Gadriel cocks his head and stares with pity at Zach. “Four remain, including you little brother,” he answers.
“Why?” He groans struggling to his feet. Stumbling once more he reaches out a bloody hand to balance his body and the moment his hand touches the rough rock face, the gate snaps into position beneath his hand, instantly pulling him into its safety. Zach uses the gate to propel himself to the next location. His only thought is to warn his brothers. They must be told of the Fallen.
Orifiel screams out, enraged that he was tricked by the younger angel. Caius watches from the shadows of the night and steps into view. They must be dealt with as quickly as possible.
“You must go after him, immediately. You will have help on the other side. Move quickly.”
Orifiel turns to do as his new King bids and searches for the gate. The bloody handprint of Zachariel causes his head to pound and his own hand trembles when he places his larger hand over the top of the smaller print. The gate responds instantly. It snaps to beneath his hand just as before, except instead of opening to allow him passage, the images on the wall all turn to stare at the betrayer. Nakir makes a motion forward to help but he is stopped by Caius.
“I wouldn’t do that, Nakir.” Caius backs up and watches with a grim smile.
He ignores the warning from his new King and reaches for Orifiel. Gadriel grabs him by the shoulders and holds him back. “Zachariel left us a warning, brother. Remember who he was before, Nakir.”
Nakir goes still and grows pale. “Orifiel is still our brother,” he gasps in horror as the stone images begin to move.
“This ought to be good,” Caius murmurs.
The animals begin to creep towards the angel, watching as he shouts and struggles in terror. “Brothers, help me!” He roars in pain as the first clay-colored spear shoots across the rock wall, and sinks into his skull, followed by hundreds more. The animals leap from the wall, ripping, tearing and shredding the angel. The mountain above reacts to the struggle of heaven’s own being judged for his transgression. A rumble is felt for miles as the red stone rocks tumble crushing its prey and destroying the gate in the process.
“He has been judged.” Gadriel states and turns to Caius. Relinquishing his hold on Nakir he points his swords at the Vampire.
“You knew that would happen. Two of the four gates are destroyed now! You are nothing but the king of lies!” He rages. The blades in his hands tremble from the force of his fury.
“Of course. The one truth that you have discovered, brothers,” he sneers, “is that you have all been judged. The moment you chose to fall your domain was sealed off from you.” Caius disappears and moves with the speed of the wind. The once strong Archangels shift to face the threat, moving back, too, back, to face their enemy.
“I offered you power and freedom. You knew the price.” Caius laughs and his voice seems to come from multiple sources. With the barest of movements, Caius lifts his hand and whispers a spell. Pain strikes Nakir so fast he is unable to scream. All the blood in his body bursts forth from his eyes, nose and mouth shooting straight into the open mouth of the Vampire.
Gadriel spins in time to watch the dried husk that was once Nakir lifted into the sky and engulfed in flames. “I JUDGE YOU!” Caius roars. The blood of the archangel fuels his power, increasing his strength’s and abilities.
“What manner of creature are you? You are no vampire?” Gabriel asks.
Caius now faces him and smiles. “I am more!” His eyes glow with a ruby flame and his body is covered in Nakir’s blood. He snaps out his leathery black wings, tipped with claws and leaps for Gadriel.
Gadriel swings his dual blades aiming for Caius’s throat only to be batted aside by the powerful wings. The blades snap in half and one falls to the ground when Caius seizes the angel by his throat and leaps into the air. They are a blur of claws, and wings, as the two immortals battle for supremacy.
The sound of wings impacting against each other echoes across the night until finally with a grunt of satisfaction, Gadriel sinks the broken blade deep into his enemy’s throat. Caius screams out and releases the angel. The frantic beating of Gabriel’s wings echoes against the mountain face as he flies into the darkness.
Caius lands heavily on a rocky cliff overlooking the valley and jerks the sword from his throat. Hissing in pain he tosses it into the darkness. Quickly the wound begins to heal, aided by the angelic blood pulsing through his body.
Gadriel is powerless to stop Caius and realizes he is lucky to get away from the monster. He will not heal as quickly now that he is fallen and without his access to the gates, he cannot reach his brothers.
“I will hunt you down soon. Savor your freedom, for now. Now then, on to gate three.” Caius whispers and shimmers to dust, leaping into the wind, he travels across the top of the earth, seeking the third gate.
Gate 3
Wyoming
Wrapped in the celestial embrace of the gate’s realm, Zachariel can’t fathom what is happening. He only knows eight of his brothers have fallen. “Morgan?” He calls for his mentor and tries to access his gate, but it is gone from him. He shuts his eyes and pictures another gate in the wilds of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
The air around him changes, turning cool, misting over his body and soothing it. With a softly spoken prayer, he heals his broken wings and superficial
