Passion's Storm

"One time, Asbel looked at Raphaem, and with an ever widening smile asked him about his service to the lord. Raphaem was accustomed to ignoring questions like these, because the quickest way to become a fallen one is to doubt. You people think that you have faith issues?

"So Raphaem continued to go about his work, collecting the souls of the dearly departed, and the souls of the not so dearly departed, when Asbel started to proclaim his love for god.

"’So why do you not let me take you to judgment?’ Raphaem asked him, exasperated.

"’Because I do not want to leave earth yet. I love god yes’ Asbel replied, ‘but I also love my life on earth, and I do not think that I am ready to be taken from it so brashly, by one who has never been through the entire process of living on earth.’

"’I have lived on earth since my creation! Where do you think we are now?’ The angel replied.

"’This is not the real earth. To understand the pleasures and pains of the real earth, you would have to get out of this spirit dimension, and actually walk alongside the mortals whom your god loves so much. I mean you go along collecting the souls of the dead, and I am sure that you offer them plenty of comfort in their most needy hour. You know the "throw away earthly things" speech and such, but to my knowledge I doubt that you understand fully what you are saying to the souls.’ Raphaem was not angry that this was said, and maybe he should have been. His casting out of the spirit of Asbel could have been the one saving grace in his life. The one thing that had led him back into the graces of god." The man took a sip of his wine. It seemed to be having an affect on him, for he seemed a bit melancholy for this early in the evening.

"But the problem was that Raphaem had started to listen to Asbel. He would go along with his work, and all the while he had started to think of what Asbel was saying to him. Maybe there was truth in what Asbel was saying he really hadn’t been in contact with the actual living souls of the realm, for his job kept him from that line of work. So finally, Raphaem cast Asbel away from him. Raphaem coerced Asbel to suffer judgment and his soul was accepted into the gates of heaven, but Asbel gave Raphaem a most stern look as he walked through the gates.

"’I did not want this yet, and now you have just sealed your destiny.’ Raphaem was shocked. To here such blasphemy coming from the mouth of a soul that was let into heaven? He approached St. Peter, reverently, and began to question him.

"’Why is he allowed to go into the gates of heaven?’ He asked, still quite shaken.

"’All of the people who do the lord’s work are entitled to their place in the kingdom. You should know that Raphaem.’ Peter’s words were calm, and full of love, but there was a tinge of something else. Something disturbing that Raphaem could not put his finger on...

"’You had heard what he had said to me, was that not blasphemy?’

"’To wound another with the truth is no form of blasphemy’

"’What? What is planned for me? I have done my work loyally and without question!’

"’The lord works in mysterious ways, you know this, Raphaem.’

"’Of course, Peter.’ Raphaem walked away from the gates, and began to go back to doing his work. Suddenly he stopped. Raphaem turned back to Peter, and slowly walked up to him.

"’Peter, I was thinking about something that that young soul said to me when I had been traveling with him, and I would like to take some time off, and get to know the people that I serve.’