Apollyon's Saint The Rebellion · 2016-07-28 · The sixth part in the series Apollyon's Saint....
Transcript of Apollyon's Saint The Rebellion · 2016-07-28 · The sixth part in the series Apollyon's Saint....
Apollyon's Saint The Rebellion
By Zachary Koukol
Copyright © 2014 by Zachary Koukol All rights reserved
The sixth part in the series Apollyon's Saint.
Chapter One
Visions of destruction were gone. Now just the visions of nightmares remained of asgard. nude and
with dripping lips Frigga pulled away from Gabriel. She got up from the wool blanket, leaving Gabriel
in confusion. While she put her clothes back on, they remained silent. Strange feelings of being
violated came over him. At first it was as though he was being used for the pleasure of gods. Frigga did
not look the least bit satisfied though. If anything she had the demeanor of a prostitute. She was
Emotionless, the job was done and she had other rituals to attend.
"You better put some clothes on, the others will be joining you again soon." Frigga said.
"Oh..okay, the prophecy was it all true?." Gabreil said.
"Some of it was, though the visions were unclean. You did not wash well enough. But I will leave it
to you to decide your fate. Goodbye for now Gabriel. " Frigga said just as she finished getting dressed.
"Goodbye frigga.." Gabreil said. He did not want to say any more since it was already a awkward
situation. Gabriel could taste the meadmilk in his mouth as he got dressed. It was a disgusting
combination but so was the whole ritual. All Gabriel had left to put on was his shirt when the door burst
open. Frigga timed it so she was leaving just as the others came in.
"Eww gross put a shirt on!" Lura said as she walked in.
"Gabriel as soon as you are dressed we must leave the village" Odin said in a rush.
"Am I going home?" Gabriel asked now fully dressed.
"If you wish, or if you wish to stay you must leave our village. You have read the book and seen the
prophecy. But it is to dangerous to keep you here." Odin said. Thinking about it for a moment Gabriel
knew he was not ready to go back home. Asgard was as good of a home as any. He thought of the
knowledge he could acquire here. But the real reason was hidden by every excuse he could find. She
was standing expressionless just across from him.
Gabriel stared at her staring away from him. When he first set eyes on her it was like the first time
man saw Everest. All logic, fear, and ignorance says it's impossible. The heart of man says it's worth
trying, even if it kills me. She would devour him, and they both knew it. He could leave Asgard and
spend eternity in regret. Or stay and love a woman long dead to the world. Just the thought of it was a
ceremony held at the gates of hell by Apollyon. Opening those gates would unleash nothing but eternal
suffering. If he walked away now and went back to Apollyon then there might be more hope for him.
"If I were to stay in Asgard where would it be?" Gabriel said.
"At the edges of the forest is a river. There to is a bridge separating Asgard from Midgard. Along
the river is a small cabin. It's a dark corner of Asgard. Where one can find complete solitude. It is
where many have gone to be free from distractions. A place of imagination and creativity." Odin said.
"So I would be alone there?" Gabriel asked.
"Well if you wanted to be alone you could be. All I can tell you is if you do stay I cannot promise
your safety. Time will continue once more and they will know you are gone." Odin said.
"So what happens if I decide to leave?" Gabriel said.
"If you decide to leave now, you will return to the cliff as though you never left. If you stay and
want to leave later on then simply cross the bridge." Odin said.
"What happens when I cross the bridge?" Gabriel said.
"You will return home, and whatever time Passed while you were gone you can't gain back." Odin
said.
"Do I have time to decide?" Gabriel said.
"Time....he remains defeated no more. Do not waist, tick tock he crys. I kidnapped into a black
hole? no who would know. I remain unbeaten....tick...tock" Loki said.
"As loki said....there is no more time. If you go home you must go now." Odin said. Gabriel thought
about it for one more moment as the others watched him waiting.
"I....I guess...I will stay in the cabin here in Asgard." Crossing her arms and looking down, Lura
tried to hide her anger. Tiffany may have had a slight glimmer in her eyes. Though Gabriel was the only
one who could see it. She remained expression less and turned her attention to Odin.
"Very well, Loki and the girls will lead you to the cabin." Odin said motioning them out the door.
"Pins prodding....mind. No more holding on to moments found deep in the darkness of the universe.
Time has come, time for WAR! But no we will not poison the wells. We will poison the sun, intoxicate
the moon, and rape the stars!" Loki said twitching and leading them out the door. As the cold crisp air
hit Gabriel, it felt as though he was captive for years. The light of day hit his eyes. Though it was not
too bright like a clear day. Looking up there was no sun. Just bright glowing clouds. The smell of mead
and sex was carried with the cool air.
The berserkers moved from the longhouse and formed a square formation around them. They
marched alongside of them as the festivals in the street cleared. Now it seemed everyone was on high
alert. With his head twitching and moving back and fourth Loki scanned the rooftops. Odin held his
staff with both hands ready to smite anyone who might assault. Once they made it to the gates the
guards and Odin fell back.
"I will be staying here for now. Loki and the girls should keep you in good company." Odin said.
The moment Gabriel made it past the gates they Slammed shut. The sounds of cheers from the village
cried out. It as clear that Gabriel was a unwanted guest in Norse heaven. The only heaven that Gabriel
had seen, outcast him. Walking through the clearing of buried loot, Lura ventured away from the
others. She was not happy that Gabriel wanted to stay. Lura treated him more as a threat and was
keeping her distance.
"So how far out is the cabin?" Gabriel asked since he had left his wool coat behind.
"Just there" Loki said pointing in the direction that he was not leading them.
"Well why don't we walk that way?" Gabriel asked just as they stepped into the dark forest.
"Me a mad captain? Oh I know these seas. Please....follow.....follow me! No I say I don't think I
know anything at all. Even if I did know of something I would only hope that man would challenge it. I
have a feeling, a superstition that knowledge is prison walls for imagination. So you may be
intellectual, and I delusional, but who will ever really know? So do we walk the known, or step into
imagination and find." Loki said as he pulled grass from the ground and threw it in the air.
Lura was now a good distance from them in the woods. Gabriel could see her Every so often
through the trees. On all fours Loki was now crawling in the ground like a dog. Every so often he
would stop and eat some dirt or bugs on the forest floor.
"It will be okay, we should be there soon." Tiffany said smiling at Gabriel. Suddenly loki stopped,
shadows raced through the forest ahead of them. Gabriel was able to see that they were not just
shadows but wolves. One pure black wolf ran right up to them. The others not far behind him.
"Don't move." Tiffany said from just behind Gabriel. The black wolf lurched forward slowly
bearing his teeth. Just feet from Gabriel the wolf was closing in on their prey. Loki still on all fours
quickly took the form of a sheep.
"Baaah" Loki said in sheep form. The black wolf turned to Loki while the others came charging in.
Just before the pack made it to Loki he transformed into a mountain giant. A foul looking creature with
a massive gut and puss filled wort’s. Only small patches of hair grew on its head. It wore no clothes and
had a sever fleshy disease near its genitals.
"Woooarh" it cried out charging the wolves. A few of the wolves turned and ran. While some bit
into the giants legs. Grabbing one wolf in one hand and one in the other the giant slung them through
the air. They crashed into trees and fell dead to the forest floor. The black wolf ran to its fallen pack
members. Turning his head towards Gabriel its eyes glowed yellow, then it turned and ran.
The ground shook as the giant fell to the forest floor. Puss filled blisters and wort's burst as it
trembled on the ground. The skin of the giant melted away and transformed back into Loki. Coughing
up blood and laughing in the fetal position.
"Oh no..argh...hugh..no help for loki. Look at you a bird of love. Then when wolves come what do
you do? Fly birdie...fly Away....arghaha!" Loki said choking on blood.
"I am sorry Loki I would have helped but I did not know what to do!" Gabriel said going over to
help Loki up. Loki shrugged him off and got back on all fours.
"Oh it's fine you only immortal. Leave it to me, some awaken from nightmares crying in fear.
While I awaken laughing!" Loki said crawling through the forest again.
"Where is Lura?" Gabriel said scanning the woods.
"She can handle her own, she might even be at the cabin already." Tiffany said.
"Okay....so why would wolves attack us in Asgard?" Gabriel said shivering.
"Wolves look for weak. That's why wolf comes to you. Wolf don't like you!" Loki said."
“Well they are looking for those who sneak into Asgard through the forests. They would have
devoured you to protect Asgard from those who don't belong." Tiffany said.
"But i cannot die." Gabriel said.
"Yes that is true but being eaten by wolves for eternity would not be much fun!” Tiffany said
laughing.
“No I guess not, so will they come back for me?”
“Yes they will keep hunting you. Once the other creatures of the forest know you do not belong.
They will hunt you down as well. It's nothing personal, but this is not your heaven.” Tiffany said.
“I don't even know where my heaven would be really. The only one I can think of would be up
there in endless space. No god's, or known civilization's, eternal nothing. Heh, maybe it's the one
heaven I can still achieve. Being blasted into space where the exposure would put me into a deep sleep.
I could be frozen in time, until my body was ground to dust.” Gabriel said looking through the forest up
at the stars.
“No more talk!” Loki said as he walked on two feet again.
Birds dive bombed through the tree's. Taking a look at Gabriel and then retreating to the skies.
Gabriel had so much he wanted to say if only the forests of heaven were not attacking him. As they
walked, thought's of endless nothing, or eternity with Tiffany filled his mind. Now that he could not
speak, it was all he wanted to do.
Though even if he could speak to Tiffany he would not say the words he wanted to say. If only
words were echo's of the mind and not its prisoners. Like your first crush, you imprison your feelings
thinking some day you will open up to them. Then the time passes by with the feelings. Regret is then
all that remains. Years later you look back and wish that you were not a prisoner of your mind.
Gabriel was sure he would never speak the words to her. The ones that he would hold captive and
live with. He was not even sure what his true feelings were. Whatever it was, it was keeping him from
his heaven, and stuck in hell with the god's.
Buzzing down right in front of him was a humming bird. Gabriel focused in on it just as it jolted
back to joust at Gabriel. Just as it did Loki grabbed it from the sky. It buzzed around trying to get free.
Looking around Loki searched for a place for the bird. Shrugging at Gabriel he put the bird in his
mouth. With full cheeks his eye brows raised. Then he slowly chomped down. After a few chomps he
seemed to enjoy eating the humming bird alive. With one big swallow he opened his mouth and let out
a single blue feather.
With a disgusted look on her face, Tiffany went past Loki in a rush. Loki and Gabriel quickly
followed behind her. The branches of the trees reached out towards Gabriel as he walked past. Even the
ground itself started to feel like walking on quick sand. The forest shake and shuttered with sounds of
snapping timber.
Now even the tops of the trees started to bend down and close in behind him. Loki and Tiffany
gained ground ahead of him as he was being left behind. Now the tree's burst and fell down. They were
blocking all sides as the ground sucked Gabriel down. Pulling himself up over the fallen trees Gabriel
could no longer see the others.
An owl arose from the wreckage of trees with an angry look. The feathers on his head stood up and
he glared his red eyes at Gabriel. The owl started in a sprint towards him and then took flight. With a
vicious assault the owl hit Gabriels face talons first. Digging in and then ripping away with a screech.
Gabriel tried to cry out for help but just as he did branches smashed into his torn up face. One solid
branch knocked him down on the ground.
Screeching, snapping of timber, and wings flapping were all Gabriel could hear. Deep cuts on his
face stung in immense pain. All he could do was cover up as heaven assaulted him once more. With
eyes tightly shut Gabriel could not even struggle. A sinking feeling overtook him as he lay on the fallen
trees. The others most likely did not even know he was gone.
Opening his eyes and turning his head all he could see were edges of earth above him. As though
looking up from a sinking grave. Flapping his wings just above the grave the owl hovered ready to
place the nail in the coffin. Suddenly the ground shook and with it the arm of a giant swung out
slapping the possessed owl from the sky.
Reaching down into the grave, the giant pulled Gabriel from it. Though he was not at all a gentle
giant. Feeling his bones crush in the giants palms, Gabriel was not sure if he was being saved or further
tormented. Still in the giants crushing and foul smelling hands it ran through the forest. Trees still fell
down in their path as the giant hurdled them with Gabriel in his arms.
With a rib cracking squeeze the giant hugged Gabriel tight and tucked his head. Like a football
player prepping for a hit he smashed through trees and pieces of wood shattered and fell to the ground.
In extreme pain Gabriel could not even look to see what was happening. All he could see now was
darkness as the whole forest enveloped them.
"Roooooarghh!" The giant screamed as it jumped head first into the air. For a moment all Gabriel
could feel was as though he was flying. That and the timber smashing into them. Crashing into the
ground the giant entered a death roll. Like an alligator hanging onto Gabriel, they rolled down a steep
slope. Each time the giant rolled over him he could feel the new sensation of a bone breaking or the old
ones reminding him they were smashed. No way to see, or even breath Gabriel was simply trapped in
his mind and body of suffering.
Finally after what felt like hours the giant let go and they rolled to a stop. Still in too much pain
Gabriel could not move his broken limbs. Even his skull felt as though it was crushed and his eyes felt
smashed into the sockets. Although his ears rang like trumpets, he could faintly hear the sounds of
running water over rocks.
"Gabriel! Are you okay!?" Tiffany's voice echoed through the ringing in his ears and head. Of
course not he thought, i cannot even respond. Then again maybe it was better than being buried alive.
He could hear the coughing and laughing from Loki transforming back into his normal form.
"Hahahargh tha...that was.....FUN?!" Loki said with a coughing laughter.
"Look he is better now! I like him like this, maybe we will keep him!" Loki said looking at the
mangled remains of Gabriel.
"Now Tiff....any? Did I tell you since I first saw you I loved? No not loved at first sight.
Too...mushy like mushroom..YUCK....maybe....I am an avalanche, you just jump into me and I will
carry you to the grave!" Loki said bursting into laughter.
"Loki you love everything at first sight." Tifanny said shrugging him off. Gabriel could only listen
to Loki try to seduce her with his god like powers.
"Come kiss me! I am an avalanche!!" Loki shouted as he leaned in for a kiss. Tiffany turned away
just before he could kiss her. Gabriel had no idea what was happening. He could hear the sound of Loki
sniffing the air. Loki smelt her hair just as she turned away. Running and jumping into the air Loki
danced around shouting
"I am an avalanche!!"
Tiffany sat down next to gabriel and watched as loki danced around. Her rejecting him seemed to
amuse his lustful madness more than a kiss. The ringing in Gabriel's ears faded and the weight on his
eyes lifted. Pulling himself into a seated position he could see blurry images of Loki jumping and
dancing.
Grabbing his arm Tiffany helped him up to his feet. Looking around he could see a small log cabin
at the edge of the woods. One door in, and widows on each side of it. Just above the door was two one
handed battle axes hanging up and crossing each other. A small chimney was bellowing smoke up into
the sky. It was the most welcoming site that Gabriel had seen since being in Asgard. Oddly there was a
graveyard just behind the cabin. Mounds of stone, timber, and ruinstones marked the graves. A river ran
next to the cabin. It was not very wide but deep and quickly moving.
"Can we go inside?" Gabriel said shivering.
"Yes it should be nice and warm, Lura has a fire going." Tiffany said.
Quickly Gabriel walked to the cabin and went inside. It looked much smaller outside but once
inside it was the size of a studio apartment. Fire glowed through a smokey haze filling the room. The
walls had Norse weapons lining it. A large bed was in the room right next to the fire place. As well as
some wooden chairs, one of which Lura was sitting in.
Rushing to the fire Gabriel sat down in a chair next to it. Tiffany sat down as well and they just
stared into the flames for a few moments. The sounds of Loki shouting could still be heard. Though
they were distant as he danced through the forest. It was getting darker and the flames glowed brighter.
"I used to use fire to burn away my pain. Or I would even cut my flesh trying to free myself from
torment. I always wished i could just melt my skin away to expose the monster the world had made."
Lura said with flames glowing off her cheeks.
"We all deal with pain in our own way. Each generation is the same but they all do it. I smoked
crystal to make mine go away." Tiffany said.
"I always tried to drink mine away. It never worked though and now I cannot even do that!" Gabriel
said.
"I guess pain is just our curse, and resisting it only causes more misery." Tiffany said.
"I wish I could have been like those other girls. Everything seemed so perfect. Good looking,
friends, and not rejected for the ones they loved.....Heh fuck them though.....Do I have to stay here with
you guys or can I go back to the village. Because heaven is becoming a real drag." Lura said getting up.
"You can go if you want to, but i wish you would stay" Tiffany said looking up at Lura. Lura looked
back at Tiffany and then looked over at Gabriel. Giving him a glare she walked out of the cabin. As she
opened the door smoke rolled out of the cabin. She paused with the door open.
"It looks like he found you..." Lura said as she closed the door and left.
"Huh what did she mean by that?" Gabriel said.
"I...don't know?" Tiffany said getting up and opening the door. She too paused in silence staring
into the sunset.
"You better come look." Tiffany said. Gabriel got up from his chair and walked over to the
doorway. As he did Tiffany slipped back inside. First Gabriel could see nothing but the sun setting over
Midgard. Then looking across the river he could see a figure standing on the bank. There with a wicked
grin and out stretched arm was Apollyon. He was pointing right at Gabriel as to say
"found you!" Looking into his eyes Gabriel was not afraid. He did not know where he was or if he
was safe. All he knew is the same line that was always there separated him from Apollyon. On one side
was a heaven that he did not understand. The other the world he despised, and there stood Apollyon his
only enemy.
Gabriel simply stood there on the moral waters of the middle. The dividing line that kept the worlds
from colliding. Gabriel pointed and smiled back at Apollyon. Then Apollyon dropped his hand and had
a look not of anger or resentment but of a pleading missionary. For the first time his shoulders dropped
and he turned and walked into the forest on the other side. As he did Loki grabbed rocks and threw
them at him from the other side.
"No dominion here! Loki mocks souls here not stupid serpent!" Loki shouted throwing rocks at
Apollyon. One hit him but it simply bounced off and Apollyon gave no notice to it. Fading into the
forest Apollyon disappeared. Though coming out from the forest behind him was demons of all kinds
marching to the river. Some mutilated masses of flesh. Others with red muscular skin and twisted
horns.
They lined the river banks and marched back and fourth. To Loki though it was just a game, he kept
throwing rocks at the demons and laughing. Gabriel just watched on as one cried out in anger and tried
to wade out to Loki.
"Come on! Come come all!" Loki yelled and laughed at it grabbing his crotch.
"I will make you mooo and moan. A pretty little cow for me to violate!" Loki said laughing
hysterically. The demon made it towards the middle struggling against the current. Then he stepped into
a deep hole and sunk under the waters. Looking around the side of the doorway Gabriel did not see the
demon come back up. Waters of morality drowned another demon but more waited on the other bank.
Watching on the light of day faded out. The demons paced back and fourth and every so often Loki
would hit one with a rock. Their cries of anger ignited Loki's childlike curious laughter. Each time he
would jump up and down pointing at the angry demon and laughing. Going back into the cabin Gabriel
sat down next to Tiffany at the fire.
"This is...madness" Gabriel said sighing and looking into the fire. Tiffany just remained silent, she
knew all too well what madness was.
"I think I am insane, none of this is real!" Gabriel said grabbing his head.
"Well what is reality? We know About our universe or the world around us. Even if you are insane,
who would really know. The world does not even know who or what they are." Tiffany said.
"I just know if this is reality then i would rather be insane. If this is insanity, then how do i get back
to reality." Gabriel said.
"We all face the reality of insanity. Some people call it the afterlife, but to me it's heaven or.....i
guess beautiful insanity?...I don't know Gabriel, Odin is much better at explaining these things than I
am." Tiffany said.
"I just don't know what to do now. Sit here in this cabin....and why is there a graveyard back
there.....in heaven?" Gabriel said still grabbing his head.
"I asked the same question to Loki, he said even heaven hides its secrets. I am not sure if it means
that...or something deeper. You never know when Loki answers a question!" Tiffany said laughing.
"Maybe they can bury me there, sounds better than going back to that hell on the other side of the
river.”
“You are looking too far into things, lets sleep for now and you can decide things in the morning?”
Tiffany said as she got up from her chair.
“Well I guess you are right, the only decision I want to make now is who gets the bed!”
“Is it not big enough for two?” Tiffany said smiling as she started to undress next to the bed.
Looking away Gabriel walked over to the bed as well. Knowing all to well how perfect she was
physically. But that decision was made as well, and indulging in her would bring only further torment.
Crawling into the bed he faced away from Tiffany. Feeling her enter the bed he simply closed himself
off and pulled the fur blankets over him. Through the laughter of Loki throwing stones at demons in the
night, they fell asleep.
Chapter Two
Tossing and turning the night was a restless one. Just at the halfway point of sleep and awake a
dream would awaken him. Though laying there he could not tell what the dream was about. Looking
over at Tiffany he was not even sure if the dream was there. Maybe when he fell asleep he returned to
reality. One that was simply overshadowed by the insanity he was living in. Laying in the bed he could
feel Tiffanys leg slide over his. Although the bed was large she was in the middle of it. While Gabriel
was almost falling off the edge.
In her sleep she did not show the guards that her mind held up during the day. Looking at her she
seemed as though she was approachable. Every part of Gabriel wanted to run, to get away. He knew he
had fallen for her. Though he hated everything that it meant. It was a battle against instincts of the heart
and logic of the mind. Thinking back to when he followed his heart, he knew he was a fool. A blind
fool who was not living in reality. One who assumed his wife loved him and that they had a happy life.
While her heart was torn and the divide with true feelings hidden from him. Getting out of bed he
silenced his heart. This time logic would prevail and he would know reality. Even if that was the
insanity of living in hell without her. Looking out the window the moon lite up demons in the night.
Loki was no longer throwing stones at them. Now he was off digging in the graveyard.
Watching as he dug a grave like a dog Gabriel turned away from the window. Taking one last look
at Tiffany in her slumber he walked out of the cabin. Closing the door behind him he gazed on at the
countless demons. There was no way past them back to the land of mortals. They waited like huntsman
knowing their prey would leave its den. Turning around Gabriel grabbed the battle axes above the door.
He was crossing that bridge, though legions of demons wait for him. Gabriel could not stay in
Asgard and wait for his fate. He knew his fate, he was alone and he would decide it. One ax in one
hand and another ax in the other, he walked over to the bridge. There was no real plan except to face
his demons. Making it to the start of the bridge he could hear a woman’s voice shouting from behind
him.
"Wait Gabriel! Wait!" Frigga said lightly jogging out of the forest like a penguin in panic. Waiting,
Gabriel watched as she ran up to him. Her shouting gained the attention of Loki and he walked over to
see what the fuss was about.
"Here Gabriel I have something for you." Frigga said handing him a necklace. The cord was made
of leather with a silver pendant. The pendant was round with four gemstones on it. One blue, one red,
one yellow, and one green. The gems glowed in Gabriels hand as he examined it.
"And these two" Frigga said handing him two more necklaces. These ones simply had a single
pendant. One with a red gem and one with a green.
"What do I do with them?" Gabriel said confused.
"They allow you to see the present time of the ones wearing it. Odin has a blue gem necklace.
Tiffany will have the yellow. The other two single gem necklaces can be given to anyone. Once they
wear it and you wear the one with four gems. You simply hold your pendant in your hand. Place your
index finger on the gem of the person you want to see. So for Tiffany you would use the yellow gem.
Call my name and you shall be with the one wearing the gem you choose. Lastly you must not let
anyone take these from you. It would endanger all of us if it were in the wrong hands." Frigga said.
"Ummm ok..." Gabriel said placing them in his pocket and grabbing his axes once more.
"He will imprison you Gabriel, I have seen this. But with my gifts you can be anywhere and with
anyone you choose.....I almost forgot to leave the spirit world, hold the pendant and say Midgards
calling. You will go back to where ever you were." Frigga said as she bowed and walked away. Loki
tilted his head and looked at Gabriel holding his axes.
"What were you searching for in the graveyard?” Gabriel asked Loki.
“Cursed with potential I search hollowed ground to bury this gift. Poisoning the cold embrace
amongst the stars, for a life of solitude. Though there are many graves to stumble over in the mind.
Some unknown and fresh with soil. Just be careful where you dig or live with the monsters you create.”
Loki said looking around in the sky. Gabriel looked at him for a moment trying to process what Loki
had said but Loki broke his concentration.
“My mind's sobriety sure could use some drug's to handle your reality!” Loki said as he turned and
ran back to the graveyard.
“Goodbye Loki and Frigga, maybe we will meet again on the other side....” Gabriel said.
“We will meet again, farewell!” Frigga said waving goodbye to Gabriel. Gabriel turned to cross the
bridge. On the other side the demons had created a impassable column. The demons could not set foot
on the bridge though, sparking an idea. As Gabriel walked across he had only moments to decide how
he would get past them.
Standing just feet from the edge of the bridge Gabriel stopped. The demons reached out for him.
Eyes filled with lust and rage. One fell over trying to reach him. It fell right through the bridge and into
the river. Like the one before him it never came up again. Not giving up any ground though the demons
still reached out for him.
Tightly gripping his axes Gabriel swung at their Outstretched arms. Having never fought with one
handed battle axes he did not know what to do. It did not matter though, these axes were like none
other. Cutting through demons like it was nothing. As though they had no bones even. Each swing
severed a limb as blood sprayed out onto Gabriel. Going into a rage he swung sometimes not even
directing his swing.
Demons fell to the ground and through the bridge. As did their limbs, and even heads as Gabriel
chopped into them. Though they were many, he still had his only advantage. Morality and a building
courage in only himself. Still the demons piled up rather than waiting for him. It was clear that they
could not think clearly. All they could do was attack like wild beasts.
With arms exhausted Gabriel stepped back. Mounds of limbs and demons lay just across the bridge.
They just kept coming though, and it was time for a new plan. Watching as the demons swarmed in he
knew there was little hope. Getting up, tired and covered in blood he was ready to give in.
"Always remember the word of your god. And he said man will be created in OUR image. Not just
his, but ours. There is some of us in you Gabriel!" Odin shouted. Gabriel turned around to look but
Odin was not there. It brought on a small but meaningful revelation. Did the bible really say that?
Thinking back to the beginning of the bible. It did say man was created in "our" image and not mine.
So if he was created in the image of the gods. Then he was meant to be imperfect. After all no
human is a true saint. Maybe it was Gabriels imperfections that made him in their image. After all if
there was one god it would not say our. If man really was created in the image of gods then they too
would reflect the image of man.
It would be like Looking into a mirror. From both sides, the images would simply be the same.
Maybe the message was to humble Gabriel, or humble his image of a god. Either way he could not
forgot the insanity of religion. It can be looked at in any way you like. Unfortunately it can also be bent
to the way that power hungry men want it.
Dripping with blood of demons Gabriel starred into their dead eyes. Mankind always easily gave
into them. After all how can you resist, when there are so many. You bring one down and ten more
spring up. Gabriel was too tired to swing away at them any longer. Looking over the edge of the water
below he knew he wouldn’t let them take him.
Stepping over the edge he splashed into the waters of morality. If those waters carried him to the
banks of hell or heaven it did not matter. The waters were his only option now. Drenching his clothes
he sunk clenching onto his battle axes. Looking at the light above he could see hundreds of demons
jumping in. Like piranhas boiling the waters for their prey. Above him in the water they tried to fight
the current. They could not though and were being washed down river.
It was pure torment for Gabriel drowning as the waters held him captive. Fighting for air he
watched as demons disappeared in their wakes. Until finally the waters above him were calm. As they
were the waters carried him up from the rivers floor. Without even swimming Gabriel was pushed to
the surface. Sunlight filled his vision as he gasped for air. The waters pushed him to the bank and he lay
there for a moment in the mud. The blood of the demons, and they themselves were washed clean.
Looking around the bridge was gone. So was the cabin and Asgard. Nothing remained but a river with
Forests on both sides.
Pulling himself up Gabriel searched for his axes but they were gone. The river faded behind him
and the forest looked like those of his home. Walking through them he could make out the path running
from his house to the old one. With an uneasy feeling he walked down the path towards his home.
Everything now seemed less magical. The forest was not as lively as that of Asgard. Then again they
were not attacking him either.
His house came in view through the tree's. Only it looked like it had aged significantly since he had
been gone. Though it felt like he was there only yesterday. The old pick up truck was gone, and the
driveway was overgrown. Windows were boarded up, some with broken glass in front of them. One of
the step's to the porch was broken and graffiti covered the outside.
Symbols of witch craft, demons, and gang signs littered the walls. The front door was boarded up to
prevent people from getting in. Walking up on the porch Gabriel searched for a way inside. He was not
sure how much time had passed since the house was in poor condition before. Now it just looked as
though people vandalized it. All the while he was walking around looking for a way in, he was waiting
for hells whores to show their faces.
Gabriel hoped that maybe enough time had passed that they moved on. Maybe hells whores had
been exercised by a priest, or demonic pimp. Walking around the house showed even more signs of
witch craft. Some type of a voodoo doll hung from one of the up stairs window seals. A noose was
around its neck and it blew back and fourth in the wind.
Finally he found a way in through his kitchen window. It was boarded up but someone smashed it
up and left it wide open. Inside he could see signs of creatures living in the house. Animal poop was on
the tile floor. Walking into the living room he saw his couch still there. It was shred into and looked as
though it was used for a den. The TV that never worked was gone though so he would be short on
entertainment.
Candle's, condoms, and trash lined the living room floor. It was hard to see everything though since
the boarded up windows blocked out the light. Gabriel started walking up the stairs and could see how
sever the vandalism was. The railing was all busted up and holes lined the walls. It was as though
someone went on a rampage with a sledge hammer.
Once upstairs he looked down the hallway towards his room. One of the back rooms door was
knocked down and blocking the hall. Peering into the room with the voodoo doll he saw more trash and
candles. Turning around he saw that his bedroom door was shut, and in decent condition. Some how it
had survived the destruction. Turning the knob the door squeaked open. His window was not broken,
but red paint gave it a stained glass look. The room was empty except for a witch craft circle was lined
on the floor in chalk. It was a star with a circle around it and candles lined the outside.
His room was clean of all trash though, and the walls were free of holes, or gang graffiti. Though
there was intricate paintings on the wall. One was of a demon dancing, while on the other wall was a
giant oak tree. The demonic paintings were like the Sistine chapel, but the faces were grim and horrific.
Demons took the place of angles, and the moon and stars were painted on the ceiling.
Sitting down on the floor Gabriel just looked around at the pictures. He could see that his closet
door was open and writing lined the walls inside. Getting up, he opened the window to allow light to
come in. The rush of fresh air was nice, and removed the stale air in the room. Light revealed more of
the bedroom and gave Gabriel a less uneasy feeling. Walking up to the closet he began reading the
writing's on the closet walls.
“Mother of night, hide this temple from those who seek to defile. Cloak in shadow's hell's altar so
fools stumble past. Barricade these walls in webs so when they stumble they are trapped. Haunt their
souls while they beg to see the light. Dispatch their cries through the webs straight to hell. Awaken the
destroyer so he may feast in my temple of night.” As he was reading a note on the floor of the closet
caught Gabriel's eye. Picking it up he could see it was a scroll of sorts written in blood.
“A life for life, a curse for a curse, soul for soul, demon for demon and eye for eye. Five sides to the
star, five spells I call for one and all. Bring him back, back from the depths, my love and lust. From an
unmarked grave and a unknown corpse. A unexplained disappearance and untold death. From the
shadows or the grave I call to bring him back to me. I summon from hell, heaven or earth the one who
once walked these halls. His name came from the divine though he is just a man with a name. A man
who I have claimed and marked with spells of love and life. This my final spell, the last drop of my
blood drips to revive my love.” A dragon crest painted in blood was at the bottom of the scroll.
Gabriel rolled it back up and laid it back down where it was. It was clear someone tried bringing
him back, but who could it have been and why? Gabriel did not know he had any real admirers or at
least not one that loved him. It was creepy yet mysterious and warming to know that someone went that
far for him.
Blinking his eye's Gabriel could feel a rough and heavy feeling to his eye lids. The light of day
fading with his will to stay awake any longer. Laying down on the floor away from the circle Gabriel
closed his eyes. Thunder roared in the distance and the light faded even more with howling winds.
Opening his eye's he then saw bright sunlight. Getting up from the floor he walked over to the window.
The sky was filled with what could only be defined as war.
Rainbows, clouds, clear sky, patches of fog, rain, snow, hail, and wind all collided in a tangled
mess. One spot had tornado like winds, while in another it calmly rained. Then only feet away it
snowed. The earth was being battered with every type of weather imaginable. He wondered what the
rest of the world was thinking. Could it be that this chaos was only in his woods. Or was the whole
world seeing what happened when the gods start a war. If only he could drive into Axal and see its
undoing. Redemption had finally came to that little shit hole called civilization.
Looking up into the sky now he could see fireballs like comets. They were flying through the air
and then out of a cloud came a funnel. All around the Spiraling funnel was lightning. Until a tornado of
lightning bolts formed. It was so bright that Gabriel squinted his eyes. The fireballs were sucked from
the sky and exploded into the lightning tornado. The last fireball hit it and with a giant flash of light
they were gone. In their place was rainbows radiating in all directions like sun rays.
From the distant horizon came a swarm of ravens. They flew into a storm cloud and they
disappeared. The cloud rained down black feathers. All over was a clash of nature and the divine. Every
inch of the sky was in a disarray of ever changing elements. Though he could only see what was
happening through his window.
Would mankind fight back, or could they even do so. Maybe mankind was just collateral damage
and earth the battlefield. If only he could see beyond the window in front of him. Though maybe it was
his last shred of sanity. Beyond the window was a world without sanity.
Laying back down on the bed Gabriel felt in his pocket and still had the necklaces. What was the
point in knowing what was happening he thought. There was no way to change the outcome. Like a
dream he could do nothing in. Or it would just be another nightmare for him to see. The only way out
was to trap himself inside his mind.
With his eyes closed in his bed. it could all go away. He could stay in the lands of imagination and
daydreaming. Back to when gods were only in imagination. When he was just a drunk mourning his
wife and child that he thought was his. Even then he could still sometimes dream of a better day. Now
dreams would only be a reminder of what was.
Loki in his delusional rants made a point that now made sense to Gabriel. Dreams are poison, and
all you can do is wake up from your nightmares laughing. Agreeing with thoughts of Loki was like
stepping into Asgard again. A heaven that doesn't make sense. A heaven for madmen and a god of the
insane. Then again chasing dreams can be a nightmare if you don't see that the dream is the chase.
Hours passed as Gabriel did anything to escape his reality. Pretending to be someone he was not, or
living a life he did not have. Seeing places he never had or would. He even tried meditation but deep
breaths brought in the rank smells of the old house. Thinking about anything but the truth was coming
easy after hours of practice. He was becoming the author of his own lies and they were his only escape.
Then one thought had to slip in the defenses his mind was building. As it did the walls came
crashing in and the hopeless feeling Returned. The one thought that made him weak. It made him run,
and hide from the devastation it would bring. Pushing it away did not help and there was nothing he
could do. He hardly knew her except for seeing the blue prints behind the monsters creation. They
hardly knew each other but she could so easily creep into his mind.
Thoughts of her could spark any emotion within him. Ones that he killed and buried would rise
from the dead. The thoughts brought only questions that were answered by more emotion. The
apocalypse was happening and all he could think about was her. His mind was in a tug of war with his
ego and her. More hours had passed and he was exhausted with himself. As he drifted to sleep his only
thought was why did I not tell her. Why did I not tell her I loved her as I left her.
Of all the demons he faced that day, regret was the only one remaining. Slowly Gabriel drifted to
sleep. Dreams of falling woke him from the deep sleep. In a panic he opened his eyes. Flashes of light
from fireballs and other magical explosions in the night sky flickered in the room. Closing his eyes
again he quickly fell back asleep.
"Gabriel!" Tiffany's voice called in the darkness. It was pitch black all around him. Jolting his
vision side to side, did nothing. Then suddenly a light glowed dimly. It slowly got brighter and he
realized he was in Tiffany's trailer home. The capsule that held nightmares of so much abuse. Turning
around he could see Tiffany in her youth. She held her hands out covered in blood. Cuts on her wrists
gushed blood out on the floor.
"I am made of skeletons. Skeletons hidden in this worlds closet, and tonight they Dance!" Tiffany
said as she held her wrists up.
"I know.....I need to imprison myself from self harm. Its just these skeletons keep escaping. Can
you keep them quite? Will you save me...." Tiffany hit the floor and landed in a pool of blood. Looking
up Gabriel saw Odin stepping in from a shadow.
“If only I could find the words that bring color to dark canvases of broken souls. Its just these dark
words are all I find...” Odin said with a look of sadness. Gabriel looked back down at Tiffany slowly
dieing in a self made pool of blood.
“Death is a beautiful and natural fact of life. Suicide cheats that beauty, leaving pain and questions
to a unanswerable problem.” Cain said from behind Gabriel. Startled Gabriel turned and looked at Cain
who was just behind him. It was as though they were randomly showing up from shadows. Hearing
noises behind him Gabriel turned again. Odin was gone and in his place stood Loki.
“You say! Society's the monster? In the dark its just me and you, we can search for monsters. None
will be found, only the nightmares that WE created.” Loki said walking up to the pool of blood on the
floor. Reaching down he touched the pool of blood with a outstretched finger. Once he touched it his
whole body turned dark red as blood. Then he poured out on the floor into a larger pool of blood.
The blood turned into a black pool, out from it on all fours was the concubine of Bethlehem. Her
flesh still stitched together in a wretched mess. On the floor in front of the concubine was the razor
blade that Tiffany used to cut her wrists. Grabbing it the concubine cut away at stitches near her mouth.
Once the stitches were cut away she held out her tongue. It too had stitches and was a bloody mess.
With blood running and winces of pain she cut her tongue free of stitches.
She tried to speak but only coughed up blood. Then words slowly started to form in a shattered
voice.
“Society needs a rebel.” She paused in awe of the sound of her voice. Blood continued to spew
from her mouth and tongue as she held it open.
“Not a rebel of violence and madness. But a rebel with a heart.” She said in a less broken tone as
she wiped blood away from her mouth.
“So start a rebellion to love and respect our humanity.” As she finished she dropped the razor blade
and crawled over to Tiffany. Grabbing her hand she covered her wrists and held her.
The sound of an explosion went off waking Gabriel from the dream. Opening his eyes he saw only
darkness, then a flash of light, not from lightning but a comet. Orange light as though from a fire filled
the room. Looking on he could see that he was not alone. Five wretched looking hag's with pale scaly
flesh were sitting on the edges of the witch circle. Then the light faded as a lump of fear raised from
Gabriel's throat. Trying to move was useless, his arms and legs were bound.
“Have you missed us Gabriel?!” A crackly old voice said.
“Who are you!” Gabriel shouted out in fear.
“What you don't recognize my beauty! I am deeply offended by you sir. It is me, Emma!” Emma
said.
“Great, I didn't like you when you were pretty. Now you whores look like your souls, wretched!”
Gabriel said.
“And we were going to give him a chance!” One of the voices of the women said.
“We have a present for you outside!” Another voice said.
Cold clammy and razor grips clung on to Gabriel. Tormented and twisted faces smiled at him in the
moonlight of the room to mock him. Lifting him off the ground they carried him out of the room and
down the steps. Once downstairs he could see the door was open and some how night had instantly
turned to day. Looking outside Gabriel saw a metal container waiting in the sunlight.
The hags tossed him in though the metal container was almost too small to fit in. The edges hot
from the sun and burnt as he struggled against it. Taking one last look at the sky Gabriel could see a
white dove. It flew up towards the sun with an olive branch. As it passed the sun it changed into a
raven. Black as midnight, in its mouth was a Dark and mangled branch.
With a hard thud on Gabriel's head the container slammed shut. Chains clanged over it as they
sealed it shut. Gabriel could see no light as he felt the metal prison lifted up. As he was being carried
off, Gabriel knew what was happening.
"We are free, free to our own will, which enslaves us." One of the hags said as the air in the
container went stale. Panic set in, an eternity in the dark without air. Thoughts of the grim reality raced
through his mind. He thought of how we try to convince our minds we are happy and to stay positive.
Faking our reality to cope with madness. Then they call you crazy for accepting the truth and not
convincing our minds otherwise
The feeling of falling came over his struggle with positivity. The container crashed into the earth
after a brief period of falling. The sounds of dirt being tossed over the container, sealed his fate.
Eternity buried alive, no one would even know of his existence. The sound of dirt faded, and then
silence. This is it Gabriel thought, eventually there would be no oxygen. He figured at that point he
would simply fall asleep. The brain would be deprived of air and would shut down. Maybe it would
recover like his wounds. But then it would not be long until the process started over.
He thought about screaming, but who would hear. Then he remembered the pendant around his
neck. Though his hands were bound he was able to wiggle one hand free. Holding the pendant in his
hand, he tried to remember how to use it. He could not see what color of a gem was what. Running his
fingers across them, he picked one.
"Uhhh" he said holding the pendant. Shit what do I do, he thought.
"Frigga!" He shouted. In an instant he went from a cramped metal container to a rocky shore. The
sounds of waves crashed behind him. Looking up, he could see grassy hillsides. Turning around to look
behind him, he saw the ocean and a heavy fog. A cliff sprang out from the hills in the distance. Waves
crashed into them. On the top of the cliff was cars and people pointing off to the sea. Looking in the
direction they were pointing, Gabriel could see viking longboats coming out of the fog. People shouted,
but he could not understand them.
Looking down at his hand and body. He could see he was still in a physical form, but not sure
where he was. The pendant was still on his neck and now he could see the gem he had chosen. It was a
deep and dark blue. Like the depths of the ocean, it was Odin's gem. Though looking around did not
reveal Odin. Gabriel walked towards the shore so he could see the boats better. The ground was rocky
and rugged, trying to walk even a short distance was difficult.
He still had all of his senses and it all seemed perfectly real. Just as though he touched someone to
see their sins. Taking in a deep breath, he inhaled the moist air. Holding it in for a moment and then
exhaling. It was much much better than the stale air in his hollow ground prison. Gabriel thought about
what was happening to his body. Was this like a dream state, was his body suffocating underground.
What if I went back, he thought. Would I be in a brain dead state? Most likely not yet, but in a few
hours or days. Maybe now he would live as a spirit.
Vicariously spending eternity through the pendant. Now that the worlds collided, he was nothing.
The very thing he wanted, was now his next curse. Was he living, dead, dreaming, or was he anything
at all. Reaching down, he grabbed a rock. It felt real in his hand, coarse and rugged. The sea had tainted
it and gave it a rough crust. A strange white film covered most of it. Slinging the rock, it crashed into a
wave. Then suddenly the rock was right back where it came from. Untouched, and completely dry it sat
mockingly.
Picking it back up it felt the same. Was it the same rock, Gabriel thought looking at the spot it came
from. Throwing it once more, it just missed the white top of a wave. Gabriel looked back at the ground,
and there it was again. Cause and effect had vanished in whatever plain of reality or insanity he was in.
Sitting down, Gabriel looked at the rock. It was not just a rock, but a symbol. A reminder that he was
going insane. Whats the point in nothing, what can you do with it. The rock he picked up was nothing.
Grabbing it again and holding it. It had weight, and feeling, but it was not there. He set it down in a
different spot. The moment it left his hand, it vanished. Then there it was untouched in its normal spot.
Thunder roared in the fog before him. But this one little rock turned everything he knew upside
down. It was clear that he no longer had an impact. Not even a pebble in the sea could change its path
by his will. What was the point in being just another bystander? Why not just go back to the hollow
ground he thought. Let his body start the vicious cycle. Deaths blessings, then the curse of rebirth. The
thoughts ceased as the sounds of longboats crashed into the rock shore. They did not even attempt to
slow down. Or avoid their crash landings. Wood split into sending splinters and debris in the air.
The largest of all the ships was heading right for where Gabriel was sitting. Not even flinching, he
looked on as it collided with the shore. The front of the ship screeched into the rocks next to him.
coming to a halt and narrowly missing him. Looking up Gabriel examined the sail. White as snow and
bowing to the wind. From the side of the ship appeared Odin. He looked out on the shore, then stepped
out on the bank. A wave swelled up behind him as he stood still on the shore.
His eyes almost locking with Gabriel's. Just before the wave engulfed him Odin turned to face it.
For a moment he raised his staff. The wave quaked and the water bubbled and boiled. But Odin
lowered his staff and the wave crashed into him. He could have calmed the seas but allowed the wave
to hit him. Maybe it was so that he could feel mortally flawed. The wave had passed leaving a soaked,
wet and vulnerable god in its quake.
Odin was a absolutely brilliant god, but he wore his weaknesses. One eyed, old, frail, and looking
like a god cast out heaven. As though he was a fish out of water. Then Gabriel starting thinking about
Apollyon. The angel kicked out of heaven to earth. Had Apollyon worn his weaknesses, then mankind
would have devoured him. So he grew into a dragon, that struck mankind where they were weakest.
Turning them into the beast that he was and conquering their souls. It was a moment where Gabriel
could relate to the destroyer. When all that you love rejects you. When everything you despise engulfs
you. That is when you either become a moral devil or god.
Odin walked up on the shore past Gabriel. Getting up Gabriel watched him as he walked by. People
were standing around on the hillside. There was cars parked on the hill watching the crash landing of
an ancient heaven. Sounds of ships bursting onto the shore continued to ring out. Odin looked up at the
gathering crowd of people. He held out his hands, palms up. Water Still dripping from them. His staff
fell to his side and bounced on the rocks.
"The time is here, I will rewrite the art of war. With the art of humility. I will devour these egos and
crash the fortifications they have built!" Odin said, turning to his ships. Raising his arms in the air as
clouds of ravens flew over head. Thunder shook the earth and with it Loki and thousands of berserkers
footsteps. They spilled out from longboat debris. Looking up at the hillsides, Gabriel could see
everyone getting back in their cars and fleeing.
He figured if he was in their position, then he would do the same. One tall a lanky man stayed and
was walking towards the shore. A few others watched him to see what would happen. The sounds of
chopper blades battered the air in the distance. It appeared from over the hills and then hovered above.
Loki looked up at it with a curious smile. The lanky man had made it just a few hundred yards from
them.
Loki stepped out and headed towards the man. Stopping once he was halfway to the man so that he
could look at his belt. He pulled out a paintbrush, he Looked at it and then the man. He shook his head
and put the paintbrush back. The man was now feet away from Loki. Loki continued to frantically
search for something. Jumping backwards the man had startled Loki. The man looked as though he was
high or drunk.
"Its ok I'm not going to hurt you!" The man said holding his arms out to hug Loki. Loki stepped
back, but the man was too persistent. Loki's eyes got huge as the man hugged him. In one motion he
pulled a bone handled dagger from his side. Thrusting it into the man's kidney region. Loki held the
man with his other arm as blood welled from the man's lips.
"I will paint this world red, so you can dream black." Loki Whispered in the man's ear. As he let
him go, the man fell to the rocky shore. Blood ran over the rocks sending a message to all who
witnessed it. Gabriel could not understand why Loki killed the man. After all he was welcoming him
with open arms. Though maybe to Loki it was a disgrace and a insult. They were after all a war like
culture, wrong or right was only a concept.
Those who witnessed it ran for their cars. The chopper stopped hovering and began to fly off.
Suddenly though it just stopped. The rudders halted in mid air. With that it fell from the sky and hit the
earth in a explosion of dirt and smoke. Cars that were once speeding away, just died. People tried to
start their cars but they would not start. Electricity was sucked out from their batteries. It went up in the
sky in strands, and then vanished somewhere in the atmosphere.
Once the batteries were drained The strands of electricity vanished. A power line on the hillside had
a much larger strand of electricity coming from it. The Electricity was quickly drained and then it
vanished. Miles away was a huge explosion. Gabriel felt the shock wave and the earth tremble. All of
the power was drained from the planet. Planes crashed to the earth in explosions. It was a complete
black out, and earth returned to an era without electricity.
Gabriel watched as the strands faded from the sky and planes fell to the earth. Some people tried
and tried to start their cars. While others got out and ran for their lives. It was mass chaos and
confusion, but to the gods it was judgment day. Not just judgment of man, but of the gods themselves.
Loki cheered and danced with blood on his hands. Odin simply watched the sky as a dark cloud of
ravens covered the sun.
The berezerkers formed a column behind Odin. Looking off at the sea Gabriel could see two more
ships making their way to the coast. One was dark, black with a dragon head on the front. From its
mouth fire and smoke bellowed. On the ship stood Hel, old and deathly. Her skin was a pale blue and
her eyes pure black. With her came Baldur free from the depths of the underworld. He was a massive
god, rippled with muscle and scars. In his hand was a mighty two handed battle ax.
Baldur's gaze pierced towards Loki. Loki was still dancing and cheering. Completely unaware that
his brother was finally free. The other ship was made of white wood with brown grain. It was nothing
of this world. On it was Frigga, and the rest of the Norse gods. Just before the two ships crashed into
the shore, Baldur leaped from the ship. He landed on the shore charging right for Loki. Some of the
berzerkers did not move in time and were plowed over.
Loki was still completely oblivious to the charging god. Baldur raised his ax above his head. Just as
he started to crash it down on Loki, Loki turned. With dagger in hand he thrust it into Baldur's exposed
stomach. The dagger sank in all the way to the hilt. The ax came swinging down but Loki jumped to
the side. It was just inches away from cleaving his skull.
As soon as Loki hit the ground, his skin trembled in an eruption of puss and protruding muscle.
Almost instantly he changed into a mountain troll. Baldur pulled the dagger from his stomach and
blood squirted out. Odin started to run towards them.
"Let them settle it as Norse!" Tyr the god of war shouted. With it Odin stopped and fell to his knees.
He watched on as his two sons battled on the shores of Midgard.
Chapter Three
Baldur Lifted his ax from the sands and swung it sideways at Loki. The blade cut into a puss filled
Wart and it exploded.
"Aaaaarrgh!" Loki cried out in pain. Just as Baldur prepared to swing again Loki unloaded a
massive hook. Baldurs whole body shook from it as he wobbled backwards trying to stay on his feet.
Stumbling with rolled back eyes, Baldur swung his ax and it missed Loki. Baldur fell to the ground and
as he did Loki jumped in the air. While in the air Loki had his fist cocked back. When he landed he let
out a vicious punch to Baldurs unconscious head. Loki landed in the sand next to him.
Baldur tried to sit up, rolling over on his side he shook his head. He looked confused and dizzy, as
though he did not even know where he was. Loki jumped on his back holding on to Baldur's neck with
one hand and punching him with the other. Baldur fell face down in the sand and tried to cover up from
Loki's troll punches. They were slow but when they landed Baldur's head bounced off them with
violent force. Finally one landed and it refueled his rage for Loki.
Baldur's eye's rolled back and then back again. With a grimace he grabbed onto Loki's leg and
pulled with all he had. Baldur took a few hard punches but he was able to pull Loki off his back.
Baldur's face was bloody, swelling, and covered in sand. Loki fell to the sand with a shock wave and it
blew sand all around him. Looking up at the sun Baldur held his hands up at it. His eye's glowing with
pure white radiating light.
From the sun came a ray of light, it landed and swirled around in his hands. The ray of light formed
a white streak of brilliant light. It quickly formed into a glowing javelin. As it did Loki rose to his feet
and started a tired and slow charge. Loki was sucking as much air as he could through his troll nostrils.
But it was as though he could not get enough to fuel his troll blood.
Just before Loki reached him, Baldur threw the radiating javelin. Loki turned sideways so the
javelin would not pierce his heart. It tore into his shoulder, and shot out midway through his back.
When the javelin hit the sand it vanished into a pile of ash. Loki collapsed into the earth holding his
shoulder in pain. Gabriel could see through the hole where the javelin pierced.
Looking through the hole he could see scorched flesh. It barley grazed Loki's darkened troll heart.
Gabriel could see the bottom corner of his heart pounding through the hole. Light from the sun peered
onto his heart and smoke smoldered from it. Until nothing but smoke filled the hole in his body and his
heart glowed with fire.
“ERRGHH!” Loki cried out in pain as he turned his heart from the light of the sun. The light faded
from the hole and the fire burned out into a charcoal corner of his heart. Loki no longer sucked for air
but took short, quick breaths. Each breath was filled with pain from a scorched heart. Baldur grabbed
his ax as Loki withered in pain.
Standing just above his brother, Baldur raised his ax one more time. Pausing with it raised to the
sun, the blade glowed in orange flame like his hatred for Loki. Springing up from the ground, Loki
lunged for the ax. Baldur swung it down just as he did but Loki caught it before it could smash into
him. For a moment they struggled and Loki opened his giant troll mouth.
Teeth rotten, black, and missing bit down on Baldur's throat. Ripping away from his neck, Loki tore
flesh away and left broken teeth behind. Baldur released the ax and tried desperately to guard from
another bite. It was no use, Loki plummeted back into his neck with so much force that they both fell to
the ground. Like a pit bull Loki stayed latched to his jugular.
With each of Baldur's struggles he would rip harder into his throat. Until finally no air would reach
the god of lights lung's. As Baldur looked up at the sun a tear fell from Odins blind eye. It crashed into
the sand and changed it and the rocks of the shore line black. The darkness spread all around him. The
berzerkers in its radius fell to their knees. Their skin turned to black and then they crashed, dead on the
ground. The spreading darkness stopped before it got more than twenty yards from Odin. It retracted
and slithered back towards him. It shrunk down into a little black tear drop. It was like a solid stone tear
drop. Odin picked it up and held it in his hands.
"Stop!" Odin shouted as Loki let go of Baldur's torn throat.
"I shall be the one to finish my son!" Odin said with a sad grimace. Odin walked up to Baldur and
Loki backed away. His face was covered in Baldurs blood and he had a crooked troll smirk.
"You were trapped away for so long, my son and my light." Odin said holding Baldurs head in his
hand.
"Now I shall free you from your prison!" Odin said as he placed the black tear drop in baldurs
mouth. As he did baldurs skin turned from a radiant white to black. Ravens circling in a cloud above
swarmed down. They completely engulfed baldur and then they flew to to the sky. Baldur was now
gone and no where to be found. Blood was all that remained from where Baldur once was.
"When a god dies, and heavens fall, where do souls go?" Gabriel asked as though someone could
hear him. For the first time the kingdom of norse wept. Their heads were held low and tears ran down
their faces. Loki just looked up at the sky smirking.
"Baldur! Not my baldur!" Frigga cried out. Odins face turned from sadness to anger. It was all loki's
doing and it was him who fueled Baldurs blood lust. Loki condemned Baldur to non exsistance the day
he cast him to the underworld. Odin knew this just as well Gabriel did. Loki now starred into Odins
enraged eyes.
Instantly loki turned around and started to run for his life. Troll legs plotted along the sand and
made the ground shake. As he ran his troll skin exploded and from it ran a coyote. Though no matter
what form he took he could not outrun his wounds. The coyote fur was covered in blood, and the hole
to his heart was still there. Though he now moved much faster than he did on two legs.
"After him!" Odin yelled to the berserkers. The look on their faces was the same anger as Odins.
They ran after him just as fast as they could. Though it was just a light jog since they carried weapons
and shields.
"No need to hurry my love." Frigga said to Odin as she walked behind Odin. The other gods
followed as well and Gabriel was left on a shore line of broken ships. Gabriel did not see a point in
watching gods kill each other. Though it was either that, or play out the life and death cycle over and
over. Gabriel got up and followed a short distance behind the gods. He could only hear sounds of their
whispers but not words. Why were they whispering Gabriel thought. Maybe they are just as deceitful as
mankind. Like any moment they could strike their frail king.
They had only made it a few hundred yards when another fight broke out. This time it was mighty
Thor, who pushed Hel to the ground.
"You and your poisonous tongue! You have no reign here old woman!" Thor shouted to Hel who
was covering up to defend herself. Thors fuse was just as short as any Norse.
"Must we kill each other!!" Odin shouted throwing down his staff.
"Just strike me down now and spare me the humiliation! " Odin said.
"He is a mad man, plotting against me!" Hel shreiked as she got to her feet.
"I do not plot, I strike!" Thor shouted back as he smashed his hammer into the ground. The earth
shook and the air smelt of electricity.
"Should us Norse not unit? Should we be the laughter of gods as they see us self destruct? Or do we
take back our rightful homeland...MIDGARD AWAITS! Or the emptiness of death without Asgard. No
Valhalla, no loot o plunder, only a void in the hearts of the living. So let us decide here and now. Do not
wait for me to fall, bring me down here and now." Odin shouted in anger.
The other gods reluctantly change from their battle stances. It was clear that there was still
unfinished business. But for now they had to make peace to wage war. Odin began walking again and
so did the others. The berserkers had already made it over the hill. Sounds of gunshots cried out from
over the hill. First a few, followed by many. They rang out in a automatic hailstorm. Odin began
running to see what was happening.
Gabriel started to run as well and quickly passed Odin. Once over the crest of the hill, he saw where
the shots came from. A small city, of maybe five hundred was below him. On the edge of town was
military infantry, police, and civilians all armed and firing at the berserkers. Round after round hit the
hillside. The berzerkers withstood many gun shot wounds. Some held their shields high as the were
torn into by bullets. The berzerkers were not like an average human. Only after many shots would one
fall dead. Odin made it to the top of the hill near Gabriel. Bullets buzzed past them though none hit
odin.
"Man and their wretched ego! Egos are for those scared of the dark unknown. So they create ghosts
rather than face fear. Now they shoot at god's with their ego rather than embrace them....Must war be
the only way?" Odin said.
"There can be no other way. Though they go to battle as cowards behind their weapons. They fight,
but fear true combat or the glory of being a combatant." Tyr said.
"Valhalla only awaits true warriors, and so we must create it here. We should destroy these cowards
so that Valhalla can be reborn among Midgard!" Thor shouted as a bullet grazed his armor.
"Warriors of Asgard may you build the halls of Valhalla with their blood." Odin said. Just as he did
the berzerks made it to the edge of town. Some had fallen riddled with bullets. But it was not enough to
stop their army. They crashed into men with guns and began tearing them apart. Some humans turned
and ran, while others were being sliced through. Slowly the ringing of gunshots ended. While the
sounds of cracking skulls and screams were all that remained.
One man dropped his gun and rather than running away he walked into the battle line of the
berserkers. With a solid thud a berserker hit him right between the eye's with a one handed battle ax.
The blade sunk in and the man dropped dead. A few of the men were able to run away and flee from the
skirmish. Those who didn't were slaughtered without mercy.
In the street was a cop who tried to run but was hit in the leg with a throwing ax. With hands held
tight he looked up to the sky and began praying. Another throwing ax flew through the air and landed
in the police officers chest. The blow knocked him back but he was still moving. A berserker
approached him and stood above him watching the man suffer. Almost instantly the police officer
pulled his pistol from his holster and shot the berserker multiple times until he fell dead next to him.
Looking up the officer could see the other berserkers coming for him. His comrades were now all
brutally killed for choosing war against a warrior divinity. The officer fired two more shots at the
berzerkers. Though he failed to kill any of them. Gabriel watched as the officer then turned the gun and
fired his last shot. It was to his own head and his misery was over.
Odin and the other gods did nothing but sit and watch in silence. It was as though they were
spectators in the opera of savagery. Gabriel knew that mankind would turn on the gods. They did not
understand them, and they seek to destroy the unknown. By using the only thing they know of, war. But
maybe it was Loki who murdered that man by the same logic. Both the gods and man were corrupt
beings. Gabriel wondered what their differences were if any.
His heart ached as he watched those men being killed. It was as though they were cattle for the gods
amusement. Looking at Odin he wondered if he felt the same suffering that Gabriel had. Maybe only
for his own warriors, though the motives and emotions were unknown. Now the battle was over and the
edge of town was left with deaths silence. Mangled and mutilated corpses backed in the sun as swarms
of crows flocked above.
The crows circled into a funnel in the sky and suddenly they began their decent. The berserkers
stood and watched as crows dived from the sky to begin a feast of flesh. Thousands came down from
above landing on the defeated corpses. Beaks tore flesh as they quickly devoured the body's of men.
Bones crumbled to their beaks as though they were made of glass.
A young boy stood in the street with a toy truck in his hand. Tears had ran down his face but they
no longer fell although the streaks remained. He just watched with a horrified curiosity and the first
pains of loss on his face. Gabriel watched the boy as Odin and the other god's strolled through the now
devoured corpses. Crows pecked at the ground cleaning up any scraps that might remain.
There was nothing but blood and torn clothing remaining. It was one example of how easily
disposable man was to the gods. Fear and disbelief was all that was left for the small town, and the
world. It did not make sense to Gabriel since they could have easily disarmed the men and spared them.
Maybe the gods had no more lessons for mankind. Mistakes were paid in blood, and blood would build
the halls of Valhalla.
Odin approached the child with open arms, though the child stayed frozen. Odin clasped his hands
together and as he did a vibrant light glowed in them. Separating his hands he presented a black lizard
to the boy. It was as though he was performing a magic trick to impress the child. Though the child
simply turned and ran screaming for his life. Odin looked surprised at the child's reaction but the gods
had no control over the power of choice.
Gabriel could tell by Odin's face that the Norse were losing the war already. They were warriors
who could earn respect only on a ancient battle field. Now they were nothing more than a legion of
Apollyon. They did not have the weapons for the war they were facing. Faith in fear could not spread
like faith in love. Mankind feared the Norse which is why they faded into mythology. The Norse were
now marked as the enemy and blood cannot build a kingdom.
Men, women and children all fled the town with no time to take any belongings. The town was now
empty as Odin and the god's walked through the streets. Berserkers broke into building and pillaged
through houses. Though it seemed their plunder and loot was man, but none remained.
“We will make our fortification here, Berserkers set watch and make defenses. God's of Asgard, let
us meet and decide or course here in Midgard!” Odin said as he walked into the towns courthouse. As
the god's walked in they looked around at the set up of the seats. Most of them were confused and just
sat down where ever. Hel sat down in the judges seat, while Odin sat in one of the defenses chair.
“This is where man decide what is just? Judging a rivers currents is as though judging man. You
will never know until the undertow drags you down to the depths of its soul. ” Heimdall the god who
protects Asgard said.
“Ha! why not settle it on a battle field? Why here, where there is only seats? These are no warrior's
simply children playing with words!” Tyr the warrior god said.
“Silence, we are not here to judge man. We are here to decide the fate of the Norse kingdom.... I do
not know why the people of this town all fled. We cannot win this war if they do not worship us. We
will fade in the silence of defeat.” Odin said.
“We must fight them!” Tyr said.
“As we did today?” Odin said.
“Why are we fighting man, they are our weapons against the other kingdoms?” Freyja the goddess
of fertility and abundance said.
“They choose to fight us as the sea choose to guide us to war!” Njord god of the sea said.
“You decide the course of the sea Njord, it too can guide to peace.” Frigga goddess of prophecy
said.
“Peace! what is our kingdom in peace!” Hel shouted as her eyes turned from black to glowing
amber.
“So should we make war with our ax to defeat our enemy?” Odin said standing.
“These people are our axes, and we have many enemy's here in Midgard. Shall we fight them
unarmed in blood lust and watch our kingdom fall? Our pride, courage, honor, and culture must not
over come our senses. We are a defeated kingdom coming back to claim victory once more. Though we
cannot do it without our wisdom of defeat.” Odin said walking down the isle.
“We must face many battles, but not all can be won with brute force! Odin shouted.
“So we must give up all we believe in for victory? Then we are already defeated!” Hel shouted
jumping from her seat.
“Would you prefer we fight here amongst each other? Or out there against the seven kingdoms? We
must come to reason, we cannot fight this war without mankind.” Odin said.
“Then let us vote!” Heimdall said.
“Now it is you who sounds like a child of words!” Tyr yelled.
“Then face me without your words!” Heimdall yelled back. Both Heimdall and Tyr sprung to their
feet with weapons drawn.
“BE SILENT IGNORANT FOOLS!” Odin screamed as the whole building shook. Paint and dust
fell from the ceiling to the floor. Both Tyr and Heimdall sat back down with heads slumped in defeat.
“Yes dearest let us vote for what we shall do with man.” Frigga said in a soft voice.
“When you wish to vote simply stand, do not speak!” Odin said.
“Those who wish to wage war with all of Midgard stand now” Odin said. Just as he did Heimdall,
Tyr, Hel, Njord, and Thor all stood.
“Now be seated.” Odin said.
“Those who wish to face our true enemy and spare mankind stand now.” Odin said as he stood. So
did Frigga, and Fryja. Then Heimdall, and Thor stood once more.
“What are you fools confused!?” Hel said.
“Its....A draw? I know how to settle an even match.” Tyr said drawing his ax. Odin sat back down
rubbing his head as though it ached.
“We will not fight amongst ourselves as Loki and Baldur did today. The votes were invalid, we will
destroy all who oppose us.” Odin said pausing. As he paused Tyr held his weapon in the air cheering.
“But!.....If they do not oppose us, we will welcome them in our kingdom.” Odin said.
“Hah! We once welcomed those who fought with courage. Now we welcome cowards?” Hel
shrieked.
“So you are suggesting we welcome those who want to destroy us? Then kill those who don't?”
Frigga said.
“My words are final, all who disobey me will be banished. Now we must decide the fate of Loki.”
Odin said.
“You once told me that words are like moments, we can have thousands of them to find one
sentence of brilliance. I have heard your word many times, and still no brilliance!” Hel said. The gods
looked around the room.
“Baldur picked the fight while Loki's back was turned.” Tyr said.
“Yes it was unfortunate that Baldur died, but Loki had no choice.” Fryja said.
“Yes but Loki picked that fight when he sent Baldur to the underworld.” Odin said.
“Then Loki finished it, even when he was out matched.” Tyr said.
“They are right Odin, although my agony and yours has blinded us. Baldur was the light of Asgard
but must we lose two children?” Frigga said as a tear ran down her face.
“From this point on, Loki is no longer banished from our kingdom. We will send scouts to track
him down and bring him home.” Odin said.
“Let us now focus on the war?” Hel said.
“Yes Frigga has located most of the Kingdoms and some of the rebels. Tiffany is with the rebel
Cain as he searches for Gabriel. Right now they are just outside of Gabriel's home waiting for him. For
now we must build our defenses and prepare to attack.” Odin said
“Hel, I want you and some of the berserkers of your choosing to scout the surrounding area. Return
to us with any threats, or with Loki.” Odin said as Hel rose from her chair and headed out.
“Heimdall you are in charge of our defenses. Make our walls appear weak but as strong as Baldur.
Frigga we must map out where our enemy's are and figure out what their plans are. Fryja you will be
our diplomat. Find the local Villages and seek to make peace. Tell them that they will be protected here
in the Kingdom of Norse. Though you must be a lone diplomat Tyr will shadow you. Do not let the
people see you Tyr. Your army will move in stealth behind her. Ready to attack any threat that she
might face. The crows will watch over you both, when they swarm so shall you Tyr.” Odin said.
“And I?” Thor said.
“You will stay here with me, and Frigga. We must stay together because there are many threats
coming our way. We will need your hammer and bolts to fend off the gods.” Odin said standing from
his chair. The gods began leaving the room with their orders. Gabriel's mind wandered to what Odin
had just said. Tiffany and Cain were in Axal searching for him. Though how could they ever find him
buried in the ground? It was still a small glimmer of hope. The thought of Tiffany searching for him
was more hopeful than the thought of being free from his dirt prison.
It was a intriguing thought to use the pendant to find Tiffany. But he could not help but follow Tyr
out of the courthouse. Gabriel was still searching for his kingdom in the war. He had to see if Odin's
words were enough to bring some hope for mankind. It was clear though that his kingdom was one
divided. So he had to see if they would remain that way.
Once outside Gabriel could see that the town had already changed significantly. The houses were
being torn down for wood. Berzerkers worked all around him dismantling things. began gathering a
small army of berzerkers outside of the courthouse. They fell in ranks and only the soldiers that were
fresh gathered. Those who had been injured were left to work on defenses.
Hel had already gathered her force of only five men. They dropped their gear and took only their
axes. The men she choose were the smallest of the berserkers. Fast and agile they made perfect scouts.
Gabriel watched as they quickly ran out of the town. Heimdall was standing around a group of
berserksers. Gabriel could not hear him but he was pointing as though he was ordering them on what to
build where.
As soon as the issues were ordered men started digging and building where he was pointing. The
berserkers were void of choice, they just followed orders instantly and without question. Though the
other Norse gods could control them as easily as Odin. They were the perfect army but their generals
made them seem weak and easily manipulated.
Fryja began walking out of the town alone, but with a swarm of crows above. She truly was a
irresistible beauty. Her grace was nothing of the other Norse. She was muscular but still had all the
features of femininity. Blond braided hair, blue eyes, and the perfect proportions of power and beauty.
It would be hard to resist her as a diplomat.
As she left the town Tyr and his army marched behind her. Gabriel followed them and they stopped
just on the edge of town. They let Fryja walk as though she was defenseless and alone. Just as she
faded from their site over the hill they quickly marched to the top of the hill. Even Gabriel had to jog to
keep up with the men.
Once at the crest of the hill they all laid down and began crawling towards the top. Tyr was in the
lead and was also crawling. with one motion of his hand they all stopped. Looking up Gabriel could see
the flock of crows getting farther away. Walking to the top of the hill Gabriel could hardly see Fryja
who was vanishing once more.
Loud bursts of thunder and lighting came from behind him in the town. Turning around Gabriel
looked back at the town. Just in that short amount of time it now looked more like a Norse village. It
had a complete wall of scrap wood around it. Watch towers were placed every thirty or so yards on the
wall. Lightning lit torches around the town. It looked even weaker than the walls in Asgard. A mesh of
colors from different types of timber.
Changing his attention back to Tyr and the men Gabriel turned around again. But they were already
gone. He was standing right next to them and now they silently sneaked off. They were already running
across another ridge and the crows were no longer visible. At full speed Gabriel ran as fast as he could
trying to catch up. His legs and lungs burned running down the hill and then up the other.
Luckily the men crawled to the top of the next ridge and waited laying in the grass. Gabriel ran up
to them and they remained perfectly still. Stopping Gabriel tried to catch his breath as he walked to the
top of the hill. They had only gone a few miles but another small town was in view. This town even
smaller than the previous one.
Men with fire arms lined roof tops and windows. Fryja held her arms in the air to signal that she
came in peace. Some of the men watched the cloud of crows while others were mesmerized by her.
Gabriel could hear the men shouting orders but could not understand them. It sounded like they wanted
her to stop but he was not sure.
A shot rang out that was well off target and landed in the dirt a yard away from Fryja. It was now
clear that it was a warning shot and they wanted her to halt. She kept calm walking towards the town as
another warning shot rang out. This time it was a little closers to Fryja.
“Charge!” Tyr shouted with a blood red face of anger. The Berserkers once again charged another
town. The god's did not understand man and man did not understand the god's. Shots erupted from the
town and began bombarding the hill side. On a far away hill Gabriel could see Hel and her five men.
They watched for a moment and then ran off over the other side of the hill. They did not get involved
with the conflict, but their orders were to report threats.
“Please stop! Please!” Fryja cried out falling to her knees. A bullet ripped through her shoulder and
shot blood into the air. Her white gown now turned red over her heart. She fell clenching her shoulder.
The crows began plummeting from the sky and attacking the men on rooftops. One man lit a large
bundle of wood and kindling on top of a roof. It was a signal fire maybe for other men in the area. The
fire started out under control but quickly started burning the building and engulfing the man in flames.
Tyr had made it to Fryja and lifted her from the ground. Bullets zinged past him and a few hit
home. But Tyr did not even flinch he simply picked her up and ran from the battle. The berskers were
taking heavy loses as automatic rifles tore them down. This was not even one tenth of the force that
they took the other town with. Tyr carried Fryja over the hillside and set her down where Gabriel was
standing. She was crying though not in pain but sadness.
“Why didn’t you wait!” Fryja cried.
“They were going to kill you!” Tyr said.
“I don't think they would have shot a woman!” Fryja shouted.
“They would have shot a goddess and that is what they did, just look at you. We cannot make peace
with these people. They do not understand us, or our language. To them we are just invaders looking to
destroy them.” Tyr said. Gabriel looked back and could see that the Berserkers had suffered defeat.
They never even made it into the town before they were shot down. The hail of bullets was even
stronger than the first attack.
Crows continued to swarm the town though as the men directed their fire at them. Though the
crows could devour flesh in monstrous fashion, they could not withstand a gun shot. Crows and
feathers fell from the sky and rained down black. The crows had killed all the men on rooftops but
those inside shot them from their window seals. They were now like fish in a barrel and thousand of
crows littered the ground dead.
Looking around Gabriel could see Tyr was gone. Over a far hillside he could see him carrying Fryja
is his arms as the sun set in the distance. It was their second defeat in a day of many losses. Watching
the sunset Gabriel pulled the pendants out from his pocket. The Yellow pendant glowed in his hand. It
was his link to forever be with Tiffany. Though the same link he always had with her. Imprisoned with
emotions that could never be set free. Gabriel placed the yellow pendant around his neck and held it in
his hands.
“Uhhh....Frigga?” Gabriel said. As he did he was sent into darkness.
Chapter Four
Gabriel found himself in a dark forest. Looking around Gabriel could not see anything but the
forest. The light was dim from over cast, but fire balls and comets would fly by lighting up the forest.
The shadows of tree's danced to the glow of light from above. The sky over the forest was much more
intense than the Norse were.
“Are you sure this is where he is?” Cain said from behind Gabriel.
“Yes it is where the witches buried him.” King Abimelech said. Turning around Gabriel could see
Tiffany standing over a hole in the ground. Abimelech and Cain's heads could be seen peering up from
the hole.
“They hid the spot well, I watched them cast a spell and then foliage grew where the fresh soil once
was.” Abimelech said.
“Apparently they made hard rocks form over the spot as well!” Cain said as his shovel rang off a
rock. Old and frail Cains arms shook as he tried to lift shovels full of dirt. Tiffany just stood above the
hole watching the two men dig. looking down at them she had a worried look on her face. Gabriel
could not tell if she was worried that they would find him. Or that she was worried that Cain would be
the one to find him.
The shovel rang again, not on rock but on metal. Cain looked up and smiled at Abimelech as he
gained a new burst of energy. The two dug more frantically as Tiffany sat down on a fallen log and
watched the chaos in the sky.
“I wounder where they are all going?” Tiffany said still looking up.
“Where what is going?” Cain said still digging.
“The comets, and balls of fire?” Tiffany said.
“I think it's just a magic show to horrify mankind. The god's are no longer omnipresent, so they
send reminders of their power in the sky.” Cain said with a unsure voice as he dug. Then Cain smiled
looking down at the metal coffin that Gabriel's body was in.
“Help me up.” Cain demanded holding out his hand. Tiffany reached down and pulled him up from
the hole. Abimelech lifted one end of the metal box and set it upright.
“Hold on Gabriel we will get you out soon.” Cain said. A smile ran across Gabriel's face. If he only
knew that he was standing right next to him. But being a ghost was growing tiresome with so much
going on.
Abimelech pulled himself from the hole. With one hand he grabbed the chain around the box and
pulled it out from the hole. It was impressive but then again Abimelech was a massive being. He began
unwinding the chains until they fell off the container and into the dirt. Cain came over and lifted the lid,
Gabriel leaned over to see himself in his coffin. It was a surreal moment seeing himself dug up from
the grave. His skin was blue and purple as though it was oxygen deprived.
“He.....He is dead?!” Cain shouted in a confused rage. Tiffany rushed closer and grabbed Gabriel's
hand to feel his pulse. She turned her head from Cain and Abimelech as she felt for a pulse. Gabriel
walked around to see her face in that moment. Tears welled up in her eye's as she felt his wrist. Then a
sigh and a smile.
“He is alive.” Tiffany said trying to down play the excitement on her face. She got up and walked
away into the woods as if she was uninterested. Though it was simply a ploy to hide the tears that ran
down her face. Now Gabriel knew without a doubt that she shared the same feelings that he had for her.
He wanted to run up and hug her but he was still just a ghost. Even if he wasn't he had to pretend that
they were not interested in each other.
Tiffany was still a spy and Cain did not need to know that. If Gabriel showed his feelings for her
then Cain would assume that there was more going on. Possibly revealing that Tiffany was a spy for the
Norse kingdom. Gabriel hoped that she was just as he was. Tossed in the middle of war where no side
was worth fighting for but his own.
“What should we do?” Abimelech said confused.
“I don't know maybe he is under a curse?” Cain said looking at Gabriel.
“Lets take him back to camp and we will go from there.” Cain said grabbing one end of the box.
Abimelech grabbed the other side and they began carrying it through the woods. Gabriel grabbed the
pendants in his hand and tried to remember how to get back to physical form.
“Uhhh Frigga take me back!” Gabriel said but nothing happened.
“Frigga I want to go back to my body..” Still nothing. Gabriel followed behind the men as he
started to panic. He thought about all she had said but could not remember how to get back. Searching
his mind they walked for what seemed like hours but was only minutes. They approached a camp of
wood huts and dug outs.
Men and women sat around fires chewing on bones and scraps. They looked deprived and like a
camp of vagabonds from ancient times. Looking around Gabriel saw archers up in the tree's keeping
watch. The camp was fairly large and looked to consist of a few hundred people. Cain and Abimelech
walked through the camp and carried the container into a large hut guarded by five men with home
made spears.
They did not look like warriors or kings but starved men. Gabriel walked into the hut, inside was a
fire pit, bedding and some chairs made from branches. Tiffany was sitting on the bedding closing her
eye's as she leaned against the wall. The walls of the hut were made of tree's and the insulation was
mud and straw. She looked exhausted as she opened her eye's.
“He is cursed!” Cain said.
“Cursed?” Tiffany asked.
“Yes I think the witches placed a curse over him. But his color is coming back and he is now
breathing. Its just he wont wake up.” Cain said.
“What are we going to do?” Tiffany said trying to act worried. She saw the pendant and must have
know what was happening.
“I say we attack those witches and if they don't remove the curse than we burn them!” Abimelech
said.
“You really think we can defeat Morrighan one of the oldest known goddesses? Or did you forget
that the witch in love with Gabriel summoned her?” Cain said. Abimelech looked down at the ground
out of ideas. When Cain mentioned Morrighan you could tell it sent chills up Abimelech's spine.
“We will figure out something, for now he stays here with you Tiffany. You will be his guardian and
if anything happens I hold you responsible.” Cain said walking out of the hut. Abimelech followed
behind as smoke ran out the door behind them. Tiffany looked down at Gabriel and smiled as she laid
down in her bed. Gabriel just watched her as she fell asleep.
“What am I going to do!” Gabriel shouted. He was furious with himself for not remembering
Frigga's instructions. As the night turned into early morning Gabriel sat in the corner of the hut. He had
given up the idea of freeing himself. He would remain a ghost of ignorance. Now his mind drifted to
the dreams he had in the house. He thought of one of the quotes in the dream. He could not remember
who said it but the words echoed in his mind.
“Society needs a rebel. Not a rebel of violence and madness. But a rebel with a heart. So start a
rebellion to love and respect our humanity” The person who said it was unknown but the words were
true. Gabriel thought that if he could ever get free from his prison then he would be that rebel. If the
gods wanted war then he would be a leader of peace and defy them. He could create a refuge for
humanity and end the suffering.
He did not know how he could save people from the war. But he had to try as long as there was still
an eternity of blood in his veins. He vowed to bring humanity peace and understanding of the god's.
Although he knew little about them, he knew more than most. There was only one god that he knew
that would not let them live in peace. Apollyon was the wedge between him and peace, but if they
could hide from him then they could find peace. If even for a little while, but then again a piece of
Apollyon was in all of us.
Gabriel waited for what seemed like days as him and Tiffany sat silently in the hut. No one
disturbed them and Tiffany only ate and drank very little. She was looking drained and the effects of
famine where starting to show. The god's and their army were now in the flesh once more. With that
came all the consequences of the flesh.
She was begging to looked worried once more. Like maybe Gabriel was in trouble, lost or not
coming back. He watched as she sat down next to him and held his hand. She laid her head down on
the metal coffin and stoked his hand with her thumb until she fell asleep once more. Gabriel just
watched and waited for what might come next. Then Tiffany's head jolted up and she looked at Gabriel
once more.
“Gabriel? if you are listening please say these words. Midgard is calling, and so am I!” Tiffany
shouted at him. Gabriel jumped to his feet fumbling for his pendant. He tightly grasped it in his hand
and smiled.
“Midgards calling, and....” Darkness cut him off before he could finish what he was saying.
“So am I!” Gabriel shouted into the hut. Opening his eye's Tiffany jumped on him hugging him.
Then she pulled back and sat down on her bed.
“Soo...sorry..” Tiffany said.
“Its ok Tiffany we don't have to act anymore.” Gabriel said but was quickly cut off before he could
finish.
“Yes we do, they cannot know about us Gabriel.” Tiffany said whispering.
“You are like the atomic bomb in world war two and I am your Hiroshima. They will use me to set
you off and bring a destructive end to war.” Tiffany whispered.
“They must never know, only we will know and even that is too much.” She said still whispering.
Gabriel just looked around in anger. He knew she was right and he was faced once again with his age
old battle.
“Yes, you are right. If a day ever comes just know I will be here waiting.” Gabriel said whispering.
A smile lit up across Tiffany's face.
“I know you will, but we all must sacrifice in war. Its unfortunate that love is one of the first things
to go.” Tiffany whispered.
“Now I must get you to Cain he has a lot to talk about. But mention nothing of Asgard or the seven
kingdoms.”
“Where will I say I have been all these years?” Gabriel said.
“Tell them Apollyon had you captive. But you escaped and when you came back the witches got
you.” Tiffany said.
“Yeah about them...Morrighan is in Axal?” Gabriel said confused.
“Yes, but I will let Cain explain that to you.” Tiffany said pointing at the door. Gabriel got up and
walked out. The guards greeted him and shook his hand smiling. Gabriel was unsure of why they were
so happy but he shook their hands anyways.
“Gabriel!” Cain shouted running from a forming crowd.
“Back up fools, back to your posts!” Abimelech shouted pushing people away from Gabriel.
“Back in the hut Gabriel.” Abimelech said forcefully pushing him back in.
“Ok Ok! calm down!” Gabriel barked back.
“Sorry it is for your own protection.” Abimelech said bowing his head to Gabriel.
“Its been far too long!” Cain said smiling at Gabriel.
“So where have you been all these years?” Cain said sitting down on the bed.
“Well its a long story....But in short Apollyon had me trapped inside a cave. He wanted me
imprisoned so he could continue to build his legion. But once the war started his grasp over me faded. I
escaped and returned home. Once home I found that room...” Gabriel said.
“Yes a powerful witch in love with you took over the house. It wasn't long before she even
captivated the other inhabitants.” Cain said.
“Who is she?” Gabriel said.
“Ashley was her name, but she gave her life for you. Through a ritual to bring you back. But you
could not be rescued. Somehow the spell in failure summoned the great Morrighan and she has taken
over Axal. The town worships her, and she is starting her kingdom of Celts. But that too is a long
story..” Cain said.
“Wait Ashley did all of this?” Gabriel said in disbelief.
“I guess she was truly in love with you.” Tiffany said.
“But a witch?” Gabriel said.
“Love can make us do many things. She turned to the dark arts believing that you were dead. So
she traded her life for yours.” Cain said.
“Enough of this, the war?” Abimelech said.
“Gabriel I know this is going to sound outrageous. Their are seven kingdoms, or seven religions
who have fallen from heaven. They are here to take over the world and create a utopia. Or at least their
version of one. So they all are here and at war, gods now walk in the flesh.” Cain said.
“So what about the God? the one that is suppose to be the almighty?” Gabriel said.
“Well god has yet to show, though Apollyon is now free and roaming earth in the flesh. Thee god
has yet to show in the flesh. That is why you are so, so important Gabriel.” Cain said.
“Really how so?” Gabriel said.
“You are the only one who can bring his wrath to mankind. Remember? as long as there is one he
will not destroy the world. You are and have always been the one.” Cain said.
“So how do I call upon his wrath?” Gabriel said.
“Sin, the ultimate sin and you will taint the very ground we stand on. We all have committed it
either by lineage, or with our own flesh. Not you, you still remain the one person who can call an end
to all of this.” Cain said. Gabriel pondered for a moment.
“So let me guess you want me to commit the ultimate sin?” Gabriel said.
“Yes, as I always have, I am still cursed as are all of us.” Cain said. Gabriel got up and walked over
to the door.
“You already know my answer Cain. It remains as it always has. I have no side, this is not my war.”
Gabriel said walking out.
“It is your war, as long as you allow war!” Cain shouted from inside the hut. The people were still
gathered outside. They all reached out to Gabriel smiling and cheering. Gabriel walked through them
shaking their hands and embracing them. He walked until he saw a ladder leading up a tree. There on
top was a watch tower. Gabriel climbed the ladder and then stood on one of the branches. Looking on
he could see hundreds of people. Cain, Abimelech, and Tiffany watched him from outside of the hut.
“You are heavens abominations?!” Gabriel shouted.
“Yeaah!!” The people cheered.
“I don't believe that though!” Gabriel shouted and the people grew silent.
“Look here we are in the flesh once more. Look at Cain, he has been cursed as a wanderer of earth
since the dawn of man. Yet there he is once again in the flesh. He can finally live again free of his
ghostly ways.” Gabriel said pointing at Cain.
“I don't have all the answers, but I know war is not the answer. There is one weapon we yield over
any god. That is the power of choice, we can choose peace!” Gabriel shouted with a hoarse voice.
“But what if hell comes and kills us? what choice is that?” A man in the crowd said.
“So let hell come! I have seen hell and I won't be captivated by fear..... Should we fake our love and
have faith in our fear?” Gabriel said.
“So what should we have faith in?” A woman asked.
“I wont lie to you and say that I know. I don't know if we will find truth in death. But I do know we
find lies in life, pain in honesty, and faith in disbelief. I won't lie to myself or to you to feel better or
fake a moment. I am a corruptible and ever changing being who is wrong more often than right. So if
you have faith in anything, then let it be in my honesty!” Gabriel shouted.
“So we should what....Follow you?” A man said?
“Yeah what do we do, your honesty wont fend of hells legion!” Another man yelled.
“That is absolutely right sir, my honesty won't fend off hells legion. But it will hold back heavens
wrath long enough for us to fight hell and make peace with life.” Gabriel said. With that the crowd was
silenced, even Gabriel did not expect to find such courage. A man who once wanted only death was
now standing up against the gods and giving his faith to humanity. Even Cain's rage was silenced with
Gabriel's words. Tiffany's face was lit up with a smile as she watched a coward turn to a saint.
“So who is with me?!” Gabriel shouted and so did the crowd. Gabriel climbed down from the tree
and once again embraced the people now with open arms. Their hugs were weak from famine and lack
of sleep. Once Gabriel made it through the crowd he walked back to Cain and the hut.
“So are you with me?” Gabriel said looking at Cain, Abimelech and Tiffany.
“Its madness, but I am with you. Some day though you will see things as I do.” Cain said.
Abimelech simply nodded his head.
“Of course I am!” Tiffany said as she hugged him. Gabriel watched Cains face with her in his arms.
He looked surprised but no one expected that speech.
“So what do we do now?” Abimelech said. Gabriel pointed into the hut and they all walked in.
Night was once again approaching and the people headed for their huts and warmth of the fires.
“There is lots for us to do, but first we must regain the strength of the people. I know these forests
are full of food. The river below the canyon are full of fish. We need to feed the people and worry
about their health first and for most. Then we will worry about Axal, the witches, Morrighan, and the
other god's. For now though we must sleep and tomorrow is a fresh start for humanity.” Gabriel said
laying down on the floor of the hut.
“Very well.” Cain said with a sigh as he and Abimelech left the hut. Tiffany laid down on the bed
and Gabriel and her eye's locked as they fell asleep.
About The Author
“I don't write for money, or for my words to be read. I write because it takes me to dark corners in
my mind that I was to afraid to go.”
He is not the typical writer, if there even is such a thing. His resume most likely is not suitable for
fast food chains let alone literature. But that's the beauty in writing, it doesn't really matter who you are.
But if you must know..
He is 28 years old, born and raised in Craig Colorado. He dropped out of high school to join the
working world. Another failure in the public school system. He has worked as a butcher, casino cook,
truck driver, concrete truck driver and finisher, now he works for the government. The Colorado
Rockies are still his home.
Zach loves psychology, mathematics, physics, nature, and the outdoors. His daughter and wife are
his world and he thrives to give them the best life he can.