Chapter Text
The garden of Eden was a beautiful and prosperous place, designed by God to be that way. It was made to be a mirror of Heaven on the planet that God had created. What would later be dubbed “Earth” by the creatures living on it. God had wanted to try and create something to inhabit the world with them, creatures that would eventually follow the path and join the angels in Heaven. They were meant to be perfect, dolls crafted into future angels, beings of pure light. To the angels, they were meant to be direct and studied, kept on the path and guided to everything so that they’d never fall off of the Heavenly Order.
With the humans God created the birds, fauna, the fish in the sea and everything that came with them. He gave them food, the tools to hunt it, and the means to craft their own homes. He created Adam and his first wife Lilith. When that failed, he made Eve.
This was the first problem Samael had.
“I don’t understand why he’s so concerned about Adam having a wife but we’ve now left Lilith to fend for herself.”
Michael turned his head toward his twin and watched him toss a nut into the air and catch it in his mouth. “She has not been left to fend for herself. You’re keeping a constant eye on her. To almost weird levels, Sam.” Which was true, he was down here nearly every single day watching Lilith. He’s been reprimanded for it, yet still continues to do it anyway. Ignoring his other obligations in Heaven which Michael now has to take on himself to cover for him. It was fine, he was handling it, they shared a similar power. He could do whatever father needed Samael to do. Even if he would never fool father into thinking they were the same.
At least Samael had the decency to look ashamed at that, shifting in place and tugging on his gown. “Haha… I’m just worried about her?”
“Uh-huh. And I believe that as much as I believe Adam won’t get eaten by the leviathans.”
“Father won’t allow that to happen. He’d have to make another doll and that would annoy him.”
“Don’t they unsettle you though?” Frowning tightly he slid his gaze to the ocean beside them and watched the creatures in the distance swimming in the water. He never thought that God made a mistake, they’re not allowed to think that and everything is part of the great plan. But those creatures were too big and there were multiples of them. Watching Adam go out into the water with his spear to collect fish was like waiting for him to fall off a cliff. He was going to get himself killed, he wasn’t a skilled fighter and those things were vicious. They defended their home in the water violently. The last time he brought this up to their father, he had actually looked concerned for a second. The emotion was gone just as quickly, but he felt it meant Michael had a point.
Samael shrugged and held his hand out, dropping one of the nuts he was holding into Michael’s palm. “I think they’re cool.”
“Of course you do.” Sighing he rolled the nut between his fingers and continued watching the water.
“You worry too much, Mike. Look at them out there!” Samael threw himself at him, wrapping his arms around his neck and leaning against him. With his cheek pressed up against Michael’s own he motioned toward the ocean. “Look at how they swim around, how they twist in the water and flip in the air. They’re cool. It’s just a…” his lips pressed together and Michael turned his head to the side, frowning at his brother. “It’s a shame they’re created just to die. Does that sound fair? We didn’t make anything else with that single purpose in mind. To be hunted, slaughtered and eaten.”
“Everything in life serves a purpose, Sam. Adam’s is to provide for Eve, Eve’s is to have children, and Lilith’s is now to help Eve and take care of their home. All the other animals father made have the same fate as the leviathans. To be hunted and die.” That was the order that they lived by, the cycle that God created. Survive, live, and die. To exist, to be, and to stop existing. There was no question there, it’s the way things were designed and they accepted it. They got a life and then after their life, they served Heaven and God.
His brother shook his head and Michael frowned. “It just doesn’t seem right.”
“Hey.” Turning in the arms still wrapped around him he grabbed Samael’s shoulders and nudged him back, meeting that same bright golden gaze. “You can’t think things like that, father will be mad. This is the way things are, he created all of it and we have to do what he says.”
“But why?”
“What do you mean?” Shaking his head he offers his brother a gentle smile. “He’s the Holy Father. That’s why. We were created to help him, that’s all.”
“And that’s really okay to you?”
It had to be. They didn’t get to ask questions like that, because they didn’t matter and there was nothing to question. This was the way things were, the way they would always be, and it was just their job to serve and protect Heaven and the Heavenly Order. The path that God decided all creatures should take. The way he wanted things to work. They did as were told and as they needed to based on the orders given to them by God. He was fine with that.
“Of course, Sam. As it should be for you.” Squeezing his brother’s shoulders he pulled away and set his gaze on the ocean again. “Like the leviathans, everything serves a purpose and we’ll be fine. I have to go back to Heaven, alright? You shouldn’t spend so much time down here. I can only cover for you for so long.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m going to go check on Raphael at the Tree of Life first.”
“Alright.”
The conversation didn’t linger in his mind for long. It had been such a simple one and he had thought he’d nipped the worst of Samael’s problems in the bud. He had more things to deal with than whatever was going on in his brother’s head. Their father had been asking more questions on the progress of the Heavenly Army, he had adjustments to make in Heaven to fit the changing of the world. Then on top of it all the smaller tasks he had taken on to cover for Samael being down in Eden. He loved his twin, but he did not envy all the tiny things he was asked to do around Heaven. All the bizarre things he was asked to make or change. Whenever someone needs or wants something they turn to the Angel of Creation.
Their father too. He wanted to split Heaven into three layers now, to make room for everything. He had laid out the plan to Michael and told him to get Samael to help him with it. Which would have been an easier task to accomplish if Samael wasn’t down in Eden so much. They were keeping an eye on him, but his twin was an Archangel. They weren’t overly concerned with his fascination with the mortals. He’d helped make them, after all, it seemed a bit normal for him to be deeply fascinated by them. Even Gabriel was interested in what was going on with them, what they were doing or going to be doing.
After all, even Michael himself had watched when Adam went out hunting in the Ocean, curious if he was going to get gobbled up by the leviathans. They were all curious about them. If Adam met such an abrupt demise, he wondered if the mortal would turn back into clay or actually end up in Heaven? There was no middle ground for mortals yet, when they died they either became an angel or–well, they don’t know yet. His theory was they turned back to clay.
He finished crafting another duck and held the fluffy yellow creature up, humming to it as he twisted it around to inspect it. What odd creatures Samael made, though he supposed they were cute. It made a tiny chirp and Michael lowered it down, turning to glance behind him as Samael came walking up the path to the pond. “Hey, I finished your job of filling the ponds. Again.” Holding the duck out he dropped it down into Samael’s hands. A smile spread across his brother’s face and he gently pet the little creature's head. “We should probably fill the ponds with more things than just ducks. We could make some fish up here.”
“Oh, maybe, I haven’t thought about it.” Crouching down beside the water he let the little duck loose and watched it swim out into the middle of the pond. “They’re so cute though, aren’t they?”
“I suppose. I prefer the doves.”
“They’re pretty too.” Tilting his head back, Samael gave him a wide grin. “So, I heard you needed me?”
“Right, we have a project to do that I can’t do on my own.” He could try but, well, even his power was limited. Samael and him were always stronger together, especially when it came to making drastic changes to Heaven. He doesn’t know why their father doesn’t do this one on his own, but maybe he wanted them to learn something. God seemed a bit distracted lately, it was worrying Michael. Turning away from the ducks he set his gaze down on his brother. “Were you down in Eden again?”
“Yeah, I was talking to Lilith. She’s so brilliant–”
“Wait, I’m sorry, you were talking with the mortals? We’re not supposed to do that, Sam!” It was very clear. They weren’t supposed to engage unless they had to. They weren’t meant to be more than the occasional direction, to nudge them back onto the path when they needed to. They weren’t supposed to sit and have conversations with the mortals! They engage when there is absolutely no other choice, because God wanted to see what they would do, if they could help themselves and be self-sufficient. They do as they’re expected to, to stay on the path of God’s Light and take care of themselves with the tools they were given.
Samael frowned and stood from the ground, motioning with his hands between them. “Well why not? It didn’t hurt anything! We just had a few conversations.”
“A few!? You’ve done this more than once?” He wants to scream. He wants to grab his brother and shake him until he knocks some sense back into him.
“Yeah? We’ve talked a lot actually. She’s incredible.”
“For the love of Heaven, Sam! You’re going to get in trouble! Father laid the rules out perfectly in front of us. We’re only supposed to watch and quietly guide them! Keep them in the light as guardians! We’re not–” he takes a frustrated breath and paces away from Samael, tracing the curve of the pond beside him with the quietly chirping and quacking ducks.
“But why, Michael?” Samael pressed, talking a few steps after him. “Why is that all there is? Why can’t we help them? Listen to them? Lilith has such grand ideas for their survival that Adam won’t listen to. She says that he’s unfair to Eve and that Eve is worried about their children.”
“Then that’s something they need to figure out on their own!” Spinning around he waved his arm frustratedly at Heaven. “This is where we belong! This is who we are! You keep asking more and more questions, Samael, and you’re going to cause problems. We’re not meant to question the way father made things. That is how we protect Heaven, by doing as he says.”
“But how is that fair!?” Samael finally snapped back, taking a step toward him again. “How is that fair, Michael? Don’t you see them? The way they are, the way they act, the way they could be? If we let them just be more than they are! To dictate their lives, to make mistakes and learn from them? To dream and create on their own and not because we told them to. If we gave them the intelligence to act on their own.”
Is he–talking about the Tree of Knowledge? There’s no way. Samael wouldn’t do that. He knows what taking a step too far in that direction would do. How it would unravel God’s plan far too much. How it would irreparably damage the Heavenly Order, change it forever. He wouldn’t do that, he couldn’t. Michael had to believe that… otherwise he’d have to report this conversation to God and he doesn’t want something to happen to Samael.
He’s his brother. His twin. The person who shared such a firm slot in Michael’s soul. He can’t lose him because he asked some questions.
“You’re spending too much time down there.” He can’t continue this conversation, he can’t engage this idea because it will only continue to grow. He’s terrified for Samael. Taking a deep breath he turned around and started making his way back down the path.
“Michael!” Pausing he swallowed down the lump in his throat and listened. “How is it fair that you can make the choice in whether or not you listen to me, and yet they don’t get the same!? They have to obey and listen to what we tell them, when we don’t have to do the same?”
Because they’re dolls. They’re God’s creation. They’re what he expects them to be. Creatures stuck to the Heavenly Order, living the fate that he decided for them like everything else. It’s his plan and they don’t get to change the plan just because they want to. It will never work that way because God is their creator. He’s who they listen and obey. He is the one who makes the choices.
Turning to look over his shoulder, he met Samael’s gaze. “I am listening, you’re just wrong, Sam.”
He sees the flash of hurt, the devastation, the irritation and frustration that darkens on Samael’s face at that. He had caused that, but not intentionally. He needed his brother to understand that this line of thinking wasn’t alright, that it was only going to cause him pain in the end. If he chased these lines of thought, something terrible would happen. Michael doesn’t want that to befall him, he doesn’t want something terrible to drag his brother down.
He just wanted to protect him.
That conversation wouldn’t leave his mind after that, replayed endlessly in the back of his head and every time he closed his eyes to try and sleep. Despite their conversation too, Samael didn’t stop visiting Eden. If anything, he seemed down there more often, and he didn’t know how to stop him. He didn’t dare bring it up to God, terrified something would happen to Samael. He doesn’t know what God would do to control this situation but that was what scared him the most. The fact he didn’t know what a punishment for this there would be. Their father was not cruel, but he would do whatever it would take to protect Heaven. Just as the rest of them were meant to.
No matter what choices Samael would make, protecting Heaven had to be their first and utmost priority. It was their home, the holy land, the House of God and if it fell–everything else would fall too. The realm would entirely unravel itself and they couldn’t let that happen.
If Heaven fell, there would be nothing left, but he didn’t want something to happen to his brother either. How was he supposed to make Samael understand that the way he was doing this, it wasn’t right? Going against father, fighting the Heavenly Order, asking all these questions–when did they even start? When did he begin to fall so far from God’s Light?
When did he start to doubt and why?
When did he begin to believe that what he was thinking made more sense than God himself?
No one knows what’s going on inside their father’s head, maybe he planned on changing things? Maybe he saw what Samael did and would eventually adjust the Heavenly Order? They can’t question and change things just because. That wasn’t how this worked. It wasn’t the way it was meant to happen. There was a system in place for a reason and their only job was to obey it and do what they were told.
When the golden sun hung high over Heaven nearly a month later, he still hadn’t figured out what to do about Samael. He wanted to try talking to him, but every chance he got to do it, Samael was down in Eden. Always down there. No one else seemed nearly as worried as Michael was, aside from maybe Raphael. But Raphael was down there with him, as the guardian of the Tree of Life, seeing what Michael feared. Watching their brother fawn over these clay dolls their father had created and having grand dreams and ambitions that went against the Heavenly Order.
He felt–like they were running out of time. He didn’t know why, he didn’t know what he was most afraid of, but it felt as if his brother was drifting further and further from him. They’d never fought like this before, never ripped each other down and threw cruel words at one another. They were more than brothers, they were twins. And in that was a connection that ran deeper than the ones with his other brothers. There was a time where he thought that he knew Samael better than anyone else. Now… he can’t say that he knows him at all.
The person he looks at, the one that shares his face but refuses to turn away from these ridiculous ideas, they don’t feel like his twin anymore. It’s like looking at a stranger.
The door to his office was thrown open suddenly and Michael’s quill slid across the page in a sharp line as he startled. Snapping his head up he took in the sight of Cassiel stumbling into his room, face the perfect picture of terror. There was a golden spot on his robes that kept getting darker, blood drenching it as he bled from a wound on his chest. His left hand was fisted around it, breathing short and labored as he tried to get a grasp on his pain. Something that certainly wasn’t working as he slid down the door, his other hand dragging across it and leaving a gold streak. “Micha–”
“Cassiel!” Shoving his chair back he rushed around his desk and fell to his brother’s side. Michael placed his hands on his shoulders and tried to feed him his magic to stitch the wound shut. “What happened?”
Cassiel shuddered on the floor and swallowed roughly, raising his blue gaze to Michael’s with a sadness in them he’s never seen before. “It’s Samael, he’s attacking Heaven!”
“What?” Panic clutched at his heart and Michael took his hands back, frowning down at his brother. “Sam wouldn’t–he couldn’t– ”
“I saw him myself, Michael! He did this!” Cassiel tugged at the blood stain on his robe, anger and betrayal lacing his words. “He did… he did this to me.” His words hitch and as he drops his head down Michael spots the tears that finally run along his face. “He brought enemies into Heaven.”
Why?
Why go to these lengths?
“He gave Eve the Apple of Knowledge. He betrayed father. And now he’s brought war into Heaven!”
“The apple?” Oh, no. He had done it. He took what he was thinking about and he went and did it regardless of what Michael said. How could he do that? All he had to do was stick to the plan! The same one that has always been in place!
And now he has gone this far. Turning Lightbringer on his own siblings. Hurting Cassiel. Taking a deep breath and calming his emotions as much as he can, Michael nodded to his brother and stood. “I’ll handle it.” No matter what it took, he would stop Samael from hurting everyone. No one gets to harm their family, not even his own twin.
With his sword in hand and his face stilled to keep his emotions from showing, Michael hardened his heart with the strength of a warrior and rushed out of his office into Heaven. What a horrifying sight it was too. Angels littered the clouds, golden blood seeping into the white streets and the sound of screaming could be heard from every direction. The Angelic Army had already started to respond but even they never thought they’d face something like this. So abruptly too. They weren’t prepared to take on a fight, much less one in Heaven, against their own kind.
He spots Raphael easily, the Angel of Healing attempting to patch anyone up he comes across. This, none of this, should have ever happened. Angels hurting each other, violence brought into the clouds, pain and suffering forced upon them. All of these broken wings, shattered spirits, defeated and exhausted expressions on the wounded angels faces… this was not how it was ever supposed to be.
His shoulders trembled as he steadied himself at the sight of everything and quickly started making his way further into Heaven, dodging around the attacks aimed at him from whoever Samael brought up here with him. When he gets close to the golden gates, which were broken and barely hanging on, he spots something flying down toward him at a frightening pace. It took him a second to realize it was Gabriel and then he quickly moved into position, reaching his arms up and catching his brother. Gabriel slammed into his chest with a painful force, knocking them both down into the clouds and banging his wings against the bench they slid into. Shoving his brother off of him he grabbed his sword from where it fell and moved protectively in front of him.
From between the broken gates someone stepped through them, dressed in dark green robes and a cruel smile twisted on their face. Their skin was an ash gray color and hair as white as the clouds he was kneeling on. Michael tightened his hand on his sword and narrowed his gaze at them. “Who are you?”
The creature tilted its head and darted its green gaze around Heaven curiously. “Leviathan. Hello, Saint Michael. You really do look just like him.”
Michael’s shoulders tensed and he felt Gabriel sit up behind him, their shoulders brushing as he tried to right himself. “You’re one of those sea monsters that father created.”
“Brilliant deduction. I’m actually the first one.” The smile on their face sharpened and Leviathan stepped closer slowly. “I used to watch all of you from the water, the way you lived your lives so freely but didn’t ever intend on giving the creatures you created the same respect. Always expecting them to do exactly as you want them to. Fall into this Heavenly Plan of yours. Live and die. Be butchered for game, for food.” Spreading his arms out he motioned toward Heaven. “How does it feel to be the one hunted for game?”
Pushing himself off from the clouds he flew at the monster and swung his sword out, feeling it met back with something black and chilling. He startled away from the demon and watched the writhing, dark, crawling things that spread out from his back. He couldn’t understand what he was looking at, much less what they were. “What are you?”
“You know, I’m not actually sure.” Leviathan shrugged his shoulders and glanced at the tentacle like appendages that shivered along his back. “Lucifer gave me power, he gave all of us power.”
“Lucifer?”
“Your brother.”
His jaw snapped shut and his hand tightened on the sword again, fighting back the panic that started rushing through him with a renewed effort. Shaking his head he swallowed the dry lump in his mouth and whispered under his breath. “Samael, what have you done?”
The dark magic was thrown at him again and Michael moved, dodging to the side to avoid being stabbed. He caught himself with his wings and then swung his sword out at Leviathan. This time his holy blade cut through the tendrils and forced the creature to dodge to avoid being cut with his blade. Realizing he could still hurt him, Michael swung his sword around and lashed out again, entering into almost a dance with the sea serpent as they attempted to avoid his sword. Each hit back of the dark magic was met with one of his own, Leviathan surprisingly holding his own against the Sword of God in an impressive feat. They moved around each other flawlessly and Michael almost thought the annoying pest was actually enjoying this. Maybe it was just the smile he kept on his face, an attempt to confuse and delude Michael into thinking that.
“Is all you know how to do is dodge!?” He demanded, sliding to a stop across from Leviathan as he rolled to avoid yet another hit to his body
The other stood up and dusted his clothes off, smirking as he shrugged. “Better than getting skewered.” He swung his shadow tendrils out again and Michael cut through them with his sword, continuing the dance again.
Eventually though, as anticipated, the Sword of God would always win. He managed to get one up on Leviathan when he realized the pattern to the creature’s dodging and knocked him onto his back. He swung his sword down and rested the tip of it against their neck, his chest rising and falling quickly with the adrenaline that rushed through him. Leviathan stared up at him with those bright green eyes, completely unafraid with the prospect of dying it seemed. That made sense, he supposed, they were born to just die. Perhaps there was a sense of understanding that came with that. The realization that eventually they might reach their end regardless of how much they fought for something different.
Michael would not be the one to end his fate though. Not like this. Slowly he pulled his sword back away and lowered it down to his side. “You’re an impressive foe, you’re just thousands of years too short to reach my level. But I won’t kill you.” Snapping his fingers he bound Leviathan in golden chains and stepped away from him.
As he crossed the clouds he hears the rustle of the chains as Leviathan fought against them. “Why not? Just kill me if you want!”
Pausing he glanced over his shoulder at the creature. “Because you don’t deserve it.” Let it be a mercy. He won’t stain his sword killing an enemy who hasn’t killed anyone yet. Not when there was another way to solve this. Turning away from them he moved to Gabriel’s side and crouched down in front of his brother again, checking his wounds. “Are you alright?”
“I’ll be fine.” Gabriel offered him a smile and then glanced behind Michael at the chained up sea serpent. “Michael, what are we going to do?”
“I’m going to stop Samael.” No matter what it took, no matter what he had to do. “Go find Raphael, he can patch you up.” Standing back up he glanced around Heaven and then turned in the direction of the Heavenly Palace. Undoubtedly, that was where Samael would go. To their father for whatever purpose he had up here. For whatever he thought this fight was going to prove.
Before he can move he feels a hand grab the bottom of his robes, drawing his gaze down to Gabriel who shake his head. “Michael, don’t hurt him.”
“What choice has he left me, Gabriel?”
“He’s our brother!” He brought war to Heaven and has started hurting people. Samael left him no choice but to meet his violence with more violence. He tugged his robes from Gabriel’s hand and pushed himself up toward the sky. “He’s your twin!”
Just as he suspected, Samael had indeed gone toward their father. He spotted him fighting against several of the Angelic Soldiers, swinging Lightbringer at them and knocking them down. Despite all the violence he had brought, it didn’t look like he was actually trying to kill anyone. Though angels might perish with the wounds they’re earning, he doesn’t believe it was intentional. At least that part, anyway. He dropped down in front of Samael as he swung his sword at another angel, meeting Lightbringer with his own blade, the sound of angelic steel clashing echoing through the clouds with a deafening shriek. He pushed Samael’s sword back and lowered his own down, the tip pointing at the clouds beneath them. Not a threat.
“Samael, you have to stop!”
His brother blinked at him and then narrowed his gaze in a way he’s never seen. “Fuck you! Why should I stop? So none of you can listen to me again? So we can go back to watching the dolls that father created for entertainment!?”
“That’s not it!” They weren’t entertainment, they were life. Life that father created to try and give the world more purpose. He knows Samael got attached to them, but it was clouding his judgment now. “This isn’t the way to do it!”
Samael swung Lightbringer at him again and Michael deflected it back, knocking it to the side. He stumbled back and set his gaze worriedly on his twin again. “Samael, please, don’t do this.” Begging, pathetic one would argue, but Michael didn’t want this. He didn’t want to watch his brother hurt people and fall to these levels. They were supposed to be better than this, they were Archangels and they were the first line of defense against the pain and suffering in the world. They weren’t supposed to hurt people. Much less each other.
He doesn’t want to hurt his twin.
His brother shook his head and twisted his grip on the handle of his blade. “I don’t have a choice now. And if you’re going to stand in my way, Michael, then I’ll go through you first.”
The words were barely out of Samael’s mouth before he was swinging his sword at Michael again, viciously attacking him with everything he had. Michael defended himself, initially only attempting to block the hits and slow his brother down. With each hit though, the viciousness and power in it, he felt his own strength struggling to keep up the defensive tactic. This gave his brother an opening and the next hit he swung down and cut right across Michael’s chest. It burned and ached in a way nothing ever had, none of them having turned their weapons on each other before. The angelic steel cut clean through his flesh, leaving him clutching at himself as golden blood stained his robes and hands.
For a second he thought Samael looked worried, looked like he regretted what he did, and then that expression was gone with the same one of hatred and anger. He went to step around Michael and that was when he realized this couldn’t end peacefully.
This wasn’t his brother anymore.
This wasn’t Samael.
“You hurt Cassiel, whatever you brought with you hurt Gabriel. Raphael is struggling to try and save the lives of everyone else you’ve harmed. And you think I’m just going to let you walk away?” Lowering his blood soaked hand down from his torn robes he adjusted his picked up his sword again and snapped his gaze to his brother’s eyes. “Even if it costs me my life now, I will rip you from the clouds, Lucifer.”
This time when their blades met, it was with equal viciousness on both sides. Michael gave it everything he had, parrying attacks that were thrown at him and swinging back with the intention of hurting the other. With causing as much damage as possible and he did. He cut along Lucifer’s shoulder, his chest, his arms and legs. Each hit made him bleed, made him drop and with every growing expression of pain Michael felt closer to winning. When he tried to run the Sword of God gave chase, backed him into a corner on the clouds and twisted his sword in the air.
It grew, extended until it was a spear and then he twisted it around and rammed it right through Lucifer’s lower back. He pinned him to the clouds, hearing him gasp in pain that had to be excruciating, bleeding golden blood down the length of the weapon that came out through his stomach. Michael panted for breath and stared down at him, the battle still continuing around them as their brothers fought and caught the monsters Lucifer had brought up here with him.
Heaven was winning, but Lucifer never stood a chance anyway. Not when they gained the strength to fight back against their own family.
“You want to rule? You want to make the changes on your own? You want to be God and be a King? You think you know better than everyone else? Then so be it, Lucifer. Let you no longer be one of those you’ve come to loathe and resent.” Michael’s gaze focused on the golden, shimmering halo, above his head and he reached up for it. Grasping the circle he pushed his own magic through it and started to pull it from his brother’s head.
Lucifer screamed and shook beneath him, his own magic fighting to try and keep the halo above his head. He continued to pull and pull until it cracked in his hands, fracturing along the golden edges. When he finally freed it the halo shattered in his hands and he set his gaze on the shivering, sobbing form of his twin beneath him.
“Brother, for your crimes against Heaven and our father, I cast you out of the Heavenly Realm. You want to be down there so badly? Then fall down there and stay down there. May you never return!” Reaching down he yanked his spear back out of Lucifer’s body and tossed it to the side to instead grab his wings. Pushing his magic into them he shattered each bone and let them begin to burn. As he howled and sobbed in agony Michael grabbed Lucifer by the back of his robes and threw him from the edge of the clouds.
He fell and fell from the Holy Realm and Michael watched with a heavy heart until he finally vanished from his sight, lost to the fate of whatever would find him beneath the clouds. Turning away from the edge he set his gaze on the Archangels watching with various complicated expressions on their faces. Michael picked his spear up and wrapped his arm around his waist, swallowing down the pain in his chest. “Throw his friends down with him. Let them fall as he did.”