Myths and Gargoyles Jamie Hawke (i read a book .TXT) 📖

as a dream, of a strange world that I could simply pull myself out of if necessary. That helped. The fact that I had fought some pretty nasty enemies lately, with the help of Steph and the gargoyles, meant that even if I was stuck there, I could handle it.

In sum, I was becoming quite the badass, and I knew it.

Still, being cautious was likely the smart move, so when a rumbling sounded followed by a distant whistling sound, I pulled back into the shelter of the rocks. What had been wisps of silver before now filled the sky with a torrent of wailing and gnashing, hands reaching and fog swirling. Thick rain pelted the rocks and I huddled deeper into my hiding spot, wondering about the faces I could dimly make out above, through the sheets of rain. It splattered me and I was surprised to find that it was hot, filling the air with the scent of juniper.

I had to have come to this specific location for a reason, so I turned, scouring the darkness for anything that might hint at why. Heavy fog, dark gray in this world, seeped through the openings between jagged stone cliffs and my surroundings.

The cave was intimidating, the darkness threatening to suffocate me, but I had to get away from the chaos outside. As I went farther back, there was something compelling me to go in that direction. Something other than wanting to avoid the rain and the possibility of being spotted by whatever was in that torrent of spirits. Like when you feel someone watching you and you turn to see who it is, that’s what I felt but magnified. It was like they were pushing at me with a magical connection, trying to get me to see them.

When I searched, the reason for that sensation made sense. Deep in the cave, where the gloom wouldn’t show any footing, I came across a point where the darkness appeared to move, then noticed a section that was maybe less black than the rest. Not a reflection or opening in the cave, but something moving. It only took a moment to realize that it was the silhouette of a person.

“Do I know you?” I asked, voice shaky. My experience here so far led me to believe it would be one of those red-eyed sinewy creatures, but a gut feeling told me this was different, told me I might even have some sort of connection to this being.

Darkness gave way and what sounded like a sigh of relief followed. The figure moved deeper into the caves, and I followed, slowly able to make out more and more of it. A dress trailing behind, I thought at first, then saw that no, it was a robe. A man—a sorcerer of sorts? He turned and now I could make out his eyes, his nose.

The face was coming more into focus, one I was starting to recognize.

He beckoned me forward and I turned from him to see that we had reached a place where water rippled, light from somewhere in there reflecting off it and hitting the ceiling.

“Gone,” a voice seemed to say, as if carried on the wind.

I looked at the figure and it indicated the water, so I stepped forward. There was a form in there, at the bottom. Lifeless, a face—one I recognized. I couldn’t recall his name, but knew him from the days of Avalon. Then it came back to me.

“Riland…?” I asked the figure beside me, the name rising up in me like a ship from the fog. “Can it be…?”

As he turned to me, his face became clear, eyes full of wonder, he materialized more right before my eyes. “Yes, that… Riland. That was me, once. It is again.”

“How?” I asked. “Weren’t you… I mean, I thought we saw you die.”

He considered this, then nodded. “That might be true. I think that magical creatures… most of us don’t die out there, exactly. I’m not sure if that all changed with the separation of Avalon, or how it came to be. But this is where we are for now.”

“But he… he seems dead.”

Riland looked at his companion in the pool, and nodded. “Dark magic took him, in here. Death is a complicated mistress. Is this her, or one of her sisters?”

I didn’t fully understand what he was saying, but nodded, watching as he continued to become clearer to my eyes.

“There’s a way to go back,” I said. “At least, I believe that’s what I’m here for, and I intend to return.”

He stared at me blankly.

“There must be, right?” Gesturing at myself, I let it sink in. If I had managed to go to that place, it stood to reason there might be a way for them to leave it.

Realization dawned on his face, and he nodded. “It could be possible. I don’t know.”

“Well, let’s try something.” I held out my hand. He reached out, clasping it in his own. His touch was cold and sent a slight shock up my arm. A light formed where our hands touched, then pulsed up through both of our arms before filling us. It faded, but I felt its presence, and assumed he did as well.

“A bond,” he said.

I nodded. “Maybe you will be able to come with me, or I’ll be able to pull you out once we’re on the other side.”

Like the wraith knights, I thought, hoping it would be more than that. Time would tell, but in a way that’s what made sense. Maybe I could change it, though?

Another thought hit me, as I stared at Riland. His eyes, expression and all, were clear. Not just somewhat clear, but as if we were now completely on the same plane. Only, his eyes had a steely blue to them that they’d never had before.

“How do I know you’re the same man?” I asked.

“I’m not. But if you want to know how you can trust me, how you can be sure I’ll be there for