The Realm of Realism

by R M Gauthier

  “Holy—” Nevaeh says, her gaze on Azrael’s writhing form. “What is this thing?” she whispers as her gaze runs over the bubble structure again.

  Fallen rushes to his brother, kneels beside him, meeting his eyes.

  “You’re okay,” he whispers, as he reaches out placing his hands on either side of Azrael’s head, holding it still. “Settle down. You’re all right.”

  Nevaeh’s gaze drifts back to Azrael.

  “What happened, Fallen?” she probes.

  “It’s an electrical shield. Happens every time we touch it,” he responds, his eyes never leaving his brother.

  “Caleb did this?” she solicits, as she tries to figure out what it is.

  “Yes.”

  Azrael’s body stops shaking as he slowly recovers.

  “Why?” Nevaeh demands.

  Fallen turns his attention to her.

  “He was working with him.” He points to his brother. “Apparently, that went wrong.”

  “He wouldn’t betray me like this,” Azrael explains, as he sits up. “Something else is going on.”

  “Like what? Who else is in on this scheme of yours?” Nevaeh solicits.

  Azrael just glares at her.

  “As if I’d share information with you.” Azrael waves her off.

  “You better start talking before she demands to see you,” she cautions.

  “Bring her on,” Azrael snaps, as he climbs to his feet, still a tad unsteady.

  “We don’t have time for this,” Nevaeh shouts.

  Then as if a light bulb flickers on in her brain, panic sweeps her expression.

  “What’s wrong?” Fallen probes.

  Nevaeh’s attention flickers to him.

  “Aaron,” she whispers.

  Suddenly, she shimmers out of existence leaving the brothers staring at the spot she just vacated.

  “Where the hell, did she go?” Azrael demands, angrily.

  “To Aaron, obviously. What did you do?” Fallen turns on his brother.

  “I’ve done nothing,” he snaps. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m just as trapped as you are.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?” Fallen spits out.

  “I don’t care what you believe,” Azrael snaps. “They betrayed me, and I need to get out of here now.”

  Azrael scans the bubble for the thousandth time. He knows there’s a way out and he’s determined to figure it out.

  Fallen glares at his brother for a moment.

  “Who’s they?” he barks.

  Azrael’s gaze snaps to Fallen. “What?”

  “Who are they?” Fallen repeats.

  Azrael’s eyebrows narrow as they pinch together. “Caleb.”

  “No, you said they. Who else have you involved?” Fallen faces off with Azrael once again.

  “Shouldn’t you be more worried about getting us out of here, then who I’m working with?” Azrael questions.

  “Tell me, Azrael. Who is working with you?” Fallen repeats the question with more anger in his voice.

  “Screw you,” Azrael responds, then walks to the other side of the space.

  “What happened to you?” Fallen whispers. “We were so close, people couldn’t tell us apart.”

  “You know what happened,” Azrael responds, his back to his brother.

  “No, I really don’t. One minute we were thick as thieves, then the next you’re turning against everyone. Why, Azrael?”

  Azrael spins around advancing on Fallon with determined strides, causing Fallen to take a step back.

  “I didn’t turn on anyone. You all turned on me,” he proclaims, his breathing heavy, his forefinger pointing at Fallen in an accusatory manor. “I was your brother. Your twin for crying out-loud. And you stuffed me in that place to rot. You didn’t stick up for me. You didn’t come to my rescue. You just left me there. You. Didn’t. Have. My. Back,” he screams.

  “Azrael?” Fallen whispers.

  “No,” Azrael snaps. “We always said we’d be there for each other no matter what, but you weren’t,” he bellows. “You abandoned me, not the other way around.”

  “That’s not true. I was there. I tried to help you, but you refused to let me,” Fallen sighs. “I wanted so bad for you to change your mind. I wanted you on my side.”

  “Exactly,” he hollers. “Your side. Your way. Why couldn’t you understand my point of view? Why couldn’t you even try?” Azrael accuses. “Because I didn’t agree with you, I was automatically wrong and deserved to be forgotten? You left me there, Fallen. For so long.”

  Fallen steps closer to his brother, only halting his steps when Azrael speaks again.

  “Don’t,” Azrael barks, as he turns his back on Fallen again. “You’re too late. It’s all too late.”

  “What does that mean, Azrael?” Fallen pleads with him.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  Fallen stares at his brother’s back for a moment, then turns to the structure holding them hostage.

  “What is this?” he mutters, mostly to himself. “And how do we destroy it?”

  Fallen follows the bubble top to bottom, while shaking his head in disbelief.

  27

  Nevaeh re-emerges in the center of Aaron’s room. She quickly takes in the space only to find it empty. Concern creeps over her features as she scans his bed and finds that empty also.

  “Headquarters?” she calls out.

  A minute of silence passes before she calls out once more. “Headquarters?”

  When she receives no response, she moves to the bed and sits down.

  “Where are you?” she whispers to the empty room. “What have I done? What have I done?”

  Nevaeh sits as she considers her next move, mulling over which action will be more effective, getting a hold of headquarters or finding Aaron. After a moment of contemplation, Nevaeh rises and shimmers out of the room.

  She reappears back in the Forest of Lost Time, right next to the glass bubble where the twin brothers are a mess of tangled limbs and long black hair.

  They are throwing punches at each other. Arms flying, legs kicking as they roll around on the ground, grunting and groaning. It appears the fight has been going on for some time, but neither are prepared to give up.

  “Stop it,” Nevaeh shouts out. “Now,” her voice a little louder.

  They both stop moving at once and peek over in her direction.

  “We have big problems,” Nevaeh announces, concern gracing her features.

  Fallen has a handful of Azrael’s hair, and Azrael has Fallen’s, both refusing to let go.

  “You let go,” Fallen stresses.

  “Don’t think so,” Azrael returns.

  “Will you two stop acting like buffoons and let each other go,” she demands.

  The brothers glare at each other before breaking apart and scrambling backwards away from each other. Their eyes never leaving the other as they both back up to the barrier keeping them inside.

  “Look.” Nevaeh turns her glare onto Azrael. “I don’t know what you’ve done, but you need to undo it. Right now.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Azrael says, his tone casual as he straightens his messy hair and clothes.

  Fallen growls a warning at him.

  “What is your problem?” Azrael demands.

  “You,” Fallen snaps. “You’ve always been my problem.”

  “We don’t have time for this,” Nevaeh interjects. “They took Aaron.”

  Azrael’s head snaps in her direction, as does Fallen’s.

  “What?” Fallen inquires.

  “They took him. He’s gone. Where would they take him, Azrael?” she questions.

  “Who took him?” Azrael strides over to the edge of the glass encloser, coming face-to-face with her.

  “Your buddy, Caleb,” she responds.

  “How do you know it was him?” Azrael solicits.

  “Because he showed up and told me about you two.” She waves her hand at th
e boys. “How’d he do this?”

  “Haven’t a clue,” Fallen snarls.

  “He’s not that good.” Nevaeh steps back, glancing up at the top of the enclosure. “Who taught him to do something like this?” Her glare turns to Azrael.

  “What are you staring at me for?” Azrael replies.

  “Because you know where he learned this,” Nevaeh accused, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her foot in impatience.

  “I’ve been locked away for centuries. Whatever he learned, it wasn’t from me,” Azrael argues.

  “Who are you working with, Azrael?” Fallen interjects.

  “No one,” Azrael responds.

  “Don’t lie to me. Look what they’ve done already. Tell me who else is involved,” Fallen shouts.

  Azrael turns his back on the two and wanders over to the other side of the bubble, while thinking about what his so-called partners are up to. This wasn’t part of their plan. He never agreed to be trapped like a rat—again. He’s shocked they would pull something of this magnitude and he’s hoping they had no other choice or that there’s a reason for their betrayal. Deep down he knows that’s not the case.

  As he glances at the clear structure, he knows this has Mazereth written all over it. He doesn’t doubt that Mazereth was somehow able to sway Caleb with promises that will never be fulfilled. If he could only talk to Caleb, he knows he could change his mind.

  “Caleb,” Azrael shouts out.

  The other two angels turn and gawk at him.

  Azrael turns and steps to the middle of the enclosure.

  “Caleb,” he screams so loud the structure shakes.

  The other two angels cover their ears, protecting them from the outlandish sound.

  “Caleb, you better show yourself right now,” Azrael barks.

  “He’s not coming. He betrayed you. Don’t you get it,” Fallen bellows, as he steps closer to Azrael. “You’re on your own.”

  “I’ve always been on my own,” Azrael snaps.

  “Jesus Christ, you self indulgent little—”

  “Fallen, this isn’t helping anything. Back off,” Nevaeh pleads. “Azrael, it’s obvious your partners have turned on you. So, help us.”

  “You can’t possibly think I’d help you,” he replies.

  “What choice do you have?” she counters.

  “I got out on my own, and I can stay out on my own. So, thank you, but no I won’t help you.” Azrael walks away, turning his back on them once more.

  Azrael glances at Fallen, he rolls his eyes trying to hold in his anger. Nevaeh shakes her head before trying with Azrael one more time.

  “Azrael. Don’t you want to go home?” Don’t you want to be accepted again? This can help you heal that wound. If you help us, it’ll go a long way to showing how much you’ve changed.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Azrael spins around to face her, takes three strides across the bubble to stand in front of her once more. “You think they’ll just let me go. You think they’ll forgive and forget. Don’t be so naïve, Nevaeh.”

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” Fallen steps beside his brother.

  “Chivalry is not lost after all,” Azrael leers.

  “This is hopeless,” Nevaeh mumbles, then turns and shimmers out.

  “You happy now?” Fallen snaps at his brother.

  Azrael stares at the spot Nevaeh just vanished into.

  “Shut up,” Azrael sneers.

  Fallen walks to the middle of the bubble and stares up at the round top.

  “What do we do now?” he bids.

  “I don’t know.”

  He joins his brother and they both stare at the top of the bubble attempting to figure a way out.

  28

  Nevaeh shimmers back into Aaron’s bedroom. Her gaze shifts around the room, slowly moving over every part of the space attempting to figure out why Caleb would take him. She wanders over to the bed and leans down. She runs her hand over the pillow and down the mattress. There’s nothing to go on, no residual energy hanging around that would offer any sign of where Caleb took Aaron.

  She straightens up, and wanders to the middle of the room, when she receives a message from Headquarters.

  “Commander, we have a tip on the magician’s whereabouts,” Control speaks in her ear.

  “Where is he?” Nevaeh solicits, anxiously.

  “The Enchanted Forest,” Control responds.

  “On my way,” Nevaeh informs, as she shimmers out of the room.

  Nevaeh appears in the Enchanted Forest, the same one in which she and Fallen held a recent meeting with representatives of all mythical creatures. She arrived under the direction of Control, who are under the impression Aaron is here somewhere.

  Immediately, she spots huge, fluffy white feathers and crosses the space for a closer inspection. She reaches out and lifts one of the feathers.

  “Caleb,” she calls out.

  As she lifts the giant feather it brings the entire wing off the ground. Blood drips off the end, a complete contrast of the pristine white. The blood splatters onto the forest floor. The only thing left, where the feather meets the body is skin and tentacles, which hang limp from the feather.

  “Oh, Caleb,” Nevaeh gasps.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Nevaeh spots another set of wings and she moves quickly to them. Again, the pair lay on the ground, black in color, but just as magnificent as the other set. Blood spreads across the ground under the wings, which has Nevaeh gasping once more.

  “Control,” she calls out. “I’ll need an eradication crew. I have two sets of wings here.”

  “Commander?” Control responds. “Who do they belong to?”

  “If I were to guess, the white ones belong to Caleb, but I’m not certain who owns the black ones. We’ll have to make contact to find out who’s missing.”

  Nevaeh’s met with silence.

  She scans the forest hoping to find evidence to support her theory of who these wings belong to but comes up empty. Besides the bloody wings, there’s nothing else of use here.

  She stands still, with her eyes closed, her arms out to her sides, palms facing up and her spectacular wings spanned out behind her. She comes up with nothing, no vibrations, no surges of energy, nothing that would give her indication which way they went. There’s nothing.

  Nevaeh sighs, then opens her eyes again.

  “Commander, an eradication team is on the way. You’ve been ordered to return home.”

  “I can’t do that, Sir.”

  “It wasn’t a request, Commander,” Control’s voice is firm with no room for argument.

  “Control, I have two angels held captive. I have to help them.”

  “Commander, you’ve been given an order. I’ll expect you to return for debriefing.”

  Nevaeh’s met with silence, once more. She debates her options, dismissing those thoughts immediately. She’s been given an order and Nevaeh never betrays a directive.

  Until now.

  Deep in her soul she knows she must find Aaron, and rescue Fallen and Azrael from the magical bubble. How she’ll do that? She’s uncertain, but she knows she must try. First thing she must do is find Caleb and the owner of the other set of wings. She walks around the space searching for any energy that will give her a clue where to start. She returns to the set of white wings, bends down and runs her hand over them as she closes her eyes.

  Suddenly, she stands and shimmers out of the space.

  When she reappears, she comes face to face with Mazereth. She attempts to step back, only to find her path blocked by a wall. She shifts her head to the side and spots Caleb standing directly behind her. Her back pressed into his chest.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she demands.

  A pair of muscular arms surrounds her, closing her in a tight grasp.

  Nevaeh struggles to free herself to no avail.

  “Hold still,” Caleb snaps.

  “Let me go, Caleb. What are you doing?” Nevaeh shou
ts as she squirms.

  She could shimmer out of here, but she really wants to know what these two are up to and staying will probably give her some indication.

  “Settle down, little one,” Mazereth says, as he pats the top of Nevaeh’s head.

  “What are you up to, Mazereth?” Nevaeh stops struggling and glares at him. “And why are you hanging out with him, Caleb?” She turns her head and glances at Caleb.

  “We’re going to make it right, Nevaeh,” Caleb offers in a sympathetic voice.

  “What are you talking about?” she inquires.

  “We’re going home,” Mazereth responds, and Nevaeh swings her head around to glare at him. “We’ve found a way to right the wrongs.”

  “What do you mean?” she implores.

  “We’re going to reset everything. Make everything as it should be once again,” Caleb explains.

  “Don’t you know what you’ve done?” She returns her focus to Caleb. “By cutting off your wings, you’re no longer an angel. You’re human.”

  “It doesn’t matter because once our plan is successful everything will return to how it should be. No more earth, no more humans and no more universe.” Caleb smiles. “We can go home.”

  “You’ve lost your minds.”

  “We have the key to existence. I assure you we’ve lost nothing,” Mazereth responds with an angry tenor.

  “What’s going on here?” Aaron questions, as he comes into view through the opening in the forest.

  “Just meeting with an old friend. Nothing to concern yourself with.” Mazereth waves a hand at Aaron. “Return to work.”

  Aaron scans the scene in front of him. Caleb is holding Nevaeh with her arms extended behind her back. He can tell immediately she’s not here voluntarily. His mind spins with thoughts of what to do as his gaze travels between the three. He doesn’t want to return to work, as Mazereth puts it. He’s never trusted these two, not that he trusted Azrael either, but at least with him he was honest about what he wanted. The two skirt around their true intentions and Aaron has wanted to escape them from the minute they took him.

  Aaron takes a few steps toward them before he halts.