Chapter 14

"Who is it?" says the dad as he walks up behind Bennet. He's the blonde and older version of his son. He looks down at me with surprise. It's clear he didn't expect me. He smiles gently.

"Hello there, I didn't know you were up. Would you like to come and have a seat? I'm pretty sure you would like to talk," he says stepping back and motioning me in.

I hesitate.

Seeing this, he smiles and says, "I wouldn't dream of hurting you. You have my word. We would just like to talk. Is that okay?"

I look at him for a moment, then slowly nod.

Bennet pulls me to a couch inside the room. It's an office and a huge one at that. It must hold thousands of books from the looks of the shelves that line the walls. The windows behind the huge desk look out onto a green lawn, and the sea a little way off. I would break through those windows if need be. Hope he has insurance.

But because Dad over there promised not to harm me, I guess I won't.

Bennet sits down on the couch and pulls me on top oh him, so I'm sitting on his lap. I squirm. Its warm, but maybe we should start at square one.

His dad sees Bennet put me there, and gives him a look, so he compromises by letting me sit on the couch, but he has his arms wrapped around my waist. I guess this will have to do.

"Do you feel better?" he asks, I nod to him.

But before I can say anything, Dad starts talking.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Harold Fitzroy. I'm Bennet's father. I've heard that you've become good friends with my daughter Ingrid?"

He waves to Grid, who is sitting on the couch facing me. She waves and smiles gently. I smile back, but it's small. I turn back to Harold and nod.

He sees this and continues, "I am aware that you are mates with my son Bennet. I would like to ask you if you know what this means?" he says.

He has a nice gravelly voice. He reminds me of an era when men used to talk very politely and concisely, like from the black and white movie eras.

"Yes, I do," I say. Bennet's grip on my waist tightens slightly. "It means I am the counterpart of Bennet's soul. He yearns for me with his entire being, though I do not." I think I hear Bennet whimper, and I say, "not yet at least," quickly.

Bennet seems to purr at that. That's cute.

Harold smiles, "Yes you are correct. You are the other half that completes Bennet. He is absolutely infatuated with you, though I highly doubt he will ever hurt you."

He looks at Bennet sternly before looking back at me. "I don't mean to switch the topic, but, do you mind clarifying what you are? Because you know of mates, I'm certain you've gathered that we are werewolves. But I still wish to know what you are. Bennet is the alpha of this pack, but I do most of his duties right now. One of those duties is protecting all within this pack. You may not know this, but you are inside our territory. I have a responsibility to know what you are."

He says this all very gently, but I see the underlying message: What the hell are you?

Taking a breath, I start, "You were correct in your observation. I am a hybrid of angels and demons. I do not pose a threat to you or your pack. Many hybrids have the ability to use magic. I do not have this. I only have the ability to fly, as well as morph, and that in itself is very useful for protecting myself, but seldom in hurting others."

Harold smiles. He must see that I'm being sincere. "May I ask what family of hybrids you are? I know there many." He asks.

I smile. He's very well educated. "You're very well learned," I compliment, earning a smile from him. "The name humans have given my people is 'gargoyle'. I am of the house of Vance, of the family of gargoyles."

"House of Vance?" he asks. I remember this is a terminology used only in my species.

"I'm sorry, it's a very esoteric phrase among gargoyles. I'm usually forbidden to talk about anything regarding us to anyone outside our species," I say. "Houses within the family of gargoyles are like little factions. We use our last names to discern which house we are from. It's also very useful in knowing if there is an imposter or not, due to the fact that there are only a certain number of names within the world of gargoyles. My name, Vance, is one of the better-known ones."

"I see," say Harold as he nods, "do you think your family would take it kindly of us knowing about you and what you are?"

I take a moment to think before I answer.

"I do not know," I reply honestly. Harold looks confused.

"My people have been purposefully isolating themselves for centuries. I do not know how my family would take it. They are quite serious of safety, but if in the case that they confront us over this matter, I trust that you have the ability to persuade them that you are no threat," I say.

Harold nods in understanding. "Well, I know that we've been talking about serious matters, but I think for now that is all that need be discussed. Though I do have one last question," he leans over his desk and looks at me with what I think is humor, "may I know your name?"

I laugh. Harold is a very funny man. "Yes, you may know my name. My name is Cayce Vance, though Grid calls me Cace," I say. Harold laughs back.

"Well, I believe it's time that you had a talk with Bennet. I think I will just take Grid with me and let you two talk." Saying so, he walks out with Grid, who seems to be holding back her laughter. Do they expect us to do it now? Sillies. The door closes, leaving us alone.

I turn around and up, and see Bennet is looking at me with what I thought was humor, but see now to be clear interest in me.

"So," I start, "what do you want to do about—us?" I ask. I have no idea what to say to him.

"Well, I'd like to get to know you," he says, "and also say sorry again. I know from my people that mating with other beings is hard. But I should still take it slow."

He pulls one hand from my waist and rubs my back. It's very comforting. "What's your favorite color?" he asks. I look into his eyes.

"Black," I reply.

He scrunches his nose, "Black? Why black?" he asks.

"It has a sense of refinement," I say. "How about you? What's your favorite color?"

"Hmm," he thinks about it, "I would say, Hazel." He says grinning at me.

"Hazel? Why?" I ask.

He puts his face close to mine, so our noses are just millimeters apart. "Because that's the color of your eyes. What else is prettier?"

I blush scarlet. Dammit Hollywood! Romance, now that it's in front of me, doesn't at all look like what you've shown me!

Pulling my face back I say, "If you infatuated with me so much, maybe you can take me out to dinner."

I am very hungry. Being unconscious makes you hungry. I found that out very recently, and now you do too.

"Sure thing babe," he says as he stands up, lifting me with him. I must weigh nothing to him.

"Babe?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

He blushes. My hands rest on his chest. When did they get there? I'm not pulling them away though, as I'm too impressed by the sheer size of what rests beneath them.

"Uh, yeah. I thought since we're getting to know each other...It's okay if you don't want to...taking it slow and all," he stutters, looking everywhere but me. I smile.

Putting my hand on his arm, I say, "You can call me babe. But not boyfriend yet. I want to take it slow. I do like your committed attitude, and I feel like your starting to win me over."

Bennet looks at me and practically glows.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."