Etched In Stone

by Susan Hayes

“Hold up. What statue?” Anneke asked.

  “Maybe it would be best if you showed her, Stone. It’s faster than trying to explain all this,” Adina interjected.

  “I think you’re right, sweetling.” He released her hand and took a few steps away from her so that he was standing in the center of an empty space.

  Anneke moved to Adina’s side and gave her a wink. “Sweetling, huh? Lucky you.”

  “Actually, I think I’m the lucky one,” Stone said. A second later the man he’d been was gone and in his place was the gargoyle.

  “God, I’d forgotten how intimidating you look in that form.”

  Stone chuckled and grinned, flashing a hint of fang as he did so. His bat-like wings were partially unfurled, adding to his size, and the horns that rose from his brow made him appear a few inches taller. His face and body were that of a monster, but she knew that he was still her Stone. Man or monster, it no longer mattered to her.

  “Holy fuck!” Anneke yelled.

  “Yeah, I know. That was pretty much my reaction the first time I saw him, too. Only I didn’t get any warning, first. One minute I was looking over my newest purchase, and the next I was face to face with a gargoyle.”

  “So this is it?” Anneke asked, taking a few steps closer to Stone.

  “There is a third form, but I’d rather not assume it. I can turn to stone, but the last time I did so, I was trapped that way until Adina released me. I am in no hurry to take that form again.”

  “I bet not,” Anneke murmured.

  “What do you need me to do?” Stone asked.

  “Stay right where you are for a minute. I’m going to take a closer look at the magic that was used. I think a little ‘show me now’ spell might help if you’re okay with me casting it on you?”

  “Do what you need,” Stone told her.

  Anneke uttered a few brief phrases under her breath and her blue eyes took on a glazed, unfocused look as she stared at Stone for a moment, then gasped. “What in the name of the Goddess did they do to you?”

  Adina’s blood turned to ice at her cousin’s horrified tone. “What? Anneke? What did you see?”

  The blonde shook her head, one hand covering her mouth. “I think the three of us need to sit down and have a talk. I can’t—I’m not even sure where to begin.”

  Not once in her entire life had Adina seen Anneke at a loss for words. Whatever she’d seen, it wasn’t good. Heartsick, Adina pointed to the couch where she’d woken up after her first meeting with Stone.

  Stone nodded and changed back to his human form, fully dressed in black jeans and a gray t-shirt. His expression was as dark as his clothing, and the three of them crossed to the couch in silence.

  What the hell had Anneke seen, and what did it mean to their hopes to free Stone?

  Stone was used to people looking at him with horror. He’d reacted the same way the first time he’d seen his reflection. This was something different. It wasn’t his appearance that had Anneke distressed. It was something to do with the magic that bound him.

  “What did you see?” he asked once they were all sitting down, the women on the couch and him on the stool he’d been seated on before Anneke’s arrival.

  Anneke fidgeted with the charms dangling from her silver charm bracelet for a moment before answering. “You said that you were created. Conjured into existence. I’m sorry, Stone. That’s not true.”

  Her words hit him like a sledgehammer, shattering the foundation of everything he’d ever known about himself. “Explain.”

  Her fingers continued to twist and toy with her bracelet as she spoke. “I’m sorry. Goddess, I don’t even know how to explain this. I don’t. What they did to you…”

  Adina rose from the couch and joined him, standing at his back with her hands on his shoulders, offering her silent support. He reached up to cover one of her small hands with his own, grateful for her presence.

  “Take a deep breath, Anneke. Whatever it is, Stone and I need to know.”

  Anneke let go of her bracelet and held her hands out in front of her, palms up. “You’re not a conjured being, Stone. You’re two things fused into one. Part of you is the statue you spoke of, a non-living construct. The other half is a living being.” She brought her hands together and interlocked her fingers.

  “That’s not possible. I didn’t exist before my master created me.” Stone’s heart thundered against his ribs and there was a low roaring sound in his ears. What she was saying didn’t make any sense. He couldn’t have had a life before this one.

  Could he?

  “I believe you did, Stone. In fact, I’m quite certain of it. Some of the spells I saw were related to memory. I think that whoever did this to you repressed your memory of who you’d been. Your first memories, can you tell me if you could speak? Did you understand what your master was saying to you?”

  He thought about that then nodded. “I could. You’re saying that wasn’t part of the magic that created me?”

  “I don’t think so. It appears that your master stripped away all memory of who you were, but he managed to find a way to leave you with most of your knowledge. Language, muscle memory, everything a guardian would need and nothing else.”

  “That’s horrific!” Adina said, her hands tightening on his shoulders.

  “You’re saying I was human once? That I had a life?” His free hand clenched into a fist as anger roiled deep in his chest.

  “Yes. I’ve never seen a spell like this before. No one in Magic would ever use an enchantement this dark,” Anneke said.

  Shadows darkened Stone’s heart as he heard Anneke’s words. “So, you cannot help me. I will be as I am, forever. Do you think the people of this town will still welcome me when they learn I’m bound by dark magic?”

  Adina leaned in so that her front was tight against his back and her mouth was close to his ear. “Of course they will. You’re more than the spells that bind you, lover of mine. You’re a good man.”

  “Until today, I’d have told you I wasn’t a man at all. Now? Now I know that isn’t true but I have no idea what kind of man I was. I don’t even know my name!”

  She threw her arm around his neck and hugged him. “It doesn’t matter to me what kind of man you were. I care about the man you are now, and his name is Stone Carver.”

  Anneke cleared her throat. “I didn’t say I couldn’t help you. I said I’d never seen magic like this. I’m not the only spell caster in town, though. Not by a long shot. Give me time to talk to some of the others and do some research. I won’t make you any promises, Stone. This won’t be easy, but even if I can’t undo everything that was done to you, I can try to unravel at least part of it.”

  “Whatever you can do, I would be grateful for,” he said.

  Anneke rose from the couch, her solemn demeanor melting away as she regained her feet. She flipped her brightly colored hair back over one shoulder and grinned at them both as if they’d all just shared a joke instead of discussing dark magic and even darker revelations. “I’ll see what I can do. But I want your word that you won’t give up hope, okay? And if you could please not mention to anyone that I can be all mature and serious when the need arises, I’d really appreciate it. I have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

  “You’re secret is safe with us, cousin,” Adina said, her words rife with barely restrained laughter.

  “Indeed, it is,” Stone added his own reassurance.

  “Well then, I should get going. I have a lot of reading to do and I did tell Hal I’d be by after lunch. He’s making me a new set of silver scythes to give to Mom for her birthday and he wanted my input on the final design.”

  “Scythes? Why would someone want silver scythes?” Stone asked, bewildered by the idea of a daughter buying her mother weaponry.

  “What else is she going to use to harvest mistletoe and other herbs? I mean it’s not like she can just go traipsing through the forest with a pair of garden sheers from Walmart. The dryads would be insulted!”


  “The dryads? This place has dryads? I thought those were a myth!” Stone couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. Surely she had to be, there were no such thing as dryads.

  Anneke laughed and bounced off, waving as she went. “According to the experts, you’re nothing but a myth yourself, mister gargoyle. I’m going to go and leave you two alone. Don’t do anything I would do! No, wait. I meant don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. That’s a much shorter list. Toodles you two!”

  They walked Anneke to her car. Once she was out of sight, Adina turned and burrowed into his arms to give him a hug. “You must be feeling—I have no idea what you’re feeling right now. What do you need from me, Stone? Pizza? A drink? Time alone?”

  He wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. “I don’t want to be alone. Later on, I’m going to need that drink. Maybe a great many drinks. For now, though, I need to clear my head.”

  “We could go for a walk. Or a drive. God, I haven’t even taken you into town yet. You’ve been cooped up on my property since you got here.” She went still and silent for a long moment. “I just realized. If you’ve been stuck in your gargoyle form all this time, you haven’t been able to go anywhere, have you?”

  “No, I haven’t. By ordering me not to change forms, my master did his entire family a disservice. I could no longer accompany them when they left the estate. Sometimes I followed if it was night and there was little risk of being seen.”

  “In case what I said before wasn’t enough, you’re allowed to leave the property anytime you like,” she said.

  “Thank you. Right now, that’s exactly what I want to do, but I want to take you with me. Do you think the neighbors would react badly if we went flying?” he asked, watching her face so he could enjoy her reaction.

  “Fly? You can fly? Why is this only coming up now? As for the neighbors, who cares how they react. You’re going to take me flying right now!” She was almost vibrating with eagerness as she bounced on her toes within the confines of his arms.

  “I’ve been shot at from time to time, so it’s a valid question. I won’t take you with me if there’s any risk of you being hurt.”

  “No one is going to shoot at you or call in a UFO sighting to the sheriff. This is Magic, not New York. The weird and unusual everywhere else is just a normal day here,” she said with a soft laugh.

  “I’m still getting used to that concept, though your cousin was a good reminder. She’s very unusual.”

  “She is. I’m sorry that the first time you met her, she had to give you bad news. I know she seems quirky, but she’s very gifted. I believe she’ll be able to find a way to undo what was done to you.”

  He nodded. “I do, too. Speaking of Anneke, she’s on her way to your brother’s place right now, is she not? Perhaps you should call your parents and let them know about me before they hear about it from Hal.”

  “Shit! You’re right. If I don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it.” She popped up onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Phone first. Then flying. Then drinks and ice cream. Oh, even better. I’ll make boozy milkshakes. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of my mudslides.”

  “That sounds good to me.” The darkness that had filled his heart since Anneke’s visit faded in the glow of Adina’s kindness. She hadn’t flinched when he’d transformed today, and when she’d learned that he was an abomination with no memory of his former life, she’d gone to him instead of turning her back. She was a better person than many he’d met in his long life and he was beyond grateful that out of all the souls who could have become his next master, the universe had sent him to this place, and to her.

  “Uh, Stone? In order for me to call my parents, I need the use of my hands. You’re going to need to let go of me for a few minutes.”

  He grudgingly released her and pointed toward the house. “I happen to like having you in my arms. I hope the conversation with your mother doesn’t take long so I can get you back where you belong. While you’re talking, you might want to find a light jacket. Sundown is coming and the air gets cold up where we’re going.”

  She beamed. “I cannot believe you’re taking me flying. I swear this will be the shortest call I’ve ever made to my parents.”

  Twenty minutes later Adina raced out of her back door. She’d changed into a pair of jeans and had donned a hooded, zip-up jacket. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” she asked as she came to a skidding stop at his side.

  “Bad news first, please. Though it can’t be too bad since you’re still smiling.”

  “We’re expected at my parents for dinner tomorrow night. Sunday night dinner is a family tradition, and I was told in no uncertain terms that I was coming and bringing you with me,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “That’s the bad news? I’d be honored to meet your family, sweetling. So, what’s the good news?”

  “Dad promised not to try and run you through with anything sharp and pointy. Mom actually made him hold up his hand and vow to behave.”

  “I’m not afraid of your father or anything he might try and do to me. I’m a big, scary gargoyle, remember?”

  She laughed. “You’re a sexy badass, but he’s my dad. He’s going to glower and grump at you on principle.”

  “As he should. I suppose we shouldn’t mention the fact that we’re sharing a bed?” he asked, deliberately teasing her.

  Adina spluttered and turned beet red. “Hell, no! That would be suicidal, and way more information than my parents ever need to know.”

  “I would never reveal such a personal detail about you, but I couldn’t resist seeing your reaction. I swear tomorrow night I shall be on my best behavior.”

  “Be nice, old man,” she grumbled and then glanced up at the darkening sky. “Can we go now?”

  “We can as soon as I change forms. One moment.”

  He shifted quickly and gathered her into his arms the moment it was done. “Ready?”

  “Oh, yeah.” She was grinning as she snuggled in tight against his chest and pointed to the sky overhead. “Let’s go!”

  He stretched out his wings and leaped into the air. With a few beats of his wings, they were higher than the barn roof. He continued his ascent until they had a perfect view of the sunset and then began flying toward it.

  “It looks like the sky has caught fire. It’s beautiful,” Adina said as she stared at the display laid out before them.

  The clouds were painted in fiery hues of gold and red, and the sky beyond was slowly deepening to a glorious indigo. The mountains were an inky black that contrasted with the glowing color behind them. It was breathtaking, and yet he found himself staring at Adina instead. While she watched the sunset, he watched her.

  She was lovelier than anything else in creation, and she was going to be his. She had to be because now that he’d met her, Stone didn’t know how he’d live without her light in his life.

  Chapter Six

  “Oh God, they’re waiting for us on the porch,” Adina groaned as she pulled into her parents’ driveway.

  “Is that a good sign? Or should I be worried?” Stone asked, looking unconcerned.

  “Considering I usually have to let myself in, I’d say it’s a sign they’re anxious to meet you. God knows what Anneke’s told them by now. I’ve been ignoring Mom’s calls all day.”

  Stone chuckled. “Is that why you put your cell phone in the kitchen drawer?”

  “Yes. I should have shut it off, but somehow it felt better locking the damned thing away after the fourth time she called.”

  “I can understand their curiosity. Don’t fret, sweetling. This is going to be fine.”

  “How can you be so calm about this? What if they don’t like you?”

  He grinned at her. “Then I’ll sprout wings, horns, and fangs and fly you out of there. I’m bound to protect you from anyone and anything, including overprotective parents.”

  “I’ll remember that. If things get to be too much I’ll expect you to whisk me
out of there,” she said and shut off the engine. Before she could do more than undo her seatbelt, Stone was out of the car and heading around to her. It took her a moment to realize what he was doing. He was actually coming around to open her door for her.

  There was something to be said for his old-fashioned ways.

  He took her hand, helped her out of her seat, and kept hold of her as they walked up to the house. Her mother had already risen from the porch swing to meet them, and both her father and brother were standing right behind Nadira, arms folded over their chests and identical scowls on their faces. They were both wearing clean shirts, and Dad had even trimmed his beard. Adina looked intently at her mother and noticed she’d put on a few touches of makeup and done her hair. Something odd was going on. Dad only trimmed his red and silver beard for special occasions like holidays…and funerals.

  Her mom came down the stairs to greet them, her face wreathed in smiles. “Hello, ladybug. Good to see you. This must be Stone,” Her mother’s smile grew even wider as she looked at Stone, confirming Adina’s suspicions. The only time mom looked that happy was when she knew something she shouldn’t.

  What the hell was going on?

  “Ladybug?” Stone murmured under his breath.

  “Behave,” she whispered back and then stepped forward to make introductions. “Hi, Mom. Yes, this is Stone Carver. Stone, these are my parents, Nadira and Joram Diggersby, and the big lug in the back who is trying his best to look intimidating is my big brother, Hal.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you all. Thank you for inviting me into your home,” Stone said and then released her hand to walk up to her mother. He presented her with the bouquet of flowers he’d requested they pick up on the way over and Adina swore her mom’s face lit up like she was a kid at Christmas.

  “Why, thank you, Stone.”

  Without missing a beat, Stone turned to her dad and offered him his hand. “Sir. Adina has told me about the work you do. I’d be very interested in seeing your forge someday if you would be willing to give me a tour.”