Inception

by Teal Haviland

  “I’ll bring it to you,” Gabby said.

  Lucas stiffened. It couldn’t have been her.

  As he was about to look down at his angel, he felt her rise strong and steady. He looked at her, stunned, and she smiled at him.

  Gabby backed away from him and took the Book out of his hand. He didn’t try to stop her. He wasn’t sure he had the strength in him at that moment to even move his mouth. He felt as if the life had just been sucked out of him.

  Gabby turned and walked back to Javan.

  “Gabby?” Lucas was amazed that he was actually able to make his mouth and throat cooperate enough to say her name, but he couldn’t seem to make any other words come out. There was so much he wanted to say—so many questions he needed to ask.

  She turned and smiled but never stopped walking. When she reached Javan, she handed him the Book. Javan looked at her and smiled, then snatched her to him, kissing her almost ravenously. What was worse, Gabby put her hands into his hair and forced his lips harder into hers, kissing him back just as greedily.

  Watching her in Javan’s embrace, Lucas had too many thoughts and feelings to know what to do with. Anger, jealousy, sadness, betrayal, disbelief—all tried to claim the forefront in his mind. None of them could withstand the swirl of commotion in his head, though. Lucas felt his world begin to spin, and he could no longer keep the bile in his stomach from surfacing. He bent over, retching for what seemed to be forever. With every purge, he heard them laughing at him and heard more laughter coming from others he guessed were the ones he felt had been watching him. With every lurch of his stomach, anger became increasingly rooted in his emotion. Finally, he had something to focus on, and he began to regain control of not only his body but his thoughts.

  When he stood back up, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Gabby, focusing on Javan instead. Now that he had Gabby happily draped on one side of his body, he wore the look of superiority even more than before.

  “I tried to tell you, Lucas. You could never have held her interest or retained her love. She’s loved me for thousands of years. Did you really think a couple of months would have even a minuscule chance of comparing to what we’ve had together?”

  Lucas felt the words cut through him, and he finally looked at Gabby, hoping to see some sign in her eyes that told him to just play along—that somehow, this was part of her plan. But the look he wanted to see wasn’t there. He only saw the eyes of the angel he loved coldly looking back at him. He saw no feeling for him in them at all, not even remorse for what she’d done—was doing—to him.

  He’d only been a pawn to her. She had never been in danger. He looked down at the ground by her feet where the once glowing rope still rested. That’s all they were—plain ropes. Nothing damaging to an angel at all. They probably wouldn’t even give her skin a rope burn.

  He couldn’t find the words to answer Javan. What was he supposed to say, anyway? He just wished they’d leave. Javan had what he wanted, and apparently, so did Gabby. All he wanted was to be away from the eyes on him. The ones across from him and the ones he knew were waiting in the shadows.

  A strong wind came from above again. Javan looked up and didn’t seem to like what he saw. He looked back to Lucas, then to his left to address Cecily.

  “We have to be going, so if there is anything left that you want to do here, I suggest you get on with it. Otherwise, I’ll take care of him.”

  Lucas saw her smile, showing the sharp white teeth he’d seen in his nightmares; then she slammed into his body. He felt himself lift high off the ground as her teeth plunged into his neck.

  His eyes were wide with fear and pain. He couldn’t seem to focus on anything until he was finally able to see the ground ahead and below him where he saw Mara getting into Javan’s car. He shifted his eyes to find Gabby and found her being led to the car by Javan.

  “Gabby,” Lucas whispered, unable to say her name any louder as Cecily drank heartily.

  Gabby seemed to hear him, though, and looked up to where Cecily had him suspended a dozen feet off the ground. The last thing he remembered seeing was her smirk at him as she disappeared into the car—then he closed his eyes.

  He wanted death to come.

  He didn’t know how he could live anyway.

  Cecily removed her mouth from his neck abruptly; then he heard her hiss before feeling her release her grip. His body met the ground again.

  Hard.

  He heard Javan’s voice and maybe Gabby’s, but all the while, he continued to hear Cecily hiss, and now he thought she might be growling, too. She sounded like she was in pain, but he wasn’t sure.

  He didn’t care.

  He let himself drift away into the quiet and darkness that was consuming him. Hoping it would take him to a place where he would no longer have to feel his heart that felt as if it had just been crushed in his mortal chest. As his life faded away, so did the voices—so did the pain in his body. But what he was most happy to feel leaving him, what death was sparing him from feeling any longer, was the pain in his mind and heart.

  Wherever this darkness was taking him, he hoped he would never have to feel anything again.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

  GABRIELLE ~ INTO THE UNDERWORLD

  Gabrielle hoped she was overreacting, and that since she’d been expecting the worst, her imagination was getting the best of her. But if she was, why did she feel like time was running out to save Lucas?

  She moved from one location to another faster than she ever had, but even with speed, she knew she wasn’t going to get to him fast enough. Thoughts of what could have happened while she’d left Lucas alone screamed through her mind. She manifested behind the gym, and as she turned the corner to make her way to the front, her stomach dropped.

  Ahead of her, next to the side door of the building, was an ambulance. A body was being tended to by paramedics. As she made her way to the scene, tears began to blur her vision. She tried to blink them away, swallowing hard as she did. She couldn’t let human emotions take control right now, no matter who was on the ground. She closed her eyes and said a prayer before she opened them and looked down. She wasn’t expecting who she saw—Nonie was lying unconscious where she was sure she’d see Lucas.

  “Gabrielle!”

  She saw Nate stand up from beside Nonie and make his way to her.

  “Nate, what happened?”

  He took her by the arm and moved away from the crowd around his sister. When he seemed satisfied no one would be able to hear him, he turned to face her.

  Gabrielle looked at the concern in his eyes and asked again. “What happened? Where’s Lucas?”

  Nate just stared at her and shook his head.

  “NATE!” Gabrielle put her hands on his shoulders and shook him a little harder than she meant to, but it seemed to do the trick.

  “I don’t know where Lucas is. What happened to you? Are you okay?”

  “What. Happened. Nate?”

  “The last thing I remember was some guy looking at me and feeling like he was dissecting my mind. Then, I was drenched with water and had half the student body standing over me.” Nate paused, ran his hand half way through his hair, and stopped as he looked up into the night sky. “I came to look for Lucas and Nonie when they weren’t anywhere in the gym. I found Nonie unconscious against the building. She still hasn’t woken up.” He looked back at Gabrielle. “I haven’t been able to find Lucas.”

  Gabrielle felt her pulse ratchet up its pace as her mind began to spin. “Nate, what did this guy look like?”

  Nate started to pace a short path in front of Gabrielle, one hand on his hip and the other still on top of his head as if it would help him remember something. “Umm, I don’t know … black hair, black eyes, model looks—even with the scar. Evil as hell, from what I could tell. He scared the shit out of me.”

  It had to be Javan. “What did he say?”

  “The only thing I heard was to Lucas. He said, ‘If you want to save Gabrielle, I suggest yo
u come with me now’. That was it, nothing else … at least not while I was lucid.” He paused and squinted at Gabrielle. “Where were you? I thought you were going to be close in case something happened.”

  “I was distracted, apparently on purpose. I don’t have time to explain. How long do you think it’s been since the guy confronted Lucas?”

  Nate kept squinting at Gabrielle as he answered her. “Thirty minutes, hour—maybe. It’s hard to say—I was out of it for a while.”

  “I have to go.” Gabrielle looked back to Nonie, then back at Nate. “She’s going to be fine, Nate.”

  Gabrielle ran as fast as she could with people around until she got to the rear of the building again, then ascended. She didn’t know what Javan was up to or why it would involve Lucas. But she knew she was going to need help finding them.

  ‘Amaziah. Sheridan. I need your help. Now.’

  It was only a moment before they were both with her, and it took only seconds for them to understand what was happening and what Gabrielle needed. They sent the call out to any angels who could be spared to find Lucas and Javan; then they went to search themselves.

  It wasn’t going to be easy; Javan would be using his ability to camouflage himself and Lucas. While all of her comrades looked for them above ground, she was going to go below, hoping to see him from there or somehow get one of the Fallen to tell her where Javan was.

  It would be dangerous for any angel and was particularly so for her even with her exceptional abilities, especially since some who lived in the Shadow World and Underworld could now be somewhat immune to them. She suspected the pendants she’d been seeing some wear were the reason. She didn’t know how many had them—how many could get closer to killing her than any ever had because of them. The thought didn’t make her feel better about what she was about to do, but it didn’t matter. Lucas’s life was at stake, and she believed it was the quickest way to find them. She didn’t think Javan would consider shielding his and Lucas’s energy from below, so below was where she was going.

  Into the Underworld.

  Time didn’t allow for her to be choosy about where to enter Ramai’s domain, and she wasn’t going to look for an entrance—she would make her own. Descending to the landscape below, she opened the earth and was enveloped by the bleakness that was the Underworld.

  When she stopped to get her bearings, she couldn’t help but notice the eyes that turned on her to see who had invaded their domain. Shiny, solid black eyes that glinted in the sparse moonlight filtering in from the rift she had created.

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

  GABRIELLE ~ THE BATTLE BEGINS

  A dozen Underworlders approached Gabrielle, and none looked like they were welcoming her to the neighborhood. From the looks of them, they had been below for a long time. Their skin was so pale it almost glowed, and their eyes were larger than they should be.

  One seemed to be leading the others as they approached. As he neared, she thought she recognized him. He passed out of the shadows into the moonlight shining into the deep cavern Gabrielle had just created.

  “Mylek?” she said, surprised she recognized him.

  Mylek was once a commander in her own troop who decided he wanted to have some of the things humans enjoyed on Earth. When he was refused by Yahuwah, he rebelled and was cast from Heaven. It had been close to a thousand years since she’d seen him, and the only reason she recognized him was from his energy. Even now, it was strong.

  He continued his approach but waved the other demons off. As he drew closer to her, he moved more slowly, cocking his head as if trying to remember who she was.

  “Mylek, it’s Gabrielle. I mean no harm to you or any Underworlder tonight.”

  Mylek paused, and after several moments, she saw a strange smile cross his face—strange because it must have been some time since his face pulled the muscles of his mouth in the directions it was now attempting. Though it seemed genuine, it also appeared strained. He straightened, leaving the stance of a predator and adopting a friendlier one.

  It was something Gabrielle hadn’t expected.

  “Gabrielle. You may not believe it, but I’m glad to see you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen any of my former brethren. I didn’t think I ever would again.” Mylek clasped his hands in front of him and let them rest against his body. It was a gesture she knew well, any angel would. “If you aren’t here to hunt any of—us,” he said, and Gabrielle noticed he almost choked on the last word, “then why are you here? You have to admit, your approach was confrontational.”

  “It’s not my intent, but I have limited time, and this was the best way.”

  “Maybe I can …” Mylek paused, “help.”

  “I’m looking for Javan and a human. Javan is camouflaging, and I have to find them—now.”

  Mylek scowled, and Gabrielle could see him clench and unclench his fists.

  “Javan, huh? He’s caused me a bit of trouble since he’s fallen. Arrogant ass.” Mylek started walking toward her again. He stopped in front of her and looked her hard in the eyes.

  “I think I know where they are. Word down here is he’s going to obtain the Book of Barabbadon. Tonight. He’s recruited an impressive amount of Shadow Worlders and Underworlders, and some are helping him now.”

  Why would he need Lucas to get the Book?

  “Where are they, Mylek?”

  “New Orleans, near one of the Gates of Hell.”

  “I know where that is. I have to go.” Gabrielle began to ascend, and as she did, she called back to Mylek.

  “Thank you … old friend.”

  “Maybe I’ll be a new friend,” he said before she completely ascended.

  Gabrielle arrived near the Gate in New Orleans and began to search. She had a good chance of finding them now that she knew where to look. She flew in a circular pattern about a half a mile wide using the Gate as a central point, causing a substantial disturbance in the air as she flew as close to the ground as she could without being seen. She was about to abandon the area and look further out when she noticed several different energy signatures.

  She’d seen those energies together before … in her vision. She recognized three of the four moving swiftly north. She turned her attention to the energy fading on the ground.

  Lucas.

  His energy was faint. She made her way to him, terrified of what she’d find. Her heart plummeted. He was lying on his side, motionless. His heart was beating slowly, and it was steadily growing weaker.

  Gabrielle descended and scooped Lucas up, not caring if there were human eyes to see the expanse of wings or the glow of energy. All she wanted was to hold Lucas and try to save him.

  ‘Amaziah! I have Lucas. He’s dying, Amaziah! Please, help me!’

  He was with her immediately along with several others.

  ‘Amaziah, please help him. Is there anything we can do?’

  He reached out for her to hand him over, but even as she did, she could tell his body hung too lifeless.

  She’d failed him.

  Gabrielle grew angry as her arms emptied Lucas into Amaziah’s outstretched ones, hearing the last beats of his heart as she did. Gabrielle remained motionless. She was stunned to a point that she felt nothing but numbness that seemed to filter slowly into her entire being.

  Amaziah held Lucas for a long time without saying anything. She managed to choke out a question even though she felt no life left in her to do it.

  ‘What is it? Why are you looking at him as if you’ve never seen a dead body?’

  ‘Have you not noticed, Gabrielle? His soul hasn’t left him. He’s not dead.’

  ‘That’s not possible. I heard his heart take its last beats as I placed him in your arms.’

  As she said the words, she heard Lucas’s heart beat again, but there was something different about it. She waited, and it beat again.

  ‘He’s still alive! Help him!’

  Gabrielle moved closer to Amaziah, but he moved back as she did.

&
nbsp; ‘I want to hold him. Why are you keeping him from me?’

  He hesitated before he answered, and she noticed the others had backed away from them.

  ‘You’re right, Gabrielle. He is still alive. But not like he was before.’

  ‘What do you mean, not like before? He’s either alive or not alive. There is no in between.’

  ‘What happened to him?’

  ‘I don’t know. I found him on the ground and came straight for help. No one else was around, at least not by the time I reached him. What are you getting at?’

  ‘As you can hear, his heart is strong, and he breathes.’

  ‘Yes. Which means he’s alive.’

  ‘What else have you noticed?’

  Gabrielle studied Lucas for several moments.

  ‘Nothing, Amaziah. I don’t want cryptic enlightenment, either. Please, just tell me what you think is going on!’

  ‘Lucas breathes and his heart beats, but there’s an abnormal amount of time between either breath or heartbeat.’

  Gabrielle hadn’t thought too much about it, happy to believe he might survive, but more than a minute passed before she heard his heart pump again or his lungs moving air.

  ‘He’s been bleeding from his neck. It’s stopped now, but it’s fresh.’

  She was almost amused by his observation. ‘No, it’s part of his costume. It’s fake blood.’

  ‘Gabrielle, I know the difference between fake and life-giving blood. So do you. Accept what has happened. This blood is real.’

  Gabrielle moved Lucas’s head so she could see his neck. She stared at the puncture wounds next to the ones Nonie had created. The other set was definitely the real thing.

  ‘He’s Qalal. But why does his heart beat at all? Qalal don’t breathe.’

  ‘I know. I’ve never known of a human being bitten and not turning or dying. Take him home. He’ll be better off with you and Emma looking after him. I’ll post some of your comrades around the home for protection so you can tend to him without worrying about another attack.’