Gabriel

I knew she wouldn't listen. Then again, I knew the moment that thing touched me, that my time was over. Stupid fucking queen and her prophesy. Watching my brave kitten pull that door closed was almost more than I could handle, but I knew she would do it.

Her hazel eyes met mine as she gaped like a fish fighting for air. "Ga...Gabriel?" She reached out her hand then pulled back uncertain if it was me or a trick of the shadows. She shook her head and whimpered, "No...no, not real."

I stepped forward as she pressed against the gate with nowhere to run, "Yes, real," I corrected her, then slammed my mouth against hers. I honestly have no idea how I was kissing her. I mean technically, I wasn't real. I was a shadow now, but that wasn't going to stop me from kissing her. Who knew if I'd ever get the chance again. When the kiss broke, she was panting. I looked into her terrified eyes, "You are so fucking grounded."

"I think I'm a lot more than grounded," she whispered, "I think I'm dead."

I shook my head and grabbed her hand, then placed it on her chest. "Still beating," I told her. She shakily reached out and placed her hand on my now repaired chest then whimpered with fresh tears spilling down her face. "Shh, no time for that, Chaton. We already knew I was gone, and we can't change it, but we can find a way to get you back in one piece."

"But...but I can't open the gate, and I can't leave you in here," she rushed. I slammed my lips to hers again, silencing her panic. I groaned when I felt her heart flutter. I swear I could smell her arousal as she leaned into me. "Gabriel," she gasped when I pulled away. Her eyes were glazed, nipples taut, and she was breathing heavily.

I chuckled softly, "Leave it to you to get hot and bothered in a shadow dimension, Chaton." I tucked her hair back and grinned, "I promise to take care of that ache soon, but for now, we need to figure out where we are and how to get you out." This time she didn't argue, just nodded. I took her hand and surveyed the area, then following some odd instinct in my gut, we headed to the left.

After walking for quite a while, I felt her stumble and mentally chastised myself. I may already be dead, but she wasn't. I'm sure the adrenaline from facing that thing was wearing off and she must be exhausted. Without a word, I scooped her up in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck, burrowing her face into my chest as I carried her. I could see what looked like rock formations ahead and wanted to reach them. Perhaps they could offer some sort of shelter where she could get rest for a while. I also had no idea how I would find food or water for her.

By the time I reached the outcropping I'd spotted, she was sound asleep in my arms. I didn't feel tired at all. I guess being dead has some advantages. I found a small opening that seemed safe enough and worked our way inside. I gently laid her down as I looked around for something to burn. Once I'd managed a slight fire near the entrance, I placed her back in my lap, letting her continue to sleep. Leaning against the stone wall I closed my eyes.

I wasn't sleeping, but the moment my eyelids closed, I was assaulted with an avalanche of images. Some I understood, like the final moments of my life, watching her free Olivia's soul, and her closing the gate, but others didn't make sense. I could see battles between shadows and the guys, Avery in with dark shadows swirling around her as she threw her head back in her banshee wail, a young girl with brilliant blue eyes who smiled and shifted into a large wolf. I leaned up with a start to find her hazel eyes watching me. "How long have you been awake?"

She shrugged, "Not long. I panicked at first because you weren't breathing, but then I remembered..." she drew in a sobbing breath. "I'm so sorry, mo chéad ghrá. This is all my fault."

I cupped her face, "No, Avery, it isn't. The moment the queen touched me I knew what had to happen. I think in a way, I've always known, even when I was a kid I saw things that didn't make sense. When my family died, part of me died with them. My soul was connected to the shadows long before we met and definitely before she ripped my heart out." I pressed a kiss to her nose, then her forehead. "Besides, how else was I going to stay with you? I can't leave you here all alone."

"I'm not glad that you're...dead, but I am thankful you are with me," she replied, her eyes downcast. "I don't know what will happen now." She gripped my hands, "What if she goes after the others, or the kids to get revenge for me shutting the gate?"

"Take a breath, Chaton. I have no idea what is going on there, but right now, I need your mind here. Our priority is keeping you safe and getting you home. We can't help them right now anyway," I told her bluntly. I didn't want to be so harsh, but she needed to focus on herself for a change.

Her expression steeled. "You're right. I can't do anything from here and this isn't where I should be."

"Good girl," I grinned.

Axel

Brandon kept calling out directions as Marc and I kept moving trying our best to destroy the damned things. Raven was slashing them with some sort of flashing sword while Corey kept sending bolts of light that split the shadows apart instantly. It was like we were a fluid machine. That is until Raven let out a painful cry and fell to his knees, clutching his chest. Corey rushed to his side, blocking the shadows from reaching him as he tried to check on him. Suddenly Raven stood up, his eyes glowing with light, and let out an enraged roar. He charged toward the shadows, yelling at the top of his lungs, "You dared touch my wife! She is not yours to take! I will kill every last one of you...I will never stop hunting you! Go tell your false queen that and know your days are numbered."

What did he mean they touched her? They took her? I was so confused by his words, but the shadows seemed to understand his fury and began vanishing, creeping back into the very walls before they fled. He continued to batter his sword against the walls as if trying to dig them out.

"Raven!" Corey shouted, pulling his arm back. He spun around, a crazed look on his face, rearing his sword up and almost swung. When he realized it was Corey, he dropped the sword and crushed him against his chest, sobbing. "Raven, love, what happened?" Corey asked as he held him.

When he finally calmed down he looked at Corey, then to the rest of us, his chest still heaving. "Little fairy...she's behind the gate. She's scared and hurt...I can feel her pain."

"What do you mean she's behind the gate? She wasn't supposed to even open the gate!" I yelled, "How the fuck did she get on the other side?" I spun around to Marc and Brandon. "Can you see anything? Can you go to her?"

Brandon grabbed Marc's arm, "Don't. You have no idea what you're blipping into." I felt my heart grip with shame at suggesting he go in blindly.

"I'm sorry, love, I didn't even stop to think," I muttered, my heart dropping.

He grabbed my hand, "Don't. I understand, and I was already considering it before you said a word, but Brandon's right. We need a plan and I can't go alone. Chloe could be there waiting to pick us off one by one."

"Raven, please focus on Avery. I know you said she's scared, but is she alive?" Corey asked him.

He nodded, "Alive, yes, she's alive. I don't know if she opened the gate or not, I just know she's on the other side of it. We need to find Luke. His bond might help."

We quickly made our way to the others and stopped to see Luke shifting back to human form. All of the shadows seemed to have fled. He looked at Raven, "You feel it too?" Raven nodded. "Dammit. Av, what have you done?" he muttered.

"She did her duty," a soft voice spoke.

"Fiona? Wh...how are you here?" Luke sputtered.

"I came to collect the children. The Shadow Queen will come for them next. As long as the gate is closed, she cannot breach Tír na nÓg." Her face was worry-worn.

"Why did she open the gate?" I finally demanded.

Fiona shook her head, "She didn't. The Shadow Queen did with a very ancient spell. That's why she needed a shadowmarked. Their blood holds magic. With that spell, she forced Olivia to open the gate for her. The only way to close it is from the other side."

Victor groaned, "You all knew. You fucking knew and didn't tell her - didn't tell us!"

"It was her choice to make, not ours. Yes, we knew it was a possibility, but as with everything, fates change at every moment. Don't give up on her yet. Even now, she and Gabriel are searching for a way to get her home."

"He's alive?" Victor and Luke asked.

Fiona shook her head, "His human form is not. He is behind the gate with her in an inbetween state. I do not know if he will remain there or find his true form and be able to leave."

"What do you mean true form," Owen said, suddenly emerging from the shadows with Erin in his arms.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Brandon gaped.

Owen chuckled, "Apparently, I have a few tricks of my own. I discovered it by accident as we made our way inside. I was holding Sean's hand and we backed against the wall to get away from some shadows when we suddenly seemed to vanish. Not only that, but I could hear their thoughts. They're rather terrified of you two," he said, pointing to Raven and Luke.

"Good, they should be," Raven snorted. "So what is Gabe's true form?"

"I cannot say," Fiona answered. "We've seen enough to know it's there, but we don't know exactly what it is, much like none of us foresaw Luke's true form."

Author's Notes:  More questions....