Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gabriel waited his turn as he sat in the waiting room of gold to talk to The Almighty again. He had to know what was going on and figure out how the demons were allowed to break their own rules when it came to humans. The main rules from both realms were to leave the humans to decide for themselves, possessing humans was punished by banishment, where the demon would cease to exist. Lucifer himself agreed to that rule and now his own demons were possessing and killing other humans. Why they were after Jasmine was pretty simple. She had powers and they could use that to their advantage to win the war, just like they were doing.

The door opened and his brother Ezekiel walked out with Adam as they talked and looked unhappy. Curiosity caused him to stop them before they walked by.

“Brother and Adam.” Gabriel placed his fist on his chest and bowed slightly. “What concerns you both to speak with Almighty?”

Adam touched Gabriel’s shoulder. “We found a possessed human on my last carry. Is that what you are discussing with Almighty as well?”

Gabriel nodded.

“What is going on down there?” Ezekiel asked.

Gabriel looked to the Almighty’s room hesitantly. “There is only one way to find out.” Hesitation in his movements as his mind paused to rethink everything that was thought about. He looked at his brother undoubtedly ashamed but knew this was the right thing to do. He needed to get back to Earth to figure out what was going on and win the celestial war by any means necessary. His brother looked at him with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“The Almighty wanted me to see what was happening first hand. Protecting Jasmine Peters meant way more than I first assumed. I will go back to stop this myself and win the war for The Almighty, for all of us.” He yanked his wings off of his back screaming painfully as he did so and fell down through the floor knowing only Angels could walk the heavenly grounds. His brother screamed for him and reached for him.

“Gabriel are you insane! You can never come back unless the Almighty allows it! Brother, think about what you are doing.”

But Gabriel yanked the rest of his wings off in mid-fall. Unfamiliar to him he took a huge gasp of air, feeling the organs in his body now coming back to life as they laid dormant. In mid air his body contorted and he grabbed his chest once the pounding heartbeat started.  While clenching his teeth and still falling he thrashed and contorted until he hit the water, thrashing back and forward as he did so. He knew his actions would get him penalized and kicked out of heaven for good. It may even be severe enough for the dark Angels to come after him for his treason. It was far too late to turn back now though and the demons needed to be stopped. The only way to fully stop them was to be wholly human in their world.

It was the perfect solution, he now held human DNA but still had the abilities of the Angels. He could still see demons and other Angels, but after awhile even that would fade. He only needed a little amount of time to stop the demons with Jasmine’s help of course.

The night had been horrible for Jasmine. Not only could she not sleep again, but she couldn’t take her mind off the demons. She saw his face every time she closed her eyes. If they were truly after her she needed to know how to fight them and what to do from now on. Going to Xavier was out of the question. He already knew far too much as it was and if he knew anymore the demons may start to come after him.

“Jassssmine! Help us!”

“Save us!”

Jasmine clenched her ears tight trying to drown out the voices. Along came the visual of the city she resided in becoming engulfed in flames while demons roamed and people were being dragged to hell. Someone turned to face her with an evil smile that she assumed was the devil. “Stop it. Please just stop!” She screamed from the top of her lungs.

A hand touched her shoulder then causing her to jump and lift up from the couch, her first instinct was to attack and she punched the intruder only to be caught by his fists and twirled around to feel a hard body behind her with a hand wrapped around her neck.

“Calm down.” The voice said.

She didn’t. If anything she panicked even more. She tried to read his mind, but didn’t hear anything so she just rotated her hip and threw whoever it was on the bed, and used her fists to punch down. She stopped seeing the green eyes she recognized, but not his face. To be cautious though she still tried to punch down to have her fists caught right before she hit his nose. The adrenaline caused her body to run a thousand miles a minute with possibilities. She honestly thought it was a demon.

“Jasmine Peters. Do you not recognize me?” His voice wasn’t as Angelic as before, but she did. She slowly took a step back as she tried to calm down.

“Gabriel?” He nodded sitting up. “You look…” Gabriel looked at himself as he looked down. “You are also naked….” Jasmine noticed. Her eyes wandered over his masculine body over and over. She cleared her throat as she looked away once his penis started to react to her looking at him. His skin was silky smooth and brown, with curly hair like hers all over his head. He was a shade lighter than Xavier and her.

“Yes. It seems I am.” Gabriel stood in awe as he walked over to the mirror on her bathroom door. He touched his face and looked behind his back feeling more exposed his wings were gone. He had a smooth man’s body now that he defiled his Angel status to find the plot against the Almighty. His jaw tightened as he realized the extent of what he'd done, but The Almighty wouldn't be angry with him once they won the war. That’s what mattered. Besides he never said he couldn’t take risks to protect Jasmine.

“What happened to your wings?” She asked, taking a step closer, but stopped when the doorbell rang and there was a soft knock at the door. “Stay in here. It must be Xavier.” She walked out the room without much else as she used the peep hole to let Xavier in as he had files in his hands.

“I got something on the guys Chase Fallon hangs out with…” Xavier looked up towards the bedroom with his eyes wide as he nervously turned away ashamed. “Um..I can come back if…”

Jasmine turned to see what he was seeing, the naked Gabriel now walking in unapologetically naked and unashamed of his body being exposed. “Gabriel can you stay back there? Cover up!” Jasmine walked around the room to grab him a blanket to wrap around his waist.

“Xavier Adams, detective. You found Chase Fallon?”

Jasmine placed her arms around Gabriel covering him and trying not to brush against his erection. She seemed embarrassed by the whole ordeal.

“Do I know you?” Xavier asked. “Who is this guy?” He pointed to Gabriel, but talked to Jasmine with anger in his voice as he watched her hold the blanket over him.

“I am Gabriel, God’s warrior, the 22^nd carrier of souls.” Gabriel placed his arm across his chest and bowed lightly.

“Wait the Angel Gabriel?” Xavier looked to Jasmine for the answers.

“Yeah. But if you can see him something has clearly changed.” Jasmine replied. They all were sitting on the couch. Jasmine was seemingly very stressed as her hands rested on her forehead. Nobody spoke to the other as the more the time went on, the more embarrassed she felt for Gabriel more so than Xavier. He just sat naked, staring at Xavier as he sat there unmoving. Hands on the couch as he sat as a statue.

“So um…can we start from the beginning? Jasmine you go first…” Xavier started nervously, pulling on his collar.

“You don’t want to know.” Jasmine replied. “This could endanger you if you know everything.”

Xavier’s eyes squinted in determination. “You’re right. Gabriel should go first.” He wasn’t going to allow them to leave him out of something that was clearly happening in the world. He could feel that whatever shit Jasmine was in was fairly important and he wanted, no needed to be a part of it. Why did he blindly protect her? He knew why and she did too.

“The Almighty ordered me to protect Jasmine. Which is why I’m here. The demon that was inside your prisoner Rolio, was a carrier for Lucifer. As I am a carrier for The Almighty…”

Xavier held his hands up. “Wait carrier? Like FedEx or UPS?”

“But with souls.” Jasmine agreed and added, causing Xavier’s mind to burst as he tried to keep his composure as he flopped along the couch.

“There has always been a celestial war going on between The Almighty and Lucifer. Ever since the Almighty created you. Lucifer wants that power, wants your soul. Carriers were created because spirits roamed the earth after death and never found peace. Thus we were born to help them, guide them to the Almighty. Lucifer saw the army grow and thought we Angels were trying to overpower the balance. Lucifer’s carriers and us either fight for the soul or debate whether or not the soul can be saved.” Gabriel explained.

“What happens if Lucifer gets more than God? What will he do then?” Jasmine asked, causing Gabriel to wince.

“Your kind calls The Almighty by many names. Believing The Almighty to be a he?”

“Some believe he is a woman.” Xavier chimed in as Gabriel shook his head.

“Why do you lower the Almighty to your standards? Human kind is women and men…Angels can be seen as man or woman, but never the Almighty. The Almighty has no such ties to this world. Almighty created Angels in celestial likeness, but that doesn’t mean it is so. Lucifer is the most powerful among us. The Almighty’s first born of Angels that betrayed us.”

Xavier nodded, becoming more intrigued. “We know the story. What happens if Lucifer wins then? What will happen to us?” He asked Jasmine’s question that Gabriel wholeheartedly wanted to avoid. His eyes even shifted down to look at the floor. Telling them would be the cause of it to happen. Could he trust these humans that The Almighty placed so much faith in? He looked at his hands as he realized he was starting to doubt everything he was told. Everything that was happening on earth was the complete opposite of what was happening in Heaven. How could Angels be so oblivious?

“Gabriel?”

The touch of Jasmine’s hands on his, sent something fluttering in his stomach and his heartbeat was getting harder to ignore as he was becoming more human. Angels didn’t possess human qualities so once he took off his wings and fell to earth the human within him was starting to take effect. If he stayed any longer he would soon lose his powers and become wholly human. Her voice though was so sincere and concerned. There was no way he couldn’t tell her the truth.

“I believe you all know what happens then.” He finally stated softly as he looked into her eyes and then over to Xavier’s. “I tore off my wings so that does not happen. We have to find this Mafia boss. I believe Lucifer has taken a human form and has cheated the system, somehow his carriers are possessing human bodies.”

“Angels can’t do that?” Xavier asked, as he leaned forward even more.

Gabriel shook his head. “Not only is it against the rules, but no. We don’t have that ability.”

“I never heard of an Angel possessing souls anyways. It’s always demons they have to exorcise.” Jasmine held her arms to hug herself as if she was cold.

“Why are they coming for Jasmine?” Xavier asked. “The Almighty must want her protected for a reason and not too long after you showed up she was attacked by that demon carrier inside of Rolio. What has this got to do with her?”

Gabriel glanced over at Jasmine who stood up and started staring out of the window. She felt cold suddenly and couldn’t seem to shake that everything about Angels and demons were real and not some fairy tale. The fact that the demons were after her for whatever reason was now spooking her more than anything. She looked at her hands and they trembled with fear.

“I don’t know yet, but I believe your gifts make you a target. I can only imagine if Lucifer got his hands on your soul, your power. The things that can be accomplished with you.” Gabriel stood then, allowing the blanket to fall freely.

“Lucifer would win the war…” Xavier’s eyes opened wide with that realization. Jasmine turned to Gabriel. Now that the fate of the world rested on her shoulders they felt heavy and sagged and her eyes widened even more. She didn’t even have faith anymore, but now humanity’s fate depended on her survival. That was insane.

Xavier’s phone rang then as he stood up after looking at the number. He had a brief conversation apart from the group as Jasmine turned back to the window. Gabriel walked up to her, hesitating to place his hands on her shoulder as she did to comfort him. He was unsure of what was the right thing to do seeing her distressed, feeling her emotions pour into him like a wave of the ocean. She was on the verge of crying.

She glanced at him then back at the window several times before placing her hand on her chin and then covering her mouth as her voice broke. “I don’t even pray.” She started to confess. “I stopped believing in God a long time ago. I stopped having faith for humanity a long time ago. No one is worthy to be saved. Everyone is corrupt and expect the Lord to just forgive them for their sins when he shouldn’t. God shouldn’t forgive me or protect me…”

“The Almighty blessed you…” Gabriel argued, but she turned to him. Eyes now red and tears running down them.

“He cursed me!” She yelled, placing her hands on her chest. Gabriel and Jasmine stared at each other for a moment and turned to Xavier who was off his phone conversation. She angrily wiped her eyes and nodded. “It’s Amelia France. She wants to see me.” She said to Gabriel, hoping he would stay in her apartment and not go wandering off.

“Yeah. I almost forgot you can read minds.” Xavier said with a nervous laugh that no one else chimed in on. He cleared his throat as he grabbed his keys. “I will take you.”

“I’m going as well.” Gabriel replied. They both wanted to object.

“Not like that you aren’t. Unless you wish to give the elderly a heart attack.” Jasmine replied as she grabbed her jacket.

Gabriel looked confused. “Heart attack?” His eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Why would I want to kill them?”

Xavier held his hands up. “You can’t go out like that. I got some extra clothes in the car that may or may not fit you.” He left out the door leaving Gabriel and Jasmine alone. He wanted to talk about her outburst. It was clear she didn’t look at her gifts as such. Weird how humans take something meant for their well-being and throw it out as trash. It was clear she didn’t know how blessed she was.

Xavier came back with some clothes, a tee shirt and some sweat pants, with some sneakers. Something stretchy enough to support Gabriel’s size. He grabbed the clothes and sniffed them causing Xavier to become defensive.

“Hey I washed them!” He said.

Gabriel nodded. “Yes I’m sure you did.” He started dressing. The sweat pants stretched to the max. Hugging his thick column thighs and leaving nothing to the imagination. The shirt clung to his body like a second skin. Gabriel was almost too afraid to move too much or the fabric would surely rip under pressure, he even placed his curly strands in a ponytail. Jasmine tried to look away from him. Tried to be angry at her now being tossed into a world she had no way of understanding, but something told her it was sure to be an interesting future especially with this Angel around.

Once in the car Xavier hit the highway as Gabriel looked around. It was new to him seeing for the first time with human eyes. The world seemed so big, but yet so small all at once. His senses were on the roof. Smells pierced his nose of all kinds, some good some bad. His eyesight picked up on everything filled with colors. There was something to be wondered to see differently in the eyes of the kind he assumed didn’t deserve The Almighty’s love.

When at first he only looked to them as a job, a vessel harboring the souls that belonged to The Almighty, nothing more. Now to walk among them, now to be protecting one of them, one who didn’t even believe would surely be an eye opening experience. His eyes looked around as he drove in the SUV. Xavier passed by a car accident which caused Gabriel to stare at the wreckage.

“Looks pretty bad.” He heard Xavier say, but all he could see was carriers. Their celestial form glowed brightly in his now open, human vision. Their wings were massive and covered the person’s soul as one of the carriers took off into the sky disappearing among the clouds. The other’s head turned slowly as if he recognized Gabriel. Their eyes met and Gabriel knew who it was then. One of the carriers he worked with Simahel. Her mouth whispered Gabriel’s name low for only his ears to hear.

The whisper was loud enough for Gabriel to look away knowing what the other Angels would think of him, disobeying The Almighty, delving in the atmosphere of humankind. Luckily Xavier drove off once the light turned green and Gabriel didn’t have to explain himself. Jasmine’s head was turned once Gabriel sighed his relief that Simahel wouldn’t follow him.

“Friend of yours?” Jasmine asked. Gabriel almost forgot she could see them as well. He was stunned for a moment as if caught doing something wrong, but his face relaxed soon after.

“Yes.” He replied simply.

Xavier looked confused. “Is this another celestial thing I don’t see?” Nobody answered him. “Yeah Got it.” He replied as he pulled into the hospital parking lot.

              Security was deep once they walked in. For Amelia’s safety. Xavier explained to Jasmine she was the only one allowed in and to be careful. He and Gabriel would wait in the waiting room for her since they weren’t even allowed to go on her floor. Gabriel and Xavier sat on the chairs looking around as they did.

“So Gabriel…despite everything being crazy right now what is your plan?” Gabriel looked confused at him.  “You do have a plan right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay what is it?”

“After I catch Lucifer and stop this plot he is planning I will go back to my celestial duties. Simple enough.” Gabriel replied.

“Yeah, but what are you going to do until then?”

There was an underlying meaning in the tone of his voice that Gabriel caught. “Protect Jasmine.”

“I mean, where will you stay out of all of this?” Xavier asked, urging him further. “You have no clothes no money no nothing. You can’t stay with Jasmine.”

Gabriel lifted his head then once what he really wanted to say was out in the open. “And why not?” Gabriel’s tone was unrushed and calm as he turned to Xavier.

“Because…wouldn’t that mean you would be bringing more harm her way than if you didn’t. Lucifer’s demon can spot you out of a crowd. I’m only trying to look after her.” Xavier replied, clearly telling the truth, but also lying. He wanted Jasmine away from him because he was jealous. A human emotion, no doubt, Gabriel didn’t understand.

“Are you her caregiver?” Gabriel asked, trying not to be sarcastic.

“I’m her friend. That’s all.” Xavier replied defensively.

Gabriel nodded. “Yes of course.” He turned away from him then. “I hear the word friend around a lot. I consider some the Angels I carry with as friends, some as family.”

“Aren’t you all supposed to be brothers and sisters since God…I mean The Almighty created you all?” Xavier asked.

“Yes we all are. Some Angels are recruited and not created. The Almighty doesn’t create unless absolutely necessary, but many of us were spirits trained to be Angels. The protectors of the paradise.” Gabriel looked towards Xavier again, seeing as he tried to change the subject. “Jasmine is your friend, but does that mean you own her?”

Xavier looked surprise. “No I don’t…”

“Then why is it such an issue if I stay with her? My job is to protect her. I believe it would be best if I did stay to do just that. Regardless of my presence, Jasmine is in danger. If you cared about her then you should want her protected.” Gabriel gave a grin that Xavier didn’t like. His matter fact comment caused them to become quiet and sit in silence for a moment.

“If some of you are recruited, do Angels remember their past life?” Xavier asked, wanting to know more.

Gabriel sighed. “After so long memories of a past life fades and soon becomes irrelevant.”

“But you must want to know right?” Xavier urged on as he looked at him. “You must want to know about your life before…How did you die?” Gabriel looked up towards a column in the middle of the room ignoring Xavier’s question. The presence was suddenly cold and he looked around for the cause.

Gabriel stood then a bit panicked. Simahel had followed him to the hospital and was after answers. Xavier looked over to what he was seeing. “What’s happening? Is Jasmine in danger?”

Gabriel shook his head. “No stay here.” He walked over to his carrier friend as she held a spirit in her hand. She paused, her job was to get an answer from him. He walked into a dark part of the hospital to talk to her, looking at the soul with her. A frightened little child.

“Gabriel, I thought that was you? What are you doing? Where are your wings?” Her eyes opened wide at him then. “What have you done?”

Gabriel sighed and ran a shaky hand through his curly hair. “I did what had to be done. Nothing more. The Almighty doesn’t know what is really happening on earth, Simahel. The demons are corrupting humans, taking over and attacking the gifted ones.”

“The Almighty knows everything Gabriel. This is insane. Come back with me now before it’s too late.” Simahel grabbed Gabriel’s hand with her free one, but he jerked away.

“I have a mission to do. The last thing that was asked of me. I have to protect Jasmine Peters. She is the key to all of this.” Gabriel replied, becoming frustrated. “You know I can do no other than to serve The Almighty. I do so happily, freely, and I take my job very seriously, but I am a warrior who has been fighting this war for souls for as long as I can remember. This is what is best for everyone.” Gabriel sighed calming himself down as if he said something he hadn’t realized. “The Almighty loves them, cares more for them than any other of his creations. I can’t allow them to perish, Simahel.”

She sighed, looking to the child who wasn’t even five yet. She grabbed the child’s hand to touch his. Gabriel looked at her with curiosity, her transparent body now in his hands as flashes of the girl’s life flashed before his eyes. She was happy and smart, an A student who loved her parents very much. She was on her way home with her mother who she saw another carrier take away.

A drunk driver hit them, killing both the mother and the daughter while he survived. “Do you still believe what you are saying?” Simahel asked as she looked into Gabriel’s eyes. “Perhaps the Almighty has gotten fed up with helping them. The creations The Almighty loves more than all others are the ones that are causing the most harm.” Gabriel opened his mouth to speak seeing the sadness in her eyes as she held the little girl close and spread her wings lifting herself up into the sky.

Gabriel took a deep breath before walking back over to Xavier. He was in his sights now, but the lights started to shut off all around them then. Xavier stood, hands on the handle of his gun. Gabriel looked up on the floor as he heard screaming and then as if following a thread to her, he heard Jasmine. He sprinted into action running for the stairs then.

“It’s Jasmine. She’s on the fourteenth floor.” Xavier ran to follow him.