Read Online Incarnate (A Spellmason Chronicle) by Anton Strout - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anton Strout
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the goings-on at Sanctuary, the hunt for the rogue gargoyles, and of course
Emily
.
But tonight wasn’t about me being selfish anymore, and besides, Stanis had made his choice in companionship, hadn’t he? He deserved that bit of happiness, the kind only a fellow
grotesque
could give him.
“I appreciate that you’re here for me,” I said, “and your efforts to help clean up the mess Caleb and I accidentally caused by awakening so many
grotesques
.”
His wings twitched, betraying the nerve I had hit, but I pressed on.
“But it’s come to my attention that I could be kinder about it. I bark orders at you, but we are
all
a team in this together. Or we were. I don’t know what any of us are anymore.”
“Where is this coming from, Alexandra?” he asked. “What is truly bothering you?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I value what we have, what we
had
, and I’m afraid I’m losing that—and myself—in all the crazy.”
“Do not drive yourself mad,” he said. “I have had several hundred years to contend with both the mundane and arcane worlds and I barely know how to process it.”
Somehow the optimism with which he was taking my apology made it worse.
“Regardless,” I said, holding up a hand for him to stop. “I am sorry if I have been out of sorts with you. I will try to be more mindful.”
“I appreciate that,” Stanis said after a long moment, “and I will endeavor to do the same.”
We stared at each other for a good, long moment in silence . . . until I realized his silence came from the faint rays of the sun that had crept up, rendering him an inert statue.
I turned, once again the fool as I went back into my great-great-grandfather’s newly restored library, but I also felt better for having cleared the air with Stanis. However I felt, it
was
a step in the right direction, and one that was better left alone for now.
A dark, smug sense of satisfaction at having him away from his people for a day—and away from Emily, too—rose up, surprising me as much as it shamed me. Lord knows I was far from perfect, but I could contend with only so much emotional growth—or really, baggage—at one time.
Apologies now, slaying the green-eyed monster later. Right now, I needed to sleep, wishing for once I could induce it via the rise of the sun like a
grotesque
. There were other apologies to offer, but if I went for any of them at this time of the morning, I’d have a whole new litany of apologies to make instead.
I scooped up Bricksley from where he had fallen inert from transformation coming out onto the sunlit terrace. I stuffed him in my backpack, grabbed a few of the books I had gathered from inside, and headed back down to Saint Mark’s where my bed awaited me.
Seven
Alexandra
I awoke around seven, a rarity given the night schedule I’d been keeping. Considering last night’s near-death adventure, I felt remarkably well. I showered, dressed, and even ran errands for several hours before calling Rory and begging her to meet me at Marshall’s game store before it could open.
The two of us arrived at the same time outside Roll for Initiative, and when Marshall looked out his store window and saw my arms were full of maybe a dozen or so small boxes and bags, he ran to the door, unlocked it, and let us in.
“This is an odd but welcome surprise,” he said, locking the door once we were inside. “You’re not really a morning person these days.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, pushing past Rory. “Not really a fan of that big fireball up in the sky, either, but I thought why not get up early and do something proactive with my day other than hunting gargoyles.”
“I’m missing a contemporary class for this,” Rory said, laying down her Manhattan Conservatory of Dance bag.
“I know,” I said. “Sorry.” I walked over to the store’s sales counter off to my left and set about unloading everything in my arms.
“What’s all this?” Marshall
Emily
.
But tonight wasn’t about me being selfish anymore, and besides, Stanis had made his choice in companionship, hadn’t he? He deserved that bit of happiness, the kind only a fellow
grotesque
could give him.
“I appreciate that you’re here for me,” I said, “and your efforts to help clean up the mess Caleb and I accidentally caused by awakening so many
grotesques
.”
His wings twitched, betraying the nerve I had hit, but I pressed on.
“But it’s come to my attention that I could be kinder about it. I bark orders at you, but we are
all
a team in this together. Or we were. I don’t know what any of us are anymore.”
“Where is this coming from, Alexandra?” he asked. “What is truly bothering you?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I value what we have, what we
had
, and I’m afraid I’m losing that—and myself—in all the crazy.”
“Do not drive yourself mad,” he said. “I have had several hundred years to contend with both the mundane and arcane worlds and I barely know how to process it.”
Somehow the optimism with which he was taking my apology made it worse.
“Regardless,” I said, holding up a hand for him to stop. “I am sorry if I have been out of sorts with you. I will try to be more mindful.”
“I appreciate that,” Stanis said after a long moment, “and I will endeavor to do the same.”
We stared at each other for a good, long moment in silence . . . until I realized his silence came from the faint rays of the sun that had crept up, rendering him an inert statue.
I turned, once again the fool as I went back into my great-great-grandfather’s newly restored library, but I also felt better for having cleared the air with Stanis. However I felt, it
was
a step in the right direction, and one that was better left alone for now.
A dark, smug sense of satisfaction at having him away from his people for a day—and away from Emily, too—rose up, surprising me as much as it shamed me. Lord knows I was far from perfect, but I could contend with only so much emotional growth—or really, baggage—at one time.
Apologies now, slaying the green-eyed monster later. Right now, I needed to sleep, wishing for once I could induce it via the rise of the sun like a
grotesque
. There were other apologies to offer, but if I went for any of them at this time of the morning, I’d have a whole new litany of apologies to make instead.
I scooped up Bricksley from where he had fallen inert from transformation coming out onto the sunlit terrace. I stuffed him in my backpack, grabbed a few of the books I had gathered from inside, and headed back down to Saint Mark’s where my bed awaited me.
Seven
Alexandra
I awoke around seven, a rarity given the night schedule I’d been keeping. Considering last night’s near-death adventure, I felt remarkably well. I showered, dressed, and even ran errands for several hours before calling Rory and begging her to meet me at Marshall’s game store before it could open.
The two of us arrived at the same time outside Roll for Initiative, and when Marshall looked out his store window and saw my arms were full of maybe a dozen or so small boxes and bags, he ran to the door, unlocked it, and let us in.
“This is an odd but welcome surprise,” he said, locking the door once we were inside. “You’re not really a morning person these days.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, pushing past Rory. “Not really a fan of that big fireball up in the sky, either, but I thought why not get up early and do something proactive with my day other than hunting gargoyles.”
“I’m missing a contemporary class for this,” Rory said, laying down her Manhattan Conservatory of Dance bag.
“I know,” I said. “Sorry.” I walked over to the store’s sales counter off to my left and set about unloading everything in my arms.
“What’s all this?” Marshall
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