Poetry Friday ~ Gadreel

Hello everyone! Today, I have an interesting guest on my blog. Her name is Gadreel and she is the main character in my latest novel The Rise of Gadreel. She has written a poem for us but before we get to that I have a few questions I’d like to ask her.

Character Interview

Vashti:

Hello Gadreel! Welcome. I’m so happy you could join us today.

Gadreel:

Greetings. I am delighted to be here.

Vashti:

Let’s get right to it, okay? Tell us about your home, Floraison.

Gadreel: (She frowns. She gives me a wounded look and then lowers her eyes to the floor)

Floraison is no longer my home, for I was cast out along with Lilith, Lucifer and the rest of the rebel angels.

Vashti:

Oh––yes, I’m sorry. (I squirm on my seat) If it’s too difficult for you to talk about it, it’s––

Gadreel:

Apologies. It is for this reason I was invited, so I shall answer your question. Although, there are no words to fully describe Floraison, none that humans can understand. I shall do my best. Firstly, there are three realms of Heaven: Heaven Most High where God resides, Metá Heaven, and Floraison, the lowest realm of Heaven where God chose to place his angels. Different dimensions separate these realms and only God travels between them as He pleases.

There was no need for a sun, moon or stars to give Floraison light. God’s splendor lit the lowest realm, and the skies were beautiful beyond compare. There was no true darkness where the angels lived. In Floraison’s unit of time there was brillante, when the light was at its most intense and nightglow when at its dimmest.

There were many trees and meadows adorned with colorful flowers that emitted fragrances evoking happiness and vigor. Magnificent creatures abounded, large and small––perfect in every way and pleasing to the senses. Some of these creatures were prototypes for beings God created on different planets, and others were unique to Floraison.

The River of Life, a pure river with crystalline healing waters, flowed between realms and proceeded from God’s throne room.

(She stopped and gazed at me with doleful eyes that made my heart ache a little)

Vashti:

It’s okay, Gadreel. I think we get the picture––Floraison is a celestial paradise. You mentioned that there was no true darkness in heaven, so what was it like the first time you experienced night on Earth?

Gadreel: (She shivers and wraps her arms around herself)

When I fell from heaven I landed in a hot area of grasses and small dispersed trees. The sunlight was harsh and glaring and singed my angelic skin. There was no shade or area to escape from it. The heat enveloped me and the air was so dense I had to drag it into my lungs. I hated this new environment, but nothing prepared me for night.

It was like I disappeared. I could not see my hands in front of my face. It was like not existing, but yet living. I felt like God no longer saw me and that made my heart very heavy. I never felt farther from my home.

The grasslands came to life at night with unfamiliar noises. I heard a sharp, thrilling call overhead, the leaping and bounding of fleet-footed creatures avoiding predators on the ground, and all manner of growls, clicks, and hoots. An eerie, cold sensation crept into my bones. I curled into a tight ball and trembled in the darkness.

Vashti:

That sounds awful. I won’t be alone in the dark any time soon. (Awkward pause) Gadreel, did you ever see God?

Gadreel:

In Floraison there are golden double doors that opened to a portal that lead to Metá Heaven where God’s presence could be reached in His Throne Room. Only by His expressed permission could one cross this portal. I was never given permission to enter. Michael, who had entered the hall, said it was aglow with the most exquisite light ever seen. But in order to truly see God angels must elevate to Heaven Most High and that’s a difficult process.

Vashti:

You’re obviously remorseful for joining Lilith and rebelling against God and the holy angels, so why did you do it?

Gadreel: (She swallowed hard and looked down)

I never felt rebellious in my heart. I loved God and my heavenly home. Lilith was my best friend and she is a powerful influencer. She made me feel that I needed to be loyal to her––and I was also a bit afraid of her, of what she would do if I did not follow her. She also told me it was the only way for me to be with Samael and I believed this. I loved Samael and he joined Lilith and Lucifer in their rebellion. I wanted to go wherever he went, even if it meant that I would end up in hell.

Vashti:

So much has happened since the war in heaven and your fall from grace. How have you changed?

Gadreel:

I am much stronger and confident in my abilities now. I know I have done many wrongs for which I must make amends. I will seek God’s forgiveness, although I know I can never return to my home in heaven. I shall no longer ally myself with Lilith, Lucifer or Samael. I have new allies now even in the Animal Kingdom, for I have the ability to understand and communicate with them. However, I shall always miss Floraison.

Floraison by Jeff Brown

Homesickness pulls at my heart

♥

Tossed down from Heaven

I lie broken on the earth

I know in my mind

It is not over for you see

Although the fall split my spine

♥

I shall survive this

Long enough to make amends

I don’t belong here

but I am homesick

for a home I shall not see

♥

Home needs a whole heart

My heart’s a thousand pieces

so homesick am I

Earth shall never be my home

I am wishing for heaven

“There was no sun in Floraison to torture us. We had brillantes, a time of divine light, which was like the warmth of God’s smile. Here on earth, we have to endure days of glaring, fiery light, which stings our bodies and perturbs our minds. In Floraison, we had nightglows when light dimmed to a soft glow, which reminded us that God was still near. Here, we have night––the absence of light when we are left on our own. I miss our home.”

~Gadreel

Lilith, the main character from my novel, The Fall of Lilith was also interviewed by Lisa Burton (Robot Girl) of Lisa Burton Radio | Entertaining Stories. You can read that interview, here.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

Haiku Friday – Bold & Daring

Happy Friday, everyone! Welcome to The Writer Next Door blog!

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Vashti Quiroz-Vega but you can call me Vashti Q. 😉

A couple of weeks ago I had a very special guest on my blog. Her name is Gadreel and she is one of the characters from my new release, The Fall of Lilith. I had such a great time interviewing her that I decided to invite another character from the book.

I’ve invited Gabriel to come and interview with me today. Gabriel grew up in Floraison along with Lilith, Lucifer, Gadreel and the rest of the angels. He still resides in Heaven’s lowest realm but there was a moment when he imagined his eyes closed to the light of Floraison forever, as God’s punishment for his illicit act.

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“If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences.”

― Criss Jami 

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He dared seduce me

And beckoned the thumping beats

within my bold chest

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Character Interview: Gabriel, Celestial Angel

 

Vashti: ( I squinted my eyes trying to get a better look at him. He was no more than a shimmer of mist. Through him the edges of my sofas and ottoman became blurred.)

Hello Gabriel. I’m happy you decided to join us. I know your decision to come was not an easy one.

(It was not until he spoke that he congealed into a form, an angel.)

 

Gabriel:

I decided to come, because I feel that others may learn from my mistakes.

 

Vashti: (Gawking at Gabriel)

I apologize for staring but Ive never seen anything––anyone like you before. Your irises are a brilliant white, yet I distinguish them from the whites of your eyes. Your silvery skin glitters ever so lightly. You seem almost solid but not really. Why is your appearance so different from that of the other angels?

 

Gabriel: (His shoulders slumped and he looked down and away from me.)

I did not always have this ethereal form. Once, I was of flesh and blood. Not like a human, for angelic flesh and blood is very different from that of mankind, although they may appear somewhat similar. I was weak and allowed myself to be seduced by the wicked Beelzebub. What we did was against God’s laws and I thought I would be put to death. Instead, God chose to spare my life but as punishment for my wrongdoing He took away my flesh, so that it may never tempt me to lose control and break his laws again. 

(A chill filled the air and I shivered)

 

Vashti:

Are you able to feel another’s caress in this form?

 

Gabriel: (He gazed at me with an agonized expression and shook his head)

I no longer feel any pleasures of the flesh. No kiss shall ever warm my lips, no touch shall ever make my breath shake, and no embrace shall ever give me comfort. Passion no longer exists for me and honeyed words whispered in my ears shan’t bring forth billowing breaths. I feel only the truth.

 

Vashti: ( I leaned forward and took his hand in mine but it was like trying to hold an ice fog and his hand slipped right through mine. My hand was chilled to the bone, so I retrieved it quickly and blew hot air on it.)

 

Gabriel: (He tilted his head and looked at me with a quizzical expression)

Why did you do that?

 

Vashti:

I’m sorry, I was just trying to comfort you. I wanted to hold your hand but I couldn’t grasp it and it felt like I had dipped my hand in glacial water. My fingers are still numb. Tell us what happened between you and Beelzebub that warranted such a severe punishment.

 

Gabriel:

I had always been attracted to Beelzebub and he made it quite obvious that he was also attracted to me. I hid my feelings for him deep inside myself, for the laws in Floraison clearly state that angels are not permitted to indulge on such feelings. I should have kept far away from him, as Michael and Raphael warned me countless times but I underestimated the strength of my feelings and beelzebub’s skills of seduction. One day, I allowed things to get too far and . . . (He buried his face in his hands and bowed his head.)

 

Vashti: ( I watched him for a while wanting to hug him but afraid of what would happen to me if I did. I proceeded to change the subject.)

Gabriel, you invented many instruments in heaven. You have also inspired many men to invent instruments of music here on earth, as well as, the writing of songs and poetry. I thank you for this, because without music, song and verse this planet would be a very dark place. I see that you have brought with you a beautiful golden horn. Tell us about it.

 

Gabriel: (His whole demeanor changed and he sat straighter in his seat. He lifted and demonstrated the wind instrument.)

This is the Horn of Truth. It is an instrument forged by the hands of God. He gave it to me as a gift for revealing the truth to Him and for being remorseful for my actions. When I play the horn, everyone who hears its sound is compelled to tell the truth.

 

Vashti:

Oh wow. That’s interesting. Can I borrow it?

 

Gabriel:

Absolutely not.

 

Vashti:

Come on. Not even for a day or maybe for a couple of hours? 

 

Gabriel:

No.

 

Vashti:

I promise I’ll give it right back. Why don’t you blow on it right now and you’ll see I’m telling you the truth.

 

Gabriel: (He gives an exasperated sigh.)

It would not work for you. In your hands it would be no more than an ordinary horn. Its magic works only through me. Besides, I do not want your spittle on it. 

 

Vashti:

Okay! You know, there is such a thing as being too honest.

 

Gabriel:

I do not think so.

 

Vashti:

Well, that is all for today. Thank you for being my guest, Gabriel. It was a pleasure having you here.

 

Gabriel:

Thank you. Stay honest. I shall keep my eyes on you and my horn of truth shall always be near.

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Bold and Daring are this week’s prompt words chosen by Ronovan Hester of Ronovan Writes.

Ron hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge every Monday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your haiku poem. He is an author and poet and also does author interviews and much more on his blog. Be sure to check it out. Read Ron’s Haiku Prompt Challenge Guidelines for more information.

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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!