A Charmed Reincarnation (Season 2)

１９ • Ｒｅｍｎａｎｔｓ ｏｆ Ｔｉｍｅ: Ｐａｒｔ Ｉ

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*🅔🅝🅙🅞🅨 🅡🅔🅐🅓🅘🅝🅖 🅜🅨 🅦🅘🅣🅒🅗🅔🅢 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

Ambrose's brow furrowed in confusion as he wandered through the cavernous, unfurnished space, his footsteps echoing hollowly against the bare concrete floors. The vast, open-concept layout offered little in the way of clues as to why Gabriel had summoned him here with such enigmatic instructions, and a nagging sense of unease began to creep its way up his spine.

He was just about to reach for his phone and demand an explanation when a sudden blur of movement caught his eye. Before he could so much as blink, a tiny figure collided with him from behind, slender arms wrapping around his waist in a fierce hug that nearly drove the air from his lungs.

"Ambrose!" Evie's voice, high and lilting with childlike exuberance, rang out in the empty space as she clung to him, her face buried against the small of his back. Despite the unexpectedness of her arrival, Ambrose felt his lips curve into an indulgent smile, his earlier trepidation melting away in the face of her infectious joy.

"Well, hello there, you little gremlin," he teased, twisting in her embrace to scoop her up into his arms. Evie giggled delightedly as he spun her around, her cherubic features alight with glee as she gazed up at him with those soulful hazel eyes that seemed to peer directly into his very essence.

As Ambrose drank in the sight of her radiant smile, he couldn't help but marvel at the profound sense of love and protectiveness that welled up within him. There was an innocence about Evie, a purity that transcended the darkness that so often clouded his world, and in her presence, he felt a sense of peace that was all too rare in his life.

"I should have known you'd run off here," a familiar voice rumbled from the shadows, startling Ambrose from his reverie. He whirled around, his grip on Evie tightening instinctively as Gabriel emerged from the gloom, his features inscrutable save for the faint glimmer of amusement that danced in his eyes.

"Gabriel," Ambrose let out a sigh of relief, his tension fading at the familiar man. "I got your message, but I'm a bit confused as to why you asked me to come to an empty building."

Gabriel's lips curled into a faint smirk, his gaze flickering towards Evie for the briefest of moments before returning to Ambrose. "I'll explain soon," he murmured, his voice a low, silken purr. "But first, I think it's best if we find a more suitable playmate for Evie."

With a sharp whistle, Gabriel summoned one of his security guards, a burly man with a face that seemed hewn from granite. The guard approached with a deferential nod, his gaze flickering towards Evie with a warmth that seemed at odds with his imposing stature.

"Keep an eye on Evie, would you?" Gabriel instructed, his tone brooking no argument. "I have some business to discuss with Mr. Maverick."

Ambrose felt a pang of reluctance from Evie as her arms tightened around his neck, her lower lip jutting out in a petulant pout that tugged at his heartstrings. With a reassuring murmur and a gentle kiss to her brow, he disentangled himself from her embrace and passed her over to the waiting guard, his heart clenching as she peered back at him with those soulful eyes.

As the guard carried her away, Ambrose turned his attention back to Gabriel, his gaze one of wariness at what business Gabriel deemed so important they needed to meet face-to-face.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, Gabriel gestured for Ambrose to follow as he began to stroll towards the far end of the empty building. Falling into step beside the older man, Ambrose couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity at the mysterious aura that seemed to perpetually surround Gabriel.