OMG guys, second to last chapter! Last one will be up later! Hope you like it! xoxox
Gabriel flew through the gateway and into Heaven, immediately feeling a sense of peace and happiness fall upon him on his entry. He had missed home. It was still so beautiful, but it was so achingly empty. He flew past the kennels and saw that they were empty, Lucifer must have released them.
Michael would have more to deal with now. He had to hurry and find Lucifer and end this. Thinking about what Lucifer had told him in the past, he flew to the throne and found him seated on their Father's seat, looking smug.
Dropping to the ground in front of Lucifer he cocked a brow and asked wryly, "Should I be bowing?" Lucifer waved a hand, "Since we're partners of a sort, I suppose not." Gabriel gritted his teeth; he had forgotten how arrogant Lucifer was before he had been cast out.
In their short time back together he had often had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something cutting when Lucifer was being particularly pedantic. He was an archangel, but Lucifer had been one as well, and his time in Hell had only made him stronger and cleverer. And mad.
Gabriel had eventually figured out that behind the smug, Adonis like face, was the mind of a mad man. Lucifer didn't just want to rule Heaven, he wanted to watch the world burn and turn it into a Hell, ruled by him.
Gabriel had only ever wanted the power that came from controlling the Chosen One, and his destiny. Now he had to figure out a way to bring down Lucifer, a rebellious angel that had taken three other archangels to cast him out while their Father watched.
Lucifer smirked, "Is there something you want? Why are you here Gabriel?" Gabriel sighed, "I was just coming to discuss battle plans with you. I thought after we subdue Vega we should move on to Helena, as they are rumored to have a formidable air force."
Lucifer regarded him for a moment and the tilted his head, questioning, "Why are you asking me? It's your war to fight." Gabriel shook his head, "It's our war. You want to rule Heaven and Earth; you need to know how it's being won." Gabriel kept his expression as impassive as possible, waiting for Lucifer to decide.
Finally, Lucifer nodded, "Very well. What is your plan?" Gabriel smiled, "Well, I would suggest you pay a visit to Helena, my sister Uriel is there, and she is the first piece of their defense we need to get rid of. Once she is gone, the city will look to their leader, who you will take under your control. Force her to send her air force to the last remaining city in the Cradle and bomb it out of existence. Then, we will control humanity."
Lucifer sat through his speech, his face expressionless, "Very good. But I think bombing Vega and Helena as well will do much more to control humanity." Gabriel swallowed hard, "Yes, of course." Lucifer stood and nodded, "Well then, let me get my armor. It's time for battle."
Gabriel watched him walk away and into the chambers that had once belonged to their Father, and then looked to where Lucifer had been sitting. The knife he had used on Gabriella was still there, covered in her blood. Gabriel knew from what he had been told by Lucifer that if he used the knife on Lucifer, the gateway would close, but Gabriella wouldn't die.
Just as he took a step forward to reach for it, Lucifer reappeared clad in shining gold armor, angelic runes carved into the breast plate. Gabriel could see why he had been a favored son of their Fathers; he was beautiful, as beautiful as the morning sun he was named for. Like the sun, he burned fiercely, his anger a palpable thing.
Gabriel spared a glance down at his own armor, after decades on Earth, and multiple fights with his brother and Gabriella, it was in poor condition. He would be lucky to survive this fight. He watched as Lucifer picked up the knife and slid it into a thigh sheath before waving at him, "Come, it is time for humanity to bow down before their new gods."
Gabriel smiled and nodded, following him to the gateway, but felt his heart beat just a little faster. As they plunged into the air, he slowed his drop, falling behind Lucifer ever so slightly. As they fell through the gateway and approached Earth Gabriel made his move dropping on top of Lucifer and grabbing the knife and in a swift movement, plunging it into his spine.
Lucifer screamed in agony and fury, rolling to shake Gabriel off, the knife still in his back. Drawing his sword, Lucifer plunged it through Gabriel's abdomen, grinning madly as he did. The two angels fell through the last of the gateway and back into the Earth, the night sky lit by the fires burning below, the pair of them spinning towards the ground.
The moment that the knife had plunged into Lucifer, Gabriella had begun to regain consciousness, and with that, her realization that her powers were coming back. As her eyes fluttered open she looked around the rooftop, she could have sworn she had heard Michael…but he wasn't there.
Testing her bonds, she realized she could now break them. Sending a bolt of power through them, they shattered and the sudden release sent her sinking to the ground, her body one large screaming wound.
As she sat on her knees, she heard a sonic boom and looked up, seeing two winged figures falling through the remains of the gateway. Standing up, she focused, pulling them into view, and saw that it was Lucifer and Gabriel.
To her surprise they seemed to be fighting each other…and Gabriel seemed to be losing. As much as she despised him, she couldn't let him die…she owed that much to Michael. Gathering her power, she found that rather than feeling weakened, she felt strong-it must be the gateway, it must have supercharged me -she thought.
Reaching a hand out, she twisted her wrist and pulled, dragging the angel's descent to a stop, holding them in the air. Looking up into the sky, she searched far and wide until she found what she was looking for. Smiling grimly, she began her work, feeling a light sweat break out on her brow and chest.
She felt Lucifer struggling against her and tightened her hold on him, using her power to project her words to him, "Stop. There's no use in fighting. You are done." When she had finished her work, she turned her attention to Lucifer, "Lucifer, you were cast down from Heaven once before, given the chance to repent. I do not give you that chance now. I cast you out, into a cage of star fire. This cage will eventually collapse in on itself and destroy you. There is no escape, no repentance. You are cast out."
With a surge of power, she grasped Lucifer and cast him into the cage of star fire, ignoring his howls of rage and curses. She sealed the cage with her power and made it impossible to escape from, ensuring his inevitable demise. He would cause no more harm or heartache.
Turning her attention back to Gabriel, she pulled until he was at the edge of the tower with her, and she could see the sword sticking out of his abdomen. Releasing him, she ran to his side as he collapsed and gathered him in her arms, trying to see the wound but was unable to through the armor. Gabriel grinned at her, blood trickling from his mouth, "Nice trick. Now if you let me die, all your problems are solved."
Shaking her head, Gabriella spread her wings and lifted Gabriel, wincing as her many wounds protested. "Shut up you idiot" she muttered. She carried him swiftly down and into Michael's chambers, groaning as she laid him out on Michael's bed, before seating herself next to him. Her wounds bled freely again, and she knew she would have to take care of them soon.
Using her power, she felt inside of him to see the extent of the damage before trying to heal him. She sighed; it was bad, very bad. Opening her eyes she found Gabriel watching her with a curious expression on his face, "Why would you help me?" he whispered.
She stared at him and shook her head, "Because I'm supposed to help everyone. Even the people who have caused me harm." With that she reached out and pulled the sword from his abdomen and hushed him when he tried to speak again, "Shut up, now I have to heal you. I would prefer to concentrate so you can live."
Gabriel nodded and closed his eyes, hovering around consciousness. Gabriella sank into her power and began to work, healing his internal organs, weaving torn muscle back together, and finally, ever so slowly, repairing the nicked arteries and spinal tissue.
Opening her eyes, Gabriella found that Gabriel was asleep, resting and healing. She looked out the terrace doors and saw that the light had changed to the grey, early dawn hours. The fires appeared to be out and the screams in the city had stopped.
Exhaustion tore at her, but she knew she needed to clean her own wounds first. Climbing off the bed she made her way into Michael's shower and stepped under the blast of hot water, screaming as the water hit her many cuts. After just a few minutes she was trembling in pain, but was clean.
Wrapping a towel around herself, she pulled the medical supplies she had left in the bathroom out and began dressing her wounds. Feeling the pain settle in, she grabbed vial of morphine and gave herself a small dose, swaying as the delicious woozy feeling settled into her blood.
Grabbing a tshirt and boxers of Michael's she pulled them on in a haze and then made her way to the chaise, laying down, and within moments was fast asleep. Dealing with the rebuilding of the city, and the consequences of saving Gabriel would come tomorrow, and for many days after. For now, she was grateful to be alive.
Michael entered his quarters, sweaty, wounded and smelling of smoke. When he saw Gabriel in his bed, a large but healing wound on his abdomen, he looked around wildly, and found Gabriella on his chaise. When he hadn't been able to find her on the spire, and people had reported seeing two angels fighting, he had assumed that Gabriel and Lucifer had fought, and the result had been her death.
He had gone frozen inside, and hadn't been able to breathe properly at the thought. Now, he walked silently across the room, shedding his jacket and knelt by her side, tears streaming down his face, reaching a trembling hand out to stroke her cheek.
Gabriella shifted in her sleep and he could tell she was uncomfortable. In one smooth movement, he lifted her up and carried her through the rooms until they came to a spare bedroom. Laying her down, he pulled her gently against him, and watched her sleep, convincing him that she really was alive.
He didn't know how they were going to expel all of the 8balls back to Heaven and protect humanity. But that was a discussion for tomorrow. For now, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Gabriella in his arms. Knowing that Vega was safe for the night was enough to let him drift into a peaceful sleep.