Michael lifted his head. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious, but every part of his body ached. Chains and manacles circled Michael's waist, biceps, wrists, thighs, and ankles. He tried to stand, but his chains bound him to the cold stone wall, forcing him to remain sitting. Michael shifted, and the chains rattled. The pain was too much, and he hung his head.
Michael thought of Ravenna. He desperately hoped she was safe, wherever Lucifer had taken her. If the Archs had beaten him this badly, they would have certainly killed the young woman.
He looked at his body, which was missing his shirt and waistcoat. Only his pants and boots remained, his pants ripped and filthy. The bruising on his ribs mapped the assault of the Archs. His right wing was agonizing, and he gingerly touched it, feeling the laceration at the joint. He felt the scabs beginning to form, sticking the feathers together.
The door to the hallway slammed open and laughter echoed down the corridor. Michael sighed. The Archangels were back. They came by his cell twice a day to bring him a thin broth, not out of kindness, but on the Ruler's orders. His meals were always accompanied by a beating. Michael was not sure if the beatings were also part of the Ruler's orders, or if they were an extra service provided by Samael and Azrael.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. The defeated Seraphim closed his black eyes, not wanting to know who or what was coming for him now. After three weeks of imprisonment and daily beatings from one or both of the twin Archangels, Michael did not want to see any sign of anyone coming near his cell. The steps grew closer; the sharp clicks against the marble floor became louder.
"Are you sure he is down here?"
"I know he is. Uriel watched the Archs bring him down here when he was first brought back. He said Michael was in really bad shape when he was brought in."
Michael tried to ignore the hushed voices of the men approaching his prison. He wanted nothing to do with anyone, no matter their intention. His swollen eyes remained shut.
"This place looks terrible."
"Only the Archangels come down here, and it has been abandoned for two thousand years. I can't believe a place like this even exists in the Kingdom."
The voices became familiar as they approached the small room where Michael was chained. He could place Raphael's voice, but the second was still a mystery. He knew that voice, but could not imagine who it would belong to that would come to see him in such a state.
"Michael?" Raphael's voice was soft and low, as if he did not want to be found.
Michael opened his bruised, swollen eyes and met Raphael's intense green gaze. Raphael squatted outside the prison cell, grasping a bar for support.
"Brother, I am so glad to see you alive. Not like this, but alive. Where have you been? Zerachiel and I spent days looking for you." Raphael's voice broke, seeing his youngest Brother so beaten. "Uriel told me the Archs were mobilized, and we panicked. Where did you go? You caused us to worry so much!"
Michael shifted, his chains rattling as he moved. "I'm sorry, Raphael. I only did what I thought was right. She prayed for help, and I saved her."
Raphael's hand slid down the bar he was holding. "You answered a prayer. The Ruler will be furious."
Michael lifted his arms listlessly, and the manacles that circled his wrists came into Raphael's view. "I noticed." His arms dropped back to his sides; he did not have much energy to spare.
"Michael…why did you do it? Don't you value your life here? Or us?"
"I watched her for months. I've loved her just as long. I could not ignore her when she prayed for help. And I would do it again. Just to see her safe."
Raphael did not have an answer.
Remiel came into Michael's view, squatting next to Raphael. –So that was the other man.–
"Michael? Michael..I…I'm so sorry. This is my fault." Remiel reached his hand through the bar toward his chained Brother.
Michael met Remiel's gaze, and Remiel pulled his hand back, seeing how beaten his Brother was. How defeated Michael looked. His heart shattered. –This is my fault. I had wanted Michael to lose favor with the Ruler, not to be hunted and imprisoned like a criminal.–
"How is this your fault, Rem? I answered her prayer. That was my choice."
Raphael touched Remiel's shoulder as if encouraging the other Seraphim to continue. "Tell him what you told me, Remiel. You two cannot begin to heal until the truth comes out."
Michael's confusion was plain on his bruised face. He shifted again, the chains clattering.
"Michael…I…I did not mean for this to go so far. I.." Remiel's voice cracked, and a tear slid down his cheek. "I told the Ruler that I thought you revealed your existence to the woman. I thought…I…I just wanted you to lose favor with the Ruler, because since you came to be, I was shoved aside for you. But…but the Ruler investigated…He…it went so much farther. I..I'm so sorry, Brother…"
Remiel's words struck Michael harder than the Archangels had. Michael clenched his jaw and fists, his muscles straining against the binds. His vision clouded. –Remiel had caused this? How could he do this to his own Brother?– The bound Seraphim shook, the chains rattling as Michael began to feel wrath grip his heart. –How dare Remiel do this to me?!–
"You…apologize? You cannot even begin to…" Michael screamed, yanking at the chains that bound him to the wall. Remiel stood and backed up several steps; even though the prison cell and the chains kept Michael from him physically, the bars and bindings would not keep Michael from him emotionally.
"Do you have any idea what you have done to me? I was hunted, beaten, stabbed…they used the Ruler's Blessing – I was burned! You did this out of spite? And you call yourself a Brother?! Raphael! Get him out of here!" Michael continued to fight with his binds, screaming.
Raphael stood next to Remiel as the tears streamed down Remiel's face. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…I.." Remiel choked, and Raphael patted his Brother on the back.
"There is no apology that can ever fix this! You betrayed me to the Ruler! I am going to Fall! You cannot even imagine…" Michael trailed off, his voice hoarse from screaming.
After weeks of only thin broth for sustenance, his energy was depleted, and he was spent after his short tirade. He dropped his head, defeated. Michael's voice dropped to a whisper as he stopped struggling against his chains. "Raphael…please…just get him away from me. I don't want to see Remiel any longer. Please."
Raphael spoke softly, hoping his softer voice would allow for peace. "We should leave, Remiel. We can sneak back to see him again. Let's give him space."
The two free Seraphim Brothers walked away from Michael's cell, Raphael's boots gently padding along the floor, and Remiel's shoes leaving a sharp click against the marble. Hearing them depart, Michael silently wept.