“Row?” she asked.
“Yes, Row. It is an affectionate shortening of your name. Do you mind, terribly?” he asked, again batting his eyelashes at her.
Rowan raised an eyebrow at Destroy, which had him grinning and adding, “I did not miss that you called me Ribbons, and I did not mind because it was with affection.”
“It was not affection. It was because the first time I saw you, you were wearing ribbons,” she said, smiling, remembering how he looked decorated with ribbons.
Destroy pointed at her, “Ah! There, there it is! That smile as you remember me with ribbons on my horns.” Then he nodded to himself, convinced, “Yes, it was with affection.” He turned to Enthrall who was shaking his head, watching the play between the two. “She likes me,” he mock whispered, “I am sure of it.”
“I do not!” she claimed with emphasis as she slipped her hand into the pocket of Carolena’s dress to finger the purple ribbon she’d stuffed in there. She’d left the rest for Lily to keep, but kept the purple one as it was her favorite. And it was not because she was becoming attached to the far too self-assured Gargoyle, it was because it was pretty and silky and soothed her. At least that’s what she told herself.
“I’ll throw something together for lunch. You two can handle dinner. That okay with the two of you?” Enthrall asked, as he walked to the kitchen.
“Yes, thank you,” Rowan said.
Rowan spent much of the afternoon relaxing. She was much better, but still not fully healed. Destroy and Enthrall walked the perimeter of the house, looking for any area that needed to be further secured against the Windigo when he came — there was no doubt he’d come, it was just a matter of when. But hopefully with her being in Enthrall’s home, he wouldn’t be quite so bold as to enter without invitation.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
As night fell, Lily and Carolena went to bed in Carnage and Carolena’s room. He tucked them in nice and tight and lay down beside them, prepared to stay awake and watch over them until the Windigo figured out that Rowan was no longer here.
In the wee hours of the morning, Carnage felt it. An uneasiness, a feeling of danger that put him on edge immediately. He got up and silently made his way down the hallway to their kitchen. Through the windows he saw a soft glow coming from the porch, then… nothing. The feeling dissipated, the unease left. Carnage walked outside onto their deck and sniffed, his nose held in the air. Still nothing. But the threat he’d detected minutes before was no longer nearby. He circled the house, peering over every edge of the deck, until he was completely satisfied that there was indeed nothing there. He went back inside, locked the door, secured the house, and again lay down beside his wife and daughter to await the morning.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The Windigo stood on the outside deck surrounding the house in the trees. He knew he risked much by coming here. The Goyle that lived inside was dangerous. And if the Vampire that watched over all of Whispers found out about him stalking the Witch, he risked being cast out. But the Witch was worth the risk. The space where his heart once was echoed with yearning as he peered in the windows searching for a glimpse of her. He didn’t feel her, so surely she must have cloaked herself even better than yesterday. He closed his eyes, heightened his senses and searched for her magic, that force that had drawn him to her in the first place. He pressed his skeletal hands against the window from outside but immediately jerked them back, away from the building when a force he didn’t expect shot through his body. He snarled. The Ancient had been here, he’d protected the place from his very touch. He rubbed his hands together in an effort to stop the painful tingling still permeating them.
A constant animalistic snarl emitted from his chest, worry filling his eyes — it wasn’t here, the magic was gone. She wasn’t here! But he could feel remnants, the magic had been here, had been right here… He turned, following the traces of a very strong magical surge to one particular spot on the deck. Yes, he thought as he knelt and ran his boney fingertips across the place where Rowan had stood when she’d summoned the elements the previous morning — there had been a very strong magic used here. His breath quickened thinking of the possibilities. Perhaps she could be the one. He heard footsteps approaching the door of the house and quickly faded away. He had a Witch to find. Her magic had been fully unleashed, surely tracking her would not be that difficult.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
It was well past 9:00PM when Rowan dried and put away the last of the dishes from their dinner. She and Destroy had prepared a roasted duck with carrots and potatoes. Well, actually, she had prepared it. But Destroy had brought the duck for her to cook and had helped cut up the vegetables. Then he’d pretty much just hovered, getting in her way as she tried to cook in a wood burning stove she was unaccustomed to. She’d also made a cornbread slathered in lots of butter that all three had indulged in. After their meal, Rowan had insisted on cleaning the kitchen while they planned security for the night.
She wiped her hands on a dishtowel, folding it neatly and hanging it over the edge of the counter in the kitchen. Then, walked into the living room to find Enthrall and Destroy deep in discussion.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a bath before bedtime,” she said to Enthrall.
“Absolutely. Rowan please, make yourself at home while you are here. You need not request permission to bathe, cook, sleep or anything else,” Enthrall explained.
Rowan nodded, “Thank you, Enthrall. I’m not accustomed to such kindness.”
“Well, you should be,” he answered.
Choosing not to address his comment, she said, “If you’ll excuse me then, I’ll go have a quick bath.”
Destroy stood.
“Where are you going?” Enthrall asked.
“To watch over her while she bathes,” Destroy answered.
“I don’t think so. She’s quite capable of bathing on her own. She’s much healed and does not need you to help her bathe.”
Destroy glared at Enthrall but took a seat beside him.
A short while later when Rowan rejoined them, she’d redressed in the clothing that Carolena had lent her earlier that day.
“I can quickly go to Carolena’s and collect your things. My apologies for not thinking of grabbing them sooner,” Enthrall said.
Rowan looked embarrassed, “I don’t have any things. This is my only clothing. When Destroy brought me here, they brought only me. I’m not complaining!” she rushed to explain, “Just saying that I have no other clothing — but it’s okay, I can make do.”
“I will borrow more clothing from Carolena,” Destroy stated.
“No, it’s not necessary,” Enthrall answered Destroy. Then he turned to Rowan, “I’ll go to town tomorrow morning and see what I can find for you. There are usually a few things to choose from at the general store.”
“I’ll pay for it,” Destroy hurried to add.
Enthrall turned to Destroy, “It’s not needed, Destroy. I can get…”
“I didn’t say it was needed, I said I’ll pay for it. I have coin. Lots of coin. I’ll bring you some for anything that Rowan may need.”
“Destroy…” Enthrall started, but again Destroy cut him off.
“I’ll pay for all she needs,” he practically snarled.
“Fine, have it your way,” Enthrall conceded.
Having watched the two males, yet again making decisions about her, without her, Rowan said, “I’ll pay you back, Destroy. Thank you for making sure I have what I need, but I will be repaying you as soon as I am able.”
“No, I have no need of the gold. You will not repay me. I…”
“Are you telling me what I will and will not do again?” she asked, interrupting him.
“Uh, no?” he replied, more question than statement.
“I didn’t think so,” she answered. Then she addressed Enthrall, “I will repay both of you for your kindness and any monies you expend on me. Otherwise you will not expend any on me.”
“Very well,” Enthrall answer
ed immediately.
“Fine,” Destroy said, pouting, but forcing a smile in spite of it.
“Good, thank you both for understanding. Now that that’s settled, I think I’ll go to bed if you don’t mind. It’s been a very exciting few days.”
“Of course, dear. Go get some rest,” Enthrall said.
“Good night, Row. Do not fret, I shall watch over you as you rest,” Destroy told her.
“Thank you, Enthrall. And thank you both for keeping me safe. I appreciate you both so much. Ribbons,” she continued, addressing Destroy, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
As soon as she’d gone down the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind her, Destroy turned to Enthrall smiling, “See? She likes me.”
“Really? You see Ribbons as a term of endearment?” Enthrall asked.
“Without a doubt,” Destroy answered confidently.
Much later that night, actually right before dawn the next morning, the Windigo stood outside Enthrall’s home. He’d followed the trace magic to this very spot.
He stood, cursing his luck. His head spinning with ideas, discarding one after another of how he could get to his Witch while she sheltered inside with the very male who had granted him sanctuary from his continuous wanderings. If he tried to penetrate Enthrall’s private space, and take his Witch away with him, surely Enthrall would banish him. Then, if the Witch refused to submit to his demands, he’d be left wandering again. With a Witch in tow, if she survived, that is.
He moved to the back of the house and stood outside the window, watching, his fury growing as he watched another of the Goyles, sleeping across the foot of her bed. This Goyle was less dangerous in some ways, but more dangerous in others. He was not as volatile as the speechless one, but was very proud and thought himself without limits. He was dangerous in his efforts to prove himself a strong male. And now he slept strewn across the foot of the Witch’s bed.
As the Windigo watched from outside, weighing his options, the bedroom door opened, and Enthrall entered. The Windigo took several steps back into the shadows. Enthrall looked around the room, as though sensing that something was off. Soon enough he focused on the window and walked over to it, pushing the already opened blinds aside to better peer outside. At the motion of the blinds being pushed aside the Windigo vanished, disappearing before Enthrall had a chance to clearly see him. He’d have to think on this and come again another night.
Enthrall had second watch, Destroy had had first watch. He sat on his sofa reading, waiting for the dawn to arrive. Routinely he’d get up from his seat and walk around the house. Checking each room, and the one that he called Carolena’s bedroom, where Rowan slept, several times at each round of the house. Destroy had said that he was going to sleep on the floor outside Rowan’s room, but later when Enthrall had made his rounds, he’d found Destroy asleep across the foot of her bed. He’d started to wake the Goyle to get him out of her room, but decided that she may actually be safer with him sleeping there with her, than in the room alone. So he’d left the door to the room opened and made frequent trips through the house to protect them all. He’d just sat down again when he got the sensation that something wasn’t right. He got up and headed straight for Carolena’s bedroom, where Rowan slept, with Destroy at her feet. Enthrall walked into the room, looked around but found nothing out of place. He tried to look through the window, squinting, but couldn’t quite make out anything through the darkness with the blinds half opened and the gas lamp on the table throwing a glare on the window from behind him. He walked over to the window and shoved the blinds aside to better see. Nothing. There was nothing there. It must have been his imagination getting the best of him. He turned to leave the bedroom and found Destroy watching him. Destroy met his eyes and just barely moved his chin toward the window, indicating that something was there. Enthrall mouthed, “outside?”
Destroy nodded almost imperceptibly.
Enthrall wasted no time; he ghosted from where he stood to the spot the Windigo had just previously inhabited. But he was moments too late — the Windigo was gone. After checking the area thoroughly, as well as the rest of the outside of his property, Enthrall returned to the house.
He went straight to the bedroom and knelt beside the bed where Destroy lay so that they could whisper quietly.
“There is nothing out there,” Enthrall whispered.
“He was there,” Destroy said quietly.
Enthrall nodded, “I think so, too.”
“We can’t leave her alone,” Destroy answered.
“No. We won’t. Not even for a moment. At least not until we know that she’s safe and what he wants her for so that we can address it. We need to make sure that he knows that we won’t allow him to have her, regardless,” Enthrall said.
“You staying awake in here?” Enthrall asked.
“Yes, just laying here resting, but I’m not sleeping,” Destroy answered.
“Good, me either. Between the two of us, he can’t get to her,” Enthrall said as he rose to leave the room.
“Enthrall?” Destroy quietly called before he made it to the door.
Enthrall turned to look at Destroy.
Destroy said, “Thank you for bringing her here. You were right. She’s much safer here than in Carnage’s home. Thank you.”
Enthrall didn’t speak, but inclined his head, a slight smile on his face before he turned and went back to the living room. As he retook his seat on the sofa, flipping to the last page he’d read, he wondered at the sudden maturity Destroy was exhibiting. A female… was that all it took for him to grow up, to become a better male? Enthrall smiled to himself — he was pleased to see Destroy becoming the male he was meant to be.
Chapter 14
“I’ll be going into town this morning; is there anything in particular you’d like me to bring back for you?” Enthrall asked Rowan.
“No, thank you. I don’t want to be any bother. Just a change of clothes would be more than enough,” she answered behind her hand as she shielded her mouth as she chewed. She’d always been taught not to speak with food in her mouth, so when she did, she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Well, I’ll see what I can find for you,” he answered.
Standing, Destroy said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Rowan asked, surprised that he’d leave her alone with Enthrall, not that she was afraid of Enthrall — she’d just come to expect Destroy’s possessive mannerisms. And she was more than a little perturbed that she cared that he’d leave her alone.
“I’m going for coin, I’ll be back in only minutes,” he said, smiling at her warmly.
Destroy walked out of the room and onto the porch.
Rowan stood and hurried outside after him, meaning to tell him that it wasn’t necessary — but by the time she got there he was already gone.
Enthrall was clearing away the dishes when she returned, “Where did he go so quickly?” she asked as she automatically pitched in, helping to clean the table and the dishes.
“To his home, I’m sure. He is quite insistent about providing what you need,” Enthrall explained.
“Oh. But I was only a minute or two behind him,” she complained.
“Have you never seen a Gargoyle take flight?” he asked.
Rowan’s mouth dropped open, her eyes huge and rounded, “He actually flies?”
Enthrall chuckled, “He does.”
“But… he’s so big. How does he fly?”
“Did you not notice the huge wings folded and tucked against his back?”
“Well, yes, but I just thought they were ornamental. He’s a big man, er, male, er Gargoyle?”
Enthrall laughed, “I don’t really think he cares what you call him, as long as you notice him. And yes, he is a rather large Gargoyle, but the wings are not just ornamental. They are fully functional.”
“Wow,” was all she said.
Having finished cleaning, Enthrall reached his hand out to her, “Come. Let us g
o watch for his return. Watching him fly, as with all the other Goyles, is a thing of beauty… very graceful.” Then he leaned closer conspiratorily, “But please do not tell him I said so. All we need is an even more conceited Destroy.”
Rowan laughed as she took Enthrall’s hand to allow him to lead her outside to watch for Destroy’s return. A few short minutes later, Rowan found herself completely speechless as she watched Destroy approach. His huge, glorious, black-feathered wings spread to their maximum size, held aloft as he glided on the wind currents, then gently beating rhythmically as he set himself down softly on the grass in front of Enthrall’s home. He folded them without a thought as he walked toward where they waited on the porch, counting out the coins in his hand. “Here, Enthrall. Please use these to purchase whatever Rowan may need. It pains me greatly that I cannot go to purchase her clothing, so please, use my coins when you do.”
Enthrall held his hand out, and Destroy poured no less than a dozen solid gold coins into his palm. They were Escudo Philip IV, minted in Spain in the 1600’s, and worth thousands of dollars each.
“Destroy, I cannot take these coins into town!”
“Of course you can,” he waved Enthrall away, “Just go, spend whatever you need.”
“Destroy, this is far too much. And it will rouse suspicion of where I got them. Do you have nothing less?” Enthrall tried to explain. “If not, perhaps I could pay, and you could reimburse me later.”
Destroy started digging into his pocket, coming out with a few more coins. “What about these?” he asked, holding out three silver coins. They were from the same era, silver pieces of eight, minted in Seville.
Enthrall took one from him, looking it over, thinking this is much better, still too much, but not nearly as extravagant as the gold pieces. He handed the gold back to Destroy, “How many of these things do you have anyway?”
Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Page 11