Chapter Thirty Eight
“Wake up!” A man shouted as he slapped Gabriel in the face. Gabriel's ears were ringing and he slowly opened his eyes. The room was blurry, and he was cuffed and sitting in a chair. Gabriel focused his eyes and could see a man in the cloth of a priest. It was the same man that he saw freeing all of the Templar's of their sin's
“What is your name?” The priest asked. Gabriel's head was pounding and he was still trying to get his bearings.
“Ummmm..Oh I am Gabriel.” Gabriel said as the room came into focus.
“My name is bishop Clark.” Clark said.
“Why is a place of god abusing and murdering women.” Gabriel said as his blood started boiling again.
“Well Gabriel it seems you have much to learn about Christianity.” Clark said leaning back in his chair.
“This is a place of god's army, and god's army has needs. The men here are fighting for god but that doesn't mean they don't have their desires and sins. In fact the pope has declared the Templar's immune to the sin's of man. These men have already been forgiven and since they are in gods army they will go to heaven.” Clark said.
“And the women they abuse!” Gabriel snarled back. A hand came into view for a moment and then Gabriel's face stung. He had been back handed from behind.
“It's ok please.” Clark said holding his hand up to stop more beatings.
“The women have been declared whores and harlots.” Clark said.
“By who's judgment?!” Gabriel said, his eyes burned with hate.
“Mine.” Clark said.
“Enough of this talk though, what about you. How did you get immortality?” Clark said leaning forward.
“From your devil who you are sure to meet you piece of shit!” Gabriel tried jumping out of the chair at Clark. Clark nodded his head, and it was followed by a beating. One man held Gabriel's head while another punched him in the face. Blood ran from Gabriel's nose and into his mouth.
“Enough.” Clark said and the men stopped. Gabriel's face stung from being punched.
“Who are you to judge me?” Clark said to Gabriel.
“Anyone who allows women to be raped and forgives pigs for abusing and killing women is not a man of god.” Gabriel said as he spit blood on the ground.
“You...... Killed a 17 year old boy in that stairwell. To save whores and harlot's who god says to stone to death. But I wouldn't let them be stoned, I let god decide their fate. If they get pregnant and reach a later term then god decided their death. Not me, I showed mercy.” Clark said. Gabriel was boiling over with rage, his lips trembled ready to scream. He held back though and remained silent.
“I don't need to know anything else, its clear that you are a servant of Satan.” Clark said as he banged his hand on the desk.
“He is immortal so he must be a high ranking servant of Satan. Load him on the next ship to the Vatican, they can decide what to do with this vile creature.” Clark said.
“You think you are serving god? One day soon you will see who you serve.” Gabriel said as they pulled him up on his feet. Two men held onto Gabriel as they lead him out the building. Gunshots could be heard from inside the building on the way out. Outside the air was filled with smoke, and a foul burning smell.
Looking to the flames Gabriel could see the body's of the dead being burnt. Next to the flames was the women from the cells who were lined up. One by one they were shooting them in the head and throwing the body's on the flames for the others to see. Tears ran down Gabriel's face as they lead him down to a river where a large sail boat was waiting.
It was a large ship with three masts sticking out of it. It looked very old as well and not very sea worthy. Gabriel just looked at the ship as the flames flickered in his peripheral vision. Tears blurred his vision and his eye's stung from the smoke. One last shot went off and the final woman was dead. Gabriel was not sure what happened to Crow but he figured he suffered the same fate.
The last straw of caring for mankind broke when the last shot was fired. Gabriel now knew who man was sworn to. Who man was always sworn to, Apollyon. Had Gabriel sinned by killing the boy in the stairwell then god was already on his way. But Gabriel doubted it since he should have came many years ago. Gabriel had good morals, but he was no saint of god, or Apollyon.
Gabriel walked over a walkway and was lead onto the ship. Templar's were loading the ship with goods and Gabriel was taken below deck. The ship had three levels and Gabriel was taken down to the bottom. Down below he had to tilt his head while standing in order to not hit the ceiling. A cast iron cage the size of a two car garage was down there.
Looking inside Gabriel saw two women chained to the sides of the cage. One had a nice blue dress and the other red. The dresses went down to their feet and they were sitting. On their heads were black bags covering their whole head. The woman in the red dress had tattoos all over her body. From her feet to her hands.
All of the skin that the dress showed was tattooed. Just above her cleavage was a tattoo of a woman holding two swords above her head. The swords were crossed over and the tips reached out to her neck. The other woman had pale skin and no tattoos. Red locks of hair dangled down near her cleavage. The other woman with the tattoos had blonde hair that barley hung down past the bag.
A boy sat by the woman with red hair who was in the red dress. He had chains on but he was only about eight years old. The boy had black hair in a bowl cut with brown eyes. He was holding the hand of the woman in the red dress. The boy didn't even look up at Gabriel as he was lead into the cage.
“Sit!” A man demanded. Gabriel sat down and they ran a chain from his cuffs on his legs and feet. The chain was then locked to the cage with a pad lock. One of the men looked at the woman and smiled. He was missing teeth and smelled like shit. Gabriel was happy to see him leave the cage. A lantern was in one of their hands and when they left it was pitch black in the lower section.
“Who's there?” One of the women asked.
“Mam, my name is Gabriel.” Gabriel said looking in the darkness.
“We are the Crathage sisters, I'm Qwella, the one in the red dress.” Qwella said.
“I am Twella, the one in the blue dress.” Twella said chuckling.
“This is my boy Charlie, he's a mute though.” Qwella said.
“Well it's nice to meet you Qwella, Twella, and Charlie. I wish we had met under different terms.” Gabriel said shutting his eyes and resting his head on the cage.
“He sounds handsome!” Twella said.
“Oh Twella stop it. Nice to meet you Gabriel and the circumstances will get better. We just have to have faith in the positive.” Qwella said. There was a moment of silence since Gabriel did not know what to say.
“What do you look like?” Twella asked.
“Uhmm I have an average build, brown hair, a beard..” Gabriel said, but was cut off by Qwella.
“Oh don't mind her, she is just being a perv.” Qwella said.
“I am not!” Twella said back laughing.
“How old are you?” Twella asked.
“Uh not even sure anymore, don't know what year it is even.” Gabriel said trying to think.
“Well I'm twenty, and Qwella here is an old hag she is twenty six.” Twella said.
“Oh please Twella lets not bore the poor man. It's bad enough we are stuck on this old ship. It's doubtful that its even sea worthy and we all will be at the bottom of the sea. So lets not waste Gabriel's last few days.” Qwella said.
“No it's ok I don't mind at all.” Gabriel said.
“See he likes my advances!” Twella said.
“So Gabriel what landed you down here with us?” Qwella asked.
“Heh well a long story one I had to tell too many times now.” Gabriel said.
“See Qwella he doesn't like your questions but he likes mine!” Twella said laughing.
“Oh no its not that....See I can't die, I was cursed by the devil and now I am immortal....I know how this all must sound kin
da crazy huh?” Gabriel said unsure of how they would take it.
“Sweety its not weird at all!” Twella said in a seductive tone.
“My sister and I are witches and my son can see ghosts and speak to them. Though he cannot speak to us but he signs to me. Sometimes he doesn't even have to, I know what is on his mind.” Qwella said.
“Hmmmm witches under what deity?” Gabriel tried to be knowledgeable on the subject.
“Well we practice different types of magic. Twella is into the dark arts, and Celtic rituals. I am more of what you would call...” Qwella said but Twella cut her off.
“She is more of a satanist whore!” Twella shouted in laughter.
“Twella STOP IT! I use hell fire, and I am not a whore. Twella you need to watch your mouth around Charlie.” Qwella said.
“Please those ghosts say all kinds of horrid things to the poor child.” Twella said. Gabriel felt oddly comfortable around Twella, and Qwella. They did not seem fake or deceitful which Gabriel had been around deceitful people for too long. He wasn't afraid to speak openly with the women.
“Well...I was kidnapped by Morrighan and cursed by Apollyon.” Gabriel said, he tried to make it a joke but they did not laugh.
“Why do you call him Apollyon?” Qwella asked.
“That's what he told me to call him.” Gabriel said.
“You know him well?” Qwella said.
“I have spent some time with him. Though I wouldn't say I know him, I don't think anyone does.” Gabriel said as he moved his head off the cage.
“How did you meet the dark mother?” Twella asked.
“She wanted to use me against Apollyon I suppose. I don't really know but she came for me because a witch had summoned her.” Gabriel said.
“Must have been a very powerful witch to summon the dark mother.” Twella said.
“Why did the devil grant you immortality?...Sorry for so many questions I just want to see whos side you are on.” Qwella said.
“I am on no one's side, not anymore. Not god or man, I am not even on my own side. I have come to a point where I am just going through motions.....Oh and he made me immortal to keep god from destroying mankind. Or so he said, he called me the last saint. Apollyon told me that if I sinned or died then god would destroy the world. Since there would no longer be a man free from sin.....I don't know now that I think about it, it all sounds stupid. Maybe he just wanted to show me what hell was like?” Gabriel said.
“Well sweety you can be on our side!” Twella said.
“Yeah, how about you stick with us. We could make hell seem like heaven.” Qwella said.
“Thanks, you two are very nice lady's. But I doubt you wont the baggage that comes with me.” Gabriel said.
“Don't worry we can take it.” Twella said.
“Thank you Twella, by the way you two seem like very beautiful women. If we weren't chained up I would go with you.” Gabriel said, after thinking about what he said he felt somewhat corny.
“I don't think these chains will stop us. They are sending us to the Vatican, I guess so the pope can get his willy wet with some proper lady's. But that's not going to happen, we have better plans.” Twella said.
“Well I sure hope it all works out for you.” Gabriel said laying his head back and shutting his eyes.
“So do you know when we set sail?” Gabriel asked.
“I think we leave in the morning. Then again I don't really know what time it is.” Qwella said.
“Well then lady's if you will excuse me, I am going to try to get some sleep. Been having enough troubles without being on the rough sea. Can't imagine what it will be like once we get going.” Gabriel said.
“Sweet dreams!” Twella said.
“Goodnight Gabriel, hey maybe in the morning this will all be over?” Qwella said.
“We can only hope.” Gabriel said as he prepared his mind for sleep.
“Don't let the bed bugs bite!” Twella said.
“Twella, let the poor man sleep sheesh!” Qwella said.
“It's alright, night.” Gabriel said. It didn't take long and Gabriel fell into a deep sleep. He was completely exhausted and the moment he closed his eye's he was out.
“Welcome aboard matey!” The creature said. Gabriel was standing in the middle of an old pirate ship that was sailing off the coast of a tropical island. Little creatures swung from the mast while others were cleaning the deck. A man and a young boy walked up to Gabriel.
“They say when you are a parent you become an authority. I guess they were wrong because now there are two flying the black flag.” The man said pointing up at the pirate flag flying above them. Gabriel watched as they man and child walked by.
“Some people build walls, but I put up a circus tent around my mind. I walked inside and was finally free to be myself.” Another man said who was swinging just above Gabriel. They were all from the dead writers society. With pale skin and wounds of suicide on their body.
“Follow me Gabriel!” The creature said as he walked in front of Gabriel. Gabriel followed him along the ship. Someone who was moping up the deck grabbed Gabriel's arm. With dead eye's he stared at Gabriel.
“With god I can explain anything. With an imagination I can understand anything. With knowledge I can imagine a world without god.” The man said, then he looked back down and started moping the deck again. Gabriel started following the creature once again. Crow had told him not to struggle and to find out what the spirits wanted. Before they seemed hostile but now they all seemed relaxed on the ship. Gabriel looked over and a man was balancing on one foot on the ships plank. He wobbled back and fourth trying to stay steady.
“My heart is in mutiny of the things I have done. So now every time I walk on the plank of destruction.” The man said, and then fell off the plank into the sea.
“Hahaha!” Gabriel laughed at the man as he ran over to the edge. Blood filled the water below and the man was being devoured by sharks. Gabriel's laughter stopped and there was nothing left of the man but a bloody mess.
“Hurry!” The creature shouted. Gabriel looked back up on deck and the creature was walking below deck. Gabriel followed him down, the ship rocked back and fourth and it was difficult to walk. Below was a table with two pirates and two prostitutes. They were also from the suicidal writers society but were dressed up. The woman had on old 18th century dresses and the men wore tunics and pirate caps.
“Love is fatal and life is a game. So I guess I have a dead mans hand at the table of cheats.” One of the pirates said looking back at Gabriel and then looking around the table. The other pirate leaned towards Gabriel showing him his cards. It was all aces and he smiled revealing gold and silver teeth.
“The hardest part about holding a winning hand is the waiting. You know you're going to change the game but no one else does.” The pirate holding his cards to Gabriel said.
“Some women need makeup to look classy, some women just are classy.” One of the prostitutes said. She had no makeup on but the other one had it plastered on.
“Washing yourself in drama will not clean you of your boredom.” The prostitute with makeup said back to the other.
“We gamble with words, and smiles. Now if only we could so easily let go of our emotions.” The other prostitute said looking Gabriel in the eye's. The man with the aces laid his hand down on the table laughing. The others laid down their hand's but it was clear that he won. The losing pirate pushed over the pot to the other and slid a chip over to his side. Smiling he tilted his head at the pirate who won. Holding his hand out the winning pirate motioned the other to give the chip back.
“If I can't remember you during the bad times, why would I remember you now?” The winning pirate said. With a sigh the other pirate slid the chip back over.
“There is a place in my heart for all women. This does not make me lustful, but a man disarmed by nature and all her beauty.” The winning pirate said as he pushed some chips back over to the prostitutes . With big grins and overbearing
cleavage they batted their eyes at the pirate. Walking over to the table was an old woman in rags holding a small cup. Shaking the cup, she showed the winning pirate that it was empty. Flinging his hand in the air he shooed the old woman away.
“Its not that I don't understand why people are homeless and starving. I don't understand why we live in a world that allows it.” The losing pirate said as the old woman walked up to Gabriel.
“I wasn't born, I was brewed in a witches cauldron and came out with good taste, too many side effects and without a cure.” The old woman said holding her cup up to Gabriel. Squeezing his hand, Gabriel could feel something round in it. Opening his hand he saw that it was a chip. Throwing it in the cup it clanged around. With a smile the old woman walked away and vanished into darkness.
“I wounder if my words will one day be like stars, and my book like a night sky. Seen by all but written by only one.” A voice said from behind Gabriel. Turning around he saw a man at a desk trying to write. But the restless sea's kept on disturbing him and all he had was blotches of ink.
“Ewaaaah” Gabriel could hear a muffled crying but could not see where it was coming from. The creature was gone, and so was everyone else but the winning pirate who was now right in front of Gabriel.
“Wait.” The pirate said.
“What?” Gabriel asked.
“Ewaaaah” Gabriel could hear the muffled crying again and the floor was filling with water.
“Sometimes you have to wake up from your dreams and be happy with where you sleep.” The pirate said. He started to speak again but Gabriel couldn't make it out. Waking up Gabriel could see Charlie crying, but it was a broken cry.
“Shhhh its ok sweety, mommy's right here. Hold my hand and close your eyes.” Qwella said. Charlie calmed down and the ship was silent.
“Is he ok?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes, you must have been dreaming because I could hear you thumping around.” Qwella said.
“Yeah, I keep having dreams about this dead group of writers.” Gabriel said.
“Sounds more like a nightmare to me....Wait Charlie got scared right when the dreams started.” Qwella said pausing.
“Charlie did you see the writers?” Qwella said, Gabriel strained his ears to try and hear the boy.
“He said yes..Sounds like these spirits are coming to you in your sleep.” Qwella said.
“Heh yeah, I met an Indian man who said the same thing.” Gabriel said.
“The dead are not to be taken lightly.” Qwella said.
“Well I don't know what they want.” Gabriel said. Gabriel could hear someone rustling around.
“Could you guys be quite.” Twella said in a soft and sleepy tone. They remained silent and Gabriel tried to get back to sleep but he couldn't. He tried to figure out what it was they wanted. But their messages were not making any sense. After trying to figure out the spirits for the later half of the night a loud bell rang on the ship. Gabriel could feel the boat moving under him and they were leaving America. The waters of the river was calm, and the ship was silent. Gabriel could hear the water but could not hear the men above them. His muscles went tense to stabilize against the rocking of the ship.
“Morning.” Qwella said.
“Ehh are you sure its morning....I want to sleep.” Twella said still tired.
“Good morning, I guess it is anyways. The bell sounded and now we are off.” Gabriel said.
“Twella is not much of a morning person, more of a night owl.” Qwella said.
“I am going back to sleep, wake me when we get there.” Twella said still groggy.
“She is such a goof when she is tired. We won't see land again for many days.” Qwella said. A sick feeling came over Gabriel and he reached in his pocket. He was afraid that he might have lost the pendant but it was still there.
“I think the ghost's of the writers are leading you somewhere.” Qwella said.
“Why can't they just rest in peace and leave me alone. I am tormented enough without them, but now they are driving me mad.” Gabriel said.
“That's generally how they work, just remember that they wouldn't haunt you without good reason.” Qwella said.
“Would you stop...” Twella said drifting back to sleep.
“Guess we better give her, her beauty sleep.” Qwella said laughing.
“Haha, Guess so.” Gabriel said. His mind drifted back to the dreams. Though he figured it was better not to dwell on it. He just had to let everything reveal itself in time. They sat in silence for a couple of hours and then the door to the lower deck came open. Light shined in the room and two men walked in.
One was holding a lantern and the other had three buckets in his hand. Holding them by the handle the man walked to the cage door. Shining his lantern towards the witches, the man opened the door. Without missing a beat the other man walked in and set the buckets in front of the women and child.
“You get no food.” The man said pointing at Gabriel.
“Take the cuffs off the child's hand, he can feed himself.” The man with the lantern said shining it at the boy. Charlie scooped the slop into his mouth. With a grimace on his face he slowly chewed the slop. It looked like rice and whatever scraps the crew had. Pulling up the cloth sack, the man revealed Twella's lips.
They were plump and a light pink tone. With a long wooden spoon the man fed Twella. Each time he made a mess on her face she would slowly lick her lips. It was very seductive even though the sack covered her face except her lips. After the man was done feeding her he fed Qwella and then covered their mouths back up.
“Have a wonderful day honey.” Twella said as the cage door shut. Shinning the lantern back at Twella the two men gave her elevator eyes. Beads of sweat ran down the face of the man who had been feeding them. They just stood their like two lions looking at fresh meat. The men were both a little overweight and in their fifty's.
“Come on lets go.” The man with the lantern said while moving the light away from the women. This routine happened every day, they fed the women and child. The days passed and with each passing day the men watch the women more and more. Gabriel got little to no sleep and didn't even have the energy to hold his head up.
Twella did all she could to seduce the two men that fed them. They seemed more and more sexually frustrated with each day at sea. Gabriel quickly opened up to the women and told them his story. They seemed amused by all of his ventures and wanted to learn more. Gabriel was doing most of the talking though.
The women revealed little about themselves and Twella flirted with Gabriel all that she could. Every hour or so the men would come down and see if they needed to use the bathroom. Anytime they did they led them over to a bathroom that was next to the cage. One day the men finished feeding the woman and just sat and down outside of the cage and watched them.
“I can't take this anymore!” The man who fed the women said.
“We can't, they gave us orders!” The man with the lantern said.
“How will anyone know?” The other man said.
“We won't tell, we promise!” Twella said in a very seductive tone. As she spoke her body gyrated showing her curves.
“See they won't tell!” The man with the bucket said.
“You better not say a word either!” The lantern man said shinning the light at Gabriel.
“Don't mind me.” Gabriel said closing his eye's. Gabriel could tell it was a trap but wasn't sure. Twella had been flirting with him the same way.
“Close your eyes and cover your ears dear.” Qwella said to Charlie. Charlie covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Well what are you waiting for?” Qwella said spreading her legs. The dress was so big that it only revealed the bottom of her calf. Looking at each other the two men smiled and opened the cage. Setting the lantern down the men looked and both women.
“What one do you want?” One man said to the other.
“Her, who do you want?” The other man said pointing at Twella.
; “I want her too!” The man said.
“No need to argue boys, Why not take turns and have both of us.” Twella said still gyrating her body around. She moved methodically and extremely seductive. Even Gabriel was being mesmerized by her.
“Fine I will fuck this one first.” The man who had the lantern said as he dove on Qwella. Rushing over to Twella the other man began rubbing her breasts.
“You sexy little cunt.” The man on Twella said. Twella started rubbing her knee on his crotch.
“Fuck it!” The man on Twella said as he started ripping her dress off.
“Wait what will they wear?” The other man said.
“Who fucking cares!” The other man said as he finished ripping Twella's dress off. Gabriel tried not to look but could see he in his peripheral vision. With a slight glance he looked over her body. Then he quickly looked away like a school boy who was caught looking up a girls dress. Her body was covered in tattoo's all expect her panty area. Some how she stayed perfectly groomed in her privates.
Grabbing Twella's breasts the man's eye's went large. Her breasts were a perfect hand full and her body was very tone. She had a slight four pack and she kept in excellent shape. Which Gabriel found odd since they had been on the ship for at least a week. They had little food, and her muscles should have been cannibalizing.
With a vicious rip, the other man split Qwella's dress right in half. Again Gabriel could not help but take a glance. She had larger breasts than her sister and was not muscular. Her body was curvy, and also well groomed. Her skin was pale and she had freckles just above her breasts. Gabriel never noticed it before until now. In a rush the man on Twella pulled his pants down. As he did Gabriel quickly looked away.
“Ughhh, Yes! Yes! Harder!” Twella cried out. Many feeling's started to come over Gabriel. Twella made him feel important, and someone she liked. Now she was moaning while another man had sex with her. Gabriel had formed an attachment to both women and felt that attachment was now violated. Qwella was not loud like her sister, she made not even a chirp.
“You like that slut?” The man on Twella said as he ravished her.
“Ooooh yes..I feel you, but I want to see you.” Twella said. The man having sex with Qwella looked over and shook his head at the other man.
“Ahhh yeah!” The man on Twella said as he stopped on laid his head on her shoulder.
“Come on take off the mask honey. Don't you wanna go again and see my face?” Twella asked.
“Why not?” The man with Twella said looking at the other. Shrugging the other man pulled the mask off Qwella. Gabriel did not look but could see her beauty in his peripheral vision. She had dark natural red hair, light green eyes and freckles dotted her cheeks. Her lips were not as plump as Twella's or as seductive.
“I wanna see your face this time!” The man with Twella said as he pulled her mask off. Gabriel strained even harder to see her face in his peripheral vision. She had light blue eyes, beautiful blonde hair that some how looked like she came from a salon. In her eye's was the girl next door, but her body was that of a blonde bombshell. While her tattoo’s drew away the innocence, and youth of her face.
“Oh yeah baby, grab my neck!” Twella said as the man started going again. This time he clenched her neck with both hands.
“Yes! YES!” Now Twella shouted louder. Gabriel could feel her eye's locked on him as she moaned. It was as though she was trying to get his attention, rather than the man on her. Gabriel struggled not to look but the moans got louder. Finally he turned his eye's to her, and they both locked eyes.
“Ohhh!” Twella cried out looking right at Gabriel and not turning away. A huge smile came across her face and she gave Gabriel a wink. The tattoo just above her breasts started to ripple. Gabriel wasn't sure at first but then he was certain. Two small swords came out from the tattoo of the woman on her chest. Leaning out of her chest the woman tattoo drew her swords. In a quick slash she slit both of the mans wrists and then took her place back on Twella's skin.
“What the fuck!” The man shouted as blood sprayed down on Twella's breasts. Jumping back the man dropped on the floor just in front of Twella. Blood spewed out on the floor and the man didn't even have time to stop the bleeding. His dead eyes looked up and Twella as blood pooled around him.
“AHHH” The other man fell back on the floor. His whole body went a light shade of red like a burn. Hitting the ground, his body exploded in blister and then turned a charcoal black. Skin ripped like a dry lake bed that cracks in the sun. Dead eye's fell on Gabriel this time, almost like a cry for mercy. Now both men lay dead on the floor in pools of blood.