Michael sat on the edge of the bed in the inn, his shirt in his hand and his thoughts black. –Where had things gone wrong?– His ice-blue eyes cast downward toward the floor. He had been so euphoric earlier in the day. Michael ran his tongue across his lips. He could still taste Ravenna's kiss.
The Seraphim longed for how he had felt Ravenna melt in his arms. The way her hands caressed his back, his wings, his hair. The way her soft and supple breasts had felt pressed against his bare chest, even through her dress. The way she seemed to long for more.
But then his Brother appeared with his warning. Michael leaned forward, placing his head in his hands. He knew Zerachiel would not have made such a risk to warn him if the danger was not great. Zerachiel never took anything seriously, but there was no hint of a joke in his Brother's face when he came to the Graenwood Inn room with his warning.
Michael raked his hands through his golden curls. The punishment he had predicted when he first spoke to Ravenna was coming. But thinking something terrible was coming and knowing it was on its way were two separate things. The Archangels would likely arrive by nightfall.
He had done the right thing. He knew he had done the right thing. Ravenna would not be another victim of the Ruler's apathy, where an evil person was allowed to do whatever he wanted to her without consequence. Michael was ready to face his Fall if it came from doing the right thing.
But he was not going down without a fight.
Michael placed a note on the bedside table, leaving money for the innkeeper. Lucifer had taken both his and Ravenna's things, leaving nothing for Michael to have to care for.
Michael dressed, putting his shirt and waistcoat back on. He gathered his resolve, and stepped between the realms. He appeared between Nerium and Graenwood, near the waterfall where Lucifer had first introduced himself. He stood by the waterfall with his arms crossed, watching, waiting for the Archs.
Michael almost dared them to come for him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Uriel stood between the twin Archs he had left outside the Great Hall and the door to the Great Hall. The red-haired messenger squeezed his eyes shut. He was following his orders but felt like he had betrayed Michael, who had always been kind to him. Michael had always treated him like an equal.
"And now I stand between the Archangels who will hunt him and the Ruler, who will give the orders for them to do so," Uriel muttered. He stepped forward with uncertainty, his grey eyes rimmed with water. He must do his job, or Michael would not be the only one punished.
Uriel swallowed hard, feeling like he had a large lump in his throat. He drew his brows low over his grey eyes, blinking hard to prevent the tears from crashing down his face. He hoped Michael would forgive him for bringing Samael and Azrael to the Ruler.
The messenger angel pushed the large doors to the Great Hall open and shakily stepped into the Hall. He bowed low before the throne, spreading his wings parallel to the floor, as was his custom. "Greetings, Mighty Ruler."
"Stand, Uriel. I trust you have brought the Archangels I have asked for?"
"Yes, Mighty Ruler. They wait outside for your command. Would You like me to bring them in for You?" Uriel tried to prevent his voice from quavering.
"Bring Samael and Azrael to me." The Ruler's voice echoed throughout the Hall.
"Yes, Mighty Ruler." Uriel bowed again, taking his leave. He shuffled his feet toward the entrance, where Samael and Azrael waited.
As they waited, the twin Archs stood together in the hallway outside the Great Hall. Samael leaned against the wall, fidgeting with his arm guards as he waited, and Azrael paced a short distance, his boots making sharp sounds against the white marble. These men were waiting for a battle, and Uriel's job was to lead them to it.
"Samael, Azrael…the Ruler is ready to see you."
The Archangels smirked at one another as if this was the opportunity they had waited centuries for. Samael raised his eyebrows at his Brother, a silent signal between the two that Uriel did not understand. Azrael dipped his head toward the Great Hall, another signal between the pair. The Archs straightened and followed Uriel into the Great Hall.
With Uriel in the center, the three angels approached the throne and bowed. Their wings spread parallel to the ground, the black wings of the Archs covering the white wings of the messenger angel. The three men spoke in unison, "Greetings, Mighty Ruler."
"You may stand." The Ruler seemed impressed by the display before Him. Secretly, Uriel was impressed as well. For men that the Ruler had not called upon in centuries, Azrael and Samael indeed recalled the routine that the Ruler preferred when being addressed.
"Samael. Azrael. I have summoned you to the Hall for an important task," the Ruler began. "One of My seven Seraphim seems to have taken it upon himself to travel to the Human Realm and reveal his existence to the humans. This cannot stand. You two are My best hunters. I need this sinner brought back to My Kingdom. The angels and humans are forbidden from interacting, and Michael has disobeyed My orders."
"Mighty Ruler, You ask for us to bring You back a rogue Seraphim?" Azrael grinned mischievously. "You have asked for the best, and we will have the Seraphim Brother You seek within twenty four hours. You have our word."
The Ruler leaned forward on His throne. "Bring Me Michael. I want him here before Me. He must be punished for his sins." The Ruler gave the Archangels the description of the missing Seraphim and showed the twin Archs where Michael was last with the Reflecting Mirror.
The more the Archs learned, the more twisted the smiles on their identical faces became.