Hey y'all sorry it's been so long since i got an update up! Been working on two other stories, and work has once again been crazeballs...so yea. I hope you enjoy it, and I promise i'll try to get more up soon. xoxox
The hummer drove quickly and quietly through the city, the four archangels circling overhead, leading them towards the gathering place of the 8balls.
Gabriella peered out the window as the snow came down steadily, coating the roads ahead of them. She sighed, longing for the warmth of Vega. This cold and snow was something she hadn't seen since she was a small child, and she hadn't liked it much then either.
She sighed again, what she needed to be concerned with was that they would soon be taking down a legion of 8balls in a way that had never been attempted before, and just might end poorly. She had confidence in Alex of course, but this was going to be a highly tense situation and she had no desire to see him fail.
She felt a tickling sensation in her mind, and sat up, glancing around until her gaze locked onto that of Raphael's. He was glancing back at the vehicle, catching her eye, before turning back to fly straight.
-Sister, we are very close now. We should stop and approach on foot.-his voice spoke softly in her head, clear as if it were out loud. Gabriella looked to Michael, "Raphael says we should stop here and go in on foot."
Michael glanced over at her, slightly startled, how had she communicated with Raphael? He raised a brow and asked, "How?"
Gabriella grinned and tapped a finger to her temple, "I can hear him…and talk back I think. Let's pull over up here."
-We are pulling over in 100 feet. How close are we?-she asked Raphael.
-Three blocks up in an abandoned warehouse. There are roughly 50.-he responded, landing softly in front of the hummer as it came to a stop.
Gabriella nodded thoughtfully and then turned to find Alex and Michael watching her with curious expressions. "The 8balls are three blocks up, in an abandoned warehouse." She hesitated and then glanced at Alex, "There are about 50 of them."
His eyes widened slightly, but he gave her a tight smile, and nodded. They all exited the hummer, bracing themselves against the bitter wind. They gathered around the back of the hummer, selecting the weapons they thought best, and then moved to where the archangels were standing, waiting.
Raphael pulled down his scarf, "We need to move as quickly and quietly as possible." He looked to Michael, "With the five of us, we will be able to hold all of them in place long enough for the Chosen Ones to exorcise the dogs and send them back to Heaven."
Michael nodded; he knew that holding that many 8balls would weaken them greatly, but they had no choice; they need to destroy Gabriel's army.
Raphael pulled the scarf back over his face, and jerked his head, "Come on" he called, his words muffled, leading them down the street.
Gabriella pulled her 9mm from her thigh holster and followed behind Michael, Alex close behind her, with Remiel and Saraqael bringing up the rear. They jogged down the streets, breath steaming in the freezing air.
The warehouse loomed in front of them, crumbling and haunted. Gabriella's sense of the 8balls was screaming in her head so loudly she winced and stumbled. Alex's hand grabbed her elbow, "Hey, you ok?" he panted.
She nodded, "I can feel all of them….and it hurts."
Alex made a noise of sympathy and asked, "Is there anything you can do?"
Gabriella shook her head, "I don't know…ahhh!" she gasped in pain as they closed on the building.
Alex grabbed her around the waist as she collapsed against the wall, gasping in pain. "Hey deep breath ok?" he whispered. She nodded, taking deep breaths, steadying herself.
Michael was at their side in an instant, "Gabriella, what's wrong?" he questioned, his voice full of concern. Gabriella looked up into his concerned gaze and gave him a pained smile, "Give me a minute…I think I can control this."
She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, and pushed the feeling of all the 8balls assaulting her down until it was a dull ache, like a hangover.
Opening her eyes she smiled at Alex and Michael, "Ok, let's go."
She followed Raphael and Raguel closely, stepping quietly into the warehouse. Her nose wrinkled, it stank of death and waste.
They emerged into a large open area of the warehouse, and stopped, spreading out to confront the crowd of 8balls forming in front of them. The five archangels stepped forward as one, revealing their faces.
The 8balls let out hisses of fear, crowding backwards. Raphael and Michael raised their hands, Raguel, Remiel and Saraqael following suit. They spoke in unison, angelic falling from their lips like water.
The 8balls growled and hissed like animals, trying to move, but unable to escape the power of the archangels.
Gabriella reached out for Alex, "Come on, we're up."
They walked up behind the archangels, hands clasped and stopped, turning to face each other. Gabriella gave Alex an encouraging smile, "Go ahead, let's get started." He gave her a weak smile and took a deep breath before beginning to speak the words of exorcism.
Gabriella let him get into a good rhythm and then closed her eyes, sinking into her power. She reached for the line that tethered her power to Heaven, allowing herself to be opened to it. The gates of Heaven opened to her, her power keeping them open, though she could feel the drain on her resources already.
She felt the power in the room grow considerably, and cracked an eye open, watching as the 8balls fell to their knees in droves as Alex spoke, forcing them from their bodies.
She could feel them fighting it, and lent her own power as a dynameis to his. It was what Heaven wanted, having their dogs back, order restored.
With the rush of power, Alex forced 10 of the 8balls from the human vessels, and Gabriella closed her eye, watching the ephemeral realm where the 8balls truly existed.
They fought, trying to escape the line to Heaven, but Gabriella bore down on them, forcing them into the kennels. More and more began to stream into Heaven as Alex exorcised them, and Gabriella fought them into the kennels.
Sweat streamed down her face despite the cold, and she could feel her power beginning to weaken terribly.
"A-Alex…how many more?" she whispered, barely able to get the words out of her dry mouth.
"Just ten…ten more" he whispered back, his voice weak.
Gabriella bit back a groan, and whispered, "Okay…let's do this."
They focused once more and forced the last 10 out and back into Heaven. Gabriella closed the kennels with a final word of power, and dropped the line to Heaven, letting the gates shut, until next time.
Her eyes fluttered opened, and met the exhausted gaze of Alex, who had a fatigued smile on his face. She smiled weakly back at him and then collapsed onto the floor, her legs giving out on her.
Michael turned, "Gabriella!" and rushed to her side. She put a hand to his face, he too looked exhausted. "I'm fine love, just a little tired." She grabbed his elbow and used him for leverage so she could stand.
"Let's check on the vessels" she said, walking slowly with Michael's assistance to the bodies lying on the floor. He helped her kneel down beside a group of three, and she began to examine them, pleased to find them well, though most were showing signs of malnutrition and dehydration.
"They all will need food and water. We should take them to the Camp" she suggested, looking up the archangels gathered close by. Raphael frowned, "Their resources are stretched thin…but I believe we can help them. There should be enough food in the city if we take a day to help them locate it. My brothers and I will take these survivors to the Camp and help them locate food. We will meet up with you in two days time, in Erie."
Michael nodded, "We will find hallowed ground and meet you there." Raphael nodded and clasped Michael's outstretched hand, drawing him in for a brief embrace.
Gabriella reached a hand out to Michael for help standing, her leg muscles shaking with exhaustion.
They walked out of the warehouse and made their way slowly to the hummer, all of them leaning on each other for help. Climbing into the hummer, they all let out groans of pain as they settled into their seats.
Gabriella sat breathing heavily, and turned to grin at Alex in the back seat, "You were awesome. Seriously rocked it." He returned her smile, "Not so shabby yourself Gabby."
They sat for some time, simply too exhausted to move. Eventually they saw Raphael and the other three archangels leading the human vessels from the building and down the street. Michael sighed, "We should go."
He started the hummer and they pulled away from the curb, driving off into the night. A few short hours later they pulled to a stop in front of a lonely house in the woods of New York. They quickly moved into the house and bunked down for the evening, too tired to eat more than power bars and jerky.
Gabriella curled up into Michael's arms in the lumpy downstairs bedroom, exhaustion making her eyes heavy. Michael brushed hair from her face and watched her fall asleep, feeling his own eyes growing heavy with sleep. He shifted slightly and pulled Gabriella closer in his sleep, a hint of a smile of contentment on his lips as he drifted deeper.