Chapter 11
Haunted
"You gonna tell me what these are?" Rylie asked, his green eyes transfixed on the rings in his hand.
Crowley's eyes widened as he looked at the rings. "Where did you get that?" he asked going to swipe the rings out of the other demons hand but Rylie was too fast.
"Tell me what they are then I'll decide whether I will give them to you or not," Rylie said.
Crowley scowled at him and said, "They're the Horsemen's rings. Megan wears them so it can shield her Grace from Gabriel's. How the hell did you get them?" Crowley eagerly asked.
"I found them in the Earth Tablet cave next to a dead Demon. Must've fell off her when she was fighting," Rylie said then seemed to realize something. "Wait, these are the Horsemen rings? The ones used to open Lucifer's cage?"
Crowley nodded.
"Well, then let's go let out Daddy Devil!" Rylie exclaimed.
"Oh no you don't!" Crowley said, blocking Rylie. "I know you're stupid but wanting to open the cage again? You'd have to be crazy to do that."
Rylie eyed him, looking interested in what he was saying. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Once Lucifer is out of the cage he will kill you. Then he'll go after the world again. You can say bye-bye to those little Tablets too. Now, would you rather rule the world or destroy it?" Crowley stuffed his hands in his pockets, hoping the Demon understood what he said.
Rylie was silent for a few moments, looking down at the rings in his hand, contemplating what he wanted.
"Then what do we do with the rings?" he asked, making his decision.
"Give them to me and-," Crowley started but Rylie cut him off.
"Oh no, these rings are powerful. I'm keeping them," Rylie stated, clutching the rings in his hand.
"You bloody little-," Crowley started but didn't finish that sentence. "Fine," he spat. "Keep the damn rings. Just don't do anything stupid." And in a flash the demon disappeared.
"Pfft." Rylie grinned and tossed the ring onto a small table. "Like I'd ever do anything stupid."
-B-
Gabriel sighed as he looked across the moonlit river. He retreated back to his favorite place once they discovered that the rings were gone.
The Archangel frowned. Unlike the last time he had gone there, fireflies flying and the water twinkling, the place seemed dark. Just…dark. The moon barley shone down on the river and the forest was quiet, not even the birds were singing their usual song.
"Gabriel." The Archangel quickly turned around when a voice a called his name. His eyes widened in surprise at who he saw.
"Brap?" he said as he stared at him. He had brown hair and piercing blue eyes, similar to Castiel's. His British accent was hard to miss too.
"Long time no see," Brap said with a smile. Okay, Gabriel had to be losing it now. Brap was one of his best Angel friends. They pulled pranks together, hung out; he even helped him when he ran away from Heaven. But there was one thing wrong with his old friend being there. Brap was dead.
"But…how?" Gabriel asked, stepping closer to him.
"Come on Gabriel, you're smarter then you look," Brap said.
"You're a ghost? Can Angels even be ghosts?" Gabriel asked, questioning things to make sure he wasn't losing his mind.
"I suppose. I'm here right now, aren't I?" Brap smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
That's when something occurred to Gabriel. I see dead people. It was the quote that was on the wall of the cave. It was meant for him.
"It's good to see you again," Gabriel said.
"You too. Now, what seems to be troubling you?" Brap asked, worry on his face.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes on the ghost Angel. "You should know. You know who we are currently working with at the moment."
Brap frowned. "Yes, yes. The Powers. Still holding a grudge now, are we?"
"Brap, they killed you!" Gabriel yelled, finally letting all his anger out. The Angels they were working with killed his best friend. How could you get over that?
"Well, they didn't exactly kill me, Gabriel," Brap pointed out. How could he be standing up for those douche bags?
"In my book they did. Leaving you alone to fend against ten rebel Angels."
"They did what they had to so they could survive and keep fighting," Brap said, his eyes somber.
"I don't care," Gabriel spat.
There was silence between the two Angels for a few minutes before Brap said, "So, you found that girl? Megan? How is she?"
Gabriel almost scowled at the subject change. "Good, fine."
Brap nodded. "You're still upset about this. I can see that. Gabriel, I'm at peace. Why can't you?"
Gabriel would never admit it but his eyes started tearing up. He hoped to Dad that Chuck didn't put this part in his books. "Because I lost everything, Brap! I lost you, I lost my brothers, and now I can't even be with my friends because of some stupid Demons!"
"I'm sorry," Brap said, a glint of sadness in his eyes.
"For what?" Gabriel asked.
"For leaving you when you needed a friend the most."
Gabriel was silent, not wanting to say anything.
"I left you alone, even when I was still alive, just for some petty job with The Powers. I neglected not just you but some other friends as well. And I feel guilty for that. But it's in the past. You have new friends now and you're happy. Hold on to that for as long as you can," Brap said.
Gabriel nodded. "I guess you're right."
"I'm always right," Brap said with a smile. Gabriel smiled back. "Look, I'll keep visiting you. But only you can see me. We have some catching up to do but now's not the time."
"Sounds good," Gabriel said.
"And listen. Don't blame Exarp. He wasn't there when it happened and he's a good Angel who is having some trouble. There's more lying beneath the surface," Brap said.
Gabriel nodded and with that Brap disappeared into the wind. The Archangel turned back to face the river, feeling a little happier than before. Things were changing. Gabriel could tell. And he had to be ready for that.
