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

even the first floor was pure witch’s coven, now. Complete with runes, walls covered in images of Fatiha and supposed battles she had been in, and more. Draperies, furniture with clawed edges, a large fireplace, and elaborate candelabras. It was like someone had taken what they thought a witch’s place should look like and done a makeover. Almost humorous, really.

Megha even let out a chuckle. Maybe it was her humor I felt at the situation, rather than mine. As she kept on, I was surprised by how little opposition she faced. So far, nothing. In fact, when she stepped into a stone room lined with red carpet to see three witches lounging on a couch, none of them seemed to care much that she was there. All looked at her with dazed expressions, one even smiling slightly at her, then they continued with their conversation about how to master a certain spell that allowed one to transform to stone. They seemed to think the gargoyle situation was some sort of trick, done on purpose.

The idea that she could fit in didn’t appear so farfetched. In the next room, she found a man bent over a chest, looking for something within. He stood and turned to her, cocked his head, and licked his lips.

“Who are you?” Megha asked.

“Chris,” the man said. “And you are?”

She glanced his way, allowing me to scan the guy to try and figure out what he was. Confusingly, he showed up as being out of place there. Some magical powers, maybe, but… not belonging.

“What are you doing here?” Megha asked.

He frowned, then leaned in. “Visiting, from another coven.”

She nodded, then kept moving. I’ll try not to hurt that one, if possible. For some reason, I get the sense he has a bigger role to play, a role for good.

I was sensing something too, I replied.

Fun stuff. I had to wonder what it was we would be searching for, exactly, but as Megha walked and chanted a spell of discovery, the destination was clear. No visuals, but a pull onward and down.

“Almost there,” Megha said, and this time it was out loud in her excitement.

She descended a set of stairs that led to a large, stone door. Pushing on it did no good, but a spell allowed her to walk right through the stone. There, trickling gold light formed, and I saw that Megha was in the room where Fatiha had kept her captive, and from which I had rescued her when I was here before, the one with the runes and magical items. This had to be it.

A group of witches entered, all forming around Megha. They all wore smirks, clearly meaning to trap her in this place. This was their plan—but they didn’t know I was in a sense there as well.

Shit, Megha sent. I’ve seen this before—they’re going to try to take me back. Mentally. Smart play.

Except, I won’t let them.

Good. Let’s see if you’re right.

The attack came at once, and I put my all into Megha’s defense. My spells shot out, catching the witches off guard with flurries and ice walls, sleeping spells and increased defense for Megha, while she was suddenly zipping around the room with hands in the head of one of those translucent creatures, a moment later releasing it in an explosive blast before spinning and unleashing a spell that sent concussive shockwaves through the room.

All of the witches fell back at once, flying into the far walls and collapsing to various states of kneeling and lying, some unconscious. No match for us. A good XP boost, too.

“There!” I said, able to turn my attention back to the room and seeing, as clearly as if the sun had risen at night, the magic item we were seeking.

She ran for it, spells going off around her but her magic able to counter them and keep herself safe. On the last step, she called up three of her floating translucent creatures, sending them out around her to absorb the magical attacks while she slid, snatched the item, and was out of there thanks to my ability to move the walls out of her way.

For a moment, I saw the item—a small box. An image of a crescent moon on it, and what looked like stones. Just carvings to resemble them, so… presumably the box held a stone? The magical signature of something powerful came from the box, so I assumed so. And Megha had it!

Only, something was wrong. The box was empty.

She felt it as soon as I did—a surge of magic, all manner of magical creatures converging on her location. Even the house starting to pull in on her, to try and catch her in its stone and metal. Then she had summoned the largest titan I’d seen yet, riding it as it bashed stone aside and fought as fast as it came, working to get her out of there.

But, it wouldn’t be enough.

143

“She’s not going to make it,” I said as I exited the spell.

“What?” Mizoa was there, eyes focused intently on me.

“I have to get to Megha.” I was up, already creating an exit through the house.

“You want someone who’s closer to get there first?” Mizoa called out from behind.

I spun. “Who do I know that’s closer?”

“Glitonea.”

“No way.” I turned, then cursed. “She’ll go and fight the others, not Megha?”

“Once she has word from me. Yes.”

“Do it.”

“And if you trust me, I can get you there fast, too.” Mizoa held out a hand, motioning to Yenifer. “So, what’ll it be?”

“Trust or desperation… probably more of the latter.” I approached Yenifer, gave her a pleading look, and was glad to see her nod. She would do whatever it took.

“Hop on,” Mizoa said.

Both of us gave her a confused look, but a split-second later, Yenifer picked me up, put me on her back, and turned, waiting for the next command. With a simple wave of Mizoa’s hand, we were back in Megha’s perspective, only it was like we saw through her