Gabriel's Hope

Like Deidre, he was going to live on his terms.

"I need a drink and some clothes," Andre said.

Chuckling, Gabe stood and offered the Immortal a hand.

Rhyn, can you drop by the lake and bring a couple sets of clothes? Gabe asked his friend.

On my way. Rhyn replied.

"What's it like being dead-dead?" Gabriel asked.

"Much more peaceful than being alive," Andre replied, looking around. He sighed. "If I'm here, it's not because the world is operating smoothly." His French accent rolled off his deep voice.

"Not in the least."

"Holy fuck." Rhyn's curse made Gabriel turn. The half-demon paused a few feet away, and Gabe saw the emotion cross his eyes.

The eldest of the seven brothers, Andre was the only who supported Rhyn's petition to be recognized by the Immortals who hated the half-demon. Andre was rendered dead-dead while Rhyn was stuck in Hell, killed by the same brother who held Rhyn prisoner.

Rhyn recovered quickly and tossed them both clothing. Gabriel stripped out of his pants and pulled on the new ones before striding back to the pile of the rest of his things. He figured Rhyn and Andre needed a private moment and snorted as he heard Rhyn start off.

"I'm not going to ask why you two are naked," Rhyn said. "Or why Andre isn't dead-dead. Or why Gabriel looks radioactive."

"Hello, little brother," Andre said with some affection.

Gabriel smiled to himself and pulled on his clothes, replacing weapons. He felt the wary eyes of his death-dealers from the shadows.

"We're all here," Harmony's voice carried a note of uneasiness.

"Line them up. I'll be quick." Gabriel glanced up at her as he tugged his belt tight.

"Will do." She hesitated. "You … changed."

He met her gaze. While he didn't want his death-dealers to fear him, he also recognized the look in her eyes and those of the assassins behind her. They no longer regarded him as one of their own after the demonstration of Death's power. Gabriel mourned the loss of the community he'd belonged to for so long. But things had to be different from here on out. He had to preserve and protect the underworld, even if it meant stepping away from the comfort zone he'd existed in for millennia.

"I'm going to get us home," he said gently and squeezed her arm. "There's only one way I can do that. You'll have to trust me."

"About the other night …" she started. "I didn't … I shouldn't have …I'm sorry, boss."

"Don't be. I've been avoiding talking to you about us for awhile," he said, aware he couldn't push it off any further. "Harmony, I have a mate. I found out a few days ago."