Cursed (31 page)

His thoughts were interrupted by a flicker of red and orange.
 
Gabe quickened his pace, darting through the clearing and around the corner to the building where Michael’s office had been.
 
For Gabe it was always Michael’s, he never could wrap his mind around Bishop.
 
When Gabe came to a stop in front of the building that was now fully blazing, he frantically searched through the flames in the windows for any sign of a person.
 
Still, he seemed to be alone.

Gabe stood a moment longer, watching the colors twist as the place he had once called home burned.
 
A second later, Gabe felt someone grab his arm.
 
As he frantically spun around to see who it was, he was consumed with disappointment when he saw he was still alone.

“Gabe!” The horrific cry came from the flames behind him and Gabe twisted to locate the source.
 
He saw no one but he knew the voice.

“Uri?
 
Is that you?”

No response.

“Uri, please!”
 
Gabe spat as he cried.
 
Panic tingling in his fingertips.
 
“Where are you?
 
You have to tell me where you are.”
 
Gabe fell to his knees, hopeless and helpless.

“Gabe!” Uri’s booming voice filled the sky.
 
Gabe looked up to the heavens, watching in horror as the black smoke billowed up.
 
“Gabe!” Uri called again.
 
He could feel his body begin to tremble violently.
 
In an instant he was jolted awake, surrounded by darkness in his familiar bed, in the comfort of Haven.

Gabe rubbed his eyes, rose to his knees, and stumbled to the nearby table, fumbling for a cup.
 
When at last his fingers grasped the object he was searching for, Gabe turned to walk to the nearby water pitcher.
 
He took a couple of steps when he noticed a dark figure seated in the corner.

Gabe froze, unsure if it was perhaps his imagination running wild.
 
He stared hard in the darkness, squinting, confirming in fact there was someone sitting in the corner staring back at him.
 
First he wondered how he was found.
 
He couldn’t imagine someone would have passed through his illusion spell, but even if they had then the alarm would have sounded.
 
There was no warning of the visitor, so the alarm could not have been tripped.
 
Then his thoughts trailed off into ideas on how to escape.
 
Gabe couldn’t think straight, his heart pounding loudly in his chest distracted him; he lost his ability to concentrate.

“Are you alright?” A voice came from the dark corner.
 
Gabe shook his head; he couldn’t possibly be hearing the voice he thought he was.
 
“Clearly you’re not… What’s with the lumber jack look by the way?”

“It is you!” Gabe cried, the fear draining out of him.
 
“Uri, how did you find me?”

Gabe rushed towards the seated figure until at last he could see his old friend’s face.
 
He too had aged, all boyish features long gone.
 
Uri carried three day stubble on his face and the hair on the top of his head was cut close to his scalp.
 
Gabe thought how different he looked without his messy locks.

Uri’s chest had broadened as well and even the way he sat felt different to Gabe.
 
Without another thought the two embraced one another, neither wanting to let go, both carrying the pain of what they had been through since last they met.
 
When at last they pulled apart, Gabe saw the scars.
 
Uri’s eyebrow displayed a long, but healed gash, and his cheek had a rough and jagged pucker that had obviously not healed easily.

They both stared at each other with knowing eyes.

“I can’t believe you are here.”
 
Gabe said, staring at his friend in disbelief.

“You look great, Gabe.” Uri’s voice was soft, nothing like the boisterous friend he remembered.
 
Uri slapped Gabe in the arm repeatedly, the contact reassuring him that he had in fact found him.

“Thanks, you too.
 
How is everyone?
 
Is Michael still with the council?
 
What about Haim?
 
Still an ox?
 
Oh and you can’t leave out Raimie and Dina?
 
Are they still just as in love as ever?”
 
Gabe struggled as he questioned about the friends from Rampart for Sophie’s name to leave his lips.
 
Though he was sure he was long over his feelings for Sophie, he did not want to hear about a relationship blossoming between her and his dear friend that stood before him.

“Gabe, can we sit?”
 
Uri requested, turning back and grabbing the stool he had been seated in.

“Of course, sorry, I don’t really get visitors so I only have the one chair I made.”
 
Gabe said as he turned and nestled down onto his bedding.

“You made this?” Uri questioned in disbelief, inspecting the stool closer.

“I sure did, built this cabin, too.” Gabe boasted.

“I don’t believe it.”
 
Uri shot back, looking around him.

“Well, this wasn’t my first attempt but I have to say I think I might be a natural at this carpenter thing.” Gabe replied as Uri moved the stool closer and carefully took his place on top of it.

“You really do look great man.
 
I am amazed at how well you are doing.” Uri added with a soft smile.

“It’s all because of Haven.”

“Haven?
 
Who is Haven?
 
She hot?”
 
Uri asked.

“Not much has changed, huh?” Gabe replied with a chuckle.

Uri laughed as well, shaking his head.

“It’s not a who, it’s where.
 
I call this place Haven because that is what it has been for me this past year.” Gabe explained, glancing at his home lovingly.

“And the demons never found you?”

“Copper, the mountains are filled with it.
 
It seems to block the trackers.
 
I pretty much stay off the grid myself.
 
Speaking of, how did you find me?” Gabe asked, eager to discover the hole in his security.

“Do you remember the bag of potions Dina gave you?” Uri asked.

“Yeah, of course, it’s over there.” Gabe replied pointing to the worn burlap sack in the opposite corner.

“Did you ever notice the charm on the strap of the bag?” Uri questioned, a slight grin on his face.

“Yeah, I assumed Dina had forgot about it when she handed me the bag.
 
I don’t see what… wait… oh that tricky girl!
 
The charm has a beacon spell on it, doesn’t it?”
 
Gabe laughed as he thought of his clever friend.

“Leave it to Dina to always be three steps ahead of anyone.” Uri added.

“Well, I have to admit, I am a little shocked you waited five years to come after me.
 
Really, why even bother after five years?”
 
Gabe hated to admit it, but part of him wished Uri had found him that first night and brought him back to Rampart.

“Well, that was the plan.” Uri said glancing down at the ground.

“Huh?” Gabe looked up at his friend puzzled.
 
“What was the plan?”

“After Dina told us you left, Haim and I were preparing to come after you.”
 
Uri explained hesitantly.

“Changed your mind?” Gabe feared what his friend was about to reveal.

“Before we could finish our preparations, Rampart was attacked.”

“What?
 
No way.” Gabe scoffed in disbelief.
 
“I would have known… How bad?”
 
Gabe stuttered as his mouth fell open in disbelief.

“It was so fast.
 
Baal’s legion that we thought had been thrown off the trail in fact had discovered our exact location.
 
Inside of an hour the entire compound was gone.”
 
Uri’s voice cracked as he retold of that night.

“That can’t be.” Gabe insisted.

“That Bishop guy the council sent us was a joke.
 
He was one of the first one’s killed.
 
As many as we could transport we did and others fled on the Alicorns, but we lost so many souls that night.”

“Sophie,” Gabe thought he no longer cared but when her name slipped from his lips he knew he did.

“She made it.
 
She is actually living at Iron Gate these days.” Uri explained.

“Did she ever get her memories back?” Gabe asked hopeful.

“Nope, never.”

“Is she happy?” Gabe added.

“I think so, her and Peter are to marry in the fall.” Uri regretted having to inform his friend of his old loves pending nuptials.

“Peter?
 
But I thought you…” Gabe stopped himself, realizing how wrong he had been all those years ago.

“I tried to tell you then, old friend.
 
When you set your sights on Sophie, she was no longer an option for me.”
 
Uri confirmed.
 
Gabe thought about what a fool he had been.

“I’m so sorry.
 
I should have been there that night.” Gabe moaned.

“And if you had, perhaps you would be dead as well.” Uri cautioned Gabe’s wishful thinking.
 
“After we escaped, it was actual Michael who insisted we leave you alone.
 
He thought you were safer at that point without us.
 
I guess he was right.”

Gabe didn’t want to think about Michael.
 
Part of him still ached at the thought he left without so much as a goodbye.
 
“So what happened to everyone else?” Gabe asked, remembering all the faces of his friends.

“The Guardians were pretty much scattered all over the earth.
 
Some in safe houses, others fled to the remaining Guardian Training Facilities.
 
Haim has not left my side since all this began.
 
We’re pretty much on the front lines out there and somehow that man never lets me down.
 
He’s like a machine.
 
Dina went with Sophie that first night to Iron Gate where she remains with her.”

“And Raimie?” Gabe wondered if the two love birds had already married, he thought knowing them they already had three children.

Uri looked down, he sat in silence.

“Uri?
 
What about Raimie?” Gabe had more panic in his voice this time at the site of Uri’s reaction.

Unable to speak the words, Uri simply shook his head no.

“What happened?” Gabe gasped.

“He never made it out of Rampart.”

“Oh God,” Gabe struggled to catch his breath.
 
“What about Dina?
 
She couldn’t have taken it well.”

“She doesn’t talk about it.
 
You know how Dina is.
 
She’s the head potions mistress now at Iron Gate, youngest ever.
 
When it comes to Dina these days, she’s all business I suppose.”

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” Gabe mumbled, reminiscing of his lost friend.

“I know, sometimes it’s like he’s going to show up and head out on a mission with Haim and I.
 
Still hard to believe.”

The two sat silent for a moment, both cherishing their memories of Raimie.
 
Until at last Gabe asked about Michael.
 
Uri told Gabe all about the constant war and battling that had broken out between the Guardians and the demon world.
 
He explained how Michael had been given a seat on the council and he had a vote in every decision that was brought before them.
 
When the two finished discussing their old mentor, Gabe sat calmly.

Though he was saddened by the news of Raimie, his heart was warm that everyone else had seemed to make it out of the tragedy in one way or another.
 
He amazed himself that he did not seem to be dwelling on the fact that Sophie was to be married.
 
Perhaps that she was not in love with his friend made it easier.
 
He honestly just wanted her to be happy.

“So why are you here then, if not to bring me back to Rampart?”
 
Gabe asked.

“Well…” Uri gave Gabe a stare as if to size him up.
 
“Do you remember the prophecy?”

“Oh please man, don’t tell me you came all the way here to waste my time with that nonsense.” Gabe groaned.

“Gabe, we found her.” Uri simply stated.

“Wait… the prophet is a girl?” Gabe gasped in disbelief.

“No, we found the girl that is going to be the mother of the prophet.” Uri explained.

“Hang on a second, I’m confused.
 
She’s pregnant?” Gabe questioned.