The Devil Within

This Isn't How the Story Should Go

Raphael was plummeting to the ground.

While the fall wouldn't kill him, Michael and Lucifer were still worried. So much so that, for the first time in eons, Lucifer and Michael worked together. Raphael had just stopped moving and started falling, catching both brothers off guard. The two Eldest Archangels only exchanged a worried look before diving to slow their brother's descent. Lucifer ended up on Raphael's left while Michael grabbed his right. Since there wasn't enough room between Lucifer and Michael's wings for them to flap, so they opted to carefully glide down to the top of a nearby skyscraper. The brothers immediately laid their brother down, flinching when he winced in pain.

"Raphael," Michael said, trying to pull Raphael out of his own mind. "Raphael, what happened?" Raphael could only groan in response, his expression twisted in pain. "Did you do something, Lucifer?" Michael asked.

"No," Lucifer said, shaking his head. "I didn't do anything that would cause this."

Michael nodded as he placed a hand on Raphael's forehead, attempting to solve the issue. Lucifer followed suit, hoping he could help solve this problem. While Lucifer still felt betrayed by his brothers, he would never wish harm to them. Killing Gabriel had been the worst mistake Lucifer made and he wished for nothing more than to go back and stop himself from the action. Lucifer had actually tried but he couldn't physically do it. His past self had placed a spell to prevent any angelic interference in the hotel, including his own. Lucifer now had the chance to help one of his beloved brothers instead of hurting them. While it wouldn't make up for what he did, Lucifer felt he had an obligation to try.

Together, Michael and Lucifer shared the pain that Raphael was experiencing. Perhaps it was from a nearby witch? There was an old and powerful one in the area and a well-placed hex could incapacitate an Archangel for a few minutes. The brothers soon learned how wrong they were when they felt only pain coming from Raphael. A witch couldn't have caused this much pain. The agony Raphael was going through seemed to circle through his whole body.

But not his wings.

"Lucifer," Raphael grunted, finally opening his eyes and getting the words out. Raphael grabbed Lucifer's wrist with a panicked expression, making Lucifer look him in the eyes. "What did your demons do?"

Lucifer immediately understood exactly what had happened. His Princes had injured you to a point of no return. That wasn't part of any plan. They just needed to hold you down and tie you up but no. The Princes of Hell did not do that. Maybe they thought that you were more trouble than you were worth. If they did, Lucifer would have no problem letting Raphael unleash his anger on them. Standing up, Lucifer glowered in the direction of the Princes of Hell.

"That's a good question."

~ ~ ~

"What the actual fuck were you thinking, Asmodeus?" Dagon shouted, turning away from you. "Lucifer is going to have our heads!"

Dagon started to yell at Asmodeus who stood back and stared at your crippled form in fear. He was so blinded by the frustration and anger of being held off by a Fallen Seraph that wasn't even at full power. It was embarrassing how out of touch Asmodeus had gotten since Lucifer first scarred him. Asmodeus had locked himself in a lab, trying to find ways to increase his power output so Lucifer wouldn't feel the need to kill him anymore. The Prince of Lust was lucky when Lucifer was finally locked in that cage otherwise Lucifer would have torn him a new one for neglecting duties. During his fight with Castiel, Asmodeus had to resort to biting the angel to free him from a restraining hold. Asmodeus had bit down hard enough to not only draw blood but Grace too. It was only a small sample but it was enough to give Asmodeus enough strength to over-power Castiel and trap him in an alley. However, Asmodeus didn't have the patience to figure out what happened at that moment, he was too angry and went straight to the other Princes. His strike was just supposed to knock you into them but it did so much worse. Yet Asmodeus wasn't concerned about how Lucifer would react, he was actually curious. Asmodeus knew that it was Castiel's Grace that enhanced his speed and strength. If a Fallen Angel's Grace could do that, what about a regular angel's? Or an Archangel's?