“You would sacrifice yourself for another?” Michael asked cautiously, circling Gabriel slowly, his silver eyes shining as a stream of moonlight filtered into the vaults through a circular glass stained window.
“If it meant freeing Galean from his chains then yes, I would take his place before the council and take his punishment in order for him to fulfil his destiny,” Gabriel said with a lowered gaze, his superior observing him intently, his silver gaze penetrating Gabriel’s heart and mind, looking for any shadows of doubt and finding none.
“Your faith in him is great,” Michael whispered in a lowered tone as he stopped encircling Gabriel and came to stand before him with folded arms.
“I would place it in no other person but him. He does not know it yet but he is the key to saving our species,” Gabriel said, placing a hand upon his heart. “She will not survive without him, already she knows this, not fully understanding why it is in Galean that she must place all her hope and not Cael. But she knows that without him she cannot move forward, she will not be able to wield a sword or sit upon her throne without him by her side, guiding her along what will be a dark and formidable journey. He has become her cup of water and she his. If either one of them is slain by mortality then a dark and venomous shadow will fall upon all and in time we shall become dust.”
“You forget that Heiden is our God and King and that he still lives,” Michael said with a frown. “He is just as powerful.”
“And when he passes? Who shall take his place upon the throne? Heidan or Celestine?”
“Time will tell,” Michael said gravely. “But for all our sakes we must hope that it will be Celestine.”
“Then you see why I must stand in the place of Galean? Why I must take his punishment as my own?” Gabriel said with authority.
“I do.”
As both angels glared at one another they heard the sound of someone close to them and turned they gazes.
“He is here?” Theodore asked Gabriel and Michael angrily. “You allowed him to keep watch over my wife?”
“Galean is not your enemy Cael, why do you insist that he is?” Michael said coolly as Theodore found his feet and stood before them, frighteningly cross and tried.
“I am her husband!” Theodore yelled loudly. “And you speak of them both as though they were bound by marriage, they are not. I am hers and she is mine, no matter the prophecy, no matter your sordid opinions. She married me freely and without coercion. She does not belong to him, she belongs to me.”
“Cael calm down, your anger will not help matters,” Gabriel said, his eyes brimmed with warning and caution.
“He has become her cup of water and she his! Have you no respect for me? Respect for the oath she swore to me when we took our vows? Or am I some pawn in your game that needs to be taken care of?” Cael spat, his left fist thundering down upon the stone tomb he had been asleep upon, causing it to crack deeply. “The prophecy is not legitimate, if it were then she would be bound to Galean and not myself. And if you think I am the man in this prophecy then you are greatly mistaken. I do not wish for her to fall into darkness, I wish for her to embrace all that she is. That is all I have ever wanted for her.”
“You are right, not all prophecies are correct,” Michael replied calmly, raising a hand as though to order the young guardian to guard his tongue. “Celestine has indeed made her choice,” he turned to Gabriel who nodded. “And she choose you.”
“Then why are you standing here negotiating whether or not Galean should be brought back to Heaven and tried for his crimes? Would you do the same for me?” Cael implored stiffly as the sleeping angels now roused themselves from their states of slumber. Michael looked to Gabriel.
“Gabriel has offered to take his place.”
“And that makes it alright? Can we all stand in the place of other convicts?”
“Galean is needed in Meer, you know this Cael and you know why,” Gabriel said loudly, coming before the guardian and clasping his wrist tightly. “Would you watch his Kingdom fall because of your pride? Will you prove Jophiel wrong in her hopes of you?”
“Leave Jophiel out of this!” Cael replied coldly. “Am I not allowed the right in which to defend my opinions?”
“You are and do have that right,” Michael exclaimed as his golden wings spread wide, illuminating in the rays of the moon. Cael looked at both of his superiors before turning on his heel and running from the vaults, up the winding stairs to the door that led to main body of the abbey.
“Cael please think about what you plan to do!” Gabriel cried out as he followed the young man up the stairs. Cael swung open the oak door and ran into the nave of the abbey. As he came to the alter he stopped. Behind him came the footsteps of Gabriel, Michael and the rest of the guardians. Before him, Galean had Eveline in his arms, his mouth pressed against her own. Behind them the great doors of the abbey shook as they had done the last week. Outside the cries and laughs of shadows filled the abbey, they became enlivened as though they could see through the doors, observing the commotion that was taking place. Michael turned his gaze to the door and growled deep.
“Gabriel danger lurks everywhere, get Galean out of here now! And that is an order!”
Gabriel nodded and made for Cael who had now climbed over the alter railings and pulled Galean from Eveline, throwing him to the floor and taking out his sword of light.
*
Galean hit his head against the marble stone table and felt his body slide down onto the cold floor.
“Why is it that you seem to be lurking in the shadows like a parasite?” Theodore cried out, throwing back his cloak and taking out his sword of light. “She does not belong to you!”
“I wanted to ensure that she was well!” Galean replied as he forced himself to his feet, blood spilling from his head. He turned his gaze and was met with Gabriel’s. The silver wings of his ancestor were fully fledged and in one hand he held a great sword of golden light.
“Cael put away your sword now!” the angel ordered loudly as the rest of the guardians shielded the bodies of Eveline and Belle, chanting over them deeply. “I said now!”
“And will you take him into custody? Will you return him to Heiden and the council?” Theodore replied roughly, his angry eyes on Galean who had taken out two daggers.
“Cael I wish you no harm,” Galean pleaded kindly, knowing he was in the wrong. “I promise, I will not stand in the way of you or Celestine.”
“Your promises mean nothing to me now!” Cael spat as he swung his sword high in the air. Galean leapt out of the way as the sword came crashing down upon the side of the marble table.
“Cael please! Think of Belle!” Galean cried out with urgency as he quickly stepped away from the child, his hands raised in front of him, gripping the hilts of his daggers tightly.
“Why should I think of their safety and not you? You being here puts everyone in danger or are to you to high and mighty to admit to such a statement?”
“What has happened to you?” Galean asked with raised brows, blood trickling down his throat and chest. “Why have you altered so?”
“Don’t try to turn this around and blame me!” Cael laughed. “You have had your eyes on her from the moment you met her, it wasn’t good enough that she was mine, you just had to take her from me didn’t you? To prove that you are greater than me.”
“No, no that was never my intention,” Galean argued, beads of sweat falling from his forehead. Quickly he glanced over at the body of Eveline. “I’m sorry if I have caused you pain.”
“Wasn’t one wife enough for you? Why couldn’t you leave mine alone?”
“You speak as though your hands are clean from guilt old friend,” Galean said darkly as they both encircled one another. “As though your lips have been true and unyielding. Jophiel told me of your kiss, told me that you regretted leaving her.”
“And that somehow makes you the better man? I saw you kiss her!” Theodore cried out as the rain grew loud and roll of thunder
shook the abbey.
“And I am sorry that I went against you,” Galean pleaded as he wiped his brow with his arm.
“Are you sorry that you kissed her? Sorry that you infiltrated her heart, mind and soul?”
Galean stopped moving and straightened his back, lowering his hands to his side.
“For loving her I cannot be sorry,” he said clearly as a stab of lightening hit the roof. “No matter how wrong it is, no matter how it may hurt you. I am only sorry that I crossed the line and wounded you, my friend and ally.”
“We are no longer friends,” Theodore hissed coldly. “You are as much an enemy to me as is Lagar!” Theodore raised his sword and swung it low. The sound of blades meeting resounded around the abbey as both angels fought against one another.
“Galean you must leave now!” Gabriel cried out as he lifted his feet off the ground and rose within the air, his wings spread wide and his sword held out. Galean looked up into his frightening face and nodded whilst throwing Theodore off guard.
“No!” Theodore shouted, getting onto his feet and running over to Galean. As though time itself had frozen, all those who had their eyes glued on the pair of angels shook as they saw the blade enter into Galean’s side. Galean cried out as he fell, his daggers crashing against the marble floor. Theodore stood frozen as he withdrew his blade from Galean. Galean clasped onto his side and closed his eyes as the pain cascaded through him. Above them the roof began to fall away as shadows infiltrated the abbey. Theodore looked up as heavy buds of rain fell upon his face. A heavy hand roughly grabbed Theodore.
“You’d better hope that Galean does not perish this night!” Gabriel said so darkly that Theodore’s body trembled.
“Gabriel get him out of here now!” Michael exclaimed as the abbey filled with shadows that scaled the walls. A great beam of moonlight fell over the high alter as parts of the roof fell and crashed, breaking apart the table of the high alter. Gabriel threw Theodore away from him and went to Galean. As he tried to shield Galean with his wings, a shadow fell upon him and crushed him to the ground. All about them, angels and demons fought one another, blades of light meeting fire. Rain pounded the abbey and another great roll of thunder shook the dismantling abbey. Theodore ran to Eveline and threw his body over her own as another angel enveloped Belle within his wings, taking her away, his body disappearing into thin air.
*
Eveline felt her heartbeat, loud and clear resounding through her body. She had felt his kiss and had patiently awaited her body’s response as her blood began to flow and her heart began to beat again. With a loud gasp, she awoke to great drops of rain falling upon her.
“Eveline!” A cry from above cried out. Opening her eyes loosely, she found her gaze settling upon a distressed Theodore, who was shielding her body with his own.
“Theodore?” she whispered softly as she became aware of her surroundings. Theodore’s body tensed as she spoke. With wide eyes and an open mouth he looked down into her face, rain pouring from his forehead and hair onto her own face. Theodore in a moment of hazed joy, lifted Eveline’s body to his own and hugged her tightly. With her body crushed against his own, Eveline turned her gaze.
“Galean!” she cried out as Galean’s body was dragged away from Gabriel by Lagmar. Lagmar stopped and turned his face to her and simply smiled before lifting his right hand to the sky. A great streak of lightning struck the demons hand. When the lightening had faded into darkness, Lagmar struck the marble floor with the same hand with such force that the abbey split into two, forcing the heavy oak doors to fall from their hinges.
XVIII
Downfall
Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all…
Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Eveline pushed Theodore’s heavy weight off her body and swung her legs over the stone table as giant columns of grey rock fell around the angels and demons. A great roll of thunder shook the ground beneath her as she scanned the area for a weapon.
“Eveline I need to get you out of here now!” Theodore roared as flashes of white light and red light filled his vision. All about them as the abbey crumbled were angels and demons, all of whom were now heavily involved in fighting one another. Eveline turned to face her white washed husband, her eyes burning with anger.
“Not without Galean!” she said with a voice so cemented with determination that her husband looked dumfounded. Theodore gazed at her with blinking eyes, she seemed taller and more profound than ever and he in turn felt smaller and less profound. Her simple gown of ivory fell to her bare feet and her wild auburn hair played about her long body as though they it were made up of fiery embers. “Please Theodore, you must set aside your bad opinion of him and help me!” Eveline pleaded as she bent to pick up a discarded dagger.
“Celestine, leave now!” came the all omnipotent voice of Michael as he lifted the still body of Gabriel up into his arms. “Do as Theodore bids and leave at once, you are not safe here any longer.”
“I cannot let Lagmar kill Galean!” Eveline said as she raised the dagger before her, her golden eyes ablaze and bright. Beneath her gown she felt the coldness of a necklace and looked down, drawing back the material at her chest slightly. With widened eyes she caught a glimpse of the golden star and let out a strange breathe. As she placed a finger over the star she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist.
“Were leaving now like Michael has ordered!” Theodore said loudly, forcing her to follow his steps as he weaved them in between the fighting angels and demons.
“No!” Eveline begged of him. “No please Theodore, please don’t allow him to die!” Eveline felt her feet burn as Theodore dragged her away from the fractured alter towards the side door.
“Galean’s business with Lagmar is not our own,” Theodore said darkly as he turned and caught her frightened gaze. “Michael is right, if you stay here another minute longer then none of us will walk away from this fight unscathed.”
“Cael please!” Eveline said quickly, her toes curling against the marbled floor, slowing them both down. Theodore turned his head with a shake and once more guided her towards the side entrance. “I said no!” Eveline cried out so loudly that the walls of the falling abbey shook as another great streak of lightening violated the night sky. With a strength she had never before felt within her, she unclasped her hand from Theodore and swung the hilt of her dagger, the metal meeting her husband’s face. Without a sound, Theodore fell to the ground unconscious, his sword of light falling beside him. Eveline felt her body shake with disgust as blood began to flow from her husband’s ear. “Forgive me,” she whispered with trembling lips, bending down to retrieve his sword. Behind her she could hear the footsteps of a shadow racing towards her. With renewed focus she spun about and stood up, wielding both a sword of light and dagger. A shadow, whose face was as beautiful as the morning star positioned himself, a smile upon his lips as he challenged her with a look. Eveline closed her eyes briefly.
“Always remember where to place your weight when lunging at an enemy,” Galean instructed Eveline, placing a hand upon her stomach. “Bend forward just a little to give your legs strength and to shield your upper body from attack.” Eveline did as she was instructed and bent forward a little, her eyes glaring into Jophiels whose own gaze was riddled with merriment. “Now clasp your knives like this, see?” Eveline turned her gaze to Galean and watched as he took a knife and held it firmly at the hilt, his arm slightly bent in front of him.
“I see,” Eveline replied with a nod, her own hands clutching the hilts of her own knives.
“Remember, your foot work counts for everything,” Galean said as he stepped away from Eveline, giving both his friends space. “It takes most proficient men and women years to perfect their foot work. You don’t have years, your time is limited, so heed my words.”
“I am no match for my foes,” Eveline said loudly, her eyes on Jophiel. Beneath her she maneuvered her feet into position, feeling the strength in her muscles and calv
es.
“You don’t just possess the power to wield a knife Eveline, you possess magic,” Galean replied calmly. “Soon you will be able to wield both and then you will be equal to any foe.”
“Ready?” Jophiel asked with a sarcastic yawn, her lips curling into a playful smile. Without speaking, Eveline bent her back lower and spun her body about, hurling into Jophiel with force.
“That’s it!” Galean applauded as both women tried to out manoeuvre one another.
Eveline opened her eyes and looked into her opponent’s deadly red gaze and lunged at him before he could respond. She pushed her body into the centre of his own and forced his body against the grey stoned wall. As she moulded his body to the church she felt his foot connect with her shin and cried out, stepping away from the shadow quickly. As she recoiled slightly, re balancing herself once more she felt something about her throat and began to choke.
“Shadows have gifts,” Galean’s voice whispered through the inner turmoil. “Gifts that prey on their opponent’s weaknesses. Make sure to keep this in mind but do not forget that you have gifts as well, use them when needs be.”
Eveline felt her feet lift from the marble ground as the force about her throat tightened. Her head began to feel dazed and strange, her vision becoming distorted as the sound of her heartbeat filled her eardrums so much so that it pained her. As her head fell backwards and she gasped for air she felt something hot and pure rise up within her, spreading across her body, reaching the tips of her fingers and toes. She closed her eyes and found focus.
“How can I summon the magic within me in times of need?” she asked Jophiel.
“Search for it,” Jophiel replied lightly placing a hand on her friend’s heart and looking deeply into her eyes. “Know that it is within you, waiting on you to call it forward.”
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Prophecy Page 49