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

adrenaline as magic and power surged through every bit of me. Only me, the rest gone. Only me… the rest… gone.

“The Nine aren’t gone,” a voice said, and I turned to see Rianne floating near me, but not quite there—it was like she was one with the light. “Only the people who occupied those roles. It is up to you, now, to name the new Nine, with you at their head. Even Morgen, who was one of them… has forsaken the title. While not dead, she might as well be.”

“Meaning?” I asked.

“A story for another time.” She floated there for a moment, starting to fade, then vanishing.

It was up to me.

So, I spoke the names. Naturally, Mizoa and Glitonea were still with us, and there was me. “Jericho, Mizoa, Glitonea, Megha, Steph, Ebrill, Kordelia, Aerona, and Yenifer.”

“Let it be as you have spoken,” Rianne said, voice carrying on the breeze, and then I was back on the battlefield at Gettysburg, watching as the last of our enemy crumbled away, falling to dust on the ground, or vanishing into the darkness of night.

There would be no bodies left the next day, although there wasn’t much we could do about the scorch marks and large craters from explosions. Or was there? I knelt, realizing that with my new level of power plus my transmutation magic, I was only really limited by my mind. As the others approached me, I placed my hand to the ground, focused on the earth and grass and trees to return to how we found them, any sign of battle to vanish.

When it was done, the rest of the new Nine stood around me. Outside of our circle stood Riland, Galahad, and all of Steph’s Knights. Past them, the Order and others who had joined our side during the battle.

I stood, looking over all of them, and nodded. “Welcome to the future.”

A cheer rose, and my team moved in, hugging me, kissing me, and asking what had happened.

I motioned to the sky, where the edges were turning light blue. “Sunrise will be here soon. I’ll fill you in on the way to the tourist lodge. The rest of you, go with Galahad. Rest, and then discuss with him how we will move forward here. I believe he understands my desire.

He nodded, giving a cursory glance at the orcs, Drow, and other new members of our new army.

“It will be done,” he said, and I knew we were on the same page.

They departed, leaving the Nine to pile into two vehicles and make our way to the lodge. We would sleep there, allowing the gargoyles to hide on the roof. The next night, we would make our trip back, and be ready for the next stage in our journey.

148

I woke around mid-day, groggy and unable to believe I had slept the night and most of the morning on the roof. The gargoyle statues provided shade, so that Steph and Megha could continue sleeping, but I nudged them awake to see if they were hungry. Megha nearly punched me, without opening her eyes, and then Bob formed, growling at me. When I stepped back, Bob crawled up her sleeve, vanishing. Steph sat up, adjusted her dress, and yawned.

“Breakfast?” I asked. Glancing in the direction of the sun in the sky, I corrected myself, “Or lunch?”

She chuckled, let me help her up, and said, “Please.”

We went to the edge of the roof and looked out over what we could see of Gettysburg, although from here it was mostly a large touristy statue with trees beyond.

“Think the others made it back to the city okay?” I asked.

“We killed all the bad guys.”

“Not all the drunk drivers,” I joked. “Plus, who knows what else still lurks out there? Or if maybe Moronoe or the others will find a way to return from the beyond.”

“True.”

She leaned against me, but then stood straight and pulled me toward the ladder we had used to get up there in the night.

“Too bright up here,” she said, and I had to agree.

“Watch over them, Shisa,” I said, patting the little guy’s head.

We waited to make sure nobody was around, then made our way down the ladder and into the building. Our first stop was to the area where food was sold, where I grabbed us some ribs, corn bread, and a meatloaf. The moment Steph bit into the cornbread, she started going at it like crazy, moaning and praising it.

“You realize we have to get some of this for the rest of them,” she said.

I chuckled. “We have money. We have time. Right now, I want to get some of the touristy stuff out of my system.”

“Wait, you were serious? I mean…”

“Like I said, we have time. At least until nightfall, when we all pile into the vehicles and check in with the mansion. Until then, I say we have ourselves that date we always spoke of.”

“First of all, that was the version of me under a spell.” She bit into the ribs, and with a full mouth mumbled, “Holy hell, we really do have to get these for everyone. too. Maybe I’m just really hungry?”

“No, they’re delicious. And second?”

“Forgot what I was going to say. Something about the real me never talking about going on a date to Gettysburg, but now this food is making me super happy and I don’t think I would say anything like that anymore. Shit, if sex wasn’t so great with you, I’d say this was better than sex. It’s close, though.”

“Ha.” I took a bite, nearly melting like the meat did off the bone. “The perfect amount of barbecue sauce.”

“What if,” she leaned forward, licking barbecue sauce from her lips. “We got a bit of this sauce, found a room, and—”

“Ahem,” an old woman gave us a stern glare from the next table over.

Steph simply winked at me, then leaned back, licking the rib in a very inappropriate way that caused the old woman to get up and leave.

“After the