by Rach Elle
He opened his bedroom door and stepped out into the hall. All of the residents were heading downstairs and making their way outside. He ran his fingers through his hair to try and make himself presentable before following them. He was about half way down the stairs before noticing Crisp. He bounded down the steps and reached the slow moving doctor.
Awilda had finished getting dressed and ready for what was about to happen next. She was a bundle of emotions and nerves. Still, she composed herself and headed out into the hall. She looked down the stairs into the ballroom to see Simon being helped outside by Sunders and smiled.
“Is there something going on between you and the doctor we should know about?”
Awilda jolted slightly as Tauggle appeared beside her. “No,” she insisted, “he’s just a friend.”
“Really,” Tauggle’s brows popped, “you two seemed to be pretty comfortable last night.”
“It was completely innocent.”
“Maybe we should ask Junior. Something tells me the news of you spending the night in the arms of another man wouldn’t sit too well with him.”
“Junior doesn’t control me,” she snapped. “Simon was just consoling me. After what happened last night I think I deserve that, don’t you?”
Tauggle’s face dropped and his almost completely golden eyes looked at her like she was on her death bed. “That I do.”
Awilda began to descend the staircase when Tauggle lightly grabbed a hold of her arm. “Just so you know, your doctor friend wasn’t wrong; you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
Awilda’s smile didn’t meet her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued her descent.
“Wow, that’s deep for a minion.” The blunt, female accent rang in his ears. He turned to see Cooper approaching and inexplicably straightened his posture. She reached him, placed her hands on her hips and crooked her brow. “You’re not as I had expected.”
“What ever do you mean?” He asked playfully.
She shrugged, “You helped us out last night without being ordered to.”
“I told you…”
“I know, I know; you were bored. But still,” she motioned downward to Awilda who was now crossing the marble floor. “You didn’t have to console her just now. And last night after she set you free you didn’t have to stick around and help us get Zeff to a doctor; but you did.” She began descending the staircase. “You better be careful Limrid,” she called over her shoulder, “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were starting to have feelings.”
Tauggle watched as Cooper moved down the stairs; taking each and every step lightly and gracefully. Her hips swayed from side to side and her slender hand elegantly ran along the cherry banister. She reached the marble floor below and he could feel his heart begin to ache as she headed for the glass French doors that led out into the rose garden. His chest was suddenly weighted and he had to breathe heavily just to lift it enough for his lungs to fill with oxygen. “You know something,” he said much too quietly for anyone to hear. “I’d say you’re right.”
Sunders followed the others as they walked to the back of the rose garden near the overgrown brush that sat on the edge of the property line. Everyone stopped and kept their distance as Awilda continued to move forward. She reached the edge of the garden and lowered to her knees. She reached into her sweatshirt pocket and pulled out two small white crosses she had constructed earlier that morning. She pushed them into the dirt and took out a pen to write the initials of her father and Regina.
Sunders watched as Awilda finished writing on the crosses and lowered her head to pray. He leaned over to Crisp who watched intently. “They tried to kill her,” he whispered, “Why is she mourning for them?”
“Because,” Crisp whispered back, “No one else will.”
After the service Sunders crossed the rose garden and entered the ballroom again. He was about to announce that he was leaving when he heard Junior call his name. He turned to see the six-foot-six tattooed man moving toward him.
Junior closed the distance between him and the Finder, “I didn’t get a chance to thank you before,” he said, “You know, for the whole doctor thing and all.”
“Nah,” Sunders shook his head, “It was nowt.”
Junior gave a crooked smile and held out his palm. The Finder accepted and the two shook hands.
“Junior,” Alvin called from the upstairs balcony. “Zeff’s awake; he wants to see you.”
61
Junior entered Zeff’s bedroom to see the gargoyle, still in his shifted state sitting up against the headboard.
“Hey,” Junior said.
Zeff looked at him, “Hey mate.”
“How you holding up?”
Zeff shrugged and winced in pain at the slight movement, “I’ve been better; how’s our girl?”
Junior’s brows popped in surprise, “Awilda?”
“Yeah, Cooper told me what happened,” he tried to take a deep breath. “Guess there’s no denying it now, yeah? Kingsley was right in the first place.”
“I guess so,” Junior said somberly.
“Looks like we’ve got a hell of a battle up ahead.”
“We?”
Zeff smiled, “You don’t really think we’re going to let you go it alone, do you? Don’t let this savior business go to your head mate. We’re all in this now.”
“Yeah,” Junior nervously rubbed his own neck.
Zeff studied the man in front of him. If Junior had been trying to hide the fact that he was enamored by Awilda then he was a lousy actor. And Zeff could only assume that if Junior professed his love for the girl she would’ve reciprocated in the blink of an eye. So the question remained – why were they not together? Regardless of the answer, the scarred shifter refused to allow any chance he may have with Awilda to pass him by.
Zeff took a deep breath, “Do you know that I fancy her,” he asked stoically.
“Yeah, I do.”
Zeff took a moment to carefully arrange his words, “I know in time she would learn to feel the same for me.” He watched as Junior stiffened and eyed him from across the room. He continued, “But it would be a lie. She would be lying to me, to herself, and to you. The thing is I’d be alright with that – on one condition.”
“And that is,” Junior tried to suppress the growl in his throat.
“That you let her go. It’s clear you fancy her too, but nothing has come from it.”
Junior cringed. Nothing had come from it because she didn’t reciprocate.
“You need to decide either way,” Zeff continued, “yes or no. And if you choose no then I’ll happily live the lie.”
“Why,” Junior asked. “Why would you wait for my blessing?”
Zeff smiled, “Because we’re mates; sorted.”
A knock sounded and the bedroom door opened. Kingsley stuck his head inside. “Mind if we come in?” He asked as he entered the room followed by Elizabeth.
“Yeah,” Junior moved out of the way to make more room, “I was just leaving.” Just before he left the room Zeff called to him.
“Junior,” he watched as the shifter stopped and looked back at him. “I won’t wait forever.”
Junior nodded once then left the room, closing the door behind him. He stood in the hall just outside Zeff’s room for a moment wishing like hell he could tell Zeff to back off from Awilda. He wanted to tell him that she was spoken for and that she loved him just as much as he loved her. But that wasn’t the case. He had kissed her and she pulled away. He had professed his love for her and she clearly didn’t feel the same. The thought of giving another man his blessing to pursue the woman he loved made him want to vomit.
He was about to retreat back to his room when he noticed someone approaching in his periphery. He turned his head to see Awilda slowly moving toward him.
Awilda knew she needed to confront Junior. She wished she didn’t have to do it so soon. But here he was, standing directly in front of her; alone. She needed to
do it now. She took a deep breath, kicked up her chin and approached the man. “Take it back,” the words flew out of her mouth without any pretense.
“What?” He asked.
“You swore you’d never hurt me; take it back.”
His shoulders slumped in submission, “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. I know you care for me…”
“I love you.”
“But after what happened last night it’s clear what you’re going to have to do eventually. I don’t want you to be hindered by some silly promise you made.”
“Silly promise,” he breathed. “My word is all I have.”
“Take it back!”
“No!”
Awilda couldn’t stop herself. Her arm raised and her palm flattened. She threw her hand through the air and slapped Junior across the face. He appeared fazed for only a half second before regaining his composure. She swallowed the lump in her throat in preparation for her next words. “Zeff almost died because of me.”
“Because of your father.”
“Who wouldn’t have even been in the country if it wasn’t for me.” Her voice was suddenly so small, “Why can’t you just accept it? Why can’t you accept the fact that I’m exactly what you feared I was? One of these days you’re going to have to k…”
“No,” he cut her off. “If there is a way; I swear I’m going to find it.”
Awilda watched as Junior’s gaze lifted and landed on something behind her. Slowly, she looked over her shoulder to see everyone staring at her; Sunders and Simon, Bawli and Cooper and Alvin and Mason. Tauggle suddenly appeared beside them. They all watched her, silent and still. She wanted to hide. She wanted to find a dark corner and curl up into a little ball never to burden anyone with her existence ever again.
The door to Zeff’s room opened and Elizabeth stood on the other side. She smiled sadly at the girl and motioned for her to come in. Awilda reluctantly did so as the rest of the group filed in behind her. She stood next to Zeff’s bed, so thankful to see the shifter alive and healing rapidly.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” Zeff said. He lifted his finger and tapped his pointed ear, “Super hearing, remember?” She nodded and he continued. “Junior is right, you know; if there is a way to protect you from the war then we’re going to find it. And we’ve got quite the arsenal too. We’ve got shifters, a Limrid and a Finder on our side. I’d say we’ve got a shot.”
“But why?” Awilda’s voice cracked. “Why even bother with me? You could get yourselves killed.”
Zeff smiled as he looked into her big, brown eyes, “Because you’re a part of our clan now.”
“Yeah,” Bawli chimed in, “do you even know what a clan is?” When Awilda didn’t answer he motioned to everyone in the room, “It’s a family. See,” he pointed at Zeff, “You’ve got your overprotective big brother,” he looked over at Kingsley, “And your grumpy old man.”
Kingsley narrowed his eyes as Elizabeth chuckled. She nudged him, “I guess that makes me the irrationally understanding old woman.”
Bawli nodded, “You’ve got me; the fun-loving uncle.” He motioned toward Alvin and Mason, “And they’re the cousins that’ll probably get you arrested at some point.”
Both Alvin and Mason nodded. “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet myself,” Alvin said.
Cooper smiled, “I suppose that means I’m the older, wiser sister.”
“And I’m the elf that lives under your bed and grabs your ankles when you get up to pee.” Tauggle looked around at all the confused faces of the clan. “What?” he asked, “Is that not a thing?” His heart skipped a beat at the sound of a small chuckle escaping Cooper’s lips. He looked at her and swooned a little as her eyes cheerfully met his.
“I’m the childhood friend that’ll follow you anywhere,” Crisp said as he leaned against the doorjamb.
Next to him Sunders spoke up, “And I’m the nosey neighbor that won’t stop peering over your fence.”
As the round of chuckles died down everyone looked to the only person left.
Junior stood silently, staring at Awilda from across the room. His piercing blue eyes bored into hers. He wanted to say he was the man that would do nothing short of taking a bullet for her, but he knew she already knew that.
“See?” Bawli broke through the suspense hanging in the air, “We even have awkward moments of silence just like a real family.”
The group burst into laughter again. Awilda looked around at the eclectic, sometimes eccentric collection of beings. She couldn’t help but smile. As dysfunctional as they all were, they were there for her; willing to stand by her side despite the horror that was undoubtedly coming their way. For the first time in far too long – she had a family.
62
Las Vegas, Nevada…
BeStone Soltan stood on the roof of an old building about two miles from the Las Vegas strip. Next to him was his oldest friend, Parag; a seven-foot tall gargoyle of Indian descent. They stood silent, overlooking the darkened streets that sprawled out in front of them. Neither one moved at the sound of footfalls coming from behind. “Tell me you found something,” BeStone said in his harsh, Egyptian accent.
“We found them.”
BeStone and Parag turned around to see the Canadian brothers, Cypro and Augmen standing side by side. “The girl used her credit card,” Augmen continued, “They’re in London, England.”
All four sets of eyes darted upward at the sight of two gargoyles gliding low for a landing. A few seconds later the two females hit the tarred roof gracefully. “Stone,” Viattrice began, “We’ve found something we think you’ll be interested in.”
“Is it the whereabouts of James and the Creator?” Cypro asked, “Because you’re too late, we already found them.”
“No, it’s better,” Amelie snipped.
“What could be better than that? When we find James we’ll most likely find the girl which is the whole point of…”
“Cypro,” BeStone held up his hand to silence the gargoyle. He turned his attention to Viattrice, “What have you found, my one?”
“We checked out the asylum Awilda Rose escaped from and we found out that she actually left with her doctor. So we did some digging on him and pulled up a photo.” She retrieved a picture from the pack that was slung over her shoulder and across her body. She handed it to Stone. “His name is Dr. Simon Crispin,” she said.
BeStone took the photo and looked at it for a moment before a large, devilish smile stretched across his face. “I can’t believe it,” he chuckled darkly, “he recycled.”
Viattrice shrugged, “I guess when you find something that works you stick with it.”
“Who is it?” Augmen asked.
Without looking away from the photo BeStone answered, “Let’s call him an old friend; one that I haven’t seen in a very long time.”
“Well if he left with Awilda then he’s probably in London too.”
BeStone could feel darkness shroud him; his intentions suddenly taking an unexpected but long overdue turn. As he stared into the eyes of Simon Crispin he lowered his harshly accented voice and drawled, “I certainly hope so.”
To Be Continued…
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Playlist
I don’t think I could write without music. I know it sounds weird… feel free to judge me here… b
ut often times when I listen to music I see music videos featuring my characters unfolding in my head. Usually the song’s lyrics are relatable to my stories; and sometimes not. Sometimes the song is seemingly out of left field and makes no sense whatsoever within the context. I don’t try to figure out why I’m drawn to any particular song… I just go with it.
I’ve narrowed this “playlist” for those who are interested in the inspiration behind some of these characters to a handful of songs. But I would feel terrible if I didn’t credit the groups that provide awesome music on my Pandora every time I sit down to write. I absolutely love listening to Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Three Days Grace, My Darkest Days, Hollywood Undead, Deuce, and Halestorm – not necessarily in that order.
Now, with that being said – here is my playlist for Gargoyles II
Skillet – “Whispers in the Dark”
Junior’s song
One Direction – “Story of my Life”
Junior’s other song
Three Days Grace – “Animal I Have Become”
Awilda’s song
Godsmack – “Voodoo”
This song really helps when I don’t feel much like writing and need to get into the mood
Dark Angel Alliance
Gargoyles
Part III
Rach Elle
Copyright 2015
Players
Shifters
Junior Cross
The prophesized savior of the human race
Kingsley Leon
At 300 years of age he cannot defy the Lord’s plan for him and end his long, tiresome life