Ravenna stirred, her back aching from sleeping in the damp cave. She was grateful for the blankets Michael had brought and the warmth the still-sleeping Seraphim provided. Ravenna gently lifted Michael's arm and wing from her body and slipped from the makeshift bed. She left the cavern, skirting the waterfall to walk along the river.
Ravenna did not wander far; she did not want Michael to worry. The evening was about an hour away. She removed her shoes and sat on the bank of the river, dipping her toes in the water. She leaned backward, putting her arms behind her, her palms flat on the ground. The cool water rushed over her feet.
The young healer thought about home. How was Anne managing her disappearance? Ravenna hoped the courier she had hired had reached Anne and given her the news that her granddaughter was okay and on her way home. Ravenna was happy to have met Michael and had explored towns and places she had never gone to. She wished the events leading up to her travels were different, but the journey itself had been fascinating.
Ravenna thought of the man who came to her before she could signal Michael. – The man with the devious smirk and the devil charm. He called himself Lucifer. He said he wanted an ally. Why did he want Michael? And what did he want a partner for? Lucifer said he was the Fallen. What was Falling? – She had so many questions. But Michael thought this man might be a trickster, an illusionist. Where did the truth lie? Nothing made sense anymore.
The young woman's stomach growled. It had been quite some time since she had eaten. She hoped Michael would have a solution, but she could wait until they reached Graenwood if it was necessary. Ravenna had been so busy traveling and determined to find the waterfall that would keep them safe that food had escaped her mind. She recalled the map from the Nerium Inn in her mind. Judging by where they were now, Graenwood would be easily attainable in the night. They could stay in Graenwood Inn and head for Canden the following night. She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. The home was so close.
A deep voice purred next to her. "You don't have to embrace yourself, darling, I'll gladly do that and much more for you. You have but to only ask."
Ravenna jolted, her eyes snapping open. Lucifer had squatted next to her, his devious smirk growing as the woman noticed him.
"You seem surprised to see me. I did promise I would come back. I'm a man of my word. Now where is your precious Michael, darling, or have I won you all to myself?"
Ravenna stood, removing her feet from the river and rolling her eyes. "No, I was just hoping you would go away." She bent to grab her shoes in case things with Lucifer turned ugly. "Michael! It's evening. It's safe to come out."
Michael realm-traveled from the cavern, carrying the bag with the blankets and the bag with Ravenna's clothing, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He ran his fingers through his golden curls, trying to make himself look as presentable as possible. The tall Seraphim stretched, his white wings flaring wide before folding neatly behind his back. "Good evening, Ravenna," he began, before noticing the strange man from earlier in the day. "Oh, you came back. I see you were interested in us."
Lucifer nodded toward Ravenna. "Well, her in particular, but I got here late to claim her. You were too quick for me." Ravenna rolled her eyes again at Lucifer's words. "Anyhow, yes, as I had told your lovely companion this morning, I am Lucifer, the Morning Star. I am the First Seraphim, and I am the Fallen. I now rule the UnderKingdom and the Lost. And I've been watching you closely. I believe there will be a second Fallen soon, and I'm looking for an ally. Are you interested, Seraphim Michael?"
Michael frowned at the strange man's words. Ravenna had told him everything. He stepped toward Lucifer. "You'll need to explain much more than your little prepared speech there, Lucifer. My Brother Gabriel is the first Seraphim. I've lived in the Kingdom for over two centuries. There has been no mention of you. Why should we believe your words?"
Ravenna watched the two men standing before her in the dusk. On her right, Michael stood tall, dressed in black. Lucifer leaned against a tree on her left, his confidence radiating from him like heat. Michael flicked his wings irritably and pulled Ravenna close, wanting to protect her from Lucifer. He did not trust this man at all.
"What more do you want me to tell?" Lucifer looked at Michael's wings, almost longingly, before strangely shrugging his shoulders.
"All of it." Michael crossed his arms, standing to his full height. He was about four inches taller than Lucifer and significantly more muscular.
Lucifer did not look impressed by Michael's attempts to look large and intimidating. He continued to lean against the tree, folding his arms across his chest. "Fine. So starting again, I am Lucifer, the Morning Star. I am the Ruler of the UnderKingdom-"
"Skip the speech, Starboy," Michael grew impatient and interrupted Lucifer. "We know that part. Go into depth about it."
"You're fiery too. Maybe you two belong together." Lucifer frowned and scratched the back of his head. "Anyway. I am the First Seraphim. I know, you believe your precious Brothers came first, but they were not. I am the first. I was the only Seraphim for centuries. I went to the Human Realm, and helped the humans with their problems. I was called a sinner, full of pride, and cast out of the Kingdom, the wings ripped from my back. I landed in what is now the UnderKingdom. I turned my rage to magic, my pride and my pain into power. I rule over the Lost, the ones who do not deserve to go to the Forever. I've had particular fun with the one who caused you to expose your existence to this beauty here."
Michael squinted at Lucifer, trying to decide if his words were deceptive. "Why is there no mention of you anywhere in the Kingdom?"
Lucifer stuck his lower lip out as if to pout. "That wounds me. The Ruler must have erased all mention of my existence after my Fall. He must have brought your First Brother into existence after I Fell. Do you know how much agony it is, to have the wings ripped from your back, the humiliation it is to Fall from the Kingdom?" Lucifer straightened himself from the tree that supported him and stepped toward Michael. Michael quickly wrapped an arm around Ravenna and wrapped a wing around her. Lucifer smiled deviously and looked up into Michael's ice-blue eyes.
"But I think you will know that agony soon."
Rage flickered across Michael's face. "What are you talking about?"
Lucifer laughed. "Look at yourself! You've got a human woman in your arm and wing! Do you think the Ruler will let this stand? You'll Fall in a week, a month at most! Why do you think I'm here now? I'm here to gain an ally before the agony comes. We both want the same thing, can't you see that? We know the Ruler has abandoned Creation! We have the power to make the Human Realm better. Why is the Ruler not helping the humans? Pain. Suffering. None of it has to exist. Michael, together we can make it go away. Join me, Seraphim Michael. I can't fight this fight alone."
Lucifer placed his hand on Michael's forearm. "Think about it, Seraphim Michael. Take this. Stomp on this if you want to reach me." He placed a fire-red stone in Michael's hand and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.