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

Shisa grunted and a moment later there was an energy shield flying out from behind us, and this time when I turned, they didn’t follow.

“Great, now we’re using magic against the police,” I said, careful to swerve as I nearly hit a parked car. Someone yelled at me and I glanced back, hoping I hadn’t hit anyone.

“You’re good,” Steph said, but then nervously cleared her throat and sent out two wraith knights.

“What was that?” I asked.

“A pursuing shade. Keep driving.”

“Wonderful.”

When I realized that I could make a digital map of the D.C. area based on what I’d seen and where I had been, I started to feel like a real badass. With my magic attacks, house remodeling, and all this, I had to wonder if transmutation was one of the most badass magic forms ever.

Fuck that—it was. Decision made.

And on that note, I had an idea. Sorry, cop car that had just turned onto the street behind us in pursuit, and sorry to Public Works or whoever had to fix streets. With a wink, I caused the street to separate and rise, so that the cop car came to an abrupt stop. The back flew up, but not enough to flip, then fell back down with a loud thud. Another cop car came around the corner behind the first, getting its hood slammed down.

No one was hurt, I hoped, since I didn’t know who was on which side and had to assume they were all just doing their jobs, and treat them accordingly unless they proved otherwise. We sped out of there, through a tunnel, and were back on our way toward Georgetown to find the senator’s house.

For a few minutes at least, we simply drove in peace. I even turned the music on, a low piano song playing. Steph rolled down the window and stuck her hand out, letting it roll with the wind, and we shared a loving look. Then I glanced back to see the others smiling, too.

“You’d think we all just got back from a day of hiking,” I said with a laugh. “A bit worn out, but… relaxed. Enjoying ourselves.”

“Fighting assholes can be relaxing,” Kordelia said.

Riland chuckled. I could get used to this, honestly.

Aerona sighed, and the others turned to her, waiting for her to speak. I found her whole thing a bit melodramatic, but kind of cute.

“It’s not a game,” Aerona said.

“We know,” Ebrill replied. “But it’s also not something we can make stop, so we might as well make the most of it.”

“Until we have the others, until we check back with Rianne and she can tell us no more are out there waiting to be found… I just don’t know if I can relax.”

Silence.

Ask if this is about Draedar, Riland said.

I shook my head, confused.

The other man who was with Gertrude. The one who… didn’t make it back.

Damn, I’d forgotten that the other man was in some sort of weird, maybe dead state in that dark land place. I mentioned him, and immediately the others froze, all but Steph and Shisa.

“Do you… know something about Draedar?” Aerona asked, voice shaky.

My mind emptied, hoping for an answer from Riland. But no, he knew that I was every bit as able as he to answer that. Except, I had never been in a situation like that before. How does one tell a woman that someone she cared for has gone on? Or… is mostly dead?

“I see,” she said. Apparently, my silence had been enough.

Still, I felt the need to elaborate. “He was there, in the other place. Where I found Riland… but… yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Riland said, partially moving out of me as a ghost would, then fading back into my chest. It was unsettling, to say the least.

“Life moves on,” Aerona replied. “So should I. Especially when it’s been so many years.”

We drove the rest of the way in silence, each thinking about loved ones, each other, and the journey ahead. Soon, I started recognizing the houses as ones we had been near that night, so I focused on the song playing—now violin—in order to try and curb the rising nerves.

I was, for those few minutes before we arrived, taken back to a time in high school when me and some friends had thought it would be fun to get dressed up and go see Vanessa Mae in concert. Totally worth it, although I fell asleep during the show. Great dinner, a fun night out with the guys, and my boy Billy Zeke had met his future wife that night. Thinking now about the night I’d gotten back together with those guys over beers and McGuire’s Pub, I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to make any guy friends in my new predicament.

You much of a beer drinker? I mentally asked Riland.

A long pause. I used to drink whatever I could get my hands on, although that was a low point. You need someone to share a drink with, I believe I could be your man.

Cool.

It was about the most awkward reply I could have hoped for, but it would do. We arrived and a dog barked in the distance, but a pair of security guards met us at the gate, apparently expecting us. They quickly guided us in, checking behind us to ensure we weren’t followed, and then led us to the senator.

He stood at a large, wall-mounted television, watching the news. Images of the French Embassy showed on it,. Several college kids were being interviewed, then a policewoman.

“They’re looking for you,” Senator Funai said. “Word is, they put together that you were staying with your aunt. Since they found no sign of either of you, you’re on their radar related to the French Embassy attacks.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I replied. “All I’m focused on right now is finding this coven. Glitonea told me—”

“Glitonea?” his eyes went wide.

“I’ll explain later. Point is, she said Fatiha is calling forth the Nine and making a portal to the Dark Lands. She’s