Chapter Five
Torches light the ground of the yard surrounding the meeting hall and Michael stands facing the main entrance, counting the minutes that pass by. Chamuel rises from her chair and looks around, surveying the small crowd of lesser angels watching outside. She motions to a slave with her gavel. "Dear, please tell them to return to their chambers and await the announcement until tomorrow evening. We do not need word spreading around if these accusations prove to be false, it would not be in good taste."
The slave bows and quickly exits the hall to dismiss the others, hushing the whispers beginning to rise. Gabriel enters from the right, standing near the entrance and he looks at Michael, emotionless. Michael lowers his gaze, taking a step to the side and he softly sighs as Gabriel comes forward to stand next to him. "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, Gabriel. That was not the reason why I confessed, but I could wait no longer. Forgive me for my rudeness and my lack of patience, it was selfish." Gabriel taps his foot and his wings slightly rise, unsettled. "Michael, this is also not the time or place to discuss it. We shall talk after."
Chamuel crosses her legs, tapping the gavel in the palm of her hand and she hums, filling the hall with her soothing voice. The two slaves in the corner begin to slowly blink, sitting down on the ground and then they close their eyes, leaning against each other. Michael smiles at them and there is muffled commotion outside, the voice of two guards and two familiar. "Unhand me! I am perfectly capable of walking into the meeting hall myself! Release me at once!" The guards grunt, trying to restrain Uriel and he raise his fist, connecting it to the chin of a guard, sending him flying a few feet back. Uriel's body begins to glow and he turns to the other guard, raising his fist. Raphael grabs his forearm and steadies him. "Brother Uriel, there is no reason for you to be lashing out like this. We just want to talk to you and ask a few questions. You hold your horses now."
Uriel looks at Raphael, pulling his arm away and he fixes his hair, dusting off his silk shirt as the guard slowly begins to back away. "Fine, let's get it over with. I have better things to do." They both enter the meeting hall and Uriel smiles brightly, competing with the brightness of the crystal chandelier hanging above and then Chamuel stands, motioning for him to sit on the chair in the center of the hall. Uriel sighs, sitting down and he unbuttons the top of his shirt, resting his elbow on the back of the chair.
Chamuel stands up and nods to Gabriel who comes to the table and presents her with the orb. Raphael comes forward and opens his satchel, placing the bloody note on the marble table. "These are the only two pieces of evidence that we have, but it should be enough, sister Chamuel." She nods and Gabriel and Raphael move back to their spots.
She takes the orb and looks at the frozen image, seeing the girl with the panicked face. "Oh dear. What has happened?" Raphael steps forth and clears his throat, ruffling his feathers. "Mister Gabriel and sir Michael knocked on my door two nights ago and placed a young woman in my arms, Stella. She had been brother Uriel's slave and she was all bruised up and terrified. She didn't tell us how long she was there." He looks over at Uriel and lowers his eyes, turning his body to face Chamuel. "I was in the dining room and when I had returned, she was dead. Someone covered her with the sheets, took out her eyes and cut off her tongue. Only thing that was left was the note and the orb."
Chamuel places the orb down and taps the gavel in her palm, taking a look at the note. Uriel sighs, almost impatiently and he looks at Michael, smiling. Michael stares at him and slowly shakes his head, lacing his fingers together. "Is there anything left to say? Anymore evidence or statements to make."
Uriel raises his hand. "I have something to say, darling." Chamuel nods and motions his to stand. "You may speak, Uriel." Uriel stands up and flips his hair over his shoulder, looking at Chamuel. "I left the note and the orb. I killed Stella. She was worthless, after all. No harm or loss has been committed. No crime for ridding the angels of the weak."
Michael's eyes slightly widen and Gabriel raises his chin, the only hint to his shock. Chamuel looks around and slightly leans over the table. "You do realize what you just confessed to, brother? The murder and mistreatment of a slave, was there cause? Refusing to obey, breaking numerous items, being constantly late?" She places the gavel down and walks around the table, coming towards him. Chamuel takes his hand and looks at his ring, lowering her eyes. "Please, tell me there was cause for her death, perhaps an accident? Anything, brother."
Uriel sweetly smiles and softly laughs, shaking the chandelier above them. "She was of no use to me and I saw her to be weak. I took what I needed from her and I killed her. Simple as that, love. Are you going to throw me in with the slaves? Give me a stern lecture? A good flogging in 'The Room?' What can you possibly do to me?" Chamuel slowly raises her eyes to him, staring into the harsh blueness of his cold words and touches his ring, sliding it off his finger.
"Nothing..." Uriel smiles and takes a step back, pulling his hand away. "If we're done here…" Chamuel shakes her head and lowers her hand, rubbing the ring between her fingers. "…But I am the one to sentence you to the ones that will give you your punishment." She turns and looks at Michael and Gabriel. "Gabriel will take you to 'The Room' and Michael will count as you are being flogged."
Uriel's smile slightly falters at the punishment and the two Archangels who will be present to deliver it. He looks at Chamuel and takes a step back, moving the chair to the side. Raphael moves forward, giving a quick glance to Gabriel and slightly spread his wings. Uriel lowers his head and begins to laugh, shaking everything in the room, including the crystal chandelier above Chamuel. The lights flicker in the chandelier and it falls.
In a few swift movements, Raphael flies and grabs Uriel, pulling him away and Gabriel launches towards Chamuel, moving her out of the way as the crystal chandelier breaks into a million pieces. The torches flicker and there are only sounds of heavy breathing and wings spreading in the darkness. "Uriel, give us light. That is an order."
A white glow shines from Uriel's chest and Raphael slowly releases him as his body shines brighter, lighting up the dark meeting hall. "That was clearly an accident." Gabriel looks over Chamuel, checking injures and she flutters her hand in the air. "I'm fine, dear. Go, tend to your duties." Gabriel's feathers fluff up and he turns to look at Uriel. The blackness begins to swirl in his eyes, wings like midnight and Gabriel clenches his jaw, staring at him.
Michael touches the corner of the table and walks over to Gabriel, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Let's get him to 'The Room' for his punishment, Gabriel." Gabriel stares at Uriel, flicking his eyes to any twitch that sparks his hand, the way he breathes, everything. And with rush of wings, they take off to the 'The Room.'
Torches are light, fire blasts from their heads and leather boots touchdown on the smooth surface near the entrance. The wind blows hard, whistling a morbid tune through the hollow halls and it creates perfect background music for punishment, leather and blood.
Uriel is lead inside by Michael and a rack rises up from the ground. "Uriel, remove your robes and spread your wings. I shall tie you." Uriel smirks, arrogant and defiant till the first strike and he removes his robes, hanging them on a silver hook on the wall. He steps up to the rack and places his body on it, spreading his giant wings. "Are we getting an eyeful, brothers?" Michael ties him down, securing him and he takes a few steps back.
Gabriel tightens his jaw, grabbing a leather whip off the wall and he unravels it, slithering it on the ground like a snake. He steps up to Uriel, flicking the whip back and he aims at his unprotected flesh. "And how much am I going to receive for the death of that girl?" Michael taps his index finger against his hand, thinking of a suitable and Gabriel raises his head. "Fifty." Michael's lips slightly part in shock and he takes a step forward, questioningly. "Brother, fifty? Isn't that a bit harsh?" Gabriel sternly turns his eyes to Michael, gripping the handle of the whip and he tilts his head, eyes turning black from rage and impatience. "Perhaps you would like to give the punishment."
Michael stares at Gabriel and his wings sadly wilt and Uriel moves his eyes to him, glancing at Gabriel over his shoulder. "You should take his offer, Michael. We wouldn't want to tire the old boy out." The leather whip squeaks against Gabriel's firm palm and he raises it. "Enough. Archangel Uriel, you will be whipped fifty times for the death of that girl and for the destruction of the chandelier. Prepare yourself, brother." With a harsh crack, the leather whip hits his back, peeling his skin back like a blooming flower. Another strike hits him and Uriel shuts his eyes, showing no emotion for the pain. The edges of his blonde hair turn red with his own blood, painting his upper back in wicked streaks and the whipping continues.
An hour passes by, the sound of the punishment echoes through the hollow halls and Michael places his hands together, saying a little prayer. Uriel opens his blue eyes, the light shining deep in his cold chest and he looks at Michael, watching his lips mumble a useless prayer. "Don't pray for me, Michael." His voice is soft, barely heard below the loud snapping of the whip and he closes his eyes. "No one hears them."
The bloody tail of the whip lands on the ground and Gabriel turns his ear to Uriel. His hand shakes, gripping the whip even tighter and Gabriel spreads his razor wings. "Snake." Michael felt Gabriel's voice rumble in his chest, it sounded like a death sentence in one word and he lifts the whip, striking him even harder. Uriel grunts this time, showing pain and Michael shuts his eyes, silently counting.
With each strike, Uriel grunts a little louder and Michael's voice begins to tremble. He opens his eyes, watching the whip lash at his wicked brother and Gabriel hits him harder, faster and without mercy. "Gabriel, stop. You're hitting him too roughly. He has paid his due." Gabriel continues to lash at him, striking blow after bloody blow and Uriel's knees begin to shake below him, his wings begin drooping. "Gabriel!"
Michael moves in front of Gabriel, catching the whip around his forearm and Gabriel stops, loosening his grip instantly. The whip coils around his arm like barbed wire and Michael touches the whip, gently pulling it from Gabriel's commanding hand. "Please, Gabriel. It's enough." The darkness in Gabriel's eyes slowly begin to fade at the sight of his brothers before him, the thick smell of blood floods 'The Room' and Gabriel claps his hands, ordering the slaves in.
Four slaves enter, their head respectably bowed and two of them go to Uriel, one goes to Michael and the other to Gabriel. Michael gently touches the slave's hand, refusing to accept help and he sends her off. Gabriel takes an offered cloth and wipes the blood from his face and arms, watching the two slaves untie and turn Uriel to him. "Uriel, your attitude is appalling and Father would be highly disappointed. You put yourself and Chamuel in danger and you murdered a girl. You need time to reflect and remember your duties."
Uriel listens, nudging the slaves away and he falls to his knees, pushing their hands back when he tries to stand on his own. He slowly rises, weakly straightening his posture and he clears his throat. Gabriel glances at Michael. "You will be sentenced to one year out of the kingdom. You will not be called to meetings, you are not allowed beyond the gates and you will be in the company of lesser angels. After the year, if you have improved, we will hear you speak and if all goes well, you shall be accepted back."