Caught in the Fire

Chapter XXI: The Unforgiven

Together, the two brothers, Lucifer, and Michael, walked into the abandoned cathedral where their sibling, Uriel, had breathed his last. There was an organ piano and church pews before an altar, some of which looked broken. The silence that befell them was almost deafening. Nothing could be heard but the air circulating in the abandoned church.

Lucifer took in the place with a heavy heart, feeling tears in his eyes, thinking about Uriel breathing his last in this place. He remembered most of it so clearly. He remembered fighting Uriel with everything he had. He remembered Uriel's finger hovering over that key that would've ended his Mum and Chloe's life. But he still couldn't remember grabbing the blade and running toward Uriel.

"This is where it all happened," Lucifer said, unable to look at his brother. "This is where Uriel..." he trailed off, unable to continue. He felt Michael's hand on his shoulder, and he quickly walked away, hugging his own chest. "I did this."

After a moment of silence, Michael finally spoke. "I blame myself as well for what happened to Uriel."

"You didn't do anything to him, Michael. I'm the one who..."

Michael shook his head. "The last time I talked to him, he informed me that he was coming to Earth to collect on Lucifer's deal with Father by having you turn over our Mother. I told him that Mother was powerless, and that Father would deal with Her when the time was right. He warned me that Mother wanted revenge on Father for banishing Her to Hell, and that if anyone understood wanting revenge, it would be me."

"Right, you wanted revenge because of me. My wake of destruction continues."

"I asked him how he expected us to simply forgive those who wrong us."

"Uriel? Are we talking about the same Uriel?"

"He was the Angel of Repentance for a reason. He always told me that you forgave not for them, but for yourself. He reiterated the same thing the last time I saw him. Instead of listening, I called him a fool. He warned me that if I continued down the path of hatred, that I would fall. I was furious and I ordered him out of my sight." More tears came to his eyes, and he stubbornly kept them at bay. "I never saw him again."

"You're not responsible, Michael." Lucifer wandered around the cathedral, feeling his heart sinking. "I am. I'm the one who killed him. If not for me, you would've been able to apologize to him."

Michael sighed heavily as he wandered to the organ piano. "What happened that night?"

"Uriel said that he would kill the Detective if I did not surrender Mum," Lucifer said, looking around with a heavy heart, "I couldn't let him take Mum back to Hell, Michael. I couldn't. How could I, after I found out that She saved my life? Father was going to destroy me after The Rebellion. She interceded on my behalf and Dad had you banish me to Hell instead."

"She said that?" Michael asked, "Brother, are you certain that She was not manipulating you by telling you these things?"

"Do you know something I don't?" Lucifer asked, alarmed at what that meant. Their Mother saving him from Dad was the only reason he had been willing to let her stay on Earth, and the reason he refused to allow Uriel to take Her to Hell. That led to Uriel threatening the Detective, and then threatening to kill them both, which unfortunately led to Uriel's death. "Please, Michael, don't tell me that She was lying to me about that! If She was lying, then that means..."

"That Uriel died for nothing," another voice said, and they both looked over to see Charlotte Richards standing there, currently possessed by the Goddess of all Creation.

"Mum?" Lucifer breathed, his heart sinking.

"Is that the same demon from earlier?" Michael asked, alarmed at the apparition, "Mazikeen, I hope you are still keeping those demons at bay."