So warning: this chapter has some scenes of torture that are descriptive, and I don't want that to be catching people off guard and upsetting them. I do hope you enjoy this, it was pretty quick writing it, and i'm already onto writing the next chapter, so that should be up soon too! Please review and let me know what you think! xoxo
A warm wind blew gently, teasing Gabriella awake slowly. Her eyes fluttered open and took in her surroundings, only leaving her confused. She saw an ornate metal railing in front of her, and through the gaps, she could see the city of Vega below.
What was confusing to her was the fact that the city was burning, smoke rising in large plumes. She could hear the citizens screaming in terror, and when she tried to stand up, found her hands were tied behind her back and her feet were also bound.
Struggling against the bonds, she found them impenetrably tight and laced with magic to bind an angel. Collapsing against the ground, she rested her head against the floor and closed her eyes, reaching out with her mind, and immediately crashed into a mental block so strong it nearly blinded her.
Retreating back into her body, she lay gasping on the floor, the pain coming in waves. When it had finally subdued, she opened her eyes, rolled onto her back and then sat up. Scooting her feet as close to her butt as she could get them, she pulled her arms down until it was painful, tears swimming in her eyes, and slowly, inch by inch, got them over her feet and free.
Gasping at the release, she drew her arms into her body and rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the pain away. After a moment she began to investigate the bonds on her ankles, and after a few moments, realized she wouldn't be able to get free.
Sighing in exasperation, she looked up at the metal railing and grasped it, pulling herself up into a standing position and looked out at the city. From her view she realized she was in Michael's tower, and she spun around hope piercing her, and looked into the depths of his bedroom.
"Michael? Michael are you here?" she called softly, her heart pounding as she moved away from the railing and shuffled slowly into the bedroom. The room smelled stale of disuse, and she saw dust everywhere.
"Michael! Answer me if you're here!" she hissed.
"So sorry to disappoint love, but he's not here." Gabriel's taunting voice came from behind her and she turned slowly, not wanting to see him. He wore a smug grin and a number of bruises and cuts, but still had a triumphant air about him.
"Where is he?" Gabriella demanded. "Hopefully dying in the desert" Gabriel quipped.
Lunging forward she hissed at him, "Fuck you! He's going to come and stop you and we're going to throw you into the pits of hell for this." Gabriel blanched at that and took a small step back, "I doubt that my dear, those bonds were used on Lucifer when he was first cast out. It took him millennia to escape them."
Gabriella grinned, "Oh Gabriel…you think I don't know that? I have the power of the Heavens with me. I'll escape much faster." Frowning at her Gabriel stepped forward and grabbed her arms, dragging her forward to the railing. Expanding his wings, he gripped her tightly and flew up to the top of the tower, to the very top of the spire and set her down, none too gently.
From here Gabriella could see the entire city was under siege by 8balls and Lucifer was flying overhead, directing them. The smoke and fire illuminated the evening sky and painted a hellish picture. A part of her wondered where her friend Ben was in all of this, if he was alive and trying to help people, or if he was like so many of the people, dead.
She watched as Lucifer turned from the siege and flew their way, his large coal black wings carrying him rapidly to the rooftop. He landed lightly in front of them a picture of Machiavellian beauty, smudged with blood and smoke. He was death come to call, and would destroy humanity.
Gabriella felt despair plunge into her heart and did the only thing she could, prayed. She needed their Father's help. Lucifer walked up to her and shoved her back against the spire, "Hold her" he commanded Gabriel.
Gabriel moved quickly to do as he was told and held her in place while Lucifer undid one of the manacles at her wrist, looped it around the spire and then reattached it. After doing the same with her feet he backed away a few inches and stared at her, his bright blue eyes piercing into her, a rage and contempt for her and all of Heaven burning there.
Shaking his head, Lucifer pulled out a knife; the blade etched with ancient Samarian runes and stepped close to her, showing her the knife. "Now, dynameis, you can open the gates of Heaven to us the easy way, or we can do this the hard, excruciating way."
Gabriella felt the power in the manacles change; it would only allow her to access Heaven, no more. Looking out at the city, she knew Michael was coming for her, but she didn't know where Raphael and her other brothers were, or if they were still alive. If her powers weren't bound she could try and find them.
Turning her gaze back to Lucifer, she grinned and leaned her head back against the spire, taking a deep breath, preparing herself, "Pain please." Lucifer smiled back, his silky and twisted with malevolent pleasure, "Of course."
With that he plunged the knife into her left shoulder, drawing it out just as quickly, and repeated his movement on the right side. Gabriella shuddered with pain and felt deep dark power binding her in place; the ritual to open the gateway to Heaven was just beginning.
Lucifer cut away her tshirt, exposing her torso. With exquisite precision, he began to carve runes into her chest, taking his time, grinning up at her. Gabriella's body was on fire with pain, her nerve endings screaming for respite.
Her limbs twitched with pain and tears streamed down her face, uncontrolled. She could feel the ritual growing in power, drawing on her power, and the gateway to Heaven growing. Soon the link would be complete and with the final rune, her life force would be tied to the gateway.
If it was broken, she would die, and there would be no coming back. Her only regrets were being unable to stop Gabriel and Lucifer, and not being able to say goodbye to Michael.
She wanted to kiss him one more time, hear his low sweet voice whisper her name, see his almost smile tease his lips when she was being silly, hear his laugh, feel his arms around her. A small sob escaped her, and she turned her head away from Lucifer's gaze, biting her lip until she drew blood, until she regained control.
She shuddered and gasped in pain as he began to draw the last rune on her stomach, around her belly button. The pain was now so overwhelming she was starting to pass out. Her vision was going black….lids fluttered open, and then closed.
Gabriella's eyes half opened and in the distance behind Gabriel and Lucifer, she saw five winged figures coming towards them.
Lucifer made the final cut to finish the last rune, and Gabriella felt the flare of power, her eyes snapping open, searching, and then she sank down against the spire, eyes closing. The gateway to Heaven opened with a flash of light so bright over the city it was like a bomb had been dropped.
Lucifer turned to Gabriel, "I'll go to Heaven now and release the dogs in the kennels and take my throne. Finish the siege of the city." Gabriel nodded and turned towards the city, finally seeing the five winged figures approaching. "Uh, Lucifer….we may have a problem."
Lucifer turned and saw the approaching figures and shrugged, "You have a problem." With that he launched himself into the air and flew through the gateway and into Heaven.
Gabriel stood slackjawed for a moment as his only ally left him, and then gathered himself, turning back to the oncoming angels. Drawing his sword, he waited for them.
The five landed on the edge of the tower, all with swords drawn, Michael with Gabriella's spear on his back as well. He spared a single glance for her, and when he turned his gaze back to Gabriel, Gabriel knew there would be no forgiveness.
Michael stepped forward and said nothing, simply raising his swords, waiting for Gabriel to do the same. After a moment's hesitation he did so, and they began their dance, blades singing in the night. Gabriel played the defense quite well, but Michael was driven by an anger that was tempered in flame and love.
He drove Gabriel back, lunging and swirling, landing precise slice after slice, leaving Gabriel panting in pain and trying desperately to survive. With a final blow with the flat of his blade to Gabriel's ribs, Michael drove him to his knees.
Pointing his sword at his throat, Michael glared at Gabriel, "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you." Gabriel gave him a half charming smile, "Because we are brothers! You don't kill family." Michael growled and grabbed Gabriel's collar and dragged him to face Gabriella, "What about her? You killed her! She is my family, and you are trying to kill her again! Now tell me, why shouldn't I kill you?"
Gabriel stared up into Michael's face and saw something there he hadn't ever before, hatred. His brother hated him. They had angered each other in the past, come to blows, had to spend millennia apart, but they had never hated each other.
And now, because of him, his brother wanted to kill him. Looking up at Michael he smiled, "You have no reason not to. Do it Michael. Kill me." He watched as surprise flashed over Michael's face, quickly followed by confusion. Gabriel jerked his head in Gabriella's direction, "She's as good as dead. If you break the gateway to Heaven, she dies. So kill me, and end this."
Michael shook his head, "No, no….Lucifer is in Heaven. We can't allow that." Gabriel nodded and raised a supplicating hand, "Then let me go and stop him. He won't expect it to come from me." Michael shook his head firmly, "No. I can't trust you."
Gabriel stood and winced as the sword bit into his throat, drawing blood, "You also can't leave humanity to be ruled by Lucifer. Neither can I, he's mad Michael. I only went to him because I was desperate, and look what that desperation bought me." He waved a hand at the burning city below.
Michael stared at Gabriel, he wanted to accept his brother's help, but every instinct told him, no, was screaming at him not to trust Gabriel. He had double crossed him, gone to Lucifer, and killed Gabriella. But he was right, he couldn't leave humanity to burn and be ruled by Lucifer.
Lowering his sword, Michael shifted uncomfortably, "Very well. You will go into Heaven and stop Lucifer. We will regain control of the city." Gabriel nodded and turned to go, but was restrained by Michael's hand, Gabriel looked into Michael's piercing blue eyes and saw a cold anger there, "If you double cross us brother, I will kill you."
Gabriel nodded, "I know. And I'm sorry we've come to this." With that he shook off Michael's restraining hand and flew off into the gateway and into Heaven. Michael felt torn watching him go, wondering if he had made the right decision.
Turning to Gabriella, he sheathed his swords and ran to her, drawing her face into his hands, his heart wrenching when he felt how cold she was. Calling her name softly, he rubbed her cheek with his thumb, trying to rouse her, but after a few moments, gave up.
Raphael appeared at his side, his face grave. He laid a hand on Gabriella's wounded right shoulder and closed his eyes, after a moment opening them, his expression sad. "The healing I tried on her won't stay in place; the power of the gateway just eats it up. The power of the gateway is tied to her life force, and in turn feeds her life force. If one is broken, the other dies. We cannot break her bonds without killing her Michael."
Michael nodded numbly. He couldn't look away from her pale face. Her long black hair hung in damp strands around her face, the ends slick with her own blood. There had to be some way to save her.
Raphael lay a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Brother, I know you don't want to hear this, but we must save the city. We must protect the other Chosen One and his child. There is nothing we can do for her now."
Michael turned his gaze on Raphael and Raphael winced internally, he had never seen a man or angel look so broken. Speaking softly Raphael laid his hand on Michael's heart, "Your loss is an unbearable one my brother. But you must bear it. We must save humanity. You know she would tell you the same."
Michael stood breathing in the smoke, the smell of blood, and felt only numbness. Finally he nodded, "Fine, let's go" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. As the other three archangels lifted off he turned away from Raphael and bent down to Gabriella, kissing her cold, yielding lips softly, and then whispered in her ear, so only she could hear, "Fight my love, for me. Find your way back to me. I love you."
Raphael pretended not to notice Michael wiping away a tear as he turned away from Gabriella, only nodding to him as they spread their wings and plunged off the roof, and into the smoky night. They had to go back and get Alex and Claire and secure them, along with the Council and then retake the city. It would be a hard battle. It would be one they couldn't lose.