The first piece I've done for the third installment of The Blessed and Forsaken, Legacy. This will be VERY confusing, which is why I haven't posted it until now. You will not really understand what's going on and why, but I wanted it there.
If this seems odd to you, sorry. I'm still a little iffy with the piece itself and have to work with the rest of the book, but it's what I've got. Hope it satisfies something!
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"Gabe?" I called, trying to open the door, but it wasn't moving at all, my hand slipping on the handle. I heard Gabe scream inside the room and then there was the sound of wind. I rammed harder into the door with all my might. "GABE!" I screamed.
I wished Jacob was there to help me, but I didn't know where he was.
Thirty seconds couldn't have passed, when everything was suddenly still.
Panicking, I fumbled with the door, and it opened with a foreboding creak.
Gabe was on his knees and over him stood two men, though they weren't men at all.
The angel closest to Gabe appeared to be middle aged, having the same, but older, blond hair as Gabe did.
He held a strong grim expression and as soon as his fiery green eyes met mine he vanished.
The second watched Gabe a moment sorrowfully and I couldn't move. He looked up to me and nodded, "Evony." He acknowledged, then was gone as well.
I took a few deep breaths, just realizing how much their presences had affected me. It settled that I had just met the two elder Gabriels.
Gabe had a sudden intake of breath like he hadn't been breathing previously, then began to cough and choke, nearly curling in on himself on the floor. I rushed over to him, trying to help him, soothe him, but I didn't know what was wrong. He was covered in sweat and shaking almost violently. I kept him from falling into the floor and his breathing began to steady when he settled his head onto my chest. It was hard not to fall back with his weight on me. The fact that he was heavy at all was something to be worried about.
His voice was hoarse and stretched when he tried to speak, it took a few times before I could understand him, "Anna, Anna." He whispered over and over.
"I'm here Gabe." I assured him.
I stroked his face and smelled his hair and it scared me how human he seemed.
He slowly quieted and we stayed on the cold floor.
Then he did something he never had before. He fell asleep.
My wonder just barely overcame my worry and I stared at his features. His face seemed so much softer and vulnerable like this.
I was just going to let him sleep when I suddenly remembered Jacob. If they had left Gabe like this…what had they done to Jake?
I brought my lips to Gabe's forehead. "Gabe." I whispered, stroking him until he stirred. "Come on, we need to go."
He understood enough to help me get him to stand. We staggered out of the warehouse very slowly, nearly falling a number of times. Finally, we got him into the passenger seat and his head slouched, he remained drowsy, languid.
I got in quickly and started the car, getting the heater going. Gabe shuttered.
"Where's Jacob?" I tried to ask.
He turned half opened eyes to me and shook his head slightly. "He's fine."
"Okay." I drove and Gabe slept again.
I concentrated on driving instead of all the nagging questions in my brain. I was on the longest strip of country road leading back to the house when Gabe flew up in his seat.
I gasped and swerved. "What?!" I hollered, straightening the car again.
"Where are you going?" Gabe asked, panicked, confused.
"Home!"
"Pull over."
"Why? Are you going to tell me what happened back there?"
"Yes, Anna, pull over." Gabe was serious, grave even.
I pulled farther off the road nearly in between the trees in the dark shadows.
I had a feeling this talk would be a bit lengthy, so I turned off the car, killing the headlights.
Before I could say anything, Gabriel got out of the car and rubbed his arms. I followed after him stubbornly, my breath showing my frustration, coming out in thick hissing clouds.
"I'm cold, Anna." Gabe said with his back to me.
"So, get back in the car." I grumbled, the cold finding its way through my clothes.
He looked up at the sky and chuckled darkly. "I've never been cold before."
"What do you-"
"They made me mortal, Anna, human." He finally turned to me and the look in his eyes made all of my frustration disappear. "I've been stripped of my powers, demoted, and cast down."
"Why?" I nearly whispered.
He looked down a moment as if embarrassed. "They felt that I have been impaired and am unable to perform
my duties."
"Impaired by what?" Somehow I was almost afraid to ask.
Gabriel walked over to me at the speed of a careful human being, put a hand on my face, and looking me in the eyes said, "By the feelings I've gained…for you."
The second the words left his mouth it was like I had always known and I was glad that he'd finally said it aloud. I'd wanted his hand to feel like this in mine, the penetrable power in his arms, his lips. His scent was more concrete than ever, and I wanted more of it than I was sure I could handle.
"Evony." Gabe whispered pleadingly. It was that name again, and I didn't mind, it seemed right.
I wasn't sure when, but at some point, we ended up in the back of the car, fumbling for each others' skin and somehow it felt like I knew we would end up here. If the only place I could be with Gabe like this was on earth, then I didn't want heaven.
