The Girl and the Gargoyle: Book Two of The Girl and the Raven Series (28 page)

“Yes.”

I shake my head. His list of abilities continues to grow. I consider my own skills. Fireballs. The ability to blast through doors. Deflecting spells. Knocking people off their feet. In the midst of training, I thought I was pretty badass. And I have the power to humiliate a little girl in front of her friends. Compared to Marcus and Selima, I’m lame. Do I stand a chance against Garret’s army? How am I supposed to protect Jude?

Just then, Selima’s throaty chuckle cackles above us. I jerk my head toward the sky, searching for her in the darkness.

“Over here,” she calls out, far to the left.

She’s fast.

“Enough showing off.” Marcus stalks the ground below his sister.

What would it be like to fly? To move through the air without a parachute or a bungee cord? To feel the breeze move through my hair? Who am I kidding? My lungs would seize from terror.

“Boo!” Selima plunks down beside me, her wing brushing my back.

I gasp, startled. “Not funny!”

Marcus jogs to my side. “That was amazing, Selima. You’ve got to show me how it’s done. I want to learn to fly.” He drums his hands against his abs in rhythm to a song only he can hear. His wings bounce in time to his movements. I’ve never seen him so excited.

“Let’s do it,” Selima says. She returns to the spot where she launched the first time.

I pull my phone out again and aim the bright light at the two of them. Marcus mimics Selima’s stance, squatting low and pulling his wings in tight against his back. He flexes his biceps, fists his hands.

“Remember to pump your wings as hard as possible.”

“Got it.” Marcus nods tightly.

“You ready?” Selima asks.

Marcus nods again.

“Envision a pole vault. It’s all about the power in the legs,” she says, her gaze leaving Marcus to focus on the dark sky. “Be fearless.”

Marcus glances at me. A slow smile spreads across his face.

“Be careful,” I tell him.

Selima launches herself into the air. Her white wings—majestic and beautiful in the glow of my cell phone—immediately expand. I forget to blink, mesmerized by the
womp, womp, womp
of her flapping wings as she climbs higher into the night.

“Here goes,” Marcus says under his breath.

I peel my attention from Selima and point my phone toward Marcus. He mimics his sister’s low squat then launches himself into the air with a loud grunt. He flaps his wings hard and fast, but doesn’t climb. Marcus tumbles onto the ground.

“Come on, little brother. You can do better,” Selima teases from above. Her wings are silent. It’s like she’s floating.

Marcus releases a heavy sigh and punches the ground.

“You okay?” I offer him a hand up.

“I’m fine,” he says tersely and ignores my hand.

“You’re such a mom, Lucy.” Selima laughs. “Marcus, is she always like this?”

My body feels hot from head to toe. “What are you talking about?” I sputter. “I don’t mother Marcus.”

Marcus chuckles. “Yeah, you do, but it’s okay…most of the time.”

“Clearly, he likes that about you,” Selima says.

“I don’t mother him,” I mutter.

“You do it to Dylan, too,” Marcus says.

Why are we talking about this in front of Selima?

Back on his feet, Marcus resumes the squat position and tucks his wings tight against his back. He takes a deep breath and holds his arms in front of his body, fists clenched. He bounces low. Then with one swift pump of his arms, he thrusts himself skyward. His gray and white wings expand and beat down against the air as they elevate him higher. His grunts carry across the mild breeze.

Marcus doesn’t fall. Relief floods my insides as I hear the
womp-womp-womp
of his wings. I realize I’m holding my breath and exhale long and slow.

“Come and get me if you can,” Selima sings out.

The air above me moves, and I thrust my cell phone above my head to spot which one just flew overhead. Low battery flashes across the screen of my phone. I power off and shove it in my pocket as I peer into the darkness above. I wish I could see them.

“Ouch! Not fair!” Selima cries out. “No feather snatching.”

“Not so tough now, huh?” Marcus taunts.

They chase each other, tossing jabs back and forth, for a long while. It stinks to be left out. I’d give anything to have wings and be up with them right now.
You’d give up fireballs?
The little voice in my head asks.
That’s an easy one. Flying is so much cooler than throwing fire. Why couldn’t I be a gargoyle-protector instead of a demon?

“Whoa! Oh, no!” Marcus tumbles onto the ground. “Oomph!”

“Way to go, genius.” Selima laughs as she lands on her feet beside me and trots over to Marcus. “Slow down
before
you land next time.”

“Now you tell me.” Marcus arrives at my side. He picks bits of grass and leaves out of his hair.

“It sounded like you guys were having a good time.” I try to keep the jealousy out of my voice.

“Guess what? Marcus
can
fly, just like all other protectors.” She teases. “And little brother…the next time you pluck one of my feathers, I’ll take five. Consider this your only warning.”

“Watch it.” Marcus elbows her. The two of them get into a jabbing match, both of them laughing.

I sense their euphoria and wish I could be a part of what they experienced tonight. I’m happy Marcus has connected with Selima, but they spend so much time together. At least I was included tonight.

The sound of crickets rings out. Selima looks around curiously.

“It’s my phone,” Marcus says, pulling his cell from his pocket. “Henry,” he says as he turns his back and walks to the opposite end of the clearing.

“I’m going to help him,” Selima says. “Show him the ways of the protectors, what he missed out on growing up in the clan.”

“That’s great, but what about keeping him safe from Camille and Garret?”

Selima sighs. “I think you’re wrong about their intentions. Camille adores him. She won’t hurt him. Garret just needs to get used to the idea of sharing Camille.”

If she’d been there that night at the condo, she would realize how wrong she is about her father.

Marcus returns a moment later. His wings are gone, and his shirt is back on. He grabs me by the arm. “We’ve got to go,” he says tightly.

I race to keep up with his stride. “What’s wrong?”

“The ravens are back.”

Lola and Serenity are back!

“Are they okay? Did Jude do something to them again?”

“What would Jude do…?” Selima asks.

“No. They alerted Henry and Persephone to some unusual activity in the woods.” Marcus’s words are clipped. “About a mile from here. We need to go.”

“What kind of activity?”

“It’s not Garret, is it?” Selima asks. She moves around Marcus, blocking his path. “You’re scared. Who are we running from? Tell me so I can help.”

A spasm racks my entire body. A chill passes over my skin. “Seamus?”

“Yes.” Marcus bulldozes past Selima, nearly knocking her over.

“Who’s Seamus?” Selima asks. Her stride is long and smooth like her brother’s, while I trot to keep pace with the two of them.

Once at the car, Marcus opens my door and tries to shove me inside.

I push his hand away. “I’ve got it.”

He rushes to the driver’s side and climbs in. Selima’s in the car behind us, her headlights illuminating the interior of Marcus’s car.

“Are we going to meet with Persephone and Henry and come up with a plan?” I ask.

“I’m going to get you home. Aiden and I will guard the three-flat while Henry and Persephone go inspect the woods. Then we’ll switch in a few hours.” Marcus tears out of the parking lot and takes an immediate left turn.

I nearly slam into the passenger side door. “I don’t need guarding. My uncles do, though, so I’ll protect them. Or I can help Henry and Persephone,” I tell him. “Jude’s been training me to protect myself. To fight Seamus. I’m ready.”

Marcus snorts. “The fact you think you’re ready tells me you’re not. You’re going home. The four of us can handle this.”

I glare at him through the darkness. “You don’t think I’m good enough to help? How can you say that? You haven’t seen me in action.”

“It’s not about that. I can’t risk you getting hurt.”

“I’ve been getting my butt kicked every Sunday, working hard and eating crow. This is what I’ve been preparing for. Now you’re telling me I have to sit this out.” My temper flares with every word out of my mouth.

Idling at a stoplight, Marcus turns to me. The headlights of oncoming traffic illuminate his expression. I study the hard set of his mouth, staring at him stubbornly.

“Fine. You can guard your uncles from the inside. I’ll be on the roof, and Aiden will tour the parameter.” His tone is icy, clipped. “You don’t step foot outside. Got it?”

This is as big a win as I’ll get tonight. I’ll take it.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Marcus stands guard at my locker after final period on Monday. His hooded gaze surveys the crowded hallway. Once he spots me, I wait a beat for his expression to soften, for that crooked smile that’s meant only for me. Instead, his jaw clenches.

“You think Seamus will come after me here?” I ask once we’re inches apart.

Guarding my uncles on Saturday night proved uneventful. Bernard, Sheldon, and I watched movies late, and then I pretended to go to bed. Once I heard their bedroom door close, I stayed up, pacing the house, avoiding those areas where the floor creaked, and making sure all the windows were locked. I drank half a dozen Cokes in order to stay awake. Seamus never made an appearance.

Marcus grabs a lock of my hair, and my fingers pause on my locker combination. I wait for him to wind it around his finger and bring it to his nose.

“I need you to text Katie, let her know you’re running an errand with me today.” He releases my hair, pressing it flat against my shoulder as if to safeguard it. “You should let your uncles know you’ll miss dinner, too.”

The noise of hundreds of students and locker doors slamming can’t compete with the thunder of my heartbeat. “What’s going on?”

“We’re going to do some investigating,” Marcus says.

He’s taking me along to investigate? This is a big change from his attitude on Saturday night. Did he finally realize I can help? I nod and open my locker. Marcus looks around, searching the halls.

“Seamus wouldn’t come to my school. Would he?” Then I remember we have more than one enemy in town. “Or are you looking for Garret and other protectors?”

“I’ll tell you in the car,” he murmurs. He glances around again, standing close.

My heart pounds harder.

On the way to the parking lot, I notify Katie and my uncles about my change of plans. Once we’re in the car, I turn to Marcus. “Is it Seamus or Garret?”

“We’ve been studying the woods since Saturday night. Seamus has spent a lot of time recently in one area in particular, Bunker Hill Forest Preserve. He’s been practicing magic.”

Seamus is back.

“So we’re going to confront him?” I remind myself I’m ready. Would Jude agree?

“It’s been quiet in the woods for the last ten hours, so we believe he’s moved on.”

“Why are we going to the woods if he’s not there?”

“To see what he’s been up to, and if we’re lucky, to get a sense of who he’s working with.”

“Just to be clear, he’s gone from the woods, but he’s not gone gone. Right?”

Marcus’s face darkens and he looks away.

I struggle to catch my breath, difficult given that my lungs refuse to cooperate.

“We’re ready for him,” I say under my breath, more to myself than to him.

Marcus reaches for my hand. “I won’t let him hurt you. And Jude knows better than to interfere this time. You’ll be safe.”

Seamus wants me dead. Garret wants me dead.
I’m screwed,
the little voice in my head says.
No, I’m not
, I snap back. I refuse to believe all of my training has been a waste.

“You should let Jude know,” Marcus says.

I wish Jude texted. He probably knows how and only pretends not to. He answers on the first ring.

“Lucy, I hope you’re not calling to cancel training this weekend. Dylan already tried. I offered to pick up Ethan in his place.”

“You wouldn’t!” I hiss.

“Try me.”

Jerk.

“I’m calling to tell you Seamus is back.” I’m met with silence. I wait several seconds, pull the phone from my ear and read the screen to see if the call is still live. I return the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“I know,” Jude says.

“What?” I sputter. “You knew and you didn’t bother to tell us?”

“Since when do I have to report to my daughter?” The hard edge in his voice would normally make me back down. Not today.