Demon Evolution (25 page)

“Are you sure I can’t come along for the
ride. Just to watch, of course.” She said it with a smirk, knowing
full well that Chris would never go for it.

“Maybe next time, babe.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine. I’ll just play pool
by myself, or pig out on comfort foods at the café, or maybe make
friends with a gargoyle like Taylor did.”

Sam’s joking had lightened the mood and
everyone was smiling now. “We will
all
make it back,” Taylor
promised.

“I know you will. I’m just being a pain.”

“At least you’re a funny pain,” Taylor
said.

“Thanks. How long do you all have before you
need to leave?”

Chris said, “It’s still a few hours before
dusk. We should do something fun.”

At the prospect of enjoying some time with
her friends before their potentially deadly mission, Sam’s face
brightened considerably. “Let’s go,” she said.

“One final thing,” Chris added, “no one can
breathe a word of this to anyone. Clifford is very against it and
might try to stop us from going.”

They all agreed to keep the mission a secret.
Chris wondered if he was making a big mistake.

PART IV

“
You say you wander your own land

But when I think about it

I don't see how you can

You're aching, you're breaking

And I can see the pain in your eyes

Says everybody's changing

And I don't know why

So little time

Try to understand that I'm

Trying to make a move just to stay in the
game

I try to stay awake and remember my name

But everybody's changing

And I don't feel the same

You're gone from here

And soon you will disappear

Fading into beautiful light

Cause everybody's changing

And I don't feel right”

Keane- “Everybody’s Changing”

From the album
Hope and Fears
(2003)

“Y
ou have so much to
learn, David, but we see great potential in you.” Lucas grinned at
the boy as they walked; he appeared fatherly, with his arm around
David’s shoulders.

“I will try my best, sir.” David was clearly
excited about his first opportunity to go on a mission with his
master, but also seemed a bit nervous.

“This will be your first test, David. Are you
up to it?”

“I think so, master.”

“Good.”

They walked into the Master’s Room, where the
Council was already assembled. Unlike the last time Lucas had been
in this room, when all he could feel was power and honor within
these four walls, there was an obvious strangeness in the air. It
was tangible, like you could almost see it, or smell it, or taste
it. Strangely, it felt like the two missing Archangels created a
larger presence dead than they did alive. Their impact was
palpable. No one dared to sit in the empty seats vacated by their
passing.

The Council had already been briefed on
David’s role in the mission and they approved of the mind games for
which he would be used. They not only wanted to kill Gabriel
physically, but also destroy him mentally and emotionally. He
needed to pay for his treason.

David was the only one who didn’t recognize
the difference in the room. He tried to look proud with his head
held high, but he could feel his legs shaking, his heart
pumping—his hands were clammy. He took a seat next to Lucas.

Initially, David just stared down at his
hands, but eventually gathered up enough courage to peek up at the
faces around the table. Some were just staring at him, but most
were smiling. The most animated smile of all belonged to Dionysus.
When David’s eyes locked on his, Dionysus nodded at him
encouragingly. After that, David felt much more comfortable.

“First, I would like to thank our guests of
honor, Lucas, and his newly acquired apprentice, David Knight.” It
felt weird for David to hear his name spoken in such a formal
setting, and couldn’t help but to smile with pride. “Both of them
will also be participating in the mission later today, so I thought
it wise to include them in this strategy session. Are there any
questions before we begin?”

Johanna stood up. “Given the treachery within
this boy’s family, I think we would all gain some comfort from
hearing him speak.”

“I have already deemed him to be honorable
and trustworthy,” Dionysus replied.

“Even so, I think the majority of us would
like to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, if you’ll excuse
the expression.”

“Any objections to this?” No hands went up.
“Fine. David, will you tell the Council what your feelings are
towards the demons?”

When the question was asked, David was gazing
at the ornately carved ceiling. Intricate designs of brutal battles
showing angels beheading, maiming, and killing demons filled the
whole of the ceiling. He didn’t realize they were talking about him
until the question had already been asked. When he saw everyone
staring at him, he stammered, “Wha…What?”

“My young boy. I know this is a lot for you
to take in. But if you would be so kind as to give the Council your
opinion of demons, we can move on.”

He was happy to get such an easy question.
“Demons? I hate ‘em.”

Dionysus smiled, clearly pleased by the
response. “And what about traitors to the angels, like the spies
that were brought to justice?”

“They are filth, scum. They deserve to be
executed.”

Still smiling, Dionysus took it a step
further: “How about your brother, Gabriel?”

“I hate him the most,” David answered simply.
There was no lie to detect.

“Satisfied?” Dionysus asked.

“Yes,” Johanna said. The other Archangels
nodded or simply said nothing. David’s face was as hard as stone,
his brows furrowed into an angry frown, his lips pursed. All he
could feel was anger at the thought of Gabriel. How dare he abandon
his own kind? How dare he abandon him?

“Now, if there are no other questions, we
shall proceed with the mission strategy session.” Staring directly
at David, he said, “The purpose of this mission is to apprehend or
kill the fugitive, Gabriel Knight.”

David’s mouth went dry and his head started
spinning.
Yes
, he hated his brother, but he still had a
child’s hope that he would return, that he would change his mind
and come back for him. He didn’t want him dead. Somehow, he kept
his face firm, not a trace of emotion betraying him.

“And we will use Helena, Theodore, and Peter
Knight as bait!” The words seemed to echo off of everything in the
room—the four walls, ceiling, floor, tables, chairs, and people.
David felt the words vibrating through his head and he couldn’t
help but to blurt out, “But you can’t do that!”

All eyes were on him now, causing his face to
turn as red as a beet and his knees to knock firmly together.

Lucas said, “Do you trust me, David?” David
nodded cautiously. “Look, your brother has done some really bad
stuff, right?” He nodded again. “And he needs to be brought back
here, so he can’t cause any trouble, don’t you think?” More
nodding. “The only way we can get him to come to us, is by using
your family. We won’t hurt them if they cooperate, and we won’t
even hurt Gabriel, as long as he doesn’t do anything stupid. All we
want is to get him back where he belongs and see if he can be
rehabilitated.”

David puzzled over Lucas’s words for a
moment. “Rehabilitated?” he asked slowly, sounding out the
word.

“Yeah. You know, fixed. His mind is very
broken right now. He doesn’t know right from wrong any more than he
knows good from evil, or black from white. If we can just reason
with him, make him see the light, maybe, just maybe, we can talk
some sense into him. And then you’ll have your brother back. Would
you be able to help with that, David?”

“Um, yeah, I could definitely do that. And
you won’t do anything to my family?”

“Of course not, David. They volunteered to
help bring your brother back in.” This time it was Dionysus that
spoke. His soft, black eyes looked kind, caring.

“They did?” David asked.

“Yes, of course.” Dionysus paused. “Now back
to the mission.” David barely heard a word that was said the rest
of the briefing. Despite their reassurances, David’s heart still
yammered within him, like a hammer pounding away on his internal
organs. He caught something about every Archangel doing their part
and being part of the mission, and how Lucas would be responsible
for grabbing Gabriel when he was close enough.

“And you, David,” Dionysus said, once again
making eye contact with him, “will need to help us convince Gabriel
of the error in his ways, to turn himself in and cooperate. This
will be a very important and difficult task. Gabriel will try to
brainwash you, son. He will tell you evil lies to try to convince
you to be a traitor, too, but you must resist him. Can you do it,
David? Can you do it for your brother?”

David’s head suddenly felt clear, like he
finally had purpose in his life—to help his brother. Gabriel had
done so much for him over his life and he would now have the chance
to do something for Gabriel. His brother’s head was just confused,
he needed help. And David would be the one to provide it.

“Yes, my lord,” he replied. “I’ll do whatever
it takes.”

“Thank you for your service. You are learning
so quickly. I am proud of you, David.”

At this, David beamed. He would follow in his
brother’s footsteps by becoming respected in the angel army, but he
would also learn from his mistakes. He would
not
become him.
He would be his own man, like Gabriel had always taught him.

G
abriel was hiking.
While not a particularly unusual activity for a human, for an angel
it was remarkably strange. Why hike in the wilderness when you
could fly? But he needed something to help clear his head, to focus
him. The exertion helped.

After his phone call with Chris, he had flown
to the base of a small, moderately-steep mountain, and then started
to hike up it. By three o’clock, he was drenched in sweat from the
effort. His shirt was off and slung over his shoulder, used now
only as a towel to mop the beads of salty liquid from his face. The
muscles in his legs were sore from the climb, and although they
would recover much quicker than a human’s would, he still needed to
rest.

After successfully traversing a particularly
steep stretch of large boulders, Gabriel paused on a natural rock
ledge to catch his breath. It was then that he realized how hungry
he was—his abdomen ached, as the muscles contracted around his
empty stomach. Thankfully, he had planned ahead somewhat, packing a
small bag with a shoulder strap for necessities, like food and
water. Unclasping the bag, he extracted a canteen and drank deeply,
emptying more than half of his supply. Next, he munched on a
granola bar, some raisins, and a bag of chips. It wasn’t
particularly satisfying, like a nice lunch in the demon café would
have been, but it stopped his stomach from hurting.

Now he had a decision to make. Continue his
march up the mountain until it was time to meet Dionysus, or rest
up so that he was in peak shape for the confrontation. Either way,
he needed to come up with a plan of attack—or a plan of
submissiveness.

Pondering the question, Gabriel gazed down at
where he had hiked from. The unspoiled landscape was beautiful and
he felt his breath catch for a moment, as he appreciated the
natural beauty of the world. The colors of Mother Nature’s palette
caught his attention like never before. The greens of the leaves on
the trees and plants seemed greener. The blues, purples and reds of
the flowers blooming seemed more colorful, more vibrant.

He spotted a cardinal, sitting high on a tree
branch with not a care in the world. Gabriel could fly, but he was
no bird. Birds were free, their lives were simple. Hunt for food,
find a mate, procreate, protect your young, and then do it all
again. The middle was filled with flying— playing with your friends
on the gusts of wind that preceded a storm. And singing simple, yet
beautiful melodies to all those lucky enough to hear them.
If
only
, he thought. His life was anything but free. In a
figurative sense he was in a cage, trapped by the impenetrable
walls of responsibility that surrounded him.

His thoughts turned to his family. In the
depths of his soul he could hear their desperate cries for help.
Save us, Gabriel!
But that was just his imagination. Helena
was far too proud to plead for
her
life. For the lives of
her family, sure, but not for hers. She would take her chances and
keep her head held high. And his father, while a human, had the
heart of a lion. He would give his life to save even a stranger. He
couldn’t allow these wonderful people to be harmed!