Page 10 of Sins of the Stone

“Well, you are not feral, like other creatures. They can speak and have sentience but are consumed with fixation, and their intelligence is mostly limited. As far as I’m aware, they don’t live in houses,” she explained. “And they are incapable of comforting, and they do not put together potential ruses to keep humans at their whim.” Her eyes did not raise from her meal. “Not saying I think you’re deceiving me, but if you were, they could not conceive such a thing.” Ramuz smiled ever so slightly.

She’s sharp.

His tail flicked in the same action as a human would if drumming their fingers. He wondered where she was going with this, but he knew her questions would need answers. He liked to think he was quick-witted, but her presence made him sloppy. She shoved another bite into her mouth. Each gnash of her jaw was like a countdown to the subsequent foreboding request for information.

“Though I do wonder why you were there at the exact time the demons attacked,” she said, setting her fork down and gazing at him. Her leer was not accusatory, but quizzical. “Ifyou are not one of them.”

Ramuz cleared his throat, unsure how to explain hisvoyeurism, as he had learned it was called once. The word felt disgusting, just as she had said she felt after engaging in her alluring act. They really were the same—both sinners and shameful. Perhaps they could share their sins together.

“Well,” he began, trying to hide his misdeed from her. “Humans are curious creatures, and I study them.” His voice lacked confidence, though, as far as he could tell, she didn’t notice. The overwhelming guilt from his deviant act hammered a sick feeling into his head as if every innocent action was voided by one immoral one. Picking up her fork, she took another bite. Her eyes darted left, then right, nodding as she swallowed.

“Yeah, you’re right about that,” she said, the hint of a smirk barely shining through her worn face. She still appeared tired from all the crying she had done the days before. Pure, unadulterated sorrow was an expression he wasn’t used to seeing on her.

“Did you study me?” she questioned. Their eyes met, making his already dancing heart skip. If his face could display red as vibrantly as hers, it would be doing so now. He thanked the gods that his skin wasn’t as translucent as theirs.

“Ah, well—”

“I’m just kidding,” she said with a soft smile. “You wouldn’t study me. I’m not interesting or adventurous.” Little did she know how interesting he found her and how he knew she was being facetious about being adventurous. He knew all about heradventures.

“There’s plenty of other interesting people to watch. Like Giles, he fightsdemons or Maritza, she’s a gossiper. She could tell you any secret about anyone in town, even me.” She took a breath. “Did you ever look into them?” Ramuz shook his head, not wanting to admit to his fixation. She shrugged, then spoke again.

“Ah, well, that’s okay. Maybe next time—oh.”Her face sunk with the realization that the two she spoke about were more than likely dead, the situation at home coming rushing back. He could see her lip quivering. It broke his heart to see her in such pain. Then, she took a deep breath, swallowing her emotions, and the tremble in her eyes faded.

“Ah, another reason I’m not afraid of you is because I read a lot of books,” she continued, the first half of her sentence unsteady, though the latter half gained more stability.

“Books?”

“Yeah, books.”

“Like what?”

“Everything. Stuff about adventures, monsters, horror stories, romance. Fake stories, real stories. I’ll read anything,” she said. “That taught me that not all creatures are evil. Just, um,most of them.” She finished her sentence softly. His ears pricked up at the mention of romance, though he quickly shoved the thought back down.

“Though I haven’t read much about whatyoucould be.” She paused, giving him a quizzical look. “What are you, anyway?” Ramuz bowed his head.

“I am a gargoyle.”

“A gargoyle? Like those little statues we put outside our doors for protection, that sort of gargoyle?” Ramuz shrugged, honestly not knowing the answer. Perhaps he fit that description, but he couldn’t be certain. All he knew was what the other creatures called him and what the humans called those statues, so that must be what he was.

“I could not tell you,” he said.

“Strange,” she muttered, her gaze wandering off to process his answers. Even with her eyes strained, she could still see her purity shining through. Her gaze met his yellowed eyes once more, her voice still inquisitive.

“Are you made of stone?” Ursulette questioned curiously.

“Unfortunately, I am not,” he said. “I am just as fleshy as you, but much more durable.” He pinched his arm to demonstrate. His claws did not pierce his body, but they left little indents in his leathery skin. Ursulette sucked in a breath and set her chin on her elbow.

“So, Ramuz the gargoyle, who studies humans—” He was grateful she didn’t use the wordspy.“Why me? Out of everyone you could’ve saved, why not a healer or a warrior?”

Because I adore you,is what he wanted to say.Your eyes, your smile, your laugh, your scent,but he bit his tongue. However, she could sense something due to one of the furry strips above her eye raising suspicion.

“I was in the right place at the right time, I suppose,” he said, giving another shrug. Ursulette made a humming noise as if thinking, her expression of mistrust fading, allowing him to breathe an internal sigh of relief.

“I’m glad you were there then.” She gave a slight smile, making his heart melt and quelling the rhythm of his nervous flutter. “Though, I’m not exactly sure what to do now that my home and village have been reduced to ash.” Ramuz’s body filled with pure joy, though he wanted to execute his request with finesse.

“You’ve been through a lot. You can stay here however long you would like,” he said, hoping she would enjoy her time here and, more importantly, with him. Her eyes fell, once more lost in thought. After a moment, she looked up, giving him a nod.

“That’s very kind of you,” she smiled, her face shading to pink. His heart pulsed in his chest with that one simple action. It was the first time she had beamed and blushed since arriving here.

---