The life of an immortal is not as you would expect. I often think of all those who wish to have an everlasting life. How foolish. Do they really expect it is all the wonder they think it is?
Harkos stared at his reflection in the pool of water gathered in the stones at his feet. Smiling wryly, he looked into a foreign face; that of a half-starved beast waiting for his chance at escape. The stone ridges that lined his metallic skin only emphasized his angular features, once called handsome by those he had known before his capture. He was now sure he was the last of his kind- the last of the gargoyles.
A door opened and a woman stepped through, walking on bare feet over to the barrier of light that separated his cell from the other iron bars around him. The damn witch knew he could bend metal as easily as he could snap a twig, so she had made his prison from the only thing he couldn't manipulate- his only weakness.
"I need more blood." She smiled, dropping a large bucket beside him and looked at him expectantly.
"Take it." Harkos said, his voice reflecting nothing but surrender. Why bother to protest?
He didn't flinch when the knife sunk into his heart, and the endless bliss of unconsciousness took his soul once again on a journey while his body healed itself.
Once flung into the shadows of the otherworld, he looked around in his mist-like form as he heard a call for help above him. The rule of the gargoyle was to help those in need, but should he risk exposing himself?
Recognizing the call for help the sound of a desperate woman, Harkos flung all doubt aside and sped upwards toward the faint light above him…
Carla cried out in fear as the man who had attacked her started to grip her blouse, tugging so hard that the buttons popped from their seams. Panic clouded her mind as she silently screamed for someone, anyone to help her. The man had gagged her mouth with his belt, an abrasive leather that was cutting into the corners of her face as she struggled against his tight grip on her.
Suddenly, the area was filled with a red haze- the air around the man turning to a burning yellow glow. He screamed in horror and pain, standing with his pants half undone as he tried to swat the glow from his face in a futile effort.
Despicable man. An angry voice hissed, making Carla jump in surprise and scoot back from the scene as quickly as she could without tripping herself. She watched with her back against the alley's brick wall as the man's face started turning red, then brown then black. Suddenly he collapsed upon himself, a small pile of ash all that remained of him. The glow vanished, and a warm blue mist swam through the air toward her, twining itself around her head until the buckle slipped out of her mouth. It then moved in front of her and hovered before her.
Are you alright? Are you hurt? A soft echoing voice filled her mind, making Carla flinch and whimper in disbelief. What was going on? What was this thing in front of her?!
Do not be alarmed, I am not here to hurt you. The voice sounded like a male's, but echoed in her mind before the words finally settled.
"W-what are you?" Carla whispered, looking into the wisp of blue, as it trying to make out a face.
I'm sure you would not believe me if I told you. For now, think of me as a ghost. The voice said, sounding amused through the echoes.
"Alright then, do you have… a name?" Carla said, not really expecting the 'ghost' to give her an answer. This must be the figment of her imagination, brought on by too much stress.
My name is Harkos. The mist replied, turning to a soft purple as it hovered before her.
"Y-you changed color." Carla stammered, hardly able to believe her eyes.
I have color? Interesting... Do you need help to find your way home?
"No, my apartment isn't too far from here." Carla stood, holding her blouse together as she tried to steady herself on shaky legs. The mist appeared before her and she felt as if strong arms supported her, winding around her waist. Closing her eyes in panic, but resisting the urge to scream, Carla took a step toward her home to try and get the rest of the night alone- without madmen and floating colored clouds that talked.
She must be going insane.
"Are you real? Or am I just… crazy?" She had to ask- even though she couldn't trust the ghost's answer, she needed it.
I am as real as you, though at the moment only half myself. My real body is far away from here, though I know not where.
"Wait, your real body? So then you're not a ghost?" Carla turned her head toward the mist, which was once again a deep blue.
I am not a ghost, but I believe it is best that you call me that for now. My soul is separated from my body, and I am temporarily dead. I am a ghost for now.
"Dead?" Carla gasped, looking at the cloud once again as she felt Harkos' warm arms push her forward, as if he didn't want to talk about himself anymore. "How can you be temporarily dead?"
I am immortal.
Carla froze, stumbling forward when his arms tried to coax her forward again. "What, immortal like elves and faeries immortal? You can't die? But you said you were dead."
I am not an elf or fairy if that is what you are thinking. Hell no.His voice almost sounded like it was offended. I am temporarily dead. There is a difference from a false death, than to a permanent one.
Carla looked up at the building in front of her, which contained her apartment. "I guess I'll go inside." She said absent mindedly, reaching into her pocket as her other hand held her blouse together for her keys. She brought the shaking hand up to the lock and was thankful that Harkos' invisible hand helped her guide the unstable key into its place. She made her way up to her apartment, feeling his warmth following her as she walked up the stairs and into her own room.
With the door finally closed, she walked stiffly into her bedroom and fell onto the bed. Feeling the warmth finally leave her she stared up at the ceiling before tears started to burn her eyes. After having such a horrific day, after finally feeling safe with that… ghost and its warmth, she was alone to weep. Being attacked by that man on her way home from a hard day at work, having him rip her favorite blouse and attempt at raping her, then watching him being incinerated by who knows what… Sobs wracked her body as she finally released her emotions, sorrow and fear pouring out of her in soft wails.
Little one, do not be so sad. Harkos said, returning his warm embrace around her. Carla shivered against the bed, not able to control herself anymore, and her emotions streamed out of her in tides of fear. For hours the arms embraced her, the mist above her turning from blue to purple countless times. She finally started to calm, her body resting after such a traumatic outburst.
Are you well? Harkos said, sounding concerned.
"I think I'm better." Carla said, her voice raspy from so much crying.
My body is nearly healed, little one. If you would like, I can come back to you later. But only if you wish me to.
Carla looked up at the mist, which was swirling around in the air anxiously, still a deep purple. "I'd like that." She whispered, and looked on with surprise as the mist turned into a swirl of colors, then settled once again on purple.
Very well, I will be back when I am able. I do not know how long I will be gone, little one, but I will try to come back to you as quickly as I can.
Carla watched as the mist vanished, dispersing across the room. She looked around for a moment, and suddenly felt cold.