Hello all my faithful readers! This is going to be the last chapter for "A Different Kind of Night", but fear not, for I have begun on a sequel! Title will be "It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn". And for those of you who like Twilight, I will be writing a Jasper/Bella story as well. So, enjoy this last installment and look for my next one!
You guys are awesome, and thanks for reading!
Unfortunately, all of my planning and scheming has failed, and I have been unable to acquire Legion. It does not belong to me, and looks like it never will. Bummer.
I tried to get Charlie to hold her new baby boy. I told her he was perfectly fine, but to my dismay she wouldn't even look at him.
"Give her some time." Michael said gently, placing a hand on the child, awe in his crystal blue eyes.
I nodded my head, and handed the baby over to Audrey. "Here, take him so I can go get cleaned up. Then I will come and do another assessment on him." Audrey tenderly took the baby in her arms and went over to show her mom. I turned to Charlie. "You ok? Any pain or odd feelings?" Charlie shook her head no; her eyes closed and tears falling down her cheeks. I patted her knee and stood up slowly. Looking at Michael I said "What is going on Michael, who is coming?" Michael shook his head at me and mouthed later. I rolled my eyes, grabbed my bag, and took off for the restroom. Michael reached up and grabbed my hand.
"I'm sorry Aurora, I will explain I promise."
I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled my hand from his, ignoring the tingling sensation I got every time I touched him. "I'm going to go get cleaned up. I'll be in the bathroom if you need me." With that I stormed off. I could feel Michael's eyes on me the whole way, but I didn't turn around. It hurt horribly when he flinched away from my touch earlier, and now, more secrets. I wasn't about to forgive him so easily.
I dug through my bag for the extra set of clothing I always kept with me. I pulled out my purple and grey workout pants, grey tank top and matching jacket. I know it's weird to carry around extra clothes with you, but, being a forensics student, you never know what you are going to run into. Better to be safe than sorry.
I stripped off my blood encrusted shirt and jeans, taking inventory of my body. The cut on my arm stung quite a bit, so I undid the bandage Michael had done. The stitches were still in place, but it looked as if a little infection had set in, the edges around the stitching were red and a little swollen. I looked around the bathroom, but then I remembered the first aid kit was out in the dining area.
I twisted my waist, testing the bandage around the slash in my side. It didn't hurt too badly, and the wrap was still on pretty tight. I looked over the rest of my body, grabbing a rag and wetting it so I could clean off the blood I could see. Once that was done, I put on my pants and tank top.
Opening the door, I looked around. The only person I saw was Michael, and as much as I didn't want to see him at the moment, my arm was really starting to hurt. And the first aid kit was sitting on the table in front of him.
I grabbed my stuff, leaving the ruined clothes in a pile in the corner, and walked out of the bathroom. Walking over to Michael, I watched as he filled magazines up with bullets and loaded them back into their respective guns.
I cleared my throat, and he looked over at me, looking me up and down with his piercing blue gaze. I felt myself blush, hoping he couldn't see it. The tank top was short leaving a little of my stomach exposed, and my arms were bare as well. The tank top cut a little low, exposing the top of my breasts. I had always been self conscious of my body, but having Michael check me out was way beyond embarrassing.
"Umm," I said, looking at the floor, avoiding his eyes. "You think you could clean and rewrap my arm? It's starting to get infected and . . ." he was by my side before I could finish my sentence, holding my arm up so he could inspect the cut.
He cautiously put an arm around my waist, being careful of the cut that was there, and led me to the chair next to the first aid kit. He tenderly took my arm and poured some of the alcohol on to the cut. I held my breath against the pain and squeezed my eyes shut. Michael must have noticed, because I felt him blow cool air on the cut, and I would be lying if I said it didn't turn me on just a bit.
He put a piece of gauze on the cut and began to wrap it back up. When he was done, he placed my hand back on the table, but didn't let go.
"I hurt you, didn't I?" He said softly. He began tracing circles in the palm of my hand. I wanted to stay angry with him, I wanted to scream and shout and maybe even punch him, but I couldn't. I don't think I would ever be able to stay mad at him for long.
"Yes." I said. Michael sighed and closed his eyes. I placed my hand on his cheek and turned his head towards me, making his blue eyes meet my green ones. "But, I understand that you were worried about me. And that's why you were mad. You just want me to be safe. But you have to understand Michael that I can take care of myself to a certain extent. I don't need to be put in a bubble and protected from everything. I love that you are my knight in shining armor, I really do. But, if I am supposed to be the wife of the greatest warrior in all the Earth and Heaven, then I should at least be able to take out a few bad guys myself, right?"I smiled at him. "Besides, would you rather have a wife that is a scared little flower and stands behind you, or a wife that will stand beside you and kick some ass?"
Michael grabbed my face and pulled me in for the most intense kiss I have ever experienced. Our tongues danced with each other in a sensual dance, and I put my arms around his neck, pulling him in as close as I could get. His hands wandered down to my hips, his thumbs caressing the bare skin there. I shivered from the contact.
The loud blaring of the war horn made us pull apart, but Michael did not let go. He looked down at me.
"We need to go."
I nodded my agreement and got up from the table. We started to pack up the guns and ammunition, moving around each other like we had done this a hundred times before.
Bob and Jeep walked in, carrying more guns. They came and stood in front of Michael. "What do we do now?" Jeep asked.
"We need to leave. The possessed can't come near the child, but he is sending someone who can. Someone like me." Michael said.
"Like you?" Bob asked his voice full of anger and skepticism.
"Gabriel." That one name sent chills up my spine. "He's come here to do what I wouldn't."
"You were the one who was supposed to kill the baby? That was the order you disobeyed, wasn't it" Jeep said, understanding clear on his face and in his voice.
Shock rocketed through me. What was Jeep talking about?
"Wait, what do you mean?" Charlie had come in and heard the conversation.
"We need to go now."
"No, answer me! What do you mean!" Charlie's voice held so much authority that even Michael looked at her with a little trepidation. But I wasn't going to protect him, because I wanted to know the answer to this question as well.
"The baby, the baby was never meant to be born." He said, walking slowly towards Charlie. I felt my mouth drop open astonishment. "But the child lives. And while he does, there is still hope." He continued, holding his hand up in a gesture of peace.
Charlie looked at Michael, and then turned to Audrey. "Audrey," she said holding out her hands. "The baby."
But before Audrey could give Charlie the baby, Sandra jumped out of her chair faster than I had ever seen anyone move in my life.
In a flash, Michael had a gun in his hand, aimed at Sandra's head, right between the eyes.
Sandra moved back towards the door. "Audrey, come on." She motioned at the teenager with her hands, but all Audrey did was look at her mother with shock.
"What are you doing?" Bob demanded, look at Sandra like she had just lost her mind.
"You heard what he said, they just want the baby. I'm going to give them the baby." Sandra said, as if the answer was obvious.
"You give him back; you give him back to me right now!" Charlie said forcefully, shaking her finger at Sandra.
"Why? You didn't even want him in the first place!" Sandra yelled at Charlie, who looked shocked and upset at Sandra's words.
The war horn sounded again, and behind Sandra, a large and brilliant light began to shine through the cracks in the doors and windows. Gabriel was coming. I inched closer and closer to Michael, who, without even taking his eyes off of Sandra or moving his gun even a millimeter, he grabbed my hand and placed me firmly behind him out of sight.
"Come on Audrey!" Sandra said. When Audrey just shook her head, Sandra continued. "Audrey come with me!"
When Audrey refused a second time, Sandra looked at Michael, pleading in her voice. "It's just one baby." Michael only looked at her with contempt. "It's just one baby."
The door was suddenly ripped from it hinges, and the bright light spilled into the diner. Michael didn't hesitate, and shot Sandra right between the eyes. Charlie and Audrey screamed, and the baby rolled from Sandra's outstretched hands. Michael fired again, and Sandra's body flew out of the diner. Jeep dove for the baby, and caught him before he hit the ground.
A large shaped filled the door frame, and I could hear boots stopping on the ground. A man around 6' 4" entered the diner, looked down and Jeep and spread his massive wings to their full length.
Charlie and I gasp, while Audrey said what had to have been on everyone's mind
"Shit!"
A look of intense hatred crossed the angels face as he swung down a weapon I had never seen before, right a Jeep and the baby.
Jeep saw what was coming and rolled out of the way, cradling the baby as best he could. I ran from behind Michael and grabbed Audrey and Charlie, pushing them towards the back exit. The angel swung again, missing Jeep for a second time as he rolled to his feet and handed the baby to Charlie.
Bob then opened fire on the winged man, but the angel covered himself in his wings and spun, the bullets bouncing off of them as if they were made of metal. Suddenly, one of his wings unfurled and sliced at Bob. Bob went still and gasp, then looked down at his stomach. It had been sliced open by the sharp edges of the wing. He looked up at the angel, who looked back at him. The angel then backhanded bob and threw him across the diner, into the stove, and then onto the ground, where he laid.
"Michael, get them out of here!" I told him and I ran out from behind him and stood in front of the angel.
"Gabriel!" I said in my most demanding voice.
Gabriel looked at me and a look of pure shock crossed his features. His eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped a little.
From the corner of my eye I saw Michael pushing Jeep and the girls out of the diner. Good, I thought, maybe we can give them a bit of a head start.
"Little sister?"A deep and slightly accented voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked back at Gabriel, and nodded my head.
"Yea, it's me. Why are you doing this Gabriel? This is not how I remember you." I cautiously took a few steps forward. "You used to be so full of life, with an easy smile, and a quick laugh. What happened to you while I was gone?" I had reached Gabriel, and I reached up with one hand to touch his handsome face.
Gabriel had tears in his eyes as he reached up and covered my hand in his much larger one. "I missed you Aurora. We all did. But I am here on orders, and I will obey." He pulled my hand down from his face and pushed me away from him. I stumbled back, but Michael caught me. "I am not here for you sister, but for our brother. He must pay for his disobedience. You have a choice. You can either come with me, or you can side with the traitor. You must decide now."
I looked at Gabriel like he had gone mad. But I knew from the moment I found out my real identity who I would choose. Who I would always choose.
"I choose Michael. I choose my husband, and I always will, Gabriel." Gabriel looked so sad at my decision.
"Then I must take you to face judgment." Gabriel said in a monotone voice.
Michael turned me around to face him. "They are waiting in the police car for you, go. I will stay here and buy you as much time as I can."
I looked at Michael like he had just grown two heads. "WHAT! I am not going to leave you Michael! He will kill you! I can't let you die, not after we just found each other!"
Michael pulled me into his arms. He leaned down toward my ear and whispered so Gabriel could not hear. "You have to understand Aurora, Gabriel cannot kill you. While you are with Charlie and the baby, he cannot kill them. You are the best person to be with them, not me. I have accepted my fate, now you must accept ours and yours as well."
I pulled away from him and kissed him with everything I had. I poured all of my love for him into that kiss, into what was sure to be our last kiss.
Michael broke the kiss and looked me in the eyes. "I Love You."
I felt the tears fall from my eyes. "I Love You more." Without even looking at Gabriel, I ran out the front door. The possessed made a path for me, not one trying to attack me. I saw the police cruiser waiting. I opened the door, jumped in and slammed the door behind me.
"Drive!" the command came out as a sob. I couldn't help myself; I curled into a ball in the back seat and cried so hard I thought my eyeballs were going to fall out. Someone put my head in their lap and ran their fingers through my hair, trying to calm me down. When I was calm enough, I sat up and looked at the person in the seat next to me.
"Thank you Audrey." I said.
She just shook her head, a sad look in her eyes.
We drove a few miles in silence when a sharp, stabbing pain shot strait through my heart. I cried out and grabbed my chest. I couldn't breathe, and my vision was starting to fade. As soon as it hit me, it was over, and fresh tears came again.
Jeep, Audrey and Charlie were all looking at me with concern in their eyes and faces.
"He's gone." I cried. "Michael's gone."
I saw tears fall from Charlie and Audrey eyes, and Jeep bowed his head, almost in defeat. I didn't sob, I just let the tears fall from my eyes.
We sat like that for a few minute, when Charlie suddenly exclaimed "Jeep you arm!"
We all looked at Jeep. That tattoos that has covered Michael were now inscribing themselves into Jeeps skin.
"The instructions." Jeep said in awe.
I smiled a small sad smile. Thank you Michael. I sent up my silent prayer to him, wherever he was.
A sign came up on the side of the road. Welcome to Red Ridge National Park.
"Ok, we need to figure out our weapons situation. Hopefully Michael didn't take everything out of the car."Jeep took charge, and we all began to search the car for any kind of weapon.
"I found a flare gun and a couple of flares . . ."
A large crash above us sent the car reeling into the other lane, shattering the back window. Gabriel had found us.
He began to pound the roof of the car, ripping the lights of the top. Jeep shot through the roof with the pistol he had, hitting Gabriel and sending him off of the roof and onto the trunk of the car.
Audrey and I turned around to see a very angry Gabriel looking at us.
"Jeep!" We both yelled.
"Duck!" He screamed and pointed the gun at Gabriel, firing of a few shots.
"The flare gun!" he cried. Audrey grabbed the flare gun and aimed at Gabriel, but before just as she was shooting, Gabriel hit the gun and the flare went off in the car, ricocheting through the car. But luck was with us, and the flare bounced and hit Gabriel strait in the face, almost knocking him from the car.
Almost.
He climbed back up, and this time actually got in the car. Audrey and I tried to stop him, but he punched Audrey and knocked her into me, which in turn made me hit my head on the door; dazing me enough I saw stars in front of my eyes.
Gabriel climbed over us, and began to struggle with jeep, as well as trying to get to Charlie and the baby.
I started to come to, and when I saw that Gabriel almost had Charlie, I reacted. Turning around, I snapped the seatbelt on Audrey, then jumped on Gabriel's back and wrapped my arms around his neck. I looked up and saw that we were going well over a hundred miles an hour, and an idea came to my mind.
"Jeep hit the brakes!" I yelled at him. He looked over his shoulder at me, his eyes telling me I was crazy.
"Jeep trust me, do it!" I yelled at him. I saw the determination in his eyes. He slammed his foot on the brake, and sent me and Gabriel through the windshield.
"No!" Gabriel cried, and he flipped me around and shielded my body with his, wrapping his wings around the both of us.
We hit the ground hard, and even though Gabriel tried his best to shield me from the impact, I still felt it. We rolled on the ground for what seemed like forever. When we slowed down enough, Gabriel released me, and I continued to roll a few feet from him. I finally stopped on my stomach. The cut in my side screamed at me, and I felt battered and bruised, but other than that, I was very much alive.
Gabriel and I got to our feet at the same time, and our eyes meet.
"Why would you do such a thing? You know that with your death comes the death of the entire world!" he yelled at me, anger in his eyes.
I just continued to stare at him. Realization hit him, and he looked at me like I was the craziest person he had ever laid eyes on.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you? You knew I would protect you, that I wouldn't let you die."
I smiled a big smile at him. "Bingo, big brother. You know, you're a lot smarter than I gave you credit for." Sarcasm dripped from my voice.
To those of you out there who think I'm crazy, I'm not. Yes, I was trying to pick a fight with him. You have to understand. The more he argued with me, the more time that gave Jeep and the girls, if they were still alive, to get to the safety of the facility in the park.
"You know Gabriel. You make an excellent point. Why don't you just kill me? Then you would be able to get rid of the whole human race in one motion. Isn't that what the Father wants to do? Wipe us off the face of the planet?" I spread my arms out from my body, like they were wings. "Well, here's your chance to do it for Him, Gabriel. Go above and beyond your call, big brother." I spat the last two words out at him. "Because I know you don't have a problem killing your siblings, why would you hesitate to kill me?" Tears were running hot down my cheeks by now. Gabriel looked at me, confusion and bewilderment dominant on his face. But I wasn't done with him yet. He had killed my best friend, my confidant, my future husband. I wanted him to feel everything that I was. I wanted him to feel guilty for what he had done.
I continued to stand there, arms outstretched, waiting for him to strike. Gabriel had looked down at the ground at some point in my speech, and when he looked up at me, I was surprised to find tears in his eyes.
"I did not want to kill him Aurora. Those were my orders. I am and Angel of God and I obey his orders. Please, do not make this harder on me than it already is." I could hear the begging in his voice.
"Any harder on YOU! You killed my HUSBAND! You murdered the one person who meant more to me than anything else besides our Father! You know what Gabriel, you are a dog." I walked up to him, and stood just a foot from him. "You're a lap dog that would do anything to get a treat from his master, including licking His ass!"
That sent Gabriel over the edge.
"How DARE you!" He raised up his hand to backhand me, but before his hand even moved an inch, a bright beam of light struck down between the two of us, and out of that beam a figure emerged.
"You would dare to even think about hitting the Angel of the Dawn, my future wife, Gabriel?"
My hands flew up to my mouth and my eyes just about popped out of my head. I knew that voice.
Michael strode up to Gabriel and stared down at him; anger the dominant emotion in his posture.
Gabriel took a step back and stared at Michael, and his reinstated wings, in amazement.
"This can't be! You disobeyed Him!" disbelief colored his words.
"You gave Him what he asked for." Michael said. Gabriel looked at him like he was about to cry. "I gave Him what he needed."
Gabriel looked as if someone had just punched him in the gut. He bowed his head, but when he looked up, I could see the anger in his eyes. Anger and jealousy towards his older brother. I saw him reach down toward his ankle, and there I saw a flash of metal.
But before I could even open my mouth to warn Michael, he had his sword drawn and at Gabriel's throat.
"I wouldn't do that, brother." Michael warned. I could see the calculation in Gabriel's eyes, and I had to do something before one of them ended up hurting the other.
I went towards Michael slowly, and put a hand on the arm that held the sword. "That's enough guys. It's over. Please, no more." I begged, looking at both of them.
Michael was the first to back down. He pulled his sword form Gabriel's throat and sheathed it.
Gabriel stood a little straighter and looked at Michael and me. "I would not have shown you such mercy."
"I know." Michael said, looking at me. "That's why you failed Him."
I wished I had a camera at that moment. The stunned look on Gabriel's face was priceless.
He looked at me one last time. "I am truly glad you are alive baby sister." And with a flap of his powerful wings, he took off into the sky, disappearing behind the clouds.
Once he was out of sight, I turned and looked at Michael. He looked younger, much less stressed. And his wings were the most magnificent things I had ever seen.
Michael in turn looked at me. He seemed to be assessing whether or not I was injured. I decided to ease his mind.
I ran towards him and jumped into his arms. He caught me effortlessly and spun me around. Then his lips were on mine, his tongue probing, and I gladly opened my mouth and allowed him entrance.
We kissed for an eternity, our hands roaming over each other, make sure the other was uninjured, and also for the sheer pleasure of it. Finally, Michael broke our kiss, but he didn't release me.
"That was a foolish thing you did, egging on Gabriel. He would have killed you." Michael said, looking at me as if he were admonishing a child.
"I know," I said. "But come on, did you see his face? It was classic!"Michael laughed, really laughed. And I was right there with him.
Once we had calmed down. Michaels face became serious.
"You have to leave, don't you?" I could feel the tears start to gather in my eyes.
"Yes," he said tenderly. He brushed a tear that had fallen from my eye. "But, Father has a gift for you." I looked at Michael with hope.
"Father understands that you did not fall under your own free will. He is willing to let you choose your path. In three years, on your 25th birthday, I will return to you. Then you will make your decision. Either you can stay a human, and live out you life on Earth, or you can rejoin me and your brothers in Heaven, resuming your place as the Angel of the Dawn. It is your decision alone, Aurora. You must understand, if you choose the human your life, you will never see me again. And when you die and come back home, you will not be the Angel of the Dawn. If you choose to come back with me, you will not be allowed on Earth for a few years, no contact with those you have come to love, to call family. Do you understand?"
I nodded my head. Three years seemed like a long time, but it was what Father was offering me. I would be a fool not to make the most of it.
I looked up at Michael and smiled. "I guess I will see you in three years then."
Michael smiled at me, leaned down and gave me one last kiss. "Three years." He agreed when we broke apart. I pulled away from him, feeling cold and alone, but I knew the feeling wouldn't last forever.
"Aurora, one more thing." Michael reached around his neck and unclasped a necklace. He took my hand and placed it in my palm. It was silver, the chain plain, and had a lone angel wing, a key, and a lock shaped like a heart. On the back of the angel wing was a carved symbol, one I was not familiar with.
"What does this say?" I asked him, awed at the precious and personal gift her had given me.
"It is my name in our language. You are the only being to hold the key to my heart, Aurora. This is to help you remember that." He cupped my face in his hands. "I love you, sweet angel." He gave me one last fleeting kiss, then pushed off and took flight into the sky.
Before he disappeared from my sight, I whispered "I love you too."
I looked down at the beautiful necklace, the placed it around my neck. I swore then and there that I would never take it off.
Once I had the necklace in place, I looked around me. Worry began to creep into my mind. I had no idea where I was, or if any of the others had survived the crash.
Just when I was about to break down, I heard something in the distance.
"Nightlynn! Where are you!" it was Charlie. I looked to my left, and I could see her, jeep and Audrey. They were alive!
"Im over here!" I yelled at them, and then I took off running towards them. Audrey did the same, and we actually knocked ourselves down when we reached each other. Laughing, we got up, and I hugged Jeep and Charlie as well. The baby looked at me, and I could see the intelligence in his eyes.
"Well," Jeep said. "where is Gabriel?"
I just shook my head. "It's a long story, and I will gladly tell it to you once I've had a shower and something to eat!" They all laughed, and we headed toward the facility.
But before we got there, there was one more thing I had to address. "Hey, guys." They all looked at me.
"Do you guys think you could call me Aurora from now on?" Jeep, Charlie and Audrey all looked at one another, smiling.
"Yea, yea we can do that," Charlie said.
I smiled back. When they had all turned around, I looked up at the sky. I blew a kiss towards the clouds, and as I turned to follow, I felt a kiss placed on my check, and someone whisper in my ear . . .
I Love You