Gabriel Elder book II of the Warlock Series
Chapter 8: Goodbyes

Gabriel walked down the hall to the door to Zeus’s study. He hesitated for a second and then knocked.

“Come in Gabriel,” said Zeus.

As he walked into the office, Gabriel looked around. All the evidence of his fight with the mercenary was gone. The office looked like it always had. Zeus was setting behind the massive desk holding a picture. He looked up at Gabriel once the young warlock had taken a seat across from him.

“I want you to have this,” Zeus said as he leaned forward and handed the picture to Gabriel.

Gabriel took it and stared into the eyes of a beautiful, dark-haired woman. She was stunning. She was tall and had broad shoulders like an Olympic swimmer. Her hair was as black as Gabriel’s and her eyes were just as blue. Gabriel’s hand was shaking slightly when he realized he was looking at his mother.

After a full minute of staring at her picture, he looked at Zeus and made a request.

“I have rarely asked you for anything, but I need two things from you,” Gabriel began, “First, one of your special satellite phones, the small ones which look like a cell phone. I’d prefer one with the solar panels, I might not be able to plug in all the time.”

“So, you are leaving?” Zeus asked.

“Yes, but unlike my mother, I plan to return from time to time and I want to be able to keep in touch with you and Oz. I won’t be able to invite you to where I’ll be, but I’m hoping Breena and I will be welcomed back for visits,” Gabriel answered.

“You are always welcome, in fact, this house, the grounds, the entire compound is yours. I had the will changed as soon as I got the DNA report back, years ago. I can accept Breena’s vague answers about who and what she and her people are. I have accepted the same vagueness from Oz for a long time.

I never ask him how he is able to do what he does. As for Breena, I do not know what kind of ‘power’ she has, but I can respect her need for secrecy the same as I do Oz. I will not ask her again, I promise you,” Zeus said, “And the second thing you’d like from me?”

“Another picture, one with you and my grandmother in it. I finally have a family and I want to be able to look at them when I want. Soon, I expect you to tell me all about them,” Gabriel said.

Zeus reached into his lower desk drawer and pulled out a small photo of a couple. A much younger looking Zeus with dark black hair and a tall, thin, beautiful woman. Unlike Gabriel and his mother though, this woman had blazing red hair and bright green eyes.

“You and your mother got my physical attributes but you both got your grandmother’s temperament. There was nothing on Earth I loved, or feared, more than that woman,” Zeus said as he handed the photo to Gabriel. A solitary tear ran down his left cheek as he spoke about his deceased wife.

“Thank you, I will treasure these always,” said Gabriel, “What will you do now?”

“Now you are leaving, I have only one mission left. I convinced myself the white Alpha had either died or gone into hiding after it destroyed my family, but now I know better. The white Alpha is somehow associated with our Miss Grace. I am determined to replace this shifter and to make it pay in ways the warlock council would never approve of,” Zeus answered.

Gabriel was torn. He knew the master warlock would be no match for the white Alpha. Gabriel believed he was the only one who could stand up to the massive beast. He also knew he was needed to help lead the villagers to their new home and to help them rebuild. For the first time in his life, he had real obligations and responsibilities and he wasn’t happy about it.

“If you could wait, just a few weeks, I can go with you. I’d like to see my grandfather in action,” Gabriel said.

“No, not now you wouldn’t. I retired because I can’t hunt the shifters like a warlock would. I am a shifter too and the moon changes me as much as it does them. This time I’ll walk among them until I replace the white Alpha and then I will end this creature’s reign of terror once and for all,” Zeus exclaimed.

“But you’re not like them. You came to save me and Apollo, even after you had shifted. You had more control than they did, and now, after Breena’s treatment, you have even more control,” said Gabriel.

“Perhaps,” answered Zeus.

He had been thinking about it all morning, “But there is no way to know for sure exactly how much control I really have and I won’t risk you in the process of replaceing out. Just know I have always loved you. I could never show it, or even allow myself to get close to you. I knew you’d eventually sense the creature inside of me and then you’d hate what I had become.

I’ve done all I can for you Gabriel. You’re a man now and you have your own life to live. I’m glad you’re leaving the warlocks, they don’t deserve you anymore than they did me and my loyalty.”

“So, it’s a suicide mission you’re planning?” Gabriel asked.

Zeus didn’t reply. He simply stared at the wall behind the young warlock and tried not to think about never seeing Gabriel or Oz again.

“I won’t try to tell you what to do, but I will ask you to consider this. First, what about Oz? What happens to him after you’re gone?” Gabriel asked.

The question shook Zeus to his core. He had never considered what would happen to Oz. This would require more thought on the part of the master warlock.

Gabriel was pleased, he could see his question was having the desired effect on Zeus. If he could get him to delay his suicide mission, he could be there to help bring down the white Alpha.

“Oz will get you the satellite phone and solar charger. Keep it on, and message me if you need anything. I can have anything you need left where you need it. Any of the vehicles are yours for taking as well, along with any weapons you’d like,” Zeus explained.

With a nod, Gabriel stood. Without even knowing why, he quickly bent and kissed Zeus on the forehead.

“Thank you, grandfather. Thank you for everything,” Gabriel said as he quickly walked from the room.

Breena was waiting anxiously for him in his bedroom. A part of her was afraid the master warlock would try to talk Gabriel into staying at the compound. They had already been away from the clan longer than she planned.

Gabriel handed Breena the pictures Zeus had given him. She knew who they were immediately. She looked at Gabriel, trying to gauge his feelings. She relaxed when she saw him smile. Deep inside of the somber young man she had met at the cemetery, was a joyful soul trying to get out and live.

“Zeus has agreed to provide me with a satellite phone and solar charging system so we can keep in touch,” he explained.

“Then, you are ready to rejoin the clan?” Breena asked hesitantly.

Gabriel could see the worry on her face. He bent down and kissed her gently.

“I am yours now, and I belong to the clan for as long as they will have me,” Gabriel said quietly, “I need to gather Apollo’s vests and my own belongings and I plan to take the motorcycle with us as well.”

Breena stared into his eyes. She saw worry there, but she also saw love. Gabriel meant what he said, he was a part of the clan now. She knew it would be hard for him to leave the only home he had ever known, but she was going to make sure he liked his new one even more.

“I’ll wait for you downstairs. I want to see if Oz has any more of your mother’s things hidden away,” said Breena.

Gabriel knew she was giving him some space to say his goodbyes. She needn’t have worried so much, Gabriel was always ready to leave one place for another. It was what he knew growing up and it was still a part of him. Perhaps he was going to be a nomad his entire life. With Apollo and Breena at his side, he would be happy to do so.

As Gabriel began to pack, Apollo came in and sat by the door. Gabriel loaded up the wolf’s vests and a tool kit to replace any damaged silver spikes, along with a collection of replacement spikes. Then he began loading his own belongings. One large duffle was all he had.

His entire life was stored away in one large duffel. This might have depressed other young men, but not Gabriel. He was almost proud of the fact he had managed to keep his personal possessions limited to essential items only. Clothes, toiletries, boots and weapons, along with a healthy supply of ammunition. Placing his two new pictures inside his heavy leather coat pocket, he slung the duffel on his shoulder and headed down the stairs. Apollo followed close behind him.

At the bottom of the landing, Breena was waiting with a small duffel of her own. Evidently Oz had kept back quite a few items of Gabriel’s mothers. On the outside of the small bag she was holding, there was another, smaller one, with the satellite phone and chargers.

Oz was standing there, his head bowed and a smile on his face.

“I have removed all of the GPS modules from the vehicles. No one can track you now,” Oz stated.

Zeus stood in the doorway of his office. He looked at Gabriel and nodded.

Gabriel and Apollo walked to the garage and loaded the duffels onto the back of the sidecar, where they strapped them down. Apollo jumped into his seat and Gabriel pulled the motorcycle out into the courtyard. Breena was waiting for him along with Zeus and Oz.

As Breena climbed aboard, behind Gabriel, Zeus extended his hand and shook Gabriel’s. As soon as their hands touched, Gabriel could feel Zeus had handed him something. It was a small glass cylinder with a silver liquid inside. Gabriel looked confused.

“You’ll know when to use it,” was all Zeus said before stepping back.

As the trio sped down the driveway, Zeus looked at Oz.

“We have work to do old friend, lots of work,” the master warlock said to the tiny man.

Oz was tickled, he always preferred to be busy, but he was also worried about Zeus. He had been on death’s doorstep less than twenty-four hours ago.

“Don’t you think it would be better if you rested?” Oz asked.

“No, I feel better than I have in a very long time,” Zeus answered.

“Perhaps mentally and emotionally, but physically your body still needs time to recover,” Oz countered.

Zeus unbuttoned his shirt. Oz was amazed to see the wounds were completely healed. Had Breena managed that or was it the combination of the shifting and Breena’s treatment? Either way, the scars were there, but they looked to be many months old.

“And look at this,” Zeus began, “I have a thick streak of black hair running from my forehead all the way to the back of my neck.”

As Oz watched, Zeus loosened the tie on the back of his neck where he had gathered his snow-white hair into a ponytail. As he loosened it, you could clearly see the thick streak of coal-black hair. He had covered it over this morning by tucking it under the white hairs.

“Interesting,” Oz exclaimed, “In your shifted form, you had the same black streak. It was there after Breena’s treatment. It must be a by-product of whatever she did to you.”

For the first time, Zeus was curious about his ‘alter-ego’. In all the years since he became infected, he had never once wanted to know, or cared, what he looked like in his shifted form. Now, he was suddenly curious about his altered form. He didn’t know why he cared, but he did.

“Tell me what I look like when I become a shifter,” he asked of Oz.

“I can do better than that. I will show you,” Oz answered.

He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a collection of photos. As he shuffled through them, Zeus was shocked. The little man had pictures of a young Zeus, from when they first met. Pictures of his wedding, and several of Stazia at different ages. Then, near the end, he pulled out a picture of an enormous, white-haired shifter.

It was easily one and a half times the size of any other shifter Zeus had ever seen. Well, except for the white Alpha. It was still noticeably larger than Zeus in his shifted form. Zeus couldn’t help but notice the next picture in the stack was one of Gabriel when he first arrived at the compound. Oz had been collecting these for many years. Zeus had never suspected the little man of being so sentimental.

“What makes me so much larger in shifted form?” Zeus asked.

He was asking himself as much as he was Oz. He couldn’t think of a single scientific reason for the increased size. Oz only shrugged.

“Sometimes I think we know more about the bigfoot and aliens than we do shifters!” Zeus exclaimed, “At least shifters are real. We should know more about them, about the virus and why we see so many differences among those infected.”

Oz had to stifle a chuckle.

“It’s hard to study something you want to keep secret from the world. You can’t just bring in the best and brightest scientist and doctors. That’s how information gets leaked. Until now, most governments have preferred to keep secrecy a priority. They’ve made it even more important than replaceing a cure,” Oz answered.

“Speaking of scientist, explain to me again what your concerns are with Dr. Connors. You said it had something to do with why the cameras had all been disabled,” Zeus asked the tiny man.

Oz told Zeus his theory about the good doctor somehow using the compound’s security cameras to spy on them. There was no other explanation for how he knew Zeus was back at the compound and gravely injured. He also relayed it was shortly after the good doctor left that the two helicopters with the mercenaries showed up.

“Speaking of which,” Oz continued, “what do you plan to do with the two helicopters?”

“I’ve already made arrangements to have them bought by the Canadian government. It seems no one wants to claim them and their serial numbers don’t match any existing aircraft, so they become ‘spoils of war’. The government was most anxious to buy them from me. There were even willing to pay full price. I only charged them half. It was interesting to see them trying so hard to get their own choppers back,” Zeus answered.

“So, they were theirs all along?” Oz asked.

“Of course, they were. There was very little doubt about it, but once they began throwing seven-digit numbers at me to get them back, it was a certainty. My guess is they ‘loaned’ them to someone and never thought there was a chance they’d never see them again. It’s very hard to explain losing two multi-million-dollar aircrafts. It would prompt an investigation and I’m sure those involved do not want anyone to know who they’ve been working with or for,” Zeus answered.

“Why would the government ‘loan’ their helicopters to private individuals?” Oz asked.

“Normally, they wouldn’t. In fact, the only scenario I can come up with to explain it is the officials responsible never thought there was any chance of losing them. The way I figure it, they believed they were loaning them to someone who couldn’t lose. Someone like the white Alpha,” Zeus explained.

“We need to re-evaluate what we’re up against,” Oz said. “Someone has found a way to hack into our ‘unhackable’ security system and broadcast our video feed when there is no apparent way to broadcast a signal. They also know how to use our vehicles to track our movements as well. They found Gabriel and Apollo on the road when they were on the motorcycle. Our vehicles were supposed to be shielded from such surveillance. They have been able to infiltrate the Warlock Council at the highest level and can solicit as much help from the Canadian Government as they like.

It would seem they have tremendous technical abilities and unlimited financial resources, in order to keep buying mercenaries, and support from the government.”

“Don’t forget they were able to hack into my apartment’s security in Vancouver and adjust the time-lock as well, another seemingly impossible task,” Zeus agreed.

Oz shook his head for several seconds. It was looking more and more like he and the master warlock were going to be on their own. The loss of Gabriel at a time like this was devastating. Still, he was glad to know the young warlock would be out of harm’s way. This looked to be very dangerous at its best and a suicide mission at its worst.

“I’ll let you ponder on our next move with the council, the white Alpha, and the government. I’m going to have a talk with Doctor Connors. I don’t believe he could ever be turned against me. I also don’t believe he would ever do anything to help the shifters, let alone the white Alpha, but he definitely has some explaining to do,” Zeus said.

Oz simply nodded. He had a way of replaceing out what was going on in the government and he would use his time to do just that. With Zeus gone and Gabriel, Apollo, and Breena out of the mansion, he wouldn’t have to stay here to keep guard over the compound. Something he had done ever since the attack on Zeus’s wife and daughter, when both he and Zeus were away at the same time. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.

“It makes one wonder if whoever has control over our security system, has been doing so for a very long time,” Oz began. “How else would anyone know we were both out the night of the attack on the women? I also remember Miss Grace showing up shortly after Gabriel arrived, even though it was never known outside of a few trusted workers. How did she know he was here?”

“Those are very good questions old friend. It seems like everything keeps coming back to Miss Grace. It’s possible we have greatly underestimated the abilities and the involvement of the little shifter. There is also the fact she is too young to have been involved in the attack on my wife and daughter. It was before she was born, or just after her birth, while she was still an infant.

There is no doubt she is now very much involved in the shifter community, and I don’t think she’s ever tried to replace a cure for the virus. If anything, she seems to almost revere the creatures. Pierre was trying to uncover more about her when he was…terminated. Where Miss Grace Stevens is concerned, we will need to tread very carefully,” Zeus answered as he buttoned his shirt and adjusted his tie.

He stepped over to the wardrobe in his office and grabbed a suit coat. He was going to see Doctor Connors unannounced. As he stood there looking in the wardrobe, he changed his mind and took off the suit jacket. It was time he got back to being a warlock, even if he wasn’t working for the council anymore.

It was time he showed the world he was coming out of retirement. He reached into the back of the wardrobe and retrieved a long black leather coat. As he put it on, he felt better than he had in many years. He looked into the mirror fastened to the inside of the door and liked what he saw.

He had left the strand of black hair showing and with the black leather jacket, it made a nice contrast to his otherwise long white hair. He stepped to his desk and released a secret panel on the side, revealing a wide variety of silver bladed weapons and several pistols with silencers. He dropped a matching set of pistols into the holsters attached to the inside of his jacket, just under each arm. He also selected several of the silver throwing knives and one short, Japanese sword which he placed inside the left side of his jacket. He didn’t need a sheath; the sword was held in place by a strong set of magnets. Once he placed his hand on the hilt of the sword the presence of body’s own electrical currents countered the magnet’s grip and released the sword easily into his hand.

As he walked outside and stepped into the garage, he knew what he was going to take. Walking past the cars and the limousine, he went to the corner where there was a heavy tarp over a small vehicle. Zeus was nostalgic about his Norton motorcycle. It was a 1977 Commando and he had customized much of the bike to be able to handle just about anything the master warlock could need.

He hadn’t ridden the bike in more than a decade, but he had insisted the mechanic for the compound had kept it in perfect shape. If for no other reason, the value. In its current form, even with the modifications, most direct from the factory, the bike was worth almost fifty thousand dollars. Under the tarp was another, felt cover, and then the bike. It was jet black and no silver chrome anywhere on it. The bike was invisible at night.

Zeus pulled the covers from the bike and pulled the kick start into position. As he stepped down onto the starter, the engine fired immediately. With the bike between his knees, Zeus tore out of the garage and rode a wheelie all the way to the gate. Oz was elated to see the old master warlock living it up once again. He knew all too well, it may be the last hurrah for his friend, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. Besides, he planned to make sure the master warlock would be around to see his great-grandchildren, regardless of the sacrifices Oz must make to ensure it happened.