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

seconds later, all but Yenifer. She was still out there somewhere, running amok.

“What’s happening?” I asked, stepping out to see that Riland, Shisa, and Steph were sprinting toward us. Then I got my answer. Fatiha was absorbing other witches and Drow into herself, growing in power.

“We need to finish this, and finish it now,” Aerona said.

I nodded. “The runes from back at the house. I think there’s a way to adjust them, to make the counter-runes and put out a defensive shield over the city at the same time. But…”

“It’ll take the entire focus of those runes,” Ebrill said, and sucked in a breath. “Meaning Glitonea’s release.”

I nodded.

“Do it.” Aerona looked out at the chaos. “We’re running out of options.”

As much as I hated the idea of setting Glitonea free, she was right. It had to be done. We could deal with the ramifications of that decision after taking out Fatiha.

122

Using the power of the Dark Lands and Avalon, layering them over our world in a way that let me ignore distance to a degree, I was able to tap into the runes below our house. When I did, I became aware of other runes throughout the city, runes I couldn’t quite tap into yet, but certainly planned on exploring more later. Some held treasures, others kept dark secrets hidden. Intriguing, but not my goal at the moment.

For now, I needed to focus on amplifying the defensive nature of this place. Or, better yet, shutting off the magic. My gargoyle team would still be gargoyles, and as far as I knew Shisa would still work in a defensive capacity. Then again, wait! All those Drow and whatnot didn’t need magic if they had weapons and could overpower us by numbers. I didn’t stand a chance against them without my magic. Damn. The idea had been worth the thought, at least, but it just wouldn’t work.

Instead, I stuck with the original plan. Accessing the runes, my first step was to attempt a message to Glitonea, without knowing if it would get to her. To let her know what was happening, to ask for her help.

If not for us, for your sisters—for the Nine, I sent.

Then I adjusted the runes, knowing it would set her free, but feeling the protective barrier go up over the city and seeing the portal flashing out of existence was worth it. Whatever Fatiha managed here today, at least it would be contained. In fact, why not make a separate, internal barrier? Keep them concentrated in the National Mall area. Making the adjustments, I tied it to the original rune magic Fatiha had used to construct the portal and amplified it with her magic. I felt a surge of pride when it seemed to have worked.

I pulled myself out of there, back with my team, and nodded.

“Well, then,” Aerona said, “all that’s left is to do our best.”

“Kill ’em all,” I said. “Let God sort ‘em out. Or… let them simply appear back in the Dark Lands and go from there.”

Steph laughed, apparently the only one who got my Marine Corps reference. Oh, well.

Now that the portal was gone, our confidence surged. As one, we moved back out to face the enemy, this time knowing that when they were defeated, they wouldn’t come back. They were already moving on us so we formed a semi-circle, preparing for the attack. When it came, blood flew and heads rolled. We were going all out, a barrage of magic and crazy summonings on Megha’s behalf. Each time their troops fell, I’d bring them back as remnants and send them into the fray so that soon, much of the enemy was fighting other-plane versions of itself and we could turn our attention to Fatiha and the more powerful opponents.

“You’ve just locked yourself in here with us,” Fatiha said. “Big mistake.”

“Is it?” I asked, gesturing to the fighting going on. Her numbers were dropping.

With a snarl, she charged us, only to be caught by a swirling mist that then formed into Glitonea, who slammed her to the ground.

“Wha…?” Fatiha managed to croak out, Eye of Balor surging—but only slightly before Glitonea pulled the necklace free, examined it for a moment, and then carved a quick rune into Fatiha’s chest with her fingernail. Fatiha growled at the pain, hands gripping Glitonea as she tried to absorb the woman.

“Not going to happen,” Glitonea said, eyes moving to us. “Ah, I see we have mutual friends.”

“What’s next, here?” I asked, not in the mood for small talk.

Glitonea considered, then looked down at Fatiha, lifting a hand to smash her face in.

A surprise blast came from Fatiha’s bracelet, then another that sent Glitonea flying.

Glitonea was up, and the fight continued, but now Glitonea was going against Fatiha and her army. Not exactly with us, but as I saw it, a contributing party. All of the fighting and chaos, and yet my team stuck together, looking out for each other. Megha and her various summonings—a new one each time the other was killed off—needed their room, and Yenifer was out there doing her thing, but otherwise, we were one cohesive unit.

At one point, I turned from killing a hell-beast to see Glitonea ripping the head off a Drow then eyeing me.

“You set me free,” she said, considering me. “You weren’t… horrible to me. Today, I’ll let you live.”

“Thanks for that,” I replied.

“Keep her busy, if you can. I’m going to find my sisters and come back for her. I advise you to be in hiding before that day comes.”

“Unlikely.”

“You’re aware, then?” Ebrill asked. “What happened to them, I mean?”

Glitonea’s eyes narrowed as she nodded. “We are all connected, in a sense. And maybe that will be Fatiha’s downfall.”

She turned and vanished with a flash of her hand.

Fatiha, having seen this, growled. Likely pissed that her portal plan had been foiled, she gave one last shout of frustration and turned on me. All of the light and even the air around her surged, converging on her, fueling