Page 2 of Gargoyle Vigilante

He swallowed hard, heat creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. The officer drew his eyebrows together as he regarded him, clearly wondering what nefarious activities Amir might be engaged in. Amir cleared his throat and adjusted the backpack hanging off his shoulder.

“You okay, sir? You seem a bit flustered.”

An abrupt, nervous laugh burst out of him.Sir. That was funny. But then he realized that the cop was probably wondering why he was sweating so much when it was cold outside.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Fine.” He gave him what he hoped was a completely normal smile. “Totally fine.”

His frown deepened. “Do you have any ID?”

Amir’s jaw went slack. “W-wha…? I’m not doing anything. I just—” He gasped. “Watch out! They’re behind you!”

The cop smirked. “Come on, kid. I’m not falling for that one. Let’s quit playing arou—”

Amir watched in horror as one of the creatures bit into the cop’s neck, shaking him like a dog with a toy, then flinging him across the store until he smashed into the coolers. The two beer buyers jumped, gaping at the cop yet seemingly unaware of the black masses swirling around the store. Before they had a chance to say anything, a creature grabbed them both by their heads and crushed them together. Amir fought the bile rising in his stomach, mortified that he’d brought death and destruction to the innocent people of this store.

The guy behind the cash register was finally interested in something other than his magazine as he stood, then scratchedhis head as if he too was wondering what had happened. A woman opened the door just then and screamed as the old man was hurled at her.

Amir lunged, trying to push her out of the way, but since she apparently couldn’t see the monsters that were killing everyone either, she assumed Amir was attacking her. She punched and kicked at him, succeeding only in knocking them both over then landing on top of him.

Her shrill scream rang in his ear before she was yanked off of him. Tears ran down his cheeks as two of the evil creatures tore at her, helplessness almost making him want to surrender to the inevitable.

But he’d sworn to protect the ring, and that was all that mattered for now.

Amir scrambled to his feet, almost tripping, but managed to bring himself upright before charging out of the door. This time, the compulsion to check behind him wasn’t there. If he never saw those things again, it would be too soon. Unfortunately, he knew that wouldn’t be the case. He could only hope that they wouldn’t be the last thing he’deversee.

Amir raced blindly down the street, desperate to find somewhere to hide. Being in public hadn’t helped him one damn bit. All he’d managed to do was get innocent people killed.

As he rounded a corner, he spotted another alleyway. Amir clutched the backpack to his chest as he darted into the alley, his mind reeling from the madness he’d witnessed.What the fuck just happened?One moment, everything was fine, then the next, chaos reigned. People were being obliterated by the black masses that were moving so quickly he couldn’t discern their forms, yet those who were killed behaved as though they couldn’t see what was attacking them.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Amir glanced around his immediate surroundings. Everything seemed quiet, but that didn’t give him any comfort. The part of downtown he was in was pretty sketchy. However, the convenience store massacre gave sketchy a good name. Perhaps he could find an open door, somewhere he could remain concealed while he figured out his next move.

He started checking the doors to see if one was unlocked. By the time he reached the third one, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he whipped his body around.

Toolate.

The hideous creatures had found him and there was nowhere to hide.

Chapter Two

Dante groanedthe moment Malachi’s voice sounded behind him. He knocked back the rest of the top-shelf whiskey he’d been consuming the better part of the afternoon in a shitty downtown LA bar. Apparently, his evasion skills needed fine tuning.

“Hello, my friend. What’s it been? Eighty years?”

Dante peered over his shoulder with a smirk. “Can’t a man get drunk in peace?”

Mal hopped onto the bar stool next to him, and Dante raised one eyebrow. It seemed his fellow Shadow Slayer planned on staying for a bit.

Guess he didn’t take the hint after I disappeared.

“That’s the quandary, though, isn’t it?” The corners of Mal’s mouth twitched as he considered him.“Getting drunk for a gargoyle is nigh impossible.”

Dante gave his friend a one-shouldered shrug as he signaled to the bartender, pointing to his empty glass. “Challenge accepted.”

Mal tsked as he shook his head. “This is the warm welcome I get? No, hey Mal, great to see you! Sure missed you, buddy.”

Dante snorted. “Buddy?” He angled his head, peering at his fellow slayer and closest friend. “If the only reason you’re here is because Michael sent you, then you’re not much of a buddy.”

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