Gargoyles I, II, III: Dark Angel Alliance

by Rach Elle

  Aaron’s strong wings flew him through the air and onto the shoulders of the devil. He lifted his sword again and stabbed the weapon through the broad chest as Satan screamed. The devil wrapped his hands around Aaron’s head, digging his long, black nails into the gargoyle’s skull and threw the traitor to the side. He pulled the blade from his chest and drove it into the bleeding heart of Aaron.

  David the First watched with horror his second impaled; a death so severe.

  - Arav Dave

  “The Ultimate War”

  1

  Previously…

  Awilda gasped as a smile stretched across her face, “Tauggle,” she cried over the piercing wail, “I claim you!”

  The Limrid grabbed onto its abdomen as if in pain. A white light began to radiate off of its body; growing brighter and brighter, causing the Protectors to shield their eyes. The wind grew stronger and more ferocious as it began to cyclone around the creature; sending debris flying in all directions as the trees flailed and bent backward as if their trunks were rubber.

  Junior hovered closer to Awilda, anchoring her to the ground and closing his eyes; feeling the sting of light through his eyelids. The high pitched frequency abruptly stopped and a force of energy shot from the cyclone in every direction, sending everyone flying several feet backwards…

  Meanwhile…

  Elizabeth so badly wanted Kingsley to return. She’d been waiting patiently outside their hotel ever since a frightening Limrid grabbed her necklace and took off running with King in pursuit. But he had yet to show and what Bawli said not only terrified her, it also made a lot of sense. He finished transferring her bags from the rental to the trunk of his car and plopped into the driver’s seat. Elizabeth wanted to cry. “He knew the hotel was being monitored, why would he shift? So careless,” she breathed.

  Bawli looked at the old woman sitting next to him in the car. She looked near tears, and even though he was livid at the moment, and rightfully so, he couldn’t bring himself to bear her pain. With a heavy sigh, he tried to calm her nerves. “We can’t always control when we shift. Sometimes it happens so suddenly we don’t even realize it until we’re flying through the air or scaling a wall.”

  Elizabeth sniffled, “What’s going to happen now?” She still stared blankly out her window. The shadows and buildings blurred into darkness as they whisked by.

  “Alvin and Mason are scouting the DAA building. There’s still a chance they might be able to erase the footage before anyone sees it.”

  “Alvin and Mason? But they’re not shifters; shouldn’t you be the one to do it?”

  Bawli winced at the danger he’d put the boys in. “Mason is the only one who can erase the footage undetected. I didn’t want him to go alone so I sent Alvin. That kid may seem like a pre-teen at a One Direction concert but he can be pretty crafty when under the wire. They’re a good duo.”

  “Why didn’t you go with him for protection and have Alvin come get me?”

  Bawli shot Elizabeth an icy glance. She recoiled and returned her gaze to her window. “I’m sorry; I’m just concerned about what might happen if the DAA sees King shift.”

  “We all are.” Bawli said flatly. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the old woman cringe. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her upper lip. They pulled up to a red streetlight and sat idle for a moment. He quietly observed her out of his periphery. She had slender shoulders that sloped gracefully. She wore a soft, blue cotton sweater with a neckline low enough to expose her collarbone. Her hands sat folded in her lap and her right thumb rubbed along her left knuckles; rising and falling with each bone, back and forth. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt; and Bawli felt bad for her, he really did.

  After a moment of silence Bawli sighed heavily. “We feared that if the DAA had seen the footage then they would be on their way to the hotel; and if the woman from said video was still standing there, well, I had a feeling it wouldn’t bode well for you. So on the off chance that that was the case, I wanted to do the honors and pick you up myself. Alvin may be crafty, but fighting off a slew of Protectors is hardly in his repertoire.”

  The light turned green and the car picked up speed again. Elizabeth crinkled her nose in thought. “What about the other two shifters; the girl and the boy with the scar?”

  “Am I your last choice; is that it?” Bawli whipped his head toward the old woman. His brows furrowed over his green eyes and his upper lip curled back as if flashing the fangs he would have had, had he been in his shifted state.

  Elizabeth could see that she’d offended him. The truth was she didn’t care who picked her up from the hotel. She had no list of choices in no particular order, except one; Kingsley. She feared for Kingsley’s life. What if he returned to the hotel to find her, only to find instead Protectors? Bawli said he had called him a number of times to warn him but they all went to voicemail. Her stomach churned and twisted at the thought of King being hurt or worse. So she tried to distract herself by asking silly questions about the London clan they’d only just met earlier in the day, and by doing so she’d hurt the feelings of the one that risked his life to help her.

  A sudden fatigue swept her body. She could feel her limbs growing heavy and her eyelids begged to close. She forced them to stay open, however. She was determined to push pass the spell. “I didn’t mean it like that; I’m sorry.” She apologized. “I’m just trying to keep my mind off of more pressing matters. I didn’t mean to offend you; you’re not my last choice.”

  Bawli continued to stare out onto the road as Elizabeth made no attempts to hide the fact that she was watching him. She admired the strength of his jaw and the broadness of his shoulders. His big round belly seemed almost proportionate with his large, muscular arms and thick, tree trunk thighs. He was massive, especially in this little car that she couldn’t believe was his. Finally, perhaps feeling a little uncomfortable with her staring, Bawli spoke in his refined English accent, “Zeff and Cooper went to the park to help Junior and Awilda.”

  Elizabeth furrowed her brow, “The park?”

  “Yes, Mason was monitoring the DAA’s computer and saw the two leave the hotel. Suddenly that tracer they had resting on the building started moving. It ended up in a park on the outside of the city. We figured the DAA would follow the trail so Zeff and Cooper shifted and went to help.”

  Elizabeth didn’t understand. Junior was taking Awilda to the castle, not some park. She shook her head in confusion, why?

  The car pulled off the main road and down a darkened street lined with shops closed until the morning. Elizabeth whipped her head in all directions, “Where are we?”

  “We’re dumping the car and flying the rest of the way.”

  “What?” Elizabeth could suddenly feel an anxiety attack coming on. “Why? Why can’t we just drive?”

  “We can’t risk the DAA tracking the car. Now grab everything out of the back that identifies you or the other three in any way. Hey, Elizabeth, focus,” he could see her chest rising and falling dramatically with quick, shallow breaths. Small beads of sweat began to form over her brow. “Elizabeth?” His refined, smooth tone was now frantic. “Are you alright? What’s going on?” When she didn’t answer he unlatched his seatbelt, jumped out of the car and ran to her side. He threw open her door and slid his arms under her, lifting her out of her seat and running her to the sidewalk. Bawli gently laid her down on the ground and had her roll onto her right side. “It’s alright Elizabeth,” he said softly, “breathe, just breathe. Feel the cold cement on your face, can you feel it? Is it cold? Shit, I can’t tell.” Elizabeth managed a nod as she tried to slow her breathing and concentrate on the chilled surface beneath her. “That’s it,” Bawli began rubbing her back in slow circles, “just breathe.”

  2

  Cooper swooped quickly toward the pebbled drive. Her small, morphed feet hit the ground running with Zeff not far behind. She reached the front door to the castle and heaved it open. The two gargoyles ran into the foyer and down the co
rridor, peaking into adjacent rooms along the way.

  The two gargoyles had just returned from the park in a panic. They had arrived at the clearing just in time to see Awilda Rose claim a Limrid. The bright, white light, the massive wind, that ear-piercing wail; all led them to the conclusion that they needed to return to the castle immediately. She knew where they lived, and they’d left their Responsibilities unprotected. If she truly was evil like the old man said, then they needed to flee the castle as soon as possible.

  “Vin! Mason!” Cooper called as she entered the ballroom. Her feet wrapped against the marble floor as she crossed the expanse only to skid to a stop at the threshold of the living room. She let out a sharp, violent gasp and Zeff was by her side instantly, ready to protect her from any threat. What they saw before them was more beastly and terrifying than either of them could imagine.

  Kingsley and another man they didn’t recognize lay lifeless on the stone floor, and Junior laid next to them, bloodied, mangled and near death himself. They were all at the feet of a claimed Limrid.

  Cooper wanted to cry. She looked to Zeff, “Alvin and Mason,” she choked.

  “Are alive,” Zeff cut her off.

  “How do you know?”

  “We’re still shifted.” His icy blue eyes narrowed in on the Limrid, who stood with pale white skin, long white hair and pitch black eyes. A growl escaped Zeff’s throat and resonated throughout the castle, “and we’re going to keep it that way.” His lips peeled back to reveal his fangs and the Limrid did the same. Zeff roared as he took off running toward the creature. It screeched as it turned and ran toward the wall. The Limrid didn’t stop at the barrier; its strides continued up the wall seamlessly, now running toward the ceiling. Zeff leaped through the air and latched onto the wall, his fingers and claws digging into the stone surface. He continued to climb, keeping pace with the Limrid.

  The creature suddenly leaped outward through the air. Zeff’s eyes scorched red and he launched himself off of the wall; his arms outstretched, ready to grab hold and kill the pale minion. His fingers soared through the air and closed the distance between them. He could feel the strands of white hair graze his fingertips. He pushed himself further and wrapped his arms around the creature before… poof! The Limrid disappeared into thin air. Zeff’s body latched onto nothing and careened into the adjacent wall, the impact shattering pieces of stone. He fell limply to the floor.

  Tauggle reappeared next to the wet bar and looked amusingly at his latest conquest. His black eyes drifted over to the small gargoyle that stood in a pouncing position. She had a much smaller set of wings that when wrapped around her shoulders would look more like a shawl than a cloak. Her tail was too short to reach the floor and it twitched slightly at the current prospect of a fight. He winked and she took after him, her tiny body slicing through the air. Tauggle reached out his hands and telekinetically latched onto the large sofa. He threw it across the room toward the girl.

  Cooper was running as fast as her legs could carry her, making it extremely difficult to stop on a dime. The sofa suddenly sailed across the living room and she knew there would be a collision. The furniture flew closer and closer; she threw her arms upward to shield her face at the last second before a sudden force slammed into her, ripping her out of the path of the sofa. Zeff and she went careening into the ground in the middle of the room.

  Cooper tried to get up, but she quickly realized her shoulder was dislocated and began howling in pain. Zeff leaned over and grabbed onto her arm. With one swift pull he popped her shoulder back into place; the clicking sound echoing throughout the living room.

  Zeff raised his eyes to see the Limrid looking upward with a playful smile on his face. He followed his gaze to the ceiling to see the large glass chandelier. It was moving; shaking, as if… The chandelier broke off its chain and barreled downward toward the two gargoyles. Zeff threw himself on top of Cooper…

  “Tauggle stop!”

  The chandelier halted in mid-air just above the gargoyles; the pieces of glass dangling and grazing Zeff’s bare back and wings. He looked up to see a dirty, horrified Awilda Rose holding a pile of blankets and wash cloths in her arms. She looked at the Limrid, “Tauggle put that chandelier back where you found it and don’t harm Zeff or Cooper.”

  The Limrid frowned and raised the large glass light back to the ceiling and telekinetically reattached it to its bolts. Zeff cautiously lifted himself off of Cooper and stared down the creature.

  Cooper quickly jumped to her feet. Her eyes burned red and a small growl escaped her lips. She took off running toward Awilda.

  “Cooper, no!” Zeff called to her, but it was too late. She barreled toward the girl and swiftly pinned her against the wall, her slender arm crossing the girl’s throat and crushing her wind pipe. “Where are Alvin and Mason?” She growled.

  “I… I… don’t… know,” Awilda managed to choke out even under the pressure applied to her throat.

  “Bullshit!”

  Zeff got to his feet, “Cooper; Cooper, I think she may be telling the truth.” After all, if she was truly on a killing spree why would she spare the two of them? And why was she bringing blankets and wash cloths from the upstairs bathroom? He could only imagine it was to clean the wounds of the bloody gargoyle on the floor.

  “No,” Cooper continued, “Kingsley is dead because of her and Junior isn’t far behind.”

  Awilda’s eyes popped in shock at the small gargoyles words. “Kingsley’s not dead,” she squeaked, “he’s sleeping.”

  “You think I’m dim enough to believe that, do you?”

  “It’s… true.” A small, weak voice was barely heard in the expanse of the living room as Junior came to. He wanted nothing more than to stand, cross the room, and break Cooper’s arm for touching Awilda like she was, but he could barely move. He coughed dryly and tried to clear his throat, “It’s true,” he said a little louder.

  Zeff looked at Junior in his harmed, weakened state and met his eyes. They were earnest and pleading. He looked over to Kingsley and the blonde man he didn’t recognize and listened closely for their breathing. After a second of silence he detected the slightest exhale coming from the old man. It was a deep sleep, but a sleep nonetheless. “Cooper,” Zeff began, “let her go.”

  “You’ve gotta be barmey if you think I’m…”

  “Let her go!” His voice boomed throughout the castle as he stared at the small gargoyle.

  Cooper couldn’t believe Zeff’s tone. He never raised it; not even in the heat of battle. She looked over her shoulder at him to see his icy blue eyes staring at her from behind his scar. She wanted to argue, but his expression was too severe. Slowly, she pulled her arm away from Awilda’s throat and let the girl go. She looked at the girl’s porcelain skin and noticed too much bruising for her to cause as well as… Cooper reached out and latched onto Awilda’s jaw. She pushed it upward to reveal all of the pain that had been inflicted on this girl’s neck. A large cut encrusted with dark red, dried blood sat prominently in the sea of discoloration. Cooper narrowed her eyes, “Where did you get that?”

  Awilda ripped herself away from the gargoyle’s grasp and nervously looked to the floor. “We ran into some Protectors,” she quickly explained. Frantically, she picked up the blankets and towels that she had dropped and ran to the sofa, which was now on the opposite side of the room. She draped the blankets over the furniture and turned to Tauggle. “Carefully place Junior on the couch.”

  Tauggle slightly bowed his head and telekinetically lifted Junior off of the stone floor and floated him to the sofa before setting him down gently. Awilda got to work getting cold water from behind the wet bar. “Wake up Simon and Kingsley,” she ordered. Tauggle bowed his head again and Kingsley and Simon began to stir.

  The old man sat up and grabbed his throbbing head. After a moment he looked around to get his bearings before remembering his friend. “Where’s Junior?” He asked. Awilda made her way from the wet bar with a bowl of water and kneeled ne
xt to the tattooed gargoyle. “He’s right here,” she said.

  Kingsley got to his feet and walked to the sofa. Awilda began carefully washing his wounds. He placed his hand on Junior’s shoulder and bent down to speak, “How are you, my friend?”

  Junior winced as he lifted his chin upward and looked at the old man. With a dry, raspy voice he said, “Go… to hell.”

  Kingsley stood and reluctantly nodded before crossing the room toward the wet bar. He couldn’t blame Junior for hating him. After all, he’d manipulated him into almost killing the girl; the same girl who now tended to him and washed his wounds as if he never held a blade to her throat. He watched her delicate hands as they guided the washcloth over Junior’s bare abdomen. She was a much better person than he’d ever given her credit for.

  Simon groaned on the stone floor. Awilda looked to him and whispered to Junior, “I’ll be back”, before running to Simon’s aid. “Simon, are you okay?” She asked. The blonde doctor’s eyes flickered open. “So… much… pain.” He managed to say.

  “Okay,” Awilda nodded, “we’ll get you to one of the rooms. You can rest in bed. Tauggle…”

  “No!” Simon tried to sit up but quickly lost the strength to do so. “Not him. I don’t… trust… him.”

  “That makes two of us, apparently.” Cooper scoffed from the corner. “By the way,” she crossed her arms, “who is this man that you are offering our beds to? You know, as if you have the right to do so?” Her sweet tone was laced with sarcasm.

  “I’m sorry Cooper,” Awilda began, “this is my friend Dr. Simon Crispin. He helped us in the park against the Protectors. The least we can do is let him rest and regain his strength.”