Stone Guardian (Entwined Realms)

by Danielle Monsch

  It flung itself back into the battle. This time the winged creature tore off its head before he threw the body away. There was no more movement after that.

  There had to be at least fifty zombies swarming the creature. They were so engrossed in their fight they had forgotten about her.

  Move! Run away!

  A sharp zing raced through her body and broke the frozen panic that engulfed her. Let the monsters fight between themselves – she needed to get to her car.

  Her car was on the other side of a nearby alleyway, and after a quick look around confirmed nothing was near her, she ran full speed toward the alley. As she neared the entrance something grabbed her ankle.

  Larissa put her hands out to protect her face as she fell. Her wrist throbbed and the pressure she put on it to push herself up caused it to give way under her. She flipped over onto her back, but before she could try to stand again a zombie loomed above, milky eyes intent on her.

  She used the heels of her hands and feet in an effort to push herself away from the zombie, but it reached down and grabbed the front of her jacket. He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and she dangled a good foot above the street. Larissa punched his arm, but for something disintegrating before her eyes, she couldn’t make him move even a millimeter.

  She looked for a weapon, anything that would help, but instead caught sight of movement out of the corner of her eye. Shadows moved like spilled ink over the ground toward the wall. They crept up the wall, fanning out. From the middle of this darkness, from the solid wall of the alleyway, a new man emerged.

  He was shadow made flesh, his eyes and hair purest black, his body fuzzy as if the shadows still clung to his skin like a dark cloud. In each hand he held a curved sword.

  The zombie jerked its head to look back, but before he could complete the action the shadow man moved and held up his hand, the streetlight glittering on the metal of the blade as it arced down and beheaded the zombie holding her.

  With the loss of its head, the zombie crashed to the ground. Larissa fell those inches she had been held aloft but managed to keep her feet under her and stumbled against the building for support.

  The shadow warrior came toward her. His eyes met hers for the briefest moment before commotion at the alleyway’s entrance drew his gaze. With both swords aloft, he went to meet the zombies coming after her.

  Sudden pressure on her arm. She turned, screaming and slapping her hands at whatever was behind her.

  It was a woman, long red hair vibrant under the street lights. She blocked Larissa’s flailing arms and ineffectual swats. “We’re getting you out of here,” she said, and grabbed Larissa’s wrist to lead her out of the alleyway.

  Before they could do so, the other end of the alleyway was crowded by more zombies. “Keep back,” the woman ordered, pushing Larissa to the side.

  The woman reached behind her shoulder and pulled free the longest sword Larissa had ever seen. It looked as tall as the woman and half as wide, but she hefted it in her hand as though it weighed no more than a kitchen knife.

  The large sword took on a red glow. As though in response, scrolls of fire appeared on the woman’s bare arm. They settled into her skin, winding their way up to her shoulder to disappear underneath the black leather vest she wore, muted flame under flesh. Sword in hand, she ran toward the zombies blocking the path.

  Trapped. But across the alley was a door on that building’s side. If by some luck it was unlocked maybe Larissa could get away from all this madness. She took one step forward when something fell from the sky in front of her.

  The winged creature stood before her, his massive body blocking her exit. He reached down and grabbed her around the waist.

  No, no, I was so close!

  “Let me go!” she screamed, raking her nails against his bare chest in an effort to wound him, his skin so hard it was as though her nails slid against stone. If she hurt him he gave no sign. He put one arm under her knees and held her bridal style tight against him. He spread his wings, the wingspan massive.

  She looked back at the shadow warrior. He had finished with the zombies, swords still in the air as if he had swung his last killing strokes. His head turned toward her as she was pulled into the air, the creature taking flight with her.

  Soft words were spoken into her ear. “I will not harm you, little human. Hold onto me. I will protect you.”

  The creature could speak. His voice was deep and soothing and gentle and so at odds with his appearance. That voice, combined with her fear of falling, overrode any other considerations. She circled her arms around his thick neck for some semblance of stability and safety and held tight as the creature flew her into the waiting night.

  Chapter Four

  They had been flying – what… thirty minutes? Three hours? – when they arrived at an expansive keep nestled within a jagged mountain range. From this angle she noticed several multi-story towers rising from the stone, but the design was so clever the keep had to be near invisible most of the time.

  They set down on the top of the highest tower, the landing so skilled only the slightest bounce let her know they were on solid ground.

  She was in shock – she had to be. It was the only explanation for why she was not crying or cursing her luck, the creature, her father, card games, and anything else that led her to leave her apartment in the first place. The calmness infusing her now felt unnatural, ready to shatter with the first application of force.

  Still, she’d take whatever advantage she could get right now. Maybe the calm would hold, at least long enough to discover why she had been taken.

  Be reasonable. Friendly. The first rule of negotiation her dad taught her was to find out what the other person wanted and figure out a way you could convince them you’d be able to supply it. That, and always be realistic about what was going on.

  Well, here were the ugly facts. She had no mad-ninja-skillz to rely on and her family didn’t know where she was. She didn’t know where she was. The only way she was leaving was if this creature allowed it.

  The creature was looking at her and made no move to put her down. Should she look at him? Would he take that as aggression? During the flight she hadn’t looked at him and instead kept her gaze fixed on the hollow at the base of his throat. His neck was thick and led into heavily muscled shoulders, and his body gave off so much heat he might be able to be substitute for the furnace of a small home. She hadn’t gotten cold as they flew.

  There was no other option. She needed to try to communicate, and communication couldn’t happen if she didn’t look at him.

  She muttered a quick prayer in case any gods were wandering around. None appeared, so what choice but to get on with this? Steady on, girl. One deep breath, two, and then her gaze met his.

  Midnight black eyes under a prominent brow bone. The planes of his face were nothing but hard angles, his chin a square slab. It was as if he had been chiseled out of stone, his face displaying none of the roundness of flesh.

  He was studying her as much as she was studying him. He didn’t have any eyebrows, but his brow bone came together to form a little furrow between his eyes.

  He seemed approachable, no negative emotion on his face she could detect. No time like the present to find out her fate. “Why have you brought me here?”

  Those eyebrows drew even closer together at her question. Did her words confuse him? Unless she had been hallucinating, he had spoken English to her.

  Before he made any sign that he would answer she heard movement behind her, the same thwup that had marked his landing. She turned to see a good dozen creatures like him, every single gaze locked on her as though she was wearing a homing beacon.

  Calm, I need you to hang on. Don’t leave me now.

  A female pushed away from the others and walked until inches from Larissa, one clawed hand coming to rest on her hip. Her features were a fraction softer than the male’s, her body the stuff of comic books – outrageous curves framed with sleek muscle. About
her she had an aura Larissa recognized from every cop she had ever met. It was confidence and authority mixed with a good dose of Don’t fuck with me.

  This female would never be pathetic enough to huddle in an alleyway screaming or freeze in terror. Larissa’s eyes flicked away.

  “Terak, what is this?” asked the female, in an offhand way that was supposed to indicate you really weren’t interested in the answer.

  Terak, huh? Always good to know your kidnapper’s name.

  Larissa’s attention went back to the female, but as she met those eyes her throat tightened. Her earlier tone was a lie, because the female creature in front of her looked as though she were debating on how many strips of flesh she could cut from Larissa with those claws.

  What had she done to earn this ire? None of the others displayed hostility.

  Earlier she hadn’t wanted to be taken for an impromptu flying trip, but her kidnapper wouldn’t let her out of his grasp. Now when she had a psycho female in front of her and really didn’t want leave the relative safety of his arms, of course Terak chose to put her down. His wings folded in, settling over his shoulders like the fall of a cape.

  “What should we do with her?” the female creature continued. “Shall I take her to the dungeon?”

  A dungeon? Whips and chains and iron maidens dungeon? That was what Terak planned for her? Bile rose in her throat when he answered from behind her, “No Valry, she is not a prisoner.”

  Valry was not happy with that, if the further flattening of her already non-existent lips was any indication. Nope, nope, no matter what, Larissa was not going to ever be alone with this female.

  Valry’s anger radiated off her in waves while the other Clan members showed only curiosity. The mood was not censorious but Terak hated that he had no answers to give. They might be uncertain on what happened to bring about this unprecedented incident, but their confusion could not match his own.

  He had turned from his fight with the zombies to see his little human in the grasp of the female Guild member. He knew the Guild would not harm her, but they would take her somewhere he could not follow. A haze settled over his vision.

  Once she was in his arms instinct took over. He brought her to where none would dare touch her without his permission.

  She took a step back to put distance between herself and Valry, a move that illustrated his little human was no fool. She came close enough that her hair brushed across his wings. His gaze slid over her form. Small but constant tremors were shaking her frame, and his chest went concave.

  She was unused to battle, and not only had she faced zombies this night but had been taken from her home against her will. Fear, tension, and fatigue were riding her hard.

  And instead of sheltering her, he placed her in front of his people with no explanation, making her unsure if her fight was over.

  Though he knew his Clan – Valry – was studying his every move, he could not let her suffer any further. He picked her up, hearing her small gasp from his unexpected movement. His mouth to her ear, his words meant for her alone, he said, “You are safe here, little human. I vow it. None will harm you.”

  He pulled back enough to study her eyes. The cornflower blue absorbed him, drowning out the knowledge that his Clan standing feet away or the words of the Oracle that had brought them together. All these months watching her, the one question he could not answer was the color of her eyes.

  Terak thought he had imagined every shade possible, but he had been wrong. This shade of blue – soft and warm, the color pure throughout – he had not conceived of, but now that he beheld them, he could think of no more perfect color for her.

  The rustling of wings brought his attention back to his people. Valry’s hands were clenched into tight fists. He would have to deal with her later, but for now his first responsibility lay in providing for the woman in his arms.

  His gaze on his Clan, Terak said, “This woman is guest, not enemy.” Ignoring the questioning eyes of his people, he continued, “Are all patrols back?”

  Malek, his second-in-command, came forward. “All but two.”

  “Which patrols?”

  “Over the vampire stronghold.”

  Terak nodded. “We will speak of it later,” he said. With no further words of explanation and the human held tight in his arms again, he turned to descend the stairway that led into the tower.

  Everything was grey – walls, stairs, ceilings. Maybe the creatures kept it that way so they could camouflage themselves if something attacked them here. If it weren’t for his hair and the black pants he wore, the creature holding her would have disappeared into his surroundings.

  The creature took her through the tower and into the body of the castle. After a lot of stairs, twists, and turns with nothing to look at but miles of utilitarian grey stone, they came to a room that held the biggest collection of books Larissa had ever seen.

  The room was two, maybe three stories tall, and from floor to ceiling were nothing but shelves lined with books. Rich splashes of blue, burgundy, brown and green delighted her color-starved eyes. Several couches in a muted tan fabric and a large fireplace in the middle of the back wall were the only other decorations in the room.

  The creature set her on her feet again. She stepped back a few paces, gauging his reaction as she moved away.

  He did not try to keep her near and let her roam as she wished. With the speed of the night’s events, Larissa hadn’t had the chance to study him. She took advantage of this quiet interlude to do so now.

  His wings appeared leathery, and though they were currently draped over his shoulders, she remembered the full wingspan well enough that she was sure it equaled his nearly seven feet in height. He had a tail, the tip of which currently rested beside his booted foot. He was thick with muscle, every part of his body defined. His arms seemed the size of support beams, his legs thick as oaks, and his clawed hands looked as if he could encircle her waist in them.

  Outside of the wings, tail, and claws that tipped his fingers, his features overall were almost human, just a little – more. A little sharper, a little harder, a little bigger.

  And almost…beautiful, in a rough-hewn, alien way.

  He called her a guest and hadn’t yet tried to harm her. She owed him an acknowledgment of what he had done for her. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  His eyes widened in surprise at her words, as if gratitude was the last thing he ever expected to receive. He inclined his head a fraction. “You are welcome,” he said in those deep tones that relaxed her against her will.

  “Your name is Terak?”

  “Yes.”

  “I assume from your conversation-” Larissa waved her hand toward the ceiling, “-with the others, you are the leader here?”

  “I am.”

  “So can you tell me what you are?”

  His head tilted as he studied her. “You do not know?”

  “I’m a human who lives in a human-only city. I know elves have pointy ears and dwarves are easy to trip over. Too much beyond that, I’m at a loss.”

  The question unsettled him, if the way he broke off from her gaze and stared into the blazing fire was any indication. “I am a gargoyle,” he said at last, tension in the rigid set of his shoulders.

  There was a time when Larissa had wanted to learn about the other races, before she realized why her father carried such stress at the mention of any creature that had appeared since the Great Collision and set aside any curiosity in favor of pleasing her father. She only knew the big ones – dwarves, elves, werewolves… vampires. Still, for the first time since she was little, Larissa wished she had read some books on the sly and spent a little more time learning about the new races.

  Terak’s tension had not abated, so he must be expecting a negative reaction. She could understand why. Gargoyles were a fearsome race if tonight was anything to go by. What human wouldn’t be terrified of them?

  “What were you doing in the city?” And why didn’t the wards keep yo
u out? she mentally added.

  His body relaxed, maybe because she didn’t react to the gargoyle revelation by screaming or something. He turned to face her. “My Clan is… friendless… in this world. We rely only on ourselves for survival. To that end, we patrol all areas to keep aware of the happenings of this world, even those places that are forbidden to us.”

  It made sense. She could see her father doing the exact same thing under similar circumstances. The whole friendless business, though, not a good omen. Was it because they feared other races, or other races feared them? From tonight’s goings-on, she was a firm follower of the second camp. Still didn’t explain the wards, but she wasn’t stupid enough to bring that up to him. That was a question purely for when she was safe back at home.

  “So why did you save me? Why did you bring me here?” The next question stuck in her throat. Swallowing a few times to work saliva into her mouth, she formed the question she dreaded asking. “Am I going to be allowed to go home?”

  Her voice cracked on the last word. Terak made a brief move toward her before seeming to reconsider. “You will be returned home. I swear it.”

  Damn tears. She didn’t want them to fall, not now, not when she wasn’t sure she could stop them once they started. Larissa scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “Please take me home then.”

  “Not yet. We have much to discuss.”

  “Discuss what?” Her voice rose several decibels. Larissa stopped for a moment, taking several deep breaths. He said he was going to take her home, but that didn’t mean she was home yet. Best to remember that. “Sorry. I don’t understand what we need to talk about. I thank you for saving me, but what else is there?”

  Terak made a motion to one of the couches, an order to sit disguised as polite concern. Larissa obeyed.

  He opened his mouth, then hesitated. “May I know your name?”

  “Oh.” Surprise at his words lit through her, the normalcy of the question releasing some of the tension pitted in her stomach. “Larissa. Larissa Miller.”