Gabriel - Between books (Patreon)

“Are you sure this is okay? I know this place makes you uncomfortable.” The room itself was bright with a large arched window that showcased thick shafts of artificial sun. Just outside, hedges of blue hydrangea and pale indigo wisteria filled the garden beds.  A stretch of water ran down the center of the lawn, lined with white marble and statues that moved every hour on the hour. They had long ago had their sweat glands burned off so as not to perspire during the endless heat.

Turning, he felt a sigh heavy in his chest. He had been told to discard the uniform upon entering the estate. It apparently made some of the staff uncomfortable.  It left him in his standard work slacks and a dark blue tunic that had grown tighter in the last year. Too much good food, he supposed.

Too much good food because of them.

Eye ticking up, he looked towards where they stood in the corner of the room. They had been circling. Just walking the perimeter, offering small shakes of the head or a smile in answer to most of Gabriel’s questions.

“I can leave,” he told them.  “It wouldn’t be the first time. And what does he really have to offer? What is he even trying to fix?”

He had come to Elias’s on the behest of Hazel.  He had run into her during an grueling patrol that had ended with him at the three tiered fountain. Hazel had been sitting there lately in silent vigil for those that were dying every day.  Almost immediately the young witch had reached out to him, enveloping him in a hug.  She startled when she laid her hands upon his back.

He was sick.  For some reason people kept believing that.  Gabriel found it to be nothing more than lack of sleep. There were times in the past when he got like this.  Trying to explain that to Hazel had been futile and in the end, he had only been let go due to the promise of seeking out Elias.  The only celestial they actually knew that had not shattered apart because they could no longer be a part of the stars.

His fingers twitched on his thigh. They hadn’t spoken for about a day now.  He hated when they did that. It made him feel like he did something wrong.  It had to be because he had come here.  But he had a suspicion that if he were to disregard Hazel’s request, they would be equally mad.  In reality, he just needed to get in and get out.

“I’ll be fine,” he tried to assure them. They stopped then, turning to look at him with black and voidless eyes.  There was no pigment to them anymore. As if they had gone dark right along with the lanterns.  “This is all temporary.  What we really should be focusing on is letting people know you are back. I don’t know why you won’t tell them.  They would love to hear your voice–”

“Gabriel?”

The door opened behind him as Elias stepped in.  He was not a tall man and was someone who had always been slight of coloring. Since becoming a Baron, his skin looked paper thin and his hair had what little color it once had, drained from the once wavy locks.

“Who are you speaking to, son?”

Gabriel ticked his eyes up towards them, but they only shook their head.  Not yet, he supposed. It was still not time.

“No one,” he told Elias.

Lavender eyes sought out his own, ghosting over him warily. The tap of Elias’s leather stitched shoes echoed across the tiled floor as he approached.  Gabriel found that he couldn’t quite meet his eyes when he lowered himself to his knees in front of him.

“Oh, Gabriel,” Elias sighed. “I do know how it feels. When Reese died, I thought I saw him everywhere. I once followed a man through the scope of the market, certain it was him.”

Gabriel didn’t look up.  Reese wasn’t dead. Just dead to Elias. Part of a clever ruse meant to keep Elias from falling towards the madness and in the end, was what pushed him there entirely.  Though, not to the extent of the other celestials, he supposed.  Reese claimed it was for the best. Belladonna and him had been forced to listen.  That was the funny thing about being children in a time of uncertainty. The most ludicrous schemes were hatched and they had been too young to know any the wiser.

“How long have you been seeing them?” Elias urged.

Gabriel ticked his eyes to the corner where they still stood.  Their outline was far more solid today.  “I am here about my grace, Elias. Hazel says that it is waning.”

Elias looked disappointed but he did not press the issue. “I’ve examined the shard that you draw from and it is certainly depleting. Along with that, your own reserves are non-existent, or soon will be. You’ve been drawing on them when you know you are not supposed to.” Emotion is what did it. The high intensity of feelings sent Gabriel reaching for reserves he did not have. “I can have my people fabricate artificial grace but I do warn you, it is addictive. If you miss even a doze you will not be yourself. Which does run the risk of you drawing on the rest of your reserves.”

“I will not miss a dose.”

Elias patted him on the hand. “Ever my fastidious one,” he said. “Which is why I already took the liberty of putting in the order. I will just need you to stay calm for a few more days. Nothing too strenuous, alright?”

The market was in chaos. People were dying in the streets, being consumed by the walls and falling victim to passages that led to their own demise.  Crime was up to an abhorrent rate and as people tried to flee the realm, the active gates that they had come to know, crumbled at the merest touch.  Being the Warden of the Night Market was far more than strenuous. It was soul crushing.

“It will be fine, Elias,” he said firmly.

“Well good. I’ll have one of my runners deliver it in a few days. Or, you could come to dinner? I know the last time was bad but I do very much miss you. I would like it if you and I could form a relationship again. Be a part of each other's lives. We– we are all we have left, after all?”

Standing, Gabriel grabbed his jacket and sword. He would show Elias respect and not put them back on until he was at the front gates that led back to the dark. But he was not staying here longer.

“A runner will suffice.”

Elias didn’t answer. Gabriel could see his head hanging low out of the corner of his eye, but that was not where his concern need me. Elias was fine. He would always been fine. The market was not. Gray eyes ticking towards the corner, he looked at their voidless stare. They were not.

He made a gesture as if to ask them if they were coming and watched as they pushed off the wall and walked right through Elias and out the front door.  Elias shuddered, trembling suddenly on his knees. When Gabriel looked down at him, it was with a blank expression.

“They don’t like you,” he said.

Elias snapped his gaze upwards, mouth agape. But Gabriel had already left the room.  Perhaps with this fabricated grace he would be stronger. Perhaps he would be able to convince them that it would be in their benefit to show themselves.

Perhaps, if Gabriel could not stave off the madness, they could be mad together.

Without looking back at Elias he left the estate. But he lost them in the light of the sun.