The Adventures of Emily Tual: Revelations Book Three
Chapter 35

“Audrey, wake up!” Audrey woke up and groaned. She slowly opened her eyes. She saw that she was lying on her back. She looked around her. She was back in Gabriel’s cabin. If she had to take a guess, she was in one of the guest bedrooms. She felt bandages wrapped around her on different parts. She saw Gabriel sitting next to her. “You’ve finally woken up.” Gabriel said.

Audrey groaned as she sat up. “How did I end up back here?” She asked. “The last thing I remember was taking Anthony’s life and then fainting from weakness and my injuries.”

Gabriel sighed. “After you defeated Anthony, I showed up and sent the remaining Black Hands fleeing for their lives.” He explained to Audrey. “I brought you back here and you’ve been recovering for a few weeks now.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “A few weeks?” She asked, shocked. “I’ve been out for that long? Is Aunica okay? Did Caterina capture her? Is Caterina still out there?” Did she fail at defeating Caterina? “I need to go after Caterina.” Audrey tried to get out of bed before crying out in pain.

Gabriel smiled as he helped Audrey lay back. “Caterina is no more. I defeated her myself before saving you.” He told Audrey. “The Fifth and Sixth Tribulations have been completed.”

Audrey thought it over. Just the Fifth and Sixth Tribulations? She thought defeating Anthony would be the Seventh Tribulation and that they would have another Sixth Tribulation. The First Tribulation defeating Abigail Williams. The Second Tribulation had been about replaceing out who her real mother and father were. The Third Tribulation had been about saving James and Savannah even though she had lost her birth parents. The Fourth Tribulation was saving Aunica. The Fifth Tribulation had been about defeating Caterina. According to Gabriel, the Sixth Tribulation had been defeating Anthony. That just left the Seventh Tribulation. What was it though?

“Is Savannah okay?” Audrey asked. She couldn’t believe that she had forgotten about Savannah.

Gabriel nodded. “Savannah has gone back home to her family. Her parents were very relieved to have her back where it’s safe.” He told Audrey. “As for Aunica, James has been helping her with getting adjusted to all of this. She’s taking it a lot better than I expected but I have a feeling it’s because she remembers her past life.”

Gabriel leaned back in his seat. “You’ve managed to save the world from Anthony and the Darkness in a sense but the fight isn’t over yet.” He continued. “The final Tribulation is one I hope will never come.”

The way that he said it gave Audrey a good idea of what the Seventh Tribulation really was. “The Darkness is the final Tribulation, isn’t it?” Audrey asked. “The Darkness will rise up and Emily will have to fight her, won’t she?”

Gabriel flinched. “How did you know that the Darkness was a she?” He demanded. He had been so careful not to reveal that to any of them.

Audrey thought back to when she first heard of the Darkness being a she. “Josiah said it a few times.” She admitted. “But I need to know, who is the Darkness and is she the Seventh Tribulation?” Audrey was getting tired of having to wait for an actual answer for who the Darkness was.

Gabriel nodded. “Emily’s fight with the Darkness is the Seventh Tribulation.” He answered. “For the Seventh Tribulation will come whether we like it or not. By completing six Tribulations related to yourself in the fight against the Black Hand and the Darkness, you have confirmed that the fight is coming soon.” He sighed. “As for who the Darkness is, I cannot say for I made an oath never to reveal her identity.”

Audrey groaned. “You have to tell me who she is!” She cried. She had to know. Emily had to know too. It wasn’t right that Gabriel was keeping it a secret. “Who is the Darkness?”

Gabriel sighed. “The Darkness wasn’t always the Darkness.” He confessed. “She was once a good friend of mine. She and I were very close. The best of friends and maybe, if she hadn’t been consumed by Darkness, my bride to be.” Gabriel thought back to those days all of those years before.

Audrey frowned. “I’m confused.” She said. “I thought you and Seraphina were in love. You said you and Victor both fell in love with Seraphina and she returned your feelings and that’s what caused Victor to go to the Darkness and he ended up killing Seraphina for the Darkness. You also said the Darkness was old and had been around for centuries before the fight began.” Gabriel wasn’t making any sense.

Gabriel nodded. “I did say that.” He confirmed. “However, the Darkness and who the Darkness is in body are two different things. The Darkness had existed long before my friend, Victor, Seraphina and me but the Darkness took my friend during the fighting.”

Audrey sensed that there was more to the story than what Gabriel was saying but she decided not to push it. She would just have to replace out who the Darkness really was on her own.

Gabriel looked over his shoulder. “James and Aunica will want to see you now.” He told Audrey before he stood up. “I have other stuff to get to.

In Gabriel’s room, Gabriel took out an old manuscript. It was a hard-cover black journal. He opened it to a drawing. It was of Seraphina and him against the Darkness and Victor. The Darkness was like a funnel shape cloud. Part of it seemed to be touching Seraphina.

To be continued…