“Yes, of course.”Whatelse wouldImean?
“Iretracted them soIcan go out with you, looking human.”
Iturned to him and narrowed my gaze. “You’rejoking, right?”
“No,” he replied slowly.
“Areyou really going to go out there looking like that?
Hisheavy brows pulled closer. “Likewhat?”
Igestured toward him in a semicircle. “Allgargoyle-y.”
Hestared at me for several seconds before his lips twitched up. “I’vealready cloaked myself to look human.”Witha curious expression, he asked, “HowdoIlook to you?”
Mygaze traveled from the curved horns on his head, which were greatly intriguing, down to his silvery-gray eyes, and his gray body, which was far larger than any humanI’dever seen. “Youlook more human than when you were perched in stone, but the horns.”Imotioned up to them. “Thecolor of your eyes.Yourbody.”
Heassessed me with a steady gaze that turned wondrous. “It’sastonishing that you see me like this.”Hepulled open the heavy front door. “Don’tworry, to everyone else out there,I’lllook as human as you.”
Aswe walked across campus,Ibraced myself, preparing to hear screams from people, but none came.Hugogreeted those in passing with a friendly nod, somewhat unusual in a city.
Mymind remained bewildered as we walked just over a mile to my apartment.Ipreferred to walk and the fresh air was good for me, especially sinceIspent the rest of my time pretty much indoors.Andit was the only exerciseIgot.
Whenwe approached my apartment in the multi-level, gray stone building with red shutters,Hugoturned to me.
“Ifyou need anything, call out to me.”
Ijerked back. “Wherewill you be?”
“Outside.Onwatch nearby.”
Myeyes widened. “HowwouldIfind you?”
“Justopen your window and call out for me.”Thenhe gave me a lingering glance before he said, “Sweetdreams.”
WhenIentered my apartment, my mind remained boggled.Thefunny thing was that it was due to new knowledge.ThemoreIlearned, the moreIquestioned.Icouldn’t dismiss what happened as a dream or a hallucination, asI’dbeen wondering whenI’dleft here earlier that morning.No, it turned out my silent, stone-faced confidant in the library was actually a living, breathing being who could both see and hear.
Istood and paced through the living room, trying to find comfort in my familiar surroundings.Mygaze zoomed to a lavender candle on the side table, andIlit it.Oncethe soothing scent wafted higher,Iinhaled it.
Itwas too quiet in here, leaving me too wrapped up in my thoughts.Ifound a classical playlist on my phone and played it through the speakers.Maybea soothing ritual with calming tea and a hot bath would help calm me soIcould sleep.
Deepdown,Iknew it wouldn’t work.NotuntilIhad answers.Whensomething was on my mind,I’dloop through the same mental roundabout for hours in my personal version ofJean-PaulSartre’sNoExit.YetI’dnever had so much to process asIdid now.Iwas on the verge of freaking out and didn’t know what to do with myself.
Strangelyenough,Ipictured being withHugoagain.Whoelse couldItalk to about this and ask all these questions crashing in my head?
AsIenvisioned him, a warm tingle curled inside.Somethingabout him was utterly fascinating.Thehard planes of his features.Theinsanely muscular torso.Thelong dark hair like that of a warrior.Hishorns intrigued me.Iwanted to reach out and touch them to see what they felt like.Hiswings were simply beautiful, despite how much they had terrified me the first timeI’dseen him fly.Hissilvery-gray eyes were unlike anyI’dseen, so captivating.
Waita minute—Icouldn’t be attracted to a gargoyle, couldI?
“Whew, you’re definitely losing it,Anya,”Isaid aloud.JustlikeIwould have talked to myself in the library whenIthought no one was listening, but…
Ilet out a shaky laugh.Oh, what kind of ridiculous things had he heard me say whenI’dthoughtIwas alone?Allthe trivial observations and silly puns—not to mention any private thoughtsImight have shared.Heatrose to my cheeks.
Mystomach growled.Timeto make dinner.Islogged into my small kitchen to see whatIcould make.Iscrounged around, looking through the fridge, freezer, and cabinets.I’dplanned to stop by the grocery store afterI’dleft the library, but it had completely slipped my mind amid all the bewildering new developments.MaybeIcould whip up a quick pasta dinner.AsIpulled out linguini, tomato sauce, and sausage to prepare an easy meal,IpicturedHugooutside.
Iwalked back into the living room and glanced out the window.WherewasHugo?Tothink of him hiding in plain sight in the library for all that time.Washe doing something similar right now?Mountedon a building?Itwas dark out andIcould only see the areas that were illuminated, such as under streetlights.
He’dtold meIcould call to him ifIneeded anything.Whatabout him?Didhe need anything as he watched, on guard outside somewhere?Athousand more questions and half-assed answers tumbled again in my mind.Washe cold?Didgargoyles get cold?WhenI’dtouched his skin, it was tougher than a human’s yet surprisingly soft.Andso warm beneath my fingers…
