Obsidian grinned from ear to ear.
Menacing. Blood-curdling.
Petrifying.
The Gargorètti stared at me for a long time.
“You made me whole.”
His amber eyes gleamed at me like molten jewels.
“Blackfire,” I shrugged. “I don’t fully understand it. But I do a lot with it. Mend things. Protect. Disappear. Undo.”
“Undo,” the gargoyle repeated.
I tilted my head.
“Yes. Blackfire can undo many things. Strange power it is.”
Obsidian stared at me.
“What about curses?”
It was my turn to stare back.
“Whataboutcurses?”
The Gargorètti remained silent. His curious gaze returned.
Then he seemed to decide on something.
“You’re coming home with me.”
I blinked. “Excuse me...”
Obsidian grinned so wide I quivered at the sight of his long fangs. He opened his maw to its full extent. His breath filled the small cage with the stench of sulfur and brimstone. I gagged, choking. I ducked my head, my entire body trembling, as Obsidian let out a roar so fierce that the sound pierced and rattled my bones. He flexed his biceps and snapped open his arms, breaking through his chains. Then he freed his wings. The gargoyle swung to the right, then to the left, pounding against the bars of the cage. I watched the Gargorètti in rapt horror and utter astonishment.
“The Gargorètti has awoken!”
“Get the spears!”
“The Dragontails, youfool. Grab an everburning Dragontail!”
“Dyabèssa, the Gargorètti!”
“Put himdown!”
The screams grew louder, but I was too lost in my marveling at the gargoyle. Obsidian raged with passionate red fury. The beast tore the cage apart, shredding through the bars with its claws. He swung his tail, narrowly missing my head, tearing through the steel as if shredding feathers. He leaned forward,ripping through my shackles with his claws. Immediately the freezing air warmed, humid heat flooding my bones.
Then, with a gentleness I would never guess such a creature could possess, the Gargorètti scooped me into his arms, grabbed hold of Bones and dropped him into my lap, and shot into the open sky.
Obsidian roared, and the starless sky bowed in reverence.
The clouds parted as if making way.
The Ivory Rain rallied to fight, but Obsidian tucked me into his chest, snapped open his wings, and raced through the plumes of the clouds, disappearing swiftly into the twinight with me cuddled in his arms.
Chapter 5
