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

had created. As I went, I kept a hand to the wall and sensed areas where I could defend us without giving anything away to the media. A hallway with the enemy charging, no sign of anyone from our side, or the media. BAM! Collapsed and then pulled back, leaving them flat as pancakes. Wait, better yet, I then had the floor move aside and absorb them before moving back into place. No sign that they were ever there, aside from some blood stains that I couldn’t do much about. XP, to my delight, increased.

“I hope you understand the risk, here,” Galahad said.

I opened the tunnel and we ran through it into another, turning a corner to find a guard about to be pummeled by a witch with nasty horns.

“That’s the risk,” I said, hissing “gorffwys” and continuing our advance as the witch fell over, asleep beside the shaking guard.

“Loss of others is best avoided, of course, but at this point we can’t lose you. Do you understand the role you’re going to play? Why this is so important?”

I paused at the next corner, glanced around, and then sent a section of wall to take out a demonic-looking man in a suit. More XP. Before answering, I turned the corner and caught more attackers with my flurries before sending them all to sleep.

“Yes, to all your questions. And still, I won’t stand by doing nothing. Not when I have the power to make a difference.”

He looked like he was about to argue again, but instead gritted his teeth and cast a spell that brought his sword into his hands.

“Well then, let’s make sure it counts.” He nodded, and together we charged into a new hall that I created, one that would lead us to the defend an area where three senators were cornered.

We entered, me swinging my staff and Galahad his sword, hitting the enemy from behind before they had a chance to see us coming. All of the senators who had been under threat glanced around in confusion, but we were already ducking back through a hall that closed after us.

As we moved out, I said, “There’s something you need to understand, Galahad.”

“What’s that?”

“I was raised on movies like The Princess Bride. Books like Shadow Corps and Project Destiny.”

“I don’t follow.”

“The point is, the Man in Black wouldn’t hide and let the prince marry Buttercup. Inigo Montoya wouldn’t give up on his quest for revenge. I’m not some superhero like Sam in Shadow Corps, but I’m learning. And, I’m not the type to back down. Not anymore. Not the type to let my father’s killer escape.”

“Someone killed your father?”

“No. I hope not. You’re missing the point. Simply, me. Fighting evil. Not backing down. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Good, then you’ll understand why this is necessary.” With that, I turned abruptly, hand on the wall, sensing the force on the other side. Opening the way, I shot out a series of elemental and sleep spells, along with some defensive ones for allies, and then let the walls close again before a counterstrike could get to us. I darted along the hall, made another opening and unleashed again.

After the third time of this, Galahad held his hand open before I could close the walls.

“You want to make a difference, fine—we get you out of here. It’s you they’re after, anyway.”

I considered this, gave him a curt nod, and then followed him as he charged out. Sword slicing through our enemies, he carved a path for us until we could see the car we’d arrived in.

“Go!” he shouted, motioning me on and squaring up against two witches.

“Sure, just…” Using the carport beside us, I made it move enough to send a car down on top of the witches. “Hopefully insurance covers that.”

“Reckless, but… thanks.” He turned, gesturing toward the car. “In.”

We made it and he held the door open, eyes scouring our surroundings for threats. I hopped in, glad to leave that place behind me for now.

Watch out for her, a voice said in my head. Not Riland or anyone from my group. Unclear, really.

I glanced out the window, looking for any sign of someone who might be trying to get my attention, but all I saw was Senator Olin waving from the steps, smiling. Her eyes moved over to our car for a moment, flashed red, and then went back to normal. Fatiha, no doubt. But why the attack without following it up by pursuing, I had to wonder.

For sure, I replied, not even sure the message would get out.

As the car drove away, a woozy feeling came over me and I was out, fading from this time and back to another.

135

“You little shit,” Moronoe said, charging me from where I had apparently appeared at the base of a tree. Its roots coiled up onto me, holding me in place. As she came to a halt, standing over me with the heavy wind flailing her thick, purple dress about along with her wavy hair, I stared up into her black eyes and felt her spell taking hold.

“Where is she?” Moronoe said. She knelt in front of me, hand held out to my chest. “So help me, I’ll pull out your heart and eat it while you watch. Turn you into an undead, make you follow me around as your flesh rots from your bones. To hell with the Liahona and Avalon, where is Mizoa?”

“She’s her own woman,” I replied. “Why not ask her?”

“Because I don’t know where the fuck she is!” Moronoe seethed, chest rising and falling, then turned, walking away from me. She stopped about twenty paces out, turned to face me, and said, “Go to hell.”

She thrust her hand out at me. Red and black tendrils of light shot out, bending and weaving through the air. When they hit me, it wasn’t only pain that took hold, although there was plenty of that, it was a sense of hopelessness and longing for death.

All of that was before the bad part. I