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As Rosiel moved into his own room with Zanzen, Faye turned to Keovari, eyes weary.
"We cannot tell more then you have already, can we?" Her face finally seemed to melt into the feeling that was truely plastered across her soul. Worry made her eyes burn.
Keovari's voice seemed to float once again. She heard him, but did not listen, "No, we would be endagering ourselves and our hosts. Alyria must remain a secret. Your past and my truth must remain, if not a secret, at least quiet."
She nodded, fingering the stone between her fingers.

Keovari watched Faye as she fell into a gentle trance. She needed rest, Rosiel was not wrong. The weary expression on her face, so full of worry, restlessness, and pain, dug into his heart. She was usually cheerful. The past weeks had been hard on them both.
He rememered the last time he had made her laugh before that night. Weeks ago.
"Faye, sit again. Rest. I will deal with the room when Rosiel is free."
She nodded slowly, moving to take her seat.

A bang came from upstairs, bolting her back upright. Keovari instinctively crossed between her and the stairs.
Moments later as the two still stood tensely staring at the stairs, Rosiel entered the room again. They watched his actions as he spoke and remained silent as he moved on.
Faye did not move, her heart seemed to be cracking apart.
"G..Gabriel?" She said softly a minute later.

Keovari turned back to her, his eyes clouded and worried.
"Faye, I am sure it is not the Gabriel you once knew. It was so many years ago." But he watched as her eyes filled will tears and her hand slipped to her chest as if hoping to hold together the pieces of her heart.
"Faye... if it is... You know that you cannot..." He trailed off. How can I take the possibilty away from her?

"I cannot recognize him," She finished, "To admit my identity would be to place him in danger again." She smiled faintly and pulled herself together. Moments later, her eyes were dry, her smile in place again and no trace of sadness left.
"I shall, too. I will not be the reason for anyone's harm." She laughed softly as Keovari seemed to blow away. Moments later, the man was no longer standing beside her. Instead, a white cat lept into her lap, purring softly.
"Yes, Keovari dear. I shall be good for you."

Gabriel crawled out of the bed on his elbows and knees, dragging the quilt behind him. The way his eyes seemed to explode within his head reminded him of times when he had not fed for days; stretching up from the floor and pulling the cover across the curtains down, he fought his way out of the thick sheet which enveloped him and pulled himself up by the windowsill. The full moon bathed him in its silver light, re-energising him, cleansing him.

His composure and strength regained, Gabriel marched over to the door and grasped the handle; but as he did, a violent flash of a pretty, smiling face filled his mind, and the smell of incense and jasmine perfume clouded his mind. Letting go of the handle suddenly, he once again cursed his own mind for tricking him; the years since the loss of his beloved had weakened him, cost him more than he could afford. He had only just come to terms with Faye's loss...why should this happen now, should fate be so cruel?

Turning his back on the door, he knew he would not leave the room until his mind had regained some sanity and he was the calm, rational person he knew himself as. Picking up his book and pen, he began another page...

Wednesday. May.

Still staying in the Seven Roses; had a troubled night's sleep, again. And it seems my waking hours are none too different; I could swear I felt you twice today. Impossible, I know...but who knows, when you read this, maybe you'll understand.

Faye blushed and turned her face away slightly, wrapping her arms a bit more around Keovari.
"I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your kind consideration. However, I shall have to say that I cannot accept your generous offer. My safety is well kept. Keovari will not sleep until I have rested enough that I shall be able to defend myself... Certain circumstance prevent me from being able to touch the charm in the same fashion as the guest you believe to be... I assure you, I am not now one... I cannot fully explain..." Her voice, vibrant and clear at first had begun to crack slightly as she searched for a neutral answer. She blushed and hung her head.
"My most sincere appologies. I again extend my offer for us to leave if we are too much trouble. I assure you, we mean no one harm, but if you are uncomfortable with our shadowed explinations, then please only ask."

Beside Faye, Keovari meowed softly and turned his eyes to Rosiel's as he had when speaking to him. She means it.

Faye closed her eyes to regain composure. She smiled back up to the angel and took his hand.
"I would prefer to stay, however."

Rosiel looked slightly taken aback, but then regained his composure and put on his necklace once more.

"No, it's fine," he said in a soft voice. "There are many things you do not know about me, and that I would not willingly tell you. Your secrets are yours to keep, my dear. And, as an Angel, I would never deny anyone my assistance if they need it, and my asking you to leave would be denying you much needed rest. Life is dangerous on its' own, I'll handle it. Don't worry. Every once in a while, I get a guest that wants to kill me. Well, come, then. I'll--"

The sound of a door opening above inturupts him, and he closes his hand around Faye's.

"That would be Mr. Gabriel," he said in a low, urgent whisper. "I don't need you to tell me why, but I do need to know if I need to get you away from him."

"Then you've gone to all of the wrong places, Miss Faye, " Rosiel whispers, then winks. Sunddenly, as if nothing happened, he starts to speak in a loud voice.

"Josephine, dear, it was nice of you to come. It's been a long time since I've seen you, and your cat, Keo. How many years has it been? And I have a few gifts for you, but first you must rest. You must be weary from your trip, all of the way from Ravenholm. Come, I'll show you to your room, dear."

After Rosiel was finished talking, he lowered his voice and spoke quickly, "I'll just pretend that you're a friend of mine that came to visit me with your cat. I'll even go out and buy the presents I wish to give. I hope you don't mind the name Josephine. If you don't want him to know it's you, I feel that this is the best way."

...Josephine?

Gabriel slowly let go of the handle and turned away, more disappointed than relieved. He was indeed going insane...how could he mistake his beloved's aura, so unique and precious? His longing for her was forcing him to recognise any other as her.

He trudged heavily back to his bed, feeling the weight of the centuries he had lived begin to etch themselves upon his face. Burying his face in his hands, he lay silent and dark for hours, his mind full of thoughts and feelings he had never come to terms with. Memories zipped before his eyes like a slideshow; the times they'd spent together, places they had gone, joys they shared. All gone, but for a failed attempt to extricate his evil persona.

Gabriel opened his messenger bag and poured out its entire contents on the bed; a series of identical, red leather-bound books, each one in a varying state of dog-eared over-use. He picked one up and flicked through pages until he found what he was looking for; the tale of their separation.

Sunday. August.

I had a dream last night. I dreamt of how we came to be lost, separated so far. Some you know, of course, but you'll want to know what I did, I suppose.

After our rooftop battle, with the Beast dead, I was dying, but I had another chance. "Stab my heart with this sword", I told you. Full credit to you, girl...I never thought you'd actually do it. I told you I'd be back, and to run.

And run you did. I don't know how long I spent on the other side, but the magic in the sword kept my body alive for long enough for me to find my way back into it. By the time I woke up, the Castle was deserted; you'd moved me to your room, where I slept for seemingly years - it was in a terrible state. Dust, cobwebs, mould, rot...I walked through all the oldest places and it seemed that no-one had lived there for aeons. Mystie...Gwendolyn...Selene...all gone. The only resident I found was Kochi...given a decent burial, at least. There's so much I need to ask you about what happened while I was gone...

As soon as I awoke, the only thought in my head was of finding you. I remembered you mentioning a city you'd spent some time in, so that was my first port of call. I asked around, and no-one seemed to know where you were, but one lovely chap did give me a good indication that you might be in your home country. So here I am, still searching, and with no luck. I know you're here though...you can't hide from me forever.

Gabriel set down the book solemnly, lost in bitter remembrance. He searched through the other books, flipping past page after page, until another passage revealed itself.

Friday. June.

I have lost you. I have searched the world for you, and finally I must admit you are lost. The only iota of you left about me are my memories, and these notes. I remember once thinking that were we ever lost to each other, I could not bear facing eternity alone; but now, after my wanderings, I have realised there is so much more to existence.

Ernest Hemingway once said, "The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for." And it is; so many wonderful people, fine, brave people. To fight for them is to fight for life itself; and so, my eternity, it seems, shall not be spent with you, but remembering you and helping to change the world, for the good, in your name.

I love you, Faye, and I hope you would be proud of me.

And in the darkness, Gabriel sat amid his collected scribbled memories and musings, longing to exist again.

Faye smiled warmly as she entered the room by Rosiel's bidding. She took a quick glance around, taking in the comfortable sights before turning back to the angel.
"Thank you, sir," She said softly, "I am indebted to you for your help. Were Mr. Gabriel in fact the man we assume he is, only trouble could befall him... And us." Beside her, Keovari nodded his sleek head.
"I have so very much to tell you about Ravenholm," She countinued louder, "Everyone simply had so much for me to inform you of. I cannot wait to have a good conversation with you." She smiled and stood on her toes to his his cheek.
"Again... Thank you." She said quietly, then turned into her room.
"Good night."

Keovari nodded to the angel again and spoke through the strange sounds of the cat's mouth.
"If you need assistence in any way, please call for me. My gratitude for your help to my ward can not be expressed." And he turned to follow Faye into the room, twisting around her ankles.