Page 14 of Love, Rekindled

Odd.

“Were you eavesdropping?” he demanded. “It is very rude.”

She blinked. “I thought you were talking to me.”

“Why would I talk to you?”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

Hmm. Good point. He stepped closer, studying her delicate features. He didn’t recognize them, but there was something about that voice.

“You seem familiar,” he muttered. “Who are you?”

She tilted her head as if confused by the question. “You don’t know?”

Levet sniffed the air. Gingersnaps. “Should I?”

“Well, we are family.” The female pursed her lips. “But I suppose I can’t blame you for not wanting to acknowledge the connection. We are a rather motley crew, even for gargoyles.”

“Mötley Crüe?” Levet was more confused than usual. Which was saying something. “The band?”

Now the female looked confused. “What band?”

“Wait. Family?” Levet abruptly realized why her voice was familiar. “Aunt Bertha?”

“Who else would I be?”

Levet allowed his gaze to travel over the sparkly cocktail dress and the delicate heels. The last time he’d seen Bertha, she’d been a seven-foot-tall gargoyle covered in gray skin with leather wings, short horns, and gnarly features covered in moss.

“Why are you in that shape?”

Bertha glanced down, holding out her slim arms as if as confused as Levet by the human body. “I have no idea. I went to sleep on a mountain in Nepal.” She shrugged. “I think there was an earthquake. I woke up a century later buried beneath that rubble and in this human shape.”

It had been a while since Levet had seen his relative, but that wasn’t unusual. He had a firm policy of keeping family reunions to a bare minimum. Preferably zero. Or whatever was less than zero.

“Why do you not change back?”

Bertha dropped her arms, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know how.”

Levet studied her in confusion. “Is this a joke?”

“I don’t think so. I suppose someone could be playing a trick by sticking me in a human form, but I’m not sure what is amusing about it.”

Levet dismissed his aunt’s odd appearance. Instead, he concentrated on the fact that she had appeared on this street at the same time as he had. Was it a mere coincidence? Perhaps not. Bertha had occasionally stumbled into his life over the years. Sometimes when he needed her the most, as if fate was taking a hand in directing them to cross paths. Other times, she’d arrived and caused utter chaos. You never knew which you were going to get.

“Why are you in Hong Kong?”

“I’m not really sure.” She glanced around in confusion. “I was enjoying a leisurely hike up Mount Everest when I was struck by a sudden compulsion to come here.” Her attention returned to Levet. “Did you call for me?”

Did he? Levet scratched his stunted horn. “I do not think so.”

“Oh.” She flashed a dimpled smile. “Well, I’m here now. What are you doing?”

Levet puffed out his chest. “I’m on a very important mission.”

“Are you? How exciting.”

Levet parted his lips to lie, only to heave a deep sigh. What was the point? “Not especially.”

---