Chapter 41 - A Traitor In Our Midst?

Minutes turned into what felt like an eternity as the shimmering light of the hall cast jagged shadows across the walls, mirroring the tension that had coiled like a serpent between Bastian and Gabriel. The air was heavy, suffocating, as if the tension between the two angels was dragging the very atmosphere down.

Bastian's mind was a running at 100 miles per hour, trying to put a puzzle together after hearing what Angel Zadkiel said to Gabriel regarding how Bastian was supposed to be reborn and a new born angel was supposed to be free of his memories from his previous life.

This was unknown to Bastian until now and each thought was now a dagger aimed at Gabriel. His jaw tightened, his fists clenching and unclenching as realizations of being set up, flared in his mind like wildfire.

Gabriel, standing a few paces away, looked as composed as ever, his hands behind his back, his expression carved from stone. The calm only infuriated Bastian further, until his anger boiled over, and he could no longer hold his tongue.

"You're a snake," Bastian spat, the words venomous.

Gabriel's head tilted slightly, his calm demeanor cracking just enough to reveal a flicker of annoyance. His golden eyes narrowed, sharp as blades. "Watch your tongue, boy," he said, his voice low but carrying the weight of a storm.

"Why?" Bastian retorted, his voice rising. "Because it's true? You've been playing both sides this entire time, haven't you? Acting like the noble leader while pulling strings behind the scenes, twisting everything to fit some sick agenda. Some would call you a traitor to our kind."

Gabriel turned fully toward him now, his wings unfurling slightly, their shadow consuming the light around them. "Careful, Bastian," he warned, his tone dropping to a deadly whisper. "You don't understand the scope of what you're accusing me of."

Bastian took a step closer, his voice trembling with anger. "Oh, I understand perfectly. You sent me to Earth knowing damn well what would happen. You let me keep my memories, my emotions, because you needed me to break the rules. You wanted me to set me up to fail this whole time and now you're standing here, pretending to be above it all, while you argue for the severing of ties between Hunters and Angels, an alliance that has been around since the beginning of time and worse, the death of an innocent child. You are no better then a demon leader."

Gabriel's eyes flashed, and in an instant, he was in front of Bastian. The shift was so sudden it was like the air itself had torn apart. His Arch-blade he summoned gleamed with an ethereal glow, the edge so sharp it seemed to cut the light around it. Its tip pressed against Bastian's throat, cold and humming with deadly power.

"Do not forget your place," Gabriel growled, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder. "You are a child in the grand scheme of things. And do not mistake my patience for weakness. Angels can still die by the blade of another. And when they do, they are sent to The Space Between. The void. The nothingness." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower. "I would be more than happy to send you there if it means putting an end to this chaos you've unleashed."

Bastian didn't move. He didn't even blink. His jaw was set, his blue eyes locked with Gabriel's unyielding golden ones.

"Then do it," Bastian said, his voice steady, unwavering. "Because I'd rather die than stand by and let you destroy everything I love. I will make sure to find a way to stop you."

For a moment, the tension was so thick it felt like the very fabric of reality was straining under it. The faint hum of the blade filled the silence, a dangerous reminder of just how fragile the moment was.

Gabriel's expression remained cold, but there was something deeper in his eyes now—a flicker of something Bastian couldn't quite place. Hesitation? Regret? Whatever it was, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

With a sharp snap, Gabriel sheathed the blade, the sound echoing through the hall. He stepped back, his wings folding in tightly, his face a mask of disdain.

"You're a fool," Gabriel said, his voice dripping with contempt.

"And you're a coward," Bastian shot back, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.

The words hung between them like an unspoken challenge, each man daring the other to break first.

Before Gabriel could respond, the heavy doors to the council chamber creaked open. A soft but commanding voice called out, breaking the standoff.

The council remains silent for a moment as Zadkiel stands, his golden eyes fixed on Bastian and Gabriel. "We have made our final decision."