by Rach Elle
Awilda stood on the flat rooftop of the castle. She walked slowly as she looked up into the night sky. The stars seemed so far away. They were tiny and dim as they blanketed the world. She lowered her gaze and observed the large stone gargoyles that lined the ledge. They were in various stances; some were sitting and staring outward; others were frozen in action, prepared for war. She scowled. She’d had quite the adventure with these creatures. Her life had been turned upside down. Not that it was going great to begin with, but at least it was her life. Now she merely lived each day waiting for someone – or something – else to take control. Maybe if she’d never been immersed in this world then she could have lived her final days with ignorance. She squeezed her eyes shut, there was just one problem with that scenario; Junior. She never would have met him. She never would have known what it was like to have a man look at her like she was normal, let alone with such reverence.
Awilda opened her eyes, her chest pierced with a pain that reminded her she would have to say goodbye to Junior sooner rather than later.
A small rustle sounded ahead of her. She jolted slightly and lifted her chin toward the tower that stood at the edge of the castle. She suddenly had the feeling that she wasn’t alone. She narrowed her eyes, trying to see if anyone stood in the tower, but it was too dark to distinguish any shapes. She told herself she was being silly and lowered her eyes to straight in front of her. She continued walking, the stretch of the rooftop seeming to go on forever. She studied every stone gargoyle along the way and counted the number of paces between each one; exactly ten every time. She neared the end of the line and noticed the last gargoyle was oddly placed; too close to the previous statue; sandwiched between the figure and the castle wall. Curious, she moved closer until suddenly, the creature in the shadows turned his head toward her; the red of his eyes glowing in the darkness.
Awilda gasped as the giant monster swiftly stood and jumped in her path, extending his wings and flashing his fangs. “Hello Awilda,” it drawled.
Zeff left Alvin to stew in his own mediocre ‘wingman’ triumphs and weaved through the crowd of dancing couples. The music changed to a slow song and everyone adjusted their rhythms accordingly. He felt a small tug on his right arm and turned around to see Cooper standing before him. She looked crackin’ in her draped, purple gown. But then again, she always looked amazing during these events. She took his hand and placed her other hand on his shoulder. He followed suit and wrapped his arm around her waist. They began to dance.
“How is everything going tonight?” She asked.
Zeff shrugged, “A couple tried to sneak upstairs earlier; but I put a stop to that.”
“I saw you trying to chat up Awilda.”
“I wasn’t chatting her up.”
“Codswallop,” she nudged him, “It’s blatant you like her. And no one can blame you. I mean, when was the last time you met a woman who knew about,” she looked around to take notice of all that could be listening, “everything.”
Zeff crooked a brow, “Since you? Never.”
“So why wouldn’t you want to pursue her?”
“Because the last time didn’t end so well.”
“I’m flattered that you’re entertaining the idea that losing me ruined you; but I refuse to believe that’s truly the case.”
As Cooper continued to ramble, movement at the top of the stairs caught his eye. He looked up to see Junior crossing the balcony. He looked conflicted and maybe a little… worried?
Junior reached the top of the stairs and began crossing the balcony. He figured Awilda had gone to her room but he could clearly see that further down the hall the door to the rooftop had been opened. A slight, fleeting sensation of concern swept his body as he imagined her standing on the ledge, perhaps preparing to end everything before it started. He couldn’t stop his heart from beating rapidly as he continued his strides.
A sound pierced his ears; a blood curdling scream that emanated from the roof and thundered down the hall. Before he could even blink Junior took off running.
Zeff watched as Junior suddenly broke into a sprint down the hall. Something was clearly wrong. To avoid raising concern and panic he forced a smile, leaned down and kissed Cooper on the cheek; shutting her up mid-sentence.
“Thank you for your concern,” he said softly in her ear. “Now, if you’ll forgive me.”
He broke their contact, turned and headed up the stairs as nonchalantly as he could.
Cooper watched as Zeff climbed the staircase. She suddenly felt a little awkward; standing alone amidst a sea of slow dancing couples. She thought about finding Alvin or Bawli and snagging a dance with them. She raised herself onto her tiptoes and surveyed the crowd until her eyes landed on a familiar face leaning against the wall to her left.
Tauggle stood casually, wearing a black suit with a purple tie that matched her dress. He had given his hair a blonde tint in order to blend in with the crowd, but she could see his beautiful gold eyes even from across the room. Once he had her attention he smiled and lifted a single sunflower into view.
Cooper’s heart raced at the sight of her favorite flower held between his fingertips. If her body temperature wasn’t controlled she would have blushed as he sauntered toward her.
Tauggle closed the distance between him and Cooper. He held out his hand, “May I have this dance?”
Awilda turned and ran toward the door to the castle. After only a few steps she could feel the arm of the monster wrap around her waist and yank her backward. She screamed again and tried to wriggle free, but he was too strong. She reached downward and latched onto the spike heel of her shoe. She ripped her shoe off and swung it through the air, smashing it into the skull of the gargoyle.
The blow stunned the monster just enough for him to loosen his grip and Awilda to fall to the ground. She rolled over onto her bottom and began pushing herself away with her hands. Her eyes widened as the gargoyle took a step forward and into the moonlight. He was tall with dark skin and long black hair. His dark eyes flashed to red just as he lunged for her again.
A sudden force barreled past her and crashed into the monster. Awilda gasped at the sight of a shifted Junior coming to her rescue. The two began to fight, throwing punches and elbows; their animalistic grunts and growls filling the night.
Awilda pushed herself backward some more to get out of line of fire when she backed into a solid object. Her body stiffened and slowly she looked over her shoulder to see a leg. She lifted her chin and followed the limb upward until her eyes locked onto another face she didn’t recognize.
He too, was shifted. He was shorter and leaner than the last gargoyle. His skin was pale and a pair of childish dimples played on his cheeks. But beyond that his fangs were sharp and his eyes burned red as he stared at her with menace. He laughed darkly under his breath as he reached for her.
The fearsome expression on the gargoyle’s face changed suddenly to that of surprise just as Zeff drove his elbow into the base of his skull. The red dissipated and the gargoyle limply fell to the ground.
Awilda looked up to see Zeff standing over her. He held his shifted hand out to her.
“Help Junior,” she said as he lifted her to her feet.
“I need to get you out of here first.”
Another gargoyle appeared out of nowhere and tackled Zeff to the ground. The two skidded along the rooftop too fast to stop before falling over the ledge. Awilda ran to the edge to see them land on the second tier of roof before continuing to brawl.
Awilda knew she needed to get the others. Bawli and Kingsley, at least. She turned and ran toward the door to the castle before two more figures, perched on top of the tower, spread their wings and flew downward; cutting her off. They were both females; tall and strong. They began moving forward, stalking their prey. They split up, both heading in different directions. Awilda turned to run from them, but the one with curly hair caught up to her quickly. She backed away and tried to run in the opposite direction, but the other one was already in her path.
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The beautiful female gargoyle stood for a moment, still and contemplating her next move. Suddenly she flashed her fangs and lunged.
Awilda screamed in one more attempt for mercy, “Tauggle!”
Tauggle and Cooper swayed back and forth to the music. Cooper laughed under her breath.
“What?” Tauggle asked.
“Oh, nowt,” she shrugged, “It’s just that I so had you pegged wrong. You’re not nearly as creepy as I first thought.”
Tauggle crooked a brow, “You thought I was creepy?”
“Well, what else would you call a man that does nothing but stare at my naughty bits?”
Tauggle smiled and chuckled before leaning forward. His lips grazed her ear, “I can do a lot more than stare.”
The sound of his melodic, raw drawl sent Cooper into a frenzy. She was suddenly wet between her thighs and her head was spinning with lust for the man that held her so tightly against him. She didn’t want him to move. She wanted him to stay exactly as he was; his soft breath dancing in her ear as his hips swayed against hers.
Tauggle dipped his head lower, preparing to kiss just under her jaw line when he heard a distant cry. His ears twitched at the sound of his name and he cursed the ridiculously poor timing. He pulled away and excused himself from Cooper’s grasp before turning and heading toward the staircase.
“Where are you going?” She asked. Tauggle looked over his shoulder, gave a crooked smile and winked.
Tauggle climbed each step as casually as anyone without a purpose would. He reached the top and glanced down at Cooper as she still stood alone amidst the guests. He sighed before rounding the corner and entering the upstairs hall. He looked forward to see the door to the rooftop was open. Once he was sure he was completely out of sight, fangs shot out of his mouth as his hair and eyes flashed to stark white. He disappeared.
Awilda struggled against the hold of the two female gargoyles. The one with the curly hair pulled a rope out of a pack that she wore slung across her body. She tied Awilda’s wrists together before throwing the girl over her shoulder and leaping off the ledge of the castle. Her wings caught the wind and she soared higher.
Tears stung Awilda’s eyes as she watched the castle move further and further away. Junior and the tall gargoyle still brawled. Zeff and another, pale gargoyle fought on the lower tier of the castle rooftop. The monster that Zeff had knocked out came to and ran to help the other one; ambushing Zeff from behind.
The quick, swift flight the female gargoyle was taking her on stopped suddenly. She looked over her shoulder and relief swept her body. Directly in front of them, suspended in mid-air, was Tauggle. His white hair blew in the wind and his eyes glowed as his fangs shimmered in the moonlight.
Viattrice flapped her wings occasionally to keep her from drifting lower than the Limrid in front of her. “Fazal, I presume?” She called over the wind.
Tauggle slowly shook his head, “Hardly.”
“You’re a little overdressed; for a Limrid.” She said, commenting on his black suit and purple tie. “Shouldn’t you be living in the slums with the rest of your kind?”
Tauggle cracked a devilish smile, “Give her to me and I promise I won’t kill you.”
“Who, her?” Viattrice asked; motioning to the skinny, petite girl slung over her shoulder. “Sorry, no can do mate; finders keepers, you know.”
A flash of lightning appeared in Tauggle’s palms. The balls of electricity grew brighter and larger. “Suit yourself,” he snarled and shot the bolts forward just as Amelie drove into his side, sending them both reeling toward the ground; faster and faster.
Just before crashing into the pebbled drive Tauggle disappeared; leaving Amelie alone to skid to a painful stop. She barreled into the side of a car, clutching onto her head to avoid injury. She sat for only a moment to catch her breath and take an inventory of her wounds; minimal, thankfully. She jumped to her feet and ran to the nearest tree to climb; hoping to find a sturdy jumping off point.
Tauggle reappeared behind Viattrice and Awilda and threatened to release his power again. Viattrice tried to fly away, zigzagging to avoid his electrical bullets. She weaved and dodged expertly. Tauggle, agitated, stopped his haphazard aiming and built a much larger bolt in the palm of his hand while calculating the gargoyle’s next move. He timed his shot and sent the lightning searing through the air, hitting the female in the middle of her back, sending her reeling in pain and grabbing her wound. She lost control of her flight and all upper body strength. Tauggle’s eyes widened as the gargoyle dropped Awilda. He held out his hands to catch her telekinetically but at that moment Amelie dove into him, wrapping her arms around his torso, pinning his arms to his sides and tearing his line of sight away from the falling Awilda Rose.
Awilda screamed as Viattrice dropped her. She could feel gravity pushing her violently toward the ground. She could hear Junior call to her in horror and prepared herself for the fatal impact to follow.
Awilda’s body, once ready for death or impalement of some kind, was suddenly braced and lifted upward at a dizzying speed. Her head spun and her stomach churned as she was flown further and further away from the ground.
Awilda and her savior flew above the rooftop and landed on the top of the castle tower. She was placed on her feet, although her legs barely had enough strength for her to stand. She could see the entire scene from up here; a bird’s eye view to a horrific reality.
Finally, she managed to crane her neck and look over her shoulder at her savior. She gasped at the sight of him. He was tall, shirtless and muscular with dark skin, shoulder length black hair and a pair of horns that curled backward like a ram. He stood completely still and stoic, unfazed by the events unfolding before him. He refused to look down at her and instead addressed the rest of his clan, “Our job is done,” he proclaimed in a dark, violent accent, “Now we leave.”
Parag had Junior on the ground. He stood with his foot on the shifter’s throat, watching him writhe in pain; trying to release the pressure. BeStone’s words rang in his head and obediently, he lifted his choke and ran to the tower. Parag dug his claws into the stone siding and began to climb toward Stone and the destroyer.
Junior gasped for air and rubbed his throat. He jumped to his feet as quickly as he could and ran to catch up with the tall gargoyle. He reached upward and latched onto Parag’s tail before yanking him down as hard as he could manage. He ripped the massive gargoyle away from the siding and sent him crashing into the rooftop. Before he had a chance to recover from the fall Junior latched onto the tower and began climbing; his red eyes blaring and intense as they fixated on his target.
BeStone, jarred by Junior’s determination, wrapped his wings around Awilda. She could feel his arm cinching around her waist to hold her in place. Her eyes drifted downward to see his other hand reaching for a blade he had tucked into his leather waistband.
“No,” Awilda called to Junior, fear navigating her voice, “Stop!”
Junior reached the top of the tower. BeStone pushed Awilda behind him before lifting his dagger and wielding it downward. Junior raised his right hand and caught the dark skinned gargoyle’s wrist before the blade could be driven into his skull. The strength of the gargoyle before him was more than he had expected. He struggled to keep the blade at bay as he managed to get to his feet on top of the tower. The two bared their fangs and growled as they performed their show of strength mere centimeters from each other’s faces.
Junior’s foot slipped and he dropped to one knee.
Awilda gasped, “Junior!”
BeStone’s bright red eyes suddenly flashed to their normal dark brown. A look of revelation swept his face, “Junior?” He asked. When the shifter in front of him didn’t respond he stopped threatening with his blade and instead ripped it backward, out of Junior’s hands and brought it back to his side, “Junior Cross?”
Junior got back to his feet and narrowed his eyes. Through heavy breathing he asked, “Do I know you?”
Aw
ilda screamed as Parag suddenly reached the top of the tower. He grabbed Junior from behind and held his own blade to his throat, ready to slice through the flesh.
“Parag,” BeStone demanded, “no!”
Parag stood completely still for a moment, scowling as he stared into the dark eyes of his leader. Reluctantly, he dropped the blade and let the shifter go.
“Why are we sparing him?” He asked, clearly opposed to the idea. “He is worthless to us.”
“Parag,” BeStone smiled, “have some respect.” He stared in reverence at the gargoyle that stood before them, “For we are in the presence of the prophesized savior.”
24
“Please accept my apologies,” BeStone said.
Both clans and Awilda stood on the rooftop, recovering from their brawl just moments before.
Zeff considered heading back into the castle to grab Bawli, Kingsley and Cooper, but he didn’t want to leave Awilda, Tauggle and Junior alone; considering the beating they’d all just taken at the hands of this other clan. “Who are you?” He asked.
The dark skinned shifter spoke in his harsh, Egyptian accent, “My name is BeStone Soltan.” He pointed to the tall gargoyle next to him, “This is Parag. The two men to your right are Cypro and Augmen, and the females to your left are Amelie and Viattrice. Again, we did not mean any harm. We were simply trying to procure Miss Rose.”
Junior stood with his arm wrapped around Awilda’s shoulders. She willingly tucked her body into his for safety. “Why?” He asked, anger still poisoning his words.
“For protection, of course,” BeStone said. “You see, I have lived many lifetimes. I’ve seen wars, plagues, and have been witness to the unfolding prophecy that now threatens our very near future. I’ve seen firsthand the horror of that event.” His eyes landed on Awilda, “And I’ve seen the unfortunate treatment of the destroyer as a result.” He lifted his chin and continued to address the rest of the clan. “I’m a firm believer that that does not have to be the case. I was trying to abduct Awilda to take her somewhere safe; where she’ll be protected and hopefully outlive the year of war. I had no idea she was already in the capable hands of the savior.”