Falling Sons

Delilah was just your average college student until she was attacked in an alley by a Fallen angel named Omar. From there her life became entangled with Aden and Gabel the chiseled, charmingly handsome angelic brothers who saved her. Delilah embarked on a quest with her guardian angels to save her best friend Tatyana from the devil himself. When in hell, truths (and heart-felt longings) were uncovered. Omar, the brother to Aden and Gabel, was trapped in hell. Delilah found out that she was half angel and Gabel found out that his biological father was Lucifer and not the Archangel Ezekiel. Delilah traveled to the angelic world with her brothers, Aden and Omar, and lover, Gabel, to see if she belonged there or on earth with mortals. While she struggled to find her place, Gabel struggled to control the darkness inside of him. When things went south at Aden and Milday's wedding, Gabel was accused of being a Fallen and Delilah fell off of the end of the angelic world, plummeting down to Earth. This is how their story continues (Recap of "Rising Stars: A novel by L.M. Williams)

Falling Sons: Part III The Rebellion

~Prologue~

She slowly approached the entrance to Hell, not sure why she was scared. She’d been there many times before, but her heart raced and palms sweat. She failed her assignment. It hadn’t been her fault, or at least not entirely. She had planned everything do to the last detail.

The long train on her scarlet gown dragged along the ground, pulling small pebbles along with it. Normally, she would care it was getting dirty, but at the moment she didn’t know if she would live past the next hour.

She flew over the glowing river of lava. The Gate Keeper, a hideous demon with warts and scales, recognized her and let her through without a single question.

A Fallen waited for her inside Hell; he didn’t look pleased. Perhaps it was because he was the one selected to come get her or it was because she was late. Either way, he said nothing as he quickly led her through the first three levels, not wasting anymore time.

She hesitated before entering the cut out hole in the side of the rock, not ready for this. She wasn’t ready to die.

“Don’t keep me waiting.” Lucifer’s voice carried from far within.

She took a stuttering breath and proceeded forward.

The clearing was empty besides the chair which Lucifer sat in. The room was dark with very little visibility. Goosebumps sprang up on her arms as a shiver ran down her spine. She hadn’t been afraid of the dark since she was a child, but this encounter was so unlike all the others.

His blood red eyes studied her. “Where’s Delilah?”

“She ran.” Was all she was able to say.

“Of course she ran.” He retorted, frustrated.

“You didn’t tell me that Gabel would have such a strong reaction. He was so violent…” She tried not to remember the look in Gabel’s eyes as he turned into a Fallen at her wedding.

“I recall telling you that I didn’t know what he was capable of.” Lucifer said, already bored with their conversation.

“If your stupid minions would have taken Delilah that day we went dress shopping—”

“DON’T YOU DARE CRITICIZE ME!” Lucifer’s outburst shook the walls. For a brief moment, he panted. She could only imagine how fragile and how weak he must look. He still wasn’t fully recovered from when Omar had stabbed him with a blessed sword to help Gabel and Aden set Delilah free. He may be the devil, but even he had his limitations. “Do you know where she might have gone to?”

It was the question she had been dreading, but figured keeping a cool head was probably for the best. “She…fell.” She began. “…Right off the edge of the angelic world. Ezekiel has organized search parties to find her. It’s only a matter of time before we have her.” She chose not to include the fact that Delilah was most likely dead. How could she survive something like that? How could anyone?

“Very well, I’ll send out my own search party.”

She nodded and was about to go. “Oh and I thought you would like to know, your son has Fallen.”

“You know this for a fact?”

“I personally witnessed his wings being torn just this morning.”

“Well, well, it seems that you haven’t completely failed me Milady.”

Chapter One

Everything was black. Delilah’s limbs were numb. Her mind found nothing to think of, trapped in her own body. There was no pain, no feeling. She didn’t even know if she breathed. There was only the darkness.

There was a dim light behind Delilah’s shut eyelids. She tried to open them, but could feel that it was completely pointless. She wanted to pry open her eyes with her fingernails to see something, anything, to let her know she was alive. She needed to see the sun.

She still couldn’t feel her body, but she decided to try to move her hand.

Immediately regretting the action, Delilah’s entire body flared with pain. Everything she hadn’t felt crashed over her like a suffocating wave. Every centimeter of her being hurt. She felt as if she were being stabbed with pins, acupuncture gone wrong type deal. Her skin prickled with the fiery pain. Her insides throbbed as if she had been used as a crash dummy. Each breath expand and contract her chest, but each time she inhaled it was a stabbing pain to her lungs. A breath out was hundreds of bricks crashing down on her. Her head throbbed to a different rhythm than her heart.

The ground was hard and damp beneath her. She was chilled to the core. Wet, everywhere.

She didn’t know when she passed out, but thankful she had.

“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” Her best friend’s, Tatyana’s, voice was the first thing she heard.

There was still pain, but it had dulled. Delilah was dry now and covered in soft fabric. The ground beneath her was comfortable and almost formed to her body. It was so familiar. Her head sank into a squishy lump. A pillow, her brain informed after a moment.

She was home.

“She fell thousands of feet, Angel.” Gus replied. “And after the rain…I have no clue how she survived.”

“Don’t say that.” Tatyana sniffled.

He sighed. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, but you know she’s ok. You saw her heal. It’s just going to take time.”

Delilah wanted to move something or try to for Tatyana, but didn’t after what had happened last time. The pain was just beneath the surface, enough so she knew it was there, but not enough to really bother her. She knew moving wouldn’t be worth it.

So she went back to trying to open her eyes. It was almost as if there was an opposing force attempting to keep her shut out from the outside world.

“Delilah?”

She heard Tatyana move closer.

“Angel, I told you—”

“I saw her move, Gus.”

Delilah made one last effort to open her eyes and felt them open a crack before slowly slipping up. Next, she worked on wetting her lips from the inside to open her mouth.

Her head oh so slowly rolled to the side, meeting Tatyana’s eyes. A sharp tingle of pain ran down her spine as she moved.

“You’re alive!” Tatyana screamed before throwing her arms around Delilah.

Gus was already pulling her away as air escaped Delilah’s lungs and her mouth tore open to release the wail of pain that surged through her body. It was the pin-prickly feeling again, one she would have loved to live without. She almost wanted to be back in the darkness. Almost.

“I'm sorry.” Tatyana brushed away tears. “It’s just when Gus brought you in you were covered in blood and dirt and your leg was at a funny angle and you had so many broken bones and there was so much blood. You didn’t even look like you. Gus told me not to watch, but I did anyway. I thought how bad could it be, right? Oh God Del, he had to put some of your bones back in place before you healed. I watched your skin grow back together and when Gus said it was ok I washed you off and put you in your favorite pajamas. I will literally never be able to look at you the same way ever again.”

“Thanks Tia.” Her voice sounded like she had smoked ten packs a day for the last fifty years. Each word grated its way along her throat.

She nodded with a heartwarming smile.

“You still have a whole lot of bruising. Hopefully, by the end of the day, we can try to sit you up and maybe move on your own a little.” Gus tried to be upbeat. There was something he wasn’t telling her. He noticed the look she gave him. Her body may be a useless heap of pain right now, but at least her facial expressions still worked. “Angel, why don’t you go make some of that soup you bought?”

“Great idea.” Tatyana grinned. “I bought the chicken noodle with the stars since I know you really like that one.”

Truth be told, that was Tatyana’s favorite. Delilah preferred vegetable soup with the alphabet noodles, but it’s the thought that counts.

She waited until she heard Tia in the kitchen before she tried to sit up.

She could barely pick up her head before Gus was at her side, slowly raising her up. She panted, by the time her back rested against the wall, everything hurt. “Thank…you…” Delilah said between breaths. She didn’t mean for right now. But finding her, for nursing her back to health.

“Don’t thank me yet.”

She waited for him to continue. How worse could things really get?

“Your father and the devil have search parties out for you.” He began carefully. “I need to take you to a safe house. I’ve discussed this with Omar and we have a place to take you. Don’t argue.” He read her expression of protest. “This is for your safety. And Tatyana’s coming to.”

Delilah laughed lightly, but her chest twinge with each exhale. “Tia? In a safe house?” She couldn’t even imagine.

“She thinks we are going on a vacation.” He shrugged with a small smirk.

“Fun.” Which was the opposite of what things would be once Tia found out.

He sighed, scratching the back of his head.

“What happened to Gabel?” She whispered.

Gus flinched. He was trying to avoid that question. Maybe he hoped the fall had affected her memory. Sucked for him; now that she was awake, she was sharp as a tack. “He’s in hiding.”

“Hiding?” She slowly pulled back together the pieces from before the blackness. Milady and Aden’s wedding…Gabel being crazed from his Fallen side, thanks to Lucifer being his father, and then Gabel coming after her before she ran away…

“Omar knows where he is and that’s about it.”

“…He’s a Fallen now, isn’t he?” Delilah asked, even though she already knew. She shouldn’t blame herself, but how could she not? If she hadn’t been there Gabel wouldn’t have turned and he wouldn’t be a Fallen now. Delilah wanted to see him, but knew she’d have to get better first.

Gus hesitated before nodding. “According to Omar, his wings were torn shortly after you disappeared.”

The bedroom door swung and in came Tatyana came in with a bed tray filled with a cup of soup, toast and orange juice. “I put an ice cube in your soup so it wouldn’t be too hot and sorry the toast is a little crispy.”

“Thanks.” She appreciated her attempt at a meal. The toast was closer to black than crispy, but the wonderful smell of the soup met her nose and caused her empty stomach to growl ravenously. This allowed Delilah to push away her thoughts. She wondered how long it had been since she had a meal. How long had she been out?

Tia took a seat at the end of the bed as Gus peaked through the blinds.

“What’s wrong?” Tia questioned.

“I have to go.” He kissed her cheek. “If I'm not back within the hour, Omar should be. Whatever you do, do not leave this apartment without us.”

Tia nodded as he hurried from the room.

“It’s been like this since Gus brought you home.” Tatyana explained. “Especially with Fallen after you, but since everyone thinks you’re dead they haven’t bothered to look here.”

Delilah sighed, trying to think happy thoughts as Tatyana helped her eat.

Eating seemed to be the cure to her immobilization. She managed to painfully and stiffly get to her feet with much help from Tatyana. With each step Delilah took, it was another sting to the legs, a stab in the back and a searing pain in the chest, but by some miracle she was able to move by herself.

Delilah relieved her screaming bladder. She glared at the long scar on her right thigh where she assumed a bone had once stuck out. It only elongated the original scar from the car accident that killed her parents. The accident that had left a scar from where a large piece of glass embedded itself into her leg. She had been helpless as she called out to her dead parents for help.

Part of her just wanted to stay on the toilet until she healed more, knowing it would be much too painful to try to stand back up. Just getting down had been a challenge in itself. Her thighs screamed as if she had done a thousand squats instead of trying to sit on the toilet. In the end, she decided if she was going to sit somewhere it should be on the couch. At least there was cable.

She didn’t remember washing her hands, only seeing her reflection. Her face had small, barely visible scars of where it had been scratched or cut open. Both arms were completely covered in splotchy patches of bruises. She lifted her shirt. It was a swollen canvas of blues, reds and purples. She imagined the back-side looked much like the front.

The tears came flooding down her face as she braced herself with wet hands on the sink. How had she gotten so lucky? How did she not die?

Delilah wasn’t sure how long she cried in the bathroom for, but it was long enough for Tatyana to come check on her.

“I'm fine.” Delilah rubbed her eyes, trying to compose herself before coming out and using the walls and doorframes for support.

“I know sweetie.” Tia gently pulled her into her arms. “It’s going to be alright, I promise.” She stroked Delilah’s hair in a motherly way and it couldn’t have been a more comforting gesture.

As she led Delilah into the living room, the front door opened. “Tatyana I got those bandages you wanted. Is there anything else I—” He froze. “Delilah?” The disbelief on his face was one of those things that would be labeled priceless. But she couldn’t really blame him, after all, she looked like she’d been hit by a truck and dragged.

“Hi Gaven.” Delilah blushed.

Chapter Two: Katrina

Katrina wanted revenge on the Fallen, Gus, who had killed her mate. Why would Gus turn against his own kind? Wesley had been a good man or as good as a Fallen can be. But mostly, he had cared for her and protected her like no one else. But now…she felt so alone and empty without his constant presence. They hadn’t been separated for over fifteen years. The worst part, every time she closed her eyes all she could see was Gus decapitating Wesley in the alley after their failed attempt to catch the red head.

Her plan was to hurt Gus the same way he had hurt her. Katrina had spotted the human girl that he so desperately clung on to. The human would be so easy to break. Katrina hadn’t a clue why he’d pick a mortal. Perhaps the cards were in her favor.

Yesterday the devil called a meeting. He needed volunteers for a search party. Being eager and knowing it was for the red head girl that was in the alley, Katrina raised her hand. Katrina was selected to be the head of the search party. If she were to complete the task given, she would become the second in charge, taking Omar’s place in command since he was no longer a Fallen. She wasn’t sure if she could fill such shoes, but she would try. This position meant protection and in her world, you took any shot at protection that you could get.

Katrina let out a long sigh as she splashed water on her face. She tiredly stared back at her reflection in the oval mirror. Wesley had gotten it for her on their fifth anniversary. Her watery blue-green eyes studied her dead straight hair that fell down around her small face. Her tiny mouth pursed into a frown, but that seemed to be the only expression she wore these days. Wesley had seen so much in that reflection but now she only saw loneliness.

She turned away, finishing her hair.

She had a big day ahead of her. Her nerves were through the roof and she couldn’t get out the knot in her stomach.

She slipped on her lucky plaid hot pink and blue rain boots which made quite the contrast on her pinkish-pale legs. Maybe if she had worn them on the day in the alley, things would be different now. She quickly slipped on a black NYC hoodie that had once belonged to Wesley, but it had grown too small for him. He had even modified it so her wings could fit out of the back. It still held the smell of the cologne. It was heart-breaking with how many memories one hoodie could hold.

For the search party, Katrina chose: Wesley’s best friend, Hound—who was nicknamed after his notorious ability to find things based solely off of his sense of smell—and Scout—a close friend and reliable navigator. And Leif—a half-breed, who moved like a shadow and almost never said a word. She wouldn’t ever admit it to anyone, but there was something off-putting about him. It wasn’t his size or strength, but the ominous silence. Once in her youth, someone had told her to fear the silent ones. They were the ones with the most in their heads.

“Where are we starting?” Scout, a short girl with a black pixie hair cut questioned.

“The girl landed in a small park right off of campus. We’ll start there so Hound can pick up her scent.”

Scout nodded before tugging Leif along. Hound placed a light hand on Katrina’s shoulder. It was strange of how much he reminded her of Wesley. They both had the same build, though Hound was a bit beefier. He had the same goofy crooked smile that always warmed her inside. “How are you holding up?” He had a tenor of a voice, but he was nothing more than a giant teddy bear.

She promised herself, that she wasn’t going to cry, knowing the other two wouldn’t take her seriously. But now that it was just her and Hound, she found herself falling into his arms and sobbing. It didn’t matter that it had been months since she lost Wesley. She couldn’t move on, she saw him everywhere and in everything she did.

He pulled her tightly to his chest, resting his chin on her head. He smelled of spicy cinnamon and sweat. His hand lightly ran up and down her back. “I know. I miss him too.”

“Eh hem.” An even deeper voice than Hound’s from behind her.

Katrina frantically rubbed away the tears to see Leif. He was skinny and short for a guy in their world, probably a couple inches less than six feet. He was super young, probably still a teenager in human years. His skin was a beautiful dark chocolate brown, his hair only a shade darker. He was a half-breed between a Fallen and a human. Despite the disadvantage of having no wings, he had unbelievable strength. She felt as if he could stare into her soul and most inner self with those eyes. This just one more reason to feel uneasy.

“We’re coming.” She wiped her nose.

Hound followed closely on her heels.

The flight to the park was short. As it turned out, Leif could run incredibly fast too. It would seem all of his abilities had been enhanced. Katrina didn’t know of many half-breeds and didn’t know if this was common for them. When they landed, Katrina had to stretch her wings. Her wing had recently finished healing—from when it had been partially torn from the alley incident involving Gus, Omar and two other angels—and it was still mildly sore.

“This is the spot where she landed.” Scout led them to an area concealed by trees and bushes. “Whomever found her did a really good job in cleaning up any traces of her, whatever they didn’t do, the rain washed out the rest.”

“Scout, it hurts to know that you doubt my abilities.” Hound smirked. He took a step forward, cracked his neck before tipping his head up to the breeze with closed eyes.

Katrina’s stomach twisted. “Are you saying someone else has already found her?” Lucifer hadn’t said what would happen if she failed, but she assumed it would be something along the lines of death or unimaginable tortured eventually followed by death.

“Not necessarily.” Scout said. “None of our kind have found her and as far as I know the pure-shitters haven’t either.”

Katrina stifled a laugh.

Scout continuously found new names to call the angels. They thought they were so much better than Fallen. All of them were only a mistake away from the dark side.

“How do you know?” Katrina asked.

“I still have some connections with Omar, who apparently is out looking for the girl too.”

Omar. Not only had he been their fearless leader, but he had been a friend of sorts and a love interest to Scout. As far back as Katrina could remember, Omar never dated. He had girls, but he never had a girlfriend. But she never deterred Scout. A girl can dream, sometimes that all you had.

“I'm surprised we still hear from him.” Was all Katrina said.

Scout chose not to comment.

“I think I got something.” Hound’s eyes flashed open before taking off at a sprint, leaping over the nearest bush.

Katrina’s heart raced as she hurried after him. Would they truly catch the girl so soon? This all seemed so surreal, but the excitement of the hunt was a high she’d never deny.

Chapter Three: Omar

Omar tried to speak with Gabel, but Gabel only sat in a far, dark fissure near the back of a cave. Gabel hadn’t spoken a word and from what Omar could tell, he hadn’t moved either.

“Are you eating?”

No response came from within.

“Gabel—” Omar’s ears tingled with the approach of an angel. He quickly identified the individual as Gus and instantly relaxed. He had been avoiding going home ever since that disaster of a wedding and even more so after he and Gus found Delilah.

“Good news, she’s awake.” Gus grinned from ear to ear as he landed.

Omar let out a long sigh of relief.

“She’s moving and I believe Tatyana got her to eat little.”

“Thank you.” Omar met his friend’s gaze. “You don’t know how much this means to us.”

“I have a feeling I do.”

A twig snapped from far away, but too close for comfort. It was followed by the rush of wings and patter of feet.

“Did you hear that?” Gus whispered.

It came again and Omar prayed it wasn’t nearing town. Turn away, turn away. The more he listened, the farther it got away from him and the closer it got to—“Delilah,” he breathed. Without waiting another second, he took off. They’d taken precautions and had been successful so far with hiding Delilah, but it was only a matter of time. Omar and Gus had taken turns glamouring her in the apartment, but they could only do that for so long. He could only imagine how much pain she was still in.

Omar flew faster than he ever knew he could. He made each pump of his wings carry him further through the air than the previous.

He thanked God for letting Delilah live on the top floor of her apartment complex. He tore open the top of the locked metal box Gus had planted in case of a quick getaway. It had a duffle bag of clothes for both Tatyana and Delilah, a backpack filled with money and nonperishable foods, and plastic water bottles. He tossed all of these over the edge of the building where he knew Gus waited down below with his pick-up truck.

Omar hurried through the roof, door and down the stairs to the hallway outside of Delilah’s apartment door. He wasn’t sure how much time they would have and he didn’t want to push his luck on how many Fallen he could take on his own.

“We need to hurry up and—” Omar stopped mid-sentence after spotting the extra human sitting in their living room. Delilah was battered and scarred, but seemed so lively despite her near death experience. “Who is this?” Omar questioned, quickly pulling on a glamour to cover his wings, but from the shocked look on the human’s face it was pointless.

Omar’s eyes moved to Delilah and watched as she slowly, stiffly stood up and smiled at him. “This is my friend Gaven.”

In one fluent motion, he was at her side. “How are you?” He gently brushed back some of her wild hair, finger’s lingering a moment too long just above the bruises on her jaw line.

“I'm getting better.”

His heart warmed. Perhaps Aden had been right. There was something about Delilah that pulled people to her, men to her. But he couldn’t think like that, she was his baby sister.

“What were you saying when you came in?” Tatyana stood.

“Yes.” He remembered. “There’s a group of Fallen coming after Delilah. We need to leave now.” He gently picked Delilah up in his arms.

“What about Gaven?” She questioned.

Omar looked back at the still stunned human. He considered lying and saying there wouldn’t be room in the truck for him, but why should he upset Delilah?

“He’s already seen your wings.” Delilah pointed out. “And if they find him here alone, they’ll torture him to find out where I am.”

He could erase the human’s memory…

Delilah frowned, understanding his thought process.

Omar let out a frustrated sigh. “We’re wasting time. Come on.” He growled as he hurried out of the room and up to the roof.

He could feel Tatyana on his heels. He wasn’t sure if the human followed and if he had to be honest, he didn’t care. This human hadn’t been part of the plan. One extra human meant more trouble, more work for him and Gus. It was going to be hard enough to hide and protect the two girls. A third…well they would need to depend on all the luck they could get and if it came down to it, they could always use him as a distraction.

Omar hurried to the ledge and peered down. Gus gave him the ok to start sending them down.

He turned to find Fallen climbing up onto the roof, weapons ready.

“Human, you first.” Omar nodded to the ledge as he dropped his glamour and spread his wings. The breeze that swam through the air rippled between his feathers. He loved the rush he received before flight.

“His name is Gaven.” Delilah mumbled into his ear.

Gaven pointed to himself and hesitantly stepped forward.

There were three Fallen on the roof now and a fourth party who appeared to be a half-breed. Omar recognized the Fallen; Scout, Hound and Katrina.

He cursed under his breath. With one arm he held onto Delilah and with the other he grabbed a fist full of Gaven’s shirt before throwing him over the edge of the building. The human’s limbs flailed as he screamed, hurtling toward the ground.

“Omar!” Delilah screeched, trying to get down.

“He’ll be fine.” He assured her. “Tatyana?”

She took his extended arm, curling into his side. It was strange, holding a woman like this. It had been so long since he had been close or even intimate with anyone. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. This was not the time for distraction.

“Omar!” Katrina called after him. He didn’t hear what came after that as he held tightly onto Delilah and Tatyana and dove down to the truck waiting below. He opened his wings at the last possible moment, wind whipped their faces as they roughly landed on the bed of the truck.

Delilah let out a gasp of pain.

As he got down, he was thankful that Gus enjoyed the newest and best things. If he hadn’t, the shock suspension on his truck would have failed and the back end of the truck would have been in the ground.

Gus was already behind the wheel, ready to go. Gaven was passed out in the back seat.

“Sorry, I had to.” Gus explained as he pulled out onto the road. “He wouldn’t stop screaming and people were beginning to stare…did you push him?”

“Did you put a glamour over the car?” Omar ignored the question.

Gus chuckled. “Yes, we are a yellow taxi.”

“Pull out onto the main road.” Delilah fumbled with her seat belt. “We’ll blend in with all of the other cars.”

Gus made a quick turn onto the busy street jam-packed with tiny yellow cabs while Omar worked on a glamour to disguise the occupants of their vehicle.

Omar prayed that Hound’s senses weren’t as infamous as they were rumored to be. With a strong enough glamour they should go undetected at least for a little while, but he would feel safer once they put some distance between themselves and the city.

An hour later, Gaven woke up and a little after that they exited New York.

Omar listened as Delilah explained everything to him; where she had been, who he and Gus were, why she looked the way she did.

The worst part was Gaven believed her. As if she had said anything else, it would have been impossible.

“So we’re leaving for your safety?” Gaven finally asked, giving a couple minutes to let this new reality sink in.

Delilah bobbed her head.

“Then where are we going?”

“That is for us to know and for you to find out.” Gus said.

“Aren’t you a fallen?” Gaven asked, turning up his nose.

“And?” Gus shot him a glance through the rearview mirror.

“How do we know that we can trust you?”

Before Tatyana could protest, Gus said, “Because I’d never turn a friend in.”

“What about you?”

“Omar isn’t a Fallen anymore.” Delilah quickly responded.

“She’s my sister.” Omar smiled at her, surprised she so readily jumped to his defense. Though, not surprised by Gaven’s instant hatred for Fallen. Once you were told something was bad, you were keen on them all being bad—no exceptions.

Gaven slowly nodded, but didn’t seem fully convinced. “It’s ok.” Delilah lightly touched his hand. “I trust them.”

And that seemed to be all he needed for reassurance.

The two humans slept the majority of the day. Delilah was awake for every minute. Once they reached Pennsylvania, Omar tiredly dropped the glamour on the truck. There hadn’t been any signs of Fallen or angels. If they weren’t following now, they wouldn’t be within the next hour or two. He rested his head against the window, closing his eyes. “Delilah, the only way you’re going to heal is if you get some rest.”

“I'm fine.” She stiffly faced the window. He could hear the discomfort in her movements.

He caught her eye in the rear view mirror. “I promise they won’t get you.”

He thought he saw her nod, but could have imagined it.

“Gabel’s going to be fine. You’ll see him again.” He tried again, hoping he sounded surer than he felt.

She looked at his reflection for a minute or two before looking back out the window. This clearly hadn’t helped any. He too worried about his brother, but protecting Delilah was of greater importance right now. Once she was safe, he’d go back for Gabel. Omar remembered how lonely he’d been when he first changed and wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

It took almost an hour before he finally heard her breathing even. And finally he let himself slip into sleep.

He woke up to the god-awful smell of gasoline and the blinding lights of a gas station. Gus filled up the tank. Omar only slept for about two hours, but it was a nap well needed.

“Want me to drive?” Omar offered as he slid out of the car to stretch his legs.

“Would you? I haven’t slept in days.”

“Thank you again.” Omar climbed behind the wheel.

“She’s like family to me too.” Gus yawned, reclining the chair back slightly. “Wake me up when you want to switch.”

Omar grunted in reply as he put the car in drive and headed out onto the long road with only mountains and trees on either side.

(To be continued...)

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