“Whoa, whoa,whoa.”
Alan turned his gaze from his own animal to behind him where Artemis was being lifted up and down by the white creature she was playing with. Both hands wrapped around the animal’s collar that kept it secured to the wall. Her small shoes rose off the floor and down again as the beast raised and lowered its head.
“Artemis, you should be careful,” Danielle said as she moved to take a step closer to the little girl. Another look at the large animal stopped her from going any nearer.
“Oh, I’m fine. They’re just playing. Help me take off their collars.”
“What?” Danielle said retreating from the animals. “No, why would we do that? That’s a terrible idea.”
Alan’s face split in a smile as he ruffled the beast’s face with both hands. “Ahhh, come on, Danielle, look at these guys. They’re as harmless as puppies.”
“Yeah, really big monster puppies that could eat us in the matter of minutes. No thank you. I’m going to cross my name off their menu today.”
Alan reached up to grab the beast’s collar to see if he could unlatch the chain from its neck.
“Alan, if you unhook that thing and it bites you, I’m not healing you.”
“Fair enough,” Alan said as his fingers made contact with the chain-linked collar.
As soon as Alan’s hand wrapped around the chain, the harness fell from the creature’s thick, muscled neck with a clank.
Alan took a step back as the wolf/dog/sabertooth shook himself and did a happy circle. It returned to Alan’s side and nuzzled against him so hard that he almost lost his balance.
Danielle’s head peeked around the edge of the doorframe. “You guys are crazy.”
---
Gideon arrived at the Temple entrance expecting a warm welcome. The four crates he carried his equipment in were balanced neatly in a single, long stack. It made traveling difficult since he was forced to crane his neck around the boxes to see where he was going. However, he made the journey to the Temple from Lower Heaven without a misstep yet.
Sure, he could have asked a detachment of Angels to accompany him but with Gabriel on the loose they were needed for tasks more important than helping him transport his belongings.
Gideon touched down in the remains of the old Temple just as the stars were beginning to dance across the dark sky. He wasn’t sure what to expect. Once the Temple entrance was opened it remained as such.
Hidden to any beings of human descent, minus the chosen Nephilim, and guarded against the Fallen by Artemis herself, Gideon wasn’t surprised to see the mouth of the Temple left open leading deep into the earth.
Gideon took a look at the height of the tunnel opening then his eyes traveled to the stack of boxes he was carrying with a shake of his head.
The inventor placed three boxes just inside the entrance to the Temple. He was content they would be safe from any Fallen hands if any were lurking about. With a smile, Gideon traveled down the steps with a single crate in his hands.
Gideon couldn’t remember the last time he felt so excited. Maybe it was his last breakthrough when he stumbled upon the answer to making the collars that repressed supernatural ability. Other contenders weighed their worth in his mind; watching the earth dry after the flood, witnessing the construction of the Tower of Babel—although that particular undertaking went poorly for its builders—or maybe the invention of fire. That was a huge accomplishment for mankind even if they couldn’t claim credit themselves as Gabriel had secretly left it for them. Gideon decided this visit to the famous Temple could possibly be the most excited he ever felt.
The stairs went down ever deeper and finally leveled off into a small room opening into an even larger chamber. Gideon stood in awe at the Temple’s beauty.
What sounded like paws running on the stone floor pulled Gideon’s attention away from the awesome wonder of the Temple and onto a large hall leading to a fountain.
Laughing shouts followed the running paws. The voices were none that Gideon recognized. As the sounds grew closer, Gideon set down his crate of equipment and prepared himself to meet the inhabitants of the Temple as well as Artemis herself. He smoothed down his white robe, made sure his hair was pushed to the side off his forehead and stood straight with a welcoming smile on his face.
Three large wolf-like creatures ran at a full sprint towards him. At first he didn’t recognize what he was looking at. As the three animals caught up to one another and ran side-by-side down the hall, Gideon knew what he was seeing.
Someone already freed the steeds of the Horseman of War. Gideon flinched as he thought about the animals’ spotty history. They served whichever Horseman of War was chosen that particular thousand year cycle. As the obedient steed of that Horseman, they followed his instructions whether their orders were for the Light or the Dark.
The animals approached at a sprint. Gideon knew he needed to decide to run or stay to see whether they were friendly. Since they were in Artemis’ Temple and she protected the location from the Darkness, Gideon decided to take a gamble and stand his ground.
A male voice from somewhere behind the animals was yelling as the three beasts crashed over Gideon. “It’s okay, it’s okay, they won’t bite. They just want to run. They’ve been cooped up for so long.”
The voice’s words were confirmed as Gideon was smothered with huge bodies rubbing against him. The slick sticky feeling saliva carried with it covered him as the white wolf licked him as though he were candy-flavored.
---
Alan ran towards the front of the Temple following the animals he had freed. It was a risk releasing them, yet somehow Alan knew they weren’t a threat to anyone’s safety. Their eyes told him as much. The way they looked to him for affirmation. The feeling they gave him as though he should instinctively know who they were.
Alan had just released the last animal, the grey one with a serious face and somber demeanor. It was funny how being around the three animals for only minutes already told Alan something about their disposition. The white creature was playful and gave out licks freely. The black-coated beast was more comical than anything else with his eyewinks and paw high-fives. The grey one was different, wiser somehow. Far from menacing; however, he did show a tinge of wisdom laced with refrain. He was judging the situation. It was still too early for him to start being playful with people he hardly knew.
Alan was debating whether he should pet the grey animal’s head when Artemis looked towards the entrance of their current room with a large smile. “He’s here,” she said to no one in particular. “Let’s go help him with his stuff.”
Without another word, Artemis dashed out of the room. The three dog-like creatures looked at one another and ran after her. Danielle gave a muffled squeal from her safe spot at the edge of the doorway. Her space was soon compromised as the animals ran past her and after Artemis.
Alan gave Danielle a playful nudge as he ran following the convoy of paws and feet. Mimicking Artemis’ voice, Alan teased her, “Come on, he’s here. We’ve got to go help him.”
Alan slowed his speed for Danielle to keep up. They followed the animals and Artemis as they maneuver their way back through the Temple, towards the entrance.
They entered the main hall just in time to see the three animals collide with an older looking man wearing a white cloak. Alan shouted a warning but wasn’t sure if his voice would carry over the sound of paws on the stone floor.
“Well, someone seems to have loosed the dogs of war early,” the man said with a smile. As Alan and Danielle caught up with Artemis, the man was extending a hand and introducing himself to the young girl. “It is such a pleasure to finally meet you and this version of you. I mean, we’ve talked in my head but it’s still different to see you with my own two eyes.”
Artemis shook the man’s hand as if they were old friends. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Gideon. You did a good job freeing Ardat. You saved all their lives. Gabriel would have killed them if you hadn’t acted.”
>
Alan was surprised to see the elderly Angel blush as he accepted Artemis’ words of praise. “Oh, well, that’s what I’m here for: to help in anyway I can.”
Artemis beamed. “I want to introduce you to Alan and Danielle.” Artemis shifted her stance to look at her friends and made introductions. “Alan, Danielle, this is Gideon. He’s a great inventor. His gifts help him in creating inventions and other cool things.”
Just as Alan thought the Angel couldn’t get any redder, he was proved wrong as Gideon’s blush deepened. Alan shook his hand with a smile. “It’s great to have you here. Thanks for coming.”
Gideon gave a few quick nods and mumbled a greeting as he shook Danielle’s hand as well.
“Great, well, do you need help?” Artemis asked looking at the single crate he carried down by himself. The three dogs were busying themselves sniffing across the inventor’s box, the red carpets and whatever else they could press their gigantic noses to.
“Oh, yes,” Gideon said with a smile. His blush was finally starting to fade back to his normal creamy hue. “That would be very helpful. There are three other crates at the top of the stairs if you don’t mind.”
“Great,” Alan said as he moved towards the stairwell. “I’ll get them.”
Danielle and Artemis moved to lift the crate that rested on the floor. As the two heaved, Danielle let out a grunt. “Wow, what’s in here? This doesn’t feel like clothes to me.”
Gideon’s mouth dropped open before he shook his head with an exacerbated sigh. “Clothes… I knew I was forgetting something.”
Chapter 12
“What’s inside all these boxes?” Alan asked as he placed the last crate on the floor of the room Artemis had offered Gideon. The girls were gone now: Artemis to tell everyone about Gideon’s arrived as well as to not be frightened about the three dogs running free in the Temple. Danielle excused herself to check in on Angelica and Seraphim. There was still no word from Michael but Alan had a feeling news and a plan would be coming soon.
“I brought everything I’d need from my workshop,” Gideon said chewing his lower lip. “Everything I’d need except for clothes apparently. Artemis said to prepare for a long stay at the Temple. I was so excited to be invited I forgot some of the essentials.”
“I know what you mean,” Alan said looking down at his own dirty clothes. “If we’re going to stay here much longer, we’re going to need to go shopping or at the very least wash our clothes.”
“Do you think they have washing machines and dryers here?” Gideon asked.
Alan raised his eyebrows. “You guys use those. too?”
The Angel nodded. “We have to: supernatural beings or not, clothes still get dirty.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I never thought about it that way.”
Gideon grinned as he began unloading his equipment. “You’re not what I expected, Alan Price. I like you.”
Alan chuckled at the eccentric inventor’s straightforward manner of speaking. “What do you mean?”
Metal collars, welding equipment and other tools Alan didn’t recognize were placed on Gideon’s bed as he unpacked his workshop. “Oh you know… well, I guess you wouldn’t know. In the past the Horsemen who have been chosen as War are always brooding, depressed, even angry. You don’t strike me as any of the above.”
“Well, if you would have met me a few months ago—even a few weeks ago—you wouldn’t be far from a correct guess.”
“Really?” Gideon paused as he turned to give Alan his full attention. “What changed?”
The question was simple. Still it made Alan pause as he thought back to the events of the past few days. He was still the same person, still the same Alan Price. What was different?
“I don’t know. I guess there have been answers to my questions and now other people are relying on me. I guess it’s easier to be strong for them than it is to be strong for just myself.”
Alan stopped talking as he considered the implications of the words just spoken. Events were moving forward at such a frantic pace he didn’t really have any time to think about his lack of anger or depression. He was reminded of Seraphim’s selfless act to ensure his safety. “Other people are sacrificing for me in a way I’ve never known before,” he added.
Alan raised his eyes to catch Gideon nodding along with his words. “You are different, Alan. I mean that in the best kind of way. Hold on to the words you just spoke. Things will get worse before they get better. Remind yourself of your friends who will sacrifice for you and how much they need you as well. Thoughts such as these will see you through the darkest of times.”
Alan found respect for the inventor growing inside him. At first Gideon seemed like a simple yet brilliant designer. Now after only a few minutes talking with him Alan realized there was a deeper level of wisdom to the Angel.
“Gideon?”
“Yes?”
“You referred to those wolf creatures as they ran toward you, what did you call them?”
Gideon gave Alan a sly grin. “Oh, Artemis didn’t tell you?”
“She couldn’t remember. What are they? Why were they chained in the Temple?”
“Those are your dogs of war, Alan. The Four Horsemen wouldn’t be horsemen at all if they didn’t have steeds to ride into battle.”
Alan knew he should be picking up the pieces of information Gideon was laying for him but he was having trouble seeing the entire picture. “You’re saying each Horseman has a creature to ride into battle?”
Gideon’s eyes sparkled as he nodded. “Why, yes, Alan, of course. The three dogs, and I only call them dogs because that is the creature they most resemble, are named Sir, Burgh, and Uhs.”
The slow way Gideon said the name of each dog told Alan the angelic inventor was waiting for him to put the pieces together. Greek mythology was one of Alan’s favorite things to study both in and outside of school. His high school history class only touched on the subject but Alan devoted countless hours studying the Greek myths on his own. A wave of knowledge crashed on him reminding him of the mythical creature Cerberus who guarded the underworld.
“You’re not saying those three animals are Cerberus, are you? Can you?” Alan was reeling with the new information. “Can they be?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. They aren’t exactly a three-headed dog, history was, shall we say, manipulated to hide the truth. After all, a three-headed dog creature is easier to discredit than an ancient ancestor of the Canine gene pool.”
Alan’s head was starting to hurt with all the knowledge the Temple held, all the history shrouded from humanity. “This is just getting crazier and crazier.”
“You have no idea,” Gideon said as he returned to unpacking his tools. He moved to open a crate, pulling out large dark pieces of sheet metal. “For example, I can manipulate this metal into almost anything I need. It’s practically indestructible and light as a feather. It’s what I’ve been using to fabricate the collars responsible for obstructing paranormal talents”
“Hey, guys?” Danielle’s voice interrupted the inventor’s excited chatter. She was wearing a vexed expression with her hands on her hips, standing in the doorway. “I think I’m going to need your help. Seraphim is refusing to stay in and rest. She says she needs some air, but I told her going outside of the Temple is the last thing she should be doing in her state.”
Alan waved off Gideon and motioned him back to his work. “Don’t worry I’ll go talk to her.”
---
Alan couldn’t imagine what the Death Angel was going through, so he wasn’t even going to try. As he raced up the Temple stairs, he tried to piece together something to say. Seraphim was one of the strongest people he knew. Would she even let anyone be there for her in her time of need? Alan would have to wait to find out as he reached the last step. He found himself in the sharp setting light of the sun’s final rays.
Despite the hour and the fact that the sun was yielding its power to the moon, a bright ray caugh
t him off guard. Squinting past the sun, Alan found himself amidst an army of humans.
Visitors to the remains of the Temple of Artemis were still strolling about snapping pictures and selfies in every direction. Alan froze for a split second before he was reminded that they couldn’t see him. One of the many supernatural laws that had been shared with him, along with three horse-sized dogs named Sir, Burgh, and Uhs.
It was exciting and daunting at the same time. Thinking of all the secrets the Temple held and the supernatural world that he was still only beginning to understand.
People walked in every direction over the worn stones of the once mighty Temple. They weren’t faded like ghosts or dulled as if they were mirages, their sharp colors and unique features were as clear, or even clearer, than before.
Alan caught himself wondering what would happen if he ran into one. Would he actually hit them or pass through them somehow?
His blue eyes were fixed on an overweight man with a bushy mustache cleaning his glasses before he pushed the thought of his experiment out of his mind. He was here to find the woman that saved his life. Other things would have to wait.
With one hand shading his line of vision, Alan searched between the crumbling stone pillars. There was nothing at first, then a wing. One black wing along with only half of Seraphim’s body, her left wing that was still nearly whole, extended from behind a pillar.
Alan walked to the pillar making sure that each step landed with an audible strike to the stone ground warning her of his presence. As he got closer, Seraphim folded her wings into her back. Her red hair was down still shielding the scar on her face. Alan caught the briefest glimmer of tears down her fair skin before she turned her head and brushed them away with a quick stroke of her hand.
“What do you want?” There was no tremble in her voice, no hint she was finally showing any kind of emotion other than anger.
“I—,” Alan still had not come up with the words he wanted to say. “Danielle told me you came up on your own. I just want to make sure—”
Alan Price and the Temple of Artemis Page 14
