The forbidden fruit

Chapter 8

Sebastian had sat on the couch and held Ariel as she cried. He had been waiting for her to truly crack for a while. After all she had been through, even that would break the strongest of beings. He hated Ariel's brothers for what they did to her, he wanted to make their lives hell for it, but that's not what Ariel needed. Sebastian looked down at the sleeping angel who was snuggled into his chest. In the short time he had known her he had come to love her, not in a romantic way, but in his own way he had taken Ariel under his wing.
She had been abandoned and disowned by those she trusted, but he was determined to show her she would never be hurt like that again. Ariel had a new family and he was it, Sebastian would kill anyone who hurt his new sister. Sebastian sighed, if they stayed like this Ariel would have a major crick in her neck. Slowly he got to his feet, careful not to jostle Ariel too much. He held his breath as Ariel shifted in her sleep before he picked her up and carried her to her room. For an all powerful being that could wipe a whole country off the map, Ariel was adorable when she slept. As Sebastian laid Ariel in her bed and tucked her in he could sense they weren't alone. Looking out the window he could see Peter sitting on the branch of a pine tree just outside her room. Sebastian let out a low growl as he left Ariel's room and headed outside "Damn leech better have a good reason for being here!"
Once outside Sebastian approached Peter "What are you doing here, Bartholy?" Peter didn't look at Sebastian he was to focused on the beautiful girl asleep inside the house. "Tell me Jones, what really happened to Ariel?" Sebastian shook his head "You know that's not my place to tell you, Ariel has been through so much in just a few days. Please Peter I've never asked you for anything but please I'm begging you, stop trying to dig into her past. When Ariel is ready she will come to you but for now she's just not ready."
Peter jumped down from the tree landing right in front of Sebastian "But she's told you, you know what she's been through! Look I don't care about her story for the same reasons my brother does." Sebastian stared Peter down "Then why do you care? I won't let you hurt her Bartholy, not you or anyone else!" Sighing Peter turned back to Ariel's window "Calm down, I would never hurt her. It's odd, I don't even know her but I can't help but be drawn to her." Sebastian nodded "I know what you mean, I met her three days ago and I think I've already adopted her in a way. She needs people she can trust, Peter. I don't know if she could handle being stabbed in the back twice." Just then Sebastian got a really bad feeling. He heard Peter hiss turning his head towards Ariel's room he saw a figure standing over her. He couldn't see their face but he could see the outline of their wings! Both he and Peter bolted inside!
Ariel woke with a start and grabbed the dagger in her nightstand, she felt it when her brother arrived! As she turned to face him she stopped in shock, indeed it was her brother just not the one she was expecting! Before her stood Raphael arms crossed and a smirk on his face. Hey sis, watch where you point that thing, you could hurt someone." Tightening her grip on the dagger she glared at her brother "That's kinda the point of having it! Now what do you want, and don't say for me to come home!" Raphael sighed "No thats not why I'm here, most of heaven has accepted your exile. I just wanted to talk to you, how are you holding up?"
Before she could answer the door flew open with Sebastian and Peter on the other side. Raphael didn't even flinch, he stayed staring at his sister as the two men glared at his back. "Guys it's ok, he's not trying to take me back. Then again I still don't understand why you're here Raphael, you were the one who helped Gabriel throw me out. Now you're here and say you want to talk, why?" Raphael grimaced, she had every right to be angry with him, but at the same time it hurt that she was so suspicious of him. Raphael gesturing to the foot of the bed as if asking permission to sit, Ariel nodded while Sebastian and Peter tensed even more.
After a few moments Raphael still couldn't find the words to justify his actions, so he did the only thing that came to mind. Wrapping his arms around Ariel's shoulders he pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry Ariel!" Ariel tensed for a moment, but she could feel that Raphael was being sincere. Returning his hug Ariel was only able to get out one word "Why?" Pulling away Raphael finally glanced over in Sebastian and Peters direction, the two had calmed down but they were still ready should thing go south. "You know me Ariel I follow orders, and rarely give them. Gabriel acted out of jealousy and I.... I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. When we found out that you had fallen in love with him..." Raphael gestured his head at Peter and Ariel blushed not looking to see his reaction. "Well it was too much for us to take in." Ariel looked at Raphael through her tears "How is Gabriel?" Raphael smirked as he wiped Ariel's tears away "He'll be fine, well I say that but father still hasn't come up with our punishment."
Ariel's eyes widened and Raphael let out a sad laugh "Yeah, father was pissed that we banished you without coming to him first." Ariel hugged her brother and cried "I'm sorry Raphael!" All three men looked at her shocked! "For what? This is on me and Gabriel we made a choice to take matters into our own hands, now we'll face the consequences! We'll be alright Ariel don't trouble yourself worrying about us. I have to go now but I'll check back in." Raphael stood up and faced the other two men "I may have screwed up but so help me if either of you two betray my sister, I'll make what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah look like child's play."
With that Raphael was gone. Ariel smiled she hadn't completely forgiven him but she was happy that after this visit they were on better terms. Looking up she saw bout Sebastian and Peter looking at her with worried expressions. She noticed peter was blushing and suddenly remembered "Shit, Peter knows!" She thought to herself. "Sebastian I know it's late but could you give Peter and I a moment..."