Fallen Angel

Chapter 12.1

Raphael had insisted to meet Michael in the apothecary at dawn to discuss something in private. He knew it would probably concern Gabriël. Or Joan. Or their... No. He wouldn't allow any discussion on that. As soon as he had fully recovered from using Heaven's Fire, he would go to Lago di Resia and deal with that problem himself. Even if it meant losing Gabriël's friendship forever, at least he would be safe from the darkness. That was all that mattered. 
Suddenly, Michael felt the skin underneath his wrist cuff burn. He gripped his arm. Despite having felt his rune itching for the past weeks, it had been centuries since it had last acted up like this. Why was it doing so now? Who was - wait... Gabriël!

The Lord Protector stormed out of the apothecary. He ran past Raphael further in the hallway, but ignored his call. There was no time to lose. Michael ran out of the Hospitium and leapt into the air. He stayed low, his wings cutting through the morning mist, and landed mere seconds later in front of the catacombs. 
Raphael touched down a few paces behind Michael and hurried after him, leaving the confused sentries at the open doors. They quickly descended the stone steps, but Michael abruptly stopped halfway and raised a hand to halt Raphael. The cell door lay out in the corridor, blown to pieces.
Preparing for the worst, Michael carefully advanced. When he got to the cell, it appeared to be empty. Sword in hand, Michael touched what remained of the door. It crumbled under his fingers. There was nothing left but snippets of wood. The bars had melted away. At the base, the iron was still smouldering.

"Is he in there?" Raphael came up behind Michael.

His eyes searched the other cells. Gabriël still had to be there, waiting to lure him into a trap. The guards were right upstairs, so he couldn't have gone far. Then, Michael felt a gust of wind coming from the far side of the corridor. The wall stood ajar. He groaned at his own stupidity. 

"He is using the tunnels again," he said to Raphael. "I think I know where he is going. We must hurry."

They went through the secret passage and entered the dark tunnels. Unaided by any light, the pair made their way through the maze. But the longer they ran, the more Michael felt uneasy. Something was wrong. He stopped in his tracks, making Raphael bump into him.

"Michael? What is it? Why have we stopped?"

"Something is amiss. We should have caught up to him by now. Gabriël did not have that much of a head start."

"If we linger any longer, he will!" urged Raphael, pulling Michael along by his wrist.

"No, wait." He planted his feet to keep from moving. "I... do not think he is here." 

"You believe he took another tunnel?" asked Raphael.

"I think he never even went into the tunnels."

"What? Michael, the cell was empty. The passage was left open."

"I know, but it feels too obvious. And you saw the cell door. Gabriël did not do that. He does not possess that kind of power. That thing inside of him must have taken hold of him again."

"We left the sentries at the entrance of the Catacombs. Surely they would have alarmed you if Gabriël was still there?"

A daunting memory from the past surfaced in Michael's mind. This wasn't the first time he'd been tricked like this. 

"Not if they cannot see him," he said. "We have to go back. Now!"

***

After shattering the door to his cell, Gabriël had followed LightBringer's instructions to turn invisible. He had waited at the top of the steps until the doors opened, and Michael and Raphael stormed in. Upon seeing the two Archangels, Gabriël had hesitated. A single moment only. He had quickly waved the sentiment off and snuck past the sentries.