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Chapter 1: Goodbyes
There are seven of them.
Seven vows…
Seven commitments…
Seven responsibilities…
And yet, they share a single purpose; to protect and guide in the name of the Heaven.
There is Gabriel; their Leader who is emotionally, spiritually and physically strongest among the seven Keepers.
Then there is Uriel; the woman whose love and loyalty is undivided.
Her egoistic brother, Raphael; the rebel of the group.
Then there is the beauty, Athiel; her beauty nothing compared to her compassion.
Followed by Othiniel; whose bravery and determination earn respects among the Gods.
And finally, there is Sammiel; Stubborn and hard-headed, yet cunning and witty.
Last but certainly not the least of the pack, Mariel; Determined and sensible, she brings As into her game.
By the time Mariel was summoned back by the Ancient, none was left.
Raphael returned, Fallen and darkened. He told her that what he saw in the Fallen City is nothing compared to what they have seen before. His tears fell as he told her about their lost comrades.
Mariel had never seen the great Raphael shed a tear before. She knew little of what to do, or what to say.
And so, spoken words abandoned, they decided it is time to return to Fallen City.
The only two Keepers left walked side by side, hand in hand, and confronted the Ancient. He was calm, as he has always been.
“Raphael,” He started after listening to them.
Both of them looked at him, hopeful.
“As the newly appointed leader of the Keepers, you have let your feelings cloud your judgment. Therefore, I must send you for a different Task in order to prepare you to face the Raiders.”
Raphael winced.
Among the seven Keepers, Raphael had always been the rebel of the group. He says whatever that crosses his mind and does whatever he has to do to complete his Task. But, Raphael’s loyalty and commitment towards the Keepers’ Oath were undeniable.
“And you Mariel,” the Ancient sighed.
“You have always been the most reasonable. How Raphael managed to talk you into this, I do not want to know.”
She managed a smile as she looked at Raphael.
True. Among the seven Keepers, Mariel has always been the most reasonable.
She act according to logic and carry out her actions after heavy consideration. She knew that. And for that, she had always thought that her decisions are better and that her judgments are more precise than the others’.
Well, at least better than Raphael’s.
And due to that fact, Raphael and Mariel never see eye to eye. In every Task that they were ever paired up, she always had to clean up his mess and cover his ass.
“But, I agree.”
Mariel’s head snapped up as her eyes widened. Raphael smiled.
“Something must be done.” The Ancient paused, probably for effects.
“Mariel will go first. And Raphael shall follow after he completed his own Task.”
“But sire, it’s too dangerous for Mariel to go by herself. We’ve lost so many.” Raphael rejected the idea.
Typical, ole' Raphael. Always disagreeing with others. And what did he say about it being too dangerous for me? Am I not a capable Keeper like the rest of them? Mariel shook her head in disapproval.
She decided to keep her thoughts to herself to avoid further confrontations. Mariel also knew that once the Ancient made up his mind; who are they to say otherwise?
And she was right. The two remaining Keepers left the room with the decision that Mariel will go first and Raphael shall follow after he completed his own Task.
A soft knock on her door interrupted her from her preparation to the Fallen City. She did not need to answer nor open it. She knew who it was.
Raphael entered and sat in one of the chairs. No words were spoken. He only watched as she meditated in the middle of the room. Four spell books floated around her in a slow-motioned circle as thousands of candles lighted the dark night sky above them.
“When you get there,” He broke the silence.
“Help me find Uriel, will you?”
Her eyes snapped open. She sent her books back to their respective places among hundreds of books that filled the shelves of her room. She then adjusted her position to face him.
Uriel is Raphael’s elder sister. She was the leader of the Arch Angel before she offended the Ancient by falling in love with a mortal. She was reduced to being a Keeper.
“I will do that first.”
“And then, you must find the others. Tell them… Tell them to wait for me.”
Mariel smiled. “I will.”
“And tell Athiel…” He began again but this time, his voice was softer, more lovingly.
Mariel raised her head a bit, looking at him in disapproval.
“Athiel is Gabriel’s, and that would be all she’ll ever be.” She cut him off before he made any statement that he may regret.
“Athiel is also the only woman that I love.”
And with that, Mariel said nothing.
“And you Mariel,” the Ancient sighed.
“You have always been the most reasonable. How Raphael managed to talk you into this, I do not want to know.”
She managed a smile as she looked at Raphael.
True. Among the seven Keepers, Mariel has always been the most reasonable.
She act according to logic and carry out her actions after heavy consideration. She knew that. And for that, she had always thought that her decisions are better and that her judgments are more precise than the others’.
Well, at least better than Raphael’s.
And due to that fact, Raphael and Mariel never see eye to eye. In every Task that they were ever paired up, she always had to clean up his mess and cover his ass.
“But, I agree.”
Mariel’s head snapped up as her eyes widened. Raphael smiled.
“Something must be done.” The Ancient paused, probably for effects.
“Mariel will go first. And Raphael shall follow after he completed his own Task.”
“But sire, it’s too dangerous for Mariel to go by herself. We’ve lost so many.” Raphael rejected the idea.
Typical, ole' Raphael. Always disagreeing with others. And what did he say about it being too dangerous for me? Am I not a capable Keeper like the rest of them? Mariel shook her head in disapproval.
She decided to keep her thoughts to herself to avoid further confrontations. Mariel also knew that once the Ancient made up his mind; who are they to say otherwise?
And she was right. The two remaining Keepers left the room with the decision that Mariel will go first and Raphael shall follow after he completed his own Task.
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A soft knock on her door interrupted her from her preparation to the Fallen City. She did not need to answer nor open it. She knew who it was.
Raphael entered and sat in one of the chairs. No words were spoken. He only watched as she meditated in the middle of the room. Four spell books floated around her in a slow-motioned circle as thousands of candles lighted the dark night sky above them.
“When you get there,” He broke the silence.
“Help me find Uriel, will you?”
Her eyes snapped open. She sent her books back to their respective places among hundreds of books that filled the shelves of her room. She then adjusted her position to face him.
Uriel is Raphael’s elder sister. She was the leader of the Arch Angel before she offended the Ancient by falling in love with a mortal. She was reduced to being a Keeper.
“I will do that first.”
“And then, you must find the others. Tell them… Tell them to wait for me.”
Mariel smiled. “I will.”
“And tell Athiel…” He began again but this time, his voice was softer, more lovingly.
Mariel raised her head a bit, looking at him in disapproval.
“Athiel is Gabriel’s, and that would be all she’ll ever be.” She cut him off before he made any statement that he may regret.
“Athiel is also the only woman that I love.”
And with that, Mariel said nothing.
No snarky comments. No disapproving head-shaking. Because it is the truth.
Everyone knows that Raphael, the great Fallen Arch Angel, had fallen in love with the beautiful Keeper, Athiel.
Everyone also knows that Athiel belongs to the leader of the Keepers, Gabriel. They had been together since the beginning of time. And a flirtatious Fallen Arch Angel would not change that.
“I will tell her nothing.” Mariel said and stood up.
She could hear Raphael growled behind her as she moved to her bed.
“If you have anything to tell her, tell her yourself when you arrived.” she continued and sat down at the end of the bed.
“Mariel.” He pleaded, his eyes sad.
“Leave.” She added some more distance between them, as if that will do her any good, and pointed at the door.
Raphael stared at Mariel in disbelief but still, he left without a word.
A soft click of the door confirmed his leave. And so Mariel relaxed; she closed her eyes and calmed herself.
But no one knows that the Keeper, Mariel, was deeply in love with Raphael.
‘Mariel,’ A voice called out in her head.
“Yes, sire.” she answered.
‘It is time.’
And then, there was nothing except for a blinding light.
Everyone knows that Raphael, the great Fallen Arch Angel, had fallen in love with the beautiful Keeper, Athiel.
Everyone also knows that Athiel belongs to the leader of the Keepers, Gabriel. They had been together since the beginning of time. And a flirtatious Fallen Arch Angel would not change that.
“I will tell her nothing.” Mariel said and stood up.
She could hear Raphael growled behind her as she moved to her bed.
“If you have anything to tell her, tell her yourself when you arrived.” she continued and sat down at the end of the bed.
“Mariel.” He pleaded, his eyes sad.
“Leave.” She added some more distance between them, as if that will do her any good, and pointed at the door.
Raphael stared at Mariel in disbelief but still, he left without a word.
A soft click of the door confirmed his leave. And so Mariel relaxed; she closed her eyes and calmed herself.
But no one knows that the Keeper, Mariel, was deeply in love with Raphael.
‘Mariel,’ A voice called out in her head.
“Yes, sire.” she answered.
‘It is time.’
And then, there was nothing except for a blinding light.
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I haven't really decide on a title yet. But for now, I'm sticking with 'The Oath'. Please tell me if you have any suggestions.
Feeds are much appreciated. And correct my grammer please.
Labels: scribbles on papers
