~~Young~~

Chapter Five

   Overall, a huge waste of Gage’s time.

   When he had heard enough of the Dean’s groveling and apologies over the scene in the waiting room earlier Gage excused himself, ready to get to work. But he was only a step out Fred’s door with one hand on the door to the hall when another man stole a few more precious moments of his time. He meant well, but his advances were the last thing he wanted to deal with at the moment. Gage had anticipated this, and was honestly surprised to not have seen Mitch waiting like an eager puppy for his arrival. But as he had numerous times on the phone, he deflected the man’s advances in lue of shooting him down outright. It was obvious the man had a lot of knowledge of the campus and its residents and he didn’t want to burn that bridge should he need it. It would be a last resort of course, because Gage knew the information would come with a price, most likely a date.

   Having skirted all that he was now on his way to meet Jerry who was waiting with the car, hurrying through the lobby of the administration building so he could go straight over to that sorority house and see if he could pick up any clues…

   He knew it before he walked out the glass and steel door that there was someone- or rather something- waiting for him outside. Without pausing in his steps, and not wishing to singe his new suit, Gage pulled off the jacket- fully away of the eyes that were watching him with rabid intent as he did so- and draped it over his arm before he continued on.

   He couldn’t see him yet but nevertheless Gage was sure he was out there. It was an otherworldly awareness, the same one his good buddy Michael was using to track his movements. He knew he’d being seeing him eventually, because really, what would a visit be to earth without getting to catch up with the angel.

   Okay so maybe buddy was a gross over exaggeration- it wasn’t like they were going to get a cup of coffee together or anything-they were more like…foes, no, nemesis. Yes that was a better word, but even so the pair shared more history then anyone Gage had known in his immortal life, Lucifer included.

   Gage couldn’t remember a childhood or parents, being brought to that Roman war camp that he grew and trained in by that shrouded figure was the first memory he had. And though he was youthful true, he was far from a boy. He still had no recollection of who was beneath that dark hood, but they were the one to explain to Gage exactly who he was along with who he served. That though he was being placed amongst men he was far superior in every given way then them and this was merely a stopping ground before he would be brought home. He was to train in the ways of war so that he could one day prove himself to his master.

   But that very first time he picked up a sword, when others saw how it natural the skill came to him, that was the same time Michael appeared to him for the first time. He was no different than the other gods and demigods wandering the earth at the time so none thought it too unusual to see such a creature of divinity amongst them. But it was the warning he uttered that set the pattern of Gage’s life from then on. Every time Gage came to earth, so did Michael, and always for the same reason. He was sent by God- or Zeus as he was still going by at the time- to make sure Gage knew not to take a life unjustly or else he would be brought before God for judgment. There was only one being in this existence that could remove his immortality, and that was God, and that was exactly what he would do should Gage screw up.

   And Gage was pretty partial to his immortality thank you.

   He’d hedged the line many a time, coming close but not quite breaking the rules set before him. Though Gage thought for sure he was done for after the brawl he and God had back in the day over the Crusades. Talk about hypocritical, God sending his followers to kill otherwise innocent people just so he could wipe out any trace of those who still worshiped the other deities.