From the depths of my mind the blackness cleared and an image of a bright light bubbled and swelled, filling every inch of my consciousness. It was almost blinding; I was transfixed. I didn’t know if I was dreaming, but as the light dulled it was replaced by a figure: Gabriel.
Next to Gabriel, a wave of burning ash flew past in the winter wind. Shrill shrieks consumed the landscape beyond, and I realized then that Gabriel had ended Thomas, just as Jonah promised he would. I watched as Gabriel flickered and left the scene just before a mass of Vampires began hurtling over to him.
The vision jolted and bounced like a scratched DVD; then it seemed to fast-forward: Gabriel was back in the house with Hanora and Michael behind him. Looking alarmed, Ruadhan was throwing his hands in the air and talking fast. Gabriel flew from room to room. Hanora, Michael, and Ruadhan followed suit, splitting in different directions, all finally congregating back in the kitchen.
Jonah had now appeared, but Gabriel refused to face him. The only one missing was Brooke. Gabriel was at the back door, kicking what remained of the double doors, and I almost shouted at him to stop as he lifted the dustpan full of glass. He picked out several pieces, running his fingertip over the rims, presented with the remnants of my drying blood. Gabriel’s face turned to pure anger. I had never seen him so full of hate. I wondered if I was dreaming.
Gabriel flew over to Jonah and grabbed him by the neck. Ruadhan placed his hand over Gabriel’s outstretched arm, seemingly trying to defuse the situation. Brooke appeared seconds later, pleading with Gabriel and thumping his back, but he was a statue. He refused to let go. I watched as he came in and out of focus, light and color swirling, and I panicked. I had entered this vision watching him end another Vampire, Thomas, and he was shining in that same ominous way.
Gabriel, stop! I found the voice in my head, though I had no idea if he could hear.
I surveyed Gabriel as his expression changed and, releasing Jonah, his face turned apologetic. Jonah shifted his body, ticked off but not afraid, and simply nodded in Gabriel’s direction as a sign of respect or understanding, I assumed. He walked away from the Vampires out onto the patio.
Lailah, where are you?
I was about to answer when, without warning, the picture evaporated and I not only found myself thrown into darkness, but also found my thoughts fading, and I was losing consciousness once again. It occurred to me in the last few seconds of awareness that I might well be dying.
My eyelids were heavy and refused to open, as though they were glued together. I desperately tried to gather my thoughts but my head throbbed. As feeling began to come back to my body, I became aware extremely quickly that I was suspended in Gabriel’s arms. He had reached me in time. His face was buried in my stomach and I felt a strange sensation blow through the pain. I tilted my head and opened my eyes in time to witness light cascading across my midriff, spilling out into the space around me. It was like he was parting a vast sea. As his breath met the wound, the pain subsided and then departed. I didn’t know how, but he was fixing me. As the last breath exhaled from his lungs, he paused, watching my skin close back together, sealing itself.
He laid me down flat so that I covered the sun etched into the floor, and he searched my face. His eyes were bright, glowing at me. For once he looked a bit messy; smears of dirt covered his forearms where his skin was exposed, and his once crisp white shirt was muddied. But how clean he was didn’t exactly concern me.
“G … g … a … br.…” I couldn’t find my voice.
Choking back the blood that had filled my lungs, I stopped trying to speak. I coughed violently and a rusty colored haematic liquid bubbled out from the corner of my lips.
He reacted immediately: cupping the sides of my cheeks with both hands he moved his mouth over mine. As he leaned down and grazed his top lip against mine, the same resplendent glow was gifted from him to me. I could breathe easily again.
He hovered for what felt like an eternity before caressing my skin with his soft hands and placing the lightest of kisses on my mouth. He broke from me, still lingering at my lips, waiting for my response. His hands were on my cheeks and I covered them with my own. I tangled my lips with his, gently at first, but as his top lip met my lower, I crushed myself against him. His kisses became deeper and more urgent, as though he thought I might disappear at any given moment. My hands found the back of his head, pulling him closer. Dragging my fingers through his brilliant blond curls, I felt as though I was cradling creation; he was painting me by numbers, coloring me in from top to bottom, quite literally breathing life through me. It was magic. He was magic.
I returned his urgency and wrapped my legs around his waist, easing him toward me. He didn’t object and I found myself guiding his smooth, perfect hands from my back down to my sides. He skimmed my skin gently and finally grasped my hips, hugging my body tightly with his own. We were entirely entwined. His aroma was a mixture of yuzu and sandalwood; he tasted like citrus.
I ran my hands up under his shirt and felt his broad shoulders, then ran my fingertips down the length of his spine. His hand traveled down to the opening of my jeans and he tickled my navel, bobbing his finger in and out contemplatively. An elated tingle raced through me as he pawed the top of my panties. Using my hips, I tried to encourage him to wiggle me free. My whole insides seemed to light up at his touch; there was no question in my mind that we were connected in some profound way. Kissing my neck, he found my now cold ring resting on my collarbone and, regarding it hesitantly, he seized up.
Moving away from me, he placed his hands on my waist and held them there, eyes still glowing. He tugged my jeans up and rebuttoned them. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing.
“Let’s get you back in the warmth, back to the house. You’ll catch your death out here,” he said.
What? Why had he stopped? I was utterly perplexed. I had felt him—he wanted me as badly as I wanted him, but yet again something was holding him back. I eyed him with bewilderment.
“I’m more likely to catch my death in there actually. I’m not going back inside.” My words were fierce, covering my disappointment.
“Stay here, don’t move,” Gabriel said, springing up.
I waited for him to return, freezing to the bone and completely dumbfounded. But I did as he asked. He was only gone a few minutes before reappearing carrying a thick duvet and pillows. He wrapped me up tightly inside and I turned my back to him, hurt.