Stone Defender

by Chris Redding

  He studied Beth, hoping she didn’t think they were crazy. He didn’t want to have to reveal that he was a gargoyle. It was too early in their friendship. Is that what they were doing here?

  Beth rose and traipsed to the window. Trent glanced at Donal who just shrugged. They would probably have to give her time. This wasn’t something normal people thought about. Not in everyday life. He’d never revealed himself to anyone he had dated. He was saving that for whomever he would marry. Assuming he ever did find someone to marry.

  Beth spun around to look at them. “I am very good at detecting if a patient has lied to me. I have good discernment.”

  “Which means what for this situation?” Trent asked.

  “That I can find no reason you are lying to me, but I need a moment to catch up here. There are supernatural beings? Things that we normal people for lack of a better word don’t know about?”

  “Yes,” Donal said.

  She tapped a finger on her bottom lip. She looked pointedly at Donal. “Are you a supernatural being?”

  Trent dodged that bullet for the moment.

  “Yes. I’m a gargoyle.”

  She crept close to him as if he were going to explode any minute. “You’re a gargoyle? Like those things on the tops of buildings?”

  “Something like that,” Donal said.

  Trent admired his patience. Beth took two steps closer, studying Donal. “You can shift into a different form?”

  “Yes.”

  She cocked her head. “Would you do it for me?”

  Donal flicked his gaze to Trent who nodded.

  “Yes.” Donal rose. “Don’t be afraid. I will look scary, but you are in no danger.”

  She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself her, gaze never leaving Donal.

  “I have to take off my clothes to do it,” Donal said.

  “I’m a nurse. I’ve seen naked people before.”

  Donal disrobed and transformed. Beth’s eyes widened. Trent just hoped that Donal’s claws didn’t rip up his couch. Beth reached out her hand and touched Donal. Trent admired her courage. Especially given the events that had transpired for her in the last few days. She was beautiful and strong.

  “Wow.”

  Donal turned back into his human form. While he dressed, Trent hoped that she wouldn’t ask him the question. He wasn’t ready to reveal himself. Donal had been alive a lot longer than Trent since Donal had spent a chunk of his life in stone, cursed on a church in Ireland. Trent had come into the world in the usual way. He would live longer than a human, but not as long as Donal had already.

  “Okay,” Beth said. “I guess I have to believe you that the thing today was a goblin. Why did it appear there?”

  “Because it was after you.”

  Chapter Seven

  Beth hadn’t been to the theatre in days and she was on leave at work so she ended up pacing in Trent’s apartment. The news of supernatural beings felt right to her. She’d seen two of them with her own eyes. What she wondered, but was afraid to ask, was if Trent was one of them also? Could she stand seeing this man that she’d become attracted to in a different form? One even as scary as Donal had been.

  And Donal was one of the kindest people she’d ever met.

  All of these things rolled around in her mind and she had to get out. Safely.

  “You’re pacing again,” Trent said.

  He sat with his laptop on his knees. He’d been hunkered down over his laptop for an hour. She was used to being on her feet most of the day between the hospital and the theatre. To say she was antsy was an understatement.

  “I have cabin fever.”

  “Well I have good news.”

  She spun to look at him, her day looking better. “I can go back to the theatre?”

  “No. We’re opening Grotesque tonight.”

  How was that supposed to make her happy? “Okay.”

  “We’ll need your help setting up.”

  At least she’d get out of the apartment. “Not ideal, but I’ll take it.”

  “Would you like to perform?”

  She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

  “We don’t often book acts because we do this last minute, but I’ve heard you sing. We have a sound system we can dig out.”

  Sing? In front of people? “You’re serious?”

  “Yes Beth. I’m serious. Let me clear it with my partners, but they have no reason to turn me down.”

  “I haven’t sung on stage in months.”

  He closed his laptop then stood, tucking it under his arm. “Will it be a problem?”

  “No. What will I do for music?”

  He looked stricken. “Well we don’t have musicians.”

  She clapped her hands and squealed. “I know some musicians. Can I call them?”

  “Let me talk to my partner to make sure they are okay with me hiring you.”

  She went off to look at what she had in her wardrobe that would be appropriate for a nightclub gig.

  ***

  A few hours later Trent watched Beth warming up. Her musicians hadn’t arrived, but she was playing piano while singing along. She truly was talented.

  “You’ve got it bad,” Deke said.

  They were loading up the booze into the bar. Trent was just helping. He’d be on the door tonight and no one would get in if he was at all suspicious of them. Not with Beth here. The goblins had tried to get in more than once, but after they’d started a fight so they were banned. Thankfully they couldn’t hide their smell from a gargoyle.

  He studied Deke. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m going to tell you something that I’m not supposed to share.”

  Trent straightened and broke down the box that he’d just emptied. He suspected that this would be part of his argument for a permanent place. They wouldn’t have to pack and unpack. “Go ahead.”

  “Did your parents tell you about the history of fairies and gargoyles?”

  This again. “I’ve never been one to listen to fairy tales.”

  “It isn’t a fairy tale.”

  Trent shrugged. “Whatever. We have a lot of work to do.”

  “I need you to listen to me,” Deke said.

  He would humor him. “Fine, but let me get another box to unload.”

  The boxes sat by the freight elevator which would bring up the patrons. Not all of the buildings they chose to set up on had one that came to the roof. Trent didn’t like it. He wanted customers to file through a door, not have free rein as soon as the doors opened. It could be a setup for an ambush. Maybe Trent was being paranoid, but with Beth in the house, he wanted to be extra careful.

  Trent hoisted a box then stopped to watch Beth. She would be fine with just the piano and he wondered where Deke had found one on short notice. Then again they all had their resources. None of them shared, even though they trusted each other.

  Her voice had a clarity rarely heard anymore. Too many young stars were auto-tuned and for a moment, Trent wondered if those who had become stars were the ones who were willing to sell their souls and not the most talented. He didn’t know where that thought came from. Beth had said that the person who tried to assault her had told her that she would never make it in this business if she didn’t comply with what he wanted. Trent shuddered at the thought of someone young and naïve being in that situation.

  At least Beth knew her own value. She finished her song then looked up at him. He smiled and then brought the box to the bar. He put it on the floor behind it then straightened. “Okay lay this story on me.”

  “Long ago fairies and gargoyles made a pact. Gargoyles would protect fairies against goblins.”

  “We’re mortal enemies of goblins, I get it,” Trent said.

  He unloaded the box as he listened to what he already knew.

  “What you may not know is that there were elite gargoyles who had one fairy that they protected.”

  Trent blinked at him. “I must have missed that part of the story. What does
that have to do with me?”

  Deke glanced at Beth then back to Trent. “These fairies, the ones we have to protect, are our mates. The ones we are destined to be with.”

  “Fated mates? Sounds like something out of a romance novel.”

  His sisters loved those.

  “Ask Kel.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Maggie is a fairy. I’m not supposed to tell you, but we are at war. With the goblins. They are taking over the world one institution at a time. We have to stop them and you knowing that Beth is probably a fairy will hasten that along.”

  Trent studied him. “You think Beth is a fairy?”

  “Yes. I don’t know for sure. Only you can know that. She is probably your fairy or descendant from the fairy that your gargoyle ancestor protected.”

  This was a lot to handle. Deke was a down-to-earth guy. He didn’t have flights of fancy so why would he tell Trent this story? None of it made sense, but then again his need to protect Beth made no sense either. This could be his explanation. He wasn’t sure he was ready to accept that.

  He glanced at Beth who paced near the stage. Maybe it did make sense?

  ***

  So far the night had gone well. Beth was about to start her second set. Trent hadn’t had to turn anyone away. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the entertainment instead of just having music.

  That made Trent nervous. Things were going too well. Most of the time when they set up Grotesque lately something went wrong. The room was full of supernaturals and no humans which was also odd. Other than Beth. Then again, Trent wondered if Beth was a supe also. He couldn’t get the thought out of his head that Deke had planted there. Beth might be a fairy.

  The idea still took away his breath. Was she his fairy? Was that why he had such a desire to protect her? He was destined to be with her? He wasn’t a believer in love at first sight, but he’d certainly been attracted to her instantly.

  She smiled his way as she sat down at the piano. Her musicians had never shown up, but Beth had rolled with it. He flexed his hand wishing he could take off the bandage. She must have noticed, her face a question mark. He shrugged. He’d live.

  He could still carry things. That was all that was important.

  The stream of people in had abated and Trent was able to lean on the wall by the elevator and watch Beth. She put her hands on the keyboard and notes emanated from the instrument. She opened her mouth and a beautiful sound came out. It was as if she was singing only to him.

  Then a horrible sound spread across the nightclub. Someone began screaming, but that wasn’t the first thing Trent had heard. He’d heard the squawk of a goblin. His first thought was Beth. A goblin landed on the roof of the elevator shaft. Trent ignored it and raced to where Beth stood by the piano.

  It took more than a minute for him to wade through the throngs of people heading to the elevator and stairwell. Deke had already turned to his gargoyle form. Kel was on his way. A few of the other supernaturals had shifted also. Guess they didn’t like goblins either.

  The nightclub had become a battlefield. Beth’s eyes were large as she looked around her. Trent could see her and the fear in her eyes. “Get under the piano.”

  His words didn’t travel to her. She didn’t move. Instead she stood there frozen. Then something transformed in her face. He recognized it as her nurse face. She grabbed a few stragglers and shoved them under the piano. The elevator was full and people were screaming in the stairwell. Trent only had eyes for Beth.

  Of course she would put others before herself. He wished she didn’t. A goblin flew by him, knocking him over. When he stood he couldn’t see Beth. “Beth.”

  She straightened, looking around.

  “Beth.”

  Before he could reach her, a goblin swooped down. Time slowed. No one else was near Beth. His partners were fighting off these goblins. He was on his own.

  A goblin hovered over Beth. Trent tried to get her attention. Beth didn’t look behind her. Before Trent could get to her, the goblin grabbed her and took off.

  “Beth.”

  Trent watched helplessly as the goblin flew off into the night. Beth’s screams echoed in his head long after he shouldn’t have been able to hear her.

  Chapter Eight

  As Trent stood there, his breath gone, a piece of his heart gone, the sounds around him were silenced. The goblins had left. Their sole purpose had been to take Beth. He hadn’t protected her.

  He hadn’t protected her. She was his and she was gone.

  A hand on his shoulder startled him. Deke stood next to him back in human form. “They won’t get away with this. The Foleys are on their way.”

  “Already?”

  “I have them on speed dial. Seemed prudent based on what has happened to some of us.”

  Kel transformed and joined them. “We have more intelligence on them than we used to. We’ll assemble at the Foley Security and we’ll make a plan. You are not alone.”

  Trent felt alone, but his partners were here to help. Ben Jackson and Pete Shapiro, his last two partners, arrived at the group, looking a little battered. “We’re in.” Pete nodded.

  “We have to clean up,” Trent said.

  “No. I’ve got this place for another night,” Deke said.

  “How?” Trent said.

  He’d made the arrangements.

  “I called them after you did. We can leave this stuff here. The elevator doesn’t come up to the roof unless it’s unlocked and we can lock the door to the stairwell. All will be safe.”

  Trent looked around at his fellow gargoyles and nightclub owners. They were here for him and he was usually the leader. They were not going to let him down. He let out a breath. “Okay. Let’s get to Foley Security.”

  ***

  When Trent and his compadres arrived at Foley Security, Donal and his brothers were already assembled. Tex was there too, tapping on his computer keyboard.

  He hated depending on others. He’d done it in the service, but not since. He was the one everyone turned to in his family. Now he had to look to this group to help him. It chafed, but if he was to get Beth back safely he’d have to get past it.

  He was anything if realistic.

  They gathered around the board room table. Their faces grim, reflecting how Trent felt. “What’s our plan?”

  Tex piped up. “I know where they took her.”

  Trent’s gaze snapped to Tex who sat at one end of the long table. “Where?”

  He told them the address.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Donal said. “Let’s have a plan and not go off half-cocked. We don’t want the goblins to make any inroads.”

  “Why Beth?”

  “She must have seen something at that party that is bigger than we think,” Sean said.

  “I’ve been doing some research and apparently all the big wigs in the entertainment industry are goblins,” Tex said.

  Trent studied him. “They have gone there too? Why?”

  “The media, child protective services and now Hollywood,” Sean said. “If you control the message you control the world. Most people have no idea that all of us supes exist. They have had times where they could have opened their eyes, but the public chose not to.”

  Trent mulled that over. He’d seen incidents when it was obvious that there were supernaturals around. Times that humans should have noticed, but they had been trained and groomed not to see what was right in front of them. “Easier to govern, huh? Have we helped this system along?”

  Donal put up a hand. “Yes, but we thought we were doing the right thing.” He looked around the table. “We all did. We’ve stayed in the shadow, but maybe it might be time for us to step into the light.”

  “I’m just concerned about Beth.”

  “Yes, but after what happened at the theatre, she knows things and you didn’t do anything to change the story for the rest of the people in that theatre,” Donal said.

  “No, I didn’t. I was focused
on Beth.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t. They might be the key to opening normies eyes.”

  Trent didn’t need to be part of some crusade. He didn’t even want to be part of stopping the goblins though they were mortal enemies. He just wanted Beth safe. “I just want Beth.”

  “We can do both,” Donal said.

  Trent let him take the lead and when they were done, they had a plan. Part of a plan that Trent didn’t believe or ascribe to, but he would go along with it for now.

  ***

  Beth was thankful that she wasn’t afraid of heights and under different circumstances she might have enjoyed the flight over Center City.

  Instead she’d been terrified. Now she paced in a room in a house in West Philadelphia. A row house and they were on the end. She’d had the state of mind to memorize where she was. She didn’t have her phone. It was still at Grotesque. Or wherever Trent was, she was sure.

  She’d learned early on not to rely on her parents so even if she knew where they were, she wouldn’t have expected them to help her. She was on her own.

  Looking around the room, she was on the second floor. Out one window was a roof that she could jump onto, but could she jump down from there? Who waited for her at the bottom? Not knowing what was going to happen, she needed to take action. It was part of her training as a nurse.

  Standing by and awaiting her fate wasn’t in her makeup. Her parents had never understood that. Standing a little back from the window she observed the yard. There was a fence, but not a tall one. She could climb over it into the backyard across the way. The diagonal yard had a fence, but there was a gate. If it wasn’t locked she could sneak into that yard and go around the front. The sooner she was out of view of this house the better.

  No one patrolled the backyard. At least not in the time she’d been looking out the window. She needed a Plan B before she attempted Plan A. The door to the room she was in had been locked. She tried that as soon as they’d thrown her in here.

  She didn’t regret filing the police report, but she did regret not letting Trent know her feelings. She would see him again. That was for sure.

  The window made a little squeak as she raised it. There was a screen, but that was on a track also. It made little noise as she slid it up out of her way. She paused, but heard no footsteps outside or in. Was she bait? Was that why they were leaving her alone.