Rituals (Cainsville 5)

My first Solstice in Cainsville. First of many, I hoped. I'd bought the house. There had never really been any question that I would. It was, as the little girl in my visions had said, mine before I was born. I belonged there, as much as I belonged in Cainsville, as much as I belonged with the Hunt. Some things are not choices. We tell ourselves they are, but they aren't--not if we want to be happy.

The Solstice celebrations had ended an hour ago, the streets empty, bonfires still smoldering. Gabriel and I had escaped the festivities earlier--staying for as long as he could stand being sociable, before I suggested we celebrate in our own way at home.

But we'd come out after the music and the laughter died down, after people headed home. Our night wasn't over. Gabriel had promised to show me the last gargoyle, the one he'd found twenty years ago on a night like this.

We walked, bundled up against the cold, snow crunching underfoot, more falling while we headed along the empty street.

As we neared the town hall, Gabriel steered me into the park instead. In the bushes behind the bank, he found a conveniently placed metal hook--too conveniently placed, suggesting he'd put it there earlier. With the hook, he tugged down the fire escape. Then he motioned for me to climb up.

"Seriously?" I said. "You're voluntarily climbing something?"

"For you. I would only ask--"

"That I go up first and don't watch you, lest it requires serious effort."

"It's been a while since I've done this."

I smiled and went on ahead. Once I reached the top, he directed me to the ledge that let me climb onto the roof. I crawled to the top and sat, legs dangling as I looked out at the town hall bell tower. A few minutes later, Gabriel joined me, still catching his breath.

"Not as easy as you remember?" I said.

"Definitely not. But this is the best vantage point. Do you see it?"

I grinned at him. "I do."

The gargoyle was right across the road, leaning from its tower, its grin as wide as mine.

"Do you think it's actually there all year?" I said. "Hidden from sight? Or does it fly in on Solstice?"

"No idea. But you can ask the elders now. You're entitled to answers, if you want them. Or you can savor the mystery."

"Or figure it out myself?"

He smiled. "Or that."

"We'll figure it out for ourselves. Far more exciting."

"Agreed."

He put his arm around me, and I snuggled in against his side, and we sat there, watching the gargoyle in the falling snow, making plan

s for our future. So many plans. So much future.

When I started shivering, he said, "We should go back down."

"I don't want to."

"No? I thought you wanted to find all the gargoyles."

"I just did, right? That was the last one."

His lips twitched in a smile, pale blue eyes warming. "No, I don't believe it is. You asked to see one more, for your Solstice gift."

"Yours. You're actually going to show me-- Where--" I jumped up so fast, I nearly tumbled off the roof.

Gabriel grabbed me as he chuckled. "Slow down."

"Uh-uh. If I wait, the rest of that mulled cider will wear off, and you'll never show me. Where is it?"