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I DECIDE TO REQUEST a Council meeting on behalf of young Mikayla. I can't remember the last time I've been inspired to make a plea for one of my charges, but I truly believe she deserves a second chance at life. She's the sort of young woman who makes you ask, why do bad things happen to good people? For once, I want to make a good thing happen for a good girl. I don't know if I'll be successful, but it's worth a shot.
I have to wait an hour for five Archangels to assemble, which is a considerable length of time for an Archangel of my caliber. It's an unpleasant surprise when Jophiel shows up. Even though he's a friend, I'm not sure he's forgiven me for the time I had to arrest him. Hopefully he can listen to Mikey's story with an unbiased ear.
Jophiel is outranked only by Gabriel, one of Michael's cronies. I always have an inward chuckle when I see Gabriel, because there's never a single brown curl out of place on his head. My hair, while curly, is a lot more wild. I don't tend to it as tirelessly as Gabriel does.
Zadkiel—broody, bearded, and wrapped in a purple robe—shows up for the Assembly as well. I can't say I'm happy to see him. He's never liked me. Most of the Archangels have adopted a more contemporary style, but not Zadkiel. He's always in a robe, and today, he's even wearing a crown. I guess he likes to stand out.
The last two Archangels are mere acquaintances of mine. One of them is Catherine, a very stern-looking lady with ruddy cheeks and light brown hair. Unlike most Archangels, she's chosen a more elderly appearance. The lowest-ranking Archangel is Prisha, and if I'm not mistaken, she's been an Archangel for less than a week. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first Council meeting she's attended.
Gabriel, the highest ranking Archangel, oversees today's meeting. He looks even more haughty than usual, and he's watching me with boredom in his eyes. Tapping his pencil against his desk, he asks, “You've come to request a miracle, Sandalphon?”
“I have.”
“Alright,” Gabriel says, running a hand through his hair. I swear it looks like every single curl pops back into place. “Who will be receiving this miracle you're requesting?”
“I ask for a miracle on behalf of Mikayla Frost, a seventeen-year-old girl from Albuquerque, New Mexico,” I begin. “Some months ago, she was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer, despite having no prior risk factors.”
Gabriel asks, “And what sets her apart from all the other poor humans who are suffering at this very moment?”
“I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that's she's a good, sweet person. I—” I was going to say more, but Zadkiel cuts me off.
“There are plenty of good humans,” he says. “Gabriel asked what sets her apart. The answer you've given is too subjective.”
“Well, I was going to say more, but you interrupted.” As soon as those words slip out of me, I cringe. I'm supposed to get Zadkiel on my side. I'm not supposed to give him a reason to vote against me. “Mikayla had a bright future ahead of her before the cancer took over her life. She is a talented singer, she has a good sense of humor, and she adores her grandfather.”
“Aww. How pwecious,” Zadkiel says, sticking out his bottom lip to mock me. “Sandalphon... are you really asking us to save a girl because she likes her grandfather?”
“That's really only part of the reason,” I say, glancing at Jophiel. I keep hoping he'll speak up on my behalf, but I guess that's expecting too much from him.
“And what is the rest of the reason?” Zadkiel grumbles. I knew he didn't like me, but he's really coming at me hard today.
I try again, “Mikayla's grandfather, a man named James, has already lost his wife. His daughter is in prison, and his brothers have recently passed away. If you remove Mikayla from his life, he won't have anyone left. Humans aren't supposed to be challenged with more than they can handle. They—”
Zadkiel interrupts me again. “Is this meeting about James, or is it about Mikayla? At the moment, you seem more concerned about the grandfather than the girl.”
“I'm concerned about both!” I exclaim, my voice squeaking a bit. “Helping the girl will help the grandfather, and vice versa.”
Jophiel inserts an opinion that has me clutching a fist behind my back. “I bet he's more concerned about the girl,” he says. “Sandalphon needs a girl. He hasn't asked for a miracle in a long time, so I bet he likes this one.”
Gabriel says, “Perhaps we should let her pass on, then. If he really likes her, he can meet her in the afterlife.”
I can't believe they're saying this. I haven't been this irritated with either of them in a very long time. “No!” I cry. “I do like her, yes, but it's because I like her so much that I want her to have another chance. Mikayla and her grandfather are very close. I just can't imagine separating them.”
Gabriel starts reading something on his LightTab. He's either being a complete arse, or he's reading a summary of Mikayla's life.
“Are you still paying attention?” I ask him.
“Yes. Of course,” Gabriel assures me. “I had to check a text from Michael. He needs me for something, and he's encouraging me to wrap this up quickly. Is there anything else you would like to add, Sandalphon?”
“May I play a recording of Mikayla's singing? She really has a lovely voice. She—”
Zadkiel interrupts yet again. “Then let her sing in the afterlife,” he says. “She'll have a lovely voice here as well.”
It sounds like he's already made up his mind. I guess I can count on Zadkiel to vote against me. Gabriel too. He's still checking texts from Michael.
“Catherine. Prisha,” Jophiel addresses the other Archangels in the room. He has to speak up because Gabriel seems to have given up on me. “Do you have anything you would like to add to this discussion?”
“If you do, make it quick,” Gabriel adds. “As I said, Michael needs me.” He overemphasizes Michael's name, as if to suggest the reigning Archangel's needs are more important than my own.
Prisha asks, “How far along is Mikayla's cancer?”
I give an honest answer, even though it might not help my cause. “She's... been ill for some months. She isn't expected to live much longer.”
“Hmm.” Prisha's lips fall into a frown. “If that's the case, any miracle we grant might seem too... extraordinary.”
I point out, “Azrael asked for an extraordinary miracle recently, and we gave it to him.”
The difference is, Azrael is popular. I'm not.
Catherine is the last one to speak. Even though she looks cross, her voice is surprisingly gentle. “Is there anyone waiting for Mikayla on the other side?”
“There is,” I reply—and once again, I worry that I've shot myself in the foot with my honesty. If she didn't have anyone but her grandfather, they might have been more inclined to vote in my favor. “Mikayla lost her grandmother some years ago. If she died, I... I guess her grandmother will be the one who greets her.”
“What about Mikayla's mother and father? What happened to them?” Catherine asks.
“She never knew her father, and her mother is in jail,” I reply.
“All of that sounds like a toxic situation,” Zadkiel observes. “Shouldn't we free Mikayla from such a world?”
His question has me heaving a giant sigh. I'm not sure how to argue against that, but I have to try.
“She would be happiest with her grandfather. Trust me,” I say. “As I said, they're very close. Taking them away from each other would be a tragedy.”
“Everyone has to deal with tragedy at some time or another. It's what makes them human,” Zadkiel says. “Anyway, I'm ready to vote. I don't think we should waste any more time with this.”
One by one, they vote on Mikayla's fate, and I hold my breath. I do expect Jophiel to take my side, but I'm not sure about the others.
The truth is a punch to the gut. The vote was unanimous, but they all voted against me. Unbelievable. Even Jophiel decided to stab me in the back today.
It's going to be a long time before I recover from this. Apparently, I'm even less popular than I thought.
As everyone leaves the room, Jophiel pulls me aside and says, “I'm sorry. I know you wanted to save her, but... I'm sorry.”
I don't say anything. I don't even make eye contact with him. Angry doesn't begin to describe the emotion swirling inside me.
“I'm not wrong to assume she's special to you, though... right?” Jophiel asks. “That's precisely why I voted against you. When she dies, I think you should meet her.”
I can feel my jaw twitch as I soak up his words. They're not even slightly consoling.
“Letting Mikayla die so I can meet her sounds like an extremely selfish thing to do,” I reply. “In fact, it sounds like something you would do, Jophiel. Are you sure you didn't let Anna die on purpose?”
I know I touched a sore spot, but I really don't care. I walk away with my head held high.