Whew ! I finished my third chapter today so I'll be posting the second and third right now !
Have fun reading :)
Vee suddenly awoke, sun rays right on her face.
She found herself on her couch, a blanket over her. She tried to recall the events from last night until she touched her neck, feeling a bunch of plasters randomly put on the left side of it.
"What the hell…?"
She went to her bathroom, observing the strange patchwork. Vee noticed traces of blood on the shoulder part of her shirt. She started to peel the adhesive bandages only to discover a still sensitive, trying to heal, cut.
The human gasped, suddenly remembering everything. She still couldn't really believe what hapened last night. The man attacking her, then those creatures…. What exactly were those gargoyles? She remembered something about 'protecting', like one of them said.
The red one…. He had entered her home!
Almost panicking, Vee began to search every corners of her apartment to see if he was still here, but yet no traces, not even a scratch, could be found.
She stopped, trying to recollect her thoughts. First, she needed to go to the police and tell about those bandits. Maybe they were well-known to them. At least she had to voice her assault and prevent any more people getting hurt by those rascals.
Changing clothes, then getting her coat on, she rapidly left for the nearest police station. She hoped things would get done fast as her next plan was to get to the library and research everything she could about those creatures.
The streets were heavily crowded with people of all sorts. Children, businessmen, elders. Cities were never something Vee appreciated the most. All the noises and closeness to people did nothing else but give a headache to the young woman, sometimes wishing she could fly above everything.
She finally arrived near the police station, which was placed right under a tall clock tower. Entering, she moved straight to a counter, trying to get the attention of the officer sitting behind it.
"Excuse me, I would like to report a harrassement I was victim of last night."
The policeman, a black man with a mustache, looked back at her, ditching his paperwork for a moment.
"Was there any situation in particular that could have provoke that harrassement?" he asked.
"No! I was calmly walking down the street when I got surrounded by three men near an alley. One threatened me with a knife, leaving me a mark."
She lifted her head, showing the left side of her neck, where the injury was still visible.
The man designed a chair for the woman to sit on.
"I will need you to try to describe me the culprits the best you can," he began. "For many nights now people have been assaulted by burglars and bandits of all sorts. We're trying to find a connection so your help will be more than precious to us."
Ah the joys of New York….
The very aspect of danger always scared Vee, never knowing what to do in situations like the one she lived last night. So to learn that these assaults were becoming more frequent, she despised the city even more.
She proceeded to describe the three men to the officer, giving more details about the leader. Did she need to mention the gargoyles? She risked herself:
"I … I also need to mention something else that happened at that time. … I saw creatures, they came to my help. They called themselves gargoyles. You may think that I'm crazy, but without them things could have turn pretty much worse."
The policeman seemed to consider her declaration, adding: "You're not the first one to say this. People come rushing into our station, saying they saw winged monsters fly into the night sky and they seem to only attack people commiting crimes."
"I think I can now handle this citizen, Morgan."
The voice who cut him was a woman with long black hair, wearing a red jacket and simple pale jeans. Her tanned skin hinted Native American and African American heritage in her.
"Detective Elisa Maza," she introduced herself to Vee with a smile. "I will need you to follow me, please. I may have more questions to ask regarding the events of last night.
"Oh, uh, sure," complied the young woman, not expecting that much attention.
She followed the detective to a new room which was a small office. The door was closed and the atmosphere changed drastically.
"What do you know about the gargoyles?"
Elisa's voice was dead serious. Her new stance made her look bigger, almost trying to be superior and like she was protecting something. Vee swallowed hard, thinking she made a huge mistake by mentioning the gargoyles. She backed up and took a hold on the desk near her, her eyes glued on the other woman.
"I … I don't know much," replied the young one. "They saved me and one of them took me home, that's all I can say!"
"What did the creature looked like?"
"Red, white hair, beak-like face. He was strong. He said his name was Brooklyn, if I remember well."
Elisa seemed to ponder a thought.
"Did he tell you where he lived?"
Vee quickly hid a small smile.
"Not really, or if he did I don't recall it. I blacked out at some point and had a hard time keeping up with reality. … Why are you asking me all these questions about them, detective? Are you onto something?"
The black-haired woman seemed to relax, showing a smile.
"I can't tell, but you are one of the first citizen that didn't scream into our headquarters about flying devils! I'm also curious about the gargoyles but I need to warn you; do not try to search for them."
"Why not? I would like to thank them better than in the poor excuse of a state I was last night!" stated Vee.
"Someday you might be able to. But just keep in mind that some things are meant to stay in the dark. Those gargoyles are one of the best things that could happen to this city in a long time and we try not to disturb them much…"
The young woman understood, but still her curiosity was asking for more.
Elisa opened the door, showing the exit to the young woman.
"That's all I had to ask," she concluded. "If anything ever happens again, be sure to come back to our heaquarters. Something big is going on about criminals and every declarations are crucial."
"I hope I don't have to come here again, detective, as much as I hope peace will come back again soon," added Vee.
The day had been long and tiresome. The human let out a relived sigh as she sat down on her couch, staring at the ceiling of her small apartment.
When she had left the police station, she headed straight to a library, trying to search any good informations about gargoyles. The results weren't much more than what she expected, most descriptions of them simply stating that they were to frighten off and protect those that it guards from any evil or harmful spirits. Some said that they originated from an old legend in France, first appearing as deadly monsters that were soon feared and hunted down. Books stated that christianity changed these creatures to the protectors they were now known, but was it all the truth? There was no mention of living gargoyles, which confused the woman a little.
She turned her television on, trying to change her thoughts. She kept touching the mark on her neck. Soon she'd have to forget all of this and stop trying to find more about things she had no access to…. Like detective Maza told her this morning; some things are meant to stay in the dark.
A small tapping noise was soon heard. Vee frowned, wondering if the sound came from the show on television.
She tried to ignore it, but it was soon heard again, a bit louder this time; as if someone was knocking on glass. The human turned her gaze to her left, straight to her window and soon let out a short high-pitched scream. She expected to see nothing but darkness, as it was now night time, but her eyes felt upon a red shaped mass looking at her from outside.
She rushed to her window, opening it and stared at the now familiar creature: Brooklyn.
"What are you doing here?" asked Vee in a startled tone.
The gargoyle looked hesitant and that made the woman realize how over-reactive she was now.
"… Please, uhm, forgive me," she quickly apologized, rubbing her temples. "Come, … I don't want to lose all the heating in my place."
She left some space for the other, letting him get in the best he could through the small window. After closing the improvised entry, Vee kept her eyes glued to the red gargoyle, waiting for him to speak. He was still as tall and imposing as she remembered. And his white hair seemed to bring some strange wisdom in him….
"I wanted to see if you were alright," he began. "I won't stay long, I promise."
Vee raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Why come look after me? Didn't you say that I'm not the first one you have saved?"
"Yes, but you're the first one to care…. You didn't try to chase us away and that alone makes me want to know more about you."
"… Wow, I- I don't know what to say."
She was extremely happy, that was one thing, but on the other hand she was nervous facing a beast such as him.
"Ah- are you thirsty? Hungry?" she proposed with a nervous voice. "Maybe we could talk?"
She tried to sound like a good hostess, but she actually had no idea of what to do.
"Depends what the subject is about," answered Brooklyn, folding his arms.
"What are you exactly? Where are you from?"
The gargoyle's stance seemed to relax a bit. His wings closed on him, covering him like some sort of improvised cape.
"I guess I can't tell you everything," he began. "I can only state that I'm a gargoyle from Scotland."
"Scotland? … You're far from home. How come you're here now?"
Vee went to her couch, gesturing Brooklyn that he could come sit with her. She sensed they would have a lot to talk about.
"I won't go into details, but long ago some of my kind and myself got trapped into a magic spell that turned us to stone forever … until our castle went above the clouds."
Vee smirked: "Well, I guess more details could help, since it sounds rather strange to me. … But I understand; I'm still a stranger to you as you are to me."
"True. … But one day I could call you a friend, if you ever want it."
The human blushed a little, not expecting that answer. She tossed away some hair strands, her mind shifting to another subject.
"I wanted to thank you for last night. … I don't know what would have happened if those men went further in their acts. I was paralyzed, I've never faced a situation like this one."
Brooklyn showed a small smile.
"That's what the others and I are for, to prevent acts like these!"
"Yes, but you are not alone. … I went to the police this morning and told them about what happened. They say assaults like these are getting more frequent and that something is going on among these criminals. You can't stop them all without help."
The red gargoyle let out a fainted growl, shifting his gaze to the ground. He looked somehow defeated.
"I know… there are many wrongs in this world and I wish we could put an end to all of them once and for all."
"Maybe you could ask help from that detective I met, Elisa Maza. She seemed to be onto something, but wouldn't tell…," added Vee in a wondering tone.
The creature's eyes widened a little.
"You know Elisa?"
The woman's mind seemed to click at that simple question.
"Not really, I only met her today, but I guess you do. … And that explains why she asked me so many questions about you guys."
"Elisa was, and still is, our first human friend. She helped us a lot since we're here. … And why did she asked you questions about us?"
Vee was unsure about telling the truth, but she went with it anyway: "I told about your apparition to the police and it probably got to her attention. I didn't mean any harm or something. I guess I didn't really believe myself that gargoyles were real."
"Ah, don't get upset about it!" chuckled Brooklyn. "Many people speak about us on television and newspaper. It's not like we don't know we get many attention these days. … Elisa is a good person, she works really hard for this city and do her best to protect us during the day."
"What happens during the day?"
The gargoyle looked unsure.
"I don't think I should tell you. At least, not for now. I'd have to ask Goliath to meet you before going into details."
The human shivered a bit to that name, without knowing why.
"Who is Goliath?"
"Our clan leader!" answered Brooklyn. "He always knows when people are good or not, it's like a talent. Maybe you could meet him tomorrow!"
"Oh… uh, are you sure? I mean, I would like to but what tells me that I should trust you?"
"You trusted me yesterday and, strangely, I do trust you," he said with a smile. "You're a clever girl, I'll give you that, but what does your heart says?"
Vee grinned at his words.
"It tells me that you're really strange and unpredictable. … But also that I shouldn't be scared. You … intrigue me."
"It is settled then," he added, suddenly getting up. "We will meet tomorrow night, on top of this building."
The woman stayed down, looking up to the gargoyle with eyes as round as plates.
"Woah, I'm not free until nine in the afternoon. … At what time should we meet?"
Brooklyn offered her his hand, getting her up when she hold on to it after some hesitation. He slightly grinned at the sight of the human blushing a little, amused by her whole self.
"When you are ready. Get on this rooftop and we will see you. I'll meet you there, may it be with Goliath or not."
He walked to the window, opening it. Feeling it was now time for goodbyes, Vee took the opportunity to say the last thing on her mind: "I'm glad I got to meet you, Brooklyn…."
The red gargoyle paused for a moment, observing the young woman.
" … You and me both, Vee."
And at that he disappeared into the night, deploying his wings to the city's winds.
Vee got to her window, looking at the creature glide with grace right to the sky. She couldn't stop smiling, rethinking about this meeting.
… Some things were sure meant to stay in the dark, but a light was now guiding her through that black mass. And that light was no other than Brooklyn.