Gabriel (14 page)

“
I think I may have found something,” Maree said, as she handed the
document to Gabriel. “I’ve been working on genetics for a long time, and I have
a database that I’ve been building for decades. It seems all those years were
not wasted after all.”Gabriel read the results, but he couldn’t decipher the
information.

“
What does this mean?” Gabriel asked.

Maree turned around and faced
him, placing one hand on her hip. “Don’t angels know everything?”

Gabriel laughed. “No, we do
not. I could pull the information from your mind, or you can explain what this
means.”

“
You can read my mind, but you don’t understand the basics of
hematology? If I had designed you I would have made sure you had a solid
understanding of the basic structure of life.”

“
I was there when the world was created. I have been in this time
for about five weeks. A lot has changed since I was on this plane. I do not
just ‘know’ information. I have to learn, although it takes me a fraction of
the time it takes a human.”

Maree grabbed a book off the
shelf and handed it to Gabriel. “This is Hematology 101. How long will it take
you to read it?”

Gabriel tucked the papers
under his arm. He opened the book, flipped through the pages, and handed it
back to Maree. He pulled the papers back out and studied them.

“
You have identified the strand?”

“
You learn fast. I’m impressed. Maybe there is something to this
angel business after all.” Maree glanced at Gabriel before she continued. “The
strand that Calla carries is a mutated version of the other samples. I’m
assuming it’s because of your interference.”

Gabriel lowered his head, and
his shoulders slumped. “I could not let her die.”

“
Whatever you did is not a problem—in fact I think it may be the
key to neutralizing the mutant cell. I need to do a few more tests, but I’m
going to need you to replicate what you did to Calla on a few of these
samples.”

Gabriel placed his hands over
the slides, and a luminous light radiated from him for a few seconds. He
stepped away. Maree put each slide under the microscope. A few minutes later
the printers started. She picked up the stack of paper from each machine, and a
smile spread across her face.

“
Good news?” Gabriel asked.

“
Yes, very good news. I have isolated the mutation.”

“
That is good. Now can you help Calla?”

“
Better. I think I have found a way to kill the Kematians’ ability
to regenerate.”

A weight that had smothered
Gabriel lifted. He read the papers and was able to interpret some of the
information. The book he read before hadn’t gone into a lot of detail. It just
provided the basics.

“
When will you know for sure?”

“
It will take a few days to come up with a formula. Then I will
need to test it.”

“
You are not planning on using Calla, are you?”

“
Of course. Her condition is different from the Kematians’. She is
the only human who has survived. Who else would I be able to test it on?”

“
Will it be dangerous?”

“
There is always a danger, but if Calla had the choice to stay like
she is or try something that might cure her, what do you think she would
choose?”

****

Calla had walked down the
stairs into the basement. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but when she overheard
the beginning of the conversation, she couldn’t help herself.
 
She needed to know what Gabriel would do. She
wanted to know if she could trust him.

“
I am not Calla. That will be her choice. I expect you to take
every precaution if she chooses to try the possible antidote.”

Calla’s heart filled with
joy. She ambled over to Maree and Gabriel and wrapped her arm around Gabriel’s
waist. He pulled her in closer.

“
I heard what you two were talking about. I want to try it when
it’s ready.” She tilted her head back so she could see Gabriel’s face. “I’m
trying to have faith that this will all work out the way it’s meant to. I don’t
believe God put us together to tear us apart. I believe you guys failed because
it wasn’t your time to succeed. Now you have the resources and knowledge to
defeat them once and for all.”

Gabriel bent down and brushed
his lips against Calla’s. Her stomach clenched, and her heart began to race. He
pulled back.

“
I love you, Calla.”

She stared into his eyes,
trying to find the courage to allow him into her life. The words were there,
but fear prevented them from being spoken. Her phone started to ring. She
looked down.

“
I need to answer this. It’s Robert.”

Gabriel took the phone from
her.

“
Call him back.”

“
I’m not very good at expressing myself. I’ve never been in love
before, until now. I love you, too, Gabriel, but I need to feel like myself
again before I can even think about beginning a relationship.”

Gabriel’s lips twisted up in
a small grin. “You do love me.”

Calla smiled. “I love you so
much it scares me.”

“
I am scared, too, but I will do whatever it takes to spend forever
with you.”

“
Uh, hmm.”

“
I don’t mean to intrude, but did you say Robert called?”

“
I’m sorry, Maree. I will call him right back.”

Calla called Robert and
talked to him for a few minutes. When she hung up she glanced at Maree who was
twisting her hands. She smiled at Maree. “He’s on his way back.”

“
Oh good.” Maree smiled and started walking toward the stairs.
“I’ll go upstairs and make some brunch.”

“
I’ll help you.” Calla turned toward Gabriel, “We women-folk are
going to go do our womanly chores. Are you going to be okay by yourself?”

“
I will be fine.”

****

Gabriel reached for Michael
with his mind.

“
Brother, I may have good news.”

“
Is it about the woman?” Michael asked.

“
Yes, but there is more.”

Gabriel filled Michael in on
the details from the last few days. He left out the part of Calla expressing
her love for him. He was going to keep that to himself until they were bonded.
Then there wasn’t a thing Michael could do to stop him from being with Calla.

“
This is good news, brother. Let me know when you find out if it
works,” Michael said.

“
I will.”

Michael cut the connection.

He
did not mention our brothers or the Kematians.

Gabriel tried to reach out
again, but the connection remained closed.

We
may have run out of time.

Chapter Ten

Calla woke covered in sweat,
body shaking and craving something. She stalked down the stairs and opened the
refrigerator. After rifling through it, she grabbed an apple and raised it to
her lips, fighting the urge to vomit. She tossed it in the trash, then grabbed
a pitcher of water and walked towards the counter. Her legs buckled. The
pitcher shattered onto the floor in the same instant Calla collapsed.

****

The crash woke Gabriel. He
raced to the kitchen and lifted Calla and carried her to the living room and
placed her on the couch. Robert and Maree came in as she started to convulse,
so Gabriel moved her to the middle of the floor.

“
What is happening to her?” Robert asked.

Gabriel kicked the end table
away with his foot and lay down beside her, protecting her.

“
She needs blood,” Gabriel said. “It is in the refrigerator in the
basement. Go!”

Gabriel traced his fingers
along her jaw, murmuring assurances to her.

Gabriel heard Robert’s
footsteps echoed up the stairs.

“
What can I do?” Maree asked.

“
Find a cure,” Gabriel said, with more of a bite than he intended.

The convulsions stopped.
Calla’s eyes glossed over, and she turned her head and lunged for Gabriel’s
neck. He pulled away an instant before she bit him. Gabriel straddled her, but
she continued to buck against him. Robert came in with three bags of
O-negative.

“
How are we going to get these into her?” Robert asked, as he took
a few tentative steps toward Gabriel.

“
Stay back! Just toss them here.”

The bags landed a foot away
from him, but it might as well have been a mile. He couldn’t let her go to grab
the blood. He used everything he had to hold her down. After a few seconds,
Gabriel had no choice.

“
Robert, I need your assistance after all. If anything happens to
you, Calla will never forgive herself or me. Do as I say, and if I tell you to
leave, take Maree downstairs. Go to the room hidden in the back until I get
you. Do you understand?”

“
Tell me what to do,” Robert said.

“
Grab a knife or scissors from the kitchen.”

“
I’ll get it.” Maree brought back both and handed them to Robert.

“
Clip the corner, and when I have her head under control, pour it
in,” Gabriel said.

“
Won’t she choke?” Maree asked.

“
I am hoping when she tastes the blood it will start to calm her.
If it does not then you will need to go.”

Gabriel wrestled with Calla.
She thrashed around, fighting against him with everything she had. He scooted
up and placed his knees on either side of her head and one hand on her
forehead. As soon as her head was stabilized, Robert placed the bag to her
lips, and she started swallowing with greedy gulps. The first bag was empty in
under a minute. When he pulled the empty bag away she started kicking again.
Robert made quick work of opening the next bag, and as he brought it to her
lips she settled down. When the second bag was empty and removed she was
calmer.

“
Maree, go grab a few more bags,” Robert said, anxiety accentuating
every word.

Maree’s rapid footsteps
echoed down the hallway, but she was back with a quickness that surprised
Gabriel.

The third, fourth, and fifth
bags were gone. There was one more bag sitting next to Robert’s leg, and he was
about to open it when Calla went still.

“
Do not open that one, Robert. Let us wait a moment.” Gabriel released
her forehead and slid down her body, resting his weight on her hips. Calla
turned her head, and her eyes focused on Robert. Gabriel watched as she looked
down and saw him. Then she glanced over to where Maree leaned against the wall,
hands clenched at her sides.

“
What’s going on?” Calla asked.

“
What is the last thing you remember?” Gabriel asked.

“
I had a nightmare and woke up. I went to get a drink and—why are
you on top of me?”

“
You had a reaction,” Robert said.

Calla saw the empty bags of
blood scattered on the floor. She licked her lips. “You gave me blood? Get off
me, Gabriel!”

“
Calm down. You were having seizures, and then you tried to attack
me. I did not have a choice.”

“
Oh my God. Did I hurt you?” Calla asked Gabriel.

“
No, I am fine. How do you feel?”

“
Sore, but otherwise okay.”

Gabriel stood and offered his
hand to Calla. He pulled her to her feet. Robert picked up the bags and went
into the kitchen with Maree.

“
I could have killed them. I have to get away. I need to go some
place where I can’t hurt anyone.” Calla paced in front of the window.

“
Leaving is not the solution. Here I can protect you and those you
love. It would seem the blood you drank is working.”

“
For now,” she said.

Gabriel stepped in front of
Calla and clasped her shoulders. “Look at me,” Gabriel said, as she raised her
face. “I
will
protect you, even if it
is from yourself.”

“
I can’t remember trying to hurt you. I could’ve killed you, and I
wouldn’t have known what I was doing. I’m scared, Gabriel.”

He wrapped her in his arms,
inhaled her scent, and sent a silent of prayer of thanks. It was a close call,
but they had gotten through it—this time.