Sacred Bloodlines (7 page)

“When Rampart manor was established hundreds of years ago the demons came close to discovering our location.”

“What happened?”  Gabe gasped as the question slipped from his lips.

“I wasn’t born when Rampart was built.  Legend says our Master Guardian at the time was given the task of venturing to the new world and building a training facility.”  Michael began the story.  “He was making progress and the locals were eagerly helping in the building process.  Somehow a legion of demons discovered Rampart was being constructed and the village of Roanoke was helping in that construction.  The demons came in during the night and wiped out the entire village.”

“Wait.” Gabe stopped Michael’s story.  He couldn’t believe what he was about to ask.  “Are you saying the ‘Lost Colony’ of Roanoke was slaughtered by demons?”

Michael nodded solemnly. 

“Those left sought shelter within the walls of Rampart.  Thanks to the clerics incantations, Rampart manor wasn’t discovered.”  Michael stood and extended his hand to Gabe, clearing his throat.  

“How about we go and get that food I’ve been promising you?”  Michael asked. The sad history clearly unsettled him.

Remembering the previously mentioned feast, Gabe stood.  As they walked towards a large, stone building across the courtyard, Michael further told Gabe about the manor and their mission to preserve mankind.  

After a lifetime of being shifted around from foster home to foster home, Gabe thought about how the place sounded like a vacation paradise.  Even with the threat of demons, he could imagine himself in this life.

Finally they arrived at the entrance to the dining hall.  Michael pushed the old wooden door open to reveal a huge room that had wooden tables surrounded by long, rustic benches.  The tables filled the large open space.  Gabe imagined it could hold hundreds of people.

“This is where we all gather for our meals together.”  Michael explained.  

It finally dawned on Gabe exactly how vast this place was.  It was quite amazing.  

“Just around this corner,” Michael said, leading the way.  Gabe followed him back through a large archway.  As they continued down the corridor, amazing smells began to fill his nostrils.  It was absolutely intoxicating.  He could taste the sugar in the air as they walked.  

They rounded a corner.  Without warning, Gabe’s jaw dropped in awe as he saw a huge kitchen in front of him.  The walls were covered in ivory subway tiles that Gabe imagined had probably been white at some point.  There were wooden prep tables in every direction.  Gabe counted at least a dozen stoves.  He could imagine what the kitchen must be like when it was bustling with cooks.

“Chef,” Michael said rushing over to shake the hand of a lanky man standing only feet away.  Gabe thought it humorous that a chef could be so thin, but quickly lost that thought when he saw the lavish table behind the man.  He realized he hadn’t eaten dinner the previous evening.  The growling in his stomach gave testimony to his hunger. Michael continued introducing them.  Gabe struggled to listen with all the distracting delicious delights before him.  His attention was caught by the food.  Soon the pleasantries were done and the chef stepped aside so Gabe could fill his plate.

There were stacks of flapjacks with butter pooling on the top and drips running down the side.  Another plate was overflowing with twisted cinnamon buns that were smothered with homemade icing so thick the top of the buns were barely visible.  Crisp bacon, brown sausage (links and patties) and ham slices were artistically spiraled on another platter.  Scrambled eggs, any fruit you can imagine, biscuits, and gravy so creamy and smooth that Gabe mistook it for buttermilk.  

The table never seemed to end.  Gabe couldn’t figure out where to begin.

“Don’t worry,” Michael said patting him on the back.  “You can always get seconds.”

Gabe was relieved that he didn’t have to choose only one item.  The thing that pleased him the most was that it wasn’t another morning of burnt toast and powdered eggs served at the home for wayward boys.  Gabe began to pile his plate as high as he could, catching a sausage link in his hand as it rolled from atop his mounded plate.  Once he found a seat at one of the wooden tables and benches, he didn’t stop eating until he thought he might burst.

Chapter Six

After his amazing meal earlier that day, Gabe was given a tour of the grounds by a young boy named Rufus who he guessed couldn’t be any older than twelve.  

As they walked the grounds, Gabe began to play back the conversations he and Michael had shared.  He had many more questions, but Michael had been called away on important business.  He had assured Gabe there would be plenty of time for more questions after he returned.  

Gabe became uncomfortable when he realized that Rufus was continuously staring at him and stumbling over his words each time he spoke.  It didn’t take long for Gabe to realize the boy had some misplaced hero worship.  After only a few stops on the tour, Gabe feigned a headache and asked to be escorted back to his room.

Rufus had been all too willing to accommodate him and practically tripped over his feet guiding him back to his chambers.  Once there, he offered to get Gabe anything he needed; perhaps a pain reliever or a healer.  Surprised at the notion of a healer coming to cure a headache, Gabe shook his head and explained to Rufus he just wanted to lie down.

Gabe began to close the door with Rufus still yammering on the other side.  He guided it closed slowly trying not to be rude but the boy seemed to ramble incessantly.  At last, the boy paused to catch his breath.  Gabe seized the moment to say a quick thank you and goodnight, pushing the door closed completely.

After he was alone, Gabe plopped down into one of the high back chairs near the fireplace.  His thoughts had just begun to wonder when he noticed that on the side table was the book he had been studying earlier with Michael.  

On top of the book was a paper.  A short note was scribbled on it:

Gabe,

Please feel free to study further.  Hopefully, it will help you answer any questions you may have.  We will talk soon.

• -Michael
  

Gabe felt excitement swell up inside him as he tore open the book and thumbed through the thin pages.  He poured over all the details it contained for hours. He was amazed at how ideas in the book differed from what he had always thought. 

Growing up, Gabe believed Hell was a place where evil souls went.  If it were even real at all.  He had assumed demons were what people who went to hell transformed into.  This book explained a different reality.

Gabe devoured the book.  He absorbed facts such as, demons were not lost souls.  He learned that demons were merely fallen angels that had followed Satan in the great war of Heaven.  The book laid the story out in epic fashion.  Gabe was intoxicated from its images. 

As he read on, Gabe learned of how angered God had become over the treachery of Lucifer. He had shown him the most favor.  He had cast Lucifer, the angel who had betrayed him, out of heaven, never to return.

Lucifer, completely enraged by the manner in which he was punished, directed his hatred at mankind.  He blamed them for his choice to go against God in the first place.  Lucifer hated how God lavished men with the gifts of the earth.  He was determined to destroy mankind.  Lucifer was convinced that if he could make mankind suffer like he had, it would bring God to his knees.

God, being omnipotent, was fully aware of Lucifer’s plans.  Lucifer considered God arrogant.  He believed a war with mankind would show God the error of his ways.  The odd thing was, both Lucifer and God loved one another but Lucifer was so blinded by his rage, all he could think about was revenge. Lucifer was confident he would eventually bring Heaven crumbling down.  

Gabe read on, impressed by the information gathered in the book.  The pages were filled with the rankings of Satan’s armies, and descriptions of the creatures of Hell that had been discovered throughout the years like trolls and goblins. Monster after monster of folklore were explained in this one book.  

As Gabe feverishly studied the content, part of him was astonished that his logical mind was accepting of the information.  He thought about all the fairytales his mother had told him as a small child and wondered if the creatures in those books had been in fact based, on demons.

He read about all the minions of Satan as well as his top leaders, the princes of hell.  Their loyalty for Lucifer had twisted their hearts over the years and filled them with a dark and putrid hate.  As he read about the princes, each one seemed more terrifying than the last.  Gabe caught himself actually shivering.  They preyed on weakness of men, seeking to bring them misery and pain.

Gabe stood and walked over to the fire, placing another log onto the dulling embers.  He watched as the flames slowly engulfed the log and placed another one on top, careful not to smother the fire.  

Gabe glanced at the small but ornate clock just above his head on the mantel and realized he had missed dinner.  After his sizable breakfast feast that morning, Gabe wasn’t surprised that he was just now feeling the pains of hunger in his stomach.  He was surprised that Uri and Michael had allowed him to completely miss the meal. 

Gabe began to wonder exactly what important business had drawn Michael away that morning.

Gabe decided to make his way to Michael’s office.  He thought he should at least be respectful and let him know he hadn’t meant to be rude by missing dinner, but had gotten wrapped up in the book Michael had left for him.  

Gabe placed the book back on the table, not yet ready to part with it.  He stepped into the hall, hesitating for a moment.  He stood trying to decide if he should first go and grab a snack or go straight to see Michael.  Gabe finally decided it would be best to visit Michael first, before the hour grew too late.

At Michael’s door, Gabe saw a sliver of light peeking out and heard muffled voices from inside.  He froze where he stood, unsure what to do.  At last, curiosity overwhelmed him.  

Gabe tiptoed to the doors and peered inside.  Much to his dismay, he saw the floor littered with bloody rags.  His eyes scanned upward to a leg that was dangling over the back of Michael’s couch.  It was covered in worn, dirty, tattered pants, spattered with blood.

Gabe watched through the cracked door, his concern for Michael growing by the minute.  The room had at least a dozen people buzzing around it.  The men swarmed the injured man who was on the couch near the fire.  Gabe rose onto the tips of his toes in an effort to catch a glimpse of the victim, but had no luck.  

Gabe continued staring.  Finally Michael came into view.  With a very solemn look on his face, Michael knelt on the other side of the couch with all but his head disappearing.  

“Anthony, tell us what happened?”  Gabe heard Michael mutter.  

A flash of light and movement in the corner caught Gabe’s eye.  Looking for the source, he saw a mirror.  In it was the injured man’s reflection.  He was a younger man.  Gabe thought he looked to be in his mid-twenties but with the screwed up aging in this place, who knew.  He had a weaker chin but that could have been due to the way he was slumped onto the couch.  The man’s hair was sandy in color and looked coated in greasy sweat.  Gabe wondered for a moment who the man, Michael called Anthony, might be, if he might also be a Guardian.

Gabe cringed as he caught site of Anthony’s mangled hip and leg.  The pants he wore were torn away and the exposed leg wrapped in bandages; deep red blood seeping through.  He saw Michael was holding Anthony’s hand.  There were bloody scratches trailing all the way up the poor injured man’s shoulder.  Gabe felt his empty stomach twist at the site of the injuries.  What horrors had occurred to leave him in such a state?

Anthony was staring into the fire.  Gabe could see the terror of what the man had seen replaying in his eyes.  “They know Michael,” Anthony repeated over and over again in a soft trembling voice.  As he continued to repeat the words, his voice grew in volume until suddenly he began to shake violently.  Michael grabbed his hand tighter, trying to steady him.

At last, after calming Anthony, Michael asked, “What do you mean they know?”

Anthony sat quiet for a moment.  The entire room was hushed as they waited in anticipation.  

“There were so many of them.  I tried to get away, but they were everywhere.  Michael, I tried to fight them but I...”  Anthony’s eyes grew larger as his story unfolded.  He pulled Michael’s hand up to his chest and looked into his eyes intensely.  “I thought they were going to kill me, but they wanted me to live.  They told me to come back and tell you they know the chosen one is here and they’re coming for him.”  With that, all of the bystanders erupted in panicked tones.

Gabe heard his name murmured repeatedly throughout the room in hushed but panicked tones.  

“How can they know of the prophecy?” One of the men cried out.

“Do you think they know where we are?”  Another man asked, his voice cracking.  Michael stood, he patted Anthony’s hand before releasing it.  Then he began to pace.  He didn’t say anything for a moment, just continually paced, clearly thinking hard about what he had just heard.

A moment later, Michael froze and turning to face the small gathering of people raised his hands.  The room fell silent as he looked to the men who were waiting for his wise words.  “Clearly they have found out about Gabe’s destiny somehow.  It’s not important how.”  Michael began.  Gabe’s stomach sank as when heard Michael say his name.  “However, I don’t believe they know where the manor is.  If they did, they would be upon us now.  I think they released Anthony in an effort to track him or in hopes we would try and evacuate Gabe, giving them an opportunity to attack.”

A few of the men mumbled some words, agreeing with Michael.  Another asked what they were going to do.  A man closer to Gabe shouted that it wasn’t safe to keep Gabe on the grounds.  Gabe listened, his head swirling with all of the information.