First Meetings

Lucian sat down in the waiting area. He had given up hope - to find Gadrial again. Even though the Creator let her reincarnate after every battle they fought between hell and heaven, it felt like the Creator was making their encounters less frequent.

This was also his punishment for damning himself to earth. He leaned back in the chair; he would never forget how they first met.

It was Gabriel and Gadrial's creation day, celebrating two thousand years of creation by the Creator. It was a big deal, and Lucian's friend Moloch made him come even though he was not one for celebrations, him being the angel of music and all.

"Lucien, you will thank me for coming to this celebration."

"I doubt it, Moloch. I don't have time for this Hierarchy of heaven."

"Oh? But weren't you the one telling me things should change around here?"

Lucien rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because the Creator gave all the will to the humans, we as angels are not free."

Moloch nodded in understanding. "I would like to introduce you to someone; I think you'll find her intriguing."

"You know I don't find anyone intriguing anymore."

Moloch chuckled. "So you don't like the Angel of war?"

Lucian clapped his hand over Moloch's mouth. "Don't you dare utter one more word?"

Moloch mumbled the answer behind his hand. "So, you do like her then?"

Lucian removed his hand from Moloch's mouth. "I...I have no idea what you are talking about." Lucian's ears turned a slight pink.

Moloch held back a laugh. "Come to the party."

Lucian quirked an eyebrow. "Fine, I'll see you then."

A few hours later, Lucian was standing in front of a manor. The manor gates were of pearl colour, and beyond was a beautiful garden with roses. Lucian was looking out of place, standing there waiting for Moloch.

Lucian saw a few Angels coming, and the gates opened for them. He decided he would follow them, but when he got near the gates. . . it closed in his face. There was loud laughter behind him; he spun around.

Michael was sneering at him now. "It seems it was invite-only Angel of Music - and it seems you are too unknown to be invited by Gadrial."

Lucian was staring at Michael. He never liked the bastard. Michael was always so full of himself.

"What is wrong, Luci? Cupid caught your tongue?"

"I will let. . ." Lucian started but felt pressure on his shoulder.

"Sorry I took so long, Lucian," Moloch's velvety voice said.

Michael's eyes widened. "Moloch? Don't tell me this filth is with you?"

"And what if he is Michael? Are you really going to start a fight with me?"

Michael scoffed. "Come on, girls." Michael gripped the two angelic girls on either side of him and walked to the gate.

Lucian turned to Moloch. "You failed to mention that this was invitation-only or  - Michael will be here."

"If I told you, you wouldn't have come, Lucian. Now let us enter."

Lucian followed Moloch reluctantly; the gates opened for them, and Lucian's eyes were darting around. The garden was beautiful; his eyes moved toward the steps, and he froze. There she was, Gadrial. . .his muse.

Lucian always admired her from afar, but she never noticed him. He had always stuck to the shadows whenever he saw her around the kingdom. Why would she be ever interested in a lowly angel like himself?

Moloch was a few steps ahead when he turned back. "Coming, Lucian?"

Lucian's feet felt like lead as he followed Moloch up the steps. Gabriel was still talking to Michael when his gaze fell on him. He could see the disgust on his face. Gadrial was not facing them; Moloch cleared his throat.

Gadrial turned around; she smiled warmly at them. "Moloch!" She stepped forward, kissing him on the cheek.

"Happy creation day, Gadrial."

"Thank you!" She turned to Gabriel, and her face contorted in confusion when she realised her brother was not there anymore.

"It seems… Gabriel had other matters to attend to."

Moloch chuckled. "I think your brother finds my presence disturbing."

Lucian was behind Moloch, watching the exchange in silence.

"You know my brother could never say no to me, Moloch. You are my dear friend."

Moloch held her hands, giving them a light squeeze. "Speaking of friends." Moloch stepped to the right, revealing Lucian. "I would like you to meet my dear friend, Lucian."

Lucian nervously lifted his gaze to her face. Her smile was beautiful, and her pale-blue eyes shone in the moonlight.

"Nice to meet you, Lucian." She stuck out her hand, and Lucian's gaze fell down to her hand. Her skin was as pale as the moon itself, yet her hands were so; delicate. He reached out his hand and enveloped hers.

"I... I..." He cleared his throat. "Happy creation day, Gadrial." Even her name on his lips fastened his heartbeat.

"Thank you for coming." She led them into the manor. Moloch excused himself, leaving Lucian alone with Gadrial.

Lucian was so nervous; he kept his gaze towards the ground. It was okay to admire her from afar, but now that he was in her presence, it made him overly nervous.

Gadrial was still at his side. He lost count of how many angels came to give her blessings for her creation day. He heard her sigh; he looked up. "Oh, you heard that? I feel like if the blessings are so fake."

"I know what you mean." He was shocked to hear his voice crack.

She turned her attention to him. "So I am not the only one who feels these angels want to butter me up because I am part of the Hierarchy?"

"Yeah, it is not hard to believe that they feel if they can get in your good graces the will he blessed by the Creator."

"I am hardly in the good graces of the Creator."

"Why is that?"

Gadrial looked around. "Oh shoot! Let's go to the garden."

Lucian looked at where she was staring. Uriel was making his way toward them.

"Sure, lead the way."

She took his hand, they slipped out the back door, and Lucian noticed there was nobody here but them.

"Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? I haven't done anything."

"You have. Lucian, right?"

He gave her a nod; he was still so confused.

"Well, Lucian, if I complained about this to someone else, they would have told me to bask in the glory of being Hierarchy. I feel like I have been placed on a pedestal that I didn't ask for."

Gadrial moved further into the garden, and Lucian followed.

"Why is that?"

Gadrial sat down on a bench, and Lucian followed suit.

"I don't want to sound like I am disrespecting the Creator, but he created the system of how we are, our personalities, how we look, our positions. I just feel like it is wrong. We have no free will."

"I feel the same way, the Creator created man centuries after us, and he gave them everything."

Gadrial turned her head towards him. "You are right. He did. Between you and me, some Hierarchy wasn't too happy about that."

"Really? I thought you all would be thrilled and on his side about his ultimate creation."

Lucian saw anger flash across her face.

"Don't you dare throw me in the same pool as the Hierarchy!"

Lucian lifted his hands in defence. "But you are one of them, aren't you?"

"I thought you were different by the way you were expressing your concerns, but it seemed I was wrong."

Gadrial stood up; her hands formed fists. Lucian was on his feet and reached out, grabbing her right arm.

"I am sorry, I... I did not mean to cause you any offence. That was very shallow of me."

She shrugged her arm out of his grip. "I know I am probably going against what I am, but there must be something more out there," she indicated with her hands to the sky. "Then just our routine. You know?"

Lucian did know. That was what he was trying to tell the other angels. The Creator had to give them free will! The Creator gave free will to the mortals but not to his people. Before Lucian knew what he was doing… he grabbed Gadrial's right wrist, spun her around and crushed his lips against hers.

Gadrial's eyes widened in shock, but she did not push him away; on the contrary, she deepened the kiss, closed her eyes, and rested her left hand on his cheek.

Lucian's thoughts were all over the place. What did he just do? She did not push him away. Why was she not. . .pushing him away?

Lucian pulled away slowly, staring into her eyes. "That was so forward of me."

He saw her cheeks reddening; she looked down from his gaze.

"I... It is alright."

Lucian was still holding her wrist. "Can I see you again?"

"I would love to see you again."

They sat back down on the bench, picking up their conversation where they left it. Lucian and Gadrial did not realise that someone was watching them from the shadows.

Someone touching his shoulder brought Lucian back to reality.

"Lucian?"

His eyes focused on the face in front of him.

"Gabriel."

He jumped up from the seat.

"Calm down! She is being prepped for surgery."