The Gargoyle Halfling: Chapter Zero
Prologue
John flew in the Floridian wind, his bronze, gargoyle wings caressing the gentle breeze like he would with his lover, however now it was his arms and hands that carried the woman in his arms; a human woman, at that.
"Are you sure we can trust this…this witch?" Amy was still rather baffled by the fact her love wanted to do what they were going to do. It just didn't feel…right.
He smiled and looked into the eyes of his love, crooning to try to keep Amy from falling out of his grasp; he wasn't going to lose her, especially if they were to start a family. "Trust me, okay, Amy? I spent many a night trying to find this elusive sorceress. We can't give up after so much time has been lost." Amy scoffed at this but kept silent when he shot her a look; she and he both knew John was stubborn and wouldn't turn back, especially if it had to deal with their future together. Instead she held on to his body, stroking the black locks with affection.
He landed some time later in a small clearing and put Amy down, observing the surroundings to make sure they were not followed. First of all he was a Gargoyle; not a human and therefore liable to be killed by a scared person. Second he didn't want Amy to get hurt or worse killed because of him. And he did not need that in his life right now.
Meanwhile the lovely red head looked at the scene before her. A small, disarrayed house with no paint sat in the corner of the field, no plastic-like coating to keep the wood warm for its inhabitants; an herbal garden that needed to be tended to; knee-high grass. All of this was before the two, not to mention the wind was howling at them, like a child begging to be held close to its mother; a sign that there was a storm to come. "John, come on. You and I both know nobody followed us, so let's just get this over with," she pleaded, tugging on his near-six-foot-figure. She just wanted to go in and get whatever is was over with, she was nervous enough as it is, with the eerie scene and all.
John looked down to his girl, his Angel, and saw how scared she was. Bringing her close he wrapped his gigantic wings around her small frame, breathing in her scent that was like dew covered rose petals on the dawn of a new day; his favorite smell. "Don't be so scared, my Angel. I am here for you and I will protect you with my life. Remember that, always." He unwrapped his third pair of limbs and wrapped her in his arms instead. "Let's go in."
"Who is it?" demanded a female voice, scratchy from old age or maybe even from smoking of some sort. The door swung open before either of the two could respond to the wench's demand and an old lady, with more wrinkles than any person could humanly possess, appeared in front of them. In her hand she held a scarlet book that looked almost as ancient as the woman. "Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder whether or not you two would show up. But here you are. Now no time for dilly-dally, there's work to be done." The old lady shoved them into the cluttered entrance with more strength than her hunched body let on. John and Amy both thought the lady's mind was sharp, too sharp for someone who bore the marks of age and the world. Sitting the two down in chairs opposite to one another, she opened the book she held. All the while the two lovers looked at her in bewilderment when she started to sprinkle some sort of powdery substance around their chairs. The hag was chanting in Latin, the language of sorcery and magic, and the powder sizzled and popped as their grains fluttered to their wooden beds of slumber. With the circle of sorcery complete, the Sorceress asked them one thing before she continued: "Are you sure you want to do this?" Amy and John, with their hands intertwined, nodded in unison to her. She returned the gesture; and then something like hell went to work.
The Sorceress was shaking, and the Latin poured out of her mouth like roaring rapids; the circle started to glow and a wisp of white smoke was formed from it, moving its life-like head to and fro, deciding whom it should prey upon. The Sorceress moved her hands in the female's direction; the Serpent complied. John went to block Amy, but instead he sat still, his buttocks glued to the seat as soon as the spell was cast. The Smoke went toward her belly as Amy tried hard to expel the scream that caught in her throat. The Smoke was not interested in the human's antics or pleas; instead it went straight to her legs, crawling up them like a serpent stroking the limb of a tree. The Serpent went between her legs and entered into the darkness; the woman was finally allowed to scream in agony, fear, and surprise. The spell was going to deep inside her, transforming her and the embryo she bore! The woman could feel her baby twitch and kick in pain as the DNA was being coated by the spell, disguising the child from those around her until the time was right.
John sensed this from his lover and tried to free himself, but before he could another wisp of smoke materialized in front of him, giving it the shape and appearance of a disgusting snake. Before he could even think to move it went straight to his heart; its smoky mouth agape, like it wanted to eat the gargoyle's heart. He too screamed in agony as he felt his entire body being disassembled and put together again. Both passed out before the spell was complete.
The Sorceress was done, and she looked down at the fainted souls before her. She went to them and put her hands on both their heads. "You will not remember the events that have taken place tonight, only that a spell was cast and the gargoyle was transformed in to a human, and that your offspring will bare the same spell. However, you will also remember this warning: The spell will end after fifteen years or one year after the woman dies." And with that she magicked all of her belongings and herself to another place, leaving behind only her spell and the two lovers and their child who bore it.