Sacred Bloodlines by Wendy Owens

he knew he was not.  Instead Michael just agreed with him.
    “But you are very important.”  Michael continued with a smile.  “There will be a great battle between good and evil to find this prophet.  According to the Oracle you are destined to be his protector.”
    “Me? A protector?”  Gabe questioned.  “I am not a protector.  I can barely take care of myself.”
    As Gabe set his cup down onto the table, Michael reached over and placed a hand on his.  “Many of us are more than we realize.”  
    In that moment as Michael spoke, Gabe was able to see the wisdom in Michael’s years.  He commanded a presence of honor that was hard to put in words.  Gabe found himself believing he could be several hundred years old.
    Michael sat up, pulling his hand away before continuing.  “We have a good idea of what has happened.  Mammon has never been able to even come close to finding our location in the past.  We think that when Uri brought you and Sophie back, you were being tracked.”
    “No,” Gabe quickly defended.  “I asked.  He used some kind of cloaking spell.”
    “Gabe,” Michael replied calmly.  “Nobody is blaming anyone here.  Uri is strong, one of my most advanced pupils.  It is a hunch that it was about then when the demons found our scent.  I do not believe they know our exact location as of yet.  They do not know how to penetrate our protection spells.”  Michael paused for a moment and then added, “Not yet.”
    “Yet?” Gabe asked, trying not to think about the night he arrived.  Attempting to push it from his thoughts, only brought the regret closer to the surface.  He wished he had been able to help Uri instead of passing out.  He felt weak and useless.  Everyone was in danger now because of him.  The same theme he had seen played out over and over again in his life.  Gabe felt sorry for these people who thought he was some sort of great protector; he knew they would be disappointed.
    Michael explained, “Mammon is powerful and will not stop until he has found a way to get to you.”
    “Me?” Gabe exclaimed, feeling a new sense of panic.
    “You were born to be the protector, it doesn’t matter if you believe it or not.  Mammon believes it, as do his soldiers.  If they kill you, they believe they can find and destroy the prophet.”
    Gabe’s head was spinning.  He was certain he was no protector.  Now he finds out Hell’s army is hunting him down.  Gabe was consumed by what sounded like blood swooshing around in his skull.  He took a deep breath trying to calm himself.
    “Are you alright?”  Michael asked.
    “Michael, are you sure this Oracle’s prophecy is about me?  I mean, maybe she saw the wrong person.  I bet it’s supposed to be someone like...”  
    Gabe thought about everyone he had met, seeking a more likely candidate.  
    “I bet it’s Uri or someone like him. I’m telling you, it’s not me.  It’s not possible.”  Gabe insisted.
    “Everyone has a destiny Gabe.  It may not be the one you thought you were designed for.  You may not choose to follow it, but there’s no mistake.  The Oracle saw you.”  
    “Wait,” Gabe honed in on Michael’s words with precision. “I have a choice?”
    Michael smiled slightly.  “Of course you do.  Everyone has a choice.  There would be no free will if we didn’t have a choice.”
    “That’s it,” Gabe replied excited.  “We just tell Mammon I choose not to fulfill my destiny.”
    “Gabe, I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”  As those words left Michael’s lips there was a knock at the door.  A second later, Uri entered, hands respectfully drawn behind his back.
    “Sir, you sent for me?”  Uri asked looking at Michael.
    “Yes! Please Uri.” Michael said motioning to the empty spot next to Gabe. “Come, join us.”  
    Uri walked over and took a seat, resting his boot clad foot on his opposite knee.  “I was just telling Gabe here about the trouble with destiny and