Chapter Three
Chapter Three
T hree days had passed, yet Elena found herself drawn back to the cathedral, its towering spires piercing the moonlit sky. Her footsteps echoed against the cobblestones as she ascended the worn steps to enter, her heart pounding in her chest.
She had to know. Had it all been a dream? A figment of her overactive imagination?
Mass was actively in session and she did her best to sneak through without being noticed, moving swiftly toward the stairs.
As she reached the rooftop, her breath caught in her throat. There, silhouetted against the night, stood the man—no, the gargoyle—his form both familiar and alien. Though human in shape, he was clearly not human with his wings and the almost angular plans of his face. His skin retained the ashen hue of weathered stone, save for his eyes that were twin emeralds that glowed with an otherworldly light.
Elena’s vision blurred, the world tilting on its axis. Her knees buckled, and darkness claimed her.
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
The deep, resonant voice pulled Elena back to consciousness. She blinked, focusing on the chiseled features hovering above her. The gargoyle’s brow was furrowed with concern, and more than a flicker of humanity shone out of his eyes.
“Perhaps introductions are in order,” he continued, extending a hand to help her up. “I am Aldric.”
Elena hesitated, then grasped his hand, marveling at the warmth that radiated from his stone-like skin. “Elena,” she whispered, surprising herself with the ease she shared her name. The last thing she should have done was tell the impossible creature her name.
As she stood, a wave of vertigo washed over her. She steadied herself against the stone, her mind reeling. “This is insane. I must be losing my mind.”
Aldric’s gaze softened. “I assure you, Elena, your sanity is intact. The world is simply more complex than you once believed. Must we do this again?”
She met his eyes, searching for deception but finding only sincerity. A part of her longed to capture this moment on canvas, to immortalize the enigma before her. Yet another part, the scholar within, yearned for understanding.
“I came here to paint,” she admitted, “but now...now I need to know. What are you? How is this possible?”
Aldric’s lips curved into a melancholy smile. “It is a long and painful tale, one that spans centuries and goes far deeper than what I mentioned when you freed me. Are you certain you wish to unravel my secrets?”
Elena’s heart thundered in her chest, a mixture of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She had always been drawn to the mysteries of the past, to the stories hidden within crumbling ruins and ancient texts. Now, standing before a living legend, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was a way to turn back or if the only path was forward.
“I don’t think I have a choice,” she breathed, her voice trembling.
Aldric nodded, and she swore his gaze held admiration. “Then come, Elena. Let me share with you the history of this city and the curse that binds me to the night.”
He offered his arm, a gesture both chivalrous and surreal. Elena hesitated for a heartbeat, then linked her arm through his, the coolness of his skin a stark contrast to the warmth of his presence.
Together, they descended the cathedral steps.
She wasn’t certain how he intended on getting by those who worshipped, but as soon as they stepped into the cathedral, his skin took on an almost pink hue, as if he were a man cursed by sickness and daring to get out of bed, not an impossible creature.
They slipped out without even a glance from Father Antoine, and Aldric began as soon as they were outside.
“Centuries ago, this city was a beacon of art and faith, its cathedral a marvel of Gothic architecture,” he began, his words painting vivid pictures in Elena’s mind. “But even then, darkness lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.” Aldric’s voice wove a tapestry of stories, each thread a piece of the city’s hidden past.
Elena listened, enraptured, as Aldric spoke.
“The church was always under attack from something. Always fending off naysayers and demons. Fraught with battles and common sense issues, there was a need to limit the power darkness could take on over the church. There were guardians sworn to protect the city from the malevolent entities that sought to destroy it.”
“And you were one of those guardians,” she murmured, piecing together the fragments of his tale.
Aldric nodded, his eyes distant, as if seeing the ghosts of his past. “I suppose I was never fully human, granted a power to protect from forces I no longer believe to be real as I’ve watched the world turn on itself. I was bound to the cathedral, tasked with defending it against all threats. But I failed.”
His voice cracked, the weight of centuries of regret and sorrow heavy in his words. Elena’s heart ached for him, for the burden he had carried alone for so long.
“What happened?” she asked softly, her hand instinctively tightening on his arm, offering silent comfort.
Aldric drew a shuddering breath as if the memories still brought him enormous pain. “A great fire consumed the cathedral, despite our efforts to stop it. A fire started by those who didn’t believe in the teachings of the church. In desperation, the priest turned to a witch, seeking her dark magic to protect the city from future calamities.”
He paused, his jaw clenching as he relived the moment that had sealed his fate. “But her help came at a terrible price. She cursed us, the guardians, to remain trapped in stone by day, only to walk as something akin to human under the cover of night. Her death left us trapped.”
Elena’s eyes widened, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. The gargoyle she had seen on the cathedral roof, the man who now walked beside her truly were one and the same, bound by an ancient curse.
Elena gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “That’s horrible,” she whispered, her eyes wide with shock and sympathy.
“It was a punishment,” Aldric said grimly, “for our failure to protect what we had sworn to defend. And so, for centuries, I have watched the world change from my perch on the cathedral, unable to truly be a part of it.”
Elena’s mind raced, trying to process the enormity of what he had revealed. A curse, a sorceress, a fate worse than death. It was like something out of a fairy tale, but the pain in Aldric’s eyes was all too real.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her heart breaking for the suffering he had endured. “To be trapped like that, for so long...”
Aldric’s gaze met hers, and in that moment, Elena saw the depths of his loneliness, the yearning for connection that had been denied him for centuries.
“It is a fate I would not wish upon anyone,” he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. “But perhaps, with your help, I may find a way to break this curse and restore the balance between the human world and the supernatural. If you are who I believe you to be, your blood may be the answer.”
Elena’s breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words settling upon her shoulders. She had always been drawn to the mysteries of the past, but never had she imagined that she would play a role in unraveling them.
“I...I don’t know if I can help,” she stammered, doubt creeping into her voice. “I’m just an art teacher, not some kind of magical expert.”
Aldric’s lips twitched into a faint smile, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “You have already shown more courage and compassion than most, Elena. Together, we may find the answers I seek.”
As they continued their walk through the city, Elena’s mind raced with questions and possibilities. She had set out to capture the beauty of the cathedral on canvas, but now she found herself drawn into a world of ancient curses and forgotten legends.
And despite the fear that twisted in her gut, she knew that she could not turn away from this path, not when Aldric’s fate—and apparently others like him—in the balance.
Aldric led Elena through a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. The city seemed to hold its breath, as if sensing the weight of the secrets about to be revealed. She’d spent every day in her youth exploring these areas, but she couldn’t help but believe she was about to learn so much more.
They paused before a weathered archway, its stones worn smooth by countless years of wind and rain. Aldric’s paused, his gaze distant as if he saw the past overlaying the present.
“This place...” His voice was a low rumble, tinged with melancholy. “It was once my sanctuary, a refuge from the burden of the curse.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “Tell me more,” she urged gently, her hand finding his in the darkness.
Aldric’s fingers tightened around hers, drawing strength from her touch. “When the weight of the centuries became too much to bear, I would come here. The garden’s untamed beauty reminded me that life persists, even in the face of darkness.”
He led her deeper into the garden, to a stone bench nestled beneath a canopy of gnarled branches. Aldric’s fingers traced the weathered surface, his touch reverent.
“I spent countless nights here, lost in thought, yearning for a connection I feared I’d never find.”
Elena’s heart ached for him, for the loneliness that had been his constant companion. She tugged gently on his hand, guiding him to sit beside her on the bench.
“We could rest here for a while,” she suggested, her voice soft. “If you’re willing, I’d love to learn more about your world, about the experiences that have shaped you.”
Aldric’s eyes met hers, a flicker of vulnerability in their depths. “Are you certain you want to know? The tales I carry are not for the faint of heart.”
Elena’s smile was gentle, her gaze unwavering. “I’m not afraid. Mostly because I still partially think I’m crazy.”
The air around them was heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, the fragrance both soothing and intoxicating. Aldric’s shoulders relaxed, the tension of centuries slowly easing in Elena’s presence.
“Very well,” he murmured, his voice low. “But be warned, the truths I share may change the way you see the world, and your place within it.”
Memories surged through him, centuries of solitude and longing condensed into a single, aching moment.
“This place,” His voice was a whisper, barely audible above the gentle rustle of leaves in the night breeze. “It was here that I first realized the true weight of the curse.”
Elena moved closer, her presence a silent comfort as she waited for him to continue. Aldric drew a deep breath, his shoulders sagging beneath an invisible burden.
“In those early days, I would come to this courtyard to watch the sunrise, clinging to the hope that somehow, the witch’s words had been a cruel jest. But each morning, as the first rays of light touched my skin, I felt the curse take hold, my flesh hardening into unyielding stone.”
He clenched his fists, the roll of muscles in his forearms rippled beneath his taut, gray skin.
“I’m so sorry, Aldric,” she murmured, reaching out to lay a hand on his arm. “I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through.”
He turned to her, uncertain if he could trust that she could help him. “The true pain lies not in the physical transformation, but in the isolation, the knowledge that I am forever cut off from the world of daylight and human connection.”
Elena’s grip tightened, her voice fierce with determination. “But you’re not alone anymore. We’ll find a way to break this curse, together. And if it works, maybe I can touch some of the others, too. Help them out as well.” She gave a light laugh. “I sound crazy now.”
A flicker of hope danced through him, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Thank you, Elena. Your words mean more to me than you can possibly know. I’ve been alone for so long,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I feared I would never know the comfort of companionship again.”
“How long?”
Aldric nodded, his gaze meeting hers once more. “For centuries. Two to be exact. In that time I have watched this city change, unable to truly be a part of it. Until you, Elena. You who clearly made an accidental touch of your skin to mine, but it brought me back.”
As they stood there, bound by a shared purpose and an unspoken connection, the first hints of dawn began to paint the eastern sky. Aldric’s gaze turned toward the lightning horizon, a mixture of resignation and longing etched upon his features.
“Come,” he said softly, “we must return to the cathedral before the sun’s first touch. There is still much to discuss, and the day grows near.”
With a nod, Elena followed him out of the courtyard, and he lifted her in his arms, leaping upward into the night sky with a woman who was entirely not ready for such an ascent.