"What happened?" Daciana asked as she bent down to pick her scattered fruits, the concern growing on her face.
Gabriel looked like he was about to say something and stopped. Agitation struck his face and vanished with a sigh.
He looked so much like his older brother but still managed to look so different. Where Ethan had taken their father's dark hair, Gabriel had taken both parent's hair, resulting in a dark shade of blonde that sometimes looked chestnut when full. He was a few inches taller than Ethan and had brown eyes. He possessed the bulkier physique between the two from years of martial arts and who was more handsome was up for debate.
"Come in," he said and led the way into the cottage.
Daciana picked up her basket once again and went in with them, closing the wooden door softly behind her.
Inside the cottage was homely. It was by degrees warmer than it had been outside, thanks to a hearty flame burning in the fireplace.
Ethan looked away from the flame as he followed his younger brother to a wicker dining set. The sound of the fire snapping disturbed him, but he did his best to blot out the sound.
Gabriel gestured to one of the four wicker chairs so he could sit while Dancia set the fruits on a stone counter and washed her hands.
The cottage was small. The floors were made of a deep brown, hard-looking wood, and the stone walls were covered with wallpaper.
The living room was small and cozy. A thick hand-woven scarlet rug was laid in the center of the room, guarded on two sides by large, cushioned wicker chairs.
There was a small hardwood table over the rug that held a series of books with one currently open. A small oval-shaped stone was used to hold the page open. There was no television, but that was because Gabriel valued books over them.
A few pictures adorned the fireplace along with a few wooden and ivory carvings, but because of the fire, Ethan didn't look long enough to decipher what they were.
There was a cup of tea and a plate on the table when Ethan sat down. The plate held a piece of partially eaten toast spread all over with strawberry jam. Gabriel must have been having breakfast when Ethan tripped the alarm.
The strawberry jam was red and thick, resembling the blood Aisling had coughed up.
Gabriel saw him staring at the plate with evidence of nausea.
"Daciana darling, could you please take this plate away," Gabriel asked.
"I understand," Daciana said as she took the plate away. "Would you like some tea or coffee?" she asked Ethan.
"I'm alright, thank you," he responded politely. He was hungry, but he feared he would vomit if he tried to eat anything.
"You look like you haven't eaten a thing. You need food… a warm bath and new clothes," Daciana said.
Ethan didn't respond.
"How about some eggs? Eggs are good? Or cereal? Do you still like Weetabix?" she asked warmly.
Ethan stuttered and then answered. "Either would be fine. Thank you."
"Alright," Daciana said and turned to face the stove. Cabinets began to open and close while utensils clanked as she made something for the man of the tragedy.
"What happened?" Gabriel asked now that he had his attention again.
Ethan said nothing as the horrors of yesterday played in his mind. Maeve's screams as she transformed, Fiona's screams as she was being taken away. The sound of cinder ripping through Aisling's chest and the wheezing sound she made as she tried to force air into her gaping lungs.
"Ethan," Gabriel called. Ethan had been staring into the distance as he relived the horror and his eyes looked vacant.
"What happened?" Gabriel asked him again.
Daciana returned with a steaming tray and set it in front of Ethan.
On it were a plate of eggs and crispy brown slices of bacon with pieces of toast, a steaming mug of tea, and a bowl of Weetabix.
"Do you have to interrogate him now? Let him rest," Daciana scolded as she replaced Gabriel's cold cup with a hot one. She pulled out one of the wicker chairs and sat down
"It's alright," Ethan spoke up. "I don't actually have time to rest."
"What happened? Where's Fiona and Maeve?" Gabriel asked feeling very concerned despite his anger and maybe hatred for his brother. They had been together for years, but Gabriel had never seen anything shake up Ethan like this. Even the death of their mother had not made him shed a tear, but Gabriel could tell he was fighting them back now.
Ethan took a sip of the tea. It was good. It almost lightened his heart. "He's back... h-he took her," he finally said.
"Who's back?" Gabriel asked.
"Took who?" Daciana asked. She pulled out one of the wicker chairs and sat down.
"Valak, Valak is back," Ethan answered without looking up from his cup. "And he took…" Ethan's voice trailed off.
Daciana stretched out her hand and placed it on his in a reassuring gesture.
Ethan looked at her hand and then at her face and was almost consumed by his own self-loathing. He took his hand away.
"What did Valak do to Aisling? What did he want from you?" Gabriel asked.
"He wanted the sword. His sword. The Sword of Michael," Ethan answered.
"Why would he think you have it? What did he do to Aisling?" Gabriel asked but Ethan didn't even seem to be listening.
"He took Fiona. He turned Maeve into an infernal. She killed Aisling," Ethan replied staring at his cup again.
"Oh my God," Daciana said with another gasp as she raised a hand to her face.
"No," Ethan said turning to face her. "No. Don't say that name… He didn't save them, He didn't save any of them."
"Why would Valak think you have the sword?" Gabriel asked.
Ethan did not reply.
"Ethan. What did you do? What did you do?"
"I took it," Ethan said finally. "17 years ago, someone wanted it, so I stole The Sword of Michael from Valak and sold it. He was still on earth then, I must have tripped an alarm because he suddenly appeared. We fought. I cut off one of his horns and left him in a barrier. He was stuck for three days before he eventually broke the barrier."
Gabriel shook his head as he listened. Stealing from and trapping a demon, was one of the greatest insults you could inflict on a demon. Valak had been very high up, he could almost be called a Lord of Hell. Hearing about something like that happening to him would cause him to lose standing. He would have been ridiculed. Ethan had humiliated him, it was no wonder he still held a grudge.
"Who is Valak?" Daciana asked, finally regaining herself.
"Valak of the Horde, The Collector of Damnation. He is a high-ranking demon in Hell, notorious for his obsession with collecting rare and powerful religious artifacts, particularly those with biblical significance," Gabriel answered her. "But Valak has been banned from Earth for over a decade now," he said to both himself and Ethan.
"Your daughter that was turned into an infernal, Maeve. Where is she?" Daciana asked.
"She went with Valak. I came here after burying Aisling," Ethan said. "T-the cabin was burned to the ground," Ethan added unnecessarily.
Daciana rose from her seat and moved over to drape a comforting arm over Ethan's shoulders. He smelled of smoke, blood, and misery.
Gabriel remained seated, conflicted about what to do. His heart went out to his brother, but so much was in between them.
"I'm so sorry," Gabriel said finally when Daciana shot him a glare. "I only met my nieces once and I could tell how much they meant to you. But I knew Aisling. It breaks my heart to hear what happened to her… I can't imagine what you're going through right now."
Gabriel was going to say more, but Dacina interrupted him.
"You need to eat something. Let me heat more milk for you," she said and glared at Gabriel again.
Dacinda went and returned with a saucepan of warm milk which she poured over the cereal.
"Eat," she said again, placing a tender hand on his cheek.
Gabriel remained silent and allowed him to eat and Ethan ate it all. Eggs, toast, and cereal, but he left the bacon untouched.
Before he was done eating, Ethan began to gradually slow down. By the time the dishes were taken away, he was already finding his eyelids too heavy to keep open.
"Would you like to rest a little, Ethan?" Daciana asked coming to his side.
"What?" Ethan asked groggily, his eyes partially concealed by their lids. "No, no… I have to go and get Fiona back. I came here. For help," he protested lazily.
"I know. But you're exhausted. Rest a bit, only a little bit. Would you do that for me?" Daciana asked sweetly with a beautiful smile.
"Yes… sure. Only a short nap," Ethan agreed as he rose clumsily to his feet.
"Come," Daciana said taking his arm. "We have a spare bedroom you can sleep in,"
She led him down a short corridor to a wooden door. Daciana turned the handle and the door creaked open, upset at being disturbed. It wasn't used very often.
The room looked quite feminine, but Ethan couldn't notice much in his state. Daciana sat him down on the soft bed and had him kick off his shoes.
"Coat," she ordered.
"I need it," Ethan announced as she tried to take it off.
"I know. It will be here when you wake up," she said gently, setting it down on a chair in the room.
She made him lay back and proceeded to cover him with the quilted blanket patterned with poppies.
"I'm sorry, Daciana," Ethan said as she tucked him in.
"It's alright. Sleep tight," she said patting the back of his hand.
"I'm s…." he dozed off.
Dacina turned to leave and Gabriel was at the door, she gave him another glare.
"What are you giving me that look for?" he asked her.
"He is your brother… h-he came to you for help and you wanted to turn him down?" She said accusingly.
"You don't know what happens to people who team up with him. He doesn't need anybody, he never does. If he needs somebody to go with him, they usually end up a sacrifice," Gabriel argued.
"He came to you. His brother. He needs your help!" Daciana maintained.
"The last time I helped him, I lost something invaluable to me… you! I lost you. What more can he take from me?" Gabriel said as his voice softened in defeat to his emotions.
"Gabriel," Dacina said cupping his face.
"He is always doing this. This is what he always does. He cheats and tricks and ruins everything with no regard for who gets hurt in the process, no regard for who is caught in the blast and who has to clean up. He knew what the risks were and he still allowed us to come. He knew he was immune and brought us all along to our deaths. You died… he killed you," Gabriel maintained.
"He needs your help. Forgive him," Dacina said calmly.
"You don't get it. You only think you've forgiven him because I remember you as forgiving… as kind and noble. Besides, he is Ethan Blackwood. The Bane of the Underworld. He doesn't need help," he replied as he took her hands and held it.
"I slipped Dreamshade into his milk so he could sleep. The old Ethan would have noticed. Dreamshade is very potent, but I didn't put enough to act so fast. He is not what he used to be. He'll get himself killed and you'll lose your niece and brother forever." She said. "I know you're angry, I know you think you can't forgive him, but you still love him. And if you won't do it for him, do it for Aisling. I know you loved her."
Gabriel looked shocked and then quickly hid it.
"W-we grew up together till we m-moved," he said in defense as his lips quivered.
"I know it was more than that. Do it for her at least. For her child, avenge her like you couldn't avenge me," Daciana said softly.
"Let's not talk about this here," Gabriel said hurriedly, pulling Daciana out with him and closing the door.
When their footsteps had receded and he could no longer hear them, Ethan turned to the other side as the Dreamshade finally claimed him.