War of Wings Read Online Free Page A

orange on the ground without thought and bit into it, but he quickly realized it wasn’t peeled and spit out the coarse rind.
    Although Gabriel knew the angel he heard had claimed to be a seraph, it was not easy to believe one had spoken to him. He had always thought they did nothing but sing praises to God. Unlike most angels, they had six wings, one pair of which they used to fly, another to cover their feet, and the last to cover their eyes. They covered their feet out of respect for God, but they covered their eyes only when they spoke to other angels. This was rare because they were the guardians of the throne and were almost always next to God.
    In fact, they were so close to Him all the time that His glory shone through their faces like a light. They covered their faces for the benefit of others because it would be too much for other angels to bear all at once. For any angel to adapt to the glory of God’s light without their eyes covered took thousands of years next to Him while slowly covering less and less of their eyes. Some angels didn’t know why seraphim placed their wings over their eyes, so although it was an angel courtesy, it also led to their mystique among the lower classes.
    A seraph had never spoken to Gabriel before and certainly not inside his head. He had never even seen one up close. But now that one had spoken directly to him, Michael’s story didn’t seem so ludicrous anymore. On top of this, Gabriel knew what the word “seraphim”meant.

L ucifer stared down from the top of the Rolling Hills of Peace just west of the Great Mountain at the sixty-six angels constructing his throne. They were carving ornate designs out of gold, chipping away pieces of the legs and armrests, shaping cushions from a gelatinous material, and sewing intricate details into various pieces of the throne’s cloth. The cushion of the seat was made with red velvet and had white trim. It looked old and predictably like something God would have, not something he would have chosen. Yet he felt it was nothing compared to God’s. Not even on the same level. The angels were wasting their time.
    Saraquel caught his eyes and immediately labored up the hill in his direction. Lucifer noticed that Saraquel’s stringy, dark hair was long now. It flopped from side to side as he walked, and Lucifer remembered what that felt like; his own hair had been long until recently. Saraquel’s forehead wrinkled as he opened his eyes wide for a welcome greeting. He must want something.Lucifer glanced over the creature so different from him.He looked frail and uneven because his arms were unusually long for his body, yet his hands and feet were small. His skin wasn’t pristine like most angels. It was dry and scaly.
    He approached Lucifer, head lowered, and slowly raised it after Lucifer acknowledged him. “Your throne is turning out to be quite magnificent, great Lucifer.”
    “I am looking forward to commenting on the finished product, Saraquel.”
    “We will work on it until we have pleased you.”
    “Will this be worthy of sitting next to God’s throne on the highest tier of Heaven?”
    Saraquel’s expression made it apparent the answer was no. “We will do everything we can.”
    Lucifer stared into the distance. “Your hair. It has changed.”
    “I grew it long to match yours from the ceremony.” All angels could will their hair to grow, but most kept it short for convenience.
    Lucifer felt it looked nothing like his. He read the words engraved on Saraquel’s chest: Ab uno disce omnes . From one, learn all.What could he possibly learn from this sad angel? “The long hair suits you well.”
    “Oh thank you, Lucifer!”
    “I will be back soon. I expect you will have the throne ready upon my return.”
    “Yes, sir. Will you have time to speak to me about some of my questions when you come back?” Saraquel’s eyes were hopeful.
    “I will do my best to make time.”
    Saraquel smiled ear to ear. “Before you go, please tell