Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Read online

  “I will be very gentle. And I helped Carolena when first we tended your wounds, so I know how to do it. I’ll be discreet,” he continued.

  “Very well. Thank you,”

  Destroy helped her to the sofa, where he had her hold the top of her robe closed over her breasts so that he could unbind her ribs, use a damp cloth to cleanse her with, apply more salve to her bruises and then rewrap her ribs. “The bruising is still there, but has much improved,” he said as he helped her pull her robe back together and tie the belt around her waist.

  “Would you like to go out on the deck? The stars are beautiful, and there are almost no mosquitos since Carnage built their home in the eucalyptus trees.”

  “I’d like that,” Rowan answered.

  Together they made their way outside, and Destroy helped her sit on one of the benches Carnage had made for Carolena.

  Rowan sat, her head tilted back, looking at the stars. She lifted her head back to its normal position and lifted a hand, rubbing her own neck and shoulder, still a bit of soreness there as well.

  “Allow me,” Destroy said, turning to massage her neck gently, careful to keep his claws retracted. Rowan closed her eyes, allowing the pleasure to flow through her. It wasn’t long before she tensed and pulled away, realizing that she’d gotten much too comfortable, read way too much into a situation that she knew wasn’t real.

  The moment she tensed, Destroy felt it. Reluctantly he pulled his hands away from her, laying them in his lap instead.

  Rowan, searching for anything to chase away the sudden awkward feeling between them, said, “So, how is it that you and your friends come to know Carolena?”

  “Carnage found her, he rescued her and brought her here. We all love her.” He smiled, remembering that he used to hide outside Enthrall’s home just to listen to her reading aloud.

  “She’s made me a much better person just by being my friend,” he said.

  Rowan was surprised that he called himself a person. “But, you’re a Gargoyle,” she said.

  “Yes, but I’m a person just like everyone else. I’m just a little more special. That’s what Carolena says,” he explained.

  She smiled, “You admire her,” Rowan said, watching Destroy’s face as he spoke of Carolena.

  “Yes, very much. She’s my first real friend. She likes to listen to my stories, and she reads to me when I ask,” he said.

  “What stories do you tell?” Rowan asked him.

  “Oh, just things about my life. Things I’ve seen and done. She says I’m a great storyteller,” Destroy became quiet for a split second, seemingly almost vulnerable, “No one ever wanted to hear my stories before Carolena.” But then just as quickly that vulnerability was gone, and he was again the confident, self-assured male who had saved her and argued with the Vampire about her staying in their community.

  “Do you read, Rowan?” he asked her excitedly.

  She was surprised, “Well, yes, I can read. Why?”

  “Wonderful!” he clapped his hands together. “Will you read to me? If I bring you a book, will you read it to me?”

  “I suppose, yes. What kind of book?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure yet. I shall bring one from Enthrall’s library. I’ll go there tomorrow and choose a good one.”

  Rowan smiled, watching him get excited about the prospect of her reading to him. He’d saved her, and it was the least she could do. It was a simple enough request. Then thinking on his words of earlier, she realized she could please him even further. “Will you tell me one of your stories?”

  Destroy had been smiling, very excited about the idea of bringing a book for Rowan to read to him, when he heard her ask about his stories. His smile dropped right away. He looked her in the eye, afraid that he’d heard her wrong. “You want to hear my stories?” he asked hesitantly.

  Now she was a bit hesitant since he’d answered her that way, “Well, yes. I thought I did, but… if you’d rather not…”

  Destroy sat forward, “No! I’d love to tell you. I’m just surprised that you’d want to know about me.”

  She smiled herself now, this Gargoyle, man, person, whatever he preferred to call himself, was as unsure about himself as she was about herself. Now she was truly interested in finding out who he was, why he was as he was. “Of course I want to know about the male who saved my life.”

  “Well, then, you shall know! You shall know all!” he said excitedly, just before he launched into the first memory he had of being alive. If she wanted to know, he’d tell her everything!

  He did just that — he spoke and spoke and spoke, relating story after story, until her laughs turned into yawns. Then he helped her into the house and made-up her sofa for her. Carolena had left fresh linens on the arm of the sofa while they were both asleep earlier, and Destroy had Rowan sit in one of the chairs while he spread them over the sofa to make a more comfortable place for her to sleep. Once he was done, he helped her lie down, then arranged the pillows around her until she finally agreed that she was comfortable. He covered her and laid down on the floor next to her. Once she was fast asleep, he stepped outside and flapped his wings, lifting into the air with very little effort. Destroy couldn’t wait ‘til morning to choose a book. He had no doubt that Rowan was perfectly safe in Carnage’s home for a few moments while he went to retrieve a book. So he was going for one now.

  Chapter 8

  Hidden in the shadows below the deck, the male listened to the voices of the Gargoyle and the Witch above him. The Witch was the reason for his presence. He’d been drawn to this place by the magic seeping from the very pores of her skin. She was long without use of her magic — it had built to such a strength, untouched within her, that just a minor release had pulsed powerfully from her, still pulsed from her. Whatever had caused her to release her hold on it had been sudden and filled with emotion. This was why he’d been able to feel her, to track her. He’d been wandering these swamps for so long. Alone, feeling nothing, wanting everything, yet satisfied with nothing. Wanting… that was what had created him, that and misplaced trust. Once he’d been a man much like any other — but wanting, coveting that which was not his, jealousy — all those had turned him into what he was now. A creature of the night, cursed for eternity to wander the earth, needing, craving, wanting, taking anything from all unfortunate enough to fall prey to his hunts, but never able to find satisfaction. He looked at his spindly hands, holding them before him, only visible in the moonlight. At night, he roamed the shadows, a skeletal creature filled with nothing but bitterness, need, an endless chasm of unanswered need. What he wouldn’t give to see the hands he was born with. To have a chance to become the male he once was. To live again, the life that was stolen from him. He raised his eyes to the deck, the sound of their footsteps as the Gargoyle helped the focus of his attention back inside the dwelling in the trees. The Witch… he had to have her. She was the answer to his need. He had to gain her trust somehow. He would have his time with her, one way or another.

  A short time later the door opened, and he watched as the Gargoyle stepped out onto the deck, looked around and took flight. The pale, thin lips of the male pulled back over his teeth in more of a grimace than a smile. This was his chance. He waited but a moment until the Gargoyle was gone from sight. Then he closed his eyes and stepped into the shadows, disappearing from his hiding place outside. He re-materialized inside the dwelling, just behind the sleeping Witch. She lay completely unaware that he was there. He looked down on her, leaned over to place his hands upon her, and startled when he was slammed backward by a force he didn’t expect. He recovered, shook himself, approached her and reached out toward her again, but once more he was jolted by some unknown force, a pale purple glow flaring around the sleeping Witch just as he was thrown backward. He snarled in frustration, ready to try again, but heard footsteps coming toward him and had no choice but to quickly disappear, fading into the shadows as was his usual escape.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Carnag
e came awake suddenly. His skin was prickling, and his beast was alert as though he was prepped for battle. He looked at Carolena sleeping soundly beside him, felt her, she was warm and stirred slightly in her sleep. He hurried to Lily’s room, laying a hand on her as well to assure himself that she was well. Carnage stood still listening to all the familiar sounds in his home. Nothing seemed out of place, yet his beast urged him on. He left Lily’s room and hurried toward the living room, still on high alert. He found only the sleeping female — Destroy was nowhere to be found. But the problem was in this room — he had no doubt. He checked the doors, the windows, and spent the next hour making regular trips from one end of his home to the other, checking on all the sleeping females, until Destroy finally returned — with a book in hand.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Destroy hurried to get to Enthrall’s home. When he arrived, he found Enthrall sitting on the front porch of his home, drinking whiskey.

  “Enthrall,” Destroy said by way of greeting.

  “Destroy. What brings you here? Shouldn’t you be with your Witch?” Enthrall asked, a bit of a bite to his voice.

  “She does not like to be called a Witch,” Destroy said.

  “Yes, well, I do not like to be called Vampire, yet I am. She is what she is. But I digress, what do you want, Destroy?”

  “I wish to borrow a book. Rowan has agreed to read to me,” he said proudly.

  Enthrall regarded Destroy through the slight haze of a bit too much whiskey. It would never be more than a slight haze and in less than 5 minutes of having taken his last drink, the haze would burn away, but it was better than nothing. He was wallowing in self pity. Resenting that he was alone while yet another, a Gargoyle even, had a chance at a happily ever after. He was a good male, took care of all that depended on him without fail, and never asked for a damn thing in return. All he wanted was a companion, someone who enjoyed his company. Enthrall knew not to even entertain the possibility of love. No one could love him, but he was certainly good enough to at least have a companion.

  “Enthrall?” Destroy pulled him back to the present and out of his own head.

  Enthrall glared at the Goyle for what seemed like a long period of time, though it was truthfully only a few short seconds, then, “Take what you want. I care not.”

  Destroy hesitated, “I cannot read the words to choose a good one,” he finally admitted.

  Enthrall stood, setting the bottle of whiskey on the porch beside his chair, “Come,” was all he said. He led the way into his house and to the room he kept all his books in — his library. “What type of book do you desire?”

  “Something that is fun and adventurous and will keep us guessing ‘til the end!” Destroy said excitedly.

  Enthrall thought for a moment, then started looking through his shelves, running his fingers across the spines of several before settling on one. He took it from the shelf and handed it to Destroy, “Here, take this one.”

  Enthrall turned and left the room, leaving Destroy standing there, the book in hand.

  Destroy held the book as though it was the most valuable treasure, looking at the cover, and the scrolled lettering across the front of it. Perhaps Carolena would teach him to read his own books, he thought. Then Destroy looked up and realized that he was alone. He hurried out into the hallway, just in time to see Enthrall go back out of the front door of his home.

  He followed, calling out, “Enthrall?”

  Enthrall had made it down his front steps and just into the yard. He turned, looking at Destroy expectantly.

  “Are you well?” Destroy asked, concerned about Enthrall for the first time in his life.

  “Unfortunately, I am never ill. I am very well,” Enthrall answered.

  “But are you okay?” Destroy pressed.

  Enthrall regarded Destroy for a brief moment before answering, “No. I am not.” Then he ghosted away as Destroy looked on.

  Destroy peered around the house, the yard, where Enthrall had just stood, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to leave Enthrall alone if Enthrall was not okay, but Enthrall had been the one to leave. So now what? He looked around, walked back into Enthrall’s home and turned off the gas lamps, made sure everything was secure, then pulled the door closed behind himself and took to the air once again, headed back to his Rowan while making a mental note to check back on Enthrall tomorrow.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Destroy landed on the deck of Carolena’s and Carnage’s home and immediately went on alert. Something was wrong. He quietly moved toward the front door and turned the knob. Nothing happened — it had been locked from inside. He scratched on the door, a universal request for entry that all Gargoyles would recognize. Their Sovereign demanded that all requesting entry to his quarters scratched on the door, rather than knocked. He felt that knocking symbolized breaking down his door, demanding entry, rather than requesting as did scratching submissively. He knew that if Carnage had been the one to lock the door, the scratching would identify him as friend, yet not give him away had it been foe who had locked the door.

  Carnage detected motion on his deck. He moved silently to the door, preparing to fling it open and rip whatever was on the other side to shreds. He placed his hand on the door knob just as it rattled with an attempt from outside to enter his home. He flipped the lock and prepared to rush through the door, just as he heard a slight scratching. He paused, there it was again, a scratching. A Gargoyle was on the other side of this door, and apparently was not the intruder he thought was there. Still, just in case, he swiftly opened the door, hoping to catch whoever stood there unawares.

  Destroy startled at the quick movement of the door being rushed open, “It’s me,” he said hurriedly, knowing from the look on Carnage’s face, he needed to identify himself quickly. Carnage glared at him for only a second before signaling him to check below the deck and the perimeter.

  Destroy was shocked to see the old hand signals they’d used when in battle and still in service to their deceased Sovereign. But these of those signals let him know at once that Carnage felt the same unrest that he had upon his return. He nodded, handing the book to Carnage, and silently lifted into the air again.

  Carnage hurried back inside, checked on his family once again, and Rowan; then, went out on the deck to inspect the perimeter of the house, while Destroy inspected from down below.

  Much later, when both males were sure that whatever the threat, it was no longer near, went back inside the home. Carnage once again locked the door and double checked that all the windows were locked and sealed. Then he turned to Destroy. He pointed at Destroy, then the floor of his home. “Stay,” he whispered harshly.

  Destroy nodded, “I will. I felt it, too. What was it?”

  Carnage shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head.

  “I don’t know either,” Destroy said, “But I can sure as hell feel it.”

  Carnage reached out his hand, his claws forever there, unable to retract, for Destroy to shake. Destroy nodded, reached out his own hand, and they shook hands for the first time in many, many years.

  Destroy said, “Truce?”

  Carnage nodded, “‘Es”

  Destroy said, “We’ll protect our families. Each other. What’s past is past.”

  Carnage nodded once, sharply, “‘Es.” Then he slammed his arm across his own chest, his hand fisted, giving a vow — to protect Destroy and watch his back.

  Destroy did the same, slamming his own arm across his own chest, vowing to protect Carnage and watch his back.

  Carnage pointed down the hall, and Destroy nodded, “I’m not leaving again. You go to yours, I’ll be here with mine. Let out a roar and I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

  Carnage nodded and pointed at Destroy with his eyebrow raised.

  “I will, I’ll roar if I need you, too.”

  Carnage headed down the hall, stopped in Lily’s room, lifted her gently into his arms and pulled her door closed as he left her room. Then, he went to his and Carolena�
�s bedroom, placed her in bed between them and laid down with his wife and child.

  Neither he nor Destroy slept a wink that night. Both stayed alert, keeping watch over the women who had become their lives.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning Carnage and his family, along with Destroy and Rowan, were preparing and having breakfast when Lily let out a squeal, “UncLore!”

  No sooner had she done so than a purple mist began to seep into the room from under the front door. Lore took shape and looked at Carnage as though they shared a secret as he kissed the top of Lily’s head.

  Carnage returned his look, confused.

  “Do you not smell him?” Lore asked.

  Carnage shook his head, standing and looking around, “Ooo?” he asked, still not sure what had stalked them the night before.

  Destroy stood as well, and said, “We felt him last night, we both did. But we couldn’t smell anything, and we still don’t know who, but someone was here — we both felt it. We kept watch all night.”

  Carolena’s back was to the table where the others sat as she finished cooking. She personally had a weakness for sweets, even for breakfast, but tried to make sure that Lily ate well before partaking in the sweets that were always around, so she’d scrambled eggs and fried sausages, giving plenty of choices. She was plating them and couldn’t help but overhear the discussion taking place behind her and said, “What are you talking about? Who kept watch? Why?”

  Lore raised his hand in the air, heading off any further questions for the moment, then followed his own nose, sniffing the air. He walked over to the sofa, scenting the air still. He cocked his head just so, then followed his nose back to Rowan.

  Rowan had gone on high alert the moment the purple mist started seeping into the room. Fear of the Ancient instilled in her since her childhood through the legends of her people was a hard habit to overcome. When he turned from the sofa she slept on and made his way back to her, her fear skyrocketed.