LXXI- The Betrayed

Rage.

Betrayal.

Heartache.

Michael wept in his cell, his heart broken, his chains digging uncomfortably into his skin. He pulled his knees to his chest, and placed his arms around his knees. Michael's heart ached for Ravenna, and he longed to be free of his bindings, back with the young woman he loved.

Michael brushed the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand. –How could Remiel do this to me?– Michael thought the Ruler would punish him for saving Ravenna, but Remiel had pushed the Ruler to investigate. 

Remiel had said he wanted Michael to lose favor with the Ruler. Michael clenched his fists. –Since when have I ever had the Ruler's favor? The Ruler has treated me terribly for decades, just as He treats all of the Seraphim. And Remiel was jealous of how the Ruler treated me?– The idea was almost laughable. 

A shadow crossed Michael's cell, and the bound Seraphim sat upright. Michael stretched his legs in front of him, trying to appear more at ease than he was. Whoever was coming for him now, he refused to be seen as weak. The chains dug into his wrists and waist, but Michael refused to acknowledge the way the metal bit at his skin.

Lucifer knelt on the outside of Michael's cell. "How are we enjoying my old cell?"

Michael stared through the Fallen man outside of his prison cell, not wanting to speak to him. Lucifer was one of the last men he wanted to see; Michael almost wished it was Samael or Azrael back to beat him. 

"This was made for you?"

"Of course. I was the first one to be cast from the Kingdom. They had to build a place to hold me so I could not travel between the realms. Notice how those chains are just slightly too small for you? It's because you're taller than I am. It was built to hold me, and me alone. The Ruler never expected a second angel to require this prison." 

Michael's chains rattled as he shifted. "What do you want, Lucifer?"

A twisted grin crossed Lucifer's face. "The same thing I have always wanted. I want you to join me. I thought I was pretty clear on that, but asking again does not hurt me. Rise against the Kingdom with me, Michael. Make your suffering here the last that any angel should suffer."

Michael turned his beaten body away from Lucifer, as far as the shackles would allow him to. "I don't want your offers right now. Please just leave me alone."

"But what about Ravenna?"

Michael whipped around to look at the Fallen man outside of his cell. The chains clanked as they held down the Seraphim. "What about her? Where is she? I need her safe." 

Lucifer continued to grin, not saying a word to the chained man in front of him.

"Lucifer! Where is she?!" Michael grew more desperate for an answer, and the metal bit further into his skin. 

"Oh, dear Michael. She is with me. Exactly where you placed her. I do believe you will be listening to my offers, my sweet Seraphim. You asked me to take Ravenna. You did not once ask me to give her back."

Michael blanched; the only colors left on his skin were the bruises and lacerations the Archangels had left on him. "You wouldn't…"

"I am. She is in my UnderKingdom, in my realm. She is safe from the Archs, but protected from everything else too." Lucifer smirked as Michael struggled against his restraints." Blood magic prevents anything from getting into or out of her room. Any attempts to realm-travel to her will kill the traveller instantly."

"You're a monster!" Michael fought harder against the confinements holding him in his cell. The metal cut into his flesh, and blood dripped from his wrists and waist. "Release her!"

"In time. First, I need your word, Michael. Say you'll join me against the Ruler, and she will be allowed to go free. Say it, Michael."

Lucifer had the upper hand, and Michael knew it. If he wanted Ravenna to be free, to be able to come back to him, he needed to agree to Lucifer's words. Michael stopped struggling against the chains, and sat quietly. He was defeated by the Archangels. He was betrayed by his Brother, and now Lucifer had him cornered. 

"...Do you swear to me you'll let her go?"

"I am a man of my word."

Michael was trapped. Lucifer knew the Seraphim would do anything to keep Ravenna safe, and the Fallen man had used it to his advantage. When Michael had summoned Lucifer asking to protect Ravenna from the Archs, he had never dreamed it would be used against him. 

A twin set of footsteps resonated down the hallway. Twin shadows lengthened into view, and Lucifer disappeared in a cloud of smoke, chuckling as he disappeared. 

Samael and Azrael marched into view of the prison cell. Michael turned away from the bars, refusing to acknowledge the Archangels. He was tired of angels coming to his cell, sick of visitors. His patience was waning, and Michael just wanted to be left alone.

"Are you ready, Seraphim Michael?" Azrael's voice taunted him through the bars.

"Go away."

"Great. He's ready." Samael unlocked the small cell, and the twin Archs towered over Michael. Samael locked a manacle around his left wrist, and locked another around his twin's right wrist. Each Arch secured themself to the beaten angel, and Samael unlocked the chains from Michael's body. 

Azrael's words were hushed as he and his brother hauled Michael from the floor. "If you try to realm-travel while you are locked to us, we have been given orders to bring you back in worse condition than we did this time. Make your choices wisely, Seraphim. We're sure you don't want to make any foolish decisions that would get you beaten again."

Michael flicked his wings back irritably as the twin Archs mocked him, and pain shot through his back as the laceration on his right wing reopened from the motion. He refused to give the Archangels the satisfaction of hearing his pain, and Michael grit his teeth as Samael and Azrael led him down the hallway, blood dripping from his wing.