Myths and Gargoyles by Jamie Hawke (interesting books to read in english txt) 📕

“Queen Mab, what’s the meaning of all this?” Nivian asked.

“I figured, since someone’s stealing my fairies away from me, I might as well come see what I can do about it.” She held out her arms, as if we were to worship her then and there, and offered a smile. “So, you all… What can I do about it?”

We shared a look of confusion; Arthur’s expression having darkened at her arrival. There was clearly history here, and I couldn’t wait to find out what it was.

“Wait. Taking your fairies?” Arthur asked.

Elisa had arrived by that point, just in time to hear what he said. “Actually, I was wondering about the lack of their presence since we arrived.” At my look of confusion, she added, “Usually I can sense them, almost feel their power like I do the spirits of my brothers—but it’s greatly weakened.”

Queen Mab nodded. “She’s correct. And I want to know why.”

“We don’t have the answer to that,” Arthur said.

“Well, neither do we,” Elisa cut in, holding up a hand. She turned to her older brother, waiting.

He cleared his throat, nodded to Queen Mab in deference. “We’ve received word from Sekhmet She and Bastet believe they’ve found something.”

“How do we find her?” Queen Mab asked, her eyes narrowed. Another pre-existing set of drama?

“Nivian, do you know where we can find Sekhmet? Can you take us there?” Arthur asked.

“We’ll go at once,” Nivian replied. “And from there, get back to this war,” her eyes darted to the fairy queen. “Not you, of course.”

“For now,” Elisa cut in.

“Your brothers found something?” Arthur asked, eyes full of hope.

“Actually, Sekhmet again. A different way, in theory. If Shades are using the portals, you might be able to as well.”

“Dark portals,” Arthur pointed out. “I’d go through… full shadow.”

“Maybe.”

This lingered on everyone’s minds for a moment, and then he nodded. “Everyone pack up, it’s time to …

As we walked, the brother said, “Unless you—us too… unless we went through as gods.”

“Jack,” Sharon whispered, stepping up shyly.

I took her in my arms, kissed her on the forehead, and laughed. “What’s with the hesitation?”

She blushed. “You’re different.”

“No I’m not. I mean, yes, leveled up and all, but,” her hand went to the spot where my lion tattoo was, the lion having retreated back into it, “this is a game changer.”

“Is it?”

She nodded, then turned to see Nivian walking on the other side of me.

“A spirit animal, of this kind.” Nivian shook her head. “Hasn’t happened since Ra.”

“Ra was… here?” I asked. “Like this?”

“Ra wasn’t always a god,” Nivian explained. “Well, this Ra, I mean.”

“This Ra?”

“The one who holds the name of Ra,” she glanced over to Red.

Red sighed. “We told him about how the myth names can be taken over. I’m guessing he’s just not processing all this related to the gods, yet.”

“Oh, so it’s the same?” I grinned. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

“Right.” Nivian looked irritated, but Arthur gave her a nod to continue. “Are you sure? Maybe you should tell it.”

“It’s too close to home,” Arthur replied.

“Very well.” She turned back to me. “This one was known as… but he learned Ra’s secret name, used it to tame the spirit animal of Ra’s and therefore, much as you saw Riak become Morgana, he became Ra.”

“But I don’t understand,” I said to Arthur. “Why’s that… too close to home?”

Nivian started to explain, but Arthur held up a hand.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You see, Ra was here with me at the time. The two of us were like brothers… and he was a big part of what got me through each day.”

“What… happened?” I asked.

“A man who claimed to fight evil, after having realized being a real ‘boy’ hadn’t been enough. A man named Pinocchio.” Arthur sighed. “He claimed he came in search of me, to find a cure, to help me return. Sought me out and trained with me, befriended me… and then betrayed me for power.”

57

Mists and green, rolling hills gave way to a walkway atop a mountain ridge, stopping for breaks and watching as a herd of hippogriffs flew by. My lion rode out to meet them, playfully circling while we watched and laughed. Apparently, the lion maintained its own will, coming and going as it wanted in addition to when I called upon it.

When the lion returned to my newest tattoo, we packed up, and were on our way again. More lakes, some with strange, curved boats that reminded me of slivers of the moon, and trees of bright purple. When their leaves flew off like cherry blossom petals, they would circle up and take on a life of their own, flittering about, moving to surround us, then disperse into the sunset sky.

“It’s all so magical,” I said, watching and partly wishing we could stay forever to be part of this, or at least a bit longer to see the many other wonders.

Pucky gave me a pleasant smile, horns glowing for a moment before fading again.

“What?” I asked.

“You did it.” She shrugged. “I’m… proud of you.”

“Okay, Mom.”

She frowned. “Huh?”

“That… came out wrong. I meant… shit. I meant because my mom was always the type to say stuff like that.”

“Oh.” She stood a bit taller. “I think I’ll like your mom.”

Actually, the topic reminded me why it was important to return, why, as great as lingering here seemed on the surface, this wasn’t my place.

“Will we get to see her? And my dad?” I asked.

Arthur glanced back. “First, make sure they’re safe by defeating Ra, but then? Yes, I’d say it’s about time.”

The idea of walking back into my old place and seeing their beaming faces filled me with joy. A different type of magic.

“When it’s over, I’m getting a chimichanga,” Sharon said with a silly grin.

“A what?” Queen Mab asked.

“Oooh, you’ve never had one? Best thing in the world—take a burrito and fry it. Boom! Chimichanga.”

“Burrito…?”

Sharon stared at her in disbelief.

“You’re in for a good time,” I said to the queen, chuckling at Sharon’s obsession with chimichangas. They