She thought quickly about a paper and dice game she played a few times in college. Her weapon was like a plus one sword, it did damage that normal weapons wouldn’t do.
Several minutes later they found the students they had been looking for. What was left of them anyway. All five of the college students were dead. Some of them were whole and some of them were in pieces.
Looking at the scene turned her stomach. She was glad her date ended before she ate dinner. She wasn’t sure if she could have kept it down.
She searched the scene as Rick called in the details to Lieutenant Meyers. There were three males and two females. The females were left intact, though their throats had been ripped out.
Though they suffered a gruesome death, it was nothing compared to the men. They had been torn into several pieces and it looked like parts of them had been consumed, possibly by the gargoyle.
It was impossible to tell without studying the bite marks left on the bodies. She really didn’t have the time for that. She was concerned about the gargoyle. She would need to stun it or kill it.
Once a gargoyle tasted human flesh, it would always crave it, and no mortal man could stop it. Magic or paranormal abilities would have to be used. There was a chance she could turn the gargoyle back into a statue, but that would take surviving the night and casting just the right spell as the sunlight hit the gargoyle.
Harley opened her backpack and started pulling out spell components. She would start by putting up a ward perimeter. The ward would keep the team safe, and allow the forensics team to come in. They’d have time to process the crime scene.
Her first goal was to make sure no one else died tonight. The first thing she did was cast a spell to protect against the wind in the area. Next, she created a circle using black salt. Not the kind found in Hawaii. This was black salt she made using sea salt and sacred ash. She had also bespelled the salt with magical energy.
After making the circle complete she made an intentional doorway that only she could open and close to allow others in and out of the circle. She then placed white candles around the circle using magic to light them. Between her earlier spell against the wind and the magic, the candles would remain lit.
By the time Lt. Meyers and the rest of the team arrived, she had heard, but not seen, the gargoyle twice. She was surprised that nothing else had shown up. They had crossed the vampire’s ward at least an hour ago.
Either the wards were old and the place abandoned, which she doubted or the vampire was waiting for something before showing his or her hand. If Harley had to make an educated guess, it would be the latter. Vampires tended to be calculated. Life was like a game of chess to them. There was no rush to make a move, just planning and plotting until the right piece could be moved.
Harley filled Meyers and his team in on the circle and the rules for entering and leaving. Several of the team snickered in non-belief, but Meyers was in charge and he ordered them to follow the rules.
She pulled the cloak tighter around her body, while the forensics team did their own brand of magic. She was eager for them to get done and leave, so she could find the gargoyle.
That it hadn’t attacked again was nothing short of a miracle. Once a gargoyle let blood, it tended to become a killing machine. At least the gargoyles that attacked for no reason. The ones that were defending something lived by a totally different set of rules.
The college students had crossed into warded land, but there were no signs they had stolen anything. Maybe they disturbed a grave or went looking in the wrong place.
She hadn’t heard the gargoyle since Meyers and the other humans had arrived. What was it waiting for? Not that she was complaining. Her job was to keep them all alive until they could finish their job.
Just as the team was finishing up the gargoyle swooped down upon them. Talons outstretched it swiped one of the forensic team members, who had been loading equipment back into the truck.
Deep gashes appeared on the man’s arms. He screamed and rushed back toward the circle. Harley just had time to open the doorway she had created before the man crossed the line. Blood streaming down his arm, his face contorted in pain.
The gargoyle slammed into the barrier and screeched in pain. It was angry that it lost its prey. The gargoyle was rather large. Harley would guess it was at least ten feet tall with a twenty-foot wingspan.
Most of the team pulled guns and tried to shoot the gargoyle. Problem was, their bullets just hit the barrier and fell flat. She was glad none of them ricocheted.
“That’s not going to work inside the circle, or out.”
Meyers looked at her. “Why wouldn’t it work outside and why didn’t you warn us? Those bullets could have ricocheted and killed one of my men”.
“I did warn you. Problem is, no one listened. The gargoyle’s skin is like stone. Did anyone bother to load the regulation paranormal bullets?”
Meyers grimaced. It seemed to have slipped his mind. Not usual for the lieutenant. She’d been on dozens of missions with him, and wondered what was up.
“We only have regular bullets. When the teens called in, it was believed to be a hoax.”
“Even so, Meyers. You are normally prepared for anything. This isn’t like you.”
Meyers seemed irritated by Harley’s comments. She didn’t have time to dwell on it. The gargoyle was back
