Late Friday afternoon—day six

“Where could he have gone?” Alton leaned against the cold fireplace. Willow perched on his shoulder, and Bumper lay at his feet. If he hadn’t been almost seven feet tall with silky blond hair falling in a straight line to his butt, he might have looked like any other rangy cowboy in town for the weekend.

“I don’t know, and I don’t like it. I fully expected he’d be back at the library. That’s been his home base all week.” Dax sprawled in her dad’s recliner. He, like Alton, was wearing faded jeans and a worn flannel shirt. They’d both pulled their boots off, and both men looked frustrated and exhausted.

At least her dad was doing better this evening, though he’d chosen the couch, where he could stretch out and rest all his “old man’s aches,” as he referred to the hip that definitely needed replacement.

“If we don’t find the gargoyle, I imagine he’ll find us.” Eddy shrugged, but then she smiled at Alton. “And you got the compulsion reset. Thank goodness! I’m really glad you managed to get that done.” Now that had been a shock when they’d walked to town this morning. Total strangers coming up to her, getting in her face, and complaining about her newspaper articles.

All those stories about the so-called vandalism, every single one blaming the problems on gangs or, as she’d alluded to in one story, an unknown cult—except some of the townsfolk remembered things differently. Remembered, and wanted to talk about them.

One man had said it felt as if he’d had fog on the brain, but the fog had cleared. Thank goodness Alton had reset the fog!

As much as she hated writing lies, Eddy hated getting caught even more, which was a fairly selfish and dishonorable way to look at things. Discovering that lack in her own ethics hadn’t been a very pleasant revelation.

She’d just have to keep reminding herself it was all for the common good, but she was glad her father had stayed home. She would hate for him to see her defending stories that weren’t true. Someday, she hoped she could come clean on all this, but she couldn’t do it yet. Not now.

Damn but it had been a long, frustrating day. Even more frustrating knowing that Dax only had a little over twenty-four hours left. She couldn’t dwell on that, though. She just couldn’t.

Willow buzzed through the room, followed by her usual trail of sparkles, but instead of her usual blue, they were dark red, almost as if she were angry.

Or frightened. Dax held his hand out, and she skidded to a halt in his palm. He stared intently at the little sprite, then practically jumped out of the recliner.

“Close the shades and turn out the lights,” he said, moving swiftly toward the kitchen and the window that faced the backyard. “Check the locks on the doors. The gargoyle’s outside. Willow said he’s flown over Ed’s workshop twice now.”

Ed struggled to his feet. “How’d it find us?”

Alton turned away from the front door he’d just secured. “I’m not sure, but this changes things. We’ve been hunting it. Now it appears the gargoyle is hunting us.”

Eddy helped her dad into the kitchen and grabbed a straight-backed chair for him. Dax had already turned out the lights and stood in the darkened window, staring toward the workshop. He glanced over his shoulder as Eddy slid the chair across the floor and set it near the window. Ed carefully sat down where he could see outside.

“Look.” Dax pointed at Ed’s shop.

Eddy felt her blood run cold. The gargoyle perched on the roof like a huge vulture and stared directly at the kitchen window where all of them were gathered. It leaned forward, supporting itself on its hands and feet with its leathery wings folded against its back.

Its eyes glowed with incandescent fire reflected from the nearby streetlight. It swung its head from right to left and back again, as if assessing the area in preparation for an attack.

Bumper growled low in her throat, but she seemed to know enough to keep it quiet. Dax patted her head, and she whimpered. It was obvious she knew there was something out there that she really didn’t like at all. Willow stood on the windowsill with her tiny hands planted on her hips. Anger absolutely radiated from her little body.

The sun had set, and there was just enough light left to see the gargoyle’s dark silhouette, but the eyes seemed to grow larger and brighter as darkness fell.

Eddy was glad they’d turned off the lights inside. The kitchen was almost entirely dark. She didn’t want to think the gargoyle was watching them, though she imagined he probably had much better vision than she did. It gave her the creeps.

Alton slipped his crystal sword out of the sheath hanging over the back of a kitchen chair. It ignored Dax. Alton stared at it a moment and then held it down at his side. “I’m going out the front door. I’ll work my way around behind the shop.”

Dax kept his eye on the sword as he agreed. “I’ll go with you until I can find a good spot to attack, but I’ll wait until you’re in position before I show myself. I don’t want him to see us leaving the house.” He glanced at Eddy. “Is there a backyard light you can turn on from inside? I have a feeling the gargoyle can see in the dark much better than me.”

She pointed to the set of switches by the wall. She realized they were all whispering, and wondered if it was necessary, but the damned thing had gone from stone to flesh in a matter of days. For all they knew, it could hear through walls.

She kept her voice low. “A couple. There’re lights on both the back porch and the door to Dad’s shop, but nothing that will throw a beam on the roof.”

Ed moved slowly, but he got up and opened a utility closet by the back door. “I’ve got this.” He held up a heavy flashlight shaped almost like a handgun with a halogen bulb. “It throws a pretty good beam a long way.”

“Good.” Dax nodded. Then he leaned over and kissed Eddy. “Stay out of the creature’s sight, and hang on to Bumper. I’m taking Willow with me.” He glanced down at the baseball bat she’d grabbed without even realizing it, and laughed. “It’s good to know you’re armed.”

“You’re making fun of me, but I’ll get the last laugh. This is one fine baseball bat.” She kissed him and stepped back. “Be careful, Dax. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She wasn’t sure how long they stood there staring into each other’s eyes, but she didn’t want to turn away. Dax was the first to break the spell that had so quickly trapped them both.

“Ed, as I recall, there’s a ladder against the north side of the shop, so Alton will be using that. I want you to shine the beam directly on the gargoyle—in his eyes if you can—the minute Alton signals you. That should momentarily blind him and might give us an advantage. Can you get outside without him seeing you?”

“I’ll use the sliding glass door from my bedroom. I should be able to flash this at him without leaving the house.” He held up the flashlight. “It’s really bright. With any luck, he won’t be able to see me once the light’s in his eyes.”

“Eddy, don’t turn the lights on until after your dad flashes the spotlight. Then we’ll need both yard lights. Alton, can you just raise your sword so Ed knows you’re ready? That crystal should show up just fine. If you’re behind the gargoyle, hopefully he won’t see it. Ed, watch out you don’t get me or Alton with that beam.”

Ed nodded. “I will. Be careful, boys. Both of you. And Willow? You be careful, too.” He grabbed his cane and the spotlight and slowly made his way down the hallway. Dax hid Willow in his pocket, and he and Alton slipped out the front door. Eddy waited alone in the kitchen with only Bumper for company. She heard the steady tick, tick, tick of the clock over the kitchen sink. The sound of Bumper panting. A car passed by on the street out in front.

Darkness closed in. The gargoyle was barely visible now, though its eyes still glowed an unearthly shade of red. She had no idea where Dax or Alton were. They had to be getting into position.

Eddy sensed a change in the pressure inside the house and knew her father had opened the bedroom door. Bumper whined and stood close beside Eddy in the darkened kitchen. Her curly blond hackles rose along her spine, and her whine turned to a rather startling growl that seemed to roll out of her chest.

Eddy kept her gaze on the gargoyle, though all that really showed right now were the flashing red eyes. Then Alton’s crystal sword glowed behind the creature’s dark silhouette. Immediately after, the brilliant beam from Ed’s spotlight caught the gargoyle directly in the eyes.

It rose up, roaring. Its loud trumpeting cry echoed throughout the neighborhood. Eddy flipped on the backyard lights as the gargoyle leapt from the roof and shot directly toward Dax with leathery wings outspread.

Alton’s sword swept through the air and severed a large section of the gargoyle’s right wing. The piece spun off in a shower of dark blood and landed in Ed’s rose garden just outside the workshop.

Dax stood at the edge of the yard, partly hidden beneath a sycamore tree. Fire flashed from his hands and burned away more of the gargoyle’s wing as the creature landed on the ground just a few yards away from him. It screamed this time, an earsplitting cry of absolute fury. Then it turned on Dax.

Flames still shot from Dax’s fingertips. The heat of the fire singed the gargoyle’s chest, but it continued its awkward walk directly into the flame, drawing closer with each step it took.

Dax switched from heat to cold. Icicles formed on the gargoyle’s face and hung from its damaged wing as well as the good one. Still it moved forward, listing toward the injured wing. Bumper growled and clawed at the door. Alton was clambering down the ladder and racing toward the gargoyle with his sword raised.

Dax switched back to flame. Suddenly his body jerked. The flames died. Alton took another swing with his crystal sword as Dax went down with both hands pressed to his throat.

The tattoo! She’d totally forgotten the damned tattoo! Ignoring danger, Eddy swung the door wide and raced out into the yard. Snarling and barking, Bumper went directly for the gargoyle. She sank her teeth into the creature’s one good wing. It spun around, reaching for the dog, but Bumper managed to hang on and stay out of reach of the long claws.

Alton raced across the yard and swung his sword, but he missed as the gargoyle leapt into the air. Bumper hung on to its wing until only her hind legs raked the ground. Then she let out a sharp yelp and dropped, rolling and frantically rubbing her face in the damp grass.

Eddy fell to her knees beside Dax. His eyes were closed, his mouth open as he gasped for air. The tattoo rippled and slithered over his skin, but he held on to the head of the snake with a white-knuckled grasp. The forked tongue whipped between his fingers. He held the viper’s mouth shut with both hands.

There were two perfectly round puncture wounds in his throat, just beneath his jaw. Already the skin was beginning to swell. Alton dropped to his knees beside Eddy. “What happened?”

“The damned snake bit him.” Her voice cracked with fear as she pressed her hands over Dax’s and forced the serpent down. Beneath her touch, it slowly lost dimension. Within a very few seconds, it was nothing more than a tattoo, though pain radiated up Eddy’s arms all the way to her spine.

She ignored it. “Dax? Can you hear me? What can I do? How can I help you?”

Ed stood over them, leaning heavily on his cane. He handed a small plastic box to Eddy. “Snake-bite kit. It’s old, but the theory’s the same. It might help if you can get the poison out.”

She tried to open it, but her hands were shaking too badly. Alton took it from her, flipped open the catch, and removed a razor blade wrapped in a sterile covering, along with a small suction cup. Eddy grabbed the packet of disinfectant and tore it open. She splashed the alcohol over the puncture wounds, took the razor from Alton and, with surprisingly steady hands, made a quick slash in Dax’s throat to connect the two holes.

She used the suction cup to draw blood and venom out of the wound and prayed the creature hadn’t struck a vein or an artery. Dax’s head lolled to one side as she suctioned blood and venom and emptied the cup. It was so damned slow!

She shot a quick look at Alton, but his attention was entirely on Dax. Willow stood on Alton’s shoulder, but she was sending blue sparkles the length of Dax’s body. Frustrated, terrified, Eddy finally leaned over and put her mouth to the seeping wound. She sucked hard, filling her mouth with his blood and something with a vile, bitter taste that burned her lips and tongue and had to be venom.

Over and over again, she sucked at the wound on his throat, turned her head and spit, and sucked again until the taste changed and she knew she drew only pure, clean blood from the bite. Finally she sat back on her heels. Ed handed her a damp cloth, and she wiped Dax’s blood from her lips. Then she folded the cloth to a clean side and pressed it against the slowly seeping wound on his throat. He seemed to breathe easier, but he was still unconscious.

“Should I carry him inside?”

She blinked and gazed at Alton. “Can you lift him? He’s awfully big.”

Alton smiled gently. “So am I, Eddy.” He stood up and handed his sword to Ed. Then he pulled Eddy to her feet. “Get the bed ready. I’ll carry him into your room.”

She nodded, took one last look at Dax, and raced toward the sliding door to the master bedroom. Alton followed a moment later. He carried Dax in his arms like a very large child, through Ed’s room and down the hall to the room Dax shared with Eddy. There Alton carefully laid him down on the big bed. Eddy removed his boots while Alton unbuttoned his shirt. Bumper sat near the foot of the bed with her chin resting on the edge of the mattress while Alton and Eddy finished undressing Dax.

Willow took a position on the headboard. Blue sparkles still rained down over Dax, but even with Willow’s energy, his skin felt hot. Sweat beaded his upper lip and glistened across his chest. The tattoo gleamed, but it was just a tattoo—for now.

Eddy glared at the thing. Then she went into the bathroom and found a clean washcloth, rinsed it out in cool water, and used it to bathe the sweat and blood from Dax’s face and chest. “I feel so helpless,” she said, running the cool cloth over his shoulder. “What kind of poison comes from a cursed tattoo? How do you fight it?”

“With love.”

Alton’s soft words brought her to a stop. “What do you mean?”

“He’s breathing easier. His color is already better. Even the place where you slashed through the puncture wounds with the razor has begun to heal.” He grinned and gazed up at Willow, sitting on the headboard. “Of course, some of that could be due to Willow and her marvelous blue sparkles, but Eddy, everything you do for him, you do because you love him. Evil can’t fight that. It’s a powerful weapon, and you wield it well.”

She sat down beside Dax. He did seem to be breathing better. She touched his forehead. His skin felt cool beneath her palm. “Alton, I sure hope you’re right. I didn’t even think of the snake when both of you went outside. All I could think was maybe now you guys could beat the gargoyle at his own game.”

She raised her head and looked at the tall Lemurian. “Purely selfish, on my part. I wanted Dax all to myself tomorrow. I don’t want him fighting the gargoyle on his last day on Earth. I want him with me.”

Alton swept his hand over her hair and brushed it back from her eyes. “I know. I feel the same way. I don’t want to lose him. Not tonight. Not tomorrow. He’s become a very dear friend in a very short time. Only Taron and I are this close. When Dax is gone, I will have lost a brother.”

Dax reached up and wrapped his hand around Alton’s wrist. “You haven’t lost me yet, my friend.”

“Dax!” Eddy covered her mouth with her hand to bite back a cry. “I’ve been so worried!”

“What happened? I was fighting the gargoyle and the tattoo at the same time. Something bit me, I think, but…”

“The snake bit you.” Eddy traced her fingers over his throat. The puncture wounds were no more than tiny pinpricks now. The razor slash was a narrow pink line, connecting the dots. “I think I got the poison out, but I was so scared.”

“How?” Dax planted his hands on the bed and carefully shoved himself upright. He leaned against the headboard and gazed from Eddy to Alton and back at Eddy. “What did you do?”

“She played lady vamp.” Alton grinned at Eddy. “Pretty impressive, actually.”

Dax frowned. Obviously he didn’t get the reference. Eddy shrugged and said, “I used a razor to open up the puncture wounds and sucked the poison out.”

“Well, that’s gross.” Dax gazed steadily at her for such a long time, Eddy blushed. “You really did that? Sucked blood and poison out of my neck?”

“Well, it’s not like I could ask anyone else to do it.” Eddy stood up and planted her hands on her hips. “What else did you expect?”

“Only you would do something so courageous.”

He reached for her hand. She took his and squeezed. “It wasn’t brave. I was terrified you might die. Your neck was swollen where it bit you, and you were having trouble breathing.”

He stared at her a moment longer. Then he tugged, and she tumbled to the bed beside him. “So, what happened to the gargoyle?”

She glanced at Alton. “Alton sliced off a big chunk of its wing. It fell in the rose garden, but it didn’t keep the gargoyle from flying away.”

“Your fire and ice slowed it down, but it still escaped.” Alton patted Bumper’s curly head. “Bumper got it by one wing, but as soon as she bit through and got a mouthful of that corrosive blood, she let go.”

Eddy reached down and rubbed Bumper’s head. “I don’t blame you, girl. I would’ve let go too.” She tried to part Bumper’s jaws without any luck. “Did she get any burns on her mouth?”

“No. She’s okay. I checked. No burns.” Ed eased himself into a chair next to the bed. “I found the piece of gargoyle wing. It’s now a big, delta-shaped slab of stone. It smashed my Peace rose.”

“It may be flesh and blood, but it still reverts to stone. It’s not entirely alive.” Dax looked at Alton. “Where do you think the gargoyle is now?”

“Holed up someplace where he can heal. After I sliced that piece of wing off, the bleeding stopped almost immediately, so it’s definitely stronger and healing faster. Your flame burned it, but not enough to stop the damned thing.”

Dax sighed. “And it knows where Ed and Eddy live.” He turned his focus on Alton. “No matter what, we need to kill it, but we have to find it first. Any idea where it’s gone?”

Alton shook his head. “Have you thought about sending Willow out to scout for us? She can sense the demon. She might have better luck.”

Dax shook his head. “I can’t risk her like that.” He looked up at Willow, sitting atop the headboard. “She’s too important to all of us.”

Willow fluttered blue sparkles over the pillows, but she’d helped Dax heal from the serpent’s bite. Eddy figured she could afford to celebrate a bit.

Ed stood up. “I’ve got a pot roast in the Crock-Pot that’s probably cooked itself into soup by now. Dax? Are you okay to come out to the kitchen for a meal?”

“I actually feel pretty good, thanks to Eddy.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and grabbed her hand.

Alton stood up and grabbed his sword. It didn’t react to Dax at all. “I wonder if I’ll ever figure this thing out?” He shook his head. “Ed, save me something for dinner. I want to go out and check the area before I eat. You guys go ahead.”

In the kitchen, Eddy watched Alton slip into the harness that held his scabbard. He carefully sheathed the sword. “I’ll be back in a while,” he said. Then he quietly walked out the door and left them to their dinner.

Alton walked swiftly through the quiet neighborhoods, alert to the sounds of the night. He made a point of going by Ginny’s house, but the shades were drawn, the lights out.

With luck, she’d be in Sedona by now, well away from whatever chaos occurred here in Evergreen. He gazed about, absorbing the sense of peace in the quiet streets and darkened homes. Homes filled with families, with mothers and children and fathers, older couples enjoying the later years of their lives, expecting a peaceful old age.

What if he and Dax failed? What if the gargoyle prevailed? What would happen if demonkind took over this peaceful town? If they eventually ruled this world? If the tipping point were reached in spite of everything they did to stop the creature?

What would happen to Lemuria? He might be an outcast there, but he still loved his people, his world. He’d expected to hear from Taron by now, but his friend’s continued silence didn’t bode well. Of course, with the elders capable of discussing even the simplest of questions for millennia, it was probably asking far too much to expect a decision on such a weighty topic in less than a week.

He heard a sound, as if someone walked through dry grass. Drawing his sword, Alton slowly turned to face the enemy.

He looked into the dark eyes of a large doe. Her speckled fawn stood beside her. Sighing Alton turned away and headed back to Ed’s house. His sword glowed brightly, showing him the way.

Glowed but did not speak. Maybe it was all a myth, nothing more than mere legend. Maybe the swords had never spoken and he expected the impossible.

Or maybe, just maybe, he’d already failed. Maybe he didn’t have what it took to be a warrior, to help Dax and Eddy save Earth from demonkind.

He paused and stared into the glowing crystal, but there were no answers in its shimmering depths. With a soft curse of pure disgust, Alton sheathed his sword. Then he walked swiftly through the darkness along the quiet road to Ed’s house.

Eddy awoke with the unfamiliar sense that she was alone in the bed. She’d fallen asleep wrapped tightly in Dax’s arms, well aware this was their last night together. Even more aware he was still not feeling a hundred percent after the attack by that damn serpent tattoo. She wondered if they’d have a chance to make love at least one more time before he was gone.

Then she wondered how it would happen. Would he just disappear? Would the body die and Dax’s spirit go on to Eden? She hadn’t even thought to ask him. Didn’t really want to know.

She sat up in bed and glanced around the dark room. He wasn’t in the bathroom. She got up, wrapped her robe around her light gown, and went down the hall toward the kitchen. The back door stood open to the cool night air.

Quietly, she slipped through the open door. Dax sat on top of the picnic table, staring into the darkness. His legs were folded, and his elbows rested on his knees. He wore nothing but a pair of boxer shorts against the cool air.

“Dax? Are you okay?” She slid her hands over his shoulders and leaned against his muscular back. He tilted his head back and smiled at her.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just needed a little time to think.”

“About what?” She sat beside him on the edge of the table.

“You. Me. Tomorrow.” He gazed off into the darkness and spoke softly. “Nothing has happened the way I expected. I didn’t expect the demon to catch me unprepared. Didn’t expect the spirit of the soldier who first owned this body to still be hanging around.” He grinned and leaned against her shoulder. “Now that’s an experience I’m still getting used to. I’m sensing him more every day. Maybe he wants his body back.”

“Maybe he just wants to help?” She kissed his cheek.

“Actually, I think you’re right, and I’ve grown to depend on his presence, and that of another as well. I didn’t realize I’d still have part of my demon self to contend with, but he occasionally rears his head, especially when we make love.”

He smiled into Eddy’s wide-eyed look of surprise. “It’s true. I’ve managed to keep him under control, but I don’t stop him entirely.” He leaned close and kissed her lips and trailed kisses along her jaw. “He’s a much better lover than I am.”

“I find that hard to believe.” She tilted her throat to give him better access.

Dax kissed her again. “I didn’t expect Alton or your dad, or Bumper. Didn’t realize how fond I would become of Willow. When the Edenites first came to me, I figured this would be a simple job. A lot more exciting than mere existence in the void. I thought I’d come in, clean out the demons, and get my ticket straight to Paradise. It hasn’t worked at all the way I planned.”

“You’ll get him tomorrow, Dax. I know you will.”

He shook his head. “Eddy, he knows where you live. When I’m gone tomorrow, I can only hope and pray that Alton will stay here to protect you. I can’t imagine Paradise as anything more than hell if I’m there and you’re here—especially if you’re in danger. Of all the surprises, you are the biggest one of all. I love you. I never understood what love was, and now all of a sudden it’s the most important emotion I never had before. It’s more important than doing my job, than spending eternity in Paradise. You’re more important, but you’re not one of the choices they’ve given me.”

She ran her fingers through his dark hair. “No chance to choose what’s behind door number three?”

Dax frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Stupid game show on television.” One more thing he’d never understand because he wouldn’t be here long enough. She felt the tears threatening to choke her and swallowed them back. She wasn’t going to cry. He didn’t deserve the burden of her tears. Not on his last night and day of life on Earth.

She held his face in her hands. “Dax, I love you too. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. You’ve done the best job you can, and you’ve still got tomorrow. You’ll find the demon, and you’ll get rid of him. I know you will.”

She stood up and took his hand. “Come to bed. Make love to me. Let’s spend what time we can doing things that will give us good memories to last.” She tugged.

He gazed down at their entwined fingers and sighed. Then he untangled his long legs, slid off the table, and stood up. Eddy wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest, well aware it rested against the serpent.

One more day. He was going to be gone in one more day.

But we still have tonight. Eddy pulled slowly out of his embrace and, still holding his hand, led Dax to her bedroom.

Memories. It was all about making memories at this point, and she refused to think about tomorrow.