XXVIII- The Unknown Angel

Michael patiently waited for Ravenna to return. He didn't want to return to the Kingdom. He didn't want to disturb Ophelia and Victoria and didn't want their questions. He did wish he had a spare set of undergarments, but he wanted to avoid getting caught by the maidservants. Trying to avoid their questions last visit took a lot of work. Instead, he explored the room, seeing what humans had to offer for entertainment.

Michael found a bookcase, and he skimmed numerous titles along the shelf. His blue eyes fell on a book of religion. Curious, Michael picked it up and strolled back to the bed. He sat with his back against the headboard, lounging around casually, and opened the book.

He skimmed the passages of the book, fascinated by the dedication of the humans to the Ruler and how dedicated He was to them at the time this book was written. So these were the times Gabriel and Zerachiel spoke of.

Michael furrowed his brows at a passage in the book. There was mention of an Angel he had never met before, and not a single one of his Brothers had ever mentioned. Lucifer. They called him the Morning Star. –How curious.–

Michael wanted to rip the page out of the book and take it back to the Kingdom to show Raphael. Raphael would have answers for him. He always had answers. Instead, he found a parchment and ink on the bedside table and copied the words from the book. Once the ink dried, Michael tucked the parchment into his pocket.

Putting the unknown angel Lucifer out of his mind, Michael continued flipping through the book. He could find nothing here about why the Ruler abandoned the humans. They certainly had not forsaken Him.

Michael continued reading. Something in the book made him smile, the story of a widow who offered everything she had. The woman's generosity reminded him of Ravenna, who spent her days caring for others, not caring about financial gain for her help.

A soft knock accompanied by a quiet voice calling his name interrupted his thoughts of the woman called "Michael." The door opened, and the young woman stepped into the room, significantly brightening it with her presence. She brought food as promised and quickly set to work, dividing it up for him and herself. Ravenna invited Michael to the small table at the side of the room, and he eagerly strode over to join her.

Ravenna sat across from Michael. She began to tell him about her day in the Nerium market, and he longingly drank in her words. If only he could join her and see what she saw. Ravenna was a vivid storyteller so that he could enjoy her tales even more. She spoke to him like she had known him for years, and his desire to return to the Kingdom diminished with every word Ravenna said. He had told Zerachiel he would move the Kingdom to have Ravenna for himself, and the more time he spent with her, the more he meant his words.

Ravenna stretched and yawned; she had not slept since she fell asleep on his thigh the previous night. The sky was turning dark, and this was when humans typically slept.

"You seem tired. Are you wanting to sleep, or are you going to try to stay awake now and sleep later, so your body can adjust to sleeping in the day and being awake at night?" Michael looked concerned at the small woman. She looked so much smaller when she was tired.

"I know you wish to travel at night. I'm going to stay awake. I can....I can do it!" Ravenna's words were more convincing than her heavily drooping eyelids.

The pair moved to the large, comfortable chairs near the fireplace. Ravenna went downstairs to visit an older man she called Gerald, and Michael lit the fire to give her warmth and comfort when she returned. Within minutes, he heard the same soft knock and quiet voice calling "Michael," letting him know it was safe to stay where he was.

Ravenna entered the room with a pair of glasses and a bottle of wine. She placed the glasses and bottle on the bed and carefully moved one of the bedside tables between the two chairs in front of the fireplace. She poured a glass for herself and looked at the seated Seraphim.

"Would you like any?"

"I would be delighted, after all, you went through the trouble to bring it for us. So thoughtful."

Ravenna smiled and poured Michael a glass and handed it to the angel. She sat next to him, sipping her glass.

The pair sat before the fire, and the bottle of wine quickly diminished. Ravenna stood and staggered slightly before regaining her balance. "I'm going to go visit Gerald again, I will be right back," Ravenna made her way past Michael and patted his shoulder on her way by. Michael turned his head as she walked by, watching her leave the room, her stride carefree.

The young woman returned after a few moments but forgot to knock and call Michael's name before entering. Hearing the knob turn, Michael quickly stepped between the realms to appear behind the door, in case it was a housekeeper who had let themselves into the room.

Michael's eyes followed Ravenna as she returned to the chairs where she had been sitting with him, and he quietly snickered as she seemed taken aback when he was not where she expected him to be. He called her name softly, and his laughter became louder as the small woman jumped. He stepped toward Ravenna and joined her back by the fire. Ravenna produced a second bottle of wine and told him that Gerald had recommended it.

"Anything you pick for us is perfect, Ravenna. Thank you." Her smile created a warmth in his chest, and peace settled in his heart.