The Creation: Chaos Rising (19 page)

Chapter 25

"Are you sure you're not overreaching yourself, Nina?"

Nina took note of the concerned mirrored in Maria's eyes, and gave her head a vigorous shake. "Not at all," she said after swallowing down another spoonful of the woman's famous Minestrone soup. "Now that
Spirit Way's backing us, I've got a whole battalion of workers and resources at my disposal; plus Darius is connected with all the right people, both here and abroad. He's very good at getting done what needs to be done."

"Ah." Maria eyed Nina through the steam rising from her mug as she took a sip of her coffee.

Nina could sense the other woman's suspicion. "Don't tell me you still have reservations about him? He, Sheila and Spirit Way's executive board have been nothing but accommodating. Thanks to them we've been able to expand in a way that I never dreamed possible."

"Oh I no," Maria said after taking another sip of her coffee. "It's just that there's something…odd about that guy. I can't put my finger on it but I get a weird feeling whenever you talk about him."

"You and Gabriel both," Nina admitted. "He thinks the Center's expansion is progressing
too
smoothly."

Maria's plump features twisted into a frown. "Then he's keying into the same weirdness that I am. Add to that the slew of negative publicity you and the Center have been subjected to these past couple of months..."

"Let's not make a mountain of a molehill," Nina exclaimed. "I'll admit I was taken aback by all the flack I've been getting over my religious views, but hey: that's what freedom of speech is all about. Plus I'd say that the positive changes the Centers have effected in every area we occupy speak for themselves. The ever increasing list of applicants for our services supports my belief."

Maria placed a hand atop the agitated woman's forearm. "Oh I totally agree with you. I just don't want you to loose sight of the potential danger someone in your position could be placed in. There are a lot of rotten bastards out there who don't
want
to see a woman raise to such prominence the way you have; especially one that's calling for an end to organized religion."

"I'm not calling for an end to
anything,
" Nina proclaimed. "I'm just saying people should take a long, hard look at themselves and determine on their own what's right, instead of blindly giving their time and money to some robe-wearing, incense-burning charlatan spouting misinformation!"

"You and I have always agreed on that point, Nina. I'm just worried about the lunatics and nut-bags out there who feel you're words are an insult, and may try to…you know…do something about it."

Nina was touched by the older woman's concern. For a brief moment she contemplated telling Maria the truth of The Creation and her new role in it, but realized that now was not the time. Instead she placed a gentle hand atop hers, and allowed a mischievous grin to tug at her lips. "That's why I keep Gabriel by my side at all times. He's my lunatic deterrent."

Maria hastily cleared her throat, her dark eyes twinkling. "And speaking of Gabriel: How are you guys doing as a couple?"

Nina couldn't help the flush that colored her cheeks. "We're doing just fine, thank you very much."

A wicked smile creased Maria's wide lips. "Is that so? So a
m I right in assuming that cutie's every bit the stud he appears to be?"

Nina's flush deepened. "Oh you are so bad, Maria Scavelli!"

Maria's smile turned into a confident smirk. "I'll take that as a yes,"

Nina smiled back. "Let's just say he's accommodating in that area;
very
accommodating." A tingling started in her groin as her mind drifted back to she and the Celemor's first sexual encounter.

It had happened exactly three months ago to the day. That morning, Nina had experienced a rather horrific vision involving an accident between a semi-truck and a school bus full of children. She immediately put in a call to the Psychic Unit, and was assured that her warning would be forwarded to the proper channels. After two years of accurate predictions, Thomlin, and his partners in the P.U., knew better than to question the validity of warnings from the mysterious woman still known only as
Del.

Secure in the knowledge that everything was being handled, Nina continued on with her day, but the vision returned during a meeting she was having with the executive staff of the newly opened Center in west
Detroit.

Nina knew that the vision's return meant that the events she foresaw had come to fruition, but she managed to control her reaction to the point where none of the other people seated around the conference table had an inkling of what was going on.

As soon as the meeting ended, Nina immediately raced to one of the wall mounted flat-screens in the Center's media room.  She began searching the channels for any news of the accident. Within thirty seconds she found it.

Nina braced for the worse as she listened to the details then gasped in shock when footage of the accident, captured by a witness using his cell-phone's camera, rolled across the screen.

The clip was accompanied by the voice of the astonished anchorman: "And here we see the unidentified man seemingly unfazed by the flames bringing out more of the children…Ladies and gentlemen I have to say that I've never seen anything like this," the man's voice intoned as a lone figure waded through the wall of fire created by the burning fuel leaking from the semi, his arms and shoulders laden with the inert bodies of several children.

He quickly released his burden to the anxiously waiting rescue workers then dashed back through the flames to the overturned bus.

"Gabriel," Nina whispered, a rush of excitement surging through her limbs.

"That's one brave dude, Miss Delcielo?"

Nina looked away from the television to acknowledge the teen girl who had addressed her, and was stunned by the multitude of people that had gathered in the room to watch the event.

"Yes he is, Carly." The
Harbinger returned her attention to the television, and a proud smile lit her face. "He's a real-life, guardian angel."

The footage came to an end with the anchorman reiterating his praise for the unknown Samaritan, followed by an expression of disappointment that he could not be located for question or comment afterwards. "…And authorities still have no clue as to the identity of this incredibly brave individual who seems to have vanished into thin air."

Nina chuckled softly. If the anchorman only knew how true that statement was.

The report of the incident droned on, and Nina excused herself from her position in front of the television. She quietly left the media room then retraced her steps to her office. Easing her lithe figure into her chair, she pondered the significance of Gabriel's unexpected intervention, wondering what could have prompted it. A question she immediately put to him when he materialized in her apartment later that evening.

"You did," he answered after placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I guess watching you run your self ragged for the sake of others all these months is starting to have an effect on me. When it became obvious that neither the trucking company nor the school of that bus were going to heed your warning I decided to act."

Nina chuckled at his candid admission. "And how did it feel being a superhero?"

Gabriel's face brightened at the memory. "It was totally bazaar. One of the kids even asked me if I was an angel."

"And what did you say?"

The Celemor shrugged. "I told her that I just worked for them, which for all intents and purposes, is true."

His humility in the face of such heroism sparked a surge of desire within Nina. Putting thought to action she reached up, drew his head down, and kissed him hungrily.

At first Gabriel tried to pull away, but Nina's arms, wrapped tightly around his waist, kept him in place. "Please, Gabriel," she whispered huskily into his ear.

The poignant look in her eyes intensified Gabriel's yearning to finally end his century long abstinence. The urgency in her voice and touch swept away the last vestiges of guilt sparked by thoughts of Clarissa flitting through his mind.

He effortlessly lifted her trembling body into his arms, and carried her into her bedroom where he gently laid her down atop the bed's embroidered duvet. Their clothes were quickly shed, and they began an urgent exploration of one another's bodies that culminated quickly in a wave of mutual pleasure that left them both breathless. With their initial hunger for one another sated, they began again at a more leisurely pace, savoring the pain and pleasures of the moment until they collapsed together into a deep and restful slumber.

"You still with me, Nina?"

Nina blinked. The memory of that incredible moment, and the numerous others of similar intensity they had shared since, faded as Maria's call thrust her back into the present. "I'm sorry, what?"

A knowing smile curved Maria's lips. "Boy, that young man's got your head in the clouds!"

Another flush darkened Nina's cheeks. "Yeah he does; in and out of the bedroom." She felt no shame imparting such details to Maria who had graciously assumed the role of nurturer, friend, and confidant in the wake of Nina's mother's accident.

"You think he could be the one?"

Nina chuckled at the hopeful tone of Maria's voice and the exaggerated fluttering of her heavy lashes. "He could be." Nina let it go at that. Though hopeful, she was hesitant to commit more to her and Gabriel's relationship due to its peculiar dynamics.

During the hours following their lovemaking, the
Harbinger and Celemor had discussed the topic at length. To Nina's surprise Gabriel had expressed a sincere desire to remain in her life even after his Task was completed. The Harbinger had readily agreed. Now if they could just figure out what it was that God, and whoever else, wanted of her to do so she could get it over with life could be a whole lot sweeter.

She had finally come to the conclusion that having life-saving visions wasn't the damnable curse she'd first made it out to be. She just wished she knew what the endgame was in all of this.

"And just what are you two hens clucking about," Tony's deep voice rang out as he and Gabriel entered the shop's leaded-glass front door, both men stomping and shaking the snow from their boots and coats.

Nina was secretly amused by Gabriel's efforts. The Celemor's Celestial aura made him impervious to Nature's follies, prompting Nina to suggest he tone it down a bit whenever he revealed his presence in public. People might think it a bit strange seeing a man walking around in ten degree weather with no coat; particularly when they noticed the unnatural deflection of snow or rain from his body.  Gabriel had taken her advice to heart and made sure to draw his energies inward on such occasions.

Nina favored the two men with a playful smile. "We were just having a little girl-time."

"Did you guys have any luck getting Miss Goldstein's car started?" Maria asked, tilting her head slightly to the left to accept the kiss her husband aimed at her cheek.

"He did." Tony jerked his head in Gabriel's direction as he slid into the booth beside Maria. "I tell you Nina, your guy here's a jack-of-all-trades. I might have to steal him away and put him to work here in the shop."

Nina chuckled as she rose from her seat. "I'll keep that in mind."  She slipped her arms into the heavy jacket Gabriel was holding for her. "He might look kind of cute serving up sandwiches in one of those little white aprons."

A look of disdain crossed the Celemor's face. "Not with the steady flow of oddballs and attitudes you guys get in this place. I swear I don't how you two do it," he directed toward the Scavelli's.

Tony shrugged. "I find that a big smile and a kind word works with most people; that and the occasional swing of my meat cleaver."

Nina laughed while buttoning up her coat. "Yeah that would definitely work for me. You guys take care. Your future employee and I have a date with about thirty kids back at the main Center. Tonight is taco night."

"Enjoy," Tony called out as Nina and Gabriel left the shop. He waited until their reflections faded from the shop's windows then turned serious eyes to his wife. "There's something very peculiar about that boy."

"How so?"

"Well for one thing the way we got that car started," Tony grunted, helping him self to one of the scones on the plate sitting in the middle of the table.

Maria leveled impatient eyes on her noisily chewing husband. "Would you care to elaborate?"

"I can't for the life of me figure out how he did it," Tony mumbled through a mouthful of scone. "When we got to where the car was parked, old lady Goldstein already had the hood popped. I tried to crank it, but the battery was dead. I was about to call Triple A on my cell when Gabriel stopped me. He gave the car an odd look, placed his hand against the battery cables for a moment then told me to try it again."

"And?"

"The damn thing kicked right over." Tony was still awed by the incident.

Maria was unconvinced. "Maybe the cable was just a little loose and he wiggled it into the right position."

"Nah that was the first thing I checked. I'm telling you that battery was dead."