Carved Read online

  I’m not going to let him down today; I feel so guilty for leaving him this long. Can I get any more irrational? It’s not like I had my parents for long, but I did have them. They loved my brothers and me, and it wasn’t by choice they’re gone. David was an orphan who grew up on the streets. I’m all he has for family, and we were inseparable for the last seven years.

  Pulling into the cemetery fifteen minutes later, everything is strange to me. Like I just put a filter on, but on a world-sized scale. Turning around, everything is a little foggy, probably from the rain earlier. It’s monsoon season here in the desert; fog is inevitable. Cueva Hallow is known for the dry heat, not the rain. Today, it’s cooler because of the earlier rain, but still warm for February. The temperatures have been in the 70’s for several weeks.

  I pull into a parking spot and get out on unsteady feet. I lean on Jasper for a second. Wrapping my comforter around me to regain my sense of balance, I start up the narrow asphalt path to David's grave. Panicking, sweat breaks out on my forehead. My heart thunders. I’ve lost my way. How does anyone ever find their loved ones here? It’s like a limestone marble jungle. No, those two large pecan trees are familiar. I’m getting close. Oh, yes, I’m close. There’s fresh clay earth. I walk over to it.

  I didn’t even recognize the headstone until I read the inscription. In big gray letters with a gold outline it clearly says, ‘David Sean Ross’. I’m surprised it’s already here. Though Dana did promise me the gargoyle twins would be watching over David from the first night. It’s big. Beautiful. I can’t look at it in detail yet - my vision is blurred from the falling tears.

  That’s enough. The dam breaks. I sink to my knees on top of his grave and let the tears fall. I sob all my built-up sorrow out into this empty, lonely place. Horrible noises escape my gulping throat. I don’t care. Who is going to complain?

  “Oh God!” How do people survive this?” David, I’m so sorry I left you in the hospital. I didn’t want to. I tried reasoning with the hospital staff. Anything to stay with you for just one more minute, one more hour, one more day. They wouldn’t listen to any excuses. They sent a stranger to get you. I tried to stay with you, so you wouldn’t be alone. They told me leaving was the right thing to do. But right then, it was the all-time worst. Where are you, David? I miss you so much!”

  Putting my face against the cold marble headstone, I start to calm. The stone feels good on my face.

  “I think I’m just going to lay here with you for a while, David.”

  I begin to tell him everything I had ever wanted to but neglected to say for one reason or another. Time was usually the reason I didn’t say the things I thought didn’t matter. But now, those things seem to be of monumental importance to me.

  At peace at last, I drift off to sleep.

  Two

  Life

  Megahir

  Slowly, carefully, we edged up to the beautiful dark-haired mourner. It was hard for me to hold back, to just watch as she cried herself to sleep. She is so important to me. I am not her father, but even though I have never spoken to her, she is the closest I will ever come to having a daughter. For the Ceorfan—the Carved—she is the physical representation of a promise from long ago. It has been hard for me to keep my distance from her during this difficult time. There are secrets we must keep for her safety—and for the safety of the guild, or our race, as the humans say.

  Silently, the monsters with me encircle her. We stay to protect her this night.

  Turning to face my team I watch them quietly come to attention. “We are ready, Commander Megahir,” the Ducere—my warrior team—say in unison.

  Striding down their ranks, I let them await my orders. I unfurl massive wings, posturing; I flex my muscles. I let this Elite team of gargoyles call me Mega. I do not give the privilege to all. In a quiet, powerful voice, I tell my third in command, "Kino, we need time to work."

  Instantly, without question, Kino begins to sing quietly over Kendra. Her still body, already relaxed and comfortable, sinks even lower as Kino pulls her onto his lap. He brushes hair away from her face gently, rocking her body, singing his silvery lilting tones.

  "Flint, I need you to remove the boy’s body from its internment.” To everyone, I continued, “The King has said we only have one chance at Resurgere. I will not tolerate anyone taking any chance we will be caught by the humans! You each know the danger. Keep yourselves on guard.

  “Mica, help Flint with the digging,” I continue with my orders. “Amber, you and Mason guard the gates. Be quick to warn us of any approach."

  Amber whips her birdlike head around, worry evident. She asks, "Mega, my friend, are you positive you want to go through with the Resurgere? Resurgere means ‘restore our family.’ This is just a frail human. It's not too late to change your mind. As dangerous as this is, I'm surprised King Findare is letting this happen. Are you creating a Cursed?"

  The line between Commander and Ducere team warrior may have eroded in the hundreds of years we have served together.

  The insult stings. Bringing my shoulders up and pointing a finger at her, I say, "Amber, you know nothing of the Cursed. I would never do that to another. You weren't with us. It was torturous the way the evil mages controlled us by holding the smaller ones' hostage. So many of us were destroyed! Hammered to dust! We had to comply. We did their dirty work. We became slaves to their wickedness. The only way we were able to end the nightmare was this female's human ancestors. Our king made a vow. The entire Ceorfan race made the same vow. We protect the Macbard descendants, for as long as we survive. Their sacrifice for us was great.”

  Amber's black little body folds in on itself as she says quietly, with more respect, "I’m sorry, Commander. I’m sounding selfish, when I’m thinking of your pain. What this is costing you personally."

  "My little pebble: know this, the pain I suffered in the past was so much more than this. The surgeon who carved out a piece of my flesh to perform the Resurgere is an old friend. He is a master of his craft. It will not diminish my magic or strength. It was painful, yes. I won’t lie. I do it gladly for Kendra. She is my charge. I care for her. I owe her family a great debt. I gladly give myself, this time, as a gift."

  Amber whispered, "One day I hope you will tell me what happened. Right now, I’ll go keep Mason company on the watch. See you when it is over, Commander."

  "Commander we have the human’s body. We laid him on the grass." Mica motions with a wave toward the pale, lifeless body.

  "Come, then. I will summon Jericho, then we shall begin,” I inform my second in command. I hunch over, close my eyes, and locate Jericho’s mind with mine. It takes a little more concentration when the one I am speaking to is farther away.

  All gargoyles have a gift. My gift is telepathy. I can also tell what others are feeling. It grates sometimes. I keep myself closed and do not intrude on the thoughts of others frivolously. When I open my eyes, my team is silent in front of me, waiting, watching. Jericho is on his way.

  “Ducere, I know you are uncomfortable around mages. Jericho is necessary for the spell to be completed properly. Treat him with the respect due his station, as the Royal Mage and part of the High Guild, which gives us our orders. Gargoyle lives depend on him. We will all work together as a team."

  “Yes, sir,” they respond together. Long years have made us a smooth tight unit.

  In minutes, Jericho appears out of thin air. No theatrics, no smoke, no mirrors—only a slight breeze marks his entrance. I have learned to mark the breeze when he travels alone; his stealth is remarkable. He walks over to me and the Ducere with his purposeful stride. Thousands of years old, he still moves with power. Shoulders squared, the tall mage informs me in his serious, formal manner, "All is in order. I have asked the spirit of this man, David, if he wishes to be restored, forming a new family with you. I even verified he will be raised as a gargoyle, to be exact. His spirit fully understands what will happen. We spoke at length. Not that he will remember—he likely will not. He
agrees in total to the Resurgere, even acknowledging the fact he will become a warrior Elite on your team.

  "Megahir, I will ask one more time, to be sure, do you give your body, and magic to this man making him your son for the rest of your lives?" The mage asked seriously.

  My nostrils flare with the intake of air. "I do! Beyond payment for the debt owed to Kendra’s ancestors, I do this of my own free will. I have seen this man many times as we guarded the Macbard family. He was always honorable and trustworthy."

  "We shall begin," Jericho says, with a slight nod of his head in his grave manner. He turns me so I am facing David's nude, pale body. The others had taken his clothes off when they laid him on the grass. A gargoyle doesn't always need clothes—and he will be a gargoyle.

  Kino is still holding Kendra in his arms. He dips his head to me, saying silently, “I will keep her sleeping.”

  I nod back to Jericho. The old mage reaches into his robes, taking out a small metal box. It is shaped like one a jeweler might use. He carefully opens it. Inside are two small round stones. He had cut one from me earlier; the blue-gray stone, the color of my skin, pulsed in the night. The other stone looks to be a human bone. A small knife appears in his age wrinkled hand.

  Chanting in his croaky, sing-song voice under his breath, he picks up the blue-gray stone. His eyes on mine, pinning me with understanding, he bends and with a quick flick of his wrist, he slices the skin of the still David's chest. He places the small nugget into the exposed cavity. Continuing his mumbling, the mage holds a hand over the pulsing stone until the skin closes over it.

  Turning to me, with the same deft movement as before, he slices, placing the bone in the fissure of my broad, muscular chest.

  I grunt in pain, covering the wound with my huge clawed hand, showing no other sign how much the procedure hurt. I refuse to show weakness in the presence of my Ducere. They are the best and deserve the strongest commander. My body shakes once before I tighten up and even out my breaths to control the pain. This big body has been through worse in these long years. I am its ruler, not the other way around.

  Jericho’s voice moves into a gruff baritone, growing louder. Still, no one can make out his words. The wind blows my dark mane, whipping it around my head. The pressure of the wind on my wings pulls at them and has me bringing them closer to my huge body. It continues to gain in strength; lightning strikes nearby. It was far enough away, but my warriors stiffen their guard. Kino protects Kendra with his huge red body, his wings folded over her. The ominous chant of the mage’s words now fills the air of the cemetery. Thunder rings through the air another lightning strike only closer now.

  There is an energy from the pulsing stone in David's chest that is now spreading over his entire body. His back arches as if in pain. He is changing in the dark cemetery. His body is lengthening and getting larger. Transforming! More lizard-like, yet still man-shaped at the same time. His skin turns a pale bluish-gray like mine. Claws form on his hands and feet, which are a darker blue. Wings grow from his back as he arches again. His wings furl around him then stop growing. His hair is sticking straight out, a big mess around his handsome face. It was short; now it is a mohawk the same as mine, but golden blond.

  My body tingles with electrical pulses. The wind is calming, the lightning ebbing away as the Resurgere is completed. Jericho is now quiet.

  I glance at my chest as the bone is covered. Moving my hand, the slit Jericho had cut open with the scalpel’s sharp blade is healed. Only the blood that ran from the wound as it was cut remains. This is a strange. The electrical tingle all over my body is still throbbing.

  Now, the wind is still. Jericho stands over David, waiting for something.

  The new gargoyle opens his brilliant blue eyes! Roaring like a beast, he stands, panting. He wobbles once, righting himself, and shakes his head and body. Tilting again, his large wings balance him with natural ease. He swivels his head, his face a mass of pain. His body shivers with agony. I quickly speak to him telepathically to calm him. I groan as I feel his pain though the link.

  Flint understanding, moves with purpose, quickly putting his clawed hands on him to take the pain. The brawny gargoyle strains with effort to contain the torment, breaking out in a cold sweat. Soon the hurt they both share diminishes. A shiver runs through my body when the pain leaves. He lets go the breath he had been holding and drags in great gasps of air, moving away as he recovers.

  I walk to David with open arms, enfolding him in my embrace. It speaks volumes without any words at all. He is my son. I cannot describe this kind of all-encompassing love.

  Standing back, I slap a heavy clawed hand on Flint’s shoulder and thank him silently for his help. Only the strongest gargoyles share pain. He might be short and fat, but he is mighty and powerful. He is amazing, as are all my Elite Warriors.

  Speaking to David, I say, "You are my son. We are one flesh, one bone. Would you keep your human name, or will you accept a new one with your new life?" I gaze at him with pride. I am happier than I can remember in an age.

  "What would you call me?" The newest gargoyle whispers in a gravelly voice. Keeping the link open for a while, I can still hear his thoughts. David contemplates to himself, I’m definitely not the same person. I’m not sure I’m a person at all. Everything is different. From what I can see of my body I can’t be seen in public. I look like a blue monster. I like the wings and claws. Hell, I think I like it all. Big, I was always built, but now every muscle is defined. Only two of these other monsters are bigger than me. I resemble the one who gave me this life. Mega he said his name in my mind. I could feel his feelings. Mega my dad. Why that feels so right is beyond explanation. It just IS right. Someone told me it would be this way, I can’t remember…

  "Names have power,” I say to David. “They influence who we are, who we become. I want you to have a strong name, so you will be recognized by strength - to have the ability to lift and guide others in their weakness and trials. I would give you a name that has promise. To build you up. I would call you Spar, if you agree,” I explain.

  Okay, that’s different, but again it feels right. Kendra and I have always been big on going with our gut. “So, Spar it is. Thank you. I have never had a father before. I know we’re linked," Spar answers, unable to explain as feelings well up inside of him.

  Looking past my shoulder, Spar’s eyes widen. He walks slowly, getting used to his new form. He bends to kiss Kendra on the head. Quietly, he tells her, "I love you. I’ll find a way for you to accept the new me as soon as I can, Kendra."

  “She is here to keep you company. She didn’t want to leave you by yourself,” Kino shares with Spar.

  Jericho steps up to me. "You must get your new son home,” he says as he hands me a jewel. “Spar will not be able to fly yet. He has much to learn, and he cannot stay here. This aquamarine stone will open a portal to take you home. I will see you when you have need of me, Megahir, old friend.” He is gone the same way he came: instantly, with only a slight breeze marking the difference.

  I laugh at the stunned faces of my Ducere. "We have less than two hours until sunrise. Mica, you take over the cleanup. Make sure no one knows we were here. I am taking Spar home."

  “Wait!” Spar tells me. “I don’t want to leave Kendra. Please, don’t make me leave her.”

  “You must. The humans do not know about our kind. Once, we did live together in this world. That was before they tried to destroy and enslave us all. You would scare her if she saw you now. Think of it. I promise we will come back. You will see her soon.”

  Spar dips his head, resigned. Looking at Kino, he tells him, “You take care of her. Don’t let her be hurt. If she is, you’ll answer to me.”

  Kino nods his assent. “It is my job. I will do the best I can.”

  His words put Spar at ease some, so I open the portal. I urge him toward it and walk through.

  Mica

  Mica watches as the portal disappears. He tells the remainder of the Ducere, “Wow!
It’s over all ready? I was wanting a little more. Like fireworks, maybe.” He grins. “Just kidding. It was amazing to watch the rebirth of the human into a gargoyle. There have been no children born or carved in a very long time. I feel privileged to witness it. Hell, that I was even included in this company. I have only heard of it happening long ago, but not to anyone I know. We better get this place cleaned up.”

  Flint and I return the grave site to its prior condition. He places the final piece of the sod back into the ground. Flint, finding Kendra's keys on the ground, hands them to me.

  I ask, “Kino, lay Kendra on the headstone, the same way she had fell asleep crying.”

  Kino lays her down, her cheek on the headstone. He tucks the thick blanket around her to keep her warm.

  Surveying the cleanup I deem it passable. Regardless, they’re out of time. After calling Amber and Mason back, I tell them what had happened. I tell them how Mega looked like a proud papa. I put Kendra’s keys in the hand of the little gargoyle, Amber.

  “Hold these for Kendra, gravel bits.”

  Amber beams at the endearment, taking the keys. It’s time to get back to their cave in the hills before the sun can change them to stone.

  Amber and Mason fly up to sit on the headstone. I wave goodbye to them as we leave.

  Amber and Mason sit and talk together as the sun rises. Amber reaches out her hand so Kendra will see her keys. From experience, she knows the human will never even notice the change in her stance. "Wings up, Mase," she says lovingly.

  "Wings up, my love," says Mason as he smiles at Amber, then reaches for Kendra and pats her side to wake her as they change. The first touch of the sun’s rays on their skin starts the process. They harden into stone. Although the pain is short, it is shows on their faces, making them look fearsome.