The silence in the room was thick, the tension nearly tangible. The servants and maids had guided the Seraphim and Archangels into the dining room to be served, and Azrael began to mock the Seraphim for their comfortable lives with their servants. A quick, fiery glance from Jeremiel reminded Azrael to mind his manners, and the elder of the Twin Archs to sit in sullen silence at his place at the table.
Gabriel cleared his throat, trying to break the hush that had plagued the gathering. "It's so nice to be able to come together and celebrate our Brother Raguel turning 950. What a special occasion it is, and to be able to share it with all of our Brothers…"
Remiel, who had not said a word since he had arrived, snapped. "But we aren't all here! It's my fault! Michael is gone! He went too far but I made it worse! The way he screamed! I hear it in my sleep! His wings on the ground, I see them when I close my eyes!" His frail frame shook, and he covered his face with his hands.
Raphael and Raguel stood to comfort Remiel. "No! Get away from me! I did this! I deserve it! Samael has made sure I suffer!" Remiel wrapped his wings around himself, guarding himself from the other Seraphim.
A sinister laughter started low, and spread between the Twin Archs. "Did you hear that, Samael?" Azrael smirked, and the five Seraphim turned to face the Archangels.
Jeremiel frowned. "What do you two think you are doing? I thought we had an understanding, Azrael?" He emphasized the Arch's name, hoping to stress that he was in charge in his own home.
Samael ignored the Seraphim, a twisted joy dancing in his dark eyes. "Don't you remember, Seraphim? The Ruler's declaration the day of the Fall. To speak of the Fallen again is grounds for punishment."
Emilia stood from her chair, anxiously flicking her wings, but boldly making her stance. "Remiel made a mistake! Leave him alone! Orion, do something!"
The silver-haired Archangel shrank back, knowing the Twins were a formidable force, and there was nothing that could be done once they had something in their minds. Orion had been assigned to guard Raphael, but had come to enjoy the Seraphim's company, even if Raphael didn't necessarily return the feeling. He had felt a sense of camaraderie and welcome in Jeremiel's home up until the one they called Remiel had broken down, and now the Seraphim were looking to him for help. Orion stood from his place at the table before he turned pale and stammered. "I…I…I will, I can't…I don't…"
Samael and Azrael shoved their fellow Arch aside as they made their way to the shrouded angel. Orion landed heavily against the wall, his weaponry clattering to the ground as the blades fell from their holsters. Jeremiel and Gabriel stood in their way, their wings flared out to block their view of Remiel.
"Get out of the way! You heard the Ruler's declaration. He is to be punished!"
"Not on our watch." Jeremiel's voice was firm and absolute as he barricaded the Archs from his Brother.
Zerachiel and Raguel stepped between the realms to stand on the other side of Remiel, mirroring their Brothers on the opposite side of Remiel's seat. "You're going to leave him alone."
Raphael realm-travelled to appear behind the fragile Seraphim, completing the blockade against the Archangels. "Just forget it happened. He's in a bad place. He made a mistake. Leave him be. You've already tormented him enough, Samael."
"Oh no, Raphael. We have assignments, and we do not fail." Azrael's voice dripped with menace, and the five Seraphim shifted their stance more defensively against the Archs.
Orion saw the knife in Samael's hand flash, and dove toward Emilia as he began his realm-travel. As he came into contact with the Seraphim's wife, she was taken between the realms with him, appearing outside the library where Orion had come to spend so much of his time.
"W-what are we doing here? Put me down!" Emilia lashed out at the Arch that had collided with her, trying to gather her wits.
"I apologize. I saw one of my brethren with a weapon, and I did not want you to witness whatever Samael was about to do." Orion held his hands out before him as tried to explain, but she only seemed to become more angry at him.
"I am not so delicate! Why couldn't you try to stop them instead? My husband and his Brothers are always unarmed, and they're up against the other Archangels!" Emilia's cheeks were flush with rage, and she began to walk away from Orion, heading back toward Jeremiel's home.
Orion stepped between the realms, appearing in front of Emilia. "Please, Miss. Don't go back there. I don't know what the others are planning, but I don't want you to be hurt. Since... since I was assigned to guard Raphael, I've been reading a lot about war and honor..."
Emilia narrowed her eyes, but stopped walking. She focused on her skirts, straightening them. "So?"
"Well, in the human realm, a knight's honor is tied to chivalry, and how they treat women. Since I learned about a knight's honor, I want to live that way. I want to fight for good, not fight because I've been told. Help me do the right thing- don't go back there." Desperation hung heavily from Orion's words, and Emilia could see the sincerity in the Archangel's face.
"Why do you care?"
Orion's wings dropped low, and he fumbled with his breastplate. Tossing the armor aside, he ran his fingers across his forearm bracers. "The Ruler knows I'm the youngest of the Archs, and sent me to guard Raphael along with the Twins. I think He was hoping to turn me into one of them; the way Samael and Azrael think and act. But I've gotten to know Raphael, and I've seen what Samael has done to Remiel. I don't want to be a bad person, Emilia. How do I get out of something that's been so carefully planned for me?" Orion's eyes welled up before the Arch regained his composure, and he turned away from the Seraphim's wife. "Just please... don't go back there."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The knife left Samael's hand, ripping through the air and piercing through the barrier of wings blocking him from Remiel. Gabriel dropped to his knees, the knife embedded in his left wing. The tip of the weapon had grazed Jeremiel's right wing as it tore through Gabriel.
The eldest Seraphim out of the way, the Twin Archs rushed forward, Azrael kicking Gabriel hard in the ribs as he passed. Grabbing Remiel, they disappeared, leaving the Seraphim Brothers to tend to their wounded.
Jeremiel winced as he tried to fold his wings back, allowing Raphael to get closer to their older Brother. Gabriel's blood began to stick the feathers together, making it difficult for Raphael to assess the damage. Raguel knelt next to Gabriel, offering his hand as Jeremiel held his wing still. Raphael pulled the knife free, as Gabriel struggled to remain conscious.
"Where's... where's my wife? Emilia knows how to handle wounds..." The eldest Seraphim's voice was weak, pushing through the pain.
Zerachiel, white from his rage, spoke up. "That bastard Archangel took off with her! And the Twins disappeared with Remiel!" He tugged at his silver hair. "I don't even know where Orion would take Emilia! What would he want with her? Where would we even begin to look?!"
"One of the Archs took my wife?" Gabriel attempted to stand, but Raphael pushed him back down.
"Gabriel, please, stay down until I can get you cleaned up. Orion has spent a lot of time with me lately. He's not a bad man. I don't know why he took Emilia, but I'm sure she is safe. He's been reading a lot on chivalry and honor when he thinks I'm not paying attention. I think he wants to be better." Raphael tried to reason with his Brother, but Gabriel would not accept any reasonings.
"He took my wife, Raphael!" Gabriel held his ribs as he attempted to stand a second time.
Raguel stood in his Brother's way, a gentle but firm hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "We understand you're upset. We will find her. But hurting yourself further will not bring her back any faster. Please, stay down. Jeremiel and I will start to search for Emilia. Raphael and Zerachiel will begin to search for Remiel, although I'm nearly certain he's been taken to the Ruler. Stay here in case she comes back."
Taking the linen offered to him by a maid, Gabriel reluctantly accepted Raguel's proposal, and began his agonizing wait for his wife to return.