Raphael sped down the hall and tried to get a hold of Lash. There was a chorus of gasps when Lash dared to elbow him in the stomach. Raphael fell to his knees.
“That is enough.” Gabrielle pushed through the crowd with Rachel following close behind. She paused as she reached the crowd that had assembled. Briefly, her brow furrowed with worry as she looked at Raphael, who was still on the ground. Then, noticing the crowd’s eyes on her, she smoothed her face.
She placed herself between Lash and Jeremy. Her green eyes glittered with anger as she stood face-to-face with Lash.
“Get out of the way, or I’ll have to take you down, too.” He took a threatening step forward.
There was a deathly silence as Gabrielle pulled her shoulders back and expanded her wings to their full length, pulling her rank as archangel, as second in command only to Michael. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Lash paused, taking in the scene around him. All eyes watched warily for his next move as they looked from Lash to Jeremy, blood dripping from his face, to Raphael, who lay still on the floor. Lash’s eyes rested on Rachel’s, silently pleading with him to stop. Anger drained out of him when he realized what he’d done. Never in his life had he ever resorted to violence against the archangels.
He stepped back and ducked his head in deference to Gabrielle’s authority.
She flicked her wings once then closed them back into her body. “Raphael,” she said gently as she bent down and placed a hand on his head. “Would you like to seek an audience with Michael to request a reprimand of Lash and his attack on you?”
Raphael wore a haunted look. “No, it is what I deserve.”
Lash’s head shot up at the statement. He admitted it.
“You have already been forgiven for your past.” She helped him up and pressed a hand against his cheek. “There is no need to punish yourself further.”
Lash glanced at Gabrielle with surprise at the softness of her voice. It was unlike her to be so kind. A look of tenderness briefly flashed across her face as she looked at Raphael. Why hadn’t he noticed it before?
Raphael patted her hand. “The past has a way of catching up to the present.”
Lash’s eyes darted between them, wondering what they were talking about. Again, more secrets kept from him. It was infuriating.
She blinked and cleared her throat. The expression disappeared and was replaced with the severe look Lash was familiar with. “Don’t make excuses for Lash. His wrongdoings are his own.”
“Gabrielle, I am sure you can you can understand the shock of the situation. I haven’t had the opportunity to share with him all that has transpired.”
“I have no interest in listening to your explanations, Raphael.” Lash then turned to Jeremy. “Or yours.”
“Silence!” Gabrielle roared, the word echoed down the hall. She took a deep breath then turned to the others in the hallway. “Leave us.”
They all scurried away, whispering to each other.
“Lash, please do what they say,” Rachel said. “You’ll feel better if you do. I promise.”
He smiled weakly at Rachel, and she flittered away.
“Come with me. All of you.” Gabrielle turned on her heel. When Lash didn’t move, she turned and threw him a glare. “Now.”
Gabrielle stopped in front of the doors in the Hall of Judgment and turned to Raphael and Jeremy. “You two wait out here.”
Lash laughed. “What am I going to get this time? Fifty years? A century? No, wait. You’re going to send me to Lucifer. That’s it. Right?”
She gave him a firm look. “It’s beyond me why those around you care for you so much. They see something special in you. I don’t.”
She turned toward the door and placed her hand on the handle. Keeping her back to him, she said, “Although I admit one thing, and this is the last time you will ever hear it from me. I have never seen such courage as I’ve seen from you these past couple of days.” She then swung open the doors and turned to face him. “Whatever happens next, know that you have most definitely earned it.”
She stepped aside and gestured for Lash to go into the room.
***