Page 48 of The Last Gargoyle's Christmas Wish
But his siblings had grown. And those Uzoth had protected had disappeared from the earth. This could be a new stage for both of them.
Grady lifted his hand and gestured for Uzoth to come down.
Uzoth did not move.
Grady dropped his hand. He frowned. He cupped his hands to his mouth. “Uzoth,” he yelled.
Still, Uzoth did not move. The gargoyle’s gaze did not shift. Nor did he rise or his wings unfurl.
“Uzoth!” he yelled again.
Why wasn’t Uzoth responding? Was Uzoth too hurt and angry with Grady to respond? But no, surely if he were done with Grady, he’d have left. So why did he not move?
The blood drained from his face. A memory of something Uzoth said came to him. “We turn completely to stone. We become nothing more than statues on top of buildings, staring down with unseeing eyes.”
Terror burst in chest. “Uzoth!” Grady screamed as he took a step closer.
Still, Uzoth did not rise.
Fuck! I have to get to him.
Grady glanced around. How did someone get up there? Then he remembered each building had a ladder that led to the roof.
Palms sweating, Grady sprinted and searched. He spotted the rusted metal ladder. Gripping onto it, he ascended. Uzoth couldn’t have turned to stone. Not yet. It had only been three days since they’d last spoken. Surely that couldn’t be enough time!
One hand after the other, he climbed. The ladder shook beneath him. Or maybe that was just him.
I’ll never forgive myself if he turns into a statue.
Heart pounding in his throat, he reached the top. He spotted Uzoth further along the roof. He was not that far away. But Uzoth was still too fucking far when they were this high up. Taking a deep breath, Grady released the ladder and stepped onto the snow-covered roof.
Cauldrons and clusterfucks!
He glanced at the alley below. His belly somersaulted. For a split second, he considered climbing back down to the safety of the cobblestone alley below. But no. He couldn’t. He couldn’t abandon Uzoth. He needed to wake the gargoyle.
Steeling himself, he made his way carefully and slowly across the rooftop. His legs wobbled like beaten egg whites. Grady forced himself not to look down again.
Keep your eyes on Uzoth. Nothing else matters. I just need to get to him.
Suddenly, his legs slipped out from under him, breath knocked from his lungs as he landed flat on his stomach. He slid toward the roof edge. His hands scrabbled at snow as he gripped the tiles.
Mere inches from the edge, he stopped sliding. He lay flat, whole body shaking violently. For several moments, he didn’t move, terrified he’d fall to his death.
Uzoth was so close now. He had to keep going. He had to reach Uzoth. Grady crawled towards him. He gripped Uzoth’s tail, which was far too cold and hard.
You can’t be a statue. Please don’t be a statue.
Tears stung his eyes.
Gripping Uzoth’s tail, he pulled himself towards Uzoth. He clutched at Uzoth’s calf, his thigh, climbing around the gargoyle. He gripped Uzoth’s arms, gazing into grey eyes.
Grey. Not black. Uzoth’s eyes should be black.
“Uzoth?” Grady whispered. Warm tears burned his icy cheeks. “Uzoth, wake up.”
Still, Uzoth wouldn’t wake.
“Please, Uzoth. Please wake up.” His voice trembled. “I need you. I love you. Please.”
