THE VROL TRILOGY (166 page)

"Max! What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Papi, this is girls' club time, so if you
please?" said Liliana.

Max almost had to put his hand over his mouth
to keep from laughing, and noticed Jennie was desperately trying to
keep from doing the same.

"Oh, I am so sorry, girls. I will leave you
to your lady things."

Max left the room, embarrassed that he had
barged in on something mothers and daughters do, and went back to
Draagh's quarters.

Entering into the vast chamber, he was
shocked to see Gadreel levitated in the air, his feet a full meter
off the floor. His head was back, and a glowing band of light
encircled his neck. "Gadreel agreed to have a monitor collar. I
think it is only fair. Do you not, my grandson?"

"Um yeah, I guess. Will it keep him from
doing shitty things?"

"It will, Max," said Gadreel. "My intentions
are honest. It is my greatest hope that one day, perhaps even
millennia from now, we shall be able to see each other as friends,
and even family

"Um, don't count on that, but we'll see,
Gaddy."

"Gaddy?"

"Yeah, it’s your new nickname. We all
have nicknames. I call Draagh
Pops
, my brother-in-law
G
and anyone I don't like
ass-hat
. Feel fortunate I don't call you
boludo
."

"Very well, then," responded Gadreel,
as Draagh gently lowered him to the ground. "
Gaddy
sounds rather quaint. I should like
it."

Max was about to respond, when suddenly, the
two most powerful archangels in all existence burst into their
father's room and started wiping the walls with the fallen angel.
There was nothing Gadreel could do as he was slammed from end to
end, the brothers' wings battering his immortal frame. He accepted
his punishment, which was for things far worse than what he had
recently done with his brother.

Michael and Gabriel had long waited to
capture one of the Grigori, and now that they had one in their
grasp they spared no time in making sure he suffered for his
sins.

"Sons! Cease this attack immediately!" Draagh
cried out, his cantus barely protecting the angel as Michael
stomped on the turncoat's face. "Gadreel comes to aid us, and
gladly accepts the collar!"

"Huh?" exclaimed Michael, as he stopped
pummeling the impotent soul, allowing him to stand up. Gabriel also
stopped momentarily, but waited until Draagh wasn't looking and
gave Gadreel a quick, sneaky no-look backhand to the face - just
enough to make his nose bleed.

"What business have you here, traitor?"
Michael demanded, turning to the angel.

"Yes… traitor!" Max followed, trying to look
tough in front of his father, but only looking awkward.

"Max, we were listening outside the door. Did
you not just give Gadreel a nickname?" asked Michael.

"You gave him a nickname? That is a term of
endearment, is it not?" asked Gabriel. "Why have you not yet
bestowed one upon me, nephew?"

"Um, we call you
Gabe
, which is a nickname. Would you like
another? Like
Blondie
,
or
Spike
. No, I know! How
about
Moose
?" Max
retorted.

"Are these good nicknames?" asked Gabriel,
while he looked at his brother who was shaking his head in a manner
opposite of enthusiastic.

"I guess
Gabe
shall be fine then," he sighed.

"You know, I really missed you all. It has
been miserable these past millennia with Samyaza. He is no fun at
all."

"What? You think we have fun here? We're
fighting for our existence, Gaddy," Max yelled.

The fallen angel looked down, realizing the
timing for his statement came at a very poor time.

"Jah is gone, but it is not the fault of Max,
nor of his people. It is our fault. He tired of us - our incessant
whining, our begging and complaining. He has a plan, and we fight
with him over it. No wonder he is nowhere to be found!" exclaimed
Michael.

"Hey, I don’t know anything about Jah,
really. Never met the guy, but I can tell you one thing," said
Max.

"And what would that be, my son?" asked
Michael.

"I'm super hungry. They're serving elk in the
commissary. Who wants to come along?"

"Elk? I have not sampled elk in centuries,
and I do feel hunger. Might I get something to eat?" asked
Gadreel.

Michael and Gabriel gave him a sneering look,
while Draagh took him by the arm.

"Yes, my boy. Come along. Your cousins shall
need some time to become accustomed to your presence."

"Well, I guess I could get something to eat.
I'll call on Jessica to see if she would join us," said
Gabriel.

"Hmm, yes. I shall retrieve Clarisa and meet
everyone in the main dining hall," Michael added.

"You have wives?" asked Gadreel.

"Girlfriends, dude. Only I have a wife around
here," Max boasted.

"Clarisa and I shall soon be married!"
exclaimed Michael.

"No way! Seriously?" asked Max.

"Once we have rid the universe of the putrid
insect strain, then yes, my son."

"I am to be the best man of the wedding,"
boasted Gabriel.

"I do not recall asking you to hold that
honor, Brother," said Michael.

"I shall earn the right, then!" said
Gadreel.

Both Michael and Gabriel looked at Gadreel
with amazed expressions, with Michael saying, "Brother, you shall
be best man. Gadreel, you would be lucky to even survive the
battles that come."

The five men, four being collectively
billions of years old, sat in the commissary, ravenously devouring
their meals in a fashion that made Jennie look like an expert at
table etiquette. As they consumed their food, the two archangels,
as well as Max, stared Gadreel down, watching as he hungrily took
to his dinner.

"Food must suck where you're from, eh
Gaddy?"

"I must admit, young Max. I have mostly
eaten alien fare as of late. Have you ever tried
zozlonsh
?"

"Huh? What's that, dude?"

"It is an animal that resembles a cross
between a hippopotamus and a giraffe, my boy," said Draagh.

"Sounds thoroughly disgusting, Pops."

"As young Liliana would say, my son, it
tastes like ass," said Michael.

"Especially as it comes from a world with an
ammonia atmosphere," added Gabriel.

"I wonder what from a world with
silicon-based life forms would taste like," mused Max.

"Well, I am certain your system could
tolerate it, but I dare say it would be toxic to a normal human,"
said Draagh.

"But what would it taste like?"

"Have you ever tasted petroleum oil?" asked
Gadreel.

"Ew. Okay, no more questions about food.
Gaddy, you have a lot of proving to do before we let you join the
gang," said Max.

"Erm… gang?" responded Gadreel.

"Yes! The… gang of lycans and angels! We are
GoLA!" yelped Liliana, as she entered the dining hall. "Papi!"

"Ah, this must be your adopted daughter, Max.
Hello, Liliana. I am Gadreel."

"I know not whom you might be, sir, but I do
know that my grandfather and my uncle basically cleaned the walls
with your ass, so I am not to speak with you."

"Lili!"

"Sorry, Papi. I only seek to protect my
own."

"As well you should, young one. Again, I am
Gadreel. Your elders were kind enough to not kill me and are
allowing me to atone for the errors of my ways."

Gadreel looked at Max for permission to
continue speaking with his daughter.

He didn't receive it.

"I shall keep my mouth shut for now."

"That would be wise, fallen one," said
Gabriel.

Jennie entered into the main dining hall,
surprised to see the newcomer. She sauntered over and kissed her
husband, and then turned to look at the turncoat Grigori. "Who are
you?"

"I am Gadreel. I seek redemption."

"Um, yeah. Sure."

Liliana sat next to her father and waved a
servant over for a plate of food. When the kitchen girl arrived,
Liliana not only smiled, she stood up and gave her a hug. The young
lycan had become much more appreciative of the servant staff as of
late, for some unknown reason.

"Lili, hugs? Why?" asked Max.

"Oh Papi, that is Lucinda. I accidentally
caused her to be sent to the infirmary due to one of my cantus
practice sessions. We have become friends since."

Lucinda, a small, mousy-haired lycan servant
bowed and backed away, a tiny smile lighting her face.

Liliana watched her leave and turned to her
father, asking, "Papi, why must there be servants and
underlings?"

"Well, everyone needs a job, sweetie. It all
depends on people's willingness to persevere and improve
themselves."

"I am sure that Lucinda wishes to improve,
Papi, yet she serves food and scrubs floors."

"Honey, wishes and intentions are not
enough."

"Why then do I have such a wonderful life,
Papi? I always dreamed of such a life and now it is true."

"Lili, you took incredible risks, and nearly
died trying to save us. That brought us together. Well, and your
mom falling in love with me - that helped a lot. Those who live
incredible lives usually do incredible things. Now, I believe you
friend is a nice person. Heck, everyone here is nice, but wishing
and being nice isn't enough. It takes extraordinary talent to be a
leader, and leaders need not worry about washing plates and
scrubbing floors - they have other important jobs to do. Just as
servants don't have to worry about defending the castle - they take
care of us so we can do our job, and vice-versa. Their jobs are
also important. There is no shame in having a particular job."

Liliana looked at her father and nodded her
little head in agreement. Her life had quickly become so amazing
that she had forgotten her cold, lonely nights in the hallways of
the castle, living as an orphan. At the same time, Max nearly had
to wipe the sweat from his brow. While he told the girl the truth,
he avoided the cold, hard fact that not everyone was meant to be a
leader or live an amazing life. In fact, most were quite content
having normal, trouble-free lives. Liliana just happened to be an
incredible child, destined to do great things.

"Okay, enough of that," said Max. "Let's
finish eating and get on with the day."

Chapter 34 - The Plan

Draagh sat at the expansive mahogany desk in
his study in the castle, tinkering with an object that looked like
a typical comm device, but had a slight orange glow. As he moved
his hands around, the small device remained suspended in the air,
spinning in conjunction with his movements. He appeared to finish
his work when he pulled his hands away and the small badge dropped
to his desk with a light tapping sound.

"Grandfather, is there anything I can do to
help today?" asked Liliana as she burst into the old mages
office.

"Hello Liliana, my dear. No, I believe I have
everything under control. Yes, quite under control. Do you not have
classes today?" he asked, raising a single eyebrow.

"Oh no, Grandfather. Today is Saturday. We do
not have classes on the weekend. Anyway, I would like to speak with
you regarding something quite important."

"And what would that be, little one?"

"I do note trust Gadreel. He smells
wrong."

Draagh nodded his head and gave the young
girl a soft smile. "Neither do I, my dear. But we must use his
presence to our advantage, so please do not interfere in our
activities."

"I understand, Grandfather."

"Now, that you are here and you have no
classes, why do we not delve more deeply into your lessons. I would
like to teach you an immobilization cantus."

"Ooo, so I could make an enemy freeze in
place? That would be quite helpful during a battle," she responded
in glee.

"Yes, but it taxes you severely and is only
to be used in the gravest of circumstances. I believe we shall have
need for one of the castle's feral cats."

Draagh had barely finished his sentence when
he saw Liliana holding a brown cat in her arms.

"My, that was quick."

"Tío Gabriel taught me to retrieve cats if I
knew their location. I named this one Caca, and he always stays in
the same place in the air ducts."

"You named this creature
Caca
? As in excrement?"

"Yes! Like
shit
, Grandfather," she said, while growing a
huge smile. Liliana knew she could get away with some profanity
around Draagh, as he really didn't care for plain words -
intentions concerned him more.

"I believe it best you not reveal the name of
this small creature to your mother."

"I agree!"

"Very well, please set the cat down and
when it moves recite this cantus -
retardoincantatio murelegus
."

Liliana grew a wicked grin and threw the
creature into the air.

###

"Now please detail to us everything you and
your brother have recently done," demanded Gabriel, his face
practically shoved into Gadreel's. The turncoat wasn't nearly
Gabriel's size, but more of something in-between the battle-ready
archangel and Max.

"Gabriel, I am here to help, but I cannot, in
good faith, start to recite all of our crimes if you are constantly
attempting to physically intimidate me. May I get a bit of personal
space, please?"

"Gabe, back down on him. Let him speak," said
Max.