Page 5 of Sins of the Stone

“You don’t think something bad will happen, do you?” she asked. Giles’ expression was as harsh as she’d ever seen him. He grabbed the cloth off the counter and placed it behind the bar, patting her hand gently.

“I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t worry yourself to death,” he said. “I just needed you to know, is all.” Despite his somber tone, his words of comfort gave her a little assurance. “Don’t go being all bummed out on me now. You decked Omar. We should be celebrating. That bastard’s been asking for it for years.” He pushed her bottle towards her. With an unconfident smile, she gave him a nod, hoping the alcohol would wash her worries away. She took the bottle in hand, raising it to her lips.

“Don’t frighten me like that, okay?” she said, taking a swig. Giles gave her another soft grin, his eyes shining back to their normal, not morbid state. Soon enough, her worries faded, and they laughed together as if his ominous message had never been spoken. However, something else bothered her, and she raised a brow. She could’ve sworn she saw a shifting shadow outside the window over his shoulder.

The shape was strikingly similar to the creature who saved her, but she couldn’t be certain. Perhaps she was just stressed, or the shadows fell like that coincidentally, but there was no way it was following her. Creatures weren’t known to stalk humans, at least not the creatures they knew about.

After a while, she shrugged it off, feeling as if she had experienced quite a bit of stress and was being paranoid, or Omar and Kent were playing a trick on her or, worse, looking to attack her again. Despite the lingering anxiety, she waved Giles goodbye and made her way home.

When she wandered out the door, she gave the little gargoyle statue outside the tavern a pat on the head, thinking that she was pretty lucky that something was looking out for her yesterday evening.

Once she was done, she stomped her way through the snow, beginning to feel the effects of the handful of ciders she consumed. Ursulette reached into her pocket, toying with the little doll before making it to the orphanage. Nowadays, there were only a few kids there, but they needed comfort more than anyone else. Just like she once did.

She sighed and pushed away the memories, placing the toy on the porch. No one would know she had been the one giving little gifts, but perhaps someone would figure it out with her penchant for sewing. Or maybe no one paid attention enough to put the pieces together.

With her face still rosy and her uneven gait, she walked down the familiar path, craving the embrace of a cozy blanket and the softness of her mattress. Even in her slightly drunken state, she thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye but dismissed it, assuming it was just the sway of the alcohol.

Chapter 4

Ramuz

What the old man said resonated with Ramuz. He, too, was concerned with the boldness of the creatures recently. Being the only one of his kind made him more prone to interaction with the others. He was never ferocious enough to be one of them, but never normal enough to join the humans. He was caught between two worlds and an outcast in both. Until he saw her.

Their shift in attitude was not subtle. Their assaults had been occurring deeper in the village. The humans noticed, at least, the ones that seemed important. A handful of the dignitaries dragged away a body in the middle of the night more than once. By the time the average residents awoke, there was no evidence of a slaughter.

Ramuz even overheard the townspeople talking of neighbors disappearing. The leaders claimed the missing residents had gone on an adventure and never returned. It seemed he was the only one who knew better. He wanted nothing more than to speak up and tell them they were being fooled, but that would cause more trouble than it was worth.

The people would not be so easily swayed by a creature akin to a monster, let alone the idea that he was lurking in the shadows. He learned that humans were sensitive about things that other species were not. He knew they didn’t like to be watched when they weren’t aware, but he couldn’t help himself. Isolation was a plague on his soul.

Being alone for so long made his heart ache with a craving for aconnection. He had been solitary for as long as he could remember, possibly for as long as his conception. Though he wasn’t exactly sure where he came from, all he knew was that his memories started somewhere, and from that moment, he had been alone.

The first few centuries were alright, living as he always had, never pondering the idea of others like him, friends, or companions. Then, the demons became more prominent, growing in numbers before his eyes. Even they had others like them. Perhaps it was for protection, but it still struck him in a way he couldn’t quite place.

His longing only got worse when the humans began encroaching on demonic territory. It started with one house, then many, adding more and more over the years. Now, they were plentiful. Once, out of sheer impulse, he followed the humans home after encountering them while they were scouting in the wild.

However, it wasn’t until recently that he developed the habit of lingering in the shadows. It was mostly late in the night, but there were a handful of times that he couldn’t help but visit during the day. Boredom was a powerful intoxicant.

He wished he could interact with them. After all, he matched their intelligence and emotions, but was far too much of a monster for their liking. They were cautious and fearful, and it was clear that if he made himself known, it would cause problems.

Something that really intrigued him about humans was their propensity for being social. Everything they did involved other humans, and it made his heart ache. They had unique places designed just for them to socialize. They lived together and mingled with each other with an affection he hadn’t ever felt. But for as long as he existed, he had never seen another gargoyle. Only those little stone statues some of them put outside their doors, but he couldn’t decipher why. Perhaps it was to mock him. The only creatures that looked like him were inanimate. What a cruel fate that was.

Most humans seemed to have other humans to whom they went home. Most of them, except one—the female. She lived alone, worked alone, and spent time by herself most of the time.

He often wondered why this one was so isolated and the others were not. Even the old man she visited occasionally had others he went along with, but essentially, she was detached. It made him wonder if she hid her loneliness better than he did. He pondered what he would find if he could read her mind.

Her thoughts and secrets would be quite intriguing, he thought.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about the female. All he knew was that it was similar to how the humans behaved with their animals, the ones they kept in the houses. Pets, he believed they were called. Not the emotionless relationship they had with livestock.

Yes, all he wanted to do was stroke her skin, press his face to her hair, and hold her tight. He saw the humans do those things with their animals and their lovers, causing great confusion. Lovers met mouths and caressed regions deemed off-limits or touched each other with a passion he had never felt. It was strange.

He wondered what her lips felt like, how soft her skin was, and what secrets she held. It could be something more than humans’ benign adoration for their animals. All he knew was that when he saw her face, it made his day so much better, even if she didn’t know he existed. His heart twisted thinking about it. He feared it would have to stay that way forever. She would only reject him, just like the rest.

Chapter 5

Ramuz

In the following days, his female had laid low, which was unusual for her. She would at least go outside and bask in the sun, enhancing the color of her enchanting blue eyes. Her dark hair shone with a shocking amber tint in the rays, making him wish to reach out and feel what it felt like.

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