A/N: 07.17.2018

Sorry, Dreamers! This one really should've been ready days ago. But... blame God of War (2018)! That game is sooo addicting!

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 9: Old Friends

Abbie, Ichabod, Edom, and Edgar were on plane headed for Florence. They were passing over the Atlantic, having just left New York City.

"Seems I'm always leaving the country with a Mills at some point," Edom said.

"Ever leave with Dad?" Abbie asked.

Edom thought about it, "Once. We went to… Venice, I believe. Small matter, hardly even worth discussing."

"It's been a while since I've travelled with friends," Edgar said. "I'm usually a solo act these days."

"For good reason. You tend to drone on."

Edgar shrugged, "A curse of a storyteller. There's always a story to tell."

"But, if I hear one more time about you and Countess Bell, I'm throwing you off a cliff," Edom warned.

"So violent, Lord Angel!"

"Oh, you'd survive!"

Edgar laughed, "That's fair, that's fair. But your friends haven't heard that story."

Edom turned to Ichabod and Abbie, "Long story short, both he and the Countess got drunk and had relations in a nearby barn house."

"You took all of the fun out of that story!"

"I repeat, for good reason! I can't get the details out of my head because you describe it so vividly!"

Edgar huffed. "Angels. Always so uptight."

"Writers," Edom said. "Always so long-winded! And frighteningly descriptive."

"Have you read my stories? Frighteningly descriptive is what I do, Edom."

The group arrived in Florence in the middle of the day. After arriving at their hotel, Abbie and Ichabod just took a few moments to take in the scenery, loving every second of it. It was just another place that they knew they needed to visit when their missions as Witnesses were over.

"So, where are we going, Edgar?" Edom asked.

"The Uffizi Gallery," Edgar answered. "We'll head there tonight, after it's closed."

"We have to break into a museum?" Abbie asked. "This has Scooby-Doo written all over it."

"That would make you Velma," Edgar smiled.

"It's really throwing me off that you're making these jokes," Abbie remarked.

"It throws off everyone. Which I thoroughly enjoy. Keeps everyone on their toes."

"Or wish to hit you with a car," Edom said.

"That happened one time!" Edgar shouted. "One time and you won't let me forget it!"

"Another Countess?" Ichabod asked.

"Close enough," Edom said. "A queen."

"Now, that story, I wanna hear," Abbie said.

"Of course, Abbie," Edgar said with a polite bow. "As soon as we have a moment."

Night fell over the city of Florence and it was well passed midnight when the team headed out, moving toward the Uffizi Gallery. Edgar knew of an underground entrance to get there as to avoid any severe difficulty. They went to an old house, two blocks away from the Gallery, taking a secret tunnel underneath the city. They walked the length of the tunnel until they came to an old wooden door.

"This is, easily, the dumbest thing I've ever done," Abbie declared.

"I highly doubt that," Edom said.

"Shut up, Ed."

Edom chuckled, softly, and opened the door.

"Surely there will be a security system," Ichabod said.

Edgar held up a small charm on a chain. He smiled, "If only it were working properly."

"Impressive," Edom said. "But that won't protect us should a security guard happen to see us."

"Oh, you worry too much, Edom. No one even comes to this section of the museum. I stored the map here for that very purpose. These are some of the older artworks that only a select few find appealing. Not worth nearly as much as the more well-known pieces elsewhere in the museum."

"I hope you're right."

"Of course, I am. When have I steered you wrong?"

Edom gave him a dry stare. "There's not enough time in the day to respond to that question properly."

They walked through the gallery until Edgar led them to a small alcove tucked down an almost completely ignored hallway of the museum. It would be all too easy to miss if no one was looking for it. It was small room, no bigger than a bedroom, containing no more than twelve pieces of artwork altogether.

Edgar looked around, "No, no, no! This is just won't do! I must speak with Marchetti about this. These are so out of place. Some of them don't even deserve to be in this fine establishment." He stared at a painting of a man playing a sitar. "That's not bad, though."

"Stop critiquing the artwork," Edom said. "We need to hurry before any security happen upon us."

"Oh, please," Edgar waved him off. "I already told you: the system can't see us! This is a small room where they essentially store the riff-raff! It's a storage closet! And the likelihood of someone else catching us is slim to…"

A flashlight shined behind them, causing them all to freeze. "Hold it," the guard said.

Edgar blinked in surprise. "Huh!"

"Oh, dear," Ichabod said.

Edom let out an agitated grunt. "'No one even comes to this section of the museum'!" he said to Edgar. "Weren't those your words, exactly?!"

"Well, I'm not always right!" Edgar replied.

"Yes, I can see that!"

"Hands where I can see 'em," the guard said.

The group all raised their hands, slowly.

"I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, my good sir," Edgar said.

"We're not here to cause any trouble," Edom added.

The guard aimed the flashlight, directly, at the Witnesses, "Hanging out with those two, I'm guessing trouble finds you."

Abbie and Ichabod paused for a second as they swore they knew that voice extremely well.

The guard chuckled. "You just love going places you're not supposed to be. Don't you, Mills?"

Abbie gasped and slowly turned around. She came to an immediate stop, dropping her arms, when she looked upon at Frank Irving. Ichabod turned around and was stunned as well.

Frank smiled at Abbie. "Been a long time."

Abbie didn't speak a word. She just rushed at him and hugged him with all he had. He hugged her right back. Abbie started crying as she held on to him.

"I take it you missed me," Frank said.

"You have no idea."

Ichabod walked over, "Captain Irving."

"Not anymore," Frank said as Abbie released the hug, wiping tears from her eyes. He extended his hand, "Good to see you, Ichabod."

"Likewise." Ichabod threw his arms Frank, hugging him.

"Oh!" Frank said, surprised. "Well, that's new."

"It's good to see a face we know we can trust," Abbie said.

Ichabod released the hug and looked Frank over, "You're looking quite well."

"Feeling good," Frank said.

"So, this is where you disappeared to," Abbie said.

"Yeah. Jenny helped us get here. Wanted to keep my family away from…" Frank paused, slowly turning to look at Ichabod. "Well, ya know."

"No need for restrictions," Ichabod said. "I, again, apologize for the pain my son caused."

"He did it. Not you."

"Abbie, Ichabod?" Edom asked. "Introductions may be in order."

"Oh, yeah!" Abbie said. "Sorry." She motioned to Frank, "This is Frank Irving. He was the captain of the Sheriff's Department in Sleepy Hollow before a lot of crap happened to him."

"My son, Henry, took brief possession of his soul," Ichabod said.

"By far, one of the least strangest thing I've heard of," Edgar said.

"That's because the far more disturbing ideas come from your own mind," Edom said. "Now, shut up." He extended his hand to Frank and Frank shook his hand, "Mr. Irving, Edom Thane. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Edom and Frank released the handshake then Edom motioned toward their latest companion, "This is Edgar."

"Charmed," Edgar gave a slight bow.

"Good to meet you both," Frank said. He looked at Abbie, "Okay, what's their story? No way you're hanging out with guys named 'Edom' and 'Edgar', breaking into a museum, and it's that easy."

"Do you really wanna know?" Abbie asked.

"Wait." Frank took a few deep breaths then stopped. "Okay, tell me."

"Edom's an angel. Like from Heaven. And this Edgar Allan Poe. Yes. That Edgar Allan Poe."

Frank nodded and threw his arms in the air, giving up, "Okay."

Abbie and Ichabod laughed.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We are in dire need of…" Edgar looked around and found a painting called The Maiden's Walk. The painting was of a woman walking through a field of flowers. "Ah!" Edgar said. "That!" He reached behind the painting and felt around before pulling out a worn-out, old map.

"What is that?" Abbie asked.

"A map that will help us locate the Nine Sacred Sites."

"What's all this about, Abbie?" Frank asked.

Abbie gave a quick shrug, "Well, it's like this…"

"Here we go."

"Right? Well, anyway, the Egyptian god, Set, is running around out there trying to get his full power back. Also, we have another Egyptian god, Osiris, helping us out there and looking for Set."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Frank declared, "but things have gotten stranger since I left."

"Unbelievably so, at times," Ichabod agreed. "I understand if this sounds quite unnerving."

"Only a little. But I've dealt with worse." Frank stared at Ichabod and Abbie, taking note of how close they were to each other. He knew that they were close friends before, but something seemed very different now. In a good way. "Are you two dating?"

Abbie smiled, "A bit more than that." She held her left hand, revealing her ring. "Engaged."

Frank's eyebrows shot up for a second, "Hm. Called that."

Abbie looked at him, perplex, as did Ichabod. "Beg your pardon?" Ichabod asked.

"What do you mean 'called that'?" Abbie asked.

Edom and Edgar erupted into laughter.

"Oh, forget it!" Abbie said. "Did you get what you needed, Edgar?"

Edgar let out a few more laughs, "Yes, yes. We are clear to depart." He walked toward the door but stopped and looked toward the ceiling, "What is it, Lenore?" He was quiet for a while. "Oh? How many?" He was quiet again. "Just one? Interesting. It must be a disciple of Set. I imagine Set was upset about missing his chance in Chicago." He was quiet again. "No, no. We'll deal with this."

"Edgar?" Ichabod asked.

"It would seem Set managed to track us down," Edgar said. "Couldn't be helped, I suppose."

Edom shook his head, "Blood hounds aren't this persistent."

"Blood hounds have more manners. Lenore says that there's someone at the front entrance to the Gallery, in the open courtyard." Edom reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black, leather-bound book. He opened it up.

"What are you doing?" Abbie asked.

"Preparing myself for our guest," Edgar's irises began to glow a subtle purple.

Edom summoned his Zweihänder sword to his hand.

"Haven't seen that in a while," Abbie said.

"Sure you'll need it?" Edgar asked. "I know of your aversion to killing humans."

"I'm skilled enough to hurt and not kill, trust me. Come now, Edgar. Let's go greet our stalker."

"Indeed." Edgar handed the map to Abbie, "Please, keep this safe."

"You both don't have to fight this battle for us," Ichabod said.

"Ridiculous! We are able to handle this!"

"But…" Ichabod started to say.

"We're not having this discussion again," Edom interrupted.

"And it's been far too long since I've had a battle to take part in," Edgar said, with a smile. "I welcome the challenge."

"I really like them," Frank said, smiling.

"That's the usual response once people get to know them," Abbie said.

Edom chuckled then looked at Edgar, "Ready?"

"Absolutely," Edgar replied.

Edom and Edgar walked outside to see a lone person standing ominously in the courtyard of the Gallery. While he seemed to be a normal human, Edom and Edgar sensed something far more sinister beneath the surface. They moved up apart, putting some distance between them to prepare for an attack.

"My good sir!" Edgar said. "I would like to declare to you that this night is not the night for you to follow your pathetic master, Set!"

"Edgar Allan Poe," the man in a distorted, almost demonic voice said. "I should've known."

Edgar smiled. "Ah! Set! Speaking through one of your familiars, are you? I must say that I'm quite disappointed you decided not to come and visit us yourself."

"What do you want, Set?" Edom asked.

"Give me the Witnesses," Set's voice spoke through the man. "And the map to the Nine Sacred Sites."

"What makes you think that we have them?" Edgar asked with a smug smile. "The Witnesses or knowledge of the Sites?"

"I have no time for this!" Set roared. The man began to contort and grow to a considerable height. His skin morphed to a gold color and tattoos in the form of hieroglyphics appear over his skin.

Edgar blinked. "Well now!"

"Give me what I seek or face violence!" Set screamed.

Edom raised his sword, "I choose violence."

"Well said, Edom!" Edgar opened his book again and his eyes began to glow purple. He threw his free hand forward and shouted, "Cervarum!"

The monster found itself suddenly with severely restricted movement, almost completely frozen in place. Edom charged at the beast slashed at its head. While he managed to make a cut down its face, the monster was still standing. The monster managed to break the enchantment and then went on the attack against the duo. Edom and Edgar dodged all of its attacks while pressing their own attacks forward. After a grueling ten minutes, Edgar managed to freeze the monster in place one last time and Edom threw his sword, piercing the monster's chest and pinning it to the wall. The monster growled and roared in pain, trying to free itself but Edgar increased the power of his enchantment. Gradually, the monster weakened as death approached, at which point Edgar and Edom carefully approached the creature.

"Never a dull moment," Edgar whispered to Edgar. He then addressed the creature, speaking to its master, "You'll have to do better than that, Set."

"You will come to regret this!" Set declared. "Both of you!"

"We shall see, Set," Edom added.

"We shall indeed."

Edom grabbed the handle of his sword and gave it a hard twist, expelling Set from the monster and causing the body to disappear. They looked around at the mess they made.

Edom examined the destruction, "Edgar, can you…"

"Of course, my friend," Edgar replied. He opened his book again to the very page he needed. His eyes glowed and threw his hand forward, "Restitutio." In a matter of seconds, all of the damage done from the fight was restored.

Edom nodded, "Impressive." His phone rang and he recognized the number. He answered it, "Good evening, Osiris."

"Lord Edom," Osiris said, relieved. "I sensed my brother's powers in excess. It wasn't in Sleepy Hollow so I imagined he was after you."

"We had a run-in with him, yes. But we took care of it."

"Very well."

"Have you located him?" Edom asked.

"Not yet," Osiris answered. "But I'll continue searching."

"Good. Watch yourself."

"You, as well," Osiris ended the call.

Edom put the phone back in his pocket. He looked at Edgar, "Let us retire for the night."

"Yes," Edgar said. "And what a grand night it has been!"

"I'd call you weird but you would take it as a compliment."

"No higher compliment could I be paid."

Off the Cyprus coast, Mediterranean Sea.

With the death of his monster-familiar, Set's eyes stopped glowing. He growled. "Damn you both."

"My lord?" one of his servants asked.

"With one of the great masters of the dark arts on their side along with an angel, and my brother still out there, somewhere, it would seem the Witnesses would become a much bigger problem than I planned. We'll need a bargaining chip."

"How so, my Lord?"

Set smiled and looked at the servant, "Sleepy Hollow."

A/N: Cervarum: binds in Latin. Restitutio: restoration in Latin.

So, honestly, we're a lot closer to the end than you might think. But, that doesn't mean that this is all close to over. Let me explain.

Some of you know that I had one more story planned out, after this one, that would bring an end to the Seven Years of Tribulation. But... I think I may do one more short story in between this one and that one. What do you guys think? I would love some feedback on that. Hit me up on my Facebook fan page or send me a Tweet, all of the information is on Profile page.

Until next time, Dreamers!