Page 40 of Fated to the Gargoyle
“I’m—I’mfine,”Istammered.Movementoverhead caught my attention.
Iglanced up.Thenightmarish vision in the sky stole my breath.Black-winged beings who appeared otherwise human stormed in, clashing with the gargoyles who’d pulled away from the library.Icounted six of them plusCalix, far outnumbering the three gargoyles.
Dumontshouted, “Run!”
Hiscommand echoed in my ear.Yes, that’s exactly whatI’ddo.
I’dbarely escaped death thanks toCalix.Noway wouldIsit around and wait for him to nab me again.Iran like hell away from the library, my chest heaving with each quickened breath as my lungs ached.Shoutsreverberated behind me as creatures clashed in the sky.Ibroke into a sprint asItraversed the tree-lined paths of the campus, stumbling over a fallen branch, butIhad to keep going untilIgot away from those monsters.
Morewinged beings flew in toward the library, andIducked beneath a tree for cover beforeIrecognized they were gargoyles by their massive gray wingspan.Thegood guys.Shoutsand blows sounded from behind me.Myhand flew to my heaving chest asIfeared forDumont.Washe okay?
Islowed my pace as my concern shifted.I’dbeen so consumed by fear and getting away, running, the wayIalways did, thatIdidn’t stop to think.He’dbeen doing all he could do to protect me.AndbecauseI’drun from theVault,Iput him in danger.Hecame here for me and could be killed!
Istopped and turned around, then gaped.WhatIsaw was unbelievable and barely visible in the darkness.Graygargoyles battled what looked like winged shadows.Whateverthe hell were they?Demons?
Andwhere wasDumont?Astreak of fire across the sky illuminated more of the scene.Ohno, it was going right forDumont!DamnCalix.
No, no, no.I’dlost so much due to fire.Myentire family had been fractured by it.Andnow it was threatening the man—er, gargoyle—Iloved.
WhenDumontevaded the fiery mass,Isobbed with relief.
Loved?What?
Wheredid that come from?Icouldn’t have fallen in love withDumont, couldI?Fallenfor a gargoyle?
AsIquestioned my reaction, staring up at the gray-winged being battling a phoenix,Iknew with a certainty that it was true.
Aflash of the nightmareI’dhad in theVaultreturned, whenI’dbeen waiting forDumont.Thefiery battle in the sky was eerily similar.
Dumontflew beneathCalixand kicked him with so much force that he shot backward in the sky.WhenCalixrecovered, he hurled another ball of fire atDumont.
“No!”Icried.
Dumontraised his wings to shield himself.Theflames danced over his magnificent wings, andIstared in horror.Butthe flames vanished.Somehow, he’d managed not to burn.Ohmy, he was incredible.Andso freakin’ brave.
WhatcouldIdo to help him?
Iwrung my hands, searching, thinking.Itwas time for me to be courageous for once.Stoprunning and finally face my fears.Todo whateverIcould to helpDumont, rather than try to escape.Inevery fight-or-flight scenario in the past,I’dchosen flight, but not this time.I’dfollowDumont’slead.Heput others first and never backed away from doing what was difficult, even if it put him in immense danger, like now.
Ihad to do the same.Butwhat couldIdo?Icouldn’t fly, didn’t have his strength, and was so much weaker.
Youknow what to do,a woman’s voice said.
“Grandmother?”Iwhispered, turning around as ifI’dsee someone standing there.Noone was there.Andthe voice had sounded in my head, not away from me.
Itcouldn’t beAdelaide, could it?
Anyahad thought she heard our grandmother during the fight withCalix.Iwasn’t sureI’dbelieved her, but now…could it be?
Ipaced on the campus, unsure whatIcould do.
Think…Think!Anyahad run into the library and had gotten the grimoire as well asAdelaide’smirror.PerhapsIneeded to do that.
Irushed back toward the library while the battle continued overhead.Sprintingto the front door,Iprayed they’d be unlocked.WhenIreached it and pulled on the handle, my fear proved valid.
“Damn!”
Itwas just as frustrating as whenI’dbeen inside the library, desperately trying to hide the grimoire whenAnyahad found me.
