"Gabriel..."

He moans, wrists caught tight; rings held taut, motionless.

"...you are called to stand before the Seraphim Council..."

As much as he can, he thrashes. Bandaged hands, scaled coils hold him down, down, he strains against it, held down. There is a familiar hot mouth at his ear, thick with white noise, a hiss - "He holds you down, Gabriel. My side, your side: We both hate you. Why try? Come to me, you arrogant bastard, let me finally rip you apart." He thrashes, but the Seraph has him pinned, bound, is carressing rings of flames with scales.

"...today..."

"Oh God," he calls, desperately straining, breathing hard. The voice at his ear laughs, a mad cackle of hissing pops. The Seraph is tonguing at Gabriel's mouth, blocking out his words, invalidating them. He tries to call out to God again but his words are garbled with the Seraph's tongue in his mouth, are nonsense.

"...to stand trial for the sin of..."

He thrashes against the Seraph, against his bindings, grinds up against the writhing serpent body. Up up and away, he thinks, moaning, up up and away.

"...Heresy."

Laughing denying can't speak hot on his ear can't speak can't move hot hot hot

"How do you plead?"

FREE sanity fleeing bindings snapping voice at his ear new strong gentle throwing the Seraph off with flailing buck of his body FREE thank you God I'm yours.

Gabriel sobs and flees.