Fallen

Chapter Eighteen: "Confessions"

"These are my confessions"
-Confessions Part 2, Usher

It didn't take me long to drive up to the Marx's mansion.

Raveena and Riven were standing in the driveway, waiting for me. I guess my father alerted them of my arrival.

As soon as the car stopped, I hopped out and stood before them.

"Siberia," Raveena was the first to break the silence, her smile friendly but showing the slightest bit of discomfort. "I'm glad you came."

I smile politely before I just decide I want to jump right into it.

"Can we just skip the pleasantries and you guys just tell me what's going on?" I keep my voice as polite as possible

A smile played around the corners of Raveena's mouth and she nodded. She looked as relieved as I felt to skip the pleasantries.

"Well, obviously, your father told you Riven and I are angels."

I nodded and studied them. Their crystalline eyes, their perfect features. Sure, they looked angelic. But angels? It was just so odd.

Raveena sighed and looked over at her brother who was looking at me with an intense expression.

"Why don't you come inside? We can explain in there. It's gonna rain soon."

I looked up and realized Raveena was right. The grey clouds that hung above us ominously looked very ready to sprinkle water on us at any moment.

I looked back at them and nodded once, following them inside.
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"I guess I should take it from the top," Raveena began softly, leaning back in her seat.

Raveena and Riven sat side by side on the couch across from me. Riven hadn't said a word since I got here, his expression was a mix between sheepish and angry.

"Riven and I are...er...were... Archangels," Raveena said. "There are many levels in the kingdom of Heaven, and being an Archangel is the highest you can go. Archangels are the closest to God Himself. We are the only ones who have ever truly seen His face.

"Anyway, Riven and I are Archangels. I guess the story really starts on the day of The Fall. All of the angels were called to His Throne. It was the first time a lot of angels had been there. Lucifer was planning to rebel against God. God told all the angels who agreed with Lucifer to step forward. I was surprised when one after the other, angels stepped forward. After they stepped forward, God said they had to be punished. Heaven became cold after that." Raveena frowned at the memory. "I knew something was wrong right at that moment. Heaven is warm, comforting. But for those few moments, Heaven became cold, Siberia. Colder than I ever thought possible. Then the ground shook beneath us and it opened up. Lucifer and all the angels who had agreed with him Fell.

"They Fell so fast that their wings burned from their backs. We all watched as they Fell. We watched for what humans said was nine days and nine nights. Time is different in Heaven." She waved a hand.

"After Lucifer and his angels Fell, something in Lucifer grew darker. I think he felt betrayed that Father banished him from Heaven. Whatever it was, Lucifer grew more and more wicked. Father knew that, at the rate Lucifer was going, he would soon destroy mankind. He would make them turn on themselves. So, Father created something strong enough to stop him. He called it Essence. He said that when the time was right, it would be used to defeat Lucifer.

"He entrusted this energy to Michael, the most powerful angel in Heaven. Michael guarded the Essence for many centuries. He fought off every demon and every fallen angel Lucifer sent with ease.