-4 weeks later-
Grace had been home for a week now, and the Stone/Landon family was adjusting to some sort of new normal. Olive found herself on the couch, unable to sleep in Eden's room out of guilt. Mick and Zeke stayed downstairs to help Ben take care of Grace, fearing what would happen if they were apart. They decided to stay close together for a while, and keep a low profile.
There was still no sign of Eden, or the "anti-Stones." A nickname Zeke pinned on the hate group early on. There were no attacks from them either, which is what made them fear even greater.
What were they planning? A world of possibilities filled their minds as they tried to prepare for the worst. It would be bad if they were dormant for so long. Right? Whatever the reason, they clung together tightly as a family unit.
July had come and gone, and August was in full swing. Olive was preparing for college, but begged her parents to take some time off before beginning classes.
"What if I start in January?" She asked. "I'd just be missing a semester. I can start late." Ben shook his head, peeling off his glasses. His daughter had been begging him to start late ever since she was accepted into university two weeks ago. This wasn't necessarily a setback, but it wasn't something he wanted her to do. "No Ol. We need to live our lives in some ways." He explained. "We can't just hide away forever. We need some normalcy."
Anxiety bubbled up inside of her. "I can't go to school knowing my baby sister is out there with that... that psycho!" Ben was silent at her response. He saw the life leave her eyes as she thought about Eden, and he didn't know what to do. "I'm sorry Ol." He whispered.
"What if something happens and I'm not there? I have to be there!" Ben wanted to argue, but he had no words. After all, she was right. "Just please let me start in January."
He bit his lip to stop it from smiling a little, knowing full well she'd be happy with his answer.
"Fine. You can start in January."
Then there was Cal.
Last time he went to school he was 13. Now having gained the last 5 years without a middle or high school diploma, he had no idea what to do with himself. He spent his time studying what he had seen in Sheol, and the callings. He felt like he barely had time for anything else… Besides looking for his sister.
He thought of Olive, and for a moment he felt insecure. Everything they went through brought her a new love for learning and history. After all, she will be majoring in history, with a minor in archeology.
And what will he be studying? Callings.
Did it bring him a love of learning? No. It made him never wanna read again. "Maybe I should just be lazy and study art." He thought to himself.
Mick was now ten weeks along in her pregnancy, and her morning sickness was only picking up. She felt useless most days. Cooped up on the couch with a box of crackers, trying not to hurl at the smell of real food. But with Zeke tending to her every day, she knew she'd be fine.
These last 4 weeks were ok for the Stones.
They found themselves in the living room. Mick leaned into the couch with Zeke at her side. Grace and Ben in the love seat on the side of them, laughing their butts off. Olive and Cal were on the floor playing cards, Olive yelling at Cal for beating her like usual. Teasing each other and reminiscing was something their whole family loved to do.
And yet it felt incomplete without Eden.
Cal looked up at his aunt. "Ok, ok. Tell me the story again?" Mick laughed before she even began to tell it. It was one of her favorite memories of her nephew to date. "So Cal was like… 7." She began. "I told him that I had to go to the store, so he grabbed onto my legs super tight and in his little voice said 'auntie Mick, don't weave!' And he did not let go for a solid hour until Ben had to drag him away."
The room was full of laughter at the memory, and Grace's heart filled with joy as she looked around at the people who surrounded her. It was nice to hear laughter again. "I guess I've just always been the favorite aunt." Mick said with a shrug. Olive smiled and began to tease her, "You're our only aunt."
And then like clockwork, Mick sat still as she was sucked into a calling.
She was face to face with the angel Gabriel once again. His eyes aflame in righteous anger… but not directed towards her. She felt that the anger was lingering elsewhere, but couldn't pinpoint it exactly. She turned to the side and locked eyes with her brother, who for the first time in a while was sharing the calling.
Gabriel held out his hands to them, his stance gentle and authoritative. His palms were white, glowing in purity. In his left he offered a beating heart, safe and sound in the safety of his power. In the other he offered a sword. Chiseled with gold and beautiful designs. Ben and Michaela looked back at each other, then to the archangel, who's bright eyes began to simmer down.
"A sword?" Ben asked. "But I thought Gabriel wasn't the angel of war?"
"He's not." Mick replied in confusion. "This has to symbolize something else." Suddenly, the angel's voice sliced through the atmosphere. As gentle as a whisper, but as bold as a lion. "Protection." He spoke to them. He turned his face, waving his hands in a soft motion. It was as if the space they were inside had glitched, as he opened up what could only be described as a one way mirror.
"A long time ago," The angel began, gripping their full attention. "Many of my brothers fell from their posts in the heavens, disobeying The Creator. Two of those being Azazel and Gadreel." The mirror rippled, showing them flashing images of destruction and torment. The earth was scorched, fire and terror engulfing every corner. Only evil in people's eyes. "They taught men the art of war, leaving our world in ruins." Ben closed his eyes, trying to remember where he had read this before… or if he even had in the first place. Mick stood there silently, her breathing becoming heavy with anxiety, as she tried to understand how this could be true. "That was when the earth was flooded. To heal our land and begin again without The Fallen."
"Everything goes back to that damn arc." Ben thought. "So Noah was no hero after all? Just a guy who survived?" He asked angrily. He was confused, but instead of spewing agitation, he bit his tongue. After all, who was he to question an angel who actually saw these things happen?
"Noah was a man with a clean bloodline. He was good and followed a path of purity. Those who intermixed with The Fallen were not. That is why he and his family were spared."
Saanvi flashed across Ben's mind. He had to tell her this, and fast.
Gabriel locked eyes with them, a sea of sadness flushing over his face. "But the evil of The Fallen still lingers on this earth. Their souls hover back and forth like wisps, trapped between worlds. Their spirits still whisper in the ear of the human, causing them to walk astray from the path. "
They didn't know what to think anymore. Fallen angels, war, the arc, trapped spirits? It was getting to be too much. Mick spoke up, trying to make sense of it. "Like-like possession?"
Gabriel placed his hand on Mick's shoulder as he waved the other in the direction of the mirror. It rippled once again just as he began to speak.
"Not in the way you think of."
The mirror showed him in the midst of the chaos, in what seemed to be a throne room. "In that time, I was appointed to be a protector of man, and The Creator gifted me a way to see and help who I was assigned to."
"The mirror." Ben whispered.
"Precisely." Gabriel replied. "Although, those of us who did not fall have assignments."
"Assignments?" Ben asked. Gabriel didn't answer his question, but instead he turned his back to them, and flashed a new image over the mirror.
In that strange rippled mirror, Ben saw Angelina… and his daughter. He froze, his face turning pale. "That's… that's Eden." He scanned the room they were in, trying to figure out their location. But his focus went elsewhere. Behind Eden was a figure that he didn't notice at first. It took him a moment to realize who it was, but when he did, his eyes went wide.
It was Gabriel.
Suddenly, Gabriel spoke to them in a language they didn't know, but yet somehow understood as if he was speaking English. "We all have 'assignments', or people to watch over." Ben stared at the mirror in disbelief, his jaw practically unhinged as his mouth fell so wide. "The Creator instructed me to be her guardian."
Those words struck Ben like a knife, making him feel as though he had no breath left in his lungs. This whole time Angelina believed Eden was her guardian angel, and the thought of Eden herself having one never crossed his mind. He didn't believe in guardian angels… until now. Yet it did confirm that Eden was not one.
Gabriel kept the moving image up, letting them grasp onto it like an old memory. "I am protecting her, Benjamin. She is chosen, and innocent. You will bring her back soon."
Mick stood there speechless, unable to thank Gabriel. She wondered why he had given those secrets about The Fallen away, but it was exactly what they were looking for. Overwhelming? Yes. But they haven't found any new helpful information in a very long time. And she was floored that they now had this… and not only this, but a literal heaven sent angel to watch over them.
Gabriel felt the frequency of her thoughts and spoke up for her. "Do not thank me." He whispered in his native tongue, holding out his hand. "Protecting those who have been chosen for me to guard is my job. I will be protecting all of you. Even your daughter and son Michaela."
Michaela took a deep breath, a large sigh of relief escaping as a tear dripped down her face. With Zeke and Ben she knew she'd be safe. Hell, with her whole family by her side she knew she'd be safe. But this was different.
She knew she was protected by the divine.
Something she didn't even believe in two years ago.
Ben faced Gabriel, asking him one last question as he felt the calling begin to fade, and his feet begin to feel realty. "Where is my daughter, and how do I find her?"
Hey all! So sorry that this chapter was delayed. I hope you guys saw my comment a few weeks ago as to why it was delayed/why I'm posting today! If not, here's a quick rundown: I had a surprise visit from my cousin who is in the military, and I genuinely lost track of time. I felt like I couldn't break tradition and post on a random November/December day, so I waited until now. I am positing today AND tomorrow because it's Zekaela's wedding anniversary and tomorrow is the day Zeke beat the death date! I figured it'd be cool to post double because I did make you guys wait 2 months and that's terrible. I will (try) to never let that happen again LOL.
So with the way I'm planning out the rest of the story, I believe chapters 19 and 20 will be a part 1 and a part 2. We'll see on how they turn out/how long they are, but I may post them back to back!
Anyways, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate! And also a great Thanksgiving if you celebrate that... damn i've been gone for a while haha.
Love you all, and see you tomorrow!
-The Color Gray
