The Taking (16 page)

I heave a sigh. “No.”

The archangel’s mouth pushes out sideways in a vertical thin line. “Well, I am definitely no Raphael. I cannot heal you. It looks like I am going to have to teleport with the three of you embraced in my arms.”
 

Archangel Gabriel walks over to me, the bottom of their gown sweeping away some of the demon dust. They lift me to a semi-sitting position and hook an arm under both my arms and across my chest. Lifting me up and dragging me across to Cindy, I am surprised just how powerful this creative and friendly archangel is. The same process is undertaken with Cindy, and I am struggling to see how they are going to do this to a larger third angel that is a dead weight at the moment.
 

Relying wholly on the archangel while wishing I could help, I hear, “Hang on; this is going to be rough and quick.”
 

Before I can make sense or even register what has been said, we teleport and we are outside the little dining room that only monks and angels can access in the monastery.
 

A whoosh sounds in my ear and I flop roughly to the ground, still unable to sit. I hear noises and look up. Joseph and Peter are having their dinner and gaze stunned at us with a stagnant fork in one hand and their mouths open. Archangel Gabriel is nowhere to be found. Once the two monks get over their initial shock, they drop their forks and run to us lying limp on the floor.
 

Cindy is still unconscious. They both hover around observing us.
 

“Are you okay?” Joseph asks as he kneels next to me his dark brown eyes examine me with concern. His friendly young face is a much more pleasant sight than having the gatekeeper kneeling next to me.
 

I rock my head up and down. “I am now, but we need a little help getting to Zacharias’ area.”

He chuckles. “I can see that.” He reaches down and scoops me into his arms as Peter does the same with unconscious Cindy.
 

A whoosh sounds behind us, and Archangel Gabriel stands there with unconscious Ben scooped in their arms. It is a strange sight as Ben is the one who usually does the carrying, and Archangel Gabriel looks so feminine.
 

“That was quick,” I say.

“Well sweetie, I wasn’t waiting for the next wave of demons to arrive.” Archangel Gabriel smirks.
 

Now that we are back in safety I have to confront my pressing worry. I turn to Joseph and ask softly, “My wings?” I am looking deep into his eyes and although I do not voice my full concern a flash of knowing crosses his face.
 

Without asking any questions, he places me down gently. “I haven’t had a look.” With Peter and Archangel Gabriel watching, he gently rolls me over to my stomach; my face presses against the cold stone floor. He reaches down and pulls one of my wings out to its full length. It pains me that I can barely feel his touch. “That one is whole.”

A captivated breath escapes loudly. I then hold it again as he crosses to the other side. He grabs the furthest end and pulls it out to its full expanse. “This one is whole as well.”

As I release the breath, wells form in my eyes pushing to burst the walls and overflow. I am so relieved. They have not cut my wings. I am not earthbound. As he picks me up again, I gaze at Cindy and Ben and see the tips of their wings. Theirs are whole too. Our wings are all safe and intact — for now.
 

- Chapter Fifteen -

I would never have thought that seeing the cold stone walls of the corridors leading to Zacharias’ room would become a welcomed sight. We are safe. After we pass through a couple of passages, Joseph carries me to the edge where a plain stone bench lines the extensive corridor. He sits me on it, and Peter does the same with Cindy.
 

Red-faced and puffing, Joseph says, “We are not the strongest of men. We are out of condition, as we haven’t done such strenuous work for so long."

Peter nods and they both bend over with their hands on their knees. Archangel Gabriel does not seem to be struggling even though Ben is much larger than us; although an angel has more strength than a fit human.
 

The coolness seeps through my bodysuit and keeps my mind alert while propped up against the wall. As my mind passes over the events from the last few days, one thing puzzles me. While looking at our rescuer, I ask, “How come you didn’t go and do the mission?”

The calmness drops from Archangel Gabriel’s face.
 

Thinking I have upset them, I say, “Not that I don’t appreciate you rescuing us. What I mean is that you can fight well, and you quickly demolished the demons in the room when you rescued us. So, how come you need us to do the mission for you?”

The cheerfulness returns to the pale face of the androgynous angel. Waving a hand superficially at me, they say, “Oh, honey. Like I have told you before, I don’t fight. I am the messenger and the peacekeeper with a creative heart, and I hate fighting. Besides, usually I am too busy running the messages, but if I have an emergency like I did with you lot, I take time out of my schedule to conduct a rescue mission. After all, I can’t lose some of the top fledglings, can I?” They smile and give a reassuring wink.
 

My contentment rises a little until my eyes fall on Cindy and Ben again. They have not opened their eyes yet, and this is concerning me.
 

“Are they okay?” I ask studying Archangel Gabriel’s face for any hint of a white lie.
 

Archangel Gabriel looks down at Ben’s face then takes him over to the solid bench and lays him down. Turning to Cindy, they place a hand on her neck and feel for her vital signs, then looks at me. “Yes, I believe they will both be alright.”

“Why have they not wakened yet? I have been awake for ages.” Concern pushes through my voice as my eyes gaze at Ben. Peter and Joseph watch us, taking in our every word, but I am not worried. Our time with them in the dining room a little while ago built a trust between us.
 

“Honey, you can heal yourself, remember?” Both of the monk’s eyes widen as they turn to me and stare.
 

My eyes flick to the archangel, and I frown.

The compassionate eyes study me. “You can heal yourself most of the time which would mean that you would wake first from unconsciousness. They are going to take a little longer unless Raphael comes back, or you recover enough to help them. I believe that you all received the same touches from the demons.”

It makes sense, but I just didn’t think of it before. My mind flicks back to the basement of the hospital, and the nightmares float to the surface. “They said that that city was their new base. We have to stop them.”

Archangel Gabriel nods. “We will do that as soon as we can. I didn’t know that, but it makes sense with how many demons were there along with the gatekeeper.”

As I think some more about the sudden arrival of Archangel Gabriel, my forehead creases. “When you arrived, you appeared out of nowhere. How did you know where to find us?”

A smile spread across our rescuers face. “You really don’t know?”

I shake my head. “Why would I?”

“You had a part in the rescue.”

My mouth drops open. “I did?”

Archangel Gabriel lets out a giggle. It was such a sweet sound after hearing the gatekeeper’s chuckle so many times. “Yes.” Their eyes pass over Ben. “I think someone needs to come clean with his talent.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

The archangel points to Ben lying unconscious. “He may be unresponsive externally, but he is well and truly alive in there. He has been communicating with me since your attack. I went to the townhouse of the human, but you weren’t there and then you were all unconscious for a couple of days.”

I stare at Ben. He is so modest about his gift. I wonder what other talents he is withholding from me.
 

Archangel Gabriel places a hand on Cindy’s forehead. “I was worried sick as to where you were. I knew Ben was alright, but that was all I knew until you woke up. Then he could relay to me what he heard you discuss. I guess it was just luck or smart thinking on your part to ask the gatekeeper exactly where you were.” A blond eyebrow rose as they gazed at me.

“Actually, I wanted to know where that place was in case we got out alive. Then we could go back and attack it and hopefully demolish it.” An itch irritated my thigh. I wriggled my fingers and attempted to lift my arm to scratch it. A smile spreads across my face as I was slowly able to raise my arm and scratch the spot.
 

Joseph calls out, “You can move your arm.” His sweet childlike face is smiling from ear to ear and joined with Peter, they are almost jumping up and down with joy. It is the most excitement I have seen in them and I laugh.

Seeing their energy return, Archangel Gabriel says, “Come on. Let’s get them to Zacharias’ room."
 

Joseph dashes forward and scoops me up as does Peter to Cindy and Archangel Gabriel to Ben. I can’t help but stare again at him lying completely unconscious, yet he had been having conversations with Archangel Gabriel. I wish I could hear his voice, but I also know every time he uses his gift it would be draining to him, especially in his condition.

The monks do not have to carry us too much further. At least this time I could wrap my arms around the back of Joseph’s neck to help a little with the weight. We enter the large room Zacharias guards. The torches have lost their flame, and the room is in complete darkness. Joseph carries me in after Gabriel. As he steps to the side in the room and he trips on something that his human eyes can’t see in the dark. Unable to stop the momentum of the fall we crash to the stone floor.
 

He drags himself up in the dark and immediately feels for me. By this stage, I have recovered enough strength to prop myself up. His hand rests on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” he mutters as he strokes my arm. “I’m so, so sorry. Are you alright?”

He is so caring that I can’t help but grin. “I’m fine Joseph. Relax. Besides my body doesn’t have much feeling at the moment.”

His voice tainted with embarrassment. “Oh, that’s right; probably a good thing then.”
 

Archangel Gabriel waves a hand and turns on the lights. I hear Peter let out a yell as the room illuminates. Curious, I turn and see Zacharias right in front of him. I chuckle quietly. It would have been a shock to see the cranky old face that looked similar to that of a horror movie right in your face when light suddenly appeared.
 

Cindy was now in Zacharias’ arms and Peter stares at him in shock. “Um, thanks.”

Zacharias grumbles. “Well, I wasn’t going to let her fall.” He places her down on the floor and studies her unconscious form.
 

Something glimmers on the floor. I gaze at the shine and see a pile of Chakram, Butterfly swords and a Roman Pugio dagger sheathed in a floral cover. It is no wonder why Joseph tripped over. Our weapons are lying in the middle of the floor. My eyes light up when I see them, especially my dagger.
I love that dagger.
 

“How did they get there?” I ask pointing to the pile.

Archangel Gabriel glances at them. “I retrieved them from the townhouse. The demons that attacked you must have been juniors and didn’t understand their significance. Or they could sense me coming and took off too quickly to grab them. I certainly wasn’t going to leave them behind.”

 
Zacharias’ eyes flick to Ben then me, the only conscious one. “I knew you were not ready to go,” he barks. I see Peter’s face cringe under the beard and moustache.
 

And he is not even the one about to get the lecture,
I think.

“They should not have gone. Their training is far from complete, and they are nowhere near ready to go against Separus.” He is almost yelling as he glares at Archangel Gabriel.
 

Archangel Gabriel stands tall placing hands on their hips. “They are capable of more than what you give them credit for.” The voice sounds unusual when spoken harshly. The crystal clear blue eyes have hardened to sapphires. “And they were the best choice that we had available for this job.”

Zacharias walks up and places his face threateningly in the face of Archangel Gabriel. “Then you nearly lost your best choice as well.” While pushing a finger harshly on the archangel’s chest, he says, “Just think about that.” He turns his back to our rescuer and crosses his arms. “What was so special about this human that had to be protected from the demons more than the others anyway?”

Archangel Gabriel gazes in my direction then back at Zacharias. “He was Aurora’s true love for three human lives.”
 

What, is my life an open book?
I think.
What else do the archangels know?
I remember the conversation with the gatekeeper and I am hit with guilt wondering if the archangels also know about my relationship with Ben.

I am snapped out of my daydreaming when Zacharias yells, “Are you serious? Then it is a bigger reason not to send them.” He points to me. “Her especially.”