Between Heaven and Hell Read online

  Adryel thought that wasn’t fair either.

  Lucifer rose to his lectern. Even from her place on the balcony, Adryel could see the anger on his face.

  “Slander. Name-calling. These are the defenses of one who knows he is wrong, who has nothing worth saying, who—”

  Adryel was nodding and holding back her words of agreement, when Jophiel interrupted Lucifer’s passionate defense. “Wait now. I haven’t finished.” He turned to Naniel. “Ask him to sit and to be silent.”

  “Please, Lord Lucifer. . .”

  “I will not be silent when my name is being slandered, when—”

  “There is no slander, Lucifer. Merely a question. Why do you assume the human creatures will necessarily choose to do what is evil? The human male meets the young woman in the garden, wishes her a good day, and is rewarded with a smile. On the next occasion, the scales are tipped in the direction of good. The same analysis as yours. . .but a different outcome.”

  “You are the evil one, Jophiel,” Lucifer screamed and waved a clenched fist. “You put words in my mouth, things I’ve never said. As for Adonai, perhaps you are right. Perhaps he is mad. Perhaps you and the others on the council share his madness. All of you should be banished. You should be—”

  “No!” Adryel couldn’t hold back the exclamation as a rock flew toward Lucifer, bouncing off his lectern. The crowd gasped, and a space opened around an angel in a yellow robe, who flung a second rock into the air. Lucifer must have seen it coming because he snatched up the book he had placed on the lectern, and batted the stone away. The rock shattered as it struck a low corner of Jophiel’s lectern.

  Angels screamed and scattered, pushing and shoving as they retreated from the platform. Parents grabbed their children and tried to pull them through the crowd to safety. An older angel fell to the ground. Others tripped over him, and those who had fallen were trampled by the spectators as they blindly sought to get away, giving no thought to those who blocked their paths.

  Some of the black-robed angels pounced on the one who had targeted Lucifer, shoving him to the ground. Arms and legs flailed away, but Adryel could no longer see the one in the yellow robe. She could only assume the arms and legs were punching and kicking him.

  Others grasped stones they carried in their robes and began to throw them into the crowd, indiscriminately targeting anyone wearing yellow, one barely missing a small child who sat eating a sugar cake, seemingly unaware of what was happening.

  Jophiel’s supporters returned fire, picking up the stones thrown at them and lobbing them back, targeting those who wore black. Those caught in the crossfire fell to the ground, hands protecting their heads, while rock-missiles filled the air above.

  Ramael leaped down the steps of the Grand Stairway and dashed onto the platform with two of his lieutenants. They seized Lucifer, Jophiel, and Naniel, then the lieutenants dragged them away into the palace, while Ramael directed his guards to move against those throwing the rocks.

  Michael spread his wings and descended to the square, while the other archangels stood, rooted in place, seemingly unable to move.

  Adryel spied the fire-eater laying on the ground, an ugly gash in his head. One mime limped toward an exit, supported by the other one. She wanted to help them, but as she prepared to fly, as Michael had done, Gabriel gripped her arm.

  “It’s too dangerous,” he told her. “Let the soldiers handle things.”

  Standing on the portico, high above the carnage in the square, all she could do was watch in horror.

  As the guards converged, Jophiel’s supporters dropped their weapons on order, but those in black continued to fling stones in all directions.

  Spectators streamed out of the square, their cries of terror magnified as the sound bounced off the buildings. The guards waded into the crowd, shields up, swords drawn. Moving between the frightened spectators and those who were throwing rocks, they formed a solid wall separating the two groups.

  The black-robed angels held their ground and began to direct their missiles at the guards. Adryel could hear the stones shattering against their shields.

  The guards advanced, herding the black robes toward the far end of the square. One guard fell when a rock struck his head, and reinforcements converged from all corners. Apparently out of ammunition, the rioters began to pound on the guards’ shields, attempting to push them away. Finally, they turned and ran, the guards in pursuit. Two turned back, scooping up loose bricks from the street’s pavement and heaving them at the guards. Both went down, slashed by guards’ swords, blood staining their robes.

  In a very few minutes, the square was empty.

  Adryel watched as the archangels returned to the council room. Uriel sank into his chair. His face was pale and his hands shook. The others wandered aimlessly about the room.

  Adryel remained on the balcony, turning back to the square, searching for Ramael. Aid workers carried injured angels to evacuation carts. Guards blocked the roads leading into the square.

  She finally spotted Ramael, walking across the square to meet Michael. Dariel, one of Ramael’s lieutenants hurried after him, pointing back the way he had come. Ramael’s voice rang out, summoning another squad and sending them off.

  Satisfied he was safe, Adryel returned to the council room and found five archangels seated at the table. Gabriel apparently had gone to check on the others, and he just returned.

  “Lucifer and Jophiel were both unhurt. Jophiel will arrive shortly. Lucifer is returning to the Institute to check on his students. He berated Michael for allowing Ramael to send his guards to attack them.”

  Adryel crossed her arms defensively. “Ramael was only protecting the—”

  “Of course he was, Adryel.” Gabriel put his hand on her shoulder. “The students were thugs. They were dangerous.”

  “So the black robes were students,” Chamuel said. “Lucifer’s supporters, obviously. Perhaps Jophiel was not entirely off the mark when he questioned Lucifer’s acquaintance with evil. He was certainly out of control today, challenging us, criticizing Adonai. How dare he? He’s the one who should be banished.”

  “That’s not fair.” Raphael shook his head. “Lucifer had no control over those students. He was not thinking clearly when he attacked us.”

  “I’ll wager he had full control,” Chamuel snorted. “And I’m not sure they were all students.” He turned to Adryel. “Did you recognize them?”

  “I recognized some of them, Lord Chamuel. Several of them are in my classes.” Although not sure why, Adryel did not mention seeing Beliel.

  “Lucifer’s students didn’t throw the first stone,” Raphael observed.

  “No, but they tossed most of them, and they certainly came prepared,” Chamuel exclaimed. “No wonder they wore those academic robes. More room to hide ammunition.” He glared at Raphael. “Since when did you become Lucifer’s friend?”

  Raphael chuckled. “I’m no friend of Lucifer’s, but I do find it hard to believe an archangel was involved with that ruckus.”

  “I find it hard to believe an archangel would accuse Adonai of madness,” Gabriel said. “Jophiel was speaking rhetorically when he suggested it, but Lucifer was serious. Is he against the plan or against Adonai himself?”

  Everyone sat quietly for a moment, pondering.

  “What shall we do, Uriel?” Zadkiel finally asked. “Lucifer has left the palace. How long do we wait for the other two?”

  “We have a quorum, a majority, five of eight.” Chamuel looked around the room. “We heard Jophiel’s opinion on the plan before the stones began to fly. We all know Michael sees a potential problem, but nothing justifying a protest. I’d move we simply approve the plan, dispense with the clarification. If we can’t trust Adonai. . .” He raised his arms, palms up, in a gesture of helplessness.

  Gabriel nodded. “I agree.”

  Uriel stroked his beard. “The violence today was. . .disgusting. I cannot support Lucifer if he condones such behavior. His attack on Adonai is bey
ond belief.”

  Adryel looked on in alarm as the archangels spoke. They were not even going to make the feeble request for information Lucifer had predicted. No, they weren’t going to act at all. Lord Lucifer had made his case. The danger was clear, but the archangels were not even going to raise a pen in protest. They were the ones acting on emotion rather than logic—the violence in the street was terrible, but it did not discredit Lord Lucifer’s argument.

  Twice she started to speak, remembering just in time that she was not a member of the council and she had no right to say anything.

  “We are in agreement then?” Uriel raised his hand. “All in favor of approving the plan please raise your hand.”

  The vote was unanimous.

  ***

  Adryel still felt angry about the council’s action as she wandered across the square, searching for Ramael. It made no sense to not even ask if there was a strategy to restrain the humans. The council had blamed Lord Lucifer for the riot, and voted against the violence rather than voting for the plan, but the effect was the same.

  She finally spotted Ramael in the square, talking with Dariel.

  “You’re all right. I was so worried.” She threw her arms around him, tears in her eyes. “You might have been hurt.” She looked down where, a few steps away, an injured student still lay on the ground, crying out in pain as a physician bandaged his wound.

  “I’m fine. We chased them from the square, and my guards pursued them. Dariel was just telling me they retreated to the Institute.”

  “You can’t go in after them,” Adryel exclaimed. “The students would riot.”

  “Some of them have already.” His eyes wandered around the square, now almost empty. “We can’t let them continue. Anyway, it will be Lord Michael’s call. . .What happened with the council?”

  She shook her head. “They voted to accept the plan.”

  Ramael stared at her. “Not even a request for clarification?”

  “None. There were five present and not one voted against it. They believed Lord Jophiel and Lord Michael would have voted with them.”

  Ramael shook his head. “And Lord Lucifer wasn’t there. He’ll see it as a conspiracy, you know—someone throws a rock, my guards drag him from the square, the council acts without him. This could get really ugly.”

  “I’m sure it won’t. Lord Lucifer is not evil, even if Jophiel believes he is. The decision has been made,” she shrugged, “so it is over.”

  “I hope so. . .I need to check on my guards.” He picked up the shield which he had leaned against the platform. “They will be very visible for the next several days.”

  Rebellion

  The streets were empty as Adryel made her way toward the Institute. Normally, she would have had plenty of company—angels strolling through the palace garden, admiring the brightly colored flowers or pausing to watch the swans gliding across the reflection pond—but not today, not now. She heard no laughter as she passed a playground, the swings hanging limply, unmoving, the water in the wading pool smooth and untroubled by children’s feet. Two angels huddled on a stoop, but hearing her call a greeting, they scurried inside, closing the door firmly behind them.

  As she turned the corner, a block from the front entrance to the Institute, her path was obstructed by a contingent of Ramael’s guards. Their line stretched across the road. Two of her students mumbled greetings to her as they walked away, having been refused permission to pass. All she could offer was a feeble wave, stunned as she was by the sight.

  Beyond the guards, she could see the gates had been closed and more students stood on the parapet, peering over. One of them idly tossed a stone into the air, catching it, and tossing it again, much as a child might play with a ball.

  One of the guards stepped forward to meet her. “I’m sorry, but no students are allowed to enter.”

  “Thank you for the compliment.” Adryel smiled at him. “But my name is Adryel. I teach at the Institute and I have classes this afternoon.” She pointed to the two students, who had stopped walking to watch her approach the line. “These are two of my students.”

  The guard stepped back and whispered to the others. Adryel guessed they had only been ordered to prevent students from entering the school, and she hoped they took those orders literally. After a moment, the guard returned.

  “It’s dangerous to approach the Institute. We had to withdraw from the gate because the students were stoning us.”

  “I’ll be fine. The students know me, and they’ll realize I’m not a threat.”

  “We weren’t threatening them. . .”

  Adryel placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know you weren’t, but you are armed. Some of their friends were chased from the square by guards this morning, and some of them were injured. You can understand their feelings.”

  “We might not be able to protect you if you approach the wall.”

  “I’ll be all right. I do appreciate your concern.”

  The guard stepped back and motioned to the others that she be allowed to pass.

  “Come with me.” Adryel beckoned for the students to follow her, but their way was barred again.

  “You let her through,” one complained to the guard.

  “A teacher, not a student.”

  Adryel glanced back and shrugged an apology. “Sorry.”

  As she stepped past the line, she paused, glancing at the buildings on each side of the road and wondering what had happened to those who normally worked in those shops. The tavern, the bookseller, the cloth merchant, the teahouse—all were dark. The gate stood only one short block ahead, but it felt as if it were a kilometer or more. Except for the click of her shoes against the pavement, she heard no sound as she walked.

  Even the weather reflected her mood. The sky, bright and clear when the debate had begun, was now covered with clouds, and a brisk wind pushed her along the street. She wished Ramael was with her.

  Shouts rang out as she neared the Institute. She waited for several moments before the gate was opened just enough for a young angel to peer out. He studied her intently, consulted with another angel, and finally allowed her to enter.

  BANG.

  Adryel started and almost tripped as the two angels slammed the gate behind her and slid a bar across it, locking it securely. Steadying herself, she stepped into the open quadrangle, finding scores of angels milling about, aimlessly. A number of them carried knives in their belts and a few were armed with swords or hatchets. Piles of rocks had been placed on the parapets, and a few students were pulling pavers from the quadrangle, pushing long, thin knives into the tiny spaces between them, separating them, then slipping the knives under the loosened pavers to lever them out of place. Once free, the pavers were beaten with hammers to break them into ball-sized pieces which could easily be tossed.

  Most of the angels were students or teachers, but she saw Beliel in one corner talking with a band of angels who she had never before seen. Another group had collected around Maliel, and she did not recognize them either.

  “Adryel, good. Lord Lucifer has been asking if you had arrived.”

  She stared at the angel who spoke to her. He looked much like the angel clad in yellow who had hurled the rocks at Lord Lucifer during the debate, and a purple bruise spread across his left cheek. She shook her head. He couldn’t be. Lord Lucifer would not have promoted the violence. That angel had been a supporter of Lord Jophiel.

  She finally recognized him as one of the junior faculty members. He was new this year and Adryel did not recall his name.

  “He wants to see you. I’ll take you to his office.”

  “I know the way to Lord Lucifer’s office.”

  The angel nodded, but insisted on accompanying her. Adryel glanced into several lecture halls as they passed, but no classes were in session. Office doors stood open, but the professors were not inside. In some, the furniture had been overturned, books and scrolls lay ripped apart and tossed on the floor. In the registrar’s office, cabinets
stood open and empty, crumpled papers were piled into overflowing waste bins.

  “What happened here?” Adryel demanded. “Why is no one teaching? Where are the professors? The offices, who trashed them?”

  Had her office been targeted?

  “We’re at war. We have priorities other than philosophy classes.” The angel’s tone was condescending.

  “And the offices?”

  “Not all faculty are sympathetic.”

  Adryel stared at the angel. She began to protest, but the words did not come.

  They finally reached Lucifer’s office.

  “I’ve brought Adryel, Lord Lucifer.” The angel motioned for her to enter. “Shall I stay?”

  Lucifer glanced up. “No, no. You may go. . .Adryel, I’m glad you came.” He gave her an unctuous smile as he beckoned her inside.

  Ami was at a small table in a corner, making a copy of some document. She looked up and glared as Adryel entered the room.

  “What’s happened, Lord Lucifer?” Adryel watched the angel leave the room, but noted that he waited just outside, as if protecting Lord Lucifer from her. As if she were any type of threat. . .she turned to Lucifer. “I saw guards around the school, the gates are locked, and students are stockpiling weapons. Offices have been ransacked. Classes are not meeting.” She looked over her shoulder where the other angel had been. “He said we are at war.”

  “Don’t you see, Adryel? Don’t you understand? The council has conspired against me, against us.” He began to pace, across the room and back. “They have always been jealous of me. A bunch of second-rate minds.” He turned to her. “And Michael is their true leader.”

  “Lord Michael? Surely not.”

  “They tried to kill me this morning in the square. You saw it, didn’t you? Rocks thrown directly at me? Then I was detained, prevented from attending the council meeting. The guards pursued our students, killing and maiming them as they were chased from the square, and now the army is massing to assault the Institute. Yes, we are at war!”