by E A Price
“You’re the only one who has made contact with one of them; you need to push him as far as you can.”
She groaned and pouted snottily. She really was her aunt’s niece.
“Make him trust you, and he’ll lead you to the others.”
“I’m trying,” she whined.
“Try harder.”
“You think I like having that monster slobber on me?”
“You’re taking one for the team, and you will be rewarded.” Her damn aunt would see to that. Chloe was pretty useless in most situations, but whenever something went right, she managed to hog all the glory.
“Can’t you find another way in?”
“Maybe, surveillance caught a young girl going into the property earlier.”
He showed her the pictures, and she squinted at them. “These are a little blurry.”
“We can’t get any closer.”
“Magical interference,” piped up Monroe. “It’s screwing up all our equipment.”
The pictures were immaterial. After Bell watched her go in, he posted one of his men outside and had them follow her when she left.
“Is she still in there?” asked Chloe.
Bell shook his head. “She left after about two hours. Just strolled out of the front gate with her dog.”
“She must know about the gargoyles.”
“Exactly.”
Chloe’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Let’s pick her up, and interrogate her.”
Another perk about Chloe – her sadistic nature. “Johnson followed her home. She’s the chief of police’s niece.”
“So?”
“So we make her disappear, and the chief will go ape shit. We need to stay low key. A missing eighteen-year-old girl is big news. But she might be our way in yet.”
Chapter Twelve
“Hey, Grandma!” gushed Brenda as she answered the phone.
“Hello, sweetheart,” came the familiar, gentle voice. Brenda felt immediately soothed, and tears even pooled in her eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, Grandma how are you?”
The older woman chuckled softly. “Very well.”
“How’s your new medication working out? And the home?” She was torn between wanting her grandma to be miserable without her and wanting her to be happy.
“I feel much better, and the home is very nice.”
Apparently she was happy, and it made Brenda deflate a little. “Really? You don’t need me to organize a jailbreak?”
“Not at all, it’s lovely here. All my friends are here; my sister is moving in, too. Mildred is struggling on her own since she broke her hip. Plus, they have a pool and shuffleboard – it’s a community, not a home.”
“You do sound happy,” said Brenda, miserably.
“I am, dear.”
“So I take it you’re not moving home.”
Her grandma only hesitated for a second. “No, I’m sorry, dear. I need to tell you that I’ve sold the house.”
“But Grams…” Brenda’s stomach clenched.
“I know, dear. I’m just not well enough to live on my own.”
“But I’d be there,” spluttered Brenda.
Grandma clucked her tongue. “You have school, and you’ll be moving to college. I don’t want you sticking around to look after me. Taking care of someone is hard work.”
“You took care of me.”
“You were a child – you were my child. Taking care of your elderly grandmother is quite a different matter and not one I will force on you.”
“But I don’t mind… wait, you already sold the house? That was fast.”
Her grandma was quiet, and a horrible thought dawned.
“How long have you been planning this?” Brenda asked angrily.
“Just a couple of months.”
“A couple of months! I thought we were just waiting for you to get better so I could come home, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Chris thought…”
Anger exploded in inside her. “So he knew all this?”
“Chris thought that because you were having a hard time making friends that I should delay telling you, and I agreed.”
“All my friends are in Phoenix,” she hissed. “Oh, and my boyfriend.” She forgot about him for a second. That probably wasn’t a good thing.
“Sweetheart.”
“I get it; you don’t like Kevin, so you’re glad I’m away from him.” Grandma was firmly on Chris’ side on this issue.
“Well, that is true but…”
“Ugh!”
“I just don’t think he’s a good influence. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“So why are you even bothering to tell me about the house now? Why not just string me along for the whole year?”
“Movers have had to clear out the house and all your things are being shipped to you.”
Brenda’s bottom lip trembled. “I can’t even come home to pick up my stuff?”
“They needed to do it straight away, and your schooling does have to come first.”
“Don’t you want to see me?”
“Of course, you can visit for the holidays.”
Brenda pouted. “If you’re not too busy.”
“Brenda, you know I love you. But I’m too old to look after you.”
“I’m a grown woman I don’t need looking after.”
“And you don’t need to spend your time looking after me,” she said firmly. “We’re still family, but you’re starting your own life now – you don’t need me. And frankly, if your relationship with Kevin can survive this time apart, then it will be all the better for it. Brenda?”
“Yeah?”
“I am sorry, I love you so much, but… I’m never leaving this home.”
Grandma thought she was going to die in that pastel, and beige monstrosity, and nothing Brenda could say would change her mind. “Community.”
She laughed softly. “Yes, community. I’m not well enough. And you do need looking after. You’re in school, you need support, and Chris will give you that. I’m sorry it worked out this way, but we will see each at the holidays, and we will talk on the phone.”
“I guess.”
“Your things should arrive in a couple of days. I gave the movers strict instructions on how to pack your troll collection.”
“Oh, well thank god for that.”
Her grandma laughed again, and it made Brenda’s heart swell. She hadn’t laughed all that much since her heart attack. At that moment, it was the sweetest sound she could imagine.
“I miss you, sweetheart.”
“I miss you, too.”
*
Brenda allowed Chris to get into the house and take his jacket off before she pounced.
“When did you know I wasn’t moving back to Phoenix to live with grandma?”
Chris’ face flickered with guilt for a moment. “Ah, she called.”
Brenda folded her arms and glared at him. “Yes, a little heads up would have been nice.”
“Bren…”
“You lied to me. You made me think I was going to go home.”
“This is your home now.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“You were unhappy, and I didn’t want to make it worse.”
Brenda threw up her arms. “Well, it’s worse now.”
“Brenda…”
“I’m going for a walk,” she snapped.
“Brenda!”
She stormed out of the house, dabbing at her eyes. She was eighteen; she could leave if she wanted. But where would she go? She could stay with Kevin, she supposed, but she didn’t really want to upset her grandma. She’d been through enough in the past few months.
Ugh – great, why did she always have to be such a good girl?
She hadn’t realized where she was walking until she found herself outside the gates.
Chapter Thirteen
“Aww, he is adorable.” Kylie made funny faces at the infant as he burbled and wra
pped his tail around her wrist.
Ingrede caressed his tiny wings. Tiny compared to hers. He was still pretty large for a baby.
“Yes, and I am sure will be a fine warrior,” agreed his proud mother.
“That, too. His cheeks are so chubby. I just want to kiss them all over!”
Ingrede had calmed enough to the point that she would allow others to hold her child. They were sitting in the garden. It was a mild night and both Cai and Ingrede felt more comfortable in the open. In truth, so did Ric.
Gargoyles lived outdoors, and most did not feel comfortable in enclosed spaces. Kylie had called it claustrophobia. But Ric believed it was more to do with their dragon ancestors. Ric could not feel comfortable sleeping in the house, although Annis did not seem to mind and Luc had done so numerous times. Although he suspected Luc preferred to be close to his mate and Annis did not mind anything.
“How old is he, four? Five months?” asked Andrew.
“Technically nine days,” replied Cai, gruffly.
He paced the garden impatiently while keeping an eye on his mate and child. Luc appeared to be standing nonchalantly, but all of his attention was on Cai, ready to pounce if need be.
“Nine days?” repeated Maggie. “He’s enormous.”
Ingrede beamed with pride. “Our younglings are large. The larger they are, the more powerful they will be in later life. Wolfe was exceptionally large when he was born and has already grown.”
“See, for human women, smaller is better.”
“Much smaller,” agreed Kylie, flashing a nervous glance in Luc’s direction.
Ric coughed to withhold a snicker. She should be worried. Any offspring of Luc’s would probably be gargantuan.
Ingrede had dark green coloring with long black hair and small ridges on her forehead. While Cai was dark blue, bald and had large horns rising almost a foot above his head. Baby Wolfe was more of a turquoise shade with a few wisps of black hair, dark purple eyes, and tiny little nubs on his head. He tried to shove his fist into his mouth.
Ric watched the proceedings with a passing interest. He was glad that Cai and Ingrede were relaxing, even if Cai was still tense, but he had no real interest in younglings. He was preoccupied with a feeling of expectancy that he couldn’t explain.
The alarm sounded, and Cai growled. Ingrede snatched Wolfe back who started wailing.
Annis came scurrying out of the house into the garden. “It is Brenda; I saw her on the TV monitor. She is at the gate, and she came alone.”
Luc breathed out deeply and looked at Kylie.
“She came alone,” repeated Kylie.
“Indeed. Annis, open the gate for her, close it immediately after.”
The female nodded and ran back into the house.
“I will meet her at the driveway,” Ric declared, rushing to do so without waiting for an answer.
He was standing at the top of the drive, arms folded, tail flicking, as he waited for her. She walked up the drive slowly.
“Brenda,” he growled.
She fiddled with the hem of her coat. “Hi, how’s your arm?”
He snorted dismissively. “It is fine, of course. I barely felt it.”
A smile blossomed on her face. An evil smile. “Sure, that’s why you screamed so loud.”
Heat rose to his face. “I did not scream!”
“Course not, and you weren’t yelping like a little girl when I kicked you in the…”
“Brenda!” said Kylie brightly, walking towards her. Luc followed at a distance. “I’m so pleased to see you.”
Brenda’s eyes darted to Luc. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome.”
“You are always welcome,” said Kylie as she hugged the younger female. “Right, Luc?”
He grunted. “You have not told anyone about us?”
Brenda shook her head.
Luc grunted again. But it was a different grunt. He had fifty shades of grunts. He had said this once to Kylie, about him having fifty shades, and she blushed. To this day, he had no idea why that phrase would make her giggle and turn pink.
“Why are you here?” growled Luc.
Ric felt a snarl rattling in his throat. There was no need for Luc to speak to the girl that way. He seemed to forget the way he himself had been needling and yelling at her moments before. He seemed to have a problem with anyone else treating her with any disrespect.
Brenda looked uncertain. “I… I don’t…”
“She’s here to visit,” said Kylie, primly. “C’mon, let me introduce to everyone properly.”
“I do not scream,” muttered Ric as she passed by him.
“Sure you don’t,” she smirked.
Ric gaped after her. “That female is more trouble than she is worth.”
Luc gave him an indistinguishable look and smiled slightly, before following his mate. Ric groaned. Was he the only one who saw how infuriating she was?
Evidently so.
*
Brenda traced her fingers over the ancient books.
“Thank you, Brenda,” said Kylie, showing her evident relief.
“I just don’t see what would be the point in telling anyone about the gargoyles.”
And she didn’t. They weren’t doing anything wrong; they weren’t hurting anyone – at least not to her knowledge. She didn’t imagine Maggie or Kylie would be on board with that.
They chose to let her go; they chose to trust her. She wasn’t going to do anything that would cause them harm. And there was the baby to consider. The cutest, strangest looking baby she’d ever seen.
If they came out to the world, they’d probably be locked up in labs for testing. They were sentient creatures, and they deserved better. And if what Kylie told her was true, they’d suffered enough for any lifetime.
“I don’t like asking you to lie to your uncle.”
Brenda shrugged. She was still pissed at him; she had mixed feelings about talking to him at all.
“How many others are there?”
“We don’t know for sure. We’re hoping a lot.”
Kylie pulled a book off the shelf. “We have to track them down one by one. We just found our new gargoyle family, but for every gargoyle we find intact, we seem to find one that is damaged.”
“Could you repair them?”
“No, I already asked Luc, and he thought I was crazy. They’re not real statues; they’re living creatures. We couldn’t just stick them back together with superglue. Be nice if we could,” she added after a moments thought.
“Does your aunt know about all this?”
“Yes, she and Gustave are actually on their way home. They went out to look for a new gargoyle but sadly… she wasn’t intact. They had a small funeral for her, and they should be back tonight.”
Brenda’s brow crinkled. “A funeral?”
“She was still a living creature, even if she was stone. It was the least we could manage.”
Brenda nodded. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.
Kylie smiled encouragingly. “You want to ask me something, right?”
She could feel the blush start in her stomach and slowly make its way up to her face. “Yes, but I’m not sure how to say it.”
“You want to talk to me about Luc.”
She must have been tomato red by that point. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Kylie shrugged. “You didn’t; I’ve nothing to hide. Ask away.”
“How did you and him… you know, get together?” How do you ask how a previously timid woman hooked up with a legendary monster? What was next - the town librarian knocking boots with Godzilla?
“I didn’t realize I had magic, and I accidentally woke him. So, feeling responsible, I let him stay at my house, and we got to know each other.”
“It sounds so average and boring,” said Brenda before she could stop herself.
Kylie giggled. “Sorry to disappoint. It was hardly the stuff of erotic monster romances. Although I’m sure he would have liked to,
he didn’t throw me over his shoulder and run off into to his lair. It was just normal. We fell in love as we got to know each other. But if it makes it any more interesting, Luc believes we were fated to be together.”
“Fated?”
“Yes. Dragons believed in having fated mates, and some gargoyles believed they inherited that trait. But just as many don’t. Luc and Annis do. Gracchus doesn’t. I’m not sure about Amalric or Dragoslava.”
“Doesn’t it bother you the way he… I mean,” she stammered.
Kylie gave her a very direct look. “The way he looks?”
“Well, yeah.” Her thoughts flicked briefly to Amalric and then she tried to banish his scowling face.
Kylie pondered it for a second. “I guess it took some getting used to. But I never felt repulsed by him; I always thought he was majestic.”
“Fancy word.”
“Of course, it helps that I’ve never been bothered by looks, so I don’t care that he’s no Hollywood hunk.”
Brenda rolled her eyes. “You enjoying yourself way up there on your high horse?”
Kylie stuck out her tongue in as ladylike a fashion as she could muster. “Plus, you have to remember that to gargoyles, we’re not all that attractive. Apart from me, I’m gorgeous to all species.”
Brenda burst into laughter.
“That’s better,” said Kylie. “You’re taking this very well. I kept fainting when I found out.”
“I guess at least it livens up this boring town.”
“There is that. Although after the last couple of months, I don’t mind boring.”
“So all that gibberish Gary was spouting was kind of based on fact? Let’s see; there was the giant bird that kidnapped you to feed to its young, the vampire dragging you off to turn you into his bride, the demon who wanted to drag you down to hell…”
Kylie hooted with laughter and Brenda joined in. “He must have seen me flying off with Luc – something I don’t allow him to do too often because I get really airsick. But obviously, Luc didn’t eat me.”
Luc walked into the room. “Eat you?”
Kylie flushed an attractive shade of pink as Luc gave her a lusty smile. Their attraction was palpable, and Brenda felt like a voyeur.
“I heard noise,” said Luc as Ric slipped noiselessly into the room behind him. Not an easy feat for a creature his size.
