She really should plan these things... (For they_bite and/or mrsharker)
(Based upon justprompts - Building)
The building was a mishmash of disjointed sections, grand domes and various spires, not seeming to make much sense at all. As though the architect had had too many ideas and could never settle on just one.
Amelia had no clue what it was used for but, to be honest, that wasn’t really of interest to her. She was far more concerned with the exterior and, notably, the decoration.
Local reports had stated that a wild animal was on the loose in the area, numerous sightings having been mentioned by the press. Some suggested that it had come from London Zoo, a leopard or some such. Representatives had flatly denied an escape however and instead queried if it was from a private collection, or even simply a large dog that people were mistaking for something more dramatic. If they had seen anything at all; the accounts were rather sketchy.
Amelia had read the description in the newspaper though and knew that wasn’t the case. Frankly, she was surprised that no one had been seriously hurt yet. It was just fortunate that people apparently felt no need to wander this area late at night when the creature was most active, otherwise things could have become far more grim.
Shining a torch along the ground, having decided that the need to search properly outweighed the risk of being spotted by some passerby, she carefully and methodically moved around the perimeter of the building.
It didn’t take her long to find what she was searching for; a small pile of broken stone lying at the bottom of a wall. It crumbled easily when she picked it up, turning almost to dust in her fingers. Brushing it away and looking up, she could just about see the edge of the now empty pedestal. A gargoyle had once been entombed here and had obviously escaped. Quite recently.
Almost subconsciously her free hand slid into her pocket, fingering the vial there in readiness. It contained a mixture of oils and herbs, all associated with Diana, goddess of the hunt; acacia, wormwood, hazel, dittany, apple and willow. The concoction had always been partly guess work, based on broken pieces of research, but it certainly did the job if used in conjunction with the correct incantation.
Amelia had always been of a scientific persuasion and the idea of witchcraft had been laughable to her at first. Still, she couldn’t deny the empirical evidence. It worked, even if she had no idea how.
“Come now,” she whispered into the chilled night air, scanning the darkness surrounding her for any sign, “I know you haven’t gone far.”
Gargoyles were quite territorial in her experience. This would be its home.
Silence was her only answer though.
She supposed that she could lie to herself and pretend that her heart wasn’t pounding, her breath not quivering in her lungs. It seemed ridiculous to be afraid when you couldn’t get hurt - not permanently at any rate. Yet, she still felt flashes of fear in her veins and, to be honest, she was rather grateful for them.
It made her feel human.
And, as embarrassing as it was, so did her short scream of alarm when something leapt in her direction, jumping from the wall itself, having blended into the stonework far too well. She threw herself ungracefully to the side, falling to the floor in order to avoid it. The warning snarl as she scrambled back to her feet told her that it meant to attack again and she readied the vial in her hand, turning hurriedly to try and spot it.
She didn’t, not before it darted forward and sunk its teeth deep into her arm anyway.
She had no clue if it had somehow realised what she was attempting to do, or if it was sheer dumb luck on the gargoyle’s part, but she immediately dropped the vial, the contents smashing uselessly on the floor.
On instinct, she kicked out at the hideous creature’s underbelly, as hard as she was able. It yelped, likely more in shock than actual hurt, and let her go, teeth already having ripped several agonising gashes into her flesh.
Unarmed and with no other option, she instantly took the decision that this was no longer a fight that she could win. She’d never make it back to her car however and she simply couldn’t draw the creature towards a more populated area. Turning to the building instead, she prayed that her memories of an open gate were not false as she ran.
Thankfully they weren’t, and she made it through just in time, slamming the gate behind her and sliding the bolt across, diving back as the creature lashed out. She just hoped that gargoyles had no concept of how to open doors.
This one didn’t at least, not even bothering with the handle and instead trying brute force to get at her, screaming in rage. She had no idea what offended it so much about her - perhaps it was the curse or whatever the skull had left her with. Maybe it simply didn’t like her. Either way, it seemed quite determined to get through, slamming bodily into the gate over and over.
She staggered back a little, sinking down to sit on a small set of stairs leading up to a locked door. The corridor was tiny and she hated to think what would happen if the creature broke through. Just because she couldn’t die didn’t mean that she was immune to pain. Her burning arm was testament to that.
Besides, she had to wonder if even she could survive being ripped to shreds.
Deciding those thoughts were entirely unhelpful, she drew her attention elsewhere. Carefully she pealed the ruined and bloodied sleeve of her blouse back, wincing to find equally ruined flesh underneath. It would heal but not instantly, her body’s ability to repair itself seeming only to work that rapidly when the wound should be fatal. She had no doubt that there wouldn’t be any trace of the injury within a day or two, but the pain was real enough and the blood loss was making her feel light headed.
Closing her eyes, trying to steady herself for a moment against a wave of nausea, she leant against the cool stone wall and wondered what on Earth she was going to do next.
She really should plan these things a bit better.
The building was a mishmash of disjointed sections, grand domes and various spires, not seeming to make much sense at all. As though the architect had had too many ideas and could never settle on just one.
Amelia had no clue what it was used for but, to be honest, that wasn’t really of interest to her. She was far more concerned with the exterior and, notably, the decoration.
Local reports had stated that a wild animal was on the loose in the area, numerous sightings having been mentioned by the press. Some suggested that it had come from London Zoo, a leopard or some such. Representatives had flatly denied an escape however and instead queried if it was from a private collection, or even simply a large dog that people were mistaking for something more dramatic. If they had seen anything at all; the accounts were rather sketchy.
Amelia had read the description in the newspaper though and knew that wasn’t the case. Frankly, she was surprised that no one had been seriously hurt yet. It was just fortunate that people apparently felt no need to wander this area late at night when the creature was most active, otherwise things could have become far more grim.
Shining a torch along the ground, having decided that the need to search properly outweighed the risk of being spotted by some passerby, she carefully and methodically moved around the perimeter of the building.
It didn’t take her long to find what she was searching for; a small pile of broken stone lying at the bottom of a wall. It crumbled easily when she picked it up, turning almost to dust in her fingers. Brushing it away and looking up, she could just about see the edge of the now empty pedestal. A gargoyle had once been entombed here and had obviously escaped. Quite recently.
Almost subconsciously her free hand slid into her pocket, fingering the vial there in readiness. It contained a mixture of oils and herbs, all associated with Diana, goddess of the hunt; acacia, wormwood, hazel, dittany, apple and willow. The concoction had always been partly guess work, based on broken pieces of research, but it certainly did the job if used in conjunction with the correct incantation.
Amelia had always been of a scientific persuasion and the idea of witchcraft had been laughable to her at first. Still, she couldn’t deny the empirical evidence. It worked, even if she had no idea how.
“Come now,” she whispered into the chilled night air, scanning the darkness surrounding her for any sign, “I know you haven’t gone far.”
Gargoyles were quite territorial in her experience. This would be its home.
Silence was her only answer though.
She supposed that she could lie to herself and pretend that her heart wasn’t pounding, her breath not quivering in her lungs. It seemed ridiculous to be afraid when you couldn’t get hurt - not permanently at any rate. Yet, she still felt flashes of fear in her veins and, to be honest, she was rather grateful for them.
It made her feel human.
And, as embarrassing as it was, so did her short scream of alarm when something leapt in her direction, jumping from the wall itself, having blended into the stonework far too well. She threw herself ungracefully to the side, falling to the floor in order to avoid it. The warning snarl as she scrambled back to her feet told her that it meant to attack again and she readied the vial in her hand, turning hurriedly to try and spot it.
She didn’t, not before it darted forward and sunk its teeth deep into her arm anyway.
She had no clue if it had somehow realised what she was attempting to do, or if it was sheer dumb luck on the gargoyle’s part, but she immediately dropped the vial, the contents smashing uselessly on the floor.
On instinct, she kicked out at the hideous creature’s underbelly, as hard as she was able. It yelped, likely more in shock than actual hurt, and let her go, teeth already having ripped several agonising gashes into her flesh.
Unarmed and with no other option, she instantly took the decision that this was no longer a fight that she could win. She’d never make it back to her car however and she simply couldn’t draw the creature towards a more populated area. Turning to the building instead, she prayed that her memories of an open gate were not false as she ran.
Thankfully they weren’t, and she made it through just in time, slamming the gate behind her and sliding the bolt across, diving back as the creature lashed out. She just hoped that gargoyles had no concept of how to open doors.
This one didn’t at least, not even bothering with the handle and instead trying brute force to get at her, screaming in rage. She had no idea what offended it so much about her - perhaps it was the curse or whatever the skull had left her with. Maybe it simply didn’t like her. Either way, it seemed quite determined to get through, slamming bodily into the gate over and over.
She staggered back a little, sinking down to sit on a small set of stairs leading up to a locked door. The corridor was tiny and she hated to think what would happen if the creature broke through. Just because she couldn’t die didn’t mean that she was immune to pain. Her burning arm was testament to that.
Besides, she had to wonder if even she could survive being ripped to shreds.
Deciding those thoughts were entirely unhelpful, she drew her attention elsewhere. Carefully she pealed the ruined and bloodied sleeve of her blouse back, wincing to find equally ruined flesh underneath. It would heal but not instantly, her body’s ability to repair itself seeming only to work that rapidly when the wound should be fatal. She had no doubt that there wouldn’t be any trace of the injury within a day or two, but the pain was real enough and the blood loss was making her feel light headed.
Closing her eyes, trying to steady herself for a moment against a wave of nausea, she leant against the cool stone wall and wondered what on Earth she was going to do next.
She really should plan these things a bit better.