Sometimes, after long hours at Trial or over his books, he fancies he can hear every accusation that has been levelled at him in back rooms or secret places, every theory whispered, every rumour spread. 'Balseraph in an angel's cloak.' 'Heaven's hyena.' 'He hates us, you know. It's why he picks on us.' 'He is responsible for our Lady's insanity.'

'Has anyone else noticed how few of the original Archangels remain, thanks to Dominic...? Just think about it. Michael Tried and no longer had the power of Heaven's Armies, Gabriel insane, Uriel called to council and disappeared into the Higher Heavens, Raphael dead...'

'Raphael's death isn't Dominic's fault.'

'Do you know for sure? Nobody knows why she had to sacrifice herself. What if Dominic... and besides, everyone knows Dominic could have stopped the Fall...'

His eyes squeeze shut. He is imagining the words, but knows they have been said before. To his Servitors, his poor Servitors. He cannot properly warn them. He cannot show bias, cannot show his broken heart when they return from their first questioning of Wind, Fire, Creation. So much hurt in their eyes, so much confusion. 'Why do they say those things?' their eyes ask. 'We were just trying to keep them safe from themselves!'

Dominic has no answers for them, and no solace. All he can do is know that they are lonely and understand why.

He stares down at the text, but isn't seeing the words. "I could have helped prevent the Fall," he breathes aloud, and it is horribly freeing to get it out.

But he'd trusted, and that was his flaw. He knows this. He'd loved Asmodeus, and had trusted him, and when Asmodeus had said not to worry, Dominic had been reassured. And then the Fall.

"Never again," he murmurs. It hurts others and it hurts him, that protecting Heaven means he cannot trust. He feels old. He feels tired. He feels empty. He wishes he could do things over again, though he knows that the person he was then could not have done anything differently.

"Never again," he whispers to the accusers. "I love you too much to ever trust you again."