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

“We’ll tell you in the car,” Elisa replied.

The ride was uneventful. We filled him in, and he expressed his worry over the recent attack, and how he felt it was like going back a step in the war. At the moment, Morganna had a major advantage over us, so outside-the-box thinking would be needed to regain our advantage.

Before long we were pulling up at our new location. I was excited to see that it wasn’t just a random house or movie-lot stage this time, but a badass oceanfront property.

“How the hell do you all afford this?” I asked, stepping out of the car, Chris whistling at my side.

“Old money,” Mowgli said, nodding at Elisa. “Some of the Originals, especially, have been around for so long, investing in the right endeavors along the way… you’d blow your mind trying to understand how rich they are.”

Elisa frowned his way, apparently having heard. “My affairs are my own business, Mowgli.” She gave me a grin. “But yeah, I’m, how do you youngsters say it? ‘Rich as fuck.’”

I laughed, though it turned into a nervous chuckle. The thought of her being rich didn’t intimidate me, but I had to wonder how old she really was. My humor turned to true awe when we entered to find that the interior was essentially a more Atlantis-themed version of the other fancy house of hers we’d been in. It didn’t have the massive nude painting of her, unfortunately—I could walk up and down hallways like that all day!—but was complete with a swan-shaped chandelier, a courtyard with a fountain of seven swans surrounding Elisa in the center in such a way that their wings covered her where clothes would’ve done if the statue had any. At times I had to wonder if she was really this narcissistic to have so much about her or related to her magic, but I knew her too well for that.

Heading back to the rooms while Mowgli and others set up new defenses and called in reinforcements, we found a snack room and gathered around, hydrating and filling up on protein shakes that Pucky put together. I snagged a Gala apple and sat back, glad to be in one place again, even if it was only going to be for a bit before we figured out our plan of attack against Morganna and Arthur.

“I’m almost sorry you got wrapped up in it all,” Hekate said, reaching under the table in a way that was way too obvious, made more so when Chris’s eyes went wide. “Of course, if you hadn’t, we never would’ve met.”

“I’ll take it,” Chris said with a silly grin, but then worry creased his face. “Though… it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine.”

“You mean rimjobs and—” I started, but Elisa gave me a look that shut me up real fast. Who was I to talk?

“You’re lucky they didn’t hurt your family,” Elisa said to Chris. “Since you’re not a Myth or Protector, there isn’t much our magic can do.”

“Great, I’ll do that,” Chris said. “Become a Myth.”

I laughed, but noticed that Elisa wasn’t laughing.

She looked at the witch by Chris’s side. “He doesn’t have a clue what he’s asking, does he?”

“No,” the witch said, already looking uneasily at Chris. “No idea what it would mean for him, or me.”

“What does she mean?” I asked. “Can someone, a normie, become a Myth?”

“It’s happened, but… he has to take it from someone, and have a pure heart in the process. If he were to take it from one of us, for instance, he would automatically be an evil Legend, because there’s no way he could do it without doing so for the wrong reasons.”

“So I have to basically kill a Legend?” Chris asked, eyes going wide.

“Pretty much. But even then you’d need the pure heart thing.”

“I’m not convinced you have that part covered,” I cut in, joking around but partially serious.

“Dude, who stepped in to get your back when that prick was picking on you in the dorms? Who covered half your rent when you were a little low?”

“Not sure that stuff covers all the requirements.” I turned to Elisa, wondering what the standards were.

“Just tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it,” Chris said. “Come on, Jack. Get my back. Tell her you know I have a pure heart and all that.” I hesitated, but he leaned in close. “Man, this is about my family. My sister, Jen. And everyone else the Legends might hurt. I want to fight these punks, to show them they can’t mess with fucking ‘normies’ anymore.”

“Please,” I said to Elisa.

That did it. She nodded, then turned to the witch. “Hekate, was it?”

Hekate nodded.

“And… can you go back with a disguise, without the other Legends knowing it’s you?”

“I’m not sure,” Hekate admitted. “Though, with my powers…”

“And our help,” Elisa cut in, nodding to herself.

“What’s happening, exactly?” Chris asked.

“You’ll go undercover with her,” Elisa said. “The two of you will have a very important mission, one that will ensure you get your Myth status… or fall to the darkness trying. Let’s plan on the former, shall we?”

Hekate appeared deeply troubled by this, but Chris was nodding enthusiastically, more than ready for this moment.

31

The conversation carried on for a while, finally wrapping us back to the topic of Morganna.

“She might attack again, or she might not,” Elisa said. “They attacked at a time when they knew Jack wasn’t here …I just don’t understand what she’s up to. I have no idea what she’ll do next.”

“Her next strike could be anywhere,” Red said, nodding in agreement. “We need to find her before that happens.”

“Seeing as she’s your sister,” Mowgli said, turning to Pucky. “Any thoughts here? Where do we start?”

“Bullshit,” Pucky shot back. “You know that the moment she merged with Morganna, her mind could be going that direction as much as my sister’s. Even if that weren’t the case, I’ve been out of touch with my sister ever since she started