by Bria Lexor
“Err... yeah.” Abel said looking at Detective Bradshaw without blinking. “And now Wren’s late thanks to your little traffic stop, Detective.”
Detective Bradshaw did not look convinced, but he had nothing on us, so he had to let us go. “Whatever tricks you guys are pulling aren’t cool...” Detective Bradshaw replied, giving us a warning look. “I know that girl wasn’t back there when I pulled you over... get out of here before I change my mind.” Abel nodded and pulled away, glaring at Wren in the rear-view mirror as he pulled into a convenience store parking lot. He cut the engine and Wren glared back at him with the same amount of attitude she could muster. Boy, I could see the resemblance in those two, but I kept that to myself as I waited for the arguing to begin.
“Well,” Wren said crossing her arms in front of her chest as she waited for Abel to answer her.
“Well, what?” He snapped obviously annoyed with her just appearing in his car. “Aren’t you going to thank me?” Wren asked and he scoffed.
“Thank you?” He asked turning around to look at her. “Thank you for running away from home and making me and your mother worry—”
“Well, I wouldn’t have run away if you weren’t such an asshole!” Wren yelled. Wow. The girl had balls to be yelling at her father like this. Abel looked shocked his future daughter was talking to him this way.
“You know your parents should have taught you some manners before sending you out into the world by yourself, you little brat!”
I started laughing and they both looked at me like I was an alien or something. “Sorry,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “But do you guys realize how ridiculous this is?” I asked them. “I mean, you’re arguing now and after I am dead is this stupid fight really going to matter?”
The realization of my situation brought them both back to reality and they knew I was right. I hated bringing up my dying again but they really needed each other to grow and become close as father and daughter. Even if Wren might not be born, she was here now and that is all that mattered.
Abel sighed. “You’re right, Shinka.” He said and kissed my hand. “It’s just hard keeping tabs on a kid that—”
“I am not a kid!” Wren warned and I rolled my eyes at them. I opened the passenger side door and stepped out into the fresh air. Abel popped his head out the window and gave me a strange look.
“What are you doing?” He asked and I shrugged as I headed for the store’s double doors. “I am getting a Pepsi while you two have some bonding time.” Abel was about to protest but
seriously, why would he do a stupid thing like that? I always win, and not because I am a rich pop princess, oh no. I always win because I am a girl and I rock!
I walked inside and the air conditioner was on. I walked to the back of the store and grabbed me a Pepsi, got Abel a Mountain Dew, and I had no clue what Wren drank so I grabbed a blue Bug Juice just to see what her reaction would be. What? If Wren wanted to act like a kid, I was gonna treat her like one. I know it’s screwed up of me, but what the hell, right?
A cold female voice behind me made me jump in surprise. “Well, Shinka, what a surprise to see you here, I thought you would’ve been at home in bed dying or something.” I turned around, found Kaitlin glaring angrily at me, and I felt the fear rising in my chest. Luckily, Abel and Wren walked over to us and Kaitlin turned her attention towards them. “I see you are a gargoyle who’s been off our radar.” Kaitlin said evilly to Wren.
Wren smiled sweetly at her totally unimpressed by Kaitlin’s ability to intimidate her. “And I see you’re a bitch who needs a good ass kicking—”
“Okay, Wren, it’s time to go.” I said trying to push her toward the counter and hold onto the drinks without dropping them. But Wren was not having it.
In fact, she plucked the Bug Juice from my hands, threw it, and hit Kaitlin in the eye.
“Ah!” Kaitlin screamed in surprise and touched her eye; shocked Wren would hit her. “You little bitch!” She screamed as Wren opened the door and grabbed a Lipton sweet tea acting like she had not done anything.
“You should probably put that on your eye,” Wren said in a sing song voice as she skipped towards the cashier. “You know, before you get a black eye.” Abel snickered as he paid for our drinks. I just stood there realizing why Wren was sent to us. Sure, the girl had anger issues and obviously lacked self-restraint, but she was our daughter, and she was part of the Haven clan and a future princess who needed to be protected from the Hunters while she stayed here in the past. Not to mention loved.
I picked up my drink and walked briskly out the door and hopped into the car slamming the door behind me. I watched Abel and Wren walk out laughing and having a good time as if the
fight they had just had never even happened. A part of me was glad to see them getting along so well but another part of me resented the fact I would not be able to do that with them for much longer and it cut into me like a knife. I started to feel angry, and I did not know why.
I mean, I was at the peak of my career and I should have been on top of the world. But I wasn’t, every other singer had a life, but they did not have gargoyle Hunters trying to kill them either, now did they? I wasn’t one to feel depressed about life, but things were getting out of hand and out of my control and it’s not like I could go to a shrink and tell them my boyfriend was a half-breed gargoyle prince, now could I? They would surely lock me up in the mental institution and throw away the key.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile as Abel and Wren got into the car. Abel looked at me and I pretended everything was fine. He smiled and started the car. The engine roared to life and we pulled out of the parking lot and headed back toward his house. Everything was going to be fine, right? Boy I did not know how wrong I was on that notion. Abel’s phone rang and he pushed a button on the car’s exterior and Brooke’s voice came through.
“Abel?” She said and her voice had major urgency in it. “Abel did you find Wren?” She asked and Abel spit out the window before speaking.
“Yeah,” Abel said as he continued to drive, realizing the sun was starting to set and he would be transforming quickly if he did not get home in time to keep his human form legit to unsuspecting humans. “What’s up?” He asked taking a drink of his Mountain Dew as we waited at a red light.
For a moment, Brooke was silent, and I wondered why she was calling. “You should get here immediately.” She said finally. “Something’s wrong with the gargoyles...”
Chapter Six
Thankfully, we were not back to Abel’s house. He pulled into the driveway and leapt from the car leaving the ignition on, he tore off into the house without saying a word. I understood the severity of the situation; I turned off the ignition, pulled the key out, and walked hastily inside with Wren on my heels, I walked upstairs and stopped in Abel’s bedroom. I saw Queen Llewellyn lying in Abel’s bed with the other gargoyles surrounding her. I walked slowly toward her and I saw Abel kneeling beside her and holding her hand.
Queen Llewellyn smiled when she saw me. “Shinka,” she said, instructing me to sit beside her on the bed. “I’m so glad to see you, dear.”
I gave her a small smile as I sat down. “How are you feeling your majesty?” I asked as Queen Llewellyn settled into the pillow.
“Not very well, I’m afraid. Thankfully, Brooke was nearby, and she helped me to the bed and called you, my son.” Queen Llewellyn squeezed Abel’s hand and he looked surprised Brooke would do something so honorable for his family.
“Brooke... took care of you for me?” Abel asked his mother, and she closed her eyes unaware of her son’s personal problems with the demi-goddess.
“She did,” Queen Llewellyn said folding her hands over her stomach. “Poor child has had as much a wearisome life as we have Abel.” She said sadly. “She puts up a front and acts like she’s strong, but deep down, Brooke is dejected and in so much pain.”
Abel kissed his mother’s hand then stood and walked out the French doors and foun
d Brooke standing alone on the balcony looking up at the darkening sky, lost in her thoughts. I stood and followed him, and Wren took my place beside her grandmother’s side.
“Brooke,” Abel said her name in a gentle voice and her hair fell, covering her face when she turned to look at him. “Uh...” Abel ran his fingers nervously through his hair. “Thank you for taking care of my mother for me while I was gone.” Brooke stayed silent and I knew she was letting herself be vulnerable around us. Brooke just nodded as Abel walked over to her. “I know... I haven’t exactly been nice to you since you’ve been here,” Abel said to her. “But you’re not a bad person and I’m sorry for-”
“No!” Brooke yelled angrily, glaring at Abel with pure hatred. I saw tears in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand. “You don’t have to pretend to like me, Lapis,” she said. I noticed Brooke’s whole body was violently shaking and her hands were balled up into tight fists. “You just need to stay with your mother before she...” Brooke started sobbing and Abel pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. I felt terrible for Brooke because she had recently lost her own mother, fighting with the Goddess Aphrodite.
“It’s okay...” Abel whispered as she wrapped her arms around his back dodging his huge wings. “You can only carry a burden for so long before it either consumes you or you conquer that son of a bitch.” Brooke pulled away, obviously embarrassed by Abel’s genuinely helpful nature and she looked at me fearing I would kick her ass for hugging on my boyfriend. I smiled and walked over to her and gave her a hug. She eagerly hugged me, and I let her know she would be okay by doing one small gesture for her. I didn’t really know Brooke’s story, just that her mother was killed, and she was ordered by the Slayers, actually by one particular Slayer who happened to be my mother and her boss” to be part of my protection detail.
“Thank you,” Brooke said, sniffling as she wiped her eyes once more. Just then, Wren came out and was her usual perky self. As she transformed into her gargoyle form, she looked at Brooke and smiled.
“Your make-ups running,” she said as she grabbed her hand and dragged her back inside. “I can fix that easily!” Wren said and Brooke looked back at me horrified because she did not know what Wren would do to her. I smiled and waved at her as she disappeared and turned back toward Abel. He looked at me and I walked over to him and he lifted me up on the ledge and sat me down.
“That was nice... what you did for Brooke.” I said and Abel scoffed trying to put his tough guy act on for me.
“Yeah, well don’t go telling anybody,” He said smiling down at me. “I’m not a nice guy you know.”
I laughed and put a loose strand of black hair behind his ear. “Well, you’re nice to me.” I said gently touching his cheek. “And that’s all that matters...” I was about to kiss him when he suddenly growled and looked behind me and into the shadows. I turned and saw nothing, but darkness and I looked back at Abel.
“Get inside.” Abel said, pulling his cross necklace. It transformed into a sword and I hopped off the ledge and ran behind him. He looked at me and I shrugged.
“I’m out of the way, aren’t I?” I said, and Abel just rolled his eyes at me and turned back toward the threat that was coming our way. I listened and heard absolutely nothing but silence. I took a deep breath and smelled nothing out of the ordinary, and I frowned. I wished I could be cool like my friends and have superhuman powers but no... I was an ordinary boring ass human who just got in the way all the time—
I gasped as the feeling I had in the hospital returned. I looked at Abel, but he was so focused on whatever it was he did not notice me.
What is wrong with me?... This feeling overcame me when I was with...
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks as Detective Bradshaw leapt onto the balcony and he smirked at us. “Prince Lapis Haven,” he said, casually walking towards him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” His smirk turned into a scowl. “And you are in your true form, too? This has got to be my lucky night... don’t you agree?”
Abel growled at him and positioned himself in front of me with his sword pointed at Detective Bradshaw’s heart. “Get. Out. Of. Here!” Abel growled but Detective Bradshaw paid him no mind. Just as Brooke and Wren returned, and the girls stopped dead in their tracks as they took in the scene in front of them.
Detective Bradshaw looked surprised when he saw Brooke and she looked just as surprised to see him. “Brooke?” Detective Bradshaw asked. “What are you doing here?”
Brooke walked up to him and slapped him across the face. The sound alone sent shock waves throughout the balcony. “You have some nerve showing your face around here after what you did!” She snapped and I was totally lost.
“Brooke,” I asked her, and she looked at me. “Do you know Detective Bradshaw?”
Brooke flipped her hair over her shoulder and glared angrily at him. “Detective Trunks
Bradshaw fooled you guys,” she said, shaking her head at us.
“But how can that be?” Abel asked still unsure of what Brooke just told us. “Because...” Brooke said, sighing in annoyance. “Trunks is a demi-god...”
Chapter Seven
“What do you mean he’s a demi-god?” Abel asked, totally as shocked as the rest of us. Brooke laughed dryly and folded her arms in front of her chest nudging her head towards
Detective Bradshaw. “Trunks Bradshaw used to train with us as a Slayer,” She said narrowing her eyes at him. “Until he walked out on us and became a detective for the mundane.” Brooke said the last part with bitterness in her voice.
Abel still looked totally confused by the confrontation. “But if Trunks is really a demi-god,” Abel said, thrusting the sword back into his throat making it transform back into a necklace. “Then why wasn’t I able to smell his scent?”
Trunks dropped his disguise and showed his true self. I mean he still looked the same, only now his hair color was slightly bluish, and it hung past his shoulders. His eyes were also a strange color, purple? Who has purple eyes? They had to be contacts, right? I walked up to him and touched his hair. “Is it real?” I asked examining it closely.
Trunks’ face flushed a deep red and I got in his face and poked him in the eye. “OW!” He grabbed his eye and looked at me like I was crazy. Abel busted out laughing and Trunks glared angrily at him.
“She poked me in the eye!” Trunks said, pointing an accusing finger in my direction.
I just shrugged my shoulders. “Sorry,” I said hopping onto the ledge like this was all too normal for me. “I just had to see if they were real.”
“And yes, my eyes are real!” Trunks shot back at me which only made Abel laughed even harder.
“Shinka has a thing for checking to make sure we are what we say we are.”
Trunks just shook his head and sighed, trying to gather his composure once more. “Look,” he said very seriously. “The reason why you weren’t able to smell my scent was because I hid it from you.”
“How were you able to do that?” Abel asked curiously. “You smelled like a normal human to me.”
“Because of this...” Trunks pulled out a silver lighter with a skull face engraved in it and held it out in his palm.
“Dude, that’s a lighter?” Abel rolled his eyes at it.
“Not just any lighter,” Trunks said, flicking the spark wheel, the flame ignited, and Trunks pulled out a cigarette and lit it. His appearance stayed the same.
“Again, I say, it’s just a lighter.” Abel said, frowning at Trunks.
Trunks scoffed. “You’re denser than I thought Prince Lapis,” Trunks said taking a drag from his cigarette. “Take a closer look at me... and this time actually use your brain.”
Abel was about to protest when he saw the light blue outline of Trunks’ body glowing around him. Know how I know? Because I saw it, too. I do not know how I saw it, but I did. “So now you know how I’m able to keep myself off the radar of all creatures that may or may not be after me.”
Abel scoffed. “Why would anyone be after you?” He asked coldly. “If you knew who I was why didn’t you attack me?”
Trunks laughed and flipped the lid shut on the lighter making the bluish glow disappear. “Oh, you’d be surprised how many demi-gods hate me and want me dead for dropping out of sight from the Slayers.”
“It’s a shame I can’t kill him...” Brooke said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Because he should be dead, and his body should be cast into hell!” Ouch. Whatever this Trunks guy did to Brooke left a deep wound in her and she was not about to let him forget it.
Trunks sighed in annoyance and turned his attention to Brooke, and they started arguing. I hopped off the ledge and nearly lost my balance, but Abel caught me and flashed his gorgeous smile. I laughed and allowed him to walk me back inside to check on Queen Llewellyn. She looked like she was resting, and I felt badly for her son. I looked at Abel and he looked solemn. “She’ll be okay.” I said and Abel squeezed my hand as he knelt by his mother’s side once more.
This was the first time I was around so much pain and death could be at the Queen’s door for all we knew. Just then Cadman and Drake came in holding a paper bag of burritos from Chipotle Mexican Grill. I walked over to Cadman and took the bag and pulled out a burrito. I unwrapped the aluminum foil and took a huge bite and he just blinked.
“Uh, you’re welcome,” he said, and I nodded graciously as he realized who Brooke was outside arguing with. “What is Trunks doing here?” He asked and Abel talked for me since you know, my mouth was full of burrito and all.
