The Gargoyle ~ Part 2

Written by E. Anthony & A. Sylvur

Word count: 2825

For each fallen tear, true love and fairy tale endings died. Well, that was Daphne’s opinion as she stared out the airplane window into the evening and silently bid her excellent vacation goodbye. Thanks to a very odd British clerk, her life looked brighter.

As she waited for the take off, Daphne wondered through the memories of getting to this moment. The first time she was abandoned at the altar, she still had hopes that not all men were, to put it kindly, jerks. But after the third time, she restructured her thoughts then spontaneously rushed off to England, which led her to another spontaneous act; she married a chunk of strange rock. A laugh nearly slipped past her lips, but she squelched it in time. She couldn’t wait to prank her best friend about the marriage. Excitement was back into her life.

How many women had a Ken gargoyle? Except this doll was superior to even the strongest human male, which made him more of an it than a thing. Dolls were things to play with and her Ken was not a toy. The threat in his eyes would always remind her to never trust a man. And she hoped his larger than life size would keep her sights in perspective of a perfection that no mortal man could possibly attain.

However, even better was that she was finally married and in complete control. Elatedly, she kept thinking about her statue and where she would put him in her apartment. Not a whole lot of room, but which room to choose.

Regretfully, she shrugged off the fact that her father would probably never speak to her again if he ever found about the fake marriage and her husband statue. Yet, all that mattered was that her Ken would never be rude, provoke an argument or talk back. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and wished herself back in James’s presence as she settled in for a nap. Despite his oddity, the clerk was handsome. A business cut looked marvelous with his brown hair and blue eyes. Immediately after the thought, she growled at herself. “Will I never learn? I don’t need a real man.”

A short distance away, near the bathroom, in the rear of the plane, a stewardess noticed a passenger out of his seat.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but you must be buckled up for take off,” she said to his back.

He turned around and she inhaled loudly at the sight of his predatory gaze.

Nervously, she touched her throat. “I’ll get in trouble if you don’t take your seat.” Both of her blonde brows lifted as she pleaded, “Please?”

“You won’t get into trouble. I’m merely watching my wife.”

“Wife?”

“Yes. She’s uncomfortable with flying and I want her to feel safe from terrorists. So, here I am, on guard duty.” He smiled reassuringly.

“That is so sweet.” The flight attendant relaxed. “But the Airline is very secure against terrorists.”

“You’re supposed to say that,” he glanced at her nametag then added, “Michelle. But nothing is guaranteed.”

The stewardess cleared her throat. “How long have you been married?”

“Two days.” The mysterious stranger leaned close to her and pointed in Daphne’s direction. “That’s her.”

Briefly, Michelle searched in the direction he pointed then turned back around to face him, but even the cologne he wore had vanished. Intrigued, she walked up to the woman he pointed out and asked, “By any chance, is your husband a magician?”

Curiously, Daphne asked, “Who told you I was married?” Suddenly, she felt giddy at the thought that the antique owner followed her and didn’t want her to leave.

“I had a talk with your husband.”

That information chased away the giddiness. “ That’s impossible.”

“Impossible?” The stewardess question slowly, then said, “I’m sorry, I think I made a mistake.”

“Forgiven. But is there a magician on board?” Daphne searched the cabin. “And is he good?”

Uncertain, the stewardess shrugged. “Well, I was talking to him and he vanished.”

“Sweet.”

“Well, I didn’t search for him. I’m sure it was a simple trick.” She smiled. “Though, he was very handsome. With black hair, sea green eyes and he wore black really well. Whoever his wife is, she’s one lucky woman.” The stewardess winced. “I can’t believe I just said that to a passenger. And just for the record, I’m not usually this chatty.”

“Don’t worry about it. No harm done.” She lied. Sea green was the exact color of eyes she envisioned her gargoyle had. Not to mention she did picture him in black to match his sinister appeal. “She’s very lucky.” Daphne swallowed and just as the woman was about to leave, she caught her arm, “Was his skin pale? Like vampire pale?”

Concerned, the stewardess shook her head. “Is something wrong?”

Determined to know, Daphne forced a convincing smile and lied. “I’m sorry; I recently lost my husband in an accident.” Slowly, she released the stewardess. “Please.”

“Oh my. I’m so sorry.” Michelle straightened her jacket. “I’m sure he’s watching . . . over you.” An eerie sensation passed over her when she spoke the words.

The pilot announced they were ready for take off. As the flight attendant looked away to leave, Daphne was about to plead, but was cut off.

“I’ll be back,” she said then was gone.

Nearly an hour and a half later, Daphne finally grabbed Michelle’s attention. “Please. I’m dying with curiosity.”

Michelle surrendered. “Honestly? When I first saw him, I was scared. I had goose bumps all over my body, until he smiled. But to answer your questions, yes, his skin was pale.”

“He sounds dreamy in a frightening sort of way.” Daphne had an eerie sensation. “I’m thankful he was civil.” A few seconds later, she shrugged off the feeling. It was impossible.

“Indeed. But again, I apologize for the mistake.”

Daphne gave her a warm smile. “Thank you for sharing. It made my vacation complete. And I will definitely fly again.”

The stewardess nodded. “I’ll let you sleep.”

But sleep was the last thing on Daphne’s mind. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that someone watched her. Determined to stay sane, she closed her eyes to force sleep. However, as she began to hum the plane began to shake.

The turbulence was so strong that the children were quickly frightened and the even the adults began to voice their concerns.

A few minutes later the pilot announced, “Please remain calm. We are experiencing technical difficulties.”

Daphne flagged Michelle. “What’s happening?”

“I’m sorry.” She flinched as the plane dropped then leveled off again. “I can only tell you we’re experiencing technical difficulties.”

Doom settled in the pit of her stomach as she let the stewardess go with a forced smile and the threat of tears. “I completely understand. Thank you.”

Over the intercom, another flight attendant pleaded, “Please, everyone stay in your seats and remain calm. We are experiencing problems, but I assure you our pilots are doing everything they can to correct the issue.”

Another flight attendant rushed toward the front of the plane and announced shakily, “For safety reasons, please put on the life vests then place your head between your knees.”

Michelle helped hand out life vests while other attendants desperately tried to drop the oxygen masks. But panic ensued when the oxygen masks didn’t fall.

“This isn’t supposed to happen,” one flight attendant began to cry.

The lights flickered.

“This is your pilot. Please find a seat and prepare for impact.”

It all seemed like a bad dream in which even the children’s cries were slightly muted. Daphne’s body felt numb as she felt her end had come.

Immediately the flight attendants abandoned all other tasks, located a seat, locked themselves in then put their heads between their knees. Except for Michelle, whose fearful eyes made contact with Daphne’s just before the engines stopped.

Plunged in total darkness, the pilots struggled to glide the plane.

Screams from the children were the last thing Daphne focused on before she lost consciousness.

Sometime later, Daphne’s eyes slowly opened. The familiar surroundings, alerted her that she was home. Her first thought was that it had all been a nightmare.

The television was on. She did a brief search for the remote then turned it up to watch the report. As the news woman spoke about the plane crash, tears raced down her cheeks.

“As of yet, no one knows the exact cause of what brought down the 747 Boeing. And at the moment there are search and rescues in full force. However, it is too soon to relay any updates at this moment. Our hearts go out to the families as well as to the individuals who were onboard. Back to you, Steve.”

She held her heart as she turned the sound down and cried. The children’s faces and the flight attendants were still fresh in her mind. A thought brought fear to the forefront of her thoughts. “What if I’m the only one who survived? Will they blame me if I can’t remember anything?”

Petrified, she called the only person who could possibly help.

“Greetings, this is James.”

Relief flooded her at the sound of his British accent. “James? I’m so glad you answered.”

“Daphne?”

“You remember me?”

“Of course. Where are you? Are you alright?”

Unbidden tears fell from her eyes and she struggled to talk. “I don’t know. I’m scared. I don’t remember anything after the screams.”

“Shhh. Wherever you are, stay there. Is Kenneth with you?”

“No. He went down with the plane.” A thought struck her. “Maybe I’m the reason the plane went down. Because of my gargoyle?”

There was an unusual silence.

“James?” She tapped the switch hook several times, “James, I’m scared.” The line was dead. Confused, she set the phone in the cradle then went to her room. Her luggage bags were on her bed, ready to be unpacked. Quickly, she rushed to her kitchen and poured some wine in a glass. After she swallowed all of it, the sound of running water caught her ears.

She wasn’t alone. Worse, was the sound of a key in the lock of her apartment. As quietly as possible, she grabbed a knife and ducked behind the counter.

“Are you sure you should be here so soon, Alexia?”

Daphne jumped out from behind the counter. “Alexia?”

Alexia and Brett jumped back, but only Alexia screamed. As she ran to her friend, Daphne set the knife down.

“Daf?” Brett asked as he recovered from shock.

In tears, Daphne nodded and hugged him.

“We thought you were dead! Your plane?”

“I don’t know,” she cried.

Brett held her tightly. “You have no idea how traumatic it is to wait for someone you know to be called. I’m not given to prayers, but I broke down for you.”

“Thank you.” She wiped her tears and tried to smile. “I have no idea what happened or how I got home.”

The water shut off and all eyes looked toward her hallway.

“Is someone else here?” Brett asked.

At the same time, Alexia wondered, “Did you bring someone back?”

A few minutes later a man walked into the living room wearing only a towel.

“Good. My wife’s awake.” He eyed the guests. “Are you friends of my Daphne?”

Alexia nodded.

“Maybe he knows how you got here.” Brett offered.

“I do.”

As he closed the distance between them, Daphne irritatingly noticed the dripping water that fell from his black hair and off his gleaming pale skin onto her very expensive carpet.

“Morning, wife.”

“You’re married?” Alexia asked in breathless wonder.

Dizzy, Daphne tried to recall the statue’s name.

The stranger nodded. “I’m Cináed McCulley.”

He couldn’t be her statue and she wished she would have fainted, but her stomach was the only thing that dropped. “I don’t feel well.”

“Do you need a doctor?”

“She’ll be fine.” Cináed helped her to the sofa. “I think learning about the crash scared her.”

Brett questioned, “How did you survive the crash?”

“It was quite the confusion. My wife started to board our original flight and I had to rush on there and pull her out. Our friend James Nightsgale brought us home on his private jet. He’s on his way home, but we’ll hear from him as soon as he learns about the crash.”

“Oh!” Alexia remembered her best friend’s parents. “You need to call your parents. They are so freaked out.”

“I lost my cell phone.” Daphne said blankly and wondered why the stranger claiming to be her husband lied.

Cináed patted her hand. “It’s in your purse. Would you like for me to get it for you?”

She nodded.

“I’ll be back in a moment.” Tenderly, he kissed her lips then nodded to her guests before he disappeared.

“I’m jealous.” Alexia dropped onto the sofa beside her best friend. “Couldn’t you have called?”

Daphne nodded.

“I don’t think she hears you, Alex.” Brett watched his co-worker carefully. “Daphne? Can you hear me?”

She nodded then looked up. “Was it a dream?”

“What? Was what a dream?” Brett knelt before her and took one of her hands, which was quickly snatched away by her husband.

Cináed put her cell phone into her hand with a fierce look at the other man. “Relieve your parent’s fears that you are alright.” He kissed her cheek. “Sorry it took me so long. I threw some clothes on.”

Still confused, Daphne only nodded.

As she dialed, her husband asked, “Are you hungry?”

“No. Thank you.”

“Do you mind if we come later?” Alexia asked and hugged her friend. “I’m so happy you’re alive. And please don’t ever do that again.”

Daphne nodded and left a message for her parents. “Mom, Dad, it’s me, Daphne. I’m fine and I’m home. I’ll try to call you soon. I love you and I’m sorry for worrying you. Talk to you later. Bye.”

“We’ll come back later, but will call first.” Brett helped Alexia to her feet. “And I’m also glad our prayers were answered.” He kissed Daphne’s cheek though her husband threw daggers with his eyes.

“I’m sorry for worrying everyone.”

“Just fill us in when you get settled.” Brett nodded to her husband then escorted Alexia out the door.

After her friends were gone, she turned on the strange man, “Who are you,” she looked up into his eyes, “and why are you here?”

“I’m your husband and I’m here for you.”

Something in his eyes made her shiver and she turned away.

“I won’t hurt you, Daphne.”

“As long as?” She pulled her knees to her chest and waited for him to finish her statement.

He knelt beside her then lifted her chin. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Will you tell me what really happened on the flight and how I got here?”

“No. It’s too traumatic for you. It’s best you don’t relive that event.” He pulled her into his arms. “Don’t cry, Daphne. You’re safe.”

She shook her head. “I’m not crying for myself.”

“The people who died. You can’t help them now.”

“Why?” She jumped away from him, disgusted that he saved her and not the children.

Her cell phone rang and she jumped. Before she looked to see the caller, her husband shook his head.

“Don’t answer Jamison’s call.”

“How did you know it was James? And why can’t I speak to him?”

“If you want him to stay alive, I suggest you stay away from him. How I know isn’t important.”

Daphne wondered. “And what if he’s coming here like you said?”

“He isn’t. Jamison knows better.”

What was it about James that this creature didn’t like. “I want a divorce.”

“If you try to divorce me, I’ll make sure the whole world thinks you’re crazy. And when they lock you away, I’ll have nightly access to my lovely, willing, sedated wife.”

The vividness of the image he provoked made her cover her mouth as she heaved. In her mind she was stronger than this. She swallowed the fear and took control of her body. “My friends and co-workers, Brett and Alexia already met you. They know me better than you do. Even if you do go through with your threat, my parents would find it very suspicious that you have me locked away after having met each other on a short vacation in England. My last fiancé and I dated for two years.” She threw back.

“Accidents happen, Love.”

In that moment, she lost all bravado. “You wouldn’t.”

From the malice in his eyes, she guessed he would. There was little doubt that he’d killed before.

“Do you really want to test that theory?” He touched her cheek as fear set in her eyes then removed the space between their bodies. When she fought his embrace, the smile he gave her lacked sincerity, and she froze as he threatened, “I can make you want me.”