Page 57 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

Hope bloomed in my chest. Maybe Dax and I were building something here. We hadn’t discussed it, and I wasn’t ready to bring it up. Though he was softer with me and becoming more open, I sensed that he would shut down if I brought up the future and how it pertained to us.

* * *

When I openedmy eyes inside the cave, I was surprised to find it was dark. Usually when I dreamwalked to Talant’s cave, he had a fire and hundreds of candles lit.

This time, the rough walls were completely dark, save the flickering light given off by a single oil lamp.

There was also a chill in the air, sharp enough that it stung the bare skin of my arms. I wrapped them around my waist, hugging them to stay warm. Even though the cavern was shadowed, I could see the plumes of my breath as I exhaled.

Why was it so cold? While Talant’s cave was always cool, it was never this frigid.

“Talant?” I called, craning my neck, and trying to peer through the darkness.

Something skittered behind me, like talons clacking on rock. I whirled, my hands up to shield my face, but there was nothing there. From my left, there was a slithering sound, and whatever was moving had to be large because it was much louder than if it was a small animal.

I glanced in that direction, but again, I couldn’t see anything.

“Talant, this isn’t funny!” I yelled.

“Why do you call for my brother, little witch?”

The deep voice echoed in the open space, even though the words weren’t loud.

I turned in another circle, looking around wildly, but all I could see was darkness.

“Sommerton?” I asked.

There was a low laugh. “You know that isn’t my name.”

“Then, what is your name?”

A heavy pause followed my question.

Finally, he answered, “I don’t think I should tell you, witch. Names have power you know.” He paused again. “That’s how I called you here after all,Allison.”

I flinched when he said my name. The word felt like claws, not against my skin, but on my psyche. How could my name hurt when he said it?

My brain worked feverishly, trying to figure out what I should do next. I needed more information about whoever this entity was. More information about his plans and how he thought I fit into them.

“Why did you call me here, then?” I asked.

I heard footsteps to my right. I didn’t spin around, though I wanted to. I turned slowly to face that direction. One of the shadows moved, separating from the darkness in the shape of a man. I couldn’t see his face, but I got a general idea of his size. He was tall, as tall as Dax, but not as bulky. His shoulders were broad, narrowing down to his waist and hips. That was all I could ascertain.

“How is my brother?” he asked, meandering in a circle around me.

I turned with him, keeping him in my sights. Dax always told me never to turn my back on a threat and every instinct inside me screamed that this being, whatever he was, was a threat.

“Talant is fine.” I chose my next words carefully. “He doesn’t want you to hurt me.”

There was another chilling laugh, low and dark as the shadows in the cave. It echoed and seemed to grow louder rather than fading away.

I winced but remained facing him without covering my ears. Finally, the laugh faded.

“I have no intention of hurting you, witch. I need you. Unlike mybrother,” he drawled the word. “I don’t break my toys.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to snap that I wasn’t a toy, but I knew it wouldn’t make any difference. Whoever he was, this being didn’t see me as a person. He didn’t care about my feelings or my safety. To him, Iwasa toy. Or a tool to be used. Nothing more than an inanimate object. Though he claimed not tobreak his toysas he said Talant did, I instinctively knew that was a lie. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me, even kill me, after I’d served my purpose.

“Then, why did you call me here?” I asked, working hard to keep the impatience out of my voice.

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