Inception

by Teal Haviland

  Gabrielle smiled and put her hand on Phalen’s shoulder without taking her eyes off the half-demon. She suddenly wanted to know more about his parents, sensing he was more of a threat than anyone thought.

  “Yes, Ka’awa, I would be quite entertained by that, myself.” Gabrielle felt Phalen’s body return to a more relaxed position under her hand. “This is not the time for games, however.”

  “Of course, Gabrielle. How, exactly, can I be of assistance to The Angel of Karma?”

  “I bet you already have that answer, Ka’awa.”

  He smiled larger and chuckled. Both were unfriendly.

  “Ahh … I see my reputation reaches even the loftiness of Heaven.”

  “It is known.”

  “Well, I will try to stay out of my normal habit of riddles and games … for you,” Ka’awa stated in the most believable tone that Gabrielle thought he was capable of, though she knew it was far from the reality of his true intentions. Seeming to know he hadn’t fooled her, he chuckled and winked again, this time at her. “I believe you are looking for a certain book. Is that correct?”

  “It is.”

  “Yes, the Book of Barabbadon. It seems it’s a very popular artifact as of late. Many have come to me to find out the location of its resting place.”

  “And what have you told the others?”

  “The same thing I will tell you.”

  Ka’awa paused for what Gabrielle suspected was dramatic effect, though she wondered if he was accustomed to some form of payment at this point in return for the information he was about to divulge. Gabrielle simply raised her brow. She had no patience for his games, and even if Ka’awa thought he could defeat her, he seemed to think twice about testing his theory.

  What stories had he heard about my powers and abilities?

  He nodded his head once and continued. “I’ve told everyone that if I knew where it was, I would have already retrieved it myself.”

  She had figured as much, but there was something in his eyes, a quick flicker, that he was holding back.

  Why had he remained in this city for hundreds of years? It’s near one of the Gates of Hell, but there are many of those.

  Ka’awa’s attention was diverted toward the sound of jumbled conversations and laughter that spilled into the alley when a back door to a bar opened. Gabrielle followed his gaze. As the door closed, Gabrielle recognized the female demon who stood in the doorway and locked eyes with her.

  “Mara …” Gabrielle said absently. “Interesting.”

  “Yes,” Ka’awa responded without looking away from Mara. “Interesting. It would seem that I am a popular … artifact this evening. If we are done here, Gabrielle, I have other matters to attend.”

  “Thank you for seeing me.”

  “Oh, it was my … pleasure, Gabrielle.” He kept his attention on Mara but continued to speak. “Sorry I wasn’t able to spend more time getting to know you, Phalen. But there will be other times for that in the future.”

  “Great,” Phalen said under her breath. “I can’t wait, creepy dude.”

  Gabrielle smiled but continued to watch Mara.

  Phalen seemed just as interested in the female demon. ‘What do you suppose she’s up to, sister?’

  ‘Hmm?’ Gabrielle pulled herself back from her wonderings. “I don’t know, but I sure would like to.’

  “I’m sure you would,” Ka’awa responded, even though she hadn’t been speaking aloud, “and, I could tell you, but I won’t.”

  Gabrielle felt jealousy creep into her as she remembered Mara pawing Lucas, wondering how far their relationship had actually gone. She didn’t like to think about him being intimate with her.

  “I need to talk to you,” Mara said to Ka’awa, keeping her eyes on Gabrielle.

  “I know. I’ve known for quite some time that you were trying to find me. It certainly took you long enough. You’re not very resourceful, are you?” he asked with a cruel smirk.

  Gabrielle wondered what he knew about Mara.

  “Unless, of course,” Ka’awa continued, “you have someone else helping you. Can’t you do anything without your friend?”

  Gabrielle could see Mara’s jaw clench as she glared at Ka’awa.

  “Aww … did the truth sting, Mara?” he asked smugly.

  “Maybe,” Mara said, “that’s what I want you,” Mara looked back at Gabrielle, “and others to think.”

  There was little doubt, even with the limited time she had to observe them, that there were no warm fuzzies between these two. No loyalty among the Fallen, I guess.

  “No, Gabrielle,” he responded to her thought. “There isn’t.”

  Gabrielle looked at Ka’awa and made a note to block her thoughts better around him. Apparently, being a Seer wasn’t the only thing he’d inherited from his parents. He also had quite a knack for mind-reading.

  He smiled as though he heard that, too.

  Gabrielle continued to study Mara. She hadn’t been around her long enough to really look at her, to read her for a sense of something—anything—that might give her a clue about why Mara seemed so interested in Lucas. As the seconds passed, the tension grew. Mara seemed over-reactive, her eyes flicking at even the slightest movement from Gabrielle or Phalen.

  She’s ready for a confrontation; that much is clear. And I would love to give it to her.

  “That would be entertaining,” Ka’awa chimed in.

  It isn’t likely to happen here, Ka’awa, so don’t get your hopes up.

  After that, Gabrielle ignored him. But he gave an exaggerated pout to show he heard her anyway. She wasn’t worried for herself if a fight broke out, but she wanted to make sure that Phalen wouldn’t be harmed if the edgy demon misread a movement and decided to attack. And she didn’t want Ka’awa to jump in, either.

  She was about to try to ease Mara’s mind and leave when Phalen made a move toward Mara. In response, Mara immediately called up a Dither Sword.

  “Whoa! Easy, little she-demon. I come in peace … well, with a piece of gum, that is.”

  Gabrielle had a hard time keeping her laughter contained.

  Mara looked at Gabrielle with a confused expression and must have seen the amusement that she was trying to keep in. She straightened her body, and the Dither Sword vanished. She scowled at Phalen for a long moment, head slightly cocked.

  “You mean I have to introduce yet another poor soul—well, not in your case, you’re soulless—to grape bliss?”

  Mara’s expression turned to a mixture of agitation and confusion.

  Phalen cracked a broad smile and handed a piece to her.

  “Seriously, try it. It will make you feel better. And you look like you need to feel better.”

  Mara looked at both Ka’awa and Gabrielle before she cautiously took the gum from Phalen’s hand, chewing it slowly as she scrutinized Phalen.

  “Anyway,” Gabrielle interrupted the lingering silence, “we have things to do.” Gabrielle nodded to Ka’awa. “Mara,” she said as both a hello and goodbye in a particularly unfriendly tone.

  Mara nodded once in response, returning her gaze to Phalen as soon as she did. Gabrielle saw Phalen blow a bubble, then suck it into her mouth. One of the biggest smiles moved across her face as soon as the gum was back behind her lips and she could resume chewing. Again, Gabrielle had to keep her laughter contained. As they made their way back out of the alley, Phalen looked over her shoulder at the two demons.

  “I think Mara liked me, sister. This bubblegum is a great ice-breaker, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, sure. Just don’t try to use it as a peace offering in any actual battles.”

  “I’ll be too busy kicking demon butt to offer gum.”

  “I would love to know what Mara is up to, and what it has to do with Lucas.”

  “You sure it does have something to do with him?

  Gabrielle thought before answering. “No, I’m not, and I’m not going to find out tonight. So,” Gabrielle hooked her arm around Phalen’s
, “let’s get back. I want to get tonight’s work over with so we can get to the next stop of the evening.”

  Phalen’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Fantastic! Where are we going after you finish the karma bit, anyway?” She blew a purple mass out of her mouth.

  Gabrielle poked it with her finger, popping it. It covered the entire bottom half of Phalen’s face. Gabrielle received a smile and a hard thump on her arm in return.

  “Okay.” Phalen began pulling gum off her chin. “Seriously, where we going?”

  Gabrielle was looking forward to what she had planned. She had a surprise waiting for Phalen. One that Gabrielle felt the young angel would be particularly happy about.

  “You’ll see.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  GABRIELLE ~ CHANGES

  “Sheridan,” Gabrielle said when arriving with Phalen from New Orleans and their visit with Ka’awa.

  “Gabrielle,” Sheridan said in an icy tone.

  “Do you have the orders from Yahuwah ready for me?” Gabrielle asked with indifference.

  Phalen was quick to escape while she could by picking up Gabrielle’s iPod. Gabrielle didn’t need exceptional hearing to notice the volume going as high as it could. She smiled as Phalen made her way toward the library—dancing and singing.

  “Of course,” Sheridan responded after Phalen was out of sight and handed Gabrielle one simple piece of blank paper. As soon as Gabrielle’s energy was recognized, names and instructions began to appear, as well as notable past actions that should be taken into account. It was as if the words were just shy at someone’s touch who wasn’t its master. Only The Angel of Karma was allowed to see the details before giving the orders to her troops—a way of making sure that no one could be warned or protected by those in Darkness and Shadows, should the document fall into the wrong hands.

  The punishments or rewards were meant to encourage humans to want to do—to be—good. Darkness, of course, would love to stop them from being carried out which was the reason for the secrecy and the reason decisions were made, and instructions given, quickly.

  As soon as Gabrielle gave orders for the first page of names, the writing disappeared in ghostly wisps as more names and details replaced them. Gabrielle went through all the names and gave her orders, then dismissed Sheridan.

  Before Sheridan left, though, she turned and faced her superior with a defiant posture.

  “Gabrielle.”

  “Yes.”

  “You say you don’t care what is said about your decision to be here. But I feel you should know that there are rumors being spread that concern your … activities here,” Contempt edged into Sheridan’s icy tone.

  “Do you?” Gabrielle maintained indifference.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Gabrielle rematerialized closer to Sheridan. Sheridan tensed, but it didn’t stop her from continuing to speak her mind.

  “I don’t want to see you do something that might jeopardize your position. And—”

  “Oh—” Gabrielle couldn’t help but laugh, “on the contrary, Sheridan, I believe you would love to see that happen.”

  Sheridan’s hands almost smacked together as she clasped them, resting them against her body, then bowed her head slightly.

  The reaction was surely from the change in Gabrielle’s color that she allowed to come through her human form. Anger showed quickly on her if she let it, and she was in no mood for Sheridan tonight.

  “Sheridan, I have far more important things to do than deal with an angel who has been waiting for her chance to step into my position for as long as she’s been the second in command to that position. And, don’t lie to me. You and I both know that you would be the first to offer my wings up to Council. You would probably volunteer to strip them from my back.”

  Sheridan’s energy trembled. Gabrielle’s color was almost aflame in red now, matching her words and tone. In all the years they’d worked together, Gabrielle had never talked to Sheridan that way or shown an indication of the power she was capable of around her. Sheridan was clearly not anticipating the show of supremacy she’d just witnessed. There were few angels with the power and energy to create the amount of color Gabrielle just showed, far fewer with the courage to turn it on their brethren.

  “Are you finished?” Gabrielle asked, adopting a tone of indifference. Though, she knew her hue completely contradicted it.

  “Yes,” Sheridan responded in a much quieter, more subordinate manner.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Gabrielle watched as Sheridan vanished, taking a deep breath and sighing loudly when she was gone. She shouldn’t have trouble from her again anytime soon, at least not directly. Now, there was a bigger problem that could result from their confrontation.

  The trouble Sheridan may want to cause indirectly.

  “Are you ready, Phalen?” Gabrielle asked as she entered the library. Phalen sat on the sofa reading a book, her foot keeping time with the beat of the song she was listening to.

  “Sure.” Phalen stood and turned, stopping as her gaze landed on Gabrielle. “Wow … what got that color all pumped up?”

  Gabrielle hadn’t given herself time to calm down. She was still mad as hell. “Just some long overdue words for Sheridan.”

  “Oh, Gabrielle! Couldn’t you have let me know so I could see her crumble?” she asked with a huge grin. “I agree with Grayson; she’s shifty.”

  Gabrielle felt her mood lighten although she didn’t think her normal color would be returning for a while. “Sorry, but that wasn’t something I would have wanted you to see.”

  “That intense, huh?”

  “Yeah, at least I think Sheridan would say so. But let’s change the subject, okay?”

  “No problem.”

  “Let’s go, then. I’m ready to lighten my mood.”

  Gabrielle and Phalen manifested at the top of the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Grayson and Rissie immediately greeted them.

  “Grayson!” Phalen yelled in happy surprise as she flung her arms around him.

  Gabrielle laughed happily that she’d gotten the reaction out of Phalen she’d hoped for.

  “Hello, Lady Phalen! What a nice greeting ye gave me.” He smiled at her as he put her down, then made his way to Gabrielle. “M’lady … what a pleasure to see ye again so soon. I’m so glad I was able to give ye somethin’ toward yer search.” Grayson paused, studying her. His smile grew. “But I’m even happier that whatever made yer heart heavy seems to have taken its leave of ye in just a few short weeks.” He gave her a massive hug.

  If I could pick a true brother, Grayson, it would be you.

  “Aw,” Phalen said from where Grayson had put her down. “That was so sweet, sister.”

  “What was, Lady Phalen?” Grayson asked as he released Gabrielle.

  “Should I tell him, or do you want to?”

  Gabrielle laughed. “I was thinking that if I could pick a brother, the kind a human has, it would be you, and Phalen heard me.”

  “Oh, m’lady, ye should just consider me picked, then.” He hugged her again even tighter.

  As he did, her color returned to normal. Her heart was so full that her eyes began to tear up. “Okay,” she said as she pulled back from Grayson and popped him playfully on his arm. “Enough of that. I have a reputation to keep up.” Gabrielle walked over to Rissie and hugged her, too. “Rissie, it’s so nice to see you again. How have you been?”

  “Lovely, m’lady. And ye? Have ye been well?”

  “Yes. I am well,” Gabrielle responded warmly. She motioned to Phalen, “Rissie, this is Phalen.”

  Phalen greeted her with a handshake, but just as Grayson had done when she first met him, she ended up with a hug although it was not the lift someone up off the ground kind that he liked to give.

  “Nice to meet ye, Lady Phalen,” Rissie said, then stepped back. “And, if ye haven’t noticed yet, Shifters are a huggin’ lot. As long as we like ye, anyway.”

&nbs
p; Gabrielle had always been fond of Rissie. She was slightly younger than Grayson and also his cousin. Rissie acted as his third in command. His second in command was Rissie’s brother, Trygg. She was almost a foot shorter than Grayson with chocolate, shoulder length hair and smoldering, brown eyes. Although she wouldn’t stand out in a crowd, she had a definite effect on men.

  “So,” Gabrielle addressed Phalen, “are you ready to go treasure hunting?”

  “Absolutely. Where?”

  “A cave just over the lip of Horsetail Fall. You and I are going to look for the Book while Grayson and Rissie keep an eye out up here.”

  “That’s right,” Grayson said. “We’ll let ye know if anyone decides to do a little huntin’ of their own.”

  “Let’s go, then,” Gabrielle said to Phalen. “If you see anything troublesome, Grayson, you know what to do.”

  “Yes, m’lady.”

  Gabrielle disappeared and Phalen followed. They manifested behind the falls in a narrow opening to a cave. Gabrielle said a few words in Enochian, and a ball of light appeared in each of her hands. She said a few more and the lights began to float—one in front of Gabrielle and the other in front of Phalen. When they moved, the orbs of light moved; when they stopped, the lights obeyed.

  “Cool, sister. I’m going to have to remember that trick.”

  “My trick is now yours, Phalen. I just taught you the words.”

  Gabrielle moved deeper into the cave, which became wider and higher.

  “Okay … well,” Gabrielle began, “Grayson said his informant heard the Book may have been hidden here.”

  “Who’s the informant?”

  “One of the Fallen. The one he called Lek.”

  “Grayson really thinks he can trust him, huh?”

  “Apparently. And Grayson isn’t someone who gives his trust easily to those outside of us angels and his own fellows. If he trusts this demon, I have to at least give him the demon the benefit of the doubt because I trust Grayson.”