Gran laughed. “Good to know I can still clear a room.”
“This was pointless,” Darkness hissed from the shadows near Shadowlight’s right side. “The humans are too blinded by their fear and prejudices to be of any use.”
“Oh, my tall, winged friend,” Gran said and gestured to the lab at large. “This was just the start. I’m still softening them up. They will be more reasonable after they get over their shock.”
Anna made a choking sound, which might have been a cough, he wasn’t certain. “When they get over their shock, they are going to come at us with everything they have.”
Shadowlight heard his father’s growl.
“Ah, my dear doubters, you will see.”
With that Gran led the way to the conference room.
*****
Anna sat in a big comfortable meeting room chair—one of the ones that rolled. She rocked the chair from side to side as she chanted ‘we’re all going to die’ under her breath.
No one else seemed to believe her.
Gran sat in the chair across from her. Darkness stalked the room’s outer walls, and Shadowlight played with the other chairs, pushing them around the table. By the cant of his widespread ears, he was clearly delighted by rolling chairs.
“Shadowlight, come here.” Anna caught herself about to pat her thigh and froze. Gran, however, missed nothing and grinned at her near social guffaw.
“Nice catch,” Gran whispered in a conspirator’s tone.
Shadowlight galloped over to her and pushed two of the chairs closer together. He then proceeded to sprawl across both seats.
“That’s not going to…,” Gran started to say just as both chairs rolled in opposite directions, and Shadowlight landed on the floor with a disgruntled huff. “…end well.”
Anna folded her arms on the table and dropped her head down on them. “They’re not just going to shoot us dead. Oh no. We’re all going to get dissected, and then frozen or pickled or something.”
“Frozen?” Shadowlight asked, sounding entirely unconcerned.
“Or maybe they’ll use gas, less damage to the bodies that way. No, wait, some politician is going to be pissing in his pants and order a missile strike. Yeah, hellfire missiles for us.”
“Oh, hush,” Gran said, “Lillian and Gregory are on drone duty, and the unicorn and pooka are ready as well. As masters of deception themselves, they are astute at sensing and locating human devices that, shall we say, don’t want to be found.”
“The who and the what? And is that your roundabout way of saying some of your gang can detect tech hidden by stealth technologies?”
“Never mind dear, just remember we have our own air and ground forces capable of taking out nasty things. The drones are unmanned, which will make them fun target practice for some of the other Fae if this escalates into something hostile.”
“You’re all crazy. I thought it was just the kid because he’s a kid. Nope, you’re all…” Anna halted mid-sentence and turned toward the meeting room’s north door.
Darkness was already there, and Shadowlight took up a protective stance next to Anna’s shoulder.
Gran turned her chair toward the sound of footsteps.
Anna was holding her breath. It was a bad habit she’d been relapsing into these last few days.
A knock came, firm and sharp—an actual knock, not the sharp crack of a door being kicked in by a heavy boot.
“Enter,” Gran called, “if you’re ready to listen.”
Major Resnick eased the door open, one hand pressed against it, the other palm up, and then he advanced into the room. Darkness retreated to the southeast corner. To make the Major feel more at ease?
It was a nice thought but wasted. Nothing was going to put her CO at ease. Well, maybe the business end of one of his tranquilizer darts.
“I’m here to relay messages to my superiors.” His eyes scanned the gargoyles.
“Well, that’s a start.” Gran gestured at the chair closest to Major Resnick. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
The chair she’d suggested was at the far end of the table, about as far from the two gargoyles as he could get and still be sitting at the table.
Resnick raised an eyebrow at Shadowlight as he still stood near Anna’s shoulder.
“You sure it’s safe? That one looks like he thinks I’m going to take away his favorite bone.”
Anna tracked up to Shadowlight and studied his expression. “Oh, that’s a gargoyle version of a smile. He likes you. I think,” Anna added a shrug to the end of her statement.
Shadowlight’s grin grew wider. “I like the brave.”
Major Resnick coughed into his fist. “You’ll like the military then. Our ranks are filled with many brave men and women.”
“Good,” Gran piped up, “I’m hoping you and Shadowlight will hit it off.”
Major Resnick arched an eyebrow again. Anna decided her CO was going to sprain a facial muscle before the day was over.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Resnick was certain his face must have frozen in an expression of disbelief a number of hours ago. The ‘negotiations’ got off to a rough start, but once Vivian started talking it was hard to dislike the woman who simply was known to most of the town as Gran.
Doubt, distrust, and question her motives? Most certainly. But dislike? That was harder. The more she talked, the more things snapped into place. Events, impossibilities science couldn’t explain—those she shed light on in a way to make them plausible if not palatable.
The stuff about other realms, armies, demigods, and swords that could create Armageddon-level shit that could crush the world—that was bound to give him nightmares for life.
And this Commander Gryton. Him, they’d run into once already, and he’d left ten dead men in his wake.
It all sounded so impossible and fanciful he worried his superiors wouldn’t believe it even though they were listening in.
But they did believe.
At least enough to agree to listen to Gran’s plan to hunt and track this Commander Gryton. The first test of the fledgling alliance was when Gran and Darkness were asked to go with the senior advisors to further outline the plan to track this Gryton in detail. While that was going on, the scientists would begin their study of Corporal Mackenzie.
To his surprise, Gran agreed to his terms. Then the magic-wielders surprised everyone a second time by asking Shadowlight be allowed to stay with Anna, saying a war council was no place for children.
Anna and Shadowlight had both been put out to be called children. However, both agreed to aid the scientists. Just as Vivian and the big, mean-looking gargoyle had been about to leave in the company of a unit of soldiers and an assortment of other brass, she’d come over to him and thanked him for babysitting her two young charges.
Yeah, he didn’t miss how she’d slumped Corporal McKenzie in with her group.
But perhaps the biggest shocker of the day was when Darkness had come over and told his overgrown kid to behave and obey Major Resnick.
When Resnick had openly questioned why they trusted him, the gargoyle had grunted in humor and left it to Gran to explain. She’d informed him gargoyles could read a person’s intent. In other words, gargoyles could smell a lie or a dishonest thought a mile away.
That sounded a lot like being able to read minds.
“Corporal Mackenzie,” Resnick called over his shoulder as he held the door for them, “if you and….Shadowlight will follow me, I know a few scientists wanting to talk with you.” Outside, several of his men were waiting to act as escort.
“Talk, sir?” the Corporal asked with a hint of sarcasm, “If only.”
The gargoyle bound over to them with lightning fast speed and sniffed at Resnick. Having that much power and natural weaponry within inches of his exposed neck made Resnick’s pulse increase and his fingers itch for a gun.
Shadowlight shifted and leaned against Resnick’s right shoulder, jamming him against the door frame as the gargoy
le’s muzzle came around to sniff along the underside of his jaw. Sweat trickled down Resnick’s back.
His men trained their weapons on the gargoyle.
Shadowlight flashed his fangs at the other soldiers and a deep growl issued from his throat.
“Whoa! He’s just taking in Resnick’s scent.”
“Easy!” he cautioned his men, “I’m good.”
Resnick remained unmoving as the gargoyle continued to inhale.
“He’s just getting my scent like the corporal said.” He rolled his eyes in her direction and mumbled, “Right?”
“Yes, sir.” She paused, seemed to think something over and then chuckled. “Beware, though, they seemed to be rather social and will use every opening to get in a good lick.”
Now, that gave new meaning to the term ‘take a licking’. He raised a hand and slowly pushed the large muzzle away from his throat and then directed his next words at the young gargoyle. “You will not make any more of those sudden leaps at any of my personnel, neither will you invade anyone’s personal space. There will be boundaries put in place for your protection.” And for everyone else, because there was no way the big gargoyle was going to remain nice if something happened to his kid.
Shadowlight gave a deep, huffing cough. Resnick wasn’t sure if it was in annoyance or humor. Though he thought it might be humor.
Babysitting detail was sure going to be interesting.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lillian stood shoulder to shoulder with Gregory as they gazed up into her hamadryad. “Do you really think this is going to work?”
He wasn’t one hundred percent sure if she had directed her question at him or the tree. Since the tree couldn’t verbalize words, he figured Lillian had directed her question at him.
Gregory turned more fully to her and nuzzled her shoulder.
“Yes. Commander Gryton would have come here originally on a recovery mission to save face with the Battle Goddess. If he’d been able to capture River and Darkness, or Shadowlight and the human, he could have returned to his goddess and likely retained his position, or at least his head.
But he failed in his attempt, and now we know he’s here. He is injured and knows he’s being hunted. It’s no longer a mission to save face. Now it is simple survival. His best bet for a continued existence is to return to the Magic Realm. If he takes what he knows about this place to the Battle Goddess, he may keep his head.”
“That’s a lot of guess work and speculation. What if he goes after Shadowlight again?”
“Commander Gryton won’t chance it—at least not until he’s healed. Once we close our net around him and force his hand, he will come to the hamadryad. He’ll have no choice.”
“Something isn’t right,” Lillian said and started to pace. “Why didn’t we know he was here?”
“Perhaps…,” Gregory touched the tattoo on his neck, “these prevented us.”
“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” Lillian paced a circle around the base of the tree.
Gregory was drawing breath to soothe, or at least try to reassure her, when she spun around on her tree.
“Why didn’t you warn us?”
He cocked an ear at the tree but kept his attention on Lillian. “A hamadryad does not concern herself with mortal drama—it is but a blink of time to one of them. Besides, they do not communicate in complex thought.”
“You’re wrong. This one communicates. She isn’t a normal hamadryad. She is the Sorceress. You can’t tell me she didn’t know Gryton was here in the Mortal Realm. He had to have used the bridge the two hamadryads form to travel here.” Lillian rounded the tree and came toward him, her expression troubled. “Why would she hide that from us? I’m telling you something isn’t right.”
He cast a thoughtful glance between Lillian and her hamadryad. He wanted to dismiss her concern. There was no way the Sorceress would intentionally hide Gryton’s presence. Yet Lillian was also correct. Why hadn’t the tree warned them in some way? While a hamadryad would not directly interfere with mortal drama as he’d said, she would still protect and warn her dryad of any and all dangers. Gryton was certainly a danger. One the Sorceress could not have missed.
Trailing his gaze slowly up the tree, the first hint of doubt crept into Gregory’s heart. What if the Battle Goddess had found a way to corrupt the tree?
His emotions churned and rolled, nearly a physical sensation.
No. It was not possible. The hamadryad was untouched by evil.
Still deep in his internal debate, Gregory was taken somewhat off guard by the arrival of a newcomer in the glade. The last thing he wanted to do was hold a conversation with one of the Fae.
The sidhe paused at the maze’s south exit, glanced around the base of the tree, spotted them in the shadows of her wide branches and then made his stiff, slow way over to Gregory’s side. The signs of his time among the humans were still evident upon Whitethorn’s being.
A hint of foreign chemicals, what Lillian called drugs, still clung to the sidhe lord and his wrists showed the deep blue-black of bruises.
But it was good to see him back on his feet. Gregory reached out both arms and gripped the sidhe’s forearms. “It gladdens me to see you recovering.”
“I wished to thank you and your lady, as well as the other gargoyles, for saving the sprite and I from the humans.” He sighed, and then gestured toward one of the picnic tables Gran had left in the maze. “If you have a moment.”
Lillian nodded for them both, and the three made their way to the table.
Once Whitethorn was perched on the bench, he eyed them both with a frown. “You rely too heavily on your magic to protect and hide you.” He gestured at his own body armor. “I think it wise to have a few more layers of protection given how advanced the humans have become. They know we exist, and while they may be temporary allies, they could very well start hunting us again with little warning. If I hadn’t put so much faith in my magic, I might not have become their prisoner. As you already know, my metalsmiths have been working on body armor for you, I have asked the other gargoyles be measured and fitted as well. When finished, it will help protect against magic, bullets, and tranquilizer darts.”
Whitethorn held up his hand when Gregory made to comment. “I know you will be concerned about noise and mobility, but my master metalsmiths assure me what they have designed will impress. When you have a moment they would like to fit them to you both and then Darkness and Shadowlight as well.”
Gregory nodded agreement. The more layers between Lillian and harm the better.
Lillian folded her arms under her breasts. “Shadowlight won’t be near anymore fighting, but if it will help keep him safe, then yes, make sure he is fitted as well.” Her stance was one he was coming to know meant he might as well just agree to it now because the argument was already won—by her.
Gregory nodded to Whitethorn and then added, “How soon do you need us?”
“At your earliest convenience.”
Gregory nodded a second time, sensing they might need extra protection sooner rather than later.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Displeasure at his own folly raced through Gryton’s blood. He’d allowed himself to fall into a trap even the child gargoyle, Shadowlight, would have seen.
He sprinted up a slight incline and then over the ridge to an easier trail once again. As he leaped over a fallen trunk, he glanced behind.
Human soldiers with their strange, handheld lights pursued him. Stranger still was their sidhe scout guiding them when they lost his trail.
They were still a league distant and fell farther behind as he outpaced them. It was the same with the last three patrols he’d encountered.
He’d killed the first group, which, he reflected sourly, was probably what allowed the second group to reach his position. There had only been enough time for him to injure a number of that patrol before a third had arrived at the site.
Survival instincts had spurred him into motion then, escape
more important than victory. It wasn’t until this newest patrol had picked up his trail that he realized there was an ambush, and he’d already stepped right into the thick of it.
A contingency he hadn’t foreseen had occurred. The Fae had aligned themselves with the humans of this world and had somehow convinced the humans to hunt him instead.
His magic flared in warning seconds before he heard a high-pitched whine and a loud blast of sound as something leaving a fiery tail in its wake cut through the forest in his direction. He darted to the right as the tree to his immediate left blew apart.
Behind him, the forest exploded with heat, fire, and noise. A wave of force from the explosion knocked him to the ground. He rolled to his knees and summoned fire, sending it back the way the humans’ weapon had come.
His magic flew true, and then came shouts of warning followed by screams of pain. He didn’t stay to see how many his magic would claim. Lunging to his feet, he began to run.
There was only one direction.
He knew it as surely as his enemies did.
But it was the only way to escape this godless realm.
The hamadryad was his only chance of survival and if he hadn’t misread her emotions—and he didn’t think he had—she held enough maternal instinct for him that she might aid him. If she wouldn’t aid him willingly, then she would aid him unwillingly.
As for his father—the Gargoyle Protector had never failed to send his enemies to the Spirit Realm for judgment.
Gryton’s lips peeled back from his fangs. They would soon see if father or son was stronger, he supposed.
This realm was not the battlefield he would have chosen for such a contest, but perhaps it was for the best.
The Gargoyle Protector was limited by this Realm and may not yet have come to terms with how best to fight without the full command of his power.
From the moment of his birth, Gryton had been limited. He’d spent centuries learning to use and not be used by his magic.
Though, he still felt its mad, mindless hunger to feed upon everything around him, always there to remind him of his misbegotten heritage.
Sorceress Hunting (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 3) Page 23
