Chapter Twenty-Eight- Gabe
I walked out of the hollowed entrance and into the dark. My wings naturally glowed bright against Haymen’s darkness. I insured that the same safety and protection surrounded Vivian despite her natural defense and aura of darkness that tried to protect her from my own.
I stood in front of the entrance making sure my shoulders blocked his view of her. He snarled at the gesture. Reason wasn’t exactly reaching me, even in my weaker state after the ritual. I focused on my bedroom within my own city and teleported one of my spears into my hand, swiveling it and slammed the bottom of it into the ground next to me. I would guard her from him. He began to laugh, the echo cringe worthy as it seeped throughout the trees.
“You seem rather attached to my Vi,” he seethed with a cruel smile. I ignored his statement. This ran deeper than her. But suddenly I realized that a lot of Haymen’s focus was on her. She was something special, she was a weakness of his that I could exploit. When he forced her into the contract he considered her to be familiar and someone he already knew. I wondered who it could be for him to allow her time to nurture and grow. I don’t even think Vivian knew what hold she might have over him. I wondered what she would think of it all now that she had relived those memories that were so tightly tucked away.
“Your assassination attempt failed. How pathetic you’ve become if you fear confronting me yourself,” I said to him. Graphic memories of years of our fighting consumed me. The war which we both desired a serious outcome. Those many years were challenging on my people. To be the head of war and lead my angels was an honor but the truth was, I barely made it out intact. With that much shedding of blood and carnage it was hard for any man to stay sane let alone stay ‘pure’. I was close to the edge of darkness and I wanted it to consume me. Killing would be so much easier if I was a fallen angel. It is harder to be mighty and great opposed to becoming a dark angel and allowing that which came natural to me to be my entirety. But then I would be no better than him.
Haymen brushed his hand through his black hair, the silk fitting for the charming evil that he was. His black tendrils misted from him as throwing knives and blades began to hover around him as he teleported them in. He offered me the vicious smile that I had too often confronted. Our fight had been prolonged to just under five hundred years now. Not because of species and power, but it was personal. Has been since the last war.
“I despise those who take interest in my property. I’ve allowed this ridiculous following for too long now. It’s beyond entertaining. Have you fucked her?” The weapons began to increase and the way he spoke of her only grated on me more. “Do you know what happens to those who touch my property?”
“But she’s more to you than just that, isn’t she? It’s not Vivian you’re actually referring to,” I said coolly. His black eyes mixed with gold, as the mass of his power pillowed out. It was a reaction I’m sure not even he realized that he had let escape. For all his power, there was one thing he always lacked and that was restraint. I didn’t know what laid dormant in Vivian that he wanted or even who he wanted, but it was important to him. He defiled the woman I protected now for his own means. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t know if it was because of the ritual or a protectiveness I carried for generations but I didn’t want him touching her anymore. Especially when she couldn’t defend herself like those two years ago.
Haymen sniffed the air and his head crooked to one side. His eyes fixated on me as they turned to that gold and then black again. His eyes were pulsating as his wrath surrounded me and thickened. “You defiled her?” His voice was only a whisper. “Angel Kiss.”
This had nothing to do with the treaty, the council or even Vivian. I cocked a smile. “Looks like you’re not the only one she is bound to.”
He vanished as the knives propelled forward towards me. I grabbed my spear circling it in a motion so fast that it knocked the blades away from me. In that second, I vanished from the claws of darkness that would dare try to penetrate the light that countered it. I teleported to meet him in the shadows. Teleporting was for only the old and those who could master it. If not done properly some would be lost forever. It was rapid speed and movement as we fought in that motion. For most, to fight while teleporting would be a death sentence. That was most regular warriors. Particles spread around us as we brush past one another time and time again trying to collide and find each other unguarded for a fatal blow.
There were lots of countering as our darkness and light fought against one another trying to counter our physical hits. He was the demon king and I was the war angel. This dance had been playing for far too long. I teleported with my spear aiming to stab him in the chest. He deflected it with his own weapon. I changed my own, teleporting my twin blades and countered his.
Minor demon crows swept in aiming for me as he teleported them in and out. Vile creatures that swooped and ate away at their enemies. I teleported through flocks of them, slicing through them as they came near and countered his next attack. Flames crept towards me and I surrounded myself with water, teleporting in part of the ocean and cocooning it around me.
In every way we were opposites. We would only agree and come to terms on the surface of death. My one irritation was that I knew I was weaker right now after the ritual and I could only keep this up for so long. The ritual had taken a lot of energy from me, taking part of my life to complete Vivian’s.
We fought close to the hollowed tree. I purposefully kept it close, so I knew that he wouldn’t venture any closer to her. It irked me so much to think of him touching her, of commanding her like he did. But within reason, she was his Guardian, contracted to work for him and never had she led on that she opposed that.
I growled and snapped my wings tight in infuriation. Why did I even save her? Was it to get back at Haymen? Because I knew it would end in a fight I had been waiting for, for so long like now?
On the outside of our continuous teleporting there was a presence that crept up. Three to be precise.
“We will end this soon enough. Away from the treaty and commandments,” Haymen said before disappearing completely. I teleported to the front of the hollowed-out tree and swept my wings out allowing my light to destroy the remnants of Haymen’s darkness. We were both technically governed and had to keep the charade up. But one day one of us would end up dead at the others hand. And I would make sure that it was him.
There was a minor cut along my rib that I healed instantly. I waited for the three to arrive who carried light instead of darkness. Angels. But at this sensitive time of just completing the ritual no one would be considered a friend. I tried to rule my head with logic. Why had I performed that on Vivian? A Guardian, a woman contracted to demons and Haymen most of all.
I tried to reel in my protectiveness of her. The ritual was a profound thing. Binding your life to someone else’s... the days following that until we were both completely healed often led to over possessiveness and protectiveness. I had seen a very old friend once save his lover but be executed for the lack of his control after the ritual. He wouldn’t let anyone close to either of them... even his own kind.
I stayed guard out front as the three approached. They were familiar and three faces I didn’t want to see right now.
“Why are you here?” I asked the woman that led them. Tahlia and the two men behind her were in fighting form as usual and security to my father. Tahlia was beautiful in her own right but lethal. Her short bobbed brown hair allowed her tattoos to be seen even up the back of her neck. Her arms were covered in stories of wars she had fought and gruesome stories that she had seen. The interesting thing about Tahlia and the reason my father kept her close was because speckles of her feathers were black. Whether still close to rolling into becoming a fallen and dark angel, she was not all pure. As soon as an angel was compromised they were shunned and discarded but my father made sure to protect Tahlia until that day.
“Your Father requested that we find you after hearing that you were within
Shabeah instead of your own post ruling your own city. A bit old to be playing detective don’t you think?” She said. The other two men looked around. Although I swept away the remnants of Haymen’s presence, we could still feel the evil around us and I tried my hardest to cover the smell of Vivian. I hoped that they couldn’t sense her on me after the ritual.
Tahlia was only short in size but her wings compensated for the size difference. She shut them in tight as she walked closer and the twisted greens of her tips glowed to suppress the darkness from touching her.
“Lyra sent word and concern for how you’ve reacted to Luke’s death. Trailing a Guardian doesn’t seem all that dignified.”
Every part of me wanted to wrap my hand around her throat to protect Vivian and prevent her from stepping closer. I didn’t look towards the hallowed tree but I couldn’t stand the thought of them imposing on her. The other two swept the area and the notion wasn’t unnoticed. They were surrounding me. No one was friend or foe. Even my father at times I had doubts. I was his son, but only by blood. The moment I took to the field he had me only revered as a glorified warrior as he gave pretty military speeches in the background. My father’s power and age surpassed even that of the Council. And very few times would he waste his time checking up on me.
“Then I will make sure to punish her for her disobedience and interference when I return. I was granted access and suspicious rights by the Council.”
One of the men scoffed to my left and this time I snapped. I lunged for him and pinned him to the tree with my hand around his throat. I snapped the blade shut back in its sheath at his waist as he tried to take it out. I snarled at him and stared at him long enough for him to realize his mistake of hierarchy. He might follow my father but I could definitely kill him. My father might’ve eaten well, given pretty speeches as the last war almost destroyed us against the demons; but I was the one leading and gaining that respect of fellow warriors. This young one here, although strong, had no understanding of that. And when I looked him dead in the eye he looked away to Tahlia unsure of what he should do.
I noticed the other angel’s interest heading towards the hollow tree and so I let go of the current one I held and paced back. My maneuver was a tactical one. I was making sure I was in the middle of all three in a defensive position. I opened my wings fully and widened my stance. It was a display of muscle and size. I allowed my power to leak and radiate in a show of hierarchy. But the true purpose of it was to block out the view of the tree.
“Your Father requests you leave here at once. You are creating small talk that raises questions and possible embarrassment for your father,” Tahlia said matter of fact.
“Tell my Father to speak to his son himself instead of sending his dogs. After fifty years of not speaking to his only son, this is what he calls my attention for?” I hissed. “Get out of my sight. Now.” I reiterated to the man standing behind me who seemed to be taking subtle steps closer. “I have another three weeks that I am sure will go by before he knows it. If you do not leave within five seconds I will acknowledge it as a challenge.”
I could feel the wind reacting to my temper as it whirled around us. The storm had reached my eyes and I would not tolerate disobedience. Perhaps I had to send Father a message to stay out of my affairs.
“Gabe, we didn’t come here to fight. All we ask-”
“One,” I began counting to Tahlia. I watched the two men as they slowly circled me. “Two.” I watched them closely. If I wanted to, I could kill all three within minutes no matter how powerful they might be.
“Gabe-” Tahlia hissed. To her I was being a fool. Her patronizing reminded me that of my Father.
“Three.” I clenched my knuckles and the first flash of lightning flickered in the distance as the clouds came over.
Tahlia hissed. “Disengage,” she said to the others. And with that they followed her as she whipped her wings out wide and boosted into the treetops. I waited until the rain began to pour. Minutes went by and I was certain they had completely retreated. I was certain that they didn’t notice Vivian or the residue of the Angel Kiss ritual. If anything, Haymen’s interference had cleared up the remnants. I stepped back into the warmth of the tree and sat across from Vivian watching her as her eyes moved and her eyelids fluttered.
They would report back to my father that I was investigating the forestry outside Shabeah. Let him scoff at the childish detective work he thought I was doing. As I stared at Vivian I wondered to what extent and role she would play to the storm I felt brewing. I looked down on my right forearm and noticed the curl and burn mark of the new tattoo engraved in my skin. It was an array of swirls that had three distinctive lines through it. I looked over at the light pink tattoo that had marred Vivian’s skin matching the exact same imprint. I dragged my hands through my hair and shook my head. Why did I save her? Why would I offer her something so sacred as my Angel Kiss? Angels and demons were not companions. We were two sides of a separate coin, separated by worlds of darkness and light.
I stayed far back from her avoiding the intimate touches that I craved. The few days after the angel kiss would be the worst. Fighting against the urge to protect, claim, and be within the same room as her at all times would be something that would test even me. I wondered if she, the host of demons would feel the same? I looked out at the hammering rain and sighed heavily. No, I couldn’t let it happen. A debt had to be paid after she saved my life. That was all that this was and all it could be.
I had to focus and keep in mind that I was in search of Luke’s killer and the source of the Volv that has taken particular interest in Vivian. My gaze crossed between Vivian and the storm. Where has my logical mind gone and what have I done?
Chapter Twenty-Nine- Vivian
The flicker of heat and flames warmed my skin. I winced lethargically and pushed myself up from the hard, rocky ground. In front of me was a small fire pit, not that weather or temperature change affected me. I looked past the flames and into the intense forest green eyes of Gabe. We stared at one another for the longest time. I’d never cared much for other’s thoughts or opinions but so much intensity coursed through his eyes and pinned me. It didn’t unsettle me but I wanted to know what he was thinking, why such a storm was raging in those eyes and the outside of the hollowed tree we were staying in. Rain pelted down and wafted in a fresh smell from the forest.
There was a part of me I realized with great confusion that wanted to touch him. To see if he was real and moving. His face was stone cold and restrained. It led nothing on. Just raw power of light emanated from him, even if he didn’t realize it, my own darkness cocooned me uncomfortable by its sensitivity to it. No words emitted as I tried to rally my own memory of events.
“I was certain I was going to die,” I said and finally broke our eye contact to look down at my left arm that was intact. My gaze hit the soft pink markings of a new tattoo that marred where my arm had been reattached. I moved it back and forth with full motion. The pink tattoo, but... I looked back up at Gabe and knew that he had done something. The marking felt light, angelic and good. It was uncomfortable on my skin, like the remains of a burn mark to my usual acquainted and familiarity of darkness. “What did you do to me?”
He still stared at me and didn’t move. His knuckles were white and I realized that for whatever reason it was, he was holding himself back from me. I didn’t understand the compulsion to reach out for him either. The darkness that guided me told me to stay on the other side of the fire. But the reality of the situation was, the one man who knew what had happened to me while I was out cold and near dead wouldn’t speak to me. Irritation began to boil. I stood up and headed for the opening. His gaze followed me.
I could smell and feel the rain but as soon as my foot reached the entrance I was blocked in by the light that surrounded the tree. A protective barrier of sorts. It felt and smelled like Gabe. It wasn’t as powerful as Haymen who emitted the same raw power of darkness but I did attempt to press whatever I had again
st it. Nothing, not even a budge. I blew out a sigh of frustration.
“So now you’re going to trap me in here?” Again, he didn’t speak but he took a harsh swallow. The singular motion had me fixating on his neck and the subtle change turned my rage into lust. His arms were defined nicely through his shirt, one that I very much wanted to take off. The room suddenly felt a lot hotter than I wanted it to be and I licked my lips to distract me. But I couldn’t look away and his gaze didn’t leave mine.
There was a pull that didn’t make sense. It was beyond my usual desire of lust and sex. I needed him in me. I needed to... claim him. That key word, claim. Still with the feeling of the light burning the tattoo on my arm, I walked over to him. The tattoo felt like him, was a part of him, and I couldn’t describe in words what I felt against my usual lack of emotion. His knuckles seemed whiter as he clamped his fist in his hand. I knelt in front of him, my eyes tracing over his every muscle and line as if it were the first time I had seen him. No resentment, hatred, or games like we had before. This was a marring I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t love but this felt like the intensity closest to how I imagined it to be.
“What did you do to me?” I asked coolly. Every part of me wanted to pull him in. I thought he was a fine specimen prior and could admit I wanted to have my way with him but something had changed. I have changed and from his firm grip and cock which I noticed had hardened against his jeans as he sat cross legged, something has changed for him too. Before I could lean closer into him and touch him, he pressed his hand towards me to stop. He swallowed hard before he spoke. As if talking to me might be the unleashing of what he tried to hold back. I wasn’t sure of how much restraint could be put on me as he pressed his light against me, which demanded my inner darkness to repress.
The Shadow Minds Journal, #1 Page 23
