Brothers.

20

"There, that boat! Let's rest there," Bill said. He pointed to a massive ship in the clear blue waters of some sea. It was some kind of merchant's vessel, Gabe figured with a massive deck filled with crates and boxes.
About two sailors walked through the rows, but no one else was seen.

"Fine, let's perch up on that basket above the main mast!" Christina said.

They neared the ship and landed on the brim of the basket. Bill wrapped his wings above the three of them for extra protection while Gabe and Christina retracted theirs.

Gabe looked at his companions whose skin was already tanned much darker from the past few days in the sun. Christina's eyes were droopy from exhaustion and Gabe realized that she hadn't rest at all since Egypt where she used her powers. That was eight days ago.

"This is taking too long!" Gabe exclaimed and he threw his hands into the air. Sweat ran down his back and prickled his annoyance even more.

"Well, I'm sorry, your highness, but as other trackers have explained, as I have explained to you. Josh somehow has the ability to hide. So, sorry if this is taking too long for your convenience," Bill spit out in Gabe's face.

Gabe tightened his grip on the pole. He breathed in deeply, about to say something, but Christina chipped in.

"Boys, boys, Bill."
Christina looked at her husband with a bored expression. She sighed and said,
"Bill, we do not mock our king... Even if he is your best friend!"

Bill opened his mouth but closed it quickly after a glance from his wife. Gabe chuckled to himself yet not even he, the king, was saved from a woman's fire.

"And you, Gabe! Don't expect that everything will fall into order just because you want it too!"

Gabe whirled away from Christina. His eyes drifted to the deck below where two men were talking oblivious to the three angels above their heads.

But Christina wasn't done. She said, "Josh is a smart person. Very smart, but he ought to make a mistake and leave a hole in whatever he's doing. So you, Gabe, just be patient!"

Gabe held out his hand to Bill. His cheeks was bright with embarrassment. Bill studied Gabe for a moment and Gabe gulped. His hand lowered a bit about to be pulled away. Bill clasped it in his and squeezed.

"Sometimes I think we are still children, especially when we act like this!"

Gabe stared at his friend. His brows were furrowed and he looked hurt by Bill's words.
"Ha-ha! You are quite brave, dear Bill!"

The three of them shared a good session of laughs. Christina broke it with a loud yawn unintentionally released.

"Please excuse me, but I- I last slept more than a week ago!"
She yawned again and her eyes fell closed for a moment. She swayed back and forth and then she fell backwards.

"Christina!"
Gabe reached for her, but she was already gone.

The two angels watched Christina fall to the deck. Her eyes were closed and it she made no attempt to stop her descent.

"CHRISTINA!" Gave roared from above.

Bill jumped from the basket and flew after her. Her eyes shot open a moment before she hit the deck. The was a loud crash as she fell through the wooden surface.

Gabe shook his head in despair. What else can go wrong?

They landed on the deck as the crew started to come aboard. They were al bare chested and dressed in leather skirts. Their olive coloured skind gleamed in the sun alongside their swords.

"We don't want trouble!"
Gabe placed his sword on the deck and held his hands in the air. Next to hom Bill did the same.

Gabe glanced at the hole in the deck, Christina must have fallen quite deep into the boat. She was nowhere to be seen.

The sailors stood in silence and a man stepped forward. He looked Gabe and Bill up and down, his eyes seemed to study every inch of them. Gabe shifted on his feet uncomfortably.

The sailor then studied their great white wings and fell to his knees.

"My gods!" He proclaimed.

The other men followed suit and kneeled in front of the angels. Gabe looked at Bill in confusion but he seemed just as confused. The realisation struck.

Their wings. They never retracted them and these people have clearly never seen angels before. So...
"They think we're actual gods." Gabe whispered to Bill.

Bill frowned then his eyes lit up and he took a proud step forward. He placed his hands on his hips and lifted his chin. Eyes half closed.

"Ehm, get to your feet, earthlings!" He commanded in a deep voice.

The men responded at once. They jumped to their feet but avoided any eye contact with Gabe or Bill. Bill studied them with fiery eyes and it took every ounce of Gabe's will not to burst out laughing.

"We have come from the heavens," he pointed to the sky, " to see if our people live by our rules. You do want to please us, right?"

Bill lifted an eyebrow at the sailors who in turn agreed without hesitation. The man who first took to his knee, stepped forward. He nodded towards both of them and then spoke in a humble voice,
"My lords, we are honoured that you have landed on our ships. Please forgive us if we first reacted wrongly."

Bill raised his chin agaim but Gabe stepped in before his echo got the better of them.

"We take no offence but would appreciate it if you could tell us where we are right now?"

The soldier looked questionly at each other. Bill face palmed in Gabe's direction. He rolled his eyes before turning to the humans again.

"What he meant was that we wish to accompany to you destination if it is not too far from here. You see we have been traveling the world now and even us gods need some rest from time to time."

Even though that was exactly what Gabe did not mean he was grateful for Bill's quick wit. His story made much more sense and it seemed that the sailors believed him.
The man nodded, "You are most welcome, my lords. We mean no disrespect but what happened to the deck?"

He pointed to the massive hole where Christina had gone through. Gabe stepped forward.
"Well, a goddess fell from the heavens through it. Why don't you send men to attend to her while you're at it? And we need some wine. Now!"

The sailors bowed their heads and jumped to action. At first some of them just scurrled around on deck clearly very confused but the others quickly got them in line.

Bill and Gabe sat down on the chair two men brought them. Bill gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"For a moment there I thought we lost you when you first spoke but you came through!"