“The hell it isn’t.”
Dieter left with Audrey.
Mia reached out with her mind to the angel, “I’m Mia.”
“Esther,” the guardian angel said.
“Take Acalan inside, he’s a seer. Too valuable to have out with a collecting gargoyle around.”
“Yes.”
The angel opened her wings, wrapped them around the protesting artist, and disappeared.
Mia was left staring at the tall Other. “I don’t suppose you would show me that contract, would you?”
“Why should I?” he said, watching the oily substance – who was once his partner - seep into the ground at his feet. “Did you have to do that?”
“I wanted to get your attention.”
“You’re unarmed.”
“It doesn’t mean I’m not dangerous.”
“I’m just a soul trying to complete a contract.”
“Show me your contract.”
“No.”
Mia saw movement in the shadows of the park. She had to keep the attention on her until she knew the children were safe.
The sounds of sirens pierced the air. “Company’s coming. How do you guys handle bullets these days?” Mia asked. “The sheriff is used to fighting your kind. He’s got something special for you,” she lied.
Quazar decided to take his chances and pushed by the teen and followed the trail left by the fleeing children.
Mark ran at the man, and when he tried to tackle him, the gargoyle turned to stone. Mark bounced off and crumpled to the ground. Quazar resumed his persona and walked quickly down the hill towards the graveyard.
Brian’s eyes were wide and his mouth was gaping when Murphy insisted that he stay with the Countess. “But, but, she’s dead.”
“So am I. I must go and help your mother. She didn’t have her sword with her.”
“Child, come and help me to settle the babies. This one won’t stop screeching.”
“He’s calling for help.”
“I am help,” the Countess sighed. “I have an army of the dead and nothing better to do,” she said.
Brian squinted his eyes until the Countess looked more like Grandma Glenda and less like one of his nightmares.
“What’s all the fuss about?” Maurice Deschamps asked, crawling out of the coffin in the wall.
“Mia’s asked us to babysit the children.”
“Okay, it’s been a while. Hello, what’s your name? Mine is Maurice.”
“Brian. The large baby is my brother Varden, and the small one is Luke. The Others are trying to take him. I’m supposed to hide us.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place.”
Mia felt the ground vibrate as two henchmen ran at her from either side. She jumped up. They crashed into each other. Mia took the opportunity to lead the fight away from the village street deeper into the park where she wouldn’t have to deal with protecting the gawkers. She ran down the hill and met Murphy coming up.
“The kids are safe,” he said. “How many goons?”
“I killed one Other. There is another one holding the contract. I think it’s the same squad we fought in Kansas. He will call for more. We just have to hold out for help to arrive.”
“Who?”
“Varden has been calling for a bird strike.”
“I’m feeling like this has all happened before,” Murphy said as they were rushed by a giant.
Murphy launched himself upwards, catching the giant between the eyes with his axe. He jumped and hit the ground the same time as the dead thug. Murphy and Mia moved down the hill, putting their backs to each other, and allowed the five remaining henchmen to encircle them. The plan was to keep them away from the graveyard.
“I think the gargoyle has slipped past us,” Mia said.
“We have to trust the Countess to come up with something,” Murphy said.
Murphy started trading blows with the attacking henchmen.
Mia dodged the weapons and used her wings to unsettle the stances of her attackers. She was still unused to her wings and didn’t understand the stiffness she had felt at her side until a flash of sunlight on metal almost blinded her. She reached inside her left wing and pulled out an angel sword. She reached into the right and pulled out a dagger. She advanced forward, slashing mercilessly.
Murphy swung his axe and downed the attacker. He thought of them as dead wood that needed to be rid of. He looked for the Other when they were finished. If they could get the contract and kill the Other, they could stop him from calling for backup. Unfortunately, this was already in progress.
“Mia, we have to get to the kids before the new Other and his henchmen arrive,” he said.
She nodded, and the two ran into the graveyard.
Chapter Thirty-two
Tom Braverman arrived to find the village park deadly quiet. Most of the citizens had run for cover. The brave ones stood across the street as if the width of the pavement could save them from whatever produced such screams of pain. Dieter ran out of the art store and over to Tom.
“Two Others with an extermination squad attacked Audrey. They were trying to take her baby. She also had Brian and Varden with her. Mia arrived and led them away from the populace towards the graveyard. There is a man who is actually a gargoyle. Mark was dealing with him and hasn’t returned. With your permission, I would like to go looking for him. Gargoyles are tricky creatures.”
“I can’t let you go alone. Chambers, escort the boy through the park. If you see anything unusual, return to your car, and we’ll try a different tactic.”
“Yes, sir.”
Orion landed and morphed quickly into his human form. He ran over to Dieter and asked where his wife and child were.
“She’s in the art store under the protection of a guardian angel named Esther. Brian took off towards the graveyard with the babies in
