Knock, Knock, Knock,
Gabriel began to walk over to the door timidly.
His silver hair glistened in the candlelight.
His pupils dilated, being swallowed by the sapphire blue ocean of his iris.
He reached out and grabbed the handle.
He slowly pulled the door open, just as it was opening.
Bam! Gabriel flew back a few metres. Someone had pushed the door open with enough force to knock Gabriel off his feet.
He regained his composure and looked up.
In the doorway was a small, innocent-looking woman with a beautiful, gentle face. Pitch black hair and illuminating purple eyes.
It was Ariya.
She looked at Gabriel with her innocent, gentle smile. "Shall we begin?"
Ariya appeared in front of him. Not walking, not gliding. Appearing.
Like she moved through the shadows themselves.
The door slammed shut.
Gabriel's breath became short and fast.
His body refused to move. As if his muscles remembered the chains that held them in place.
Ariya tilted her head, the same gentle, innocent smile carved into her face like a mask.
"Gabriel, this is real," she whispered, stepping closer.
The candle on the desk flickered violently, it was as if the flame itself was trying to escape.
"You have seen him, Gabriel. I'm just trying to help you remember his glory"
She raised her finger, pointing at his medallion resting on his chest.
The metal began to sizzle at her touch.
Red smoke began enveloping the medallion, not spreading, this was controlled. Like she had the smoke on a leash.
Gabriel tried to scamper away, hitting the bedframe.
His heartbeat ringing in his ears.
Ariya's voice echoed from behind him, but she hadn't moved.
"Do you think this false idol will help you?" her tone soft, almost motherly.
"This so-called Archangel who betrayed our people", her jaw tightening as the words left her mouth through gritted teeth.
Gabriel attempted to stand up.
Ariya thrust her hand forward again, this time, he didn't feel any impact. Her hand simply disappeared inside his chest. Phasing through flesh.
Her eyes were glowing bright red, almost blinding the boy.
Her face contorting, vein-like lines bulging in all directions from her eyes.
Gabriel screamed.
But the sound never left his throat, his voice was being strangled by the red smoke pouring through his body.
His vision fractured, overtaken by shards of crimson and black.
His knees buckled, but he didn't fall. Ariya's arm holding him perfectly in place.
Ariya's smile widened, childlike and cruel.
Chains began slithering out of the wall, spiralling around his limbs and tightening.
"Shall we begin?" She chuckled as the tension from the chains yanked Gabriel's arms and spread him into a perfect cross shape.
Cracks began appearing on his skin, small, jagged ones.
Ariya's eyes began to focus, her fist clenched inside his body.
More red smoke began bellowing out of his mouth, nose and eyes.
"You will become righteous", her voice turning into a shout.
"You will remember his glory". The smoke began to intensify, suffocating Gabriel.
"You will learn that righteousness begets cruelty and slay the false gods".
"Enough!" A deep voice reverberated around the room.
The chains began to slacken as the red smoke stopped.
Ariya pulled her hand from Gabriel's chest.
The young Paladin crumbled to the floor, coughing out the residual fog.
She turned, her face still monstrous. "He needs to –"
"I said enough." The deep voice boomed, vibrating the whole room.
Ariya's face turned back to its normal, innocent self. She lowered her head a little.
"Yes, Commander" Then simply disappeared.
Gabriel was still in a heap on the floor, cradled like a newborn in his own arms. His coughing stopped as the last of the smoke had finally cleared.
But his strength had faded, he couldn't move.
The Commander walked over and lifted him back to his feet with no effort.
His head was still wobbling left to right as he regained some composure.
The Commander was an elf, showing no signs of ageing, which meant he was under 200 at least. He had feminine facial features and long blonde hair, his long ears peering through the golden locks. He was clad in full metal armour, which shone brightly under the candlelight.
"Sit down, and I'll fetch some water." His voice felt as though it was directly ordering Gabriel's body. He couldn't resist and followed each command.
"I apologise for Ariya, she sometimes gets overzealous".
Gabriel took the cup from the elf, barely able to raise it to his lips.
The young paladin consumed the whole content the moment it reached his mouth.
"Who- Who are you?" Gabriel said, barely able to clear the words from his throat.
"What do you want with me?" The follow-up came out much easier.
"I apologise again, until it's complete, we cannot tell you".
"Until what's complete", Gabriel replied immediately.
"People are looking for me. My brother –"
"We have taken certain steps to ensure your brother does not find you," the Commander fired back, his tone unchanging.
Gabriel dropped his eyes to the floor as his shoulders slumped.
"I can guarantee you will not be killed". The Commander placed his hand on Gabriel's chin, raising his head. "We do not seek to hurt you. Only to make the true you live".
Gabriel shook his head, breaking it free from the Elf's hand.
"My brother will find me." Gabriel's brow furrowed in disobedience.
"Then I will kill him". The elf replied, his eyes unmoving.
The Commander stood up, turning his back to Gabriel. His sword, loosely hanging from his hip.
He stood there for a moment, almost enticing Gabriel to attempt to grab it.
Gabriel glared at it for a moment before turning his head away in disgust.
The Elf chuckled, "and that is why we have you and not him. He would have killed a hundred men before we took him".
Gabriel's eyes lost the last little spark that remained in them as tears began to well.
"Follow me". The order forced the boy's body to move on its own, he still had control, but it was as though he wanted to follow.
Gabriel stood up and proceeded to follow the Commander, sticking closely behind. His eyes flitting around, trying to take in all of his surroundings.
They walked through what Gabriel had deduced as an abandoned castle, judging by the vines penetrating and wrapping around the brick blocks, it had been abandoned long ago.
Each room they passed filled with soldiers suited in full armour.
They arrived at the courtyard.
Soldiers were mid-way through their drills as they approached.
They immediately stopped and stood to attention.
"ALL HAIL THE COMMANDER!"
The man leading the training shouted.
All of the soldiers in unison raised their right hands parallel across their chest. Fist over their heart.
"ALL HAIL!"
The Commander turned to Gabriel. His lips curling upwards. "As I said, your brother would've killed a hundred men. His smile growing.
I have five thousand."
"AT EASE!" The Elf barked. Approaching the man in charge of the training with Gabriel in tow.
The sound of wood clashing against each other and soldiers shouting resounded through the courtyard
As he got closer, Gabriel noticed the soldiers were of all different races. His mouth opened as he attempted to label them.
Humans, Orcs, Elves, Giants, Fairies, Dwarfs.
He was ticking them off one by one.
The Commander turned towards Gabriel, stopping the soldier in charge of the training mid-sentence.
"You will train, eat, sleep, shit and piss under the watch of Fitz, you will have free rein of the castle when you are with Fitz."
"Ariya will visit you every morning until the ritual is complete. Then you will be with Fitz."
"Now follow me, there is one more thing I want to show you."
Gabriel slumped his head as he followed the Commander up the stairs to the walls of the Castle, dragging his feet as he walked.
They reached the top of the walls.
Gabriel's Jaw dropped. A deep blue ocean as far as the eye could see.
The Commander placed his hand on Gabriel's back and pushed him closer to the edge.
"You have no hope of escape or being found. I can assure you, you will not be killed whilst being here."
He took a step closer to Gabriel
"There are two ways this plays out."
The elf took in a deep breath as his eyes drifted off into the distance.
His tone calming.
"You can give up on any shred of leftover hope you have, follow the rules. Live somewhat peacefully until we have completed our mission."
He placed his arm on Gabriel's shoulder.
The boy's body tensed up, attempting to recoil, however, the firm grip of the Commander held him in place
"Or you will suffer unimaginable pain for the duration of your stay.
…
"AHHH!"
Gabriel sat up, red smoke enveloping from his hands, crashing into the door of the room he and Tess were staying.
The door flew off its hinges and cracked into the wall opposite, shattering into dust.
His eyes were glowing ominously, lighting up the whole room, as tiny veins began to bulge on the skin around them
Tess sat up, edging herself further away from the demon-eyed adventurer.
"What did they do to me?". He whispered as the smoke started to dissipate and his eyes began to dim.
Tess pressed herself against the wall, unable to tear her gaze from him, her face twisted with a fear she couldn't hide.