Apocrypha

Chapter 14

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to God's wrath. For it is written, 'Vengeance is mine: I will repay, says the Lord.'"
Romans 12:19

THERE WASN'T MUCH TIME to relax as fall had now come and the home needed fixing up before winter settled. Gabriel was occupied as he ran around to cover any holes in the walls and chop more wood for the fireplace.

He had a free day and used that time to visit Mayor Helicanus in his office. Gabriel set up an appointment and used Lysander's bike to go into town.

The white building was still the same in the town center. Almost all of the decorations had been cleaned except for some banners that were left on telephone poles for decoration.

Gabriel parked the bike on a nearby rack and locked it. He entered the two story building and was quickly greeted by a man at a front desk.

"Hello." He said. "How may I help you?"

"Hello," Gabriel leaned closer, the man's name tag reading Belarius. "I have an appointment with the mayor for 10:45."

The receptionist typed in the computer. "Yes, I see you have a casual meeting with him. Go ahead to the elevator and go to the second floor. He's expecting you."

Gabriel thanked him and got in the elevator. He went to the only other available floor. The doors opened. He stepped out and saw in front was a set of doors.

Before Gabriel opened the door, he leaned closer as he heard some mumbling inside.

"Come on, Panthino! Use both hands! Yeah, just like that. Fuck, you're good." Gabriel heard the mayor say.

There was a wet sound and Helicanus was grunting. Gabriel listened closely but was shocked. The mayor was married and had a wife and daughter. Does she know what her husband is doing in his office?

A phone in the mayor's office began ringing. Helicanus muttered, "Fuck." And answered it. There was loud rustling, and the door opened.

Gabriel stepped back and watched Panthino, the mayor's assistant, step out with his hair slightly messy and him zipping up his pants.

"Uh-"

"He's expecting you." Panthino turned stoic. Gabriel pointed to his shoulder, signifying that the man had something on him.

Panthino didn't know that there was something white on his shoulder. Gabriel just walked past him and entered the office, the door closing behind him.

Mayor Helicanus sat in his chair, acting nonchalantly. But he looked slightly disheveled. He quickly reached for his desk and propped up a framed photo of him and his family.

"Do you need me to come back later or..."

"Nonsense! You're here now." Helicanus brushed everything aside. He hopes his mask didn't reveal anything. But Gabriel must've heard something at least.

"You said you wanted to speak to me. I assume it'll be about my expulsion out of DC and the current state of my life." Gabriel assumed. He was just talking in hopes to get rid of the atmosphere in the room.

"Sort of," Helicanus reached into his desk and pulled out a folder. He opened them and showed pictures that he had found over the years. Newspapers, printed albums, pins, all that had pictures of Gabriel.

"I just want to ask one question: Are you happy?" Helicanus asked.

It was a tough question, for sure. Was Gabriel truly happy? In DC, he had his blood family. And now he doesn't. But here, he has Lysander, Kari, Horatio, and an entire house of people. They may not all love him, but there's a stable foundation.