It was finally time to kick some rogue Archangel ass and get our daughter back.
17
It took a while for everyone to assemble. Angels and Fallen began appearing a few minutes after we got there. We stood in front of the gates and greeted Angels we hadn't seen in millennia and Fallen who were relieved to hear we were going to set things right.
Everyone who appeared asked what the plan was. All anyone was telling them was that we had a big plan and to come here. "We'll explain everything as soon as most are gathered."
After about an hour of catching up with our old friends and acquaintances, Asmodeus, then soon after, Joel, appeared.
They both nodded, indicating the majority of those helping us were present. "Hello, everyone," I called. Luc hated public speaking. "Thank you all for coming."
I projected my voice so the assembled crowd could hear me well. There had to be at least a hundred of us. Maybe one-fifty.
"We're going to reset time," I said. All the Fallen looked confused. "For those that don't know, it is possible to reverse time. It's only ever been done for a few hours at a time. We're going to do a few days. When it's done, and the demons are back in Abaddon and the gates closed, you must disappear as quickly as possible. If you can go into Abaddon and stay close, please do. Angels that can't, please go to Purgatory so that if things go bad with Raphael, you can help. But we can't have him see any of us before we're ready or he might bolt with Ariel again." I let the information sink in for the crowd. "Does anyone have questions?"
There was a lot of murmuring. I was sure people were asking questions of their friends and the people nearest them, but nobody stepped forward to come out with anything. I nodded and looked at Michael and Gabriel. "You want to take over?"
Joel stepped forward. "I will if you don't mind?"
I nodded my head. Joel was the organizer, the spell caster. Gabe and Michael were more like warriors and investigators. While they would probably do fine with the spell, Joel was more likely to have success.
He looked at the Fallen. "You're going to have to trust me."
Asmodeus shot me an unsure look. I shook my head and addressed just my part of the group. "Guys, you have to give it your all. If you don't want to do this, you'd be doing us more good by leaving now than by joining and resisting the link." I looked from face to face. "If you leave now, there will be no repercussions. I know it's hard to trust after so many years of mistrust and suspicion."
A couple of lower Fallen disappeared. I understood. Archangels and Fallen were considered enemies. We tried to lessen that stigma by being open with our relationship, but it hadn't done much good over the years.
Michael addressed the angels. "The same goes for all of you. If you're not all-in, go now. You won't be punished. It's okay to be nervous."
We lost a few on that side, too. Nobody I knew. It was better that they go.
"Everybody feeling good?" Joel asked. This time, people seemed more confident. He grinned. "Let's do this." He took my hand and Lucifer's. "Just because I've never done this with both Angels and Fallen, it would be great if you guys would stagger. There are more angels, but let's put a Fallen between an Angel, eh?" He raised his eyebrows and the Fallen exchanged alarmed looks, but they shuffled around until all Fallen were between angels and we formed a large circle in front of the gates.
"Open yourselves. Lucifer here on my left will start. He's going to allow the power inside him to be accessed by the person on his left. When he's ready, he'll nod at Quentin there and Quentin will connect their power."
Quentin nodded his understanding.
"Now, don't pull his power into you," Joel cautioned. "Just grab it and make yourself open for Asmodeus on your left to grab it."
"I'm ready," Lucifer said. He nodded at Quentin, a minor angel. Lucifer gave no reaction to his borrowed power being accessed. I knew he would've never let a stranger grab his power. He would've had Michael or Gabriel stand on his left instead.
Slowly, each angel and Fallen connected until it was my turn to take the bulk of the power from Michael on my right. I delved into him and saw it immediately. A braided rope of massive energy and magic. Gently, I grabbed it with a tendril of my power and weaved my energy into the existing rope. With a small tug, I pulled it toward me, then turned to Joel. "Here we go," I whispered.
He smiled, and my magic tingled his aura open so he could grasp the flow. The braid of immense power was awe-inspiring. "Is it enough power as-is?" I asked.
Joel shook his head. "No. We've used this many to go back nearly a day and it was difficult. All angels that time, of course, but this is some massive magic we need to perform. We'll have to use the souls."
I nodded. We'd agreed beforehand to try without the souls. Sending all the souls for rebirth without processing them and weeding out those that needed to be kept far away from humans wasn't the best idea.
But it was our only idea.
"Okay, Luc and I will begin, then. When the power is at its peak, we'll transfer to you."
Joel nodded. I took one final look around the circle, then focused my energy on Purgatory. We used the gigantic rope of power and directed it through the gates and into the mystical realm. Closing my eyes, I did my part while Luc did his. We'd decided he should work on the River, because by now it probably had more souls in it than Purgatory, and he was a little
