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

“My best friend, my rock.” Fatiha held up the tree, pricked her finger on the side of it, and chanted under her breath as she let a drop of blood fall onto the base. “I accept your sacrifice, and give of myself so that what remains may grow stronger.”

With those words, my aunt faded into a ball of light that entered the jade tree.

“Okay, what the fuck…?” Cringing at the look Fatiha gave me, I added, “Sorry, but this is all too much.”

I gave the tree one more glance, then turned to get out of there.

At the door, Fatiha caught up to me. “Where are you going? We have a lot to do, a lot to—”

“I just… need to think.”

I was out, jogging down the street, cursing that I didn’t have a phone to call a driver. Since I didn’t have a car, I walked. A stranger to this city, I had no idea where I was going but that didn’t stop me.

At the moment, all that mattered was being alone and away from all the crazy bullshit.

80

There wasn’t much to think about, really. Going from thinking I was a normal guy with a girlfriend and about to go to university, only to have it all thrown upside down with magic, time travel, and now what was essentially a ghost—it was a lot to take in.

At the moment, I wanted to look at the fun architecture of the nearby houses, the trees blowing in the wind, and birds soaring by. I wanted to forget all the insanity, and focus on what had always been real, what was simple. After a bit of walking, I hopped in a taxi and paid way too much to end up at the National Mall, where I checked out some museums, stood staring at a wooly mammoth recreation for like thirty minutes, and then walked over to the Capitol Building. After that, my legs were as exhausted as my emotional state, so I found an out of the way coffee shop, grabbed a green tea, and then sat in the back with my head against the wall. After a short nap, I woke to find a tour group crowded around, kids eyeing me and chuckling. I nodded and went on my way.

From there, I thought about calling my friends or parents, but what could they do? They couldn’t relate to me in this, and I had no interest in making up an answer for when they asked what I had been up to so far.

Instead, I found a food court, ate some mediocre Chinese beef and broccoli, and then started to make my way back toward the house. The summer humidity was a drag, but for a little while I welcomed it as something to focus my negative energy on rather than all the myriad other options. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I found a bus that took me halfway, and then got out to walk again.

Everything around that area reminded me of pictures of Rome or Greece, although it wasn’t like I had been to either to really know. The buildings had that grand, marble look, and when I stopped to look at a church, I couldn’t help but feel that the West Coast got screwed with its lack of amazing architecture.

A flock of pigeons flew past. One of them landed nearby, and gave me the distinct sensation that it was watching me. More appeared as I walked on. After the third time, I noticed a figure standing at the raised side of a park, white hair blowing in the wind. At least her eyes didn’t appear red anymore, or not from this distance.

Steph waited there, and I didn’t turn away.

Her hands were folded in front of her, and at least she was wearing normal clothes during the day, instead of the strange renaissance getup she had worn the night before. Now she had a look that was less like a demon summoner or whatever she was, and more of a punk rock wannabe. Her gray pants with holes were paired with a low-cut red shirt with black vest over it. The whole ensemble reminded me of the old Avril Lavigne look—some singer from the nineties my dad had always pretended not to listen to.

My instincts kicked in as I approached her, eyes darting about for trouble. Every ounce of me was screaming that I needed to turn around and run, but stubbornness won out. She had been my girlfriend and betrayed me. Words needed to be had.

“The fuck, Steph?” I said, as soon as I figured I was probably within ear shot.

She laughed. “I could ask the same of you. All I wanted was to look around, to have some fun. You spoiled it.”

“You killed my aunt.”

“It wasn’t me, exactly.”

“Bullshit.” I glared, then scoffed with a shake of my head. “Stop talking as if we’re two normal people having a conversation. It’s pissing me off.”

She cocked her head, smiling. “How would you like to talk instead?”

“Like you’re a traitorous bitch, a murderous piece of shit, maybe.” I shrugged. “What’s to stop me from ending this right here?”

“Really?” She motioned around. “Go ahead, and have fun with that, too. Have fun being the guy who beat a woman to death right here in D.C. Although, truthfully,” she leaned in, smirking, “I think I could take you.”

A twitch at the side of her mouth. One I recognized all too well. “You’re bluffing.” She frowned, confirming it, and it hit me. “That’s why you’re not attacking right now… because your powers aren’t as strong during the day. Or maybe don’t work at all.”

“You don’t know what you’re getting into, Jericho.” She stepped close, hand going out for my arm, but I pulled back instinctively. The hurt in her eyes was quickly replaced by anger. “Fuck you, okay? I’m out here risking everything to try and give you another chance. When my lips