“Gateway I” Silver Dagger Tour: Story Behind the Story
by DarielRaye | Feb 20, 2022 | Life |
Every predator has a weakness.
When an ancient being, the last of his kind, meets a fiery woman sought by evil, neither one of them is prepared for the consequences.
Gateway is a shape-shifting demon hunter who finds, protects, and prepares the Chosen – human females with the ability to redeem or destroy demons. For centuries, he has followed the rules…
Establish connection
Complete genetic imprint
No personal attachments…
Until he meets his newest charge – curvy, fiery, headstrong, and angry with the world. Following the rules while fending off demons is going to take everything he has and then some.
The Story Behind the “Gateway Trilogy”
Several years ago, a group of author friends and I posted weekly flash fiction on our blogs. “Gateway” grew from one of those flash pieces that started out as a thriller. As some of you know, many of my stories come to me in dreams, and others are inspired by the Bible. While Gateway I is not a religious story at all, the Gateway trilogy comes from the latter:
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalm 24:7-10 NKJV
The scripture refers to each of us as a spiritual gate – an entrance or separation between life and death, Heaven and Hell. The Gateway trilogy is a melding of religions, which makes it fantasy, but the inspiration comes from the verse above. In the Gateway trilogy, the hero, Gateway, is an example of God’s ability to use anything and anyone to achieve His purpose. Gateway was transformed into a demon hunter centuries ago, and he, too, is a gateway between life and death, Heaven and Hell.
As a descendant of a pagan god, and the last living child of his mother’s people, he was born with supernatural abilities. Once transformed, he became known as Gateway because his spirit is sealed against evil. He cannot be possessed, and he immediately identifies the names of evil spirits. This makes him a formidable adversary, and gives him the power to exorcise demons within minutes. When he meets Kat, he’s not fully aware of his purpose where she is concerned, but he knows there is something particularly special about her.
Here’s the original flash piece. Gateway’s name here was Michael, and he traveled the world to save chosen souls from possession:
The Traveler
“If you’re married, just tell me. There’s no need to make up ridiculous tales, Michael.”
He dropped his head, glancing at her one more time before turning to walk away, but just as she started to step inside the apartment, he caught her wrist, frightening her at first, until she looked into his eyes, a question on her lips.
He took full advantage, covering her mouth with his own, his hard body pressed against hers, and he felt her chest heaving as she breathed him in.
Lost in his touch, his scent, warm sandalwood, his taste, spicy, addictive, she dismissed the sensation of falling, the ground dropping away. Moments later, she opened her eyes in another time, surrounded by candles, torches, and people she’d never seen before, each one dressed in a dark cloak.
She heard Michael speaking to one of the cloaked men as he held her hand in his iron grip. “You may begin,” he said.
Frantic, disoriented, she whipped her head from side to side and realized the crowd had formed a large circle around them. She and Michael stood in the midst, and dim light could not hide the fact that every pair of eyes gazed at them, awaiting…something. She couldn’t begin to imagine what they awaited, but she had no desire to find out. “Michael! What is this? What are you doing? Who are these people?
She gasped, noticing something different about Michael’s eyes, something unnatural, shockingly obvious now. In that surreal moment, she tilted her head to see him better, wondering why she’d never seen it before, but the crowd poured in, separating her from him as they lowered her to the ground. Horror stole her breath when he spoke again, the voice she thought she knew, the same bass tone he’d so masterfully wrapped around her heart.
“My name is not Michael.”
She couldn’t move.
They held her down.
Staring at the ceiling as they ripped her clothes away, the rending of cloth tearing through complete silence, she absently wondered why there was no pain. Strange symbols covered every inch of the high ceiling, but the symbols were familiar.
Religious?
Demonic?
No, they couldn’t be demonic. Michael wouldn’t…but his name isn’t Michael.
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