All the Nephilim had gathered in the library with Raphael, minus Hypatia, who hadn't left the infirmary since her patients arrived. They sat in silence while the Archangel told them Michael had gone missing in an attempt to keep the Four Horsemen trapped in the Dream Realm and that he had left instructions for Gabriël to take his place should he not come back. Thomas and Anne had also finally admitted that Gabriël was the father of Joan's child, but no one was surprised by that.

"Do we know for certain he's missing?" asked Anne. "Has anyone tried to contact Michael?"

"I've tried for the past hour, my dear," answered Raphael. "But my messages won't reach him. He must still be in the Dream Realm. Or worse."

"What about Samael?"

"The same."

"Organise a search party then," offered Juan.

"Getting into the Dream Realm is no easy feat," said Raphael with a sigh. "The entrances are well hidden, only known to a few. And even if you were to get in, Morpheus controls everything there. He may allow you to reach his palace, but he will never let you leave."

"So what?" Juan rose to his feet, hands at his hips. "We just hope for the best?"

"Juan, calme-toi," shushed Olympe.

"¿Como cojones me puedo calmar? Michael is the Lord Protector! With him gone, it'll only be a matter of time before el Diablo makes his move! And if Michael failed and couldn't convince Morpheus to keep the Horsemen there, we're really fucked!"

"Juan, language!" said Richard strictly.

The Spaniard threw his hands in the air in frustration. Richard threw an apologetic look at Raphael. Nobody could blame the outburst, though. They all understood the gravity of the situation they were in.

"Juan is right. We're all doomed without a Lord Protector," said Thomas from the corner of the room. "But Gabriël will never leave Joan. Look at what he's done to get here. He loves her too much to just abandon her now. Michael going missing won't change that."

"He has no choice, Thomas," said Raphael glumly.

"Gabriël is an Archangel above all else," added Anne. "He can't sacrifice everything he helped build for one woman and child."

"He owes Michael nothing," rebuffed Thomas. "Any of the other Archangels can become Lord Protector in Michael's absence, and Gabriël can still help from here. But I'm telling you, he won't leave that girl and his unborn child here alone."

The door of the library swung open. Gabriël stood in the opening, looking flustered and angry. Everyone stared at him as he spoke to Raphael.

"Rafe, we should go now whilst we still have the light. Anne, Thomas, can I trust you to keep an eye on Joan?"

"Y-Yes, of course," stammered Anne in reply.

"Thank you. Raphael, let's go. I want to assemble the Archangels as soon as possible."

He exited the library as quickly as he'd came in, leaving everyone utterly speechless. Raphael regained his senses quickly and stumbled to the door, glancing back at the others. He had hoped for Gabriël to make the wisest decision, but to hear him say he would return with him and leave Joan still came as a surprise. And not only to him.

"What the hell?" exclaimed Thomas.

"Guess your little theory was wrong there, amigo." Juan patted him on the shoulder.

"No way he can just leave like that." Thomas turned to his wife. "Something has happened."

She nodded and hurried after the two Archangels, with Thomas following right behind her. The couple caught up with them as they opened the Sanctum door.

"Gabriël, wait!" Anne called out. "Are you certain this is what you want?"

"It's not a matter of what I want, Anne," Gabriël said without turning around.

She exchanged a glance with Raphael. Both had picked up on the ache in Gabriël's voice. Whatever had happened between him and Joan, it hadn't been good.

"So you'll just leave your pregnant girlfriend here with us?" Thomas spoke angrily. "And then what? You'll stay in the Vale until Michael comes back? Longer? Do you even plan to be here when your child is born? Or do you want us to send you a postcard?"

Gabriël spun around, fist clenched and ready to swing, but Raphael managed to stop him before he could attack Thomas. He jumped between the two men, keeping them apart with a hand against their chests. 

"All right, that's enough!" ordered Anne strictly. 

She snatched her husband's wrist to pull him back. Thomas didn't even notice. He just glared at Gabriël, his revulsion abundantly clear in his hard expression.

"Leave then," he spat.

Thomas loosened himself from Anne's grip and walked away. Raphael slowly exhaled, thankful they hadn't come to blows. He gave Gabriël a little nudge towards the door. The white flash illuminated the hall briefly as the Archangel stepped through. 

"I'm sorry, Anne." Raphael ran a hand through his messy hair. "I never meant for things to escalate like this." 

"It's not your fault, Raphael. Thomas has certain... views when it comes to family. He just needs a moment. I'll talk to Joan and see if I can discover what was said between her and Gabriël. You'll let us know the moment Michael returns?"

"Yes, of course. And I'll speak with Gabriël as well." The physician went after him, but lingered on the threshold, turning back to face Anne. "You know, I never thought he would actually leave her."

"I don't think he did either."

***

Grigori waited outside the Master's chamber. His thoughts kept going back to Joan. It had been nice to talk to her again after so many years. He hoped the Master would listen to her proposal and that it would suit both of them. She'd always been kind to him, even after she'd heard all the rumours about his past. Nobody had understood why he had been allowed to enter the Vale, but now he knew, of course, it had only been to ensure he did not aid the darkness. 
The news of the Romanovs' demise had driven him mad. He had hoped he had done enough in his life to keep the children, especially Alexei, safe from harm. But it had been no use. They had all died. Shot like animals in a basement, under the pretence that they were posing for a family picture. Grigori had broken into the armoury, intending to go down to Earth and kill those responsible. But the Archangels had stopped him.
In his blind rage and grief, he had discovered a power within himself, and he nearly destroyed Michael's Villa. It was then that the Lord Protector took away his wings before he could do any more harm. Grigori did not blame Michael for it. He did what he had to do. All things considered, losing his wings hadn't been so bad. He had been ill-suited as an angel, anyway. The only thing he missed was the beauty of the Vale. Down here, there was only brimstone and blood. And suffering. So much suffering.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the Master's footsteps. He pushed back from the wall he'd been leaning against and stood straight. When the Prince of Hell appeared in sight, Grigori bowed to him.

"Welcome back, Master."

"Grigori, why are you outside my chamber?" asked the Master. "You know I trust you enough to wait inside."

"I thought it best to wait here, considering your... visitor."

The Master raised a brow and opened the door to his chamber. He stepped inside, but stopped when he saw who his 'visitor' was.

"Grigori, return to the Sanctum. Wait until the girl comes to you. Take her to Mount Hekla and await the Countess and me. I'll make sure she's more presentable by that time."

Grigori bowed again and retreated into the dark. He wondered what the Angel of Death could want with the Master.

***

It had been some time since Samael had last been in the Circles. He always hated coming down to Hell. The creatures there reminded him of the part within him he detested. Whenever he passed through their domain, they all gave him the same look. That look of fear mixed with awe and curiosity. They never spoke to him, but they didn't have to. Their soundless words said enough. 

Why deny who you are? Join us.

It was a feeling he fought with every fibre of his being. That was not who he wanted to be. At least, it didn't use to be. Yet ever since he had discovered who he was, where he came from, he could no longer ignore the Circles were part of him. He had accepted it. And it had only helped make his purpose even clearer.

When he first met Lucifer, Samael was amazed at how ordinary the man looked. He had expected him to be more like the stories the mortals liked to tell. Well, maybe not the tail and cloven goat hooves, but definitely a pitchfork. Or something similar, like a trident. And he'd been surprised to see the Devil didn't have horns either. He wondered where that tidbit had come from.
Lucifer had shown great interest in the Angel of Death from the very start. He wanted to know where he had come from. Was he an angel or a demon? What had happened to him? Did he like what he did? And Samael, in turn, had asked similar questions of his host, learning of his past as LightBringer, the Archangel. Not taking into account what they actually were to each other, the Master of the Circles had been the only one who treated him with respect.
But all good things had to end. And Samael preferred it to be sooner rather than later. But not yet. For now, he would play the game a little while longer.

***

Lucifer stood in the doorway. The Angel of Death acknowledged his presence by merely glancing up from his place at the table. That aloof attitude still had to be dealt with. But not right now.

"I trust you're here to explain your actions?" Lucifer asked, locking the door behind him and walking towards his guest.

"Don't act like you don't approve." Samael smirked, flipping casually through a book.

"Where is Michael now?"

"Morpheus has him locked away in the lower level of his palace. He won't be bothering us anytime soon."

"Damn it, Samael!" Lucifer hit the table in anger. "This was not our plan!"

"It's better this way." Samael looked up, unperturbed.

Lucifer sighed, shaking his head. He'd had his doubts Samael would follow his orders from the moment he'd first offered to help. If there was one other person who had reason to hate Michael and seek revenge, it was the Angel of Death.

"I really don't see why you're making such a fuss." Samael stood and threw the book aside. "Surely, with Michael gone, things will work out better for you?"

"I never wanted him gone." Lucifer gritted his teeth. "All you had to do was guide him to and from Morpheus and slip him my blood when you were with him."

"That's still taken care of." Samael gave a dismissive wave with his hand. "Morpheus will use your blood in his elixir. You'll be in Michael's every dream. Or nightmare. Whatever."

Well, at least you did that right, thought Lucifer.

"Still, it would have been better if you'd stuck to the original plan. With Michael gone, I've lost the hold I had on Gabriël."

"Wait, what?" Finally, Samael showed some concern. "How did that happen? I thought you had him bound to you with that oath thing?"

"Michael made Gabriël his successor before he left to find you. In case he didn't return."

"So even after everything that's happened, that traitor still holds Michael's trust?" Samael scoffed. "Unbelievable."

"Michael cares more for him than I expected," Lucifer said bitterly. "Yet... even with this turn of events, things might still work out. I just need to make some minor adjustments to the plan."

"How's that?"

"Joan called me to alter the deal I made with Gabriël. I've released him from his vow to me. In exchange, she's agreed to give herself up."

Samael gaped at Lucifer in disbelief. He slowly rose for his seat, eyes wide in both shock and gleeful anticipation. 

"She said she'd join you? Willingly? But then... we have them! She's played right into our hands!"

"I still had to assure her safety, as well as Gabriël's and the baby's," said Lucifer. "And she also made me promise she wouldn't be separated from the baby after the birth, but that doesn't matter. The most important thing is we will have that child."

"What about Gabriël? You believe he will return to us?" asked Samael.

"Yes, he's not that different from me in that. He will do whatever it takes to be with Joan and their child."

"And Michael? What do you intend to do with him?"

"Thanks to you, I have to adapt that particular plan as well. He'll have to remain in the Dream Realm for now. We'll have to make sure the girl doesn't find him, but that can be arranged. I'm sure I can control even Morpheus' influence on Michael's mind. It may yet work out in our favour. But do this again, boy, and you'll wish God had never saved you."

Lucifer glared at Samael, who nodded slowly at his commanding tone. And yet, Lucifer couldn't be angry with him. On the contrary, part of him applauded the Angel of Death for his boldness. Even more because he had successfully fooled Michael.

"Morpheus won't keep the Horsemen locked away any longer," said Samael then.

"Doesn't matter." Lucifer shrugged.

"So it's not a bad thing, then? Them getting out, I mean?"

"Depends on how you look at it. Anyone who falls victim to the Horsemen won't get to where they're supposed to go. No way forward from the rift between life and death, and no way back, either. Our numbers won't grow, but neither will theirs. We stay away from the Horsemen and let the Archangels deal with them. With some luck, they'll bring in the Nephilim as well. And with their forces weakened..."

"You can make your move."