“Well, look at what we have here,” he mocked. “I was told I would be given a victim for my experiments. I just didn’t expect it would be the high and mighty angel of the light.” Gadriel moved closer to him and grabbed his face. “I can see why the fool Azazel and my master fell for you.” Gadriel smirked. “You are very pretty. I want to make you ugly. It’s a pity he won't let me mark up this pretty face of yours.”
Uriel didn’t speak, what was the use? Gadriel wasn’t looking to have a conversation with him.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret that not even the great Azazel knows about.” Gadriel smirked. “Dagon and I are not on Azazel’s side. We have always had a new master. And one day we will kill both father and son, not to mention those idiot gods, and rule all the realms. The humans will be our slaves and—”
“That’s enough,” Dagon said, stopping Gadriel’s boasting.
“Dag, why are you ruining my fun?” Gadriel whined.
“You know why I came,” he said. “I’m not here to hear you talk nonsense.”
Gadriel smiled and swiftly moved over to Dagon, kissing him hard. “Okay, I’ll give you a show.”
Gadriel turned in Dagon’s arms and waved a hand, and instantly Uriel was thrown against the wall with his arms spread open and legs closed as if he were on a cross. He was stripped of all his clothes as Gadriel walked over to him and pulled out a double-edged knife that was made of gold from handle to point, with rubies embedded in the blade and hilt.
“This is my masterpiece. It looks like a normal kitchen knife, but it is much more than that. My master wants me to design something that will kill even Dio with one strike. And since you are, or were as strong as the god angel, I will be testing it out on you.”
"What kind of kitchen knife has rubies on it?" Azazel said. "Why didn't I realize he wasn't as smart as he claimed to be?"
"Stop talking and keep watching," Uriel told him.
Uriel felt his fear spike just seeing the knife in Gadriel's hands. Uriel remembered the pain when he was slashed from his left hip to his right shoulder, crossing his chest. Uriel howled in pain as blood sprayed all over Gadriel, who did not seem to mind. But as instant as the blood began to flow, he was healed in the next second, as if it hadn't happened. The torture went on for Odin knew how long, but through it all, no one came to Uriel's recuse, and Dagon remained motionless, staring at Uriel with a look of euphoria in his eyes and panting breath. Uriel grew weak until he passed out.
When he regained consciousness, his body was back to normal and was fully healed, as if nothing had happened. More time passed and Uriel wondered if he had imagined it all, until Dagon and Gadriel showed up once more and it was a repeat of the same thing. The knife grew sharper and Gadriel’s slashes grew harsher, even taking off some of his skin. At one point, Uriel had screamed, cried, and howled so much he broke his vocal chords, but he had never once begged for them to stop. He knew his words would be ignored.
After each torture, he was healed fully, except for the time Gadriel had cut his leg so deep he still carried the scar. Uriel didn’t know how much more he could take, and then one day, things changed. He woke up and there weren’t any chains holding him down. The silver cuffs that Lord Dio had put on him years prior and had limited his powers were gone and the door to his cell was opened. Uriel stood up and felt his powers surging through him.
“I have my powers back,” Uriel whispered, bringing up a small amount of his power, laughing with glee, feeling like himself for the first time in a very long time. “Does this mean I’m free?”
Not wanting to think of the answer anymore, Uriel ran out of his cell and was surprised that he didn’t see guards, but it wouldn’t have made any difference since they were never around whenever he was being tortured. Seeing that he was free, Uriel’s first thought was to get his children back. He made it out safe and untouched.
He stood in front of the large doors, ready to open them. He felt a sharp pain in his leg causing him to fall to the floor. He mustered up his power to defend himself, but realized he was powerless yet again. Gadriel’s laughter rang in his ears, and Uriel turned his head to see him and Dagon slowly walking over to him.
“Did you think you were free?”
There was a burning in Uriel’s leg and he could feel it going numb. His body started to shake and he couldn’t speak.
“You will never be free until I’ve perfected this weapon,” Gadriel said.
“Hurry up and get him inside,” Dagon ordered.
"But I wanted to see what other effects my new-and-improved knife has," Gadriel said. "It takes away his powers, and from what I can tell, he's unable to move and he's not healing. How fascinating."
"Take him inside and you can test it some more, but our master doesn't want him to be seen," Dagon said.
“Be lucky that Dag has taken a liking to you. I’m sure if I weren't here, he’d have fucked you already. Didn’t you know he gets off watching you get tortured?” Uriel’s eyes widened and Gadriel barked out a laugh, dragging him back to his cell. "But then again, I'm the one who reaps the benefits of a good fucking when I'm done with you. And let me tell you, Dagon is an animal."
For years Uriel was teased with his powers and freedom, only to have it taken back. He’d given up hope he would be rescued or that anyone would care. During that time, Dio had never been to see him. Uriel thought he was going to lose his mind, and the only thing that kept him sane was the thought of his children. Then one day it all stopped.
Dagon and Gadriel never showed up, and more time passed before guards came and took him to a new room with better conditions, where he was showered with gifts and fine clothes and more food than he could handle. But none of it mattered to Uriel. He couldn’t tell if it was another trick created by Gadriel and Dagon.
Uriel closed his eyes, closing his mind off from Azazel, bathing his hospital room in silence. Azazel tightened his arms around him. Uriel knew he had to finish the rest of the story.
“A year later, after I was brought to that room, Dio came to see me. There was no mention of what I’d gone through. He asked me if my heart still longs for you. I wanted to answer no, but I knew I would be lying to myself. Even with my own vow to stay away from you, my heart refused to let me lie. So I didn't answer him."
"You did the right thing," Azazel told him. "I can't blame you for protecting yourself."
"I guess that's why he gave me back my powers and my full rank. He didn’t ask me to match with Micha, but asked me to forgive him for locking me in that room for all those years. He said he waited that long because of Donald. His life was already filled with the love of his parents and friends, and even with all the powers I have, I wouldn’t be able to remove the memories and feelings he’d gained. My only option was to stay by Dio's side.” Uriel snorted. “He was so sure I would accept, but he'd lost my trust. Even with knowing that he was being plotted against, I didn’t care. Fuck, I still don’t believe he doesn’t know what’s happening, or what Dagon and Gadriel did to me. I don’t care if they were working with him or not, all I knew was that I had to leave.”
