Wings of Destruction by Victoria Zagar

Gabriel stood on the broken ground with his wings outstretched, looking fearsome and powerful.
    "Did you forgive Anael and welcome him back to Heaven with open arms?” Martin asked.
    "Anael has committed a mortal sin and Fallen. He has descended to Tartarus with the other fallen angels."
    "Then I have nothing to repent for. I regret nothing—not the men I killed, nor the ones I slept with in order to secure my next meal. Nor for loving Anael. That is something I shall never take back."
    "Are you trying to goad me into sending you to Hell, mortal?” Gabriel asked.
    "I know that’s probably my final destination.” Martin shrugged, too exhausted to be threatened.
    "You can avoid all that by simply repenting and accepting me into your heart as your Lord and Savior."
    "Does that mean I have to accept your judgment as well?"
    "It does."
    "Then I have nothing to repent. Let me go to Hell. I’ll be one step closer to Anael." Martin pulled his knees up to his face. His body rebelled against turning down water for something as lofty as principles, but Martin refused to ascend to Heaven without Anael at his side.
    "You would do all this for Anael’s sake? I have been watching. I know you regret the men you have lain with. I know you regret the blood on your hands. You would condemn yourself to eternity in Gehenna for the love for one fallen angel?” Gabriel looked at Martin aghast.
    "Allow Anael to return to Heaven and I’ll do anything you want. Even if that means I spend an eternity in torment." Martin shook his head. "I don’t care about my soul, but Anael has done no harm. He only wanted to protect the children the Scrapers imprisoned. Why can’t you see that?"
    Gabriel actually laughed, the soft laugh of a genius looking down upon a fool with pity and derision. He shook his head.
    "I sent Anael down to Earth on purpose, mortal. I sent him there to clean up the world for me and take all the blame for it. Now God’s favorite angel, the angel of love, is out of my way.” Gabriel raised his hand and a dozen pillars of light appeared. An angel stepped out from each one. "And so it is that the meek shall inherit the Earth. Us angels, who have toiled for millennia doing God’s bidding, shall break free of His reign and build a world for ourselves. This world was soon up for rent anyway. I just did what God would have done and cleaned out the rats. Anael did as he was told and took the mortal sin of this world’s destruction on his soul, leaving us free to take over."
    "Where is God? Why doesn’t He stop you?" Martin stood up, rage in his eyes as he stumbled towards Gabriel.
    Gabriel laughed in time with the other angels, a creepy sound that echoed in the empty desert.
    "God is quite a deadbeat father, I’m afraid. He likes to create worlds and leave us in charge of laying down His rules. He’s not quite as omnipotent as you’d think, really. Creation takes all his strength. On the seventh day, He rests. Only he doesn’t mean one Earth day. When God sleeps, he sleeps for millennia at a time. When He went to slumber, He left me in charge, making it possible for me to enact my plan. The Great Economic Collapse was my idea as well. How I enjoyed watching the humans destroy their entire world through greed." Gabriel raised his hand and a sword of light materialized. "You are standing in our way, mortal. I will give you your wish. Be with Anael in Tartarus!”
    Gabriel lifted his sword and Martin closed his eyes, awaiting the pain that would spell the end of his mortal life, but it never came. Instead, he heard the clashing of metal on metal and opened his eyes to see a magnificent angel with a sword of light in her own hand, held up against Gabriel’s. Sparks flew as the two holy swords clashed.
    "Sarah?" Martin’s mouth fell open as he scrambled backwards on the ground. Sarah stood radiant, wings of white spread out across her back and a purple dress flowing out behind her in the wind as she struggled against