heaven must be missing an angel

[primarchy]

[ The halls of Heaven are gleaming white, spotless, hushed — pristine. They have been ever since Sandalphon was created. And ever since, even in the long years since he's been in them, they haven't changed. The light slanting in through the windows still lights the empty halls with a golden glow, somehow fuller, more robust higher up, closer to the source.

Lucifer had taken him from the cliffside where they'd clashed — if it could even be called that — and left him to his own devices. Even the supreme primarch couldn't ignore his duties when Pandemonium had almost been opened. But there was no cage here waiting, nothing to keep Sandalphon from leaving again except that Lucifer had smiled at him and asked him not to go.

And then Lucifer had left.

But not before telling Sandalphon to come find him when he was ready.

Now that Sandalphon's come looking for him, though, the room he finds Lucifer in is anything but pristine.

Red pools on the marble floor, bright and arterial. It drips down Lucifer's bare back, stains the feathers of his wings — of the wing Lucifer is holding in his hands, ripped out by the base.

And Lucifer looks up as the door opens, kneeling in a puddle of his own blood, hands red with the self same, and smiles in warm welcome to see Sandalphon standing there, as though he hasn't just torn his own wing off. ]

Oh, Sandalphon, there you are. Here, this is for you.

[ He holds out the wing, cradled in both hands — like a sword being offered up in fealty. ]