Page 11 of Sins of the Stone

Ursulette

I t had been about two weeks since the mysterious gargoyle came into Ursulette’s life. She felt quite at ease in his presence, even if it was due to tragic circumstances. Even though she knew he didn’t have nefarious intentions, she was still skeptical for the first few days. However, since then, they existed beside each other in a mutual trust.

It seemed he was benevolent, making extra food when cooking and creating a place to sleep for her. Though, for as charitable as Ramuz seemed to be, she still had a nagging feeling that something was off about the situation.

She wondered why a solitary creature would burden themselves with a pesky human, especially when he was perfectly fine before she arrived. She pondered what he was getting out of their relationship. It was strange, but then again, she never knew such creatures existed. Maybe it was just in their nature to care for others.

Compared to her previous concern, her real worry was much more prevalent. Something plaguing her was the fate of everyone back in her village—who survived and the state of it all.

Last she saw, dozens of houses were burning, people were being slaughtered, and lifeless bodies littered the streets. It was something she never wanted to see again. Unfortunately, the universe would not be so kind. In the previous few years, the creatures of the world were gaining courage. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come—an omen of more death.

Even though Ramuz seemed more than content to allow her presence in his home, she knew she couldn’t stay forever. A human and a creature living together was not viable. Even if they shared some traits, it wouldn’t work out. She had to return home, pick up the pieces, and move on. Though, she knew she couldn’t make it back by herself. She didn’t even know where she was. It could be a few minutes away or miles apart.

After a few days of thinking, she approached Ramuz. If he wouldn’t help, it wouldn’t break her heart. She would just have to find another way to get back. The task would be difficult, but she already faced so many hardships. This would be no different.

She approached him later that evening with anxiety curdling her stomach. She knew she didn’t want to face the reality, and keeping her mouth shut would help avoid this, but it had to be done. Ursulette always let her worries get in the way, but not this time.

The duo enjoyed dinner together, and afterward, she was washing the dishes in the basin atop the counter. Ramuz offered to help, but Ursulette declined. She hoped the slight distraction would unravel the knot forming in her insides.

While scrubbing a plate, she noticed Ramuz near the fire, holding a poker and eyeing her. It was as if he was trying to appear busy, but he was actually just observing. With a slight blush, she tried to ignore his prying gaze, instead swallowing her inhibitions to get it over with. However, she couldn’t help but notice how long his eyes lingered and how warm it made her face.

“Um, Ramuz?” she questioned. Staring into the soapy water, she grabbed another plate, trying not to think about how uncomfortable it made her feel to ask such a thing.

“Yes?” As usual, his voice was as calming as ever. Ursulette’s face shaded once again, swallowing down her worries. Her gaze focused on the water in front of her.

“How far away are we from the village?” Ramuz was stoking the fire, rearranging the logs. She glanced over, noticing his leer fixed on the inferno.

“About a day if we walk, less if we fly. Why?” No longer did she feel the heat of sweat glistening on her skin. It made her feel better that he said we , but still, she couldn’t shake that little voice telling her she was a fool for asking. Shaking her head, she spoke again, moving on to the next dish.

“Because I would like to go back and see what happened,” she said. “See if anyone is still there or if my house is still standing.” Her voice wavered with her words, but she choked back that feeling, too. The scrapes and pops of the logs shifting ceased, and she heard the fire poker be placed back into its place of rest, the gnawing feeling intensifying once more.

“You understand what you might see if you go back, right?”

Ursulette’s face burned. There would be scenes she had seen in her nightmares and sometimes as flashbacks during the day. It brought her great shame to know she had been unconscious while everyone around her got reduced to piles of body parts.

“It would be quite gruesome, Ursulette,” he said. She set the rag she used to wash the dishes into the water, her head drooping. With her hands on the basin’s edge, she thought deeply about her next move.

“I understand,” she whispered. She turned to him, her eyes filling with delicate tears as the sights flooded back. The images of the deceased would be burned into her memory for a lifetime. “I have to go. If I don’t, the assumptions will hurt more than the reality. I mean, I already have nightmares—”

“You have nightmares?” His tone was laced with hurt. Her face grew hot, angry with herself for letting that slip. Her eyes fell, her gaze filled with shame, sorrow, and more.

“Yeah,” she muttered.

“Ursulette,” he sighed, his voice brimming with disappointment. Or sorrow. She was unsure which it was. “You should have told me.” He strode over to where she was in the kitchen, her face still facing the ground. In a moment, they were more close than they had ever been besides the day they had met.

“I-I didn’t want to be a burden,” she said, her eyes still full of shameful tears, unable to look at him. Ramuz let out a sigh, one laced with melancholy. He placed his fingers beneath her chin, claws sheathed, pulling her gaze from the floor. Their eyes connected, her sadness drying up with his gentle expression.

“You would never be a burden, little human,” he assured. “I enjoy having you here.” Previously, her heart was pounding with anxiety, but now, it was with something else that she didn’t want to acknowledge.

Why is he so damn sweet?

The people back in the village were never so kind. The least they did was tolerate her, but even that appeared to be a chore. But he was a creature, yet he was more caring than most of them combined. Not once did he comment on her weight, her penchant for being alone, or any of the other endless things that earned her the title of strange.

There was a little flutter that accompanied his touch and kind words. It was a feeling she wasn’t used to, but she wanted a lot more. With that, her tears vanished, but her mouth could not speak, and her mind was racing.

“T-that’s, um, very kind of you to say,” she said, her words stumbling with the intensity of her ruminations. Ramuz removed his hand from her skin, and she wished that it would stay there forever.

Ursulette almost reached out to stop him, but she hesitated, not knowing what such an action could make him think. He gave her a gentle grin, one that she wanted to wrap herself up in and doze off. The heat of the fire was nothing compared to the warmth of his words.

“Will it make you happy to return to your village?” he questioned, his yellow eyes inquisitive. Her bottom lip trembled, unsure if she was content with this new pillowy feeling. Ursulette laced her fingers, trying to stifle her anxiety. Yet, all she needed was his—this creature’s—assurance, and somehow, it enveloped her in a calm. With a newfound but subtle joy, she spoke.

“Yes, it would.” Ramuz returned her gesture, his eyes beaming with the curve of his expression. His smile was so tender that it made her blush, and her gaze leered away to avoid the intimacy of eye contact.

“Then we can go tomorrow if you’d like,” he said. Ursulette felt her heart swell with emotion. His silky voice and charming grin stuck in her head for much longer than she’d like to admit.

But there was one problem.

Monsters and humans could not show affection for each other, let alone maintain a loving relationship. She learned that lesson harshly when she witnessed the blue tint of the woman’s lips when she was a child. Her heart jumped at the sight of his beaming face and delicate words, and waking up to him in the morning was a joy she had never felt. He was all she could think about.

If anyone at home knew about this, they’d never let me live it down.

If they’re even still alive.