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

of magic. Elisa said she’d do the same for any passengers who might’ve seen anything. Back home others would move in and take care of it, but we were far from home.

“They’re able to track the sword?” Sekhmet asked as we boarded the train.

“That’s my understanding.”

“And yet, Arthur wasn’t with them.” Sekhmet caught Bastet and took a seat, her sister on her lap, and stared at me with her fierce eyes. “You know what that means, of course?”

“I don’t,” I admitted.

“Arthur and Morganna… something’s not working out between them. My guess is she was here looking for Arthur as much as she was looking for you. Until she finds him, she won’t be able to accomplish her primary objective.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“She means to unleash the Old Ones,” Pucky said, voice low. “Is that what you’re saying?”

Sekhmet nodded. “Although, old is relative. I was around before Merlin, before he took the powers of Maleficent and others.”

“I’m not following,” I said.

“Merlin went evil on us, and it’s part of what led Arthur to becoming the vampire he is. A curse, they say. Among powerful magicians, witches, sorcerers and the like, there’s a belief that if you absorb enough powers from others of your kind, you can become a truly immortal god—one who can’t die, no matter what.”

“Has anyone ever achieved it?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Me neither,” Pucky said, shaking her head and finally, after having checked around, she sat down next to me. She leaned over, head on my shoulder. “Though I hear Merlin had the power of four before he was defeated.”

Sekhmet nodded. “And since most people agree that six very powerful ones would be enough, it’s a good thing he was finally defeated.”

“Defeated by whom?” I asked.

“Actually,” Pucky leaned forward to see if Sekhmet had an opinion as she said, “nobody knows.”

Sekhmet looked down at the cat, shaking her head. “I had my own problems to deal with, as you saw. I’m afraid I don’t have all of the answers on this.”

The others were returning then, so I sat back, contemplating what I’d just learned and what that could mean for our situation. Morganna was attempting to become a truly immortal god. That terrified me.

Pulling up my screen I was excited to see where my skill tree could go, aiming for that group attack. Even with three Ichor at once, though, it still wasn’t enough. However, what I could do was upgrade the shield to level two, which made it stronger and larger. With my second upgrade I was able to give Excalibur two boosts, one that was an attachment boost making it lighter and harder to drop; and a second upgrade to amplify my strike, giving it a boost when attacking that momentarily made it sharper and longer.

Both got me closer to my goal of the group Tempest strike, though some other options looked like they’d be great too. Hopefully I had a lot of leveling up to go.

We started off again soon, all of us ready for another break. Before closing my eyes, I pulled up my screen again, looking over my levels and skills. Even though going up against Morganna was a terrifying thought, with powers like this I was starting to feel like quite the badass.

38

We journeyed on for some time, drifting in and out of sleep. We got off the train at the edge of a tourist town well outside of Cairo, where we were able to arrange a flight at a small airfield, thanks to Elisa and her connections (or maybe it was her money).

As the airplane was being prepared, the rest of us found a woman in a corner of the airport with her little, empty restaurant. The metal tables and chairs reminded me of patio furniture, and the section of missing floor that gave way to the dirt beneath didn’t inspire confidence in the airport, but when we were seated and served plates of lamb and couscous, I was out of complaints.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked.

Sekhmet leaned in, motioning me close. “If I told you, others might hear.”

“Others meaning… them?” I gestured to my team.

“Funny.” She was petting her sister, a fact that I would never get used to. After a moment, she nodded. “Bastet says you can know this, it’s—”

“We can see the tickets,” Elisa cut in.

Sekhmet frowned, looked down at the tickets in her hand that said, “Milan,” and frowned. “Ah, yes, but we shouldn’t say it out loud. In case.”

I perked up. “Hold on, so we’re going to…” I stopped myself, glanced around, and pointed. “For real?”

Her nod was most welcome. Italy was one of the few places in the world I’d always wanted to go, and the idea that I was now getting a free trip—albeit at the cost of having to risk my life to save fairy tales and the world—was pretty fucking awesome.

Judging by Sekhmet’s frown, we’d ruined the fun for her. What this told me was that she liked to have fun, and wasn’t merely some super old Myth or goddess or whatever. The hint of a smile as she stared at me confirmed it, though it made me curious about what else she was thinking.

“I’ve been to Europe once,” Pucky said, staring off into the skies. “Used to live in Greece for some time, actually—now that’s a place where it’s no fun to be a Myth. Legends go crazy over there, though Heracles…” She stopped herself, glancing my way. “Not that I’d ever go that way,” she added, muttering, “again.”

“What?”

“Just a quick makeout session after we took out that damn Hydra for the twentieth time. In the corner of an old temple, on a starlit—”

“I get the picture,” I said, annoyed that I was getting annoyed.

“Oh my gods, he’s jealous!” Elisa laughed, then licked her lips. “That’s so sweet.”

“Who wouldn’t be? She’s talking about the actual Heracles, right? Hercules, or whatever you want to call him. I don’t think many guys can compete.”

Pucky turned to me, very serious, and put