Gabriel (25 page)

He closed his eyes and sent a
message to the other Kematians.

“
We
have what we need. Come back so we can prepare for Gabriel’s arrival.”

Chapter Seventeen

Gabriel and Robert searched
the entire house. It was pointless. The Kematians had been here, and they had
left their calling card.

Robert picked up a black feather.
“Those bastards came into my house and took Calla and Maree, didn’t they?”

“
Yes.”

“
Well, I’m going with you to get them back.”

“
Yes.”

Anger and rage filled
Gabriel. At this point he was incapable of having a civil conversation. The
fear that Calla or Maree would be harmed turned into something more, something
violent. His body shook, and his hands clenched as he tried to regain control.
He should have asked the Almighty for guidance, but in his current state,
emotions ruled and logic was thrown out the window.

He headed to the basement.
Robert followed. Gabriel went over to the table where Maree had been working on
the aerosol formula. He picked up a canister and gave it a slight shake. Liquid
sloshed back and forth. He held it up.

“
Maree finished one,” Gabriel said while picking up a tan messenger
bag and putting the canister inside. “We’ll take this with us. Robert, get the
darts ready.”

“
This is the new formula. We don’t know how soon it will work.”

Tre approached. “Where are
your women?”

Gabriel turned around with a
swift motion. “They have been taken by Kematians. I did not sense they were
here.”Gabriel had been so preoccupied with the new humans fighting that he hadn’t
sensed the Kematians’ presence. Was he really becoming more human than angel?
He would have to push these doubts down. Right now the only thing that mattered
to him was getting Calla and Maree back … alive.

“
What can I do to help?”

“
Do you think you are capable of putting your hate aside long
enough to be any help?”

Tre lowered his head, before
he looked Gabriel in the eye. “You have every right to be angry with me. If I
had listened to you about making a fresh start, our arguing wouldn’t have
distracted you. I’m sorry, and I want to help.”

Gabriel sighed. “I am angry,
but not with you. The only one here to blame is me.” He walked away.

Robert packed another bag at
the table. Tre grabbed a handful of the darts and loaded the guns.

“
Will the others join us?” Tre asked.

“
We could use extra men, but I’m not willing to risk Maree and
Calla’s life. The five of you can’t work as a team,” Robert said.

“
Can you check their labs?”

“
Yeah.”

“
If they are cleared, and we can work together, will you let them
go?” Tre asked.

“
You were ready to kill each other a few minutes ago. What’s
changed?”

“
Gabriel reminded me of the second chance we’ve been given. I’ll go
talk to them, and if we can call a truce and they’re no longer infected, can
they go?”

“
That’s a lot of ‘ifs’. I’ll check their results, and we’ll go from
there.”

“
Okay.”

****

Tre walked away and headed
toward the cells. He stopped in front, hands in pockets, head lowered.

Ajeet approached the bars.
“What is happening?”

“
Gabriel’s mate Calla and Robert’s mate Maree were taken by the
Kematians when they went upstairs to get clothing for you,” Tre said.

“
Are you blaming us?” Ajeet asked, every word laced with contempt.

“
No. You asked what happened, and I told you,” Tre said as he
paced. “I’m not even sure when our people started hating each other. I grew up
knowing you were my enemy, and I was trained to kill you.”

Ajeet stepped back, watching
Tre as he continued to pace.

“
Gabriel asked me if you were not ‘my people’ but ‘my enemies’
would I be able to get past that fact. At the time I told him I didn’t know,
but now I do. I can try for the good of our people. Will you?”

“
What has brought on this sudden change?” Ajeet asked with
suspicion, avoiding the question.

“
We are alone in this time. We may find more of our people, but the
truth is most of them died during the attack on our homes, our lands. That
doesn’t mean I’m giving up hope of finding more, because I’m not. It means we
can start over. Wipe the slate clean and erase all past debts.”

“
If you are man enough to try to move past it for a better future,
then I’m willing to give it a try.”

“
So where do we go from here?” Tre asked.

“
We convince them to let us help save those women. That is the
worst possible thing to do in a war, abducting those who are defenseless,”
Ajeet said.

“
Really? Then why did your people—” Tre stopped pacing and ran his
hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. This will be more difficult than I thought.
I will try harder to not bring up the past. Please accept my apologies.”

“
Of course as long as you remember I, too, may use those same
words. A difficult road is upon us, one that I think it will be worth the
effort if we can work together instead of against one another.”

“
I agree, and you are already forgiven for the statement that has
yet to be spoken,” Tre said as he reached his hand between the bars. Ajeet
smiled and grasped it.

Chander, Devdan, and Rama
rose and walked over to the bars.

“
I am Chander, and these are my brothers, Devdan and Rama. We are
grateful to all of you for freeing us. Our hate and disdain for your and
Ajeet’s people didn’t run as deep or for as long. My brothers and I talked, and
we would like to join the fight against the Kematians. We have some questions
though.”

“
Of course. What of the past? Are the three of you willing to start
anew?” Tre asked.

“
Yes,” the three brothers answered in unison.

Devdan moved closer. “You are
Prince Tre, correct?”

“
Yes.”

“
Do you think any of your family survived the battle?”

“
I don’t know. I have hope, but you are among the five that have
been returned to their human state. Why?”

Devdan waited a moment before
answering. “Your sister, Esa, I and planned on running away to be married. That
is how my brothers and I ended up in the midst of the battle. They were riding
with me to bring her back to our lands.”

“
Do you love my sister?”

“
Yes, with my entire being.”

“
Then I approve.”

Devdan let out a small sigh
followed by a laugh. “Thank you, Your Highness, not that it matters much now.”

“
She may be out there somewhere. The two of you may still have a
chance at a future,” Tre said.

Devdan said, lowering his
head. “I’m not sure that is better. Not knowing if she is out there trapped in
a form not of her own and me not finding her. I hoped you would tell me she is
dead. At least I would know she’s at peace.”

Tre reached through the bars
and clasped his shoulders. “I wish I could tell you otherwise. I, too, am
unaware of the fate of my family or my people, but with faith and love, I face
each day with the hope that today will be the day I find them.”

Ajeet placed a hand next to
Tre’s on Devdan’s shoulder. “The homes in my village were also attacked. I,
too, will assist in the search. I hope this will end with our loved ones either
being found or knowing they are at rest.”

Robert walked into the room.
“Good news. All the test results came back negative.”

“
What does negative mean?” Ajeet asked.

“
As soon as Gabriel clears it, you can leave your cell. And we need
to find you some clothes,” Robert said.

“
I know the word, but I don’t understand the purpose?” Chander
asked.

“
Didn’t you guys cover up when you left the house?” Robert asked.

“
We wore, ah, what is the word? Oh yes I know… loin cloths. We
didn’t have underwear, zippers, or buttons,” Tre said.

“
Well, as much fun as it is to air the boys out, people in our time
prefer us to cover up when we go out in public.”

“
We will dress like the people of this time to ‘blend in’?” Ajeet
asked.

“
Yes. I’m going to find Gabriel, and I’ll bring back some clothes,”
Robert said.

****

Robert found Gabriel sitting
on the bed where Calla had been kept sedated.

“
Have you heard everything?” Robert asked.

“
Yes.”

“
Can I let them out?”

“
Yes.”

“
We will get them back.”

“
I know.”

“
I’ll get some things for them to wear, and I’ll be back so we can
finish getting everything together.”

“
They need to learn how to shoot the guns.”

“
I’ll have Tre show them how.”

“
Good.”

“
Listen, Gabriel, I know you’re upset, but can you wait to beat
yourself up? We have two women who are depending on us to bring them back.”

“
How do you know that is what I am thinking?”

“
Because that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Beating myself up will
have to wait until I have them back in my arms.”

Gabriel rubbed his face and
stood. “These feelings are eating me up. I never felt rage before, and I do not
know what to do with it.”

“I know you’re an angel, but
you’ve fought these Kematians before. You’ve watched from wherever it is you
angels watch humans destroy themselves on a daily basis. How is it you’ve never
felt rage before?”

Gabriel was surprised by
Robert’s question. How was he going to explain something to Robert that he
didn’t quite understand himself? Was it his connection to Calla that caused
this range of emotion? Did loving someone else with everything you are, really
change who you are? As an angel he loved all of humanity, but he placed Calla
above his own well-being. This realization struck a chord deep within him. How
and when did this happen?

“Destroying evil is a job. I
do not feel bad or good about killing Kematians. It just is. As for watching
humanity, you have to understand something. Free will is a gift and a curse for
humanity. We watch humans do wonderful things for each other one minute, and
then hurt each other the next. I believe I am experiencing emotions much like a
human would. My only explanation is that all human emotions stem from love.
This is the first time I have loved someone above all else.”

“
I don’t understand not knowing rage, and I’m sorry that human
emotion now dwells within you, but you need to focus it. Make it work
for
you and don’t let it cripple you.”

“
I will try. Thank you, Robert.”

 
Robert
headed up the stairs, while Gabriel went into the room where the others waited.

“
I will release you. You are free to leave.”

“
We’re going with you,” Ajeet said.

“
I hoped that would be your decision, but I must tell you that
there is a chance one or more of you will die.”

Devdan stepped out of the
cell first. He stopped in front of Gabriel. “We were turned into monsters,
killed people we may have known, and were left with no memories of the last
however long we were in that form. It is an insult to think we would not want
retribution,” Devdan said.

“
It was not meant to be an insult. I want you to understand that
your life is on the line. The Kematian you may kill maybe someone you love.”

“
In our time everyday was a battle for life. The wars were
never-ending.” Devdan paused. “If it dies and was human, will it return to its
human form?”

“
I do not know, but from what we have seen, if they are injected or
exposed to the antidote then I believe the answer will be yes.”