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

I was about to collapse right there, or curl up into a ball and let them roll me out of there.

“Done?” Red laughed. “She was just the guardian. Now the real fun starts.”

“Fuck…” I didn’t even say the ‘me’ part, not ready for those kind of jokes at the moment. But pushing myself up to my feet, I said, “Upgrade time?”

“Every chance you get,” Red replied. I tried it by myself this time, taking the stone and doing as Pucky had shown me.

All I had was the Ichor this time, but noticed that receiving it had automatically given me mana, which was interesting. Pucky noticed it too, and explained that it was because I had defeated a witch, and a high level one at that.

“But would I have need of mana?” I asked.

“If you go Paladin, sure. Or if you change your class.”

I nodded, applying the Ichor to level up my Warrior class. A new window popped up with three options for what looked like warrior-based skill trees, the type that would later affect how best to become a paladin or whatever else I chose to specialize in.

One thing I remembered about some of the paladins was their use of shields—and since I didn’t want to die anytime soon, I figured going for a shield would be smart. Selecting the image of a shield, my heart thudded as the screen faded in place of an actual shield on my arm. It too faded a second later, but Red nodded as if that was normal and she approved.

“How’s that work, exactly?” I said.

“Like this,” Pucky replied, suddenly lunging forward and throwing a strike.

My instinct caused me to pull back and hold up my arm in defense, and instantly the shield returned. Pucky’s hand hit and she grunted, holding it with scowl of pain. It morphed into a smile and she said, “See?”

“Damn,” I said, really enjoying my new role in life. This was badass to the tenth degree.

“That time was subconscious,” Red explained, “but you’ll have to learn to harness it. As you go up levels, it should be able to last longer, too. And there will be other abilities you can add to the shield.”

“Ready,” I said, and saw that Red was over by the oven, glancing back at us with worry creasing her face.

“Ah, shit,” Pucky said.

“Yup,” Red replied.

“What?” I looked from one to the other, then back to the oven, finally getting it. “Don’t tell me we have to crawl in there.”

“What else would make sense?” Red asked. “Considering who we just fought.”

“Can’t we just bust a hole in the ground and fall down into their lair or whatever?”

She laughed. “Jack, Jack, Jack… How long would it take you to break through the floor? Assuming it’s just wood, maybe we could do it, but what if there’s cement, stone? We don’t know how this lair is set up, but I know we have an entrance here.”

“And if the fire starts up again and we’re all burnt to a crisp?”

“At least we won’t have long to think about it.” She gave me a hopeful smile, and started to crawl in.”

“No, I’ll go first,” I said and went over, readying myself with deep breaths.

But she glanced back at me, scoffed, and said, “Don’t be ridiculous, you’re the Protector. That doesn’t mean you’re the sacrifice, and it certainly doesn’t mean I need you to taste all my food to see if it’s poisoned.”

She climbed in, disappearing from view as her red cloak trailed behind.

“That was a bit of an exaggeration,” I said, frowning. “My going first was the gentlemanly thing to do, no?”

“Hey, I have no problem with you going first,” Pucky said. “But mostly because I want to stare at that cute ass of yours if it’s going to be the last thing I see before the fire kills me.”

I chuckled nervously. “Deal, but only because I’m a gentleman.”

“Lead on, kind sir.” She hesitated, grinned, and pointed at her horns. “And don’t worry, I won’t poke you.”

“Oh, God,” I replied with a laugh that certainly helped with the nerves.

Taking in a deep breath and psyching myself up for confidence, I heaved myself up into the pizza oven and followed Red. She must’ve been correct about the oven, because she was now far enough back that I couldn’t see her, only darkness, and no oven I knew of was that deep.

13

There wasn’t exactly darkness as I’d expected, but a sort of shimmering wall of black, one that moved like a vertical pond.

“Your amulet should help you through,” Pucky said from behind. “Go on. No hesitation, no doubt.”

I knew she could only see my ass but nodded anyway, really hoping I wouldn’t fart like this. How embarrassing that would be, I thought, but at the realization that it was such a trivial thing to be considering, I pushed forward with ease. Cold air passed over me and then faded, the shimmering liquid wall fading at my touch. No, not the wall fading, I saw—the rest of it. Then I was through, in a hideout supposedly beneath the place.

Stone walls rose around me, curving into an arch above my head. Pucky followed, emerging from an old fireplace lit with black and green flames, but she had a darkness in her eyes. I stared, curious, confused by the anger rising inside of me.

Red stepped between us, gripped my amulet and pressed it to my heart as she said, “Resist.”

I focused on her, those comforting eyes welcoming me, and the shadow was gone. When I saw Pucky again, it was clear whatever had been taking her over was gone as well.

“The amulet wasn’t quite strong enough,” Red explained. “But you’re getting there. Your spirit isn’t exactly that of a Normie anymore—not one hundred percent.”

“And if it was?” I asked.

“That spell,” Pucky chimed in, as Red looked away, troubled, “it pulls out whatever shadows you have hiding. My connection to my sister, for example—I can’t escape it. You and this wolf within you.”

“That’s what bothers