20 In the Desert
Amber
I couldn’t contain my anger as questions kept knocking my head. How did Cassie survive? Was it really her, or was it just one of Riley’s manipulating tricks? There was no way I would surrender myself to his master.
Suddenly, I felt something strange. It was the same feeling when I found myself half-dead on the streets.
“Ugh! My head hurts,” I uttered as my vision seemed to get hazy, and the fire in me died down.
My body started to shake, and I felt like throwing up. I fell on my knees, making me catch a glimpse of my shadow which showed my body without those heavy wings.
“Now, where am I headed for?” I asked myself, looking around the vast desert.
Just then, I felt a strong sensation within me. It was so strong, but I couldn’t locate where it was coming from. The desert was undeniably wide, and I could even see the empty space around me. I just felt something near yet so far.
As I walked my steps away—still battling with the throbbing pain in my head, I thought about my wings and tried to imagine myself with it, thinking that it would come out again to take up to the sky but failed. I groaned in utter disgust.
“What should I do now? I can’t just walk my way to wherever!” I raised my hands, talking to myself.
“Hello Amber.” I looked around, hearing the voice behind me.
“Excuse me? Who are you? How did you know my name?” I asked the man.with a younger man beside him, wearing the same white robe that he had on.
***
Micca
“You know what? Sometimes I miss being a cat,” Gideon said.
I furrowed my brows at him. “Shut up, Gideon. I don’t want you inside that cat’s body again,” I said as we walked.
“Come on, Buddy. Take it easy . . . I miss calling you ‘buddy’ by the way,” he grinned, brushing his elbow against mine to which I only shook my head in response.
As we continued to follow the familiar sensation, I felt something in my pocket and took it out.
“Oh, the alarm. You’ve been ignoring it since day one, Micca,” he said. “You have forgotten that time is running out, and you still haven't found Human. The worst is, you’ve got another mission to work on when you haven’t even accomplished the first one.
Silently looking at the hourglass, the sand had comprised one-eight of the little thingamajig as grains of sand fell downward, joining the settled tiny pieces.
“How long do you plan to wait, Micca? Are you really going to kill Amber?” Gideon asked.
“If I had to, Gideon,” I answered after a moment of silence.
***
“Adriel, keep your eyes on Micca,” Barachiel said.
“Is there something we need to worry about, Barachiel?” Adriel asked.
Barachiel took a deep breath. “Apparently, the process of purification . . . did not do anything to his soul . . .” he said. “. . . . but to his emotions.”
Adriel looked into Barachiel’s eyes, confused. “What do you mean the process of purification did not do anything to Micca? You have used the highest level of execution to cleanse his soul out of contamination from his vessel,” he said.
“No, I did not use the highest level of execution. In fact, I stopped it when I realized something . . . more dangerous,” Barachiel answered.
“What is it, Barachiel?” Adriel said.
“Micca’s vessel is . . . a nephilim.”
Adriel’s eyes went wide in surprise. ““So that explains why Micca could possess Amber’s body without consent!” Adriel snapped his finger. “But . . . I thought we had eradicated the nephilims during the war, Archangel Barachiel. These beings are indeed way too dangerous. They’re half-demon and half-angel and . . . can kill us angels. Even the demons shake in fear before these beings. We have to do something. We . . . can’t let the wat repeat history.” Adriel’s voice was shaking in fear.
“I know. That is why I stopped the purification of his soul. Micca’s pain is Amber’s strength. What Amber has become . . . is the product of Micca’s purification.”’
“This is unbelievable! What does Micca have something to do with this nephilim?”
“I . . . still don’t know . . . yet. All I know is that Micca is our only hope to kill Amber.”
“But how, Barachiel? This nephilim is so powerful. Look what this being did to Gabriel! She turned him into a human before burning him in a blazing fire.”
“Calm down, Adriel. You seem to be more anxious than I am.”
Adriel was silent, but fear was evident in his eyes.
“Amber can turn angels and demons into humans, but Micca can possess her with no sweat. That way, Micca can use his vessel’s body to keep him safe,” Barachiel said, closing his eyes.
“Barachiel, with due respect . . . hiding doesn’t kill his vessel. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Every being has a weakness. I will soon find out,” Barachiel said as he moved his steps forward.
He waved his hand into the air, making a cloud appear showing Micca and Gideon. “Don’t take your eyes off of them, Adriel.”
“I won’t, Archangel Barachiel. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“Very well.”
***
Micca
“Ah . . . I think the fire’s gone, Micca. What could that be?” Gideon asked.
“Will you stop asking questions? We both know I don't have the answers either,” I exclaimed, annoyed.
“Okay, but . . .my next question is something that you can answer . . . probably.”
“Whatever.”
“How will you kill Amber? You can’t let her touch you, or she’ll turn you into a human bomb just like . . . may the pain in the ass rest in peace . . . Gabriel.”
I stopped in my tracks and looked at Gideon with narrowed eyes. “Tell you what. You may think you’re funny, but you’re not. Will you please give me peace of mind for a moment? I am not in a good disposition to think on what to do with these missions that I have. Human is nowhere to be found. And this? This vessel adds insult to injury.”
“Oh . . . I love what purification did to you, buddy. But I miss the old Micca.”
I scoffed and continued to walk, leaving Gideon behind.
“Hey! Wait for me!”
***
Amber
“Hey! I am not in the right disposition right now and pissing me off is a bad idea. Now, answer me. How did you know my name? Who are you?” I said loudly.
“Ahm . . . How about me? Do you remember me?” the younger man asked with a grin.
I responded with a scoff. “Do you really think I could keep track of your faces with this hell that I'm in? Get out of my way, you idiots! I told you . . . pissing me off is a bad idea.”
I turned my back to walk away. Of course, I still didn’t know where I was going.
“I am Micca. Have you forgotten me?”
