The sound of her voice brought him very little comfort, Gabriel hunched over his study, his eyes concentrating on the possibilities of the union that had been laid before him as a decree. No choice given and yet he knew that he'd not deny God anything, even his only child. He looked up at the beautiful young woman, her long blonde hair moving about her as if it held a life of it's own. He missed the meaning in her utterances, only hearing the timbre of melancholy and yet resolution for completing this task given her. She was her father's daughter if nothing else. His large fingers twirled into the silky trestles as he stood and drew her close to him, wrapping her in a tight hug and kissing the top of her head so carefully. She smelled of spring and roses, grace and hope.
"Father..." Sera moved back and looked up, her violent gaze reminding him so much of her mother. "I said that I'll be fine and when this is over I will return and we'll be back together. Trust me."
A sad smile rushed across his face as he nodded and let himself have one more good look at her, the sound of Malachi clearing his throat brought a growl to Gabriel's lips. Sera patted her fathers arm and gave him one more hug before turning to join their old friend and saying goodbye softly. Her father stood as a statue, his glory and radiance almost blinding as his emotions ran high. Sera wrapped her arm around Malachi's and walked from the house, both of them sighing in relief as they cleared the long strand of golden stairs.
After moving past her fathers property Nathaniel appeared to them, leaning comfortable against a tree though concern filling his knowing gaze, and anger lined his brow.
“I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than you all think, you know?” Seraphi smiled, her voice carrying to her old friend.
“I’m well aware of your strengths, little dove. It’s because of those - your brilliance and your beauty that you’ve been chosen to represent us.” He spoke softly, though she hardly noticed how out of place it was for a warrior of God’s great army to do.
“Where are we going now?” She straightened her shoulders and looked to Malachi as Nathan moved in on the other side of her, her father's gaze still on her from the window in his study.
“There is a portal that will be opened just above the earth and yet below the heavens. We are to meet the others there and then a ceremony will take place and you’ll both be deported to the surface of earth. Where exactly, will be of your choosing.” He took her hand and smiled down at her warmly as they walked from the house into the majesty of the heaven’s, the sun’s rays touching their white skin as the clouds parted and they quickly descended through the portal and onto a dusty grey substance. "Here we will have the joining ceremony."
She felt a stab of fear in her chest, "What is that exactly?"
"Patience, Sera."
The ground was solid enough to hold them and yet there was nothing but void around them. The three of them were the only color or shape given to the plane until a tear occurred in the air and several more joined them, but Seraphi knew they were not made of the same essence. Her purity was almost blinding to them and their hate was almost stinging to her. The essence of the scene before them changed, grass growing beneath her feet and a the essence of fall showing upon half of the tree of life that sat on heaven's domain, the other half dead and filled with thorns.
She moved behind Nathaniel unconsciously so and pressed her forehead to his back. “I can do this…” she whispered, but felt quite unsure if she were comforting the large angel in front of her – or herself.