Gates of Death - Rae Foxx Page 0,8

That would've been the most tedious part, I would've thought.

"He held a meeting in Heaven and simply asked." Gabe shrugged. "He told them what Raph has done, what we're trying to do, and asked if anyone knew where the Scythe was. I also asked for any ideas for how to kill Luc to be sent our way. Everyone in attendance was aghast at what Raphael did. And nobody knows why. He kept his own counsel, or if he told anyone, they're not talking."

"Then, let's go," Lucifer said. "What are we waiting for?"

Gabe stood. "Now hang on. We don't know where we might be going after this. The only thing we know is the general vicinity. Plus, you two are human. If you have any weapons, it's time to get them. Michael said he had a few rifles in the house next door from when he was Adam. And, you need to dress to go anywhere in the world. Layers, at the least."

I nodded. "Gabe, go get the guns next door. I'll get ours and change."

He ran from the room with me hot on his tail, but he went toward the back door, and I thundered toward my room. Lucian was right behind me. We pulled on jeans and hiking boots, thermal shirts, and long sleeves. I grabbed a backpack and stuffed both of our thick winter coats inside, then Luc grabbed another and filled it with ammo. He threw my holsters to me, and I had to nearly undress to put the bra holster on, but my small revolver fit perfectly in it. We'd been something of gun enthusiasts as humans, enjoying time at the shooting range. Lucian was an occasional hunter as well. He pulled all his rifles out of the gun cabinet in the back of the closet. "We can't carry all of these," he said. He had to have had a dozen. He chose the four he thought might be most beneficial and then put his holsters on.

"I'm ready," I said, putting a jean jacket on to conceal my shoulder holsters. I had four guns on, and Luc had three. We each put on a backpack and grabbed a rifle.

Gabe appeared with a black backpack full of guns and other things I couldn't see. "Put those in here," he said. "Just in case. And I don’t think you’ll need to carry any yet, either. If at all. Depends on where we have to go.”

They loaded all of the rifles into the large duffel, and I was more than glad to let Gabe carry the heavy bag. Once zipped, he put it on somewhat like a backpack and took our hands. "Ready?" he asked.

"Beyond ready," I said. Lucifer growled.

Gabe rolled his eyes at his old friend and we disappeared. In half a second, I blinked, and we stood outside an old church.

"Where are we?" I whispered. The surrounding woods were utterly silent as the moon bathed the clearing in light.

Gabe shrugged. "Somewhere in the Appalachian mountains."

Michael walked out of the church. "Hey, guys. It's all been too easy so far. I'm waiting on something bad to happen."

I rushed forward. "What did you have to do?"

"Gabriel told us you held a press conference," Lucifer said. I gave him a sharp look, but he had a ghost of a smile on his face. He was actually teasing Michael. Wow.

"After Zerachiel gave me the location, I had to approach carefully. He didn't know what Raphael had done to the location to protect the Scythe. But so far, all I can find is a protection spell on this clearing which repels anything alive. Since we ported directly inside it, it doesn't work on us. Then, there was a locking charm on the church door, but I think it had something on it to allow someone with good intentions in." He motioned toward the church. "It was no problem, getting past it. I haven't tried to pick the Scythe up, though. I can see a glamour on it, to make it look like a pretty wooden cross. It's set up out of the way so that if someone makes it into the church, it's not immediately accessible. I took down the shelf that it’s on, so we can try to pick it up."

The inside of the church was primitive, with roughly hewn wooden pews worn smooth by years of butts sitting on them. Michael had set up a floodlight in the corner. Sometimes the way we mixed technology with magic amazed me. We