The Creation: Chaos Rising (20 page)

Maria's left eyebrow arched upward. "Are you saying that Gabriel jumped started her car?" Her amusement faded at the look in her husband's eyes. "You are saying that, aren't you?"

Tony shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know what I'm saying. All I know is that the boy is…different."

"Define different." Maria was warming up to the subject.

"Well for starters, he never gets tired."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I've been watching him play ball and such with some of the teenagers at the Center. The man runs circles around those kids and never even breaks a sweat."

"Well he is a professional bodyguard," Maria stated. "For that kind of job, you need to be in top shape."

"He's also strong;
unnaturally
strong. I happened to catch sight of him cleaning up the weight room at the Greenfield Center the other day when I was dropping off those sandwiches for Parent Feedback Night. He put all the plates onto the barbell, lifted it off the bench with one hand, walked across the room with it, and set it down on the pads."

"What's so unnatural about that?"

Tony's expression turned bleak. "I counted the plates; there was easily four hundred fifty pounds on that bar!"

Maria blinked. "Well…like I said, he is in extremely good shape," she reasoned, though a note of uncertainty now colored her tone.

"I've been in good shape all my life, too but I was never like that," Tony said with a snort. "But it's more than just the physical stuff. The guy's also got a
phenomenal
understanding of history and current events. He looks to be about Nina's age yet every time we have a conversation I get the feeling that I'm talking to someone my own age or older."

"And probably wiser," Maria teased, smiling at the evil glare her husband directed at her. "Maybe Gabriel spends a lot of time Googling historical events. On the other hand I've never asked Nina his age. Maybe he's older than he looks. At any rate, he really is a nice guy and Nina adores him."

"Well the feeling is definitely mutual on Hercules' end," Tony grunted. "He hovers over her like a mother hawk, and his eyes light up every time her name is mentioned."

Maria pinned her husband with a hard stare "Then for Nina's sake, let's keep these wild notions to our selves. It's about time she had a little romance in her life, and I don't want you adding any unnecessary stress to the mix."

Tony wrapped his arm around his wife's plump shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "Alright, I'll keep the interrogations to a minimum." He gave her lips a quick peck to seal the deal. "But however good of shape he's in, if he breaks Nina's heart he'll have me to deal with."

"And your meat cleaver," Maria added with stout nod of her head.

She pushed away from him, and rose from her seat to greet the brace of customers making their way into the shop, signaling the start of the evening rush.

*

"So how have you and Tony been getting along," Nina asked Gabriel when they reached her Grand Cherokee parked several spaces down the street from the shop.

Gabriel opened up the driver side door and helped her in. "Okay I guess. He's been playing the new-girlfriend's-threatening-uncle/father role with me."

Nina smiled at the news. "Do tell; and how have you been making out?"

"The fact that he hasn't introduced me to his prized cleaver seems to indicate that I've passed the initial inspection."

Nina laughed. "I'd say that was an accurate assumption. Tony's always had a paternal leaning toward me; which is nice since I never knew my own father."

Gabriel's sensitive hearing picked up the wistful undertone that was always present in Nina's voice whenever she spoke of the man she knew so little about.

While Nina was growing up, her mother rarely spoke of him, and any questions on the subject put to her by her daughter were always met with vague answers or stern admonishments for her to just let it go.

Earlier that year
at Gabriel's urging, Nina had initiated an exhaustive search through city and state records in an attempt to locate her father, but had met with no success. It was as if Miguel Delcielo had never existed. Despite the failure of her quest, Nina still held on to the hope that she would find him, and that they would one day be reunited.

She strapped herself into the Jeep's seatbelt, and Gabriel gave the shoulder harness a quick tug to make sure it was secure.

"Thank you, sir." Her expression became tender. "And thanks for being so patient with Tony and Maria. I know they can be a bit overwhelming at times, but they mean well."

Gabriel gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "I know they do." He leaned his head into the Jeep and stole a quick kiss. "To be perfectly honest, it feels good to interact with regular people; makes me feel normal."

Nina smiled. "Well if that's the case why don't you jump in?" Her right hand patted the Jeep's empty passenger seat. "I guarantee serving up tacos to a bunch of hungry teenagers will get you all the interaction you need."

Gabriel abruptly released her shoulder and stood up. "No thanks. Feeding the masses is not my idea of interaction." He quickly shut the Jeep's door, gave the street and surrounding area a surreptitious glance then vanished.

"Coward," Nina muttered. She started the Jeep then headed off toward the Center, comforted by the fact that although Gabriel wasn't physically sitting next to her, he was still there.

*

Perched atop the central tower of Detroit's famed Renaissance Center, Dichotomy watched as Nina's vehicle merged smoothly into the throng of oncoming traffic. His keen eyesight also detected Gabriel's translucent form soaring after her, and a slight a smile spilt the Celestial's lips.

"I see your interest in this particular Emergence has not abated old friend," Omen's deep voice echoed through the air as he materialized beside his former protégé'.

"Nor has yours toward Gabriel," Dichotomy said, a pleased smile on his face as he inclined his head toward the hovering Overseer.

"I've learned that vigilance is often the best policy when dealing with you Celemors."

Dichotomy gave Omen a bland look. "That title no longer holds meaning for us, Omen."

"Of that I'm well aware, Caleb. Though you have to say you're recent activities, and current location, tends to lend evidence to the contrary."

Dichotomy's left eyebrow arched upward. "You've been keeping an eye on us?"

"I'm curious as to you're continued interest in the
Harbinger. Nor am I the only Member of the Watch that has taken notice of it."

Dichotomy's expression turned severe. "We take it you're referring to the Archangels. Have you been dispatched by them to chastise us?"

"Actually my orders from The Seat are to leave you alone."

Dichotomy's form wavered slightly. "If that's the case then why are you here?"

"As I said before, I find your interest in Nina most curious. Would the two of you care to explain it?"

Dichotomy studied the Overseer's hooded features for a moment, trying to get a sense of his mood.

Despite his abandonment of his Celestial post, the former Celemor had never harbored any animosity toward his former handler. In fact it was just the opposite. Toward the end of his service to the Watch, Dichotomy, or Caleb as he was still known at the time, often took solace in the Overseer's encouraging words.

In the end, not even Omen's sage advice could prevent Caleb's subsequent split from The Watch, but the dual being he had become still held a note of gratitude for the Overseer's efforts.

"In truth we have no singular reason for maintaining our vigil, other than the persistence of a feeling of…unease in regards to the Harbinger."

Omen's eyes flared briefly. Caleb's senses had always been heightened to a degree that far exceeded the Celestial norm, and his concern also echoed that of the Overseer. "I must admit that I too have experienced a touch of trepidation toward Nina. Yet I cannot fathom the reason why. So far her Emergence is proceeding well."

"Yes it is," Dichotomy agreed. "In fact you might say it's going
too
well. She accepted her role far quicker than we would've thought possible, given her negative spiritual stance and lack of any Celestial buffering. Plus, her focus is much more pronounced at this stage of her development than any of the other Harbingers we've encountered throughout the centuries; with the exception of one," the Celestial added glaring at the Overseer through beetled brows.

"Yes she does seem to have adapted rather well to the Celestial energy coursing through her body," Omen blatantly ignored Dichotomy's bait. Now was not the time to engage in
that
particular discussion. "I'm also surprised at how taken Gabriel is by her."

"Considering how long he remained in mourning over his wife and daughter, we thought you would be pleased."

"Oh I am," Omen quickly assured the Celestial. "But the Archangels have indicated to me on several occasions that such ties may not be in his best interest; particularly when it prompts him to push the boundaries of his restrictions, like when he rescued those children."

Dichotomy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And why is that?"

"Both Michael and the Bringer of Death have been vague as to their reasons." Omen's voice was laced with aggravation for his inability to illicit more pertinent details from the Archangels. "I've consulted other Members of the Watch, and none of them have a clue as to why those two are devoting so much time to Nina, nor the reasons behind her Emergence."

Dichotomy's form wavered again. "We assumed that she was the initiate of a new Reclamation."

"As did I, but given the length of time that has past, and the Archangel's peculiar interest, I'm beginning to wonder."

"Perhaps you should consult with others removed from The Watch for the answers you seek."

"You know discussing matters of this nature with non Members of The Watch is prohibited," Omen bit out sharply. "I'm taking a chance as it is talking to you." His glowing eyes focused intently on Dichotomy's face. "Despite my curiosity, as an Overseer,
I
am unable to pursue this matter."

A slight smile tugged at Dichotomy's lips. "Then maybe a Celestial
not
bound by the Tenets of the Watch should investigate further," the blended being suggested mildly.

Omen's features remained hidden under his cloak, but the slight shift in his hovering form seemed to convey satisfaction. "What the two of you do on your own time is no longer my concern," he replied stiffly then promptly vanished, leaving Dichotomy to ponder the course of action he should take.

"Omen's concern must truly be great for him to have approached us about it," a male voice rang out as Dichotomy's dual personalities briefly separated themselves. "Such duplicity on his part is an indication that there is more to Nina's Emergence than the simple imparting of some new addition to the Tenets."

"Then let us return home and seek counsel from one also removed from Nirvana's political infrastructure," The female responded, and a nimbus of light engulfed the Celestial's body. "What we discover may aid the
Harbinger and Gabriel in the fulfillment of their respective Tasks."

The view of
Detroit's skyline dissipated as Dichotomy shifted through the dimensional Crossroads that surrounded and bound the three Realms together, appearing moments later within the shifting miasma of Sublimia.

No sooner had the carrier nimbus faded from the Celestial's body than the air before him coalesced into a glowing, feminine shape.

"Greetings Caleb," a sultry voice rang out from within form's midst. "Or do you prefer your new title?"

Dichotomy accorded the form a respectful nod. "Caleb will do, Twilight, but we do appreciate your courtesy on the matter."

"Of course," Twilight responded in kind. "So; what new riddle have you brought for me to solve this day?"

"One concerning the Emergence of the
Harbinger, Nina Delcielo; as the embodiment of Celestial Energy, we were hoping you might lend insight as to the extent of her abilities."

Twilight's form shimmered slightly. "You wish to discover the reason's behind her Emergence?"

"Yes."

"And for what reason do you seek this information?"

"The satisfaction of our own curiosity as to the woman's place within the Creation."

"Yours and Omen's I presume," Twilight said with a chuckle for Dichotomy's startled reaction. "Come now, Caleb; you of all beings should know little that transpires throughout the Creation escapes my notice."

A look of chagrin appeared on Dichotomy's face. "A trait you share with the Keeper of Benevolence."

Twilight chuckled again. "One of many, but in answer to your query: The Mortal's destiny is being shrouded though by whom I cannot tell. I
do
know she possesses a link to Sublimia's reserves that surpasses that of most Celestials including He Who Became The Son."