by Wendy Owens
“Hazard of the trade,” Dina replied with a smile.
“I think it kind of makes her look bad ass,” Uri offered.
“Agreed,” Gabe confirmed.
“Gee, thanks guys,” Dina said before moving closer to the cot where Rachel was asleep. “Who do we have here?”
Gabe moved forward, reaching down to take hold of Rachel’s hand, he pulled it close to his chest before looking into Dina’s eyes and tenderly answering, “This is Rachel, she didn’t take well to the transport.”
“Humans rarely do,” Dina added, as if she had no trace of humanity left in herself.
“Yeah, she’s Gabe’s fiancée,” Uri added, giving a nudge to Dina with his elbow.
“What?” Dina gasped, a rare display of shock by her. After a moment’s hesitation she added, “You’ve been a busy boy while you were away.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see what Sophie thinks of her,” Uri laughed, not putting much thought into his words.
“Really, Uri?” Dina scolded, looking at him with contempt. Though she was concerned about the information she was receiving and how it would affect the people in her life, including Sophie, Dina was of the mind that that was no excuse to be rude.
“It’s fine Dina, it doesn’t bother me, I got over Sophie a long time ago. Besides, she’s married to someone else now,” Gabe dismissed Uri’s thoughtless comment.
“Yeah, about that,” Uri said, teeth gritted as he sucked air between them obnoxiously.
“Uri, hush! It’s not your place,” Dina snapped.
“I don’t get it, what’s the big deal? He knows more than anyone how she can be,” Uri argued.
“I mean it, Uri! Shut it!” Dina added in an agitated tone.
“Wait, slow down, I’m confused, what’s going on?” Gabe demanded.
“Nothing,” Dina said, attempting to dismiss the line of questioning.
“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal? Sophie’s always been a flake, he knows that,” Uri said.
“What are you two going on about?” Gabe was clearly puzzled.
“She never married him, left the poor guy at the altar—”
“Uri! That’s enough!” Dina yelled, her tiny frame still managing to finally command obedience.
Gabe’s head was spinning suddenly. Sophie hadn’t gotten married? Why? Had something happened between her and her husband to be? Was there something in her that knew she had once been in love with Gabe? Perhaps she couldn’t go through with it because she was haunted by her feelings for him. Gabe shook his head, not allowing his mind to answer the questions. “I don’t really see how any of that matters; we were kids when we were together. She doesn’t remember me, and I let her go a long time ago. I’m serious, I’m with Rachel now. I love her.”
“I see …” Dina said glancing back at Rachel and then Gabe again. “Ok then. Oh, Uri, I almost forgot, Michael arrived while you were gone. He wants to see you right away.”
“For what?” Uri inquired.
“Michael’s needs are not my concern,” Dina answered coolly before noticing Uri’s significant wounds. “And when you get done with him, come back and see me, I’ll get you bandaged up— again— and a healing potion into you.”
“Yes, mom,” Uri replied in a snarky tone. “Come on man, let’s go see Michael.”
“No, I’m not leaving her,” Gabe said, returning to Rachel’s side. “Besides, Michael asked to see you, not me.”
“That’s not a bad idea, I’m sure Michael will want to see you as well,” Dina suggested.
“No, I said I’m not leaving her.”
“Come on, she’ll be fine. She’ll be out for hours and besides that, Dina’s here,” Uri argued.
“No, really, I can’t, Rachel has a thing about strangers.”
“You can’t be serious,” Uri chimed, clearly annoyed by Gabe’s statement.
“I want to be here when she wakes up, all right?” Gabe insisted.
“Gabe, I promise, if she wakes up before you get back, which I highly doubt, I will send for you immediately,” Dina offered in a comforting voice.
“No— I can’t,” Gabe replied, shaking his head.
“I promise I’ll compel her if she freaks out,” Dina attempted to reassure her friend.
“No! She hates magic being used on her. Fine, I’ll go, if you promise we’ll hurry,” Gabe relented.
“Scouts honor,” Uri said with a cheesy grin, and lifting a pointless salute with his fingers.
“You’re such an idiot,” Gabe added with a chuckle. “And Dina, if she wakes, swear you’ll come get me right away, and no magic, right?”
“Of course, whatever you say,” Dina answered.
Gabe leaned in close, taking in a deep breath of Rachel’s scent, and brushing her chestnut hair away from her face, he gently kissed her on her forehead before whispering, “I’ll be right back, I’m leaving you with one of my closest friends. She will take good care of you.”
“You do realize she can’t hear you, right?” Uri asked, making a face of disbelief at what he was witnessing.
“Shut up, let’s go already,” Gabe replied turning and walking past Uri, slapping him in the chest with the back of his hand as he did so.
Walking down the path, following in the steps of Uri, the hundreds of unfamiliar faces they passed haunted Gabe. So many strangers, displaced by a demonic horror that was thrust upon them, somehow had all found their way here, to Iron Gate. He wondered if they thought they had found salvation in this place, a piece of hope to latch onto. Gabe couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.
Tucked away in his tiny cabin, the safety of the copper rich mountains all around him, Gabe forgot what it was like to be afraid. But now he was no different than any of them, without the security of his fortress, he might as well be one of the faceless numbers that surrounded him.
Gabe spent the first four years after he left Rampart hiding in various places around the Underworld as well as the earthly realm. As he searched for a place rich enough in copper to hide him, as well as secluded, he started to discover just how dark the world had grown. The more seedy and dangerous the place was, the less people there were who noticed him, and therefore he began to surround himself with many less desirable folks for a time. When he went into hiding he knew Baal was growing in strength and numbers, but nothing could have prepared him for what he was now seeing.
The sheer number of people injured, or sent into hiding, or worse, dead by Baal’s reach were staggering. Gabe felt guilty for living in what now seemed like a fairytale state with Rachel over the past six months. Surrounded by all the desperation, Gabe wondered, would he be able to keep the darkness from enveloping him again.
The last thing Gabe wanted to think about were all the monsters of the world that were hunting them, he wanted to focus on the start of a new life with his soon to be wife. Instead, the future that awaited them was one that filled him with dread. How would he keep her safe from the army sought to find them? None of these random souls that filled the halls of Iron Gate were able to avoid the wrath of Baal and his army. Would he ever be able to provide her with a peaceful night's sleep again? How could he possibly protect her?
Gabe sighed, careful to avoid coming too close to the people perched on the blankets tossed along stone corridors. He shook his head, moving in closer to Uri’s heals, avoiding eye contact with the refugees. He would not allow Rachel to live like this, huddled in hallways, all her hope in some army of do-gooders who were frightfully ill-equipped for the battle they faced. He didn’t care what it took; he would find a way to be her hero, to keep her safe.
“These people are sleeping on the ground?” Gabe asked pitifully.
Uri shook his head as if dumbfounded by the question. “There are only so many beds; the cots are saved for the infirmary and the sick. Hey, don’t feel bad for these people; if you ask most of them, they are just happy to have a place to go.”
“How do you explain all of the supernatural stuff to them?”
; “Huh? Oh, all of the refugees are from the Underworld, that or they have some sort of super natural background. There’re actually no pure humans here, well, except for your girlfriend.”
“Rachel,” Gabe interjected.
“Yeah, I know, I didn’t forget,” Uri scoffed. “Of course, with the two of you getting married, I guess that means one day you’ll be the proud papa of the prophet. I suppose being the kid’s mom means she does have some super natural properties, as well.”
Gabe’s words stuck in his throat. What could he possibly say in response? He was going to marry Rachel. If they did have a child and the prophecy came true, Uri was right. The horrific truth Gabe didn’t want to admit to himself now stared him in the face. If the prophecy were true, either his child would die or he would. How could he live with that choice? Gabe felt himself spiraling back into his old behaviors, worrying about what might be, rather than what was right in front of him. He thought of Rachel, her smile, her voluptuous body, the happiness she brought him.
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” Gabe said at last.
“I don’t blame you.”
“Can we just hurry this up, I need to get back to Rach—” her name didn’t even clear his lips when the two rounded the corner and Gabe caught sight of Sophie’s fiery hair. He could have sworn it had been more of a rich auburn when last he saw her; perhaps his memory faded the vibrancy of it.
Uri looked over at his friend, puzzled by the abrupt interruption in his words. Choosing to disregard it, he continued into the room at full speed, approaching Sophie who was intensely studying a set of maps. “Where’s Michael?” he demanded.
“When did you get back?” Sophie asked as she looked in Uri’s direction.
“What’s it matter, I’m back,” Uri snapped.
“Wow, you’re in a mood. You look terrible too! What happened out there?” Sophie questioned.
“It doesn’t matter. Where is Michael? I have stuff I need to be doing, I can’t hang around here all day waiting for him,” Uri groaned in response.
“Cool your jets, he’ll be right in,” Sophie barked. Gabe remembered the way Uri and Sophie always had that sort of banter between them. He shivered looking at her, it felt like it was like the old Sophie that was standing before him, not the one who lost her memory and all sense of who she was.
Uri realized Gabe was still standing in the entry. “Hey Soph, you remember—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Sophie glanced up and did it for him, “Gabe.”
As his name slipped from her lips with a familiarity he hadn’t heard from her in such a long time, the maps fell from her fingertips.
“Hey, Sophie,” Gabe replied. “Long time.”
“Yeah, long time,” she replied, staring at him.
“What’s wrong with you?” Uri asked, walking up and nudging her firmly.
“Huh?” Sophie muttered before shaking her head as if coming out of a trance. “Oh, nothing, shut up dog breath.”
“Glad to see everyone is behaving so maturely in my absence,” a man’s voice called out behind them. The room felt a sudden burst of warmth as Michael strode past Gabe to the large round table at the opposite side of the room.
Haim followed close behind their leader, momentarily stopping to touch Gabe on the shoulder and whisper, “Good to see you man.” He then proceeded to join Michael at his side.
Sophie bent down and picked up the maps, giving Gabe one last glance before turning to face Michael. Gabe suddenly realized he must have appeared awkward, lingering in the entryway. With great haste, he scurried to Uri’s side and waited silently.
“So— let’s get started. I’m sure we all have somewhere other than here to be,” Michael said in a commanding voice. “Reports.”
“There was no sign of life at High Point when my men last checked in,” Uri answered.
“I’ve only heard the same,” Haim added. “Volunteers are still searching the ruins.”
“What are the human’s saying?” Michael asked openly to the group.
Sophie stammered at first before finding her words confidently. “Th—they have no clue. Based on news reports, some stations are saying it must have been some sort of chemical agent. They’re justifying the demon sightings as hallucinations. Other stations are actually reporting monsters attacked the city, either way, it’s chaos out there.”
“What about Baal? Any word on where his army has shifted?” Michael inquired.
“None yet, it was like they just vanished,” Sophie answered.
“That’s not acceptable. I want you all to get out there and figure out what the heck is going on. Report back here in four hours with everything you’ve found out. You’re dismissed.”
Gabe couldn’t believe his ears, he had managed to sit through the entire encounter and Michael not say a single word to him. Had he somehow not noticed his presence? Did he not recognize him?
“Umm, one last thing, sir,” Uri interjected.
“What is it?” Michael asked impatiently.
“We should probably talk about security for the wedding,” Uri suggested, unable to withhold his snickering as he did so. Gabe wanted to reach over and throttle his friend.
“We don’t have time for this nonsense, Uri, what wedding are you referring to?” Michael demanded.
“Gabe’s of course.” As the words flowed out of Uri’s mouth Gabe froze, unable to do anything, but stare at the faces around the table as they heard the news. “Oh, that’s right, none of you have heard the fantastic news yet. He is engaged to be married to Rachel.”
“Thanks,” Gabe mumbled.
Michael’s eyes stared intensely at Gabe who shifted uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “Is this true?”
So he does recognize me, he thought.
“Yes, sir,” Gabe replied. He didn’t know why he was calling him sir, in that moment he was no longer even sure how he felt about the man. Gabe had carried around so much resentment and anger for his old mentor, the involuntary offering of respect had caught even himself off guard.
Looking over to Sophie, Gabe could see the shock on her face. When their eyes finally met, her gaze shifted to one of hurt. Gabe was confused; she didn’t remember him or what they had together, why would it matter if he married someone else?
“Everyone else, you’re dismissed. Gabe, please stay behind,” Michael instructed.
“Sir, Rachel is in the infirmary,” Gabe began.
“Is she all right?” Michael asked, the concern evident in his voice.
“Yes, sir, it’s nothing like that. The transportation spell was rather difficult on her,” Gabe explained.
“Good— that will be all everyone. I said I want to speak to Gabe alone,” Michael repeated firmly.
“Sir— what I mean is, well—” Gabe stammered as he tried to figure out how to express himself. “I don’t want her to wake up surrounded by strangers. Can this wait?”
“Uri, go to the infirmary and wait with Rachel until Gabe gets there.” Before Michael finished giving the order, Uri was halfway out the door.
“Yes, sir,” he answered over his shoulder and then was gone, Sophie and Haim following close behind.
“She knows Uri, if she wakes there’s no need to worry,” Michael offered as he began to pace the room, glancing at Gabe occasionally. “It’s been a long time.”
Gabe said nothing in response.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Michael continued.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I want you to know how deeply sorry I am that Uri involved you in all of this again. After you made your decision to leave, I made it very clear to everyone they must not interfere. He should have never brought Rachel to you; it wasn’t fair of him to do so,” Michael said sympathetically.
“Really? I’ve been gone for over five years and all you can tell me is you’re sorry I’m here?” Gabe surprised even himself with the question.
“That’s not what I meant,” Michael answ
ered flatly.
“Of course not—” Gabe said sharply. “Sir, is there a reason you wanted to talk?”
“I told them to leave you alone because you made it quite clear you wanted no part of the Guardian life. It was out of respect for you. Now, with Rachel, Uri has set things in motion that are dragging you back into all of this.”
“I’m not sure what you think my being here means, but I’m glad Uri brought her to me. I can’t imagine my life without her,” Gabe defended.
“You always were a romantic soul,” Michael added with a smile.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Gabe snarled. Michael said nothing, Gabe continued. “Are you talking about Sophie?”
“I know how much all of that hurt you, Gabe, I never wanted to wipe her memory and I never would have if I would have known what it would have led to,” Michael explained.
“Is that it? You think I blame you about Sophie’s memory? Well I don’t, you can rest at ease knowing I placed that blame squarely on my own shoulders.”
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
“Yeah, Michael, it was. I was the one that insisted on the procedure. You warned me and I lost everything, happy?”
“You think that made me happy?”
“I don’t know what I think.”
“I see …” Michael continued.
“Is there something else?”
“There is a lot of history here, I know, and I’m not trying to fix it, but it’s my responsibility to make certain you understand.”
“Understand what?” Gabe asked harshly.
“I need to make sure you understand the implications of what your and Rachel’s relationship means when it comes to the Shield Prophecy.”
“I quit giving a crap about your prophecy a long time ago. I love her and I will protect her with my life if I have to. However that fits into your storybooks, so be it.”
“And I believe you will, protect her with your life that is. The problem is, I don’t see that being worth very much to Rachel.”
“Excuse me?” Gabe exclaimed, his outrage obvious.
“I don’t mean any disrespect, but let’s be real about this. You haven’t been in training for the past five years. You made your choice, which nobody here faults you for, but as a result you’re simply not prepared for this battle. I’m sorry, but she just can’t go with you, we have to keep her safe,” Michael said as if he still had command over Gabe.
