Page 29 of Stolen By the Gargoyle
“Now,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Tell me more about his tongue.”
Every word branded towhatever scrap of a soul lived within my body. I memorized them, kept them close, and put together a plan.
“So, did you like the hot chocolate?” Dolores had her hand entwined with mine, and she swung our joined hands back and forth between us. There was a dance to her step that had not been there when I had taken her to the Underworld. I realized then what a disservice I had done to her, stealing her away without the comforts she was used to. I had robbed her of the happiness that made her…her.
I would not make that same mistake again.
“It had an interesting flavor.” She tasted better, but I feared saying that would make her fear me again.
“Is that your way of saying you didn’t like it?”
“I enjoyed it well enough.”
“Hot chocolate and chilaquiles are my breakfast of choice,” she said. “I’d eat them every morning for the rest of my life if I could. Oooh, and waffles.”
“Waffles.” I tucked that information away into a pocket of my mind. I wanted to learn everything about her, even the small things she clearly deemed insignificant.
“I’ll definitely have to take you to try some next time.”
“Next time?” Something in my chest soared. Though I told myself not to hope, I wanted to. I wanted to hope. I wanted to be near her. I wanted to give her everything that was in my power to give.
“I mean, if you want to. It’s not roasted demon, but it tastes really good. Waffles are sweet. I like mine with maple syrup, but we can put a ton of toppings on them like fruit. I personally like strawberries and chocolate and blueberry waffles. Those taste so good. Then we can go out for lunch. There’s a buffet that serves all types of cuts of meat, I think you’d enjoy that one. Oh, and we could stay at home in PJ’s and binge watch TV before bed, wearing fuzzy socks and eating popcorn!”
She painted a vision of everything I ever wanted and how I desperately, viscerally, wanted to say yes and accept her offer. But the word ‘friend’ was burned on my brain, and so was everything else.
I stopped, pulling my hand from hers. “Dolores.”
“Hm?” She turned up to look at me, her smile dropping when she noted the grave expression I wore. “Is everything okay?”
“I must leave.”
“Oh.” She rocked back on the balls of her feet. “Okay. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“I am afraid not, Dolores.”
“Oh.” Her mouth twisted into a frown. “Is it… Did you hate today, then?”
My chest pinched tight. I had been keeping a respectable distance between us, but I could no longer stand it. I crowded close to her, reaching out to grip her chin between my claws. “I cherish every moment with you. Never think I do not.”
She swallowed and whispered, “Then, why?”
“I have matters I must attend to.”
“Oh, like work?”
No. But I nodded regardless.
“Oh, alright then.”
I despised saying goodbye. I despised parting from her another moment. But I would do it. For us.
“I will return,” I vowed.
She nodded, though appeared uncertain.
I gripped her chin tighter. “And when I do,” I continued, “be prepared. For I will steal you away again. And then, you will truly become my wife, if you will allow me.”
3 months later...
