For a moment, it was dark behind her eyes. There was nothing except the dark, the pain, and the hatred. Ariel hated being imprisoned like this. Her Grace out of her control, her friend barred from her. She was nothing, just a mortal in the home of the angels. She wanted to collapse to the ground, and if it were not for Castiel's grip on her, she would have done so gladly.
It took her a few minutes to slowly open her eyes. The light was too bright, her eyes couldn't adjust the sterility of it all. She ran back to the dark, trying to get her vessel to cooperate once more. As she slowly cracked open her eyelids, the light had dulled just enough to accommodate her.
She heard the voices around her, and turned to look. Up and down the halls of the Citadel, angels began to peer down at her. A group had gathered around Castiel and herself, staring at her and whispering as if she were not there to hear. Some were frightened, some were wondering of her presence. Others still wanted to know why a traitor like her was allowed back in the ranks.
Ariel wanted to growl at them all. She was not a spectacle for their amusement. She would not go back like a prisoner before the generals and the archangels. She was one of the most powerful beings in the Heavens, if not for these damned pieces of sigiled leather.
"Hester, Inias." Two angels stepped forward. "Escort her to the Council. They are expecting her. I need to see to the rest of the garrison." Castiel let her fall to the ground, her legs giving out before her brothers and sisters. Luckily, she managed to lock her arms to prevent a face plant before the garrisons. Humiliation coloured her face as she tried to control her hatred. Damned little sanctimonious prick.
Ariel saw two sets of shoes before her. "Get up, traitor." Ah, Hester. Arrogant little toe rag, Ariel could have destroyed her with a single snap if she had access to her Grace. But now, she had nothing.
Inias snapped at her. "Hester, that's enough!" He knelt before Ariel, lifting her head up. "Ariel, I will help you. Come, they are waiting." He stood and offered her his hand.
Ariel breathed slowly, gathering her strength. "Thank you, brother." A gasp came from Inias as she nodded. Reaching out, he helped her to stand, bracing her against him as Hester led the way.
Some part of Ariel wanted to revel in the warmth of the light around her. She wanted to dance like a youngling again, drunk on life's ecstasy, to embrace the reality. She was home, something that she had wished to happen for thousand of years. She was back with her family, soon to see her brothers.
The larger part of her was filled with dread. Her penance might be over, according to Castiel, but her crimes would never be forgiven. Hester was one of many that knew how many of her kind she had slaughtered in her Fall. She wore the marks easily enough. She knew the names of them all, would never forget them. Something cataclysmic must be happening if the Council summoned her. She had been out of commission for so long, everything had probably changed.
Slowly but truly, Inias guided Ariel behind Hester down the hallways. The whisperings and the staring haunted her as more and more angels followed them. It wasn't every day that an archangel was summoned before the Council, let alone one that had been on the earth for four thousand years.
Some of the older angels, the warriors from the Battle of Eden, came out into the hall. Of course, Ariel nodded to herself. They were nearing the barracks. This was Gadreel's unit, but she couldn't see him. Maybe he was on the Council now?
Ephraim came around the corner, and held a hand out to stop them. Ariel's heart broke. She was once his leader, the leader of the Rit Zhen. "Ephraim, please."
The fury writ on his face was too much to bear. Inias stepped forward, but Ephraim's punch came too quickly for anyone to stop him. Ariel felt her jaw crack from the force, throwing her against the wall despite Inias' best efforts.
"Do you remember them, Ariel? Any of them?" Ephraim's voice was quiet, but it echoed in the hall. "Any of the hundreds of your family that you slaughtered?" His fists curled at his side.
Ariel spat out the blood, glaring at Ephraim. "I... remember... all... of... them." Her words were stilted thanks to the broken jaw. She didn't say anymore. She didn't owe Ephraim an explanation. Only the Council.
"Ephraim!" A voice thundered from further up the hall. Ariel snapped her head up at the familiar tone. The strident footsteps as he came nearer were like a sword being beaten on an anvil. The all black suit was crisp and almost formal as he stopped ahead of the group.
"Raphael." Ephraim bowed his head, hiding his bloodied knuckles behind his back.
"I was unaware that you were promoted to the Council, brother. Why else would you be stopping Ariel prior to her engagement with us?" His deep voice was calm, but everyone could feel the fury edging it.
"Raphael, please. Why is she back?" Ephraim looked like he wanted to scream, but he kept his composure.
"When the Council decides to share that information, you will know. Until then, you are not to stop our appointments." Raphael turned his dark gaze to Ariel. Without a word, he blinked his eyes and fixed her jaw. Ariel couldn't help but groan from the pain. "Hester, Inias. Your services are no longer required. Return to the garrison. I will escort her from here." He looked behind her to the crowd gathered there. "The rest of you have jobs to finish, don't you?" The scurrying behind her almost made Ariel laugh.
For a few minutes, they just stood in the hallway. Ariel didn't know what to say as she leaned against the wall. Raphael was their brother's right hand, the fourth of the archangels. They used to be closed, before the Fall. They were once a tandem team, always watching each other's backs. He was one of the few that didn't judge her when she was rescued.
"Ariel." Raphael reached out to her and touched the leather around her neck. He looked down, saw the same at her wrists and ankles. Ariel didn't know Raphael's face anymore, couldn't read his emotions. A twitch of an eyebrow, the purse of a lip. What was going through his mind, now?
He shook his head. "Come with me." He made to walk away, but Ariel reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Raphael." Ariel wanted to say something, anything. All of the words pulsated in her brain, trying to fight to the surface.
"The Council is waiting, Ariel." Raphael turned his hand in her grip, so that he could hold her arm in support. When she was ready and able, they walked slowly to the double doors at the end of the hallway.
"Who's on the Council now, Raphael?" Ariel wanted to know who would be asking the questions. How hard of a case would need to be made before she could get these goddamned shackles off.
"Michael, of course. Myself. Zachariah keeps trying to find a way in, but he's too sycophantic for its purpose. Virgil, although he won't be coming to this meeting. Naomi attends when she isn't busy." Raphael looked forward and away. "Ephraim was offered, but he refused. Although, I believe that he is now regretting that choice with your presence here."
Ariel's heart sank to her ankles. Well, this was going to be a tough crowd. "I understand."
They stopped before the door. Raphael lowered his arm, gently letting go of Ariel. "It is time, sister." He knocked on the door once, and then pushed through. Ariel was in lock-step with him, pushing herself forward.
Didn't this used to be a library? Ariel looked around. One of Father's many libraries, with tomes no angel was allowed to read. Well, now it was a war room. Maps and books were strewn on the giant table in the middle of the room. A world's map on the wall was covered in pins and tacks, in patterns Ariel could not understand. In front of the table, an angel leaned over it with his arms, taking in all of the information.
Ariel felt tears come to her eyes. It was him. She had been waiting to see him for so long, since her rescue and subsequent exile. Never was a direct word shared, only those emissaries and underlings. No clear memory of his face, nothing but a voice to grasp onto. At the same time, Ariel wanted answers. Four thousand years? What cost did he feel that she owed him for an exile so long? She had sinned greatly, yes. But, seriously? Exile? Would she even like the answers that he might give? Would he even give her an answer? All this spun around in her head.
"Michael." Raphael spoke up. A single word to define a moment. The angel heard, and turned to face the two interlopers.
Michael... the Viceroy of Heaven. The Fist of God. He was the ruler of the Host in their Father's absence, and it showed. His presence sparked like fire and lightning, the power at his disposal electrifying the air around him with the smell of ash and ozone. His black hair was shorn to the skin. Blue eyes, just like hers, were calm and still. He was a warrior underneath that perfectly tailored suit, and the discipline he wielded over himself was like a calling horn. At his hip was belted the sword of justice.
Ariel wanted to hurtle herself towards him, to let tears fall from her eyes at this long-awaited reunion. She wanted to slap him for keeping her away for so long. So, she stood still as best as her vessel would allow.
"Ariel." That deep voice, melodious and charming, caused the bruises on her heart to ache once more. Michael sighed as she stood before him. "It's good to see you, little sister."
"Michael." Ariel forced herself to stand at attention, lowering her head in salute.
Brothers and sister stood like this, awkwardly not moving. They were all waiting for someone else to make the next move.
Raphael broke the silence, summoning a chair in front of the table. "Ariel, please sit. The Council will meet now to discuss your penance."
Ariel looked around. "Where are the others?" She was expecting Naomi to show, at the very least.
"This is a matter for the archangels, Ariel. This is a matter for the three of us. So please, sit." Michael summoned a chair of his own. "We have much to discuss."
