Watch Over Me (Guardians Book 1)

by Shane Morgan

“Guess not.” I had the weirdest feeling that wasn’t the last time I’d see him, though.

  3

  I stopped at the market on my way home to pick up groceries, spotting gorgeous yellow tulips by the register. I sniffed and reveled in the pleasant smell before plucking a bouquet for Mrs. Crawley.

  Paying for everything, I held the paper bag securely and started out, only to pause on the sidewalk as a weird sensation gripped my body.

  I could feel someone’s gaze on me.

  Like every move I made was being watched.

  Turning, I scanned my environment. Passersby glanced at me briefly, but no one seemed off.

  Then I felt compelled to look up. A stone gargoyle on the edge of the commercial building across the street caught my eyes.

  “Wait…” It looked familiar. Like the one from the park. But this time, the statue arched over the edge, peering down at the street below.

  “It’s just building décor,” I mumbled, trying hard to convince myself.

  Drawing a deep breath, I snapped out of it, spun, and headed toward the apartment to put away the groceries.

  Mrs. Crawley brightened as I wagged the tulips before her when she answered her door minutes later. “Oh, my. Always so thoughtful.”

  I beamed at her. “These had your name on them.”

  She collected the tulips with gratitude and gestured for me to enter.

  Her apartment was a tad bigger than mine. I liked the eccentric space and how natural light flowed in through the drawn curtains.

  As always, the apartment smelled sweet from the various plants and flowers she had inside.

  “Enjoying the warm day, dear?” Mrs. Crawley asked, filling a jar with water for the tulips.

  “Not one bit.” I sat on a stool at the small island. “I’m so ready for the cold weather.”

  “Hm.” She chortled.

  Setting the tulips on the island, she picked up a platter of chocolate chip cookies from the counter and set it before me. “They’re still warm.”

  “Yes! My fave.” Reaching for one, I delighted in the sweet and gooeyness of melted chocolate as I ate. “Gosh…so good.”

  “Thank you, dear.” Her blue eyes glistened with pride, crow’s feet apparent. She came around and sat beside me. “You know, Cali, I don’t think I’ve ever told you how happy I am that you bother with an old woman like me. If I’ve already mentioned it, then my ancient brain can’t remember.”

  “Aw, Mrs. Crawley.” I stopped eating and gave her hand a gentle nudge on the island. “I love coming by. Besides, who else is going to bake me cookies?”

  We laughed together. But then hers gradually settled, and a gloomy shadow veiled her features.

  Mrs. Crawley touched my cheek as she spoke. “You’re a good girl, Calissa. I wish you nothing but happiness and love.”

  “You know I don’t like it when you talk that way,” I playfully scolded. “You make it sound as if you’re leaving.”

  “Well…” She carried her slender fingers through her thinning shoulder-length grey hair. “I won’t be around much longer. When that time comes, you can have anything in my apartment.”

  “Pfft. That’s generous, but you have more plants than anything else.” I dipped my head and squinted at her. “Unless you have a stash of money hidden somewhere?”

  She chuckled grittily. “If only.”

  We ate more cookies, watched a classic black and white film, then I returned to my apartment after Mrs. Crawley went to lie down.

  The instant I walked inside, the throw pillow on the couch caught my eye, and I remembered the stain. I still had no explanation for that.

  Sighing, I veered down the passage to my bedroom to change for the gym. Working out might destress me.

  I went hard on the treadmill, frustrated about the night before, and whether everything really happened or if I was losing my damn mind.

  It was a bad dream, I repeated over and over. Clearly, I had passed out on the couch after returning home from work and had gotten up to change into my nightshirt while sleepwalking. It wouldn’t be the first that happened. The last time I was eighteen and had woken up on the front lawn at my foster parents’ house.

  But what about the bloodstain?

  By the end of my workout, I was a sweaty mess and breathing hard. I grabbed my towel and water bottle then sank down on a bench to relax a bit before leaving.

  While wiping sweat off my face, someone came up to me.

  “Didn’t know you worked out here,” the familiar deep voice said, causing a chill to dance down my spine amid my perspiring.

  I moved the towel and saw it was indeed Kyle Briggs.

  “Oh, hey,” I gasped out, still trying to steady my breathing.

  Kyle flashed his toothpaste-commercial smile and tossed his towel over his shoulder. His face and gym clothes were dry, and he smelled fresh like he’d just arrived. “Maybe I should come to the gym more often.”

  His toned arms were on full display in the sleeveless shirt. Muscles seemed to flex from my staring.

  “Yeah, right,” I quipped on a chortle and bravely pointed out, “You’re clearly not missing gym days.”

  “Hm.” He chuckled in return and moistened his lip. “But seriously, how come we’ve never run into each other here until now?”

  I shrugged. “Honestly, I work out once or twice every other week, and I mostly come at the end of the day.”

  He nodded slowly, gaze constricting to slits as if trying to break through to my soul. “So, uh, I’m not working until ten tomorrow, maybe we could grab dinner before that?”

  Hope consumed his deep brown eyes.

  “Oh, um, my best friend invited me to dinner.”

  A total lie.

  Something like disappointment flickered across his face. He formed a smile as he asked, “Another time then?”

  Kyle really seemed like a nice guy. Maybe things could work with him. But something felt…off.

  I wrung my towel before me as I spoke in the kindest way possible. “You know, Kyle, it’s just that, we’re co-workers, and I really don’t want to complicate things.”

  “Our boss won’t care,” he said, keeping a warm smile on his handsome face. “Trust me, if that’s the issue, then don’t worry.” He inched a tad closer, timbre softening as he spoke again. “Calissa, all I’m asking for is one date. If you absolutely hate it, I won’t ask again, and I won’t make things awkward. We’ll still be friends, either way.”

  That didn’t sound so bad. But I had this strange pricking like I shouldn’t go there. A little voice somewhere in my head, warning me against the idea.

  “Can I get back to you on that?” I asked, clenching the towel at my stomach.

  He nodded. “Sure. Let me know. I’ll be around.” He wiggled his brows afterward, drawing a soft chortle out of me.

  “K.” I motioned to leave. “Well, I’ll see you at work on Saturday.”

  His charming grin wavered a bit the same time his shoulders drooped. He glanced out the large windows by the treadmills, expression turning serious.

  Looking back at me, he pulled his mouth to one side. But this time, the smile seemed fake. “See you.”

  Hm.

  I grabbed my gym bag, waved, and headed toward the exit while stuffing my towel and water bottle inside.

  The sky had darkened. Though I was pushing myself to believe everything that happened the night before was all a dream, I still felt on edge.

  Reaching the side street where I’d walked countless times before, my stomach coiled with fear, and I kept checking behind me to see if I was being followed.

  “Relax,” I mumbled to myself.

  Nothing happened.

  But the stain on the pillow…

  I slowed down and rechecked my shoulder.

  My skin was unscathed.

  “Come on, Calissa.” I exhaled intensely and exaggeratedly rolled my shoulders to calm down.

  As I was about to resume walking, the sound of wings rang above,
then something huge flew over and landed in front of me.

  I yelped and spun on my heels, ready to make a run for it.

  “Wait,” a recognizable voice stopped me in my tracks.

  Nervously, I halted and turned while tightly gripping my gym bag, ready to use it as a weapon just in case.

  It was the creature from last night, skin pallid like that of a stone. My voice hitched. My eyes expanded. “Oh my…God. You—you’re real. It wasn’t a dream. Gargoyles…demons…”

  My body quivered when his appearance started to change, slowly transforming into the man from Little Havana. The handsome man with riveting grey eyes and black hair who was watching me.

  “It’s you!” I blurted. “What the hell are you? How do you look human now?”

  He inched closer. I backed away.

  A shaky breath rushed from me. I asked again, “What are you?”

  “I am a gargoyle, and so much more.” His voice sounded deep and hypnotic when he spoke. “I didn’t want to frighten you this morning, so I left. I would’ve stayed away, seeing as though you had convinced yourself it wasn’t real. But I need to know, Calissa.” He paused and angled his head, eyes darkening as he asked, “How are you still alive?” He nodded at my shoulder. “Your wound is healed. How is that possible?”

  The blood on the pillow and my missing clothes should have been enough proof, but his presence convinced me last night happened for sure.

  “So that monster, he really cut me? Everything was real? You’re…” I trailed over his body and gulped. “You’re real? This isn’t all a dream?”

  He became alerted suddenly, and in a matter of seconds, switched back into his gargoyle form. He yanked out his long silver spear. The blade glistened in the moonlight.

  “Stay close to me.” His voice was firm, urgent.

  It caused fear to bloom.

  “What’s going on?” Terrified, I peered around the dark street. Trees danced as the wind picked up.

  A skin-crawling cackle made me jump and scurry closer to him.

  Two men and a woman dressed in black pantsuits appeared from the shadows with daggers in their hands. They all had black hair and dark eyes.

  The creature, no, Lars. I remembered. His name was Lars. He put a hand before me, protecting me, it seemed.

  “Guardian,” the woman grunted, voice laced with annoyance. “Stay out of this! Let us have Calissa.”

  How in the world do these monsters know my name?

  “Rahel,” Lars hissed bitterly. “Why are you here? What do you want with her?”

  “That is my master’s business,” she spat.

  More sounds of wings sprang forth, and two other gargoyles descended.

  “Seems we are just in time. The fun hasn’t started,” the male joked.

  “Kill the guardians!” Rahel ordered. “Bring me the girl!” She remained behind. The two men rushed forward, face and eyes morphing like the one from last night.

  Dread devoured me.

  “Jesus! What the hell is going on?” I cried. Their horrific faces were difficult to comprehend.

  Lars shoved me back and joined the other gargoyles in the fight.

  Blades clanked. Grunts echoed in the night.

  I wondered if anyone else knew about this. How could such madness be happening in the dark corners of Brighton without anyone’s knowledge?

  It just can’t be real.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed out loud, “Please wake up. Please wake up.” But the sounds of fighting wouldn’t disappear. I opened my eyes in time to see one of the demons break free and leaped for me.

  Lars knocked him away with his spear and drove the blade into his chest. The demon’s body went up into embers, evaporating into thin air.

  The other one followed soon after when the two gargoyles rammed their swords into him at the same time.

  Rahel growled with fury. “Damn you, guardians!” She quickly formed a shadow and escaped before the gargoyles could get to her.

  They passed looks between each other before all three steered their gaze to me. I scurried back, afraid.

  Lars came over and offered me his hand. “I believe it is obvious by now that we won’t harm you, Calissa.”

  I skimmed over his otherworldly body. He turned away, seemingly self-conscious.

  He huffed and dropped his hand back at his side. I pushed up from the ground on my own.

  “What’s going on?” I asked again, mystified and in shock. “Where did you all come from?”

  “We are guardians of the Gargouille kingdom,” the other male explained.

  “Gargouille?” I sputtered and laughed in wonder. “This is crazy. None of this makes sense! You can’t be real. You’re supposed to be on buildings and in gardens with water pouring out of your mouths.”

  He touched his heart. “Hey, that hurts, human.” Then he stepped closer. “My name is Ezio. That’s Sarayas. She cleaned you up last night, by the way.”

  Hearing that made me stagger back and hug my body.

  Sarayas clucked her tongue. “How is the woman still human?”

  “Yeah, shouldn’t she have turned by now?” Ezio added. “Or…died?”

  My head was hammering from confusion and shock. “Will one of you please tell me why this is happening to me?”

  “We don’t quite know,” Ezio answered. They eyed me intensely.

  “Let’s bring her home,” Lars suggested. “It’s not safe here.”

  The other two gasped.

  “Are you mad?” Ezio blurted. “It is forbidden. We cannot expose our home to humans.” Pointing to Lars, he added annoyingly, “Oh, and this crazy one is—”

  “Lars,” I finished. “Yeah, I remember. He’s been following me since yesterday, too.”

  “Trying to keep you safe, and to find answers.”

  “Answers?” I repeated. I feel as if I’ve wanted that since birth.

  He moved closer, his frame intimidating as he hovered over me. “Why are demons targeting you?”

  “You heard Rahel,” Sarayas chimed. “The demon master has business with her. We need to know what that is before they get their hands on her.”

  “Yes, which means she absolutely cannot stay,” Lars said, looking at them. “We must bring her back with us.”

  I raised my hand, growing impatient. “Hello, I’m standing right here. My name’s Calissa. Not ‘her’ or ‘human’ or ‘woman.’ Just Calissa. And I need answers, too.”

  Ezio chuckled. “All right, Lars. She is your responsibility. Let’s go.” He grabbed my gym bag and leaped into the air. Sarayas shadowed him.

  Lars closed the distance between us. I shuffled back nervously.

  “I saved your life more than once, Calissa. At least have the decency of saying thank you instead of looking at me with disgust.”

  His biting tone pissed me off.

  “Sorry, but I’m talking to a statue that came to life. Obviously, I need time to grasp all this shit while still trying to hang on to my sanity.”

  He released a sharp sigh then roughly pulled me into his arms.

  “Do not worry. Once I figure out your purpose, I’ll never show my grotesque self to you again.”

  Before I could respond, air shot from my lungs as Lars hoisted me off my feet and whisked me into the night sky.

  4

  Words failed me. It seemed like I was dragged into a fairytale, and what I’d known to be real had disappeared. I mean, two days ago, I never would have thought this to be true. That I’d be in the arms of an actual gargoyle, soaring high above the clouds.

  I swallowed and glanced down at the city of Brighton, stomach instantly going queasy. The lights from buildings and traffic were mere dots below.

  “Oh…crap. It’s so high.” I tightened my arms around Lars’s thick neck and looked up at him.

  His skin appeared paler in the moonlight. Soft and warm to the touch, and almost like it was gleaming.

  I observed his attractive face, accentuated by unnatura
l aspects. Strange how there was no hair on his head in this form, and even his ears looked larger.

  He seemed to have sensed me watching him and peered down at me. I quickly dropped my eyes, focusing on Sarayas and Ezio flying ahead of us.

  Lars harrumphed, but he didn’t utter a word.

  Something crossed my mind. “How is it you’ve existed without anyone finding out?”

  “Humans are always afraid of what they do not understand.” His voice was a near whisper as he added, “The way you look at us, that is one of the reasons we remain in secret.” Guilt circulated within me at his words.

  The way I look at them. At him.

  “Take a deep breath,” he advised.

  I scowled. “Why?”

  When I looked ahead again, Ezio and Sarayas vanished suddenly. Panic rose in me. Lars reached a large cloud, and a crippling wave of electricity attacked my body as we passed through.

  My throat felt charred.

  Head and heart pounded rapidly.

  “Ugh…shit…What was that?” I moaned from discomfort.

  “Look,” he said. “This is our home.”

  When I gazed down, I gasped at the massive waterfall, stone housing on hills, and the giant gargoyle structures below. Were those actual statues or gargoyles keeping watch?

  My mouth fell open. “This is…”

  “Gargouille kingdom,” Lars finished, continuing his flight. I felt overwhelmed. How was all this possible?

  Gargouille kingdom was a breathtaking world outside of my own. If it looked like this at night, I couldn’t imagine the profound beauty on display in the daytime.

  Finally, Lars landed on a concrete ledge where Sarayas and Ezio were waiting. I arched over and barfed when he set me back on my feet. How unattractive.

  The other two gargoyles chuckled at my sad sight.

  “Are you all right?” Sarayas asked through her laughter.

  “Told you to take a deep breath,” Lars muttered, sounding sympathetic. He lightly touched my back. I waved him off and straightened, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

  “Ezio, please tell your father what has happened,” Lars instructed. “Tell him Calissa hasn’t changed and see if he can find any answers.”