Chapter 76
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
Ellery
As I entered the cavern, the stone erupted with its vivid red color. Along with my lightning, it created a burst of radiance that illuminated the gargoyles within.
Neither of those light sources illuminated the stone creatures at the top, but it did reveal the bottom half of them. Throughout my run, I hadn’t felt anything from the stone; now, it was growing increasingly hotter as it seemed to burn a hole in my pocket.
Its power vibrated against my leg as my breath plumed before me. Fear tickled my nape and caused the hair there to rise while goose bumps broke out on the rest of me.
I’d forgotten how cold it was in the cavern. I didn’t know if that was a sign the gargoyles shouldn’t be trusted or one more anomaly in this awful place.
Now that I was standing before these creatures again, I had no idea what to do with the stone. I could always make the gargoyles talk again, like we did before, but I couldn’t stand the idea of being alone while listening to their creaky, ancient voices.
I wasn’t afraid of much, but the idea of that unnerved me, especially since I could sense them all watching me. The ones above remained hidden, but their eyes bore into me; I couldn’t see them, but my lightning and the stone made me a clear target.
Despite knowing they couldn’t move, I still felt like they were creeping closer, encircling, and preparing to devour me. And if this went well, I’d soon be setting them free to do exactly that.
Have you lost your mind?
Yes, but I didn’t know how to get it back. Maybe these things could help me do so.
I refused to acknowledge how absolutely insane that sounded.
Increasing the lightning around my wrists, I took a deep, fortifying breath and crept toward the gargoyles across from me. As I neared the statue, my lightning played across its features and too sharp canines.
The ugly, stonelike countenance of the creature didn’t move, but it watched. I was sure of it.
We’d learned they were at least somewhat aware of what was happening to them, but I hoped that when the light left this place, they slipped into a deep sleep. I wanted that sleep to protect them from the passing of time and their inability to do anything about it.
If such a thing didn’t happen, then not only were these things capable of decapitating someone with a swipe of their claws, they were also stark raving mad. There was no way they could be trapped here for countless millennia and still be rational.
And I was about to wake them up.
I’m not so annoying now, am I? that irritating little voice taunted.
If you can come up with a better plan, then I’d love to hear it.
That shut the bitch up.
With trembling hands, I dipped into my pocket for the stone as it flashed red again. Though it had felt like it was trying to burn a hole through my pocket before, I didn’t sense that anymore, and the stone remained cool against my palms.
I must have been imagining it earlier, but I wasn’t imagining the feel of Ryker’s clammy finger brushing mine before I pulled the stone free. Nausea surged up my throat; what had I been thinking to pick that up and put it in my pocket?
I couldn’t answer that, and I also couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. The idea of keeping it repulsed me; the thought of leaving it behind made me want to cry.
You really are losing your mind, the rational voice said sympathetically.
I am. I really, really am.
But I had to keep it together long enough to save Ryker and Tempest. And I couldn’t keep carrying the finger around, not only was it morbid, but it was going to start smelling soon; there was no way I could handle the stench of Ryker’s rotting flesh emanating from my pants.
Unsure of what to do with the stone, I ignored the lure of its power as it seeped into my palms and spread throughout me again. This time, I prepared for the temptation the heart offered by steeling myself against its call.
It wasn’t mine to keep, and that’s why it would destroy me. Somewhere along my run to this place, I’d started to understand that.
The lure of the stone was so powerful that some couldn’t resist it.
That’s why the town and all those amsirah were wiped out from Tempest. The stone had a lot of power, and anyone, other than the gargoyles, who tried to wield it would suffer the consequences.
Maybe not immediately, but they would eventually.
If I didn’t give it back, it would kill me and everyone I loved. It belonged with the gargoyles, even if they woke intending to murder all of us. It would make sense that if the stone was murderous, then they were also, but I didn’t think the stone was inherently lethal.
It had become that way after being taken from its rightful place. It had no ill intentions; it simply existed, but it existed best with the gargoyles.
When I reached the pathway winding up and along the gargoyles, I stepped onto it and climbed until I stood outside the third gargoyle.
Crouched in the shadows, its partly open mouth revealed its fangs.
Its clawed hand rested on the ground, and its partly spread wings looked about to take flight.
It was ugly, but it might consider us hideous too.
When the gargoyles spoke to us before, this one was the more dominant of the two. I didn’t know if it was the leader, but I might as well start with it.
With no idea what I was doing, and acting on instinct alone, I brought the stone closer to it. As I did so, the pink light pulsed like it was running a marathon. I had no idea what to do with it, but I had to be onto something if the stone was getting so excited.
Did I stick it in the gargoyle’s mouth? Maybe try to push it into its chest like it was an actual heart I was molding into the stone? Was just getting it closer to them enough to make the gargoyles come alive again?
I got my answer to that last question as I held the stone before the gargoyle and… nothing happened. It was so close to its face that the stone touched the end of its truncated nose, but that touch wasn’t doing anything.