This is an extract I wrote for a possible future for one of my Alternate Gargoyles Universe characters, Ebony. She became my main character, though I hadn’t really intended it to happen. One of the joys of creative writing. This story takes place in the not so distant future, where a lot went down, and it wasn’t all good for her. Of course as a writer I have to abuse my main character. \ud83d\ude42 This is a\u00a0kind of finale for the first part of her story. It’s also long, over 2300 words, so be prepared.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ebony hit the floor and Nate was on top of her, pinning her down. She struggled against his grip, but he was far more powerful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you bother to struggle?\u201d he asked gloating. \u201cYou know full well you can\u2019t break away with that pitiful strength of yours.\u201d He pulled her wrists together, his large hand easily holding them both and yanked her to her feet, raising her well above the ground. Then he slammed her hard against the wall, stunning her. He touched the stone wall with his other hand, a red glowing coming from it and the rock in the wall formed a shackle around her wrists, restraining her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know how long I’ve dreamt of this moment? You thwarted my plans too many times. You, a mortal, more pathetic that even those of your own species. How many times did I have you at my mercy, only to have one of your protectors arrive at the last moment to save you?\u201d He snarled, slamming his fist inches from her head and leaned in close. \u201cThere\u2019s no one to save you this time,\u201d he spoke in a whisper, his face mere inches from hers. Stunned as she was, Ebony still tried to get away from him. All she could do was turn her head and close her eyes to try to block him out. But he wasn’t going to have that. He grabbed her by the chin and forced her to face him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just you and me. No one will find you here,\u201d he said, his smile cold and full of hate. \u201cDo you know what I could do to you? You don\u2019t know the meaning of pain, yet. I could keep you alive for centuries, just on the brink of death, that release so close yet so far.\u201d He ran his fingers gently down to her throat and then dug his claws in, drawing blood and causing her to gasp in pain. \u201cAnd do you know what the best part of that is? He<\/i> will feel every single moment. You\u2019re still connected you know. Even if you don\u2019t feel his presence, he is still there, watching, listening, feeling, but completely powerless to do anything. Like you.\u201d He released her throat and her head slumped down. He smiled with some satisfaction. As he continued to stare at her his expression softened. He reached out to her again and gently stroked her cheek. She flinched at his touch. \u201cJust think of it Megan, just the two of us, together forever,\u201d he said tenderly.<\/p>\n
Ebony slowly opened her eyes and stared at Nate in surprise. \u201cWhat did you call me?\u201d she asked. Her question startled him back to reality. He backed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt–it doesn’t matter. Names are meaningless. Your kind never used to take them. I don\u2019t know why you suddenly started now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does matter,\u201d she pressed. \u201cIt isn’t just what you said, it\u2019s how you said it. You really care for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Not me. Him. That shadow that my brother created when I was banished to this mortal world.\u201d Hate dripped from his voice as he spoke of his dragon brethren. Ebony watched Nate start to pace, agitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he\u2019s not the shadow,\u201d Ebony said, as she started to realize the truth. \u201cYou are. There is no way the one who holds the gift of breath could be filled with so much hate and malice.\u201d Her golden eyes stared at him intently, though he refused to meet them. \u201cSomething happened to you, to the Real-You, didn’t it? Something so terrible that he allowed this dark version, Dark-You to take over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!\u201d He turned on her, snarling, and smashed his fist into the wall close to her head again, but she didn’t flinch this time. She knew she was getting closer to the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it did. What was it? What happened to make you so consumed with anger and hate?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn’t–\u201d Nate started, finally meeting her eyes, and immediately regretted it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn’t what–\u201d Ebony stopped when his eyes met hers. She knew that look. She saw it every time she looked in a mirror. \u201cYou lost someone you loved.\u201d She stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d he denied, breaking away from her gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the only thing that make sense,\u201d Ebony continued. \u201cYou really loved someone, a girl like Megan perhaps, but something happened and she died. You couldn’t bring her back and you couldn’t die, so the only thing you could do…was forget.\u201d How many times has she wished to do the same thing when the memories were too painful? \u201cYou lost who you were, and your love turned to hate. That\u2019s why you wanted me here!\u201d She looked up at him. \u201cYou were made to forget again and the real you came back. You were going to disappear. The only way you can keep that from happening is to rekindle that hate, and there\u2019s no one you hate more in this realm than me.\u201d He spun back around, his hand covering her mouth and nose and pressing down.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re too clever for your own good,\u201d he hissed. Ebony struggled to get a breath, but she was helpless. \u201cI should just kill you, but that\u2019s won\u2019t be enough. It has to be the other one. He\u2019ll go back if it\u2019s by his own hand. And with you in my grip, I can keep him at bay. Are your lungs starting to burn? Suffocation is such a painful way to die–\u201d<\/p>\n
A gunshot echoed through the room, and a bullet ricocheted off the wall just inches from Nate\u2019s head. He backed away, releasing his hold on Ebony and turning to see who had found them. Ebony inhaled deeply, the cool air relieving her burning lungs. She didn’t have to look. She knew who it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert,\u201d she said, her voice raspy. \u201cIt\u2019s about time.\u201d She turned her head slightly to look at him. He stood at the entrance, his gun trained on Nate. Behind him appeared Megan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, we missed the left at Albuquerque,\u201d Robert quipped. Ebony gave him a half-smile, and looked back at Nate.<\/p>\n
“What were you saying about my protectors not being around?”<\/p>\n
Nate threw his head back and roared in rage. Megan flinched. She had never seen Nate angry–ever, and it scared her.<\/p>\n
“Get her free,” Robert said to Megan as he kept Nate covered. The blood-red gargoyle was glaring at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe going to kill him,\u201d Megan said, hesitating. \u201cI can sense her blood lust.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHE\u2019S<\/strong> going to kill us first!\u201d Robert said. \u201cShe’s not a killer Megan. She won\u2019t be gentle, but she won\u2019t kill.\u201d He gave her a reassuring glance, but in the moment he took his eyes from Nate, the gargoyle lunged at them. Robert and Megan leapt away in opposite direction, Robert getting a few shots off, that just seemed to bounce off the gargoyle. Megan ran over to Ebony, and broke the stone shackle that held her. Ebony fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings has been cut. But she didn’t stay down. She struggled to get to her feet almost immediately. Megan helped her stand, but held onto her arm.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t kill him,\u201d she said to Ebony, half-pleading, half threatening. Ebony stared at her for a moment, then a dark smile formed on her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no idea who you are dealing with,\u201d she said and wrenched her arm from of Megan\u2019s grasp before running over to help Robert. Nate was closing in on him. He towered over him, his claws reared to slash him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re pea-shooter has no effect on me!\u201d he growled, but before he could strike, Ebony came up from behind and kicked him hard at the knees, knocking his legs out from under him. Her eyes glowed a golden-yellow as he got back to his feet and turn to face her. She was ready for him this time. There would be no surprise attack to catch her unawares. He made the first move, leaping at her, thinking he could easily overpower her again. But while he had size and strength on his side, she had speed and agility, and years of training which he lacked. She soon had the upper hand and turned the tables on him as she threw him over her again and he landed flat on his back. He was dazed. She jumped onto him, pinning his arms to his sides with her legs.<\/p>\n Ebony stared down at the creature in front of her, and a rage that had been pent-up in her for years bubbled to the surface. She clutched her hand into fist and then suddenly punched him in the face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou killed my siblings!\u201d She shouted, and then punched him again. \u201cYou destroyed my clan!\u201d Punch. \u201cYou tormented and tortured me for months! Estranged me from the few remaining clansmen I had left!\u201d She punched him again, and then stared at his barely conscious form.<\/p>\n \u201cNate!\u201d Megan cried and tried to run out to him and protect him, but Robert stopped her. He understood this was something Ebony needed to do.<\/p>\n Ebony slowly stood up and looked around. Her bow, dropped when he had attacked her, was only a few feet away. She retrieved it and the arrow that had been notched in it, and then turned back to Nate. He was trying to sit up, but Ebony just pushed him back down with her foot. Arrow notched again, she drew the bow back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou took everything from me!\u201d she said coldly, the arrow pointed at Nate\u2019s head.<\/p>\n He looked up at her and that infuriatingly smug smile returned to his face. \u201cNo, I gave<\/i> you everything,\u201d he said. Her eyes blazed in fury and she drew the bow back to its fullest, ready to release it.<\/p>\n \u201cEbony, don\u2019t!\u201d Robert shouted as he realized she just might do it.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Megan cried, tears falling from the corners of her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe choice is still yours.\u201d The last voice only she heard, its cool and calm tone just making her more angry.<\/p>\n \u201cShut up! Shut Up! SHUT UP!<\/strong>\u201d Ebony shouted and released the string, the arrow flying at terrifying speed at her target.<\/p>\n The arrow vibrated slightly from the impact. Ebony dropped her arms down to her sides, exhausted. She stared at the body below her for one moment more and then turned away from him.<\/p>\n \u201cNate!\u201d Megan cried and broke away from Robert. He didn’t try to stop her this time. He was staring at Ebony as she walked slowly toward him. He didn’t think she would ever, she could<\/em> ever do such a thing.<\/p>\n Megan ran to Nate\u2019s side, kneeling next to him. \u201cYou killed him!\u201d she shouted through her tears. \u201cYou mur–\u201d she started but stopped when she heard Nate moan. She looked down at him and saw that the arrow hadn’t hit him. Instead, it was embedded in the stone next to his head. \u201cNate! You\u2019re alive! Thank all the dragon gods you\u2019re alive!\u201d She put her arm around him, and laid her head down on his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cMegan,\u201d he whispered, and put his hand on her head affectionately.<\/p>\n Robert was smiling by the time Ebony reached his side. \u201cYou didn’t kill him,\u201d he said, sounding relieved.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t kill a dragon,\u201d she said simply.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn’t shoot him,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cI made a choice. It seems that\u2019s what I\u2019m always doing.\u201d She glanced over her shoulder at Megan and Nate. Megan was still crying and Nate was trying to reassure her. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to wait and see if it was the right one.\u201d<\/p>\n Robert took her bow and slung it over his shoulder. She let him take it. It was starting to feel heavy in her hands. He then scooped her up and cradled her in his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cRobert!\u201d she exclaimed in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like you\u2019re about to fall over. And you should have some of those wounds looked at,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d she argued. \u201cA day or two sleep and they\u2019ll all be healed.\u201d She tried to struggle against him, but he held her steadfastly.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019ll be more fine after the doctor looks you over,\u201d Robert said. Ebony glared at him, but gave up fighting. He was as stubborn as she was sometimes. She rested her head against his shoulder wearily. Robert smiled at his victory and turned to leave with her.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! You can\u2019t leave Nate here, injured like this!\u201d Megan called out when she noticed them leaving.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d Ebony said, waving her hand dismissively over Robert\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Megan was about to shout back at them, when Nate sat up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright Megan, I\u2019m fine. See?\u201d he said. She looked back at him, and was surprised to see he all his injuries were gone. The only indication that he had been in a battle at all were his clothes. She stared at him, too shocked to speak or move. Nate stood up and then offered his hand to help her up. \u201cLet\u2019s go too. This place gives me the creeps.\u201d Megan smiled. He was back. Her<\/strong> Nate was back. She took his hand and he pulled her easily to her feet. He put his arm around her and hugged her before they walked out.<\/p>\n The arrow Ebony had shot was still embedded in the floor. It had pierced a dark stain in the rock that looked like a dragon roaring in agony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is an extract I wrote for a possible future for one of my Alternate Gargoyles Universe characters, Ebony. She became my main character, though I hadn’t really intended it to happen. One of the joys of creative writing. This story takes place in the not so distant future, where a lot went down, and … Continue reading Final Battle<\/span>