Gargoyles I, II, III: Dark Angel Alliance

by Rach Elle

  Sunders jolted awake in his chair as the door to his office flung open, “Sonny!” Corey called. “It’s moving!” Sunders tried to shake off the lingering effects of sleep as Crisp jumped to his feet. “Wh… what?” Sunders squinted through the dark to focus on his employee.

  Corey had a wide smile on his face and his eyes were gleaming maniacally. “The tracer; they’re on the move!”

  Sunders felt the proverbial reality slap as he quickly rose to his feet. “Call the Protectors; now!” He ordered as he grabbed his jacket and all but ran out of his office; Crisp followed closely behind. He headed into Corey and Madge’s office to see for himself. Sure enough, the tiny red dot on Corey’s computer screen was moving. He moved over to Madge’s computer to find it locked. “Can you unlock this thing?” He asked; his voice now frantic. Corey looked over as he dialed one of the Protectors. “No,” he said, “Its password protected. We’ll have to get Madge to do it.”

  “Never mind,” Sunders moved back to Corey’s computer, “we’ll look into it tomorrow morning. This is what’s important. As soon as the tracer stops we’re heading out.” He turned to Crisp; his eyes wild with excitement, “We’re getting her back tonight.”

  43

  Doing his best to stay out of sight, Limmy followed the taxi. He climbed to the top of a building he did not know the purpose of; nor did he care. From the rooftop he could see the path of the cab as it weaved along roads away from the inner city and toward a park. When the taillights, now far in the distance, glowed to bring the car to a stop Limmy narrowed his eyes to make sure both passengers exited; and more importantly, to make sure Awilda was still alive. Limmy wished like hell he could help her. He knew the savior’s motive; he knew his plans and if he could he would thwart them at every turn; but the unfortunate truth was that he was incapable of laying a hand on the savior. He was guarded by a ward of protection from Limrids passed down through the bloodline for millenniums. Limmy could curse the savior; he could hiss and threaten to his heart’s content, but he was physically incapable of inflicting pain. He knew if Awilda stood any chance at all he needed to enlist the help of the one being that could protect her; ward or not.

  44

  Awilda was confused; she didn’t know why Junior would bring her to this park in the middle of the night. It was completely deserted and the cold wind blowing against the thin fabric that covered her arms made her shiver uncontrollably. Still, she walked silently next to Junior. She could tell something was troubling him. He was too quiet and refused to look at her. He walked with long strides, his hands in his pockets, and what looked to be the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  After a few moments of nothing but the wind whistling through the trees, Awilda broke the silence. “So, you didn’t tell me you were in prison.”

  “You never asked.”

  “Okay… Junior, were you in prison?”

  Junior sighed, “Yes.”

  “What for?” She already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him.

  “Attempted murder.”

  “So Cooper was right,” Awilda said quietly. She looked up to see Junior nod in response. “Did he try to hurt Elizabeth?”

  Junior stopped walking and looked down at the young woman next to him. He had imagined her reacting in many ways to the fact that he tried to take someone’s life; but giving the benefit of the doubt wasn’t one of them. “Why do you think that?”

  Awilda shrugged, “I haven’t known you for very long, but you don’t strike me as the kind of guy who would do something like that without provocation. And I don’t think someone hurting you would be enough either; you look like the suffer-in-silence type. So the only other conclusion I can come to is that someone threatened someone you love. Kingsley looks like he can take care of himself; that only leaves one person.”

  Junior cracked a smile, “Sounds like you’ve got me all figured out.”

  “Not in the slightest,” Awilda began walking with her arms wrapped around her torso. “Did you know my grandmother; Gayle Rose?”

  Junior shortened his strides to match her pace. “No.”

  “She knew you,” she said quietly. “She told me about you; the last time she visited me in the asylum. It was about four years ago and I almost completely forgot about it; until you showed up.” Junior’s face went stern as the girl spoke. He knew the inevitable was coming and he wanted more than anything to stop it; instead he let her continue. “She had begun to lose her mind at this point and I was pretty used to incoherent ramblings from time to time so I didn’t think much of it; but she said that if I ever found a man named Junior I should follow him. I feel lower than dirt for thinking she was just crazy. Turns out she knew a lot more than I gave her credit for. What I can’t figure out is how did she know about you?” She looked up to the man next to her. His face was both intense and expressionless at the same time. She stopped in her tracks as Junior reluctantly did the same. Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. “You know, don’t you?”

  “I wish,” Junior began searching for words, “there was a better way to tell you this.”

  Awilda could barely breathe. She knew she had been in the dark about something for the past few days. Whenever she asked for answers she was either denied or given some stock response that was no better than ‘because I said so’. Kingsley’s voice rang in her ears. She’s the prophecy. “Is it about a prophecy?” Junior had to gather all of his strength to nod his head. “What is it?” She asked quietly.

  Junior tried to take a deep breath. He couldn’t bear to look at Awilda as he spoke, “Every five-hundred years hell will choose a destroyer to wage war against the human race.” His breaths were shallow as he forced himself to continue, “There is reason to believe that the destroyer is you.”

  Awilda inhaled sharply, the cold wind rushing down her throat and stinging her lungs. More than anything she wanted the notion to be ludicrous. “What?” She breathed, “Why me?”

  “There have been signs chronicled throughout the years; you’re showing them.”

  Awilda searched her brain for some reasoning to draw a different conclusion; but she couldn’t escape the fact that she’d spent the last five years in a mental institution for fear of possession. She couldn’t forget the last time she saw her grandfather and the last time she stepped into her grandmother’s house. Clearly they feared something and she was at the center of it all. “Is this the first happening?” She heard herself ask. “I mean, how do you even know it’s real? It could just be a story.”

  Junior watched as the girl struggled within. He could see her mind working on overload; trying to process everything he had said. He shook his head. “This will be the third half century since the apocalypse was prophesized.”

  Awilda almost fell to her knees. The word ‘apocalypse’ scared the hell out of her. Suddenly not even the wind made noise. She couldn’t see or hear anything except Junior and the heavy beating of her heart. “It must not be much of a threat then; hell has never won.” She looked to Junior who now wore an expression of sympathy, “Right?” she whispered.

  45

  Kingsley led Elizabeth out of the hotel. They walked to their rental car and he began putting her bags into the trunk. Something in him stirred; an uneasiness that he knew he had to ignore at all costs. It was all finally coming to an end. All he needed to do was remain calm and try to focus on something – anything else. He heard Elizabeth’s high, sharp scream. He slammed the trunk to see a Limrid bearing its brown fangs and flexing its scrawny wings on the hood of the car. Kingsley’s eyes burned red as he growled at the pitiful creature. The Limrid looked taken aback at Kingsley’s presence, then reached out to Elizabeth and yanked the silver necklace from around her neck. He took off running and began scaling the building wall to the rooftop. Kingsley roared with anger as he shifted in an instant and took chase.

  46

  “Right?” Awilda asked again, “hell has never won.”

  Junior now looked into Awi
lda’s large brown eyes. “For every action there is a reaction. Hell gave humans a destroyer; so heaven gave them a savior.”

  Awilda wrapped her arms around herself even tighter, trying to keep herself from falling apart. She stared down at her new shoes and allowed the image of her grandmother to play in her mind. She could see her sitting next to her in the Bain cafeteria. She could remember her refusing eye contact as she spoke about a man named Junior; then she stood and walked away from her only granddaughter for the last time. Awilda’s voice was calm but assertive, “It’s you; isn’t it.”

  “Yes,” Junior said softly, “in this theory you and I are true opposites; yin and yang.”

  Awilda’s mind flashed to the devil’s eyes in the stained glass ceiling. She couldn’t ignore the way they bored into hers as if they were real. She took a deep breath, “So I’m going to try to destroy the world; and you’ll have no choice but to stop me.” She listened to her own heavy breathing for a moment before looking up to meet his eyes. “You’re not telling me this to give me a head start. You’re going to kill me, aren’t you.”

  Her words knocked the wind out of Junior. He had to catch his breath and try to regain his composure. “Not if you can give me a reason to believe you’re not the destroyer.” He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her tiny frame and hold her until the year of war was over. “Anything, Awilda,” He could hear the plea in his voice, “please.”

  Awilda shifted her gaze to stare into the depths of the wooded park; as if something of interest lay just beyond the trees. Entranced, she spoke, “This is why my grandfather tried to kill me.”

  “Any reason at all.” Junior cut in.

  “My grandmother wanted me to trust you because she wanted me to die; just like my grandfather.”

  “Goddamn Awilda, think!” Junior grabbed her shoulders and tried to shake her out of her trance.

  Awilda’s nightmares replayed in her head. All this time she’d had the feeling that something evil wanted her. She had spent her days and nights waiting for it to overtake her. Now she knew why. The image of succumbing to the possession she had feared for so many years churned her stomach. She thought of Junior’s words; you are the destroyer. She couldn’t bear the thought of ending the lives of so many innocent people; of being responsible for their destruction and demise. Her throat was suddenly dry and her words were hoarse, but she forced herself to say them anyway. “Even if you gave me a head start,” her eyes drifted upward to meet Junior’s, “I wouldn’t take it.”

  Swiftly, Junior pinned her against a tree and pulled out his knife from the waist of his jeans as she let out a small cry. He held the blade to her delicate throat and watched the horror play in her eyes. “One reason,” he begged, tears spilling from his eyes as he pushed the blade against her skin, “tell me the article was wrong; you’ve never had nightmares; you don’t fear possession. Whether or not it’s true just tell me it is and I’ll spare you. I’ll drop this knife and walk away right now.”

  Kingsley had followed the Limrid away from the inner city to an empty, darkened park. His wings were extended as he furiously chased the ugly monster. The cell phone clipped to the belt of his slacks vibrated for the seventh time and he ignored it for the seventh time. His eyes were fixated on the creature ahead of him.

  To his surprise, the Limrid stopped at the base of a large tree and draped the necklace over a small branch before scattering away like the coward it was. Kingsley came to a sudden stop at the tree and retrieved the jewelry. It was the piece he had bought for Elizabeth the first day they arrived in London. He held it up and inspected the heart shaped necklace for any chips or scratches, but he couldn’t see any.

  He was just about to turn and leave when a small sound rang in his ears; a tiny cry he wished he hadn’t heard but knew he wouldn’t be able to ignore. Not now; not when he was this close. Reluctantly, he looked around the tree into the clearing. He tried to suppress the rage boiling in his veins and turned to walk away.

  Junior could feel Awilda trembling beneath him. Still, she didn’t try to fight. Her eyes rose to meet his. Even her pupils were quivering. But she didn’t scream or try to run away. She wasn’t denying the blade to her throat. He couldn’t stand the thought of killing her. He wanted to be with her; both of them alive. But he couldn’t deny his own destiny. David the First shed one tear for the ultimate burden placed on all his children to come… His breaths were shallow and the tears glistened off his cheeks as Junior angled the blade to cut through her skin. The right thing is rarely the easiest. Through clenched teeth he whispered, “May God take you anyway.”

  A force slammed into Junior and tackled him to the ground, sending his knife flying across the clearing. Before he could recognize his attacker he tightened his fists and fought back, rolling him onto his back and shifting suddenly; his wings slicing through the air and his fangs protruding in his mouth.

  Awilda grabbed her throat and pulled her hand away to see a small amount of blood. She was still alive and to her surprise, she was relieved. Her wobbly knees couldn’t support her anymore as she lowered herself to the ground and leaned against the tree for support.

  Junior pinned his attacker to the ground for only a second before their feet cement against his rib cage and thrust forward, sending him flying backward. He landed with a harsh thud before quickly jumping back to his feet to see his attacker gingerly get to his.

  “Kingsley?” Junior asked through heavy breathing.

  The old man grunted as he tried to stand tall, but was clearly fatigued. “Yeah, kid; it’s me.”

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Saving my Responsibility and your ass; you know I’d have to kill you if you hurt her.”

  “Well,” Junior shrugged, “you’d have to try, at least.”

  “Give me some credit; you’re just as out of breath as I am.”

  Junior placed his hands on his hips, relieved to see his old friend; but frustrated at the same time. He didn’t want to kill Awilda. Still, it was something he had to do. Kingsley was only delaying the inevitable. He wasn’t sure he could gather enough courage to hold a knife to her throat again; and like hell she would ever trust him to get close enough. Shit. He cursed. He could feel her behind him. He could smell her and hear her rapid, shallow breathing. The last thing he wanted to do was turn around and face her. She would undoubtedly look at him like he was a monster; he supposed he was one. “You weren’t supposed to be here.” He said under his breath.

  “It wasn’t in the plan; believe me.” Kingsley stood completely still; waiting for his young friend to make a move. No matter how much he hated it; he couldn’t turn away. Goddamn Limrid, he cursed. If it weren’t for him he could have ignored the twisting in his gut and the girl might actually be dead by now.

  Junior relaxed his shoulders, “So what are we supposed to do now?” He hated the vulnerability in his voice; but now more than ever he felt lost. He had just tried to do the unthinkable; he tried to kill the woman he had fallen so profoundly for.

  “We go back to the castle and I try to forget this ever happened.”

  “Like hell,” Junior bit back. The image of the knife digging into Awilda’s porcelain skin rushed his brain. “We can’t just pretend everything is normal.” He took a deep breath and tried to conceal the quivering in his voice. “You sent me here to do a job, and I need to finish it before it’s too late.”

  “Don’t you dare touch her,” Kingsley growled.

  “You need to leave so I can fulfill this goddamn prophecy you can’t stop vomiting.”

  “Fuck you kid; touch her and die.” Kingsley bared his fangs and his eyes flashed to red.

  “She’s the destroyer!”

  “No she’s not!” Kingsley roared. In the silence that followed he cursed himself for his outburst. Junior’s shoulders tensed; his wings lowered and his eyes overflowed with shock and confusion. “What?” He breathed.

  Awilda’s head whipped toward the altercat
ion in the middle of the clearing. Did she hear that right?

  Kingsley wanted to punch himself in the face; but that would only delay the explanation for a moment or so. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “The prophecy states that hell will choose a gargoyle queen.” He spoke in a calm and aggravated voice. “Awilda is not a shifter; nor does she carry the gene; believe me, I’ve checked.”

  Junior lowered his head, his eyes darted from left to right; looking for some sort of clarity. Quietly, he asked, “Then why did you put me up to this?” His voice quivered uncontrollably; either from anger or fear for what he had almost done; he wasn’t sure which.

  Kingsley looked shocked at the accusation. “I didn’t force you to put a knife to her throat…”

  “I almost killed her!”

  “…you did that on your own.”

  “Why?!”

  “Because I can’t watch Elizabeth die!” Kingsley heard himself cry. He could feel the weight of the world resting on his shoulders as he looked to his one and only friend for understanding. After several seconds of deafening silence his eyes welled with tears, he dropped his head and fell to his knees. For the first time in centuries he was too exhausted to stand. “I’ve seen far too much death,” he slumped forward; tired and defeated. “Elizabeth is the first woman since my Bethany that has given me something to live for.

  “I’ve been searching for my Responsibility for centuries, only to find she’s just begun her life. I won’t resume aging for decades upon decades.” He scowled as he choked on his words. Tears streamed down his cheeks; glistening in the moonlight. “God, in all His infinite wisdom has set me up for pain once again. He gave me the love of my life with only the intention of taking her away. I can’t watch her die Junior; I can’t do it. Not again. I’ve tried to end it myself. I’ve tried to take my own life; but I fail every time. I’m obligated to live out His plan. I only hoped to quicken the pace. I only hoped to grow older alongside my love.”