The Road to Lazarus (The First book in the diaries of Lazarus House)

by Patrick T. McAlister

  When Gabriel came in he dropped her bags and went to her. He took her in his arms and held her through the waves of tears. After a bit of time he stepped back from her, holding onto her arms. “You should shower and get some rest. I’m going to do the same. If you needed anything, just call. The intercom is voice activated.” Leaning forward he kissed her forehead tenderly. “Come on let me show you a few things.”

  He took her by the hand and showed her how to drop the plasma TV out of the ceiling just in front of the bed. Leading her over to the other wall he showed her how to bring down the computer monitors. “All you have to do is speak. The systems will do as you tell it.” She looked up at him, wonder showing in her eyes. “Gabriel, where in the hell are we?” she asks. He tells her “In a place where you can be you, sleep well may your dreams be more to your heart’s desire.” With another quick kiss on her forehead he turned and walked to the door as she stood there looking after him. He closed the large ornate door that looked like it had once hung in some Scottish castle. She went over to it, too take a closer look. A cherub was carved into the door with what appeared to be a guardian Angel behind it with full wings spread. Maybe this door was from a church or something she thought.

  With a bewildered shake of her head, she walked back to the bathroom. Once she was inside she looked around in bewilderment again. This room, like everything else she had seen since getting here, amazed her. In the corner was the biggest tub she had ever seen in her life! Next to it was a marble tiled shower with various rotating jets on three of the walls. Oddly, she noticed that there was no door. Do I want a shower or bath she asked herself? Maybe a shower would be best.

  Walking back into the bedroom she grabbed one of the bags Gabriel had brought in, unzipping it she quickly pulled her pajamas out and heads back to the bathroom. Glancing at the clock she noticed it was only 9:00 p.m. To her it felt like the clock should be showing midnight at the very least. It had been one hell of a day that was for sure.

  In the bathroom she quickly undressed, throwing the clothes she had on into the large trash can in the corner. Standing in the shower she tried to find how to turn it on. When she was in the middle of shower, a frosted glass door that seemed to be three inches thick rose from the floor. Looking around she just shook her head. The shower had to be at least fifteen feet by fifteen feet.

  She is still not quite sure how to even turn this high tech shower on. She began to look at the 3 walls. She noticed that one of the tiles revealed a digital control panel. A voice as soft as silk spoke to her “How would you like to shower this evening?” Thinking she would be a smartass she replied to the voice. “I just want to relax. How about under a waterfall somewhere in Hawaii? Think you can manage that one for me?”

  The tiles in the shower instantly took on the appearance of a Hawaiian grotto; a warm brush of air faintly touched her skin, though she saw no vents. The ceiling began to rain down a waterfall of hot water. Raven was blown away. She even heard the calls of tropical birds over the sound of the water. It really looked and felt like she was standing under a warm waterfall in Hawaii. Exactly the place she wanted to be.

  She took a long shower, washing away the grime of the day, watching it swirl down the drain. Then she just stood there a while letting the water wash over her easing some of the tension from her muscles. When she stepped out of the stream of falling water the shower turned off and the door lowered back into the ground, the grotto became marble tile again. “Am I dreaming this?” she wondered aloud. She jumped as the voice in the bathroom replied “No my dear, this is all very real, your towel is to your right. You will find a bathrobe next to it.” She reached out and took the towel. It was as warm as if it had just come out of the dryer. As she dried off it seemed to not only soak up the water droplets that were kissing her tanned skin, it seemed as if it soaked up what little stress had been left behind by the amazing shower. She slipped into the bathrobe and went to sit at the vanity. As she picked up the silver brush and began to stroke the tangles from her hair she noticed that she looked different, even to herself. The reflection looking back at her from the mirror didn’t seem to be the same one that had looked back at her only a few days ago.

  Her eyes seemed to be playing tricks on her mind, as she finished brushing her hair it looked like a soft stream of light was falling around her shoulders; she finished her time in the lieu by brushing her teeth. Walking into the bedroom around the huge bed she let the bath robe fall to her feet as she pulled the bedding back before she crawled between the sheets, feeling like she was sinking into a cloud as the bed gathered around her, all cozy and warm. Looking up, she saw the canopy above her was adorned with a mirror. “Well, I guess it’s not completely 19th century authentic” she chuckled to herself. Looking at her reflection, it dawned on her that it seemed her scar was smaller. Odd... she knew sleep was coming quickly so she verbally turned off the lights. Safe under the covers, she was asleep in less than five minutes as the ocean sang its lullaby to her.

  Chapter 14

  Within minutes of falling asleep her mind went into its subconscious bringing her dreams out as if she was watching it on a big movie screen. She was sitting on the shore overlooking the ocean as the fog rolled in. She pulled up a blanket around herself as she got colder. Out of nowhere Gabriel was sitting at her side. His body had a hue of light about it, like he was radiating heat or light towards her. When he smiled at her she just let the dream continue. She laid her head on his shoulder as she watched the wave’s crash on the shore.

  For an hour they sat in silence, just watching the surf. She was thinking about all the questions that had been building in her mind. Feeling the warmth of Gabriel pressed up against her, she thought she might just be able to get some answers to those questions. Tilting her head up, looking into his emerald green eyes, he looked back at her with a soft smile. She knew at that moment he was looking down into her heart. He liked being there, even when he saw all the wounds that men and life had inflicted upon her.

  Raven felt safe with him in this dream. Deciding to take a chance, she whispered “Do you think I am crazy?” Gabriel smiled. “No, not at all. You just haven’t introduced yourself to your heart.” She looked at him wondering what the hell he meant. “Have you ever known who you actually are as a person? Do you know your purpose as it has been laid out since before you were even a gleam in your momma’s eye?” She bit down on her lip and looked at the waves rush in to the shore, soaking in the question, lost as to where she may find an answer. Looking back at him after several silent minutes, she said; “I don’t. Are you telling me that you have an idea of who I am supposed to be?” Gabriel playfully leaned into her as he began to look off to the distance of the ocean. “Would you like to take a walk?” he asked. Taking her hand he lifted her up, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders making sure she was warm enough. They began walking toward a group of rocks in the distance. As they walk, Gabriel didn’t say a word. She stopped him and looks up into his eyes “Please tell me what you see.” He looked back at her for a moment then started talking quietly as they began to walk again. To her, the sound of the ocean crashing on the shore faded away. All she heard were the words as he spoke.

  “I see in your eyes years of abuse. How you were handed around by family to be nothing more than a sex slave. I can see your heart stop believing that day. As scar after scar has been added, you’ve used them as bricks to build this huge wall that surrounds your heart. You’ve been running for years.”

  They continued the slow pace down the shore as he continued. “You’ve lied to yourself. You’ve told yourself that you’re not running from your past, but running to something better. Yet, with each chance you’ve had to stop running and face all you have been through, you do this little dance with those trying to know you. You let them in for a brief period, then you find some way to destroy the friendship and you start running again.”

  “Dennis is the longest partner you have had in the 15 years you have been a cop,
and that partnership is only going on its second year. When you look at him you see a relic of a bygone day. You make yourself somehow superior to the man when you should be thanking God that you have one of the best cops ever as your mentor and partner. When you’re done playing bad ass chick cop you go home and drink the day away or fall into some fantasy where your sexuality drives you.”

  He stopped, turning to face her, he put his hands on her shoulders he looked almost sad. “You’re like many other women I have walked this shore with. The difference is they had the guts to admit that their way of living was slowly killing them. I don’t think you will make that admission. You are too stubborn for your own good sometimes.” Fire flashed in her eyes as she grabbed his arms. Rage boiling, she was about to unload on him when the look he gave her sent a shiver down her spine. “You can rage at me all you want Raven. I speak the truth and that hurts at times. Let it out, or you can keep feeding yourself this bull shit lie you’ve lived in so long. With his words, she slipped from his grasp and fell to her knees crying.

  She woke up to the sun coming through her window. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she looked out at the amazing view from the windows, she hadn’t noticed them the night before. The blue ocean seemed almost within reach. She could see the foam of crushing waves, the spray leaving water droplets to slowly slide down the window panes even though the beach is a few hundred yards from the house. Slipping from the warmth of the bed, not bothering to put on the bathrobe she crossed the room looking out. Stopping to stand in the sunshine coming through the glass, she took in the view, letting the remnants of the dream drift through her mind. From the corner of her eye a lone man captured her attention. He was surfing expertly. She moved closer to the window noticing that he wasn’t wearing a wet suit, just board shorts. She watched mesmerized as he rode a final wave into the shore, suddenly realizing it was Gabriel she was watching. As he came up on the beach she could see his chest and stomach were covered in more scars than she had seen before. As he turned around she can see that his back is massively scarred as well. Shivering at the site, she looked down and realized that she was standing naked. Even though he had his back to the house, she still felt a blush rise in her cheeks. Turning, she crossed to her bags and pulled out jeans and a t-shirt and quickly dressed for the day. Going back to the window, she watched him step out of his shorts and pull on a pair of black and grey camouflage print sweat pants.

  Gabriel looked out over their stretch of beach as he drank hot coffee from the thermos he had brought along. Turning his gaze out over the swells he sat the thermos down and his eyes drift closed. His breathing slows as he listened to the steady beat of his heart. As he feels the calmness surround him he offers up his morning prayer. He began by giving thanks for the day before, he then asks for safety for Michael. Finishing the prayer by asking that the enemies he and his brother face will come to know their place in the spiritual battle that has raged on earth since the Garden of Eden was closed, even after the Lord gave the gift of his Son to the world. Opening his eyes, he looks up to the heavens for a moment before saying “Amen.”

  Walking from her room Raven entered a massive hallway lined in rich deep wood, the floors covered in plush red carpet. The further she walks; she gets more lost in the ambiance of the place until she stops in front of a much bigger room than her own. She peaked her head into the room only to be surprised by a towel clad woman coming out of the bathroom “May I help you.” the woman asks. Flustered Raven stammered “I.. I’m... I’m sorry. I am new here and don’t know my way around.”

  With a smile the woman walks over extending her hand. “My name is Maree. I live here helping the brothers with their group. You must be Raven.” Raven, speechless, nodded her head. Maree looks at her for a moment then tells her. “Give me a minute to get dressed and I’ll show you around the place.” Turning to leave the room, she waived toward the couch. ”Why don’t you take a seat on the couch? I shouldn’t be but a few minutes.”

  Raven sat down and took in the view from the windows that made up almost the entire wall. She could see down the mountain to a meadow that ended at the cliffs edge. She could imagine from there it would be a straight drop to the ocean. It was a picture perfect view. Looking around the room at the furniture she saw that it was much more ornate than the furniture in her room. The sleigh bed was carved from some sort of exotic looking wood with a faint purple tint to it. Carved into the foot of the bed was a warrior with his sword battling a demon the carpet was a thick snow white blanket that her feet sank into. Turning her head, she saw the walls were adorned with pictures of various women. She walked over to get a closer look; she noticed that some of the pictures were of tombstones. “That’s odd,” she thinks, “who would hang pictures of tombstones in their bedroom?”

  On the opposite wall was the biggest fireplace she had ever seen. It was easily big enough for her to have walked right into it with room to spare. Crossing the room, she noticed how it had been finished in a stone that looked like a mix of quartz and marble but it was rough to the touch. The stone had the same tint of purple as the wood in the bed frame.

  Maree stepped out of the bathroom wearing a cream colored Aeropostle suit. Pants, top and light coat all perfectly matched. Raven couldn’t help noticing that she was absolutely beautiful. Dark auburn hair with sky blue eyes, she looked like she had just stepped from the cover of a magazine. Raven couldn’t tell if her dark skin tone was from a Hispanic bloodline or Italian. As Raven continued to look at her, Maree began to get uncomfortable. Clearing her throat she asks if she would join her for some coffee and breakfast, they could talk over the meal.

  Raven walked with her down the hallway, passing her own room and a couple of closed doors along the way. With the high ceiling and dark wood walls, the place almost had a castle-like feel to it. The forged iron hinges on the doors enhanced the feeling even more. Trying to break the awkward silence Raven said “This place is amazing. So elegant, yet it feels so safe and comfortable....Even welcoming at the same time.” Maree smiled at her as she turned and led Raven down another hallway. Falling silent again, Raven could only look around her.

  A thirty foot cathedral ceiling covered in elaborate copper and pewter tiles. The walls and floor were pure marble. The effect was amazing. Their footsteps echoing around them Raven noticed more closed doors here as well. “How many rooms are here?” she asks. ”This is one of five floors in the place. This floor houses about twenty comfortably.” Said Maree

  Rounding another corner Raven came to a standstill. The room before her looked as if it had been taken straight from Vatican City. As Maree gently urged her forward, she noticed the view was almost 360 degrees of the ocean. It was simply the most beautiful place she had ever been in. On the other side of the room they came into the kitchen. It was more like mess hall on a military base Raven thought. She looked around at the ten industrial ovens, made by the best German manufactures, flanked on each side by a huge oak paneled fridge and pantry. A huge island sat in the middle of the room, the surface the highest quality marble she had ever seen. High backed bar stools lined one side; the other side held sinks and dishwashers built of the same quality as the other appliances. Maree asks her, “What can I get you for breakfast sweetie?” Her voice and the smell of hot coffee placed her at ease instantly. “I will take coffee with Hazelnut and sugar if you have it and maybe a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese?”

  Maree waived for her to take a seat at the island as she went over to the counter. Placing the bagels in the toaster, she grabbed cups and small plates from the cupboard. Getting the creamer from the fridge, she gathered the sugar, cream cheese and a knife and sat them all in front of Raven. Moving back to the counter she caught the bagels as they popped up from the toaster and placed them on the plates, then filled the cups with steaming coffee. Walking back to the island, balancing it all like an expert waitress she set it all down and slid into the seat next to Raven. Maree looked around the room and said, “From the look on your fac
e you’re feeling about like I was when Michael first brought me here years ago. Kinda overwhelming isn’t it?” Raven, looked at her a moment before answering “So you and Gabriel are not together?” Maree instantly began to laugh. “Oh my Raven, no there is nothing between me and Gabriel, or me and Michael either for that matter.” Raven’s thoughts flashed back to the way Meagan had laughed at her apartment when she had asked almost the same exact question. Maree’s voice brought her back from the memory. “They helped me a few years ago, as time went on they groomed me into being a counselor, I live here with about five other counselors full time. We’re here to welcome and help those that they bring in. This is one of two houses they have in the country.” She began spreading cream cheese on the bagels as she continued. “The other is up in the Northwest somewhere, a town called Spokane. That one is much the same as this one. Like I told you before, this place is different it was actually a military base during World War II. It seemed like no one in California even remembered it existed.” She put a bagel in front of Raven and refilled the coffee cups. “Michael found it one day when he was out hiking. It had long since been abandoned, so he made some calls and bought the place from the Government for a steal.” Around bites of her own bagel she continued. “It’s a 100 acre parcel that runs from the Santa Monica mountain range down to ocean.” she said, waving her bagel in the general direction of the crashing surf outside. “There is only one floor above ground, everything else is down below or built into the cliffs above the ocean. What were once troop quarters and machine gun bunkers Michael and Gabriel built into what they call their retreat. I’ve never really understood why they call it that, since they’re only here long enough to bring folks in or to go surfing on their private beach down there. I’ve never seen either of them just come here to relax. Oh yeah this place is more secure than the white house! As people’s safety is always their first concern.”