478, dated to 1/2.

He had felt her eyes on his back long after he had left her. For as much fury, as much hellfire and as much blood as he intended to see, his bloodlust had not consumed him ultimately, as it had threatened to. Gabriel was smart—Gabriel knew that he would not win a battle against the wolf on strength alone. He needed to be smart, and he needed to use all the tools he had at his disposal. For as much as he despised his dark half-brother, he knew that of all of his siblings, Samael alone would rise to the call without hesitation, without question, and likely, without fear of death; Samael would run headlong into fire without a second thought once he knew what had happened to their mother.

The air was crisp but not unusually cold, and each breath left a cloud of steam hanging behind him. Gabriel’s body moved with a cat-like grace, lithe and black-gold against the night. His large paws struck the ground, felt it pulse under him, and then leave it once more in order to advance forward. He slowed only when the scents became muddled—his own weighed heavily around the borders, seconded by Anselm (Kaena’s was close behind, but she had, understandably, been scarce from these as of late). Cotl’s horse had left large tracks, and the overwhelming scent of the large animal, and the amber-eyed hybrid had to sort through the muddled scents in order to find the singular one he was looking for. Samael had been here recently, and his trail led southwest. This gave Gabriel hope he would find his brother soon, and once he did, oh all the angels and devils would rise to their call and fly to the wolf pack to the south, seeking retribution.

Samael’s scent became fresher, and separated itself from the others. With the trail hot, Gabriel’s speed increased, carrying him closer to his goal. For another ten minutes, or perhaps longer, he trailed his half-brother in silence. The moonlight, coming and going as the clouds rolled across the sky, served only to light his path further. Gray-white clouds pulled away from the moon and in that moment he saw a blackened figure moving along the pale, tall grass. Gabriel’s speed increased once more, and when he was within three yards of the figure, let out a commanding bark. Stop, was the order, and he intended to see it through. Without waiting for Samael to speak, to offer some snide and bitter comment, Gabriel’s voice rolled out into the moonlight. “I need your help,” he said shortly, tone suggesting there was not an option. For everything they knew about one another, Gabriel hoped that Samael would understand he would not come to him for something petty. Especially not when he had threatened to take his life not two months ago.

237

Even though the two would always be on opposite ends of the spectrum, Gabriel knew that Samael was his only option now. Samael was the only one whom Gabriel truly believed would raise arms for their mother without question. Rikka and Razekiel were children of peace, and of a place where the thought of war was far removed. Samael had seen bloodshed, and he had killed before. He was without morality and without law. Except here, Gabriel’s word was law, and he intended to see it followed. He was going to drag the rest of Inferni with him should this preemptive strike fail. Lord help them if it did.

He slowed, and lowered his head to be eye to eye with his younger brother. For as much holy fire burned behind his amber gaze, he knew that the madness in Samael would burn twice as hot. “We have to go to Dahlia. Haku raped her. He raped mother.” His voice was a low, breathless fury. Never before had he spoken of Kaena in such terms, and he did not believe he would do so again. By the point needed to be made. Even though death was his intention, and even though he had nearly let the need for revenge swallow his vision whole, Gabriel was thinking in a mechanical way. Samael would know that term and identify it much closer to his heart then her name alone.

215

It was as if the same electricity that had come shooting up from the earth had struck Samael and set him aflame. Even though aggression was rushing through his body, and making his world red-black, a horrible grin pulled back at the corners of his mouth and turned his face wicked. They were no longer enemies, but now beasts of equal and terrible need. Haku Soul was to lose his life, and he was to lose it on this hellish night. Gabriel’s black and goal coat bristled and rose all along his spine once more. Adrenaline and bloodlust raced through his body, and as his darker sibling turned and ran headlong towards Dahlia de Mai.

Predatorily instinct, the only thing short of God he obeyed, screamed that the Aquila follow. And he did, rushing after the smaller coyote, his much larger form taking greater strides and soon catching up to the madman. No further words needed to be exchanged between the brothers. Now they had only the singular purpose and desire to fulfill. Despite the dull and all too familiar ache in his shoulder, Gabriel kept stride with Samael. The world was silent around them, and the two sounded like terrible thunder rushing towards their southern neighbor. There would be no warning, and no mercy.