Holy shit.
“So, when we find this thing,” Thomas starts, hand going up to the charm hanging from his neck. With their wings concealed, they can’t fly, but the guys still have their gargoyle strength. “What exactly do you plan to do to it?”
I shake my head. “Kill it with fire.”
“That’s not exactly a plan.”
“I know. I’m thinking more like we scuffle, you guys hold it back, and I blast him with magic fire.”
“Scuffle?” Hasan echoes. “I think it’ll be more than a scuffle.”
“I know.” I give him a look. “Here’s to hoping, though, right?” I let out a breath. “We just need to find the thing first.” We make it down another alley.
“I think we found it.” Gil holds out his hand, tipping his head. The others go on high alert, able to hear something my human ears haven’t picked up on yet. I wait, mentally counting.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Fi—Screaming fills the air, and in the seconds that follow, I can tell people are running. Glass shatters, and the deep, harrowing screech reverberates off the surrounding buildings.
“Yep. We found it, all right.” I inhale and hold my hands out to the sides, feeling energy sparking along my fingertips. “We need to get it off the main street.”
Hasan nods, already thinking ahead. I’m going to use magic to kill this thing. I can’t be seen. He rushes down the alley, grabbing a dumpster and shoving it forward, blocking the adjoining street. If we can get the golem to come down this way, we’ll have him trapped in a dead end.
And then we’ll have to work fast.
I run through the alley, bursting out onto the main street. Lights shine down on us from nearby buildings and street lamps. A crowd exits a store, screaming and crying. A mom and dad run like hell, clutching small children to their chests. The mom is holding a baby and has a death grip on a preschool-aged boy’s hand, and she turns around to check on him, telling him to hurry it up.
The golem crashes through the window, shattering glass everywhere. My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat.
“Fuck me.”
The thing is human in shape but void of any defining details. It’s at least seven feet tall and twice as wide as a linebacker. Its eyes are black as coal, with glowing red pupils. Its mouth is too large for its head, which only adds to how fucked up and terrifying this thing is.
It grabs a metal garbage can attached to the sidewalk and yanks it free as if it weighs nothing at all. It hurls it through the air, hitting a traffic light. The thing sways in the air, and wires start to snap. It bumbles forward and rips a door off a car, throwing it as well.
It hits the already swaying traffic light, and it swings dangerously, seconds away from crashing down.
Right on the mother with the young kids.
“Watch out!” I yell, but my voice is lost in the yelling. I push forward, trying to get past the people running away from me.
I’m too far away.
The cables are snapping and sparks are flying, raining down on the ground. The little boy falls and the mom struggles to keep a hold of her flailing baby. I can’t get to him and I know he’s going to die a terrible death, right in front of his parents’ eyes.
“Move!” I throw out my hand, fingers sparking with magical fire. “No,” I cry, mad at myself. Fire isn’t going to help this situation. My heart is racing, and I watch everything happen in slow motion. The final cable snaps and the traffic light starts to fall.
And then Jacques swoops in, wings spread, and grabs the little boy right as the light comes crashing to the ground. He pulls the boy to his chest, shielding him with his wings. I come to a stop, stunned, terrified, and grateful all at the same time. I didn’t even notice Jac pull his charm off.
He revealed himself to the entire city.
And he saved that little boy’s life.
