ALPHA/OMEGA
Book One
SIX
Gabriel holstered the empty pistol. "I'm out!" He yelled. Carl pulled a small sphere from his pocket and threw it at the charging were-bears. Both hunters ducked as the ensuing explosion slaughtered their enemies.
"How many more?" Carl asked, panting.
"I don't know." Gabriel shook his head. They'd stumbled upon not a group of were-bears, but apparently every were-creature in all Russia! Somehow, they'd managed to maintain their monstrous forms even away from the light of the moon. Gathered for some unknown purpose in Moscow, werewolves, were-bears, and were-panthers all ganged up on the two hunters. They were out of all ammunition for their guns, even Carl's shotgun, and that was the last of Carl's latest toys he called 'grenades'.
"Well," Carl sighed, pulling out a silver-coated short sword and a similar dagger, "no way out but through. You're making this up to me later." He grinned at his lover.
Gabriel activated his Tojo blades, the grips dropping from their hidden sleeve holsters to his palms, the blades emerging to whirl silently. "I'll be happy to, love, but first let's just get out of here."
They leap over the rubble from the last explosion. Carefully moving a safe distance apart, so not to hit each other, they edged into the center of the underground cavern where the gathering of monsters had taken place. Dust and flickering torches made visibility poor, but Gabriel could sense that they were not alone.
Suddenly, more were-bears emerged from the shadows, charging and roaring. The area soon became a melee, each being trying to rend another. Gabriel quickly tore one bear apart. When the second came at him, he ducked, slashing as he passed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Carl cut the throat of a third bear, while Gabriel swung back to ensure the one he ducked was finished. In the confusion, he couldn't keep track of the number of opponents, so when he heard Carl suddenly shout, "NO!" he spun quickly, expecting a rear attack.
But what he saw tore him apart more surely than any demon spawn could achieve.
Carl stood between Gabriel and the largest bear yet. The friar's sword was buried in the beast's eye. The monster's claws were buried in the friar's chest. Carl had leapt between Gabriel and the monster's attack. Time seemed to slow down for Gabriel as the enormous beast staggered backwards, ripping Carl viciously as its claws emerged from his chest. Carl seemed to glance over his shoulder at Gabriel for a moment, his expression regretful, before crumpling to the ground.
A vicious and mindless howl filled the cavern, causing even the remaining monsters to pause. It took Gabriel a moment to realize that he was making that noise himself. In a frenzy, he leaped at the nearest bear. Gabriel was lost so deep in grief, he no longer controlled his own mind. Quickly, the fight was over. He hardly knew how. He'd lost a Tojo blade somewhere; on his hand was his clawed gauntlet, and it was bloodied. Dropping the other Tojo and the gauntlet, he staggered over to Carl's body.
"No! No. No no no no...." There was blood everywhere, too much of Carl's red blood. Gabriel knelt and pulled the battered form to him, cradling it, wiping clean the beloved face. Carl's blue eyes already had turned glassy. Gabriel sobbed brokenly, babbling half formed words of love, of denial, of prayers, of damnation. Finally, the blow of losing his love became too great, and darkness overcame him. Monks sent from a nearby Orthodox monastery at the request of the Holy Order found him unconscious, still clinging to Carl's broken body.
End Book One