by CK Dawn
Gabe broke out in a sweat as Dan pulled the sickle from his lower back and plunged it into his left shoulder blade. The same excruciating dissection continued down his second scar. The pain rose to agonizing heights as it erupted across his entire back. Son of a bitch. Gabe closed his eyes and bit on his lip hard enough to draw blood. It trickled into his mouth, sliding under his tongue. He swallowed the metallic taste, focusing his gaze on the wall, and following the cracks as if they were trails to freedom. Don’t scream, damn it. When the sickle at last ended its torments at his lower back once more, Dan twisted it and tore it free from Gabe’s body taking a chunk of flesh with it.
“Beautiful, no?” Dan circled into view holding the piece of bloody flesh in his hand. He dangled it in front of Gabe’s eyes as if it were a bone to a dog. “I’d ask you to fetch, but that’d just be cruel.” He laughed, the low sadistic sound echoing through the small room. “And do you know why else I love playing with the fallen?” He stopped as if waiting for an actual response, and when none followed, continued, “No? Well, let me tell you. Because they heal so fast. And then I can do it all over again. And again… Isn’t it wonderful?” The last words were almost a rough whisper.
Placing the flesh aside, Dan knelt and examined his tools once more. With a feather light touch, he graced the tip of a razor, and then skimmed the edge of a saw. As his eyes flitted between the two instruments, a loud chirping sound distracted his musings.
“What now?” he muttered. Dragging his gaze away from the weapons, Dan peered at the communication system with narrowed eyes and flaring nostrils. The continuing barrage of chirps caused his brow to furrow. He rose, crossed the room, and pressed the unit to speaker mode. “Why are you interrupting my work?”
“Your master wants to know if you’ve gotten any information from him yet,” said an oddly familiar voice from the other side. Gabe struggled to keep conscious and coherent through the pain. With as much focus as he could manage, he tried to match the voice with a name.
“I was getting around to it,” Dan said crossing his arms.
“You didn’t even ask him anything yet, did you?” accused the voice. A moment of awkward silence followed. “I’m coming up. You’re done.”
“This is my interrogation! I’ll conduct it how--” A buzzing from the other side cut off Dan’s protest. “Old fallen bastard! Thinks he knows everything. Just because he had some information from a ridiculous book, all of a sudden he’s the Boss’ favorite.” Dan kicked the wall below the communication system. “Asshole!”
A slow dawning crossed Gabe’s mind and he thrashed against the restraints. In his weakened physical state, however, the bindings refused to budge. His rage increased as the metal straps tore deeper into his wrists.
“Whoa,” Dan said. “What’s got you all hot and bothered? Found out one of your buddies is playing you for a fool, huh?” He laughed while walking behind the iron chair once more. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t like him either.” He patted Gabe on the head, then walked back around to collect his tools. As he wrapped them up, a knocking reverberated throughout the room.
“Open the door, damn it. I don’t have time for games,” the voice demanded from outside.
“Guess we’ll have to continue this later.” Dan smiled bright as he placed his hand in his pocket and flicked a switch. The door swung open to allow the stranger entrance. Gabe’s heart kicked into high gear as he watched the fallen, whom he’d thought was a friend, enter the room.
“Your services are no longer required, Dan. You can go,” Albert said low. He stepped aside to allow him space to leave.
Dan muttered something incomprehensible before slamming the door as he left. The silence followed like a blanket of despair. As the two fallen remained alone in the room, tension permeated the space thicker than oil. Gabe stared at the old fallen with blinding fury. Albert simply looked back, pity in his eyes. Neither dared speak for several moments.
“I can’t imagine what you must think,” Albert said. “Nor the pain you suffer.”
“No.” Gabe growled. “You can’t. But, I’d be happy to show you.” He pulled once more against the restraints causing blood to seep through the bindings.
“Please,” Albert said, alarm raising his voice an octave. “You’ll only cause yourself further injury.” He placed a hand on Gabe’s shoulder and pushed him back with delicate care. “If you want to help your charge, you’ll listen to me instead of fighting.”
“Take your hand off me, now.”
Albert snatched his hand away and stepped back. In a firmer tone he said, “I know you’re angry, but do you want to help Cassie or not?”
“If she’s suffered anything because of you…” His voice deepened, a dry desert. The rage threatened to consume him.
“If you calm down, I can explain.” When Gabe made no motion to relax, Albert continued, “Will it help you to know Cassie is safe?” He clicked on the TV screen behind him and switched it to an unnumbered channel.
Gabe looked at the monitor. He watched as Cassie, alive and well, stood on a balcony observing the casino games. Her smiling face eased his anger enough to at least take the edge off. He sat back in the iron chair and relaxed. With more control, he turned his attention back to Albert.
“When Rafe told me you’d mouthed off to every fallen and demon in Vegas about the Sacred Key, I assumed it was because of your curious nature. That you couldn’t help yourself.” He stretched his arms to alleviate some of the pressure on his wrists. “I never dreamed it was because you were a traitorous bastard!”
Albert knelt down so he was eye level with Gabe. “I deserve your wrath.” His eyes filled with unmistakable sadness, the unshed tears brimming just below the surface. “But, let me at least explain.”
Gabe stared back daggers but gave no refusal.
“You may not like what I have to say, young one, but here it is. I’ve lived on this Earth for over two thousand years. You don’t yet understand what that means as you’ve only been here a few weeks.” He lowered his head. “But, I’ve come to love this place, to see it as my home. I don’t want it changed.”
“It’s not up to you to decide,” Gabe shouted. “Who the hell do you think you are?” He shifted in the chair. Pain sliced up his arms. He fought to control his ire. “Change is coming. You said it yourself. ‘We all knew this day would come.’ It’s what you told me and what’s been written.”
“Yes, we all knew it would come. But, we don’t all agree on the outcome.” Albert rose and began to pace. “I went to the angels first, of course. I tried to talk some sense into the council. Make them see the world didn’t have to change. Do you know what they said?”
Gabe had an idea as he recalled his own conversation with the Light’s angelic council, but said nothing.
“They want your charge dead. Can you imagine it?” His pacing increased, his hands folding and unfolding in front of him as he walked. “I’ve never killed one of this Earth before and I’m not going to start now.”
“So, demons are the next logical choice? You don’t get the answers you want, so you seek Darkness instead?”
“No!” Albert’s pacing stopped at once. He fell to his knees again, his palms flat against the hard floor. “I went to our fellow fallen, to Rafe. I told him about the Sacred Key. But, he had no better solutions than me. What was I to do?” Balling his hands into fists, he banged them on the floor like a child.
“You’re supposed to be a guide, a beacon for all those who fall. Look at you now, pathetic.” Gabe’s anger mixed with pity as he watched the older fallen’s display. “You’ve been here for two millennia and have learned nothing, yet you have the nerve to call me ‘young one’.”
“The answers are never easy.” Albert looked up, a harsh light shining through his gaze. “Killing the Key wasn’t an option. And if the Light comes, the Earth will be unrecognizable. I will have no place in it.” His eyes turned to a softer glow. “I had limited options. The demons seemed the sole c
hoice left. They’re already here. They mix with humans every day, more and more of them. I thought they would keep things the same. Preserve the status quo if they bonded with your charge. I was a blind desperate fool.” He caught Gabe’s gaze once more. “All this time I always believed curiosity led to my banishment from the Light. I see the truth now in your eyes, my young friend. All of my convictions are nothing without the courage to back them up. This lack of courage has led us here.” He stretched a hand forward. “I will make amends.”
“You want to make up for your insane decisions, for your cowardice, then get me out of this chair and take me to Cassie.”
“I’m sorry, young...Gabe. But, if I do, you’ll be spotted. Since I also can’t allow you to hurt yourself anymore...” Without warning, he sprung from where he knelt, and clapped Gabe on the side of the head. Gabe’s chin fell onto his chest as his head rolled. His eyes widened for a split second.
In the last instance of coherency he heard Albert say, “Rest now. Regain your strength. You’ll need it soon.” Then he watched as Albert left, shutting the door behind him.
Eighteen
“Who...? How...? What the...?” Cassie struggled to vocalize even one of the myriad of questions swimming through her mind. How did I get here? Who is he? Her eyes darted around the room taking in her surroundings. She lay on a white sofa in the middle of a room with four white walls. No windows, no doors could be spotted anywhere. With panic threatening to take hold, she focused back on the man in front of her. Why does he look like me? Why is he calling himself “daddy”? It can’t be. She sat up and settled on, “What the hell’s going on?”
“Easy, child,” the stranger said. He stood over her, a tall and imposing figure from her seated position. A dark wool suit made his fair skin appear like polished ivory, while serving to cover his massive frame. The long roguish dark hair matched his black bottomless eyes. His size might make him the envy of any athlete, but his striking features would win him the heart of any nosferatu fanatic. He knelt, grazing a hand over Cassie’s knee. In a mocking tone he added, “Daddy would never hurt you.”
“You want to explain yourself or do you want to keep up the ridiculous sarcasm?” Anger won out over fear and she opted for a strong offense. She stood up, pointing her chin in the air. “You’re not ‘daddy’ and even if you were I sure as shit wouldn’t call you that. So, start talking or I start making things messy.” She squeezed her hands into fists for evidence, and prayed her bluff would work.
A low laugh filled the room. “I had a feeling I’d like you.” He narrowed his eyes, letting his gaze linger on her face. “Yes, we’ll get along just fine.”
The stare brought her chin down and she fought the urge to shuffle her feet. Fighting back the dread, she met his intense look with one of her own.
His eyes softened. “Well now, let me explain.” Waving a hand at the couch, he made a motion for her to sit. She remained standing. He didn’t push the issue further, and continued as if the suggestion had not been made. “I’ve brought you here because there are some things you need to be made aware of. You already know I’m your father. You dreamed about me, did you not?” Cassie started to speak, but a hand prohibited the action. “You’re about to utter denials, but think first. A part of you has always known the truth. It would save us time if you acknowledge this. Do you want to know more or not?”
Cassie closed her eyes as the hand moved away from her mouth. She tried to let her instincts guide her, but curiosity bubbled inside. “I’ll admit you’re somewhat familiar, but I’m not about to accept anything at face value.” She crossed her arms. “So, you want to talk, I’ll listen. But, you give me a name to call you, a real name, and let me out of this room. Then, you can talk yourself red in the face.”
“Brave.” He grinned, a warped set to his lips. “Very brave. Your terms are fair enough and I have nothing to hide from you.” He looked toward the ceiling in the right hand corner of the room. “Open,” he said to the empty space. From the middle of the closest wall, a hidden door materialized and slid open. With a flourish of his hand, he said, “After you my dear.”
Cassie tried to make her strides calm and even, despite having the desire to bolt through the door. Since having awoken in the white room, she’d wished like hell she’d just listened to Gabe. The thought of him caused her heart to do a small somersault even now. Yet, pangs of guilt swept through her as she imagined him returning to the motel room to find it empty, her one lined note the only clue of her fate. If I can just get to a phone or pretend to have to use the bathroom, I’d have a chance. Her musings of escape didn’t last long because the man’s next words were not what she expected.
“Your mother had similar eyes, you know.” The statement was uttered in a soothing manner as he walked a step behind her. “She’d been here for some time when we met, so they’d turned from gold to hazel.”
The comment caught her off guard and she stopped just outside the room. All plans to run halted as well. “My mother?” she whispered as she turned to face him once more.
“Yes, your mother. She was an amazing woman. Quite a lot like you actually. Beautiful, courageous, cunning. I fell in love with her,” he said, passion breaking past the surface. “It took some time to win her over, but eventually she fell for me too.”
Cassie allowed herself a moment of absolute stillness. Logic and reason fought against a deep yearning to know more, a yearning she’d felt for years. Unresolved, she stalled. “You haven’t told me your name.”
“Valefar,” he said smiling. “But, just call me Val.” He held out his bent arm to her.
“Val,” she said as she took his arm. “You’re a demon. I have no reason to trust you.”
“Ironically, child, your mother said the same thing.”
Cassie sat on a plush antique chair. The detailed woodwork featured hand-carved floral leaves. The gold trim around the edgings of the arms and legs complimented the burgundy seat cushion. Val sat across from her in a chair of similar design. Stonewalls of deep reds and burnt oranges gave the room a warm feel. A paned glass window at least five feet high and equally wide allowed light to filter through the room in shades of blue and green. Upon the far wall, a high sleek desk with carvings as intricate as the chairs laid pushed aside. Val had wanted to make the space more compatible for intimate conversation, or so he’d claimed.
Time had passed without measure. It could have been hours or days; it was impossible to tell. Val had a way of entrancing a person with his voice alone. After listening to him speak about nothing more than the mundane, Cassie realized why her mother, a fallen angel, would risk all to be with this demon. He was without question, charming. But, Cassie had been hurt enough times and endured as many hardships to be cautious, naivety having long been cast aside.
“You’ve told me a lot about my mother, and I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” she said, choosing her words. “But, you haven’t said a word about why you really brought me here. I know what you want.”
“Spirit. It’s what makes you so unique. You have such a spirit. I wish your mother had half of it, maybe then I wouldn’t have lost you for so long.” He breathed deep before continuing, “When you were born, she feared those of the Light would try to take you or kill you. Keys aren’t supposed to exist. To protect you, she gave you up. She wouldn’t even tell me where she sent you, fearing I’d go and claim you right away. She was right. I didn’t want to lose my daughter.” He brushed Cassie’s cheek with the back of his hand. “Then, she disappeared. She left a note saying she was going to seek redemption for all of her wrongdoings, but she’d always love me...even if it was wrong.”
Cassie tried to keep her emotions in check. This same man killed your parents. The dream was clear. Don’t forget it. She took a breath. He’s trying to use you. A good actor. That’s all. She chided herself, even though a part of her so wanted to believe him, to believe he cared for her. Because, after all, demon or not, he was her biological father. A part of him was
in her.
“I spent years trying to find you. By your seventh birthday, I had finally tracked you down. I thought you’d be ascending into your powers. I didn’t want you to go through it alone.”
Squirming further back in the chair and struggling not to leap from it, she screamed, “Enough tricks, damn it. You want those powers for yourself. You killed my parents just to try to get them. To get me.”
All of Val’s sweet pretenses eroded for a heartbeat while he stared at her as if he could bore a hole into her mind. For that single second, Cassie could distinguish his true face. The sudden anger disappeared, however, replaced by his bewitching charm. As if speaking to a cornered animal, he continued, “I wanted my daughter to stand beside me. But, I didn’t kill your adopted parents. By the time I arrived on that highway, you were already going through an episode, your headache. The car started to spin out of control. I had only seconds to get you out in time. I couldn’t save them. I’m sorry.” He paused with, what to Cassie’s ears sounded as, a dramatic sigh. “When I realized you weren’t going to ascend then, I left. Your mother’s wishes echoed in my head. All she wanted for you was a normal childhood, free from those who could harm you. If I took you with me then, you never would have had it. Leaving you there as the sirens blared was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” He leaned in closer and placed a hand on her chair’s armrest. “But, it was the right thing. Every now and again even demons can do the right thing, my child.”
“Demons are pure evil.” The fight began to fade from her, replaced by tears instead. A lifetime of doubts and uncertainty battled her desire for familial love. Losing her parents had been the most painful experience of her life. She couldn’t ignore how his words touched a deep nerve, even if they sounded put on.
Val shook his head.
“Nothing is pure, Cassie. There is no black and white. There’s always shades of grey, remember. We may be born from Darkness, but we’re not evil.” He raised his hand and wiped away a single fallen tear from her face. “Come with me. I’ll prove it to you.” He rose and stretched out his hand to her.
