A Divine Intervention – 1925 (Gabriel’s Past)

It was 1925 in New York. I just walked out of the theater where I watched the film premiere of ‘Ben Hur’. You’re now going to say, ‘Wait, wait, wait! Ben Hur was released in November 1959!” Yes, and no. Ben Hur with Charlton Heston was the 1959 movie. But there has been an earlier movie with Ramon Novarro as the leading actor… and that was the movie I went to see.

I always liked Ramon Novarro, an excellent silent movie actor. But I was a bit disappointed by this role. He didn’t seem to be a great fit for the Prince of Hur… however, I’m not a film critic, in fact, I’m just a fan who likes to watch movies… no… my profession is another one.

I didn’t feel my best that day and actually didn’t even feel like going. But my friends and brothers talked me into it, and to get them off my back, I finally decided to take a short trip to New York. *chuckle*

That might be a weird thing for you, to ‘read’ me chuckle, when I say ‘short trip’. We winged individuals travel a bit differently than you humans. But let’s get back to 1925…

It was December 30, almost the last day of the year… people in the movie theater were thoughtful after the movie… in good spirits, but thoughtful. I was lost in my own thoughts, mostly, if I remember correctly, I was suffering from a small heartache, after my last girlfriend’s breakup. I should have been used to that by now, I know. Being with one of the ‘Council of Twelve’ members isn’t an easy task. We don’t have much time for our love interests, we do expect a lot, but don’t give much back, but most of all, we are too powerful for women to feel comfortable in our presence for a longer period of time.

And then, a few streets further away, when I was looking for a quiet hidden corner to ‘dissolve’, I discovered a woman, desperately trying to escape from a man who followed her, laughing… I didn’t see the lady’s face, but I could sense and taste her fear. She was in a panic.

Within only a second I teleported ahead of the lady, waited for a moment, and then surrounded the corner of the building, to let the now panting lady bump into me.

The man stopped immediately and stood still like a rock while I carefully comforted the sobbing woman in my arms. When the man looked up, one of the weak street lanterns permitted me a good look at his face. I knew him… He was a nightmarish individual with no conscience whatsoever, one of the most dangerous predators in existence… He was absolutely ruthless, sadistic, and generally evil. It was time he got off the streets. The man was a serial killer. I wondered idly, where law enforcement was when you needed them.

I didn’t hesitate long. He might hunt for helpless ladies, but he seemed to be well trained, and overconfident in his own abilities, and I felt like swiping the smug grin off his face.

I released the woman’s hands from my coat, where they had cramped the fabric, and carefully lifted her chin. “Go home, child.” I softly said. “All is good. No harm will befall you, I promise.” She smiled… I knew what effect I had on victims, and these few words were all she needed. Her eyes were dreamy when she left us…

The man stared at me. “Why did you have to come along and interfere? It was not upon you to get in between my wife and me.” I looked at my fingernails. “We both know, she’s not your wife, Gaston.” I had to say, he kept his smug smile, but other than a slight widening of his nostrils, nothing betrayed his surprise.

He chuckled. “Why don’t you and I make sure something like this doesn’t happen ever again, pal?” Gaston asked. And I smiled… My brothers in the Council of Twelve would have known that was a very, very bad sign. But this human had no idea. I knew, he was up for a fight, and nothing would satisfy him more at this moment, than showing me his physical superiority. My shoulders slightly slumped, my entire form shrunk a bit, and I took a well-calculated step back. “N…no. I don’t think so. Also… I have to leave…”

He took a brave step closer, and then another one… when my fist collided with his nose. Blood splashed down his face and I sighed softly. “Hurts, doesn’t it?” He had instinctively clutched his nose; when he now pulled it away, blood was dripping from his fingers. “Are you out of your mind?” He screamed. Furiously he pulled a handgun and pointed it at me…

And that was the second, I decided to show him, who he was dealing with…

My wordly attire disappeared, I wore leatherpants and a white silk shirt, boots on my feet, and my hat was gone… but, of course, what left Gaston frozen in shock and fear, were a pair of huge, white, black speckled wings, similar to the one of a Snowy Owl.

He screamed in fear, and blinded, he sank to the floor, the revolver had fallen out of his hand… crying he begged: “Please… please, don’t kill me! I will do whatever you want.”

I grinned. “That you will anyway. And I won’t have to kill you. You’re already dead.” He clearly struggled to understand what I said to him. “W…what?” He finally seemed to grasp the point. “Does that mean, I’m going to Heaven now?” I had a blast with this one. It took all my control not to laugh loudly. I only shook my head. “No, Gaston. The way up is not yours. You’re traveling into the other direction.” He seemed confused again. “But… but…” I smiled and pointed behind him… “Here comes your escort.”

He swung around, and there they stood, three giant, strange looking creatures, horned, unusually deformed, dressed in dark attires, armed with swords and sickles… Gaston howled. “No… no… no! Protect me!” I laughed. “No way. You’ll get what you deserve. Eternal torture, inferno, emptiness… Whatever you fear, it will be yours.”

There was nothing he could do. He tried to run for it, but the three collectors were faster. They grabbed his spirit and dragged him through the dimensional portal behind him. When the crossover had closed, Two of my friends landed next to me… Centriel and Zachariel. Both shook their heads. “Really, Gabriel. You can’t even go to a movie theater without getting into trouble.” Centriel said. I nodded and sighed again. “It seems very much trouble finds me.”

Zachariel clapped my shoulder. “Let’s go home, brother. Dinner at Tsechirel’s place, and I want to introduce a very cute little Guardian to you.” I smiled. “Thank you… just what I need now…” Within only a few seconds, we were on our way…