The Archangel's Search

"I'm not good at violence, but I'm good at convincing others" - Tyrion Lannister

Seraphina

As a loyal wife, Seraphina reluctantly stood by the front steps to welcome her husband. With her hands behind her back and a small smile, she tried to keep her troubled thoughts at bay and hoped that her husband could not sense them.

She watched as her husband lower in altitude and his black, velvet wings relaxed. Lucifer was handsome in his black uniform and swept–back hair as he landed. He walked up to her with a charismatic smile that could both melt hearts and break them and welcomed her with wide arms.

"Ah, isn't my wife lovely and loyal?" he pronounced proudly. It was a rhetorical question that always grinded on Seraphina's nerves but she didn't know why. A loyal wife shouldn't be thinking like this, she repeated to her herself but the message did not stay.

"I trust your mission was successful, darling", she said while he grabbed her waist and pulled her towards her for a welcoming kiss. The kiss was hard with possessiveness and power; it was neither loving nor warm.

"It certainly was", Lucifer said with a cunning look that meant more. Unease surfaced unexpectedly in Seraphina but she did not show it. Lucifer continued to smile as he walked into the palace and Seraphina followed a few feet behind like an obedient servant. He swaggered into the throne room like a man on top of the world before he jumped onto the throne with an evil smirk.

To please Lucifer, Seraphina knelt near the base of the throne chair and looked up. She hoped that he will tell her something about above or what he had in mind. She knew that in Lucifer's head was a brilliant and diabolic brain that was either scheming or reflecting on an event.

It was a long moment before he said anything.

"I miss my brother", he said a little too excitedly but not particularly to her. "I used to watch him fight and train when I was in favour with the Father. I was so proud of him then; he always seemed to please me by taking in all my advices. Michael was always a goody."

"He cannot be as great as you, my love", she responded, which pleased Lucifer very much for his smile deepened in arrogance and pleasure.

"No, I don't think he ever was", Lucifer reflected. "He was so tender and kind; not a natural soldier...like me."

"I'm sure he's talents are gone now", Seraphina added, not liking this topic at all and desperately trying to change it. She knew Lucifer very well to know that he was planning something sinister for the prisoner. "He cannot compare to you, my love," she attempted desperately again.

"I haven't seen him fight for a while", Lucifer absently reflected. "I wonder what he will be like when I place him in the colosseum."

"Surely, nothing can compare to you, my love", Seraphina urgently added, hoping to smother out Lucifer's curiosity but it was useless as she watched his pale blue eyes sparkle with an idea. She knew it concerned the prisoner Michael; it was all too obvious.

"No, nothing can compare to me", Lucifer repeated vacantly.

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Michael

Seraphina did not return to see him that night. Instead, his food was brought to him by servants, who did not care about the proportion size of each prisoner. Michael paced back and forth in his cell, worried that Lucifer might be suspicious and has decided to punish Seraphina.

Just the thought of a whip on his wife's back brought anger and fear to Michael, making him restless and impatient for news. So when Death reappeared, Michael seized the opportunity and commanded him to investigate. Death reported back within the hour only to inform Michael that Lucifer was planning something.