Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ray still remembered hearing the call over the radio as if he was hearing it for the first time—to respond to 801 Pine apartment number 2214 for an unresponsive male with a gunshot wound. He thought his heart had either exploded or stopped, but either way he was whiter than snow white’s skin and covered in dread. It was an address that he knew too well… He had gone there several times to dump off his two young boys so that he could have a date night with his wife. The address belonged to his best friend and former partner, Tristan.

He knew he probably didn’t drive all that safely to get to the call…and he knew that he went out of district to get there too. He managed to beat the original responding officers as well as the emergency responders. Though he almost wished he hadn’t. He found Tristan lying on the kitchen floor, bleeding out from a gunshot wound to his right thigh and his wrist was shattered and broken. The call had been reported by a neighbor who heard the gunshot…and screaming. She told Ray when he entered the home that she heard two men arguing or something but there wasn’t anyone else in the apartment.

This story was all Ray needed to hear to be convinced that Tristan didn’t do this to himself. He didn’t care about the apparent collection of suicide notes and he didn’t care that no suspect information could be gathered period—no prints, no video documentation from the elevator, no witnesses to describe the man…nothing. But it was enough for Ray. He argued till he was blue in the face that someone else did this to his best friend…

After Tristan was hospitalized, Ray had reached out to Julia, Tristan’s former fiancé. He didn’t need to explain much for her to immediately fly back to Seattle to be by his side. While she believed it was self-inflicted, Ray still did not. However the evidence was damning and stacked against Tristan and he ended up being committed to the psych ward of the hospital for suicide watch and evaluation. It was there that Tristan deteriorated even more. He began to talk about a black winged angel that was trying to kill him, that was talking to him in his head and telling him all these negative things. He told everyone that he couldn’t take it anymore and did try to kill himself because he knew that was what the angel didn’t want. He said that the angel then pulled his hand away and forced him to shoot his leg, that it was the angel that broke his wrist out of spite… and that he’s been torturing him with nightmares ever since.

The more Tristan talked, the more Ray realized he had lost his best friend to something dark… What had happened in the parking garage began to make more sense to him…and fill him with anger and fear all at the same time. He stopped trying to convince people that Tristan didn’t try to kill himself. Instead he became quiet and sad… Feeling helpless as he and Julia watched Tristan deteriorate. Neither knew what had happened or why…

After a week in the psych ward, Tristan began to act ‘normal’ or as normal as he could considering what had just happened. He was eventually released to go back home and both Julia and Ray split the time in watching over Tristan to make sure he really was going to be okay. At first it appeared that the worst was indeed behind him… but several days after being home, Tristan stopped sleeping again and started talking to himself—arguing with himself. He kept telling them that the dark winged angel was there and asking if they saw him and when they told him they didn’t, he’d get angry and frustrated…

He was deteriorating again and neither wanted Tristan to be committed again. He would probably permanently lose his job, something both knew would literally kill him. So they tried their best to convince Tristan that he was just hallucinating and that it wasn’t real…but that only seemed to agitate him more.

As the sleepless nights grew worse and worse, Ray became desperate. He had heard Tristan talking about some woman named ‘Granny Spiderlegs’ and how she would know what he was talking about. Initially Ray thought he was hallucinating that too, that he had made it up.

But while walking the beat downtown, Ray walked by a storefront that was closed for the evening…but had Granny Spiderlegs’ name across the window with a phone number. A sleep and naturopathic specialist. Ray thought that maybe Tristan had correlated the name because he saw it before when he wasn’t…sick, but at the same time Ray decided that it was time for desperate measures.

So he called Granny Spiderlegs and was shocked to learn that she knew Tristan very well…and had been trying to help him with his sleep by giving him a dream catcher. Ray was very familiar with that catcher, it was still in Tristan’s bedroom though Tristan seemed to have a strange love-hate relationship with it but lately a fearful relationship with it.

Ray asked for Granny to see Tristan, he was desperate for any sort of miracle. He didn’t understand what was happening to his friend and he just wanted him back. They all did. So when Granny agreed to come to the apartment to see Tristan, he and Julia were both relieved... though it would only be Ray with Tristan that evening. Julia didn't want to be there for whatever was going to happen. He didn't blame her.

Hearing the knock on the apartment door, Ray practically flew across the apartment to answer it.

Opening the door, Ray sighed with relief, "Thank god you're here..."

Ray didn’t waste any time in letting the older woman enter the apartment. He didn’t need to let her force her way in or even make the first move—Ray immediately stepped aside and gestured for her to enter, closing the door behind the woman. He continued to ignore the voice in the back of his head telling him that this was a crazy and ridiculous idea—that a woman who practices sleep aid and naturopathy could possibly help his friend who was obviously mentally ill. How could that be even remotely possible? Yet, Ray pushed on. He had hope that maybe something this woman did…something she could say will magically fix everything. Everything started out with Tristan not sleeping, right? So… shouldn’t you work at the source of the problem? The root cause?

Ray swallowed and shook his head, glancing around the apartment while Granny did the same, unable to stop himself from mirroring a paranoid gesture that she was seeing something he didn’t. While he didn’t know if she actually was seeing something, he still couldn’t help but mirror the gesture as well.

“Please call me Ray… I’m not working right now and I don’t want to be.” Ray responded quickly with a slight mutter. He was being honest that he would rather be called by his first name, it was more comfortable to him and made this whole situation feel less like he was going to get in trouble for doing it…or get Tristan in trouble.

Ray followed after Granny initially, forgetting that she didn’t know where Tristan actually was—not that the apartment was all the big for her to not find him on her own. Ray cleared his throat, stepping around Granny to stop her from getting anywhere past the kitchen section.

“I… I don’t know.” Ray admitted to the stranger, glancing over his shoulder to the bedroom where he knew Tristan to actually be. He bit his lip and side stepped a little so that she could look at the closed bedroom door to understand that was where Tristan was.

“He was okay after he got home for a few days… but then he stopped sleeping again and started talking to himself—arguing, really—and talking about that ‘dark winged angel’ again… Asking if we could see him and…” Ray trailed off and shook his head, looking at the closed door, “…It’s not my best friend.”

He inhaled a staggered sigh and walked to the bedroom door, grabbing the door knob and opening it for Granny to go inside but he stepped in first.

“Tristan?” He asked quietly, finding the other man sitting at the edge of the bed staring out the large bay windows that were at the end of the room. Tristan didn’t show any sign of acknowledgement but Ray knew that he could see them in the reflection of the window so Ray stepped in.

“I brought someone here that I think can help you… You remember Granny Spiderlegs?” Ray asked, glancing over at the dream catcher which now lay on the night stand instead of on the wall near the bed.

“Yeah.” Tristan answered flatly, his emotional affect unusual.

Ray nodded and looked over at Granny, not sure how much more of an introduction she would want.

Ray bit his lip and folded his arms, feeling uncomfortable but not as though he had to leave the room yet. So he stayed in the doorway awkwardly until dismissed… but even if he was dismissed he wouldn’t leave right away. He didn’t know much about this woman and to leave her alone with his best friend was out of the question.

He definitely didn’t believe the woman when she said that there would be improvement after this one visit because that would be absurd…but that hopeful part of him fluttered and clung to those words like a starving man to food.

He watched as the woman approached the single chair that was in the bedroom nearest the large bay windows. He then looked back at Tristan who still sat on the edge of the bed, though he only watched Granny through the reflection instead of actually looking at her.

“He went away—if that’s who you’re here to talk to.” Tristan muttered, initially ignoring her first few questions and jumping straight to the conclusion that she wanted to talk about the hallucination he was having…at least that’s what he was told. He realized after he spoke that she would think he’s crazy too—why would she be here to talk about that angel?

Clearing his throat, Tristan nodded and brushed off his pants as he looked down and away from the window. He wanted to appear normal… he hated the look he was given by Julia and Ray, that he was crazy and they felt sorry for him. He knew he wasn’t crazy… but then again, that’s what crazy people say right?

He winced when his hand brushed over his right thigh, which was still incredibly tender from being shot. He wondered if he would ever be able to run like he used to…

“Yeah, sure.” He finally answered Granny in regards to sitting down to talk to him as well as finally turning to look at her directly. He looked haggard and old—too old to be 28. Instead of having a determined but desperate look to him like Granny had seen when he came into her shop all those months ago, he looked defeated and weak. The bags under his eyes were practically permanent at this point and his cheeks were sunken.

“The floor is yours…” He followed up with a shrug and wave of his hand towards the chair for Granny to sit in. He felt like he was putting on a show… knowing that Ray was watching from the doorway and feeling like he should at least try for his friend.

While Tristan’s expression remain unchanged, Ray practically flinched out of the bedroom when he heard Granny acknowledge the mystery “angel” as if she believed that he was real. Ray’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Tristan to Granny, wondering what game she was trying to pull on his poor fragile friend.

Fragile… it was weird thinking of him that way. Tristan used to always be the first one in the pile. Usually the first one to crack a sophisticated joke about how the whole situation could’ve been avoided if they had just complied in the first place… But now? Now he was talking to walls and imaginary people.

The shorter man watched as the old woman grabbed a hold of the catcher, examining it carefully as if she was looking for something hidden in the weaves that no one else could see…or maybe that was there and shouldn’t be? Who knew. But it was Granny’s questions that brought Ray’s focus to a serious and deadly level. His eyes narrowed even more as he looked directly at Tristan, waiting for his answer…

While Tristan on the other hand looked so out of it that maybe he’d fall asleep sitting up. Only everyone knew that wouldn’t happen. The fatigued man sluggishly watched as Granny sat and held the dream catcher that he had begun to fear. He ignored her quip about wishing he had come sooner, knowing she would’ve said that and already feeling a stab of guilt for not doing so. He glanced down for a second, self-blame sinking in but this time no voice to back it up…which was weird.

Though the moment Granny asked for Tristan’s attention, he looked back up at the woman and tried to focus. Though he looked more like he was glaring at her it was his fatigued and exhausted way of ‘focusing’. He nodded slowly, as if underwater, to indicate that he was focusing and listening to what she had to ask.

First she asked his name… A question that he realized he didn’t know the answer to. He pursed his lips and almost glanced away until the voice slammed back into his mind like a roaring headache and he flinched violently, wincing. He could hear the voice cursing loudly but not at him… but at…her. Tristan made a face and shook his head initially, though not to tell Granny that he didn’t know the answer but rather a silent protest to the angry voice in his head.

Then he heard the voice say his name as if by telling it to Tristan it would act as some sort of cocky challenge.

“Azazel.” Tristan answered, ignoring Ray who he knew was looking at him as if he were a crazy person… He knew he must be thinking ‘great, now he’s giving names to the hallucinations’ but he couldn’t blame the man.

Then, when Granny asked the second question Tristan realized he was uncomfortable and ashamed. He did look away this time and bit his lip, not wanting to answer this in front of Ray. Granted, he’d already told everyone what had happened when he woke up at the hospital but his story had not been taken well and he was placed in the ‘mental ward’ because of it. He didn’t want that to happen again—he wasn’t crazy.

“…He broke my wrist, yes.” He answered partially, glancing down at his still healing wrist which was in a wrist brace. He didn’t elaborate…he was too embarrassed and ashamed.

For a moment, Tristan felt relieved. It felt so much like she meant what she said—that she did believe him and she did know how it felt. He couldn’t explain why he felt that was true but it gave him immeasurable amounts of relief.

But his concentration was refocused when he saw that dark smile on the face of a woman that always appeared so kind… and gentle. It didn’t fit her face and yet it did—like the other side of a coin.

Tristan tilted his head when the woman called out to Azazel, asking him a direct question as though he were present…only Tristan knew he wasn’t. Then, as if on cue, he appeared at first like he was a reflection in the window, his appearance alone causing Ray to gasp loudly.

Where Azazel appeared in the window was technically right in front of where Ray was standing, causing the man to stagger backwards only to realize that no one was there. But in the window was a tall, thin, pale haired angel with black wings! Just like Tristan described! Ray’s breathing quickened and he felt a cold sweat wash over him as he gripped the doorway, staring at the reflection that suddenly wasn’t a reflection at all.

Materializing from the window itself and into the room was Azazel. The Nephilim glowered down at the old woman, sneering with complete disrespect before looking at Tristan, who stared at him with hatred and fear all at the same time.

“You have no need to be here, hag.” Azazel spat back at the woman, his wings unfolding and filling the space that the window occupied in an aggressive stance.

Ray, on the other hand made a whimper sound and staggered back, his eyes wider than the moon itself as he stared at the man he had originally thought was just a hallucination. And yet…there he was. He was real. He was real! Though he was paralyzed with fear initially, rage filled him almost instantly and Ray snarled and stormed into the room.

“You son of a b***h!” He shouted, realizing that his original thoughts that Tristan hadn’t done this to himself were accurate. Yet he convinced himself to believe everyone else that Tristan was crazy instead of telling the truth… he doubted his instincts and his best friend. He would never get over how guilty he felt…but right now he was angry. Very, very angry.

Azazel in turn looked at Ray with a suddenly sick and twisted smile, an indication that Tristan knew well to mean danger and violence. Tristan in turn shot to his feet, moving quickly to block Ray from lunging at the Nephilim and from the Nephilim from lunging forward… though Tristan had seen him move before… and he doubted his own body would stop him.

“Ray, stop!” Tristan whispered hoarsely as he pushed his partner backwards, trying to restrain him and calm him down all at once.

“Yes… Ray… do stop…” Azazel mocked, laughing lightly before looking at the old woman again that he definitely didn’t forget about but acted as though she weren’t worth his time—which she wasn’t. “Take your saggy flesh from this place and go back to your hole so you can rot alone.”

At first Azazel just sneered at the old woman as she rose to her feet all too easily. He lifted his chin as Granny stared up at him, debating on spitting in her face and poising himself to do just that when the old woman continued her tirade—which treaded immediately onto threats that only Azazel would appreciate.

While Granny postured herself in front of Azazel, Ray began to back off but only slightly, his body still rigid as he watched what was happening with a furious sort of curiosity. He looked back at Tristan and nodded as he relented and backed away from what was happening, telling his friend silently that he would do as he asked. Whatever was happening here was very… unreal and it hadn’t really sunk into Ray just yet. His emotions were fueling him and not his reason.

Once Ray backed off, Tristan turned around to watch as Granny took on the taller Azazel—the man looking as though he were about to lop off the old woman’s head with just his finger nail. It made Tristan nervous but only because he could see that Granny wasn’t scared at all… even when Tristan believed she should be. She had a dangerous sort of air around her… the kind that made him realize he should’ve feared her more than Azazel and that was saying something.

At first Tristan wanted to step in, to try and break the stalemate that was escalating to dangerous levels the more Granny spat on, her voice like a sharp knife that actually made Tristan’s skin crawl. But then he saw something that made him more frightened than he already was—Azazel’s expression fell immediately and he went pale. The damned monster looked frightened! If Azazel was afraid…then Tristan realized he should be more than that.

He stared at Granny with wide eyes, not sure what scared the angel so much but definitely understanding the gravity of what this all meant. He watched as Azazel’s wings folded in around him protectively, withdrawing the taller pale haired man as he took a step back from Granny.

“You will not.” He hissed back at the old woman, a fear in his eyes telling Granny that he believed her but was fighting her anyway.

“You… b***h…!” Azazel hissed as he recoiled within the safety of his wings, his eyes darting to Tristan and suddenly filling with a furious sort of rage that told the other man that he was being blamed for what happened.

Tristan took a step back, bumping into Ray who startled him at first but he didn’t break eye contact with the Nephilim staring at him with a fiery hatred. Tristan lifted his chin though it was a false show of confidence since Tristan was actually rather terrified of what was going on.

Azazel on the other hand, was furious in general… and lashing out and the source of this punishment. He snarled at Tristan and looked at Granny as if to dare her to do something. He then pursed his lips and looked back at Tristan, his eyes narrowing as he began contemplating how to injure him, how to punish him!

Though while Azazel’s fury was locked on Tristan, Ray recognized the hostility and instinctively pulled Tristan back away from the furious creature—you could practically feel the heat of rage from where they were standing! Tristan didn’t resist Ray and let him be guided back towards the doorway to the bedroom, though both men knew if Azazel deemed it so the distance between them wouldn’t save them at all.

Though for all the show of fury that Azazel was showing, he looked back at Granny and the fear sunk in once more. He almost shrived back into his wings, his lips pressing into a taut line as his own physical image began to blur and fade more and more as if he was diminishing with his concession.

“… I do not…” he finally answered without a retort to Granny’s question about wanting to test her theory. He was afraid of her. He was deeply afraid of her. Every word she said was true…and he was frightened. He didn’t want to go back—not as less than a shadow! And not back to the others who waited for his less than powerful presence to return. That alone caused him to almost shudder, though it was hard to tell unless you were Granny and knew what to look for.

Azazel hissed and glowered angrily at the old woman, hating how ‘gentle’ her tone sounded now that she knew she won and he relented. It was insulting and embarrassing… and he was never going to forget it. Someday he will be strong enough to end her…and when that day comes, he will bask in victory and vengeance. He will humiliate her more than she ever could him… He just had to become stronger.

However, when Granny took a stab about his lack of friends waiting, his eyes narrowed further. A flash of sadness and almost regret in his features but they were gone before even the most trained eyes could catch it. He swallowed and looked away from Granny, another sign of submission. He didn’t have any friends waiting for him… he never did. He only had those who wished to torment him as he wished to torment Granny. He wasn’t strong enough now to face even those foes.

Azazel opened his mouth to speak to Granny again, to throw some other spiteful retort but instead he closed his mouth. He huffed a frustrated breath and began to retreat once more into shadows, deciding it was time to once more retreat into the eventual nightmares of his host once more.

Tristan watched with wide eyes as Azazel all but wilted away to nothingness! Vanishing into the windows reflection and fading away altogether…leaving only the three individual’s presences in the room. Tristan swallowed and looked at Granny, unsure if she was a threat or friend at this point.

“…okay… so…you’re going to have to explain to me what just happened because…” Ray interrupted, shaking his head as he realized he didn’t really know how to finish that sentence.