by Price, E A
“Lillian Smith,” interjected Andrew.
“Yes, exactly,” said Bea, in happy approval.
Andrew beamed, and he was ten years old again. “Supposedly she made all the plants grow too quickly, and the rest of the town’s produce died. They tried to hang her from the hanging tree, but she made it grow crooked so that her feet touched the ground. Supposedly she ran off and became a pirate.”
“How do you know all this?” said Lara, accusingly.
“Maggie down at the gift shop.”
The pretty blonde’s face hardened slightly. Or slightly more. It was already set in the expression of someone who, despite its beauty, ate glass for fun.
Kylie was surprised at that. Hadn’t Maggie called him Andrew the asshole? Maggie generally wasn’t nice to people she didn’t like. It was another of her quirks. If Maggie didn’t want to be helpful to Andrew – she wouldn’t have been helpful.
“You mean that weird looking girl who looks like Herman Munster’s lovechild?” sneered Lara, bristling with annoyance.
Andrew ignored her and Lara rolled her eyes at Bea and Kylie’s glares. “Maggie suggested that I could follow her original design and restore the garden, people would come and see it. I’ve been thinking, and I like the idea.”
“We could charge an admission fee to idiot tourists,” suggested Lara as she walked over to Holling. He stepped away from her, moving closer to Kylie and resisting the hand Lara tried to drape over his shoulder. A couple of weeks ago Kylie might have been pleased by that. Now, she wished she wasn’t under such scrutiny.
“I wasn’t planning on doing that,” muttered Andrew. “Of course, we’ll have to get rid of the hedge maze. I know my uncle liked it, but Maggie tells me it wasn’t part of the original design – it was added later.”
“Maggie tells me,” imitated Lara in a sing-song voice. She said it low enough that neither Bea nor Andrew heard her. Kylie did, and so did Holling. Holling shot her a look that instantly silenced her.
Kylie chewed her lip. The hedge maze was where Luc was living. It wasn’t ideal, if he weren't careful, people would notice him coming and going, but still… “Are you sure you want to get rid of the maze, I mean, it’d be really fun for tourists.”
“I know,” lamented Andrew, “but Maggie thinks that it would be a good idea to make it authentic as possible.”
“Did she now?” mumbled Lara before pouring herself a whiskey. “Excuse me.”
She stalked out of the room. Andrew hardly noticed, he became embroiled in another conversation with Bea.
Kylie resumed her catalog of the items, aware that Holling was watching her, and worrying about Luc.
Chapter Nineteen
Kylie found Luc, true to his word, still at her apartment and sitting on her footstool. It was the only item of furniture that would allow for his tail or wings, apart from her bed. But she doubted he would be so forward as to go into her bedroom without an invitation. She blushed at that thought.
He looked up, and his face blossomed with happiness as he saw her. He had been leafing through a book. Quite a few books, if the pile next to him was anything to go by. She basked in the look on his face, trying to remember if anyone had looked at her that way before. She doubted it.
Then, her face dropped. There were too many unanswered questions looming for her to stand around getting all warm and happy from his looks.
Luc abruptly stood, his face a mixture of worry and thunder. The book dropped to the floor, and his tail knocked over the pineapple lamp again. It was apparently a very sturdy lamp – best five bucks she ever spent.
“Is something wrong?” he demanded, rising to his full height, much to the terror of every item in the room.
“No… well, yes… but probably not what you’re thinking.”
He moved toward her with more grace than she thought possible for his size. He clasped her shoulder; the pressure was reassuring.
“Then you are unhurt?” he persisted.
“Yes, I’m okay.” Okay as she could be, considering how the world was now upside down. “But we need to talk,” she stepped away from him, her back hitting the door – he really did crowd the room – and put her hands on her hips. “You can’t just drop a truth bomb on me and then expect no comeback, mister.”
Luc raised an eyebrow; she suspected her feistiness amused him, but he was also a little baffled by the words she was using.
She sagged a little, being decisive for long periods of time was hard work. Thirty seconds appeared to be her limit. “Look, I’m going to pull on my jammies and make myself something to eat, then we’re going to settle down for a nice chat.”
“As you wish,” he acquiesced, immediately, giving her a half bow. She resisted the urge to curtsey.
He resumed his seat and was once again engrossed in the book. She didn’t exactly own many books; mostly she went to the library if she wanted to read. But she did own some books she had been given while growing up and some well-thumbed paperbacks bought at various yard sales. Right now he was lost in the children’s encyclopedia of animals. She suppressed a grin as she saw he was reading about flamingos
Feeling a weariness right down to her bones after the last few nights, she decided to slip into her comfiest, red plaid jammies. She felt a moment of hesitation about appearing in her nightwear in front of what amounted to a male stranger, but stifled it. Really, it wasn’t the same as appearing in front of a man, was it? He was a different species after all. It wasn’t the same, was it? As those worrying questions swirled through her mind, exhaustion won, and she decided she could care less if Don Juan himself was out there.
“Can I get you something to eat?” she offered to Luc as she padded around the kitchen in thick, woolen socks.
“Thank you, no.” Luc glanced up from the book and froze as he saw her. His eyes dilated, and his wings twitched as he studied her carefully. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over the chest, the urge she always got when she wasn’t wearing a bra. “I… ah,” the gargoyle actually looked a little flustered. “I hunted and ate before I came here tonight. That will suffice until tomorrow or perhaps the day after.”
Kylie wrinkled her nose. “You hunted? What did you hunt?”
“Rabbits,” he smiled. “I prefer deer, but I have not seen any in this area.”
“You mean you ate them raw?”
“Of course.” He opened his mouth to flash his sharp teeth. “My species is more closely related to animals than your species.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you’d met some of my ex-boyfriends,” she murmured humorlessly. On seeing his frown, she quickly added, “I’ll just make myself something.”
She filled a noodle pot with water and popped it in the microwave. Luc watched her curiously.
“Does that heat your food?”
“Mmm hmmm.”
Luc actually put his book down and came into the kitchen to peer at the microwave. His eyes followed the noodle pot as it turned. “Indeed, you are very blessed to possess such powerful sorcery. Do others possess such a device?”
Kylie giggled. “Yeah, it’s an exclusive club of just a few billion people.”
“You are making fun of me,” he said, smiling.
“Maybe just a little.”
Once settled on the couch, she told him about the plans to destroy the hedge maze at the professor’s house. “You can’t go back there.”
“No. I knew when you told me of the professor’s demise that I could not continue to rest there. I am not attached to that place; over the years I have been moved all over the world. I regret that I will lose the security the hedge maze afforded, I believe the enchantment had been powerful, but moving is necessary. I must find a new resting place.”
“You can stay here,” she blurted. Where that came from she didn’t know. Starting with that cat, Mittens that ate her lipsticks and ending with cheating-dickhead-bastard Brian, she’d never had much luck with roommates. But, she wanted Luc to stay. Perhaps she was af
raid that if she said goodbye now she’d never see him again.
Pleasure and surprise passed over his features in equal amounts before he darkened. “I could not impose on you like that. Your virtue…”
“It’s not an imposition and do not start banging on about my virtue,” she said, firmly. “If you were anywhere else I would just worry about you anyway.”
“Thank you, little one. I would be glad to be closer to you, too. I am of no use during the day, but I would rest easier knowing that I was near you.”
“You mean that during the day…”
“I turn to stone.” He smiled. “You knew?”
“I suspected from what you said.” And also from watching movies and cartoons – but perhaps she’d break them to him gently.
“It does not bother you?”
“No. But then this whole situation is pretty surreal to me. I’m just about prepared to accept the Loch Ness Monster rocking up to my door, asking to borrow a cup of sugar at this moment in time.”
Luc chuckled good-naturedly. “You do say the oddest things, little one.”
Kylie flushed in pleasure. It wasn’t exactly the sweetest compliment she had ever received, but it was, at that moment, possibly the most treasured. It wasn’t just the words; it was his tone, the way he looked at her – really seeing her, gazing at her with so much raw interest that it was almost too intense. And the endearment 'little one' was certainly growing on her. She supposed she was little compared to him.
“Perhaps you should tell me what happened a thousand years ago,” she suggested, softly.
Luc nodded grimly. “I will, but I think I must go further back than this, right to the very beginning.”
Chapter Twenty
“Gargoyles were created from magic…”
“You mean you didn’t just evolve like humans?”
Luc smiled gently. “No, monkey girl, we didn’t.”
“Ape girl would be more appropriate,” Kylie retorted with mock primness. “And I’m surprised you know about that.”
“One of my previous caretakers read to me The Origin of Species many years ago. If I may continue?”
“Sorry,” she murmured, cheeks turning pink as she sucked up some noodles.
“Not at all. Many years ago, I am unsure of the exact date; the world was being torn in two by magic. On one side, there was King Arthur and light magic, and on the other, Morgan Le Fay and dark magic.”
“Holy crapola!” Kylie almost dropped her noodles, and Luc blinked at her in shock. “Are you telling me that King Arthur was real?”
Luc gasped. “You have heard of him even after all this time?”
“Yeah, just about everyone has. I mean it’s legend and all that, but they made plenty of books, movies and TV shows about it. It’s kind of a popular story.”
His lips tightened. “The legend of Arthur survives and yet my people are all but forgotten.”
Kylie placed her noodles on the floor. “Oh, I’m…”
Luc clasped her hand. “Do not say you are sorry, little one. You have nothing to be sorry for. I am gratified that you feel things so keenly, but I would not wish for you to burden yourself with hurts or wrongs that are not yours. Know that you never need to apologize to me.”
“I promise never to apologize to you again,” she told him, solemnly.
“You have made me a very happy gargoyle, little one. Now, I believe I should continue with the story. I fear that soon the dawn will be chasing me.”
“I’m…” Kylie smirked, “not sorry, but please, continue.”
“Thank you.” His hand remained loosely clamped around hers and absently his tail wrapped around her ankle. Kylie settled back into the cushions of the couch and allowed his velvety voice to overtake her.
Luc explained that the country was split into two. Many knights and clans, known as the Noir Clans, followed Morgan and just as many, known as the Blanc Clans, followed Arthur. However, more magical creatures allayed themselves with Morgan. She promised them that they would be allowed free rein to use their powers when her son became king. She said they would be above the law of man and able to do as they pleased. And she promised her followers that she would gift them some of her magic, as a prize for being loyal.
Arthur would not promise the same thing. Guided by Merlin, he knew that magic should not be taken lightly and given to anyone. He knew that there had to be rules and laws in place to ensure that it was not taken for granted or misused. This was unpopular with a lot of magical practitioners. But not all. There were many who believed the same as Merlin and supported their King when Morgan declared war on Camelot.
However, given that Morgan had the support of creatures such as trolls, mermaids, and even gryphons, it was a war that Arthur was losing. The few remaining dragons were at least on Arthur’s side. But innocent people were being slaughtered by Morgan’s army, even those who surrendered to her. She showed no mercy and Merlin knew that he could not allow her to win this war.
Merlin and the heads of the Blanc Clans decided that they needed help to win the war. So, as a last resort, they decided to create a race of warriors to help them tip the balance. With the dragons’ help, a race of gargoyles was created. They could fly like dragons, and they were faster, stronger than humans and not as susceptible to magic.
However, in order to create them, Merlin had to sacrifice himself – the strongest magic practitioner, Kai, the strongest dragon warrior, and the strongest human in the land – Arthur. The gargoyles were created by a wizard, a dragon, and a human. Luc joked that it in some ways explained their appearance.
“We are a mixture of our heritage.”
“I can certainly see the dragon in you,” she teased as she tentatively stroked his wing. He groaned almost imperceptibly. “But I can also see the man in you. I’d say you were closer to human than animal.”
“I cannot decide if you are being kind or cruel to your own kind,” he murmured.
She didn’t answer, but if she had been brave enough, she would have said kind.
“The leaders of the Blanc Clans all aided Merlin. They created five hundred of us to begin with. They created statues of the warriors they wanted, giving us all the best of each of them and then they brought us to life.”
“You remember that?” asked Kylie, curiously.
Luc smiled wryly. “I am not quite that old, little one. I am speaking of my ancestors.” He leaned heavily on the word ancestors. “Under Queen Guinevere’s command, my ancestors fought and eventually, Morgan’s army was defeated. In the end, Morgan killed her son, Mordred and then herself. Those who were repentant for their actions were allowed to live – many claimed after the war ended that Morgan held them in thrall with magic. But those who were not repentant were executed.”
Kylie nodded. “Just like in Harry Potter,” she said, knowingly.
“Harry Potter?” he repeated.
“Yep, after Voldemort got zapped loads of Death Eaters…” she trailed off at his confused expression. She’d perhaps save Harry Potter for another night. Whether she admitted to dressing up as Hermione and waiting in line for the midnight release of the last book was another matter.
He tried to ask her who this Voldemort person was, but she changed the subject and insisted he carry on with his story.
“After the war, there were those who thought that gargoyles should be executed, too.” Luc’s face turned stony – no pun intended. “They had played their part and were no longer needed. But Guinevere would not hear of it. During her reign, she was known as Guinevere the Gentle. She would never have killed an entire race, especially one that was created from her husband. My ancestor, who was named Demon, ruled by her side until her death. He was the first gargoyle ever to breathe life,” he told her proudly.
“Demon?”
“Yes, we did not have names to begin with – eventually we were named by the humans. I was told that he looked a lot like Demon. He was a great warrior,” said Luc, wistfully.
“But,
Demon – that’s a terrible name!” cried Kylie.
“Demon was also the first gargoyle to receive a name, and he was named for his appearance by Guinevere’s son. On reflection, it perhaps was not wise to allow a four-year-old child to name a living creature. Future generations of gargoyles were given names by their gargoyle parents, but it was a tradition in my family for a human to name us. It – like mine – was an unfortunate name for what we truly are. But I was named in honor of my ancestor.
“For many years after that, gargoyles lived freely among humans. We allayed ourselves with the Blanc Clans and eventually, we formed our own clans. The humans guarded us during the day, and we protected them during the night.”
“Why do you turn to stone during the day? Surely that’s some kind of design flaw.”
“You believe I am flawed?” he asked her, gravely.
“I didn’t mean to be rude!” she said quickly, heat rising from her neck. “I mean… everyone has flaws. I have an absolute ton of flaws!” She could write him a freaking list of flaws! Alphabetically or in order of importance.
“Forgive me, little one. I was only teasing. As to your flaws, I believe you are the only one who sees them.” His thumb rubbed her hand and warmth bubbled in her chest. Naturally, she ruined the moment.
“Yeah, well, you wouldn’t say that if you’d seen me naked,” she murmured, half to herself. Judging by the fact that his cheeks turned even redder, he heard her and was nice and embarrassed.
Luc cleared his throat. “My grandfather told me we sleep during the day because we were creatures who were created in darkness for the dark purpose of killing; we were never meant to see the light.”
Kylie pursed her lips. “Sounds a bit wishy-washy to me.”
He rumbled with laughter. “Indeed, my grandfather was somewhat more poetical than the other members of my family. He did not like to hunt and did not wish to kill animals. Were it not for my grandmother, he would have eaten nothing but vegetables.” Luc shook his head in a familiar way of anyone who had a relative that was thoroughly odd and perplexing, but they loved them anyway.