Sabrina and the Gargoyle

by Marie Dry

  “Why now, why not a year ago or ten years ago?”

  “Who knows? Maybe your grief over your mother and cousin’s deaths made you somehow vulnerable to being detected.” He brushed in silence for a while and Sabrina nearly fell asleep. She loved the slow sensual strokes of the brush from her scalp to the ends of her hair.

  “They killed my mother. I promised my father that I would find her killers and destroy them.” He paused in his brushing. “I didn’t know you then, you were merely a tool that would help me catch the drogge unaware.” When he started brushing again she detected a fine tension in the way the brush glided through her long hair.

  Sabrina hugged her arms around her body. “I need to still be angry with you.”

  “Ever had angry sex?”

  She sputtered with laughter. “What?”

  “We can have angry sex. I’d let you bite and claw me.”

  “I don’t want to bite you.” Gibs slap half the time, yes.

  “But you do want to claw me.”

  “No.” Actually, she did want to. She wanted to scratch and bite him for daring to give her such beautiful memories that weren’t real.

  As if he read her mind, he said, “Do you want to hear the rest of my fantasy?” He put down the brush, lifted her out of the chair, and held her against him. “I put you under a very deep compulsion that day. It was the only way to get control of your mind. And all the while I looked at your pink puffy lips, and I wanted to kiss them, taste them, bite them, and lick them and then I wanted to find out what you taste like.”

  He suited action to words. Kissing her lips, giving her small sensual bites that made her lips tingle and puff up. He laved the tiny bites with his tongue. His tongue surged inside and dueled for ownership. “Cinnamon and chocolate,” he murmured when he withdrew. “You taste like cinnamon and chocolate.” He sighed. “You came out of the compulsion twice. I had to use a stronger compulsion every time and the last time I added a spell. That’s why it’s dangerous to try and undo it.” He shrugged off his shirt and then slowly unbuttoned hers. “While I did all that, I had this fantasy of slowly undressing you. Of revealing each inch of you like the most precious gift. I thought if I’d had the privilege of unwrapping, you I’d kiss every inch of your skin I reveal.”

  He kissed each inch of skin revealed as he slowly unbuttoned her shirt. He took his time, as if nothing else was as important as undressing her and kissing her skin as he exposed it. By the time he pushed down her jeans and knelt before her she was melting with pleasure. She cupped his head, stroked his short hair.

  “Why do you wear your hair this short?”

  “I went to visit my gargoyle cousins one summer and they liked to drag me around by my hair. Less for anyone to grab onto,” he said and pulled her silk panties down and off.

  Sabrina’s heart ached for the young boy scorned because of his mixed blood. She traced the shape of his ears, cupped the back of his head and his chin and lifted his head for a deep kiss. Was this love she felt for him real or a result of his planting memories.

  “Is this real, this love I feel for you?”

  He caressed the back of her legs with long lazy strokes. “In my fantasy, you looked at me with acceptance, you didn’t mind that I was half vampire and half gargoyle.”

  “I don’t think that compulsion stuck. I was having nightmares about being married to a vampire. I was half convinced I was schizophrenic.”

  He smiled. “I never implanted such a suggestion. I merely convinced you we were married, had a whirlwind courtship, and were happily settled into married life.”

  “I see.”

  “I saw acceptance in your mind. You’d gone through similar experiences and had learned not to judge. I found that beautiful. The memory I gave you of our wedding night was me sharing with you what I wanted us to have. What we could’ve had if I was a normal man and you a normal woman.” Keeping her gaze captive, he kissed the top of her breasts, her nipples. “I love your beautiful breasts, I can spend ages just worshiping them.”

  Sabrina brushed to the roots of her hair. He did spend ages worshiping them when they made love. “Thank you, I love how it feels when you touch me there.”

  She traced his ear, moaned when he sucked a nipple into his mouth and grabbed onto his head and held on for dear life.

  At last he moved down toward her stomach. He made visible kissing noises and a giggle escaped her.

  “Something funny?’ he asked, but didn’t stop his downward motion.

  “No, ah, I was just--never mind.”

  Using his fingers to open her, he latched onto her throbbing clit. Sabrina’s legs collapsed under her and she lost track of time, of where she was, of who she was. All she was aware of was pleasure. She wanted to touch him, give him the same sensations, but pleasure held her moaning, her hips moving sensually.

  She moaned in protest when he stopped sucking and stabbing with his tongue. He rose, picked her up, and carried her to the bed. Taking off the rest of his clothes with quick efficient movements, he joined her. He was a feast for her eyes with his broad shoulders, slim hips and well defined muscles.

  He lay down next to her and she touched his shoulder, caressed his smooth skin. “What does it feel like when you’re gargoyle, it looks like marble?”

  One moment she was in bed with a handsome man the next his wings covered them both and his skin hardened under her hands. Swallowing her fear, she stroked trembling hands over his marbled flesh. He was warm, his muscles denser and he smelled wild and earthy. Watching him carefully she reached up and touched his wing. He held still and she stroked the bones and veins that felt like marble as well. Unlike with bird wings, his was one solid shape.

  “I can’t believe I’m in bed with a real gargoyle,” she murmured.

  He changed back to human.

  “Regardless of what is real or not, I wanted you from the first moment I saw you, Sabrina. As long as there is breath in my body, Kratos won’t find you.” He moved over her, looking deep into her eyes as he slowly entered her. “You’re mine, Sabrina, I won’t ever let you go.”

  He deepened his thrusts, moving faster, and Sabrina held onto him, wrapped her legs around his waist, while he took them both to an ecstasy so intense it was almost like descending into fire.

  At last, when they lay spent in each other’s arms, he bared his neck. “Wanna bite me?”

  “Don’t tempt me,” she mumbled sleepily.

  He gathered her closer and long after she’d thought he’d gone to sleep he murmured, “I won’t let him get to you.”

  She knew he didn’t believe his own words.

  Chapter 12

  Sabrina woke with the feeling of being watched. Her eyes flew open to find Mark staring down at her. “So do you like angry sex?”

  She could feel the burn of the blush start in her neck and spread to her face. “No, and anyway it wasn’t angry sex, I didn’t bite you.”

  “Wanna try again, this time you can bite?”

  She smiled and lowered the blankets. “Maybe.”

  This time they made love slowly, exploring each other and when he was deep inside her they lay facing each other, his thrusts small and gentle until eventually they both came. They dressed and showered and Sabrina wished they could’ve stayed in bed longer. At least when they made love everything was less complicated.

  They had breakfast and Mark left to search for the drogge. “Don’t go out without Samuel.” He gave her a brief hot kiss and left.

  With Wolf on her heels, she went outside to sit on the steps of the veranda. “Is it okay if I sit here?” She wasn’t about to do anything stupid now that she knew there were creatures like vampires and gargoyles walking and flying about.

  Samuel continued to scan the street. “Should be okay.”

  A feeling of unease slithered down her spine as a black car drove up to them and screeched to a halt, smoke coming off the tires. Sabrina expected Samuel to react, to reach for his gun at least, but he stood as if
frozen. Even Wolf didn’t bark. She jumped up and ran for the house, her phone against her ear, grateful she now had Mark’s number on speed dial.

  The phone rang and she prayed for Mark to pick up. She had her hand on the doorknob when they pulled her back by her hair. She screamed with pain and dropped her phone. A tall scruffy looking man had her by the hair and dragged her to the car. “Samuel, please Samuel help me.” He didn’t even blink. “Wolf,” she screamed but he sat docile, as if nothing happened. This was the street in this town with the most busybodies. Everyone knew each other and never would they ignore a neighbor in trouble. Where was everybody?

  Men armed with machine guns surrounded the car until the big man who, had her by the hair, dragged her inside the car.

  Sabrina was stuffed into the backseat. One of them pointed a gun at Samuel and fired. She screamed and struggled, but Samuel didn’t even look their way. The gunshot exploded loud in her ears, but she couldn’t see if they wounded him.

  Mark materialized on the colorful veranda, staring at her as they drove off with her, wheels squealing.

  “Sabrina!”

  They sped away with the gunshot still reverberating in her head. She looked around the car. It was an old model car with dark tinted windows, leather seats, and frightening handcuffs hanging from every possible place in the backseat.

  “This cannot be happening.” Please let Mark follow them. Can a half gargoyle fly?

  “Quiet, vampire hawr.”

  She turned to the man on her left and looked into the smug face of Carl. “How dare--”

  “We dare anything to rid the world of scum like you,” he spat at her.

  “Why are you kidnapping me? Does Herman know what you’re doing?” She wiped spittle off her face. Vile little man. Just wait until Mark gets hold of him.

  “You’re fornicating with the spawn of the devil. Did you think we wouldn’t punish you?” the big scary crazy man on her right said. His eyes, crazed with fanaticism, stared at her without blinking. He wanted to hurt her. Would love her to give him an excuse to hurt her. Were the wolves involved in this? Carl had been giggling maniacally and she had the impression he was downright crazy.

  Carl continued to giggle, a high nervous sound, until the big one glared at him. He pressed his hand in front of his mouth and managed to stop eventually.

  An hour later, they turned off the highway, and she lost track of where they were after several twists and turns. The road turned into a not-very-well-kept dirt road.

  They stopped in front of a dilapidated house that, frankly, gave her the creeps. It must’ve been built in the nineteen thirties and never been painted or maintained since. The rusted corrugated iron roof sagged inwards. A dog on a long chain ran up and down, barking at them. Sabrina had always hated it when anyone mistreated helpless animals. Even if they hadn’t kidnapped her, seeing the dog chained like that would’ve alerted her to their character. Carl opened the door on his side and got out, giggling.

  “Get out.”

  Before she could obey the harsh command, the big man pushed her out of the car. She fell with a soft oomph on the weed-covered dirt. Carl stepped on her with a smirk and walked toward the house. She screamed with pain. He might be small, but he’d deliberately stepped on her mid-section.

  “Bring her.”

  She screamed again when the big man stepped on her getting out of the car. She thought she heard a rib crack and, for a long time, she lay wheezing and writhing with pain. She would’ve kept screaming, but her insides hurt too much.

  “Time for your interrogation, hawr.” He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her, screaming, inside the dilapidated house. Frantically, she put her hands on his, trying to ease the pressure on her scalp. Vaguely through the pain, she was aware of several figures surrounding them. She would’ve liked to act stoic and silent, but there was no dignity in pain and brutality.

  “Let me go! Mark will kill you for this,” she screamed, desperate for the pressure on her scalp to ease up.

  The thug dragging her by the hair threw her into a room as casually as if she was a piece of garbage. Never did she think she’d be treated like this. Humiliation choked her.

  They laughed uproariously, clapping each other on the shoulders and catcalling and mocking her.

  “We’re counting on it, bitch.”

  She should keep quiet, try not to anger them too much until Mark came for her, but she heard her voice gasping out words through the pain. “Did any of you morons even finish high school?”

  The laughter and sniggering stopped immediately. An ominous silence reigned. They all moved back into the room and circled her.

  One of them leaned down and groped her breast. It hurt and her stomach turned at the thought of any of them touching her. She jerked away and moaned with pain.

  “They said I could have you. When they’re finished with you, I’ll take my time and enjoy you. They don’t want to touch a vampire’s hawr, but I like you,” Carl said with a high maniacal giggle. “If I kill you afterward, it’s all right.”

  She shuddered and shrank away from him. She would rather die than endure that.

  “Enough, Carl. It’s time for her interrogation.”

  She could hear the sick excitement in the speaker’s voice. He didn’t care what she knew, or even if Mark was a vampire. He just wanted to torture someone who couldn’t fight back.

  She heard a cry. Mark appeared, his wings like angry horns, skin rock solid. “You think you can take my woman?” He decapitated the man closest to him. “Touch her?” He broke the next one’s neck. “Threaten to torture her?” His voice was deeper, rougher while in his gargoyle form. She’d never been so glad to hear him.

  He dispatched her kidnappers, but left Carl alive. She closed her eyes, couldn’t block out the screaming, bones cracking, and sickly wet sounds.

  “Your association with Herman won’t save you this time.”

  She opened her eyes to see him fling Carl away from him and Samuel picking the small man up by the back of his shirt. Mark must’ve beaten him while she had her eyes closed. Carl’s eyes were swollen shut and his body jerked in odd movements, as if someone still punched him. She couldn’t find it in herself to feel sorry for him.

  Then two rock hard, warm arms surrounded her. Mark’s arms. His familiar smell soothed her.

  “Bring Carl, kill the rest. No mercy.” His voice was like the grim reaper sitting in on a judgement in a case he knew would end in the death of the accused. “I’ve got you now. Nothing will ever hurt you again.”

  Slowly, carefully, she lifted her head. It hurt, but she had to know if it was real. He’d changed back to human. His eyes glowed red, his black hair seemed to crackle. His whole body trembled. She struggled and had to try a few times before she could speak. Her chest and side hurt and every now and then she saw black spots. “Are you real?”

  “Yes, I’m real. You’re safe, Sabrina.”

  She wanted to tell him he was too late. He should have saved her before they hurt her like this, but no words would escape her parched lips. He held a bottle against her mouth and she swallowed gratefully. “Samuel, is he all right?”

  “Yes, they only winged him. He drove here.”

  Something wet pressed against her and she jumped. Wolf sniffed her and whined. Then she swore his eyes narrowed, and he turned to Carl. Snarling, he stalked the amateur vampire hunter, who was trying desperately to get out of Samuel’s hold.

  “No, get it off me, I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s a vampire, he should be wiped form this earth,” Carl screamed.

  “Wolf, leave him,” Mark said and, after a last snarl, Wolf returned to sit next to her, practically daring anyone to touch her.

  Her body hurt so much. Breathing was agony. “When will the--pain stop?”

  “It will stop. I’ll make it go away. Look at me, Sabrina, look into my eyes.”

  She looked into his swirling eyes. The pain receded, the cold disappeared, and she was wrapped in a comfortin
g warmth. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the pain was gone, her body strangely light.

  “It’s okay, Sabrina. They broke some of your ribs, but I healed them,” Mark said.

  She tried to smile at him, but her lips wouldn’t cooperate. “Thank heavens for freaky gargoyle healing power. They threw me out of the car and Carl stepped on me, but I think my ribs cracked when the big man stepped on me when he got out of the car.”

  Mark’s fists balled and his eyes darkened. “That little shit dies, even if I have to be at war with Herman, I’ll kill him.”

  “No, please. Let it go. He’ll destroy himself eventually. We have to deal with the drogge.” She didn’t want him to be at war with the shifters because of her. It saddened her that the gargoyles and the vampires rejected Mark, and she knew he valued Herman’s friendship. She had seen only acceptance in Herman’s eyes when he looked at Mark.

  “I’d send you to safety, but there’s nowhere safe to hide you. At least if you’re with me, I can keep you hidden from the drogge. And safe.” His mouth twisted. “Or so I thought anyway.”

  “I don’t want to be away from you. Was it the same people who trashed my workroom?”

  “Every few centuries some fanatics band together and start a vampire hunt. This lot managed to get a witch to find them a vampire.”

  “You?”

  “Yes, they trashed your workroom and then went back to her for another spell. That’s why it took me so long to get to you. That same damned spell kept Samuel and Wolf unaware of what was happening and also kept me from communicating with you telepathically. It took me ten minutes to shake off the part of the spell stopping me from following you.”

  Ten minutes didn’t sound like much but, when you’re being stepped on, it was a lifetime. Sabrina was very grateful he’d managed to shake off the spell. Who knows what would’ve happened to her if he hadn’t gotten there so soon? “How can the witch help someone like them?”

  Mark went to answer her, stiffened. He took out his phone and spoke briefly before pocketing it. “Herman is on his way here.”