Dr. Wolf, the Fae Rift Series Book 2- Demon Spiral (10 page)

Aleric knew he couldn’t have been out for more than a second or two by the sound of the glass still settling on the cement. Footsteps ran up the stairs.

“Push!” Officer Ling commanded.

“Come on everyone,” the Mayor’s voice called. “Hurry.”

Aleric opened his eyes to see officers, guards, citizens, and the Mayor pushing on the massive front end of the now-stone gargoyle. The pressure eased from his back. Aleric tried to move. His claws scrabbled on the concrete but he couldn’t gain any purchase to pull himself free.

“I’ve got you,” another officer said.

Aleric looked up at the female’s voice. Her badge read Officer Teri. She was one of those he had rescued from Forsythe when the demon escaped from the hospital.

The officer grabbed his front paws and pulled. As the others lifted the gargoyle the best they could, Aleric felt himself slipping free. He pushed with his back paws and Officer Teri pulled until he was clear.

“He’s out, drop it!” Officer Ling called.

Aleric felt the massive thud of the gargoyle through the cement steps when they let it go. He pulled in several deep breaths, grateful his lungs still worked.

“Are you alright?” Officer Teri asked.

Aleric opened his eyes to see the humans crowded in front of him on the steps. The emotions he read on their faces were not what he expected. They weren’t afraid of him. They didn’t look at a werewolf with loathing or distrust. Instead, he saw concern and worry. They cared about him.

Resolve filled Aleric. He would do what he had to in order to show them he cared, also. He rose to his paws and shook to chase away the aches that came with being nearly crushed to death by a stone monster. There were two left inside.

“You don’t have to go back in there,” Officer Ling said.

Aleric met his gaze. The young officer was on one knee on the step next to him.

“We’ll find another way,” the officer said. “You don’t have to risk your life.”

At the bottom of the steps, cameras flashes and reporters spoke into their microphones. Aleric wondered how many of the citizens of Edge City and beyond watched in fear that the beasts would escape and wreak havoc in the streets. He wasn’t about to let that happen.

Aleric gave a slow wave of his tail. He had taken out two of the gargoyles. He had promised Mayor Perlis that he would handle the threat. There were two more left, and he had an idea.

He turned back to the building.

“I’m coming with you,” Officer Ling said.

“Me, too,” Officer Teri seconded.

Several other voices joined theirs until citizens and officers alike were volunteering to enter the building with the werewolf.

The offer touched Aleric. He glanced back at them and gave a soft snort.

A chuckle sounded from Officer Ling. “Are you arguing?”

Aleric bared his teeth in what passed for a wolf snarl, but in a human would have been a grin.

“Fine,” Officer Ling said. “But howl if you need help and we’ll be right there.”

Aleric lowered his head in a simple nod and trotted up the steps. He wasn’t about to let any of the humans get in harm’s way.

Aleric galloped through the dark building. He knew where the last two were by the sound of their steps. He wasn’t sure if wolf form was the way to face them. Speed had been nice for the other gargoyle, but it came with limited options.

Aleric phased and pulled his clothes back on with the thought that if it came down to it, at least he had the money to buy another shirt if he was forced to phase again.

He walked more slowly up the stairs. There was an elevator, but he didn’t relish the feeling of finding himself caught like fish in a tin can if the elevator opened to reveal a gargoyle at the top. Instead, he pushed open the door for the second level, checked to ensure that the way was clear, and stepped through.

A growl sounded further down the hallway.

Aleric followed the sound, alert for any sign of the other gargoyle. He doubted the beasts had enough intelligence to set a trap, but he wasn’t about to fall into one blindly if they were.

Aleric pushed open the door where the sound was coming from. He paused at the sight of the gargoyle chewing on a refrigerator in what looked like the break room for the government officials. Bent cans, cups, broken plates, and scattered silverware littered the floor. Luckily, a huge set of windows lined the far side.

Aleric figured if he could make it to the windows without being seen, his job would be easy. The voice in the back of his mind reminded him that he had thought the last gargoyle would be easy and he had ended up nearly crushed to death beneath it. He told the voice that wasn’t the point and looked around for a way to sneak across the room unseen.

The beast was making short work of the refrigerator door. It clawed through the metal, tearing the door from the hinges, then it threw the door away. The metal door slid to a halt at Aleric’s feet. Aleric fought back a grin and tipped it up. Somehow, refrigerator doors became very handy in Edge City, if a bit unwieldly. He wondered if Dartan would be sad he wasn’t there to use it.

Aleric crept across the floor careful to keep the door between him and the gargoyle. He glanced over it occasionally, but the beast was very happily devouring whatever treasures it had found inside the refrigerator. Aleric reached the floor-to-ceiling windows with a sigh of relief. He let the door fall to the ground and stood.

“Hello, Dragon Breath,” he said.

The gargoyle lifted its head from the contents of a slimy red bowl.

“You really should check the date on those things before you eat them,” Aleric pointed out. “You don’t know how long they’ve been in there.”

The gargoyle’s eyes narrowed. Aleric gave a taunting grin.

“Come on, Fuzzy.”

The gargoyle charged.

Aleric picked up the refrigerator door and threw it over his head. The glass shattered, raining down around him. The gargoyle backpedaled at the sight of the unfiltered sunlight, but its claws couldn’t slow its rush in time. The gargoyle slid into the sunlight and immediately turned to stone.

Aleric took a step forward and paused.

“I know you’re there,” he said. He turned his head to the right to see the red eyes of the last gargoyle watching him from the doorway. “Go ahead, Snuggles, charge. I dare you. It worked out well for your comrades.”

The gargoyle continued down the hallway.

Aleric crossed his arms and put his foot up on the other gargoyle.

“Huh, I didn’t see that coming.” He noticed where his foot was. “Oh, sorry,” he said. He withdrew it.

He made his way to the door and glanced out, sure that the gargoyle was ready to swipe his head off the moment he left the room.

The Dark fae was nowhere to be seen. That bothered Aleric. He walked slowly along, checking the rooms as he went. When he stopped to listen, there was nothing to hear. The gargoyle was as quiet as a werewolf.

Aleric entered the next office and unplugged a lamp. He followed the cord from the wall back to the piece of furniture and yanked it free. He wrapped the cord around his hand as he continued his search.

“Come on out, Bunny,” he called. “Don’t you want to join your brothers?” he paused, then said, “Or sisters. I don’t know. I didn’t check. I figured it would be rude.” He turned the corner at the end of the hallway and followed it around. “I’m sure your new digs will be nice, and it’s only temporary until I can figure out how to get you home. You’ll be in good hands, I promise.”

A slight sound caught Aleric’s ear. He hesitated near a room on the left. The door was shut. He reached for the doorknob and turned it slowly. The door swung inward with a slight creak.

“Come out, come out,” Aleric said. His heart thundered in his chest. He took a step inside the dark room, then another. There were no windows or emergency lighting; only the rectangle of dim light from the doorway spilled inside to illuminate the shadows along the wall.

It appeared to be an equipment room of some sort. Stacks of chairs, a few tables, and short, moveable walls had been placed randomly inside. Aleric squinted, wishing he was in wolf form so he could see better. If he phased, the Dark fae beast would be far stronger than him and he wouldn’t have the ability to use the cord or anything else against it. He might be faster, but given the creature’s reaction to him earlier, he wasn’t sure if he could get the gargoyle to chase him.

Aleric was nearly to the back wall when his eyes made out the form hunched in the far corner. It had curved edges where everything else in the storage room was straight and severe. His ears picked up the faintest breath shuddering from huge lungs. The deep bellows sound of the gargoyle’s heart caught Aleric’s ears. He pretended not to notice it, turning just enough so that his course led him past the creature instead of straight to it.

Feigning nonchalance, Aleric stooped and picked up a thick book. He flipped it open as he walked past the creature.

“Interesting. Mmmhmmm. Very interesting.” He flipped through the pages. “Humans think the star systems came from a big bang and that everything is constantly moving away from the center. Neat fact.”

He was nearly past the gargoyle when he slammed the book shut and threw it at the creature’s face. The book hit it right on the snout. The gargoyle reared back in surprise.

“Gotcha, Tiny,” Aleric told the huge creature.

The wide eyes narrowed and the gargoyle snorted. Smoke billowed from its nostrils. Aleric took several steps backwards toward the door. He unwrapped the cord from his wrist. The gargoyle clawed the floor with one massive paw. It tore huge chunks from the tile.

“Come on,” Aleric whispered. “Do it.”

The creature charged.

Aleric ran through the door and flattened himself to the wall on the left. When the beast barreled through, he tossed the cord around its neck. The cord tightened and Aleric was yanked forward onto the gargoyle’s back. He wrapped the cord around his wrists, hoping to tire the creature out.

The Dark fae gave a bellow of surprise and charged from room to room, crashing through the walls without bothering to use the doors. Aleric ducked low on its back to escape the brunt of the debris. There was no sense to the creature’s charge. It headed straight without turning, storming through one office and then the next. They passed through a huge room that was mostly undestroyed, barreled into the next wall, then they were into a beautiful office with wide windows that revealed a great view of the city beyond.

The only problem was that the gargoyle couldn’t stop at the sight of the windows drawing closer. Aleric tried to jump off, but the cord had become wrapped around the creature’s horns. He couldn’t unwind it from his wrists fast enough. The gargoyle clawed at the floor, but its momentum was too great. It slid across the tiles to the window. Aleric had a brief glimpse of the stairs below lined with people, then the glass crashed around him.

The sickening sensation of falling made Aleric’s stomach turn. The gargoyle changed from hard flesh to stone beneath him as they plummeted. Aleric tried to free his wrist, but it was caught tight. He saw the people scatter and heard their shouts. Faster than the werewolf could prepare for, the gargoyle hit the ground. Aleric was thrown from its back to land hard on the steps below.

Chapter Ten

“Dr. Wolf, are you alright?”

A shadow blocked out the light of the sun.

Aleric blinked, willing himself to remember why he was laying haphazardly on warm cement steps. He eased up to a sitting position and felt several hands on his back and shoulders, giving him support.

Aleric’s head pounded. He squeezed his closed eyes with one hand for a moment as he willed the headache to clear.

“That was incredible,” someone said.

“Did you get the shot?” another asked.

“Flying through the air. That’ll make the headlines,” a voice answered. “Pulitzer here I come.”

Aleric opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the final gargoyle rested on the top steps in its stone form. A crew with a flatbed truck was measuring it for transportation.

“There’s one on the second floor. I don’t know how you’ll get it down,” Aleric said. He rolled his shoulders to test them; his ribs ached.

“We’ll get a crane,” Mayor Perlis answered.

Aleric met her gaze. The woman stood on the next step down, her expression showing her concern.

“Your gargoyle problem is finished, but I’m afraid you’ll have some repairs to do,” Aleric told her.

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Don’t worry about it. The Capitol Building was in need of updating anyway. I’d rather my people be safe.”

Aleric rubbed his head. “If you’d told me that, I could have done a lot more damage.”

The Mayor held out a hand. “I’m pretty sure you’ve done enough damage as it is.”

Aleric was surprised at her gesture. He took her proffered hand. Cameras clicked around him and phones recorded their conversation. Aleric rose to his feet and looked at those around him. Concerned faces watched him.

“A fall like that would have killed any of us,” Office Ling said. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Aleric nodded. White powder from the many pieces of drywall they had crashed through drifted from his hair. He ran a hand through it to brush the dust free. “I think so. Werewolves are pretty hard to kill, though I wouldn’t turn down a ride to the hospital.”

“Are you injured?” Officer Teri asked. Her petite features showed her worry.

Aleric shook his head. “No. I just have patients to check on.”

Chucks and relieved smiles ran through the crowd.

“I’ll give you a ride back,” Officer Ling offered. He paused and looked at the Mayor. “If that’s alright with you, Mayor Perlis.”

The Mayor looked back at the gargoyles being loaded with forklifts onto the waiting trucks.

“You did what I asked. You cleared the building.” She fell silent for a moment. Even the reporters below stopped talking as everyone waited, intent on her words. She finally gave Aleric a nod. “Dr. Wolf, you have my leave to return to Edge City Hospital, though I may call upon you again if needed.”

“Please do,” Aleric replied.

People cheered and pictures were snapped as Aleric was escorted by the officers to a waiting car.

“We’ll have the other vehicle brought to the hospital for you,” Officer Ling said while he drove.

“I appreciate that,” Aleric replied. “It’s not my car and I know the owner would like to have it back.”

He gazed out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of goblins on his way to the hospital. Without the tranquilizer gun, it would be much harder to catch them, but the thought of returning to the hospital empty-handed wasn’t a pleasant one.

A shadow near a street corner caught his attention.

“Stop,” he said. He pushed the passenger door open and phased the moment his paws hit the ground. He felt the scrubs top tear when he stepped on it. Nurse Eastwick wasn’t going to be happy with him. Perhaps he could cheer her up with another goblin.

Aleric loped into the alley in time to see the creature disappear around the far end. He darted forward, hoping to catch it before it thought to climb the walls out of his reach. He skidded around the corner and met the snarling face of one of the spider-like creatures.

It snapped at him and he dodged back. He tried to bite its back, but the creature’s claws were there faster than he could move. At his snarl, it moved to the corner. Its claws pulled it upward. Aleric scrabbled at the bricks in an attempt to reach it. The goblin climbed higher. Aleric was going to lose it.

Two little back probes struck the creature and it let out a yip before it fell to the ground. It twitched once, then grew still.

Aleric glanced back to see Officer Ling holding a strangely-shaped gun.

“You don’t give a person much warning,” the officer told him. “I’ve got to give you props on speed, though. I didn’t think I was going to catch up.”

He didn’t look thrilled about the goblin at Aleric’s feet as he bent to pull the probes from its body.

“I figured you didn’t want it dead, so I shot it with my stun gun. It’ll wake up in a few hours. What do you want me to—”

Aleric heard the scratch of claws and took off. He heard Officer Ling swear and run after him. Aleric rounded the next corner and pinned a goblin beneath his paws before it could climb the wall. It snapped at his face. He kept his muzzle high but refused to let it go.

“Dr. Wolf, back!” Officer Ling ordered.

Aleric pushed away from the goblin as the stun gun’s probes struck the creature. He looked around, hoping to catch sight or sound of another goblin, but it seemed they had found the only two in the alley. Aleric made his way back to the car and phased. He pulled on his pants and had picked up the ragged remains of his shirt by the time the officer came back to the vehicle, his face red as he gasped for air.

“I’ll take those,” Aleric said, accepting the goblins the officer carried.

“They’re disgusting,” Officer Ling said. He drew in a breath. “Are you sure they’re worth it?”

Aleric nodded. “They’re the key to saving the lives of bite victims at the hospital.”

The officer gave the goblins a closer look. “That’s what’s been biting people? Ouch.”

Aleric nodded. “Will you tell your men and women to call the hospital if they have any goblin sightings?”

“Will do,” Officer Ling replied. “And I’ll instruct them to use their stun guns on the little monsters. It’ll make all of our lives easier.”

“Officer Ling?” a woman’s voice called over the radio as they climbed back into to the car.

“Yes?” the officer replied.

“This is Officer Teri. We have several individuals here at the Capitol Building who want to know if Dr. Wolf is alright after fighting the gargoyles.” She paused, then said, “I would also like to know.”

Officer Ling glanced at Dr. Wolf as he steered the car away from the curb. “Dr. Wolf is alive and well. He doesn’t look too bad considering he had several tons of gargoyle on him earlier.”

Aleric smiled.

“We’re glad to hear it,” Officer Teri replied. “Over and out.”

Officer Ling grinned at Aleric. “Looks like you have a few admirers out there.”

Aleric sat back in his seat. “I’m not sure how fighting gargoyles lifted me up in the public’s opinion. I felt like I looked pretty bad in that battle.”

Officer Ling nodded. “You did, especially when that gargoyle about flattened you. Not to mention the fact that I’m pretty sure you were knocked unconscious when you hit the cement after flying out the second story window….”

Aleric held up a hand. “I lived it. You don’t have to describe it to me. I would definitely rethink my strategy if I went in there again.”

“How so?”

“I would have a strategy,” Aleric concluded.

Officer Ling laughed as he pulled into the back parking lot of the hospital under Aleric’s directions.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t know any of us who could have handled them. I’m guessing the Mayor will be a bit more considerate to your cause after what you did.” He helped Aleric get the goblins out of the car and handed them over with a look of disgust. “Seems like a poor reward for your day’s work.”

“If they save lives, it’s worth it,” Aleric told him.

Officer Ling pulled something out of his pocket. “I almost forgot. The Mayor asked me to get this back to you.”

Aleric accepted the envelope of money Dr. Worthen had given him. “Thanks.” He hefted the goblins and made a face. “I doubt I’ll be buying dinner for a while.”

Officer Ling smiled. “Can’t say I blame you.” He walked back around to the driver’s side. “We’ll have an officer drop off the other car.”

“I appreciate it,” Aleric told him.

He watched the officer pull away and gave a shake of his head.

“This day keeps getting stranger,” he said. He went to push the door with his shoulder, then remembered the incident with Dartan. He pulled the door open and stepped inside.

“It’s about time you got here!” Gregory said the moment he entered the hallway. “You’re all over the news! You’ve got to come see this. Everyone’s watching!”

Aleric followed him up the hallway. He had forgotten he was carrying the goblins until he entered the breakroom and Therese screamed. Everyone who had been watching the television jumped and looked to see what had startled her.

Aleric held up the goblins apologetically. “Sorry. I forgot about these.”

“They’re terrifying,” Therese said. She hid behind Gregory. “I don’t want to get bit.”

“Don’t worry. Officer Ling stunned them. They should be out for a while,” Aleric replied. “Though I don’t think tranquilizing them would be a bad idea. I don’t know how long they’ll be out.”

“I’ve got them,” Dartan said.

He crossed the room looking far better than when Aleric had left him, though the vampire’s skin was still a patchwork of burns and he walked as though he had aged fifty years.

“You should be sleeping,” Aleric told him.

“I feel a lot better,” Dartan replied, accepting the goblins. “Besides, after what I’ve seen, you should be the one in the hospital bed.”

Aleric followed his gaze to the television.

“We thought he was dead for sure!” a man with buzzed hair told the reporter. “But when they lifted up the monster, the werewolf acted just fine. He even went back inside to fight the rest of them!”

“There you have it,” a reporter in a windblown suit told the camera. “Dr. Wolf singlehandedly saved our Mayor and government officials from four monsters we have been told are called gargoyles. More footage keeps coming in. We’ll give you a rundown of what happened.”

The camera switched to recordings of the battle as seen from outside the Capitol Building.

“You’re lucky you’re not dead,” Dr. Worthen said, his arms folded across his chest.

“He’s right,” Nurse Eastwick told Aleric. “You need to be more careful.”

Aleric watched a recording of him flying out the window on top of the gargoyle. The creature turned to stone as it fell. It hit the ground and Aleric was thrown. The bruises along his back from landing on the steps throbbed. He had to agree with Nurse Eastwick.

“I went back to get Gregory’s car,” he explained. “I got ambushed by the Mayor’s friendly bodyguards.”

“The Mayor asked you to fight the gargoyles?” Therese asked in surprise. “Last thing I saw online, she was calling for your head.”

Aleric nodded. “I’m hoping this helps with relationships a bit.”

“What are they going to do with the gargoyles?” Dartan asked.

Aleric looked at his friend. “They’re bringing them here, actually. I figured we could come up with a way to keep them in stone form until we can open the Rift. I was thinking that with the UV lamps Tranquility rigged in the Light fae room—”

Dartan took up the idea, “We can keep them stone even at night. That’s brilliant!”

“I have my moments,” Aleric replied.

Dartan hefted the goblins. “I’ll go extract the serum from these. Get some rest. You look like a gargoyle landed on you.”

“Very perceptive,” Aleric said as the vampire left the room.

“I’ve got patients to attend to,” Dr. Worthen told him. “They have your heroics on a loop. You should keep watching. They’re turning you into the face of the fae. It might help your friends have a better shot at not getting shot.” He winked at Aleric and left the room.

Nurse Eastwick handed him a white to-go box with the word ‘Minnow’s’ written across the top. Aleric could smell the chicken cordon bleu sandwich inside. “Eat up.”

“Thanks,” Aleric said with gratitude. “I have money, thanks to Dr. Worthen. I can pay for things now.”

She waved her hand as she left through the door. “Don’t worry about it. Dr. Worthen has you on the same feeding schedule as he is so you don’t drop down dead. And yes, I mean to make you both sound like barnyard animals. You’re going to start smelling like one if you don’t take a shower. Sponge baths in the bathroom don’t count. Gregory, Therese, I need your help with the goblin tests.”

“See you, Dr. Wolf,” Therese said, giving him a big smile. “You’re amazing.”

Gregory held the door open for her. He paused before following.