Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1)

by Haviland, Teal

  “What? Okay, wait a minute. You had a premonition—a dream—about vampires, and you believed it?” Nate asked, clearly exasperated. He let out a hard, sarcastic huff. “I have dreams about little men and women flitting about the yard and house—some with wings—but, it doesn’t mean they’re real!” he retorted.

  “Yeah. Me, too.” Nonie said in passing, furrowing her brows, lost in thought again as if she was trying to piece something together.

  Lucas looked at his two friends with a puzzled expression. “Me, too.”

  Gabrielle studied them for a few moments, her expression resembling Lucas’s, though hers carried concern more heavily. “When did you start having these dreams?” She posed the question to all of them, but Lucas was the first to answer.

  “I have since I can remember … maybe three or four years old. But I had another one last night.” He paused to look at the others who only nodded in agreement as if they’d been caught saying something they shouldn’t and didn’t want to make it worse by adding anything. Lucas looked back at Gabrielle. “Why does it matter, Gabby?”

  Gabrielle started pacing again, this time a little faster. Her mind was working overtime. Why would the Gentry have any part in this? She needed to find out what they looked like so she could determine what kind they were, and then she’d be able to figure out their intent better. But she had to get the subject of vampires checked off her list before moving on to other fantastical creatures.

  “We’ll talk about that later. Like I said, Nate, I think the information about the existence of the Qalal is going to be more difficult for you to accept, and rightfully so. People are encouraged to believe in Yahuwah—God, as you call Him—and if you believe in Him, angels follow. With your upbringing, it’s only natural to not have any real doubts about angels existing. But you were brought up to think of vampires as creatures of fantasy—not something to be truly feared. The only problem with that is that this fantasy is a reality that can kill you.”

  “Let’s not jump the gun,” Nate said. “Just because I believe in angels doesn’t mean I believe you’re an angel. Or Emma.”

  Gabrielle sighed. Her level of patience wasn’t what it needed to be to deal with their doubts when their lives relied upon the acceptance of the information she was giving them.

  She spoke in a slightly agitated tone. “I haven’t done this in front of a human in hundreds of years, but we don’t have the luxury of time. You both need to believe what’s being said to you … now.”

  She closed her eyes and pulled her shoulder blades apart, then brought her shoulders back to stand in a normal posture. As she did, a set of large white wings burst free. The air in the room whirled, making the curtains dance and everyone’s hair lift as if being played with by invisible hands.

  The onlookers in the room sat in shock, speechless, with the exception of Nate, who was indeed speechless but no longer sitting where he’d been. He was now perched on the top of the couch, his landing spot after he leaped out of his seat. Gabrielle had to stifle a laugh as she saw Nate’s expression, not wanting to make light of things right now.

  Slowly, she looked at Lucas. Wondering, as her eyes met his, what his reaction was going to be. Lucas gaped at Gabrielle, then a huge grin reshaped his stunned face. His eyes were wide with wonder. He stood and walked toward her.

  “You’re even more beautiful with your wings. Is it okay if I touch them?”

  Gabrielle smiled and nodded.

  He stepped close and put his hand out, his smile growing as he did. Just before his hand touched them, he drew back slightly, glancing at Gabrielle as he did to meet her eyes as if asking permission again. Gabrielle nodded once more for reassurance. Lucas’s hand moved toward her wings and gently met them. A soft chuckle escaped him as he moved his hand over the feathers that covered them. His eyes sparkled as he spoke in whispered awe.

  “They seemed to be nothing more than many layers of smoke, only thicker, but … they’re so solid. I thought my hand would go right through them. They’re so soft—softer than anything I’ve ever touched—but at the same time, I can tell that they’re far stronger than they look.”

  Lucas became quiet again as he caressed hundreds of feathers, studying them. Gabrielle wondered if he noted all the different sizes or the colors, ranging from a silvery white at the lowest points to an almost blinding white at the top. He would surely realize that they gave off a soft, shimmering glow, but what he wouldn’t know is that they would light even the darkest dark. He locked eyes with her. Gabrielle’s eyes began to fill with tears. He reached for her face and drew them together to lightly kiss her lips, then moved close to her ear to whisper to her.

  “What’s wrong, love?”

  She blinked, and a tear slipped past her lashes that he brushed away with his thumb. She lowered her head slightly as she spoke, breaking his gaze.

  “I’m more than a little embarrassed by my theatrics just now. I shouldn’t have done this. There are other ways of convincing a human. I guess they’re all pretty theatrical, though. They kind of have to be for them to believe that the person in front of them is really an angel. Not many take us at our word unless we prove it to them in some Divine way.” She sighed again, and Lucas pulled her face back up to his, seeming to disapprove of her not wanting to look at him. “And I’m afraid of what you might be thinking.” She looked at Lucas. He smiled and then started to laugh.

  He spoke to her in as quiet a whisper as he could. “Gabby, I can’t tell you everything I’m thinking right now because, well … “ he motioned with his eyes toward the others in the room, “it wouldn’t be entirely appropriate. But let me assure you, it’s only positive. How could it not be? You’re breathtaking.”

  Gabrielle couldn’t help her reaction as she threw her arms around Lucas, holding him tightly, burying her face in the curve of his neck so she could smell his wonderful scent. When she finally released him, she saw that Nate had settled back into his seat, his eyes fixed on her. The color in his face was not back to normal. He looked like he might even be a little queasy, judging by the sallow tone of his skin.

  Nonie, on the other hand, appeared to have made a complete recovery. In typical Nonie fashion, she was wearing an enormous smile, busting at the seams to say something. Gabrielle glanced at Ben and was a little unprepared by what she saw.

  He sat back against his chair, his legs crossed, one hand covering his mouth. He kept shifting his eyes to the floor in front of his chair, then to her face and wings, and then back to the floor. Gabrielle noticed Lizzie smiling at her. Then Lizzie gave the hand her husband still held a squeeze.

  Gabrielle turned and walked to him, kneeling down and placing her hand on his shoulder when she reached him. “Ben … are you all right?” She spoke gently, hoping to soothe him. He looked at her, and after several seconds, he placed his hand on the one she’d placed on his shoulder. A sheepish smile played at the corners of his mouth.

  “I’m fine, Gabrielle. So much better than fine.”

  She looked at him and cocked her head slightly, not understanding what he meant.

  “I’ve spent my whole life, my career, going on nothing but faith and instincts that I was right about God. After Emma told us what she was, I believed her to a point, but I have to be honest … not completely. I have proof that most people wish for, beg for. You just gave it to me. Do you know what an amazing gift it is?”

  Gabrielle squeezed his shoulder and smiled, and then she stood to face Nonie and Nate again. “Nate, do you believe me now?” Nate nodded, and Gabrielle thought the color was coming back into his face a little more. “Nonie, any doubts for you?”

  Nonie was still sporting an enormous smile, and she shook her head enthusiastically. “Man, Gabrielle. That was amazing!”

  Gabrielle smiled fondly. She was glad to know Nonie could still talk. She wasn’t accustomed to he
r being as quiet as she’d been. She could tell a long talk was coming as soon as Nonie was able to pin her down.

  “Back to the Qalal,” Gabrielle said, concealing her wings. If they had blinked at the same moment, they would’ve missed it. After she looked like an ordinary human again, she sat on the couch. Lucas joined her, making her give up the end seat. He immediately pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. She sank into him, fitting perfectly against his body—as if she belonged there, as if she was made for him. Although he would have been made for her. She’d been around just a little bit longer than Lucas.

  Nate looked concerned again. “Please, tell me that you’re not going to summon a vampire or wave some magic wand to make one appear just to prove to us they’re real, too.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “No, Nate. I’m sorry if I freaked you out. But I really need you to believe what I’m telling you—what Lucas will be telling you. It’s important … more important than you know.”

  Nate nodded.

  “The premonition I had, the one of the attack, the two of you were also there.” She waited again, wanting to give them as much time to let her words settle as she felt they needed. “We want you to have all the information Lucas and I do so you can be as prepared as possible when, and if, my vision comes to pass.”

  Nonie motioned to Gabrielle that she wanted to say something. “You said if it comes to pass. Is there a chance it won’t?”

  “There is a chance. But my premonitions are rarely unavoidable. It’s only happened a few times in my life.” She smiled at Nonie. “And I’ve been around for a long time.” She looked at Lucas, then back to Nonie and Nate. “I hope with everything in me that this one doesn’t come to pass.”

  Or any of the other horrible things that could be in Lucas’s future.

  She still needed to talk to him about what she found out from Amaziah, but she hadn’t had a chance to and wasn’t even sure how to bring it up to him. How do you tell someone information like that?

  Gabrielle answered all the questions Nate and Nonie had for her the best she could, requesting that they leave what they wanted to know about her for later when there would be time for matters of curiosity. She wanted them to concentrate on learning as much information about the Qalal as possible and how to protect themselves and each other. After answering their questions, she filled them in on the back story of the Qalal’s existence, correcting their misconceptions. When they seemed satisfied and returned to questions that would satisfy their interest in her, Gabrielle cut them off.

  “There are some other things I need to cover, and we’ve already been talking for a long time.” She motioned towards the clock above the fireplace. It was just past seven, and they still weren’t done. “So like I said, let’s stick to what we really need to cover for the sake of your safety. I’ll order pizza tomorrow, and we can sit around and talk all you want about Yahuwah and me and Heaven and Hell and whatever else you want to know.” Gabrielle looked at the Daniels crew sitting around her. “Is that a deal?”

  “Pizza’s good,” Nate said.

  “Oh, Gabrielle,” Ben said. “I hope you have a lot of money. You’ve never seen how much pizza Nate and Lucas can put down in one sitting. I’m sure Lizzie would be thrilled to have the night off from cooking, though.”

  Lizzie smiled and nodded. “Definitely.”

  “Dad’s right. Deep pockets are good with these two. I’ll be there just to see an angel sit in amazement of two humans eating so much. If you’re as stunned as I think you’re going to be when you see them devour a whole pizza each and then go back an hour later for more, maybe I won’t feel so bad about the way we’ve gawked at you tonight,” Nonie said a little sleepily.

  “Good. We’ll move on.” Gabrielle shifted her position, sitting with her back against the couch again so she could see Lucas, too. “Now, about these dreams.”

  Chapter Sixty-five

  Gabrielle ~ The Gentry

  Lucas, Nonie, and Nate looked quizzically at Gabrielle, but before she could begin her questions, Lucas stood and spoke.

  “You know, Gabby, we mere mortals need food to survive. As you already pointed out, it’s getting kinda late, and we still haven’t eaten. How ‘bout we move this into the kitchen?”

  “I could use something to drink,” Nate said as he stood to follow Lucas. “But I don’t think I could eat much right now.”

  Lucas looked at his friend with surprise.

  Nate raised his brow at Lucas. “Look, man … you’ve had some time for all this to sink in. This is unsettling to hear, much less to believe, and I do believe you guys.” Nate paused and looked at Nonie, then back to Lucas and Gabrielle. “I feel a little sick … if you want to know the truth.”

  “Not me!” Nonie practically leapt from her seat and gave Gabrielle a huge hug. “I knew there was something different about you, but I never could have imagined anything this cool!”

  Nonie had her typical perpetual grin as though nothing could faze her good mood. Even though Gabrielle couldn’t resist the urge to return Nonie’s smile, she knew there was a good possibility of things happening that would wipe Nonie’s smile away.

  Possibly forever.

  The knowledge left her feeling as though her stomach had plummeted to the floor. Sometimes she hated knowing the things she did.

  Everyone followed Lucas into the kitchen and began to raid Emma’s fridge and pantry, taking out cheese and crackers, chips, fruit, some cold fried chicken, and a pitcher of sweet tea. Then, they all sat at the kitchen table. After several minutes of everyone passing around food and taking a few bites to satisfy their hunger, Gabrielle began with her questions.

  “You all said you’ve had dreams about little people around outside and sometimes in your houses. Is that right?” She received nods of agreement.

  Gabrielle looked at Lizzie and Ben. “Have either of you ever had any weird dreams about little people?”

  Both shook their heads.

  “Lucas, you said you’ve had these as long as you can remember?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What usually happens in them?”

  A furrow appeared between his brows as he thought. “They mostly peer through the windows at me. Sometimes, though, they’re in the room.”

  “When they’re in the room with you, what are they doing?”

  “Well, usually they’re only looking at me—studying me.” Lucas paused, his expression turning slightly grimmer. “But other times, they form a circle around my bed, close their eyes, and chant. I don’t understand what they’re saying.”

  Gabrielle could see Lucas becoming unsettled as he shifted in his seat.

  “I feel like they’re doing a ritual or something.” Lucas looked at Gabrielle for a moment as though searching for some kind of understanding from her about what his dreams meant, concern creating deeper lines around his eyes. “Gabby, why are you worried? They are just dreams … aren’t they?”

  Gabrielle squeezed his hand under the table.

  “That’s what I’m trying to determine, Lucas. But I have to find out more first. Is there anything else you can remember that stands out about them?”

  “No. Not that I can think of right now, anyway.”

  “Okay.” Gabrielle shifted in her seat to face Lucas more. “Now, this is really important, Lucas. What did they look like? Can you remember?”

  “Yeah. They always freaked me out a little even if I was dreaming. There are two kinds I saw the most. But there are others I’ve seen only a few times. I won’t be able to describe those very well.”

  “That’s okay. Just tell me what the two main ones looked like.”

  “Well, they’re little, but sometimes they start out, or end up, bigger. Like they can change their size. They’re slim in build with narrow noses and large eyes that slan
t upwards slightly. In a creepy way, I would even say they’re attractive. They have really skinny, pointed teeth—and their eyes … they’re black. The entire eye. There’s no white at all. They wear dark clothes—mostly things like vests and fitted pants with leather boots. And they all wear wide, silver-cuff bracelets and carry staffs.

  “The other ones, they’re scarier. They’re shorter, but like the first ones, they seem to change sizes when they want. But even though I mostly see them small in height, they’re big in every other way. I mean with muscles. Not big as in fat. They almost seem dead if that makes sense. Their faces are skeletal, but there’s still flesh. They really don’t have much of a nose, more of just the space where one should be. And I don’t think they have what we would consider eyes. There just seems to be a faint red glow, like hot coals, that comes from the sockets. They wear a lot of long necklaces—all of them have pendants that are the same, but they also have others that are different. They seem to mostly wear long, tattered robes or dresses, and carry battle axes. They’re definitely the creepier of the two.”

  Gabrielle turned her attention to Nonie and Nate. “What can you all tell me?”

  Nonie was the first to answer. “Jeez … that’s so weird. Pretty much the same as Lucas. Right down to the description, but he remembers more than I do. What he described helped me to remember what I’d seen. The only difference is that I’ve never seen them doing any kind of ritual. They just seem to be nosing around.” Nonie paused and appeared to be considering something. “You know … I was thinking while Lucas was describing what he’d seen. I don’t think I have ever had these dreams unless Lucas was staying the night with us or us with him, until a few nights ago. That’s the only time I can remember dreaming about them when Lucas wasn’t in the same room or house. I actually hadn’t had a dream about them in years—since we were younger. Do you think that’s because we haven’t been staying at each other’s houses over-night now that we’re older? If so, why am I dreaming about them now, away from Lucas?”