Chapter 9
NINE
SLOAN
Kimberly wasn’t kidding, the entire rear of the house was basically one large gym equipped with sparring pads, a weight room, mats, and boxing equipment. Sloan followed the gargoyle through the house as she pointed at her favorite workout routines.
“I have a rock wall that actually goes up into the second story.” She pointed to a room with an open door as they passed. “Physical exercise, it’s what keeps us sane, not tearing out one another’s throats on a daily basis.”
Sloan peeked into the dark room. It was sparsely decorated. Kimberly’s rock climbing wall made up one of the entire walls and disappeared up into the second floor.
“You need a rock wall even though you can fly?” Sloan asked their guide as she kept pace with the gargoyle.
“I wouldn’t expect a human to understand,” Kimberly huffed.
The group finally reached a pair of open double doors that led outside. It was still dark. If Sloan had to guess, it was already into the late hours of the morning. Kimberly’s backyard was just as nicely tended as the front, with one colossal exception.
A gigantic, raised triangle ring was set into the middle of the yard. All around, gloves and pads littered the grassy lawn.
“Glorious, isn’t it?” Kimberly beamed with pride. Instead of waiting for a response, she gave instructions. “I’m trusting that you won’t have a change of mind and run.”
“You still have someone I need.” Sloan jumped up to the ring, surveying the area where the fight would take place. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“For a human, you are either insane or disturbingly sure of yourself.” Kimberly also jumped up beside Sloan, surveying the inside of the ring.
The spot where Kimberly’s feet landed sagged under her weight.
“You do understand I’m about to beat you into a bloody pulp. I’ll probably end up killing you.”
“The thought crossed my mind.” Sloan nodded slowly, thinking of how her own newfound abilities would stack up when fighting a gargoyle. “But what’s a girl to do?”
Sloan looked over to find Kimberly grinning.
“I like you, human. I’m going to be sad pounding your face in.
” Kimberly leaped over the three ropes that acted as a perimeter around the ring.
“You seem like a nice girl. I’ll give you a few minutes to prepare.
When the bell rings, we’ll begin. We’ll use three-minute rounds.
As many as are necessary until there is a winner, but I should warn you, no one has ever made it past the first round with me. ”
Kimberly walked to her chosen corner, the very top of the triangle-shaped ring. She left Sloan to choose which of the two lower corners she’d use as her own. Sloan vaulted over the rope, walking to the triangle ring’s bottom right corner.
The guard with the nasally voice ran to act as Kimberly’s water boy. The other guard made his way over to a bell that stood beside the left side of the ring.
Edison, Oliver, and Elwood followed Sloan on the ground right beside the ring.
Sloan removed her smelly cloak and started to stretch. The canvas of the ring had at one time been a light blue, but that was a day a very long time ago. It was darker now, with generous splatterings of dried blood that now looked more black than red.
“Elwood, put down the cereal and help,” Edison barked to his magical assistant. He listed off items at a rapid pace. “Towel, stool, water bottle.”
Elwood placed his empty bowl on the ground and reached behind his back.
His magical ability as a gnome allowed him to conjure anything he could hold in one of his small hands.
As ordered, Elwood conjured a fluffy white towel; a clear, cool bottle of water; and the smallest stool Sloan had ever seen.
The gnome looked over at Sloan and gave her thumbs-up, offering his advice in an excited chatter.
“What did he say?” Sloan looked over to Edison for translation.
“He said to kick her in the nuts.” Edison placed the stool in the corner of the ring and handed the bottle of water to Sloan. “Sorry, he’s a bit confused about gargoyle anatomy, doesn’t quite get it yet.”
Sloan squirted a gulp of water into her mouth as she eyed the grinning gnome who continued to pantomime kicking motions.
“Gargoyles are turned to stone under the light of the full sun.” Oliver jumped up onto the apron of the ring, offering advice.
“When she’s in her awake stage, her skin will be tough, but not impenetrable.
If you can place a few shots to her head, you might be able to stun her.
She still has to breathe like everyone else, so get her into a choke hold and make her tap. But above all, be careful, Sloan.”
“I appreciate the words of wisdom.” Sloan jumped up and down on her toes. “I already have a plan.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen her fight yet.” Edison looked over to the doctor. His voice dropped to a whisper as if he were exchanging government secrets. “She’s been injected with the vampire elixir and the Phoenix Serum, remember?”
“You what!?” Oliver took a step back, blinking through his still-broken glasses. “You never told me that. What were you thinking? You could have killed her.”
“I was almost dead anyway.” Sloan rolled her neck from side to side and swung her arms out, stretching them in preparation for the fight. “I’m fine.”
“Yes, I’m sure you feel fine, but we need to do tests.” Doctor Oliver Livingston looked at her with concern. “Sloan, we need to make sure your body is adjusting appropriately to what was done to it.”
Sloan already knew that Doctor Livingston was interested in her. Even back when she thought he was a creep and she worked for the queen, he hadn’t exactly kept his interest a secret. The idea that what he said now stemmed from his interest in her made her pause.
The bell rang.
Elwood gave her another miming motion of kicking someone in the crotch.