by Wendy Owens
Gabe watched his mother intensely, he listened to her soft words as they called out for his dad to come and join them. Gabe felt enchanted by the two, as he watched his father run up and scoop his mother into his strong arms. Her squeal of joy made Gabe’s heart ache with longing. He found himself laughing as he watched his parents race down to where the tides encroached on the shore. His father spun his mother around in circles, Gabe sighed as their memory faded into the water.
A second later, the last memory of his parents flashed through his head. The gunshots, the sound of his mother falling to the ground, his father leaping in an unsuccessful attempt protect her, the blood, the sadness and emptiness as he saw the life leave their eyes. “No!” Gabe cried out with all his power, trying to shake the memory from his mind. He ran down the beach, the sand kicking up wildly behind him. No matter how fast he ran though, he couldn’t escape what had made him who he was, the tragedy of his parent's deaths.
Just a week ago he knew his plight in life, he was an orphan that nobody wanted, unlucky and doomed to go through life alone. It wasn’t much of a life but it was his, and he understood it. Now he had come to Rampart Manor, met all these amazing people and they seemed to really care for him. The thought of this possible new family being ripped from him was too much. The loss of his parents had nearly destroyed him. Here he was developing relationships that could bring him the same pain if he lost them. Gabe was frustrated he had let himself ignore his rule that he never to allow himself to grow close to anyone. It was not only for their sake but for his as well.
Gabe could not ignore the truth that he had discovered amazing things about himself this week, abilities he never thought he could be capable of. He had met Sophie, a girl so beautiful she made Gabe’s heart race every time she came near.
What was even more amazing was that she seemed to have feelings for him as well. In just a week he could not say it was love, but he knew it was something exciting he wanted to explore more. He opened his eyes and tossed the seashells as hard as he could. His head was swirling with all the conflicting emotions.
With his next step, Gabe heard a rustling in the tree line behind the beach. He looked over but saw nothing. As if by reflex, Gabe instantly grabbed the locket around his neck and played with it for a moment. Still, he saw nothing and heard nothing so he meandered on down the beach.
Gabe regretted being so hard on Sophie back in his room. He hadn't even give her a chance to explain. Oh how he wished he had! He stopped on the beach. Looking out at the water, he decided he needed to go back and discuss things with her. He owed her that. Gabe turned back towards the manor. As he did, he felt terrible sharp pains in his stomach. He clutched at the pains while doubling over. A moment later, he fell to his knees in agony. The initial wave of pain rolled away. Gabe realized his palms were sweaty. A tingle ran down his spine. Gabe was filled once again with that all too familiar dread.
Knowing danger must be near. Gabe frantically searched for the source when he saw the trees rustling. Not just a couple bushes, there was a length of about twenty yards where the trees and leaves were shaking as if there were an earthquake beneath them.
Gabe watched in horror, helpless to prevent what was coming for him. Just as suddenly as it began, the shaking of the leaves ceased. He continued to watch, still on his knees, moaning in pain as a single man emerged from the trees. The sweat on Gabe’s brow dripped into his eyes. Using his sand covered hands, he did his best to wipe it away to try to see the man that approached him.
When at last the man reached the edge of the beach, Gabe was able to make out the blurred figure through stinging eyes.
“Anthony,” he whispered, confused.
Gabe thought about his visions of Uri. He wished he had asked the Oracle more about him and what Uri was trying to tell him. Gabe felt ashamed that he had been so focused on finding out about his own future he hadn’t given anything else much thought.
“So, the great Gabe Harwood actually remembers me,” Anthony said with venom dripping from his tongue as he walked closer to Gabe, coming to stand directly in front of him.
“I saw you in Michael’s office, the night you were attacked.” Gabe explained, his stomach still aching.
“Yes, attacked.” Anthony replied looking down at the sand. Gabe watched his eyebrows narrow as if he were angry.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Gabe asked reaching a hand out to touch Anthony’s arm.
Anthony pulled away before Gabe could touch him. He glared over at Gabe and barked, “You are so naive boy. You need to learn that everyone lies if it suits their needs. Even your precious Michael.”
“Anthony, I don’t understand. What are you…?” Gabe stopped, grabbing his abdomen tightly in an effort to comfort himself.
“Please, I wouldn’t say I was simply attacked, more like I was sent out to be slaughtered.” Anthony shouted.
“What do you mean?” Gabe moaned.
“Oh, Gabe, you of all people should know what I’m talking about,” Anthony said looking down into his eyes. Gabe turned away trying not to meet Anthony’s gaze. “Come on, think about it. Michael sits in his comfortable chambers and commands the rest of us to put ourselves in danger, knowing full well he is handing many of us a death sentence. He even asks you to lay your life down for his cause. I guess in your case he didn’t even share the truth with you, so he was willing to send you into a blind slaughter.” As the words spilled out of Anthony’s mouth, his lips curved into a sinister sneer.
“Michael told me it was my choice,” Gabe defended the man that just hours ago he was infuriated with.
“Some choice,” Anthony scoffed. “He tells you the salvation of the world is on your shoulders but it’s all a lie.”
“What do you mean a lie?” Gabe asked, a huge part of him not even wanting Anthony to answer his question.
“There is no future.” Anthony explained. “Michael’s God has already said all will perish and the earth will eventually be turned over to the creatures of hell. What’s the point?” Anthony said throwing his arms up at his surroundings. “We lay down our lives when no matter what we do the results are the same.”
“But why?” Gabe asked, confused, his hands now dripping with sweat.
“Because Michael is a self-righteous bastard who only cares about himself and his precious mission,” Anthony said, almost growling.
“But why be angry at Michael?” Gabe began, taking a ragged breath. “Mammon was the one who tried to kill you.”
“Gabe, you really don’t get it, do you? What Mammon did was to finally help me see the truth I had been blind to all this time. He offered me more than Michael ever did, a future free of fighting these pointless battles. Mammon offered me a chance to live out my days wealthy, happy, and free of Michael’s manipulation.” Anthony’s hands closed into tight fists as he spoke.
Gabe recalled that the Oracle had said Anthony was faced with a choice. “Anthony, please, I understand. I even considered going home after I discovered the truth, but Mammon is evil, causes harm. You have to see that.”
“Oh, I am seeing more clearly than ever, Gabe!” Anthony yelled. “Maybe you should think about where you stand. In the end, will your life mean anything? Just another pointless death in a long line of Michael’s martyrs?”
“Even if you don’t agree with Michael, you can’t want to help Mammon hurt people, Anthony.” Gabe pleaded.
Anthony was clearly agitated by their conversation as he began to shift in the sand. “I loved Michael like a brother and he sent me to my death. Don’t talk to me about hurting innocent people.” Anthony said as he lifted his hand in the air. Gabe looked up at him baffled. The leaves started to shake again as he watched Anthony in horror.
Gabe quickly looked over to the trees, terrified by what was unfolding before him. As he watched, he again felt those sharp pains in his stomach. When he finally managed to look up again, what he saw was much worse than anything he had imagined.
Al
l along the tree lines were figures, contorted, twisted, gray creatures crawling towards him. Their bodies looked like a thin layer of muscle and skin had been stretched over skeletons. Some of them he could see inside their rib cages. Their eyes were hollowed out and there were simply black pits inside.
Gabe had never seen anything like it. As they continued coming towards him, more emerged from the trees who were riding on the backs of enormous black beasts covered in scales with heads that resembled rhinoceros’. They looked like oversized lizards, larger than the largest horse he had ever seen. They flicked their tongues as they walked. Gabe shivered in disgust at the site of them.
“What are you doing, Anthony?”
“I’m creating my own destiny Gabe, something you should think about doing.” Anthony replied.
“Anthony, Mammon is the Prince of Greed, he is just manipulating you. Please don’t do this,” Gabe begged.
“Mammon makes no pretenses about his agenda; at least I know who I am getting in bed with. It’s Michael and all his fairy tales that’s the real manipulation,” Anthony spat. “Come forth, Master.”
Listening to the words leave Anthony’s mouth Gabe could feel his breathing stop. He looked over at the tree line in horror as a towering figure emerged. Gabe squinted as the monstrosity came closer. The beast had a gigantic body that had a similar appearance of a man, its chest was broad and covered with more muscles than Gabe thought possible for one creature to poses. He looked up at the creature’s head and for a moment though it may be that of a man. As it came closer though he realized its face was more wolf like, a mane of salt and pepper hair flowed behind it.
“Gabe, it’s time for you to meet Mammon,” Anthony’s words were twisted and full of hate.
As the creature bounded across the grassy clearing the earth shook. Gabe thought of Michael and wished he were there. Michael would know what to do. Without thinking Gabe grabbed the locket around his neck, closed his eyes in fear and as Michael’s face flashed in his mind muttered what he assumed would be his last words, “Oh God.”
A huge wind began to blow in off the water and eerie grey clouds gathered and swirled over the beach. There was a rumbling in the heavens as though the skies were angry and were about to spat all of their rage onto the earth. Fear overwhelmed Gabe as he realized he was repeatedly mumbling, “Oh God, Oh God, Oh God,” while holding onto the locket, studying the stone intensely with his fingertips. Without warning, a huge bolt of lightning came down from the sky and hit the beach only a few feet away. Gabe flinched from the sparks that were flying behind him.
After the sparks cleared Gabe looked over to where the lightening had struck. The sand was beginning to swirl into a cyclone and he feared what else was about to be unleashed upon him. He tucked himself into a fetal position and began counting madly in his head. With his eyes closed tightly his counting turned into praying, something unfamiliar to Gabe.
Behind him, Gabe heard a voice cry out in a bold tone ‘Pius Perculsus’ followed by a huge crash, as if something large had hit the earth with great force. The ground beneath Gabe began to shake violently as he felt a powerful wave of energy hit his back and push him further into the sand.
“No, it can’t be!” Gabe heard Anthony cry out as the sounds of a stampede on the beach filled his ears. Finally Gabe managed to pull his head up and through squinted eyes he saw the twisted demonic figures and their master bounding towards him at full speed, Mammon leading the charge.
Gabe quickly looked up at Anthony just in time to see him raise a sword he had hidden beneath his robes above his head, prepared to bring it down onto Gabe’s torso with all his might. A moment later, just before Anthony unleashed his energy, he heard the strong voice behind him again. It bellowed ‘Cinis Cineris’. Anthony released one hand from the sword and reached out his hands in protest at the man behind Gabe but before he could even speak, his skin turned a light gray color. Another gust of wind came and Gabe watched as what had been Anthony became a swirling pile of ash.
“We have to go, now!” Gabe heard Uri’s familiar voice as a set of strong arms wrapped around him. A moment later he heard the large unknown voice command ‘Concedo Ianus’. A great blue light encompassed them and the sound of a large electrical shock consumed Gabe’s head. A moment later they were in Michael’s office.
Gabe felt as though his skull were cracking open. Uri carried him to the couch in front of the fireplace and laid him down. “Gabe, are you OK?” Uri pleaded.
Gabe tried to focus on the figure before him, the encroaching darkness threatening his consciousness. “Uri?” Gabe managed a weakened whisper and then quickly relented. A moment later the darkness consumed him and Gabe was unconscious.
Chapter Eighteen
Gabe opened his eyes, slowly letting the dim light in. He grasped his aching head, letting out a painful moan. A moment later he heard Sophie’s sweet voice, “Everyone, Gabe’s awake!”
Sophie grabbed Gabe’s hand and pulled it up to her lips, kissing it repeatedly. As she replaced his hand to his side, a moment later Gabe heard the sound of water being wrung from a cloth. Sophie carefully folded the moistened cool towel and placed it across his forehead. She then scooped his hand back into hers, holding it tightly as she rested next to him on her knees. Her tenderness made his chest ache with regret. He tried to sit up but the ache in his head caused him to collapse back onto the bed, depleted.
“Don’t try to move,” she explained. “Transporting is hard on even the most experienced of Guardians.”
“Sophie, I’m so sorry. The things I said, I was…” Once Gabe heard her voice, all he could think about was how terribly he had treated her before he left.
“Gabe, stop, please” Sophie insisted placing a finger on his lips to hush him. “We don’t have to talk about any of that.”
The tension between Sophie and Gabe over their relationship had completely disappeared. Gabe thought about how a near death experience makes you realize what is important in life. He assumed Sophie was feeling the same way.
“So our boy is awake?” Gabe heard Michael’s soft voice behind him. Gabe shifted in an effort to see him but as the pain overwhelmed him again, he fell back onto the bed with a wince. “Rest Gabe, you deserve it!” Michael continued. “You know you gave us all quite a scare.”
“Uri,” Gabe gasped, remembering the beach. “Where’s Uri?”
“Don’t worry,” Sophie said placing a hand on Gabe’s chest, trying to calm him.
“He’s fine. He went to his chambers to rest.” Michael added. “Transportation is really hard on the body of a Guardian as young as the two of you. I wouldn’t have but it was necessary.”
“I’m sorry,” Gabe said, filling up with feelings of guilt for creating a situation that put Uri and Michael in danger. Michael? He thought. Michael had said he didn’t want to cast transportation but he had to. Gabe realized Michael had been the voice behind him on the beach that he couldn’t recognize.
Michael walked around to face Gabe. “Don’t be silly, we are just happy you are here and safe. Sophie said you were very upset when you left.”
“You were the one on the beach!” Gabe exclaimed.
Michael nodded, a sad look flashing across his face.
“How did you know? ” Gabe asked in disbelief.
“The locket,” Michael replied. “I cast a protection spell on it. You activated the summoning.”
“But I didn’t.” Gabe insisted as he reached for the locket. He felt around and realized the locket was gone.
“You must have, dear boy,” Michael added. “I’ve returned the necklace to my office for safe keeping. Now you need to rest.” Without another word, Michael turned and with his head hung low, his smile quickly faded. Michael exited the room, a cloud of desperation around him.
Gabe thought about the excitement on the beach. He had never been so scared. “Anthony,” The name slipped out from Gabe’s lips. He remembered the spell and then Anthony being turned to ash. “He was going
to deliver us all to Mammon,” Gabe said in a panicked voice as everything came rushing back to him.
Sophie glanced over to the door where Michael had just exited. “I know, Uri told me what happened. I guess they knew.”
“What do you mean they knew?” Gabe asked, trying to make sense of everything between the pounding noises in his head.
“Uri said when they spoke to the Oracle at Iron Gate she warned them about Anthony and Mammon. Uri said he tried to warn you, he wasn’t sure if you…” Sophie began.
“The visions!” Gabe exclaimed.
“Yeah. Uri said Michael kept insisting Anthony would never betray us; that the Oracle must have it wrong. I’ve never seen Michael like this; he acts like he is alright but…” Sophie stopped, not sure how to even formulate her thoughts into words.
“Sophie, he was willing to deliver me into Mammon’s hands,” Gabe said disgusted.
“You don’t understand,” Sophie insisted. “Anthony was like a brother to Michael. They have been fighting this fight side by side since the civil war. They were like brothers.” Gabe thought how weird it sounded when Sophie mentioned the civil war; he still had trouble imagining living so long.
“I didn’t even know it was Michael on the beach.” Gabe whispered, replaying the scene in his head.
“Uri said Michael didn’t hesitate. When he saw you were in danger, he just reacted.” Sophie’s tale of heroism made Gabe’s stomach twist. The idea of someone loving him so much that they would kill for him was something Gabe had trouble wrapping his mind around.
“Gabe,” Sophie continued, her tone changing, becoming heavier and smothered in regret. “I want you to know I wasn’t trying to purposefully hide anything from you. I honestly thought Michael had told you.”