Conflict of Interest

Michael paused–face surprised in a way that looked like he expected himself to have predicted the situation. He approached Tiam, looking over their wounds and sores. He waved a hand and every inch of pain vanished like it was never there.

'You've come from the colosseum, haven't you?'

'Yes.'

'And this is for an important reason, I assume?'

'My friend.'

'More details.'

'Leo, he's been poisoned or corrupted with the Dragon's blood. He's been turned into a new Dragon.'

'Not good.'

'No, sir.'

'I'm not a principal. Don't call me that.'

'Understood.'

Michael paced a few steps before reaching though the dull books. Tiam didn't see which number he grabbed, but it was very close to the end of the collection.

'Leo… Leo…' Flicking page after page, Michael still managed to occasionally adjust and straighten things around the room. 'Leo Cadmus… I see. Most notable for his marriage to scientific celebrity Doctor Hazel Cadmus.' Michael went silent once again, muttering words through a few pages. He looked up and gestured downwards. 'Please, sit. Your standing is making me uneasy.' He was one to talk, but Tiam found a guest armchair and sat anyway. Michael paced like a nervous feline, yet his face was stern and cold. What was taking so long? Was this holy water limited or something?

'I'm sorry, but I cannot grant this man my holy water.'

'Huh?' Tiam felt the rage return, though it was muffled like something was forcing it back down their throat. 'Why?'

'I cannot say. This man is dangerous and better left to burn in the colosseum.'

Tiam couldn't believe it. Leo was dangerous? Leo was bad? Sure, he picked the wrong friends on occasion, but that was about all Tiam could find that would muddy his character.

'You can't decide that.' Tiam was screaming on the inside, trying to force their rage out of their being just to get a good word in. It felt like it was still blocked, like a cork stoppering a bottle.

'Actually, I already have.' Michael slammed the book shut with a loud clap, then pushed it gently back into its place. 'The man is dangerous–let it go. Besides, it's better for that colosseum to burn than continue to persist.'

'So is that the real reason? You want Leo to destroy the colosseum?' Tiam searched for any tell in the archangel's face, but there was no change. The being was like a lifeless stone statue.

'That's a nice bonus, but he also cannot be allowed to continue getting stronger. To be honest, I didn't realise that he'd been taken to the colosseum. I'll need to find the angel that took him there.' Michael sharply stared at Tiam's Key which floated behind them like a frightened child. 'Raphael sent you, didn't he?'

'Dothaphel, actually,' Tiam spluttered. It was the first angel that came to their mind. They prayed it would be enough.

'Dothaphel doesn't have the power to transport humans to this room.'

'Now she does. She spent time getting power in the colosseum and is helping me save Leo.'

Michael stared with a glare that could rival the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. Tiam needed to get things back on track.

'Michael.'

'Yes?'

'I need that holy water, no matter your personal problems with Leo. I don't know if you realised it, but his wife was wrongly sent to Hell.'

'Was she now?' Michael smiled for the first time. Was this man really an angel? He felt slier and more controlling than any demon Tiam had met, and they had barely known the man for more than a few minutes.

'You mustn't know how you died.' Michael didn't bother crossing the room this time. He raised a hand and the book shot out from the very end of the collection. Cracking the book open, Michael didn't even turn the pages, because it was the last one. He put the book into Tiam's hands and gestured for them to read.

The book's words mostly faded aside from a pair of highlighted ones that read, 'Victims of Hazel Cadmus…Tiam Akhtar.'

'She is your killer, Tiam.' Michael gently lifted the book out of Tiam's numbing hands. 'And her husband is just as dangerous. In fact, I believe he is worse. It's a conflict of interest, isn't it?' Michael threw the book back into its place with a loud crash. 'Leave here, leave the colosseum and live your eternity. I will even put in a request to God for your mind to be cleared and put at peace, if that would please you.'

Tiam stood and took their Key in hand. They stared into the glassy object, and a forlorn face stared back. What did anything mean anymore? They were about to call for their escape, when one more question burned into their mind.

'Before I go, Michael.' They slowly turned on their heel. 'Is your holy water something you just produce?'

Michael restored that sharp look on his face, clearly untrusting. 'Well, yes. Depending on how I want to use it. Sometimes I keep it on hand for emergencies.'

'That's smart.' Tiam clutched their Key, but also the hilt of their blade. That was the move that made Michael reach for the gigantic sword mounted on the wall. And thus, Tiam meddled with fate.

Leo was trapped in a never-ending swirl of darkness and violent pain. He fought back against it with every bit of his remaining will, but was fighting a losing battle. He could occasionally see glimpses of the world outside, though they were filled with strange gemstones and lightning, at the moment. He wasn't giving up, not after he saw how he tried to strike down Tiam with hellfire. He'd long come to terms with who his best friend really was, and the mistakes he had made trusting Harvey over those who had stood by him throughout this colosseum. Why the heck didn't he see it?

Regrets aside, the pain made his eyes feel like they were about to explode, and that wouldn't be cool. He needed to find a way out, but no matter how much he focused on saving Hazel or seeing Tiam again, he couldn't even focus enough to control the form. Try harder. That was all he could think.

'Oh, so you're the one who has my old blood,' a peppery and deep voice purred. 'Poor thing. Hell is where beasts like you belong. Maybe I should take you for my own personal collection. A monster with your potential could break the laws of Heaven and Hell more than I ever could.'

Leo had a good feeling who was talking to him, but didn't want to even think his name.

'Ah, too bad. I was slow.' The presence left as soon as it came.

The pain overtook Leo until his mind felt like it split into hundreds of pieces, tossed aside like garbage. His will was gone.

'Leo.'

'Huh?' He opened his eyes. The murky image slowly cleared up.

'You're alright!' Tiam wailed over Leo, drawing his head close on their lap. 'You're okay. You're here. Leo, it's alright.'

Leo could barely hold his eyes open, but managed to see the faces of Raphael, Jun and a woman who looked a little charred. He reached a hand up to Tiam's face and said, 'thank yo–'

No.

What?

How did that happen?

Tiam had a massive hole in their right side, and Leo could see the demolished district though it.