Chapter Text
Summary; While in Lau's Shangri-La, Aurora cannot help but remember her youth.
Set; Blue Revenge / Past
Father Knows Best
Aurora Magne-Michaelis laid in the bed she was sharing with her beloved husband. Sebastian was off elsewhere, gathering information for Ciel, while she had long since tired and returned to bed.
The blonde's head rested against the red satin pillows, face buried against the pillow case. She absentmindedly reached up to toy with the chain around her neck, only to find it gone. Oh, right... She remembered, I lost it on the Campania...
She debated then if losing her father's signet ring was a blessing or a curse. As she laid in the bed, she shut her eyes, remembering what had happened so long ago.
Angelica Laverne had been desperate. Desperate enough that she had asked her father to set aside time to meet with her on a delicate subject. She was pacing the parlor, waiting for her father to enter.
"Dove? You wished to speak with me?"
Angelica's gaze shot up, silver blue meeting that of her father's. She hesitated only briefly, "Yes. A delicate matter, papa." Her father looked concerned, and eyed her. "Are you alright? Something has not happened, has it?" He was there in an instant, one of his large, white and golden feathered wings resting against her forehead. "You do not feel warm, little one. You are not ill."
Angelica batted his wing away with a hand. "Papa. It is not that." She sighed, "I want to leave." Michael Laverne frowned, "Leave?" Angelica nodded, "I wish to leave the Silver City for a spell. I want to see the human world and all others." Her father frowned, "You may go the Reaper's Realm with your Uncle William. That would be fine."
Angelica shook her head, "I do not wish to go to the Reaper Realm, papa. I want to go to the human world and explore it. I promise I will write, I promise to visit! Please papa! Please let me go! I'll even take Lucian with me!"
Her father chuckled, "Oh my little dove, you want to go there? Ah, my little girl- Angelica, you cannot go to the world of humans. It is far too dangerous for you. Do not forget, you are my child. Any being would make an attempt on your life. Demons especially." Angelica narrowed her eyes, "But father-" He cut her off, "Look at you, as fragile as a flower, barely out of your cherub years." He tilted her chin up with a wing tip, "You understand why you do not leave this manor, do you not?" Angelica sighed, "Papa-" He cut her off again, "You remaining here is for your own safety, Angelica. I will not lose you to anything."
Angelica sighed, "Papa, I'm old enough to go out on my own-"
Her father sighed, "I suppose I knew this day was coming. You would one day crave adventure and to see the world." He smiled kindly and tilted her chin up, "But that day has not yet come my dove."
Angelica looked appalled, "But father!"
Michael Laverne shushed her, "Remember little dove, I am your father. I know what's best for you." Angelica scoffed, "Papa, I do not require-" Michael Laverne pulled a wing around his daughter, tugging her close to his side, "Angelica- my little doveling, it is a rather cruel world. One you my dove, are not ready to face." He chuckled, leading her to the hall and leading the way past several paintings.
"Angelica, dear, something will go wrong if I let you out on your own. Even with Lucian as a bodyguard. Demons, Fallen, even the odd human could be a threat to you. Angelica, Arch Angels are powerful. Greatly powerful. But such power comes at a high price. On earth, my child, we are weak. Why is it you think I never venture to that realm? It is because us as Archs, divine beings of great power, second only to God himself- our power comes at a cost."
He looked at his daughter sternly before gesturing with a wing to a painting. "Look upon this. This painting depicts the Great War between the realms of Heaven and Hell."
Angelica's gaze raised to the painting, and she gasped in horror at the sight, putting a hand to her mouth to muffle her frightened gasp. The image was graphic. War in all its glory. Lucifer himself was head on against her father. Swords clashed, angels and demons both were dying. Her eyes fell upon the right hand of the devil. The Devil's Crow. Former Arch Asmodel, turned the Demon King of Lust Asmodeous.
Her father caught her eye. "Ah. The former Arch Asmodel. He was one of the first angels. Like Lucifer. But a second generation." He chuckled, "Lucifer and I were first generation." Angelica's eyes widened, "Lucifer was an Arch? How? I have never seen his name in the scriptures!" Her father's wing wrapped around her, and came over her shoulder. "When he was an Arch, his name was Samael." Angelica's eyes widened, "He was the first of the angels. Like you." Her father nodded, "Indeed."
His eyes went to another portrait, and his hand raised to point at it with his other wing tip. "That is how he used to look."
Angelica moved under her father's comforting wing to see what could only be described as a family sort of portrait. There was no familial ties between any angels, not like her father and Uncle Gabriel. They had no parents. First generations like her father were simply created. Her father and Gabriel being brothers was more of God's special project. To see what familial ties would do to angels, as no supernatural being at the time was gifted with human emotion.
Her father was stood beside a throne, a throne in which there was only a bright light. He was on the right side, looking tall and proud, no different than how he looked today aside from how he had parted his hair. Lucifer- or Samael, was on the left side of the throne, blonde with dark brown hints, and bright yellow eyes. Eyes that were kind, and comforting Angelica supposed that went for all angels, as she looked upon each of the original angels.
"Many of our kind died in the war," Her father murmured, "It was a bloody century." Angelica's eyes widened, "The war truly lasted that long?" Her father nodded, "Indeed." He sighed, "Ultimately, the Reapers acted as a middleman. Officiating a peace treaty. However, that treaty is constantly breaking."
He walked to a window and glared down towards the earth. "Angels going rogue is not unusual. Many have Fallen, many more have become...." He shuddered, "Demon mates." Angelica's attention was drawn by this. "Demon mates?"
Her father sighed, "Another reason why you are staying here, dove." He smiled and ruffled her hair playfully, "Where you are safe. And I can protect you." He pulled her close under his wing and sighed, "What I would do without you, little dove... I do not know."
Angelica watched him start to walk away, "What are demon mates, papa? I've never heard of such a thing!" Her father chuckled, "Nothing for you to worry about little one." Angelica folded her arms across her chest, "Papa-" He tugged her under his wing once more, "Angelica- there are many other things that could harm you! Demon fire, emotion, sleep, humanity, love, exorcism, sigils, even some witches that discover you! And do not make me mention the humans that have gotten a hold of angelic artifacts! And on rare occasion angelic feathers."
He turned to his daughter, resembling a predator advancing on prey. "Have I ever told you dove? Of how humans clip angel wings? Reapers used to do the same with their scythes before an alliance was formed." Angelica looked terrified. "What?!"
Her father hummed, coming around to pluck one of her wings, making her yelp. "Indeed. Humans wanted to know of the divine nature, and reapers were in need of less enemies."
Her father tugged a wing around her and held her close, stroking her hair comfortingly, "But you needn't fear, little dove. Your father is here to protect you." Angelica shut her eyes, comforted in her father's embrace for a moment before shoving away to glare at him. "You did not elaborate on my question, papa. What are demon mates?"
Michael Laverne sighed, "My daughter, always so inquisitive..." He cleared his throat before speaking, "Like how angels and humans marry, and how angels have an everlasting vow for eternity, demon's have mates." He frowned, "And the ones who take on an angelic mate are known to... ehm...." He looked uncertain. "The ones who take an angelic mate what?" Angelica asked tugging her father's coat sleeve. "Papa, dis-moi! Tell me!"
Her father sighed, "They... tend to use the angel to steal their soul. And angelic soul is a delicacy to a demon. Especially a starving one."
Angelica stared, silently in shock. He father sighed, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Hush. You know why I keep you under such lock and key."
He chuckled then, "Besides, dove- the outside world would just eat you up! Look at you, Angelica, you may have mastered the art of the sword, but sweetheart, on your own- you would not last for long." He chuckled and twirled a bit of her hair between his fingers, "Angelica, I love you my dove, but you can be quite gullible. And you have never blended in with the humans. And you can be beyond clumsy, was it not last week you broke the vase in the main hall?" Angelica averted her gaze as he let out a rich laugh.
"Oh, oh, Angelica- my sweet little dove," he tilted her chin up and looked seriously at her, "I say this because I love you. I cannot lose you like I lost your mother. I have one request, one command for you. Can you do that, dear?"
Angelica nodded slowly, "I- I suppose." Michael Laverne hummed, "Never ask to leave the Silver City, again."
Angelica lowered her head in defeat with a sigh, "Yes... Father."
Michael Laverne hugged her close, "I love you very much, dove. Without you, why- I do not know what would become of me." He pulled away and straightened his uniform, "Now, I must get going, I have another trip."
Angelica frowned, "You aren't staying?"
Her father shook his head, "Unfortunately not. Be thankful you are not ruling an entire realm, my dear. It is tiring work." He kissed the top of her head, "I will see you in two weeks." Angelica did not move as he left. Her eyes glanced briefly at the painting of the war, and then after several minutes of staring at it- she turned on her heel and made her way to the main hall, bumping into one of the maids. "Grace? Has my father already left?" Grace nodded, "Yes, miss. He has." Angelica grinned and made a mad dash for her bedroom, grabbing the hidden bag in the closet, poking her head out the window, looking both ways, and then unfurling her wings and flying out with phantom speed.
Malphas Desideriis wiped the spit from his lips with a gloved hand. The body of his contractor, a human male who had wished for wealth, women, and all alike laid before him. The soul had been good, not a delicacy, but not too disappointing. The demon was debating on his next action when he caught a familiar scent many miles away. He smirked, in a world where humans were not yet the supreme species, he was able to scent most anything, and detect a soul. Especially when that soul was angelic.
He apparated himself to the lake, not wishing to waste any time running. As he stepped from the confines of the shadows, he spotted his blonde friend landing, fluttering her wings before she looked his way and rushed into his arms, tackling him in a hug, and her wings lifting them only slightly off the ground.
Malphas smirked, "You seem happy to see me." Angelica nodded, "I was desperate to get out. Papa was home for some time. How long has it been? It feels as if an eternity passed!" Malphas looked amused, "Twas not horrendously long. Six months? Maybe a year and a half?" Angelica looked upset, "Truly that long?! Malphas, I-" The demon put a hand over her mouth and let out an amused chuckle. "Relax. It is nothing compared to the time I spend from you." Angelica smiled and hugged him. "I missed you..." She pulled away suddenly, "now tell me- what are demon mates? And is it true that some Fallen become mates?"
After several hours of laying by the lake, discussing the differing forms of matrimony between realms, Angelica sat up. "Malphas... What would you say if I said something... crazy?" Malphas smirked, "Angelica- you are anything but crazy. If it bothers you so much, just say it already." Angelica laced her hand with his and sat up, one hand toying with the hem of her dress, while the other remained in his. "Well..." She looked at him, "What if we ran away?"
Malphas blinked, "I... beg your pardon?" Angelica sighed, "I told you it was crazy!" Malphas watched her flop onto the ground. "On the contrary, I was more interested in if you were serious about it." Angelica stared at him, "Huh?" Malphas shrugged, "I wouldn't mind running off for a while. It might be fun to get away from everything." Angelica smirked, "My father is away for two weeks. And Lucian is ill with the feather flu." Malphas made a face, "Feather flu? What in the seven circles is that?" Angelica giggled, "An excessive growth of feathers- making it near impossible to fly."
Malphas snickered, "That sounds fairly interesting." Angelica hummed, "It is not." She grabbed his hands, "So where shall we run to first?!" Malphas smirked, "Anywhere we want."
Michael Laverne had returned home, having completed his conference, only to find his daughter absent. "Grace." He called to one of the servants, "Where is my daughter?" Grace looked confused, "I would assume somewhere in the manoir, sir."
The Arch frowned, and proceeded to his daughter's room. He paused hearing voices.
"You know you cannot stay here."
Angelica.
"I understand. I just felt I needed to check up on you."
Michael frowned. Who was the mysterious being in his daughter's room?
Angelica laughed, and the Arch stiffened as he heard her kiss the other on the cheek. "I appreciate you coming to check up on me, but you can not be here."
The Arch heard desperation in his daughter's voice.
"If my father finds you here- he will not hesitate to slay you where you stand! You have to go!"
The other chuckled, "Oh darling- I can fend for myself. You know that."
Darling? The Arch was fighting to keep his aura low, and to not throw open the door and see who was with his only child.
Angelica sighed, "I know you are a brilliant fighter- you are a fair match for myself, but my father has been around for as long as the Demon King himself. My father fought in the war between the Fallen and the Archs."
On the other side of the door, Angelica Laverne sat beside Malphas Desideriis on the bed. She looked at him worriedly, "I do not wish for you to be harmed on my account. Please. Go." Malphas sighed, "There is nothing else to do, mon ange. What am I to do while you are trapped in here?" Angelica looked a little amused, "You'll find something to do."
Malphas hummed and kissed her, "I would much rather be with you." He frowned then, "Why do you not come with me? We can leave everything behind- forge our own path. No gods, or Archs, or Demon Kings to tell us what to do. Just you and I. For the rest of eternity."
Angelica smirked, "My- is this your idea of a proposal? If you are- I expect you to ask me correctly." Malphas grinned, "And how would one ask, correctly?" Angelica let out a small laugh and gently punched his arm. "Tch. That's for you to figure out, smart guy." Malphas hummed, "I suppose I could put some time aside to debate."
Angelica's eyes widened, "Are you serious?"
Malphas smirked, "Angelica, my darling- that is something you will need to wait to find out." He kissed her. "Come see me when you are able." He smiled lovingly, "There is something I would like to show you when you come see me next."
Angelica smiled, "Fine. But only if you promise to leave quickly. My father could return at any minute if he hasn't already!" Malphas smirked, "Let him find us. If he tried to kill me, I could fair quite well." Angelica shook her head, "You could manage for a while, but he would inevitably kill you." She smiled and stepped into his embrace, hand coming up to cup his face. "After all, if you are gone, who else will be my sweet prince charming?"
Malphas chuckled, "Me? Sweet? Oh darling- you know I am anything but." Angelica smiled, "Yes, I know." She kissed him again. "But I am serious. It would be best you leave. Just in case." Malphas pulled her into a gentle hug, "Certainly, mon ange. Til we meet again, cherie."
He pressed his lips to hers, drawing a soft hum from her. "I love you..." She murmured. Malphas grinned, turning towards the window, "I know, love. I know." He smirked at her, gave a mock bow, and jumped from the window, shifting into his crow form and departing.
Angelica shook her head, "So wreck less"
She watched his crow form fly down from the Heavens, and then sighed making her way back to bed, dropping onto her side to stare at the other side where he had just lain. It was nice to lay beside him. Her eyes shut, prepared to fall into a dreamworld where she would have him, and he would have her- but that was when the bedroom door opened and her father entered.
"Ah! Dove, I missed you!" Angelica jumped to her feet, "Papa! You're home!" While her father regaled her with stories of his travels, Angelica's mind was on the demon who had without a doubt, stolen her heart.
All the while, the Arch wanted to know just who was with his daughter in his absence.
And he intended to find out. Whatever the cost.