As for Leo, he was back to wearing his lime green knitted sweater. I’d placed it over one of the vents so that it would dry quickly, though he would probably just do his blip thing to get back to the cottage when this was all over. He already had the information he needed on possible locations of Skippy’s hibernation provisions, so Leo wouldn’t need to ride back on the snowmobile.
“I’m Raven, and this is Leo,” I stated matter-of-factly as we came up to Gary. The snow had piled rather high on top of his head, shoulders, and wings. “We know that you were sent here to protect Bree, but we need to speak with you about what you did to Monty and Madam Rose’s shops.”
Gary didn’t move a muscle.
Oh, well. No one can say that we didn’t try. Let’s go home, shall we?
I began to brush off the snow from Gary’s head with my glove, eventually doing the same with his shoulders and wings.
For the love of all catnip, would you stop touching that monstrosity? What is it with you and tempting fate? I really don’t feel like getting swallowed whole before my morning nap.
“Let’s try this,” I suggested more to Gary than to Leo. “We understand that you have a responsibility, but you’re actually putting Bree in danger by committing those crimes. Did you know that vandalism is a crime? The residents are getting really nervous that someone is breaking and entering into the shops in town. It’s only a matter of time before someone not of the supernatural world puts two and two together.”
Leo and I waited patiently for Gary to react, but he remained still in his statue form.
Fine. You want to take drastic measures and risk our lives? Go ahead and bop him on the head. My hand warmers have lost some of their heat, and I don’t want to be out here any longer than necessary.
“I’m not bopping him on the head,” I muttered, shifting to the side so that all three of us fit underneath the awning. The wind wasn’t so bad in the small indented alcove, but the tail whisps of the gusts still made themselves known. “Gary, this is silly. We know what you are. No one else is around to see you talk to us, but we really need to get this sorted out before someone gets hurt. Trust me, Bree would be sad if that were to happen.”
I see what you did there—reverse psychology. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Bop him on the head.
I could commiserate with Leo’s frustration, because it was really hard to continue to stand out in the cold and talk to a stone statue. There had to be a way we could get him to talk to us.
“I turned the cell phone off, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I reassured him, hoping that would be enough to entice him to speak with us.
Can we both agree that this isn’t working? I know! Throw the potion vial at him, and maybe that will startle him enough to fly off the base. I’ll be inside the bakery while you do it, but know that I’m here in spirit for you.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I warned before giving a huff of frustration. “Listen here, Gary. You—”
What if he doesn’t like that name?
“Well, we have to call him something. Listen, Gary. We—”
What if it’s Gus?
“Fine!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air. “I won’t even call him by a name.”
What if he doesn’t like that, either?
“Are you purposefully trying to make this harder than it has to be?” I asked irritably, placing my hands on my hips.
Maybe. I’m cold, in need of a nap, and I have a deep-seated fear of being swallowed by a stone golem…with sharp claws, sharp teeth, and what looks to be large wings. What do you think is going to happen when he decides to turn into a talking, menacing, flying gargoyle?
“In case you forgot, I have the ability to protect us.” I held up my right arm to show him my hand, which was currently snug in my glove. “Energy ball, remember?”
You mean, do I remember that the palm of your hand is defective? Yes, I do recall that fact.
“We already figured that out, Leo. My ability to sense danger didn’t go off because Gary is technically neutral.”
That’s an assumption, and you know what they say about that. It’s makes an—
“I get it!” A headache had started to form in my temples, and I blamed the lack of coffee that I had this morning. The first thing that I was going to do when I got back to the teashop was make myself a cup of coffee. “Ugh. Why won’t he talk to us? I mean, no one else is around to see. He has to know that we’re part of the supernatural realm. He has nothing to fear from us.”
So, are you saying that we are in agreement? This is a pointless endeavor, and we should head back to the safety of the cottage, while being thankful of the little things.
“What is there to be thankful for?”
Well, it could easily have been you who upset Gargoyle Gary. Think about it. The old geezer and the psychedelic psychic are the ones who basically threatened harm to the cupcake lady or her business. At least you were the smart one.
“That’s it! You figured it out! If I could bend over low enough in this getup, I’d kiss you on the head.”
I’m not sure what you figured out, but my senses are at full capacity, thanks to the prehistoric crypt keeper’s organic, wild blueberry-filled edibles. I’m sensing that you’re about to put our lives in danger. I’d like to point out that I’m on my ninth and final life. Maybe tenth through eighteenth are not in the cards. I don’t believe we ever really did get that sorted out.
“Gary, I’m sorry to have to do this.”
Then don’t. For the love of all catnip, think carefully before you do something that would result in me being swallowed whole and eaten by a stone golem!
“I’m going to burn down the bakery, and there isn’t a thing you can do to stop me.
Sweet angel of mercy, I hope you’re happy! I’m about to be a feline dinner that tastes slightly like wild blueberries! Look at what you’ve gone and done!
Chapter Eighteen
“You did what?” Liam asked with incredulity, rubbing the back of his neck the way he did when something overwhelmed him.
She signed our death sentence, that’s what she did. You two are going to be the hors d’oeuvres, and I’m going to be the main course. You realize that no one is going to know what to do in order to survive the squirrelpocalypse now, right?
“It was clear to me that Gary wasn’t going to talk to us. I’m actually not sure that he can speak.”
I stopped while I tried to figure out how to explain in what way that I’d drawn this conclusion.
You can’t, because you just put us down in the local grim reaper’s daily planner.
“Would you stop panicking? Nothing is going to happen, because we’re going to be here when Gary shows up…which should be relatively soon.”
While I let Liam and Leo both get a grip on themselves, I went about making a carafe full of coffee. I needed to get rid of this tension headache, and I also needed to have my wits about me when we all finally did confront Gary face to face.
“What makes you think that the stone golem can even be reasoned with, Raven? He wouldn’t give you the time of day when no one was even around, and you go and make yourself a target. I’m carrying my firearm, but I highly doubt that a bullet is going to be able to stop a creature made of enchanted stone.”
Oh, I feel a hairball coming up.
“Leo was the one who first pointed it out, but the only time that Gary reacts is when either Bree or the bakery is threatened,” I pointed out, trying my very best to remain patient while the coffee maker finished brewing. The delicious aroma began to fill the air, tempting me even more. “I’m not sure that Gary can interact one on one. Remember, we aren’t even sure why he was sent to protect Bree…or by who! So, I did the one thing that would guarantee his presence in such a form that we can communicate with him.”
Leo was over on his bed in the display window, either hacking up that hairball that he’d mentioned or having an asthma attack. Either way, at least he had a clear view
of the street to see when Gary decided to make his way here.
It was best to be armed and ready for the upcoming visit.
The potion vial that I’d taken with us originally was in the pocket of my snow pants, and it would create a nice diversion if needed. I didn’t believe the situation would come to that, but it was best to be prepared.
“Shouldn’t you have your mother or Rye here?” Liam asked, though he quickly dispelled any presumptions that he didn’t have faith in my abilities. I’d already known he had complete trust in me, but it was sweet how he forged ahead to explain. “The more energy around you, the better chances you have to somehow stop whatever mission the stone golem was sent here to do, right?”
Oy vey. Just when I think it can’t get worse…
“In general, you’re right.” I sighed with relief when the coffee was finished, and that last drop of bliss plopped into the carafe. “But this time, less energy might be better. Since we aren’t sure who or what created Gary, it might be better to handle this situation more subtly. Seeing as he is created by energy, he could also grow stronger with other magical beings in such close proximity.”
We’re all going to die.
After pouring coffee in two to-go cups that I’d taken from the stand that was usually reserved for customers, I set the carafe back onto the burner. I turned and handed Liam one of the cups before lifting my own in a salute.
“Here’s to wrapping this mystery up so that we can enjoy the rest of the year.”
Liam and I clinked cups right as Leo reminded me that such optimism might be a little farfetched.
You do recall that the prehistoric crypt keeper has been rambling on about the dead rising or some such horse pucky, right? One would think that you had the short-term memory loss. I guess it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Gargoyle Gary has probably already sent out the gargoyle signal in order to rally his gaggle for the final showdown.
“So, how is this going to work?”
Liam had unzipped his ski jacket, but he kept it on in case he needed to quickly go outside. His hat, gloves, and goggles were in easy reach on the high-top table near the front entrance. As for me, I’d removed my bulky jacket to be more comfortable. I had no idea how long the threat to Bree’s bakery would take to sink into the stone golems thoughts.
“Well, I don’t think Gary is a typical golem. I mean, not in the way that Ted and Justine were created. If we’re right about the reason that the statue was sent to Bree in the first place, then Gary wasn’t created to be her companion. He was purposefully generated with construct magic to be her guardian.”
Hmmm. Now that I think about it, that’s not a bad idea. Hey, Raven? What are your thoughts about having a couple of bodyguards? The squirrelpocalypse is bound to get dirty, and I don’t mean in the literal sense. It might benefit me as leader of the opposition to have some measure of protection.
“What is the stone golem protecting Bree from?” Liam asked, positioning himself beside me so that he could see the street. His dark gaze scanned the falling snow for any sign of movement. “Let’s face it—good ol’ Gary isn’t the run-of-the-mill white knight, if you get my drift.”
Never mind on the bodyguard idea. What was I thinking? It’s too late. We’re all doomed.
“I don’t know,” I murmured in thought. We both leaned back against the check-out counter in thought. “Rye has mentioned numerous times that his true ancestors were more powerful than anyone thought. He mentioned that he’s been doing research on and off for quite some time.”
Leo was once again adjusting his haunches on the heat warmers as he continued to glare in Gary’s direction. I’m pretty sure that the packets were somewhat lukewarm by now, but I guess they were better than nothing.
“Do you think Rye stumbled onto something that someone doesn’t want him to know?” Liam asked before shaking his head at his own question. “That doesn’t add up.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” I agreed, once more going deep in thought regarding the reasoning behind Gary’s existence. “Gary hasn’t hurt Rye in any way, and there has been no indication that he would…unless he threatened Bree.”
“I hate to throw another monkey wrench into your theory, but have you considered that this isn’t about Rye at all?” Liam proposed, lifting up his cup, but stopping short of taking a sip so that he could finish his thought. “Is there a chance that Bree comes from…you know.”
Look. If the good ol’ sheriff wants to be our sidekick, then he has to know that we don’t allow monkey wrenches. Him suggesting that the cupcake lady is part of our supernatural world is like saying our local grim reaper is just the graveyard’s groundskeeper.
“Leo doesn’t agree with you,” I relayed, scrunching my nose as I gave the matter more thought. I was oddly calm for the upcoming confrontation, but I’d decided that my ability to sense danger would protect all of us. We’d all assumed that my gift had gone dormant or defective, but I truly believed it had been due to the fact that Gary wasn’t dangerous in the least. “Neither do I. Rye would have caught on at some point.”
“Bree hasn’t caught onto the fact that Rye is a wizard,” Liam pointed out before taking another drink of his coffee.
Raven?
I could see from the way Liam’s shoulders were set that he wasn’t as comfortable with the upcoming altercation as I was, but there was nothing that I could say that would make him rest easier. He was technically my protector, and the sentiment warmed my heart.
“Hasn’t she?” I countered before focusing on Leo. He once again had his nose pressed against the glass, and he’d used the tone that always indicated that trouble was near. “Leo? Is it time?”
False alarm. My whiskers twitched, and I caught sight of the movement out of my peripheral vision. Waiting to die is a bit nerve-racking. Don’t judge.
“It’s not time,” I informed Liam, whose knuckles had gone a bit white from the grip on his coffee mug. I’d seen him make an arrest or two over the course of our relationship, and he was always so calm and composed. Dealing with a stone statue in the shape of a gargoyle? Well, it was definitely out of his comfort zone. “Anyway, back to Bree. You told me after I’d shared with you my family secret that you’d always known something was different about me. I’m pretty sure that Bree knows there is something special about Rye, as well.”
I wouldn’t go that far. Special? The know-it-all wizard cheats at cards, defends the Wicked Witch of Windsor at every turn, and clearly is the spawn of some powerful ancestors who are evidently waiting for some catastrophic event to make themselves known. He should be labeled as hazardous materials, but who am I to say? Oh! That’s right. I’m the one who warned you all about a potential gaggle of gargoyles!
“I’m sure it doesn’t help that we’ve all been congregating at the bakery lately to monitor the statue’s movements,” Liam pointed out, relaxing just enough to finish his coffee.
“Wait a second.” I paced forward toward Leo, thinking over what he’d just said about Rye’s family. “Leo, you might be onto something!”
Again? I hate to break this to you, Raven, but my genius IQ didn’t help the situation in the first place.
“Rye was taken in by Aunt Rowena at a young age. She basically raised him for years at the coven, only to then tuck him away an hour south where she could keep an eye on him when the coven began asking too many questions about his ancestors.”
“You did mention that his powers were rather strong for someone his age,” Liam said, adding onto my current theory. “What does that have to do with the stone golem?”
“I’m not sure, because Gary seems to be protecting Bree.” I paced back and forth a few more times, attempting to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. “Let’s go over this again. Leo first suspects that the statue is moving, Monty and Mindy notice tracks in fresh snow, and anyone so far who has threatened—jokingly, of course—to give Bree competition or to steal from her has had their shop vandalized. Maybe the statue knows th
at she is an extension of Rye? I mean, Rye would never in a million years have accepted an anonymous gift such as a gargoyle. It’s not his style, but Bree? She loves those kinds of things.”
“So, you’re thinking that the stone golem was sent to Bree by Rye’s family in order to protect him?”
Liam paused long enough to contemplate the twist that I’d added into my original theory, but it was Leo who’d ended up responding in a manner that had me practically dropping my coffee cup.
It moved! It moved, Raven, and it’s got orange eyes! Sweet angel of mercy, the thing might be able to breathe fire! This is it! We’re all going to be fried to a crisp!
Chapter Nineteen
“Wow,” I managed to say as I came to an abrupt stop behind Leo. Liam had joined me, and the three of us could only stare out of the display window in a mix of disbelief and anticipation. I’d never seen anything quite like it before. “You don’t think that it can actually…”
I had been going to ask if either one of them thought that Gary could actually breathe fire, the way Leo had suggested, but I couldn’t get the words out. Too many other questions had begun to flash through my mind, such as why my hands still weren’t sending me signals that our lives were in danger or what the residents would think when they discovered that most of the town had been turned into cinder.
We pulled back slightly when those glowing orange eyes began to get closer rather quickly…too quickly. It took all of us a moment to understand what had just happened, but we’d gotten the picture loud and clear when the falling snow basically cleared a path for the stone golem.
You see, Gary had been leaving his prints in the snow, but it was only because he’d needed the leverage to spread out his wings and take flight.
One moment, the stone golem was running toward us.
In another, he’d spread his wings and lifted himself off the ground like a majestic dragon.
Stony Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 16) Page 13