This one is for Gabriel. From his POV of course.
Curl Up And Die, Relient K
I don't like the steps I took to get to look into your deepest feelings. And I don't like the place I'm in headspace within the hardwood and the ceiling.
Cause if I'm restless then why do I, I want nothing but to rest my soul. And I don't get this and I know why, you see sometimes things are just beyond control.
But I don't mind. But I'm not surprised to find that you do. I'm not surprised to find that you do. I know you do. And I feel fine, but I know the same does not apply to you. I know the same does not apply to you. So I guess that I'll curl up and die too.
Clinging to the remnants of perfection like most do after they break it. Not knowing which direction's the correct one, do I discard or remake it. Cause if I don't know then I don't know, but I may know someone who knows me more than I. And if I somehow could rest this soul, maybe control could find its way back to my life.
Well I don't mind. But I'm not surprised to find that you do. You see I know that I have done all this to you, to you. And I feel fine. But I know the same does not apply to you. Yeah I know the same does not apply to you. So I guess that I'll curl up and die too.
Yeah I'll curl up with you, until I die with you
Yeah I'll curl up with you, until I die with you
Yeah I'll curl up with you, until I die with you
Yeah I'll curl up wit you my baby and my darling…
Yeah I'll curl up with you, until I die with you.
21: Dimension Unknown.
I don't think anywhere in Royal Angel history the Angel of Light and the Angel of Darkness ever walked together, let alone talked without snarling. It just made me laugh thinking about it, walking side by side with Remus, humming Ebony and Ivory under my breath.
It was a glorious day in Orlando Florida, and I tried not to think of the glowering evil on our tracks. My parents owned a vacation home here, and I happened to know where the key was, that was a major blessing.
"Ow! Oh my word, Madison, that hurts!"
Klaus laughed a clapped as Remus entertained him with an automatic bubble blowing gun, my pain filled yelps must not have bothered him. I was so happy that he was okay. After a good nights rest, Klaus started smiling again, and I could take a deep breath of air.
"Hold still!" Madison retorted, but her annoyance was lost in her own chuckles. "You're so funny," She commented.
I sighed gently. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who thought that… Charlotte. Currently, we were relaxing on the veranda of the beautiful summer home, soaking up the splendid Florida sun. Well, at least the others were. Madison was busy picking glass shards from my elbow, and I, well I was experiencing the other half of that activity. Pain.
Unfortunately, I had been forced to go to the hospital to get the rest bandaged up. Madison had been right about that part. The doctor said he'd never seen anything like this were the patient survived. I had to stop my self from laughing at that. My left arm was sliced up pretty good from the Riku's incessant stabbing, and my right elbow had the glass, my back was scraped and cut, and my cheek had a bad brush burn. Thankfully, neither of my legs were that bad, or my torso. My hands got a lot of glass though.
I had been concerned about humans seeing us walking, with huge wings adhered to our backs, but that was taken care of. Luckily, the spiky haired wonder of a girl had brought us all wing harnesses. There was no way all three of us could be seen with large wings. Klaus was the only normal one.
"Explain to me again, how did we get here? I've never seen a world exactly like this," Remus asked, putting the bubble gun down on the table next to Klaus's booster chair.
Klaus's eyes wandered over to the gun, and for a half a second it looked like he might cry. I snickered at the boy's expression.
I looked up at Remus from where I sat, Madison continuing her surgery on my elbow.
"Well it's sort of hard to explain, considering I had close to no idea what I was doing my self. But I'm glad I did it. If only we could get to Indiana…" I chewed on that thought.
"But how did you do it?" Remus pressed.
"I broke through the walls, Remy. Not hard, just get a lot of boost, and if you have the weight of the ship and its height and consistency right… then you have it. You felt the break. It felt like an airplane landing. It was pretty unstable and bumpy. I'm just wondering how we're going to get back. Would it matter… if we had to stay? Guys?"
For a moment they thought, and Madison put down her tweezers. Madison smiled softly.
"As long as I have you three," She said, looking around all of us, I, Klaus and the resting her gaze on Remus. "I'll go wherever I'm needed."
I grinned back. Madison was just so easy to be happy around. Remus nodded in agreement with her statement.
"I'm going wherever she goes," He answered with a smirk.
Madison almost blushed. I peered around both of them to look at Klaus.
"What about you buddy?" I asked, smiling wide.
Klaus laughed and batted his tray.
"Okay. Vote is in. We go where we go, and stay where we must."
--
Scratch.
"You're inquiring as to how they got away?" I asked incredulously.
Her porcelain brow cracked, and brown hair escaped from the tight bob on the top of her head. I stood my ground, glaring right back into her cold, purple eyes. Violet circles rimmed those eyes, and I made note of them. She was restless of late. Her dark gaze topped my own, and I stepped back.
"I am," She said sternly.
"I'm telling you," I said in an agitated voice. "They disappeared. Poof, gone. It's almost like they crashed against the walls of existence and blew into billions on pieces. Nothing left."
I was being snotty because the floor couldn't come out from underneath of me, so to speak. She couldn't afford to lose me in her position. She was on the inside. I was the one who did everything. Rubbing my head, I found a black feather in my hair and pulled it out. That cat demon I killed the other night, her blood still wouldn't come off my boots, and my car was rank with it.
"Well, Scratch, you'd better find some way to go after them. I know they are not dead. You find a way, or you're done. Deal's off," She threatened.
"What did you just say?" I flipped back. "You are nowhere without me. You wouldn't dare in fear of your plan blowing up like grenade. I'll pull that pin out," I defied.
Those glass lips she had had a slight quiver, and I knew I'd won. I relaxed my stance and grinned widely.
"As for their disappearance, I'll talk to Xemnas, I'm sure one of those convenient portals could get us there. Or wherever they happen to be," I compromised.
Makurayami's face lit up, and I smirked.
"I'll take care of it ya old bat. Ha-ha, I'm so funny," I laughed. "With your place at Lord Averira's side, and that deal you made with him, we can knock both of the nuisances off. Besides, you know our deal helps both of us. And you're the only one who's able to commence it. Don't tell me you wouldn't do it even if I wasn't here to trigger this plan."
She did think on that one for a while. Then she chuckled.
"You're right. The girl's death would be on my agenda with or without you. Madison Youngblood is a thorn in my side. She must be delivered her justice that has been waiting."
--
Orlando, Florida.
"Ah, that hurt…" I grumbled rubbing the bandage that covered my deep elbow cut.
Madison held a porcelain saucer with the glass shards in it. She looked shocked, as she stared at the bloody pieces of glass.
"Wow, you had a lot in there," She exclaimed, almost laughing because it was so utterly amazing.
I stepped over to the refrigerator, feeling hunger rumble through my stomach. I glanced over the kitchen, past the island and eyeing a cabinet across from me.
The afternoon sun leaked in through the window above the sink, and colors splashed together everywhere in the decorative kitchen—compliments of my mom. I saw mostly blues and greens, as she thought they were very tropical, but that always followed with reds and purples and yellows. It was a spacious culinary room, all of its windows faced the blue ocean, and it had a glassed in porch on the side.
I wondered where my parents were right now. I was what? Twenty-three now? The curse had slowed down my aging process for about two years. Charlotte would be twenty-one already.
I wanted so badly to fly out to her.
Would she remember me? Did I have the money to afford four one way trips to Indiana? Well maybe, but I'm still thinking about food and rental costs. I should stay here. For the time being. When things calmed down, I could get a job and maybe Remus could too…
My thoughts flew in every direction, but their flight crashed as someone broke into my silent conversation with my self. I'm not sure how long she had been saying my name, but she was getting angry, and Madison hardly ever got irritated.
"Gabriel Embick!" She shrieked in a hushed tone. "There is some one at the door! Get your harness and answer it!"
I quickly ran to fulfill her order. Remus was rushing upstairs, and Madison fled into another room with Klaus. When they were completely gone, I looked around the room, pulled the harness on. It was spotless. Madison was a miracle worker, and no evidence whatsoever of our stay here.
I pulled a red t-shirt on and walked hastily to the front door, muttering: "One minute, I'm coming."
The visitor must have heard me mumbling because the relentless doorbell ringing discontinued, and I rubbed the last of it's ringing out of my ears.
"Yep?" I asked, pulling the door open.
I held the front door half open and leaned out to avoid showing whoever this was the rest of the house. But when my gaze rested on the pair in front of me, my heart froze mid-beat. Prayers began streaming through my mind like a song, rolling through all of the notes.
I was staring at my parents on the stoop.
I was praying that they wouldn't recognize me, if all else fails, please don't recognize me! Let my mother not know the blue eyed boy she gave birth to. Or my father the son he wanted to become a doctor, just like his daddy.
I felt my self suddenly working to look like a drunken slacker, who had broke into their summer home and was too stoned to realize that answering the door was a bad idea.
I am so sorry to say that did not work.
To set it off, my mother gasped. My father started speaking anyway.
"Get out of my house, scum," He growled.
I tried to act stupid and disrespectful. I know Charlotte always told me I was the worst actor, I tried my best.
"Wow, I'm so scared. It's a doctor with a flat ride. I'm going to jump into the ocean from fright," I said dryly.
I noticed my tone was off, and I didn't have any emotion in it. I was fried.
Their faces read "unbelievable" all over the place. My head dunked forward in defeat. My mother yelped.
"Edmund, that's my son!" She cried, grabbing his arm.
I moaned, turning around to go back inside the house. I left the door open. They didn't hesitate to come in. After all, it was their house. Maybe they weren't as scared of trespassers as they had always seemed to be.
"I'm telling you Edmund, that's my baby," She tugged at his arm again.
"Julie, he's been gone for years, and we've sent out enough reports and letters to make me go insane. Gabriel was a smart kid, he wouldn't get into alcohol and drugs," Edmund told her.
Light footsteps patted down the stairs, and my neck snapped up to see Madison striding into the room. She was empty-handed, no Klaus, but it killed me not to know her plan.
"You're right," She said gently. "He wouldn't do something like that."
Suddenly her voice sounded angelic, but I couldn't figure out why. What was she doing? Trying to get me dragged back to—Indiana!
I shot her a look that my parents probably saw. She read it and shot me one back. Our exchange was one that of Charlotte's safety. Madison thought that Charlotte would be in danger anyway, all the better to be near her when that happened.
She was right again.
"Who are you?" My dad demanded, looking around her for more of the party.
"I'm Madison Youngblood, a friend of your son's," She spoke politely, holding out a welcoming hand.
My dad actually shook it.
"Youngblood. Interesting last name, it's old and strong," He father commented.
"Thank you," She replied, unsure of how to reply.
"Is there anyone else in this building besides you two?" He asked.
I nodded, and called out: "Remus, come on, bring my Klaus down here."
My mother carefully stepped up to me and looked into my eyes.
"Gabriel? Is that really you?"
I sighed, and put a hand on her small shoulder. "It's been what, six years?"
My mother attacked me with a hug—which was around my waist, because I was so tall now—and I looked to Madison, who was smiling pleasantly. My father looked from me to Madison and then asked me him self.
"Really? After all this time…"
My mother let go and looked up at me expectantly, "Surely, you're going to be flying home with us?"
Madison's face lit up, and mine glowed from the thought of being that humanly close to Charlotte's location. The plan was good, but one thing sort of clogged up my passageways. Remus grinned politely at my parents, walking into the room with my son in his arms. Before my mother could get distracted by the toddler only feet from her, I cut in.
"What are you guys doing in Florida?" I asked, curious.
I had a lurking thought in the back of my head that these could be like planted clones or imposters. I had no clue; I hadn't seen them in six or seven years after all. My mother laughed in a very normal way, patting Edmund on the shoulder like she always did when something cracked her up.
"Oh honey, we were down here for the annual Physicians conference, don't you remember we always went to them? Every year in August, remember, in Jacksonville? We just thought that we'd come down here and check the house and make sure everything's A okay. And then we find you! Oh it's a miracle! God has blessed us again, Edmund, with the return of our beloved son. You'll be sure to return with us, won't you? Charlotte's been asking about you lately," She added with a suggestive smile.
My sanity topped off, and I felt like fifteen again as I unbelievably answered, "Really?"
Mother chuckled heartily, enjoying her self, not noticing the blue-eyed baby to her right. "Yes of course dear, she's been near frantic. You see, she's had an episode of amnesia this past summer, I'm so sorry to hear about it. She's forgotten everything about you dear, so she's just been asking everyone in the church—and everyone who knew him for that matter—about you. She'll be really excited to see you again."
Oh my goodness.
Charlotte.
Excited to see me. My Charlotte. My baby, my darling, my wife.
It was at that moment, that mother saw Klaus.
"Oh!" She yelped.
But much to my dismay, she didn't move from her spot. Her feet planted into the hardwood floor and looked from me to Klaus and back. Klaus's blue eyes matched mine, and our faces mirrored each other, my expression was shocked, and Klaus's was curious. No matter our stare, he resembled me; there was no explanation or excuse to hide that. Charlotte's face was in the boy though, and her same black hair grew from his scalp. Edmund gave me a stern look and nodded.
"You'll have to fill us in on what happened while you were away, son," He said firmly.
My mother did not pay attention to dad, she went on in alarm, "'My Klaus'?" She repeated, her voice rising higher. "Gabriel, is this our grandchild?"
Julie then threw a look Madison's way, and I stepped up to my parents.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there," I cautioned, gesturing with my hands for emphasis. "For one, she is not the mother," I said, receiving gasps from my audience. I offered Madison an apologetic glance, hoping she'd forgive me for putting her on the spot like that. "And that little smidgen of information is irrelevant at that moment. Two, yes, of course it is my son. Congrats, you're grandparents. Three," I went on, rolling my eyes slightly at the looks my parents exchanged. "Yes we will go to Indiana with you, but let me explain a tad to you first."
The sun was low in the sky by the time my half-truth story was complete. Of course, with the way I told it, it normally would have only taken about twenty minutes or so, but midway there was a lot of questions and Julie was playing with Klaus.
Finally, with the story all out on the table, I set down my cup of coffee and sat back. Madison gave me my son, and I held him with one hand on my lap, tapping my foot so he was preoccupied with the bouncing motion.
Madison spoke with my parents as I glanced out the window at the majestic sunset, setting on the water. I could imagine the fire going out as if the great expanse of water had extinguished it. Then my gaze came out of the short daydream and placed me in the spacious living room where my family of sorts was seated, speaking almost comfortably.
"So," I sighed. "To finish up the introduction, Mom Dad, this is Remus Averira, Madison Youngblood, Klaus Embick, and I, I am Gabriel Embick."
My mother smiled and made motion to take Klaus from me. I picked the boy up and held him out of her reach.
"One moment mother," I said calmly. "We have to discuss travel plans, don't we?" Klaus giggled as I swung him in the air above my head, diving around Julie's grasp. Edmund spoke, and she sat down, giving me a disapproving look. I shrugged her way, feeling like a little boy trying to prove that she couldn't play with my toys.
"Gabriel is right, sweetie," He told mom pointedly. "We can take care of all your airfare, no problem. Klaus shouldn't cost much of anything either. How about you just meet us at out hotel tomorrow? We'll fly out then. Come on Julie, you'll see him tomorrow."
I was anxious to get them out of the house so I could speak to the others, so I encouraged their departure and said few words to them about the tickets before gesturing them out the front doors. I waited until their red Civic was speeding on down the road to turn to the others.
Remus was standing by the kitchen counter, a cookie in his mouth, and Madison was with Klaus on the couch. They both looked at me, and Remus went over and sat down on the couch next to Madison. I sighed heavily, leaning against the back of the front door, and then I slid down to the floor. I ran a hand through my hair, and then rested my bandaged elbow on my knee.
I exhaled slowly, "That's a lot to take in."
I didn't look up when small poundings of feet came closer to me. But then I noticed something in their sound pattern. It couldn't be Madison, because these were lighter and off balance. My neck snapped up. Klaus was walkingtowards me. My boy smiled widely at me, it was like a beacon of light through the dimness of the evening. His arms were stretched out towards me, expecting me to take him in. I did, but I got to my feet first, and then snatched him up and swung him around. He giggled uncontrollably.
So far, everything was perfect.
I held Klaus with one arm up against my chest and he twisted around to look at Remus and Madison as we entered the living room once more. Both of them were smirking in a proud way, having had a hand in teaching my son to walk. I plopped down in an armchair across from the twosome and placed Klaus on my lap. They could see what was coming next, I'm sure it was written all over my face.
"Guys, we're leaving to their hotel at seven, okay? Then we'll get on the plane and so forth, but, if we are split up at any point in time, do not think of it as coincidence. Nothing is coincidence when you're being chased. And I'd rather my parents didn't get harmed in it all, oblivious is what I'm going for this time," I said sternly.
Remus nodded with the same amount of seriousness. Madison was trying to keep the mood light, and she smiled gently.
"Don't worry about it Gabe, we'll get this right. Now do you want Klaus with you, or with me?" She asked.
I thought that one through for a moment. When I was in the Mazda with the murderers they seemed to be after Klaus…but could that have been to hurt me? Why would they want a mere child?
I swallowed hard, "You'll have to take him. But please, take care."
"Don't worry Gabe. I'll keep Klaus and me safe."
--
Scratch.
I stepped out of my new Porsche—courtesy of Makurayami to replace my Mazda—and into the dark streets of my favorite world, the one that never was. A hissing sound came from behind me and I twisted around and kicked at it. The hissing Shadow went flying, hitting a wall by a old crashed truck. I laughed hard at that, bending over from the hilarity.
"Are you coming or not?" called the icy voice, who belonged to my receiver.
The voice made me straighten up. It was so sinister, so much colder than Makurayami's. I shivered and followed silently. This evil man had come to greet me and take me to Xemnas. I was just relishing in the warmness of his greeting. I made sarcastic chuckles in my mind, rolling my eyes at the 'warmness' of this receiving.
We walked in a straight line for a while, never taking any turns or even drifting over to the side. Soon we came to the edge of the road where a narrow, translucent blue bridge led the way to the gigantic white castle that loomed over us. The graying blond put one foot onto the bridge and said something under his breath, and then a dark portal appeared before us.
"We'll portal from here," He snarled coldly.
I got the picture, he was either obviously not happy to see me here or he just hated me period. I don't think I ever remembered Number Four being so icy. He gestured for me to go first, but he gave me a hard glare as I stepped up to it. That look said: "I hate you so much. You ruined my life, and then crushed it under your putrid foot."
Yeah he hated me.
I practically found my self jumping into that portal then, just to get away from the heartless Nobody.
After a gut wrenching travel through darkness, my feet found solid ground again, and I came face to face with two heavy wooden doors. These were the doors to the Superior's office. My nose was just skimming the surface of their ingrain and I had a weighty feeling in my stomach Vexen had dumped me right here in attempt to break my nose.
"Come in," called Xemnas in his deep note.
I cautiously turned the knob of the door at the right and slid into the diffuse lighting of his office. Xemnas had a low chuckle, and he used it as I entered, it was a very dark and it nearly shook the pride out of my step. The last of my trembles rippled all of the way down to my feet.
"So how to you propose to carry this out?" He asked, sounding almost interested.
"Huh?" I felt stupid, all of this effort to make me feel like a low worm had distracted me.
"You have come in inquiry as how to get to Earth, have you not?"
Good he didn't sound angry yet, I just had to apologize and move on.
"Yes, sorry sir. I have," I said.
Number One sighed, "What are you after on the other side?"
"You would know him better than I Superior," I said. "To you, his name would be Xero. After all, you did give him that name."
He chuckled darkly again, "You're correct, I did. What is he doing back on Earth? He is an intelligent man, I'll give him that."
I felt like I missing a whole relationship of hatred and competition between Gabriel and Xemnas. Talk about out of the loop.
"Ha-ha yeah," I replied flatly. "Well we're trying to follow him out there. Can't figure it out."
He laughed again, only this time it was coated in darkness, and I was admittedly frightened. Like cutting a cord with sharp scissors, his laughter ceased, I almost jumped. When he spoke his voice was harsh as the winter wind. "Why are you trying to follow him young fool?"
My voice was more even than I trusted it to be, "To delete him sir."
He went on, "If anything I have taught him well. He'll crush you with his smarts and strength. But then again," He paused in thought. "It may be very entertaining. Why not take an army with you? Ha-ha." He got up from his chair and approached me with lightning speed. I flinched hard. "You need ships with faultless precision, the correct weight, height volume and every other small inch of detail to perfection. It has only killed several thousand scientists in its making from its need to be so completely perfect. Except for one little problem, nothing can actually be utterly without fault, so I have instilled the next best thing."
A piece of information flashed off in my head then. One, Xemnas will give you anything if it promises a show. Two, this was quite dangerous.
Xemnas pressed a button at his desk and the wall removed itself. It was very white beyond it, but the silhouette of an army was there. He motioned for me to go forward, but a ignorant question came to my lips first.
"Why is Xero so dangerous?"
Ah man! I'm being really stupid right now. He'll kick me out now, or kill me. Or both. Instead or my assumptions though, Xemnas didn't laugh, he answered me seriously.
"Mr. Darsch," He said coldly. "Xero is top notch. He is the Angel of Darkness and he carries the Mace. Your fortunate escape in your car was not even scratching the surface. I will say this not as a compliment to the black angel or to save your life, but to record this in my own mind.
"I'm giving you these machines because I think it will be entertaining, not because I want the monster killed," And then, Xemnas's voice grew into a hushed sound. "The Angel of Darkness has a God," He under his breath. "And his God has defeated so many evils and former Angel of Light as well. His God is that of light and he can not be matched. You're fighting a war that was not meant to be won by you, his God will protect those he cares for, and I'm more with him than against him."
Then the Superior pushed me into the white hangar and closed the door behind me. I was alone, in a hangar full with thousands of dark ships. I deliberated in my mind for a moment, and then went for the key box.