Chapter Seventeen

 

Four a.m. came mighty early after an evening of lovemaking, but Hannah wouldn’t need to do much more than corral the kids and soothe their fear-stricken souls. His task required a bit more alertness, which he had stores of.

“Hey honey,” he whispered and kissed the curve of her shoulder. “Time to wake up and save some kids.”

“Mmm, okay,” she mumbled. “I’m all over that. Mmm hmm.” She turned over and placed the pillow over her head.

“Come on now, I know you’re tired. I take complete responsibility for that, but we have to get up and get moving. We can’t be late for the shipment.”

He pulled the pillow off her head and threw it on the floor. “Okay, okay! I’m up. I’m up. Did I take a shower after the last time? I can’t remember.”

“Yes, we both did, so you just have to get up and get dressed. Brush your teeth and hair, and we’re good to go.”

“Right. Okay.” She slowly raised her body from the bed to sit. She shook her head as if cobwebs resided there, and shuffled over to the bathroom.

He dressed in his leather pants and a racer back tank top, his latest triumphant shopping find. It would allow his wings to release, and he wouldn’t have to ruin another shirt. He strapped his sword to his back and waited for his Warrior woman to be ready.

She walked out of the bathroom and dressed in jeans and a tank top, as well. She brushed her hair and secured it into a ponytail. “Hey, shouldn’t I have a sword now, too?”

“I need you on triage. We have plenty of Brethren and FBI to handle the physical stuff. I need you to play mother hen to these kids.”

“Where are we taking them? How many did he say he could get you today?”

“Twenty. Marty and his team, including you, will drive them back to Arizona, to South Mountain Resort. I already called and reserved an entire hallway again. Do what you did before. You’re a calming influence. As soon as we take care of Hatchet, we’ll head home. I’ve reserved a pretty special car for your return. How do you feel about driving a Maserati back home?”

“Are you serious? Don’t fool with me, now.”

“Totally serious. I’ll be flying home, and there’ll be no room for you in the vans.”

“I’m all over that. I promise not to drive like a madwoman or get pulled over, even if it kills me.”

“Thank you. I have faith. And honestly, a little pedal to the floor on a lonely stretch of road won’t hurt you. Enjoy the car. So, are you ready? We need to go. All teams are on their way. ETA is ten minutes.”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

“You’ll be flying Air Gabriel this morning. Come out to the balcony with me and hold on tight.”

He held fast to his precious cargo and touched down by a dumpster near the warehouse. Looking no worse for wear, she gave him a silent thumbs up. Their team would arrive in about five minutes. He motioned for her to stay put and shielded himself to scope out the territory. Everything appeared desolate except for the warehouse. By the front doors were two armed guards with dogs. Around the sides and the back were more guards, stationed two per side. This building was secured like Fort Knox.

Yofi flew down beside him and spoke through their threaded connection. “Hey. Nice morning for some head bangin’ and rollin’. What do you think?”

“You read my mind. Let’s start with the two in the back.” They flew around, and before the guys knew what hit them, the Warrior had knocked them out cold with the hilt of his sword. They flew over to the other two sides of the building, and he conducted repeat performances. The only guards who remained were the ones out front. They’d need them to be unharmed so the truck drivers didn’t suspect anything.

Once the kids were successfully unloaded and ushered into the warehouse, he’d dispatch the two guards. He prayed he wouldn’t have to hurt the dogs, but if they were possessed by the devil, he’d have no choice but to act accordingly.

“Dude, they don’t seem like normal, ferocious guard dogs. See that little glint in their eyes?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Work your Protector magic on them and they’ll be just fine.”

“Yeah, I’m on it.”

He searched for the perfect words to free the dogs from hatred and evil. Weaving those words together with peace, love, and joy, he blasted the dogs with those threaded messages, knowing it’d do the trick.

Two vans, headlights off, drove up the long, winding driveway leading to the back warehouse. Soon after, came a third vehicle, all black, with blackened windows. They needed that cargo truck to come, and soon!

The two angels remained shielded, and when they saw a huge truck turn onto the main driveway, he knew it was “go” time. He warned everyone to stay on alert. It came to a stop at the entrance to the warehouse. The two guards stood at attention. The driver never got out of the cab, but flickered a flashlight, he surmised, to let the guards know they should unload.

They both stepped up and unlatched the back doors. Moaning and crying oppressed his ears. Gabriel had to shake it off or else he’d be rendered useless. The guards yelled and threatened, and ordered their dogs to growl and bare their teeth at the children. They wouldn’t, opting to whine and sniff them as they passed. Muffled by a strip of duct tape over their mouths, the kids stumbled, with hands bound behind their backs, down the plank to the warehouse entrance and inside.

Gabriel ordered the team to go through the back doors and escort the kids into the awaiting vans. Once the last kid left the truck, it retreated to the anonymity of the highway. As the guards entered the building, he and Yofi unshielded and swooped down, blocking their way.

“Hey! What the fuck?”

One guard crouched behind his dog.

The other guard wasn’t stunned for long and ordered his dog to attack. “Sic ‘em boy! Sic ‘em!” The dog, let loose from his leash, ran over and licked the angel’s hand. “Luke! Attack! Attack!”

“Gee, I wonder what’s come over good, old Luke.” He bent down and scratched the scruff of the dog’s neck. “Oh, I know. He’s not under evil’s control anymore.”

“Who the fuck are you, and what’ve you done to my dog?”

“I’m Gabriel, a Brethren Protector, and he’s Yofi, a Brethren Warrior. We’re your worst nightmare, and the last ones you’ll see before your death.”

“What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re going to die this very morning. By his hands.” He pointed to his Warrior. “How goes it over there with the cowardly one?”

“Pretty good, I would say. He’s already shackled and ready to roll. Yours?”

“We’re coming to some understandings over here. Aren’t we?”

“Understandings? You better understand this is private property and you’re trespassing, ya fruitcake with wings. This here gun gives me the authority to shoot you if you don’t leave now.”

“Oh, come now.” He shook his head and snatched it from the guy’s hands before he could take his next breath and bent it in half. “I can tell you, that won’t be happening. On the other hand, you could tell me what’s going on here, and why I just saw twenty kids leave the back of a truck and enter that warehouse. You can tell me everything you know, and I’ll make your death swift and painless.”

“Holy fuck, man. I can’t tell you anything.” The man seemed to have finally realized he was up shit’s creek without a paddle.

“You can, and you will. Yofi enjoys getting answers from his subjects. He tends to get great results from scumbags like you.”

“All I know is these kids were lost and our boss found them. He’s placing them in foster homes.”

“You believe that crap?”

“Yeah, why shouldn’t I?”

“For one, they’re bound and gagged. Shouldn’t that be enough of a fucking warning flag? These kids have been kidnapped and are being sold to sex traffickers.”

“Why should I believe you over my boss? He pays my bills, man. You’re just some fucked up homo with fake wings.”

Gabriel laughed from his belly. “A homosexual! That’s rich. Fake wings! Even better. Oh, my dear, delusional friend, I wish you’d have stayed on the good side of things, but you haven’t, and neither has he. You’re both sentenced to Brethren justice, and you’ll be sent back to Hell straight away. Yofi, come do the honors.”

“Perfect timing. I just finished with this one. I’ll be right there.”

His teammate had become quite formidable since taking Seraphiel’s spot. Gabriel was duly impressed with the focus he paid to his warrior status. He trudged over to where the other guard stood.

“Ready when you are.”

“What the…no!” The panicked man struggled to escape, and the more he tried, the more desperate and frantic he became.

“You have been sentenced to Brethren justice due to your collusion with the sex trafficking of children. Get ready to meet your new boss. I hear he’s a hell of a guy.”

He nodded at Yofi and watched as he rendered the man good and dead with one swift pass of his sword. He watched as the blood absorbed into the sacred words inscribed on the blade and smiled. Another one gone.

“What do you say we go slay us a very, very bad man, Yofi?”

“I say, where you lead, I will follow.”

“We’re going to the house of one Teddy Hatchet. This ought to be quite satisfying. You know, when I first met him, I could have sworn I’d seen him somewhere before. But I know we’ve never met. Anyway, I’m rather hoping he provokes me so my sword could see some action. You know how it is. I can’t fight without just cause.”

“I could definitely make sure he gives you just cause, my brother. You got an axe to grind. I can help you with that.”

 

****

 

Hannah may have misjudged Marty. He amazed her by setting up a communication system throughout all of the vans so that she could talk to the kids as they took the long drive to Phoenix. She turned on the walkie-talkie system and cleared her throat before reciting her speech.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Hannah Livingston. I’m one of a team of rescue angels who’s just helped you escape from your captors. We are headed to Phoenix, Arizona, to a lovely hotel, where you’ll eat, sleep, and most importantly, be safe until you are placed back with your families or others who care for you. Please remain calm, as there’s no need to fear any longer. We’re all here to help you. We’re the people you can trust. The FBI is with us, as well, so you are in great hands. If you’re sleepy, close your eyes and know that when you wake up, you’ll still be free and safe from those who would harm you. If you have any questions, I’ll answer them once we’re at the hotel and settled.”

She hoped her words and soothing tone helped ease their minds. All she could do was keep on driving. Six hours was a long time to travel with kids. She hoped they’d all fall asleep and wake up already in the hotel’s parking lot. They couldn’t very well stop at a rest stop for a pee break, or could they?

“Cassiel? We should stop halfway through for a bathroom break for these kids. Lord knows when they went last, but we need to make sure they don’t run off and that they’re shielded. Any ideas?”

“Shielding isn’t a problem. I can do that. Corralling them without anyone running off is another story. Let me think on it. We have a couple hours to problem solve it out. Can you call Kristina and see what she thinks?”

“Yeah, I’ll do that now and get back to you.”

She used her cell phone this time and called her. The agent answered immediately. “Hey what’s up? I’m feeling all kinds of awesome. I don’t know about you.”

“Yup, this is the best part of the whole mission.”

“I just spoke with my team, and they’ve got a list of names to round up. This ring is huge! Thank God for that Brethren Protector. That’s all I have to say.”

“How about saying what you have planned for a bathroom break for these kids? Beyond Cassiel shielding them so they won’t be seen, I have no clue as to what to do about possible runners.”

“Good question. I know what we’ll do. We’ll race ahead of everyone to the rest stop closest to halfway and clear the area so no one is around. We can send the kids in shifts and supervise.”

“Perfect. I knew you’d come up with something. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Later….”

She contacted Cassiel again. “Cassiel, Kristina’s going to clear a rest stop for everyone and we’ll send the kids in supervised shifts.”

“Sounds good. I’ll shield the whole damn place so people pass it by.”

“Excellent idea. We’ll talk again in about two hours.”

Adrenaline coursed through her body and showed no signs of letting up. Problem was, there were no battles to be fought, no rugged terrain to scale, and no Gabriel to make ferocious sex with. Nothing to help her expel all the excess energy. There was one thing she could do. Pushing the gas pedal to the floor, she gunned his car and flew off ahead of even Kristina’s crew. Hair flew all about her, and her body pressed deeply against the back of the seat.

“Woohoo!”

After about five minutes driving at one hundred miles per hour, she slowed down to a reasonable seventy-five miles an hour. “Now that’s what I call driving!”

 

****

 

The two Brethren flew to the address Marty had given them. Still dark, they would have plenty of time to take care of matters and make it home without needing to shield for the flight. Something still gnawed at the back of his mind. Why did Hatchet look so familiar? For the life of him, he couldn’t figure that mystery out.

Switching gears, he planned out the invasion. Sure of security issues, he’d deal with any technologies standing in their way. If there were guards, they’d be handled, as well. The kingpin didn’t live that far from the warehouse, so a few minutes of air time and they were hovering above his home.

“I see security cameras every twenty feet surrounding the perimeter wall. Give me a few minutes to change their focus. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to move on.”

“Got it.”

He scaled the cement block wall and trained each camera away from the house’s grounds. Now, if someone paid attention, they’d see lawn and path, just not lawn and path anywhere near where he and Yofi would be. He’d considered disabling them, but it would’ve raised immediate alarms. This ploy would go unnoticed. Next, he scanned the area for security guards and found none outside the home, however, inside was another matter. Through a couple of windows he saw four men, heavily armed, roaming about the house. The other rooms were shuttered.

“Security cameras have been adjusted. Inside the house are armed guards. I can’t see more than four men, but there must be more. I say we shield and enter unnoticed.”

“Agreed. I’ll take care of the men as we come to them. I won’t make a sound. I promise.”

“I believe you. You’ve got quite the way with that sword. Quietest Warrior in the group. Meet me at the back entrance now.”

“Roger that.”

The one thing about shielding Brethren relied upon, was that they could still see each other. That proved immensely important as they could coordinate efforts much better this way. Warrior and Protector arrived at the back entrance at the same time.

“I’ll unlock the door. You take lead.”

Yofi simply nodded and unsheathed his sword. Gabriel waved a hand over the doorknob, twisting and turning and reciting words that would remove any barrier. The door clicked open and they trekked down the long empty hallway leading to a wide-open basement area, empty except for paintings hanging on the walls. Not the kind found in a modern art museum, but ones you’d find in older galleries where they’d be kept behind atmospheric controlled plexi-glass containers.

These paintings naturally intrigued the art gallery owner in him, so he stopped to get a better look. All were portraits from around the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Portraits of men and women in gilded thick frames graced one large expanse of wall. These appealed to him the most, and he stepped even closer to read who was represented in each. He discovered lords and ladies of little consequence, yet still part of the Hatchet ancestry. One portrait, set apart from the others, nearly stopped his heart.

Paralyzed by the unthinkable, the preposterous serendipity of it all, there before him hung the portrait of Erzabet Bathory. So he had recognized good, old Teddy. The source of his terror, his eternal traumatic stress, was the asshole’s bloodline!

“Gabriel, you with me, dude?”

He couldn’t answer, although he’d heard his partner. Shock had stolen his voice and any ability to respond.

“Gabriel! Snap out of it, man. We got a plan to follow. Let’s move!”

“Yes, yes, of course.” He blinked a few times, and drew in a deep breath. “Let’s get the rat bastard.”

The pair floated up the stairs and laid out a guard before the man had time to yelp. They were now in the kitchen, still shielded, and anyone walking in wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

“I hear voices coming from that direction.” Yofi had pointed off to the right.

Gabriel nodded, still stunned by the revelation. Winding their way around the kitchen island, they headed out and found a den with two guards, one of whom was cleaning his gun.

Yofi laughed and shook his head. “What an idiot. Fine time to be cleaning his gun, ain’t it?”

“Right.” With dark thoughts swirling in his mind, and flashbacks invading his line of sight, he hoped he’d answered appropriately.

“Okay, I’ll take the one with the loaded gun, you grab the idiot. Gabriel! Take the idiot, man.”

He waved him off, bothered by his intrusion, yet knowing what he had to do. “Yes, the idiot. I got it.”

Skulking over to the man sitting on the couch, gun guts all over the coffee table, he clocked him on the head with the hilt of his sword. Before the guy toppled over, Gabriel grabbed him and hoisted him over his shoulder. He brought him to the holding area, where the first guard lay knocked out and shackled. Yofi wasn’t far behind.

“Quite the pile we’re creating, eh? Ha ha ha!”

“Indeed. A few more and it’ll be like a dogpile on a rabbit.”

“Love that Bugs Bunny, man! Okay, on to the next room. I tell ya, I’m itching to find the head asshole already.”

“Me, too. You have no idea.” Black and stormy, a question came to mind. What sick, twisted irony was it that a descendant of such a wretched creature would be just as sadistic and cruel? Revenge and retribution would finally be his! For him, and for all the poor souls who came under the evil hand of one Erzabet Bathory.

Systematically, the pair collected guards and rendered them impotent. All told, Yofi had a dozen men to send off to Hell this evening. The Protector would have only one, and he sought him out like no other predator stalked its prey. They entered the last room of the house, the master bathroom, and there Teddy Hatchet sat, naked in his empty bathtub with a gun in his hand, shooting up heroine. A teenage boy, maybe fifteen years old and wearing a pair of underwear, administered the drug as the gun was decidedly pointed at his head, and tossed the used needle in the sink.

“Shit, I love it when my wife is pissed at me. I get the whole fucking house to myself for a few days! Hey, boy,” he drawled and waved his gun, beckoning the teen to come closer. “Come suck my dick! No, wait, suck his dick.” He pointed to a younger boy cowering in the corner. “And you, Baby Girl, you suck mine.” Gabriel tossed a glance over to another corner of the bathroom where a girl, under ten years, lay on the floor, naked. “And then, you all can go fuck yourselves, you little heathens!”

Before any of the kids could obey, the Protector casted one of his incantations around them. Yofi, knocked the gun from Teddy’s hand, to which he bellowed like the prick he was. “What the fuck? Boy, what did you shoot up into me? I’m all sorts of messed up!”

“Just what you gave me, Mr. Teddy. I promise.”

“So how the Hell did that gun just go flyin’ out of my hand? Can you tell me that?”

“N…no, sir. I can’t.”

“And how the Hell are Baby Girl and fucktard flying in the air? Look!”

“I…I don’t know. I don’t know!”

“Get your ass over here so I can punish you good for not knowing shit about anything.”

Before the boy could take a step, Yofi returned for him, picked him up, and carried the screaming kid out of the bathroom. “I’m closing the bathroom door. Do what you gotta do. I’m un-shielding for the kids and notified Zadkiel we need him here. He’s on his way.”

“I’m all over this. Thank you, my brother.”

Gabriel unshielded and released his wings as he stood before the drugged up son-of-a-bitch. “Teddy Hatchet, descendant of Erzabet Bathory.”

“Wow, that’s some fucked up shit. I’m seeing angels now. Hi there, angel.” He waved a limp hand and dropped it to his lap.

“Teddy, tell me how it is that you became so immoral, so depraved, so evil over the course of your short life?”

“Depraved? Evil? I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about except for that evil part. I live what I know. What’s been done to me, I do to others. Eye for an eye. Dick for a dick. No, wait. That’s not how that goes.” His voice trailed off as he frowned.

“So, you admit you know what you’re doing to these children is wrong?”

“I don’t care about the right or wrong of it. They deserve it! Wretched, lame creatures…only good for one thing. Lucky for me, there’re plenty of adults who feel the same way and are willing to pay obscene amounts of money for them. I get mine for free. Ha ha!”

“You sick fucking bastard,” he spat.

“Yes. I am. I studied from the best, my dear distant relation, Erzabet. So, angel, are you here to make a better man out of me?”

“No, I’m here to make you suffer for the crimes your ancestor perpetrated against me and the crimes you’ve perpetrated against our innocent children. I’ve waited centuries for this moment. Days upon endless days. Nights filled with horrific nightmares so real, I felt every hand and whip touch my body again only to find no markings in the morning. There’s been no relief from the incessant triggers. I’ve gone nearly mad!”

“You? You’re one of hers? Holy shit, but this is one fucked up hallucination. And you are one fucked up dude. Okay, so I’m gonna pay for our ‘sins’ against humanity? Lay it on me.” He spread his arms open wide like Jesus in a tub.

With one flick of his sword, Gabriel severed the man’s penis from his body.

“What the fuck?” He roared in agony and shrieked, “You’re not real! You’re not real!”

“Oh, I can assure you, Teddy, I’m very real. My name is Gabriel Seeker, Brethren Protector, and you’ve violated the rights and bodies of our children for the last time.”

The drugged out pervert sat in a pool of his own blood, mumbling and rocking back and forth, holding his severed dick in his hand.

“I’m afraid you won’t feel much if you try jerking that thing off. Let’s continue your payment, shall we?” He swung his sword and sliced through Teddy’s wrists. “Now, that’s better. You can’t fuck or touch anyone ever again.”

Shock had taken hold of the dismembered man. Not a sound escaped his lips.

Should I stop the torture? Should I go on? He has to pay. Just like Manny, he has to feel pain before he dies to make up for all the pain he’s created for hundreds of children. But you’re a Brethren angel. With every torturous act, aren’t you becoming just as depraved as the ones you send to Hell? No! I can’t be! That’s not what my mission is supposed to be about! God help me.… What have I become?

He twirled around and swung his sword to remove Teddy’s head from his body. It fell to his lap while the rest of him slumped to the side. The sword lit up and absorbed the man’s blood. Tossing his sword to the floor, he fell to his knees and retched on the mat next to him. Over and over he heaved until there was nothing left inside to get out, and nothing left in his soul but a dark cloud of guilt and shame. Retribution, he realized, had its own insidious consequences.

He stumbled to regain his footing, shielded, and blasted through the bathroom window. In a blaze of fury he shot into the sky, leaving Yofi and everyone behind to finish the job he clearly wasn’t qualified to do anymore. He soared as high as his wings would take him, out over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, through the Grand Canyon, to a place where no one could find him. He’d dishonored and defiled his ranking and position. E.L. wouldn’t have to say a word. He’d never be accepted back in the Beyond, but Hell was looking like a better bet all the time. It didn’t matter, he’d sunk so low, Satan would surely be calling upon him to join his minions. He probably had a cute nickname for him already like, Gabey Baby, or some such asinine thing.

Deeper and deeper he went into the bowels of the unnamed mountain, where not even bats dared to make their homes. He came to rest on a ledge in a deep cavern and curled up into a ball, waiting for his sentence from E.L., waiting for Satan to take his soul, waiting to…die.