Use absolutely no pressure

Michael wasn’t home very often, and if he was, it wasn’t to unwind or take time to himself. If he went to Heaven, he was either occupied with lengthy meetings or in his office reviewing stacks of inquiries and paperwork. He didn’t get much time to see his family or train with his army. Didn’t have much time to do any of the things he used to do before humanity came into existence. It was the same with the bunker on Earth. Most of the time he only went there to keep others safe, heal himself, or research a case. Because there always was something more important that needed to be done. People who were in increasing danger of dying or getting hurt if he wasn’t there to prevent it.

Books and documents were scattered on the table in the library, illuminated by a few warm lamps. Michael stood by the end of the table as if getting a different perspective of all the pages would suddenly reveal the answers. He placed a palm on the table before he slouched into one of the chairs, feeling like this was yet another case that would take days to solve. A threat potentially getting worse by the hour. But the moment he sat down, the air suddenly felt peaceful and serene, his muscles relaxing as he leaned back in the chair. The feeling was so welcomed he closed his eyes, allowing himself to take it in. And that’s when he realized where it had come from. In Heaven, auras surrounded you, but when you knew them personally, they were easy to distinguish from one another. Hers was extraordinarily unique because it flowed together with one of her powers. He was already halfway across the floor when he heard a knock on the door. A door barely any knew of, hidden beyond pines and shrubs on a mountainside, closer to the clouds than the sea. It was a place he intended to keep hidden. Not just because of the valuables inside of it but because it was one of the only places where he felt safe. Where no evil could find him. But he had told those closest to him of it. And so, despite the surprise and disbelief he felt from sensing her aura, he knew it had to be her.

A rare light gleamed in his eyes as they landed on her. Heavenly golden radiance glowed from her, making him feel slightly closer to home. “Serenity.” He stepped forward to embrace her, his lips pulling into a smile. It felt like forever since they’d last seen each other, and he realized just how much he’d needed this. “What are you doing here?” he asked as he pulled away, taking another long glance at her before he gestured her inside and locked the heavy, sturdy door behind them. Serenity usually stayed in Heaven, so he assumed that there had to be a greater reason for her arrival.

Michael wasn’t one to ask for help. And even if he deemed it necessary, he would consider whether it was worth the risk. Nothing good had ever come out of involving people he cared about in his work. And he had from an early age felt a heavy responsibility to do what was expected of him on his own, being told by his father that he wouldn’t have asked it of him unless he knew that he was strong enough to accomplish it. And he wasn’t supposed to represent weakness. Not at all. So, it was easier to hide that side of him as well if he did everything alone.
But there were many things that could be helpful to him that weren’t outright dangerous. Her presence alone was one of them. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so calm and content. Besides, seeing someone he loved more than anything had always managed to make it all seem a little better. “You might actually be able to help me save some time. I’ve spent the last hours in search of information on this strange phenomenon in France. Strange as in even he couldn’t guess what caused those murders from the initial description alone. He knew he probably needed to travel there to continue the investigation, but starting with his encyclopedia of supernatural information was always a good idea.

The entrance area was empty except for a devil’s trap painted in black on the ceiling and a large cross hanging on the wall above the doorway to the main living area. And that’s where he led her. The dark mahogany furniture, the paintings, rare collectibles, and warm lights contrasted the otherwise gray and bleak hallways. Gave the bunker more of a homey feeling despite its reminders of wartime. It was weird because as much as he hated some of those memories, he also felt safer in a place like it. And with the protection spells that surrounded the place, it was by far one of the safest places to be.
He turned to look at her when she mentioned Uriel, stopping near a table where a few newspapers were spread out. In a way, he understood his reason for hesitating to reveal what he’d foreseen, that meddling with fate’s planes could end in a much worse outcome. It also meant he had to be careful with who he revealed it to.
There’s a war coming up between this world and Wonderland.
Although it was an area where he was expected to make decisions, wars of other worlds didn’t much concern him. But if what she’d seen was true, and that it was a war to be fought with this world, that meant humans might be caught in the crossfire. And that was not something heaven could ignore. “Did he tell you where it looked like it was fought? Or who it was between?” He knew that it most likely wasn’t anyone he was allied with because if it was, he should have gotten an inkling of the building tension that potentially could lead to such an event. Wars didn’t just start from one day to the next. Rebekah might know more about it, especially if it was Wonderland who was the initiator. But it was all speculation at this point. All the information he could possibly extract from it was with her, and what Uriel had told her of the vision.

A link to Wonderland would create a disturbance to the natural order of the respective worlds. Risking foreign creatures from entering and large quantities of magic from being unleashed. His expression tensed when she said plenty of humans were going to die. That his brother had seen as much. He already despised the witch for her wicked schemes, but that hatred had only grown after the things she’d done to Uriel. Still, to grow a desire for world domination? He supposed there always was a chance for anyone with a taste of power to seek this, but for her to gain the means to do it was another thing. Was that why she kept all those artifacts? All those hearts? Was it her way of preparing for such an event?

His gaze then moved to a map on the wall, thinking of all those lives who’d be in danger if they didn’t stop it. At that point, any other concern of his had been shoved into the back of his mind. War was something he always prepared for. Whether it be the apocalypse, a world war, or this. His soldiers never stopped training, and the project of creating a new species of warrior angels was still underway. But it was never his wish for it to reach that point. It was more of a necessary evil to combat corruption when other means had failed.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he assured her, even if it was a given. It was his responsibility as much as it was all of Heaven’s. But despite this, he knew that other angels probably would be better than him when it came to preventing the event. Researching the matter and figuring out a way to get under Rebekah’s skin. It required more dedicated time than what he could contribute.

He turned his eyes back to her as she said that Uriel would tell Rebekah. Not so sure that it was the best idea considering his history with the witch. But he couldn’t exactly confront his brother about it now. Nor did he know if he had a real chance at convincing her to prevent this war. Even if such plans didn’t have a place in her mind at the present, they had to make sure it wasn’t something that would take place in the future.
“And he will do this alone?” he asked, figuring she must have picked up on that when she’d spoken to him. He then exhaled silently and turned around to place his palms against the table, his eyes scanning the newspapers. All the articles seemed so inconsequential compared to the news she’d brought him. “Did he ask anything else of you?” He returned his eyes to his daughter, knowing he’d asked her to bring him this news or at least expressed a wish for Michael to know of it eventually. And it was only natural for him to worry about her involvement.