Chapter Ten
The night was cool and the stars twinkled towards
him cheerfully. He was sitting on the stairs to the shop, remembering. It
felt like yesterday, or actually more like Tuesday, but nevertheless a whole
year had passed. Grace didn't know this, in the simple way she wasn't aware
of the rest of the world either. Gabriel sat with his chin resting in his
hands, looking at the sky. In his lap five of the seven gold pieces lay.
Now they were only plain pieces of gold, no magic at all with them any longer.
Heavy and thick, but containing nothing of value for him.
He felt his eyes grow misty.
For some days he had wondered what'd happened to Wrath and
Gray, but since Gracie needed his full attention he forgot them. But nowÉ
He was sure of what Mrs. Smith had told him about the Were's were true and
that that was the case with his former friends. They were mystical and such
things had power. And he hated the Power that could steer his life as it
willed. He'd had the talisman before, to protect him, but now he held
nothing.
A tear fell on the golden piece with a rich 'plink'. He sighed.
To sit and remember wouldn't make him any better. He was going to visit the
hospital and he needed his wits in order to get there, so he had better to
go to sleep. Gabriel rose, brushing of his pants, and looked one last time
down the street. He saw a large but slim dog coming running. As it was getting
closer he could make out that it was staggering on three legs and two and
saw two true blue intelligent eyes in the black face.
When it appeared to see him, the dog (apparently a wolfhound)
slowed down and stopped in front of the puzzled Gabriel. It whined and lay
down at his feet. Gabriel, a lover of animals, bent down to pet the black
and dusty fur.
"Hey, boy. What's happened to you?"
The huge dog rose and looked into his eyes. It motioned towards
the door with its nose.
"You want to come in?" Gabe asked. "You might as well. I have
no company tonight, you see."
The dog slunk in when he opened the door and stood motionless
on three legs, never taking its eyes of him. Gabriel turned and locked the
door for the night.
"Gabriel."
He froze.
"Gabriel," the voice repeated, "please look at me."
He felt his lower lip tremble. He dropped the key. He heard
the other bend down and he saw the hand pick it up. Silver hair touching
the ground.
"Will you speak with me?"
"No!" he roared and spun around. The punch hit even though
he kept his eyes closed. "You can't be here!" he shouted at Wrath. He towered
over the intruder. "Why are you here."
Wrath swallowed. This wasn't really the way he'd expected Gabriel
to react. He barely noticed the pain in his left side.
"I come with ill tidings," he started sadly, "but we must not
let our feelings come in the way now!" He rose and cursed as redhot fire
shot at his brain. "You must listen."
"No, I don't! You listen to me!"
With one angry motion he gripped Wrath's throat and slammed
him into the wall. The other one was larger and stronger, but Gabriel had
the force of fury on his side.
"Gabe!" Wrath breathed as he tenderly touched the clutch around
his neck and Gabe loosened his grip. "Look at me! Do I look like a killer
to you?"
Only now the enraged ShadowHunter finally looked closely at
his former friend and found it terrible to do so. The silverhaired demon
hadn't bothered covering his wounds for there was nothing that could make
them better or worse. His face was bruised and a long knife scar ran over
his left eye and cheek. His whole left arm, shoulder and chest was totally
unprotected by skin.
Gabriel had to swallow down the nausea that threatened in his
throat.
"No, I didn't think so." Wrath whispered. He embraced his friend
with tears.
"I missed you," Gabriel choked. "Where were you?"
"Protecting you from a distance." Wrath murmured.
They let go of eachother.
"Grace is in trouble." His voice was flat.
"What?! Gabriel spluttered, shocked. "How?"
"Shatter has taken her. He's trying to trap you." Wrath continued
mercilessly when Gabriels eyes became misty. "She's woken from her coma."
"God," Gabriel said and fell to his knees in both grief and
relief. "God, thank you."
Wrath looked at him crying for a long time, eyes blank without
saying anything. He understood that his friend had imagined him and Gray
as killers. And Wrath also knew that he knew they weren't humans.
Gabriel in his turn was trying to fathom it all. Gracie was
awake after a whole year of not being, but now the same demon that made her
enter it had captured her! After leaving without notice, his friend, or foe?,
Wrath had returned. The talisman was gone and broken... How would he manage
without it?
"Yes, you'd die instantly if you confronted Shatter now."
"What's the matter with you? Mind reader or something?"
Wrath smiled evilly, baring long canine teeth.
"No, don't say it." Gabriel waved it away. "How can we mend
the talisman anyway."
"Have you got the shards?"
"Five. I sold two of them." He shrugged.
"What!" Wrath's voice was booming in the silence. "You sold
the shards?!"
"Why not?" he squeaked, afraid of the sudden flare in the stonecold
eyes. "They were pure gold and I needed the money to pay Gracie's hospital
bills."
"I don't believe it!" Wrath moaned and buried his face in his
hands. "You actually sold the talisman?"
"Yea, I guess."
"Then," he straightened up, determination marking his face,"
we've got to get them back."