XXXIX - The Ally

Ravenna left Michael behind in the trees, heading out at dawn to find their next safe place. The waterfall was supposed to be northwest of Graenwood; it should be easy to find.

Ravenna tried her best, but a small voice in her mind wanted to be angry at the angel. He had watched her in the forest, and he had seen her on her date with Samuel Reed. She had not even had time to think about how her afternoon with Samuel had gone- Peter had stolen her from her home and swept her to the north of the county. Two sides of her mind argued. One wanted to be angry- he had spied on her and wanted forgiveness. The other part of her wanted to forgive him- he had been very kind to her and saved her from Peter.

After a few hours of walking, the young healer stopped her search for the waterfall. She sat near the pathway and allowed her aching feet to take a rest. She picked a small white flower from the ground, its soft petals reminding her of Michael's delicate wings. She pulled the petals from the plant, whispering, "I forgive him, I do not. I forgive him, I do not. I forgive him..."

Petal by petal, the flower lost its magnificence.

Her mind made up, Ravenna dropped the bare plant onto a bed of its petals. She wound her hair into a quick braid and continued down the pathway.

Around midday, Ravenna's eyes grew heavy. She wanted to give up, but she knew she could only summon the Seraphim once she had a safe place for them to go, one where the angel's existence would not be revealed. Ravenna wondered how Michael was doing, waiting in the forest for her. Her eyes were painfully stinging from the sun. Ravenna finally heard the roar of the waterfall.

Ravenna made her way to the falls and looked around. The view was beautiful, and there was vibrant foliage. There was no sign of any human being near. Ravenna went to the water, cupping her hands for a drink. She was glad that if she had to travel this way, it was springtime and not too cold. She went to the falls and noticed a small cave behind the falling water. She explored its depths, seeing it was an ideal place to hide Michael. There was plenty of room to house them both. "I should go summon him," Ravenna spoke aloud to herself.

"Am I not good enough to speak to?"

Ravenna screamed. A tall, slender man had appeared beside her. He had shoulder-length black hair, green eyes, and an evil smirk.

"Who are you?" Ravenna asked the man, who was casually leaning against the cave walls.

"My name? I go by many. I am the Ruler of the UnderKingdom. I am Lucifer, the Morning Star. But you, my beautiful darling, you can call me a friend."

Lucifer grabbed Ravenna's hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back of her hand.

"I am the First Seraphim. I am the Fallen. And if I am not mistaken, there is soon to be a Second Fallen. And I am looking for an ally."

Ravenna narrowed her eyes and pulled her hand back from the man. "The Fallen? Explain." She knew she shouldn't trust this man, but something about his demeanor and confidence was intriguing.

Lucifer pretended to wipe a tear from his green eyes and looked up. "My story is a sad one. Since I found out about him, I've been watching you and Michael-"

"Ugh!" Ravenna groaned in frustration. She turned her back on Lucifer and faced the waterfall, her hands on her neck. She turned to face the taller man and poked her finger into his chest. "Of course you were! Was there anyone else? I swear, my life is just a show for your kind! Every other day I find out that more Seraphim have been watching me! Am I that entertaining?"

Lucifer looked at the small woman, shaking with rage. He laughed heartily as if Ravenna was the funniest creature he had ever encountered. He grabbed her hand and kissed it again. "Oh, my dear, a fiery one. Michael has his hands full with you. If only I had met you first. Anyhow." He released Ravenna's hand and continued. "I was the first Seraphim. Has Michael told you of his Brothers?"

Still enraged, Ravenna nodded. She scrubbed Lucifer's kiss from the back of her hand, trying to insult him as he watched.

"That stings. But, continuing on. Once I found out about Michael, I investigated further. The oldest Brother, Gabriel, did not come to be until after I Fell. I was banished from the Kingdom by the Ruler for trying to make the Human Realm a better place. The Ruler says I was a sinner. He ripped my wings from my back, and threw me from the Kingdom. I did not even land in the Mortal Plane. I landed in what is now the UnderKingdom. I gathered up my strength from the Fall. I took my rage and turned it to magic. I took my pride and turned it to power. And now I am the Ruler of the UnderKingdom. I rule over those who are Lost; those who do not get to go to the Forever."

Ravenna squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe this man would go away. She opened her eyes; no such luck.

"So the good humans, they go to the Forever. The ones who were not, they go to you, they are the Lost?"

" Beautiful, feisty, and smart. Do you think Michael will let me have you?" Lucifer saw rage flare in Ravenna's golden eyes again. "I'm joking, a queen doesn't sound like anything I want anyways…apparently. But yes, you are correct. I rule over the Lost."

"What does this have to do with me? Why do you care about Michael?"

"Everything, my dear. I started to tell you before you got poking at me. I've been watching you two. If I'm not mistaken, there will soon be a second Fallen. And I'm interested in an ally. The Ruler just banishes any angel who doesn't keep to His strict rules, and that deserves an uprising. He has the power to make the Human Realm better, and He has abandoned you all. Your pain, your suffering. It could all go away. But I can't do that by myself."

"You think the Ruler will cast Michael out of the Kingdom for helping me? He only helped because-"

"I know, dear, I met him. He is a disgusting human. And do not fret, he is Lost, he did not get to go to the Forever. He is part of my UnderKingdom now. I have had quite a bit of fun with him in particular."

Ravenna teared up a little. Lucifer handed her a black handkerchief, which she accepted. "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I've been traveling trying to get home. I'm very exhausted. Can you maybe..."

"You're asking me to go away and come back later. You need to rest. Of course. How are you getting your sweet Seraphim's attention to find you?" Lucifer played with a lock of his black hair, seemingly only half interested now.

"I need to light two fires so he knows it's me-"

"Well that is a specialty of mine. Allow me, it is the least I can do for keeping you awake, my dear." Lucifer stepped outside of the cavern behind the falls and magically lit two fires with ease.

Michael appeared momentarily and looked at the man he was not expecting to see. The man smirked widely.

"Greetings, Seraphim Michael, I will be back later for you. The woman you seek is in the cavern behind the falls. Get some rest, we have much to discuss."

The man magically extinguished the fires and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.