Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Read online

  Carolena gasped when he came into the room, “Lore! Oh my gosh!”

  Lore smiled sadly, “I am well, Carolena. It will pass.” Then he turned to Rowan, “Thank you, child. It has been eons since I’ve communed with them.”

  Rowan still wasn’t sure what she’d done, but nodded. Destroy sat beside her, his arms around her, lending her his strength, assuring her that all was well. She’d take it. She’d take all she could get right now. Something had changed. She wasn’t sure what, but something felt different.

  “You are no longer able to deny your birthright, Rowan,” Lore said to her. “Now loosed upon the world, your magic will not be locked away again. You must learn to manage it, master it.”

  Rowan, with tears in her eyes, nodded again before he continued.

  “You are not evil,” he said quietly.

  Her eyes flashed to his and she said, “I am!”

  He shook his head sadly, “No. A child reacting passionately to a terrible situation is not evil. It is to be expected. The result of those combined facts is unfortunate, but not instigated by you. You only reacted.”

  “What is he talking about, Rowan?” Destroy asked.

  “She’ll tell you in time. But for now, she has a lot to accept, a great deal to learn,” Lore said to Destroy. “You’d best take a little time each day, start with the small things. Learn to master them. Work your way up. It shouldn’t take you long. The power I witnessed out there… there will be none who can threaten you,” he said to Rowan. Then he smiled, shrugged his shoulders, “Well, none save me,” he waved his hand toward the windows, “and them.”

  Lily started jumping up and down, “Me, me! And me!”

  Lore cupped his hand around the child’s head as his mists began to gather, though a little more slowly than usual, “Yes, Lily. And you. One day you will be as strong as I,” his mists faded into nothingness as he took his leave and left them to their own devices for the rest of the day.

  Carolena asked, “How do you feel?”

  “I’m not sure. I feel frightened, but empowered. And I feel better,” Rowan said, gingerly stretching her body. “I’m still sore, but nothing like before.”

  Rowan lifted one of her hands, pressing it to her own ribs. “Yes, definitely better, but still sore.”

  “That’s good then. Maybe releasing everything you’d been holding inside is helping heal you,” Carolena said, pulling out of Carnage’s arms to go to Rowen and check her ribs.

  Carolena didn’t see it because her back was to Carnage, but when she insisted on going toward Rowan, he raised a clawed hand and pointed it directly at Rowan. Rowan saw it. And she understood fully — ‘You threaten mine again, and you will pay.’

  “I will never hurt you, Carolena. You know that, right?” Rowan said to Carolena, but more for Carnage’s sake.

  Carolena, always warm and forgiving, “I know that, there’s no reason to even say that.”

  Rowan thought, ‘that mean looking Gargoyle behind you is enough reason for me,’ but decided it was better not to say it out loud.

  After Carolena checked Rowan’s ribs, Rowan asked, “May I have a bath? I almost cannot tolerate myself any longer.”

  “Of course. Let’s get you set up.” Rowan rose under her own strength and slowly followed Carolena to the bathroom. Carolena showed her how the faucets worked and laid a towel and some clean clothes out for her. Then left her to tend her own needs. Destroy stationed himself outside the bathroom door and called, “Row? I’m out here. Call me if you need anything. I’m right here.”

  Rowan, slipping into the bath, started at Destroy’s voice. She sighed, she really needed to explain to Destroy that he had to stop hanging on her every word, her every breath. He was going to be sorely disappointed when he found out the truth of her past, and she really didn’t want to see the disgust in his eyes. It didn’t matter that he was from the lifestyle she’d always avoided; she’d begun to grow fond of him. And no matter what Lore advised, she still planned on avoiding the magic that resided naturally within her. She’d called on it to remove the curse from her friends, but no more. Never again. She’d shove it back down inside herself little by little until she once again had it locked away. She huffed as she laid back, relaxing in the warm water. This damned magic is what drew the creatures to her. The evils of the world, those that wanted a favor only she could grant. They always skulked around the perimeter of her life, waiting for a chance to snatch at her, or to goad her into granting their requests, but she’d always ignored them. Refused to be a participant. She wasn’t sure if Destroy even realized it himself, but she had no doubt that he was attached to her for the same reason. He would come to realize this sooner or later, and she didn’t want to be the fool who’d allowed him to become such a part of her life that she’d do whatever he’d ask of her only to have him walk away. She needed to get healthy, and soon. So she could return to her world before she let him too deeply into it.

  Destroy sat outside the bathroom door, his back leaning against it as he listened to the water tinkling and splashing in the bath as Rowan cleaned herself. He smiled as he thought, ‘What I wouldn’t give to be that water, sliding across her skin, caressing her, seeping into her most intimate parts.’

  “What you doin’ Stoy?” Lily asked him.

  He nearly jumped out of his skin, caught daydreaming about Rowan, and by his little niece, no less.

  “Lily! What are you doing here? Where’s your mom?” he asked rather loudly.

  “In ‘dere.” She answered, pointing back toward the kitchen.

  Destroy leaned forward and glanced down the hallway toward the front of the house. He could just make out Carolena’s hushed voice as she answered Carnage’s grunted words. They were having some type of standoff it seemed, which was unusual since Carnage usually let Carolena do whatever she wanted. Apparently this time, he’d dug his heels in and wasn’t backing down.

  After a few moments he heard Carnage say, “Saaaffffe!” and Carolena snap back, “We are safe!”

  Carnage came stomping down the hall and paused in front of Destroy. He looked toward the kitchen and back to Destroy, then said, “Goo Traawl” in a hushed, gravelly voice, as he threw his arm out in the direction of Enthrall’s home.

  “But I’ve got to help protect you and your family. And you’re helping protect me and mine!” Destroy protested.

  He thrust his finger toward the door that Destroy leaned against, “Da… Dan..g…” he couldn’t quite get it out and turned to Lily, waving his hand toward Destroy. Lily smiled sweetly and turned toward Destroy as she said, “Her’s gonna hurt us.”

  Carnage nodded and placed his hands on his hips as he watched Destroy, satisfied that his daughter had gotten his point across.

  Destroy’s mouth dropped open. He stood, facing Carnage, “She is not dangerous. Have you not listened to all that Lore said? Seen all that just happened? She faced her fears! She allowed a force she’s avoided since she was probably as young as Lily to take her over so that she could ensure the safety of your family. What part of that did you miss?” he hissed at Carnage.

  Carnage stood there, glaring at Destroy, realizing that for the most part what Destroy said was true. And he knew that Carolena felt the same way. But that didn’t make him like the fact that they’d invaded his home any better. He said nothing more, just stalked away, slamming the door to his bedroom behind himself.

  Destroy looked down at Lily, “Do you believe that she’s going to hurt you?” he asked, thumbing toward the bathroom behind him.

  Lily grinned up at Destroy, “Nope!” then she turned and ran toward the kitchen where her mom was making noise with the pots and pans while she muttered to herself under her breath about stubborn, over-reactive Gargoyles.

  Chapter 11

  Rowan lounged in the water until it was cool — then, she let it out of the tub before turning on the water and letting it run from the faucet as she washed her hair and soaped her body. She was still sore, but nothing like
before. Perhaps she was somewhat healed when she allowed her magic to permeate her very self. Didn’t matter, though. She still had every intention of tamping it down and locking it away again.

  Once she was rinsed clean, she tried to pull herself to a standing position, and since she was still a little weak and the tub very slippery, lost her footing and landed on her bottom in the tub again.

  The door flew open, and Destroy rushed in, thinking the worst. Rowan screeched and threw her hands across her breasts while she pressed her legs together tightly in an effort to cover herself.

  “Why are you in here? Go!” she shouted at him.

  “I heard you fall; I thought you might have hurt yourself,” he answered, while he stood stone still, watching as the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen stole his breath away.

  “Destroy!” she said. Still, he stood there, transfixed.

  “Destroy! At least turn around!” she insisted.

  “Huh?” he finally managed, snapping out of his trance.

  “Turn around!” she said again.

  Destroy blinked and realized he was still standing there gawking at her, “Did you need me? Did you fall?”

  “No. Well, yes, but no, I don’t need you. I just slipped,” Rowan told him.

  “Well, is it yes or no?” he asked, getting confused.

  “Both!” she told him, frustrated.

  “Here, I got it,” he said as he turned and snagged the towel off the hook beside the mirror. He turned back to Rowan with the towel in hand and wrapped it around her even as she fought to slap his hands away from her. “Ow!” he complained, “Stop slapping me! I’m trying to help you get up!”

  Once he had her standing and the towel around her, he held her arm as she stepped from the tub. As soon as he let go of her, she slapped at his hands again, “Go away!”

  “You might need me again,” Destroyed protested.

  “And I might not!” she shot back at him.

  He happened to glance down and saw the tops of her thighs peeking from beneath the edge of the towel. That was all it took — he was gone again. Almost catatonic, staring at her legs and all that he hoped to see that was now just barely tucked away under the towel. If it would only move just an inch more…

  Pop! He was snapped out of his reverie by a slap to the shoulder.

  He grabbed his shoulder, still stinging from her slap, “Why’d you do that?” he asked plaintively.

  “Stop staring! You can’t see through the towel! Just go away,” Rowan told him, while shoving at him.

  He grinned at her as she tried to shove him toward the door, “How do you know? Maybe I can see all the way through the towel. And maybe I like what I see,” he teased her as he allowed her to push him to the door.

  “You can not!” she said, though she slapped one arm over her breasts and dropped her hand to cover her private parts just in case.

  “You sure?” he asked seductively, right before the bathroom door slammed in his face.

  He snickered to himself as he leaned against the door jamb and listened to the rustling of clothing as Rowan dressed in a loose, flowy, cotton dress that Carolena had lent her.

  “Hey,” he called, “When you’re finished dressing, would you read my book to me?”

  “No!” she answered, still peeved that he came into the bathroom while she bathed. “Read it yourself!”

  He didn’t respond right away, then, she heard him say very quietly, “I can’t. I don’t know how to read.” Then she heard footsteps leading away from the bathroom, and she knew that he’d left his place outside the door.

  She felt terrible. She hadn’t meant to point out an issue that clearly bothered him.

  Rowan finished dressing, then made her way to the living room. There she found Destroy sitting on the floor as Lily patted powder on his face. He looked up and offered her a half-hearted smile. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I thought you’d fallen; then, you were just so damn pretty,” he explained.

  Rowan blushed at the compliment, “It’s okay. I’m sorry, too. How about we read your book? Which one is it?” she asked looking around for it.

  Destroy got up and retrieved the book from the kitchen cabinet where Carnage had left it the night before, “I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. He handed it to her, and she smiled, “Oh, this is a good one! It’s called ‘Treasure Island.’”

  “Really?!” Destroy asked, taking his seat so Lily could finish his powder.

  “Yes, it’s about pirates and treasure and is filled with adventure. Shall we start?” Rowan asked.

  “Yes!” shouted Lily.

  “Yes!” agreed Destroy.

  Rowan opened the book and started reading. Not more than 5 minutes later, Lily had abandoned her makeover of Destroy, and both sat captivated as Rowan read to them.

  Forty-five minutes later and Lily was asleep on Destroy’s lap, having fallen asleep while Rowan read to them. Destroy said softly, “Hold on, let me go put her in bed.”

  Rowan watched as Destroy very gently lifted the child into his arms, kissing her forehead and temple as he held her to him and walked toward the hall that led to her bedroom. He tucked her in her bed, double checked that her window was locked and left her door open. Then he went back to the living room.

  “Sorry, while you were in the bath, I told Carolena I’d watch Lily while she taught the other kids.”

  “What other kids?” Rowan asked.

  Destroy pointed toward the window that looked out over the front deck. “The kids from our community. Some of them come by most days, and Carolena teaches them to read and write. Lily is not ready to learn yet, too active to sit still for very long, and Carnage went hunting. So I volunteered.”

  Rowan smiled, watching Destroy, thinking what an amazing man he was. Kind, helpful, loved kids — even those that weren’t his. But he’s a Gargoyle, she thought to herself. She watched as he went to the kitchen, took a clean hand towel from the shelf, dampened it and used it to clean his face of the powder that Lily had applied. Acutely aware that Rowan watched him, he decided to do a little tempting. He was beautiful — he knew it, and it was time to use it. He pulled his shirt over his head and horns, being sure to keep his wings folded tightly against his back in the slight hollow between his shoulder-blades made just for that, and used the wash cloth to wipe down his neck and shoulders, then turned to face Rowan as he ran it across his tight, rock-hard stomach. He barely managed to stop his smile when she looked at his body, her mouth hanging open, eyes wide.

  “Keep reading, I can hear you from here,” he said, pretending not to notice that she was caught up in admiring his body. He couldn’t help but be a little smug; he had a nice body — she should admire it.

  Rowan fumbled with the book in her hands, dropped it, then had to find her place again when Destroy asked her to keep reading. She fought to keep her eyes on the pages, rather than watch a now shirtless Destroy as he sauntered back over to her. She’d seen what she thought were wings, but they were folded so efficiently against his back, she might be wrong — perhaps his back was just a bit darker and a different texture than the rest of him. As he sat at her feet, much the same way Carnage had sat at Carolena’s feet when she’d read to him, she tried to see his back, but he kept it facing away from her as he gazed up at her.

  Hey, he figured — it worked for Carnage. He was not above imitating Carnage sitting adoringly at Carolena’s feet with his own woman if there was a chance it may work for him, too.

  It wasn’t more than about 10 minutes later, and he decided to sit on the sofa beside her. He turned so that he was angled behind her, so he could see the pages as she read and gradually scooted closer and closer to her. When there was no space left between them, he lifted a hand pointing over her shoulder, “What’s that say?” he asked quietly.

  Rowan looked at the letters Destroy was pointing to and told him what the words were.

  “And what does that say?” he asked, pointing a
t a new set of words.

  Rowan again looked at the words and turned toward him, to answer. Their lips were less than an inch apart. He said, “I like it when you read to me.”

  Rowan whispered, “I like reading to you.”

  Destroy nodded slowly, bringing his lips even closer to hers. “I like the way you smell,” he said as he gently brushed his nose against hers.

  Rowan inhaled and really liked the way he smelled, too. She dropped her head back just a touch and lifted her face toward him. Destroy leaned forward ever so slightly, pressed his lips to hers, and smiled just a bit when she moaned softly at the feel of his lips against hers. His hand lifted to her jawline and he held her in place while he kissed her — nipping at her lips, then licking away the tingling effect the nips left behind before once again pressing his full lips to hers. He shifted his position, prepared to lift her body to face his then lay her back on the sofa to get better access to her. Just when he reached down to turn her… the door burst open, and Carnage stomped in, carrying a dead wild turkey, feathers and all fully intact, dripping blood on the floor from the arrow still sticking out of it.

  He grinned, “Eeeaat!” he said, holding it up proudly.

  Rowan jumped back out of Destroy’s arms. Destroy groaned his irritation, and Carolena called from the front deck, “Don’t drip blood all over my floor, love!”

  “‘Kay!” Carnage called back in his gravelly voice as he tossed the turkey into the sink and grabbed the dishtowel Destroy had cleaned his face with. He dropped to his knees and started scrubbing at the blood on Carolena’s floor. He looked up at them and pulled his face into a mock panic, grimacing at them as though to say, ‘Aw no!’ as the blood just spread rather than disappeared from the floor.

  “Here, let me help,” Rowan said to Carnage. She went to the cabinet and took a bit of Carolena’s baking soda, mixed it with water and made a paste that she rubbed onto the blood stains on the floor. It only took minutes, and when she was done, she stood with Carnage’s help. He looked down at the floor, now clean. He grinned at Rowan, “T’ank eewww.”