Cassiel had been dreading this night ever since he'd come up with this plan. It felt like the stars and moon themselves were watching him.

"Cass?" His brother's voice cut through his thoughts, so curious and innocent. Despite only being two years older, Cassiel would swear that his own voice was never so high or so sweet. "Will you tell me where we're going now?"

"Shh, don't let anyone hear you," Cassiel whispered in his brother's ear as he led them outside.

"We're outside...?"

Cassiel cast his gaze to the sky, the stars glittering high above them. The clouds shrouded them in darkness, enhanced by the fact that there was no moon to light their way. One star blinked out, then another, and another. He took a deep breath, shaky though it was.

Looking around, even in the darkness he could tell there was no one out here in the gardens but the two of them. Not even the crickets chirped out here anymore, not after their uncle took over.

The gardens were Amitiel's favorite part of the palace. It seemed fitting that this was where Cassiel did the deed. Let his brother's favorite place be the last one he saw.

"Want to see a trick, Amity?" Cassiel's voice shook slightly as he spoke, lifting his hand as though to show his brother something. (Another star is gone, then another. One lie after the other. At least he was consistent.)

Amitiel brightened, a smile on his face. "Yes! Is it another one of those magic tricks?"

"...Yeah. Yeah, it is." He was already poised to do it. He didn't know what would happen to his brother after this; didn't know where Amitiel would end up; didn't know if his younger brother would even survive as long as he hoped. He couldn't see Amitiel's face in this darkness, and maybe that would make it easier.

"Cass..." Amitiel's voice was impatient with a slight whining tone to it. He sounded tired, the excitement beginning to wear off.

"Stay still," Cassiel whispered, fear creeping in further the longer they stayed out here. The sky was dark now, but it still felt like the heavens were watching. Murmuring the spell under his breath, the ground beneath his brother began to glow dimly in a tight circle, the wind stirring at their feet.

A giggle escaped Amitiel as the small wind blew his hair around, seeming to be their own miniature weather system. He had no idea what was about to happen to him; had no idea what would happen to him if Cassiel allowed him to stay.

It was for the best. That's what he kept telling himself, anyway. It was kinder to let his younger brother grow up far away from their uncle's rule and influence. If he ever returned was a different matter altogether.

Light rose in strands from where Amitiel was standing, and the glee in his eyes turned to confusion as he faced Cassiel, reaching out for his older brother.

"Cass, what-?"

"Let go, Amity," Cassiel responded with a sad smile, just barely managing to hold back the tears and keep his voice steady. "Trust me."

When the light blinked out, Amitiel was gone, the only trace of him left in Cassiel's memories.

...The night felt so endless.