by Bria Lexor
“I guess you’re right,” Abel said, as he looked at his sword. “So, what are you doing with my sword?” He asked nodding his head.
“Ha!” Drake smiled. “Nothing now,” Drake said tossing the sword to Abel. He examined Drake’s handiwork. “So, how is it?”
“Hmm,” Abel said, looking impressed. “Pretty good, I’d say.”
“Well, I’m out,” Drake said, gathering his materials and other stuff.
“Thank you,” Abel said to Drake. As he extended his hand, Drake took it by the wrist, then he leaped off the ledge and was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
Night was beginning to fall, and the gargoyles were awakening from their slumber. Abel transformed into his gargoyle form and hurried over to where Tuffara stood on the ledge. He helped her down and asked her if she was all right. I could not help but feel bummed out about how Abel was starting to treat me. I stood there for five minutes, which felt like an eternity to me. They kept talking as I glanced at them, and it was like I was invisible. I went inside and got a Pepsi from the fridge to cheer me up. I opened it and took a drink. I felt the coldness going down my throat, and it felt nice. I walked back upstairs to find the only ones up on the balcony were Abel and Tuffara. I could see them from the French doors, and I overheard the last part of their conversation.
“Tuffara I lost you once, and I don’t want to lose you again,” Abel said to her. “Lapis, I...”
“Tuffara, I won’t let anything happen to you... I love you!”
I gasped, as I saw Abel bend down and kiss Tuffara. I dropped my Pepsi can. It spilled all over the carpet. But it was too late; the damage had already been done. Abel turned and looked me in the eye. I ran as fast as I could down the stairs and out the front door. I heard Abel calling me, but all I could do was run and wonder what I had done wrong.
I stopped at the same park where Kaitlin and the Hunters had kidnapped me before and sat on a bench next to a streetlight. I slowly caught my breath as my mind raced with what had just occurred. No longer able to hold back the tears, I started to cry.
“That must’ve been hard for you to see, huh?” Drake said, sitting next to me on the bench. I did not even realize he was around until he spoke.
“I know he still loves her,” I said, wiping my eyes with my fingers. “But my heart can’t take much more of this; it hurts too much!”
“What are you going to do?” Drake asked, putting his arm around my shoulder to comfort me. I shook my head.
“I don’t know,” I said, gazing at the ground. I finally realized I should head back and face the music. I stood up to leave.
“Where are you going?” Drake asked, standing up as well.
“Where else?” I said, headed in the direction of Abel’s house. “I’m going to go back.” “I’ll walk you back there,” Drake said. “You know, to keep you safe and stuff.”
I forced a smile. “Thanks, Drake. I really appreciate it.”
As we entered the house, Tuffara was waiting for me in the living room with a worried expression on her face.
“Thank you for bringing her home, Drake,” Tuffara said, looking nervously at the stairs for Abel.
Thanks for bringing her home, Drake.
I do not know why Tuffara said this was my home. Since she came into my life, it did not really feel much like home to me anymore.
“Not a problem,” Drake said to her. As he turned to leave, he looked back at me. “Call me if you need anything, okay?” Drake said, giving me a curt nod.
“Thanks again, Drake,” I said in a small voice.
Drake closed the door behind him and was gone. Tuffara and I were now left alone in the big living room. I felt uncomfortable with the growing silence, I sat on the couch to avoid her staring at me.
“Where’s Abel?” I finally asked, not hearing him walking around upstairs. “He went out. To look for you,” Tuffara said quietly.
“Oh,” was all I said before the silence came once more. This time Tuffara was the one who broke it.
“Shinka, I didn’t know Lapis was going to...”
“It’s okay,” I said, standing up, feeling anger and sadness all at once. I just wanted to die at that moment. Like life did not matter to me anymore.
“Shinka, Lapis and I...”
“Are getting married, yeah, I already know,” I said, feeling the anger creep into my voice. I did not care to hide it either.
“We’re not getting married, Shinka,” Tuffara said. I turned to look at her, and she looked so sad. I suddenly felt bad for how rude I sounded.
“What do you mean?” I asked sitting back down to face her. Tuffara sighed, recalling a terrible memory.
“Lapis saved my life. I was being attacked by a group of humans. We instantly fell in love. He took me back to where my clan was staying, and my father thanked him. I told my father, Amaranth Meta, I wanted to marry Lapis, but he knew who he was and denied my request.”
“So... what happened?” I asked feeling anxious to hear the rest of Tuffara’s story.
“Well, I ran away, because, in my father’s eyes, anything less than a full-fledged gargoyle was not allowed into our clan.” Tuffara looked at me with sadness in her eyes. “Shinka, I envy you, because you are a human. And that is what Lapis had been missing in a companion.”
“What?” I asked, not sure what to say to that. “Tuffara, Abel loves you!” I said, shocked by her words. “You can’t give up on him just because you’re not human. I mean, you can fly!”
I was envious of that part of Tuffara’s life. How cool would it be to fly without being on a plane? Very cool in my eyes.
“Hmm.” Tuffara seemed lost in her thoughts. “Yes, but you Shinka, have this; well, you’re fearless on the battlefield!”
“Um... no, that’s what I call being stupid and reckless!” I said, feeling my face flush from embarrassment.
“Well, whatever you call it, that’s something only a human can have, and I wish I had it, too.”
“But you’re a gargoyle,” I protested. “You can scare someone by just looking at them!” I hoped Tuffara did not think I was calling her ugly because she was beautiful.
“All the things that humans take for granted like being outside, feeling the sun’s warmth on your face, driving a car, going into a store... I wish I could do those things for one day.” Tuffara turned away and spoke in a small voice. “Shinka, you’ve kept Lapis’ heart happy. Being human is not a burden for him any longer, and I thank you for that.”
Tuffara started making her way upstairs and outside to the balcony. The other gargoyles were coming back as the sun was about to rise. I saw Abel headed toward us, and my heart started to race as I wondered how he was going to break up with me.
Chapter Seventeen
Abel landed and began his transformation back into a human. As the gargoyles turned back into stone, it was silent. I waited for Abel to say something to me, but he looked down at the ground instead. I walked inside and sat on the edge of his bed. When Abel finally came inside, he sat beside me.
“Shinka, I didn’t mean to hurt you like this, again,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “It’s just; I wasn’t thinking.”
I stood up to leave when he grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. He stood, I do not know why he liked to do that, but he did.
“You obviously love Tuffara more than me so...” “No, Shinka it’s not like that...”
“Then what’s it like, Abel?” I asked, sighing in annoyance. “Because I can’t take any more of you hurting me like this!”
“Shinka, she’s an impostor,” Abel said calmly. “Tuffara’s been dead for centuries.” “What?” I asked now totally confused more than ever.
“That can’t be?” I said in disbelief. “She’s real and...”
“Shinka, after you took off last night, I forced her to tell me who she really is and what her true agenda for being here is about.”
“Well, who is she?” I asked, wondering if I should even
feel safe around her anymore.
“She said she would tell me tonight.” Abel held me tightly and kissed me on my forehead. “I had to get something out of her, and for that, I’m truly sorry I hurt you, baby.”
“I forgive you,” I said, as he gently kissed me.
I realized I did not want to lose Abel to a fake Tuffara. Alive or not she was not going to win. We wasted the day by going out to the mall and being around people. I had forgotten I was a newly added celebrity as dozens of teenagers came up to me and asked for my autograph. By the time we got home, it was time for Abel to transform. I was anxious for the fake Tuffara to awaken so we could find out the truth, once and for all.
She finally awakened then suddenly disappeared before I could blink. “Where did she go?” I asked, confused by her trick.
I looked up to see a young gargoyle land from the sky. All of us were ready for anything as we looked at this strange new gargoyle. She had a beautiful light blue complexion, and her hair was light pink. But her clothes... they were another story. I mean this girl was wearing human clothes! She dusted herself off and opened a compact to examine her makeup ignoring the fact that a group of gargoyles was ready to kill her at any given moment.
“Err... excuse me?” I asked her, and she looked up at me and gave me a huge smile.
“Yes?” she said in a singsong voice putting her compact away in a black bag that loosely hung off her shoulder.
“Uh, where did Tuffara go?” I asked pointing to the spot where the gargoyle once stood. “Oh, you mean my hologram,” the girl replied so care freely.
“What is a hologram?” Fate asked the others who had no idea what she was talking about. “Who are you, and what’s going on here?” Abel demanded, glaring at the young girl.
“I’m glad you asked,” she said, curtsying in her short black skirt. “My name’s Wren, and I am your daughter...”
Chapter Eighteen
“Excuse me?” I asked, still in shock by what this girl had just said.
“I’m your daughter,” She repeated bluntly. I heard Abel laugh as she said this, and I punched him in the arm.
“What are you laughing at, Daddy?” Wren asked innocently. Abel stopped laughing, and a look of horror crossed his face.
“But, she’s a gargoyle?” Abel said to me, stating the obvious.
“Are you sure you’re our daughter?” I asked, hoping this girl was joking. “I mean the last time I checked; I wasn’t pregnant.”
“Well not yet, but you will be,” Wren said matter-of-factly.
I gasped. “Wren, are you from the future?” I asked as I give her a peculiar look.
“Yup!” Wren replied, ecstatic someone had finally figured it out. “I’ll be born in the future!” Everyone just stared at us as Abel, and I exchanged worried glances. Wren reminded me of
Abby from the TV show N.C.I.S. She was crazy happy!
“I would love to stay and chit chat with everyone, but I don’t have a lot of time here. So, I will get right to the point of my visit,” Wren said, hopping on the ledge and sitting down crossing her legs until she was comfortable. We waited impatiently for what she was about to tell us when she finally decided to talk.
“As you know I’m from the future, and I’m your daughter,” Wren started. “The dragon’s prophecy will take place. But Shinka, you aren’t the girl Drake’s looking for.”
“That’s a relief,” Abel said to me. I just shrugged, wanting to hear more from Wren.
“Shinka must be protected at all cost because there won’t be a future without her,” Wren said to us, very seriously. I had a feeling she was right.
“I’ll keep her close to me at all times.” Abel nodded curtly. “You have my word on that,” he replied, bowing down to Wren.
“Now about Tuffara,” Wren said thoughtfully. “Tuffara did die a long time ago, fighting for her life against the Hunters. We were able to preserve her body, but her soul has reincarnated and moved on.”
“How can I find her?” Abel asked, stepping toward Wren.
“You already have,” Wren said with a smile. “She goes by the name Shinka Fox.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Before I go, I have something for you.” Wren held a necklace with a claw hanging from it out to Abel. He slowly reached for it and held it tightly in his right hand. “It’s time for me to go,” Wren said, jumping down from the ledge.
She curtsied to all of us before pressing a button on her wristed glove and disappeared. The gargoyles took flight into the night’s sky. As usual, Abel and I were left alone on the balcony.
“I gave this to Tuffara as a gift,” Abel said to me. I looked at it and had this feeling I had seen it before.
“I want you to have it,” he said, placing the claw in my hand. I did not know what to do with it, so I placed it around my neck alongside the Alarica jewel.
“Thank you,” I said. Abel pulled my chin up so I could look into his beautiful eyes once more. He said something in his native language, then translated it for me to understand.
“Cohathe meh lathinpo ier polirvre,” Abel said. “The beast fell in love with an angel, and my heart belongs to her.” I smiled as he said this, and he bent down and kissed me. I kissed him back, making the kiss that much more intense and wonderful.
“You and Tuffara are one in the same; I can’t believe it,” Abel said, holding me tightly, afraid of letting me go.
“But how can you tell?” I asked, looking up at him again.
“Well, you both have the same scent,” Abel said more to himself than to me. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before now.”
“I don’t understand how I’m Tuffara’s reincarnation?” I asked.
“Tuffara wished to be a human. And now it looks like her wish has finally come true,” Abel said.
I wondered how he knew about that, but Tuffara probably told him a long time ago. As I wondered if what the fake Tuffara said was true, Abel asked me what was on my mind.
“The holographic Tuffara told me she wished she were me. I mean, she wanted to be so much more than stone and a creature of the night.”
Well, Tuffara, it looks like your wish came true after all. And as Abel said, we are truly one in the same.
“Hey!” A voice said from behind us. I turned around to see Drake, and he held an unconscious Kaitlin in his arms.
Chapter Twenty
“What did you do to her?” Abel growled at Drake, who was shocked Abel would say such a thing to him. I looked at Kaitlin, she was so savagely beaten I was not sure if she would survive.
“Hey,” Drake said defensively. “I was flying around the city when I noticed the Slayers were giving Kaitlin the beating of her life. I saved the poor girl, and I brought her to you because I figured you would know what to do with her.” Drake turned around about to leave. “But I guess ...”
“Alright,” Abel reluctantly replied. “Take her inside quick, before the clan gets back,” Abel ordered, and Drake placed Kaitlin in one of the spare bedrooms. Abel left to get some bandages and aspirin, while Drake and I stayed with Kaitlin. She groaned and suddenly awoke clawing furiously at Drake.
“Hey!” Drake said, getting angry. “Knock it off; you’re safe now, Kaitlin!” he replied, grabbing her by the wrists so she was unable to attack him. Kaitlin looked around and noticed me.
“Where the hell am I?” Kaitlin growled. I started to reassure her. “It’s okay Kaitlin...”
“No, it’s not you idiots!” Kaitlin screamed. “They’re going to kill every one of us!” Kaitlin paused looking at me. “And Shinka, you’re at the top of their list!”
“Drake, this is your fault!” Abel said as he entered the room holding a first aid kit in his hands.
“Me?” Drake looked confused. “What the hell did I do?” Drake stood as Abel got in his face. “You brought those Slayers with you, and now they're coming after Shinka!” Before Drake
could get a word out, I stepped in between them both.
“
The Prophecy’s wrong!” I said and Drake looked at both of us, bewildered. “It can’t be?” Drake said looking out the window. “You...”
“I’m Tuffara’s reincarnation, Drake,” I said, giving him a sad smile. “I’m sorry, but I’m not the girl you’re looking for.”
“Then if you aren’t the female spoken of who is?” Drake asked, looking at me and Abel with a worried look on his face.
“W-we don’t know,” I said, looking towards Abel who stared coldly at Drake. During all the arguing I had forgotten about Kaitlin. When I looked at the spot where she sat, it was empty. Kaitlin was gone.
“Now look what you’ve done!” Abel growled. “Kaitlin’s going to bring those damn Hunters to my house!”
“No, she won’t,” a female voice replied. Everyone turned their attention towards the balcony. A girl with long brown hair and brown eyes stood next to a guy. He was cute. His dark hair and brown eyes came into view as they walked towards us.
“Who the hell are you two?” Abel asked, very annoyed by their presence.
“My name’s Brooke Arkwright and this is my brother Cadman,” Brooke said, matter-of-factly.
“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing in my house?” Abel asked bluntly. Brooke
did not look intimidated at all. As a matter of fact, she looked like she was ready to fight us at any given moment.
“You guys have been getting sloppy in handling the Hunters. And we are here to clean up your mess,” Brooke said. Brooke had a cool demeanor about the way she carried herself.
