Ascended (11 page)

“I have to get back to the ranch. I didn’t tell my mom I was leaving. She’ll probably be worried,” Carter
finally said, after they’d sat in companionable silence for a few more moments.

“Go
,
Waka
…be safe, my son,” the Chief rested a hand on Carter’s head, almost as a benediction, and then returned to his own home.

In the meantime, Henry had been pacing the floors in turmoil after his visit from Carter. He was devastated that Lily had concealed the truth from him about the birth of their twins. He couldn’t imagine any reason she would have had that would justify hiding the knowledge from him for all those years.
How could she not tell me about the babies?
he thought.

He decided he
couldn’t wait any longer. He was going to go crazy if he continued to sit in his house with nothing but his thoughts for company. Henry decided he needed to be with his daughter. He grabbed his keys and headed back to the hospital.

Henry sat with Vivian, holding her hand, and praying. He didn’t seem to have much left, but what he did have was his faith and he was not going to lose that, too. It would have been easy to get lost in his pain and blame his God for taking away the people he loved, to ask,
why me?
But Henry chose to believe there was a bigger plan for his life, even though he might not be able to see it at that moment. His faith sustained him and he clung to it like a life preserver.

Henry sat in the chair in the corner of Vivian’s room, mentally
and physically exhausted by the events of the night. In a matter of minutes, he nodded off.

Suddenly,
he was awakened, not by any sound, but by an eerie chill in the room. He jumped up when he realized there was a dark shadow hovering over Vivian’s body.

”G
et away from my daughter!”

The shadowy figure
turned to look at him. Henry knew without a doubt that he was staring at the face of something horrifying, something dark, and something of pure evil. Surprisingly, he felt no fear; his adrenaline was pumping but fear was not an option, nor even a passing thought. Protecting his daughter was the only focus.

“You have no business here
. Leave!” Henry ordered.

“Oh
, but I do,” the dark figure finally spoke. “I am here for Vivian. I own her now,” he said, taunting Henry.

“You own no one
. Go back to the hell from which you came,” Henry began to move closer to Vivian’s bed.

“Soon enough
, my friend and I will be taking your beautiful daughter with me,” the malevolent being grinned in Henry’s face.

Henry closed his eyes
to shut out the vile image, and started praying out loud, trying to banish the evil in the room. Over and over he repeated them, each time speaking louder and louder.

The dark figure circled around Henry repeatedly
, laughing at his desperation. Then he glided directly over to Vivian and said, “Did you really think you could win, Henry? You took something precious from me, and now I am taking something precious from you.”

“I have nothing that belongs to you!” Henry shouted.

“Your precious Lily does!” the Dark One thundered. “And mark my words, I will regain what was stolen from me!

“
And know this, Henry Thorne,” he continued, still laughing, “that until that day comes, I shall keep what belongs to you: your precious daughter. You do read your Bible, pastor, correct? What is that phrase? Ah, yes…an eye for an eye!” He faded away.

Henry opened his eyes and looked
around the room, but the evil being in the room was gone. He couldn’t figure out if he had been dreaming, or if what had just happened was real.

It couldn’t be real
, Henry thought, clutching his Bible to his chest. Vivian was resting comfortably, sleeping like a baby and looking like an angel. Henry felt sure he must have been dreaming, but he was shaken nonetheless by the horrific scene that had just played out.

Just then
, Vivian opened her eyes and smiled at Henry, as if on cue.

It was all he needed to see. Vivian’s smile reminded him that love was a power much greater than hate
, and he knew he would protect his daughter with his love, always. Henry took Vivian’s hand and smiled back at her, and then watched as she closed her eyes for the last time.

The phone rang at the Stone residence and Carter picked it up. “Hello?”

“Carter?
It’s Henry…Vivian is gone.”

Chapter
Ten

The Last Piece

Gabriel couldn’t stop thinking about the blade he
’d seen lodged in Reese’s chest—the same blade he’d given to Carter before Lucian chased them up the Tower.
Where have I seen that blade before?
he pondered. Gabriel knew he had to get another look at the blade to see if he could remember where he had seen it before.

As much as he wanted to see the blade again, he worried about leaving Vie right now. She
had said she was all right, but that was the type of thing she did, pretending everything was all right just to spare others the burden of worrying about her. She was also the type Gabe worried about because once she got an idea in her head, she just ran with it, ignoring the risks. He knew her well and feared she might do something impulsive that would jeopardize her safety, so he decided his visit to Carter would have to wait.

He thought about everything that had happened
, beginning with the first days of their mission. He tried hard to recall the details of everything that had transpired while they were there; he knew that somewhere in his memory there was some small detail that would lead him to the traitor.

Gabriel actually wished he could b
e Vie just for a moment; having her photographic memory would come in handy for him now. As he continued to think about Reese, he suddenly remembered seeing him having words with Fallon before he left the Gates. She had been irate with him, and Gabriel could almost see their conversation in his mind; he remembered hearing her say that she should be going on the mission, not Vie. At the time, Gabriel had thought she was just blowing off steam, but in hindsight he began to think that her anger was more like a controlled rage.

He thought back further and
recalled another detail that had seemed inconsequential at the time but now seemed significant. The night of the dance, Jeremy had told Gabriel and Carter that Tess was the one who had delivered Vie to the Tower. 
Why would Tess bring Vie to the Tower?
he wondered. He wasn’t buying into the story about her being jealous, and that she’d ‘just wanted to make Vie walk home.’ None of it made any sense to Gabriel anymore.
Something is wrong
.

A
nother surprising detail entered his mind, one which had, once again, meant nothing to him at the time but could explain everything now. Vie had told Gabriel about Lucian coming to her in a dream and whispering the word
Ephemeris
in her ear.

Gabriel thought hard and then it hit him
: the word hadn’t made any sense at the time Vie had told him about it, because it wasn’t an English word.
Ephemeris
originated from a Latin word which, when translated, meant ‘diary’ or ‘journal.’

T
he truth flashed in his mind: Vie’s soul diary was the last piece of the puzzle they needed in order to figure out what was really going on.
I need to see her diary—and I know just who is going to show it to me
, he thought.

Excited by his discovery, Gabriel headed back to Camulus to formally request a viewing of the diary. The diaries were sacred and only able to be viewed in extreme circumstances
, but Gabriel was certain this qualified.

He knocked and
entered Camulus’ chambers without waiting for permission from within. He noticed Camulus did not seem surprised to see him at all. Gabriel was surprised at how worn Camulus looked—as though he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. It wasn’t like Camulus to allow his burdens to show, but today it was clear something was weighing heavy on his heart.

“Camulus, I need to see Vie’s diary,” Gabriel stated.

“That’s impossible, Gabriel.”

“I’m afraid I
’m going to have to insist upon it, Camulus. If I have to, I’ll take it to the Council,” he threatened.

“
Do what you must, Gabriel, but going to the Council will not change anything,” Camulus said.

“I beg to differ with you
, sir,” Gabriel replied, respectfully. “I believe they will allow it when I share information with them that I’ve gathered.”

Camulus did
n’t seem shocked by Gabriel’s findings. As Gabriel’s former trainer, he knew this warrior was the most exceptional Guardian he had ever seen, and from the moment Gabriel had left his chambers after their most recent meeting, Camulus had known it was only a matter of time before he’d figure out what was really going on.

“Gabriel, it won’t change the fact that I no longer have Vie’s diary in my possession!” he raised his voice
.

“What? Why not? Where is it
, Camulus?” Gabriel asked.

“I don’t know. It
’s missing and I don’t know who has taken it.”

“You
’re lying to me, Camulus, just like you lied to me about the Angel Blade and Reese. Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?” Gabe was indignant. “You see, you forgot one important detail about successfully telling a lie: you need to make sure your timeline is intact. Reese left for the mission before I did, not after, so if he really did take the blade as you say he did, you would have had plenty of time to inform me about it.

“
How could you, of all people, look me in the eye and lie to me?” Gabriel asked him.

Camulus had no answers for Gabriel. It was easy to see the pain he carried within
himself over his actions. Lying to Gabriel was the most difficult thing he had ever done, and he’d done it to protect Fallon. In truth, just as Gabriel was like a son to him, Fallon was like a daughter. He could not justify his actions; all he could do was bow his head like a guilty man, ashamed.

T
here was a knock at the door and Raphael entered.

“Gabriel, I’ve been looking all over for you. Something is about to happen
—something big—and we need to prepare for war,” he said.

Gabriel asked Raphael to fill him in
, and he did. He told Gabriel and Camulus about how Carter had figured out that Vivian and Violet were sisters, and why he believed that Lucian was going after her.

Gabriel was quite impressed that Carter
had been able to figure out the exact same thing they’d just discovered about Vie’s life and bloodline. He had already recognized Carter’s abilities, and he was thrilled that he was finally beginning to use his gifts.

Then Raphael asked
, “Did you know the Angel Blade has been stolen from Carter?”

This was
definitely new information for Gabriel. He questioned Raphael about where the blade had been hidden and when it was last seen.

Raphael told him
, “The blade was kept in Carter’s room, and the only other person who was in there was Tess.”

In an instant, the solutions to all the problems in Gabriel’s head
became crystal clear. Although Raphael had relayed Carter’s belief of Tess’s innocence, Gabriel felt differently. The ‘light bulb went on,’ as the humans were fond of saying.

“Tess was with Carter when the blade went
missing. Tess drove Vie to the Tower,” Gabriel said while circling Camulus. He’d figured out what Camulus had tried so hard to hide.

Camulus
was trapped and he knew it.

“Where is she?” Gabriel thundered at Camulus, but he
received no answer.

H
e grabbed Camulus and demanded an answer from him. “Where is Fallon?”

Watching the exchange,
Raphael was sure Gabriel was losing it; he couldn’t believe his eyes. He tried to pull Gabriel off Camulus, but he could not loosen Gabe’s grip from the neck of their leader.

“Gabe
, please!  Let him go!” Raphael begged.

Gabe suddenly became aware of what he was doing, and
noticed Raphael looking at him as if he were a stranger. Gabriel had always been an example of moral character, the one who kept order amongst the Guardians, and the one they trusted to lead them with dignity and honor; it bothered him to have Rafael see him in a less than honorable light. He looked back to Camulus, who had shown no fear despite Gabriel’s rage, and slowly loosened his grip.

He
freed Camulus, shoving him toward the wall. “You’re not worth the effort.”

“I did what I had to do
!” Camulus shouted. “I made a promise to protect her and I kept that promise. Fallon did not cause Reese’s death. He died trying to save you, Gabriel,” he reminded him.

“Don’t you dare to put this on me
, Camulus,” Gabriel warned him.

“He died in battle
. It’s a sacrifice we all make as Guardians, to protect the worlds from the Dark Ones. You know this, Gabriel! I am certain if the tables were turned and it was Violet who needed protection, you’d stop at nothing to save her, no matter what the cost,” Camulus said.

“No
, Camulus, you’re wrong. I would not sacrifice my honor and the lives of my brothers to protect anyone.” Gabe’s face was grave. “And I wouldn’t break the rules of the Gates to suit my own needs.”

“I hope you
’re never faced with such a choice,” Camulus said somberly. “I, too, believed as you did until I was faced with the dilemma of choosing between the rules of the Gates and a promise I made a long time ago. I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but it was necessary for me to honor my word and to keep my promise.”

“I am going to ask you one last time
, Camulus: where is she?” Gabriel had calmed down, but his voice was tense, his body rigid.

Camulus still remained silent, loyal to Fallon. What was done could not be changed
; he believed Fallon had made a mistake, but he also believed she deserved their forgiveness.

“Fine!
Have it your way. I’ll find her myself,” he said, storming off to hunt for Fallon.

Raphael followed his friend blindly, knowing it was the right thing to do. Everyone trusted Gabriel
; there wasn’t a single Guardian who wouldn’t follow his lead if given the choice. No matter how out of control Raphael thought Gabriel had been a moment before with Camulus, he was sure there had been a good reason that would be justified in time.

What Raphael didn’t know was that Gabriel had just figured
out Fallon had betrayed him; she had betrayed all of them. He knew she’d been angry about not being able to go on the mission, but he’d had no idea how deep her jealousy of Vie ran.

Emotions
were not things that got in the way up at the Gates. The Guardians were trained extensively to weed out the strong from the weak; emotions were unwanted things tied to the weak, not to the Guardians.

Gabe was angry, but his anger was directed
at himself for not seeing what had been right in front of him: the dangerous emotion of jealousy that had swallowed Fallon whole. The personal betrayal was one Gabriel could not overlook. He was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that Fallon’s jealousy was responsible for Reese’s death and Vie’s safety. For Gabriel, both were completely unforgiveable offenses in his book.

“Fallon!” he began shouting throughout the
Gates.

Gabriel
tore into Fallon’s room and began frantically throwing her personal belongings around the chamber as he searched.

Raphael asked
, “What are you searching for?”

“I’m
looking for the Angel Blade,” was his curt answer as Gabe continued turning the room upside down.

Raphael couldn’t imagine why he was looking for the blade in Fallon’s roo
m. It made no sense to him whatsoever. He was worried about his friend. He had never seen Gabe so unhinged and didn’t know what to do about it; it seemed that everything was spinning out of control and Gabriel was spinning with it.

Just then
Fallon appeared, tears in her eyes as she held the blade in her hand. “Is this what you’re looking for, Gabriel?”

While all this was happening,
Vie had been sitting at the place where the rainbow joined the two worlds. It was a place where she could be alone; a place where she felt close to Carter. She looked out at the rainbow and contemplated falling. She wanted to be with him so much but she knew she could not allow herself to fall. She’d promised Gabe she would wait.

While she waited, she spoke to Carter
, just as she did every day, in the hopes that he might hear her as she had heard him.

“Everything up here is confusing
, Carter. I wish…oh God, how I wish I could talk to you, to see you again, if only for a moment. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel your arms around me. Can you feel me? It’s in these memories I’m able to sustain myself, even for a little while. I hold on to them; they’re all I have now.

“
It seems odd to me that the one thing that keeps me alive—my memory of you—is the same thing that makes me want to die. Existing without you is a fate worse than death. I don’t know if I can endure this ache in my soul for an eternity. I know you told me to hold on, but I don’t believe I can, Carter. I can’t exist any longer without you,” she spoke her quiet words to Carter.