Dark Awakening by Charlotte Featherstone Page A

descended from the opening. Feet first, wings flapping majestically like a hawk, he came down from Heaven.
    And Gadriel knew who it was.
    Bolting from the room, he ran passed the nursing station. “Where have they taken my wife,” he asked, breathless from fear.
    "Straight down the hall. But sir, you can't—"
    He didn't wait for the nurse to tell him he couldn't be with Nadira. Instead, he ran, his feet pounding on the floor until he came to the heavy metal doors with frosted glass. Throwing the doors wide he was in time to see Sammael, dressed head to toe in black, with his hand on the door of the OR suite.
    "I have been ordered here, Gadriel.” When he turned and looked at Gadriel, Sammael's eyes were not their usual warm brown, but black as pitch, yet Gadriel could see sorrow in them.
    "No!" Gadriel cried, pulling Sammael from the operating room door. “Please, no."
    "It is His will, Gadriel."
    "No!” he roared, throwing Sammael against the wall.
    "If you could keep only one of them,” Sammael rasped, winded from being knocked into the wall. “Who would you choose?"
    "Please, no,” Gadriel choked. “Sammael, don't do this.” Gadriel fell to his knees and bowed his head before his brother. “Don't make me choose between the two of them. I love them both. I love them more than you could possibly understand."
    "I understand, brother. I, too, have loved. I, too, have lived with the pain of loss."
    "Then spare me this!"
    "I cannot. Even if I wanted to, I cannot do so. It is His will, Gadriel."
    "To torture me? To show me Heaven on Earth then steal it away from me?"
    "It is time, Gadriel. It will be peaceful and easy, and I will take very good care of them. I vow this to you, brother."
    "No, Sammael,” he begged, not caring that he was on his knees like a pleading child. He had no shame, no care other than saving the woman he loved and his child. “I'll do anything. Anything. Tell Him. Tell Him I'll fight His cause. Just ... don't take them away from me. Please don't, I can't bear the loss of them. The emptiness—"
    "Stand, Gadriel."
    It was another voice, not Sammael's he heard. Glancing up through his tear filled eyes, he saw Sariel striding toward him. God's Messenger .
    "Can you stop this, Sariel? Can you save my wife and child?"
    "Does the human mean so much to you then, Gadriel?"
    "I would die for her."
    "Would you repent for her?"
    "I would do anything. She is ... she is my life. My reason for living."
    "Do you love her enough to leave her, brother, so that you may fight the war?"
    His body went rigid, his mind a blur with possible scenarios. “What are you saying, Sariel?"
    "That your wife and child can be saved, if you will only repent and take up arms in our war. You commanded His army for centuries. Help us now to defeat the enemy, Gadriel. Join us."
    "I will do anything you ask, just ... just don't take them away from me."
    Sariel nodded. “So be it then. Your decision has been made."
    Sammael placed his hands atop Gadriel's head and peered down into his face. “I didn't want to do it, Gadriel. I fought against it, pleaded for Him to send another, but I, too, am doing penance. It is never easy to always have one winged dipped in blood, is it, my brother? But I realised that if I were the one, if it were me to take your wife and child, then I could make it peaceful. I could take them and keep them safe for you. My gift to you, brother, until you could be reunited with them."
    Sammael trailed off and brushed his hands over Gadriel's head. “But I am relieved I didn't have to do it, Gadriel. I am glad you will be joining us, brother. You've been gone too long."
    Sobbing, Gadriel could only nod. What had he done? What had he agreed to?
    "You will be ready when you are called, Gadriel.” It was an order. One he could not ignore. “Gadriel?” Sariel demanded.
    "I will be ready,” he murmured, as shudders racked his body.
    "Sir?” The nurse was looking out through the operating room door. “Come,