Dance of the Angels

Chapter 17

Cautiously, they both walked around the winding paths, not knowing where they were going. Eventually, they spotted a circular platform with two thin walkways leading to it from opposite sides. Naomi’s jaw fell slack as she noticed who was on the platform.

Samiel.

He was suspended in mid air above the platform and Naomi stared at him and looked for any sign of injury. There were no physical signs, as Lucifer had said. His body was in perfect condition; no visible bruises, cuts or scratches. Wings were seemingly intact.

What had they done to him?

The thin paths leading to him were thin and narrow but the risk was worth it. Ryan felt Naomi grab his hand as the edged forward on the narrow twisting path which had a drop that would literally last forever.

Flashes of Ryan discovering his best friend’s - and first friend from high school - crimes via the news. My friends… they’re dead, Mom. And my best friend killed them. I don’t get why. The flashes were faster and they were almost impossible to see properly.

Naomi gripped his hand tighter as she felt light-headed while muttering apologies and worries. Ryan was unsure of how to respond so he stayed quiet. As they neared the archangel and teacher on the platform, Lucifer appeared in front of them and made them jump.

“Lucifer, what did you do to him?” asked Naomi, her voice trembled. As if she was going to cry.
“I have told you, I have done nothing to physically harm him,” he said with a smirk.
“I mean in other ways,” said Naomi.
“He’s trapped in there, in his own mind,” said Lucifer as he stepped toward them. Naomi instinctively moved in front of Ryan to protect him. “He’ll relive every bad choice he’s made, every thing he’s regretted every bad thing he’s done.”

Naomi stared at him, confused on how someone could hurt a brother, his own family, in the way he was currently doing.
“But I thought you liked him more than the others,” she said. “You were nice, you were nice to me.”
“Believe me, Naomi. I would have prefered Gabriel but he can teleport and I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he said. Ryan glanced at Naomi, confused as to why Naomi was one of the Devil’s favourites.

“I suppose this is what I get for a demon in charge.”
“But you created them, right?” asked Ryan. Lucifer smiled at his knowledge and nodded.
“It doesn’t mean I like them, I hate them just as much as humans.” Ryan gulped and stepped back.

Letting go of her boyfriend’s hand, Naomi walked to Samiel and reached out to him. A shimmering blue barrier like the one in the church blocked her. She pushed against it but she could feel the barrier pressing back. Naomi turned to Lucifer and tried to stay calm.
“Let him go. Please, let him go, Lucifer. Let our brother go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Naomi looked away from him and back to Samiel. Now she was closer, she could see him better. His eyes were tightly shut and it seemed like something was holding him back from thrashing his limbs around, probably for the better.
“Then I’ll swap,” she said as she looked back at Lucifer. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall. “I’ll swap with him.” Lucifer tilted his head slightly as he thought about her proposal.
“No,” he said while shaking his head. “You can’t swap with him.”

“Why not?”
“I told you I would never hurt you and letting you swap would be letting you get hurt,” said Lucifer.
“Why am I better than him? How? He’s older, more powerful. I don’t understand.”
“You are more powerful than you think,” he said softly. “Stop doubting yourself.”
“Just let him go, please,” she begged as she felt tears fall down her cheeks.
“Please, don't cry.”

“Can I swap?” interrupted Ryan. Both celestials turned to face the red-headed human.
“What? No! You can’t!” yelled Naomi. But Lucifer was smirked as he walked towards Ryan.
“He can.” Ryan trembled slightly as the Devil himself stood in front of him.
“No, no,” she said. “Ryan, don’t do it.” Lucifer held his hand out to Ryan and he hesitantly reached out to grab it.

Ryan crashed into Naomi, almost knocking her to the ground. Instead, she was pushed into the barrier.
“Michael,” Naomi whispered in disbelief. “Gabriel and... Azrael too?” The three archangels stood together at the edge of the platform.

“Brother dearest-” Michael walked over to Lucifer and looked down at him.
“Shut it, Lucifer,” he growled. “Let Sammy go. Let him go and we won’t hurt you.”
“You couldn’t hurt me,” sad Lucifer confidently. “Remember the church? And fallen angels are stronger in Hell and oh, I’m a fallen archangel in Hell.”

Unsurprisingly, Lucifer formed a barrier between the three archangels. It separated them from Lucifer, Naomi, Ryan and Samiel. Naomi tried to grab onto Ryan as he walked towards Lucifer. Without any sort of reluctance, Ryan grabbed Lucifer’s outstretched hand. Within a second, Ryan and Samiel switched places. More tears fell as Naomi watched her human friend and now boyfriend writhe in the air before falling still.

“You’re a monster,” she spat at Lucifer. “You were nice to me to trick me, all you are is a monster.”
“I wasn’t nice to trick you, I was genuinely nice to you.” Naomi glared at him as she moved over to Samiel.

“Fuck off.”