Gabriel walked inside the police station. Ethan and Carlos decided to wait outside, to keep watch if anything suspicious was to happen. Gabe looked around; it was calm. Police officers were typing away at their computers at their desks. At the front desk sat an older man, a scruffy face did not help with his receding hairline, however. It was a decently small town. Gabe knew there would not be as much hustle as in a large city. But he did not expect it to be as quiet as a library. Gabriel had never walked through a metal detector with his hilt. Praying it would not go off. Gabriel hated the police. Well, most of the group did, but he did more so. He was put on this mission as a sort of test, Master Eleazar wanted him to practice with patience. What better to put him in a room full of pigs? Gabriel thought to himself.

  Gabriel walked forward, passing through the metal detector. Nothing happened. Taking a small breath of relief and started towards the front desk. “How can I help you today, son?” The man at the front desk asked. Gabe looked around and down at his nametag.

  “Mr. Rice?” Gabe asked and making eye contact with him again.

  “That’s officer Rice.” The man smiled. “Mr. Rice is my father.” Gabe had thought to himself; Mr. Rice had probably been dead for years. Gabe was probably going to have to talk eventually to get the mission done. “What can I help you with?”

  “Is Sheriff Shields here?” Gabriel asked him, uninterested. He wished David were there, Kevin, or Jasmine at the least. They were always good at being assertive to get the job done. Things were easier when all you are expected to do is fight. Social anxiety was Gabe’s worst enemy.

  “Yes, he’s here.” Officer Rice replied. “He’s in a meeting, do you mind waiting for a half-hour?”

  “Yeah, I do, but I can wait.” Gabe turned around looking at one of the chairs. Taking a seat and crossing his arms. Taking a deep breath. Closing his eyes to meditate, trying to see if he detected any darkness in the area. Nothing, they seemed to be in the clear.

  David grabbed his gear from his closet. Eve stood in the doorway. “How much do you want me to read?” She asked with what appeared to be a textbook in hand. “This is a lot.”

  “What helped me was taking one chapter at a time.” David said, “You’re a sword. No one really expects you to learn much. Just familiarize yourself with it.” David laughed putting his chest rig inside of a backpack. Throwing on a thick khaki jacket with a gray hood. He wrapped his hilt in his green cloak.

  “When do I get one of those?” Eve asked. “Let me guess when I earn it?” She smiled at him.

  “You know there are no girls on this floor.” David laughed.

  “No, the rules are no girls in the rooms, I am in your doorway.” Eve smiled at him.

  “Loopholes.” David laughed. He put his backpack along with his combat boots. “Do your best to behave,” David told her walking towards her.

  “The only one I worry about misbehaving with is you.” Eve said, “Wait, I did not mean it like that.” Eve turned around embarrassed. Hugging the textbook and walked off into the hallway.

  “Then how did you mean it?” David said closing the door behind himself. Backpack slung over one shoulder.

  “I’m not talkative with the others like I am with you,” Eve said walking towards the elevator. David followed right behind her. David just shook his head. “What do the other colors mean?” Eve asked thinking about seeing yellow, purple, red, and white. They both were inside the elevator. The doors slowly closed on them. Moving to the first floor.

  “It’s almost as if you have an entire book in your arms with all the answers.” David laughed, “I was always told not to worry about the different energy colors. Just focus on who you want to be Evelyn.”

  “Do not call me that,” Eve said looking at him, annoyed.

  “Oh, so now I can call you Eve.”

  “Yeah, I told you this morning.” She raised her voice. “Are you okay?”

  “I just have a lot on my mind.” She thought about what he was saying. The energies were their own hearts. Not a horoscope to follow or some type of political ideology to subscribe to. They all played a role. Seeing as they dance together. The doors of the elevator opened. Kevin was standing there waiting for the two.

  “About time. You’re late.” Kevin said as the two joined him walking.

  “So, you’re upset when I am late, but when you’re late it’s okay.” David smiled. Passing off what was in Kevin’s hand. Keeping it concealed placing it in his back pocket. Eve watched the exchange, curious about what it was.

  “Yeah, because I have to wait on you.” Kevin laughed.

  “Are you going with him?” Eve asked.

  “Nah, this is a David adventure.” Kevin said, “He needs one of these every once in and awhile.”

  “Yeah, lord knows what would happen if I were surrounded by you guys all the time.” David smiled as they walked down the stone brick path to the gate.

  “Kevin, just need your help. Actually, never mind. Eve goes to Jasmine with any help you need.” David stopped at the gate.

  “I don’t really expect him to help me anyways.” Eve joked.

  “Good, I don’t need the blueberry bothering me anyways,” Kevin said, watching her face fall into a scowl. “Stay safe, man.”

  “Memento Mori.” David took his hand. Kevin just nodded at him. The gate opened. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” David said pointing at Eve.

  “So, choking my parents isn’t outside of the realm of possibilities,” Eve said smiling at him. “I’m sorry.” David just smiled back and turned around walking away.

  “Smooth,” Kevin said to her closing the gate behind David. Eve was embarrassed not believing she had just said that. “Think before you talk. I know you’re not the greatest at it.” Kevin started to walk away.

  “Why does David keep saying, Memento Mori?” She asked.

  “You didn’t ask him?” Kevin said walking away.

  “He wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Then I can’t tell you.” Kevin left her at the gate. Eve turned around to watch the leaves beginning to fall onto the ground as David passed. Hoping he would be safe. It was probably nothing, but she was never wrong to ignore a gut feeling. She took a deep breath, recomposing herself. As soon as David was no longer in her field of view. She turned around and started back to her room. Book in her hand. David kept walking down the path to the town below. Taking a deep breath, hoping that his lead was not just another false report or even abandoned. It was just another Monday to him.

  “Sir?” Officer Rice called over to Gabriel who had accidentally taken a short nap. Opening his eyes and looking over at the officer. “The Sheriff is ready to see you.” He said walking over to the desk, unlocking a latch. A section of the desk swung open. Gabe stood up from his chair, wiping his jaw for any drool. He was relieved knowing today was not the day for that. Gabe walked over to the officer and walked through the desk.

  “Where is his office?” Gabriel asked looking around. Gabe knew, but he did not want to seem suspicious. After all, he did not see any Order markings on the police station sign out front.

  “Ms. Jacobs, can you take this young man here to the sheriff for me?” He asked the young red-headed woman.

  “Yes sir. Come on.” Her thick southern accent drew heavy from her mouth as she spoke. Gabe followed her down a hallway. “What’s your name darling?”

  Darling, who the hell does she think she is? Oh no she finds me attractive. Gabriel thought to himself walking behind her. He could not help but to read every person’s mind he came across. Whatever she seems nice, no need to be rude. “Johnathan.” He lied, but she did not know the better. “You are not from, here are you?” He asked.

  “I could say the same about you.”

  “What makes you think that?” Gabe asked following behind her.

  “Your skin is far too pale to be from Arizona.”

  “I like to stay inside,” Gabe said. “Never heard anyone from here having such a heavy southern accent.”

  “Yeah, I moved here after college. Realized I did not want to stay in Tennessee. So, I moved from the middle of nowhere to another nowhere.” Gabe pulled from her mind; she was escaping something. He did not care to pull anymore. Everyone had lived, their own issues going on. “Anyways, how about I show you around some more?”

  “I’m not going to be here long.” He replied.

  “Here” She handed Gabe her card, it read. ‘Officer Lilian Jacobs.’ Along with her phone number.

  “I have a girlfriend.” Gabe awkwardly smiled at her. He missed Allison, hating to have to talk to other women. Probably not, he would call if he needed someone’s rights oppressed, however. He laughed to himself. They stopped at an old maple door with the name Sheriff Brandon Shields. Gabe could feel his presence from outside. “Thank you again, Ms. Jacobs.” He smiled at her. She nodded and turned around, knocking on the door before opening it.

  “Sheriff. This is Jonathan. He is the young man asking to speak with you.” She said. Gabe walked in behind her.

  “How can I help you, Jonathan?” The sheriff asked him. A very tall man, a spitting image of Liam. His blonde hair and blue piercing eyes. Gabe was astonished, his heart sunk slightly. David probably would have cried he thought to himself jokingly.

  “I was wondering if I can speak with you in private,” Gabe asked standing still.

  “Of course. Thank you, Officer Jacobs.” The young girl turned around, smiling at Gabe, and heading out the door. Closing it behind her. Gabe paid her no mind. “Please take a seat.” He said taking a seat behind his desk.

  “Thank you for your hospitality, but I am in a rush,” Gabe said walking over to him. He felt an odd presence. A crystal was in the room. Could it be hexed? He wondered.

  “Is your life in danger?” Shields asked Gabriel. “You’re in a safe place son.”

  “Do you know where your son is?” Gabe asked him.

  “Gabriel.” He dropped his jaw. “It’s been too long.” Gabe had not seen him since he was young. Back in the happier days. “It’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too, but I need to know where Liam is,” Gabe said searching around the room, trying to find the crystal.

  “Hey, calm down, what’s got, you anxious son?” He asked. Gabe kept searching around the office. “I don’t know where he is. Just that he comes to visit every now and then.”

  “When was he last here?” Gabe asked him.

  “He was here two days ago actually. Said the order outpost here went dark.” He said. “He was investigating.”

  Gabe turned over to him. That had to mean the outpost went dark when Liam was there. He opened a drawer; the presence of the crystal was strong. Looking inside the aluminum cabinet for it. He looked under the drawer. There it was, radiating red. Small letters in Latin. It read something evil. Gabe did not dare to touch it. Nor would he try to read it, David was the one who studied demonology, he knew what to read and what not to read.

  “What is it, son?” He asked. Gabe remained in silence.

  “Watcher team. This is Sky Watch.” Virgil had called in Gabe’s earpiece. Virgil was standing on a dune with a pair of binoculars. Looking out, he could see four dirt bike riders dressed in tactical gear. Along with a dune buggy trailing behind them. “You have eight enemy riders in bound to your position.”

  “Get the Silver Arrow here now,” Gabe said into his earpiece. “Mr. Shields, it was nice seeing you again, but I have to leave.” It was a trap he thought to himself. He took a picture of the crystal and put his phone away.

  “Wait.”

  Gabriel went out the door, not listening to him. He continued down the hallway. The sheriff chased him down the hallway. “What is going on?” He called down the halls. Gabe walked outside the front door. Ms. Jacobs saw the yelling following the sheriff outside, all eyes in the office snaped their necks to see what was going on.

  Gabe rejoined with Ethan and Carlos. Gabe could hear the roar of the dirt bikes. It was too late. They were far too close for them to get away. Not in public, there were too many eyes. This was a bold move for the Brotherhood. “Sheriff, we have multiple hostiles coming to kill us,” Gabe said hastily. “Get your force inside. We’re going to lead them elsewhere.” The dirt bikes and the buggy came drifting around the corner. It was too late. They had to move now. The sheriff took his people inside.

  Gabe turned to Carlos and Ethan. “Hope you guys are ready.” He said as he started running down the street attempting to make a quick escape. Once they reached the end of the street, something was not right.

  Virgil ran inside the Silver Arrow, flipping switches to start up the engines. The VTOL came online, strapping himself in and throwing on his helmet.

  Carlos turned his head around. “They’re not coming after us.” Gabe turned his head with Ethan back at the acolytes. They parked in front of the police station. Gabe counted eight of them walking up the steps of the building.

  “Those bastards are going to bait us,” Carlos said.

  “We have to keep going.” Ethan said, “They would not risk blowing their cover just for three Guardians. Plus, we’re outnumbered.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Gabriel, they are all going to die if we do not help them,” Carlos said.

  “They would blow their cover?”

  “Or they would slaughter this entire town,” Gabriel said pulling his hilt off his belt. “There are no witnesses if there are no survivors.” He said. The other two pulled out their hilts. Following behind Gabe as he started running towards the police station again. There was no one they could count on for backup. They could do it if they played it smart. Once Virgil arrived it would even the odds. Gabe had no problem, who he worried for were the other three. Gabriel’s strategies all relied on David being there, otherwise, he was a lone wolf. Now there were three he had to watch out for. His heart sunk as he felt screams from the police station. Along with gun shots. Then feeling life falling to nothingness. Gabriel gritted his teeth, drew his katana. Carlos drew his in return as Ethan drew his claymore. All three standing in front of the police station. The dirt bikes and the dune buggy were crushed as Gabe squeezed his hand into a fist. Gabe charged ahead and into the doors of the police station.

  “Ah nice of you to join us.” A voice broke out from the man in the front. His voice was malfested as if a demon were speaking with him. The man in the front slowly turned around. Gabe looked around; two police officers had already been cut down. Lilian was being held off the floor, being choked by the mysterious man. “Tell me Locklear, have you finally left your brother’s wing?”

  Gabe swallowed the spit in his mouth, igniting his blade in blue energy. Things just got a little more complicated. “Why don’t you take off that stupid mask and let me look you in the eyes.” The man stared at him. Waving his hand, the other three rushed them. Gabe picked up a natural defense, why did they always attack in waves. He thought to himself. He began using his battle meditation technique, telling Carlos and Ethan whatever weaknesses he saw or telling them what to do before he did it. Gabe moved around the large man attacking him. Parrying his attack and slashing him in the back. Carlos picked up a heavy defense. Doing everything he could to parry each strike. Employing the shield around his blade to add to the strength of his attacks. Striking against him, even kicking him into the wall before stabbing him in the chest. Ethan had jumped over the small man, establishing a mind trick successfully convincing him that he would stay still. Ethan turned around pushing the acolyte out of the window.

  “Pitiful.” The man in the mask said, “Never mind that.” Gabe charged at him, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, the man jumped to the side of him, Gabe lowered his sword to catch Ms. Jacobs as she fell to the ground. Gabe looked at her, she touched his face before she fell into a deep sleep. Gabe could see her life flash before her eyes as she took her final breath. Gabriel gritted his teeth. Standing up he looked at the masked man.

  “Attacking innocent people. What are you hoping to gain here?” Gabriel asked, taking up an offensive pose.

  “Above us!” Ethan yelled out as the four other acolytes from earlier broke through the roof. Debris crashed around them, lifting dust from the ground and into the air. All igniting their crimson swords. Gabe jumped away, dodging one who was trying to wrap his large arms around him. As he was in the air, Gabe pushed his hand out, pushing him into the window. Carlos and Ethan stood back-to-back, surrounded by enemies. Carlos became nervous, they needed reinforcements.

  “Gabriel!” The sheriff yelled out as he fired multiple shots from his Glock 19 at the masked man. They just bounced off his armor, however. The masked man reached out his hand, grabbing Liam’s father by the throat and pulling him. Spinning around drawing his broadsword. It had a strange but yet familiar hilt. Stabbing Liam’s father in the stomach.

  “No!” Gabe screamed out charging at the masked man. The masked man dropped the sheriff on the ground, cold and bleeding from his mouth.

  “He is not lost. Help him.” Liam’s father said quietly spitting blood out on himself. Gabe heard him, wondering what he was saying. The masked man raised his fingers at Gabriel, sending red lightning at Gabe. Blocking it with his sword. Raising his palm to push him with back. Ethan and Carlos had formed an impenetrable defensive shield around them, blocking everything that came their way from the enemy. Gabriel kept moving forward, trying to engage the masked man who dropped the lightning. Decided to duel with Gabriel. Fearing the young guardian.

  “You are going to pay for that,” Gabe said, his body becoming fueled with hatred. Attacking heavily against the masked man. Locking his blade against his, the man was strong. Pushing heavily against Gabriel.

  “This is useless.” The masked man said. “The Legion is coming here. You should escape with your lives.” Gabe’s sweat flooded down his forehead. Maybe he was right. What was the Legion? “The Brotherhood would love to have three watcher heads.”

  Gabe smiled, “Four.” He said. The masked man was caught off guard as Gabe went for a kick at the leg. The warring of the engines could be heard from outside. “Watcher’s brace!” He yelled out turning around running quickly, jumping on top of a desk, sliding across it. Lifting and flipped the desk on the side to protect himself. Carlos and Ethan ran as fast as possible back into the entrance hall. Taking cover at the wall. The masked man looked over raising his sword to reflect anything coming towards himself. Black energy formed a bubble around him.

  Virgil was hovering outside the window. Saying a silent prayer to himself, hoping not to hurt the others. He flipped up a cover to a button. A side panel expanded from the side of the hull. Squeezing the red button. A rocket fired into the window of the building. Slamming directly onto the masked man, sending him flying against the opposite side of the building. But it did not keep the fire from surrounding him and engulfing the room. The shockwave shattered the windows and walls of the building. Gabe was blown back into another desk. Hitting him on the back. His vision faded to black.

  He opened his eyes looking at all the dead police officers, everything was in slow motion. Lilian Jacobs, how early did she die. Hoping to have a normal life, just another casualty of a never-ending war. No, more than just a casualty. Gabe moved his eyes to the left, Brandon Shields. Hoped for nothing less than the best for his son. Gabriel hoped he knew nothing of his son’s pain. Maybe then he could rest at peace. The sheriff opened his eyes, filled with so much pain. Gabe tapped into his mind. “Save him.” He said, “He is so lost. Liam only wanted love, now he feels as if you guys have failed him.” Shields continued.

  “I will do my best,” Gabe said not wanting to promise a task that almost seemed impossible. “I am truly sorry.” He told him. Liam’s father smiled before closing his eyes forever. Would things have been different if they just tried harder to help him? What is this war even worth?

  Carlos and Ethan ran over grabbing Gabriel from the ground. “We have to go, there are too many already here,” Carlos said Virgil had landed on the road. Dropping the back ramp waiting for the three boys. Throwing Gabriel over his shoulder, Ethan started for the door. “What about the town?”

  Ethan ran up the ramp, sitting Gabriel down in one of the chairs. “There are only four of us Carlos.” He said, “I know. I know.” He said eyes welling up. Black smoke had already begun filling the sky. “We will avenge them. But we can’t do it dead.” Carlos looked around, nodding his head in anxiety. Running up the ramp. “Virgil let’s go!” He yelled out. The Silver Arrow lifted off the ground, sand blowing everywhere. Gabriel stayed silent looking outside the bay. Taking a deep breath, he failed too many. Each loss of life was a failure to him. Blaming himself heavily. They should have never come. The masked man walked outside the front door. His mask had shattered, barely being held together. Gabriel shot up from his chair. The masked man raised his hand to the ship, attempting to grab it from the sky. Reaching into the side cabinets. Gabriel pulled a short-barreled AR-15 slamming a magazine inside. He pulled the charging handle, switching the selector switch off safe. Squeezing the trigger quickly at the masked man. Causing him to raise his guard. Virgil increased the speed of the Silver Arrow to accelerate faster into the air.

  Gabe promised himself to never forget that mask, hoping to one day get vengeance. He put the rifle to his side, grabbing onto one of the overhead handles, watching as the town began to go up in flames. He could feel the loss of life. He could not tell what was brighter, the fires burning the homes, or the setting sun. Gabriel gritted his teeth, tightening his fist. He stayed watching for a while until the town disappeared in the distance, he could swear the black smoke filled the skies as their screams filled his mind. Wishing someone could just wake him up from the nightmare. “What’s the point?” He muttered. This war only destroys the innocent.

  “How many?” Ethan asked.

  “How many what?” Gabe asked.

  “How many lives?”

  “Two to three thousand.” Gabe’s eyes welling up.

  “That’s two to three thousand reasons.” Ethan put his hand on his shoulder.

  “How many are in a Legion?” Gabriel asked Ethan.

  “I’m not sure,” Ethan said under his breath.

  Gabe tightened his fist, even more, breaking the skin with his nails. “I’m going to kill them all.”

  Eve was laying on the bed. Her legs crossed as if she were a scorpion with her legs raised behind her. The book opened in front of herself. Suddenly, she felt nothing but pain in her heart. What was this? David? She thought to herself. No, something more. She looked at her phone. There were emergency news reports of a gas leak explosion in a small town in Arizona, with no survivors. She gasped to herself. She could tell opening herself to the spirits, caused her to be more in tuned and affected by the world around herself. Just as she could feel the spirits living, she could feel them dying. She looked out her window, the sun was setting. She had been studying all day, waiting for David to get back so she could continue her training. Eve sat up, wearing short shorts and a tank top. Looking out the window. He should be back already.” She thought to herself. Maybe he is grabbing something to eat. She smiled to herself.

  David stepped out of the black SUV. Stepping out, handed the driver some money. He grabbed his backpack and started walking up a trail on the side of a hill. He looked around, surrounded by nothing but a desert. Close to Barstow. Finding a rock on the side of the trail. He opened his backpack. Taking off his jacket. Clipping his chest rig on himself. Unrolling his dark green cloak and attaching it to his shoulder wrapping himself in it, doing his best to stay warm. He placed his backpack in the corner. His heart sunk. He felt his head begin to pound. What happened? He wondered. He checked his phone, reading the same emergency alert. He texted Kevin. “Dark.” He messaged him before turning off his phone. Placing it inside his bag. And throwing it into a bush.

  David continued up the trail. Keeping his eyes in front of him. Climbing over rocks. Once he stood on top of a rock. “We’re the only ones here,” David said as two guardians from the Order came from behind a bush.

  “Can never be too safe.” One of them said.

  “Where is the cave?” David asked the kid.

  “To the north. From this point, twenty degrees.” He said, “I assume you know why you’re here.” He handed David a small container.

  “Yeah,” David said. “You boys should leave.” Commanded them.

  “We were never here.” He said as the two began walking off on their own down the trail. David took a deep breath. Opening the container and taking his fingers to paint green, yellow, and blue markings on himself. Tribal markings meant to be aligned with his heritage. Traditional to the Order for the individual to represent their heritage. Once David had painted his face with lines and markings of his family. He threw the small container into the bush. Standing back up, pulling out his compass off his chest rig, and walking to his twenty degrees. David’s mind was blank, slowing his breathing and meditating the best he could to stay in touch with the spirits around him.

  There was a knock at Eve’s door, she shot up. Seeing green energy flowing from under the door. “David?” She asked.

  “No just Allison.” She said. Eve walked over, opening the door. Allison eyed her up and down, she chuckled. “Get dressed, Gabe and the boys are on their way. Since you’re with us Kevin insisted you join our debriefing.” Allison was typically ecstatic, but she was off.

  “Is everything okay?” Eve asked her.

  “Yeah, just hurry,” Allison said walking away to the elevator.

  “I’ll be down.” Eve shut the door, was this to do with the incident with the town. Or is there something more? Eve walked over to her closet throwing on a sweater and a pair of jeans. Slipping on her shoes. Looking at herself in the mirror, looking at her blue crystal. She touched it feeling its energy radiate from it. Eve headed out the door calling the elevator back up.

  Gabriel pressed the button on the ramp. As it lowered. Virgil brought the Silver Arrow down to the roof. Kevin stood there with Jasmine. As soon as they touched down. “Where is David?” Gabe asked looking at the two of them. Kevin shook his head in response.

  “We have to debrief Master Eleazar before he tells us anything,” Kevin said as the engines of the Silver Arrow turned spun to a slow stop. Carlos and Ethan jumped off the ramp, Carlos walked over to side hug his sister. Ethan looked around. All remained silent. Gabe started towards the stairs. He needed to walk a bit to relax his mind. The others followed behind him. Virgil slammed his fist on one of the control panels, a tear rolling down his eye. He stood up turning off the power. Wiping his eyes from the welled tears. He shook his head heading outside and following the others quickly. What was harder? He asked himself, standing in the back watching it all feeling hopeless? Or having to stay strong flying away from it all, abandoning all those cries for help? He did not know if he was going to sleep tonight.

  Eve was waiting with Allison on one of the couches. She felt the heaviness in the room. Chris and Richard were setting up the computer, plugging in grid coordinates on the computer preparing for the brief. Stephen was with Master Eleazar in one of the rooms, Stephen pleading and begging. Not sure about what, but she could tell his distress.

  Eve could feel the rest of the team in the elevator as it touched down in the cavern. They were here. The doors opened as Gabe charged out first. Allison stood up and rushed over to cut him off. She stopped in front of him, “Are you okay?” She muttered.

  Gabriel looked down at her, raising his eyes to look past her. Eve could tell there was something he had on his mind. She cared for him; it was hard for her to tell if Gabe had any emotion. He hid it well. “I’m fine, where’s my brother?” He asked stepping around Allison as the others passed around her as well. Eve looked up at him, not knowing if she had the right to speak at the moment. Master Eleazar walked out of his room and down with the others.

  “Patience Gabriel.” Master Eleazar said, “Everyone gather around. We don’t have enough time to be screwing around.” Allison turned around whipping her eyes and walking over, sitting down next to Eve. “Tell me what happened.” He said looking at Gabe, Ethan, Carlos, and Virgil.

  “It was a trap.” Carlos said, “They knew we were there.” Gabe pulled out his phone.

  “They had this crystal there, it reacted to our energy field,” Gabe said swiping the picture to the projector. The crystal appeared with the Latin lettering. “I know either David, Allison, or you could read it.”

  “It reads nothing more than Abaddon’s Legion.” Master Eleazar said. He kept his bearing, not taken a different.

  “Something is telling me you do not seem surprised,” Virgil said.

  “I had suspicions after everything recovered from the outposts that were destroyed.”

  “Abaddon? That is the fallen angel, right?” Jasmine said sitting on the headrest of the sofa.

  “Seems the Brotherhood have a new leader,” Richard said crossing his arms.

  “More like a general,” Eve said. Everyone looked at her as if surprised by her even talking at all. “What?”

  “Evelyn is right. Legions are led by angels. The Brotherhood would form Legions to carry out attacks or even go to war. To keep the rest of the Brotherhood hidden.” Eleazar said. “How did you know that I’m curious?”

  “I’ve been studying.” She said, “I read that the Brotherhood of Darkness was once derived from the Order, hence why they use a lot of biblical terms like the Order uses.”

  “Someone craves knowledge.” Eleazar smiled at her. He turned his head back to the map. The others turned their heads.

  “Abaddon is the fallen angel of the abyss. Kind of like Lucifer’s right-hand man, right?” Allison asked.

  “There was a masked acolyte there. He was powerful.” Gabe said raising his hand.

  “Could it be possible that the masked man is this Abaddon guy, or even could be Liam?” Carlos asked.

  “Liam is evil, but I don’t think he’s capable of killing his own father,” Virgil said.

  “I don’t believe so, he was hesitant in wanting to fight David, if he couldn’t kill David, how could kill his own father,” Gabe asked walking over to the map.

  “The darkness can be deceiving. Many would do anything to attain its power.” Master Eleazar said, “The seduction of it can cause anyone to do things they do not mean.” Eve looked around at the others. Everyone was so engaged in the brief. Never be a part of something as serious as this. She did not know whether to be excited or terrified.

  “So, what’s our next move?” Gabe asked. “Where is David? I can tell you guys are hiding something from me.” Gabriel began to grow anxious, feeling as if something was off.

  “I am sorry Gabriel.” Kevin said, “that mission was just to get you away from David for a while.” He said Kevin could not hold the secret anymore. He could tell it was starting to hurt him. Eve watched as Gabe’s energy grow into a more chaotic flow.

  “David was tasked single handily to investigate a possible Brotherhood hide out.” Master Eleazar said. Everyone looked up in anxiety, besides Jasmine and Kevin who could not bring themselves to look at Gabriel.

  “Alone?” Gabriel asked. “He could die!” He yelled out.

  “This is a part of his trial.” Master Eleazar called out. Eve looked down at the ground. Leaning forwards, her palms grew sweaty. She saw their power and the devastation they were capable of. Now David was going into the wasp nest. How could he have smiled before he left? As if it were no big deal to him.

  “He said he’d be back tonight,” Eve muttered feeling like she was being lied to. She understood why he had to lie to keep her mind at ease.

  “Yes.” Master Eleazar said. “That’s if he did not find anything.”

  “And if he did?” Gabriel asked his master. Almost pleading for an answer.

  “Then the Watchers will be ready to help David.” Master Eleazar said. Eve looked up at him.

  “I want to go,” Eve said.

  “Even I know that’s not a good idea,” Stephen said his arms crossed. Eve knew he was right; she was not strong enough yet to be of any use. She was just so tired of being so useless. She swore to herself that eventually, she will be better. The group stood in a circle looking at the map. Gabe was still covered in ash and dirt along with his team. They took a deep breath together. The energy calmed in the room. Allison looked up at Gabriel, wishing he would talk to her. Wishing she were brave enough to force him to talk. Or even force herself to tell him.

  Eve wrapped her arms around her knees, picking at her fingernails. “It’s going to be a long night. I’ll make us some dinner.” Richard said as he released his arms and walked towards the elevator. All eyes were glued to the map of California. Eve said a silent prayer again. Looking up after finishing. Gabe’s eyes were locked on hers. Nodding his head at her in agreement. “Eve grab those sticks over there.” Gabe pointed in the corner. Eve turned her head, eyes coming onto the wooden swords in the corner of the room.

  “What?” She asked.

  “Why sit around sulking when I can teach you a thing or two?”