Page 386 of Evil Hearts

The deep, resonant voice pulled Elena back to consciousness. She blinked, focusing on the chiseled features hovering aboveher. The gargoyle’s brow was furrowed with concern, and more than a flicker of humanity shone out of his eyes.

“Perhaps introductions are in order,” he continued, extending a hand to help her up. “I am Aldric.”

Elena hesitated, then grasped his hand, marveling at the warmth that radiated from his stone-like skin. “Elena,” she whispered, surprising herself with the ease she shared her name. The last thing she should have done was tell the impossible creature her name.

As she stood, a wave of vertigo washed over her. She steadied herself against the stone, her mind reeling. “This is insane. I must be losing my mind.”

Aldric’s gaze softened. “I assure you, Elena, your sanity is intact. The world is simply more complex than you once believed. Must we do this again?”

She met his eyes, searching for deception but finding only sincerity. A part of her longed to capture this moment on canvas, to immortalize the enigma before her. Yet another part, the scholar within, yearned for understanding.

“I came here to paint,” she admitted, “but now...now I need to know. What are you? How is this possible?”

Aldric’s lips curved into a melancholy smile. “It is a long and painful tale, one that spans centuries and goes far deeper than what I mentioned when you freed me. Are you certain you wish to unravel my secrets?”

Elena’s heart thundered in her chest, a mixture of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She had always been drawn to the mysteries of the past, to the stories hidden within crumbling ruins and ancient texts. Now, standing before a living legend, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was a way to turn back or if the only path was forward.

“I don’t think I have a choice,” she breathed, her voice trembling.

Aldric nodded, and she swore his gaze held admiration. “Then come, Elena. Let me share with you the history of this city and the curse that binds me to the night.”

He offered his arm, a gesture both chivalrous and surreal. Elena hesitated for a heartbeat, then linked her arm through his, the coolness of his skin a stark contrast to the warmth of his presence.

Together, they descended the cathedral steps.

She wasn’t certain how he intended on getting by those who worshipped, but as soon as they stepped into the cathedral, his skin took on an almost pink hue, as if he were a man cursed by sickness and daring to get out of bed, not an impossible creature.

They slipped out without even a glance from Father Antoine, and Aldric began as soon as they were outside.

“Centuries ago, this city was a beacon of art and faith, its cathedral a marvel of Gothic architecture,” he began, his words painting vivid pictures in Elena’s mind. “But even then, darkness lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.” Aldric’s voice wove a tapestry of stories, each thread a piece of the city’s hidden past.

Elena listened, enraptured, as Aldric spoke.

“The church was always under attack from something. Always fending off naysayers and demons. Fraught with battles and common sense issues, there was a need to limit the power darkness could take on over the church. There were guardians sworn to protect the city from the malevolent entities that sought to destroy it.”

“And you were one of those guardians,” she murmured, piecing together the fragments of his tale.

Aldric nodded, his eyes distant, as if seeing the ghosts of his past. “I suppose I was never fully human, granted a power to protect from forces I no longer believe to be real as I’ve watched the world turn on itself. I was bound to the cathedral, tasked with defending it against all threats. But I failed.”

His voice cracked, the weight of centuries of regret and sorrow heavy in his words. Elena’s heart ached for him, for the burden he had carried alone for so long.

“What happened?” she asked softly, her hand instinctively tightening on his arm, offering silent comfort.

Aldric drew a shuddering breath as if the memories still brought him enormous pain. “A great fire consumed the cathedral, despite our efforts to stop it. A fire started by those who didn’t believe in the teachings of the church. In desperation, the priest turned to a witch, seeking her dark magic to protect the city from future calamities.”

He paused, his jaw clenching as he relived the moment that had sealed his fate. “But her help came at a terrible price. She cursed us, the guardians, to remain trapped in stone by day, only to walk as something akin to human under the cover of night. Her death left us trapped.”

Elena’s eyes widened, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. The gargoyle she had seen on the cathedral roof, the man who now walked beside her truly were one and the same, bound by an ancient curse.

Elena gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “That’s horrible,” she whispered, her eyes wide with shock and sympathy.

“It was a punishment,” Aldric said grimly, “for our failure to protect what we had sworn to defend. And so, for centuries, I have watched the world change from my perch on the cathedral, unable to truly be a part of it.”

Elena’s mind raced, trying to process the enormity of what he had revealed. A curse, a sorceress, a fate worse than death. It was like something out of a fairy tale, but the pain in Aldric’s eyes was all too real.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her heart breaking for the suffering he had endured. “To be trapped like that, for so long...”

Aldric’s gaze met hers, and in that moment, Elena saw the depths of his loneliness, the yearning for connection that had been denied him for centuries.

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