While most of the group dug into my gift, murmuring to each other as they searched for their favorites, Astolat landed beside Uther, wrapping one arm through his while pulling her wings around her shoulders like a cloak. The only difference that I could discern between female and male gargoyles was size. The females were slightly smaller in size, slimmer but no less dangerous. They were all different shades of color with different hair styles, if they had hair at all.
“It’s good to see you again, Astolat, Uther,” I greeted with a bow of my head.
“Thank you for the gifts, Gage,” Astolat replied.
“What do you want?” Uther’s voice was a deep rumble, like the ground shuddering during an earthquake.
I stepped backward, putting some space between Uther and myself. If I had learned anything, it was that the gargoyles were extremely protective of their females. “Why do I have to want something? Can’t I just come to visit my friends?”
There was snort behind me and I turned to see one gargoyle smirking at me as he stuffed one large hand into the box in his lap. “A visit? You always want something when you’re here.”
“Eat your cereal, Evrain,” I grumbled before looking up at Uther. “Okay, so there is something that I could use some help with, but first I want to know what’s up with you guys. You usually aren’t so hesitant to come out when I stop by.”
Uther glared at me, his mouth thinning to a hard, unyielding line. Astolat looked sad as she ran her hand over Uther’s chest in a reassuring manner. “A couple weeks ago, Lysanor and Mordrain were . . . destroyed.”
“What?” I gasped. Jerking around, my eyes swept over the group huddled close together. I hadn’t noticed before that Lysanor and Mordrain were missing, but it wasn’t always easy to see a missing gargoyle or two considering their massive size. The clan stilled at the mention of their fallen comrades, heads down as they seemed to draw closer together. “How?”
“They were destroyed during the day. We found their remains the following night when we awoke,” Uther explained. “We do not know who did this or why it was done.”
“Have you reported the attack?”
Uther shook his head, sending a lock of black hair over his shoulder. “We handle our own problems.”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I nodded. “I understand, but is there anything I can do to help?”
“I don’t think so,” Uther said softly.
I frowned. Gargoyles weren’t a numerous race. After the death of two clan members, there were now only eight gargoyles in Low Town, and this city was lucky to have them. Usually only the biggest cities had gargoyles—the race had nearly been wiped out by the Ivory Towers, like many of the other races, during the Great War.
Uther and his clan mates had helped me on more than one occasion, not to mention the random times that I just sat around on the top of Lindner Tower and bullshitted with Uther, Evrain, and Balen. In truth, I seemed to feel more at ease with those who were not of my own race.
“If . . . if you can agree not to ask too many questions, I can help you. Offer you some daytime protection.” It was a fight to get the words out of my mouth. Uther and his companions might agree not to ask questions, but they would think them, and when it came to humans, the only answers lived in the Ivory Towers. But I trusted Uther. I trusted him not to knife me in the back and not to tell others. From there, you just had to take a risk or two in life.
“Thank you for your offer, but no.”
“Uther, please,” Astolat whispered, pressing close to the gargoyle. Uther’s brow furrowed as he leaned his head down closer to her. I politely turned away from the couple, trying to give them a little privacy. Gazing over Pellanor’s shoulder, I watched him carefully inspect what looked to be some sort of spy decoder ring. The gargoyle looked up at me and smiled before offering some of his treat. I smiled and shook my head. I needed a drink. Not an injection of sugar into my system.
“How could you help us, Gage?” Astolat softly asked, drawing my attention back to the couple.
Stepping away from Pellanor, I turned back toward Uther and his beloved mate. “I know a few tricks. I could provide some protection so that no one could see you during the day. It would be limited. I couldn’t cover the entire rooftop, just a small area, but it would buy you some time until you discovered the culprit and dealt with them.”
Uther frowned and Astolat leaned her head against his shoulder, looking sad. I could guess the problem. If the murderer was anyone but the Ivory Tower, they could deal with it. But if it was a witch or warlock, Uther and his clan would have to seriously consider moving if they ever wanted to feel safe again.
“We have somewhere else we could use your help,” Uther slowly admitted while wrapping his other arm around Astolat. “We’ll be leaving our rooftop soon. We’ve found a place to set up a rookery. We will be there for nearly a year before we can safely move again. Could you set your tricks on that?”
“You’re . . . you’re . . .” I stammered, trying to find a polite word for it.
“Breeding, yes,” Enid gently said, coming up beside me with a timid smile. “Gargoyles lay eggs once a century at best. We should get at least three eggs but no more than five. We were hoping for more, but with Lysanor gone . . .”
My gaze snapped over to Uther. “Is this why it happened?”
“We’re not sure. The timing is unfortunate.”
“What’s the place?”
Uther turned and pointed toward the south. “We found a cave.”
“In the forest?”
The head gargoyle nodded. “We’ve spent many nights exploring it. We believe no one has ventured into its depths for a long time. We should be safe there.”
“And you would like a little extra daytime protection for your young.”
“Please, Gage,” Astolat whispered. “Could you help us?” At the same time, Enid laid a clawed hand on my shoulder, looking down at me with pleading yellow eyes.
My stomach churned and twisted as I thought about it. Protecting the cave for them meant venturing into the forest lands at night. The woods outside the city could be tricky, as many of the fey remained in the surrounding areas outside the city limits and could be . . . mischievous. I didn’t want to think about stepping foot on their land under the silvery light of the moon. Sure, I liked to camp, but that was in fey-designated safe zones just past the city borders. On the other hand, I would be protected by Uther and his people while I cast the protective wards. And most importantly, they needed me.
When I turned my back on the Ivory Towers, swearing I would never be like the other warlocks and witches, it was because I didn’t want to spend a long lifetime destroying other people as I sought more power in which to crush people. Now I had the chance to actually help someone with my hard-won abilities. If I had to choose, I would rather die trying to do the right thing than live doing the wrong thing.
“I can help. Contact me when you’re ready,” I said with a smile. Enid grabbed me in a fierce bear hug that had me groaning as she threatened to crack my ribs.
“Thank you!” she said in a rush of relief as she put me back down.
“Sure, just remember me when you’re naming the little tykes,” I said, rubbing my bruised ribs. Enid looked troubled for a moment, glancing up at Uther. I chuckled as I imagined that Gage wasn’t one of their preferred name choices. “I was joking.”
Enid gave me a little shove before walking away. I stumbled, struggling to keep on my feet and not knock into any of the other gargoyles. But my smile died when I looked back up at Uther. It was time to get down to business and the real reason for my coming to see his clan. I was glad that I could help his people, but I had other pressing problems bringing me out to this cold location.
“Is there something we can help you with?” Uther asked.
“Actually, there is,” I said and then paused. “A friend of mine is in trouble and I need to help her, but I can’t find her. I was hoping that you might supply me with some infor
mation.”
“A girlfriend?” Astolat inquired with a smile.
I sighed, wondering if this was a trend in my life that I was unaware of. Did I make a habit of riding to the rescue of the women I dated? No. Were both the gargoyles and Chang trying to get me laid? I really didn’t want to think about that either. “No, Jo is an ex-girlfriend and I’m not getting the impression that she’s in a hurry to get back together. Regardless, she needs my help.”
“What information do you need?” Uther was kind enough to draw the conversation back to the topic at hand.
“I need to know the location of the vampire nest headed up by a vampire called Chester.”
Uther visibly stiffened and Astolat looked up at her mate, an anxious expression on her face. I had no doubt that one or more of the gargoyles knew where to find the nest I was talking about, but it appeared they weren’t comfortable with my request. I hadn’t been counting on this.
“What’s the problem?” I asked after the silence stretched uncomfortably between us.
“There are two vampire nests in Low Town and both are kept secret for their daytime protection. It would be wrong of us to betray their secret when we have no quarrel with the vampires.”
I bit my tongue, fighting back the argument rising in my chest. Jo was in trouble. Someone was hurting her and it needed to be stopped. But that didn’t mean that I could ask the gargoyles to do something they believed to be morally wrong just so I could save someone.
“What if I promised not to approach the nest during the day? Only at night. I won’t hurt anyone else but the master who is hurting Jo.”
“It would still be wrong to give away their secret.”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I tapped down my frustration. He was right, but I hated it. I didn’t know what else to do. There were some tracking spells, but it was unlikely they would work since the nest would be protected and if I pushed it, I would definitely catch the attention of the Ivory Towers—something I was desperately trying to avoid. That left me with the only other option of calling Chester out and getting him to come to me, which seemed even riskier than going to the nest.
“I understand,” I murmured, trying hard not to sound like I was sulking. “I’ve got to get out of here. Thanks for your time.” I started to walk back toward the door leading to the stairwell when Uther’s voice drew me back around.
“I am sorry.”
“I understand. It’s not your fault. Just send someone to the parlor when you need me. Preferably after nine if you can wait.”
The gargoyle’s expression looked puzzled for a moment. “You’ll still help us with the rookery?”
“I said I would and I am. I would be honored to do so. Whether you can help me or not isn’t going to change that.”
“You’re a good man, Gage Powell.”
I turned back around and headed to the door. “So I’ve been told,” I muttered under my breath. Of course, if I was such a good man, would Jo have hesitated to tell me she was in trouble? If I was such a good man, would I have lost contact with her in the first place?
The brief trip through the building helped to relieve me of the worst of the chill biting at my bones. My cheeks and ears stung from exposure to the cold wind, but I hardly noticed. I hadn’t expected my trip to the gargoyles to be completely useless in regards to my problem and I hadn’t thought up a back-up plan. My only other option was to try to call out Chester and hope he didn’t kill me in the middle of the street.
I pushed through the revolving door and sucked in a breath when the cold wind slapped me in the face yet again. Warmed up just so I could freeze on the walk to my car. Wrapping my arms across my chest, I quickly turned down a well-lit alley in hopes of getting to the parking garage a little faster. Not much chance there, as a pair of strong hands grabbed my upper arms from behind and lifted me from the ground. I twisted, seeing the ground grow farther away as I rose in the air with my captor.
“Hold still,” grumbled Evrain.
I looked up to find the gargoyle’s wings spread wide, catching the fierce wind so that it carried us higher and higher into the night sky. His talons bit into my arms through the jacket I was wearing, but I didn’t say anything. I could tolerate a little pain over the prospect of being dropped several stories to the unyielding concrete.
To my surprise, we didn’t return to the top of the Lindner Tower, but instead stopped on the rooftop of another building about a block away. Luckily, it was actually closer to the garage where I had parked my SUV.
“What’s up?” I asked when Evrain set me down and landed beside me.
“The location of the nest is—”
“Whoa!” I interrupted, holding both of my hands up. “I appreciate your help, but you can’t do that.”
“I would have given anything to be able to stop the murder of Mordrain and Lysanor, but there was nothing we could do,” he said with a low growl as he looked at the ground. He jerked his head up to face me and there was a glow to his yellow eyes. “We can do something to help your friend.”
“What about Uther? I understand his reasons. I don’t want to get you in trouble with him.”
“Uther will be angry, but not that angry. He wants to help, but feels he cannot. Astolat will soften his anger. She’s the one that sent me.” I smiled at my companion. “The nest you asked about is on the west side of the city in the Parkside neighborhood.”
“I know it.”
“It’s a white three-story house that sits back at the end of a long gravel driveway and is surrounded by a high fence. The house will look broken down and uninhabited when you approach. The vampires do not come up the driveway from the street, but there is an entrance through the detached garage that sits back in a thin strip of woods.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Evrain clasped me on the shoulder and pressed his forehead against mine. “Be careful and save your Jo.” The gargoyle suddenly released me and ran to the edge of the rooftop. With a leap, he was airborne, circling a few times as the wind lifted him higher, bringing him closer to the rooftop of the Lindner Tower.
As I headed to the door of the stairwell, I pulled my cell phone out of my back pocket and dialed Trixie’s number. I had the start of a plan and a location. Trixie needed to be updated on the progress that I had made, and I wanted to get her thoughts on my insane plan. To be honest, I was hoping she would talk me out of it and think of something slightly less suicidal.
I paused on the second landing as I descended the stairs and looked at the screen on my phone. My call had gone into voicemail for the second time, sending a chill through my blood. The elf was frantic to help Jo and torn up over the fact that her friend was going to be injured because of her recklessness. Trixie should have been waiting by the phone for my call, ready to pounce on any opportunity to jump back in the fray. Slowly continuing down the stairs, I dialed the number a third time and left a message for her to call me immediately, but I didn’t expect her to call me. Something had gone wrong.
Bronx picked up the phone at the shop on the second ring as I exited the building Evrain had left me on.
“You heard from Trixie?” I demanded as soon as he answered.
“No. Problem?”
“Maybe. You in the middle of someone?”
“Just finished.”
“Meet me at Trixie’s place. Don’t go inside. Wait for me.” I paused and pulled up her address in my text messages and rattled it off to the troll.
“Got it. I’ll be there in twenty.”
I just hoped that Trixie was still there.
CHAPTER SIX
Trixie was gone. Her apartment had been empty with the front door standing open when we arrived. Chester had her and I was going to get her and Jo back before the night was out. Jumping into Bronx’s Jeep, I let the troll drive us across town as he seemed to be the calmer of the two of us.
Bronx and I prowled through the west side of Low Town, which was filled with rusting warehouses and steel mills, end
less blocks of crowded row houses, and some excellent chili parlors. I didn’t spend much time over here, but I knew my way around.
The large Victorian throw-back was up on a hill at the end of a long, gravel driveway as Evrain had described it. The place was situated at the end of a cul de sac, allowing us to do a quick drive-by to check it out. There was a sagging chain-link fence across the front of the drive and around the land with signs announcing that the place was condemned. At first glance, the place looked completely abandoned, with its overgrown yard, broken windows, and peeling white paint. As Bronx slowly turned his Jeep away from the house, I pulled out a spyglass and fully extended it as I twisted in my seat to stare out the back window at the house.
“Are we pirates now?” Bronx mocked as he pulled up the street.
“Found this in a junk store years ago,” I said. I clenched my teeth, trying to hold steady in the bouncing car so I could see clearly the house. “Both the lenses are etched with some kind of antiglamour ward. Lets you see things as they truly are. It looks ridiculous, but it comes in handy.”
“What did you see?”
Collapsing the spyglass, I turned back in my seat and reattached my seat belt before gently dropping the instrument on the floor of the car. “Turn here and head to the next block over. We need to park behind the house,” I directed as Bronx eased to a stop at the corner. “The house is in fine condition and occupied, if you judge by the shadows I saw moving around. Painted pale blue instead of white with lights on in all the windows. There’s even a freaking fountain in front of the house. That’s some good glamour they’ve got working.”
Bronx reached forward and tapped the digital clock on his radio. “It’s after four.”
I frowned as my stomach seemed to curdle. It was time. Leaning over, I picked up a plastic bowl with plastic wrap over the top. Inside were four orange quarters, all of which had been soaked in the liquid Chang had given me. After leaving Trixie’s, we stopped at the parlor long enough for me to prepare the sanguinello as Chang had instructed. If I wanted to poison a vampire, I needed to eat only half of the orange. If I wanted him dead, I needed to eat all four quarter segments. I hesitated, not liking either option, but I needed this as a back-up plan just in case.
The Asylum Interviews: Trixie Page 6