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

be worried, but then jogged up to my room. Night was nearly upon us, after all. A cracking sounded at the exact moment I entered. Ebrill stretched as the glow faded from her eyes, and she turned in bed to look at me.

“What’re you doing way over there?” she asked.

“I…” I started but didn’t know what to say when she motioned me over. For a moment, I stood there, enthralled by the seductive look in her eyes, then I walked over, brushed aside some stone, and sat next to her.

She sat up and wrapped her arms around me. “I missed you.”

“Ebrill, we… I mean…”

The look of realization in her eyes told me exactly what was happening. She must have had a dream about me, one where we were more than real life. Maybe even one where we had been intimate?

Cocking my head with that thought in mind, I looked at her. She blushed and looked away.

“Tell me about your dream,” I said, teasing.

Her eyes met mine and she said, “Tell me about yours, first.”

I sat up, pulling away slightly. “Wait, you… it was you, wasn’t it?”

She gulped, then nodded. “I don’t remember much, but now… now I remember that day when you showed up. You were a mystery, causing such a stir, only to fade away. Much is still a blur, but, the way you looked at me. Of course, I’ve had dreams of you since then, you and your sultry eyes.” She turned, took my face in her hands, and stared into my eyes. Hers, I now noticed, were more of a purple than the dark brown I had originally thought them to be. Purple to match her lips, which were moving toward me. She gently placed a kiss on my cheek, then smiled as she pulled back.

“That place,” I said, dazed, “do you know what it was?”

She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m getting bits and pieces. Just images, but I’m certain we were searching.”

“For the Liahona.”

She perked up. “Yes, exactly. You…you’ve been busy?”

“There’s someone I think you should meet.” Taking her by the hand and guiding her up, as apparently, we were close enough for that now, I led her out of there, but paused. “Sorry, do you… I’ve been running around all day. One minute, okay?”

I ran into the bathroom, took a quick piss—which was hard to do, considering the semi-chub she had left me with after that kiss—washed my hands, and headed back to her.

“Good?” she asked, and I realized I had totally not even thought about closing the door.

“Er, before when you were stone, I hadn’t bothered. And I guess I didn’t think…”

“You were walking around naked while I was stone? A bit creepy.”

I laughed. “Sorry?”

“Well, creepy and sort of sexy.” She shrugged, took my hand again, and gestured for me to lead the way.

“Okay, so while you were sleeping, a few things happened,” I told her, and went into my day, finishing up with us arriving in the dining room, where Fatiha waited.

“This is the one?” Ebrill asked, but Fatiha stood frozen, serving tray in hand, jaw dropping as she stared.

“Yes, and she’s not usually so… awestruck?”

“Sorry,” Fatiha said, snapping out of it. “Please, help yourself to the food. You must be famished. Wow, a real, live gargoyle here at my table.”

“At your pleasure,” Ebrill said with a slight curtsy, then started picking at some grapes, before eyeing the cheese and sliced corned beef.

“My apologies, I just threw together whatever I could find.”

“It’s perfect.” Ebrill found a seat, wings folding halfway behind her, and continued to eat, eyes going back and forth between us as we stared. “So…We need a plan.”

“Maybe we should speak with Gertrude, see what she can tell us?” Fatiha offered.

“Wait, your aunt?” Ebrill asked me.

“Did I forget that part?” I grimaced. “Well, she did pass on, sort of, but left something of herself behind. A remnant, you could say.”

“That’s… powerful magic.”

“It is,” Fatiha confirmed. “Which is why I think it’s important that Jericho keeps learning from her, as much as possible.”

“And the Liahona?” Ebrill asked. “Have we located it?”

Fatiha shook her head. “But if you’ve awoken, I would say we’re one step closer as a team. We know they will attack again tonight, likely with stronger forces. We must prepare, but first, Jericho, your aunt is waiting to speak with you.”

The idea of conversing with a remnant of my aunt gave me the willies, but I nodded and glanced toward the hallway that led to where I had last seen her.

“That won’t be necessary,” Fatiha said, pulling the jade tree from her pocket and running her finger along it.

Green light shone along the branches, swirling around and creating a space before forming into the figure of my aunt. She took on her natural colors, clothes and all, and eyed first me, then Ebrill.

“Well, I’ll be…” Excitement shone in her eyes and she moved forward as if to touch Ebrill to see if she was real, but her hand moved right through the gargoyle. “Ah, right. Me… I’m the one not exactly real.” Turning back to me, she continued to wear her excited smile. “But you’ve done it. Tell me how.”

“It wasn’t much,” I admitted. “Simply willed it and told her to awaken.”

“That’s… strange.” My aunt lost her smile, until looking back at Ebrill again. “And you? You must be excited to get back to your sisters, to join the fight.”

Ebrill bit her lower lip, looking to me for help. “I don’t exactly…”

“Her memory is coming back in pieces,” I explained.

“You must find the Llyfr Sillafu, learn what spells you can—”

“Already one step ahead of you on that,” I interrupted. “And actually, I’ve been able to sort of scan some of the pages, to see which ones are at my skill level, in a sense.”

My aunt nodded, like she was proud of me, and said, “Well then. Perhaps I fill you in on what I can while you finish your meal, then it’s back to practicing.”

“I would like that.”

She looked us