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

Normies much more awe-inspiring. If we ever get a chance to return, I’ll show you.” My heart sank, and apparently my face showed it, because she laughed.

“Don’t forget we have other ways to travel,” Elisa said. “Or will once Hekate and Chris are successful. I’m not sure how long Sekhmet will be sticking around, but… you having time to do a bit of sightseeing after this Morganna issue is dealt with could be a real possibility.”

I was sitting up again, wondering how travel via portals would work with sightseeing, and the many places we could go. It wasn’t as awesome as my first thoughts made it seem, though, I had to remind myself, because the portals could only be currently existing ones—which might be occupied by dark forces—or made to areas where an object came from. At least, that was my understanding. Then again, maybe there were ways around it? I looked forward to finding out more, and lay back, day dreaming about going to the pyramids, the temples of Japan, the Coliseum in Rome, and more, as my eyes eventually closed and sleep took me.

“Careful now,” a voice said, and I opened my eyes to find Sekhmet kneeling between the seats, a hand on my knee, a finger to her lips. It was dark outside, a chill coming through a partially opened window in the back of the car.

I thought she was about to go down on me on the train, an idea that had a very high level of appeal, but considering my recent bouts of sexual activity was honestly a bit intimidating. It wasn’t like I had superpowers or a dick that could go over and over and heal itself between rounds or something.

Only, then it became clear she was gesturing over her shoulder with a movement of her eyes, and the other ladies were awake too—nobody moving, but everyone alert.

“What is it?” I asked in a whisper.

“Something that boarded at the last stop, I think,” Sekhmet replied. “My sister picked up on it first, and now Elisa senses it, too. Also,” she gestured at my shirt.

I looked down to see that, sure enough, the faint glow of my tattoos was visible. I’d have to get my jacket back or start wearing more layers. It had only started doing that back at the tomb, and as I was still waking up I had to rack my brain for a moment before remembering that it meant dark forces nearby.

A chill ran up my spine as I imagined Morganna nearby, maybe in the next train car over, waiting to make a move. But waiting for what?

I craned my neck, then heard a clicking. Whatever was there wasn’t in the next car, but above us. Moving along the top of our train car. My tattoos glowed brighter, and I reached over to my luggage where Excalibur was concealed, and gripped the handle.

The grinding of brakes sounded a moment later, and to my surprise we ground to a halt in the middle of nowhere. No train stations as far as I could tell in the darkness. No lights or reason for us to be stopping. We sat there for a moment, my heart thudding, and then I actually jumped slightly as the door to our car opened. A man entered, beady little eyes darting my way before he turned and took a seat.

It didn’t make sense.

I nudged Pucky and said, “What’re the chances Morganna would know where we are?”

“Since your sword is traceable, I’d say pretty good.” She shifted, trying to get a glimpse of the man who’d entered. “They’re putting the chess pieces into play.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Sekhmet replied, “though chess isn’t where my mind went.”

“Stay seated,” the man’s voice came, low and calm. “When they strike, let me act first.”

This was getting weirder by the second. Sekhmet turned to each of us, likely trying to see if we knew that voice, but we were all equally confused. Or at least, I thought as much until Pucky’s eyes went wide and she muttered, “VH?”

“Patience,” the voice replied. “Wait for them to strike.”

I was racking my mind to try and remember if I’d heard anything about a man who might go by the initials VH, but got nothing other than old references to the VHS tapes my dad had always talked about.

Before anyone had a chance to ask, however, a window burst in and a grey monster followed. Its eyes were red, fangs protruding like a vampire—in fact, I saw as it lunged for me that it had to be exactly that. It was nude other than its skin clinging to its bones, but such a monster that it didn’t seem odd. Its claws stretched out, growing longer the closer it came.

My sword was up before it could hit, but there wasn’t enough space for a good blow. Instead I managed to thrust into its gut while the man ahead stood and turned, shooting a rapid succession of what had to be silver spikes. One hit the vampire and it exploded into dust and blood, burning up as two more were hit behind me—these two being among several that I hadn’t realized had boarded. The ladies were up and turning to fight, but this VH person was taking control, sliding through between seats and pulling more of those silver stakes to attack, thrusting and stabbing and taking out more of those vampire bastards.

“Oh shit,” I said aloud, making eye contact with Pucky. “Arthur—here?”

Her eyes went wide at the thought and she was up, shouting, “Off the train so they can’t corner us.”

VH seemed to agree, along with Elisa, as we all made for the door while Sekhmet and the cat made a barrier behind us and Red went to the front of the car to check that others weren’t being hurt.

It wasn’t until we were off the train that I noticed the spiraling black and purple in the sky off in the distance, a silhouette of a woman with curved horns