by Wendy Owens
Fighting through the pain Gabe regained his composure. Gabe was so close to Mammon he could now see that though he resembled a man he was in fact no man at all. His legs were more wolf like in shape and Gabe saw that he had massive fangs that hung over his thin lips. Gabe shuttered as he heard him growl.
“What is going on out here?” Mammon shouted bolting to the center of the circle. The voice had been the same terrifying one he heard coming from the tent. Seeing the scattering of armor clad Guardians, Mammon bellowed, “Kill them! Kill them all!”
Gabe watched, paralyzed with fear as Mammon raised his hands, open palm in the direction of Haim. Flames of great intensity burst forth and, try as Haim might to hold the flame at bay, the force of the heat eventually overwhelmed him. He lifted off his feet and was thrown several yards back, smoke rising from his body as he didn’t move. The demons across the camp began to let out cries of joy that made Gabe’s skin crawl.
“Mammon!” Uri shouted.
A second later, Mammon raised his hand signaling for his forces to halt. “I assume you are all here in a pathetic attempt to save your dear teacher.”
“Hand him over.” Uri commanded looking over at Michael, wondering why Gabe had not yet freed him.
“I don’t think so.” Mammon said with a smirk. “You know I am willing to release Michael and even let all of you live...”
“Somehow I doubt that.” Uri snarled.
“No, I will,” Mammon’s words dripped from his lips with a cunningness. He took a step towards Gabe’s friends “You just have to give me the protector.”
“Never!” Uri barked in reply. Gabe’s stomach sank as he realized all of this was because Mammon wanted him. He could protect all of his friends simply by giving himself up.
“Don’t be a fool!” Mammon’s voice reflected his frustration and Gabe noticed the forest suddenly grew colder. “I can offer you so much more than just your safety. I can make you the richest man alive; you can have anything you want.” Mammon bargained.
“We know all about the trappings that come with your promises of wealth Mammon. Look where that got Anthony! You will return to hell this night!” Uri shouted in a disgusted tone.
“No boy! You shall die tonight!” Mammon said once again raising his hand, the flame shooting from his palm, this time at Uri. As the intense fire came at Uri he leapt into the air and rolled to one side, barely avoiding the fire’s fury.
Watching his friends standing there, prepared to die to protect is life Gabe knew he could no longer remain hidden. Without giving it any more thought Gabe climbed over the log and riffled through the satchel, still cloaked by the invisibility spell. The idea of someone seeing the bag being rifled through didn’t even enter his mind. At the bottom of the bag Gabe caught sight of the small daggers. Frantically he reached in grabbing one and pulling it free clenched it to his chest. Now he just needed to get back to Michael and get him out of there as quick as he could.
Gabe heard Dina and Sophie mumbling words together. He looked over and saw the two of them holding hands, eyes closed as they were chanting.
“You think your binding spells will have any effect on me.” Mammon shouted, enraged. “I am one of the Seven Princes of Hell!” As he shouted these words Mammon’s voice filled the entire forest and took on an unholy and unnatural growl. Mammon waved his hand in the direction of Sophie and Dina.
The mere swipe of his hand lifted the girls off their feet and sent them flying through the air. Sophie’s body hit a nearby tree with great force and the cracking noise made Gabe’s chest ache. As her body fell to the earth with a great thud, a massive and mighty rage flared up in Gabe.
“No!” Gabe screamed standing up and reaching out in the direction of Sophie. Hearing the cry, Mammon quickly looked over in Gabe’s direction, waving his other hand in a circle Gabe watched as slowly he became visible to all.
“My, my, what do we have here?” Mammon asked snidely turning to face Gabe. “Wait a second,” Mammon added slyly. “They wouldn’t have been foolish enough to bring the protector to me, now would they?”
Uri yelled, “Run Gabe!”
Gabe clenched the dagger tight in his fist, unsure what to do. Part of him wanted to do as Uri commanded but another part of him seemed to be keeping his feet firmly planted to the earth.
“Gabe, please.” Gabe heard Sophie’s voice cry out. He looked over frantically at Sophie who had pushed herself up onto her hands. The corner of her mouth was bleeding and Gabe watched in terror as she tried to stand. His vision scanned down and he saw a bone sticking out of the lower part of Sophie’s left leg. She winced in pain and then cried out again “Please Gabe, run!”
“Shut up, you whore!” Mammon shouted turning his gaze back to Sophie and lifting his arm once again. He raised his palms and Gabe realized that, helpless to move, Sophie was about to be incinerated before his eyes.
Gabe didn’t even have time to think about what he was doing. “No!” He heard himself shout again. Gabe’s movements seemed foreign, as if someone else were controlling his body. He felt himself open the hand he had the dagger in. Everyone watched in disbelief as the dagger raised itself into the air, floating in front of him and Gabe wondered what was happening.
Mammon looked over and saw Gabe who stood hands open, staring back at him with great intensity. “Anthony already tried those silly daggers, you fool. Why do you think it was so easy to turn him? He saw I’m invincible.” Mammon goaded, a palm now raised in his direction as well as Sophie’s.
As Gabe brought his hands together in a thunderous clap, he saw a glowing red ball leave Mammon’s palm in his direction. Gabe suddenly collapsed to the ground; it felt as though his entire body had burst into flames. Everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-six
Gabe opened his eyes and quickly shielded them from the brilliant light. Remembering the fireball Mammon had shot in his direction, he wondered if this were heaven. Gabe thought of how soon he would see his parents again and hoped at least for some time he wouldn’t see Sophie. Sitting up, Gabe looked around to get a better look at heaven. He was in a room with white walls sitting in a bed with white sheets and white blankets. Gabe looked to his left where he saw Sophie laying in another bed, eyes still closed. Oh no! Gabe thought as he realized he must have been unable to save her.
“Gabe!” Uri’s voice cut through Gabe’s thought in an instant. “You’re awake.”
Panicked Gabe looked over to see Uri’s face as he quickly approached the bed, Dina and Raimie following close behind. “I failed then, I’m so sorry.” Gabe muttered.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Uri asked, a look of utter confusion on his face.
“Wait,” Gabe said realizing his assumption may have been incorrect. “We aren’t dead.”
The three began to laugh uncontrollably. “No, are you crazy?” Uri replied.
“I don’t understand, what happened?” Gabe asked looking around the room for Michael and Haim. To his right, he saw Haim perched in a bed, covered in bandages looking back at him.
“You really don’t know what happened?” Dina asked.
Gabe shook his head, completely puzzled by the sequence of events. “I remember Mammon getting ready to cast me into oblivion and then an intense heat and everything went black.”
“You sent Mammon back to hell, that’s what happened.” Raimie exclaimed.
“No.” Gabe protested, no memory of the events Raimie revealed.
“It was incredible Gabe!” Uri insisted. When you sent that dagger flying into Mammon I couldn’t believe my eyes. Of course it wasn’t before he toasted you pretty good with a fireball.”
“I can’t believe you don’t remember, Gabe,” Raimie continued. “It was incredible. The dagger lodged itself into Mammon’s side and he looked down at it, like he was shocked it could pierce his skin. Mammon looked down at the wound and all around the dagger his flesh began to glow red. It spread out from the wound in a veining pattern until eventually it
consumed his entire body.”
“Yeah,” Uri interjected, “Mammon couldn’t believe it, you should of seen his face,” the boys began to laugh. “He cried out, ‘It can’t be,’ just before his body burst into sparks. It was so awesome!”
Gabe had trouble imagining he was responsible for the heroics they spoke of and from the way they described it he wished he could have remembered it.
“Mammon’s soldiers went running scared when they saw what you had done,” Uri continued.
“What I don’t understand is how you cast a telekinesis spell without even speaking. Who taught you that?” Dina asked.
“I did what?” Gabe asked, no clue what Dina was talking about.
“There’s our hero,” Gabe heard Michael’s voice from the doorway and a comforting feeling washed over him. The group parted as the man approached. A battered and bruised face, sling over one arm and a crutch under the other. Gabe watched horrified as his new mentor hobbled towards him. “Don’t worry; it looks worse than it is.”
“Yeah,” Uri added, “This is after the healers had a hold of him for the night. You should have seen him when we first got back.” Michael looked at Uri disapprovingly and he quickly fell silent.
“Well, I guess first I should say thank you.” Michael began. “I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if you hadn’t come. You really were a hero yesterday. I am not even sure how you... It’s not important.” He continued. “What is important is that you know how much you have come to mean to us.”
Gabe felt his cheeks go hot and wandered how badly he was blushing. “With that being said, Gabe I have spoken to Uri. He is ready to take you back when you are ready.”
“Sir?” Gabe asked alarmed. He felt the blood draining from his face as quickly as it had just rushed there.
“It has been a week, Gabe.” Michael explained. “I told you when you came, we made arrangements for a week and then you could go home.” The entire room fell silent and stared at Michael and Gabe.
“But you said I had a choice,” Gabe protested.
“Well,” Michael continued. “The choice is yours; but with Mammon gone, it is safe to return to New York, if you want. Of course I know we would love if you stayed on here with us.”
“Yeah, Gabe!” Uri exclaimed. The rest of the group joined in with their show of support and desires for him to stay.
“Will you stay, Gabe?” Dina asked in her small voice.
Gabe looked around at his group of new friends and then up at Michael. “Sir,” Gabe said with a quiet voice. “I can honestly tell you this is the first time I have felt like I have a home since I lost my parents. I want to stay.”
“Oh, Gabe, that makes me so happy.” Michael said patting Gabe’s leg vigorously. The room erupted in cheering, everyone expressing how thrilled they were that Gabe had decided to stay.
“What’s going on?” Sophie moaned in a groggy voice, the commotion waking her.
“Oh no, we woke Sophie.” Dina said.
“Gabe, he’s staying.” Uri explained.
“Well, I knew that.” Sophie said with a confused look on her face about the news.
“Of course you did.” Uri said elbowing Raimie and sending a wink in the direction of Gabe. The room once again erupted in laughter. Gabe watched his new friends laughing and talking to one another. Gabe thought about Mammon and all the new dangers he would face by staying. Looking over at Sophie who simply smiled at him, he had a strong feeling he was making the right decision.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Gabe hobbled in the direction of his room. After two days in the infirmary he was looking forward to a night in his own bed. Gabe thought about how weird it was to think about his room actually being his permanently. He had not had a home in so long it had become easier for him to just accept it would never happen. Now here he was, surrounded by people who loved him, a home and a family all in one stroke of fate.
Gabe thought about Sophie, her hair, her lips, her strength. Everything about her seemed to excite him and now that Mammon was gone he was excited to see where their relationship would lead. Michael had also told Gabe he would be tested at the end of the summer and as long as he passed he would be enter third year with most of his friends. Part of him wished Uri was still a third year but he supposed it was good to have someone who had already experienced the tests on his side.
Gabe opened his door and walked in slowly. He watched his breath form a cloud as it left his lips. He was amazed at how cold the room had grown with just a couple days of being empty without a fire. Looking in the direction of the fireplace he saw someone had placed a fresh bundle in the opening for him. Gabe took a few steps towards the fireplace but when he had crossed the room to the halfway point, he was startled by his door slamming shut behind him.
Gasping Gabe turned and stared at the door but nobody was there. A second later he heard a whooshing noise and a bright hot light flare up behind him. Gabe turned and saw a huge fire bursting forth from the fireplace. Gabe looked around frantically for who or what might be in the room with him but still saw nothing. Though the fire was large and raging by this point, Gabe still felt an overwhelming cold in the room.
“Sssit,” Gabe heard a voice hiss but could not locate the source. As he searched for the source he saw one of the chairs turn and face him, it was empty. Without warning, a powerful force began pulling him towards the chair. Gabe resisted but ultimately it dragged him and forced him into the chair. Gabe struggled to move and get up from the chair but he could not. The chair spun and faced the flames, the heat at last touching his skin. Gabe squinted, overwhelmed by the fire’s intensity.
When Gabe opened his eyes he heard a thunderous croaking noise surrounding him. Looking around Gabe saw hundreds of toads that had not been in the room just a moment before. They were all staring at him, watching him as their throats bloated repeatedly. Gabe closed his eyes tightly, the noise of the toads fading away. Gabe peered at the room again through squinted eyes and they were gone, the fire had returned to a normal size. Gabe sighed in relief.
“Hello, Gabe,” A chilling voice came from directly across from him. Gabe saw a man sitting in the other chair. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit that had a faint hint of a pinstripe. His legs were crossed tightly and as he leaned back in the chair, staring at Gabe his jacket fell open and Gabe saw a vest underneath. His shoes were clean and Gabe thought they looked as though they had just been shined. He wore a pinky ring of a silver skull, its eyes red rubies. The man was small in stature but very handsome. As he looked at Gabe a grin was on his face. His hair was dark, neat and slicked back with just a sliver falling to the middle of his forehead.
“Who are you?” Gabe managed to say at last, realizing he was still confined to the chair.
“I have a lot of names,” the man said not looking away from Gabe.
“Well, do you care to share one with me?” Gabe asked, trying not to reveal he was panicked. The man’s smile grew but he said nothing, just stared.
“How did you get in here?” Gabe asked, debating on if he should scream.
The man leaned forward, coming to rest just a foot in front of Gabe’s face, “Just wanted to see the great protector before I destroyed him.” Without another word, Gabe saw the man’s eyes flicker with an intense red and suddenly his skin began to crack and tear away, revealing glimpses of a gray dead skin beneath his disguise. Gabe clenched his eyes tightly shut and began screaming.
“Help! Someone help me!” Gabe yelled. Hoping Michael or his friends would hear his pleads and come to his rescue.
“Gabe!” Sophie cried shaking Gabe wildly. “Gabe, wake up!” Sophie shook Gabe until at last he opened his eyes. He sat up startled to see the sterile white walls all around and Sophie staring back at him. Gabe looking around frantically realized it hadn’t been real, just a dream.
“Gabe, are you OK?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah, just a crazy dream.” Gabe replied, still trying to catch his breath.
“Oh no, Mammon?” Sophie asked.
“No,” Gabe laughed a little at what he was about to say. “About toads.” He continued to laugh lightly as Sophie fell silent and turned to stare at him. She jumped to her feet and rushed into the hallway. “Sophie,” Gabe called after her. “Where are you going?”
“Michael!” Sophie called down the hallway. He heard some voices calling back to her. “Get Michael, quickly.” She replied.
“Sophie!” Gabe yelled, starting to feel panicked. “What’s going on?”
“Wait a minute, Gabe,” Sophie replied still in the hallway.
“I don’t understand.” Gabe insisted. “Is something wrong?”
“Michael, hurry,” Sophie called down the hallway and motioning for their beloved teacher to make haste.
“What is it Sophie?” Michael called after her, clearly unsettle by her urgency.
“Michael, you have to hear what Gabe has to say.” Sophie replied.
Michael slid to a halt in the doorway and the two rushed to Gabe’s side. “What is it Gabe?” Michael asked.
“Tell him what you told me.” Sophie explained.
“What? About the toads?” Gabe asked, utterly confused.
“Toads?” Michael asked.
“Yes, he woke up in a total panic, Michael.” Sophie said not looking away from Gabe. She grabbed Gabe’s hand and held it tight. “Gabe, tell Michael all about your dream.”
Gabe recounted the entire thing to Michael, not leaving out a single detail; the cold room, the fire, the man, what he looked like, that he said he was going to kill him.
As Gabe finished his story Michael looked up at Sophie and simply said “Baal.”
“That’s what I thought when he said toads.” Sophie replied.