18. Luke

EIGHTEEN

Luke

T hese mountains were fifty miles west of Brinecrest, known as Silent Heights. Created ten years ago by a massive earthquake that swallowed five villages, the mountains skipped millions of years of creation, practically appearing overnight. With the help of magic, of course.

I wasn’t sure where they got the name from, but they were nice and isolated. A perfect location for building a secret chrome facility.

“Until it all goes sideways,” I said, laughing.

I flew along the mountain path, the cold wind barely touching me. An inner central heating system kept me at a nice temperature.

“Come on out, monsters,” I called. “Come out and play.”

There! A fluffy white monster hiding in a snowdrift thinking I didn’t see it. Not such a clever bastard.

You’ve got a big surprise coming your way…

Fluff Ball launched itself at me, tearing upward as if propelled by a jet pack. It opened a set of jaws big enough to swallow me whole.

I let it make the move. My gargoyle protection flared, sending its puffy body back into the snow. It didn’t vanish in a puff of green dust, as often happened when monsters met gargoyle magic.

Good. I wanted to play.

“Curses!” the monster hissed, rolling onto its furry feet.

I tutted, shaking my head. “Silly thing. And what are you?” I lowered to the ground. “Part soft toy, part… Erm, what are those jaws?”

It shook itself, offering me a better look. Not fur, but fluff straight from the tumble dryer. Perfectly white to blend in with the snow.

“Can’t blame me for trying,” it returned. “One day it’ll work.”

“Oh. I see.”

Those jaws belonged to a crocodile, moving in a strangely liquid motion as it spoke.

Where were its eyes?

“Luke,” it said. “Your name is Luke.”

“And?” I gave Fluff Ball a twirl. “Like what you see?”

“There’s something special about you. Something dangerous.”

I gave it a round of applause. “Well done.”

I locked onto its magic, closing my fist. Fluff Ball wailed, rolling comically down the path as its power to camouflage slid into me. I moaned, intoxicated from the rush. But it slipped away from me as I lost focus, gone for good.

Damn.

But the hidden element of my power arose, occupying my thinking.

What are you?

It vanished when earthy gravel filled my mouth.

What—

Gone. Leaving me to bask in the pleasures of the theft, the loss of the camouflage irrelevant.

Next time.

My lips parted, images of a naked Asher flashing behind my eyes. Scintillating want made my heart leap and my balls tighten. If he showed up right now, I’d let him fuck me into next week.

Yes…

Fuck me against the mountain. Fuck me in the snow. Shove his scrumptious cock into me however he wanted, in any position.

Use me up…

But he wouldn’t, would he? He’d try bringing me back down to a good little human with no fun, no fucking freedom. Shackled and hidden and told when to eat, sleep, and piss.

Fuck him. Fuck everyone. They feared me, jealous of this power. I mean, what were they going to do without me when Ember finally broke free?

Crap themselves!

I watched the melting monster, contemplating my greatness. How I really was a key. Stuff the Ember thing. More like a key to change the world, maybe even end all motes.

So why did everyone have to be so dismally cautious?

Speaking of buzz kills, I curled a finger under Luna’s bracelet, pulling on it until the bangle snapped and the charms scattered.

“Bye, bye.”

I levitated, plotting my next move. Blend in with the landscape, pounce on an unsuspecting monster? Could be fun. But I kind of liked them seeing my approach. I imagined their minds blowing like dodgy fuses, their knees knocking.

Blue motes flew by, keeping their distance. They glittered prettily, picking up speed. My stomach clenched, my throat and teeth aching from the pukefest.

Gross. No devouring for a few days.

“You keep your lives today.”

I took off west to the nearest town, finding a pharmacy, turned myself invisible and got to stealing a bottle of water, some mouthwash, and a strawberry cream bar.

Yay! My lucky day.

None of the shoppers or staff noticed, going blindly about their business. I contemplated tormenting them by throwing things around, getting my poltergeist on. Thought better of it. Too mean, too tedious.

I wasn’t about that life.

Done with the pharmacy, I dropped my invisibility as I entered a small park. Aw, so cute with its frozen duck pond and Christmassy vibes. A small winter wonderland in the middle of a drab town of brick and concrete.

After rinsing my mouth out and spitting up in a bin, I parked my bum on a bench bathed in sunshine, paying no mind to the thin layer of frost painted across the metal. It soon melted beneath me.

Ah. Heavenly. Sitting in the winter sunshine doing nothing for a bit fit me like a glove. I really needed this pause. It was all very well going monster hunting, but my mind went back to other possibilities.

To saving Finn.

I can make this happen.

With the skills to back up any forthcoming ideas, I started to believe it more.

There. I wasn’t a total danger. Only if required. I didn’t need a potion or a bracelet to regulate me.

But I don’t want to be this…

Damn this split. Damn it hard for crapping on my bench time.

Then let Finn stay where he is! I mentally slapped myself.

There didn’t have to be any split, any war between my two halves. I was just me, only different. No dark half, light half, but a new man on a new path, keeping my brother in the center of my universe.

I had this. I could be awesome and leveled up. Things didn’t have to be bad.

Opening my eyes, I saw a man approach me. Human on the outside, monster on the inside, hiding under a duffel coat and friendly charm.

He removed his trilby hat, exposing a bald head. “Hello.”

“Hi.”

“Lovely day, isn’t it?”

I slouched a bit, crossing my legs. “Sure.”

The man acted all butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth. A kindly middle-aged guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders, looking for a friendly ear to bend.

But I smelled the sour milk of his deceit.

“May I join you?” he asked.

I couldn’t wait to see where this went. “If you like.”

“Thanks so much. My feet are sore.” He sat beside me, making a song and dance of it. “I’m no spring chicken anymore.”

I smiled, closing my eyes again.

He bumped his knee against mine. “It’s always nice meeting people like you.”

Coldness seeped through my jeans, chilling my thigh. I opened my eyes, seeing a hand carved from ice resting there, bypassing the gargoyle protection.

Interesting.

“You’re always so easy to eat.”

The ice froze me to the bench. I let it, still curious.

“I’ve found a way to circumvent the ghastly gargoyles. Soon, there will be more like me. Those stony scumbags have been here too long. Complacent. Weak. It is time for my kind to rise.”

Without the magnificence inside me, the ice would’ve stopped my heart by now. Lucky for me, I could save myself.

Yes. Help myself. No depending on Asher or anyone else.

“No one will see or hear you,” the monster whispered. “They walk by, seeing nothing but an empty park. You’re not on this bench, you’re not anywhere but inside a special place with me.”

Uh-huh.

He pressed his nose to my cheek, taking a big sniff. “Tasty. Tasty. Tasty.”

Enough of this.

I snared his power, the ice receding, transferring into the prison of my palm.

The monster jumped to his feet, stumbling in an escape attempt. I launched a jet of water at the back of his legs. His face hit the snow with a sickening smack.

“What is this?” he cried, rolling onto his back.

I stood, my right hand a claw. “What? No bloodied face? Shame.”

“This can’t be happening,” he whimpered.

His power worked by paralyzing the victim, their nervous system still able to feel pain. Slowly, he devoured the flesh, small piece by small piece. Starting with the head like a praying mantis.

Not a skill I wanted to possess.

I released it back into him and unleashed my fire. He died screaming, though I wished I could prolong it. Make him suffer like his victims, vestiges of their misery echoing around me.

Oh, well. At least he was one less stain on existence.

A gargoyle knight landed before me, her eyes on the steaming liquid remains of the monster.

“What happened here?” she demanded.

“You didn’t see?”

“No.”

I told her about the monster, leaving out me-related details. “So, you better be careful in case there’s more of him around.”

First the jellyfish, now this creepy man.

Scary.

Her eyes widened. “How is that possible? You shouldn’t be alive.” She drew an axe. “Monster!”

Two more knights showed up, the extra women wielding maces.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m human.”

As if on cue, green light glistened on my body.

They all looked at each other, suitably bemused. I felt them check me with their second vision, muttering confirmation of my inner gargoyle juice.

Did one of them say double? Double what?

“Place a call to the Brinecrest tower and speak to Weaver Seth,” I said. “Actually, he’s out of action. Ask for Carissa instead. She’ll fill you in.”

The original knight stepped forward. “You killed this monster.”

“Yes. You’re welcome.” I stretched my arms over my head. “As I said, be on the lookout for more like him.”

A cluster of pink motes arrived, making a weird blob with bear-like legs. One of the knights quickly ended it.

The original knight kept her eyes on me. “But how?”

“As I said, call the Brinecrest tower. I have things to do.”

She blinked, shooting me a scowl. “No. You’re coming with me. This isn’t right.”

I shrugged. “Depends how you look at it.”

“Cocky prick, ain’t ya?” the woman on her right said.

I huffed. “Rude. Could say the same of your weavers if they’re letting things slip through the net.” I pointed at the vanishing puddle. “But tra la la. I’m done with this town.”

A trip to Oxford might be in order. The city was home to a mote enchanter library I hadn’t had the chance to break into yet. There were no leads as such, but travel meant nothing to me now. So why not pop over and have a browse?

I opened my strawberry cream bar, biting off the top. Hmmm. Delicious, yet not the same as popping one of the round-shaped wonders. They were elite, this a mid.

Swallowing the sugary goodness, I bid farewell, about to take off for Oxford.

Until Asher arrived like a spanner in the works.

Damn.

Things changed, my head swimming with unwanted confusion.

“Crap!” I barked, dropping the chocolate. “What are you doing here?”

The other knights turned to face him.

He introduced himself first, then me as his mark.

“Huh? Really? You marked him?” The original knight said, seriously amazed.

Dammit. Why did he have to come here? Why did he… How did he… Oh, God.

You see? the whiny part of me droned. Time to stop.

“Fuck off,” I grumbled, feet stubbornly fixed to the ground.

Because of him . A fully healed miracle fresh from the sky, wrapped in red leather, stirring my cock to life.

My heart hiccupped in the good way, desire a sugar rush beyond any chocolate’s capabilities.

My Asher.

My muscly, delicious rock.

You keep me steady… Dark Me sparkled with starlight and lunar kisses, cooing over the gargoyle.

Me. Us. The whole of me.

I smiled, ready for a cuddle in the snow, for a few cheeky snogs.

“I did, yeah,” Asher answered the knight.

God, that voice. That exquisite baritone. Seductively masculine, rich like honey.

Let me just get naked right here.

His amber gaze bore into me, weakening my resolve. Those orbs of hotness were about to melt my boxers off my body.

Bring it.

“I’m… I’m…” I wanted to tell him I was going to Oxford, failing to do anything but revel in his delectable regard.

Take me, gargoyle. Fucking take me.

No. No. No. This wasn’t in the cards. Nothing would stop me from visiting the library.

The other gargoyles said something to him before taking off, leaving us alone in the park.

“Luke,” he said, wisps of condensation curling from his lips.

My heart prepared to embrace him, until I thought of Seth. “Please leave me alone.”

“How can I? I’m your bodyguard.” His smile sent fracture lines through me.

“I’m not… I’m not…” A whistle in my head, a thunderous quake. “I can’t…” Everything blurred, my body hit by a storm of bewilderment.

Give in or fly away? Tell him to come with me or leave me alone because I wasn’t going back on a leash again?

I lifted my head. “I’ll never agree to it.”

The December breeze rippled through his hair. “Agree to what?”

My knees weakened under the sexy force of his voice. “To be…” I coughed to clear the clogs in my throat. “To be everyone else’s tool. Whatever I am, I’m still me.” Dark Me twinned with the rest of me, becoming one man, one Luke.

Hello, you.

Hi.

Two of us.

One of us.

Me.

Freedom. Pure freedom. My acceptance as easy as flicking a light switch. Everything aligned, the real Luke ready for the world. My lips spread into a smile, a wonderful headiness heightening my senses.

This is the real me.

“I don’t have to be dangerous,” I said. “I can be myself with extra bells and whistles. There is no darkness, only evolution. And you’re my anchor.”

He cocked his head. “I am?”

I stumbled backward, falling onto my arse.

“Crap.”

Asher arrived by my side, crouching, his hands on me. “Are you alright?”

My energy levels crashed, my power taking a pause.

Bye. See you soon…

The cold reached me now. “Asher…” A lens of sadness blurred my vision. “I’m…”

What? What was I? I had no idea.

“Let’s get you inside,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

His kisses were as cute as a basket of kittens. “O-okay.”

He scooped me up, carrying me away.

I nestled in the safety of his embrace, letting myself rest.

Until next time…