After breakfast the family started to make themselves look presentable for Gabriel. Once they were ready they decided to keep themselves occupied while waiting for him. Charlie did a little cleaning, Alastor was checking over his orders for next week, and the kids were sitting in the living room watching TV. A vintage television set made in the 1980's. Over the years mankind had been using more power for technology then they needed which resulted in a huge connection overflow. Modern gadgets like the i-phone went haywire and shut down until further notice. So everyone had to go back to using gadgets from the eighties and nineties.
"I hate this thing." Aaron complained at the static appearing on screen. "Dad can't we get a new TV? This one bites. There's so much static that you can't see a thing."
"If you can't see the picture show then turn on the radio." Alastor said.
"But the radio doesn't show anything like the TV does."
"TV is just a broadcast of lies and second rate entertainment. I wouldn't have bought the stupid thing if your mother didn't persist."
"But Dad people need entertainment."
"That is correct and we can get all that we need from the radio. It's reliable, produces truthful information, and gives real entertainment."
"Great. I'm gonna grow up stupid."
"Hey I never watched TV when I was a boy and I didn't grow up stupid. Use your imagination."
"Okay I'm imagining that I'm bored."
Alastor sighed.
"Aaron if you can't find any other way to entertain yourself why don't you help your mother clean up a bit? Hmm?"
Aaron huffed but ended up going into the kitchen to help Charlie. About an hour later Gabriel arrived and he greeted his daughter and grandchildren with hugs, kisses, and little presents. It wasn't anything much. Just a ball and bat for Aaron to play with outside and a sketch book and crayons for Carrie.
"Thanks for the bat and ball Grandpa." Aaron said.
"You're welcome Aaron. Have you ever thought of being a professional baseball player someday?"
"No but I do want to do something that involves baseball."
"How so?"
"I want to be one of those guys who sit up top and talk over a microphone which gets heard on the radio."
"You mean a sports news caster?"
"Uh-huh."
"Impressive idea."
"You know when your father was a teenager he wanted to be the host of his own radio show." Charlie said.
"Really Dad?" Aaron asked his father.
"It was a youthful dream." Alastor answered. "Nothing serious. I mean I would get part time jobs at radio stations but it never really got me anywhere aside from a brief internship."
"I thought internships did get you into places or something. What went wrong?"
"Uh...Well..." Alastor blushed and looked at Charlie who also blushed as they both recalled what it was that made them put aside their original plans for the future. "It...It just didn't work out. But enough about me. How is the exorcising business Gabriel?"
"It's been slow which is a good thing." The old man said.
"Do you think that maybe you'll be done with this job soon?" Charlie asked.
"No Charlotte. The lord's work is never done. Not until he calls us to heaven."
"But Daddy I don't this line of work is healthy for you. I mean running around trying to eliminate make believe demons."
"Demons are not make believe Charlotte. There as real as God is. I thought you knew that?"
"I do believe in them but I just don't think...I...I find it hard believe that...Oh how do I put this?"
"You don't think that they could actually make it into our world?"
"Well...Sort of."
"Oh Charlotte." He said shaking his head. "If you think that demons can't somehow reach you then you're terribly wrong. They're always trying to reach you. They're always trying to reach everyone. It's my job to make sure that they don't get close enough."
"That's another reason why I want you to retire Daddy. I feel this occupation has you constantly afraid. For years you and Mom were always so terrified of supernatural coming after us but nothing happened."
"That's what we wanted you to think."
"What?"
He hesitated for a moment.
"Nothing."
Then he coughed a few times.
"Is your cold acting up again?" Charlie asked with concern. "Here I'll make you some tea Daddy."
Charlie got up from the chair and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Gabriel turned his gaze over to Carrie who was drawing a picture in the sketchbook she had been given. He approached the six year old and smiled at her lovingly.
"What are you drawing?" He asked her.
"I don't know." She answered. "But I saw it once."
Carrie showed her some of pictures she had drawn. When her grandfather saw them his elderly body began to tremble and his skin started to lose color.
"You saw this?" He asked her. "Where?"
"I don't really know where. I just saw it one day."
"Caroline do you see a lot of things but you don't what they are or where they came from?"
"Yes."
"Have you heard any strange voices? Someone talking to you but you couldn't see them?"
"No."
His trembling stopped a little and he let out a breath of relief.
"Caroline do you believe in God and Jesus Christ? Do you believe that they love you and will look after you?"
"That's what you and Mommy have always told me. So yes."
"Good. Listen to me Caroline there are a lot of scary things in this world. Scary things that will try to hurt you but you have faith in the lord then he will protect you from them."
"What scary things? Like a werewolf?"
He chuckled.
"Not exactly but I promise you that if you trust in God and your parents then you will be safe."
Charlie heard their conversation and it made her feel very unnerved. Now as much as Charlie loved her parents she could not help but sometimes feel frustrated with how they brought her up. Of course they were very loving and caring but always so afraid and so protective. It was like every time Charlie left the house they were absolutely terrified that something was going to happen. She didn't want her father to cause her children to become paranoid and afraid of everything. But at the moment she would keep her opinions to herself and not say anything until much later.
The rest of the day was just like a typical visit from Gabriel. They all chatted, had some lunch, played ball for about an hour, Gabriel gave a sermon, and when it became late he decided to leave. However before he left Charlotte pulled him aside to have a small talk with him.
"I overheard what you told Carrie." She said. "Daddy I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't talk about that stuff to the children."
"Talk about what? Our religion?"
"No. I mean those scary things you mentioned to her, I know you were talking about demons. I don't want you to scare her."
"I don't want to scare her Charlotte and I don't tell her those things to do so. I told her that for her safety."
"Safety? From what?"
He sighed and took a very long moment to think about what he was going to say next.
"Charlotte there are dangers in this world that are hard to understand. Evils that only faith and love can defeat."
"Daddy please no more talk about demons. Do you have any idea of frightening that is to a little girl?"
"Sometimes you must frighten children in order to keep them from trusting those who would use deception to harm them. Caroline is very much like you were as a child. Innocent and naive. If you're not careful she'll...She'll...She'll..."
His body started to tremble again.
"Daddy? Daddy what's wrong?"
But instead of answering the poor man fell to the floor. Charlie tried to get him to respond while Alastor called 911. An ambulance arrived to take Gabriel to the hospital and the couple went with him while leaving their children in the care of a trusted neighbor. For hours Charlie waited with baited breath in the waiting room with her husband trying his beast to keep her calm. She prayed from the depths of her soul that her father would be alright.
Unfortunately despite their best efforts, there was nothing the doctors could do for him. He was too old and too weak. He wouldn't be able to hold on much longer and as soon as he became aware of that he realized that he needed to act fast. The first thing he did was request to speak with his son in law privately. This confused Alastor greatly but did what his father in-law asked of him.
"Alastor." He said weakly. "I know that I have not always been kind to you. Forgive me, it was nothing personal. I was just fearful of what your intentions with Charlotte were."
"Sir it's nothing to apologize for." Alastor responded.
"Yes it is. It took me so long to realize how much you love her. I'll never forget that night when you prevented us from losing her. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to you for that."
"Thank you but really it's-"
"Don't say it's nothing because it was everything to me and it was everything to Madeleine." He coughed. "Ever since she was born it was I who protected Charlotte from...Him but now my time here is over so I have no choice but to let you take my place as her protector."
He weakly reached for his bible which was laid on the nightstand and handed it to Alastor.
"This is your best weapon against him. Keep with it you and use it to protect my child and my grandchildren. You...You must not let him...Take her...He's been waiting for this day...I know he has."
"Who? Who's been waiting?"
"I wish I had more time to explain but I don't. I must speak to Charlotte before it's too late. But promise me something Alastor, promise me that you'll protect Charlotte no matter what."
"You don't need to ask that of me. I made that promise to myself long ago."
"Make it again to me. Swear by God that you'll do whatever it takes to protect Charlotte and the children."
"I swear to God that I'll protect Charlotte and our children with my life."
"You're a good man Alastor. I wish it hadn't of taken me so long to see that."
Finally Charlie was sent into the room. Tears were already in her eyes and she was trying so hard not to break down crying.
"Oh Daddy you can't really be dying." She sobbed while gently holding his hand.
"I am. I've been running from the grim reaper for as long as I can but I can't run anymore." He looked at her softly. "Charlotte I haven't much time left. I...I...I must tell you something."
"What?"
"Do you remember when you were a little girl and you had invisible friends?"
"Yes. They were imaginary. I made them up."
"No...No you didn't...But your mother and I pushed you to believe that they were because we thought if you didn't acknowledge them they'd go away. But now I fear that they are trying to reach Caroline."
"Daddy what are you saying?"
"Forgive me Charlotte. Your mother and I...We kept many secrets from you. There are things about yourself that we never told you. We thought hiding the truth from you would keep you safe but I now know that we were wrong to do so."
"Daddy you're not making any sense."
"Charlotte I would give anything in the world to have more time to explain every detail to you. To unveil every secret. But I can only tell you so much now. You are...You are...You are a human woman. You are my daughter...You are the product of the love your mother and I shared with each other. But that's not all you are." He coughed harder than he ever had before. "Once I am dead he'll be coming for you...You must not go with him unless it's want you truly want."
"Stop this. You're scaring me!"
"Have faith Charlotte. Have faith in God and in the love that you and your family share. Faith and love are the greatest weakness of evil. That's how I kept you safe for so long and even when I leave this world to pass on into heaven I...I will still try...Try to be there for you. You will...Always be my child...No matter what anyone says you are my daughter and I love you."
"I love you too Daddy."
With whatever strength he had left he forced himself to sit up and place a kiss on Charlie's temple. He laid back down after that and his last words ever spoken on earth were,
"Stay together. Be loving. Be courageous. Be faithful."