Gargoyle's Mate (16 page)

Chapter
Eleven

The woman was beautiful – stunning in fact, Fatima noted, as she seemed to float into the living room. She wore her strawberry blonde hair cropped short in a fashionable bob that swayed with her movements. Gray, intelligent eyes were framed by long lashes.

“I’m glad you could make it. For a while there I was afraid you wouldn’t show,” Gordy began.

“I promised, didn’t I, my pet.” She patted his cheek briefly, but her eyes were fixed on Fatima from the moment she entered.

“You must be dear Fatima,” she said sweetly.

“Yes, and you are?”

“Very enchanted to meet you,” the woman avoided smoothly, coming to give her the briefest of hugs. When she stepped back, Fatima thought she saw a frown crease the succubus’ beautiful forehead, but it was gone so quickly she couldn’t be certain. Quietly, the woman took a seat in a lone chair across the room.

“Fatima has prepared a wonderful meal. She’s an excellent cook,” Gordy gushed.

“I’m certain, but I had a little snack before coming so I’m really not hungry.”

“Oh, didn’t Gordy tell you we were serving dinner?” Fatima questioned.

“I’m sure he mentioned it but I’ve had so much on my mind lately,” she replied with her honeyed tone.

Fatima thought if the woman laid it on any thicker she would get a toothache.

“Has something happened?” Gordy motioned for Fatima to join him on the love seat.

“Yes.” The woman leaned in as if she were about to reveal a juicy bit of gossip. “It looks like Lorn has enlisted the services of several minions. Among them are gremlins and vampires. I don’t need to tell you what a nasty sort they can be.” She wrinkled her pert little nose as if sampling something distasteful.

“Yes, maybe you should tell us. After all, this is very new to both Gordy and myself. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not sure we can totally trust you.”

“Why, I never.” The woman looked more angry than surprised.

“Fatima, that was uncalled for.” Gordy came to the succubus’ defense. “She has been nothing but kind to us. You have her to thank for getting you away from the monster.”

“Don’t be mad at her,” the woman started again, quickly regaining her composure. “She has every reason to be cautious.”

Her velvety voice was grating on Fatima’s nerves. She didn’t like her, plain and simple. Her outer beauty seemed to be a mask for something more sinister. Gordy could believe the sweet-talking being all day long, but as far as Fatima was concerned she didn’t trust the woman farther than she could toss her.

“I brought something I thought you might be interested in.” The succubus dug in her overly large handbag. With a dramatic flourish she pulled out a rectangular box, removing its top to reveal a stack of parchment paper.

“This might explain some things to you about gargoyles.” She came to drop the item on the coffee table in front of them.

Fatima stared at the aged papers as if expecting something more to jump from the box and attack.

“What is it?”

“An accounting of gargoyle history from a woman who had firsthand knowledge,” the blonde answered smoothly.

The creature was going to bleed this for all it was worth. “Who?”

“Laurel, the mother of Lorn”

For several moments Fatima stared at the woman in disbelief before gazing back down at the object.

“How can I be sure this is really hers?” Fatima asked.

“How can you be sure it’s not?” the succubus countered. “I recommend you read it, if you really want to know what type of animals they are.” The blonde checked her watch. “I will be in contact, Gordy, but right now I have a prior engagement.”

“Must you leave so soon?” he sounded and looked like a lost puppy.

“Unfortunately I can’t miss this appointment,” she apologized sweetly. “But I promise we will see each other soon.”

Fatima witnessed the silent exchange between the two before Gordy got up to escort their guest out. She wondered about the true nature of their relationship, hoping for his sake her instincts about the blonde weren’t right.

“Are you going to open it?” Gordy asked some fifteen minutes later as Fatima sat absently twirling her spoon through mashed potatoes.

“What?” She looked at him before glancing to the recapped box across the room. “I’ll get to it.”

“For goodness’ sake.” He rolled his eyes heavenward, pushing away from the dining table. Tossing the top aside, he removed the crinkly bound parchment paper. “Well, that’s just great,” he said after thumbing through several pages. “It’s all in French.”

“Makes sense if it’s authentic, Lorn is French, after all.” She finally stood, taking the papers from him with shaking fingers. “I can translate it.”

“You speak French?”

“Among other languages,” she admitted distractedly.

“Wonders never cease,” he muttered. “You really are full of surprises.’

***

The succubus cursed under her breath. A fucking Fledgling! She knew the woman was important to Lorn but hadn’t realized why until she’d met her. No wonder so many of Protectors were seeking her. She hadn’t actually seen the mark of the gifted ones on her, but she could sense the woman’s body was almost to the end of the cycle of transformation. She’d probably already developed heightened sensory awareness but doubted the black woman even knew what was going on within her body. The succubus almost patted herself on the back for having the foresight to bring the diary of Krail’s mate with her. She’d given it to the Fledgling knowing the temptation of learning what was inside would be more than she could endure. It was her own Pandora’s box.

There was only a matter of time before the little hideaway she’d secured for the humans would be discovered, but with any luck by the time Lorn found his mate she would be totally convinced gargoyles were the enemy.

***

“So are you going to tell me what it says?” Gordy finally asked, putting away the text he was pretending to read on ancient myths. They’d both spent their fair share of time borrowing books on the topic from the local library in the hopes of learning some new bits of information. It was proving to be a very frustrating process.

“I’d like to go through it again, make sure my translations are correct,” she said, tearing her eyes away from the final entry. Although the text was written in an early Franco-German dialect, she was very certain her interpretation was spot on, but she just wasn’t ready to share it with Gordy yet.

“I’d like to go to the library in the morning and see what I can find by way of foreign language dictionaries,” she fibbed.

“Good luck.” Gordy snorted. “I think I’ll call it a night.” He stood, coming to stand in front of her. “Get me up in the morning before you leave,” he requested, before quickly swooping down to give her a familiar peck on the lips. He exited the room before she had a chance to comment.

She sat up for several more hours re-reading the entries. It was obvious part of the journal was missing but what remained told its own story.

Entry 72950

The Council informed all Fledglings of a new law whereby all mating would last for a period of twenty years, after which a new mate would be assigned to Fledglings for procreation. The distress over the judgment is evident in all the faces of my sisters, although no one chose to speak out, except to confide in me. I am but one woman – what can I do to sway the Council?

Entry 72951

Willow was brought back to the Keep today. I was the only Fledgling present to witness her battered state. I stood in the entry when Reem carried her to their rooms. I have never seen such a pure look of fierceness on his face. He turned to show me her bruised body. “This is the fate you all will suffer if you attempt to run away.” I was sickened by the sight of her, wanting to reach out and help her, but Reem would not allow it. He said she would remain in isolation until he determined otherwise.

Entry 72952

Another Fledgling ran away today. She was the mate of Jare. I was almost glad to hear of her escape. They fought often since the decree. It was evident to us all that Jare has become abusive to her but none of the Protectors made an attempt to stop him. Even my Krail defended his actions by saying the transition would be stre
ssful to us all, explaining
Jare woul
d never do anything to
harm his woman. Tell that to Genevieve who wore a black eye for nearly a week after a previous argument.

Entry 72953

I spoke to the Council today about the plight of the Fledglings, hoping I could impress upon them our dissatisfaction over the decree. None would even listen to our pleas; even Krail turned a blind eye. What is to become of us?

Entry 72954

The new young Fledgling, Michelle, has cried nearly every night of her separation from her sister. Elizabeth has been in seclusion with her new mate Erik for nearly a week, and I have begun to worry for her safety. Erik lived
in the harsher climates of the east, only coming to visit our Keep to participate in the Mate Choosing ceremonies. He happened to be one of the Protectors present when they intercepted the carriage en route to th
e convent. Krail has said
Erik plans to leave in a fortnight without the little one. How could anyone be so cruel as to separate two sisters who obviously need each other?

Entry 72955

The body of Genevieve was discovered in a glen not far from the Keep. Some of the Fledglings are speculating that Jare murdered her as punishment for running away. I am not ce
rtain either way but I know
we cannot continue to go on this way.

Entry 72956

Willow has come out of seclusion today. Physically she looks healed but there is nothing behind her eyes. We have tried many different ways to pull her from her silent stupor, to no avail. It saddens me to see her this way. I knew her when she first came to the Keep, so vibrant and full of life.

Fatima skimmed several more pages of noted atrocities the Fledglings had been subjected to at the hands of the so-call Protectors.

Entry 72975

I have decided to embark on my journey to the gargoyles’ various holdings as an Ambassador, or so the Council believes. I
f I can win the support of the F
ledglings in those regions I can begin to put our plan in motion.

Fatima put the journal away, not needing to go on; she knew the plan, from her first reading. The Fledglings had plotted their own Jonestown type of mass suicide. Laurel had delivered the deadly elixir to all the known gargoyle keeps with instructions it not be used until the majority of the Protectors’ forces were called away on a mission. Apparently, her plan had succeeded; otherwise Lorn wouldn’t be looking for a new way to breed his species.

***

She awoke from a fitful sleep only to be greeted by the roiling of her stomach. She scarcely made it into the bathroom before heaving the sparse contents into the toilet bowl. Fatima sat on the cold tile for several moments to make sure the retching had stopped before going through the ritual of cleaning her face and mouth.

“Seems to only affect you in the morning,” Gordy said from the bathroom doorway where he leaned casually.

“How long have you been there?” she asked his reflection through the mirror.

“Long enough to see you lose the dinner you barely touched last night,” he replied.

“The polite thing would have been for you leave and close the door behind you,” she admonished.

“You’re probably right. So are you keeping it?”

“What are you talking about?” She looked away from his reflection, taking the cool wet towel and wiping her face.

“The baby, or whatever it is growing inside you.”

“There isn’t a baby or anything else inside me,” she replied a little shakily.

“Sure… and De Nile is just a river in Egypt.”

She whirled on him, hackles raised. “Look, I don’t have to stand here and listen to your crap.” She made to brush past him only to have her path blocked.

“Don’t be upset with me. I’m just trying to make you face reality here. I heard you yesterday morning and have seen you just about lose it a few times before.”

“I… I can’t be pregnant,” she said in a near whisper, unable to meet his eyes.

“And why not?”

At Gordy’s raised eyebrows she blathered on. “Even your succubus friend said they needed to do experiments on humans before they could breed with them.”

“Apparently they found a loophole. I don’t know. The fact remains you, my dear, are very pregnant and need to decide what you’re going to do about it.”

Fledglings were what Lorn’s mother called the women who could breed with gargoyles. Was it possible she was one? If so, did it mean she was something other than human too?

She wondered as she stared down at the positive blue indicator on the narrow pregnancy strip. She was going to have a baby, a gargoyle or something in between, she thought wearily. How had she ended up in this predicament?

“Well?” Gordy asked expectantly from his seat in the living room as she re-emerged.

“Just goes to show you who you can trust nowadays,” she tried to joke, although she’d never felt less funny in her life.

***

The small island of Catalina waited like the last vestige of hope for the somnolent gargoyle. He’d gotten word of a young black woman and white male who fit the description of Fatima and Gordy. The two were said to be residing in a bungalow on the edge of town under assumed names. The island made the perfect refuge from a gargoyle, and it therefore made complete sense the two would be there, or any island in the world for the matter. He hoped his informants were correct.