1.06 -- Angels Among Us

20 YEARS AGO

Cecily was a kind woman with a beautiful spirit, but even she didn’t know what she’d done to deserve Gabriel. He was everything she ever wanted – strong, handsome, and he loved her with everything he was. How she’d gone so long without him she didn’t know, and though she’d loved her first husband and mourned every day for the daughter they’d created and subsequently lost together, it didn’t compare to what she felt, standing there in St. Mary’s Church, with Gabriel.

They’d been married already in an informal affair at the Bridgeport Courthouse, but he’d insisted on exchanging private vows before God in a church. He’d never come across as particularly religious, though she appreciated him wanting to give her as close to a real wedding as he could.

Gabriel: I’ve never been good with emotions and sentiments, so my vows to you will probably seem pedestrian and unfocused. But, I knew the minute I saw you that you were a special woman. There was a light around you, so beautiful and pure, I couldn’t help but fall in love with you. And, I swore from that moment on that I would spend every day of my life protecting you and honoring you and loving you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you Cecily. That is my vow to you, to would move heaven and earth if it will please you, and I hope that I can make you as happy in our years together as you’ve made me in these past few months.

Cecily: Gabriel, I love you. I’ve experienced a lot of pain in the past year. I lost my little girl, I got divorced from my childhood sweetheart and I thought that was it for me. But, all that pain led me to you, and you make me happier than I could ever imagine being. Just standing here with you now, I know that everything I’ve experienced was meant to happen to get me here, to where I belong, with you. My vow to you is to love you and always trust you and have faith in you, to build a home and a family with you, and to give you the same hope that you’ve given me.  

PRESENT DAY

Cecily: Gabriel, who is this woman? What does she want? Whatever it is, it’s not worth this.

Gabriel tried to speak, but only coughed up blood. He wiped it away with his hand.

Victoria: Oh, I’m sorry. I guess in all the beating your husband, I forgot to introduce myself. Name’s Victoria. Hubby and I go way back. But, don’t worry, not way back in the Samantha Parker sense.

Cecily felt suddenly faint, though she didn’t know if it was from the blood loss or from the mention of Samantha Parker’s name.

Eve: Victoria…?

Victoria: Yeah, that one, cupcake. How is my husband, by the way? Are you enjoying him as much as I did?

Cecily: What is she talking about?

Eve: I’ll explain later. The important thing to focus on is getting her to leave.

Victoria: I’ll leave, just as soon as Daddy tells me where the Orb of Oxala is.

Cecily: The what?

Victoria: Ugh, humans. The Orb of Oxala. It’s an ancient gypsy relic that controls a portal between this world and the Old Ones. Gabriel has it, I want it.

Cecily: There has to be some mistake. Why would my husband have something like that? Gabriel, tell her.  

 Gabriel: I can’t, Cecily, because I do have it.

Cecily: What? Why?

Gabriel: There are things you don’t know about me, Cecily. Things I’ve tried to keep separate from our lives, to protect you and our kids.

Victoria: Worked out very well, don’t you think?

Gabriel: Shut up!

Victoria landed another punch to his ribs and blood sputtered from Gabriel’s mouth. Cecily wept with fear.

Eve panicked. It was a reflex. No matter how angry she was at her father for his lies – for the things he’d done to Isobel – she loved him and when he hurt, she hurt. She’d been trying to help him ever since the  beating started, remembering how she’d controlled that fire on the beach. But, maybe it was a fluke or maybe she was crazy to think she could control fire in the first place, because all her efforts to ignite Victoria were met with a dull, exhausting ache in her head.

Victoria: Human body’s not holding up too well, is it, Gabriel? Guess you’re regretting turning in your wings to play Ward Cleaver with Cecily and the Wonder Twins, huh?

Cecily: Wings?

Victoria: Do you want to tell her or should I?

Gabriel: Don’t do this…

Victoria: Give me what I want and my lips are sealed. No? Fine. 

Gabriel here used to be an angel. And, not just an angel, but an arc. In fact, he’s the reason I’m here today. He’d been ordered to exterminate me when I got turned into a vampire by my lover, Anton, but I tugged his heartstrings with my blubbering and whining about how I needed to see my baby girl one last time and he let me go. He’s always had a weakness for the kiddies. Then again, I guess my husband did, too, judging by his taste in girlfriends.

Cecily: An angel?

Victoria: Sent by God. And, Della Reese. Though, I am curious as to why only one of your kids popped out as an abomination. Guess Eve lost the DNA lottery. How have you kept her alive all these years without your angel abilities?

Eve knew the answer to that. She looked at her father and saw it in his eyes, what she was thinking was right.

Eve: Wellington Enterprises.

Cecily: What does Wellington have to do with what’s happening here?

Eve: It’s not just a company. Beneath Wellington’s main headquarters is a containment facility. Dad and the people who work for him have been abducting supernatural creatures, vampires like Victoria and the sort, holding them there while they test on them and, then, destroying them.

Cecily: And, you knew about this?

Eve: I just found out tonight.

Gabriel: I created an army to protect my daughter, to protect all of you. We test on them in hopes of finding cures, or at least preventative measures to keep more people from getting turned into creatures of the night, but our main goal is destroying anything that poses a threat to the nephilim community.

Eve: Nephilim? That’s what I am?

Gabriel: Yes. Centuries ago, I led a war to erase your kind from the face of the earth and now, I’m leading a war to keep your kind safe. Angels want to destroy half-breeds, vampires will use you for the effects of your blood – you’re not safe from anything. I just wanted to keep you safe, Eve.

Victoria was so over this. She punched him again, and this time she felt ribs breaking under her fist.

Cecily: Please, stop!

Victoria: God, what is it going to take for you two to get that he’s not a good guy? Then again, look who I’m talking to. Eve forgave Will for killing her best friend just because he has pretty eyes and is a good kisser.

Cecily: Isobel is dead?

Eve: Technically…

Victoria: Look, here’s how this is going to work. You’re going to go get my orb, Gabriel. And, if you don’t, I’m going to kill your wife, then I’m going to kill your son, who I’m holding at a separate location, in case you try something smart. Then, when I’m done with that, I’m going to take the husband-humping whore, chain her up in my dungeon and use her as a backup daywalking blood supply for however long she manages to stay alive.

Cecily: Just give her what she wants, Gabriel. She has Charlie.

Gabriel: I’m so sorry, Cecily. I never meant for –

Cecily: Just go!

Gabriel stood and staggered, weak and broken, to the garage. He folded himself into his car and drove away, leaving Eve and Cecily at the mercy of a different monster.

After sunrise, Will came down from his shower for morning plasma juice, only to find a battered Gabriel waiting for him.

Will: This the part where you threaten to kill me? Because, I have to say, you look like hell warmed over and I’m pretty sure I can take you.

Gabriel: I need your help.

Will: That’s new. And, I suppose you think just because I have feelings for Eve I’m going to fall in league with you?

Gabriel: Yes.

Will: You’re right. What’s wrong?

Gabriel: Victoria. She has my son and she’s holding Eve and Cecily hostage at our home.

Will: She’s after the Orb of Oxala?

Gabriel: Yes.

Will: What do you need me to do?

Gabriel: I need you to go to my home and make sure she doesn’t do anything to hurt them. I’m going to give her the orb, but I don’t trust her to not kill them anyway and you’re the only vampire I know who is old enough to match her strength and willing to help. Please?

 

Will: I’ll do whatever I can, but we have one problem.

Gabriel: What?

Will: Eve’s blood has left my system. I can’t go out in the daylight without it.

Gabriel: Then, take mine. It’s the same blood coursing through Eve’s veins, it’ll give you the same protection hers does.

Will: You’re sure?

Gabriel: Yes.

Gabriel offered him his wrist and Will wasted no time sinking his teeth in. Gabriel was right, their blood was the same. His tasted of electricity just as Eve’s did.

 

Gabriel: You couldn’t have pushed the sleeve up before you bit me? This is my favorite coat.

Will: You’re lucky I was able to stop and you’re not a lump of Dead Girlfriend Daddy on my floor right now. Speaking of, not that I’m in favor of exchanging fluids with my girlfriend’s father under normal circumstances, I want you to take some of my blood.

Gabriel: Why?

Will: Because, you’re part human and it will help heal you just like it helped Eve heal from the wounds Isobel caused when she attacked her. You’re wheezing and you’re bleeding and I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you’ve got a rib or five broken. Your wife and kids need you at full power. I can help.

 Gabriel: Fine, just get it over with.

Victoria was not pleased. Gabriel had been gone over an hour and she hoped, for his sake, he wasn’t going to try anything. The boy was cute. She didn’t want to kill him. Yet.

Cecily: I’m sorry, I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Vampires are real?

Victoria: There are so many evil creatures out there, not just vamps.

Cecily: And, your father, Eve, he – captures them?

Eve: Yeah.

Victoria: Better check under the bed and in the closet every night…

Eve: Stop it! You’re scaring her.

Victoria: You going to make me? I’ve felt you trying to light me on fire ever since you got home. In case you haven’t noticed, sun’s up and I’m not ashes.

Eve: Why?

Victoria: Got a half-breed of my own. You nephilims are hard to come by. Tasty, though.

Cecily: You can set people on fire?

Eve: I thought I could.

Victoria: Her witch power.

Cecily: You’re a witch, too?

Eve: I don’t know what I am, to be honest.

Victoria: Human, angel, witch … you should get my husband to turn you, then you could hit the human-supernatural trifecta. Just wait until Mommy processes all of this. I’m sure you’ll have all kinds of issues.

Cecily: I could never hate my child. Just like I don’t hate Gabriel.

Victoria: Hmm. Why don’t you ask him what happened to your firstborn, then? We’ll see how Team Gabriel you are after that one.

Will: Victoria, leave them alone.

Eve: Thank goodness you’re here.

Will: Your dad asked me to come here and keep an eye on things while he gets the orb.

 

Victoria: Hello, honey. Been a long time.

Will: Not long enough. You want your orb?

Victoria: Yep.

Will: Then, you’re going to have to leave them alone and go get it.

Victoria: No deal.

Will: Gabriel has the orb at St. Mary’s. You don’t go get it, he smashes it. No orb, no awakening the Old Ones. Just go, Victoria. It’s your only shot.

Victoria: Fine. Enjoy my husband while you can, Eve. He’ll get bored with you eventually.

Will took Eve into his arms again. She was shaking.

Will: Are you alright?

Eve: I’m better now.

Will: I have to go. I contacted Bree, she told me about a warehouse where Victoria’s probably got your brother stashed. I told your father I would go get him.

Eve: No, you can’t.

Will: Eve, someone has to –

Eve: Then, I’ll do it. Look, if Victoria gets the orb, there’s nothing to stop her from coming back here and killing Mom and me. I’m not strong enough to protect Mom against her, but you are. Please. Stay here with my mother and I’ll go rescue Charlie.

Will: If you’re sure.

Eve: I am.

Will: Your dad is downstairs. He wanted me to meet him there before he goes to the church, but –

Eve: I’ll go.

Will: Be safe. If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’ll do…

Eve: Nothing’s going to happen to me. I think I’ve got enough of your blood left in my system.

Cecily: Is this the vampire boyfriend?

Eve: Yes. Mom, Will. Will, Mom. I have to go. He’s going to look after you, in case she comes back.

Eve hurried downstairs, to what her father affectionately called, “The Man Cave.” It was where he went when he wanted to hang with his boys and play poker, or just when he wanted to relax. She found him waiting for her there.

Gabriel: Eve?

Eve: Change of plans. Will’s staying with mom, I’m going after Charlie.

Gabriel: No.

Eve: There is no time to argue. He’s strong enough to fight for Mom if Victoria comes back and I’ve got enough of his blood left to heal me if Victoria’s goons try to hurt me.

Gabriel: Alright.

Gabriel slid the bookcases away and Eve was stunned when he revealed a secret door.

Eve: What’s in there?

Gabriel: An entrance to the tunnels that run from this house to the Wellington containment facility. It’s how I come and go of a night, when I get called in. I know the car will wake you kids or Cecily.

Eve: Who are you?

Gabriel: I know I have a lot to explain, and when this is over, I hope you give me a chance to. Come in here. I have something to give you.

Eve: What is that?

Gabriel: It’s a knife, the only blade in the world known to cause vampires harm, besides swords cutting off their heads. I took it off a slayer I met in the 1400s.

Eve: I don’t get it. You’ve been around since before dirt. Why did you choose twenty years ago to get your wings clipped?

Gabriel: Your mother was an assignment of mine and I broke the rules. I fell in love. I defied direct orders, trying to spare her pain, and the consequences was getting my wings stripped. But, it was worth it. I married her and we have two amazing children. There is nothing I would change, except the pain I've brought on the people I love.

Eve: Why didn’t Dr. Scott remember me? If I’m your daughter--

Gabriel: You are my daughter. The day you were born, Charlie came out perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes, bright, pink skin. But, you were different...

You came out and you were this pure, red energy. Dr. Scott took one look at you and I thought he was going to pass out. He was asking what this thing was, scaring your mother and I did what I had to do. I had him sedate your mother and I asked him to keep her hidden until I could bring someone to contain you. Instead, I captured my first vampire and I struck a deal – it would compel Dr. Scott and I would free it. But, it erased Dr. Scott’s entire memory of a second child. I couldn’t correct it, so I did the next best thing. He was retiring soon. I burned down his office, destroying his files and his records of your mother’s pregnancy. I guess he kept journals offsite, because he had one and when you interviewed him he dug them up and was going to ask questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

 

Eve: You killed him?

Gabriel: I had to protect this family.

Eve: He was a human being!

Gabriel: He would have told your mother. You know what a delicate soul she is. That’s why, when all of this is over, we’ll have Isobel or Will compel her and Charlie to forget --

Eve: You weren’t protecting her. You were protecting yourself. And, no, we will not have Isobel or Will or any other vampire compel her or Charlie. I won’t let you violate them like that. You’ve made this mess, Dad. You’re going to have to act like a grownup and deal with the repercussions instead of sweeping it under the rug and pretending like this is still a happy family.

Gabriel: Eve –

Eve: Dad, go to St. Mary’s. Do what you have to do to get us out of immediate danger. We’ll deal with the rest later.

Gabriel: I love you.

Eve: I love you, too. But, I have no idea who you are.

Charlie was in heaven. Her name was Mitzy and she was a stripper. Abducted by a stripper vampire. Wait until he told his friends about this one.

Mitzy: Who’s been a bad boy?

Charlie: M-me. I’ve been a very, very bad boy.

Mitzy: Bad boys should be punished.

Charlie: Yes, please.

Outside, there was a commotion. Guards groaned and hit the ground in loud thuds. Then, the door opened. Charlie noticed none of this. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Mitzy.

Eve: Oh, gross.

Charlie: Eve? What are you doing here?

Eve: I came to rescue you from – that.

Charlie: Do I look like I need rescuing?

Eve: It is not okay for a vampire to kidnap you and then have sexy times with you … unless he’s cute and has blue eyes.

Charlie: She’s cute. And, her eyes are blue.

Eve: But, she doesn’t have boy parts and – I am not having this argument with you. Let’s go. And, put some pants on.

Charlie: No, I don’t want to leave.

Mitzy: You heard him. He’s been compelled to want to stay with me forever.

Eve: Then, I suggest you un-compel him, or I’m going to turn you into a lump of ashes like your bouncer buddies outside.

Mitzy: Is that the Drago Clan’s dagger?

Eve: Possibly.

Mitzy: Okay, okay. I’ll do whatever you want, just keep that thing away from me.

At St. Mary’s church, Gabriel stood where he’d exchanged vows with Cecily. He’d hoped to return here under better circumstances. He had no idea where he would go from here. Could she forgive him? Could Eve and Charlie? Had he lost them forever?

Victoria: It’s beautiful. Have to say, I was expecting you to screw me over with a fake, but I guess you knew I’d for sure slaughter your family, then.

Gabriel: I hope it was worth it.

Victoria: I don’t care about you or your family, Gabriel.

Gabriel: Of course not. You didn’t even care about your own.

Victoria: I loved Willow. That’s why I stayed away. She deserved better than what I had allowed myself to become. A normal life.

Gabriel: Do you ever think about her descendants? There are people in her family, in your family, in this world and if you use this, it will destroy them.

Victoria: You of all people should know what centuries of a semblance of life will do to the mind. I don’t care anymore, Gabriel. I’ve been alone, even surrounded by people and vampires, my entire undead life. There’s no cure for the loneliness, not even finding far-removed grandchildren who I’ll only frighten. But, the Old Ones, they’ll come back and we’ll be gods among man, feared…worshiped.

Gabriel: That’s better than being loved? How Machiavellian.

Victoria: He had it right. It’s better to be feared than to be loved if one cannot be both. You should call home. You’ll find I held up our agreement. Your family is fine.

Gabriel: Is everything okay?

Will: Yes. Eve is back. She has Charlie. He seems okay.

Gabriel: Thank you, Will. For everything.

 

Victoria: You shouldn’t sound so grim. I’m not going to kill you now that I have what I want.

Gabriel: You’re not?

Victoria: I thought about it, but I realized there’s nothing I can do that will hurt you as much as what’s waiting for you when you go home.

As Gabriel drove home, he hoped they would understand. He hoped he could talk to them and convince them that, yes, he had done horrible things, but with good intentions. Then again, he knew what they said about good intentions paving the path to hell.

When he walked through the door, he found his wife and children waiting for him.

Gabriel: Where did you get that?

Cecily: Eve showed me your little weapons stash downstairs. You can take them with you when you pack your things and get the hell out of my house.

Gabriel: Cecily, put that down and let’s talk.

Cecily: There’s nothing to talk about! The only thing I want you to explain is what you know about the death of my first daughter.

Gabriel: Nothing.

Cecily: Don’t lie to me!

Gabriel: I don’t know anything about her death because she didn’t die. There was a prophecy that you would give birth to a daughter and she would bring about the destruction of the world. I was given orders to destroy that baby... 

 

I went into your room while you were sleeping and I took her from her crib with every intention of following those orders. But, I couldn’t go through with it. I’d been watching you for so long and I'd fallen in love with you. 

There was a second baby girl born in the hospital that night, her parents were a Russian diplomat and his wife. Their baby did die. Natural causes. I saw her guardian waiting to take her in the nursery. So, I waited, too, and when she died, I replaced her with your daughter. 

The angels agreed to let her grow up away from you, in hopes that would circumvent the prophecy, but as a consequence for disobedience, I lost my wings.

Cecily: She’s alive?

Gabriel: I’ve been keeping an eye on her for the past twenty-five years, hoping the events preceding the foretold prophecy would come to pass so I could reunite you. But, you’ve already been reunited.

Cecily: What? I’ve met her?

Gabriel: At the Wellington barbecue. Her name is Natalia. Natalia Novak.