Zerachiel took the bag from Ophelia, and shuffled it onto his arm. He reached out to Victoria, looking to take her bag as well. Both maidservants sniffled, their tears falling as they packed the last of their things.
"Michael really isn't coming back, is he?" Victoria's voice quavered as she looked despondently at the elder Seraphim.
"No. But at least I know you two will have a safe place to go. Come on, ladies. It is getting late and we should get you settled in as soon as we can."
Ophelia said nothing, but dragged her small feet, her wings hung low. She was grateful that Zerachiel was kind enough to give them a place to go, but her heart hurt that Michael had disappeared without a word to her or Victoria. –I thought we were friends…–
Victoria looked up at Zerachiel, her sad grey eyes brimming with tears. "Th…thank you for offering to take us in, Seraphim Zerachiel. I hope you know we are incredibly grateful for your kindness."
Zerachiel opened his arms, and the two maidservants collided with his body. He embraced them both, wrapping his wings around the women; an embrace of shared understanding and heartbreak.
In the darkness, the three angels made their way from Michael's former home. The two maidservants grasped each other's hand for comfort, following the silver-haired Seraphim to his home, preparing for their new lives working under Zerachiel.
Zerachiel opened the door to his home, and gestured for Ophelia and Victoria to enter. Once they were inside, two maidservants greeted their master, waiting for any instructions from him. Zerachiel gave a small half-smile to the women, and instructed them to take Ophelia and Victoria to the servants' quarters. He handed the maidservants their bags, and watched his maidservants lead Ophelia and Victoria down the hall, away from sight. He gave a small sigh of relief ; he knew his servants were good women and would treat Michael's friends well and make them feel welcome.
The maidservants taken care of, Zerachiel left his home again, taking the parcel of Michael's clothing to Gabriel. Zerachiel passed the Gardens, and looked toward the Prayer Fountain, scowling at the Fountain. –I hate that Fountain. It's just a reminder of how much the Ruler doesn't care about Creation, or us. If He just took care of Creation like He should have, Michael would have never left.–
Zerachiel tapped on the window of Gabriel's home, trying to stay quiet. He didn't want to be discovered out of his home on the night before the Archangels were set to start monitoring him. Gabriel stepped between the realms, coming to stand next to his Brother.
"Do you have everything?"
"Yes. Have you Traced before?"
"No."
Keeping their voices low, the two Brothers quickly discussed the process of Tracing to their Fallen Brother. Zerachiel reached around, and undid the clasp of the necklace he wore. He handed the fine silver chain to Gabriel, the golden ring kept safe in its confines. "Please keep it safe. It is the last thing I have that will take me to our Brother."
Understanding that Michael's old ring meant everything to Zerachiel, Gabriel fastened the chain around his neck. "Should I…should I say anything to the woman, if she is there?"
"That is up to you. Please be safe, Gabriel. I don't want you to be caught."
The two Seraphim Brothers embraced quickly, and Gabriel gave a short nod to Zerachiel. The silver-haired Seraphim gave a sad smile to his elder Brother before turning away to head home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gabriel took the parcel from Zerachiel and stepped between the realms, standing beside his bed. Emilia slept peacefully, her ebony hair tossed carefree across the pillow. Gabriel gently touched his wife's cheek with the back of his fingers, affection plain on his face. He moved away from her sleeping form, not wanting to disturb her.
–I hope Michael's woman was worth it. I hope she loves him wholeheartedly. I don't want him to regret what he did; make his Fall meaningless.–
Gabriel grasped the ring that Zerachiel had given him. This was supposed to be the object that would Trace him to Michael; and he hoped it would work. Taking a deep breath, Gabriel closed his eyes and stepped between the realms, appearing in a small cottage. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust his vision to the candlelit room after being in the darkness.
Gabriel heard a woman's voice, sorrow clear in her words. "I'm just so worried about him. I can do everything that I was taught to do, but what if it isn't enough?"
A young woman with blonde hair stood next to a bed, her hand on another young woman's shoulder. Gabriel felt his stomach twist as he laid eyes on his Fallen Brother, who lay unconscious on the bed. Michael's back and chest were wrapped in linen bandages, and his pants had been cut down the side, revealing a freshly-stitched laceration on his thigh. His skin was patterned with bruising, and his hair was disheveled.
The Seraphim in the corner of the room reached his hand out toward the women next to Michael's bed, and then pulled back slowly, curling his fingers into a soft fist. –I can't…there's already been so much trouble caused.– Gabriel gave a sad last look at his Brother, and set the parcel down on the floor. He closed his eyes and stepped between the realms, back to the Kingdom where he belonged.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Zerachiel opened the door to his home, and stepped into the waiting darkness. He passed by his bedchamber, heading toward the servants' quarters. He passed the first room, which belonged to his two maidservants, and quietly opened the door to the previously empty room. Zerachiel leaned against the doorway, watching as Michael's maidservants slept soundly. They had seemed to have chosen to share a bed, rather than taking their own. Victoria's wing was spread across Ophelia, as if she was trying to comfort her friend as they slept. –They didn't deserve to have their lives uprooted. They only have each other now.–
The Seraphim closed the door slowly, feeling comforted that at least the women were able to sleep after their upset. He moved to his own bedchamber, stripping from his borrowed tunic. Zerachiel lay on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. Sleep would continue to evade him, the pain in his back and wings a reminder of his misery and his new life without his Brother.