Searing wind whipped across the desert as a blazing sun bore down, turning the sand into a fiery hell. Gabriel turned his face down further and pulled the scarf up higher on his face, ignoring the biting of the wind on his exposed skin.
He was almost to the gates of Vega, and he would soon see his brother, and the Chosen One.
Hours earlier an unexpected surprise had arrived upon the doorstep of his aerie, offering everything that he had wanted.
Gabriel had been seated at his throne, surrounded by his fellow angels and his 8-balls when Noma had arrived. He looked up in mock surprise when she came before him, smiling graciously at her.
"Look who's here, Michael's loyal lieutenant."
Noma nodded, bowing her head slightly, "Archangel Gabriel."
"Bold move, showing up within my blade's reach."
"I have nowhere else to turn. Michael attacked Alex; he's reverted back to his old ways." Her gaze was troubled as she looked up to Gabriel.
Gabriel shrugged, "Only a matter of time. The child has lost complete faith in Michael."
Noma nodded, "And honestly, so have I."
Gabriel sighed, "So why come to me?"
"Alex wants to meet you."
Nadia stepped forward, frowning, "I don't believe her."
Furiad stepped forward, "She's speaking the truth."
Nadia gave Furiad a dirty look, "Oh, really, Furiad?"
Noma cleared her throat, pulling the attention of the room back to her, "He's found out about Michael's past, and he's furious. He wants to hear your side of the story."
Gabriel stared at her for a moment, his eyes hooded with contemplation. He nodded, "Very well, I'll meet with the boy."
Noma smiled, relief flooding her face. "Thank you, Archangel."
Gabriel waved a hand and two angels walked forward, blocking Noma's path, three more flanking her. She looked up at Gabriel in confusion.
He chuckled softly, "What? You didn't expect I'd just walk into some trap." He looked over to one of the women and nodded, "Lock her up, Felicia."
The woman stepped forward and grabbed Noma by the arm, dragging her off into the aerie to be locked in a cell.
Gabriel stepped off his throne and tugged his cape on, securing it at his shoulders. Furiad stepped forward, "Where are you going?" he demanded.
Gabriel laughed, his eyes glinting with madness. "To see my brother."
As he approached the walls of Vega he saw a tank rolling away and caught a bare glimpse of the person inside. He grinned. The city had been abandoned.
"WARNING PERIMETER BREACH! WARNING PERIMETER BREACH!"
Gabriel looked up at the walls of Vega as the security system screamed, a grin on his lips. "This should be fun" he murmured wryly.
A soldier appeared at the gate, pointing his gun at Gabriel, frowning deeply. "Halt! Got ID?" he demanded.
Gabriel grinned behind the scarf at his face. "I do." He pulled the scarf down, revealing his face to the guard. The man blanched, a look of terror stealing over his face.
"Oh shit" he whispered. He turned to his comrades and shouted, gesturing wildly, "Open fire!" The guards began firing down on Gabriel, the bullets falling down like rain until the deadly rain ended.
Gabriel looked up at the guards, grinning broadly, "My name is Gabriel, I surrender."
Gabriel paced slow circles in his prison, hands tucked behind his back. It would be interesting to see who would come speak to him first….
He hoped it would be Michael.
He had a great deal to speak on with his brother.
The hours slipped by as he paced his boredom and annoyance growing.
When the door behind him opened a slow smile spread across his face.
"You took your time brother" he murmured.
"Sorry to disappoint you Gabriel, but I'm not your brother."
Gabriel stiffened at the sound of Claire's voice. Anger and disappointment rippled through him, settling in his chest like a weight. His fists tightened in anger and he took a deep breath, letting the anger spread through his veins until it focused and cooled.
"No it would seem you are not" he murmured. He turned slowly and raised a brow at Claire, smiling narrowly at her, "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
She smiled vaguely in return and paced around the enclosure, watching him before she spoke. "Surrender seems out of character for you" she murmured, raising a brow at him.
Gabriel scoffed, "What would you know of my character?" he asked with a bitter laugh.
Claire smiled dryly, "A great deal actually." She turned and peered out the window, her gaze contemplative. "I was raised by the man who defeated you in battle."
"Shame he's not here to greet me" Gabriel muttered sarcastically. "I'm a big fan."
Claire nodded, "The irony being it'll be his daughter who will put you to death."
Gabriel scowled and stepped towards her, "This is how you play at war? Your opposing General lays down his sword, and in appreciation you have him executed." He threw up his hands in disgust.
Claire turned and glared at him, "A general who ruthlessly slaughtered my people." She gave him a once over that was filled with hate, "I can't say it would be difficult." After a moment she turned away, her shoulders tight.
"But I'm not here to talk about your execution. I want to talk about how many higher angels are hiding in Vega, and I want to know names."
Gabriel laughed softly, "Ooh, a woman who knows what she wants! I like that." He gave her a mockingly leering look.
Claire rolled her eyes, "Answer the question."
Gabriel sighed, "You're an impatient woman, you know that?" He turned and paced around the cage for a moment before finally answering. "Whether or not I have more personnel inside these walls is irrelevant, is it not? I've surrendered and I'd like to see my brother."
"Why?"
"He's my family. Are you going to refuse me a visitor on my last night?" he demanded, watching her from the corner of his eye.
"Whatever it is you have planned, it was a mistake to come inside these walls."
Gabriel turned back to smile at her, his gaze dark, "My plan is simple Claire, I've come to end the war." He gazed past her, his eyes locking onto something she couldn't see. "All I've ever wanted was to get my father back."
He smiled sadly, "At first I thought the way to do that was to cleanse the planet of all the humans that have repeatedly let him down. But now the Chosen One has arrived. He holds my father's final writings on his body. He can make things right again without any more bloodshed."
Claire raised a brow, a skeptical look on her face, "Hmm, shame you'll never find him."
Gabriel studied her for a moment, "What you mean Alex?" He smirked, "You've seen his markings up close, haven't you?" he suggested, his tone full of innuendo. "You say you know me, well, I know you too."
Claire gave him a disgusted look, "You don't know anything about me."
"Let's see, how about something small, personal, your favorite flower perhaps?"
Claire sighed, rolling her eyes. "Desert sage."
Gabriel leaned against the glass of the cage, his eyes narrowing as he watched her, a curious expression on his face. Claire squared her shoulders and returned his gaze defiantly, her stomach tightening nervously.
Gabriel chuckled softly, pushing back his hair with one hand. "My father gave his archangels many gifts Claire, one of them being heightened senses. I can hear every breath, every movement…" his gaze focused on her abdomen and he smiled in delight, "every, tiny, heartbeat."
Gabriel flew back to the aerie, torn about the events of the day. He had known going into the day that it was a trap, but he had managed to manipulate things nicely, he thought. His sister had pledged her loyalty, but Uriel's moods were as changing as the wind and as mercurial as the sea.
He landed heavily in the aerie, tucking his wings in with a dark sigh. Striding through the halls he flung open the doors to his throne room, frowning when he saw that the room was cast in darkness.
Muttering curses he crossed the room to light a fire in the hearth, swearing loudly as he crashed to the floor, his feet slipping out from under him on something wet.
"What the fuck?" he muttered, holding his hands up to the moonlight that shone through the hole in the ceiling. They looked almost black, painted with blood as they were.
"Now you are as you have always been…with blood on your hands."
The voice was low and raspy, hiding its origin or sex, but the intention was there; to create fear.
Gabriel scowled, he hated fear mongering from anyone other than him.
"Whoever the bloody hell you are, I'm going to kill you for this" he snarled.
A throaty laugh reached him and he struggled to his feet, furious.
"You could try" the voice suggested, full of mirth.
In the dim light he saw a form lurking in the shadows, swinging an object in its hands. A sword, it appeared.
His hand moved swiftly to his own sword and the form laughed again, "Oh Gabriel, so confident you could kill me when I've already bested you twice before."
Devery?
Gabriel stumbled back in shock, his fingers numb around the sword he had drawn in anger.
How in the hell is she alive? I saw her body!
"You were dead" he whispered, his jaw tight with shock. "I saw your body."
Laughter rang out again, bitter as vinegar. "You surely did. And after you left your minions came for me. They tossed my body out of the aerie and into the desert, leaving me to rot." She stepped sideways, swinging her sword idly.
"I lay in the sun for hours, my skin peeling and blackening, being whipped by the wind. Animals began to feed. Luckily I felt none of it. I saw none of it. I was deaf, dumb and blind. I was gone." She stepped again, closer this time, swinging her sword again, and Gabriel could hear it whistling through the air.
"I'm sorry to say Gabriel, but Nadia is dead. So is JoJo. And a few others. They were quite surprised to see me, I have to say."
"I'm beginning to understand the sentiment" Gabriel murmured.
"Hmm, I'm sure. Well, let me explain something." She stepped forward into the light cast through the ceiling and Gabriel felt a chill run over his body as she lifted her sword to his throat.
"I was under your protection here, even as a prisoner and that protection failed. I could very well hold you responsible for my death." Devery smirked for a moment and then lowered her sword.
"But I won't, because Gabriel, I have seen something only I believe, a select few have." She smiled at Gabriel and reached out to touch his cheek, her fingers ghosting over his skin. "I have seen God" she whispered.
Gabriel snatched her hand away from his face, crushing it in his, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You lie!" he hissed.
"I rose from the dead Gabriel. You think I would lie about this?" she asked softly, her tone wry. She made a fast hand motion with her free hand and a fire blazed up in the hearth, illuminating the room.
Gabriel could see clearly now, and he could see that across every inch of her exposed flesh were markings, not tattoos, but what looked like brands. When his shocked gaze travelled back up to her face he found her smiling expectantly at him.
"Unusual, hmm?" she prompted. "What is even more unusual is that I was able to kill your people not just with this-"she lifted her sword, "and with my powers." She grinned, "At the same time."
Gabriel looked around the room and quailed at the sight of the numerous bodies, strewn about, some hacked apart, others lying limply like ragdolls. Standing in the middle of all of it, Devery, her sword painted with blood, her body ragged with marks from her rising.
He gazed at her curiously, "So what do you want from me?" he asked hesitantly.
Devery smiled thinly, "Nothing."
Gabriel frowned, "What does that mean?" he demanded.
"It means that I do not expect anything from you. I want you to listen to what I have to say, whenever I say it. Take my council, because Gabriel, it's not just me giving it." She raised a brow expectantly, waiting on his response.
Gabriel scoffed softly, "I'm to believe that my father is speaking through you?" he demanded. "That's ridiculous."
Devery smiled faintly, "Give it time, and you'll believe." She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving bloody footprints in her wake.
Gabriel watched her go, wondering at her words. He wanted to believe her, desperately, but doubt nagged at him, doubt that had nagged at him for years, about humanity and their abilities. How could he possibly believe that she had seen the face of his father?
Devery stood under the waterfall in the washroom, the warm water rushing over her body. Her limbs shook with adrenaline and where her fingers gripped her arms there were the beginnings of bruises.
Life had flowed back into her limbs in a rush, the blood rushing so powerfully it left her gasping. She curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around herself, sobbing breaths ripping out of her. Her mind was a rushing mess of lights, sounds and pain.
Dead…she had been dead…
Her fingers worked their way up to her throat and she sobbed harder…the slash that had ripped open her throat was gone. There was barely even a scar.
"no no no no no" she whispered, shaking her head softly. She continued shaking for some time, her mind unable to process what had happened.
Devery turned and let the water flow over her face, trying to calm herself. Rising from the dead was an unsettling business. Seeing the face of God….
She shuddered again and pressed a hand to her face, swallowing her tears. She was a Knight of Heaven, and she would be strong. It was what was required of her, until more Knights rose.
She stepped from under the waterfall and wrapped a towel around her body, dagger in hand as she walked back to her quarters. As she approached the doors she saw a large figure blocking the doors and drew the dagger, striding forward boldly.
"Why are you here?" she called.
Gabriel stepped from the shadows and lifted a hand, "Peace. I'm here to let you know your things have been moved to another set of rooms. If you'll follow me." He held out a hand, waiting for her to move.
Devery nodded after a moment and stepped ahead, keeping a tight hand on both her towel and her dagger. They walked in silence until Gabriel came to a halt, two doors down from his own quarters.
Shoving the doors open he held out a hand, "I hope you find these agreeable."
Devery stepped through and let out a soft breath. The room had windows, low in the walls, allowing light into the room. Bookshelves filled the room, and green plants hung from the ceiling, filling the room with a lush tropical scent.
Devery turned slowly, a smile spreading across her face. "This is lovely" she murmured.
Gabriel nodded, "It hasn't been used for some time…let me know if you need anything" he murmured, turning to go. He hesitated a moment at the door and turned back, his brow furrowed. "What did my father say to you?" he asked softly.
Devery reached up and plucked a flower from one of the plants, sniffing it appreciatively. "He told me that he believes in you, that he would see you restored to his side, should you choose to aid the Chosen One."
She turned and reached out, taking his hand and placing the bloom she had plucked in his palm. "Your destiny at his side is like this bloom, easily within your grasp. If you transplant it, it will grow, flourish."
She curled his fingers around the bloom until they were painfully tight and then released them. "If you crush it, you will never see your father again."
Gabriel scoffed, but a chill had passed over him again. He scowled at her and pulled away, "I knew you were a fraud" he mocked. Storming out of the room he stalked down to his rooms and slammed the doors shut, throwing himself into his chair.
"Blasted woman" he muttered, slamming his fist onto the table.
The scent of flowers filtered up to him and he looked to his hand, surprised to see he was still holding the bloom Devery had placed in his hand. He uncurled his fist and let it drift to the floor, pondering her words.
You'll never see your father again.
AN: Hey lovelies, hope you enjoy the chapter! We'll delve a little more into Devery's return to life and her powers later, and what it means for her and Gabriel! Please reveiw! Thank you all for following and favoriting!