SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Eleven
Gabriel was standing on the porch of his cabin watching the sun peek through the forest. In his hand was the ring he had given Seraphina all of those years ago. He still had it even though Seraphina was gone. He had sworn an oath never to get married again after Seraphina’s death. His heart still belonged to her. He knew that James and Audrey thought he was heartless for what he did to Jasper and Anastasia before Audrey was born. It was because of him that Audrey had never gotten the chance to be with her birth parents. Gabriel didn’t regret what he did though. He always told himself that it had been for the best. If he hadn’t done what he had, Emily would have been sacrificed and there would have never been a second Witness to fight the Tribulations.
Gabriel had never planned for Jasper to die or knew that Anastasia would give up the child. He didn’t know that Audrey was the Witness when he had first found her. He knew that it was meant to be though. He was supposed to take Audrey from the orphanage in Russia and place her with the family that he had found. He knew though that Audrey was Jasper’s child. He could see a bit of Jasper’s wisdom in Audrey. If Audrey survived the fight against the Darkness, she would become as wise as Jasper had.
He could see James mediating in the front yard. James had been doing that a lot more as of late. Gabriel had always thought that he was supposed to be the second Witness since he was the old wise man but now he had a feeling that James was supposed to be the second Witness. James had after all helped Audrey with the Tribulations. James had been the one who had sent Aunica to the future with Audrey even if Aunica didn’t end up at the right time at first. He had been willing to sacrifice himself to make sure that Audrey got away from the Black Hands.
Gabriel looked through the window into the cabin. Aunica was still asleep. He could see the family resemblance between Aunica and Audrey. They didn’t look anything like Emily but Emily’s family had been in America for years whereas Audrey’s mother’s side had been Russian for years and Aunica’s past life had come from Russia as well to England before coming to the colonies. Why Aunica looked the same like she did now was beyond him but he had a feeling it had to do with being Seraphina’s descendant.
Gabriel looked at Audrey through the window. The girl was reading through old manuscripts and texts from his library. Gabriel couldn’t help but groan. He had told Audrey to keep the books in the library but of course, she didn’t. He knew though that Audrey was looking for clues as to how the final fight was supposed to happen and what her role was supposed to be. According to the Bible, the two Witnesses were supposed to die during the final Tribulation but Gabriel knew that the Bible didn’t get it all correct. The Book of Revelations was more about the ending of the world for the Christians, not the actual final fight.
None of the different religions had it right when it came to what the end of the world was supposed to be. They crisscrossed too much and had the final fight wrong. There wouldn’t be a giant snake swallowing the world or killing thunder and lightning. The Horsemen wouldn’t be wiping out the population. A giant seven headed beast wouldn’t come out of a seal. The final fight would be between Emily and the Darkness. If the Black Hand did use any monsters, it would be of their own creations. He knew that there were certain Black Hand sites dedicated to creating monsters. They were overseen by someone but he didn’t know who.
Gabriel went to his chair and sat down. He knew that his time on the Earth was coming to an end. He could feel his immortality slipping away more and more each day. He had a feeling that he knew how many days he had left. Emily’s vision came to his mind. They didn’t have much time left if it was correct. It would also be down to fifteen days now.
That was Emily, Elizabeth, Delaney and Rachel appeared in a flash of light before him. Emily’s Codex was in her arms. Emily had a determined look on her face. Gabriel heard James coming over and Audrey and Aunica coming out of the cabin. “We need to talk.” Emily said. The way she said it made it clear that it was not up for debate. She tapped the Codex on the cover.
Gabriel looked at the others. He knew none of them were going to back down. It was clear where they stood on the matter. Even Aunica who was the newest member of the team stood with Emily. He noticed that James was standing by Emily’s side the closest. He sighed. “I think it would be best if we all went into the library for this talk.” He said before standing up. He pocketed the ring. “There is a lot to discuss.”
In the library, Gabriel sat down in his armchair. James, Emily and Rachel sat on the couch across from him. Delaney and Elizabeth sat at the table. Aunica was on the floor and Audrey was standing by the fireplace, her arms were over her chest. Emily had the Codex opened to a page. It was an illustration of the Darkness and her generals. There was what looked like a beast behind the Darkness to the right.
“I need to know what this creature is.” Emily said, pointing at the monster. “And why I had a vision shortly after I saw it yesterday.” She had tried to get another vision by touching every other illustration but nothing had happened. Emily had tried to get the vision to come back by touching that illustration but once again, nothing had happened.
Gabriel looked at the beast. He recognized it. “That is known as the Camazot.” He told them. “It’s a monster from the Great War who served the Darkness. Rumored to be the very first servant of the Darkness in a time before the empire. I fought it during the Great War’s final fight.” He thought back to that day. It had taken him all day to fight the creature. It would have won too if the Darkness had won. “When the war was over, I sealed it away in a prison. It can never break out unless it was done by someone with pure light magic.” Gabriel continued.
Emily looked at the monster. “The Camazot?” She asked. It sounded familiar to her but she wasn’t sure why.
Gabriel nodded. “The beast appears throughout different myths and legends even to modern day times. From ancient Mayans who revered it as an evil god to a Slavic mythology who considered him a curse and a death omen. He has appeared in modern day games and just one movie. Sure the world has loose interpretations of him now but the Camazot has always left his mark on the world in the name of the Darkness. Even Ukraine remembers him when they named a place Chernobyl even if they don’t remember it.” He told them.
Emily had a feeling that Gabriel wasn’t sharing everything with them. “Why would it release a vision to me now after all of this time?” She asked him.
Gabriel thought about it. “The Camazot itself might not be sending the vision to you.” He told Emily. “The beast hasn’t seen the light of day in over thousands of years. The closest it came to being released in a mental or ethereal form was in a movie in Nineteen Forty. It nearly escaped and the world felt the beast trying to rising up. The man who made it never made another movie with him because of how close it happened. Even now, the man’s legacy keeps statues of the beast as only half out of the mountain to keep the Camazot from escaping entirely.”
Delaney’s eyes widened. “You mean Disney nearly ended the world?” She asked. She knew what the movie was that Gabriel was speaking of. She had seen Fantasia a lot and had seen the statues of the monster there.
Gabriel nodded. “Jasper and I spent a lot of time there trying to keep the Camazot from rising up through that movie.” He told them. “We only left after statues of the monster not being entirely released were made as a precaution. We weren’t worried about the game version of him. It was immobile.”
Emily couldn’t believe that there were modern versions of the Camazot or that the Great War was still leaving marks like that without people knowing. She would never be able to look at Disney the same way again.
Gabriel looked at the illustration. Emily noticed that it looked the old man was remembering that day. “Gabriel, who is the Darkness?” Emily asked. “I think it’s only fair that you tell us considering how many times we’ve all nearly died in this fight.” She could still feel the phantom scars from when Bastet had nearly killed her three times and when the Man with the German Accent had tried to sacrifice her to the Darkness. Even though she had survived each time, she could still feel the scars. She had to know who the Darkness really was. She needed to know who wanted her dead so badly.
Gabriel looked at Emily before he sighed. “I swore an oath long ago never to reveal the Darkness’s identity.” He told her. “I can’t reveal her identity without dying first.” He looked at his hands. “Even revealing that it’s a she is taking my immortality away slowly as a reminder that if I reveal her name, I will die before I get the chance.” He couldn’t reveal it.
Audrey groaned. “Gabriel. We need to know who the Darkness is.” She said. “Is there anyone who can tell us who it is? What about the Camazot? Can we try to speak to him on an astral plane or something?” The Camazot most likely hadn’t made the same oath as Gabriel. He could reveal it.
Gabriel glared at Audrey. “If you even try to speak to him on the astral plane, he could take over one of your bodies and be free even if his real body is still trapped.” He told her. “Where do you think that would leave your own soul if you get trapped somewhere in the astral plane?” Did any of them realize how much danger they would be putting themselves into if they tried that? The Camazot was dangerous, imprisoned or not.
Emily looked at her family and friends. They needed to know who was behind the Darkness. The Darkness’s servants had tried to kill them all repeatedly the last few months. The moment of peace that they had had was over now. The vision she had meant that something was about to happen. She looked at James. The teenage boy was silent but she could see that he was thinking. She wondered what he was thinking about.
Emily looked at Gabriel. “Why did you make the oath to never reveal her identity?” She asked him. Before Gabriel could answer, there was a loud pitch whistling sound. It was very piercing. Everyone in the room collapse to the ground unconscious.
Virginia Dare and the Man with the German Accent entered the room. The Man with the German Accent was rubbing his ears. Even his protective magic hadn’t been able to block out the whistle. “I’ll never be able to get that sound of my head now.” He complained to Virginia Dare.
Virginia Dare simply smiled as she put her pipe back into her backpack. “You’re welcome Ahezesser.” She told him. She looked at the unconscious group. “So who are we here for?” She asked him. When the Man with the German Accent didn’t reply, Virginia Dare turned to him. The Man with the German Accent was standing over Emily. Virginia Dare recognized the look that was on his face.
“Ahezesser, there will be a time later on for you to settle your score with her.” Virginia Dare told him. “We’re here for the one you said would help us get the Camazot out of his prison.”
The Man with the German Accent knew that Virginia Dare was right. Didn’t mean he had to like it. After so many months and failed plans, the Chosen One was laying on the ground right before him, just waiting to be sacrificed. The Man with the German Accent looked at Audrey. “She’s the one we want.” He answered, pointing at her.
Virginia Dare picked up the unconscious teenager. “Now what?” She asked.
The Man with the German Accent went to the door and looked at Virginia Dare. “We now make our escape.” He answered before leaving. Virginia Dare rolled her eyes and carried Audrey out behind him.