Chapter 3: Angels & Wolves

Ray ran into the barn and saw Abbie and Ichabod talking with Edom. He let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank God!" He put his hand on his chest. "I saw a dinosaur with fur burst out of here and I thought he had you two for his dinner!"

"All's well here," Ichabod said. "For the moment."

Edom smiled at Ray, "Hello, there! Edom Thane! A pleasure to meet you!"

"Uhh… Deputy Raymond Merck," Ray replied.

"Deputy!" Edom held his hand out. "An honor!"

Ray was still unsure but shook his hand, "Um, same here, Mr. Thane." He looked at Abbie. "Abbie, who's your friend?"

"Well, he saved our lives but friend is… not clear yet," Abbie replied.

Edom nodded. "A fair statement."

"So, not changing the subject but that wolf," Ray said.

"Yes?"

"Yes." Ray stared at the whole in the barn then back at the others. "WHAT?!"

Edom chuckled. "Well, that may require some explaining." He brightened. "The Archives! I believe they will hold the information we need!"

"You know about that?" Abbie asked.

"Know about it? I helped build it."

Abbie shook his head, "I would say this is crazy if I wasn't used to crazy."

"You think this is crazy?" Edom chuckled and walked past them, "Wait 'til we get started."

Ray watched him exit the barn, "I know what I said about 'weird' but this may be more than I signed up for."

"Raymond, if you wish to leave this crusade to us, we would not take offense," Ichabod declared.

Ray looked around then back at them. "Part of me wants to leave, go home, drink and pass this off as a hangover." He chuckled. "But I brought you both in on this. I should at least see it through to the end."

"Admirable. Thank you."

"And if I miss out on this now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

"I know the feeling," Abbie smirked.

Ray gave a shrug, "Let's do it!"

Ichabod smiled. "Very well, then. Shall we?"

Abbie and Ichabod took Edom and Ray back to the Archives. On the way there, they called Jenny to meet them. She arrived via the tunnels to find Ichabod and Abbie at their usual table with a Deputy she hadn't met before and a tall black man with a bald head. Jenny's mind flashed to the Hidden One for a second but, when the new man looked at her, smiled, and nodded, she felt that this was someone who could be trusted. That, alone, was rare. Jenny knew there was a possibility she could be wrong but Abbie said there would be new people in the Archives and it wouldn't be the first time it took her a while to trust someone. She was still unsure about Sophia Foster at times despite everything.

Jenny walked over to Ichabod and Abbie then nudged toward Edom, "New friend?"

"So far," Abbie replied. "That's Edom Thane."

"Oh." Jenny looked at Ray, "We just can't keep the Sheriff's Department out of our lives, can we?"

"In my defense, I kinda brought this on myself," Ray said. He walked up to Jenny and extended his hand, "Ray Merck."

"Jenny Mills." She shook his hand.

Ray smiled, "Abbie's sister! Pleasure."

"You, too. You know, most of the department wants to arrest me."

"Well, given what I've seen tonight, I'm willing to let a lot slide. Besides, I haven't seen your case files. Not interested."

"Good to know."

They all shifted their eyes back toward Edom as he looked around with a smile on his face. "This place has hardly changed in nearly three centuries." He chuckled. "Something to be said for consistency."

"My dad said nothing is in the same place," Abbie admitted.

"He's right but I'm used to messes. Ezra always liked to have things in a particular order. One of his many quirks."

Abbie and Jenny both looked at each other surprised before looking back at Edom.

"You… you know our dad?" Abbie asked.

Edom looked at her. "Yes, I do. He's a good man and a good friend. I knew August Corbin, as well. He was another good friend." He looked down then back up with rueful exhale, "Now, that I finally get to meet you both, face to face, I need to say this: Abigail, Jennifer, for all of the tragedy that has come to your lives, collectively and individually… I am truly sorry. I wish to the Almighty that I could remove that tragedy and place it upon myself."

Abbie looked at Jenny and Ichabod, who both wore looks of surprise on their faces. She then focused back on Edom. "Who are you?"

"Complicated is the answer to that particular question, actually. It will be easier to start with what I am," Edom answered. "The quickest answer is I'm an angel."

The whole room took a second to process what they just heard.

"You're an angel?" Abbie asked.

"That I am," Edom answered.

"Like… from Heaven angel?" Ray asked.

"That is to say that you have left Heaven to come to Earth," Ichabod said.

Edom nodded, "Yes. One of those kind, yes."

Ray stared at Edom, blankly. "Huh."

Ichabod looked at Abbie, "I believe that we should have built up immunity to the shock at this sort of thing by now."

"No kidding," she replied. "And, out of everything, what does that surprise us? It's not like we haven't already met one."

Edom squinted his eyes, "You've met one?"

"Yes," Ichabod answered. "Quite the unpleasant fellow named Orion."

Edom exhaled and rolled his eyes, "Oh." He put his hands on his hips. "Orion. Yes. He… he tends to behave like a… a…"

"A jackass?" Abbie asked.

"That's a good word. After he escaped Purgatory, I keep meaning to track him down but something else always gets my attention. Glad you managed to stay alive against him."

"Yes, it was an interesting outing," Ichabod added.

"It's nice to hear some of the old vernacular. I slip in and out of it all the time."

"I noticed," Abbie smirked. "Interesting to have two of you around."

"Yes, isn't wonderful to have… two of 'us'?" Ichabod stared at her, indignantly while also amused.

Edom looked back and forth between them then began to pace, "Well, to further explain, I am or was, as it is classified, a seraph."

"Quite the high order in the angel hierarchy if I recall correctly," Ichabod said.

"Very much so."

"So, why are you on Earth?" Abbie asked.

"Some time after the crucifixion of Christ, a small gathering of angels perceived mankind as… unworthy of our Lord's sacrifice. Actually, they felt humanity was too sick to live long before then." Edom scoffed. "They thought they knew better than God."

"That doesn't sound good," Jenny said.

Edom stared, gravely, facing the wall, "No. No, it wasn't." He exhaled and turned around, "They began a campaign to… 'cleanse the world of the unrighteous' or so they claimed."

"Didn't Lucifer share a similar?" Ichabod asked.

"Not exactly. As you know, he believed himself to be God's equal or greater. Now, his mission is more one of taking as many souls with him to the abyss, when the time is right, as possible."

Ichabod took a deep, shaken breath. "Lovely."

"Indeed."

"Did you stop them?" Abbie asked. "The… rogue angels?"

Edom considered his answer. "More or less. But it wasn't just me. A handful of were sent. We took the title of archangels and came to Earth as needed."

"How many of you?"

Edom shrugged. "No one but the Father truly knows the number."

"If their plans were stopped, why have you not returned to your previous station?" Ichabod asked.

"Permanent assignment, one could say. I am to watch over Earth and mankind for as long as I am required until such time as I'm ordered back or killed."

"Can an angel die?" Ray asked.

Edom paused for more than a handful of seconds. He looked at Ray, "I assure you, Deputy, they very much can. It happens quite often." He looked down. "More so than I would like."

"Can I ask what happens to them?"

"I'll put it this way: it's extremely painful."

They saw his somber mood and knew that there was more to everything than what he was saying. But the pain in his eyes kept them from pressing further.

Edom quickly shook off his mood. "Oh! A thousand pardons for that." He waved his hand around, "I tend to get lost in my own memory." He looked at Jenny, "To far more important matters, Jennifer, how is Joe doing?"

Jenny was surprised by the question. "Oh. He, uh, he's fine. The doctors said with another a couple of weeks he'll be back to full strength."

Edom exhaled in relief. "That is good news! No side effects, yes? He's not supposed to show any more signs of the curse."

"He's all good." Jenny pointed at him, tentatively. "Did… you have something to do with that?"

Edom just smiled and gave a shrug. "Traces of the curse were still inside of him. I made sure that all of those traces were completely removed."

Jenny took a deep breath, holding back any tears. "Thank you."

Edom gave a slight bow.

"I have a question," Abbie raised her hand.

"Yes, of course!"

"Do all angels have last names?"

Edom chuckled. "No. It's a name I borrowed. It makes things easier in this world to travel about with a last name. It comes from an old friend. Cedrick Thane, good man. A very good man. He was one of my closest confidants and he considered me like a brother. He aided me in my mission during early 15th century." He chuckled. "I miss his quick wit."

"As many, many questions as I do have," Ichabod said, "the wolf?"

"Ah!" Edom started looking around, "Er… uh… yes!" He started searching through the books, "To begin… his name is Gate."

"Gate?" Abbie asked.

"That thing's got a name?!" Ray shouted.

"Yes," Edom kept searching. "Alright, Ezra may have been right this time. I can find nothing! How do you all work in here?!"

"Quite easily," Ichabod defended.

"I cannot possibly see how, Ichabod Crane! This place is a disaster!" Edom huffed then he looked at Ichabod. "How could you let this grand place fall into such disarray?!"

"I hardly think that's an accurate description."

"Quite the reverse. It is entirely too accurate! Yes. This will have to be reorganized! All of it!"

"I beg your pardon!"

"'Tis a fool's errand to find anything here! At this rate, Gate will have fed one some poor humans all because the simple act of organization has been lost upon this century!"

"I am not from this century!"

"But you've adopted their methods all the same! That is to say nothing for their carelessness!"

"It's like watching an episode of Sherlock," Ray said to Abbie and Jenny.

"Who would be Sherlock?" Jenny asked.

"Scary answer yet great at the same time? Both of them."

"Gentlemen," Abbie stepped up to Ichabod and Edom, causing them to stop, "you're both very eloquent. What are we looking for?"

Edom composed himself. "An ancient book of curses. I fear Gate is still under a curse he was afflicted by long before Pandora captured him in the first place."

"Pandora captured him?"

"She captured a great many power to feed that arrogant, annoying monster she called a lover."

"Is that what brought you here?" Jenny asked.

"Yes." Edom paced a little. "I was just coming off another hunt when I sensed the power released by the destruction of Pandora's Box. It released far more than you know and it will attract more."

"So, you felt the power coming through…"

"And I made a few more stops before coming, what I consider, home."

"And then you saved us from a monster that would make the animators of Game of Thrones jealous," Abbie pointed out.

Edom gasped and brightened, "Don't you love that show?! My goodness, that Red Wedding had me completely grief stricken for days."

"That… program is an affront!" Ichabod said.

"On many senses. That's actually half of the fun."

"Told you it was good," Abbie said to Ichabod. "We should've kept watching."

"Absolutely not! I refuse to partake in that show as long as that buffoon Joffery usurps the iron throne."

"You might wanna see season four," Edom said.

"Pardon me?"

Edom just gave a knowing smile.

Ichabod stared at him then looked at Abbie, "We are watching it the second we have a moment's reprieve."

Abbie smiled, "Told ya so."

Edom chuckled then looked under a nearby shelf and saw something. He bent down and got a better look. "Tower of Babel!" He rushed over and easily moved the heavy shelf aside. He picked the book and smacked his hand against the cover, "This is not how you treat antique tomes of grand powers and ancient history! That's it! I am taking over this place!"

Ichabod looked at him offended then opened his mouth.

"Before you two start!" Abbie said. "How do we stop Gate or save him?"

Edom looked at her, "Yes." He took the book over to a desk and opened it up. He searched all over and finally found what he was looking for. "Damn it all. I was afraid of this."

"What?"

They all gathered around the book.

"He's cursed by Bloodsky, a Yenaldooshi." Edom groaned. "How she irritates me. Her and her ilk. Awful creatures. Can't stand the sight of them. But I knew I recognized that green flash."

Ichabod looked at the book, curiously. "But, as I recall, the Yenaldooshi were known as skin-walkers, witches who wear coyote skins and travel at night."

Edom looked up. "Yeah, I… may or may not have… made that slightly worse."

Ichabod leaned toward Abbie, "And yet I am the criminal for disorganizing a library."

"Yes, your point is made!" Edom growled. "Alright. I admit that I have brought some peril upon one of my oldest friends. Unfortunately, it isn't the first time."

"So, what is Gate is exactly?" Jenny asked.

"He's a dire wolf but touched by ancient magic, making him a bit of an immortal himself. He stayed amongst the shadows for centuries, traveling the world as a virtuous hero. In one of my earliest treks across this world, I met him in northern Canada. Circa… 730 B.C. if my math is correct. It was before my current assignment during another mission. Gate is an amazing soldier. And I led this upon to him." Edom exhaled, rubbed the back of his head, then whispered, "Just another failure to add to the list."

Ichabod patted his shoulder. "Let's fix this one."

Edom smirked. "Yes. Let's." He looked back at the book, "Ah! Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix." He read on then jerked his head back. "Huh."

"What 'huh'?" Ray asked.

"She's weak."

"What makes you say that?"

"She should be on a tirade through Sleepy Hollow but… you found Gate asleep in the barn." He looked at Ray, "And you said…"

"He was stumbling through the woods and smashed against some people's property."

Edom smiled. "He's trying to fight back."

"What about him trying to make us dinner?" Abbie asked.

Edom shook his head, "Bloodsky won't give him up that easily. He's fighting back but she won't let him go and she probably realized that you two are Witnesses."

"What quarrel does she have with us?" Ichabod asked.

"Witnesses. Chosen warriors, defenders of good. She tends to frown on that sort of thing."

"She sounds lovely," Jenny said.

"Indeed. Time to see if time has mellowed her at all. I will not leave my friend to her throes for a moment longer." Edom began to walk around the Archives and gather supplies.

"Right." Abbie looked at Jenny, "Go back to the hospital. Be with Joe."

"And leave you to hunt down a demon-possessed dire wolf with an archangel?" Jenny asked.

"Witch possessed!" Edom corrected, still gathering materials.

Abbie motioned toward Ray, "We have him."

Ray gave a small wave. "Hello."

"Fear not, Jenny," Ichabod said. "This seems to be a… rather routine outing by comparison to others we have undertaken."

Jenny exhaled, "Okay, fine. But, as soon as Joe's better, we're helping again."

"I swear," Abbie agreed.

Edom walked back over, carrying a few candles and metal box then setting them on the table. "Here we are! This should all do very nicely in saving Gate!"

"Well, for such disorganization, you certainly seem able to find what you were looking for," Ichabod remarked with smug grin.

Edom stared at him. "You know? There have only been a few people I have ever known to be as insufferable as you, Sir Crane! One of them was none other than…"

Ichabod stared at him. "Do not…"

"Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Always had to have his way and, somehow, seemed to be right, most of the time."

Ichabod blinked, surprised. "Oh. Well. I imagine that…"

"And also, of course, Benjamin Franklin."

Ichabod's jaw tightened and walked away.

Edom looked at the others, "I knew that would get him."

An hour later, Abbie, Ichabod, Edom, and Ray were in the forest a few miles from the barn where Gate was last seen.

"Okay, this is all really new to me," Ray said, "so, run this by me, one more time."

Edom set down a six candles in a triangle formation. "Gate's possession is particularly strong. Bloodsky put all of her life into possessing him, just to cost me my only friend at the time."

"She must've really hated you," Abbie said.

"More than you know." Edom opened the box and handed Ichabod the book he needed previously. "Ichabod, if you will."

"And what will this do?" Ichabod asked.

Edom opened the book to a page and pointed a certain passage. "Read this when I get Gate in the triangle."

"Aaaaand how will you do that?" Abbie asked.

"Getting him to chase me."

Ray raised his hand. "Yes, uh… what? I feel like I ask that a lot."

"We should be asking that more," Abbie said.

"What if he catches you?"

Edom shook his head, "He won't."

They were surprised by his confidence in his voice.

Edom chuckled. "Don't worry. I just need to get him here. You two will do the rest."

"And you know this'll work because?" Abbie asked.

Edom shrugged. "You're the Witnesses." With that, he walked off into the forest.

Ray watched him walk away then looked at Abbie and Ichabod, "There's a lot I don't know… isn't there?"

Ichabod looked at Ray then at Abbie then back at Ray. "Quoth Shakespeare: 'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'"

"Actually… I'd dream quite a bit."

Abbie looked at him, curiously. "Why?"

Ray looked at her and took a deep breath, "Let's just say, my grandfather had a lot of interesting stories and, more often than not, they turned out to have some real world truth to them."

Ichabod stared at Ray, "Deputy Merck, I think we should converse sometime."

"I'd be happy to."

They heard howling in the forest.

"Showtime," Abbie whispered.

A few minutes later, they saw Edom running at a speed much faster than any normal human could run, which threw them off for a moment before they remembered who Edom was. He ran right into the triangle and through it with Gate following but, as soon as he stepped within the pattern, the wicks of the candles lit and barrier was formed. Gate collided into the barrier, causing Ichabod, Abbie, and Ray to jump back with Abbie staying close to Ichabod. Gate bounced off of the barrier, shook off the shock, then roared.

"I think now would be a good time to start reading, Crane!" Abbie said.

"Yes!" Ichabod opened the book back up and looked at the passage, "'Thou who would plague the innocent, who would corrupt the just, and destroy the holy, be gone from this one and be expelled!'"

Gate shook his head and howled as the green glow from earlier came over his body. As the glow was becoming more solid, Edom rushed and grabbed Gate by his fur and removed him from the barrier. Gate collapsed unconscious on the ground as they all looked back at the barrier. A moment later the green light solidified into the form of a haggard woman with decaying skin and gangly hair who wore tattered animal pelts.

She was breathing hard and crawling on all fours within the barrier. She looked at Edom. "Curse you! Curse you! You damned holy warrior! Your kind are a menace!"

Edom walked over to her, "And you possessed an innocent beast. Murdered an entire tribe and God knows how many people."

Bloodsky licked her lips then hissed, "Innocent blood… sates my appetite." She pushed herself to her knees. "Their screams aroused me. Their deaths filled me with joy. And I used your beast to do it."

"And for that along with the rest of your crimes, you will pay, dearly." He stared at her, coldly, as his medallion emitted a light. "I should've done this a long time ago." He held his hand out and a light shone from his and extended into a sword.

Ichabod and Abbie couldn't but notice it was similar, though not identical, to the longsword Golan used weeks ago to kill the Hidden One and Pandora. Edom's sword seemed longer and heavier; Ichabod recognized the design as being very similar to a Zweihänder.

"Good-bye, Bloodsky." Edom ran the sword through her chest. Bloodsky started screaming as the energy she was composed on suddenly surged around her. Edom pulled his sword free of her as her power enveloped her, erupted, and rose into the sky. The energy soon faded into nothingness. They all looked at Edom in shock as he stood up straight.

"Nex Sacramentum," Edom said, coldly. "My oath is fulfilled. Burn in hell, witch."

"That was… aggressive," Ichabod said.

"Apologies." Edom caused his sword to disappear in a flash of light. "I'll give you the full details of that at a later date. Just trust and believe when I say that was long overdue."

"I'm not even about to argue since she nearly made a dire wolf eat us," Ray said.

Edom looked over at Gate. "Speaking of which…" He went over to the dire wolf and knelt beside him. Gate was lying on his stomach, breathing heavy, but shrunk down to the size of a normal dire wolf. He was still an intimidating beast but he was much calmer than he was before.

Edom patted his head, "Gate. Do you remember me?"

The wolf lifted his head up and licked Edom's cheek, tiredly but enthusiastically.

Edom chuckled, "Hey, there you go! Good boy! Glad to see you, too." He patted him on the head. "Glad to have you back."

Ichabod, Abbie, and Ray stepped forward and stared at the sight of the beast that looked ready to devour them hours ago now calm and content.

Abbie exhaled. "Well, that was… something. Guess we can place this in the win column for Team Witness."

"Team Witness?" Ray asked. "Do we get jackets?"

"We might as well."

"I have so many questions about… all of this, Sir Edom," Ichabod said.

Edom looked up at him, "I don't blame you. We will speak about all of them. Soon. For now, I do believe that is enough for one night. We should retire for the evening."

"Actually, I gotta agree with the angel," Abbie pointed out.

"As do I," Ichabod agreed. "I believe we should all… call it a night. For if this is truly the beginning of more trouble, much rest will be required."

Sleepy Hollow City Morgue.

Dr. Vivian Connors was examining the body of her latest resident as it laid on the table attached to the coolers. She stood over him, with her arms folded as she shook her head.

Her assistant, Jack Bendis, walked. "Dr. Connors?"

"Yes, Jack?" she asked, never looking up.

"It's almost midnight. Shouldn't you call it a night?"

"Probably." She sighed and motioned toward the corpse. "Did you see this?"

He looked at the chart, "Richard Leeds. 24, shot to death on the street."

"Look at the age. He's fifteen years younger than me and this happened to him. So sad."

"Tragic, doctor, but you need your rest."

Connors exhaled. "I just can't…"

"It's okay, doctor," Jack patted her on the back. "The police will find out why this happened."

"Doesn't make it right."

"You need the rest. Mr. Leeds isn't going anywhere."

She nodded. "Yeah, you're right." She slid the body back into the holding bin. They exited the operating room, turning out the lights as they left.

The minutes ticked by and soon a dark grey mist entered into the operating room. It seeped into the cooler of Richard Leeds. The door began to shake, violently, before it exploded off of the hinges. A low moan came from the cooler and a hand grabbed the edge of the wall.

A/N: Alright. So. What just happened?! We'll find out. There are still many outstanding questions! I hope you guys like this so far. I know it's taking me a while but I am working on so much right now. Please, stay with me! I'm still working hard for you guys!

Be sure to be here next time for T2 Angel Presents Sleepy Hollow: The Fated Ones! See you soon!