Chapter Text
The emblem of The Great Tree stood tall on the doors that led to the archangel’s quarters. His office, unlike many of those belonging to his peers was at his home. Looking around briefly, the silver haired reaper noted that it had been some time since he had last been here. Yet, unlike the unwavering advent of the human world far down below, time seemed weightless in this place. For nothing, not even a scrap, had shifted in a great many years. It was as if the clock stopped every time he walked into Heaven’s Greater Hallows.
Eschewing the bell, he rapped his knuckles upon the elegantly carved wooden panels. The monolith opened slowly, and a younger, round-faced angelic assistant he didn't recognize poked his head out.
“Greetings, sir!” He chimed, a higher voice accentuating his tender age, “We’ve been expecting you.” He smiled, and with all the graceful daintiness of a woodland deer, he widened the gap to allow entry.
“Please come in.” He bowed, gesturing.
“Thank you,” The Reaper gave a nod of his head, and added “May the Powers That Be always keep you in their care.” It was an old, but proper way to address one when parting. The boy beamed, responding in kind before closing the door behind him, leaving him alone with the one who had called him here.
“Archangel Azrael, greetings,” The Reaper bowed down low, falling to one knee “I have come per your request.”
The chair at the large desk before him was turned away, facing the window. A tall picturesque tree framed perfectly within it’s panes. For a few long moments, the individual seated there lingered, watching as a breeze blew by outside, making the tree shutter and drop some leaves as if it were suddenly early autumn. Save for the sound of rustling greenery, all was silent, until...
“Much do I appreciate your swift response to my summons.” The angel’s voice was smooth and even. As he swivelled his chair around to face the Reaper before him, he added,
“Greetings, it has been a long time, Ankou.”
“Indeed.” Ankou gave a mild incline of his head in recognition. The old Reaper’s heart fluttered painfully as he caught a glimpse of his long time friend. While he still shown as a beacon any mortal would follow unto Paradise, he looked worn, almost as if he’d aged some. The weight of an eternity collecting souls was beginning to show on him, too.
“Rise” Azrael spoke softly and made a gesture with one upturned hand. “Enough standing on ceremony. We have much to discuss.” His voice gained a degree of warmth as he moved to open a drawer in his desk. “You, of course, know why you are here.” Azrael sifted through files as he spoke.
Ankou sighed as he took to his feet again. “I do.” He stated simply, letting more emotion slip than he’d intended. It was a sensitive subject, both exciting and nerve-wracking in the same breath.
“Excellent.” Azrael seemed pleased that they could easily proceed without a lengthy explanation. “We have indeed found the individual in question, and as you have predicted, she has fallen into the realms of our jurisdiction.”
So it was true!! Ankou resisted the urge to take a step forward as Azrael produced a series of papers, placing them in front of him on the desk. Among them were the usual forms for the collection and sorting of the soul.
“However” Azrael paused, hesitantly pulling out a small box and placing it where Ankou could easily see. “I do believe that you should have a look at this.” Azrael lifted the lid to reveal not one, but two delicate leaves, the first a beautiful maple of many colors. The second, that of an elm faded to crimson, sharply sticking out of the first at a rough angle, it’s usually benign serrated edges cutting inward toward the central vein of the maple’s core. This time Ankou DID step forward, his curiosity quickly fading into a deep concern as he studied the specimens. Cases involving multiple leaves were rare and often tricky to navigate.
“Which one is hers?” He heard himself asking, though he feared the answer.
“The Maple.” Azrael replied, his voice as heavy as Ankou suddenly felt. “I have never seen one cut so deep...” He stroked his chin as he considered the puzzle in front of him, adding “and... that it stayed lodged like this. How unfortunate. Her case may prove to be a difficult one.” Azrael had taken on a gentle but solemn tone, sympathy hovering in his cyan eyes.
Ankou picked up the box to study the leaves closer. Concern and fear racing up from his belly. He’d seen cut leaves before, spirits needing hospitalization and special care after being reaped. He’d also seen plenty of merged ones in his time. Some were unborn or conjoined twins, but this type? Leaves that stuck together in this unusual way could only mean one thing. He shuddered at the thought. Even among those cases, never had he observed one as severe as this. With the utmost care he grasped them gently and rotated the pair. There! The elm leaf didn't just cut down to the midrib, it sliced partially into it.
“Azrael... what do you make of this?” He asked, his usually jovial voice gone grave.
Azrael came over to see what his companion was talking about, a sound of unhappy disquiet rising from him. The lines in his forehead deepened even as he took the pair back. Gently settling them into their box once more, he slid the paperwork on his desk over to Ankou, who waited for an answer, but the archangel only tapped the acquisition forms and permission sheets he’d laid out a few minutes before. As Ankou took up a quill, Azrael finally spoke.
“I know this leaf of deep vermilion, as I know all the leaves that fall from God’s sacred Tree of Life the moment I touch them.” Azrael pointed to the elm, “Red with blood. I know this man. He’s a murderer.” The Archangel of Death declared “He is extremely dangerous, a man guilty of deplorable sin who has been on the run. He eluded the police for a time by hiding among the meek and homeless.” His tone had become harder, as if the thought had offended him. “Upon seeing this, I sent out some of our best agents in soul recovery to retrieve him.”
Hearing this, Ankou jolted upright from his work, brows furrowed with new worry, “But, he’s not dead yet.”
“True, but these leaves tell us what his next move shall be, do they not? He’s not done taking lives yet, even with his own coming to an end.” The raven-haired angelic tapped the pages once more, and Ankou bent back to writing. The Reaper could feel the shifting emotions that his longtime friend was experiencing as his pen strokes continued, as if the angel was debating something. Finally, they coalesced into resolve as Azrael spoke again.
“I realize that you had originally intended to take this collection on solely by yourself, Ankou... but I ask you to reconsider. Given that the state of her leaf suggests unusual circumstances, I would gladly step in to lend some aid.”
“That is not what we agreed to.” Ankou replied carefully, pen halting.
“I realize that. However, the situation is most unprecedented. Even the ‘Great Legendary Reaper’ may yet find himself out of his depth.” Azrael said his previous title with a half serious chiding tone, a bit of mockery lingering at the edges. It did not escape the old Reaper’s notice.
Finishing his signature with a fierce set of strokes, he let the pen fall unceremoniously from his fingers,
“I came back solely for this, for her. I have every intention of doing my duty properly!”
his mood having shifted from melancholy to near anger, a red haze fell over his view. He drew a deep breath to calm what could easily turn to rage if left unchecked.
The archangel raised his hands in a placating fashion, radiating his own aura, one of deep blue-purple calm hoping to ease the ire he felt.
“Now, now... I understand. There is no need to be upset. If you are having mixed feelings about it being me, then at least take another one of our top members from the Collections Division. The more eyes on the problem, the less likely it will turn out badly. You know as well as I do that these leaves are only a prediction.” The member of the Heavenly Host gestured back to the colorful examples of Autumn splendor still sitting on the counter. Ankou’s eyes lingered on the bright maple, a shining rainbow hanging in a perilous balance. He wanted so much to see it after the gathering storm was through.
“Your Star will pass from the mortal realm. Don’t let this one,” Azrael continued as he pointed back to the elm leaf again, the sharp stabbing motion emphasizing his words “catch her.”
Ankou went from exasperated to his shoulders slumping, defeated. What frustration he had been feeling flew away like one of their pigeon psychopomps, leaving only a gloom closer to despair.
“You are right, of course” He admitted, sighing heavily as he brought his attention back the angelic in front of him. “I have not come this far to to lose her now. We both know she has to be here, we need her... and my skills will be required before the end.” He straightened with new focus. “I will take a second along. Let me see the list of whom is currently available.”
Striding to his desk, Azrael righted the quill back into it’s holder, then brought out a binder. Pulling out a page of names, he handed it to Ankou.
“Choose wisely,” He said “but soon. Even in the infinite span of Heaven, time is short.”