Chapter Twenty-One
Gabriel
I know everything.
Before leaving Heaven, I had been informed of everything Father and Michael had been able to compile in the short period of time since my last visit. Armed with more information than I could stand I know now what I am up against, which is driving me even more to protect Serenity.
I need to see her, but this is going to be a visit I could not do with Graham attached. For the time being he is a relative unknown. He had to remain that way. It is the only way I can ensure his safety. I know that in handling it this way I am going to leave the man more than a little upset, but time would eventually heal that. If something happened to Serenity though, it is something that would never heal, not for either of us.
“Graham, it is time.”
“Time for what? Better yet, how did the visit with your family go?”
“It was very informative, which brings me to what I must do now. We need to separate.”
“What? Isn't the entire point of all this for you to be human?”
I need to be careful with the amount of information I give him. If I am not careful and he found out the severity of the situation, he would want to help and that is something that I could not allow to happen. If this all went according to plan, I would need Graham alive and in one piece for my life with Serenity. His involvement, any more than he has been would only hinder that.
“It is, but with what I am being called to do, I need my full power and I cannot achieve that being joined with you. You must understand and heed my warning. Do not attempt to involve yourself. It will only bring more trouble to the very person we are charged with protecting.”
It was not the truth, but in warning him off with mention of Serenity I know it would prove affective. He cared about her more than I anticipated when we joined and any danger that may come her way, he would want to eliminate, even if it meant pulling himself out of the situation.
Desperate times called for desperate measures as it were.
“Fine, I'll back off and let you do your thing, but what does this mean for me? Is your time with me complete?”
“No. Yours will be a lifelong commitment. I will need to join with you again when the time is right, but unfortunately, the plan to get closer to Serenity needs to be put on hold. I need to reach out to her in my true form.”
“Do whatever you have to do. Just make sure nothing happens to her. I don't know what that Ryan guys deal is, but I still don't feel right leaving her with him.”
“I intend to do just that. Ryan will be handled appropriately, of that you have my utmost assurance.”
Though it was sure to be painful for him, I began the extraction process. Father had been right, there is not a moment to spare. Everything is moving at a much faster pace and even though I had not been prepared, I am determined to keep up with it. It must not get the better of me. Doing so could result in death.
“What exactly did you learn when you were up there?” He asks as I finally appear in true form before him. Having come to terms with it days before, the sight no longer seemed to faze him. It is almost as if his mind embraced it as normal.
“That our suspicions of Ryan McGregor are correct. He is one of the strongest dark entities we have ever come across and he has been sent here to cause Serenity a great deal of harm.”
“He's human though, right? So why not stay inside me and let me handle him. It's not like he's an angel and can do much to me. I can take him.”
I greatly appreciate the young mans will, admire his strength, but he has no idea what he would be up against if he faced Ryan. This is one of the things that I could not tell him. I had to keep him detached as much as possible.
“He is not entirely human. I will explain all in due time, but now, I need to go to her. I fear that if I do not leave now, I will not get another chance.”
With a nod of his head in understanding, giving me the exit I need, I vanish from the room, praying as I did that he would heed my original warning and not go looking for trouble. Graham Hudson is a piece of my future and he had to remain that way. I couldn't let anything that happened now fall back on him.
Ryan
I lowered my guard. The walls I had successfully constructed to block out Heaven are now being torn down, giving Serenity the access she needs to allow Gabriel entrance should he choose to make an appearance.
From what she explained to me after I agreed to go along with her plan, she didn't hold out much hope that he would show. It would seem that in his task he failed. He didn’t stick close to her at all times, which had been where I received my first in and now it’s obvious that as much as she wants to believe him, she still had doubts.
Holding On To Heaven Page 36
