It’s all relative…
Antonio awoke in a pile of leaves surrounded by rocks and grass. Sunlight warmed his skin. Birds chirped, and the sound of the breeze rattling the branches of the trees greeted him. Images of the night before, of dark pathways and strange scents flitted through his mind, pieces of a dream. He’d been moving swiftly, enthralled by his suddenly enhanced senses. Everything seemed new. He recalled chasing a rabbit and feeling exhilarated by the hunt. Shaking his head, he sat up.
Weird dream.
“Good morning, sunshine,” a deep voice spoke.
Antonio whipped around in a crouch, immediately on guard. His eyes locked with lavender irises filled with amusement. It was the man from the night before. He was seated on a boulder, two feet away, knees splayed, elbows resting upon them, and hands clasped. He appeared at ease.
“Did you sleep well?”
Confused, Antonio checked his surroundings, realizing for the first time he was outside, in the middle of a clearing within the woods. He had no idea how he’d gotten there or exactly where he was. The last thing he remembered was the man before him arriving in his kitchen, grabbing Blanca, and knocking him across the room. Blanca!
“What have you done with her?” he demanded.
His brow furrowed. “Blanca? I left her in your house. If she has any sense, she stayed put, but I have a feeling she doesn’t listen very well.”
Antonio had no idea what to think. Somehow, this man knew their names, but he’d never met him before. No, that wasn’t quite true. He’d seen him in Afghanistan, but they’d been miles apart. There had never been a meeting.
“Who are you? How do you know me? How do you know Blanca?”
The tall man uncoiled his body, hopping down off the boulder. “I knew you’d have questions. How about you put on some clothes first and then I’ll answer as many as I can. We don’t have a lot of time.” He tossed a bag at Antonio’s feet. A change of clothing spilled out.
Antonio looked down noticing his nakedness for the first time. What in the world?
He grabbed the bag and dressed quickly. Once he was clothed and had shoes on his feet, he turned to face the man.
“Okay. Name?” The demand issued from his lips.
A chuckle spilled from the man’s lips. “I am Gabriel. Gabe will do.” He executed a mocking bow.
“You’ve been following me. That was you in the Helmand River Valley on that ridge, wasn’t it?”
“It was.”
The two men faced each other, squaring off. Antonio noted he was only a few inches shorter than Gabriel. Both stood, hands on hips, expressions serious. Gabe’s was seemingly relaxed while Antonio’s was edged with anger and suspicion.
“How is that possible? Why are you following me? Who do you work for?” After all of Hector’s crazy stories, Antonio’s Marine training kicked in trying to make sense of the chaos.
Gabriel glanced at the sky, shaking his head. “You had to assign me to the inquisitor, didn’t you, Zaphkiel?” he said, mumbling to himself. He looked at the younger man. “First, all things are possible. Second, you are in a lot of danger. And third, well, that one is easier to explain if I just show you.”
Antonio glared at Gabe, waiting. An audible gasp escaped his lips when out of nowhere, large, black gossamer wings sprung out from Gabriel’s back stretching wide and spanning more than twelve feet altogether. Antonio backed up two steps, sputtering.
“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Gabe flapped twice, sending the leaves on the ground flying up in the gusts. He relaxed, letting his wings drop down. “Does this answer your question?”
“You’re an angel?” The words sounded absurd to his own ears, but the evidence was there right in front of his eyes. “You are the Gabriel?”
“The one and only, in all my glory.”
“Holy—”
“Careful!” Gabe admonished, pointing up. “He’s always listening.”
Antonio glanced up, and then returned his gaze to the angel. “You mentioned I’m in danger. Does it have to do with this crazy guardianship?”
“It does. I suppose your watcher has already filled you in, but there’s plenty he doesn’t know. I’m here to fill in the gaps and make sure you don’t get yourself killed. Soldier or not, makes no difference. This isn’t a war you’ve been trained for. The rules of engagement aren’t what you know. Demons don’t play by the rules, and right now, there’s an all-out rebellion going on in the demon realm for control of Hell. Especially with the prophesy in play.”
Antonio blinked. He didn’t know what to say to that. “Prophesy? Why me? I didn’t ask for this.”
Gabe sighed. “No one ever does, Antonio. But to answer that, I need to tell you about your mother.”
“What about her?” His interest piqued.
Gabriel moved closer. He reached out, gripping the younger man’s shoulder gently. “Her name wasn’t Maria. Eugenio never knew her real name. He made that up to have something to tell you.”
“I know. Hector told me.”
“Good,” Gabe continued. “Her real name was Isabella Elizabeth Santos…and she was my daughter.”
“What?” The implications dawned on Antonio in a rush. “But, that means…” He couldn’t finish the thought. It was too bizarre.
“Yeah, that means I’m your grandfather. I know, I don’t look anywhere near old enough to have grown grandchildren. Too good-looking by half, right?” The sarcasm in the angel’s tone was softened by humor, and quickly replaced by the seriousness of the moment.
Thoughts raced through Antonio’s head. This man standing before him was an archangel, a messenger of God. He had wings, large, black shiny wings. Stranger still, he claimed to be his grandfather, which meant only one thing; he, himself, was part angel.
“This is too much! I’m so freaking confused.” He pulled back from Gabe’s grip on his shoulder. The angel let him retreat.
“It’s a lot, I know, and I’m sorry. Normally, we don’t make ourselves known to humans, but this was a request from higher up.”
“Because of the rebellion in hell and this guardianship. And some prophesy. Yeah. Wait!” Antonio turned. “Angels fraternize with humans? I thought that wasn’t allowed or that it was a myth?”
Gabe laughed. “Until a moment ago, you thought I was a myth. But to put it into terms you’d understand, I’m only human, except, not human. Angels have feelings. We fall in love just like you.”
“Doesn’t that make you imperfect beings?” A tinge of sarcasm colored his words.
“We are what we are. Who am I to question it?” Lavender eyes pinned Antonio where he stood. The look in them said ‘don’t push it!’
“You said this was a special request. What was requested? What are you sent here to do?”
“Now you’re getting it. I’m here to train you. I may be imperfect in your eyes, but when it comes to the art of warfare, I’m perfect in every way.” Gabe clapped his hands together, rubbing them. “We begin today. There’s no time to waste, Antonio.”
“Wait, I have one more question.”
“What is it?”
“What happened to me last night?” Antonio waited, suddenly afraid.
Gabriel hesitated a moment. “You were taken over by possession. Isabella died after being mauled by a wolf demon trying to get the key. She was the last true guardian. Guardianship is inherited through the bloodline. Usually,” he demurred. “Your father was the last to see her alive. She begged him to save you, and she also gave him the key, swearing him to secrecy until you became a man, became strong enough to protect it.”
“You were there when she died?”
“I was. I escorted her soul home.”
Antonio’s eyes grew fierce, and anger erupted. “Why didn’t you help her? You could’ve saved her!”
Gabe knew Antonio would come to this conclusion. Everyone who knew of the existence of angelic hosts did. “Because it was her time. I can’t interfere with a person’s destiny.”
“You’re interfering with mine now!”
“Yes,” he said simply, “at His request.” He pointed upward again. “This is His plan for you, not mine.”
“It’s wrong!” What Gabe said went against everything Antonio believed. He was a soldier, and soldiers helped people, did all they could to save others. But he understood chain of command. He understood orders. Understanding that distinction didn’t make him feel any better.
“I can see the wheels in your head spinning. I take it from the silence you’re finding your own answers. The last one is this, you’re part wolf-demon and about a quarter angel.”
Anger continued to flash in Antonio’s blue-green eyes. “Hector said I’d be fighting for my life last night. I don’t think he expected me to win.”
“You haven’t yet. It’s my blood that’s keeping the demon blood from overtaking you. However, it won’t stop the evil from trying to possess you. It’s not about full moons, either. This one was merely symbolic. You can be overtaken by the wolf demon anytime, anywhere. Your emotions will trigger it. I need to teach you how to control them, control it, and keep the demon wolf at bay…that is, if you so desire. So, what’s it going to be? The side of good or the side of evil?”
“What do you think? I’m not evil!”
A grin split Gabe’s handsome face. “Glad to hear it. Free will makes all the difference. You get to choose. Now, let’s get to work.”
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