DREAMING WITH THE CHILD OF LIGHT
"Gabriel." He heard his name being whispered softly and playfully. "Gabriel wake up, we have to go see her. She's waiting for us." Slowly he opened his eyes, only to see Dianna's small face mere inches from his own. "Wake up sleepyhead." She giggled as she rolled off his body and onto soft sweet smelling grass.
"Must be dreaming." He whispered as he sat up and looked at the meadow where he had been laying.
"Of course you're dreaming silly." She giggled as she pulled at his hand, urging him to get up and follow her. "Come on."
As he stood, Gabriel noticed the soft feel of his clothing. Gone were the jeans and stiff shirt he had been wearing when he fell asleep in the chair. Now he was wearing slacks and a button up shirt made of the softest white material he had ever felt.
"Come on Gabriel." Dianna was pulling at him harder. He could see she was dressed in a knee length sleeveless dress that seemed to be the same material and her blonde hair was pulled back loosely and hung in one braid down her back. "She's waiting to meet you Gabriel."
"Who's waiting Princess?" He marveled at the way the grass under his bare feet felt more like silk. "Dianna! Wait up!"
"You have to hurry up slow poke." More laughter filled the air as she began to frolic, filling his mind and heart with pure joy. "Bet you can't keep up with me." She began to skip as she teased. Gabriel found himself beginning to run after the little girl, laughing and teasing back.
As they ran through the grass, Gabriel would catch up with her long enough to scoop her into his arms and tickle her mercilessly. He would then release her only to have her run ahead again. Sometimes she would skip or stop and just look at something. It was these times Gabriel felt his heart grow warm. He wondered if this is what it was like to have children. He made a mental note to ask Sara's partner next time they were together.
Suddenly Dianna stopped and turned to him. Her smile slowly disappeared, as her eyes grew wide with fright.
"Dianna, honey, what's wrong." She didn't answers, and he suddenly realized that she wasn't really looking at him but rather past him. Slowly he turned and looked behind him, feeling shock. "Dianna." He shouted as the blue sky surrounding them began to blacken and become filled with storm clouds. "Baby, you need to run!" He turned as the wind began to pick up. He could feel the hot air pushing against his back as he forced his legs to start moving toward the terrified girl. "I'm coming Princess!" His voice was almost drowned out by the roar and thunder.
"I'm scared Gabriel!" She was reaching out for him as he neared. With one swift movement, he reached around her small body and grabbed her, pulling her close to his body; wrapping his arms tightly. "Don't let go of me Gabriel." He could feel her hot tears against his skin through the shirt.
"I won't let you go baby." He slowed down, trying to decide which way he should go. Everywhere he looked seemed to have changed from beauty and serenity to a place right out of a horror movie.
Gone were the tall full trees with emerald green leaves shading the ground from the warm sun. Gone was the soft silky grass beneath his feet. The sweet air was now replaced with the heavy stench of death and destruction.
As he searched desperately for a way out, he could hear Dianna whispering, crying words into his shoulder. He couldn't make out the words but he knew instinctively that she was asking some higher being for help. Suddenly he remembered a name from Lilith's book. Silently he begged that being for guidance, not for himself but for the child he was now responsible for. As if in answer, a column of light seemed to rise from the scorched and inhospitable ground.
Without hesitating, he began running again. He almost stopped as an inhuman shriek pierced the sound of the storm surrounding him. Feeling fear rise, he again prayed. He asked for the strength to get Dianna to the lighted area. Every time his feet came down, he felt the now jagged rocks cut into the flesh of his soles. He tightened his grip on Dianna, as thorn bushes seemed to appear from nowhere and scratch at his legs and torso.
Through his tears of pain, he could see how near he was getting to the column. Somewhere he found a new surge of energy, helping his now tortured legs to pump a bit faster.
Without warning it happened. Intense, crippling pain exploded from his ankle to his knee, causing him to begin falling. Instinctively he turned his body so that when he hit the hard, unyielding ground, his body would not crush Dianna's. Gabriel just lay there, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him. AS he tried to suck in great gulps of air, he craned his neck, trying to see how close they were.
"Run!" He coughed as he fought to breath. "Dianna, get into the light." He felt her weight lift off his chest and watched as she began to run with all her might. "That's it baby, run into the light and wait for me."
"Gabriel hurry up." Her tiny voice call to him over the din. "Come on, get up Gabriel."
"Stay right there Dianna." He shouted as he realized that the child was safe as long as she remained in that circle.
Gabriel tried to get up, as the shriek seemed to get closer. Quickly he discovered that he couldn't put any weight on his injury. He lay back down and watched with sadness, Dianna crying and reaching out for him.
"Don't move Dianna." He cried out to her. "You stay in that light, do you hear me?"
"Gabriel!" She screamed his name as only a terrified child could.
"I said don't move Dianna." He shouted more harshly than he had intended as he sat up and tried to form a plan. As he watched Dianna start to take a step out of the circle, a brightly armored figure appeared and began to comfort the child. "You just keep her there." Gabriel whispered as he suddenly felt another presence. Turning his head slightly, he saw a dark figure moving toward him. Again he tried to get up and again the pain threatened to cause him to pass out. "Wait a minute. This is all just a dream." The shriek that had been following them suddenly laughed, sending chills throughout Gabriel's body. "All I have to do is make myself wake up." Closing his eyes he began to whisper quickly to himself. "Just wake up. It's all a dream. Just a bad dream."
"Not from this dream Mythkeeper." Gabriel jumped as hands gripped his shoulders like a vise. He glanced sideways at the metal gauntlets that held him down, then at the eyes that peered from the ornate helmet.
"Nottingham!" Fear mixed with rage coursed through his entire being.
"Get up!" The command was soft but left no room for argument. Gabriel once again tried to place his weight on his leg but screamed as the pain in his leg increased. "Listen to me, if he catches you, your mind will be his. Do you understand me?" Gabriel nodded as he watched the figure come nearer but at a slower pace. "He will use you against the Child of Light."
"Ian, I can't stand up. I can't walk."
"Then crawl." Nottingham released his grip and stood. "I will stay between you and darkness for as long as I am able."
"But why?" Gabriel asked as he looked at the warrior suspiciously. "You've made it very clear that you don't like me."
"You are a part of the Witchblade's circle." Nottingham's sword and armor seemed to glow from a light within as he spoke. "Because of that alone, I must protect you from harm." He turned his back toward Gabriel and faced the being that was nearing. "Get into the circle anyway you can Mythkeeper. Only there can you break out of this nightmare with the child."
"What about you Ian?"
"Go! Now!" Nottingham didn't look back. "I will keep darkness away as long as I can stand."
Gabriel wanted to ask his question again but decided that Nottingham was right. He had to get to Dianna and get them both out of this nightmarish world. So he turned and began to slowly and painfully crawl, using his one good leg and his arms, all the while whispering pleas to that name from the book.
He didn't have to turn as he neared the lighted sanctuary to know that the battle had begun. He didn't have too, but for a fleeting instant he did. Nottingham was wielding his sword against the dark shape. Each time sword struck sword there was an intense flash of pure white light. For a split second, Gabriel was able to see the face of the being. It had a face and eyes the color of polished steel. Gabriel burned the image of that face into his mind so that he would remember. Then slowly and painfully he continued his journey.
"Let me go!" Gabriel looked up as he heard Dianna scream. The woman in the armor was holding the struggling child tightly. "Gabriel! She won't let me help!"
"It's okay Princess." He smiled and fought off tears. "I'm almost there baby." For Dianna's sake he found one more burst of energy. Pushing hard, his head and torso finally entered the light. He breathed deeply as hands pulled him the rest of the way in.
"Take the child and break the spell." The woman spoke as Gabriel rolled to his back, weak and gasping for air.
"No." He whispered, forcing himself to a standing position carefully. "Not without Ian." He touched Dianna's hair softly as she stood by his side, trying to help him in her own childlike way.
"You must take the Child of Light and wake up from this place." Her words were sharp.
"I said not without Ian." He pointed to the battle in the darkness where Nottingham was beginning to show signs of growing weary.
"I'm not going without Gabriel." Dianna's voice was small but full of authority.
"Give me a weapon and I'll…."
"You can't even stand on your own Keeper of Histories." She laughed sadly.
"My name is Gabriel and I said I will not leave without him." He felt like screaming as he turned to see Ian being hit hard over and over. He knew the warrior would not last much longer.
"He protected you so that you could save the Child. Don't you understand that?" She tried to reason with Gabriel.
"When I know his is safe, then I'll take Dianna and leave."
"Mortals!" The woman threw her hands in the air in disgust. "I expect this kind of behavior from a child but not from…."
"Dianna! No!" Gabriel screamed as the girl bolted from his side and headed toward Ian. Without thinking, Gabriel started after her, crumpling in pain. "Dianna, come back." He yelled through his tears.
"Mortal." The woman spoke sternly. "Go to her." She tossed Gabriel a short sword. "Your injuries are no more." He hesitated as he carefully stood, testing his weight on the leg. 'If she means anything to you, go!"
He didn't wait to be told again. With speed he didn't know he possessed, he soon reached his destination. Dianna was being held by one hand of the dark being. Ian, momentarily shocked at the child's sudden appearance, had been struck hard enough to send him to his knees.
"The woman struggled harder to keep the child from me than you…" It laughed as Gabriel closed his eyes. "You just let her run into my grasp." Gabriel's eyes remained close as the creature spoke, but his hand started to become tighter on the dagger's hilt. "What do you think you are doing? Do you think praying will help you human."
"Let her go." Gabriel spoke evenly as Ian made ready to attack again. "Hold warrior." The command was obeyed instantly. "One more warning Deceiver…" Suddenly Gabriel's eyes opened, glowing from within like shiny new copper pennies. "Release the child or suffer."
"Ah Oh." Dianna whispered as she stopped struggling. She stared at Gabriel's eyes first then looked up at the being that still held her. "You're in big trouble now." He voice was almost a hushed whisper.
"Who are you to command me?" As it spoke, Ian noticed that the grip on Dianna was not as firm. Taking a chance he flung himself forward and grabbed the child, falling to his knees so that his back would protect her small body. "Infidel!" He was about to strike Ian when Gabriel spoke again.
"Who am I?" A soft smile formed on Gabriel's lips. "Only the human that is going to send you back to where you came from." He lifted the sword, which had become elongated and glowed. "To send you back to the hell you belong in."
"Who are you?" The think shrieked as Gabriel held the sword over his head with both hands.
"I am Gabriel, keeper of Myths and Histories." He swung down hard. "Be gone from my sight and the sight of this Child." The blade literally cut the being in half the imbedded itself into the ground. Gabriel blinked, his eyes returning to normal as the ground began to split where the sword had struck. Without thinking he rushed and wrapped himself around Ian who still held Dianna tightly.
"What?" Gabriel opened his eyes, startled at the dream. He looked on the bed quickly only to see Dianna, sleepily sitting up, staring at him. "Hey Princess." He moved to the bed and sat, pulling Dianna into his arms. "What are you doing awake?"
"I had a bad dream." She snuggled against him as she absently pushed her hair out of her face.
"Wanna talk about it?" He kissed the top of her head carefully.
"Nah, you were there. You know what happened." She snuggled deeper into his embrace, already going back to sleep. "You done real good. So did that other man." She yawned softly. "Can I meet him?"
"Sure baby." Gabriel cooed softly as once more she fell asleep. He closed his eyes, hoping for the same thing, but instead, images from the dream kept him fully awake and thinking about what he would actually do to protect this precious child.
"Gabriel." He heard his name being whispered softly and playfully. "Gabriel wake up, we have to go see her. She's waiting for us." Slowly he opened his eyes, only to see Dianna's small face mere inches from his own. "Wake up sleepyhead." She giggled as she rolled off his body and onto soft sweet smelling grass.
"Must be dreaming." He whispered as he sat up and looked at the meadow where he had been laying.
"Of course you're dreaming silly." She giggled as she pulled at his hand, urging him to get up and follow her. "Come on."
As he stood, Gabriel noticed the soft feel of his clothing. Gone were the jeans and stiff shirt he had been wearing when he fell asleep in the chair. Now he was wearing slacks and a button up shirt made of the softest white material he had ever felt.
"Come on Gabriel." Dianna was pulling at him harder. He could see she was dressed in a knee length sleeveless dress that seemed to be the same material and her blonde hair was pulled back loosely and hung in one braid down her back. "She's waiting to meet you Gabriel."
"Who's waiting Princess?" He marveled at the way the grass under his bare feet felt more like silk. "Dianna! Wait up!"
"You have to hurry up slow poke." More laughter filled the air as she began to frolic, filling his mind and heart with pure joy. "Bet you can't keep up with me." She began to skip as she teased. Gabriel found himself beginning to run after the little girl, laughing and teasing back.
As they ran through the grass, Gabriel would catch up with her long enough to scoop her into his arms and tickle her mercilessly. He would then release her only to have her run ahead again. Sometimes she would skip or stop and just look at something. It was these times Gabriel felt his heart grow warm. He wondered if this is what it was like to have children. He made a mental note to ask Sara's partner next time they were together.
Suddenly Dianna stopped and turned to him. Her smile slowly disappeared, as her eyes grew wide with fright.
"Dianna, honey, what's wrong." She didn't answers, and he suddenly realized that she wasn't really looking at him but rather past him. Slowly he turned and looked behind him, feeling shock. "Dianna." He shouted as the blue sky surrounding them began to blacken and become filled with storm clouds. "Baby, you need to run!" He turned as the wind began to pick up. He could feel the hot air pushing against his back as he forced his legs to start moving toward the terrified girl. "I'm coming Princess!" His voice was almost drowned out by the roar and thunder.
"I'm scared Gabriel!" She was reaching out for him as he neared. With one swift movement, he reached around her small body and grabbed her, pulling her close to his body; wrapping his arms tightly. "Don't let go of me Gabriel." He could feel her hot tears against his skin through the shirt.
"I won't let you go baby." He slowed down, trying to decide which way he should go. Everywhere he looked seemed to have changed from beauty and serenity to a place right out of a horror movie.
Gone were the tall full trees with emerald green leaves shading the ground from the warm sun. Gone was the soft silky grass beneath his feet. The sweet air was now replaced with the heavy stench of death and destruction.
As he searched desperately for a way out, he could hear Dianna whispering, crying words into his shoulder. He couldn't make out the words but he knew instinctively that she was asking some higher being for help. Suddenly he remembered a name from Lilith's book. Silently he begged that being for guidance, not for himself but for the child he was now responsible for. As if in answer, a column of light seemed to rise from the scorched and inhospitable ground.
Without hesitating, he began running again. He almost stopped as an inhuman shriek pierced the sound of the storm surrounding him. Feeling fear rise, he again prayed. He asked for the strength to get Dianna to the lighted area. Every time his feet came down, he felt the now jagged rocks cut into the flesh of his soles. He tightened his grip on Dianna, as thorn bushes seemed to appear from nowhere and scratch at his legs and torso.
Through his tears of pain, he could see how near he was getting to the column. Somewhere he found a new surge of energy, helping his now tortured legs to pump a bit faster.
Without warning it happened. Intense, crippling pain exploded from his ankle to his knee, causing him to begin falling. Instinctively he turned his body so that when he hit the hard, unyielding ground, his body would not crush Dianna's. Gabriel just lay there, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him. AS he tried to suck in great gulps of air, he craned his neck, trying to see how close they were.
"Run!" He coughed as he fought to breath. "Dianna, get into the light." He felt her weight lift off his chest and watched as she began to run with all her might. "That's it baby, run into the light and wait for me."
"Gabriel hurry up." Her tiny voice call to him over the din. "Come on, get up Gabriel."
"Stay right there Dianna." He shouted as he realized that the child was safe as long as she remained in that circle.
Gabriel tried to get up, as the shriek seemed to get closer. Quickly he discovered that he couldn't put any weight on his injury. He lay back down and watched with sadness, Dianna crying and reaching out for him.
"Don't move Dianna." He cried out to her. "You stay in that light, do you hear me?"
"Gabriel!" She screamed his name as only a terrified child could.
"I said don't move Dianna." He shouted more harshly than he had intended as he sat up and tried to form a plan. As he watched Dianna start to take a step out of the circle, a brightly armored figure appeared and began to comfort the child. "You just keep her there." Gabriel whispered as he suddenly felt another presence. Turning his head slightly, he saw a dark figure moving toward him. Again he tried to get up and again the pain threatened to cause him to pass out. "Wait a minute. This is all just a dream." The shriek that had been following them suddenly laughed, sending chills throughout Gabriel's body. "All I have to do is make myself wake up." Closing his eyes he began to whisper quickly to himself. "Just wake up. It's all a dream. Just a bad dream."
"Not from this dream Mythkeeper." Gabriel jumped as hands gripped his shoulders like a vise. He glanced sideways at the metal gauntlets that held him down, then at the eyes that peered from the ornate helmet.
"Nottingham!" Fear mixed with rage coursed through his entire being.
"Get up!" The command was soft but left no room for argument. Gabriel once again tried to place his weight on his leg but screamed as the pain in his leg increased. "Listen to me, if he catches you, your mind will be his. Do you understand me?" Gabriel nodded as he watched the figure come nearer but at a slower pace. "He will use you against the Child of Light."
"Ian, I can't stand up. I can't walk."
"Then crawl." Nottingham released his grip and stood. "I will stay between you and darkness for as long as I am able."
"But why?" Gabriel asked as he looked at the warrior suspiciously. "You've made it very clear that you don't like me."
"You are a part of the Witchblade's circle." Nottingham's sword and armor seemed to glow from a light within as he spoke. "Because of that alone, I must protect you from harm." He turned his back toward Gabriel and faced the being that was nearing. "Get into the circle anyway you can Mythkeeper. Only there can you break out of this nightmare with the child."
"What about you Ian?"
"Go! Now!" Nottingham didn't look back. "I will keep darkness away as long as I can stand."
Gabriel wanted to ask his question again but decided that Nottingham was right. He had to get to Dianna and get them both out of this nightmarish world. So he turned and began to slowly and painfully crawl, using his one good leg and his arms, all the while whispering pleas to that name from the book.
He didn't have to turn as he neared the lighted sanctuary to know that the battle had begun. He didn't have too, but for a fleeting instant he did. Nottingham was wielding his sword against the dark shape. Each time sword struck sword there was an intense flash of pure white light. For a split second, Gabriel was able to see the face of the being. It had a face and eyes the color of polished steel. Gabriel burned the image of that face into his mind so that he would remember. Then slowly and painfully he continued his journey.
"Let me go!" Gabriel looked up as he heard Dianna scream. The woman in the armor was holding the struggling child tightly. "Gabriel! She won't let me help!"
"It's okay Princess." He smiled and fought off tears. "I'm almost there baby." For Dianna's sake he found one more burst of energy. Pushing hard, his head and torso finally entered the light. He breathed deeply as hands pulled him the rest of the way in.
"Take the child and break the spell." The woman spoke as Gabriel rolled to his back, weak and gasping for air.
"No." He whispered, forcing himself to a standing position carefully. "Not without Ian." He touched Dianna's hair softly as she stood by his side, trying to help him in her own childlike way.
"You must take the Child of Light and wake up from this place." Her words were sharp.
"I said not without Ian." He pointed to the battle in the darkness where Nottingham was beginning to show signs of growing weary.
"I'm not going without Gabriel." Dianna's voice was small but full of authority.
"Give me a weapon and I'll…."
"You can't even stand on your own Keeper of Histories." She laughed sadly.
"My name is Gabriel and I said I will not leave without him." He felt like screaming as he turned to see Ian being hit hard over and over. He knew the warrior would not last much longer.
"He protected you so that you could save the Child. Don't you understand that?" She tried to reason with Gabriel.
"When I know his is safe, then I'll take Dianna and leave."
"Mortals!" The woman threw her hands in the air in disgust. "I expect this kind of behavior from a child but not from…."
"Dianna! No!" Gabriel screamed as the girl bolted from his side and headed toward Ian. Without thinking, Gabriel started after her, crumpling in pain. "Dianna, come back." He yelled through his tears.
"Mortal." The woman spoke sternly. "Go to her." She tossed Gabriel a short sword. "Your injuries are no more." He hesitated as he carefully stood, testing his weight on the leg. 'If she means anything to you, go!"
He didn't wait to be told again. With speed he didn't know he possessed, he soon reached his destination. Dianna was being held by one hand of the dark being. Ian, momentarily shocked at the child's sudden appearance, had been struck hard enough to send him to his knees.
"The woman struggled harder to keep the child from me than you…" It laughed as Gabriel closed his eyes. "You just let her run into my grasp." Gabriel's eyes remained close as the creature spoke, but his hand started to become tighter on the dagger's hilt. "What do you think you are doing? Do you think praying will help you human."
"Let her go." Gabriel spoke evenly as Ian made ready to attack again. "Hold warrior." The command was obeyed instantly. "One more warning Deceiver…" Suddenly Gabriel's eyes opened, glowing from within like shiny new copper pennies. "Release the child or suffer."
"Ah Oh." Dianna whispered as she stopped struggling. She stared at Gabriel's eyes first then looked up at the being that still held her. "You're in big trouble now." He voice was almost a hushed whisper.
"Who are you to command me?" As it spoke, Ian noticed that the grip on Dianna was not as firm. Taking a chance he flung himself forward and grabbed the child, falling to his knees so that his back would protect her small body. "Infidel!" He was about to strike Ian when Gabriel spoke again.
"Who am I?" A soft smile formed on Gabriel's lips. "Only the human that is going to send you back to where you came from." He lifted the sword, which had become elongated and glowed. "To send you back to the hell you belong in."
"Who are you?" The think shrieked as Gabriel held the sword over his head with both hands.
"I am Gabriel, keeper of Myths and Histories." He swung down hard. "Be gone from my sight and the sight of this Child." The blade literally cut the being in half the imbedded itself into the ground. Gabriel blinked, his eyes returning to normal as the ground began to split where the sword had struck. Without thinking he rushed and wrapped himself around Ian who still held Dianna tightly.
"What?" Gabriel opened his eyes, startled at the dream. He looked on the bed quickly only to see Dianna, sleepily sitting up, staring at him. "Hey Princess." He moved to the bed and sat, pulling Dianna into his arms. "What are you doing awake?"
"I had a bad dream." She snuggled against him as she absently pushed her hair out of her face.
"Wanna talk about it?" He kissed the top of her head carefully.
"Nah, you were there. You know what happened." She snuggled deeper into his embrace, already going back to sleep. "You done real good. So did that other man." She yawned softly. "Can I meet him?"
"Sure baby." Gabriel cooed softly as once more she fell asleep. He closed his eyes, hoping for the same thing, but instead, images from the dream kept him fully awake and thinking about what he would actually do to protect this precious child.