Gone To Graveyards 3: Gone To Young Girls
By Prodigal
Dominic glanced back to confirm that Crater was still happily napping in
Bronwyn's lap, then drew to his full height to address the Seraphim Council.
"I apologize for calling you away from your duties," the Archangel of
Judgment began, glancing among his gathered fellows, "But I have three items
that I felt were too important to wait for one of our regularly-scheduled
gatherings."Recent events have led me to the conclusion that I am not
performing my duties to the best of my ability..."
Several among the Council found the lack of the expected derisive snort from
Michael as much of a surprise as Dominic's admission.
"And so," Dominic continued, "I have chosen to travel to Earth, the better
to clarify my own judgment. In my absence, I name Bronwyn to head the
operations of Judgment. Further, I request that the Council grant her the
Word of Justice, the better to enable her to fill my place while I am gone."
Dominic waited patiently for the tumult of shocked voices to subside, and
then cleared his throat. "And for the final item, I bring a candidate for
Redemption. Novalis would have been the best choice to handle this task, but
her loss leaves us with the necessity of choosing another to stand in her
stead."
"I believe this one is known to you all," Dominic said, gesturing the
candidate who wore a cloak similar to his own forward. The furor that
erupted as Andrealphus drew her hood back would have been deafening, had any
present had human ears.
"She has been simply standing there since asking for you," the seneschal had
told Dominic, its vessel's face pale, "She does nothing to tempt us, but she
is a Prince! Should we have left her unmolested? In peace, I mean," the
cherub had continued as it realised the exact words it had used in relation
to the Prince of Lust.
"You have served me faithfully," Dominic said calmly as he strode into the
tether's antechamber. "And now," he had asked Andrealphus, "Why have you
come to a tether of Judgment? Have you somehow forgotten that as you are a
sworn enemy of all that is holy, I should destroy you?"
"I no longer care," the languid reply came, "The void within me calls for me
to face judgment, and so you were the only one whom I felt it proper to call
upon. I can no longer continue as I am, so I ask you for either redemption
or oblivion. I leave the choice to you."
Dominic had invoked his resonance, and absorbed the Truth of Andrealphus'
words in mixed shock and approval.
"Wear this," he told the former Prince of Lust as he offered her a cloak,
"It will shield you from the light of Heaven until such time as we find the
one who is best suited to redeem you."
The distinguished man relaxed on a bench in the park, dividing his time
between watching a kitten chasing the birds and listening to the pleasant
young woman sitting beside him.
"We all have been forced to admit our surprise at how well she is fitting
into the Wind's organization," she said, "But the intelligence she has
delivered to us has proved invaluable to the War's progress."
"And how are you enjoying your duties and your new status as Archangel of
Justice?"
"Between the two of them, I gain a greater understanding of why you have
been forced to set both temporarily aside," Bronwyn answered.
"Good," Dominic replied with what would have been an uncharacteristic smile
before he had chosen to take a leave of absence, "Then you will understand
when I ask that you not deliver further reports to me unless I call upon
you. The longer it is that duty pursues me, the longer it shall be before I
am ready to face it once more. I promise not to keep you waiting for my
return longer than is absolutely necessary, however."
"That would be unjust, after all," Dominic concluded with a soft chuckle.
Bronwyn smiled. "I understand," she replied, "And I look forward to the day
of your return. Until then, I will respect your wishes." And with a rush of
air, she vanished.
"I thought she'd never leave."
Dominic whirled around to face the source of the soft voice behind him, but
recognition drove away all alarm in favor of laughter.
"I wondered how long it would be until I ran into you," he said.
Eli grinned as he stroked Crater behind the ears.
"You're finally ready to begin seeing what I've been up to during my own
walkabout," the Archangel of Creation answered him. "I hate to rush you, but
there's too much for me to show you, and too little time to do it in. You
ready?"
Dominic pondered for a long moment, and then nodded.
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