Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

nice right now. He thought out toward the heavens, not really expecting an answer.
    Bran released the forearm he was holding on to for balance, and pushed his hair back. Samael looked him in the eye. The little man's face said, "Get ready."
    Gadreel was sneering at him, "Samael, you know better than that, there is nothing you can do to stop me. That dagger in your hand will not work on me."
    "Are you so sure of that Gadreel?"
    "I am an angel." He spat at Sam.
    "A technicality I am sure will be remedied forthwith." Samael replied calmly. "Your soul is as evil as any demon's, I am sure the blessing will be able to tell that. Are you willing to risk it, Gadreel? Are you willing to risk the Seventh level of Hell?"
    The angel's uncertainty was plain and he roughly pulled Bran closer to him. "I'll kill him, Sam."
    Samael glanced at Brandon's face again. It said, "Now!"
    Bran reached behind himself and squeezed the angel's balls, hard. In reaction, Gadreel pushed him away, leaving himself open. Samael threw the blade with all the force he could, strengthened by his anger at Gadreel, by his fear for Brandon's safety, by all of the things that had been taken from him. The dagger flew swift and true, and buried itself in the center of the angel's chest.
    Gadreel released Brandon, and his Little Raven flew at him. Sam hugged him close and watched the angel, waiting to see if the blessing would take him from this plain, or if it would not have any effect on him at all.
    At first, nothing happened. Gadreel who had been staring at the dagger in horror, focused on Sam with a big grin on his face and started to chuckle. Suddenly, his silver wings started to darken, slowly losing their radiance; becoming a soft grey that grew and deepened until it was a rich black. The angel's features rearranged themselves as the amusement disappeared, replaced by fear.
    "No. Noooo!"
    As they watched, a stark light flared out from the Demon Dagger in Gadreel's chest. He startled, and reached for the hilt, tugging and pulling, trying to wrench the thing from him. The light enveloped him, and with a final flash, he disappeared.
    The only thing remaining to remind them of what had happened that night was the dagger on the floor, and the human lying dead on the carpet. The two demons were gone, transported to their eternity. Sam never had to deal with Gadreel again.
    Samael gazed down into his Little Raven's face. "You were so courageous and strong. I am very proud of you."
    The smile he received from the praise was glorious. Sam leaned down to kiss Bran and as their lips touched, a cough interrupted them.
    They startled apart and Samael pushed Brandon behind him and faced the danger. There in front of them were Raphael and Michael. They stood there gawking at the angels for a moment.
    Mike was the one to pull him out of his stupor. "Hey, buddy."
    Sam snapped. "Now? You arrive now? I could have used your help a little while ago, you know."
    The angels were both chagrined. Raph was the one to respond. "We weren't permitted to help you. That was something you had to do on your own."
    Of course it was. "What brings you here, then?"
    Michael looked guilty. "Yahweh wants to see you." Without further conversation, the angels each took an elbow pulling him away from Brandon.
    His Little Raven was standing there, looking scared and confused. His expressive face was communicating a series of "No" and "You promised you wouldn't leave." It broke Sam's heart.
    There was nothing he could do; one moment he was standing in the little apartment staring into pain filled chocolate brown eyes and the next he was in Yahweh's temple in Heaven.
    White marble columns extended three stories up to an intricately painted ceiling, adorned in rose gold. The solid silver floor was cool against his bare feet, and yellow gold acted as crown molding and baseboards to trim the room. Statues sat on pedestals near the walls, and colored glass turned the windows into artwork. Large, sparkling diamond chandeliers hung down, creating rainbows when the light hit them. It was glorious, but Samael could not appreciate it at the moment.
    The angels released Sam and left him, closing the solid oak doors on their way out. The sound of them shutting reverberated around the temple. He did not know why he was back here, but there must be a reason.
    Sam strode forward, down the aisle in the center of the columns, toward the large adorned throne at the back of the room. As he reached his destination,