The girl, Latina descent now that Rhychard could see her, was crawling out of the lake on to the grassy shore. Something about her seemed familiar, but Rhychard couldn't get a good look at her. Kree stayed close to the woman, his massive frame dwarfing her huddled form. It was like looking at a baby with a lion. Tryna popped into the air below one of the gargoyles and shoved upward where the beast's genitals would be. Did gargoyles even have genitals? Regardless, it was a weak spot, and the blade sank into the creature. Both Tryna and the blade poofed out of sight again, followed shortly by the dead gargoyle.Rhychard held his swords in front of him. Two left.He stood, braced, swords pointing outward. The remaining two gargoyles forgot the girl, evidently realizing that the threat Rhychard posed was greater than their attack on the girl. One gargoyle flew up, the other down, both focused intently on Rhychard. So much so in fact that they forgot Kree's reach, and the one flying low cam
Rhychard took a long drag from his cigar, held the smoke a moment, and then exhaled slowly, sending smoke ribbons over the porch railing. It was his favorite place in the apartment and the only place not covered in left-behind fur. It was odd having a roommate who shed, but Rhychard would take that over blaring rap music any day. His last roommate had been a disaster, and he was more than pleased that nightmare had ended.When he entered his apartment, Rhychard had deposited the still unconscious girl on his bed and left her in Tryna's tiny, but capable, hands. Kree merely took over the couch, as always, head resting on one arm, feet dangling off the other. The faerie was probably the least intimidating of the three of them, even being a creature over six hundred years old.The fact that gargoyles tried to rip the girl apart and in broad daylight, a pretty bold move on their part, bothered Rhychard. Of course, creatures of the Void didn't care if humans saw them as it only enhanced the
Rhychard found he was pacing again. None of it was making sense. Guardian. Swords. Elves. He walked to the back of his apartment and stared out the window. He had gone crazy. That was all there was to it. No one would believe him. Hell, he didn't believe him. He took a few deep breaths to try to calm his nerves, but it didn't help. What was he going to tell Renny?"I understand that all of this is more than your human brain can comprehend, but we do not have time for you to ponder your fate. John Relco is in danger, and the Destroyer is trying to have him killed. We must protect him."Rhychard recognized the name from Jamairlo but didn't know who it was. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. The last time he helped someone, his world exploded. He ran his hand through his long hair. He just wanted all of this to go away."I will allow you tonight to contemplate the truth of things. Tomorrow, I will return, and we will begin your sword training as I assume you have not used one before the ot
"Well, I can only guess, but I'd say you've made some life-changing decisions lately," Rhychard said. "Gargoyles are servants of the Void, what you would call evil. My guess would be, you lived your life in a way that honored or served the Void and recently made a decision that would put you on the path of the Way, which, basically, you would call good. The Void hates losing members, but then again, what religion doesn't. The Void's exit plan, however, is a little drastic."Buttercup glared at the Warrior. "I am not evil."Tryna reached out and brushed the hair from the girl's eyes. "No, sweetheart, you are not.""Nevertheless, you were living for the Void," Rhychard said, ignoring Tryna's icy glare. "You may not have shed blood or practiced occult sacrifices, but you were living your life for the Void, regardless.":Your bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired,: Kree's voice sounded in his head. Rhychard ignored him. No one took it easy on him when he discovered faerie tales were re
It was an excellent question. Outside of conquering an establishment of the Way and desecrating sacred ground, Vargas seemed way too hungry for Harvest Fellowship for there not to be something else motivating him. Rhychard tied his long, black hair into a ponytail with a leather thong, donned his long coat over his swords, and left the others in his apartment. Buttercup had calmed down, but only after Tryna put an enchantment on her to make her sleep. He still wasn't sure what to do with the street hooker. As soon as she reappeared on the street, the gargoyles would be after her. She was a liability to whatever Adrian and Vargas were scheming.All across Harbor City, the nine-to-five types made the most out of their weekend. They had traded their suits and ties for shorts and flip-flops as they made their way to parks and malls. The late August air was balmy as it kicked up mini-tornadoes, sending leaves and discarded candy wrappers into a swirling frenzy. Rhychard allowed his jacket t
It didn't take long for Rhychard to discover the truth of the elf's words.The memory scattered as Kree's question popped back into Rhychard's head at the thought of his enemies. I wonder what's there that Vargas wants. Creatures of the Void usually avoided sacred ground, so it had to be more than a taunt on the demon's part. Something had to be there, but what? Rhychard hit the throttle on his Suzuki and did a quick U-turn. It was time to have a talk with Adrian Michaels. It was Saturday, so he wasn't sure the good pastor would be at the church, but it was worth a visit to see. Hopefully, it goes better than the last time I was there.As he neared the church parking lot, he noticed Adrian leaving the building, but he wasn't alone. Rhychard let go of the throttle and coasted into an office plaza across the street to wait. He didn't want to confront the pastor in front of witnesses.Adrian Michaels was a tall man with perfectly manicured black hair and a slender, muscular build. He had
"Criminals? You want me to believe Pastor Adrian hangs out with criminals?" The conversation had definitely not gone the way Rhychard hoped. After leaving Adrian standing in the parking lot with his mouth open, Rhychard went after Renny, hoping to get some answers to questions he couldn't really ask. The whole secrecy thing of being a Warrior of the Way was a giant obstacle for his fishing expedition for information, but he thought if he substituted criminal for demon, Renny might listen. Of course, as with every conversation between Renny and him since their breakup, he guessed wrong. He debated telling her about Buttercup and her role in Adrian's plans, but the way the conversation went, any mention of Rhychard helping a hooker would not help his case. "Rhychard, you've been watching too much television. Maybe it's time you got a real job." Renny stood staring at him, arms crossed defiantly over her chest.He had caught up with her just outside her townhome as she locked up her car.
Buttercup stood in the kitchen in front of a pan of sizzling bacon. She wore one of the long button-down dress shirts Rhychard forgot he even owned. They apparently hadn't found pants for her because as she stretched to reach for some plates, the shirt rode up her thin legs exposing the bottom curves of her firm ass, the flesh slightly paler than the rest of her body. Rhychard's eyebrows went up as he shifted in his seat, but he didn't look away. He couldn't no matter how much decency said he should. She had showered and finished scraping the remaining makeup off that had plastered her face. The transformation was stunning. Her obsidian hair hung straight and loose down her back in a soft waterfall instead of the hair-sprayed curls that had before sat there like a crude bird's nest. Her bronze skin was clean and alive now even if a bruise decorated it here and there, and she had gentle eyes and thin, soft lips that appeared as if they would hold a natural smile.:A real flower, is she