Mid-Week Flash Challenge - Week 35

This week's prompt is a piece of art by Heise, a Chinese artist who has lots of other wonderful art on her page at Deviant Art.  She calls this simply: The Angel. He is so beautiful.

I have actually written for him before back in July 2015 for a Midsummer Night's Dream contest, a story called Soulmates. But he is so wonderful I wanted to write for him again, and wanted others to have the same opportunity. He is so gorgeous. And I thought an Angel in the week running up to Christmas was appropriate too.

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Human Assignment

“But Dad that’s not fair, you can’t do that?

 “Michael, I can and I will, you have to start taking this seriously.”

“But none of my friends have to.”

“None of your friends are in training to be an Archangel. It takes a lot of responsibility.”

“But what if I don’t want to be an Archangel?”

Michael’s father spun round. Michael could see him clench his fists in frustration.

“There is no choice in this Michael, it has already been decided.”

“But that’s not fair!” 

“You were made to serve; it’s what the Gods created you for. It’s why you have four wings and not two like the rest of us. I was honoured my son was chosen, but your resistance makes me question their decision. You care for nobody but yourself.”

“What do you expect from me? I’m not even at full maturity yet. Why should I have to care about anybody else?”

Michael’s father rolled his eyes to the ceiling of their cavernous home, his wings stretching up along with them. “Give me strength!”

Michael’s mother entered the room. She was a delicate Seraphim, dainty and fragile to look at. His father had chosen her for her striking beauty, despite being two realms higher than her in hierarchy. As a Dominion angel some would say he married beneath him, but he would say that it had been destined by the Gods, and Michael’s very existence proved it. Michael’s pure white quad wings, combined with his perfect facial features and natural accentuated physique, put him above everyone. And he hated it.

“Michael can you not understand that resisting your future will only make your life harder; the sooner you accept your position and embrace it, the easier everything will become, and in time you can do all the things you want to do.” His mother’s gentle voice quelled his irritation at his father, and he could see the same magic working on his father as he brought his wings down.

“I just want to fit in, mum, that’s all. I want to be normal and do normal work for the Gods. I don’t want to have to interact with humans.” He shuddered, his feathers rippling from top to toe. “Just the thought of having to protect that wanton, arrogant species makes me feel dirty to my core.”

“But the Gods enjoy them. They see them as some kind of experiment, believing we can all learn something from them.” His mother stroked his feathers, calming him further.

“But what could we possibly learn? We are far superior to them.”

“Being humble maybe?” his father interjected.

Michael sighed. He just wanted to hang out with his mates. He didn’t want to do extra training or undertake special assignments. And the human he’d been assigned to for his trial run was a nightmare.

“But the boy I’m supposed to be protecting doesn’t seem to get anything. He just does what he wants, when he wants, no matter what anyone says or how much others try to help him.”

His father’s eyebrows went up. “Remind you of anyone?”

Michael scowled. “He’s making decisions that are only going to cause more problems. If I’m so much like him, how am I supposed to help him?”

His father smiled. “And therein lies your answer. What would help you if you were like him? What would it take to make you hear the voice of reason?”

The realisation dawned on Michael, but he resented giving his father credit for it, so he kept his expression neutral. But Michael knew his father wasn’t stupid; Michael’s silence was enough to indicate he’d understood. His father looked pleased.

“It seems we needed to have this conversation, Michael. I hope now you can continue with your assignment and move towards your full potential.”

Michael rolled his eyes and stomped out of the room. But it was an act; he was excited to see if he could get the boy to respond to what he needed to understand now. A smirk spread across his face. He’d never admit it to his father but he enjoyed the challenge of working with humans.