Captivated by the Gargoyle: Stone Sentries 3

by Lisa Carlisle

  “We already know that Janie was marked by their darkness, and Larissa broke through it,” he said. “What we don’t know is why it’s still fixated on Janie. Whether it’s unfinished business or something else. But, the main point is that she’s alive. It could have depleted her life force as we would have expected—but it hasn’t.”

  “What do we do, Commander?” Arto asked.

  “We’re going to get her.”

  Several sentries exchanged glances, uttering louder sounds of disbelief. It hadn’t been an easy decision for Roman—to risk more lives by heading to the other realm. But, it was the right one. Larissa had opened his eyes to make him see. Gargoyle instincts might have driven him to pursue Janie eventually, but Larissa had accelerated the urgency.

  And, that’s what they had going against them—time. He didn’t have time to call Paris and discuss the situation with them—not that they’d seemed to have any more knowledge about these demons than he did. They might even try to talk him out of it. He couldn’t do that to Larissa and couldn’t leave Janie to that horrid fate.

  The council was sure to hear about his suicidal mission eventually.

  “How?” Erik, one of the sentries, asked.

  “We’ll bring a small party through the portal and go find her.”

  Talia raised her brows. “Into another realm?”

  “Yes.”

  She eyed him more closely. “Have you ever been to another realm before?”

  Roman’s mouth twitched. “No.” He raised his chin. “We will be well-armed. And we have Larissa.”

  Larissa jerked her head. Him mentioning her as an asset seemed to throw her off.

  “She was able to break through the dark magic the demon’s left within Janie. I couldn’t get through that myself.”

  A couple of sentries eyed Larissa as if she was a mysterious puzzle—something that would set her off.

  “And, I’m sure you recall how instrumental Larissa was the night of the eclipse,” he said in a louder voice, demanding all attention. “When she projected her magic to me, we were able to redirect it towards the demons and knock them back into the portal.”

  “What if there are others like that demon hiding throughout the city?” Diego asked.

  That was the crux of the matter, the issue that he took most seriously. Although, it would be safer for their journey to the other realm to bring along as many sentries as they could—all of them, if possible—that wouldn’t be right. He couldn’t take them all away and abandon the city he’d been entrusted by the council to protect.

  “That’s why we’re splitting up into two teams,” he responded.

  With the city still reeling from the attack and the recent detection of a demon still haunting the city, it was too risky to take all his sentries. The humans were fearful enough as it was. He could see it on their faces. So much speculation was tossed about as to what had really happened, and even those who were there likely didn’t believe what they’d seen— or wouldn’t be able to come to terms with it for quite some time.

  When he cast a quick glance at Larissa, he caught her worried look. She had to be reeling more than anyone else in the human world, and yet, she so bravely continued, doing what was needed to save her friend and protect her city. How lucky he was to have such a courageous mate.

  Gargoyles said that once you found your mate, love would develop in time. Yet, it was hard not to see that he had fallen desperately in love with her already.

  Roman swallowed his emotions and focused on what he had to do as commander, to ensure the greatest chances of success during this perilous mission. Their most dangerous one yet.

  “The majority of you will be on watch here.” Roman briefly answered additional questions. It was time to create the teams and assemble the party for the journey to the demon’s realm. “Arto, you’ll be in charge.”

  Arto responded to the order with the traditional gargoyle salute. But, then he said, “Commander, may I have a brief word with you in private about this mission?”

  “It needs to be quick, Arto.”

  They stepped aside.

  Arto communicated telepathically in a direct connection to Roman although they were a foot apart.

  Roman, I know this goes against protocol with me being second-in-charge, but I beg you to consider it.

  Clearly, he didn’t want the other sentries to overhear their conversation.

  What is it?

  I’d like to go on the mission to the other realm. I have to find her.

  The conflict etched on Arto’s face was clear. His feelings for Janie were apparent in his haunted eyes and troubled expression—signs of a gargoyle shifter who had found his mate and yearned to protect her.

  Shit. What torment. Roman had thought he’d faced trouble with his mate not only being non-gargoyle, but also a stubborn cop who had pushed him away three times before taking a chance with him. Arto faced a different kind of obstacle—his mate wasn’t even in their realm!

  As deputy, Arto should remain in Boston, but Roman couldn’t increase his anguish. How would Arto live with himself if he hadn’t tried to save his mate? It would destroy him. Besides, how effective would he be with his heart and mind anxious about Janie? Roman would make alternate plans for coverage.

  Roman made his decision. I’d be glad to have you with me. Manny is more than capable of remaining in charge here.

  Manny had the experience. He’d be a strong leader. And he’d know what to do if the team didn’t make it back from the demon’s realm.

  An advantage was that Roman would have Arto with him on a perilous mission rife with uncertainty.

  Arto, I have one condition.

  Anything.

  No matter what happens to me, get Larissa back here safely.

  When they returned to the sentries, Roman said, “Arto, Talia, Diego, Erik, Larissa, and I will head through the portal.” With Talia’s sword fighting abilities, she’d be a key asset. Diego and Erik were solid, experienced sentries who would be essential in rounding out the team. “Manny, you’ll be in charge here. The majority of you will remain on watch in your positions.”

  Manny’s eyes flickered with surprise, but he recovered with a quick gargoyle salute. “Aye, Commander.

  “Close the portal once we pass through,” Roman added. “Keep an eye out for our return.”

  He then sent a silent command to Arto, Talia, Diego, and Erik echoing his insistence on saving Larissa, should something happen to him.

  As the sentries armed themselves for the journey, Roman said, “We think that was the last demon in Boston, but we know never to underestimate dark creatures.”

  Once all the sentries and Larissa were armed, their next step was to head through the portal.

  With the battlefield unknown and all the advantages the demons had in their territory, the odds were against the sentries. No doubt the gargoyles would be outnumbered by immortals that would gladly end their existence.

  He caught Larissa’s gaze. He yearned to savor his mate’s kiss once more. What awaited them in the other realm was so uncertain. He prepared for the worst, while hoping they’d find some way out. It seemed too cruel to have him find his mate only to have them torn apart by demons within a fortnight.

  But, the mission was pressing. He stepped over to her and whispered, “I’ll protect you with my life. But, if anything happens to me, don’t hesitate. Get back here. Any of the sentries will help you. They have orders to protect you.”

  “I can’t leave without you.” Her voice came out strangled as she searched his eyes.

  “You must. There is no point sacrificing your life.”

  “I’d never leave without you or Janie.” She shook her head with a shudder. “The idea—just no.”

  Roman opened his mouth to insist, but snapped it shut. He didn’t have time to argue with his stubborn mate. Besides, he admired her courage and loyalty, and he’d never had someone who cared for him like this. A sensation of warmth spread in his chest.


  He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it then.”

  Larissa nodded at Roman, but doubts rose, flying like locusts in her skull. If anything happened to him or his sentries, it would be her fault. It was her foolish idea.

  He stepped over to Franco and Vidal. They moved to the side as he approached. He raised his hand and closed his eyes. Was he sensing something?

  Roman said a phrase that sounded Latin. Then he spread both arms wide in a circular motion. She searched around the Common. How odd for him to detect a portal in a location she’d visited dozens if not hundreds of times in her life.

  Seconds later, a slight tremor shifted the ground beneath her feet. She glanced down. The grass stood still. She must’ve imagined the movement.

  A rumble followed, unmistakable this time. Shit, were they having an earthquake?

  She glanced at him. “Roman?” Worry clipped her voice.

  “It’s all right.”

  He took her hand and stepped forward. Strange sensations prickled her skin. Yes, something palpable was there. What exactly, she didn’t know, but it definitely wasn’t like anything she’d ever encountered. The air was hotter than that around it, and it seemed to pulse with a vibrancy.

  “What the hell is going on?” she asked.

  “I’m opening the portal.”

  Although she’d known it was invisible, she still imagined a portal to a demon realm to appear like a giant fiery pit.

  He turned his head to address the sentries. “Ready?”

  Talia had shifted into gargoyle form, as well as the sentries. Larissa stared. She was slowly coming to terms with seeing the sentries shift from human to gargoyle form and back again, but Talia’s transition struck a new wondrous vibe. Why? Was it because Larissa had spent significant time with her in human form?

  Talia’s skin was like tough gray leather like the rest of the sentries. Her hair had vanished and her features were exaggerated, yet more feminine. Her wings were shaped a bit differently as well, longer and thinner with sleek points at the end.

  “Aye, Commander,” Talia replied, as did the others. Her voice was still recognizable, but a bit deeper. She adjusted the placement of weapons on her body.

  “Go.”

  Arto, Talia, Diego, and Erik leaped fearlessly into the void. And holy fuck, they vanished.

  Roman turned to her. “Are you ready?”

  Every molecule in her body screamed No!

  What the fuck? This was her idea, and now, she was the one hesitating? No part of her wanted to leap into that void—throwing herself into the unknown. Who the hell knew what could happen once they passed through. They might incinerate on entry—a quick end to a failed mission.

  She took a step back. Taking this leap meant something else, something bigger. No longer could she hide behind the charade that she was normal, just like everyone else. She’d be breaking free from the world she knew, stepping into a vast universe with more possibilities than she ever could have imagined. It was like cracking a geode to discover a hidden interior full of spectacular crystals. But, in the demon’s realm, it was more like opening a Pandora’s box full of monstrous creatures.

  “Larissa, are you all right?” Roman asked.

  “I just need a second.”

  A second to say goodbye. She pictured her father. If she didn’t return, he’d be devastated. Damn, perhaps she should have done something to let him know—but what? Send him a text that she was venturing to a demon realm and might not be back. She shook her head. A ludicrous idea.

  What else could she do? She couldn’t abandon Janie. If there was any chance of rescuing her, Larissa had to take it. Even if it meant she might not return home.

  Fuck it. She gulped. “I’m ready.”

  Roman wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t let you go.”

  She glanced into his amber eyes. So much passed between them during that charged moment. Anything could happen once they stepped into the portal. Would vile monsters be waiting ready to destroy them and steal their souls?

  In which case, this would be the last time she’d be in Roman’s arms. He must’ve been thinking along the same lines, as his expression turned tormented.

  “I love you, my mate.” His voice dropped an octave, and he spoke the words like a solemn oath.

  He lowered his head and seared his declaration with a kiss, one more tender and yet so passionate. One that might be their last kiss.

  Although, she savored the moment and wanted to prolong it, she couldn’t delay their departure any longer. When he pulled away, she sighed. His kiss had steeled her. His love had fortified her for the next terrifying step.

  Her heart thundered in her ears, but she ignored it. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 9

  Larissa clung to Roman, and he leapt into the heated vortex. The air around them felt charged, and it seemed to pull them along through the narrow space. It created a strange sort of claustrophobia. This portal didn’t have any apparent physical barriers, just spirals of dark gray smoke. Like a dark shroud.

  As they progressed, they didn’t soar like they did during flights. This was more like falling, tumbling into an unknown destination—if it even had an end. They could have been tricked into leaping into the void. Sucked into a black hole by malevolent creatures.

  Her hair whipped around her face. When it crossed her eyes, she wanted to push it away, but she wouldn’t dare lift a hand off Roman, clinging to him with a grip that would likely leave marks. Instead, she shook her head to clear her vision.

  “Does this seem right to you?” she asked.

  He grimaced. “I can’t say with any confidence, since I haven’t traveled through a portal before.”

  She glanced before them. Other gargoyle shifters tumbled through the strange smoke tunnel. They clung to their swords and shields. She sucked in a breath, checking for her weapons. All good.

  A strange reddish light pierced through the gray smoky clouds ahead. Streaks of crimson sliced through them—a vivid reminder of the demon’s marks slashed across her grandmother’s chest.

  She blinked, forcing away that image. Letting the demon’s fear stifle her would only make things worse.

  They hit something solid. She fell out of Roman’s arms and tumbled, landing on her back. The skies above were dark red with shadowy black clouds. Barren trees with spindly limbs stretched out like claws. She sat up. The ground beneath her looked and smelled like charcoal. In other areas, it appeared like cracked clay. No vegetation, no growth.

  No life.

  Like hell turned inside out and painted by Picasso.

  But, one thing was certain—this was the place she had seen in her vision.

  As they advanced into the realm, the scene before Roman unfurled with more bleakness than he’d surmised. Dark clouds weighed upon a blood red sky. Even the air seemed weighted with desperation, emitting a strange odor like charcoal and sulfur.

  And the demons—more types than he’d ever envisioned—moved across the dead earth. The red-winged ones that had infiltrated Boston loomed closest. Four-legged ones like a horrid hybrid of a triceratops and a rhinoceros ambled in the distance. Small dragon-like creatures with purple scales, emerald wings, and avian heads swooped low in the distance. And dark inky blobs slid over the ground like menacing shadows heading toward the horizon. It seemed like his team were tourists dropped into a demon safari park.

  None of the creatures seemed to notice their arrival.

  Yet.

  What he had to focus on was keeping Larissa safe while they found Janie and brought them all home. It was an impossible goal. But the only one they had.

  What do we do now, Roman? Arto asked.

  Good question. As Commander, he should have a solid answer. Yet, all that came to him sounded suicidal.

  He spoke to Larissa. “Do you sense anything?”

  She scanned the twisted scene, her face etched with repulsion. “No.”

  �
�Try, my love.”

  “Okay.” She took several deep breaths and her eyes appeared to drift out of focus.

  Was she compartmentalizing? Or, tapping in to her magic?

  After several seconds, she declared, “Janie is here. Trapped.”

  “Where?”

  Her lip curled with frustration. “A cave, I think.”

  Head toward the mountains. We’re looking for a cave. And remain vigilant, Roman directed.

  “Look out!” Arto shouted.

  Roman turned as a demon swooped in—one of the dragon-ones with a bird head. It opened its beak and let out a horrendous shriek.

  He swung his sword before the talons reached him, slashing into the demon’s green scales.

  This creature was down, but the altercation alerted their arrival to the other demons. Eyes turned to fix on them.

  Familiar, red, glowing eyes that sparked with instant hunger—for blood.

  A silence gripped the realm for a few seconds. Or, perhaps it was in Larissa’s head. It sounded like the absence of sound after she’d heard bombs.

  Then, demons advanced upon them from the air. Ones that resembled the monsters that had invaded Boston were flanked by small, colorful, scaly ones that appeared to be pieced together by experimentation. She braced herself by raising her shield.

  The Stone Sentries powered forward, bellowing battle cries as they ascended to face the horde. From that moment, the sounds of combat encompassed the realm, as demon clashed with gargoyle. The demons weren’t armed, yet that didn’t prevent them from advancing with tooth and claw.

  Roman commanded the sentries, yet stayed back, standing before her. Was it to protect her? She groaned. Hopefully, she wasn’t hindering this mission. Perhaps, if she had wings or gargoyle strength, she could do more. Instead, she had these half-assed witch abilities and a sense of precognition.