Michael stood in the middle of the Great Hall, the chains digging painfully into his waist. His Brothers had deadlocked themselves in the vote, and the Ruler was furious that some of the Seraphim had called out a vote of "not guilty".
The Ruler left the throne, and strode toward Michael. "You have done wrong, Seraphim Michael. Five of the Seven Deadly Sins. That is unacceptable for any angel, let alone a Seraphim."
Unable to contain himself any longer, Michael erupted. His manacles and chains shook violently as he struggled against the bindings. "And what of your sins, oh Mighty Ruler?" Michael's voice dripped with contempt.
Every angel in the room shared a look of shock at Michael's outburst. The entire time that his image was projected on the Reflecting Mirror for all to see, the Seraphim said nothing. When his Brothers had cast their votes, the Seraphim said nothing. It was only when the Ruler approached Michael that the chained angel finally spoke.
"Choose your next words wisely, Seraphim." The Ruler's voice boomed through the Great Hall, and the free Seraphim Brothers took a step back.
Michael's blue eyes blazed with fury. "Oh, I have chosen them carefully. What of Your own sins? I did the one thing You have not done in centuries - something! Is sloth not a sin? Wrath? Look at how You treat us! Those whips next to Your throne are not just decoration, we've all felt their bite! Gabriel showed me his scarred back before I even started to serve! You've ignored Creation for centuries, and You punish me for saving Ravenna from her assailant? I would rather be punished for doing what is right, than to stand by and do nothing!"
Zerachiel's jaw dropped open as his Brother's words exploded through the Great Hall. Gabriel covered his mouth with his hand- he had forgotten showing those scars to a very young Michael. Raphael stared incredulously, still supporting Remiel.
"How dare you speak with such insolence!? The Brothers may have tied in their opinions of your deeds, Seraphim Michael, but I refuse to allow such actions." The Ruler's voice was filled with irritation and rage as He walked closer to Michael. "Remiel had warned Me centuries ago that a seventh Seraphim was a mistake, and now I see he was right."
Michael glanced at the Brother that Raphael was supporting. "Remiel…how could you?!"
Remiel's heart broke listening to his Brother. He and Michael had never been particularly close, but he wished that he had kept his mouth shut. He reached his hand toward the youngest Seraphim, but Raphael gently pressed on Remiel's shoulder, silently hinting to Remiel that it was not a good time. Remiel withdrew his hand, saying nothing, and hung his head.
The Ruler ignored Michael's cry toward his Brother. Such emotional displays between the Seraphim were insignificant to Him.
The Ruler waved his hand, and turned his back to the angels in the room. "Azrael, Samael. To Me." The Archangels heard the summons, and stepped between the realms to stand on either side of the throne, and the Ruler sat between them.
"Samael. Azrael. Bring Me Zerachiel. His insubordination will not be allowed to stand. I want him punished before the others as a warning."
The Archs grinned as they looked at each other, and stepped forward from beside the throne. Zerachiel's eyes grew wide; he knew the Ruler was about to whip him. The Archs stood on either side of the miserable joker, and Azrael reached forward to grab him. Zerachiel yanked his arm away from Azrael, and Samael caught it.
The Twin Archs dragged Zerachiel to the throne, where the Ruler waited, whips in hand.
"Strip him."
Zerachiel yanked his arms away from the Archs, and pulled his white tunic over his head. "At least let me have some dignity, Mighty Ruler." He heaved a sigh, and knelt down with his back facing the Ruler. He took a sharp inhale, and shut his eyes, bracing himself for the bite of the whip lash. –If I surrender quickly, the Ruler tends to lower the amount of lashings,– Zerachiel clenched his jaw as he waited for the whip to bite his skin.
The whip was brought back, and with a flick of the Ruler's wrist, snapped forward. The leather bit against Zerachiel's bare skin, between his wings. Zerachiel hissed, trying not to let his pain known; he would not let the Ruler have the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. The whip snapped against Zerachiel's skin again, and two feathers fell from his left wing. Blood dripped from the first wound, and Zerachiel squeezed his fists, waiting for the next strike.
"STOP!" Michael's voice cut through the Hall as the Ruler drew the whip back a third time. Zerachiel looked up at his Brother, pleading with him with his eyes to remain quiet and let the punishment happen.
"This is what I mean! This is no way for a Ruler to treat the Seraphim! Zerachiel spoke his mind – he did not cause anyone any harm! Is this not the sin of wrath?!" Michael shouted, breaking the hushed atmosphere.
The Ruler dropped the whip, and Zerachiel let out the breath he had been holding. He remained kneeling, not daring to stand.
The Ruler spoke as He approached the furious chained angel, "Seraphim Michael, I have had enough of your outbursts! I was going to imprison you for twenty years, but your insolence today has shown you are not worthy of redemption. For your sins, Seraphim Michael, you are banished from the Kingdom. You may not return until you are ready to atone."
The Ruler slowly stepped behind the Seraphim, and in a swift motion, tore the wings from Michael's back. Michael screamed; he did not know such agony could exist. The bones from his wings snapped, the nerves severed, and the muscles between his wings, shoulders, and back separated. Blood poured from the large pair of wounds that replaced the wings on Michael's back, and he dropped to his knees, his wings on either side of him as he collapsed. The six free Seraphim Brothers gasped as the wings were ripped from Michael's back; they saw the full extent of the Ruler's wrath. Their youngest Brother had experienced the one punishment that they had all feared.
The chains that bound the Seraphim shimmered as they disappeared; a rift opened in the floor before Michael, and the Ruler kicked the screaming angel into the void. Raphael rushed to catch Remiel as Remiel fainted. Zerachiel scrambled toward the rift, watching his Brother fade fast from view.
Betrayed, bleeding, and cursed, Michael Fell.