Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1) (11 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Gabrielle ~ An Edgy Angel

“
NO, LUCAS!
” Gabrielle woke from her restless sleep, hearing the sound of her own voice calling out. She was sitting up, her hand pressing against her chest, her heart racing as fast as her mind.

What did I see?

Gabrielle pulled at the human strands of her memory, trying to manipulate them into something she could make sense of. She wished she could lift the Veil before she went to sleep. All she could remember was a jumble of images—an ancient book with a symbol of a two-headed snake coiled around a very long, curved sword that became a tree at the tip; Javan, laughing wickedly, his ominous glare falling on Gabrielle and Lucas; the wings of swarms of angels, Yahuwah’s and the Fallen, fiercely fighting; Gabrielle and Javan in combat; Lucas, falling, landing on the ground far below them, lifeless.

Half premonitions were of little use to Gabrielle. She angrily went downstairs to confront Amaziah, thinking that he was the reason for her deep slumber that caused her to not remember her dreams. She found him with Sheridan, debating something again. Her voice reached them before she did.

“Amaziah! Please don’t do whatever it is you’re doing to put me into such a deep human sleep! I can’t remember half of what I am supposed to see! Would you—”

Amaziah raised a hand to Hush Gabrielle, immediately blocking her ability to speak out loud and preventing her from communicating with him telepathically. It was a power he never used on her. It infuriated Gabrielle, but she had no choice but to wait.

“Gabrielle,” Amaziah said calmly, “I have done no such thing to you. It may be an unforeseen, and unavoidable, consequence of taking human form. You know dreams are something angels never have. How can we when we never sleep? The difference in what you’ll be able to recall compared to a vision, as you can see, is vast. If this continues to be a problem, consider transforming into your Divine form and allow your human body to rest on its own without you in it. But please … calm yourself. You know I would never do anything that might upset you in this way.”

When he thought she had calmed, he raised his hand again, made a small gesture, and Gabrielle felt the restraint he’d placed on her lift.

Boy, would I like to have that trick.

“And one day, it may be given it to you. If Yahuwah sees its usefulness to do so,” Amaziah said.

“Of course, Amaziah,” Gabrielle replied, putting her hands together and resting them against the front of her body in a subtle show of respect.

Amaziah was her friend, and the closest thing she had to a human father, but she was still his subordinate. A fact she sometimes forgot. He had never told her exactly how high he ranked in the Choir of Angels, but she knew it was
very
high. When she’d asked him, he just said it was of little importance and went no further with the topic. He had Yahuwah’s audience whenever he desired it, though. So, regardless of what he said, he was extremely important, and trusted, by Him.

Amaziah smiled, and the heaviness of her initial mood lifted. She shook her anger off and told him what she could remember of her dream.

Amaziah listened closely to the description of the images she was able to bring back to the waking world, the crease between his brow deepening with every detail. When she finished, he walked over to the glass door that led to the deck and a small yard that ended in a thick line of trees. He stood there, quietly thinking, for a long time. Finally, he turned to face them. Curiosity and concern mingled heavily in his eyes. There was something else he held in his gaze—a deep sadness, an emotional wound that had never quite healed beginning to open again. It made her stomach turn in sympathy.

“There was a book, ancient in appearance as you described. The Book of Barabbadon. It had a symbol of the two-headed snake twisting around the blade of a long sword as you also described. I saw it
thousands
of years ago. Long before Yahuwah had even breathed you into existence, Gabrielle. There was an attempt by Darkness to gain power over Yahuwah. The Book was the instrument used to wage a great war between Heaven and Hell, and all the beings within them. The angels in our eternal home who were witness to it don’t speak of what happened. They would rather pretend as though the battle had never occurred at all.

“The number of casualties was terrible. So many lost those they were closest to, and their hearts still ache for them even without passing the reminders of our history down to the fledgling angels through stories. It was a somber time. A time I’ve hoped we’d never see again.”

He paused, and Gabrielle could tell he didn’t want to revisit the memory himself.

How many of those lost were angels he had been close to?

“It was ordered that the Book be destroyed. Without doubt, I have believed it had been. Now … I wonder. I have to go to Council with this information right away, Gabrielle. We’ll talk more soon.”

And he was gone.

“Gabrielle.” Sheridan showed her displeasure with her commander loudly in her tone, which was unusual. It told how she didn’t think Gabrielle deserved to hold the position she had and of her feelings about being put out by having to come here every day. Gabrielle was sure envy—jealousy—had hitched a cosmic ride tonight. “Don’t you think this living as a human …
thing
is a bit much? And you know how Amaziah worries over you, though I don’t know why. Your decision to come here,” Sheridan paused, “it seems a bit misguided. Some of the troops are starting to talk, and I—”

“Sheridan,” Gabrielle’s tone was flat and stern, the week’s karma seeping deep into her mood past the point that she could shield anyone from it—especially Sheridan. “I don’t concern myself with what others say. I know my decision isn’t one many agreed with, including you. However,
your
opinion is one that I truly don’t spend my time worrying over.”

Sheridan stiffened. Even with her feeling particularly bold, she knew she had overstepped.

Gabrielle hadn’t been entirely honest about not being concerned with what was being said. It did bother her, but what troubled her more was her willingness to be less than truthful. Other than keeping the visions she had of Lucas and her attraction to him to herself, she couldn’t remember being anything but honorable with her brethren. Another side effect of her human body, she supposed.

She really did care less and less about what Sheridan thought of her, though. Gabrielle’s trust in her had been slowly eroding.

“So, what are the instructions for today’s lot?” Gabrielle asked with a bite in her tone and an upward glare at Sheridan. “Are the troops ready for their assignments?”

Even though Sheridan still held her stiff demeanor, she seemed to welcome the topic shift; she responded quickly. “Yes, the troops are ready.”

“Then, let’s get started.”

Gabrielle hoped for the best. Her mood needed to lighten.

When they finished, she was relieved. She had been able to grant more good karma than bad. Tomorrow her mood would be better as long as she didn’t have any surprises. She’d have to deal with Javan at some point, though, and that was something she wasn’t looking forward to.

Starting tomorrow, she had an additional goal—one she realized as soon as she’d woken with the broken pieces of her dream. The piece she was most interested in right now concerned the Book.

Is it the same one the demon mentioned?

It could be a coincidence, but Gabrielle didn’t believe in them. Between her dream about a book that looked just like the Book of Barabbadon—a book that could be used as a weapon to wage war on Heaven itself—and the look in Amaziah’s eyes, finding out more about the ancient artifact just became a high priority.

And a convenient distraction from Lucas.

Chapter Fifteen

Gabrielle ~ New Bonds

The complexities of human desire were becoming more apparent. Wanting companionship, acceptance, success, and
things
were becoming more prominent in Gabrielle’s mind. For an angel, wanting materialistic things was not an issue. Little was needed in Heaven.

With no use for a personal home, there was also no need for the things that would be required or wanted for one—no use for a vehicle, boat, money, makeup, designer clothing and shoes, jewelry, expensive vacations, or even food. Angels simply need the connection to, and love of, Yahuwah and each other. That was it. No sleep, no eating, no time off—life simplified.

She found herself with thoughts, even if they were fleeting, of wanting …
things
. It had crossed her mind several times already that this is probably how it started for most of her comrades who had become one of the Fallen. They were assigned duties that involved a lot of contact with humans, in human bodies, and they began to feel their emotions and desires. When they returned to Heaven, those desires stayed with them, even in their true form. Then, the desires could take them over. Gabrielle knew she could keep herself in check, though.

At least I hope I can.

However, the situation with Lucas had surprised her, and until she saw him with Mara, she had certainly had a hard time keeping from toeing the line that separated what she was allowed to do with a human and what was forbidden. She needed to stay clear of that line if she wanted to remain an angel.

How could I ever have chanced my Divine life for him?

It wasn’t an easy question to answer. No angel had ever spent as much time as she had in human form, not since Ramai, so no one really knew if the effect it had on him would be as profound in other angels.

She hadn’t seen Javan again and had managed to avoid Lucas the rest of the week. It was now Saturday. She shouldn’t have to see Lucas at all, and hopefully, not Javan either, which had her emotions battling between relief and sadness. She hated how it all made her feel, and to make matters worse, avoiding Lucas also meant avoiding Nonie. She was enjoying getting to know her and had hoped to learn a lot from their new friendship. It all added up to not wanting to be at the school, but she really had no choice. This is where she was told to be, so this is where she had to stay as long as she continued the task she took on.

Lucas had turned into a big complication, and the biggest was what was still unknown—why she was having visions and dreams of him. Whether she wanted to or not, she was going to have to find out the reason. Then, she could put it all behind her.

“No more Lucas,” Gabrielle said in little more than a whisper

She pushed him out of her mind as she waited for Phalen at a local coffee house near one of the college campuses. It had a wonderful outside area dotted with tables and chairs to enjoy whatever beverage she chose. Mostly, it was coffee with what some might consider a mountain of sugar and a ladle of cream. A young woman laughed one day while waiting to use the cream and said that Gabrielle was drinking more of a dessert than a beverage.

The coffee house, once someone’s bungalow home, was now one of many businesses that had taken over the houses nestled close to one another on a city side street. Gabrielle had loved spending warm summer days in the shade of towering oak trees as she observed and listened to the humans she was here to gain insight into.

She’d used the spot to better hone her teenage persona while figuring out
text speak
, cell phones, and the internet. She’d watch, trying to burn into her mind the gestures, speech, flirting, and mixture of uncertainty and boldness that seemed to be their demeanor, and then she’d go home and practice. It would be a comical scene to some if they could see her while she stood in front of the mirrored wall in her bathroom as she talked to herself.

There were older people who frequented the coffee shop: college students of varying ages, business people, writers and musicians; all were intriguing to her because they lived such different lives from each other. Angels, for the most part, lived very similar lives to their counterparts. The choices a human had—jobs, hobbies, clothes, makeup, hair, shoes, movies, books, museums, friends, lovers—seemed endless to Gabrielle. What makes them choose one thing or one person over another or change their mind after a choice has been made?
It was a mystery that she still felt no closer to understanding.

Gabrielle took her seat on an outdoor chair, stretching her legs out to rest on another one across the table from her, then began to scan her surroundings. It was early in the morning, very early. The sun, now beginning its climb into the day, had only been fully visible for a little over an hour. The morning was already thick with humidity as the cicadas called to each other in the trees. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baking pastries were carried to her as people opened the door. Gabrielle smiled slightly, enjoying her human body on a morning that she knew was just one of a handful for her compared to what most humans would be given.

I wish I had more time here.

Her attention was drawn to a man and woman deep in conversation. They had their backs to her, but she could see their profiles as they spoke to each other. They seemed to be in their late twenties, dressed too casually for a business breakfast. There were no books or computers to indicate they were students, and their food and drinks seemed to be untouched. Gabrielle wasn’t sure what they were doing, but she found oddities intriguing. No one else seemed to notice them, or if they did, it didn’t garner their attention the way it had hers.

They seemed to sit a little too close to each other. Not that it was unusual for a man and woman to sit close together, but even with Gabrielle’s limited experience in deciphering body language, their physical closeness didn’t match the feeling she got from them. It was like they were sitting that way to be secretive. Her ability to hear far better than a human wasn’t helping, either. She wasn’t able to make out enough of what they were saying to understand their conversation—which was odd in itself. They were only thirty feet away.

As if they heard her thoughts, both glanced over their shoulders in her direction. She wasn’t sure if they looked directly at her because she glanced away too fast in an attempt not to be caught staring, and both had on sunglasses with very dark lenses. Whether they caught her staring at them or not, they were now standing, leaving their uneaten food at the table.

Gabrielle watched them from the corner of her eye as they made their way to the sidewalk—a path that led past her own table. Unexpectedly, she felt the instinct to ready herself for confrontation. She fought off the impulse to call her Divine weapons as a tingling in her palms where they would appear grew intense—begging her to will them to her so they could be used again as if starved for battle. As the man and woman came closer, the desire became even more urgent. Two realizations hit her at once that made it clear why she was feeling the way she was.

They are
not
human, and this is
not
a good place for a battle.

There was no mistaking the sense of another with Divine blood now or the lurch of her insides that made her want to vomit. Gabrielle’s muscles tensed and her heart raced with the anticipation of what was to come. She prepared to halt mortal time and create a shield to protect the humans, glancing at the demons as they continued their approach. They were definitely staring at her now. Both had lowered their sunglasses, allowing the chartreuse shade of their eyes to be seen. Her stomach did another complete turn and threatened to expel what filled it, this time with more force, but she pushed the bile back.

Standing, Gabrielle readied herself, intensely aware of their every movement—their pace, position to each other, every step, every twitch of a finger, blink of an eye, and rise and fall of their chest with each breath. They seemed to slow unnaturally as they closed the short distance between their table and hers. It was as though everything around them moved at regular pace except for them. Finally, they were upon Gabrielle, and she opened her hands at her side as she prepared to call for her Dither Swords.

“Hello, angel,” the male demon said with a sliver of a smile, not stopping as they passed.

That was it.

Gabrielle was stunned that they didn’t recognize or try to attack her, but then she remembered the Veil. It had been proven, several times, to not protect her completely from being shown as an angel, but she didn’t think the demons realized who she was.

Gabrielle sat back down, adrenaline coursing through her human veins. Even if it was protecting her, the Aegis Veil was a problem. It dulled her Divine discernment even more than she was already admitting, dangerously so. Slowly, as more seconds passed with the demons out of sight, she felt the tension and nausea that had gripped her lose its edge. As she calmed, thoughts about the high amount of activity in the area from the Fallen began to race through her mind, and she felt her body shudder from an intense chill.

In all the times she had been to Earth before, in all of her observations in the past made while doing her job as The Angel of Karma, she had never noticed so many demons in one area. There were many everywhere, at all times, but not usually above ground and centralized in such large numbers. The Underworlders were easily blending in with humans. It was unsettling. She had no idea their presence would be so obvious. Were they here because of her?

This is becoming far too frequent of an occurrence.

Her presence must somehow be attracting them even if they didn’t realize why they were coming here or who she was.

Or … maybe they do.

They could be gathering in large numbers to attack her. For whatever reason they congregated in this area, the feeling of heaviness was a clear indicator that something was going on—something Gabrielle didn’t understand.

She needed to tell Amaziah about the demonic activity and the unexplainable dread she felt, but she didn’t want him to get more overprotective and call off this task. She needed the four months that remained to gain more insight. She had to stay even if something was coming—especially if something was coming.

“Hi, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle jumped at the sound of the female voice, her nerves apparently still piqued. Turning around, Gabrielle saw Phalen approaching. She’d almost forgotten Phalen was coming this morning.

Phalen still seemed to enjoy creating different bodies when she came to Earth in human form. Today she had the dark skin and butterscotch eyes of an African princess—tall and lean with feminine muscles that made her appear strong and proud, her hair cropped close to her head.

“Hi,” Gabrielle said through a slightly forced smile as she tried to calm herself back down. It was nice to see a friend, especially after being in the company of enemies moments before.

“Did I just see what I think I saw leaving?”

“You did.”

“I guess I didn’t miss anything since the place is still standing.” Phalen pulled out a chair and sat with Gabrielle, still looking in the direction of the exiting demons. “That surprises me.”

“I don’t think they even knew I was an angel until they were right up on me, much less who I am, because of the Aegis Veil.”

“Yeah, that would do it.” Phalen gazed at Gabrielle with curiosity. Gabrielle didn’t like that look, at least when it was cast in her direction. It meant questions were flitting about in the gazer’s mind—questions about things that made Gabrielle
special
.

“Do you feel as important as you are?” Phalen continued. “I mean, I was just wondering what it feels like to be so protected … so looked after.”

Gabrielle shifted in her chair—the only outward appearance of the unease she felt over Phalen’s question and others she suspected were going unasked.

“I wish, sometimes, that I wasn’t so unusual.”

“Really?” An expression born of surprise crossed Phalen’s face, pushing the curious one aside, to Gabrielle’s relief.

With their friendship so new, Phalen didn’t know how uncomfortable Gabrielle was with who she was—that Amaziah was one of the only angels more powerful than her in Heaven. Gabrielle would want no other position than the one she had, but she had never been at ease with all that came with it. It left her feeling isolated, and she craved the companionship that she saw other angels achieve easily.

It had been especially hard after Javan …

Gabrielle met Phalen’s gaze, then dropped her eyes before answering.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve recognized something very familiar in human children concerning my own personality.”

“What’s that?”

“Small children, unlike how they tend to become once they are teenagers, don’t seem to want to be different from the children around them. I don’t know why, really. Maybe it’s because when they have done things that are different in their short lives to bring unwanted attention on themselves, that made them uncomfortable. Maybe they are unable to process what to do with that feeling of the unknown.” Gabrielle sighed. “For me …
I
am the unknown to the majority of our brethren. That’s what makes me different, and that makes it impossible for me to ever truly fit in. I am too different. Which is why I sometimes wish I was like you, Phalen. You aren’t looked upon by any other angel as being unlike them. Even though I’m an angel just like the rest of you, I am still unusual—a curiosity. I’m on the fringe of our world, and all I really want is to fit in … just like a human child—to feel I’m
a part
of my family instead of
apart
from you all.”

Gabrielle and Phalen sat in the quiet that had become their moment. Gabrielle was glad. She could feel the human emotions contained in her body wanting to burst forth, and she wasn’t ready to deal with it. The emotions, once again, were proving more difficult to control in this form than she had expected, and she fought to keep tears in place.