Protect and Follow

By: MusketeerAdventure

Summary: This chapter takes place during the episodes Lay Thee Before Kings, The Longest Mile Home, and The Seed of Evil. Alex, Noma and Pete escape New Delphi and find sanctuary. Noma meets an emissary and unknowingly makes a decision with lasting consequences. Michael flees torture and searches for Alex, and Gabriel remains a captive of Julian/Lyrae intent on revenge of his own but faces a challenge that may change him forever.

Thank you to guest reader who recently sent in a review for your kind words and comments to this story. You have jumpstarted this chapter and I hope everyone reading enjoys it. Thank you for reading.

Chapter 12: Decisions

Noma stood in a field of green grass sprinkled with white, purple, and pink lilacs. The beauty of it all filled her heart, and she twirled with innocent delight. She let her hair loose from her pony tail and felt the weight of it lay heavy on her shoulders and down her back. She spread her arms apart and as she turned with balletic grace, unfurled her wings and laughed out loud with open joy.

She curled her magnificence in; hugged herself and felt the comfort of her power surround and insulate her. Nothing could hurt her or penetrate the protective strength they provided. These were her gift from God. She caressed their smooth, feathery softness and knew with certainty that one day; they would carry her home – amongst the blue – straight to heaven.

Noma smiled down with love at her greatest asset, and then lifted her face to the sky – where the bright sun glistened; puffy white clouds drifted peacefully; and a small flock of birds spoke to one another and flew in formation toward some unknown destination. She smiled as they dove; climbed over treetops; and pressed in close together to ride the wind.

The slight breeze lifted the hair from her shoulders and promised a true bearing. She closed her eyes, breathed in the scent of God's wondrous earth, and ascended slowly upward from the ground to join those also gifted with flight. The grass swayed beneath her as she pulled away from gravity with ease.

As she shifted her wings to a course and rose higher and higher – the breeze became a strong wind and hit her face with breathtaking force. Noma laughed from her belly; kissed a thin cloud and traveled within its vaporous veil.

Once there, she hovered in the foggy coolness and reveled at the mist as it swept droplets against her warm skin and provided a soothing balm to all of her troubles, sorrows and regrets. She lingered there and felt the presence of her Father, and was glad.

This was who she was – what she was meant to be – created to span this earth in moments; to possess unimaginable strength; and to do Father's bidding. She was an angel above everything – above her allegiances; loyalties and love.

Noma pushed from the cloud and surveyed the ground below. This is where she felt alive – up here among the clouds; among the feathered beasts – close to the sun where she could feel the warmth of it up close.

There was no doubt that she loved Alex; had sworn to protect him – but this – this was her calling; what she needed. This here – flight – she could not live without.

Noma continued her upward journey in unwavering bliss and unprecedented rapture. There was no emotion, no relationship, no event that could match this complete and utter feeling of ecstasy and wonder.

Suddenly, without warning, the sky turned a harsh purple and the sun dimmed behind blackened clouds. She spread her wings to still her ascent and took stock of her surroundings. Was the weather taking a turn for the worse? She had known many a storm to rise up and catch her unawares.

But then she noticed her feathers floating away from her one by one and felt herself drop altitude in degrees – bit by bit. She reached out to gather her prized possessions back to her, but they disintegrated in her grasp and turned to ash – filtering between her fingers and gliding away.

Her mind screamed with panic. What was this? What was happening?

And then her wings, her essence was gone. Her reason for living – vanished into thin air. Noma looked to her back, and they were no more. As realization hit her, she plummeted to earth and could not slow her descent. The weight of gravity pulled her down and the enormity of her loss saw the ground rising up to meet her.

When she hit the unyielding earth, the pain of it jolted through every limb and organ of her body until it pierced her heart. Lying on her back, staring up to the sky – she cried out in horror and disbelief. Tears streamed down her face and her body racked with sobs.

Father was punishing her – bringing her low – berating her for decisions made long ago. She thought she had redeemed herself; given herself over to the cause of mankind – but now – this would seem to be her penance.

Noma pulled at her hair; yelled up to the heavens for her Father to forgive her – bring her home and she would prove her worth. She waited and only silence met her pleas for mercy.

The sky still bathed in that ominous purple – blotted out the sun and promised a murderous storm – which matched the turmoil rising up in her soul.

Noma gave up on her appeals for grace, closed her eyes; curled into herself and wept bitterly for her forfeiture. She hugged her body hard, wishing for the soothing comfort of her beautiful, beautiful wings.

"What's this then?" a gentle voice called out to her. "Is this our Noma regretting her sacrifice?"

Noma pushed herself to her elbows and there before her stood a tall man with chaps, cowboy boots and spurs. His skin was dark and he held his hands at his hips where his pistols lay resting in their holsters ready to draw. His long duster coat flapped behind him in the brisk wind and atop his head a large gallon hat sat undisturbed by the force of it.

The dark man looked down at her and smiled sweetly with rows of perfect teeth, and crinkles around his eyes. "What is it that you need Noma?" he asked earnestly. "What is it I can give you to stop you from weeping?"

Noma brushed the tears from her eyes and watched the man warily – uncertain. What was he doing out here in this field of lilacs? Was this a dream? Was the purple haze of the sky a reality? Were her wings still at her back?

Noma reached back – but felt nothing there. They were truly gone.

"What is you want Noma?" the man hissed down at her – his smile now gone – replaced with a stare so intense it frightened her. "I have it on good authority that whatever you desire, I can make it come true", he cooed like silk. Noma stared back into his cold unwavering eyes and then turned away quickly; afraid of her reaction – her need to be whole again.

When she turned back to him for hope - he was gone.

She looked frantically about, but he was nowhere to be seen. "I will do anything to have them", she screamed – wishing him to return – but when she hoped he would reappear all she saw was Alex sleeping at her side on the couch; Pete on the floor facing the wall wrapped in a dirty blanket and the small dingy living room with a portrait of a family long dead, looking at her from the wall with smiles on their faces.

She took a deep breath, pressed a hand to her mouth; and held back a startled cry. So a dream it was, she thought; and stood silently to her feet – wiping at her cheeks where tears trailed from her eyes. And now she must live this nightmare.

She was no more an angel and not even human. What was she then?

Noma felt the pain of her loss and grimaced. She looked down at Alex, and felt a swell of love surround her heart. For twenty-five years of her life he had been everything. Her mission had been to protect him at all cost. Recently it had encompassed to truly love him as a partner; companion and lover.

She believed he was the one. He would lead all of mankind and angels alike to peace on earth.

She felt the phantom flutter at her back and choked a sob. But was her love for him enough to fill this void. She had sacrificed for him willingly without thinking. Now she was haunted by the decision.

Noma scanned the small room and felt the walls closing in on her. She had to get out – get away from here, away from Alex.

She walked to the window and beyond the perimeter could see eight balls lying in wait near the trees. Maybe if she went out to meet them, lead them away, and let them take her life – she would be at peace.

Noma took one last look down at her sleeping beloved and reached for the door.

Michael leaned wearily against a tree and took in a shuddered breath. The retreat from New Delphi had taken much out of him. He could still feel the effects of electricity coursing through his limbs; pressed his hands together to keep them from trembling; and locked his knees to stop them from buckling and sending him to the ground in a heap.

His brother's sacrifice to save him clawed at his conscience.

This was his fault. He had asked Gabriel to enter New Delphi with him, and now he was at the mercy of Lyrae –who was crazed with vengeance – vengeance to punish him. But instead it was Gabriel who suffered. His instinct to go back was strong – but it was not what Gabriel wanted.

What his brother wanted was for him to find Alex and bring Father back. Gabriel's plan was to kill Lyrae. He would honor that, and not let his brother's captivity on his behalf be in vain.

Michael shook the image of his brother alone and at Lyrae's mercy out of his head, and concentrated on finding Noma and Alex.

He stood from the tree; unfurled his wings and reached out to connect with them. Without her wings, he doubted he would be in sync with Noma; but would try anyway. Perhaps on some level, she might still feel his presence.

After some time, he frowned and concluded that the pathway between them was severed. He had no sense of her and was saddened by that. He could not imagine the trauma of her loss; but recognized the significance of her sacrifice. She had saved Alex's life, and would forever be in his debt.

Michael closed his eyes, and cleared his mind. If he reached out far enough, he knew he could find Alex. Their connection had always been strong. As a child – all Alex need do was to think his name, and he would find him. It was a unique bond he held with no other human, and hoped it not been broken.

Michael stilled his heart; slowed his breathing and reached out to the chosen one; and there among the millions of heartbeats was the one he was looking for – distinct and unmistakable.

Michael opened his eyes and took flight. Soon he would see Alex, and begin their journey to save Vega.

Gabriel groaned; tested his limits and found himself bound; unable to move his arms and legs from the chair he now occupied. His head pounded inside his skull and when he peered through aching eye sockets there regrettably before him stood the dyad – leering at him with that smug look of his.

He dropped his head back, and squeezed his eyes shut tight against the harsh glare of the room. He thought Lyrae's form of torture quite unique and if he admitted to himself honestly, also very enjoyable – in its own sick perverted way.

For the life him, he had not known that deep down in his subconscious, he had a wish to be subjugated by three very domineering, beautiful women. Who knew?

He pulled at his restraints and wished he could wipe the sweat from his brow. Instead the wetness trickled down into his eyes and stung causing his headache to spike and pound away like a hammer. He felt the fatigue of torture pull him down.

Making love to three women had its ups and downs, and now he felt his energy wane and his defenses wane with it.

When his mind came back from musing on bedding three women, he heard Lyrae droning on about Michael and his abandonment. And though he had vowed not to be lured in by the maniac's taunting, he couldn't help it.

"I asked him to leave", he insisted to Lyrae – whose eyes lit up as if he was given a gift.

"Do you know the lesson of this little experiment in mind games Gabriel?" he asked with subtle delight.

"No Lyrae, but I'm sure you will tell me", he answered with forced boredom – hoping the fool would leave him be – so that he could regain his strength and plan his attempt at murder.

"While your body may be strong Gabriel, your mind is malleable. It will bend to my will." He moved toward a nearby table, and grasped a stone container. "So, I'll break your mind, and when that's done, I'll take your body and rein over this earth."

Gabriel laughed in the face of such madness and smiled his most enigmatic smile, "You won't succeed", he countered - nervous energy fluttering below the surface of his composed mask of confidence.

Lyrae moved toward Gabriel with a smile truly foreign to Julian's countenance, lifted the jar and held the amphorae tight in his grip. "See here Gabriel. With the dear General's help, we have found the hidden amphorae."

He lifted the jar and caressed it almost lovingly.

"Here is darkness", he hissed. "Let's have you ponder the darker side of yourself, and then we'll see who succeeds."

TBC

Thank you for reading! Please take a moment and send a review – they are most welcomed! :)