Page 36 of Gaga for the Gargoyle
Still holding my hands, she begins chanting in a language I don’t recognize. A pain pierces through my palm, and the smell of burning skin fills the air.
Locheran makes a move to intervene. “Wait,” I say.
I hold back my agony because one, I don’t want the guards to interrupt and take her away, and two, I have no doubt she’s doing some sort of spell meant to protect me.
“Are you okay?” Locheran asks, concerned as tears fall down my cheeks.
“Yes,” I manage to croak out.
I’m seconds from pulling my hand back, no longer able to tolerate the stinging ache, before my mother stops chanting.
She looks me dead in the eyes and says, “This will give you life,” before slumping over.
“Mom?” I stand, clutching my marked palm and walking to her side to shake her shoulder.
That’s when the guards decide to do their job and march over to our table.
“Times up.”
“We still have an hour.”
“She’s useless. Look at her.”
One of the guards, a man in his sixties with stark white hair, waves his hand in front of her face.
“See? She does this. She won’t be lucid for another couple days. Come back Wednesday.”
With that, the men grab my mom by the arms and leave.
“Well, shit,” Locheran says.
He takes my hand to inspect my palm.
“Well, shit,”he repeats. “She gave you a witch’s mark.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your mother’s a witch.”
Chapter 10 – Xander
I’ve been pacing along the rooftop of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, texting Locheran nonstop. He’s been answering me, despite being annoyed as fuck with my obsessiveness, but I don’t give a shit.
It’s been thirty minutes of radio silence since they arrived at the hospital. I’m seconds from testing the tether and flying there to make sure my kitten is still alive.
Then I realize I will most certainly die of an exploding heart if I fly outside the limits of my kingdom. Damn royal rules. I understand they’re there to make sure the cities we protect will never be left vulnerable. In the early days, gargoyle kings who left their cities returned to them under attack.
That’s when the rule was put in place.
My phone dings with a text and the tension racing through my body eases.
Locheran
We’re done with visitation. A lot to tell you about.
Kitten is fine. A little spooked, but fine.
Stop pacing the rooftop and go back to your penthouse for a drink. She’ll be home soon.
