Page 35 of Gaga for the Gargoyle
Locheran has quickly become the sibling I never had. He’s a handsome gargoyle, but I have no attraction to him whatsoever. He feels more like a brother to me.
It takes us a little over an hour to get to the town of Montgomery, where my mother’s psychiatric hospital is located.
I’m never here this late, and it’s creepy as hell. The hallways are empty, as most patients are already in bed for the night. I called ahead to schedule a special visitation, making sure they wouldn’t let my mom fall asleep before we got here.
Locheran and I sit in the visitor’s room, which reminds me of a prison. There are cafeteria style tables setup throughout. Bars cover all the windows. The walls are bland, and it smells like a mix of pee, bleach, and death.
“Well, this is depressing,” Locheran murmurs out of the side of his mouth.
“Yep.”
I freaked out a little when we walked in, forgetting that only I can see the gargoyles in their true form. Locheran assured me he’s masked as a six-foot-three human with short black hair, blue eyes, and a smile that could charm the panties off any woman.
Unnecessary comment, but in the short time I’ve known Locheran, I’ve learned he’s a bit of a playboy. I’m determined to find him someone to settle down with. I wonder if he’d be into a gorgeous plus-size baddie named Farrah aka my bestie.
After a few minutes of waiting, two guards enter with my mother, holding her up by both of her arms. I almost expected her to be in cuffs with the way this place is run. Instead, she looks drugged out and that’s why they’re basically dragging her in here.
My mother, Mira, has always been a large woman like me. Now she’s wasted away. She’sbeenwasting away since the day my father threw her in here. We used to look identical. Our brown hair and blue eyes, chubby cheeks and round bodies. Now, she’s lost at least seventy-five pounds.
The guards sit her down in the seat across from us and walk away to stand guard against the wall. Well, I say they’re standing guard, but both men pull out their phones, paying us no attention.
“Mom, it’s me. Evangeline.”
She slowly raises her head at the sound of my voice, her dull eyes lighting up when she sees me.
“Brownie,” she whispers.
Brownie was her nickname for me because I was born with a head full of dark brown hair.
“I’ve missed you. How’ve you been?”
She doesn’t answer. Instead, her blue eyes move to Locheran and widen. “Gargoyle,” she gasps.
I glance at the guards, but they didn’t hear her.
“You can see him?” I ask, and she turns her attention back to me.
“I see a man, butheis not human.”
“How?” Locheran asks. “What are you?”
She ignores his question and takes my hands in hers. “Brownie, remember the stories I told you?”
I nod.
“My visions are coming true. They are coming for you.”
“Who?”
“Here.” She takes a journal out of the back of her pants and hands it over to me. “I left out details in the stories Itold you because I couldn’t let you stray from your destiny, but everything you need to know is in here. They want your soul so it cannot be claimed by the one who owns your heart. They want to invade his kingdom and start a war. They’re evil, and they plan to kill every human they come across.”
“What? Mom, I don’t understand. Who is after me?”
“He will protect you. Do not leave his side.”
“Who? Locheran?”
“The king. He is your mate. With you, he is stronger. With him, you are invincible.”
