Read Online Incarnate (A Spellmason Chronicle) by Anton Strout - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anton Strout
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my life is, and not knowing . . . It leaves a cold and empty place within me.”
I took her hand in mine, squeezing. “Give it time,” I said. “You did much good tonight, helping out our newest addition to Sanctuary.” I spread my wings and looked out the stained glass window above. “It would seem, however, it is also time for me to help out my human friends.”
“How?” she asked.
“I need to find out who this ringed man from the forest is,” I said, leaping into flight. “Is he friend or foe? Either way, we can deal with him accordingly.”
Six
Alexandra
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to the strange newness of my family’s ancestral home on Gramercy Park, especially up here in Alexander’s art studio/library. Even Bricksley seemed confused by it all, his tiny stone golem body waddling back and forth on the tiny legs that supported his single brick of a body.
“I know,” I said as I stared down into his big drawn-on eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back at the eternal one I had painted on him. “It takes some getting used to, but I tried to at least order the place the way it was before mind-controlled Stanis trashed it. My great-great-grandfather’s books on arcane societies go where they always have, in the last row of the stacks. If you would be so kind . . .”
Bricksley picked the small stacks of books from the floor and headed off as I set about sorting out the rest of the tomes still scattered all around the library/art studio that I had spent my life before Saint Mark’s hanging out in.
Despite the late hour, I found myself wide-awake thanks to the pit of nerves that filled my stomach and had the added benefit of fighting off sleep.
I worked in silence as I waited, the only sound that of Bricksley’s tiny feet scraping along the wooden floor as he went about his business.
“I see Bricksley is hard at work,” Stanis said from the doorway leading out to the terrace, nearly causing me to jump out of my skin.
I paused for a second to settle both my stomach and my nerves before turning around. “He’s like the Energizer Bunny,” I said, watching the animated brick totter across the floor toward the library with another stack of books in his tiny metal arms. “He keeps going and going and going.”
“It is a shame he is not built for flight,” Stanis said. He collapsed his wings in close and stepped through the doorway, entering the floor.
“I suppose I could work on that,” I said, stepping past him as I exited out onto the terrace, leaving Bricksley to his work. “Thank you for meeting me. I know how late it is and I’m sure you want to get back to your people.”
“It is no worry,” he said, once more stepping out into the night air, his voice short and firm with me. “This would not be the worst place in the world to take my statue form. After all, I did it here for the past hundred years or so.”
“Oh, right,” I said, feeling a bit foolish. “Of course. That was a simpler time.”
“Was it?”
“Before your father came here, before the awakening of all those other
grotesques
. How many people did you talk to in all that previous time?”
“Your great-great-grandfather was the sole person I was in contact with,” he said.
“See? Simpler.”
“But then you and I would never have conversed,” he said with a fanged grin.
I turned away from it, finding it unbearable.
“Don’t,” I said. “I don’t deserve your smile.”
When I looked back up again it had vanished from his face.
“What is wrong, Alexandra?” he asked.
“Even before I knew who or what you were, I always sensed your presence. Watching, protecting . . . I mean, a woman can take care of herself and all but somewhere at the back of my mind, I sensed you. I guess I just miss it, is all . . .”
“I am still here for you, Alexandra,” he said.
I bit my tongue.
The person I had been these past few months wanted to scream,
That’s not true!
at him. There were all
I took her hand in mine, squeezing. “Give it time,” I said. “You did much good tonight, helping out our newest addition to Sanctuary.” I spread my wings and looked out the stained glass window above. “It would seem, however, it is also time for me to help out my human friends.”
“How?” she asked.
“I need to find out who this ringed man from the forest is,” I said, leaping into flight. “Is he friend or foe? Either way, we can deal with him accordingly.”
Six
Alexandra
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to the strange newness of my family’s ancestral home on Gramercy Park, especially up here in Alexander’s art studio/library. Even Bricksley seemed confused by it all, his tiny stone golem body waddling back and forth on the tiny legs that supported his single brick of a body.
“I know,” I said as I stared down into his big drawn-on eyes. I couldn’t help but smile back at the eternal one I had painted on him. “It takes some getting used to, but I tried to at least order the place the way it was before mind-controlled Stanis trashed it. My great-great-grandfather’s books on arcane societies go where they always have, in the last row of the stacks. If you would be so kind . . .”
Bricksley picked the small stacks of books from the floor and headed off as I set about sorting out the rest of the tomes still scattered all around the library/art studio that I had spent my life before Saint Mark’s hanging out in.
Despite the late hour, I found myself wide-awake thanks to the pit of nerves that filled my stomach and had the added benefit of fighting off sleep.
I worked in silence as I waited, the only sound that of Bricksley’s tiny feet scraping along the wooden floor as he went about his business.
“I see Bricksley is hard at work,” Stanis said from the doorway leading out to the terrace, nearly causing me to jump out of my skin.
I paused for a second to settle both my stomach and my nerves before turning around. “He’s like the Energizer Bunny,” I said, watching the animated brick totter across the floor toward the library with another stack of books in his tiny metal arms. “He keeps going and going and going.”
“It is a shame he is not built for flight,” Stanis said. He collapsed his wings in close and stepped through the doorway, entering the floor.
“I suppose I could work on that,” I said, stepping past him as I exited out onto the terrace, leaving Bricksley to his work. “Thank you for meeting me. I know how late it is and I’m sure you want to get back to your people.”
“It is no worry,” he said, once more stepping out into the night air, his voice short and firm with me. “This would not be the worst place in the world to take my statue form. After all, I did it here for the past hundred years or so.”
“Oh, right,” I said, feeling a bit foolish. “Of course. That was a simpler time.”
“Was it?”
“Before your father came here, before the awakening of all those other
grotesques
. How many people did you talk to in all that previous time?”
“Your great-great-grandfather was the sole person I was in contact with,” he said.
“See? Simpler.”
“But then you and I would never have conversed,” he said with a fanged grin.
I turned away from it, finding it unbearable.
“Don’t,” I said. “I don’t deserve your smile.”
When I looked back up again it had vanished from his face.
“What is wrong, Alexandra?” he asked.
“Even before I knew who or what you were, I always sensed your presence. Watching, protecting . . . I mean, a woman can take care of herself and all but somewhere at the back of my mind, I sensed you. I guess I just miss it, is all . . .”
“I am still here for you, Alexandra,” he said.
I bit my tongue.
The person I had been these past few months wanted to scream,
That’s not true!
at him. There were all
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