Azrael walked silently through the darkened neighborhood, the gloom seeming to hang low in a cloud, blocking the shining sun. How long had it been since he had lost sight of the others? At least an hour, surely. He sincerely hoped the others hadn't gotten themselves into too much trouble. Especially Michael, he did have a tendency to lose his temper. Azrael sighed at the thought. One would think that after a few millennia of being the Lord's general would have taught him not to be so hotheaded, unlike how being the angel of death for those millennia is bound to make you all the more cynical. Oh well, such is the price of immortality and power. He smirked as he walked, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. What a tragedy, he thought to himself a bit sarcastically.

"Gabriel, Gabriel..." he said to himself. "My friend, where could you be?"

So far, he had not had much luck simply asking for a flame-haired woman. Perhaps if he had a picture...yes, a picture. He nearly slapped himself for not thinking of it sooner. Azrael's specialty power was illusion, with good reason. What good is an angel of death, if he cannot lure and encourage his souls? An apple can't be expected to draw everyone. A picture, yes.

Azrael paused, and, drawing his hands from his pockets to lay flat in front of him, imagined the girl. Within a few moments a slip of slightly hardened paper appeared in his hand, an illusion of a photograph that showed the lovely flame-haired woman. Very good. With this he knew he would be able to find the girl easily. He began walking again, asking anyone he passed about the redhead, and showing them the picture. Unfortunately, the people he asked now knew nothing more than those before.

However, as he moved into a more filthy area of the city, he approached a woman, the only person he could see. "Excuse me, miss. Do you know this woman?" he asked, showing her the picture.

"Oh yeah!" she answered, her voice high pitched and nasal. Quite obnoxious. "That's Atanya," she continued, "what do you want with her?"

"Atanya? Atanya what, does she have a last name?"

The woman paused before continuing, her curly black hair falling into her eyes before she pushed it behind her ear. "What are you, a cop or somethin'? What'd that girl do now?"

"...I'm not a cop. Just tell me her name, where I can find her."

"I'm not telling you anything until you tell me who you are."

Azrael clenched his jaw in frustration. Not the mind persuasion, he hated using that. It seemed too much like mental slavery, even brainwashing. But he was in a hurry, and her voice was too much to take for very long. He took her chin in his hand and made her look into his eyes as they glowed a slightly brighter green than normal. Tell me everything you know about her," he softly commanded, never breaking his gaze into her deep brown eyes.

"...Her name's Atanya Tepes, she works down at the thrift shop on 39th street... One of those really cheap chain stores, you can't miss it...but I don't know her very well, I just see her around..."

Azrael winced inwardly as he listened, her tone piercing, then he let go of her chin. What an accent, what a voice! Terrible! He recalled hearing accents similar to that in the area called New York. Absolutely painful. Such a tone made his teeth ache. "Thank you," he gritted and quickly made his exit from the area. He had faith he could find the street she had mentioned without having to hear another word from that obnoxious voice.

He glanced to the sign marking the street that crossed the one on which he stood. Fourteenth. A glance back revealed Thirteenth street, so he continued walking forward. He had to walk to 39th? There was a much easier, and quicker, way to go about such an otherwise boring chore. With a quick glance to make sure he wasn't being watched, he spread his towering yet unseen wings, leaping suddenly to the top of one of the somewhat crumbly brick buildings with a powerful flap. He didn't make a sound as he ran from rooftop to rooftop, never missing a step even as he made his quick jumps at the breaks between buildings.

He would find Gabriel soon enough. Surely he hadn't told that woman what he was, and she could not be very difficult to persuade. No mortals were. Twentieth street, he observed to himself as he passed the sign.

"Yes, Gabriel, dear friend, this charade is almost over...soon the curtain shall fall on your little adventure, and you shall be punished for your disobedience," he said quietly, with a slight smirk playing across his lips as he ran. He hummed quietly to himself, such was his good humor, an old Turkish battle hymn from the fifteenth century that had somehow creeped its way into his mind. He always remembered it; he had, after all, been present through most of the battles the Turks fought in that time, such were their usual losses. What an exciting time that had been, he thought idly. So many battles all over the Earth, so many souls to escort. He had nearly gone mad in those days, from being constantly on the move and in such a hurry. Oh well; as mortals say, one cannot be in more than one place at one time.

He snapped out of his train of thought, pausing on the rooftop he was currently standing on and glancing down to a sign on the street. Forty-second street. Hm. Oops. He leaped down from the building, landing silently on the sidewalk, and turned to walk in the opposite direction. He came across a very poor-looking little shop when he reached the corner of 39th street, and, assuming that this was the place, stepped inside.

"Good afternoon, sir," an accent he recognized as Romanian spoke up from behind the counter. "Just let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Azrael looked up to see the red-haired woman standing behind that counter, smiling cheerfully at him. That had to be her. He approached her in a nonchalant way, leaning against the counter on his elbows. He smiled, making an attempt to charm her with his looks rather than his mind control, so that she would tell him what he wanted to know willingly. "Good afternoon to you," he said smoothly, in what he hoped was a charming tone. "Your name wouldn't happen to be Atanya Tepes, would it?"

The woman blinked in surprise. "Yes it would...I'm sorry, have we met somewhere before?"

"No, but we have a mutual friend. Lovely Atanya, could you by any chance be able to tell me where a man named Gabriel is?"

"Gabriel...you know Gabriel? Wait, yes...silver hair...you're Azrael, aren't you?"

He blinked. "You know me? Of course, he would have told you who I am. Yes, I am Azrael. It's imperative that you bring Gabriel back to us. You don't know what you're dealing with, Atanya."

"No, I can't. I promised him I wouldn't say. I promised I wouldn't talk to you, or Michael, or Uriel."

"I knew he would tell you. However, you must understand. He did not tell you what we are, did he?" Azrael said softly, trying to keep eye contact with Atanya even though she kept looking away.

"...No, he didn't," Atanya admitted, once again averting her eyes when Azrael caught her gaze.

"I think it's only fair that you should know what you're dealing with, sweet woman. Is it possible for us to go somewhere more...private?"

She looked as if about to refuse, so Azrael reached out and took the woman's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Trust me..." he whispered. "Don't be afraid."

She nodded dazedly, and he took her hand, leading her out the back door of the shop into the filthy alley.

"Know what you're facing," he said in a quiet tone as he released her hand and turned to face her, his voice soft and gently. "Know me." He saw her face turn into an expression of awe, and she reached to cover her mouth as it took the form of an O. His eyes seemed to glow brighter as his earthly clothes faded away, two towering white wings covered in feather as soft as down unfurling around him in a brilliant glow. They spread to immense proportions, and he watched as Atanya dropped to her knees, averting her eyes for only a moment before looking back to him, her face a perfect vision of terror and fascination mixed into one. "Don't be afraid," he whispered again, near silently. "Do not fear me, and tell me what I wish to know.�

***************

"Finally, sane persons. Perhaps I shall find the others here," Uriel said to himself as he walked through a more monetarily successful area of the city. "Let's see...Michael, where are you?" He opened his hand to reveal the clear ball; it shimmered for a moment before showing a slightly watery image of Michael, stretched out on his back on a ratty looking cot, one knee crooked and his head resting on his hands in a room made of stone and metal bars. Uriel gasped. "No, he's being held somewhere! A prison, yes, prison!" he cried to no one in particular, closing his hand to cause the orb to disappear. He rushed up to the first person he saw, an aging man. "Please sir, ca you tell me where I can find the prison?" he asked hurriedly.

The man smiled. "Well sure, young man. It's just around the corner there," he said, pointing. "You know, I remember when this city was no bigger than--"

"Thank you," Uriel quickly interrupted, getting the idea that if he stayed to listen, he would be staying for awhile. He ran around the corner the old man had shown him, and paused to glance around at the buildings, trying to decide which might be a prison. "Oh dear..." he trailed off quietly to himself as he suddenly remembered he couldn't read the written language of humans. He approached the first building and pushed his way through the circular glass door, finding himself swept up in a crowd of blue uniformed men and women.

"Excuse me?" he said politely to one of the uniformed individuals, and was promptly ignored. "Excuse me?" he tried again and was once again ignored. Just a bit flustered by such rudeness, he called loudly in a powerful voice, "Excuse me!"

The man jumped at the sudden volume, but quickly composed himself and looked to Uriel, who was by now once again smiling cheerfully.

"Is this the prison?" Uriel asked brightly.

"This is the police station, yes," the man answered." "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for someone, I believe he's being held here. He's my...friend, and I'm here to pick him up."

"Friend, huh? What's his name?"

"Michael."

"Michael what?"

"Yes, Michael."

"..." The man appeared a bit annoyed. "Does this man have a last name?"

"...Last name?" Uriel asked, a bit confused. "His name never changed, it has always been Michael."

The uniformed man sighed. "Nevermind," he muttered, "just come with me and show me who you're looking for."

Uriel nodded, and was led down a flight of stairs to a long corridor with stone for the floor and ceiling, that had on both walls small rooms with entrances of metal bars.

"These are all the guys we got, hurry up and point him out."

Uriel walked down the corridor, peeking into each cell until he spotted a familiar figure sprawled lazily on a ragged, uncomfortable-looking cot. "Michael!" he called happily and rushed to the bars, the figure instantly leaping from the cot to stand on the other side of the same bars.

"Uriel! It's you! How did you find me?" Michael asked, his tone excited and just a bit frantic.

"My crystal ball told me," Uriel said with a wink and a smile. "Sir, please, this is him, please let him go."

"Let's see here," the man began, "number 30265...nope, sorry buddy, I can't release this one."

Uriel blinked in surprise. "Why not?!"

"He's here for the night," the guard explained. "You can come pick him up in the morning."

"We don't have that kind of time!" Uriel cried, quite obviously overwrought and bordering on furious.

"Uriel, we have no choice," Michael said quietly. "Let's get out of here."

"But Michael, we're not supposed to--"

"Quiet. I'm your superior! Put him out so he won't see," Michael continued, gesturing to the guard, who tensed visibly.

"Alright," Uriel agreed with a sigh, and took a few steps toward the guard. "Shh," he whispered as he passed his hand in front of the uniformed man's face.

The man dropped to the floor with a quiet thud, unconscious.

"Does he have the keys on him?" Michael asked as Uriel knelt to check.

"No, no keys. Should we just break out?"

"Yes. Quickly get away from this place once we're out. We can't afford to be caught again." Michael spread his large, powerful wings, flexing them a few times as though testing them. "Are you ready, Uriel," he seemed to state more than ask.

Uriel nodded, spreading his own immense yet invisible wings. In a sudden flurry, both he and Michael flapped their wings only once, but forcefully enough for them to hit and break through the stone wall with their bent backs exposed. Uriel didn't even cringe as his back broke the stone, merely followed Michael as he flew away from the building at great speed.

***************

"Gabriel! Gabriel!" a young girl's voice called from across the field, where Gabriel sat in a pensive state against a tree. He opened his eyes and saw Cara, the girl he had spoken to before. She was being followed by a whole crew of other children, around her age.

"Cara?" he asked when she came close enough. "Who are all these people?"

"They're my friends!" the girl answered brightly. "Come on Gabriel, show us some tricks! You can do tricks, can't you? I saw you!"

Gabriel blinked in confusion. "Tricks?" He paused, then smiled. "Oh, I see. Alright." He stood, and led the flock of children over to a group of small benches, obviously made for young children. He told them all to sit, and he picked up one of the benches, setting it in front of him. "Now watch carefully," he told the children gently, though it seemed he didn't have to, for they were already watching him, intent expressions on their little faces. He pointed out that the bench could in fact be moved, and that it would topple when force was applied to the back. "You see? Now...one...two...three." Upon the word 'three,' he flapped his unseen wings, rising up to stand on the back of the small bench, balancing perfectly still and light with the help of his wings. The bench did not topple, and this fact brought gasps of fascination from the children. Gabriel smiled and held his arms out at his side as though he needed help balancing, then slowly lifted one foot, holding it out in front of him as he bent his other knee, leaning back ever so slightly.

The children gaped in awe, various sounds of impression issuing from their little mouths at this increasingly impossible feat.

"Are you ready?" Gabriel asked, chuckling quietly to himself. All of them, just like her, so innocent and trusting. He could kill them all in no more than half a second, but they didn't care. They most likely didn't even know. Such thoughts would never even cross their minds. To think, such sweet children would grow up into the humans that took out their aggressions on others of their species, to the point of violence, even taking the lives of others. They would grow into the humans that lied, cheated, and stole from each other, did anything for personal gain without even thinking about, without even considering the people they stepped on along the way. Just as all children had grown up to be through the millennia. No, don�t think of that now. Cherish their innocence, before it disappears. He smiled to them.

The children nodded in response to his earlier question, and he paused for a moment before flapping those powerful wings and performing a graceful back-flip off the back of the bench. They gasped in utter fascination as he landed on his feet and held his arms out at his sides, grinning and loving every moment of the attention. They applauded him and he gave a playful bow.

�Would you like to see more?� he asked as he rose. In compliance with their eager nods, he once again flapped his wings and flipped, easily pulling off a kind of handless back spring. He closed his arms tight to him and spun once in the air, quickly, before landing on his feet without a sound from the soft grass.

This brought a whole new wave of sounds of excitement and more applause from the children around him.

�Gabriel, you�re great!� Cara said happily and ran up to him, hugging his leg.

He blinked in surprise. Yet again, she shows her innocent trust with a sincere, affectionate gesture. She saw no personal gain in winning his affection or his trust, yet there she was, clinging to him so sweetly. He smiled and knelt beside her, hugging her tightly in his warm embrace. He sighed happily as he felt her return his hug, and chuckled as she let out a girlish giggle.

�Cara? What are you doing over there?!� a female voice called, smooth and a bit deep, distress the nature of the tone as Gabriel looked up and saw a woman running towards him. So much like the girl in his arms did this woman look, she could only have been Cara�s mother.

Gabriel attempted to stand, but Cara still clung tigtly to him, so he picked her up with him as he stood, easily supporting her in his powerful arms.

�Don�t worry mommy, I�m fine! This is Gabriel; he�s really nice! He does tricks!�

�Oh really?� the mother asked a bit snidely, eyeing Gabriel suspiciously. �And what kind of �tricks� does he do?�

�Really neat tricks!�

�Listen �Gabriel,� I don�t know who you think you are, but--"

�Who has hurt you?� Gabriel interrupted quietly, knowing the softness and the natural rasp of his voice sent shivers down her spine, as he could easily sense it from her.

�W-What do you mean?� the woman asked, a bit taken aback.

�You ache. You are anxious. I feel it. Why do you fear me so, simply because I am a man?�

��Cara, honey, go play okay?�

The girl nodded obediently and Gabriel let her down, then she ran off to the group of children that has dissipated since the ending of Gabriel�s show.

Gabriel looked to the woman, gazing into her soft green eyes with the intent to comfort, gently probing her mind for her name. �Lorraine,� he said in a near whisper. �Who has hurt you?�

The woman took a step back. �How do you know my name?�

�Don�t be afraid. I�m not going to harm you.� He held his hands out in front of him in a gesture of peace, showing that he had no intent on physical damage.

�How do you know?! Are you some kind of stalker or what??� She seemed furious despite his attempts at comfort.

�I am nothing of the sort.� He took a step towards her and took her hand gently in his, pressing her with his mental abilities, his skill at angelic persuasion. He smiled, feeling her soften and relax significantly. �Trust me.�

��What are you?�

�You wouldn�t believe me if I told you. You never answered my question. Who has hurt you so much that you would be so afraid of me?�

��Gabriel�I think you know.�

�What makes you say that?�

�You�re something special.� She suddenly stepped forward and leaned havily against im, her hands and forehead resting on his chest. �You have to be. You are, aren�t you?�

Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her close. He could sense her pain, her lack of trust, and how desperately she needed comfort. His unseen wings moved to embrace her as his arms did, and he felt her shiver. �I am,� he said quietly.

She looked up to his face, her pale eyes shimmering with tears. �It�s you�I know it�s you�where have you been?�

�What do you mean?� he asked, knowing fully well what she meant.

�Angels are supposed to protect, help people when they ask! Why do you come to me now?! How dare you come to me now!�

�It was not my choice. But since you know me, you know I am the bringer of good news.�

�What news do you bring me, Gabriel? Please give me some good news,� she whispered, her face nuzzling his chest as her fingers curled around the soft fabric of his shirt.

�Your daughter is a beautiful girl. She will grow to be more beautiful, successful, and she will live a wonderful life. You will find a new man to call your love, a good man, and you will die an old woman in his arms.�

She smiled. �Thank you, Gabriel. That is very good news.�

He had no way of knowing this, of course. He was merely a messenger, he could not know that woman�s fate ahead of time, and he could not know her daughter�s. However, he silently swore that he would watch over both of them, and do his best to make his words true. That is, if he was even permitted to remain what he was, after his little escapade. But the consequences no longer mattered. He had already defied God, who knew what his punishment would be? Perhaps he would be made mortal�perhaps he would fall. To fall�he believed that to be the worst case scenario. Gabriel had seen Hell, and to become one of its permanent residents was nearly unthinkable. But God has shown infinite patience and mercy towards the human race, why should He not forgive one of his own angels for a single act of lunacy and defiance? Gabriel had not even caused any harm by his act. Surely he would be forgiven.

�Go now,� he said quietly to Lorraine as he released her. �Go and raise your daughter to be beautiful.�

The woman nodded, gave him a warm smile, then turned and walked away from Gabriel, over to Cara. Cara waved at him, and he returned the gesture with a chuckle before turningand running from the area.

It was afternoon by now, so he didn�t have much time. Only one day�not enough to explore this city to the fullest, let alone all of Earth. No. Don�t think of more. He had been selfish to steal one day, to consider more would be beyond greed. So this day�s time must be spent with much more care.

***************

�Michael, where are we going?!� Uriel asked as they flew, a bit concerned about the people below who may see them.

�We have to find Azrael first, then all three of us can confront Gabriel. Have you had any luck locating either of them?�

�I�m afraid not,� came the answer. Uriel held his hands in front of him and paused, as did Michael, merely hovering as the orb appeared. �Azrael,� he said quietly, and an image came of the woman Atanya on her knees, Azrael with his wings visible bent over her. One of his hands rested on her back, and his wings near folded around her protectively. The woman had her hand covering her mouth, and she looked terrified as she stared up at the angel so near to her.

�He�s found her!� Michael laughed. �Good old Azrael. Uriel, can you tell where they are?�

�I recognize the area,� Uriel answered, pressing his hands together to dissipate the orb. �Follow me.� He took off at great speed across the city, into the area of yellowing buildings and filthy streets. He paused and allowed himself to drop silently to the sidewalk, Michael following with the same amount of sound.

�Azrael!� Michael called loudly. �Show yourself!�

Azrael looked up from trying to calm Atanya, hearing Michael�s voice. He glanced back to her. �Do you trust me?� he asked quietly, his voice gentle.

�Yes�how can I not�you�re�� she answered dazedly.

�Shh,� he gently commanded as he easily lifted her in his arms, one arm supporting her back and the other holding the crook of her knee. Azrael carried her out of the alley, his wings once again becoming invisible, and kept her cradled close to him as he walked to Michael.

�You�re�� Atanya began softly, trembling a bit as Azrael let her down, her knees slightly weak. �You�re Michael�? And�Uriel?� she asked, glancing to them as she said their names. �The three of you really are angels?�

�The four of us,� Uriel corrected. �Gabriel as well. Where is he?�

�I�I don�t know,� she stuttered. �And even if I did, I promised not to tell you�What are you going to do to him when you find him?! It must be something terrible!�

�We�re going to take him home!!� Azrael near shouted. He grabbed Atanya�s wrist as she started to question him, and opened his hand to her, revealing the twisted silver band that wrapped around his middle finger, the shimmering red stone just above his palm. �Do you see this ring?� he asked, his tone quiet but just a bit harsh. He continued when she nodded, �Only those of us who wear these rings are permitted to leave heaven. Gabriel�s ring was taken away, and he lusted for human contact, so he stole the ring belonging to Uriel. You can imagine the commotion when we heard of Gabriel�s departure.�

�He�you mean he defied God?� she asked.

�Yes,� Michael answered. �The three of us were ordered to bring him back.�

�What will happen to him?�

Silence came over the three, and Azrael and Michael turned their eyes to Uriel, who was silent, his eyes lowered to stare at the ground.