Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Read online

“You shall return quickly,” Enthrall assured him, raising an eyebrow.

  Destroy huffed, then “I’ll be right back,” he said to Rowan, before rising to follow Enthrall out onto Carolena’s porch.

  Lily immediately took Destroy’s place next to Rowan. She busied herself winding one of the ribbons that Rowan still held around her baby doll’s horns next to the one she’d already tied.

  Carolena went to the kitchen and returned with a cup of broth with noodles in it left from Lily’s dinner the night before, for Rowan to eat. “Here, eat this slowly. You don’t want to fill your stomach too much, best to just eat a little at a time so there’s no pressure put on your ribs.”

  Rowan took the cup from Carolena thankfully. “I’m sorry to be a bother. I will certainly make it up to you as soon as I’m able.”

  “You are no bother. I’m thankful that Lore brought you here. I’m happy to be able to welcome you into my home,” Carolena answered as she went back into the kitchen to get Rowan some fruit to nibble on as well. She felt responsible for Rowan and guilty that it was Abraham that had hurt her. There was no way she’d have Rowan stay anywhere else. Taking care of her while she recovered was the least she could do.

  Rowan smiled at the little girl who now sat next to her. Lily grinned at Rowan, before jumping from the sofa and skipping through the room. “Lore? I thought his name was Destroy,” Rowan commented, as she watched Lily skip out of the room and down the hallway.

  Carolena said to Carnage, “Could you go check on Lily, please, love?”

  Carnage smiled. He glowed whenever she called him love. “‘Es,” he said before standing, kissing her sweetly and whispering, “Mine,” before heading off toward Lily’s room to see what she was getting into now. You couldn’t leave her unattended for too long — she was an expert at finding things to occupy her time.

  Carolena turned back to Rowan, “The other Goyle? Yes, his name is Destroy. But Lore brought you both here,” Carolena explained.

  Rowan realized then what exactly Destroy and Carnage were. She was stunned, “They’re Gargoyles?” she asked.

  “Yes, did you not realize…?” Carolena asked.

  “I, I guess I didn’t… no,” Rowan answered. “Is Lore a Gargoyle, too?”

  Carolena smiled thinking of her friend. He was actually more than a friend — he was family. “No, Lore is an Ancient.”

  Rowan’s eyebrows rose, “They are only of legend, surely they are not real, at least not any longer,” she whispered.

  Carolena smiled as she returned to Rowan’s side, “They are of legend, and they are also real.”

  Rowan’s brow furrowed, the powers her people had harnessed long ago had been harvested from the earth itself, having been left in nature by the Ancients. They were all powerful, all knowing. Nothing was beyond their reach. If you drew their attention, you would most likely regret it. She glanced nervously about.

  Carolena noticed her reaction, “You are safe. Lore is family. He will not hurt you. In fact, he brought Destroy to you so that you could be saved.”

  Rowan thought about it, “I don’t remember another there. Just ribbons,” she smiled, thinking of the monster’s face powdered and his horns festooned with ribbons.

  Carolena watched Rowan smile as she thought of Destroy and smiled herself. Perhaps Destroy wouldn’t have such a difficult battle to win her heart. Then she explained about Lore, “Do you remember fog or mist, perhaps purplish in color?”

  Rowan thought about it, “Yes! The same mist that was near when you were saved.”

  “Exactly. That is Lore. He can alter his form, he moves about as a mist,” Carolena said.

  Rowan had just about finished the small bowl of figs that Carolena had handed her along with a glass of sarsaparilla tea, and Carolena took the dishes from her.

  Rowan sat back among the pillows again, her eyelids drooping. She was so tired.

  “Lie back and rest. Do not fight sleep if your body demands it. You’ve been through a lot, you need to rest,” Carolena said.

  Rowan looked around a bit, “Lore won’t come here, will he?”

  “Yes, he comes here every day. He is Lily’s godfather — they are very close,” Carolena answered. A worried look came across Rowan’s face, before Carolena continued, “He knows you’re here already, Rowan. He brought you here. If he wished you harm, you’d already be non-existent.”

  Rowan started, “My powers…”

  “Are nothing to him. He was not drawn to you for your powers. He was drawn to you because you matter to his friend,” Carolena stated bluntly.

  Rowan thought about Carolena’s words, “Destroy?”

  “Yes. Destroy. They love to hate one another. It is a form of friendship,” Carolena chuckled.

  “I’m sorry. I only have history to judge by, and evil is the only thing it’s ever drawn.”

  “You should rethink that, Rowan. You’re not evil. Your powers are only evil if you use them for evil.”

  Rowan smiled indulgently at Carolena. She knew she was evil, knew her powers were evil. Knew it beyond the shadow of a doubt. Rowan closed her eyes to sleep, and just like every other time, saw the terrified faces of the children and their parents’ fury, all screaming in agony, fleeing… her. Then their lifeless bodies as the storm cleared. She had no doubt what lived inside her, no doubt at all. Rowan tightened her closed fist around the handful of ribbons she’d again gathered as she lay down to rest. They soothed her. Not because they were Destroy’s, but because they were pretty, silky — at least that’s what she told herself as she drifted to sleep, not realizing that slowly it was Destroy’s face she saw gradually phasing out those that usually haunted her dreams.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Enthrall leaned against the railing enclosing Carnage and Carolena’s deck as Destroy related the happenings that ended with Rowan lying inside Carolena’s home on her sofa. Enthrall did not interrupt. He allowed the Goyle to finish his story unhindered. It was clear from the emotion pouring from each word that Destroy was not manipulating anyone, nor was he trying to. He’d honestly just reacted in a bad situation. He’d not planned any of it.

  “You did well, Destroy. You surely saved her life,” Enthrall said.

  Destroy always claimed not to care what Enthrall thought, but that simple praise seemed to lift quite a lot of weight from his shoulders.

  He looked Enthrall in the eyes, “But I killed Carolena’s father.”

  “Carolena does not blame you. If she did, she’d not allow you in her home. She has no illusions of the circumstances surrounding his death. Let it lie. If you constantly raise it again, you’ll hurt her more than the deed itself — let it lie.”

  Destroy nodded, “I will.”

  “You do realize that you cannot just claim Rowan. I tell you the same thing I told both you and Carnage when Carolena first came to us — she’s not a pet. She has free will. She must choose you. If she does not, you cannot keep her here. While she is basically human, she has magics. She is free to leave if she so chooses.”

  Destroy’s heartbeat sped up, his chin jutting out in defiance, “She will not leave me. I have merely to show her all that I am. She will love me,” he nearly snarled.

  Enthrall raised his eyebrows.

  Destroy said, “Carolena says that I am a good male — that I have a good heart and much to offer when I allow others to see me. I will do this! You will see that she chooses me.”

  “I hope you are right, Destroy. I truly do,” Enthrall answered. “But you may be wrong about her.”

  Destroy clenched his teeth, “Then I will follow her. I cannot possibly allow her to just walk away.”

  “You may have no choice, Destroy. It is her decision. I cannot stop you from following her, but it may be all for nothing.”

  Destroy’s chest heaved with the stress of considering his female leaving him behind. “I will follow. I will watch over her. Surely she will need me.”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but either way, it’s up to her. D
o you understand?”

  He answered after a short pause, “Yes.”

  Destroy started toward the door, where the same woman they discussed lay recovering from a vicious attack, but Enthrall stopped him.

  “Destroy?”

  Destroy stopped walking and turned to him.

  “There is more to her story. There’s more she’s not telling. She may have reasons to keep you at bay that have nothing to do with you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Destroy told him, his brow wrinkling.

  “She is denying her entire nature. The basis of who she is, is being ignored. She’s ashamed of who she is. People who are ashamed of their very core being don’t find it easy to accept love. Or anything else for that matter. I don’t think she’s ready to accept anyone. She needs to make her peace with her past first. It may be best for you to let her go for a while, let her accept who she is, then perhaps she’ll find her way back to you.”

  Destroy thought about it for a moment, raised his eyes to Enthrall’s, shrugged his shoulders, then said, “I can’t. I can’t walk away. I will show her that she is worthy. I will help her see herself as I do.”

  Enthrall watched the youngest Gargoyle in his community, perhaps one of the loneliest of all his people, hurry back into the house where his female rested. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t hate Destroy. Destroy was a pain in the ass, but he’d come to realize that it stemmed from a lonely life. A woman was indeed exactly what he needed, but he worried that this particular woman may be too broken to be what Destroy needed. Trying to heal her might do him more harm than good.

  Chapter 7

  Destroy opened the door and looked around for Rowan and Carolena. He found Carolena seated at the kitchen table shelling peas for dinner later that night. Carolena looked up and smiled at him, then whispered, “She’s resting again.”

  Destroy nodded, then walked around the sofa to be sure Rowan was comfortable and didn’t need anything else. He propped the pillows around her and pushed the front of her robe together gently. She mumbled a bit and tucked her ribbon-filled hand under her cheek. Destroy covered her with the afghan and quietly walked over to Carolena. The fatigue showed clearly on his face.

  “You should go home and get some rest,” she told him.

  “I don’t want to leave her,” Destroy admitted.

  “She’s asleep. She’s resting easy. Go home, get cleaned up. Rest for a while,” Carolena encouraged.

  “I need to make a home worthy of her,” Destroy said to no one in particular as he stared off into space.

  “No, you need to sleep also. If you allow yourself to become weakened, you won’t be able to care for her when she needs you to,” Carolena chided.

  Refocusing on Carolena’s words, Destroy said, “Perhaps I’ll go home for clean clothes, come back here and get cleaned up, that way I won’t be far from her for more than a moment.”

  “She’s not agreed to be yours, Destroy. She fears everything about us and everything about herself apparently. Maybe give her a little space?” Carolena asked.

  Carnage came into the room, Lily riding his shoulders, steering him by his horns, her laughter ringing through the room.

  He tapped Carolena on the shoulder and raised his eyebrows, pointing at Destroy, letting her know he was trying to ask, ‘What’s the problem?’

  “I told him he needs to give her some space. She fears all that is magic. He should go home while she’s resting and get cleaned up and get some rest himself.”

  Carnage looked at Carolena like she was delusional, then, he looked at Destroy and shook his head. He took Lily from his shoulders and handed her to Destroy, then turned and left the room. He came back moments later with a change of clothes and a towel. He handed them to Destroy and took Lily back from him. “Keen,” he said, pointing at the bathroom. Then he pointed at Rowan and said, “Staay.”

  Destroy thought Carnage was telling him to stay near Rowan and get cleaned up here. But he wasn’t sure — he and Carnage didn’t usually get along.

  “Are you sure?” Destroy asked. He lifted the clothes a bit higher to indicate them and said, “You want me to bathe here? Wear your clothes?”

  Carnage nodded, smiling. See? He thought, I can communicate. He smiled even bigger.

  “What about Carolena telling me to give Rowan space?” Destroy asked.

  Carnage smirked, shook his head. He set Lily down, and she ran outside on the deck to play. He pointed to Destroy and then flexed his biceps. He made a short walk in a circle all the while flexing his biceps, prissing his hips and holding his chin in the air. Then he stopped and pointed at Destroy with his eyebrows raised.

  Carolena had collapsed into laughter.

  Destroy didn’t look away from Carnage, but asked Carolena, “What is he trying to say?”

  “I think he’s saying you think you’re wonderful,” Carolena answered.

  Carnage nodded, then he pointed at Rowan and flexed his arms again, finishing by pointing at Rowan once more.

  “Show her how wonderful I am. Make her believe it,” Destroy said.

  “‘Es! ‘Es!” Carnage said. “Nooooo tink.”

  “Don’t give her time to think,” Destroy said.

  “I believe he’s telling you to sweep her off her feet. Don’t give her time to think. Though I don’t agree,” Carolena said.

  “You know? If I go Carnage’s route, I stay near her,” Destroy said.

  Carnage stalked over to Carolena, picked her up, put her over his shoulder and snarled, “Miiinnne!” he said. Then he pointed at first Destroy then Rowan.

  Destroy grinned, “Yes! I’ll tell her she’s mine, not ask — she’s mine!”

  Carnage nodded one sharp nod before setting Carolena on her feet.

  She looked from one to the other of them, “You are both wrong. She won’t like being told what to do.”

  Destroy smiled at her, “We’re Goyles, lady! We take what we want!”

  Carolena shook her head in disbelief, and as she went through the door to go outside to play with Lily, said, “Let me know how that works for you,” then quietly closed the door behind herself.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Destroy showered, changed into his borrowed clothes, then made himself a pallet on the floor beside the sofa where Rowan slept. It was late afternoon, but he managed to fall asleep and actually slept for hours before she woke him, whimpering.

  He sat up quickly, realizing that she was dreaming. He murmured soothing words to her, smoothed her hair from her face, and gradually she woke. “You’re safe, Rowan,” he said, still smoothing her hair from her face.

  Rowan came awake, the effects of the dream, the same dream, fading quickly as it was replaced by the sensation of absolute safety. She opened her eyes and found Destroy very close to her, whispering that she’d be fine, he’d never allow anything to hurt her. She smiled at him, “Hello, Ribbons.”

  Destroy grinned, “Hi.”

  She blinked her eyes and tried to sit up, wincing as she did so.

  Destroy moved quickly, getting to his feet to help her, “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”

  He helped her into a sitting position. “Are you hungry?” he said.

  “Yes, a little. But, may I visit the bathroom first?” she asked shyly.

  “Of course, let me help get you there, then I’ll give you some privacy.”

  Destroy helped Rowan walk to the bathroom, then made her walk the last few steps to the toilet to prove she could do it on her own before he’d close the door and leave her alone.

  “I can do this,” she assured him.

  “Very well, I’ll wait outside. Call me when you’re done and I’ll come immediately.”

  “I will,” she promised.

  It seemed like forever that Destroy waited, but eventually she called him. His heart sang when she said his name, and he went to her grinning like a small child with a new toy.

  With each step they took, she watched him. His smile never faltered. “What are
you smiling for?” she finally asked.

  “It’s nothing,” he said, shaking his head, but still smiling.

  “It’s something, or you wouldn’t be smiling so much. Did I do something funny?” she asked, trying to see if perhaps her robe had become tangled and was flashing him sights he shouldn’t see.

  “No, not at all.”

  “Am I covered?” she persisted.

  “Yes, you are covered,” he answered.

  Rowan stopped walking, refusing to take another step until he confessed what he found so funny.

  Destroy sighed, “Very well. You called my name. That is all. You called my name, and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” Destroy didn’t look up. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see her response to his admission.

  Rowan was stunned. This powerful, strong, absolutely beautiful creature was smiling because she called his name. The few boys she’d spent any time with had all wanted only one thing, and they certainly never cared if she called their name or not. Her heart fluttered, just a bit, at the thought that this male was so taken with her that her voice calling his name made him smile. She had not forgotten that it was the magic seeping from her pores that attracted him, but she decided to allow herself just a small moment in time to pretend that it was truly her, and only her, that he was drawn to.

  “Destroy?” she said again.

  His head whipped up, blazing smile in place, and he looked at her intently, waiting for her next words.

  “Would you mind helping me to the table, so that we might eat a bit?” Rowan asked, casting her eyes down while peeking at him through her long, black lashes.

  “Of course, my Rowan,” he said in that deep, growly voice of his.

  Destroy helped her to the table, and they had a meal of rabbit gumbo and crusty French bread that Carolena had left out for them.

  They’d both been asleep for hours, so he offered, “Might I change your wound dressings? Carolena is asleep, but I’ll be happy to help you,” he offered.

  Rowan hesitated, not sure she wanted him to be that intimate.