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

fist slammed into my gut, the light fading to no more than a bright light in the mists, and there was Pinocchio, staring up at me with hatred. Slowly, his eyes lowered to take in the fact that he was a nude, wooden puppet, and he shouted, “What have you done to me?”

“Brought you to justice,” I replied, and then shoved him back, Excalibur pointed. “It ends here.”

“You piece of shit. I’m a god now, not some wooden toy. I’ll tear you to shred, fucking splinter you to death!”

He came at me again, this time pulling in the mists around as runes on his wooden body glowed. The mists swirled, assaulting me like shards of glass—shards that never hit their target, thanks to my raised shield that I formed form my arm.

While he clearly still had power, it wouldn’t be enough. I’d trained in the mists enough to know my way around. To know that they could be my ally.

I spun, taking the mists and swirling them around myself so that I returned the attack. Only instead of the assault like glass, I took it to the next step, pushing the mists together so that the water hardened, even formed a sort of massive axe that swung for the wooden boy. He stumbled back and held up his hands, runes glowing, and the two of us were locked like that, mentally pushing, my will against his.

It took everything I had, focusing on all of my training with Arthur, on the energy I’d received through powering up and grinding. But most of all, what got me through that moment was thinking about my team, about Pucky, Red, Elisa, Sharon, and now the others joining us.

Was love the secret ingredient? Fuck if I know, but it sure as hell kept me sane as Pinocchio attempted to win over my mind with mental attacks.

No matter what, I had to return to my team. To be there for them, to ensure they were all right. And yes, the thought crossed my mind—to make sweet love to them all again. No way was I going to lose here and die knowing they’d be eagerly awaiting their hero.

Taking a gamble, I thrust out with my power-cancelling skill. The effect was immediate, mists exploding out, or so I thought. As the light started to return, I saw that my attack had hit its mark before being cancelled by the lack of powers.

Then the light was surrounding us, taking over so there was nothing but the light, and I was falling.

Wind tossing me about, light going in and out, all I knew was that falling sensation. Then I processed that Roar was there, catching me on his back. I could see again, and noticed Huera flying alongside us, casting her healing spell.

“Where…?” I asked, summoning back my sword so that it flew to my hand from where it had been tumbling down.

She gestured to a cloud of ash in the sky, being blown away by the wind. “You mean Ra? Gone, thanks to you.”

I watched as the ash circled, forming a small tornado before blowing away. So went Ra, the great god, the man, the agent… the boy of wood. Finally, gone.

69

Pyramids were falling all around us, exploding, crashing—only, not making impact but vanishing as they hit the ground. Or that’s what I thought at first as I descended, caressing Roar’s mane to show him how much I appreciated his help.

One of the larger pyramids was hitting nearby, but I watched as it made impact to see that there was an opening between worlds, another land being torn apart as the pyramid hit and exploded. Was it the Fae world, the place underneath, or some other place I hadn’t learned about yet?

I was curious, but based on the adventures I’d been on so far, I had a feeling this would be revealed in time as well. When we landed next to the others, I took a moment to look around at them, taking stock.

“Where’s Pucky?” I asked.

Elisa was being helped up by one of her brothers, and Red landing nearby. Sharon shook her head, and my heart froze.

“Behind you,” Pucky’s voice came, and I turned to see her holding her side, one of her horns broken off, blood on her forehead, but otherwise unharmed. “Don’t look so distraught, it’ll grow back. Eventually.”

“Maybe he’s making that face because, with just one of them, it kinda looks like a cock growing out of your head.” Red laughed, and then stumbled.

Pucky half-teleported to her side, catching her. “You’re hurt. And a bitch.”

Red chuckled, softer than her previous laugh, and moved her cloak aside to reveal a nasty gash on her side. It looked bad, but she was standing strong. “We did well, didn’t we?”

“We won,” I said, going to her side for support.

“And… what next?”

“Next we get you to a doctor,” I replied, trying to figure out how best to deal with the wound in the meantime. Apply pressure? I’d heard that in movies, but it wasn’t like I was trained in first aid or anything like that. We would have to add that to the training when we got back.

“No need,” a soft voice said, and we turned to see Huera, golden breasts seeming to glow in the waning sun. “I can see to it.”

“At what cost?” I asked.

“No cost,” Huera replied, stepping up in front of Red. “I can give each of you a healing ability, though it’s not quite god status. That… I’ve used up, until more feathers grow.” She indicated her wings, where several bare patches showed at the bottom of each. “But what I’m talking about is something different, something much easier. Bring me into the team.”

Pucky and Elisa exchanged a curious look, while Red pursed her lips and Sharon actually glared.

“To be clear,” Red asked, “you’d want to be part of this team? I mean, the Protector’s team?”

Huera nodded. “And when it’s time, you can all become gods—as our definition of that goes, anyway.