Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

and cast down, losing his holy name and rank in the kingdom of Heaven. The rash, the hateful, the vicious, the prideful and many of those who prized loyalty first fell with him.
    The angel Renat was not hateful, or vicious, or rash. His fatal flaw was not pride or anger but, like Lucifer, an excess of love. Only Renat didn't hold God first in his heart, as all angels were meant to before the coming of mankind, nor could he turn his affections to God's latest and most volatile children. His love was all for Emiel, the angel who had served by his side since the time of their creation. Emiel was pure in a way so few angels managed to be, softer and more gentle than the warriors who fought for Heaven, or the messengers who shouted God's praises over all the earth. Emiel was love , and Renat, his closest companion, returned that love with an ardor that intrigued him with its intensity.
    With Emiel, Renat longed for more than the simple and distant pleasure that came with the duty of love. Emiel had skin that Renat dreamt of touching, a mouth he burned to taste, and wings he would give anything to feel wrap around him. Emiel meant more to Renat than God himself, and when the revolution came, he saw his chance to act and gain everything he wanted. Yes, they would be cast out of the kingdom of God, but they would have each other. Renat would cleave to Emiel for all of eternity, and none would dare to touch his only love on pain of death. He had but to convince Emiel to fall with him.
    His love was on his knees, praying to their Father to stop the slaughter. Jewel-like tears fell from his lashes, glorifying the ground with their crystalline shine. Hastily Renat knelt in front of Emiel and took his hands. Emiel's bright blue eyes flew open, wide and shocked.
    "Renat…"
    "I am going," Renat said quickly, the words like lead on his tongue. Even as he said it he knew it could never be taken back. He was marked as a traitor from the first syllable. "I cannot stay here and pretend to feel as I do not."
    "Renat, no," Emiel protested.
    "It would be an insult to our Father for me to stay and live a lie," Renat pressed on. "I must go, Emiel. I ask…" He took a deep breath. "I ask that you join me. Leave the house of our Father and come make a new life with me."
    "I follow His will," Emiel said softly. His face was solemn and sad as he looked at Renat. "I cannot betray Him."
    "Not even for me?" Renat begged. He knew it was unworthy but he couldn't help himself. Already he felt heavier, felt the strain of his impending fall working on him. Renat was no archangel, to resist the command of God, and His word was that those disloyal to Him should be cast out. "Emiel, you are everything to me. I have loved you first from the moment I saw you, and your place in my heart can never be supplanted. All I want is you, for all eternity. I beg of you, come with me."
    "Do not ask this of me," Emiel pleaded, tightening his own grip on Renat's hands. "Do not ask me to disobey the will of our Father. I cannot do it."
    "Please," Renat said, growing heavier by the moment. "Please, come with me. Do not make me face this dark future alone; I fall for love of you! Emiel—" Desperate, he leaned forward and captured Emiel's mouth with his own. Oh, the taste…it was sweetness and light, warmth and caring and love, and Renat could taste the flavor of that love, and knew for a brief moment that it was all for him. For one moment, he had hope. For one moment, he had Emiel.
    Then it was over. Emiel pulled away, his lips cherry red and his expression absolutely wrecked. He put one hand on Renat's cheek and stroked the sharp line of his cheekbone. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and those two words took the pleasure that coursed through Renat's body and changed it almost instantly to pain. "I cannot disobey the will of our Father."
    "No," Renat said, denying the truth even as the pull became almost too much to bear. "No, please." He reached out and Emiel came into his embrace, and they held onto each other desperately. "Please," he murmured brokenly. "I love you." Emiel said nothing, just cradled him close until Renat couldn't fight it any longer. For a brief second, he was tempted to hang onto his love, to pull him down into the Godless pit that was opening for him far below, but he could not. Emiel had made his choice, and despite the agony that it caused him Renat could not force him to fall against his will.
    Letting go of Emiel was the hardest trial he had ever