Chapter 19 – Clark
CLARK
Ihate everything about this situation. I’m supposed to be the leader of our Brotherhood. They’re supposed to look to me for advice and guidance, just like they’ve always done, and yet that mermaid seems to have completely clouded their judgment.
Until our fight, I’d seen Max as our leader in name only. We all knew I was our real one. He was like a child, walking around in his father’s shoes.
But now?
I toss a stick in the water, glaring out at the waves. Now, Max challenged me. He actually said that he was the better leader on this mission… and no one disagreed with him.
The worst part is I know I’m right. As much as the mermaid makes me feel things I never expected, I don’t trust her.
Just the thought makes me stiffen. Fucking Arthur said it was because of my past. It’s not! At least, I don’t think it is. I can’t help but think back to Catherine. I awoke to her tears. A beautiful woman on her hands and knees, begging for a miracle. For protection.
I’d come to life and knelt down beside her, lifting her chin. Seeing tears in her bright blue eyes had made me feel more human than I thought a gargoyle had ever felt. She’d told me an army of invaders were coming, and that she and her guards had no chance of surviving them.
There was no hesitation before I declared myself to her. I vowed to protect her against anything and everything.
She’d pulled me down onto that cold stone floor and made love to me, something I never thought a gargoyle could do with one of his masters. It awakened something in me, a thirst for more than just my life of stone.
Each time an army advanced, I killed them with efficiency. I was an impossible foe against their human bodies. Each time afterwards, she pulled me close to her and made love to me again with a beautiful smile on her face.
Then I decided to end the war once and for all. I chased the enemies to their base only to learn the truth. They were not the invaders. She was. She had stolen their castle, slaughtered their people, and used me to protect her position.
The people I had been fighting? They were my real masters. I could feel it deep down to my soul. Even if they could never accept me or forgive me for what I’d done.
I’d returned to where she waited for me in her bed and I’d killed her.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I fought the pain the old memories brought rushing back to me. She’d betrayed me. Lied to me, and yet, I’d loved her.
I’d never loved again since then. And I never would..
This Sirena? I… my heart begged me to love her too, but something felt off. I couldn't name it, but I felt it. Maybe the fact that she’s a liar too. The thought should have reassured me, but it only made me feel worse. Perhaps I was only destined to love bad women.
A disturbance made my eyes fly open and my entire body stiffened. Looking around the little island I’d come to, I searched for the source of the prickling at the back of my neck. There was nothing but the wind, carrying the saltiness of the sea, and the waves crashing softly against the shore.
As I watched, a man emerged from the water.
His hair was the same bright auburn color as Sirena’s, and his eyes the same dark shade of brown. His skin was pale, but muscled and strong, and I knew without question that he was another immortal.
Without speaking, I drew my sword from my back.
He smiled. “No need to fear, gargoyle, I’ve only come to talk.”
What could he possibly want from me? “So talk.”
He remained partially in the waves, regarding me in a way that made my skin crawl.
“Do you know who I am, gargoyle?”
“Nope, and I don’t really care.”
His smile spread. “I am Phorcys, god of the sea.”
That uneasy feeling grew. I know who he is… Phorcys, god of hidden dangers of the deep, and brother to the very monster we’re hunting.
“Congrats,” I tell him, but my hand tightens on the hilt of my sword.
He looks at my sword, then back at my face, clearly amused. “Alright then. I see you're not much for small talk or manners. That's fine. Let’s get straight to it then. I’ve recently made the acquaintance of some friends of yours.”
I wait, not taking his bait.
“I met some Sea Dragons…” he continues, "Who want their powers back.”
Everything inside of me tenses, but I just stare, waiting.
He raises a brow. “I can see you’re reluctant to give back the power of a god, although I doubt you’ve even had time to truly explore your new gifts. I don’t blame you. Everyone wants powers like ours. Few are willing to except the consequences of stealing them…”
Fine, I’ll take the bait. “First, we didn’t steal their powers, they were forced onto us. Second, we don’t want them. Third, what fucking consequences?”
His eyes seem to glitter beneath the moonlight. “Your bodies can’t contain the power of the gods. Soon the powers will feed on your bodies and souls, destroying you, and then return to their owners.”
I stare. Is he lying? I can’t tell with this guy, because I kind of get the sense he’s lying about everything.
But information is power. “So, how do we get rid of these powers?”
He lifts his hand. Clenched in his grip is a small cage with a little golden creature in the bottom of it. The fish-thing looks… wrong, unhealthy somehow. Maybe it's even hurt, but it's exactly like the one Max described.
“The only thing that can restore the balance is this little monster.”
And of course this creepy, destructive god just wants to give him to us. “What do you want for it?”
Even though I don’t even know if it can do what he says it can, I can’t help but ask.
“What do I want?” he repeats. “Nothing. Just return the powers to the sea dragons. See, I’ve worked out a deal with them, and I’ll be greatly rewarded for making this little arrangement.”
My mind spins. “And I’m sure you’ll allow us to walk away from this meeting unharmed.”
“You have the word of a god.”
And a god can’t break their word. I guess that’s something.
“Fine, where should we meet you?”
“The Lonely Island will do just fine.”
I nod, knowing the isolated place.
He’s lips curl. “And one more thing—“
“The mermaid.” Of course they want her back. But should we give her up? Just the idea made my stomach turn.
His smile fades. “Mermaid?”
“Yes, the mermaid they planned to eat.”
He slides closer to the shore, and something dark appears in his eyes. “Does this mermaid have red hair?”
Suddenly, I feel uneasy. I don’t want to talk to him about Sirena. Even if I think she’s a liar.
So, I shrug.
His eyes flash. “I thought Keto was dead.”
“Keto?” I repeat. “No, not Keto. A different mermaid.”
“A beautiful mermaid with the powers of a goddess?”
Every single muscle in my body tenses.
He laughs. “Keto always did know how to fool men, but I never thought gargoyles would fall for her lies.”
I’m shaking with rage. She was lying to us! All along she was the person we were looking for!
“Angry?” he asks, enjoyment in his every word. “Why be angry when you can have revenge, gargoyle? Bring her back to me, and I’ll make certain she pays for her lies.”
If only I could, but our mission…
“We need her,” I grit out.
He shrugs. “Then you can have her… when I’m done. I simply need to have a little word with my sweet sister. But tick tock, gargoyle, my offer won’t last for long.”
The bastard slides back below the waves and vanishes, and I’m left on the beach, sword in hand, enraged, with no one around to punish.
I hate myself right now. I hate myself because as much as I felt I couldn’t trust the mermaid, I liked her. I was compelled by her sad eyes. My body wanted nothing more than hers. She made me feel things… things I hadn’t felt for a long time.
All along, every word out of her mouth was a lie. A complete and utter lie.
I thought I had grown and changed so much since my first mistake, since Catherine. It cut me deeply to realize I hadn’t. Just show me a woman with a lovely face, and I was lost.
Re-sheathing my sword, I stand. It didn’t matter. What mattered was finding… this Keto, and luring her to the meeting place. I'll have to find a way to deal with the others. I had a feeling they wouldn’t be able to do what needed to be done.
Fortunately for them, they had me.
Now to find them. Stretching my wings, I head off toward the Isle of the Demons, anger churning in my gut with each flap of my wings.