Michael’s gaze hardened from across the table at John. Finally, he spoke, “You’re sure that you want to do this.” It was said like more of a statement. Michael knew John’s answer before he had said it. Nodding his head, John rolled up his sleeve. The first sign of uncertainty flicked across Michael’s eyes before he spoke, “Ur─” John jumped up and grabbed Michael’s shirt pulling him inches from his face. “Never call me by that name again. What’s done is done,” John growled. Gabe was half a second away from John when Michael motioned him to stop. “Gabriel, it’s okay. Leave us.” Gabe didn’t budge. “You deaf or something pooch?” John spat. Michael materialized next to John and re-directed Gabe’s blow into the wall. He frowned and shook his head at John. “Must you always provoke him?”

He turned to Gabe and gripped his shoulders. “You can stand right outside of the door. We need to do this alone, you know that.” Gabe nodded, glaring at John. Finally, he dusted off his jacket and smoothed back his hair. Gabe sauntered over to the door, looked back and then sneered. His middle finger raised in salute to John as he walked out the door. If John had his full potential back, Gabe wouldn’t have even looked at him funny, let alone talk back. It was a hefty price to pay for his fool’s errand. Eventually the wards would fail and she would revert.

All he was doing was buying time. How long would it last this time, weeks, possibly months? It used to last years, but lately he was barely able to make it last an entire year, if that. The deaths had already begun. He hated to admit it, but time was running out, for the both of them.

The decades that passed only weakened his abilities. Soon all of his powers would fail and he would be no better than a human─ the lowliest of creatures in the realm of The Arc. Once part of the Messiah’s Archangels, John was in league with the highest battlefront known to The Arc. The lines between Heaven and Abyss were battled over long before the fluke of Man. Messiah had indeed created the spark that ignited life, however, as with many things, such creations had consequences and the ability to do and think as it wished. It was a flaw that John never understood. If Messiah wanted such creatures to love him, why had he not just made them obedient? This must be the cost of unconditional love, he guessed. John knew about the balance, and that there were many realms. Each as powerful as the next, which meant there were other higher powers. Somehow, all of them managed to come together and co-exist. At least, they had been. Until recently. The multiverse was very real, and it was the only thing keeping him alive.

John had once been a General of Light, which made him privy to private talks with Michael. They had spent many evenings within the Ethereal Planes talking about where it all began, and if there would ever be peace. He had laughed when Michael responded, I hope not, we’d both be out of work. It was a different time, and a distant memory. John’s human emotions were beginning to get the best of him. The thought of not being beside his brothers in battle against the ever-growing Abyss, would have never crossed his mind before he fell.

Michael’s boots clicked across the concrete, silencing the last of John’s regret. He had a new destiny now, a woman he deeply cared for, and an idiot plan to save her, no matter the cost. The creep and tingle started along John’s back as Michael’s true form burst from the human shell. John wasn’t sure whose body Michael was borrowing this time, but he seemed attached. He had been in it now for almost thirty years. The most he usually spent was ten, and then the human’s life was restored to the life stream of souls and reincarnated.

Michael must have had his reasons for staying in this one for so long, but John decided long ago to stay out of Michael’s affairs. He knew that most humans Michael picked were usually on the brink of dying or about to commit suicide. The bargain was made that they would be returned if they changed their mind after six months. Fully healed and restored to a full-term human life, up to but not exceeding, one hundred years. Once a soul has wandered in the Æther, however, they rarely return to the realm of humans. He knew of only two that had.

John fought back a scream, his human body pummeled with emotions. His eyes could handle more than a normal human’s at least, but it took every ounce of his strength to keep them open in Michael’s angelic form. His short, dark hair extended past his waist and was replaced by the lavender-white. The markings of protection snaked across Michael’s body. Each charm flashed an instant before the next and then wrapped him completely before fading away.

He gripped John’s arm and a blinding light appeared as Michael began the incantation. Excalibur manifested before him. The years had done little to its beauty─ it was the same as the day it had been forged. It’s smooth, silver body was long, light, and perfectly balanced. At the very end of the spiraled handle, was a single blood gem the size of a half dollar. It was simple in its elegance. John assumed that it had been destroyed ages ago during the first purge in heaven─ a time when the traitors had been cast into the Abyss. That was, until Michael performed the first binding ritual with John some years ago and he saw it for himself. It was the first ritual of many to follow, but the thought of being so close to finding the cure for her, after only a few thousand years, was intoxicating.

The pain seeped down John’s entire body, white hot pokers to his bones. The world blinked from normal existence, to being in-between. John fought to draw breath as the pressure built around his lungs. Traveling through dimensions took a toll on any being, unless they were designed for it. His angelic form had been long gone.

It took all his strength not to be ripped apart. Most humans were guided and protected by their guardian to the other side. John didn’t have that luxury, especially since what they were doing would cause them both to be banished to the Abyss forever. Those that chose to disobey were punished swiftly with a half-life. When the world would end, so would he. It was the sad truth, but he would sever his wings again, if it meant he could keep her from the final fate. The last trace of The Great Divide pressed in upon him, sending hairline cracks along his ribs. John roared, clutching at his sides. Then, the pain left as soon as it had come. The Æther welcomed him, caressing his body and soothing the effects of the binding spell. He forgot everything, his mind wandering to the comforts the Æther had to offer. John’s beaten form faded from the world.