Michael hadn't seen the mansion in a while, the dilapidated exterior a chilling welcome home. The portal still glowed from within, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't go through and face those demons in Hell. He hadn't been able to after fucking with those angels.
Damn it, Michael, the demon thought furiously. He flew away, knowing what it meant to stay away for so long. He would be called back soon. The three angels wouldn't be ready for it, Michael knew that much.
~.~.~.
The sand felt warm against his bare skin - the demon had stripped to his underwear a few seconds before - and he dug his toes and fingers into the loose ground, creating mounds that could be the start of a castle if he wished.
It was something the demon hadn't done in a really fucking long time, and okay, he wasn't a kid anymore, but building a sand castle sounded like something fun to pass the time with. Michael sat up, giving his wings a quick flap to shake the golden grains off; then he used them to dig up bigger piles of sand.
Michael should be out in Widow's Creek wrecking havoc, but he couldn't find it within himself.
Those damn angels.
They drove Michael insane - changed him, touched him, gave him something he never had before.
The demon's black eyes concentrated hard on the first tower, lip caught between his sharp teeth as he thought about what he was supposed to do today. Using his claw, he carved windows and traced a brick pattern in various places. He began work on another tower, building it higher to distract himself.
What was he doing? Michael sat back for a moment and then kicked over his towers in a temporary fit of anger. Numbness followed after. He walked over to the water, dipping a toe in to test the temperature. He went further in, up to his upper lip. The cool water didn't affect the demon at all. He went up to his eyes and stayed like that.
Several minutes passed in silence, the lake's surface flowing in the direction of the wind. Ripples gave away the angels' presence.
"Why are you just standing there?" Luke asked, concerned.
Michael stood on his tiptoes, mouth barely hovering over the water. "I won't die, not like this anyway. Why do you sound so worried?"
"Something's troubling you. . ." The blonde angel trailed off.
"How long have you three been watching me?"
"Enough to know that you're sad, angel baby." Ashton answered.
"I have to go back to hell soon," Michael was in the water because he wanted to cry, but demons don't have tears. Demons shouldn't have tears, so the water wetting his cheeks disguised them - well, disguised them as much as the water could for the black running down his face. "but I don't want to go back. I want to stay with you. . . Luke, Calum, Ashton."
Michael plunged underneath the surface, trying to suppress his feeling of anguish. He wanted to yell, so he did, bubbles floating up, up, and away. His tears disappeared as soon as they arrived, water gushing into his lungs as he lost his breath. He stood again, the angels closer now and in the water. Hands touched him, felt him, rubbed down his spine soothingly.
