Page 41 of Mated to the Gargoyle
Igulped.Fearwouldn’t help me, wouldn’t do anything besides incapacitate me.
AfterIrecovered from the tremendous shock,Ipicked up the spell book again, determined to finish whatI’dstarted while he shielded me from the flames.
“Hugo,Ihave a plan.”
Sincehe continued to shout at the phoenix,Ididn’t think he even heard me.Waitingfor a pause,Isaid, “Youneed to open your wings.”
“What?”Hisvoice sounded shocked. “Absolutelynot.”
“Iknow what to do.Canyou distract him whileIcast a spell?”
“Noway.It’ssuicidal!”
“Trustme,”Iinsisted. “Iknow whatIneed to do.”HowexactlyIwas certain of it,Ididn’t want to question too hard because thenIsure as hell would talk myself out of it.ButonceI’dbegan performing the spell using my grandmother’s book, it hadn’t just been words flowing from my mouth.I’dfelt the intention in them.Theenergy.Themagic.
Whenthe phoenix had soared down at me,I’dcowered in fear.Butthat would ensure he won.
FightingwithHugoin this dire situation was better than delaying the moment in which we’d both inevitably burn. “Please,Hugo.Ihave to try.”
Afterseveral seconds, he swore under his breath and then murmured, “Okay.”
Igulped.ThenIgripped the book and ensuredIhad the correct page. “I’mready.”
“Areyou sure?” he asked, his voice clipped with uncertainty. “Fuck,Ican’t let you burn!”
Dreadcurled around my spine again.
No,Irefused to let it control me anymore. “Hugo, trust me!”Ishouted.
“Yes,” he said in with a resigned tone. “Ready,I’mcounting down—three, two, one.”
Whenhe opened his wings,Hugolaunched at the phoenix, knocking him dozens of feet across the sky.Iburst forward, holding the mirror out to face the phoenix.WhileIchanted the ancient words in the spell book,Idirected the mirror onto the fiery bird and repeated the chant with more conviction thanI’dever heard in my voice.Itdidn’t even sound like me.
Sparksof light crackled from the pages of the book, rising from it and entwining like silvery strands before the wisps floated down and disappeared on the surface of the mirror.Entranced,Ipaused and gaped for a few seconds untilIsnapped myself back into the spell.Strandsspread from the mirror’s surface, reaching across the sky like rays of warm sunlight.Glowing.Mesmerizing.
Iput all my being into the words of the spell and thrust the mirror forward, aiming it at the phoenix.Whenit recovered fromHugo’sblow, it turned toward me, opened its beak, and shot out flames.Thistime,Ididn’t break the chant.Ididn’t crouch.Iheld steadfast, holding it like a shield.
ThenIshouted the final word of the spell, “Reflect!”
Thefire reached for me, and my arms trembled asIbraced myself for excruciating pain.
Itdidn’t come.Themirror vibrated in my outstretched hands as if anticipating the lick of flames.Whenthe fire hit the surface, the mirror swallowed the flames and then trembled in my hand with such force,Ibarely held on to it.
Arumbling sound churned inside.Whatwas happening?
Therumbling grew stronger and then suddenly, eerily—quiet.
Astreak of light burst out from the surface of the mirror as a single powerful glowing white beam edged with the licks of flames.Itshot straight at the phoenix and struck with such speed and forceIwould have missed it hadIblinked.Thecreature shrieked as it fell toward the ground, curling in on itself and wailing as it descended.Itsfiery wings turned inward, shrinking with the diminishing size of the phoenix, and then completely extinguished.
Thesmall, scorched bird rolled on the ground as it reached out a single talon toward the sky.Iterupted in a gigantic flash of fire that blasted me backward and off my feet.
Ifell on my butt and the book closed as it fell beside me.Mybreath came quick and hard asIgaped around at the surrounding darkness, now colder and darker than ever without the fiery glow in the sky.
Thephoenix was gone.Allthat remained was a pile of ashes.Afitting end.
Mygaze shot up to search forHugo.Heflew down, his wings clearly affected by the flames, but still intact.Helanded near the ashes and stared down at them with suspicion.Thenhe raised his gaze to meet mine.
“Hugo!”Icalled out and ran over to him, careful to not touch any of the scorched areas of his body asIembraced him.
