Chapter 7
Oncewe entered the library, I stopped at the bottom of the stairwell and stared up. All the events of yesterday rushed back to me and with it, my throat clenched. The girl, the book, the intruders, the gargoyle statue coming to life who now walked beside me. He’d dropped one intruder on these stairs, yet no sign of that violent incident remained.
Iblew out a rough breath and gazed up at the ceiling. The gunshot didn’t leave any visible damage to the murals above. Had it just bounced off Hugo’s wing? Once we climbed the stairs, I turned my focus to the ground.
“Are you looking for something?” he asked.
“The bullet. What happened to it?” I couldn’t exactly have patrons finding one on the floor of the library.
“Ah, yes,” Hugo said with a nod. “The others cleaned it up when they came for the intruders last night.
“Oh.” I squeezed my eyes, not wanting to envision all the chaos that had happened on the first night I was left in charge. WhenI reopened them, I asked, “Okay, what now?”
“I’ll check in with my commander and remain on watch while you prepare to open the library.”
Ibit my lower lip as I considered this odd situation. How could I act like nothing strange had occurred last night?
Thenagain, what else would I do? Call the police and tell them demon hybrids broke in, but a gargoyle statue came to life and stopped them? Not an enticing idea.
Hugoaccompanied me into the special collections where I checked on the book and ensured it was still there.
“It’s quite remarkable,” I pointed out. “This has to be the book they demanded last night, but why? It must be valuable.” I motioned around us. “But so are many pieces of art in the library. It doesn’t make sense.”
Hugogrunted in reply. “It’s concerning indeed. We don’t know their reasons. But they were criminals.”
AfterI locked up the room and went upstairs, Hugo said, “I’ll be on watch.” He motioned to the gargoyle statue, an eerily similar, stone-still version of him, and then walked towards it. Within a blink, he’d disappeared into it.
“Wow.” I marveled and then walked over to it. I gaped as I stared up at him before I snapped myself to get to work opening the library.
Itwas very disconcerting as I tried to continue as normal when nothing could ever again be normal after last night. Library staff, including a security guard, arrived. Was he even needed when Adelaide had the gargoyles here? Perhaps it was meant as a deterrent more than anything else.
AlthoughI was scheduled to leave earlier today, I stayed past closing to ensure that everything went smoothly on my watch—and I wanted to take a closer look at the book.
Thehours went by both quickly and yet dragged on. Once all the staff left and I locked up, Hugo moved off the pedestal. As the statue appeared to come to life once more, I stifled a gasp. Stepping backward, I placed a hand on my heart.
Hisstony expression turned dour. “You fear me still.” Pain flashed in his gray eyes.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” I explained. WouldI ever?
“It’s not my intent to scare you.”
“I know.”
Heslanted his head down an inch. “My commander assured me that other sentries are out front and will stay there to guard against intruders. I can accompany you back to your apartment to ensure you get back safely.”
Irolled my shoulders back, trying to work out the tension that had rooted there since last night. “Okay.”
Aswe headed for the front door, he pulled his wings in, and they disappeared from behind him, and next went his tail.
“Where did they go?” I asked.
“My wings and tail?”
“Yes, of course.” What else would I mean?
“I retracted them so I can go out with you, looking human.”
Iturned to him and narrowed my gaze. “You’re joking, right?”
“No,” he replied slowly.
“Are you really going to go out there looking like that?
Hisheavy brows pulled closer. “Like what?”
Igestured toward him in a semicircle. “All gargoyle-y.”
Hestared at me for several seconds before his lips twitched up. “I’ve already cloaked myself to look human.” With a curious expression, he asked, “How do I look to you?”
Mygaze traveled from the curved horns on his head, which were greatly intriguing, down to his silvery-gray eyes, and his gray body, which was far larger than any human I’d ever seen. “You look more human than when you were perched in stone, but the horns.” I motioned up to them. “The color of your eyes. Yourbody.”
Heassessed me with a steady gaze that turned wondrous. “It’s astonishing that you see me like this.” He pulled open the heavy front door. “Don’t worry, to everyone else out there, I’ll look as human as you.”
Aswe walked across campus, I braced myself, preparing to hear screams from people, but none came. Hugo greeted those in passing with a friendly nod, somewhat unusual in a city.
Mymind remained bewildered as we walked just over a mile to my apartment. I preferred to walk and the fresh air was good for me, especially since I spent the rest of my time pretty much indoors. And it was the only exercise I got.
Whenwe approached my apartment in the multi-level, gray stone building with red shutters, Hugo turned to me.
“If you need anything, call out to me.”
Ijerked back. “Where will you be?”
“Outside. On watch nearby.”
Myeyes widened. “How would I find you?”
“Just open your window and call out for me.” Then he gave me a lingering glance before he said, “Sweet dreams.”
WhenI entered my apartment, my mind remained boggled. The funny thing was that it was due to new knowledge. The more I learned, the more I questioned. I couldn’t dismiss what happened as a dream or a hallucination, as I’d been wondering when I’d left here earlier that morning. No, it turned out my silent, stone-faced confidant in the library was actually a living, breathing being who could both see and hear.
Istood and paced through the living room, trying to find comfort in my familiar surroundings. My gaze zoomed to a lavender candle on the side table, and I lit it. Once the soothing scent wafted higher, I inhaled it.
Itwas too quiet in here, leaving me too wrapped up in my thoughts. I found a classical playlist on my phone and played it through the speakers. Maybe a soothing ritual with calming tea and a hot bath would help calm me so I could sleep.
Deepdown, I knew it wouldn’t work. Not until I had answers. When something was on my mind, I’d loop through the same mental roundabout for hours in my personal version of Jean-PaulSartre’sNoExit. YetI’d never had so much to process as I did now. I was on the verge of freaking out and didn’t know what to do with myself.
Strangelyenough, I pictured being with Hugo again. Who else could I talk to about this and ask all these questions crashing in my head?
AsI envisioned him, a warm tingle curled inside. Something about him was utterly fascinating. The hard planes of his features. The insanely muscular torso. The long dark hair like that of a warrior. His horns intrigued me. I wanted to reach out and touch them to see what they felt like. His wings were simply beautiful, despite how much they had terrified me the first time I’d seen him fly. His silvery-gray eyes were unlike any I’d seen, so captivating.
Waita minute—I couldn’t be attracted to a gargoyle, could I?
“Whew, you’re definitely losing it, Anya,” I said aloud. Just like I would have talked to myself in the library when I thought no one was listening, but…
Ilet out a shaky laugh. Oh, what kind of ridiculous things had he heard me say when I’d thought I was alone? All the trivial observations and silly puns—not to mention any private thoughts I might have shared. Heat rose to my cheeks.
Mystomach growled. Time to make dinner. I slogged into my small kitchen to see what I could make. I scrounged around, looking through the fridge, freezer, and cabinets. I’d planned to stop by the grocery store after I’d left the library, but it had completely slipped my mind amid all the bewildering new developments. MaybeI could whip up a quick pasta dinner. AsI pulled out linguini, tomato sauce, and sausage to prepare an easy meal, I pictured Hugo outside.
Iwalked back into the living room and glanced out the window. Where was Hugo? To think of him hiding in plain sight in the library for all that time. Was he doing something similar right now? Mounted on a building? It was dark out and I could only see the areas that were illuminated, such as under streetlights.
He’dtold me I could call to him if I needed anything. What about him? Did he need anything as he watched, on guard outside somewhere? A thousand more questions and half-assed answers tumbled again in my mind. Was he cold? Did gargoyles get cold? WhenI’d touched his skin, it was tougher than a human’s yet surprisingly soft. And so warm beneath my fingers…
Iwalked over to the window. MaybeI would regret this. Perhaps it was foolish, but I couldn”t think straight right now anyway. Common sense would be something I’d tackle at another time. I opened the window and searched around outside. No sign of him.
“Hugo?” I said, my voice quiet.
Noanswer.
”Hugo?” I repeated a little bit louder.
Ashape moving in the distance caught my attention. Slate-gray wings cut against the pitch of the night sky, barely visible, camouflaged by darkness. As they came toward me, they grew larger.
Isucked in a breath and stepped back. What was I doing? MaybeI was making a mistake.
Asthe figure approached, I recognized Hugo back in his gargoyle form, with hard angles on his stern face. He hovered before my window, wings flapping to keep him aloft.
“Are you okay, LittleOne?” His brows furrowed in a concerned expression.
“Ye-yes,” I stammered, my voice sounding strangled. I cleared my throat. “I was just—wondering…” My cheeks warmed. I cleared my throat and tilted my head. “Are you hungry?”