Michael and Ravenna appeared in the cavern behind the waterfall, the sanctuary that had hidden them during their travels. He stood, holding her close to his chest, knowing she could hear how his heart pounded. He had nearly lost her to William, and he was not willing to let her from his arms just yet. His fingers slipped through her hair, drawing her even closer as he put his chin on top of her head, breathing heavily, not yet saying a word.
He could tell she was afraid too. The way she had screamed when William threw her to the ground, it had ripped through his chest, right through to the freshly-scarred tears on his back. The fear in her eyes as the new demon had brought his fangs close to her skin made him feel helpless; he was not sure what demons were capable of, and he had frozen in his own panic as Vincent and Edward had fought to take control.
–But it wasn't their responsibility. She is mine to take care of. No wonder Edward's memories were what they were. He's a better protector than I – no. It was a mistake. It will not happen again.–
Ravenna stirred in his grasp, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her eyes weren't full of the rage and heartbreak that he had seen in them last, a small comfort.
"You…you can realm-travel with me now…"
In his haste to get her away from William, Michael hadn't even considered that his previous attempts to travel with her had failed. "Lucifer could always travel with you…it must be one of the new…," he trailed off, not wanting to mention the powers that he had lost control over last time he was with her.
"The new powers." Ravenna finished the sentence for him, looking much more like her bold, brave self.
Michael bent his knees, allowing Ravenna down from his arms. Her small feet hit the ground, the small footsteps pattering softly in the cavern. He held his hand out for her, and she took it, the couple walking deeper into the cave, knowing there were large, flat rocks to sit on farther back.
"I will be right back, please, do not move from here." Michael returned to the room he stayed in in Lucifer's realm, grabbing two lanterns. He stepped between the realms again, appearing in the cavern once more. He realized he had no way to light them, and wondered if his new powers would serve him once again. He touched the wicks of the candles in the lanterns, concentrating, and each one ignited at will.
Ravenna watched the fires spring to life, tossing their shadows across the cave walls. "You've really…you're getting a good sense of your powers." Michael thought she sounded almost impressed, if she hadn't been so angry with him.
He sat next to Ravenna, trying to give her a little space. "Thank you. I've been working non-stop with Lucifer to get a command of them; I think he regrets saying he would teach me. I haven't allowed him a break, because the sooner I got better…the sooner I could come home." He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, trying to get a sense of how she felt.
Her hands in her lap, Ravenna looked down. "We were both at fault that night, Michael. You went too far, and I understand now it wasn't you doing it. Your powers overwhelmed you, just like William's did today. I don't hold any ill will toward William, and I shouldn't toward you, either. But I shouldn't have made you leave, either. I should have let you talk when you tried to explain."
Hearing what she had to say, and that she wasn't angry at him, Michael immediately pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. He knew he had to say something, but he needed her close first.
"I've been wanting to tell you how sorry I am since the moment it happened. Yes, it was the powers overwhelming my senses, but I should have been stronger for you. I should have listened to Lucifer and stayed in the UnderKingdom after the ritual. But I missed you, and my heart wanted to be with you. But the Sins wanted something more. And I'm so sorry, Ravenna. With everything I am."
Ravenna was grateful she was curled up in Michael's arms, feeling the warmth of his embrace. He also wouldn't be able to see her freckles disappear under her embarrassed blush. "I'm sorry for reacting the way I did, too. Teresa came by the next morning, and after she got over her shock about Edward, she told me you were…just doing what couples do. It's normal for you to want that from me. And I just have been too afraid to give you what normal is…well, after Peter. But I promise, I'm trying to be better for you, too."
Michael wiped away the tear that ran down Ravenna's cheek. "We are anything but normal, my love. And I wouldn't trade that for anything. When you're ready for me, I'll be here. And until you're ready for me, I'll still be here."
"We have my whole life to figure it out, together."
"Together." He agreed, sealing the peace they had come to together. "Would you like to go home?"
Stretching up to kiss him, Ravenna smiled. "I would love to go back home."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
William's screams echoed throughout the UnderKingdom. The elder demons had collided with him, their combined strength straining against his hunger. Edward let William go as soon as he saw Michael take Ravenna through the realms, leaving the new convert to Vincent. Turning back to the other demons, he realm-travelled, taking the other two with him, far away from the Palace.
Edward let his demonic brothers free from his wide embrace as the Aether became clearer in his view. Vincent looked around; it had been centuries since someone had guided him through the realms, not the other way around. His lip curled in disdain – he hated going to the Aether. He loved Adam like a brother, but the idea of being so close to the Shapeless creeped him out, especially knowing the king he had killed existed just beyond the Barrier.
Adam pulled his hood back, his bright ruby eyes full of questions. Nobody had signalled him to tell him to seal the Barrier, and he didn't often have guests, let alone this many. He saw William on his knees, his mouth agape, as if he was screaming. Adam's fingers curled inward, his thumb and pinky finger stuck out; his hand pressed against his chin twice as he raised a white eyebrow.
(What's wrong?)
Vincent nodded, and began to signal back.
(The Ally's partner was brought to our realm. The same woman who testified for William. We forgot to take the right precautions, and did not take William from the Great Hall. He smelled human blood, tainted with fear. He lost control, and he attacked her. Michael took her from the realm, and she's safe, but he still craves the blood he smelled.)
Adam nodded, sadness and sympathy across his face. He knew the pain of craving the blood of humans, but he had never tasted it. Vincent was the only one of their ranks to have bitten a human, and had confided in Adam that he still struggled with the cravings. –It must be better to want and to never have, than to have and always restrain from. I don't truly know the sweetness that I'm missing.–
His hands began to speak for him again, deftly crafting the words of concern for William.
(Perhaps I will seal the Barrier tonight, and we can have a night together, the five of us. I know he must be distraught, having attacked someone so close to him.)
Edward adjusted his shirt, haphazard from the earlier commotion. He raised his hand, and Adam turned his attention to him.
(It would be nice to have you around a little more, A. Please join us tonight.)
William's screams began to subside as Adam turned to seal the Barrier, carving the elaborate runes into the Barrier edge with his blade. As the translucent silver haze that separated the Beyond from the UnderKingdom became solid, Adam nodded, satisfied with his work. The more often he sealed the Barrier, the less time it would remain sealed, but it was worth it to help the new convert through his ordeal.