by Justus Roux
“I told you not to apologize, Gabby. Besides, I have found a good man.”
“What? Where is he?”
“Lucas is an Archangel and he is off on patrol. He is keeping an eye on Tasmos for Prolo.”
“Elizabeth.” Gabriele hugged her. “Does he make you happy?”
“Oh yes. So you needn’t worry about me. Now go save your friend.”
“I love you Elizabeth.” Gabriele hugged her one last time. The weight that had been on her heart lifted.
“I love you, Gabby.” Elizabeth shoved her towards Ryker. “Just go through the tunnel. I will guide you back down.”
Gabriele grabbed Ryker’s hand and they entered the tunnel. It felt as though they were in the middle of a tornado as they were pulled through the tunnel. Gabriele didn’t remember feeling this when Tasmos brought her here. She reasoned it was because Tasmos was far stronger than Elizabeth was.
After a few moments they landed in a wooded area. Both of them took a moment to orientate themselves. “We need weapons, Ryker,” Gabriele said, trying to catch her breath.
“Where are we?” Ryker asked, looking around.
Gabriele closed her eyes and focused on Ryo. She could feel him, he was near. When she opened her eyes, her clothes and weapons were at her feet. “Thank you Elizabeth,” she said, smiling up at the sky.
“Stay here,” she said to Ryker as she went behind some trees to change.
“I have already seen your beautiful body, Gabriele.”
“I know, but I can’t be distracted right now.” She emerged from the trees dressed like the first time Ryker saw her.
“It suits you.” He smiled down at her.
“Thanks. Now what about you?” She looked him over. He had only his army pants on and nothing else.
“I will make due. Loan me one of your weapons.”
Gabriele tossed her shotgun at him then took out her daggers.
“Why not use your pistol?”
“I am saving that for Kannon. Now let’s go.”
“Right behind you huntress, just remember I can’t run as fast as you can.”
“I remembered that from when we were running like hell up in Heaven didn’t I?”
“I suppose you did.”
“All right then, let’s run as fast as you can.” Gabriele dashed off making sure Ryker was behind her the whole time.
Chapter 19
“Well, well, well, I see you caught yourself a demon hunter, Kali,” a male voice hissed.
Kali pushed Kannon behind her and drew out her daggers.
“What is going on?” Kannon asked, looking everywhere.
“Be quiet and do exactly what I say.” Kali tightened her grip on her daggers. “Manus stop playing games and show yourself.”
“Ah, you are no fun.” Manus jumped down from the tree and snapped his razor whip at Kali. She pushed Kannon back and leapt out of the way. Manus laughed then headed over to Ryo. Manus looked over Ryo’s beaten and bloodied body. He tugged on the chain that had Ryo fasten securely to the tree.
“Get away from my prize,” Kali hissed. “I can’t believe Master let an animal like you loose.”
“Ah, flattery will get you nowhere bitch. I am simply here to observe you.” Manus pressed his body against Ryo’s then ran his tongue over the trickle of blood that ran down Ryo’s cheek. “Tasty,” Manus replied, licking his lips.
“I don’t need your help.”
“Really, then where is Ayden?” Manus opened his arms and gestured all around. “I don’t see him.”
“I will have him by nightfall.”
“You better.” Manus smiled at Kannon as he walked over toward him. “So this is what an Archangel looks like close up.” He let his eyes wander down Kannon’s body. “Frankly, I am not impressed.”
“I care little about your opinion,” Kannon barked back.
“Whatever.” Manus waved his hand at Kannon in a dismissive gesture.
“Leave Manus,” Kali growled.
“So tell me what you plan to do to Asurul’s hunter.” Manus coiled up his whip.
“That doesn’t concern you. Now go.”
“I will leave for now. But be warned bitch…” Manus strolled over to Kali. “I will be watching you. So don’t fuck up.” With that he left.
Kali sat down on the ground and Kannon hurried over to her. “I will destroy him for you,” he said holding her tight.
“I don’t think you can, Kannon.”
“If he touches you…” he ran his fingers through her hair, “we will find out if I can.”
Kali turned around and looked into Kannon’s face. “You mean that don’t you.”
“Of course, nobody will hurt you as long as I am here.”
Kali gently ran her fingers down his cheek. “You are really growing on me, you know that.” She lightly chuckled.
He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently. “I have been thinking. Once you give Lasax Ayden, do you think it is possible…that we could find our own little piece of Heaven, or Hell for the matter, just for us?”
“Master did say I could have anything if I brought him Asurul, so it may be possible.” Kali turned from him. She did care about this damn angel; this wasn’t part of the plan. Just when in the hell did it happen anyways? Kannon gently kissed on the back of her neck, which brought her attention back to now.
“Alright then, let’s give Lasax what he wants.” Kannon stood up and helped Kali to her feet.
“Make this hunter scream while I try to contact the other. I know those hunters have some sort of bond.” Kali closed her eyes and focused.
Kannon walked over to Ryo with one of Kali’s daggers in his hand. “Scream for me hunter.”
Ryo spat in Kannon’s face, “Go to Hell where your worthless soul belongs.”
“You will pay for that hunter.”
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“Ryker!” Gabriele stopped and then came to her knees.
“What’s wrong?” He hurried over to her.
“Ryo is in so much pain. I don’t know if we will make it on time or not.”
“Well sitting down on your ass, huntress, isn’t getting us there any faster.” He pulled her up to her feet.
“You are right.” She took off running again. She turned around, but Ryker was gone. “Ryker!” she called out. She couldn’t have been running that fast.
“Go huntress and I will follow.”
“Tasmos?” Gabriele looked up and saw Tasmos holding on to Ryker.
“Don’t forget our bargain.”
Gabriele nodded her head at Tasmos then ran using all the speed she had.
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“Oh, that big hunter is stubborn or he doesn’t like you too much Ryo,” Kali stated. “I will try to hone in on Ayden.”
“What about him?” Kannon asked.
“Bye, bye, beautiful hunter.” Kali waved at him.
Kannon bent down and grabbed the dagger again. Just before he got to Ryo, something fell from the sky and knocked him down.
“Hey thanks for breaking my fall, asshole.” Ryker punched Kannon hard across the mouth.
“You!!” Kali growled. She leapt into the air but before she landed, someone grabbed a hold of her.
“Miss me,” Gabriele said, slamming Kali to the ground.
“This can’t be!!!” Kali was enraged. “Prolo should have killed both of you.”
Ryker cocked his shotgun and pointed it at Kannon.
“This is a joke. Just what do you think you can do to me mortal?”
“Plenty, here let me show you.” Ryker fired at Kannon and watched him take to the sky. Ryker hurried over to Ryo, he went behind the tree and at an angle, shot at the chain breaking it in two. Ryo fell to the ground.
“Hang on.” Ryker propped Ryo up against the tree. “Don’t die Ryo; it would hurt Gabriele too much.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Ryo barely spoke.
Ryker’s attention turned back over to Gabriele. She and Kali were locked in battle. Ryker
winced and came instantly to his feet when Kali threw Gabriele over to a large tree.
Ryker hurried over and aimed his shotgun at Kali. He fired but Kali leapt out of the way.
“Here mortal, let me show you what I can do.” Kannon punched Ryker, sending him flying. Ryker lay on the ground for a moment stunned. “Wait, there is more.” Kannon bent down and grabbed a hold of Ryker. “Let’s see how high you can bounce.”
Gabriele reached back and grabbed her pistol. She leapt into the air avoiding Kali’s kick. She landed behind Kali and kicked her hard sending her flying a few feet. Gabriele quickly aimed her pistol as Kannon started to take off. “Not this time, asshole.” She carefully aimed then fired.
Kannon fell to the ground releasing Ryker. “Noooo!!!” Kali screamed and hurried over to Kannon.
Gabriele went over to Ryker. “Are you okay?”
“Ouch.” Ryker slowly stood up. Both of them watched Kali take Kannon into her arms.
“Heal yourself.” Kali cradled Kannon in her lap.
“Kali…” Kannon reached up his hand and cupped her face.
“Heal yourself, damn it.”
“I can’t, the bullet was made…of…Prolo’s silver….”
“Kannon, no, we were going to find our own heaven.” Kali couldn’t stop her tears from falling.
“You do care…for me….” Kannon weakly smiled.
“I do, I do Kannon.”
“Kali….”
“Kannon.” She pulled him close to her and held him tightly as her tears poured out.
She gently laid him down then turned towards Gabriele. “You will pay for taking him from me,” Kali growled and raced off into the woods.
“Gabriele,” Ryo softly called out.
She hurried over to him. “We have to fix you up Ryo.”
“Don’t worry about me. Kali knows where Ayden is. Saban tried to contact me while you battled with her.”
Gabriele closed her eyes and instantly where Ayden was popped into her mind. “ I won’t leave you here.”
“You have to, now go.”
“Huntress.”
Gabriele turned towards the sound of Tasmos’ voice. “Thank you,” he said as he looked at Kannon’s body lying there.
Tasmos walked over toward Ryo and scooped him up into his arms. “I will take him to Isa, that is all I will do.”
“That is plenty, thank you.” Gabriele grabbed Ryo’s hand. “Get better.” She watched Tasmos take flight.
“Ryker.”
“I know, we have to get to Ayden. So what are you waiting for, lead the way.”
“Well that wasn’t exactly what I was going to say, but let’s move it.”
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Gabriele and Ryker made it to where Ayden was. Saban had brought Ayden back to the old building just outside of Chicago.
“Why did you bring him back here?” Gabriele growled at Saban.
“Because he wanted to come back here.”
“Well I see you haven’t lost your sunny disposition.” Michael chuckled as he came out of the building.
“Michael!” Gabriele raced over to him and gave him a big hug. She stepped back when she heard Ryker clearing his throat. “Ryker come here. This is Michael.”
Ryker walked to them and looked the large, handsome, blonde-haired man over. “Nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand towards Michael.
“Like wise.” Michael smiled at him, giving him a firm handshake.
“Where is Miranda?” Gabriele asked.
“With Asurul.” Michael looked over Ryker. “This is your soul mate?” Michael turned towards Gabriele.
“Yes.”
“Will you be taking the test?”
“I haven’t thought about it. We have to get rid of Kali first.”
“Test? Soul mate?” Ryker went to Gabriele.
“I will explain everything later okay.”
“You bet you will.”
Michael handed Ryker a black T-shirt. “Here, you don’t want those wounds to get infected.”
“Came prepared for anything huh.” Ryker took the shirt from Michael.
“Isa told me to bring it along with this stuff.” Michael handed a bag over to Ryker. Inside were shoes, socks and two pistols.
“Ryker what is wrong?” Gabriele whispered to him. She could sense a hostile undertone to his voice.
“So that is Michael. The guy that helped trained you.” Ryker pulled the shirt on. “Don’t you work with any ugly guys?” He was stunned when Gabriele started to laugh. “What is so funny?”
“You are so cute when you are jealous.”
“I am not jealous.” Ryker sat down and put on his shoes and socks. “Okay maybe a little.” He couldn’t help but smile. Gabriele’s laughter was infectious.
“How much time do we have until Kali gets here?” Michael said, as he loaded up his pistols.
“She should be here anytime. Michael, Ryo is injured pretty badly.”
“I know, Isa told me.” Michael saw the worried look in Gabriele’s face. “Don’t worry, Ryo is tough, he will pull through just fine. Where is he?”
“Tasmos is taking him to Isa.”
“Tasmos?”
“Oh, it’s a long story, but I trust that he will do what he said he would.”
“As long as you trust this guy then I won’t worry about it.”
“Have you had a chance to talk to Saban yet?” Gabriele finished loading her shotgun.
“Yep, he seems okay.”
“I sense something coming,” Saban said as he stood guard by the entrance to the building.
“Ryker, would you do something very important for me?” Gabriele said, cocking her shotgun.
“Yes, of course I would.”
“Would you please go into the building and stay with Ayden?”
“I am not going to stand by some pile of dirt while you are out here fighting that demon bitch.”
“Ayden is awake, Ryker, but he is very weak. Please stay with him.” Gabriele wanted Ryker out of sight before Kali showed up. She knew Ryker would be Kali’s first target, what was the worse way to hurt her than by killing the man she loves.
“Damn it,” Ryker muttered. Gabriele’s pleading eyes melted him. “Okay, I will watch Ayden, but the second I feel you are in danger I will come out and help you.”
“Fair enough.” Gabriele looked into his warm brown eyes. “Ryker…” She lowered her eyes from him.
“What?”
She moved closer to him and laid her head on his chest. “I love you,” she quietly said.
Ryker wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly against him. “I love you, Gabriele.” He pulled away a little and placed his hand under her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “So don’t get yourself killed, you hear me huntress.” He stroked her cheek gently. “Wherever you go I will follow.”
“Ryker.” Gabriele reached up and pulled him down to her. She kissed him deeply, wanting to taste his lips.
Michael watched the two. There was no doubt in his mind that Ryker was Gabriele’s soul mate. He couldn’t help but think about Miranda, the other half of his soul. He knew Asurul would protect her. He also knew the fear Gabriele must feel knowing the one she loves was in the middle of all this danger. “Gabriele, we must get ready. Kali is almost here.”
Gabriele kissed Ryker one last time then watched him head over to the building. She didn’t take her gaze from him until he was inside. “Okay bitch, bring it!” Gabriele shouted out hoping to infuriate Kali even more. Kali would pay for what she had done to Ryo, Gabriele would see to that. But even more important when Gabriele killed Kali, Ryker would be safe.
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Ryker entered the building. “Ayden,” he called out.
“I am over here,” a soothing male voice answered.
Ryker went into the small room and stopped in the doorway. Ayden was more beautiful than Prolo. He was at least six two, had long golden hair, a perfectly sculpted body from what Ryker could see. A
yden wore only a pair of jeans. But what was almost hypnotizing were Ayden’s golden eyes. Ryker had never seen anyone with eyes that color before. Even more startling was the warmth that seemed to radiate from Ayden, it was soothing.
“Please sit down.” Ayden gestured to the wooden boxes next to him. Gabriele had asked Ayden through their mind connection to keep Ryker with him, no matter what happened to her.
Ryker couldn’t help but look at Ayden, never had he seen any man this perfect- looking before, not that he often compared other men to each other.
“You have met Prolo?” Ayden asked.
“Yeah.”
“What was he like?”
“Very vain and arrogant.”
“Really, I would think the leader of Heaven would be something more.”
“Afraid not.” Ryker finally took his gaze off Ayden.
“You need not feel uncomfortable around me. I am just like you after all.”
“Well, not quite like me. My parents weren’t an angel and a demon.” Ryker looked up and saw Ayden look away from him. “Ummm, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It wasn’t my place.”
“That is okay.” Ayden laid down. “I must rest.”
“Okay.” Ryker stood up when Ayden fell asleep. He looked him over again. This was the man Gabriele was willing to die for. Ryker couldn’t help but be in awe of Ayden, for if someone like Gabriele thought so highly of him, he must be something very special. Ryker walked over to the doorway and stood guard. Nothing was going to get to Ayden. He owed Gabriele this.
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“Where is that mortal man of yours?” Kali hissed as she landed a few feet from Gabriele.
“Away from you.” Gabriele quickly lifted her shotgun and fired, but Kali leapt into the air.
“Three against one isn’t fair,” Kali growled, looking at the two men. “This is between me and the huntress, stay out of it.”
“Afraid we can’t do that,” Michael said, lifting his pistols.
“I don’t give a shit about Ayden, hunter. I only want to kill this bitch for taking away Kannon.”
Gabriele lifted her hand up stopping Michael and Saban from coming closer. “I alone can kill you demon.” Gabriele cocked her shotgun. “I am going to rip you apart for what you have put Ryker through and for what you did to Ryo.”
