Page 13 of Gargoyle Reaper

Satisfied for the moment, Ezekiel noticed how Archer had relaxed into his touch, no longer bristling at the contact. Archer leaned against him, as if seeking comfort.

“Is it safe out here in the open like this?” Archer clutched the box to his chest beneath his jacket, his eyes darting around the area.

Ezekiel wrapped his arm around Archer and tugged him close. “For now. I need to get you into the lair, which won’t be as simple as you might imagine.”

“Don’t we just need to get inside the cathedral and we’ll be safe? Like what’s her face in Hunchback of Notre Dame?”

Ezekiel chuckled despite their circumstances. “Esmeralda. One of my favorite stories. Safer, but not impervious. I’m afraid it’s not that simple. The shadow gargoyles can definitely breach the cathedral and lair. But at least when we’re inside, we have the advantage of barriers and my fellow Slayers.”

“Then let’s go already.” Archer shuddered. “I’ve never been so on edge in my life.”

Ezekiel kept his palm at the small of Archer’s back. “It’s still daylight, dearest. I can’t fly you to the secret entrance on theroof, and we can’t march into the church and duck behind the altar where another entrance to the lair is located.”

Archer’s brow creased, and he wrapped both arms around the box still hidden beneath his jacket. “Can we at least hover at the top of the steps by the front door?”

Ezekiel let his eyes drift closed as a message drifted to him from Malachi. “All right, we’re good to go inside. We’ll remain in the front until the priest who works with our faction greets us.”

“Seriously?” Archer shook his head. “Okay. Still not sure how all this works, but I’ll follow your lead.”

Ezekiel smiled as he led Archer to the front. “I promise not to steer you wrong. At every lair location, we work with an earthly spiritual leader to help facilitate our ability to come and go.”

As they made their way up the steps, Archer appeared lost in thought. When they reached the top, he paused, regarding Ezkiel with a frown.

“I have to say, I’m amazed by how intricate your world is, how all this has been going on under humanity’s noses this entire time.”

Ezekiel opened the enormous, wooden arched door for Archer, gesturing for him to go first. “We’ve had centuries to perfect our methods.”

Archer opened his mouth like he was going to respond, then snapped it shut. Ezekiel imagined that with each supernatural revelation, the more the scientifically educated man would question his previous understanding of reality.

The elderly priest silently guided them to the alter, the main section of the church empty of worshipers.

“We have a mass this evening,” the priest whispered to Ezekiel. “But Malachi warned me earlier that you would need access to the lair this afternoon.” He gave Archer a quick glance. “Is he…?”

Ezekiel nodded. “Nephilim.”

Archer cleared his throat loudly. “I’m standing right here.”

The priest clasped his hands together and made a slight bow.”Forgive me. I have never met one of the ancient races before.”

Archer’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh. I…” A flush bloomed in his cheeks. “That’s okay. I’m a bit shocked myself.”

After thanking the priest, Ezekiel ducked behind the false door next to the altar, then lifted the rug, concealing a trap door. He grasped the iron ring and heaved, revealing a stone staircase that spiraled down into darkness. He motioned for Archer to follow, and they descended the narrow stone staircase into the dimly lit passageway below. The air grew cooler and damper as they climbed further down, the sounds from above fading away.

Archer stumbled on the uneven steps, his breath quickening. "It's so dark down here. How far does this go?"

Ezekiel reached back to steady him. "Not much farther.”

Once they reached the bottom, a shimmering barrier of light appeared between them and the door to the thick, iron reinforced door to the lair, the golden glow pulsing with ethereal energy. Ezekiel pressed his palm to it, causing the barrier to ripple and part like a curtain.

Archer gasped. “Whoa. What was that?”

"Angel wards," Ezekiel explained. "An extra layer of security. We’ve been adding them whenever an archangel is present. We had a nasty incident a while back at our Los Angeles location. Unfortunately, a traitor allowed a faction of shadow gargoyles to attack the lair, and we almost lost a pregnant Nephilim.”

“Damn,” Archer breathed. “I hope she and the baby are okay.”

Ezekiel froze.Shit. Being so out of touch with earthly concerns, existing in the realm of healing his fellow Slayers forso long, had left him woefully unprepared to properly introduce Archer into his new world. However, now wasn’t the time. They had to get the relic to Michael first.

“Umm…everything turned out fine for them, yes.”

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