The Night Everything Fell Apart (The Nephilim Book 1)(60)

Arthur blinked. “Raphael? You mean the archangel Raphael?”

“Just how many other Raphaels do you know?” The angel tugged the hem of his coat, adjusted his tie, and winced. “Oh, botheration. He’s going to be furious when he finds out I’ve let myself been seen.”

“So don’t tell him,” Arthur suggested.

“If only that were an option.” The angel gave him a pitying look. “Honestly, don’t you know anything? You seem remarkably uninformed about celestial matters.”

“Maybe I was raised under a rock,” Arthur said. “Why don’t you provide a little enlightenment? Starting with your name. Who the hell are you?”

Silver Eyes harrumphed. “If you must know, I’m Gabriel, archangel and deliverer of celestial messages.” He raised a hand. “You know, as in, ‘Hail Arthur, full of sin.’”

“Very funny. You’ve got a message for me?”

“Um...no,” Gabriel said, lowering his hand. “No, I do not.”

“Then why the fuck—”

“Tsk, tsk. Language.”

“—are you stalking me?”

“That information,” Gabriel replied testily, “is available on a strict need-to-know basis. You, I am delighted to inform you, have no need to know.”

“Like hell I don’t. Listen, Gabe—”

Gabriel’s chin jerked. “Do not,” he said, “call me that. It’s Gabriel. Ga-bri-el.”

“Fine. Whatever. Why is Raphael so interested in me?”

“As I’ve said, that information is—”

Arthur had just about had enough of the twit. “Cut the crap, Ga-bri-el. Or do I need to blast the answer out of you?”

The archangel laughed at that. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“Consider yourself tempted.” Gabriel drew a mocking circle with the tip of his walking stick. “Go ahead, miscreant, do your worst.” He grinned. “You know, I’ve always wanted to say that.”

Arthur hesitated.

“I’m waaaaaaiting,” the angel sang. His arms dropped. “Unless you’re too much the coward, of course.”

Annoying prat. With a growl, Arthur blasted a stream of spark and flame at his white head. About a foot before the hellfire found its mark, it bent an abrupt ninety degrees downward. The stream splattered harmlessly into the ground.

Frowning, Arthur tried a second, larger blast. Gabriel easily blocked it with his walking stick. Hellfire ricocheted back at Arthur’s head. He barely managed to duck before it exploded in his face. The blaze evaporated, leaving behind a trail of sulfur-tinged smoke.

Arthur swore.

Gabriel chuckled. “Don’t feel bad. Don’t you know a Nephil cannot harm an archangel?”

“What kind of bollocks rule is that?”

“Why, a celestial one, of course. My, my. Your education is truly lacking. But then, I suppose that’s the sort of thing a guide teaches a new adept. And you, my dear enemy, have no guide.”

“You know about that?” Arthur asked in surprise. How the hell long had Heaven been watching him, anyway?

“Oh, yes, I know all about your sorry situation. Half-mad and all that. More to the point, Raphael knows. And he is not happy, let me tell you. He would’ve much preferred you to die during your Ordeal.”

“Is that why he sent you? To kill me?”

Gabriel’s chin went back. “I should say not. I told you, I’m a simple messenger. Not an avenger. Or an assassin.” He tugged the sleeves of his suit jacket, first one side, then the other. “And anyway, celestial retribution requires just cause. So far, you haven’t given Raphael an excuse to exterminate you.”

“But he expects me to.”

“Well, yes,” Gabriel admitted. “We’re all very hopeful.”

“Am I so dangerous?”

“Heaven help me, yes! Just look at you.” He circled the tip of his cane. “You fairly crackle with power and you can’t control a tenth of it. You’re a grave threat.”

“To what?”

“Why, to nothing less than the equilibrium of the human realm. The balance is delicate.” Palm up, he evaluated an imaginary weight. “A little good, a little evil; a lot of good, a lot of evil. Neither enough to tip the scales one way or the other. Everyone muddles on until the final trumpet.”

“You believe I’m a danger to that balance?”

“Well, who’s to know? Merlin certainly proved to be a threat. Will you be as destructive as your infamous ancestor? I have no idea—even archangels can’t see into the future. But I’ll give you a bit of advice, free of charge. Abandon this quest you’ve conceived of finding Merlin’s staff.”

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you know about that too,” Arthur said. “If you’re so concerned, I must be close.” He gestured toward the boulder. “This is the entrance to Merlin’s cave, isn’t it?”

“One of them,” Gabriel agreed. “I can admit it freely, because there’s no way you can get in. The cave is blocked by a celestial seal set by Raphael himself. Only Heavenly creatures can pass through.”