Chapter 29 – Shade
SHADE
Idon’t trust the man in front of me. Not only is he one of the Elites, the ones who are cruel to my gargoyles, but every nerve in my body seems to be on edge. This man… He wants something from me, like Lord Drac. But what?
“You like Cody, Damon, Jordon, and Elliot, don’t you?”
I stiffen, not sure why I feel uncertain about speaking the truth.
“It’s okay. I understand. You’re a young monster, lost in the world, and they seem like men who would protect you. All gargoyles are naturally protective.”
“What do you want from me?”
He steeples his hands in front of him. “I want this all to end as peacefully as possible. I will let your gargoyles go. I will even make them feel…less like failures, if you’d like. But I need something from you in return.”
Of course he did. “What?”
“We brought you here because we need your help to rid our sanctuary of dangerous creatures that threaten our kind, and I cannot allow your gargoyles to leave with these creatures still endangering us all.”
Elliot did say they needed me for something important. This must be it. So why does it feel wrong?
I draw myself up taller. “I’m not a murderer. I protect the innocent and punish the guilty.”
“Well, then, this should be easy for you. Because these creatures are dangerous murderers. They deserve death. It’s only their immortality that has kept them from being taken by the shades…and yet, you don’t have to obey those same rules.”
My heart races. He speaks in such a smooth voice, so calmly and reassuringly, as if this all makes perfect sense. And it kind of does. I can protect my men and allow them to leave without consequences, and I can protect more innocents.
So why do I feel like I’m being tricked?
“Tell me about these creatures…”
“Have you ever heard of Medusa?”
I shake my head.
“She can turn humans, and weaker immortal beings, into stone just by looking at them. She has killed hundreds, if not thousands.”
I tense. She does sound dangerous.
“And there’s Keto. A being who controls creatures in the oceans. She smashes ships, kills humans, and her beasts feed upon their bodies.”
If all this is true, Keto is also a dangerous killer.
“Rid us of them, and your gargoyles and you are free to go.”
My eyes narrow at him. “Do I have your word on that?”
He smiles. “You do.”
“Where can I find these murderous creatures?”
Norbert’s smile reaches his eyes. “I believe they’re walking by the river in this very sanctuary.”
Taking a deep breath, I teleport. Hopefully to drag my last souls to the Underworld.