The only Choice

Twilight was falling on Eden. The last rays of the sun brightly illuminated the snow-white buildings, turning them orange, purple pink and yellow, gently touched the tops of the trees and quickly disappeared. Soon all the heavens were plunged into darkness. Almost all the angels went to their rooms. Only the duty officers of each garrison flew to their sites, keeping order. Silence took over Heaven. All the animals scattered, spread out into the lairs. Only the crickets signaled that they were nearby. On the edge of a huge park, under a spreading oak tree, three angels were comfortably located. They were young and inexperienced, but strong enough to already call themselves angels. One boy, holding his dark wings straight and not even daring to lower them and relax, was standing by a tree behind two other angels. His face, not yet devoid of an expression of curiosity and childish naivety, attracted the attention of everyone. Castiel — that was his name — could always lure and relax an angel with calmness and tranquility. He was like a drug. The other was sitting with his legs bent under him, with his back to Castiel and listened with interest to his friend, periodically interrupting her and laughing. He was known among his friends as a merry man and a heartthrob. And the name Balthazar gave the guy even more charm. “Seshey,” Castiel suddenly said calmly after a long moment of silence. The girl, who had been chatting enthusiastically with Balthazar, turned her head to Cass, looking at him with a grin. “What is it, buddy?” Her lips split into a sly smile, as if she knew what the guy would say. “You shouldn’t make fun of Zachariah. It will turn out badly for you.” “Come on, Cas, like everything ended well before that? It’s a matter of principle. Who else but us, tell me, Sesh.” “Yes, Bal’th is right. We have to do this, Castiel. And as usual: you’re not in the game. At least one of us will make his way in life.” The girl giggled and winked at Balthazar. “Only you have every chance to become a real angel.” “This time the punishment could be much worse. Have you ever read the rules?” Castiel made another attempt to dissuade his friends, but, as always, they only shrugged their shoulders synchronously, exchanging glances. “Of course, Cas, everyone has read them. They are so-o fasci-nating that I almost met with Death.” Balthazar liked to annoy his friend. The angel sighed heavily, lowering his head. Everything has already been decided, and his opinion was not taken into account in any way. Castiel managed to get used to it, but worried about his friends every time like the first time. And they — about him, so they were privy to the plans, but he has not participated in them for a long time. “Zachariah is strong and influential. You won’t get away with your prank just like that. Besides, he’s a good boss. I think you should start respecting him, and then you will become the best angels that Heaven deserves,” Castiel said after another short silence, making another attempt to dissuade his friends from a reckless act. “Well, if Castiel thinks so, then so be it, we won’t harm Zachariah. Isn’t that right, Sesh?” Bal’th said too convincingly, turning to Seshey. She just smiled. “Really?” Castiel asked with undisguised naivety. “Oh, Cassie, I feel sorry for you.” It meant “no” from Balthazar. Seshey stood up and turned to her friend. She looked into his eyes with a sympathetic look, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Listen, Castiel. I understand that you can’t grasp the essence of things yet. Zachariah is not the one who is destined to change or improve something in Heaven. He is the same as everyone else: he follows orders, does everything he is told, flatters to be noticed at least a little. But believe me, if someone else is put in his place, no one will even notice the difference. He is nothing in this system and always will be. An angel at the beck and call of the archangels, like all of us. So why not have some fun now before it’s too late?” The girl smiled. She saw in Castiel’s eyes the bewilderment that he always had. But never mind, sooner or later her friend will understand everything. He will have to understand. Balthazar listened to the fiery speech of the girl and did not notice how the angels descended from sky. “Hey, Sesh, it’s time to leave, the Haniel garrison is already here,” the angel said, not taking his eyes off the winged ones and gradually rising. Seshey quickly turned her attention to the serious-looking adult angels descending from the sky. “Well, let’s hide, my brothers, it’s too late to run.” The garrison sank smoothly to the ground. The angels lined up in neat columns and waited. And our trio did not lag behind them, having decided to hide behind a tree somehow. After some pitiful moments, she appeared — the magnificent, strong, invincible Haniel — the commander of the garrison and an angel amazing in every way. She was called unshakable, because it was useless to argue with this woman. She illuminated everyone with bright wings, which only commanders have, and this helped the three friends to keep track of what was happening in the clearing not so far from their tree. It was an evening formation where violations were found out and two angels patrolling the zone were selected. Everything went well at first. No violations were noticed, everything went smoothly, perfectly, as it usually happens in Heaven. But then the word passed to the two extreme angels, and they told with a heavy heart that today the forest almost burned down because of two young angels. “And how did that happen?” Haniel asked with severity and wariness in her voice. She frowned so much that her forehead looked like the sea during a storm. “They built a fire in the forest and began to play with the flames. When we flew up to them, one of them threw fire at us. We managed to dodge, but he hit a dry tree. And it flared up. And while we were extinguishing the fire, they managed to escape.” “Were they Sashay and Balthazar?” the commander asked, looking at her subordinate with a bit of hope. “That’s right.” “And why am I not surprised,” Haniel drawled very softly. “There was a case…” Sesh whispered in the shelter, closely and carefully watching the commander. Seraphim just shook her head. She seemed to want to say with her whole appearance: “why did Heaven get such angels?” “It’s time to get out before they notice us,” Balthazar expressed a sound idea on the angelic frequency. “Yes, it would be great,” Sesh agreed with him, and both, crouching down, began to slowly retreat, and Castiel, turning right around, walked next to him. Seshey looked at the garrison, not noticing anything under her feet and next to her. She should have been more careful, but she was only thinking about what would happen if by some miracle she got into one of the main garrisons. Most likely, they will want to kill her on the first day — after all, not only Haniel was tired of her, others also got hurt. Or maybe she will show miracles of character and become an obedient angel. Seshey imagined how she would stand in front of the commander and speak only when she was asked about something. The girl’s face twisted. She was so disgusted by the mere thought of it. Never! Immersed in herself, Seshey could no longer return to reality, and therefore did not immediately notice how a crackling sound was clearly audible in the silence under her foot. Haniel immediately turned around at the noise. “Check it out,” she ordered one of the angels standing closest to the bushes. “Seshey…” Balthazar drawled, sighing in resignation. “Go away. I’ll figure it out.” The girl decided that since it was too late for everyone to run away, then at least let her friends escape while she was distracting attention. She straightened up and walked resolutely forward, rustling the leaves and wondering what to expect from Haniel this time. Obviously nothing good. “What a wonderful evening! The Creator is definitely in the spirit today!” coming out of hiding and looking around at everyone who was in the clearing, Sash said. “You…” drawled Haniel, staring at the angel. “Me…” “Where is your partner in crime?” The commander asked with severity in her voice. “He’s resting at home. Tomorrow is an important day, you need a lot of strength, you know.” “Of course, of course,” Haniel nodded. “Well… shall I go?” “Yes.” The commander twisted a smile and added: “but with me.” All this time, the warriors standing in front of her turned in unison in the direction of Sashei and regrouped in a semicircle, starting to advance on the angel. “What are you doing, Haniel?” The girl did not expect such a turn at all. “For your misdeeds, you and your friend must answer according to the law. I’ll take you to Naomi’s tomorrow. She quickly deals with bullies.” “Wait, let’s make a deal!” Sesh exclaimed when she was grabbed and was about to be carried towards the main building. “Balthazar and I have our first flight lesson tomorrow at Zachariah’s. You don’t want to deprive him of the pleasure of making fun of us, do you? And then Bal’th and I will come to you together for punishment, honest angelic!” “Flight lesson?” Surprised Haniel stopped the soldiers with her hand and, after a moment, realizing everything that was happening, added: “I keep forgetting that you are from that trial garrison.” “Yeah,” said the angel, remaining on the ground. “A waste of time and effort. Why did God create you?” “Ask him… So, Haniel, will you let me go until tomorrow?” “Well, it’s agreed, but if you don’t come, you will be punished worse than it could be. Do you understand me, Sesh?” “Everything is clear, commander!” “Now leave before I change my mind.” Seshey saluted the woman and hurried away from the field, knowing that Haniel’s temper was quite changeable.