Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Oh, that’s just something she will have to get used to. She displayed a lot of power. She sensed you were in danger, and she took off. Breaking the protection circle, and using your speed as well.”
This made Alexander frown. “My speed.”
“Yep. It would seem what also makes the five-pointed star precious is her ability to use certain gifts. Like the fireball. Most witches need to be near elements that are displayed.”
“Like the lake,” Alexander said.
“Yes, exactly, like the lake. There’s no fire around, and she was able to conjure a fireball. All this magic is going to take energy.”
Alexander held her in his arms. He would take care of her, no matter what.
He thought about what Charles said and turned to Crazy Lizzie. “We’ve got to warn the others.”
****
“I thought I’d find you here,” Elle said.
Layla looked up from the book she’d been devouring. There were two books on her lap—one about her mother, the other about her father. There wasn’t a lot of information, but it was enough to make her feel close to them.
“You did?” Layla asked.
“I know you’ve got to take another class with Crazy Lizzie very soon. She is organizing it as we speak.”
“Class? Is that what we’re calling it?”
“I don’t know what we’re calling it, but if you want, I’ll call it what you want.”
Layla chuckled. “It is a class, but you’ve got to admit, it’s a weird one.”
“Very weird. Daisy has been asking after you,” Elle said, coming to sit beside her. “I think she’s starting to get a little suspicious.”
“Can you blame her? In all the years I’ve worked for her, I never once was late or took a break, or had any time off. I don’t even think I’ve ever gotten ill.”
“I don’t think you have either.”
Layla sighed. “That’s not weird, right?”
Elle snorted. “It is totally weird. Come on, you and I both know that us mere humans get sick.” Her best friend took her hand. “But it’s the good kind of weird, if that would make you happy.”
“So I’m a good kind of weird?”
“Yep. The best kind.” Elle took a seat beside her. “So, what does it say about your parents?”
“They were strong and respected. My mom, here, Bertha, was a powerful witch. According to this book, she was constantly coming up with new kinds of revenge remedies and antidotes. She not only had the ability to call on two elements—earth and air—but she was apparently a kick-ass witch when it came to potions and spells. She wrote a lot of them.”
“She sounds awesome.”
“Yeah.”
“I bet she would be proud of you.”
Layla couldn’t help but snort. “I doubt it.”
“Don’t say stuff like that. You don’t know.”
“My mom was a well-respected witch. It would seem most witches are given a gift of controlling one element. My mom had the special gift of controlling two. That made her special.”
“What about your father?”
Layla sighed. “He was able to control the other two—wind and fire. Again, he was a well-respected warlock, powerful and strong. There are no details of how they met.”
“Maybe you should ask your parents?” Elle asked. “You know, they’d be the ones to know, wouldn’t they? Or do you think of them as gargoyles?”
“They’re my parents, but they don’t … I don’t know if I can ask them.”
“Well, during my research, seeing as I’ve been here with Brandon a lot over the past few months, you do know gargoyles don’t have much in the way of feelings,” Elle said.
Layla watched as her best friend got to her feet and moved across the room toward a shelf. She ran her fingers along the spine of the books, and then pulled out a thick, old-looking volume.
Elle walked back toward her, sat down, and opened it up to where the page had been marked.
“Look,” Elle said. “Gargoyles are loyal subjects, but they do not feel pain or love. It’s part of their beings.”
Layla took the book from her and read some of the points that were written down. “They’re loyal, and only given to those of the highest of power in order to protect. Both my parents died.”
“Because gargoyles are not … they’re strong and loyal but they’re not powerful. They have the ability to guard you, but if you were in any kind of threat, they wouldn’t have been able to help you,” Elle said. “I think it’s why they came here, to Brandon’s father. The pack was strong to protect her, and with the gargoyles here, they were able to place a protection spell over the place that guarded your existence.”
“Not for long,” Layla said.
Alexander had already warned them all that Charles had become part of the Disaster of the Otherworld. They had already gone through his stuff, but none of them knew for certain how long Charles had been a member, whether it had been months or years. Either way, she knew every single night Alexander was out hunting. He constantly checked the perimeter for any signs the cult was close.