Sacred Cups (Seven Archangels Book 2) by Jane Lebak

Author:Jane Lebak [Lebak, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Philangelus Press
Published: 2015-02-02T05:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

They returned to the Roman palace, and Gabriel was stunned to find Uriel with arms and wings around Raphael. He hadn’t felt the Seraph’s distress, or maybe he couldn’t over his own.

Gabriel moved closer and put his hand on Raphael. “We’re with you.” Raphael didn’t acknowledge, but at least he didn’t throw Gabriel off. It was a start.

Uriel sent information to Michael and Gabriel: Pilate had washed his hands of the situation. Jesus was to be given a crossbeam to carry to the Skull Place, and he was to be crucified.

Mary sat on a bench, bloodless. Gabriel knelt before her and rested his hand on hers.

“How will he die?” she whispered. “What happens?”

Gabriel’s eyes unfocused. Crucifixion falls into the category of suspension torture, so he’ll be stretched. He’ll have to inch up for breath. The nails through his wrists and feet will cause him to lose blood, even more than he’s already lost by being flogged, but not so much that he loses consciousness. He’ll be aware of everything for hours while he asphyxiates because of the weight on his intercostal muscles, unable to draw a full breath, but still able to get shallow respirations so that he doesn’t die immediately. The whip lashes on his back will sting, and they’ll pull open when he moves on the wooden beam. The nails through his wrists will crush the sensorimotor median nerve, and it will feel like fire. The one through his feet will hit the plantar nerves and do the same. When he’s close enough to death, the Romans will smash the bones in his shins so he can’t inch up for breath, or when he simply hasn’t the strength, then all his weight will bear on his wrists until the mass of his own body crushes the last bit of air out of his lungs, and then he asphyxiates.

Mary leaned forward. “Tell me.”

Gabriel shook himself free of the images. “He’ll lose a lot of blood. Blood carries the good parts of the air to the body where it needs it. When he can’t get enough air any longer, he’ll die.”

Mary’s eyes teared. “Is it painful?”

Gabriel looked aside. “In the last minute, when there’s not enough oxygen, it’s actually a euphoric state, as if you’re drifting.”

Mary accepted this and did not ask about the hours leading to those last moments. “And what about Sheol? What is it like?”

“It’s a natural happiness.” This much at least was the complete truth. “Imagine awakening in the middle of the night and knowing everyone you love is in the house with you. It’s just warm enough, and your blankets are up around your shoulders, and you have a soft pillow. Outside you can hear crickets, but you know you’re secure, and you drift back to sleep.”

Mary tried to smile. “So, it’s not all bad.”

“It’s never all bad.” Gabriel shook his head. “Even when that’s how it seems.”

Raphael had come up behind Gabriel. Mary looked up at the Seraph, and Gabriel stood.

He didn’t meet Raphael’s eyes.

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