaven's supreme angel, was its only divine caretaker. He was the only one left to render God's judgment on the people of hell, judgment which was currently being swayed by this trifling, worthless husk-
"Then I ask that thou not make thy decision in haste, or else thou live to regret it." Minos dragged Gabriel's stave down til it lay limp in the angel's grasp. "Walk with me. Let us find understanding." He reached forward and placed a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. His fingers were warm and steady on his pauldron, and suddenly Gabriel's throat felt stuck. Even through his metal armor, he could feel Minos' hand like a brand.
The angel, confused and distracted, took a couple more steps back, wrenching himself away from Minos' grip. He didn't know what was happening, but it was like a spell was being cast on him and he wanted to get away, now.
"Begone from me! I will have no discussion with you, profligate!" He backed out of the pavilion, still facing Minos upon the stone steps. The king watched with what could almost be bemusement.
"You endeavor to mislead me into heresy! I shall not have it!" Gabriel rose up into the air, wings pummeling the wind. He pointed his spear at Minos with bald-faced contempt and shouted, "I will return, wretch, and when I do, I intend to finish you! Your corpse will be one of many on my blade!"
"Then I await thy return, angel," Minos' voice was like a calm wave flooding through Gabriel's uncertain mind, "With bated breath."
"Justice will be delivered, sinner!" And with that, the angel took off into the sky, a glimmer of gold amongst purple clouds.
Just barely, he could hear Minos calling out a goodbye:
"Till then, Gabriel."