Chapter Text
Angel pushed open the gold-laced door to his lavish, private chambers and trudged into the room, quickly unbuttoning his tight, gold waistcoat and shrugging if off to hang it neatly in the closet. The twin moons were high in the center of the dark, purple sky, signaling that it was well past the prince's usual curfew.
His eyes flicked down to the king-sized bed, where silky sheets awaited his tired body, and he didn't hesitate to unlace his boots and toe them off before flopping onto the velvety sheets, sinking into the downy mattress with a sigh.
He had fun at the party, of course, but his head ached from the loud noise of the sharp classical music and the constant chattering of guests, friends, and family. He'd learned earlier from a Terarian friend of his, Parxton, that their Realm was going through an intense food shortage due to trade neglect. He'd have to speak with his father about that later.
He sighed deeply into his pillow, taking a small comfort in how the cool pillow felt against his skin. It soothed his anxiety slightly, and he felt his shoulders relax for the first time in several hours. He turned his head to the side, facing the balcony doors.
The semi-transparent curtain fluttered with the smallest movement as he stretched out his wings and flapped a gentle gust of air towards the curtains. The swaying of the fabric reminded him of his mother, how her garments would sway gracefully in the gentle breeze of the moonflower fields, how her laugh sounded like that of a windchime's…
He knew he was describing her like any other maternal figure from all the books he read, graceful, clothed in a beautiful white dress, shining blond hair and gentle, loving eyes, but that really was how she had been.
Queen Lucille was the love of his father's life, and Angel could see why. He felt a deep ache in his chest, and he sat up from the bed, approaching the balcony doors and opening them. He let the warm breeze wash over him as he took a deep, shuddering breath, biting back tears as he walked out to the railing and leaned against it.
"Mother," he called out quietly as he looked up at the two waning moons, his tail shifting to rest between his legs as he stared into the sky, "if you can hear me… I miss you. Everyone does, especially Father. He's lost without you, simply lost. Ever since...— Ever since you passed, he's been spiraling, day after day, mourning you so much that he forgets his own reason for happiness."
He paused for a moment as he felt the lump in his throat tighten, wiping away the hot tears that had escaped from his eyes, before continuing, not caring how much his trembling voice cracked.
"If you could just… Give me a sign that you're still watching over us, over Father, and Eris, and Artemis, and my children, and Lux, and— and Nyx… Please, just… Show me. Anything, anything at all… Just one little thing, one little coincidence, please. Anything."
He continued to keep his eyes on the moons, knowing that his request was futile, yet still hoping with all his heart that it was possible, from all the stories he'd heard about how the souls of deceased Celestials are sent to the sky, becoming either a star, a sun, or a moon, depending on how powerful their Light is.
Angel knew it was a mere fledgling's story, but that still didn't keep him from believing it.
"Mother… I am afraid that I am going to die soon. Nyx's attacks are becoming more frequent, more dangerous, and I'm barely able to take care of Liam, Stella, and Violet without putting them in jeopardy or in her line of attack. I've sent them to a children's retreat for a few months, but I-I know that that's just as crushing for them as it is for me.
"What kind of father am I, to send my children away like I don't care for them? I love them with all my heart, and they're my pride and joy, but I feel like I'm failing them. Violet barely speaks to me, Liam would rather play with his pet Korikeo, and Stella is the only one who frequently calls me from the retreat, most likely out of empathy for me. I don't know what to do."
The prince let his head fall into his arms, crossed over the railing, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs and hitched breaths and his wings curling around his body in a desperate attempt for some kind of comfort.
"I-I'm so torn, Mother. I want to be able to see them, to give them th-the proper affection and love that a-a father should give to his children, but at the same time, I cannot, or they'd b-be in grave danger. I-I miss them so much, I truly do, but I can't let them fall to Nyx's hands, or worse, taken."
Angel wiped at his eyes frantically as he sniffed, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"I'm… sorry for ranting. I'm just dealing with a lot right now, if you couldn't tell." He gave a rueful chuckle as he looked up at the sky once more.
A small part of his mind that he hated to listen to told him that he was talking to himself, that no one was listening, that he was all alone, and deep inside, he knew it was right, but he stubbornly pushed it away. Lucille was watching over him. He was sure of it.
So why did he feel so alone?
***
"Your Majesty? I was sent to wake you up."
Prince Angel was roused awake by the servant's voice, and he sat up with a tired mumble, rubbing at his eyes and fumbling with his glasses with his other hand. He took them off of the nightstand and readjusted them back onto his face, blinking to disperse the sleepiness from his mind.
"Thank you, Ordaline, you may take your leave now. Tell my father I am awake." He murmured and waved his hand to dismiss her, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed and standing up.
Ordaline nodded and curtseyed, exiting the room and leaving him alone to himself and his groggy thoughts.
What day was it today...? He stretched out his four wings with a few dull flaps, stiff from being pressed to his back all night, and trotted over to the parchment on his wall and flipped it up, checking the date.
"Ah, right. It is Eris' birthday. I should… mrph. I should bring him his present…" The prince let the calendar page fall back into place and approached his walk-in closet, and flipped through the many, elegant shirts hung there.
His favorite, white poet's shirt caught his eye, and he carefully slid it off the hanger, holding it up with a contemplatory coo. Folding it up carefully and setting it aside, he pulled a pair of neat, black slacks off of another hanger and set it with the shirt to get changed into after his shower.
***
Prince Angel smoothed out his shirt and straightened his jabot for what felt like the umpteenth time, turning from side to side in his full-length mirror even though he knew he looked well-dressed and elegant.
"I am sure Eris will be pleased to see me," he reassured himself unreassuringly, "sure he blames me for what happened to Mother, but that was centuries ago. Perhaps this time he will accept my gift instead of sending me away and asking his servants to throw it away when I give it to one of them?"
He took a deep breath, puffing out his chest slightly and straightening his shoulders, grinning into the mirror. "You are a prince, and you will act like it. Today is a good, sunny day, a day of celebration for your brother who hates you, and it will be enjoyable, whether you like it or not. Whether or not Eris accepts the gift doesn't matter, it's the effort that counts."
Angel had to admit; he was quite nervous. Prince Eris was one of two brothers who were not particularly fond of him, besides Prince Lux, and he's tried over the last 15,000 years to get him on his good side, but the Seraphim has remained stubborn in his opinion that Angel was at fault for their mother's death. Angel has looked past that, honestly, he has. He isn't mad at Eris, and he understands why the prince blames him, even though the opinion wasn't entirely true.
Yes, he was there when his mother was brutally murdered, and yes, he witnessed every second, but he was only 10,000 years old, and Nyx was 18,000 years old and had turned into a psychotic, cannibalistic monster. What could he have done besides stand there and pray to the Great Light of Heaven that she wouldn't kill him too?
He shook his head quickly to banish the thought and straightened his jabot for the last time, taking a deep breath.
"You've got this, Angelis. Just… Act like you actually want to visit Eris. It's going to be okay." He murmured and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, before cupping his hands over his mouth and turning to the door of his private quarters. "ORDALINE!!"
It took exactly four seconds for the Archangel to arrive at his room, straightening out her dress frantically after rushing in and stiffening her posture.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Tell Father I am leaving to go visit Prince Eris. I should be back shortly, within, er… half an hour or so, if he refuses to let me in again."
"Yes, Your Highness." Ordaline curtseyed again with a polite smile and turned to rush out of the room, but Angel stopped her.
"Wait- Ordaline."
"Yes, Prince Angelis?" She faced him again, the Archangel's silver eyes wide with slight surprise.
"How… How are you and your wife and child doing? Well, I hope? Are you… happy?"
"I… that is very thoughtful, Your Majesty, I'm ever so grateful of your asking," Ordaline beamed, and the wings on her head fluttered with happiness, "Amarite and I are doing very well. My occupation is treating us both nicely, and I've earned plenty of money over the years to take care of both her and our son, Emannuel. I truly appreciate your asking, Your Majesty. We are all a very happy family, as small as we are."
"Of course, Ordaline. Please, let me know if there are any troubles for you two and your son, and I'll do my best to help in any way I can. I'm glad to hear you are content," Angel smiled, and felt a little flutter of happiness when her smile widened.
"Yes, Your Majesty, thank you again for your kindness," she curtseyed again, and exited the room, tail swishing back and forth in joy behind her.
Angel's smile faded ever so slightly as she left, and he sighed, looking ruefully down at the flourished gift bag for Eris. "Alright, you coward, suck it up. Just… set up the portal, walk through, and drop off the present. It won't be that bad."
His tail lashed in nervous frustration as he stared down the stupid, golden gift bag for at least two more minutes, before he growled, grabbed it, and opened the portal. The shimmering, gold-and-blue wormhole swirled before him as his wings shivered in anticipation, and he took a final deep breath, adjusting his glasses before stepping through.