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

you,” I said with the realization, addressing Red. “The wolf, Red Riding Hood…”

“We’re linked,” Red said. “Not like Pucky and Riak, but in a way that ties our spirits together. Sharon—the current Big Bad Wolf—would have you as a pet if you gave over to those tendencies, to the darkness. You’d essentially be one of her playthings, and she has several.”

“One of hers instead of yours,” I said to both of them, but their frowns showed they didn’t find that funny.

“You’re the Protector,” Pucky said. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“If anything, we’re here for you, not the other way around,” Red added. “This is your team, especially as you rise in power. You could throw us aside, find others—it would always be you, the Protector, and your team.”

“Throw you aside?” I scoffed. “Never.”

She gave me an appreciative nod then turned, holding her dagger out to show that it glowed gold, giving a more comforting light to our surroundings. It also revealed that the room wasn’t just any old room. There was a vertical shadow on one wall opposite us. We approached to find a narrow passage, somewhat hidden in that it curved back around the first wall. It led to a descending hall with tall arches.

Here, black flames danced on torches set at intervals along the walls. But as we descended, the flames began to leave their torches, gathering into the shapeless forms of Shades ahead of us.

“So it begins,” Red said, and then led the charge.

I had my magic blade out too. As we grew closer the Shades became knights in black armor with full helms and matching shields. They took up a defensive stance, long, dark swords emerging from their hands and held at the ready.

“She’s here,” Pucky said as we drew close. “Stay alert.”

There was no doubt that she meant her sister, the one I’d met with the agent when I’d been whisked away to the Fae world. For now though, I had to focus on the fact that we were charging into a group of badass knights from a spirit realm. Creepy, if nothing else, but I was a warrior now… a warrior with a little knife.

I had to laugh at myself, running in there with these two scantily-clad ladies, me in my street clothes with my ripped pants and thinking we could take on the knights. But I’d seen these ladies in action, and they had faith in me.

Plus, I had a badass shield skill now that I was itching to try out.

Red was the first to meet them. Her red cloak fluttered out behind her and then suddenly whipped to the left so that she moved too, out of the way of an attack, enabling her to slam her blade up into the knight’s throat underneath his helmet. Just like that, one gone with an explosion of gold light. Red cloth was already reaching out like tendrils and pulling her behind the last of the group before I reached my foe, Pucky leaping past me for the next.

A sword came at me. If it weren’t for those days of VR sword fighting and boffers at Renaissance festivals as a preteen—yeah, I stopped when I realized that as fun as those had been, they made me easy fodder for getting picked on—the idea of a sword coming at my head would’ve caused me to run away crying. Instead, I reacted instinctively, dodging left to avoid the overly aggressive strike that left the next knight open. I struck with my knife but hit metal. Damn. I’d been hoping the blade would take him down no matter where it hit.

He came back with an elbow to my side that sent me staggering backward in pain, and then the damn sword was up and slicing through the air again. I raised my arm as before, and the shield emerged—simple white with a silver glow—and the sword was deflected.

Instantly, the shield vanished. This was my chance to strike—now, before another attack came, before I had to find out if the shield would return right away or needed to regenerate. Knowing Red had scored her hit at the base of the helmet, I attempted to do the same. The knight blocked my pitiful strike with his shield, then came in for another slash with his sword.

How the hell was I supposed to be a Protector if I couldn’t even take down this one knight? To my relief, Pucky stepped in, grabbing the knight by the back of the helmet and yanking so that his sword fell, disappearing in black smoke as she said, “Now!”

I thrust, his neck totally exposed, and took him out so that he too vanished in smoke, leaving only the green prana that absorbed into me. It was a welcome boost of energy and confidence, especially considering the fact that there was no denying that I’d only managed to take this guy out because of her.

“Next one’s all me,” I said, and charged forward with a new determination to prove myself. Plus, Pucky was likely watching at that point.

Red had already taken out a third, making me feel even worse about it, and now the final knight was turning on her as if I wasn’t a threat at all.

“Hey, motherfucker,” I shouted, “I’m right here!” As he turned to me, swiping with his sword, I leaped into the air and hoped my shield would work—moving to block, I caught the sword with the edge of my shield as it returned, slamming it to the floor. Before he could block, I’d pushed him back with my shoulder and then, landing on top of him, drove my blade up into his neck.

Boom! Dead motherfucker.

“Not bad,” Red said, helping me up. “Though, if they haven’t already notified the others down here, your shouting probably did.”

“Ah, damn,” I said, but already the green prana was flowing into me and I felt ready for whatever they could throw my way.

“Color me impressed either way,” Pucky said, charging past and slapping my ass on