Samael knelt next to his Twin, Azazel on his right. Zadkiel took the position on the far left, and all four men bled from the blows dealt from the Ruler's whip. Samael looked up, seeing that the Seraphim with the pierced wing was standing idly by, watching as their punishment was given.
–That bastard seems so smug about it. I bet he still has my knife, too.– Another crack of the whip across his back interrupted Samael's thoughts, as the sides of his vision went black. –This is the Seraphim Brothers' fault. If they didn't need such constant guarding, we wouldn't even be here right now.–
The Ruler commanded Azazel and Zadkiel to stand, as they were the newest ones assigned to be guardians. Zadkiel staggered, and Gabriel rushed over, offering him his hand. The Arch hesitated, before grasping the Seraphim's wrist, and allowing Gabriel to do the same.
"Thank you, sir."
Ignoring the offer of peace between the two men, the Ruler continued. "Seraphim Zerachiel, Seraphim Gabriel - clean these two up."
Samael scowled; Zadkiel was acting traitorously to his own kind. –Allowing one of them to touch him? To help him? Despicable. A true Arch would never allow the Seraphim- – He hissed as the Ruler's whip bit his right wing.
"Archangels Azrael and Samael - you were tasked with guarding Seraphim Remiel and Seraphim Zerachiel. Explain to Me why Zerachiel showed up here today, alone." The Ruler coiled the leather back in His hands, waiting for the Twins' reply.
Azrael glanced at his brother, who refused to look back. He seemed to focus on Zadkiel, who had allowed Gabriel to help him up, and even accepted Zerachiel's aid in cleaning his wounds. Azrael could feel the anger emanating from his Twin; he knew that Samael would believe that Zadkiel should have behaved like a true warrior, like Azazel, who stood alone by the wall.
"Samael! Speak! Why was Zerachiel alone today?!" The Ruler's voice boomed across the Hall, startling the Archangels that knelt before Him.
"He's irritating, of course he's alone!" The whip cracked across his left wing, and Samael decided it was best to change his answer. "I'm not his guard! Why would I know why he was alone?"
"At least we showed up today - where is Orion in all this?" Azrael dared to demand. He clenched his jaw as the whip snapped down on the back of his neck, refusing to give in, to scream with the pain that the abuse brought.
"Unlike you two, Orion did not abandon his post. You both could learn something from him. Stop avoiding the question. Why did Zerachiel come here alone?!"
Feeling the elbow in his ribs from his Twin, Samael grunted. "Fine! We went back to our home to celebrate our victory over the Brothers with the rest of our brethren. Once we were home, we remembered what it was like to be a warrior, to train with our own, we didn't want to come back. We are fighters! It's what we are, it's what we do!"
Electricity rippled through the Hall, and Samael felt the static ruffle his feathers. The visible jolts crackled along the walls, doing a poor job of intimidating him. –Is He really throwing a tantrum over this? It's so insignificant. How pathetic does He have to be to use His powers to try to bully us into submission?–
Fury carved on the Ruler's face, He commanded deeply, "Azrael and Samael, you are to return to your duties as guards. Failure to do so will result in stripping of your rank. Am I clear?"
On their hands and knees before Him, the Twins shared an enraged glare, before hanging their heads. "Yes, Mighty Ruler."
–But the Seraphim will pay for what they've done. It's their fault we're in this position, and they will know it.–
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Zadkiel cringed as the finely woven fabric of his tunic fell against his fresh wounds. Gabriel aided him by buttoning the slits under his wings, closing the shirt's back for him.
"Thank you, sir."
"Please, just Gabriel is fine. I don't care for the formalities. It grows old after the first few centuries. How are you feeling?"
The Archangel smirked, but the grin held a secretive melancholy behind it. "About as well as any man who took three whip strikes to the back would be, I suppose."
"Say, I was planning on visiting Remiel today, and seeing as you've been, well, reinstated as his guard, would you like to join me? We're going to the same place anyhow," Gabriel offered.
–That actually seems best - if my whereabouts are questioned, I at least have someone to back me up. Anything to stop another punishment.– Zadkiel nodded, agreeing to Gabriel's proposal. "If you were leaving now, I would be interested in going with you."
"Shall we excuse ourselves?"
–He's obviously been alive for a long time. He seems to know what will appease the Ruler, and most angels. A peacemaker. I wonder what else he knows…–
After the Ruler dismissed the men, they left Zerachiel and the other three Archangels behind, not a word passing between them as they descended the stairs of the Palace. Zadkiel's armored boots thudded heavily next to Gabriel's soft leather shoes, the Seraphim's graceful white robes an elegant reminder of the man's status. –He dresses simply, but it really makes him look important.–
As they passed the library, Zadkiel cleared his throat. "Ah, Gabriel? You seemed rather - used to the sight of the punishments we got today."
He noticed that the elder angel's head dropped, even if only slightly. "Well, not to watch, I'll say that."
–He's smart with his words. He's not going to give anything away readily.– Zadkiel scrubbed awkwardly at the red scruff on his jaw, trying to figure out how to reach out while still sounding genuine. "You know, I've only met Seraphim Remiel once. I was ordered to come to the Palace, and then the Ruler demanded that we pull the feathers from his wings. Your Brother must think I'm a monster. It felt wrong to do it, but you know how orders are."
Finally, the Seraphim looked over at him, a sad understanding etched in his features. "I do. And I cannot speak for all of my Brothers, but I do not think poorly of you for doing what you had to do. I think you're a decent man who simply had orders to follow. You did not revel in the violence surrounding Remiel, like Samael and Azrael did. They eagerly sought it out."
Zadkiel nodded as Gabriel spoke, trying to show he truly hadn't relished the stripping of Remiel's wings. He remembered going back home that night, drinking his way into slumber to drown out the screams. He was a warrior, but he wasn't a savage. Trapped in his memories, Zadkiel hadn't noticed that Gabriel had led him up a garden path toward a cozy-looking house.
"We've arrived. This is Jeremiel's home, he's been taking care of our Brother while he heals. Let's go see how Remiel is doing, introduce you to him properly, shall we?"