The Gates of Gabriel

by Marie-France Leger

  “Why… Why would she do this?” I sobbed. I felt defeated. I felt hopeless, confused, shattered. I felt… like I didn’t even know how to feel. “How am I okay? How am I not dead?”

  Beau stared at me, somber and sincere. He had a blank expression, but his eyes told a different story. I knew he had a million things on his mind, but Beau was never the talking type. His grey eyes glossed beneath his long, dark eyelashes.

  I don’t know how long we had been sitting on the floor in silence, but Beau finally stood up and walked towards the bed. He scooped up the two white feathers and stood against the door, leaning back on the handle.

  “Maya…” he twirled the feathers between his fingers.

  My attention was on Beau, until… until it wasn’t. Something was distracting me. A faint hum, quiet but clear. My name was being called, over and over. Maya… Maya… Hushed whispers encircled me. Where is that coming from?

  “I need you to listen to me.” Beau spoke sternly. “Fuck,” he scratched his head, looking to the ceiling. “I don’t even know how to say this without sounding insane. I didn’t think it would be this hard.”

  Dried tears cemented my cheeks like concrete. I slowly got up, standing with wobbly knees. “What are you talking about?”

  What more could there be? My best friend poisoned me with a mushroom!

  He walked over to me and grabbed my hands. “Maya, you are an extremely important person.”

  Agitation combatted my sadness. A conglomeration of wrathful emotions infiltrated my ability to control my senses. “That doesn’t explain why my best friend would try and kill me!” I flung his hands away.

  He backed up and clenched his fists. “But it does! It does. She’s not herself because she’s being controlled by an incubus. Siles – Maya,” he huffed. “He’s an incubus from hell.”

  My legs moved before my brain processed anything he’d said. Run. I rushed past Beau and made a B-line straight for the door, but he was faster. He moved in front of me, blocking the entrance.

  “Let me out!” I yelled, batting his chest with my fist. His muscular frame deflected every hit without flinching. “You’re fucking crazy, let me out Beau!” I wept.

  I couldn’t control my hands, I couldn’t control anything. My movements were no longer mine; they belonged to my fight or flight. I swatted and slapped his chest repeatedly, and he let me. He’s crazy! He’s crazy! I was losing my mind. Beau had been so normal up until this point. He never showed signs of being one screw off from losing his shit. He was always composed, and enigmatic. What the hell happened to him? Is he on drugs?

  “No, I’m not on fucking dugs Maya.” Beau said flatly, grabbing my wrists.

  Wait? I didn’t say that out loud… did he just? Did he just –

  “Yes, I read your thoughts.” He replied, releasing me. “I need you to listen to me, and I mean really listen to me, okay? Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

  I sunk to my knees in defeat. My thoughts bounced and smashed against my skull, making it impossible for me to think straight. Tears waterfalled down my cheeks but I was no longer sobbing. Crying took no effort.

  I sat there and looked to Beau with weak eyes, completely numb. “I’ll listen.”

  ◆◆◆

  You know when the world around you stops spinning and for one millisecond you feel like you’re floating? As if nothing matters and the worries fade? In between the pauses of Beau’s implausible fiction tale, I felt that. I listened to him, I did. He told me about the archangel Gabriel, and how I was the Puritas destined to end the war of the fallen. He told me how he had watched me and my mother from the day she was born and to the day I was born, to the day she died… yes, he told me it all. He told me that Mags was being controlled by Siles who’s a demon from hell. Lucifer is trying to kill me, apparently. And Beau, Beau… he’s an angel, he is an angel from Heaven. I have to drink from a chalice that will supposedly permit me to walk through all three stages of the afterlife. It’s all planned out. Pre-destined. Like I said, an implausible fiction tale…

  “That’s why your ring glowed around Siles, Maya. Do you remember when you saw me at the police station when we first met?”

  I nodded gently, staring blankly at the wall behind Beau.

  “I was visiting an angel named Blight. He was arrested that day for breaking into an antique shop. He told me that he came to Earth to give you a birthday present… at the time,” he shook his head. “I didn’t know it was your ring.”

  My mouth was dry. “An angel, from Heaven…” I whispered. “Was arrested on Earth. Because he broke into a store.” I spoke slowly.

  Beau now stood up and extended a hand out to me. I blandly grabbed it and faced him. I couldn’t help my docile state, I was a shell of myself. My body was disconnected from my thoughts and every nerve was stunned. I didn’t understand what was happening, how could I? My mind was blank and empty, and my head, heavy. I’m going to be sick.

  Beau was psychotic. He was a literal psychopath. The one guy who finally made my life interesting, who made me want to wake up in the morning since my mother died… was a lunatic.

  “I know you don’t believe me. I know it’s going to take a while to process, but here,” he handed me one feather, the feather of an archangel. “If you hold this in your hands and pray to Gabriel, it will all make sense.”

  He opened the door and let me pass. I turned to look at him as my legs dragged me out of the room. I stepped slowly through the dim lit apartment, glancing once to a corner that housed shattered glass.

  “I texted your dad to come pick you up. I just assumed that you wouldn’t want to be near me for another second, so…” he said, handing me my phone.

  I took it with shaky hands, staring at Beau. Turn around. Walk out. Leave.

  A vein in his forehead twitched as he gritted his teeth, unlocking the front door.

  I stepped through and took one last look at his mesmerizing grey eyes that I no longer recognized.

  “I’m here Maya, always.” He breathed.

  This was the last time I’d see Beau Gabriel.

  Chapter 17

  Kleaton’s Gate, Present Night

  “She didn’t fucking pick up!” Tommy panicked.

  Tommy and Ky drove frantically around town trying to find Braum. After seeing the bloodbath of Mike’s remains, he couldn’t stomach explaining it to the police. At least not yet. He wanted to give Braum the benefit of the doubt, hoping it was a suicide.

  “Try again, damnit!” Ky slammed the steering wheel.

  Tommy threw his phone to the side. “I called thirteen fucking times Ky, Maya shut her phone off!”

  Ky huffed. “Try Mags.”

  Again, Tommy attempted to call Mags a handful of times. “Directly to voicemail.” Tommy mumbled.

  “Man, Tom,” Ky scratched at his forehead, holding back tears. “What the fuck is happening, man what the fuck? What do we do?”

  “Do we go to the police? We have to report it, we can’t just –”

  Within seconds, Tommy’s phone began to ring. He picked it up briskly and gasped at the caller ID: BRAUM MCPHEE.

  “Ky… it’s Braum.” Tommy stuttered.

  “Pick it up, fuck, pick it up!”

  Tommy cleared his throat nervously. “H – hello? Braum?”

  Heavy breathing.

  “Buddy, is that you?” Tommy asked again.

  Silence for a few moments.

  “Meet me at my place, ten minutes. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” The line went dead.

  “Well?” Ky questioned. “What did he say?”

  Tommy swallowed hard. He heard Braum, or what sounded like Braum. But at the same time, not at all. He knew something was wrong, he could feel the icy chill in his bones. The way Braum spoke was hoarse, different, cold. He needed to find out what was going on. He needed to know his friend was okay.

  “Braum’s at his place… We have to go back.” Tommy stuttered.

  ◆◆◆


  Tommy had walked through Braum’s front door a thousand times, but tonight was different. He didn’t even want to step foot on his driveway, let alone enter the house again. The swaying corpse of Braum’s dad imprinted on his brain, latching to his thoughts.

  They stepped out of the car and wearily toed their way to the entrance. With sweaty palms, Tommy turned the door handle and walked in.

  Smoke filled the room, slapping their faces upon entry. Tommy coughed repeatedly until Braum appeared with a small hand-fan.

  “Stupid smoke.” Braum spat, inhaling a cigarette.

  Braum had dark bags under his eyes and his blonde hair was gelled back messily. He wore a white tank top and blue jeans. The chain his father gave him as a boy was no longer around his neck.

  Movement startled them in the kitchen. When the smoke cleared, Tommy could make out a red-headed woman in sheer tights and a tight red dress.

  “Boys!” Braum embraced them. “Come in, come in, close the fuckin’ door!” Braum irately kicked it shut.

  They hesitantly followed him into the kitchen where the girl in red became clearer. She was very pretty with an undeniable allure. She looked older than Braum but still very youthful. Her high cheekbones and red lipstick drew the most attention.

  “Boys, I’d like you to meet Marina.” He planted a slobbery wet kiss across her collarbone. “My girlfriend.”

  Tommy and Ky exchanged looks of confusion. They hadn’t seen Braum for a few days and he already had a girlfriend… nothing made sense. They’d seen Braum reject girls left, right and center. He would have sex, then leave. It was a given at that point, but suddenly, Braum had a girlfriend?

  “I’ve heard so much about you. Both of you.” Marina kissed their cheeks, then retreated back to Braum’s side.

  But I haven’t heard anything about you, Tommy thought. Shakily, he nodded and smiled but was left speechless at Braum’s demeanor. Braum didn’t seem fazed at all that his father had been hanging in his room. Did he even know?

  “Braum…” Ky started. “Where have you been? It’s been days. We came by earlier but –” He paled, thinking about Mike’s blood splatter all over the walls. He couldn’t continue.

  Braum threw a pot in the sink and scoffed. “When’d you get so clingy, eh?”

  Tommy put a foot forward and eyed Marina. He had no idea where Braum picked her up from. She didn’t look like the typical woman in Kleaton’s Gate, nor Braum’s choice of lady.

  Tommy then looked to the ceiling and realized the kitchen was directly underneath Mike’s bedroom. He choked back the vomit that was crawling up his esophagus. The initial shock wore off and Tommy’s emotions took control.

  “Your dad is dead, Braum! He’s dead, hanging in a fucking room upstairs!” Tommy blurted out.

  Silence.

  Ky began to shake incessantly, stuttering on his words. “Did you – did you do it? Did you kill Mike, Braum? Did you kill your dad?”

  Marina and Braum exchanged a look of irreverence that made Tommy queasy. Their expressions were blank yet amused.

  Braum smiled slyly, then chuckled. He walked up to Tommy’s face and slapped him playfully on the cheeks. “You drunk, Tom? Eh, how many beers in, huh? Five?”

  Tommy bit his tongue. Braum’s touch was icy and callused. He wasn’t acting like himself, he didn’t look like himself… This isn’t Braum. To Tommy, Braum looked like a puppet being controlled by a ventriloquist, helpless and hollow.

  Marina smirked. “They’re cute, Braum. Funny.”

  The thorny tension heightened between the four of them. Ky slammed his fist on the table in aggravation. “Cut this bullshit out! I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but we saw your dad hanging from the goddamn ceiling, Braum!” He took a breath as tears formed at his waterline. “Did you do it? Did you… did you fucking do it!”

  In one motion, Braum aggressively grabbed Ky by the shirt and pinned him against the wall. “Watch your tongue, Gerber. Or I’ll cut it out of your fucking mouth.”

  Marina jumped in, breaking them up. “No need for violence.” She looked to Ky. “Why don’t you boys show us what you saw?”

  Tommy wanted to be as far away from the scene as possible. The smell of Mike’s rotting corpse clung to his memory, clear as day.

  “I’m not going back up there.” Ky shook.

  Braum marched to the stairs in a huff, Marina in hand. “Go on, go on! I want to see what you’re whining about. Go!”

  Tommy felt caged, as if he had no other option but to see the body once again. He sluggishly climbed the steps, his feet weighing him down in fear. When he reached the top of the stairs, he ordered Braum and Marina to go first.

  “Open the door. I’m not touching it.” Tommy commanded.

  And they did just that.

  Only Mike’s room was completely intact. The windowsill had been shut, the blood splatter on the floor was clean. There was no body hanging from the fan; everything was palpably spotless.

  Ky’s jaw dropped as Tommy shoved past Braum and Marina, entering the room in utter disbelief.

  “But – no,” Tommy stuttered, faltering. “He was right here. There – the blood, it was everywhere.” Tommy buried his face in his hands and sank to the ground.

  “No, this isn’t fucking right.” Ky pointed a finger to Braum. “You buried his body, you did something! We aren’t crazy, we aren’t –”

  Marina and Braum smiled pleasantly, watching the boys in hysterics.

  “Now what were you saying about a body?” Marina smirked.

  Chapter 18

  Hell

  The distant sounds of screaming souls entertained the demons. Marina and Siles waited for Lucifer beside his throne in the hall of hell fire. Scorching blue flames lined the black velvet seat as well as the stone perimeter.

  “Do you think he’ll be proud of us?” Siles asked Marina.

  She admired the red acrylic manicure that she obtained on Earth. “I hope so. Having sex with Braum is like fucking a bunny. So weak, small, incapable, spineless…” she trailed off.

  Siles grabbed her neck and twisted it to face him. “I don’t enjoy the thought of you sleeping with that feeble insect.”

  Marina laughed and licked her lips. “And how are you treating Mags?”

  He let her go on a whim, smoothing out his dark dress shirt classily. “Leave it to your imagination.”

  She chuckled.

  The granite doors burst open and Lucifer walked in wearing a saccharine smile. “My two favourite pets!” he opened his arms wide. “What progress have we made?”

  Siles and Marina jumped up and took their place in front of Lucifer’s throne.

  “They’re under our control, Master.” Siles bowed. “Mags used the poison mushroom that you gave me. Might I say, you chose a rather specific means of death.”

  Lucifer lifted his chin. “I have my reasons.” He then clapped, directing his attention to Marina. “And you, my dear?”

  Marina flipped her red locks behind her neck. “Well, I suppose that my kiss is as sweet as it is deadly. I controlled Braum to kill his father.”

  Siles threw a sharp look at Marina, confused as to why she didn’t tell him her plans. Siles and Marina spent most of their time together in hell, working their way up to be a part of Lucifer’s army. But to Siles, the mission was only eliminating Maya. He hadn’t realized that loose ends were a threat.

  Lucifer laughed out loud, narrowing his eyes. “And was the life you took, worth eternal punishment?”

  Marina smirked. “He was a bad man, if that’s what you’re asking, Master.”

  Siles swallowed hard and kept silent, digging his nails into the crease of his palm.

  The granite doors opened by Lucifer’s power. “Well then, I shall personally introduce myself to our new guest.” He pinched Marina’s cheek as he passed. “Good job, my sweet.”

  The blue flames died down and a still, unnerving silence followed Lucifer’s parting.

  Siles turned to Marina
in bewilderment. “When were you going to tell me that you took a mans’ life?”

  Marina scoffed and patted Siles’ chest. “When were you going to told me that you’ve gone soft?”

  Chapter 19

  Kleaton’s Gate, Two Weeks Later

  Beau’s thoughts weighed heavy on his drive home from work, fraying out of control. He hadn’t spoken to Maya in weeks, and he couldn’t find it in him to sit from the sidelines while demons roamed the Earth – their sole purpose: Maya.

  “You cannot interfere,” Gabriel had said in a prior visit. “She must come to terms with her title, alone.”

  Beau scoffed. “You really expect me to stay away? When Siles and Marina are out there waiting to –”

  “She is protected.”

  “Not well enough!” Beau’s bare chest heaved, his pupils dilating with anger.

  Gabriel approached him, standing tall and indomitable. Beau swallowed hard, backing away. For the first time since his creation, Beau didn’t see Gabriel as his brother… he saw him as the mighty archangel.

  “You have broken every rule pertaining to her,” Gabriel grabbed his wrist, searing it with holy fire. “Do not break this one, Beau.”

  And Beau listened.

  Sort of.

  On his drive home, he took the exit off to Maya’s neighbourhood and turned onto her street. I’m technically not doing anything wrong if I just scout the perimeter, he thought.

  He parked on the side of the road, a few houses down from hers and stepped out of the car. The night was chilled and eerie, the cold wind danced with the trees. He spotted Maya’s porch lights as he hid in the distant wood, flickering on and off like clockwork. Beau thought about normalcy, and how in another life, where he wasn’t an angel and Maya was not divine, that maybe he could have fixed those lights for her. Maybe he was a carpenter, and Maya was a successful author. And maybe, their twisted fates would have aligned in a passionate unity, away from angels and demons and death. In another life.