Page 2 of Fated to the Gargoyle
“Ohmy god!”Myvoice came out strangled. “Wh-what are you?”
Anyagaped at me and then turned to the winged man. “Hugo, are you?—”
“Yes.Ijust walked through the library and would have caused an uproar otherwise.”Hismouth tightened into a grim line. “Butapparently it’s not working in this case.”
Anyapursed her lips and stared at me with amazement. “Orperhaps she can see you this way because we share the same blood.”
Whaton earth were they talking about?Mymouth opened and closed beforeItripped over words.
“Anya, what—why aren’t you freaking out?Don’tyou see him?”Ipointed at the monster-man.Helooked like a gargoyle come to life.SinceI’drecently learned they existed, this wasn’t as farfetched as it sounded.
Theyexchanged a look and then both glanced at me.Anyasaid, “Hugo, meetEloise, my twin sister.Eloise, this isHugo—my—uh—um—mate.”
Iblinked hard. “Yourwhat?”
Hugo, the monster-man, nodded at me, then turned to my sister. “Anya, please come with me for a moment.It’simportant.”
“Okay.”Shetipped her head. “Waithere a second,” she told me.
Asshe walked to the other end of the massive room and spoke in hushed whispers to hermate,Istared at him.Partsof my grandmother’s letter came to me.Trustthe gargoyles.Theywill protect you.Wasthat what the intimidating monster-man was?Ithad to be.Heresembled a living gargoyle that walked and talked and—matedwith my twin sister?
Whatthe ever-loving fu?—
Anyawalked over to me, her face contorted with worry. “Eloise, something urgent just came up.Canwe talk later?”
Ouch.Thatstung.Whateverthis monster-man had to say was more important than me revealing we were related?Somuch for family and blood being thicker and all that.
Iforced a tight smile, casting a wary glance at monster-man. “Sure.”
“Pleasedon’t freak out aboutHugo.I’llexplain everything later.”Sherubbed her temples. “I’mclosing the library tonight.Canyou come back then?Iknow we have a lot to talk about.”
AfterIleft the building tucked in a semi-private part of a university campus at the edge of the city,Ishuffled around the area, replaying what had happened.Itwas a midsummer day, partly cloudy with the morning showers accentuating the scent of the grass and soil.Inall the scenarios of reuniting with my sister thatI’denvisioned, my worst fear was thatAnyamight push me away.Inever,evercontemplated that a gargoyle would be involved and interrupt with some pressing news.Whatin the holy rigatoni could that be about?
Overthe next several hours,Ikilled time in the city, wandering past stores and meandering along theSt.LawrenceRiver.Whenmy stomach growled,Igot a gyro with fries from a sandwich shop and ate it on a bench in a park.
Asthe sky darkened,Iturned to walk back toward the library.Iapproached the gothic building with two gargoyles mounted out front, eyeing them with suspicion afterI’dseen a walking, talking one earlier.OnceIentered,Iclimbed the stairs and admired the gorgeous interior.Notonly did it have books, but works of art, paintings, and sculptures.
Anyawas still busy with patrons at the reference desk, but she excused herself to address me. “I’mso glad you came back.Idon’t have your number or any way of contacting you.”
Ismiled. “You’rebusy.I’llwait outside.”
“Thanks.I’llbe out soon.”Thenshe added, “Don’tleave!”
“Iwon’t.”
Iwandered around out front, but it felt too odd to do so with those gargoyle statues above—almost as if they were watching.Findinga relatively concealed nook beneath the cover of trees,Isat down on the grass and scrolled through my phone whileIwaited forAnya.
Abouttwenty minutes later, she stepped outside with her monster-man.
Ijumped to my feet. “Areyou a?—”
“Gargoyle?”Henodded. “Yes.”
Igulped. “Oh.”Iwasn’t sure what else to say.
“Eloise, don’t be afraid of him.He’sa protector,”Anyasaid. “They’reable to mask themselves to appear human to everyone else.”
Igaped with skepticism at the massive, horned, gray-skinned creature. “Human?”
