Part 13 (1/2)

Either way, it was cheap, and by renting out all four rooms for their group, there would only be the innkeepers for them to have any contact with. Based on their ages, Uri a.s.sumed they probably had trouble even making out what each person's gender was. It was even difficult to make out their faces. Then there was the fact that the husband never got up from his recliner that was planted in front of the old television in the living area.

”I gotta say, this place is perfect Uri,” Gabe offered.

”Yeah, too perfect,” Uri replied apprehensively.

Gabe laughed, ”You're starting to sound like me. Oh, Dina, Rachel's ready for you.”

Dina smiled and stood from the table where she sat across from Sophie at. ”Great, I'll head right up.”

”I thought you were going to sleep the day away old man,” Sophie joked, looking to Gabe.

”Hey,” Rachel said, ”their sympathy naps.”

”Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Sophie laughed.

”Where's Haim?” Uri asked looking around.

”He said he was going to give one last look around outside,” Sophie replied.

”I already did that.” Uri grumbled.

”He's been gone a while, I'll go see what's taking him so long,” Sophie offered, standing up and walking past them.

Uri watched as Sophie exited, then asked Gabe in a soft tone, ”Are you nervous?”

”About what? Becoming a dad?” Gabe asked.

”Not exactly,” Uri hesitated.

”Then what?”

Uri glanced at the front door, wis.h.i.+ng now he had never started the conversation. They all had been thinking about it, and even discussing the elephant in the room, when Gabe was not around. But the way Gabe strutted around, it was like he didn't have a care in the world. It was like it didn't bother him that he had created the path to his own end.

”Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?” Gabe pushed.

With a hard swallow Uri inquired, ”Aren't you scared at all about the prophecy.”

Suddenly, Gabe's expression s.h.i.+fted, as if a light had gone off, ”Oh, now I see what this is all about. I was wondering why none of you have said anything to me.”

”What in the h.e.l.l are we supposed to say?”

”Look man, Rachel and I have discussed it a lot. We don't have any idea exactly how the prophecy is supposed to be fulfilled. What if it's not exactly what we think? What if all it means is the kid's destiny won't become activated until I die, like all other Guardians. I could be looking at a long life with my family, and when I pa.s.s away he becomes the prophet,” Gabe explained.

Uri shook his head as he began fidgeting with his fingers. Gabe's lack of obvious concern didn't make him feel any better about the impending birth.

Gabe reached across the table, touching his friend's arm, ”I'll admit it, I'm scared, but I can't let Rachel see that. I just keep hope in the fact there has to be a bigger plan for us,” Gabe leaned back in his seat and s.h.i.+fting the conversation asked, ”So do you think we might actually be able to stay in this town until the baby's born?”

Uri remained quiet, hesitating for a moment. ”I'd rather not make guesses about something like that.”

Gabe laughed, ”Geez, you really do need to lighten up. We've been here a week with no sign of a” Suddenly Gabe clutched his stomach and doubled over in pain. ”Do you feel that?”

Uri winced, grabbing his side, and sucking in a breath through his teeth. ”You get upstairs to Rachel and Dina, I'll go check on Sophie and Haim.”

Gabe nodded and in a flash he raced down the hall and up the wooden steps. His augeries were going off like a five alarm fire. Something was close a something bad. Realizing Dina no longer had her augerie sensory, Gabe thrust his body forward, propelling himself down the hall and into his bedroom.

Rachel sprawled out on the bed and Dina leaned in close to examine if there had been any dilation, both freeze and look up at Gabe who is now panting. They instantly knew by his expression that something was wrong.

”What is it?” Rachel asked, sitting up after Dina pulled away.

”I don't know, Uri and I both felt it, though. Something's wrong. He went to find Sophie and Haim. Dina, can you head over to Sera's room and tell her we need to be ready to go, like now?”

”Of course.” Dina replied and was out the door in seconds, heading towards the room at the end of the hall.

”Come on Rachel,” Gabe instructed extending a hand to help his extremely round wife out of bed. ”We've got to get you out of here.”

”I knew this was too good to be true,” Rachel grumbled, scooting to the end of the bed, placing her swollen feet and ankles on the floor.

Gabe helped Rachel into a standing position, and rushed to the bedroom door, peaking out to ensure the coast was still clear. Catching a glimpse of Sophie rus.h.i.+ng up the stairs, she stopped on the landing, in order to keep an eye on the front door.

”Gabe!” Sophie shouts.

”What's going on?” Gabe called back.

”They're everywhere!” she yelled, we have to get Rachel out of here, there's no time.

”Who are they?” Gabe inquired.

”They have to be Valafar's men, I've never seen anything like them before. Uri killed a couple, but they can cast, we don't have much time,” Sophie explained, frantically looking back and forth between the door and Gabe.

Gabe realized his mouth was hanging open in response to the information. He quickly snapped his jaw shut and glanced in on his wife to see how things were coming along. She fumbled with the broken clasp on their suitcase.

”Just leave it,” Gabe instructed, ”Grab what you need and let's go.” Casting had always been something only a high-ranking demon could accomplish. If Valafar's soldiers had this ability it would make them much more difficult to defeat.

”How's it going?” Sophie asked, not taking her eyes of the door at the bottom of the steps.

”Almost ready, did Uri say where to meet?” Gabe asked.

”He said you had the perfect hiding spot, whatever the h.e.l.l that means,” Sophie answered. Gabe knew exactly what that meant. He had hidden from the demons in his copper rich valley for more than a year. Gabe knew Uri was trying to hold that one in his back pocket in case of an emergency. Even though the demons occasionally patrolled the area since he left it, it was rare enough that they would probably be safe if they were in a jam.

”Can you help Rachel, and I'll tell the girls where we're going?” Gabe asked.

”Of course, we need to hurry, I don't know how long Uri and Haim can hold them off,” Sophie added.

Gabe raced down the hall, bursting into Sera's room, ”We have to go now!” He demanded. Dina was helping Sera toss her and Uri's belongings into an oversized duffle bag. ”Do you know the cabin I built?”

Before either girl could answer, Gabe heard an odd rustling behind him. Looking back at his door he saw Rachel emerging.

”What's going on out here?” Rachel called from her doorway.

From the corner of his eye, Gabe spied a hooded, humanoid figure, dressed in black, climbing through the window. The idea of a ninja instantly popped into Gabe's mind. Through the openings in the mask, he could see the creatures eyes looked like they belonged to a serpent. His hands were raised and a green sphere of energy was growing in his palms.