Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction, which will include t/t and m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is a companion story to "A Light in the Darkness." The story lines are related and the characters occasionally interact, and the frequency of this will be increasing. My sincerest thanks go out to Tarton and Phoenix Rafael, who kindly edited this chapter. And thanks to everyone for writing such encouraging emails.
I am now posting my stories to a Yahoo!Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jaygordon_1981/ as well. I'm putting them up there a little in advance so I can make final edits before submitting to Nifty, so if you are interested, you can check it out. It's membership requires permission to avoid spam and flames, so just let me know!
Things That Go Bump, Chapter 25
"The Council Strikes Back, pt. 1"
Sebastian was sitting in his office after Avery and James had gone to train with William, when his beeper went off and he, simultaneously with all Council members and associates around the world:
"To my friends in the Shadow Council, the hour has come. You have begun to
see the fruits of my labors in the public eye, and this shall increase from day to
day. I offer you this one chance. Join me, or perish in the fight. Any vampire
or warlock who wishes to take up arms in my battle may make a show of their
loyalty, at a location to be announced, in one week's time. Make no mistake: this
is the last opportunity you will be given, and no mercy shall be shown again.
Sincerely, Sammael"
Within moments, he started to get messages through the system, frantic request for clarification. Quickly he typed out his reply: "Any member of the council, or any associate, who attempts to join Sammael will be considered guilty of treason against the mortal realm, to be punished by summary execution. High Consul Sebastian." Then he stepped out to the portal leading to William's training area, and interrupted the session, but he found Sam and Avery had already filled everyone in on the matter.
He swore, and took a minute to collect himself, before discussing matters further. When it became clear that they would have to respond with force against anyone who sought to join Sammael, he and James, along with Avery and Sam, returned to the manor.
Conferencing with Christen, Musa, Americ, and Pedro, they began to make plans for how to respond. "Where do you think he'll call the meeting?" Musa asked.
"Some place very public to minimize his own danger and maximize the collateral damage from our response," Christen responded.
"I concur," Sam added. "I'd say a hotel, or perhaps a ballpark. I'd guess here in America.... More visibility, more likelihood of videos hitting the news...."
"I think we can do something about that," Avery said, "but I don't think you're going to like it, Sebastian...."
Sebastian looked at him warily and shook his head. "I hope you're not.... It's too dangerous...."
"In this kind of situation, it's the only thing he could do, and he's the only one we can spare who's powerful enough," Avery said, exasperated. He thought Sebastian was holding the boys back to the detriment of the rest of them.
"I'm lost," Musa admitted. "What are you talking about?"
"Avery wants to use Chase to disrupt electrical signals in the area, killing video and internet, cell phones and the like," Sebastian said, looking at Avery and receiving his expected nod.
"That does seem very dangerous," Musa declared, giving Avery a dark look.
Avery shook his head heatedly. "I could do it.... Sam could do it.... Christen could do it.... Sebastian could do it.... There are only a handful of us capable of shutting down city blocks worth of electrical equipment, but that would take our most useful fighters out of the game! Chase can't engage wizards in combat, due to his condition, but if we put him in a secure location with guards, he could do it and free us up to fight! Or perhaps you'd rather have videos of us slaying vampires and firing off spells on the 10 o'clock news! FOR GOD'S SAKE, THIS IS A WAR, PEOPLE!"
They all looked at him and a dark anger burned in Sebastian's eyes before he nodded stiffly. "You're right, of course.... But it doesn't have to be easy," Sebastian muttered with resignation. "James, as soon as I hear back about the location of that communications hub, I'm going to ask you to take the boys and a few of the young wizards on a mission to capture that location and secure it...."
James nodded seriously, because though he was excited, he was nervous too. "We're ready...."
Sebastian sighed and shook his head. "Alright.... Christen, Musa, Pedro, our intel people are recovering information about Sammael's network, including a unit on a boat.... As we get those pinned down, I'm going to ask you to lead teams to neutralize those locations, interrogate his people, and collect intel...."
"What do you want to do with the survivors?" Christen asked.
"Make a judgment call.... If they're true believers, get whatever information you can out of them, then kill them.... If they're dupes, we'll have to see whether they can be rehabilitated.... Otherwise, we'll banish them to Ashaer...."
Avery winced. "You should kill them instead," he said with no small touch of anger. "It's more humane...."
Sebastian tensed up but said, "Each of you must make the judgment call.... This is a time of martial law.... But we must make any effort we are reasonably able to in order to save lives...." After a few more questions, he concluded. "Thank you all. I'll get back to you soon...." Once he'd shut down the conference program, he looked at Sam and asked, "Anything new in Richmond?"
"No further attempts have been made.... Security is tight," Sam answered.
"Good.... You trust the field agents watching the boys and their friends?" Sebastian asked.
"I do," Sam affirmed.
"Good.... I'll need you to command an additional strike force for ... special projects.... Wizards who answer to you and I alone," Sebastian said. "We'll discuss the details in private later.... Let me walk you home...."
James and Avery arched their eyes and left, heading upstairs. As Sebastian walked Sam to his designated portal, neither spoke, but Sebastian followed Sam through to his office. He led the man into the sanctuary and sat in the seats nearest the ark. The moon gave a soft glow to the stained glass windows.
"Do you think they're ready, Sam?" Sebastian asked.
"No, Sebastian," the man answered truthfully. "But they're as ready as Sammael's timetable will allow, and a higher power than you or I has given them a central role in our victory...."
"Or our defeat," Sebastian corrected.
Sam sighed. "Have you really begun to believe again after these dark millenia, only to doubt His ability?"
"I doubt many things, my friend.... Not that he is able.... Only that he cares," Sebastian admitted.
"He cares," Sam said certainly. "Imagine Chase and William in a world where He didn't.... Look at what He's done for you...."
A voice from the shadows startled them both. "Do not hold his faithlessness against him," the tall, dark figure proclaimed with dry certainty. "Sometimes even I cannot believe he still cares for your kind...."
At first, Sebastian thought that it was Gamaliel, the angel he'd met in the hospital as James lay dead, but Gamaliel's tone was warm and paternal. "Gabriel," Sebastian said without turning. "What's your business here?"
The angel laughed, cold and hard, "MY BUSINESS?" Waving his arms at the arm, at his surroundings, the angel asked, incredulous, "SERIOUSLY? What is your business here, vampire, in the sanctuary of the Most High?"
"I mean, why are you here NOW?" Sebastian asked testily. "I'm having a private moment with an old friend...."
"You and I both know what's coming, vampire," the angel said softly. "And we both know it can't end well for everyone.... So far, you've acted with almost ... human ... restraint, and it must end. You can't make an omelet, you understand...."
"Let me get this straight, Gabe.... You're telling me that to fight evil, I need to be less good? You're telling me how to fight dirty for the cause of angels? A cause that, so far, no angel has seen fit to fight for...."
"No.... I'm here to tell you that it's understood that ... to do the right thing will involve some losses which are unavoidable.... But I also mean to tell you," the angel said, pausing, as if deciding whether he should continue, "Chase must be protected, even if it means making the hardest of all possible choices.... Chase must be protected, and if anything happens to him...."
"You'll what?" Sebastian asked angrily. "You'll glare at me angrily from the shadows in impotent rage?"
"No," the figure hissed with fiery eyes. "I'll tear my metaphorical wings off with my bare hands and beat you to death with them...."
And for a moment Sebastian shivered as he realized that the second most powerful angel in heaven was quite serious. "In any case," Sebastian answered with a sigh, "my understanding of the situation is that, if anything happens to Chase, you wouldn't have to.... It would all be over...."
"Indeed," the figure answered with a grudging smile.
"I know you don't like me Gabe.... I never much liked you either.... You caused my dearest friend, my cousin, a great deal of pain.... I love Chase like I loved him, so you needn't worry...."
"I know that, vampire.... I simply felt compelled ... to make my feelings known," the angel answered, his shoulders slumping.
"Feelings?" Sebastian asked with a little smile. "Last time we met, you referred to the human race, and my own, as bipedal monkeys who lived off of undeserved grace...."
Gabriel let out a little laughing grunt and nodded. "To be sure.... And if it weren't for your kind ... Sammael.... Well, that's an eternity ago now.... But I can still remember his face when he realized I wasn't with him, that I'd stand by the One in his support of ... your kind...." Gabriel shook his head as if to clear his mind of some ancient pain. "Nevertheless, I've grown fond of the boy, and his beloved...."
"And he seems fond of you, too ... Gideon," Sebastian said. "Clever, really.... Gideon and his trumpets, you and yours.... Nice parallelism...."
Gabriel shook his head, laughing. "Not parallelism.... Who do you think suggested the strategy to him?"
"I suppose looking after prophets and judges is your field, then?" Sebastian asked.
"It has been my chore," Gabriel said, "but only now, at this late hour, my pleasure.... Strange enough.... Protect Chase, please.... As you know, my powers are ... limited...." And then he was gone.
After a long silence, Sam said, "Strange fellow, Gabriel ... or Gideon, or whoever he is...."
"He's Gabriel.... The angel Gamaliel helped me understand him a little better, though.... Helped me understand his ambivalence toward humankind.... Gabriel was bound to Sammael, like a soul mate...."
Sam gasped. "Good Lord! What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to ask an old wizard I know to follow the boys into action and cover their asses, preferably without getting caught," Sebastian said with a straight face.
Sam laughed. "I see...."
Back home, Sebastian found Avery and James waiting expectantly, but he walked past them both, upstairs to his bedroom, and took a long, hot shower. When they heard the water come on, James looked at Avery and shrugged, heading upstairs. He stripped and reclined on the bed, waiting until the thin, white figure of Sebastian emerged, glistening damp in the moonlight.
"What's wrong?" James asked.
Sebastian patted himself drier and explained, "I'm just not interested in explaining myself to Avery this evening. It's all so easy for him, throwing people into harm's way.... Doing what has to be done.... I'm not cut out for it anymore.... If we make it through this...."
"When," James interrupted. "When we make it through this!"
Sebastian smiled. "You're the only one who can make me feel that might be true," he said, as he sidled up to James, pushing him back onto the bed and crawling on top of him.
"Chase makes you believe too," James said, wagging his eyebrows, "but I'm the only one you get to do this with after," he added, drawing Sebastian down for a deep kiss.
Sebastian smiled and drew back, whispering, "When we make it through this, I'm leaving the Council...."
James smiled, but his look was doubtful. "If that's what you want.... But don't feel like you have to, or need to, do that for me...."
"It isn't about you," Sebastian smiled, wiping hair from James's face. "Well, it is.... I'd just like to enjoy the world a little.... Live a less brutal life ... with you...."
James winked and rolled over on top of him. "Well, don't make any rash decisions.... Let's take that vacation first and then see how THAT goes! Now, you need to relax!"
James played at pinning him down and things got interesting.... They'd cuddle later....
Early Friday, Larry from the intel division called Sebastian to report. "High Consul, I've just emailed you the location and a threat assessment of four safe-houses in Europe, and one in Bangkok, as well as a location on the shipboard unit...."
"Thank you, Larry.... Did you prioritize the targets?" Sebastian asked. "we'll have to coordinate and hit as many as possible all at once...."
"Yes, sir.... It's in the report.... I though Bangkok might have some personal significance, given what happened at the Buddhist shrine...."
"You thought right, Larry.... I'll be taking that one, and I'm going to take a scorched earth approach...."
"As you know, sir," Larry said, grimly, "I approve.... I'm making progress with that comm center you asked about.... I should have a work-up on that for you in the next day or two...."
"Thank you, Larry.... Let me know if you find anything else...." The man hung up without further comment and Sebastian set out contacting the leaders of the countries in which the safe-houses were located to let them know that operations would be conducted on their territories. When offered, he accepted the offers to assist in clearing the areas as quietly as possible in the minutes leading up to the attacks.
Then he called James and Avery down and got key personnel on the teleconference. "I have intelligence reports identifying five land-based and one sea-based targets.... How many of them can we hit simultaneously?"
"We have plenty of vampires and wizards who have already engaged the enemy, and many more ready to join the fight," Christen said. "How many team leaders do we have?"
"Me," Musa announced, followed by Christen, Americ and Pedro.
"If you don't think we'll be spread too thin, we can take them all, then," Sebastian announced, waiting for an objection. Hearing none, he continued, "Right! Then I'm taking Bangkok... I have a personal score to settle there.... It's a mid-risk target, so I'll only need a small contingent of back-up...."
"Sebastian," Christen interrupted. "I'm reading here that there are four world-class sorcerers holding up there with a platoon or more of commandos...."
"So ... you think I should go alone to even up the odds," he said, laughing.
"Be serious! You can't put yourself in any kind of danger at this critical juncture," she said. "You'll take a full contingent!"
"Very well," he said, with a grin and a nod, noticing James's sigh of relief. The highest risk target is a safe house in Oslo.... It's well fortified, full of powerful sorcerers and necromancers, and more than a few vampires of over a century.... Also, it's in a residential neighborhood...."
"I'll take that one," Avery announced, and Sebastian nodded. "But Sam and his unit will be backing you up," Sebastian added, and he could tell Avery wanted to object but decided not to. "Christen, I'd like you to take your group to Venice...."
"Sebastian, that target," she began, but he cut her off.
"I'm sending James to join you.... I'll send him to your unit a few hours ahead of the attack for you to bring him up to speed," he said.
Her eyes widened and she nodded, understanding why she was being sent to a relatively safe target, though by no means an easy one. "Is he ready," she asked.
"I've been training with Avery," James answered, not letting them continue to speak about him in the third person. "I can hold my own...."
"That's true," Avery confirmed and she nodded.
"Americ, you've got Bern, and Pedro, you get Budapest.... And Musa, you get to have all the fun. I need you to take the boat.... Well, it's pretty big -- yacht.... Try not to sink it, I'm guessing something important is going on there, and I want to know what...."
"When are we staging," Avery asked.
"6 am. EST tomorrow.... We'll all touch base at 5 am. to confirm ready?"
All confirmed and the meeting broke up. Sebastian looked at James and asked, "You're still sure about this?" James nodded and Sebastian sighed. "Go pack a bag.... There are a couple of black combat uniforms in your side of the closet in your side I had made.... You'll need to set out soon so you can get briefed and integrate with Christen's team...."
James smiled and kissed him on the cheek before running upstairs. "It's the right thing to do," Avery said when he was gone.
Sebastian glared at him. "NO.... It's the necessary thing to do. Big difference."
Avery shrugged and left him alone to return phone calls and begin to make his arrangements for Bangkok. When that was all done, he went upstairs to find James, who was playing pool with Chris and Steve in the game room, chatting and joking around like a normal teen.
"Sorry to interrupt, James, but it's almost time," Sebastian said, as he entered, forcing a smile to his lips. Steve and Chris both looked concerned but told their buddy to be careful and gave him a hug. Then Sebastian led him out and to their room. "I just wanted a few minutes alone with you before you go," Sebastian said as he sat down with James on the bed.
James wrapped his arms around Sebastian and squeezed. "I'll be fine," he whispered.
"Be safe," Sebastian said, reclining his head against the boy's firm chest. "Be careful and watch your back...."
"You too.... I worry about you too, you know," James laughed, running his fingers through Sebastian's hair.
"Yeah, well, I've survived four millenia of battles and intrigue.... This is all kind of new to you," Sebastian whined.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm really powerful and prophecy boy," James said, kissing his head with a laugh.
Each of the leaders spent the rest of the day briefing their team and giving them a rundown of the targets, before running through a few training exercises. James impressed Christen and her captain, and easily fit in with her soldiers, who were, by and large, a few years older than him. That didn't stop more than a few of the young ladies, and one or two of the young men, from noticing him. His experience with football allowed him to follow the diagrams and battle plans fairly easily, and in training he showed himself to be a capable attacker and a top-notch defender. It helped that none of the others knew any angelic magic, much less the powerful defensive spells Chase had taught him.
After training, he stayed with the soldiers in their barracks and joined them for dinner. He was having a nice time chatting with a few of the younger soldiers when one of their older comrades, perhaps twenty-two, walked up and asked, "So how did you weasel your way onto this mission? We're an elite team, we've been together for over a year, and you just walk in like you own the place...."
"I'm sorry," James said, smiling. "I'm just doing as I was ordered, and my orders were to accompany your team on this mission.... I understand you are a special force, and I don't mean any...."
"Don't give me that! You're angling for a place on this team, but you haven't paid your dues," the young man, a first lieutenant named Spencer sneered.
James stood and turned until he was nose-to-nose with the man and said, "Listen, Lieutenant Spencer, I don't know you, or who you think you are, or who you think I am, but I have NO DESIRE to join this team. I have a happy home and a good relationship out east.... I'm just here to help and learn, and if you have a problem with that...."
"Is there a problem?" barked Captain Morgan, Christen's second-in-command for the operation asked as he walked into the dining hall.
Lieutenant Spencer snapped to attention. "No, sir! I was just asking the ... our guest ... what he did to get on this mission sir!"
"Do you doubt the judgment of your leaders, lieutenant?" the big man barked angrily.
"NO SIR! But this kid...."
James cut him off. "Sir! If I may?" The man nodded, to the surprise of the young lieutenant. "If the lieutenant has a problem with me, maybe it would be best if we demonstrate our skills? One on one?"
The captain nodded with a smile and said, "Finish your dinner, then it's back to the mats people, for a little extra 'training'...."
James sat back down with the young soldiers who were whispering madly. At last one of the young women whispered, "Be careful! He's dangerous! He's an excellent dualist...."
James smiled and nodded. "I won't underestimate him...."
"You are young," one of the other women said uncertainly. "Have you ever dueled before, seriously?"
James smiled and nodded, pink spilling into his cheeks. He'd had no intention of getting into the issue of his identity with these folks. He didn't want to be treated differently. "I've dueled in training, with other students and with the masters...."
"Who trained you?" the first young woman asked, but he shook his head.
"It isn't important.... I'll tell you later if you really want to know," he said with a cryptic smile. After dinner was cleared, the soldiers returned to the training room and set out the floor mats, while James and Lieutenant Spencer changed into training uniforms. When they emerged, their mat was encircled by soldiers, and they both notice Christen among the observers.
Captain Morgan walked out onto the mat and announced, "Until one of you surrenders, or gets ... neutralized.... GO!"
As James expected, Spencer didn't even allow the man to clear a path before going offensive, fast and sloppy, firing a ball of electricity just over James's left shoulder. James just smiled and circled across from him, making no other motion of hand our mouth, except to reach up and touch the sigil pendant at his neck and infusing it with a powerful jolt of energy. Then he raised his right arm at the young solder aggressively, prompting the young man to toss off another powerful energy ball, at which point James yelled, "Verso!" The ball reversed its course, flying back at its source with all its original speed, striking Spencer square in the chest and sending him flying back a few feet, stunned.
He hurried to his feet and circled across from James more warily, muttering a curse under his breath that would have proved devastating, but James heard a few of the words and knew what was coming, so he dropped to his knee and sent a wave of energy through the ground, knocking the young man on his ass once more.
Now Spencer was angry and lashed out with lightning against his young opponent. James, seeing his murderous rage, knew it was time to end this, so he conjured up a cyclone, just as Avery had taught him, but he made it small and controlled, and he made it spring up around the offending soldier. And then, in a show of sheer power, he set it on fire, so a raging inferno swirled around the young man, just far enough from him to keep from injuring him badly. At last, a voice cried from inside, "I yield!"
James let the spell drop, and Spencer's knees buckled. James walked up to him and reached out a hand, which Spencer grudgingly took, and helped him up. "Who the hell are you?"
The others had drawn in to hear the exchange, and James shook his head. "You should be polite to all people, so you never have to ask that question in embarrassment...." Spencer blushed as Christen looked at him pointedly. "My teachers include my boyfriend...."
"You're a fag?" the young man asked, surprised.
Christen looked like she was about to melt the young soldier, but James held up his hand. "I don't think he meant that as badly as it sounded," he said graciously, and Spencer shook his head.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Spencer said. "I guess, I don't know, it seems even more impressive because of that...."
"That's ignorance," James said, not meaning to put the man down but to explain. "We're just like you, most of us, anyway. As I was saying, my main teachers are my boyfriend, Sam, and Avery...."
"Should I know these people?" Spencer asked.
James smiled and let it hang in the air, before answering, "The name I go by these days is James van der Meer, taking my boyfriend's last name.... Sam is Rabbi Sam Roth, and Avery is Avery Salazar.... Ring any bells?"
The man's face turned red and James heard some of the onlookers gasp.
"You're ... uhm, you're Sebastian's partner, James?" Spencer asked. James nodded and the man grabbed his hand tightly and whispered, "Please forgive me? I'm sorry...."
James laughed and squeezed his hand back, shaking his head. "It's forgotten.... Just work on that temper and try to treat people like they weren't your worst enemy until you know better.... You're lucky I didn't really kick your ass!" Spencer nodded and walked off alone to the locker room to change, and he must have left out the back, because James didn't see him again as he was talking to those who had watched the match. Some of the soldiers had built a fire down by the lake near the complex, and James walked down with some of them to relax before the mornings adventure. As the evening wore on, the soldiers gradually dropped off, but James had little need for sleep that night so he stayed up. When most of the soldiers were asleep, he noticed one man sitting down by the water, alone and apart from where the soldiers had gathered.
As he walked down, he called out, "Lt. Spencer?"
"Yeah," the man answered without turning.
"Mind if I join you?" James asked, and the man shook his head no. But what else could he say?
James sat down near him and after a moment, the man said, again, "I'm really sorry...."
"What is your problem?" James asked, and the man turned to face him sharply.
"Look, I'm sorry, but people are always trying to get some special treatment, thinking they're better or something.... They try to get on this team to get ahead.... But that endangers my men, me, all of us.... clearly you don't need to get ahead, but I've seen it so many times before...."
James smiled and said, "I can respect that, but you need to reserve judgment on people `til you can make an accurate call!"
"I know, I'm sorry," the man said with a soft smile. "So, what is it like, being in the middle of all that Armageddon?"
"Honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything.... The friendships I've built, the things I've learned, the love.... Sorry, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable," James said with a blushing smile.
Lt. Spencer shook his head and laughed. "It really wasn't like that," Spencer said, remembering his impolitic outburst earlier. "I've just never met a ... gay person like you.... Anyway, I hear he's something.... More than a few straight guys have fallen for him, I understand...."
James laughed, and said, "I can imagine! He's that mix of masculinity and beauty that just ... well, it's very powerful...." With that, he winked at Spencer and stood up. "You should get some rest, lieutenant! We've got an early morning...."
"What about you?" Spencer called after him.
Looking over his shoulder, James smiled and shook his head. "Vampire, remember?"
After a few hours of sleep, most of the soldiers began to stir and go through their rituals. Shower, dress, adorn themselves with amulets and mementos and other sentimentalities that went into combat with them as a kind of mental shield. James showered in the mens' barracks shower and got into his custom-made uniform. He was pulling on the boots when Lt. Spencer sat down a few feet from him at his locker, a towel wrapped around his tight waist, his hair still dripping. "Morning," he said, sounding grumpy.
"Good morning," James said with a laugh. "Not a morning person I take it?"
"You can say that again," a younger soldier laughed as he walked behind them.
James chuckled and pretended to divert his eyes as Spencer dried off and pulled on his own form-fitting uniform. The man was built like a combat soldier who spent a lot of time in a gym, and his physique was breathtaking, even if he wasn't James's type. Then they walked to breakfast together, grabbing coffee and some light food. James noticed how much quieter everyone was this morning with action impending. Shortly, Christen and Captain Morgan entered. "I've just gotten off the phone with the High Consul.... We're a go in fifty-five minutes! Make your final preparations and get to the staging area in thirty! Then well cross over to Italy and prepare ourselves on the ground.... Italian police have been quietly evacuating the neighborhood overnight...."
They all finished whatever they were eating and congregated in the staging area, where Captain Morgan paired them up, instructing each pair to always stay together. James wasn't at all surprised to find himself paired with Spencer, who didn't seem at all perturbed by this. Their portal opened into a dark alley two blocks from the safe house they were going to hit, and with quiet precision, they ringed the building and got into position.
At last, each of them heard in an ear piece, "Move on your primary objective in five, four, three, two, go, go go!"